To explore the new method of discriminating Cistanche deserticola, Cynomorium songaricum and Orobanche pycnostachya by using PCR amplification of specific alleles. 30 samples of the different C. deserticola, 21 samples of C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, the ITS sequences from C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. These sequences were aligned by using ClustulW. Specific primer was designed according to the ITS sequences of specific alleles, and PCR reaction system was optimized. Additionally, compare with the identification of specific PCR method and DNA sequence analysis method. The result showed that the 331 bp identification band for C. deserticola and the adulterants not amplified bands by a single PCR reaction, which showed good identification ability to the three species. PCR amplification of specific alleles can be used to identify C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya successfully.
Alleles ; Cistanche ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Cerebellar Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Ear Diseases ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) for hospital death events in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods The clinical data of 202 patients with CAP in Changhai Hospital and Second People's Hospital of Wuxi between Sep. 2006 and Sep. 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and laboratory parameters, including the serum CRP level, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum creatine concentration were collected from Hospital Information System (HIS) and Laboratory Information System (LIS). The patients were divided into two groups according to the final death (CAP related complications) or survival of patients in the hospital. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and multivariable logistical model were used to assess the predictive value of CRP on hospital death events. Results The median (interquartile range) serum CRP level of survival patients and patients who died during the hospital stay were 167. 00(132. 50,208. 50) mg/L and 327. 00(246. 25, 411. 50) mg/ L, respectively (Z= - 7. 481,P<0. 001). ROC analysis showed that CRP was an effective predictor for hospital death of CAP patients, with the area under curve (AUC) being 0. 85 (95%CI: 0. 78-0. 91). The optimal cot-off value for serum CRP was 230. 50 mg/L, with the sensitivity being 0. 83(95%CI: 0. 76-0. 89) and specificity being 0. 79(95%CI: 0. 65-0. 89). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusted for age, serum creatinine and ESR, CRP on admission was still independently associated with hospital death of CAP patients (.OR = 13. 42, P<0. 01). Conclusion Increased CRP is an independent risk factor for hospital death events in patients with severe CAP.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Brain ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Cisterna Magna ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stromal Cells ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Zengjing Capsule No. 1 (ZJC1) on morphology and motility of sperm in patients with oligospermia (OSM).

METHODSSeventy-two OSM patients were assigned to 2 groups by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, they were treated respectively by ZJC1 and Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP). The changes of density, motility and morphology of sperm in patients before and after 3-month treatment were examined using computerized WLJY-9000 colour semen analysis system with refined Papanicolaou's stain.

RESULTSThe density, motility and morphology of sperm were improved and sperm deformity rate was significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01), but the effects in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZJC1 can enhance the density and motility of sperm and reduce the sperm deformity rate in patients with OSM.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Brain ; abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a critical transcription factor for cell proliferation and survival. It is activated within cells by many cytokines to mediate immune and inflammatory responses to injury. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by Crohn′s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestinal tract. STAT3 has been shown to be abnormally activated in IBD colon tissues by many pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier and excessive innate immune and Th17 responses. The persistent chronic inflammation eventually leads to intestinal fibrosis and stenosis. In addition to immune responses, STAT3 is also involved in intestinal fibrosis in IBD by promoting the transcription of fibrosis-related genes. Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of colorectal cancer and is associated with chronic inflammation-induced IBD. STAT3 has also been associated with CAC initiation and development. STAT3 is overactivated in tumors, which leads to suppression of the anti-tumor activity of immune cells and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. In the present article, we summarize the role of STAT3 in IBD and CAC and the research progress of the related drugs developed for UC and CAC treatment.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; Crying ; Facial Asymmetry ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

To find novel antihepatitis drugs, a series of nitrate-oleanolic acid (OA) hybrids (10a, 10b, 11a-11e and 12a-12c) were designed and synthesized on the basis of previous studies using OA as lead compound, which is widely found in natural plants and liver-specific metabolism. In the present study, ten novel NO-releasing derivatives of OA were synthesized by connecting nitrate to the OA-3-OH through varying lengths of linkers containing antioxidants which were designed to increase the ability of these target compounds to scavenge free radicals. The structures of these objective compounds were determined by IR, MS, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. Their protective effects on anti-Fas mediated HepG2 cell apoptosis were in vitro evaluated by LDH assay. Compound 12a is the most potent inhibitor. Its effect on anti-Fas mediated HepG2 cell apoptosis and amount of NO-releasing in vitro are similar to those of positive control NCX-1000.
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Nitrates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish the bone marrow stem cells (MSC) model which could highly express the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) transfected by dog's IGF-1 gene.

METHODSpIRES2-EGFP-IGF-1 was transfected into MSC by lipofectamine. Positive clones were selected with G418. The expression of IGF-1 protein in the MSC was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The IGF-1 in the supernatant of the transfected MSC was detected by sandwich-in ELISA. The periodontal ligament cells (PDLC) were cultured in the supernatant of the transfected MSC. The changes of PDLC' proliferation were observed by MTT.

RESULTSIGF-1-transfected MSC could apparently express IGF-1. The IGF-1 protein in the supernatant of the transfected MSC was confirmed by sandwich-in ELISA. IGF-1 could promote the PDLC' proliferation.

CONCLUSIONSThe MSC transfected by dog's IGF-1 gene can highly express IGF-1, which may lay the foundation for further study on periodontal regeneration.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Genetic Vectors ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection