Child ; Humans ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; urine ; Proteinuria ; urine ; Severity of Illness Index

AIMTo study the bioactive components from Schisandra propinqua (Wall.) Baill var. intermidia A. C. Smith.

METHODSCompounds were separated with a combination of multichromatography. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

RESULTSSeven compounds were isolated from the leaves of Helicia nilagirica. The structures were elucidated as 6'-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosylthalictoside (1), 6'-O-beta-D-apiofuranosylthalictoside (2), thalictoside (3), icariside D2 (4), prinsepiol (5), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol (6) and (+)-medioresinol (7).

CONCLUSIONTwo compounds are new nitro phenolic glycosides.

Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Nitro Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Schisandra ; chemistry

AIMTo study the bioactive components from Helicia nilagirica.

METHODSCompounds were separated with a combination of multi-chromatography. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

RESULTSTwo compounds were isolated from the leaves of Helicia nilagirica. Compound 1 was elucidated as 1-O-3-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hyd roxylignocenoyl-amino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol. Compound 2 was an analogue of 1.

CONCLUSIONThe two compounds are new cerebrosides.

Cerebrosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosylceramides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proteaceae ; chemistry

A bacterial strain which could grow well on the substrate of PAEs as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from contaminated sludge in the river of WeiFang in ShangDong province and it was designated as JDC-3. Based on the morphology,biophysical and biochemical properties as well as molecular characteristics,this isolate was preliminarily identified as Delftia sp.. A fragment of phthalate dioxygenase gene was successfully amplified from the genus of Delftia for the first time using a set of degenerate primers. Meanwhile,the degradation capability of JDC-3 was determined by HPLC using DMP as test substrate. The results showed that the optimal pH and temperature were at 7.0～8.0 and 30?C～35?C respectively. The degradation kinetics of JDC-3 was studied in different initial DMP concentration under optimal conditions. The results indicated that the degradation dynamic equation was ln C =-0.06837 t + A when DMP concentration was lower than 300 mg/L,with half life of 12.48 h. The degradation rate decreased and half life of JDC-3 prolonged as the initial concentration kept on increasing.

With human chromosomes,as antigen,anti—human—chromosome antibodies (AhChrA)were detected specifically from SLE patients sera by the methods of immunogold—silver staining(IGSS)and immnuofluorescenee tese (IFT)。To SLE,the sensitivity and specificity of serumAhChrA was 58.1%and98.5%respeetively in IGSS,34.9%and99.5%respectively in IFT。Boththe incidence and titer of AhChrA were found to be colsely related to the pathoactivity and thedamages of some important organs or tissues,such as kidney damage,abnormal immunity andhematocytopenia.A preliminary analysis of the antigen components reacting to AhChrA was alsoperformed。

The specific inhibition of angiotensin II action at AT(1) receptors by losartan has been shown to decrease peripheral insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients and animal models. We examined the effect of losartan on the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein kinase B (PKB) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), as well as the phosphorylation status of IRS-1 and the association between IRS-1 and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in skeletal muscle from fat-fed and-streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, the effects of losartan on GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells and on insulin sensitivity were also evaluated. Muscle tissues were isolated from male losartan-treated and untreated normal or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats with a dose of 4 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks. Oral administration of losartan improved insulin sensitivity, which was determined by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In skeletal muscles, the protein levels of IRS-1, PKB and GLUT4 in NIDDM rats were not significantly different from those of the control rats, and they were not affected by losartan. The levels of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 and PKB activation after stimulation with insulin in muscle tissue of NIDDM rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01) compared with those in the control rats, while they were not increased by losartan. Losartan had a major effect on GLUT4 translocation in myocytes, as it significantly increased (P<0.05) the insulin-induced amounts of GLUT4 in plasma membrane (PM) and T-tubules (TT) in myocytes from NIDDM rats. Consistent with these results, the plasma glucose level in losartan-treated NIDDM rats was decreased (P<0.05) compared with that in untreated NIDDM rats. Our results suggest that losartan may exert beneficial effects on insulin resistance by increasing the translocation of GLUT4 in muscle tissue, which is probably associated with a non-PI 3-kinase-dependent mechanism.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; Insulin Resistance ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) system on lipid deposition at aortic intima and the mechanism involved in hyperlipidemic rabbits.

