Ginsenosides,which belongs to triterpenoid saponins of plant terpenoids,are the main active components of the valuable medicinal herbs ginseng and American ginseng.Recent studies show that ginsenosides have a variety of beneficial effects,including anti-inflamatory,antioxidant,and anticancer effects.Ginsenosides are synthesized by complicated modification of triterpenoid skeleton after cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene through triterpene saponin synthesis pathway in which they share common early steps with phytosterols synthesis.It outlines recent advances for the biosynthesis of ginsenosides,the cloning and characterization of genes encoding key enzymes in the pathway and the basal framework of ginsenosides biosynthesis pathway.The prospects of secondary metabolism engineering in the biosynthesis of plant natural products and its application in ginsenosides biosynthesis are also discussed.

This study is to establish a cell-based model targeting to neuraminidase (NA) of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. NA is an influenza virus structural protein with enzymatic activity of the cleavage of HA-sialic acid interaction to release new viral particles from cells. A model of HIV-1 (pNL4-3.Luc.R(-)E(-)) based pseudovirions packed with HA [hemagglutinin, A/VietNam/1203/2004 (H5N1)] and NA [A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)] was established to evaluate compounds activities on NA function. The viral release can be blocked by neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate, with IC50 of (61 +/- 31) nmol L(-1) and (5.5 +/- 2.9) nmol L(-1) respectively. A point mutation of H275Y on NA leads oseltamivir-resistance. This corresponding mutation was introduced into the system which was also confirmed by oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate.

Objective To know basic characteristics of MSM infected with HIV treated by highly active antiretroviral thera‐py(HAART) ,and evaluate therapeutic effect based on the level of CD4+ T cell counts .Methods Basic database of patients were collected from the national AIDS comprehensive data information system ,patients were observed by the retrospective cohort study , and effect indicators were analyzed based on the level of CD4+ T cell counts .The data was analyzed by SPSS18 .0 software .Results A total of 1 758 cases were recruited in this study and the average age was (33 .5 ± 11 .1)years .The component ratio of the CD4+T cell counts <50/μL ,50 to 199/μL ,200 to 350/μL ,> 350/μL were 7 .7% ,27 .6% ,54 .9% ,9 .7% ,respectively .The CD4+ T counts increased and kept among 150 to 250/μL ,250 to 350/μL ,350 to 450/μL ,450 to 550/μL ,respectively after 12 months ,treat‐ment .The rates of viral inhibition were 70 .2% ,81 .7% ,84 .2% ,83 .3% ,respectively after 6 months′treatment .And the cumulative survival rates were 0 .81 ,0 .93 ,0 .98 ,1 .0 after 36 ,months treatment ,respectively .Conclusion HAART on MSM achieves remarka‐ble results .And the early treatment was more beneficial to improve immune function ,reduce AIDS mortality and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic of MSM .

Objective To evaluate efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Methods We searched relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT) from Pubmed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,Chinese Journal Full-text Database,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and traced the related reference to obtain the information that had not been found by using key words of steroids,glucocorticoids,cortisol,corticosteroids,community acquired pneumonia and CAP.The quality of RCT included was evaluated.Meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 provided by the Cochrance Collaboration.Results Seven RCTs involving 944 patients were included in the meta-analysis.Mean length of hospital stay in glucocorticoids treatment group was significant shorter than that in conventional treatment group (WMD =-1.70,95％ CI:-2.01-1.39,Z =10.81,P ＜0.01).No significant differences were found regarding mortality (RR =0.77,95％ CI 0.46-1.27,Z =1.03,P =0.30),mean length of ICU stay (WMD =1.17,95％ CI:-1.68-4.02,Z =0.81,P =0.42),the risk of double infection (RR =1.32,95％ CI 0.66-2.63,Z=0.79,P=0.43),the incidence of hyperglycemia (RR=1.84,95％ CI0.76-4.41,,Z=1.36,P=0.17),the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (RR =1.98,95％ CI O.37-10.59,Z =0.80,P =0.42) between conventional treatment group and glucocorticoids treatment group.Conclusions Glucocorticoids treatment used in patients with community-acquired pneumonia may shorten the course of illness and possess better safety,but could not reduce the mortality.

Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Skin Diseases ; etiology

Objective To assess the biophysical characteristics of normal skin and inflammatory skin lesions in mild and moderate acne. Methods Seventy-five mild and moderate acne vulgaris patients were included in the study. One inflammatory lesion measuring 2.0 to 5.0 mm in diameter which occurred within 48 hours prior to the measurement was selected as the target lesion. Trans-epidermis water loss (TEWL), capacitance and a* value were measured in target lesions and lesion-adjacent normal skin. Sebum content immediately,1 and 4 (saturated) hours after face washing was also determined on target lesions and central forehead between the eyebrows. Sebum secretion rate (SSR) was calculated. Results The TEWL and SSR significantly increased in the lesion-adjacent normal skin with the increment of inflammatory lesion number (both P < 0.05), and increased in target lesions with the elevation of a* value (both P < 0.05). The target lesions exhibited a significantly higher TEWL but a lower saturated sebum content and SSR than the adjacent normal skin did (all P <0.05). Conclusions The severity of inflammatory lesions is correlated with the impaired barrier function and increased SSR in facial skin. Compared with the adjacent normal skin, inflammatory skin lesions have a reduced skin barrier function and SSR.

