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 analyze and compare the clinical application values of procalcitonin (PCT),leukocyte count (WBC) and C-reactive protein(CRP) in elder patients with infection.Methods In patients(age≥ 65 yrs,axillary temperature ＞38.0℃)with infection or suspected infection,PCT,WBC,CRP and other bacteriological examination were performed.The electronic medical records from the HIS system of our hospital were analyzed retrospectively in combination with medical history.Results Of the enrolled 219 patients,65 ones were in control group,48 ones SIRS,51 ones sepsis and 55 ones MODS.There was a positive correlation between the level of serum PCT and the infection degree.The Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.706 (95％CI:0.616-0.797,P=0.000).Based on the highest Youden index (sensitivity+specificity-1),the best cutoff point of diagnosis for PCT was ＞0.341 μg/L (sensitivity 84.5％,specificity 55.8％),a analysis of receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve about PCT,WBC and CRP was carried.Area under the curve (AUC) of PCT to controlled infection was 0.916 (95％CI:0.864-0.967,P=0.000).Based on the highest Youden index (sensitivity+ specificity-1),the judging threshold of PCT to infection controlled or not was 0.73 μg/L (sensitivity 84.6％,specificity 88.0％).PCT level after treatment ＞0.73 μg/L showed the uncontrolled infection,＜ 0.73 μg/L controlled.Conclusions PCT has a higher specificity for elder patients with infection.The variation of PCT level can guide the application of antibiotics,avoid abuse and decrease the occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria.

BACKGROUNDHyperostosis is a common pathological change among people more than 50 years old; it is connected with many risk factors, which are all indefinite. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the correlation between obesity and female hyperostosis.

METHODSTotally 4326 females were included in this study and their basic information including their age, stature, body weight, course of disease, symptoms, medical complications, frequency of exercise and smoking, and X-ray and bone mineral density (BMD) examination results, was carefully collected for a statistical analysis. The t test or chi(2) test was used to evaluate the differences between two groups; an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the differences among several groups; the relationship between hyperostosis and body mass index (BMI), age, medical complications, exercise, average BMD was analyzed using Logistic regression.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of hyperostosis in obese patients was higher than that in patients with normal weight (P = 0.000). Obesity was relevant to hyperostotic sites (P = 0.000), and the incidence of hyperostosis in one or several sites of the lumbar vertebrae, knee joints, and other sites was higher in obese patients than in patients with normal weight. There was also a difference in the extent of hyperostosis between these two groups. BMI had positive effects on the incidence and degree of hyperostosis, which were also relative to the sites of hyperostosis, and the BMI of patients without hyperostosis were much lower than those of the patients with hyperostosis in their lumbar vertebrae, knee joints, or multiple sites. Obesity, age, and exercise had positive effects on the incidence of hyperostosis (P = 0.002, 0.000, 0.018).

CONCLUSIONSObesity is a significant potential stimulant of hyperostosis, especially hyperostosis in knee joints and multiple sites; keeping fit might be an important way to prevent it.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperostosis ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prospective Studies

To observe the effects of Panax Notoginosides (PNS) on up-regulation of AP-1 family transcription factors NF-E2, c-jun and c-fos for exploring intracellular signal pathway of PNS in hematopoietic cells, four human hematopoietic cells lines including myeloid HL-60, erythroid K562, megakaryoid CHRF-288 and Meg-01 were incubated in the presence of PNS for 14 days. The nuclear protein of cells were extracted and analyzed by Western blot with antibodies against NF-E2, c-fos and c-jun. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed by using (32)P labeled AP-1 consensus oligonucleotide which contains binding site for NF-E2, c-jun and c-fos. The results showed that the transcription factors NF-E2, c-jun and c-fos of AP-1 family could be induced by PNS. Western blot demonstrated that the nuclear protein of both NF-E2 and c-jun in four cell lines treated by PNS were increased by 1.5-2.5- and 2.0-3.0-fold over untreated cells respectively. The c-fos protein in three cell lines of K562, CHRF-288 and Meg-01 was also elevated by 2.0-3.0-fold respectively, while c-fos protein in HL-60 cells was no detectable difference after PNS treatment. EMSA results in four cell lines indicated that AP-1 binding activity initiated by PNS was apparently elevated to form higher density band of AP-1-DNA complex. In conclusion, the intracellular transcription regulation initiated by PNS was involved in transcription factors NF-E2, c-jun and c-fos of AP-1 family members, which could play an important role in the up-regulation of genes expression related to proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells.
DNA ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, fos ; Genes, jun ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; NF-E2 Transcription Factor ; NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit ; Panax ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