METHODSTotally 32 rabbits, were divided into four groups. One group as control. Three groups for the following treatments: 1.5% cholesterol ration (Ch group, n = 8); 1.5% cholesterol ration plus HO-1 inducer hemin (Hm group, n = 8); and instead of hemin, the HO-1 inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (Zn group, n = 8) was given by injection into the abdominal cavity. Experiments were lasted for 12 weeks. Rabbit aortas were then isolated as the samples for histopathologic and ultrastructural examination. The protein expressions of HO-1 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSComparing with the Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group showed a remarkably less extent of lipid deposition at the aortic intima [(17.9 ± 3.0)% vs (54.0 ± 4.2)%], and rabbits of the Zn group had a marked extent of lesion development [(61.1 ± 3.5)%]. Lipid deposition, endothelial damage and neo-intimal formation were less severe in rabbits of the Hm group than those in the Zn or Ch group, respectively. Comparing with the control group, rabbits of the Ch group showed a significant decrease of aortic NO production and cNOS activity. However, there were an enhancement of CO production and HO-1 activity (P < 0.01). Compared with Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group showed a remarkable elevation of aortic HO activity and CO production, whereas rabbits of the Zn group showed a marked decrease of both parameters. Compared with the Ch group, rabbits of the Hm group demonstrated a marked reduction of aorta ET-1 expression, whereas Zn group had a significantly higher ET-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONSModulation of HO-1/CO system may improve vascular endothelial function and inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, likely through a compensatory mechanism and a reduction of ET-1 expression, eventually leading to an inhibition of atherosclerotic plaque development.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; pharmacology ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Hemin ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Tunica Intima ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the environmental changes of new snail habitual by using multi-temporal relative radiometric normalized TM images taken in Wuzhoutou of Nanchang, Jiangxi province.

METHODSTM images of Poyang Lake were collected on 3rd April 1998, 16th April 2000 and 5th May 2004. Taking images in 2004 as a reference, the TM images in 1998 and 2000 were radiometric normalized. The images were analyzed to trace the vegetation background and snail historical information.

RESULTSThe vegetation coverage rate of Wuzhaoutou on April 3rd in 1998 was 4.76%, but the vegetation coverage rates of Wuzhoutou on April 16th in 2000 and May 5th in 2004 were above 80%; the NDVI values of Wuzhoutou on April 3rd in 1998 were around -0.4 to 0.2, but the NDVI values of Wuzhoutou on April 16th in 2000 and May 5th in 2004 were mainly around 0.2 to 0.6, which had statistical difference with that in 1998 (q = 162.285321, P < 0.01 and q = 161.669725, P < 0.01). The greenness of three images have statistical differences(q = 178.679245, P < 0.01; q = 130.320755, P < 0.01 and q = - 48.358491, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombining with the snail survey, the TM images could be an effective measure for setting up models to forecast the areas where snails might live to control the Schistosomiasis epidemic.

Animals ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Geographic Information Systems ; Satellite Communications ; Snails

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a retro-grade auricular flap for repairing large alar defects.

METHODSTwenty-nine adult cadavers were anatomically used for vascular investigation of the frontal, nasal and temporal regions by injecting a dye into the main vessels. Based on the anatomical study in these regions, a retro-grade auricular flap was designed for repairing alar defects in 16 patients.

RESULTSThe blood supply of the auricle could be nourished by the inner carotid artery system from the supratrachlear artery and supraorbital artery through the frontal arterial anastomotical network into the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. It is then passing the main trunk of the superficial temporal artery into the ear area through the auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery. The retro-grade auricular island flap could be formed by basing the supratrachlear artery and the supraorbital artery through the vascular network between the superficial temporal artery and the supratrachlear artery or the supraorbital artery. Sixteen patients with large alar defects and half-sized nasal defects were successfully repaired by this technique.

CONCLUSIONSThe retro-grade auricular island flap, based on the inner carotid artery system, could be a good and safe flap for repairing a large alar defect or half-sized nasal reconstruction.

Adult ; Arteries ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Ear Auricle ; blood supply ; Humans ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Temporal Arteries

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) ion channel protein in human odontoblasts (OD).

METHODSTwenty intact and healthy third molars extracted for orthodontic purpose were included. The quality of dental tissue sections was determined through HE staining, and the OD layer was further determined by dentin sialophosphoproteins (DSPP) antibody staining, and finally the expression of TRPV3 ion channel protein in human dental pulp tissue was examined by TRPV3 ion channel protein-specific antibody. The expression of TRPV3 channel proteins in human OD at different part of dental pulp was compared using Image Pro Plus (IPP) and SPSS software.

RESULTSTRPV3 channel protein expressed on the cell body of OD in the coronal and root pulp, and the expression in the coronal pulp was significantly higher than that in the root pulp. The TRPV3 protein also expressed at the odontoblastic process, with the higher expression in the crown (IA = 2516 ± 162) than in the root (IA = 2224 ± 150) and external root (IA = 2121 ± 92) (P < 0.05), but the expression between the lateral root area and external root area was not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHuman odonoblasts expressed TRPV3 ion channel protein and the expression level was different at different part of dental pulp OD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Odontoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Tooth Crown ; metabolism ; Tooth Root ; metabolism ; Young Adult