A HPLC method was established to determine the contents of the five anthraquinones and rhaponticin in the different varieties of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. The difference existed in different varieties. The results showed that rhein and rhaponticin were marker substances which could be used to distinguish palm leaf groups rhubarb and wave leaf groups rhubarb. Authentic rhubarb didn't contain rhaponticin. Falsify rhubarb contains trace amounts of rhein. Rheum tanguticum contains abundant rhein. The ratio value of the content of rhein to chrysophanol could be used to distinguish R. tanguticum from the other two authentic varieties (R. palmatum and R. officinale). The content of rhaponticin varied largely in different varieties of wave leaf groups rhubarb.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Rheum ; chemistry ; classification ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; classification

A microfluidic chip with integrated microelectrode for real-time dopamine detection was designed and fabricated. The chip consisted of a polydimethylsiloxane ( PDMS) channel plate and a glass electrode plate. One central channel as the culture chamber of neural stem cells and two lateral channels for transport of the culture medium were integrated on the PDMS channel plate. Microelectrodes for real-time dopamine detection were integrated on the glass electrode plate. To solve the problem in demoulding the PDMS channel plate from the silicon mould, a novel demoulding method was developed. An Au-Au-Au three-electrode system was constructed, and it performed well in electrochemical detection. The performance of the microfluidic chip was primarily studied by detecting dopamine dissolved in the medium for the culture of neural stem cells. The limit of detection was 3. 92 μmol/L, the linear detection range was from 10 μmol/L to 500 μmol/L, and the detection reproducibility from different chips was less than 4%.

A microfluidic chip with micropillar arrays for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture was designed and validated.The chip consisted of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel plate and a glass cover plate.One cell culture chamber composed of two rows of micropillar arrays and two lateral channels for transporting the culture medium were integrated on the PDMS channel plate.The spacing between micropillars directly affects the chip performance, which is critical for the design of the chip.In this work, the spacing between micropillars was optimized by numerical simulation and experimental validation.With the optimized microfluidic chip, the mixture of cells and extracellular matrix mimics could be steadily injected into the cell culture chamber, the nutrients in the culture medium from the lateral channels could quickly diffuse into the chamber, and the cell metabolites could also timely diffuse out of the chamber.To test the stability of the microenvironment in the microfluidic chip, neural stem cells were three-dimensionally cultured.

Objective To explore the heterosexual intercourse characteristics and its influencing factors among MSM population. Methods Voluntary counseling/testing and questionnaire survey were carried out at the bathhouses where MSM usually assemble. Results Among 342 MSM surveyed,52. 05% were married. 76 people( 22. 22%) were completely homosexual,while 266 people(77. 78%)were bisexual. 24(31. 57%)MSM who answered″ totally gay″ in self-assessment of sex orientation were married,significantly lower than those answered bisexual(57. 89%)(p<0. 05). 197 of participants had sex with women ,and 123 MSM had sex with women during the last six months,49 MSM of which used condoms at each heterosexual activity. MSM who were married or bisexual were easy to have heterosexual intercourse. Among the MSM surveyed,the HIV and syphilis infection rates were 11. 40% and 16. 67% respectively. There was no significant difference between the use of condoms and infection( both p>0. 05). In the recent six months,there was no significant difference in the use of condoms between infected( 43. 34%)and non-infected persons( 43. 34%)( p >0. 05). Conclusion Among MSM population,the prevalence of heterosexual intercourse is high,while condom use rate is relatively low. It is necessary to strengthen the behavioral intervention and promote condom use.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) tool drugs and combined acupuncture and medicine on striatal expressions of D1R and dopamine transporters (DAT) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-reperfusion rats.MethodForty-seven male SD rats were randomly grouped, used to make a model and given corresponding interventions. The materials were taken and fixed six hrs later. Striatal D1R and DAT expressions were detectedby an immunohistochemical method in different groups.ResultThe neurological deficit score was significantly higher in the model group than in the blank group. Electroacupuncture treatment decreased the score significantly (P<0.05). D1R expression was significantly down-regulated in the antagonist, electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture plus antagonist groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in D1R expression between the model group and the antagonist or electroacupuncture plus antagonist group (P>0.05). DAT expression was significantly down-regulated in the other groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in D1R expression between all groups except the model group (P>0.05).ConclusionCerebral ischemia-reperfusion can result in high D1R and DAT expressions in rat striatum on the ischemic side. Electroacupuncture, D1R antagonists and a combination of the two can significantly down-regulate D1R expression and have a protective effect on the brain. The effects of electroacupuncture and D1R antagonists can not be added to each other. D1R signaling pathway may be one of ways by which electroacupuncture produces a protective effecton the brain.

This study was purpose to investigate the B7-H3 expression in multiple myeloma cell lines and CD138 cells of patients with multiple myeloma, and explore its clinical significance. Three myeloma cell lines (RPMI8226, U266 and H929) were used. Forty-five patients with multiple myeloma were enrolled in the study. The expression of B7-H3 was detected by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. The relationship between B7-H3 and clinical prognostic factor was analyzed. The results showed that (1)In myeloma cell lines, high expression of B7-H3 was seen in RPMI8226 (92.30 ± 1.1)% and U266 (79.03 ± 1.2)% but not in H929 cell line (4.26 ± 0.2)%. (2) Exogenous IL-6 had no effect on upregulation of B7-H3 in myeloma cell lines. (3) In multiple myeloma patients, the proportions of B7-H3 positive cells in newly diagnosed, remission and relapsed patients were (48.58 ± 33.593)%, (22.16 ± 18.853)%, and (57.65 ± 28.296)%, respectively. The difference between the newly diagnosed and remission patients, and remission and relapsed patients was significant (P = 0.023, P = 0.004). (4)High B7-H3 expression was correlated with high numbers of bone destruction and high levels of serum calcium (P = 0.027, P = 0.046, respectively). It is concluded that the relation of B7-H3 molecule expression with prognosis of multiple myeloma may be negative, but with degree of bone destruction is positive, thus the high expression of B7-H3 may correlated with disease progression and bone destruction of patients with multiple myeloma.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; B7 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bone and Bones ; pathology ; Calcium ; blood ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) on the apoptosis of thymic and splenic lymphocytes in rats with sepsis.