The chemical constituents isolated from Desmodium species (Leguminosae) included terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids compounds. Modem pharmacological studies have showed that the Desmodium species have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic and choleretic activity. This article mainly has reviewed the research advances of chemical constituents and biological activities of Desmodium species since 2003.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Humans

Objective To investigate whether high glucose can induce endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in glomerular endothelial cells and the role of TGF-β in the process.Methods Rat glomerular endothelial cells were divided into five groups:normal glucose (NG,5.5mmol/L),high glucose (HG,15,30 mmol/L),TGF-β inhibition (HG+ LY36,30 mmol/L glucose + 10 μmol/L LY364947),hyperosmotic control (M,5.5 mmol/L glucose+25.5 mmol/L mannitol) and solvent control (D,5.5 mmol/L glucose + 1 ml/L DMSO).Western blotting was performed to detect relative protein quantities of endothelial marker claudin 5 and mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR.Vascular endothelial marker VE-cadherin and mesenchymal marker α-SMA were detected by immunofluorescent stain and observed by confocal microscopy.Results Compared with NG,the expression of claudin5 protein in HG (15 or 30 mmol/L) was up-regulated while expression of α-SMA protein was down-regulated (P ＜0.05).Both TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA levels increased as well (P ＜ 0.05).However,when compared with HG,the claudin 5 levels increased while α-SMA decreased in TGF-β inhibition group.No significant changes were observed in hyperosmotic or solvent control group.Confocal microscopy showed the transformation of cells from a cobblestone-liked shape to a spindle one,and a decreasing expression of VE-cadherin while an increasing α-SMA in HG group (P ＜ 0.05),whereas TGF-β inhibition partly attenuated those changes in both morphological and protein levels.Conclusions High glucose treatment of glomerular endothelial cells results in an increase in the level of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA and leads to endothelial-mesenchymal transiton.Inhibition of TGF-β partly prevents this process,indicating that TGF-β plays a crucial role in high-glucose-induced glomerular endothelial-mesenchymal transiton.

Objective To reinvestigate the value of overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Methods Fifty-two patients with Cushing syndrome and 153 patients with simple obesity or essential hypertension in whom Cushing syndrome was excluded were studied retrospectively in order to compare the sensitivity and specificity of different serum cortisol cut-off levels in overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Results The sensitivity of 50% of basal serum cortisol level at 8:00 and of the serum cortisol cut-off levels of 275,200,138,50 nmoL/L at 8:00 after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test was 92.3%,92.3%,92.3%,92.3% and 100.0% respectively, and the specificity was 90.8%,98.7%,96.1%,91.5% and 78.4%,respectively.Conclusion The serum cortisol cut-off level of 50 nmol/L in the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test has very high sensitivity and can be used as a screening test for Cushing syndrome.

Objective To analyze the bloodstream infections caused by vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus (VRE)in West China Hospital and examine the risk factors of such infections for best control of VRE infections .Methods Case‐control method was used to compare the bloodstream infections due to VRE with those caused by vancomycin‐susceptible Enterococcus(VSE)from August 2010 to August 2014 in West China Hospital .The data were compared by T‐test ,Chi‐square test (univariate analysis) and logistic regression analysis (multivariate analysis) using SPSS 19 .0 software .Results A total of 31 VRE strains were isolated from bloodstream infections in the study period ,including 5 (16 .1 % ) strains of vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecalis and 26 (83 .9 % )strains of vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium .In the past four years ,the prevalence of vancomycin‐resistant E . f aecalis in bloodstream infections was 1 .5% ,1 .6% ,1 .8% ,and 1 .2% ;while the prevalence of vancomycin‐resistant E . f aecium in bloodstream infections was 3 .8% ,4 .4% ,5 .8% ,and 7 .1% .Such VRE bloodstream infection was mainly found in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)(13 ,41 .9% )and Department of Neurosurgery (4 ,12 .9% ) .More than 90% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and erythromycin .But less than 20% of the strains were resistant to quinupristin‐dalfopristin and linezolid . Univariate analysis indicated that prolonged hospital stay , ICU admission , venous catheter ,prior carbapenem exposure , prior vancomycin/norvancomycin exposure were associated with VRE bloodstream infections .Logistic regression analysis confirmed that venous catheter was an independent risk factor of VRE bloodstream infections .Conclusions Venous catheter is an independent risk factor for VRE bloodstream infections . Infection control measures should be strengthened to prevent the outbreak of VRE‐related bloodstream infections .