AIM To prepare nanosuspensions of flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and to determine the in vitro dissolution rate.METHODS Precipitation-high pressure homogenization method was adopted in the preparation of nanosuspensions.With mean particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) as evaluation indices,concentrations of flavonoids,povidone K30 (PVP K30) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) as influencing factors,central composite design-response surface method was applied to optimizing the preparation.For the freedried powder prepared by freeze-drying method,the optimal kind and ratio of lyoprotectant were screened.Then the in vitro dissolution rates of freeze-dried powder and physical mixture were compared.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 10.00 mg/mL for flavonoids' concentration,and 2.30 mg/mL for both PVP K30 and PEG 400 concentrations,the mean particle size and PDI were (172.3 ± 1.2) nm and 0.175 ± 0.004,respectively.The optimal lyoprotectant was 5％ mannitol-lactose (3 ∶ 2),the mean particle size and PDI after redissolution were (239.7 ±2.1) nm and 0.193 ±0.032,respectively.The in vitro dissolution rate of lyoprotectant reached 87.7％ within 60 min,which was much higher than that of physical mixture (less than 30％).CONCLUSION Nanosuspension can effectively improve the in vitro dissolution rate of flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between lymph node metastasis and prognosis in patients of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

METHODSA retrospective clinical analysis was made in 132 cases of ICC, who admitted to our hospital from December 1996 to June 2003. Kaplan-meier method was used to calculate their survival rates, chi(2) test to compare the difference of sample rates. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing lymph node metastasis and log-rank univariate analysis was used to assess the role of lymph node metastasis in the long-survival.

RESULTSLymph node metastasis in hepatoduodenal ligament could be detected in all 29 preoperative and 48 postoperative lymph metastatic cases, without "jumping-metastasis". Lymph metastasis was one of the major causes of postoperative mortality, and resulted in 36 of 58 followed-up death postoperatively. According to logistic analysis, pathological types of the carcinoma (chi(2) = 4.071, P = 0.044) and periductal-infiltrating tumors (chi(2) = 3.872, P = 0.037) were significant predictors of lymph node metastasis. In all 98 radical resections, 46 cases performed skeletonization of the hepatoduodenal ligament while other 52 cases not. The median survival of the two groups was 20 months and 13 months respectively (chi(2) = 9.82, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament may be sentinel nodes for ICC lymph node metastasis. Aggressive treatment of lymph node metastasis in the hepatoduodenal ligament is an important strategy to improve the long-survival of postoperative ICC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; mortality ; secondary ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Isotretinoin ; pharmacology ; Melanoma ; pathology ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; physiology ; Retinoid X Receptors ; physiology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the setting of logos on tobacco control information at outlets for retails and restaurants in 12 selected cities of China.Methods For all the shops for retail of tobacco,alcohol,food and restaurants under survey in 333 blocks of 12 cities (Beijing,Tianjin,Shanghai,Qingdao,Hangzhou,Shaoxing,Suzhou,Nantong,Zhenjiang,Chengdu,Xining and Harbin),setting and contents of logos on tobacco control information,inside and outside them were examined.Results 45 700 objectives were included in the study.Among all types of retail shops,the identification rate of tobacco control information at the entrance and inside were 3.6％ and 4.4％,with an overall identification rate as 7.0％.The overall rate at the entrance of all the restaurants was 4.6％ which was larger than the ones at the retail shops.Our result showed that there were differences between cities and types of establishments and higher rates seen in the larger ones.Of all the places that having had placement of information on tobacco control,only 18.5％ of them had put them both inside and outside.Slogans or images on "No Smoking" were the main forms of information but less than 10％ of them would show signs as ‘exclusive non-smoking'.Conclusion Data from our survey showed that the identification rate of tobacco control information was at a low level in 12 cities,and differences were seen between cities,size of establishment,that called for improvement of the existing tobacco control policies in China.

BACKGROUNDHistone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The effects of trichostatin A (TSA) on gastric cancer cells have not been well characterized. This study was aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of TSA on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

METHODSThe cells were treated with TSA and analyzed by cell proliferation assay, Western blot, TUNEL assay, flow cytometry by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated with Annexin V and PI staining, immunofluorescence analysis, analysis of subcellular fractionation, gene chips and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSTSA could inhibit cell growth and induced apoptosis in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells through the regulation of apoptosis-related genes, such as Bcl-2, Bax and survivin. Further study indicated that the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk did not inhibit the apoptosis induced by TSA, and we did not observe the cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) after TSA treatment too. In addition, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and EndoG were found to translocate from mitochondria to nucleus in the immunofluorescence assay and the Western analysis of subcellular fractionation confirmed the result of immunofluorescence assay.

CONCLUSIONSThe apoptosis induced by TSA in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells involves a caspase-independent pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; physiology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo present a new neurovascular island flap for fingertip reconstruction.

METHODSBased on the transverse palmar branch of the digital artery, this flap was designed on the volar side of a digit and reversed to repair the fingertip defects.

RESULTS12 fingers in 11 patients were reconstructed using this flap. Of them, 11 flaps survived and one necrosed. The contour of the reconstructed fingers looked well.

CONCLUSIONThis new neurovascular island flap provides excellent padding and sensation for fingertip reconstruction. The technique is simple.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Fingers ; blood supply ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult