Advance on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Stellera plants have been conducted. The chemical constituents include terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, volatile oils, and other compounds. Pharmacological studies showed that diterpenoids and biflavones showed strong activities, such as antitumor, anti-HIV, and immune regulations. This review hopes to provide a scientific basis for further research and explorations of the medicinal values of the genus.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; classification

S1 nuclease (from Aspergillus oryzae) is a specific enzyme to degrade single stranded DNA or RNA molecules. It has been reported to be able to convert superhelical circular DNA molecules into open circle or linear forms under certain conditions, but this function has not been well explored. In order to use the action of S1 nuclease to linearize circular DNA and develop a novel way of cloning microcircular DNAs, the pUC19 was used to investigate the relationship between the linearization efficiency of S1 nuclease and the amount of enzyme used. By this way the optimal conditions for linearization of circular DNAs by S1 nuclease would be determined. 0.3u to 17u S1 nuclease per 100ng pUC19 DNA was added into a 25 microL system, respectively, to perform the reaction. The effectiveness of enzyme digestion was realized by electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose gel. The results showed that along with the increase in enzyme amount from 0.3u to 17u a gradual decrease in the superhelical form, a gradual increase in the linear form and then in the circular form was obvious. The conversion from superhelical form to linear and circular form was directly related to the enzyme amount used. A higher proportion of linear DNA molecules was achieved by using 5 to 17u S1 nuclease per 100ng DNA. Besides, electrophoretic mobility of the S1 nuclease-linearized pUC19 was the same as that of the linear form produced by restriction enzyme digestion. According to the result of phiX174 digested by S1 nuclease it has been proposed that the enzyme cleaves first randomly on one site of one strand, thus converting the superhelical molecules into open circle form, and then on the same site of the complementary strand to produce the linear form. Therefore, the S1 nuclease-linearized DNA molecules are intact in the sense of their length and can be used for cloning. The plasmid-like DNA pC3 from cucumber mitochondria is a double stranded circular DNA molecule with about 550bp and the smallest known plasmid-like DNA in eukaryotic mitochondria. Many attempts have been made to linearize the molecule by using restriction enzymes but failed. Therefore, S1 nuclease was used to linearize pC3 based on the results obtained with pUC19. The linearized pC3 DNA molecules formed a very sharp band in a 2.5% agarose gel after electrophoresis. They were then recovered from the gel, added an "A" tail and ligated with T-vector. After transformation into E. coli JM109 cells, the positive clones were, screened by the blue-white selection. The insert was then cut using restriction enzymes EcoRI and Pst I. The result of electrophoresis shows that the electrophoretic mobility of the insert is just the same as that predicted. A 32 P-labled probe was synthesized using pC3 as the template and Southern blot analysis was carried out. The result shows that the inserted DNA is hybridized to the probe, which indicates that the cloned DNA fragment is from pC3. The sequence information of the insert shows that the plasmid-like DNA pC3 was 537bp in length. The nucleotide sequence was deposited in the GenBank (the accession number is AF522195).
Blotting, Southern ; Cloning, Molecular ; methods ; DNA, Circular ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the affinity of new opioid receptor ligands to cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cell.

METHODSThe binding characteristics of the opioid ligand [3H] diprenorphine (3H-dip) were studied by cellular biological techniques and radioligands binding in cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cells in saturation binding experiments, and were followed by competition binding experiments with a variety of new synthesized opioid receptor ligands.

RESULTSThe Kd and Bmax of [3H] diprenorphine bound to mu receptors were 1.06 nmol/L and 930 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Competition binding experiments revealed that ligand 3# and 12# displayed much higher affinity than DAMGO and Morphine for the cloned mu opioid receptor. However, the affinities of ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# were lower than DAMGO and Morphine.

CONCLUSIONThe present results suggest that the new ligands 3# and 12# have higher affinity to mu opioid receptors. However, ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# have lower affinity to mu opioid receptors.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Binding, Competitive ; CHO Cells ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Diprenorphine ; pharmacology ; Ligands ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of intervention of moxa smoke with different concentrations on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and lung of male rats, so as to explore the safety concentration of moxa smoke.

METHODSA total of 32 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into a control group, a low-concentration group, a moderate-concentration group and a high-concentration group, 8 rats in each one. All the rats were exposed in the full-automatic toxicant exposure cabinet, and the overshadow of moxa smoke was set at 0%, 10%, 40% and 70%, respectively. Each rat was exposed for 20 min per day. After 26 weeks, the activities of SOD and content of MDA in serum, lung organ and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were tested.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the activities of serum SOD in the high-concentration group were reduced (P< 0. 05), but those in the low-concentration group and moderate-concentration group were not significantly different (both P>0. 05). Compared with the control group, the content of serum MDA in the low-concentration group, moderate-concentration group and high-concentration group was increased insignificantly (all P>0. 05). There were no significant differences regarding activities of SOD and content of MDA in lung organ and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid among each moxa smoke group (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThere is no obvious toxic reaction in the low-concentration group and moderate-concentration group; in the high-concentration group the antioxidant ability is damaged due to long-term exposure.

Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Lung ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoke ; analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the characteristic of late stent malposition after drug-eluting stent implantation by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODSThe study comprised of 32 patients (target vessels: 51, total stents: 71) underwent drug eluting stent implantation one year ago [average (14.8 +/- 5.2) months]. OCT images of the stent were analyzed at interval of 0.5 mm. The stent malposition was detected, the thickness of intima and gap between the stent strut and vessel wall were measured.

RESULTSStent malposition was detected in 7 patients without clinical cardiac events, including positive remodeling (n = 4), overlapping stents (n = 1) and stent struts covered with thrombus (n = 2). Stent strut apposition with complete intima coverage was about 97.6%, stent struts malposition was 2.4% including half of struts located at the ostium of side branch. The intima coverage of stent struts is similar between the struts at the side branch and others [(0.06 +/- 0.05) mm vs. (0.05 +/- 0.03) mm, P > 0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe causes of late stent malposition include the primary malposition after stent implantation, positive remodeling, overlapping stents and stent struts located at the ostium of side branch. Thinner intima coverage was also observed on the stent struts with malposition.

Aged ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate neointimal proliferation following placement of a new drug-eluting stent (BUMA) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with coronary artery disease were randomized into BUMA group (n=15) and Endeavor group (n=7) and underwent OCT imaging after 9 months of stent implantation.

RESULTSThe neointima hyperplasia (NIH) thickness in BUMA group were significantly smaller than that in endeavor group (0.220-/+0.140 mm vs 0.269-/+0.207 mm, P<0.001), and the uncovered Struts were significantly lower in BUMA group than in Endeavor group (5.65% vs 6.56%, P<0.0001). The luminal late loss in BUMA group was also significantly lower (34.87-/+11.50 vs 40.82-/+18.53, P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONBUMA stent is safe and effective for treatment of coronary artery disease.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

At present, the tourism industry has risen into a national strategic pillar industry. The development of the TCM industry has been included in the national strategy. The integration of the two major industries, TCM culture and tourism, is of great significance in promoting the development of the tourism industry and structural transformation. Jiangsu Province has a wealth of TCM cultural tourism resources, with unique industrial development advantages. Based on the analysis of the advantages and current situation of TCM cultural tourism in Jiangsu Province, this article put forward some suggestions for the development of TCM cultural tourism in order to provide a reference for promoting the integration and development of TCM culture and tourism industry.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical value of artificial intelligence-assisted breast ultrasound in screening breast cancer in Tibet.Methods:Two hundred and eighty-six women who participated in breast cancer screening in Shigatse People′s Hospital from August to September in 2021 were selected. The study included four groups. Group 1, ultrasound screening by senior breast ultrasound doctors from Shanghai; Group 2: local ultrasound doctors used intelligent-assisted ultrasound equipment for screening; Group 3: local ultrasound technicians used intelligent-assisted ultrasound equipment for screening; Group 4: ultrasound screening by local ultrasound doctors. The pathological results of screening positive cases and six-month ultrasound follow-up results of negative cases were set as the gold standard.Results:Twenty-seven lesions of 21 persons were screened positive. Pathology showed that 1 case of invasive ductal carcinoma, 1 case of severe atypical hyperplasia, 6 cases of fibroadenoma, 5 cases of breast disease, 14 cases of breast hyperplasia. Two hundred and sixty-five persons were screened negative, and the results of the six-month ultrasound follow-up were still negative. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of group 2 were 0.966, 1, and 0.964 respectively; The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of group 3 were 0.935, 0.769, and 0.943 respectively; The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of group 4 were 0.860, 0.308 and 0.885 respectively. The accuracy and area under the curve of groups 2 and 3 were significantly different from that of group 4 (all P<0.001), and there was no significant difference from that of group 1 ( P=0.063, P=0.055). Conclusions:Artificial intelligence-assisted breast ultrasound screening technology can effectively improve the screening efficiency of non-breast ultrasound specialists and technicians. It is very suitable to solve the problems faced by grass-roots screening in Tibet and has great social significance and clinical value.

BACKGROUNDBacteria-induced respiratory infection has been long considered to be the major cause of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Therefore, a clear picture about the distribution and drug-resistance of pathogenic bacteria in the lower airways should be helpful for treatment of the disease. So far, data on this topic among Chinese are lacking.

METHODSA surveillance study was performed in consecutive patients with AECOPD at five areas in China between October 2006 and April 2008. The sputum from these patients was cultured and isolated for bacteria. Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of levofoxacin and other 15 antibiotics against these strains.

RESULTSThree hundred and fifty-nine pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated among 884 patients with AECOPD. The predominant bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (14.2%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (11.7%), followed by Haemophilus parainfluenzae (9.5%), Acinetobacter baumannii (7.8%), Moraxella catarrhalis (6.4%) and Escherichia coli (3.6%). The majority of bacterial pathogens isolated in this study were susceptible to fuoroquinolones, ceftazidime, cefepime and imipenem.

CONCLUSIONSGram-negative bacilli are the leading pathogens in patients with AECOPD in China. Haemophilus parainfluenzae may be one of the most important pathogens in AECOPD. This study provides evidence for local surveillance of AECOPD pathogens and appropriate choice of antimicrobials in China.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; microbiology