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.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel 4 (HCN4) and connexin43 (Cx43) in the sinoatrial node of electric shock death. METHODS: As experimental group, 34 cases of electric shock death who had definite current mark evidence were selected from pathology department of Xuzhou Medical College from 2010 to 2013. As the control group, 20 cases of fatal severe craniocerebral injury in traffic accidents were chosen. The expressions of HCN4 and Cx43 in the sinoatrial node were observed by immunohistochemical technology. RESULTS: HCN4 positive cells expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of the sinoatrial node. Cx43 positive cells expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of T cells and myocardial cells. The expression of HCN4 was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05) and the expression of Cx43 was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The changes of HCN4 and Cx43 expressions in the sinoatrial node illustrate electric shock death might be related to the abnormalities of cardiac electrophysiology and conduction.
Connexin 43/metabolism* ; Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels ; Heart Rate ; Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry/methods* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Sinoatrial Node/physiopathology*

Mechanical loading is the main "instructive" factor of bone formation. The mechanism becomes the heat point in the field of bone science, biomedicine project and rehabilitation research. Mechanical vibration is one of the mechanic stimulation. Evidences show that vibration has obvious anabolic effect, and will have a broad landscape in the treatment of osteoporosis. But in the present studies, there were incorporated with the vibration frequency, and intensity, in particularly, few reports about the mechanism of vibration to bone. It will provide theoretic foundation for further systematic, sound research and its clinical application.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Osteogenesis ; Vibration ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVENeonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon autoimmune disease passively transmitted from the mother in which there is transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. It is often misdiagnosed as intrauterine infection or sepsis. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to improve the understanding of pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of NLE.

METHODSClinical manifestations, results of the tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB and anti-dsDNA antibodies in both infants with NLE (8 cases) and their mothers and head ultrasound and CT scans of the infants were analyzed. Follow-up was performed until one and ahalf years of age or all the abnormalities had been resolved.

RESULTSTotally 8 cases (3 males and 5 females) matched the criteria for diagnosis of NLE from September 2003 to February 2006, among whom 4 were small for gestational age and one was born prematurely. Mean gestational age was 38.1 +/- 1.9 weeks, mean birth weight 2 605 +/- 420 grams, mean admission age 22.4 +/- 27.7 days (2 hours-72 days) and mean age of onset 9.4 +/- 12.1 days (0 - 28 days). The common clinical manifestations included cutaneous lupus lesions (8 infants), neural system abnormalities (2 infants) and congenital heart block (2 infants). The skin of the infants exhibited annular, erythematous or desquamative lesions. They all disappeared before 6 months of age. One patient presented with grade III atrioventricular block and was delivered by cesarean section because of "fetal distress". He did not recover at one and a half years follow-up. One infant was hypotonic with delayed neuro-motor development initially and during follow-up with both abnormal neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) and image findings. CT showed generalized low density involving periventricular area and deep white matter at one week of age. At the age of one and a half years, he presented with normal mental development index determined by CDCC infant intelligence mensuration. Other abnormal clinical findings included hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, cholestasis and elevated liver enzymes, which were all resolved before 6 months of age. Only 3 mothers of the NLE infants were diagnosed as lupus erythematosus before parturition and only one received partial therapy. At least anti-Ro/SSA antibody or anti-La/SSB antibody or ANA was found in the affected patients. Seven cases had circulating anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies in the mothers and in the newborns, while ANA was positive in 7 newborns and in all mothers. All the clinical symptoms except congenital heart block disappeared before 18 months of age. No special intervention was applied.

CONCLUSIONSerum auto-antibodies should be investigated to rule out NLE when there is congenital heart block or rashes or thrombocytopenia presented in a neonate, despite there is no maternal history. Central nervous system abnormalities in NLE are likely to be transient and whether it will cause long term sequelae is uncertain.