METHODSA total of 80 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7-8 weeks were randomly divided into model group, conventional lipid emulsion group (0.1 g/kg daily), low-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.1 g/kg daily), middle-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.2 g/kg daily), and high-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.3 g/kg daily). Cecal ligation and puncture were used to establish a rat model of sepsis. The treatment groups were then given tail vein injection of lipid emulsion or glucose diluents of ω-3 PUFAs at different doses, and the model group was given glucose injection via the tail vein at the same dose. According to the time of sacrifice, each group was further divided into 24-hour and 72-hour subgroups, with 8 rats in each subgroup. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the thymus and spleen. TUNEL was used to measure the apoptosis rates of thymic and splenic lymphocytes.

RESULTSIn the three ω-3 PUFAs groups, the rats had a complete thymic lobular structure and clear structures of the cortex and medulla. In the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the boundaries of the cortex and medulla were unclear and the number of lymphocytes was significantly reduced. In the ω-3 PUFAs groups, the structure of the red and white pulp of the spleen was maintained with the presence of splenic follicles, while in the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the structure of the red and white pulp of the spleen was disordered and splenic follicles were significantly reduced or disappeared. Compared with the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the ω-3 PUFAs groups showed significant reductions in the apoptosis rates of thymic and splenic lymphocytes at 24 and 72 hours (P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose ω-3 PUFAs group, the high-dose ω-3 PUFAs group had significantly reduced apoptosis rates of splenic lymphocytes at 24 and 72 hours (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSω-3 PUFAs can reduce the apoptosis of thymic and splenic lymphocytes in rats with sepsis in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Spleen ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo establish a BALB/c mice model system of cytomegalovirus-induced myocarditis.

METHODSTwenty five specific pathogen-free inbred female BALB/c mice (5 weeks old, 16 - 18 g, seronegative for MCMV) were infected with 1 x 10(4) PFU MCMV by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. All experimental mice were sacrificed at 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 days i.p. (n = 5 per time point). Hearts were removed under aseptic conditions, and were transected along the midline. One part of each heart was processed with Bouin's fixative for histological examination. The other part of each heart was immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 degrees C until MCMV titre was determined by plaque assay. Serum cTnI level was assayed by ELISA.

RESULTSMCMV was detected in the hearts at extremely low levels on 3 days i.p. and could not be detected on 10 days i.p. A mixed cellular infiltrate composed of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and mononuclear lymphocytes was observed on 3 days, which reached a peak at 7 to 10 days after MCMV infection and was maintained for at least 3 - 4 months postinfection. Serum cTnI levels were elevated on 3 days i.p., reaching a peak at 7 to 10 days i.p..

CONCLUSIONSThese data highlight the possible therapeutic uses of antiviral drugs in viral myocarditis as well as further elucidating the pathogenic nature of the disease.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Herpesviridae Infections ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muromegalovirus ; Myocarditis ; virology ; Troponin I ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether p53 pathway participates in the effect of emodin on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

METHODSThe effects of emodin on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation were evaluated by cell count, senescent-associated beta-galactosidase staining, and annexin V staining. DNA synthesis was determined by (3)H-thymidine corporation, cell cycle was analyzed by FACS, the p53 protein level was measured by Western blot and cDNA expression array technology was used to demonstrate the effect of emodin on the simultaneous expression of a large number of genes in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

RESULTSEmodin at 1.6-3.1 microg/ml inhibited VSMC growth, at 6.3-12.5 microg/ml promoted VSMC aging and induced VSMC apoptosis at 25.0 microg/ml 24 hours after exposure. Unscheduled DNA synthesis, which was a sensitive indicator for DNA injury, was observed in VSMC following 24 hours emodin exposure. The mRNA and protein levels of p53 were up-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. Proliferation/carcinogenesis-related genes were down-regulated and other genes related to cell senescence, apoptosis, and DNA damage/repair were up-regulated in VSMC after exposure to emodin for 24 hours. Emodin readily permeated VSMC membrane and mostly located in the cytoplasm and few of them in the nucleus.

CONCLUSIONSThe p53 pathway in VSMC was activated post emodin exposure in a concentration-dependent manner and which might be responsible for the observed antiproliferative effects of emodin in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Damage ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in ice cream by phenotypic typing and molecular typing.

METHODSThe Staphylococcus aureus isolates were separated from ice cream, filler, cutter, salves and material. The separated isolates were characterized by drug-resistance, staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEA-E), SE (A-E, G-J) genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types.

RESULTTwo Staphylococcus aureus isolates were separated, one from ice cream, another from cutter. Their characteristics of drug-resistance, staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEA-E), SE (A-E,G-J) genes and PFGE type were the same.

CONCLUSIONThe two Staphylococcus aureus isolates were the same clone. The contaminated Staphylococcus aureus isolates could be traced to the contaminated cutters.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Ice Cream ; microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; drug effects ; isolation & purification