Autoimmune Diseases ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; diagnosis ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To studying the MR findings and pathology of peripheral small intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and improving the understanding of peripheral small cholangiocarcinoma with no-bile duct dilatation. Methods A retrospective analysis of 12 patients with intrahepatic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma which were confirmed by surgery and pathology, all patients were examined by abdominal MRI without and with contrast. Correlation was made with gross pathology and surgical pathological specimen. Results On T1WI, there were 4 cases of complex low signal intensity and 8 cases of low signal intensity. On T2WI, there were 8 cases of high signal intensity and 4 cases of complex high signal intensity. Enhanced MRI showed: marked nidus enhancement on arterial phase in 1 case, and the pathological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Inhomogeneous enhancement or annular enhancement were seen in 10 cases on arterial phase, 3 of these cases showed thin annular enhancement on arterial phase, low signalintensity on portal venous phase and isointensity on delayed phase. One case showed delayed enhancement. Thick circular enhancement correlated with pathological changes of survival of tumor cells, center areas correlated with fibrous connective tissue, and a small amount of necrotic tissue. Island-like enhancement or inhomogeneous enhancement were seen in 3 cases. Corresponding pathological changes consisted of tumor tissue and a small amount of fibrous connective tissue, as well as somenecrotic tissue. In 1 case, no enhancement was seen on all three phases and pathological changes showed cystic changes, hemorrhage, necrosis, with survival tumor cells seen between cyst and normal liver tissue. Conclusions MRI scanning of peripheral small cholangiocarcinoma lacked characteristic features, but dynamic contrast-enhanced MR had certain specific findings. Due to different pathology, the fibrous tissue, necrotic tissue and survival tumor tissue components were exhibited different imaging findings.

AIM:To study of hypertensive retinopathy and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) correlation.METHODS:Totally 89 cases 140 eyes of patients with hypertensive retinopathy in our hospital from June 2015 to December 2016 and 30 healthy subjects (60 eyes) were selected as the research objects,and were divided into the observation group and the control group,respectively.All of the subjects were examined by direct ophthalmoscope,and the results were classified according to Keith-Wagener four classification.Application of OMRON health care (China) Co.,Ltd.production of BP-203RPE network arteriosclerosis detection device for selected objects of baPWV detection.The levels of baPWV and the results of fundus examination were compared between the two groups,and the correlation between the two methods was analyzed.RESULTS:Detection of baPWV in patients was higher as the hypertension severity increased,there was statistically significant differences between groups (P＜ 0.05).The retinopathy grade was higher,the baPWV detection value was larger,the detection value of every grade was different statistically with others (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Elevated blood pressure is closely related to retinopathy and accelerated pulse wave velocity,relationship between the two values is notable,brachial ankle pulse wave velocity can be used to reflect the level of hypertensive retinopathy.

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of CT-guided stereotactic and neuroendoscope-assisted operation on cerebral hemorrhage caused by hypertension. Methods Twenty-five cases of cerebral hemorrhage caused by hypertension treated in our department in 2005-2006 were selected. ASA602A type position finder was installed under local anesthesia, and operation planning system was imported after CT scanning. The target point was selected at 1-1.5 cm posterior the central point of the largest hematoma, then the coordinate of the target point was calculated, and incisal opening and operation approach were programmed. Brain operation with trephine was performed under general anesthesia. After hematoma evacuating cannula were placed in the skull hole of 3 cm in diameter to remove partial hematoma, neuroendoscope was inserted to get rid of hematoma and stop bleeding.Results Of 25 patients with cerebral hemorrhage, 24 h after operation, 10 received evacuation of 60%-70% of hematomas, 11 did 80%-90%, 4 did more than 90%; 72 h after operation, all patients received evacuation of more than 90%. During the follow-up for 3 months after the operation, activities of daily living (ADL) scoring showed excellent improvement in 14 cases and amelioration in 9; 2 patients died from lung infection 10, 14 d after operation, respectively. Conclusions CT-guided stereotactic and neuroendoscope-assisted surgery is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method to treat hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of resveratrol on coronary collateral circulation in pigs suffered from experimental acute coronary occlusion.

METHODSEighteen healthy pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: resveratrol group, nitroglycerin group and control group. Animal model of acute coronary occlusion was established through PTCA method, and the blood flow spectrum in the left circumflex artery (LCX) was detected using intracoronary Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTSThe average peak velocity (APV) in infarction correlation artery (IRA) was significantly decreased immediately after coronary occlusion [(0.85 ± 0.25) cm/s vs. (24.83 ± 3.43) cm/s, P < 0.05]. The APV remained unchanged during 0, 30 and 60 minutes after the occlusion. Reversed or bidirectional blood flow was observed and the APV increased significantly [(9.22 ± 0.80) cm/s vs. (0.84 ± 0.21) cm/s, (8.93 ± 1.28) cm/s vs. (0.86 ± 0.26) cm/s respectively, P < 0.05] after the coronary injection of resveratrol (2 mg) or nitroglycerin (0.3 mg). There was no significant difference in peak APV between the resveratrol and nitroglycerin groups. The duration of increased APV was significantly longer in resveratrol group than that in nitroglycerin group [(58.83 ± 6.15) min vs. (21.80 ± 5.79) min, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSThe collateral circulation after acute coronary occlusion was obviously insufficient in pigs. Resveratrol could significantly improve the blood flow in coronary collateral circulation after acute occlusion in this model.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Coronary Occlusion ; drug therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Nitroglycerin ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo clone the plasmid protein pORF8 of Chlamydia trachomatis and localize its expression in Chlamydia-infected cells.

METHODSpORF8 gene was amplified and cloned into pGEX-6p vector, and the pORF8 fusion protein was expressed in E.coli XL1 Blue. After purification with glutathione-conjugated agarose beads, the pORF8 fusion protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice to generate polyclonal antibodies against pORF8 protein. The antibodies obtained were used to localize the plasmid protein pORF8 in Chlamydia-infected cells with immunofluorescence assay (IFA).

RESULTSThe pORF8 gene 744 bp in length was successfully cloned and the GST fusion protein with a relative molecular mass of 54 000 was obtained. The cellular distribution pattern of the plasmid protein pORF8 was similar to that of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), a known C. trachomatis inclusion body protein, but not to that of chlamydial protease-like activity factor (CPAF, a secreted protein).

CONCLUSIONThe plasmid protein pORF8 is localized on the bacterial organism as an inclusion body protein in C. trachomatis-infected cells. The cellular location of pORF8 protein can potentially provide important insights into the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis.

Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chlamydia Infections ; metabolism ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of PLA2R1 in renal biopsy specimens of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and explore the relationship between PLA2R1 and IMN.

METHODSA total of 108 adult patients with biopsy-proved glomerular diseases were enrolled in this study, including 41 with IMN, 2 with hepatitis B-associated membranous nephropathy, 8 with V lupus nephritis, 27 with IgA nephropathy, 19 with minimal change nephropathy, 5 with mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, and 6 with focal segmental glomeruloselerosis (FSGS). Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect PLA2R1 in the biopsy specimens and the clinical variables of the IMN patients were analyzed.

RESULTSIn 35 of the 41 (85.37%) patients with IMN, PLA2R1 was detected with a fine granular pattern in the subepithelial deposits along the glomerular capillary loops. PLA2R1 antigen was not detected in patients with other glomerulopathies. No significant differences were found in age, serum creatinine, serum albumin, or 24-h urinary protein level between PLA2R1-positive and negative patients with IMN (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAccording to our results, 85.37% of adult patients with biopsy-proven IMN are positive for PLA2R1 antigen, which, however, does not contribute to variations of the patients' clinical manifestations.

Adult ; Biopsy ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; metabolism ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; metabolism