Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy ( LTRS ) was used to study the inhibitory effect of indol on staphyloxanthin biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus cells and the dynamic changes of this pigment content inside bacterial cells during batch cultivation. The Raman spectra of Staphylococcus aureus cells cultivated for different time and exposed to various doses of indol were acquired. The intensity of 1523 cm-1 band was used for the quantification of staphyloxanthin, in the meantime, the pigment was measured by UV spectrometry. The experimental result showed that an excellent linear relationship existed between the intensities of Raman peak at 1523 cm-1 of bacterial cells and the pigment contents estimated by UV spectrometry, with a correlation coefficient of 0 . 9772 . The spectral data at population level as well as single cell level revealed that indol could inhibit the production of pigment in dose-dependent manner, and the pigment content in bacterial cells incubated with indol decreased by 70%. Under the batch growth condition, the pigment amount in Staphylococcus aureus cells reached the maximum value during the middle exponential growth phase ( 12 h ) and the heterogeneity of pigment content in bacterial cells within certain populations at various time points was relatively small, with RSDs of 39. 2% to 61. 1%. This investigation indicates that LTRS can be served as a reliable method for the analysis of staphyloxanthin content at single cell level.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and pathologic changes of VX2 liver tumor in rabbits treated with CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) with different concentration. Methods Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits with VX2 liver tumor were randomly divided into 4 groups (each n=8), i.e. anhydrous ethanol, 75% ethanol, 50% ethanol and control group (administrated physiological saline). Tumor size, imaging and pothologic changes were observed 7 d, 14 d, 21 d and 60 d after PEI. Results The volume was (4.68±5.05) cm~3 in anhydrous ethanol group, (6.33±6.59) cm~3 in 75% ethanol group, (17.54±5.06) cm~3 in 50% ethanol group and (16.87±5.27) cm~3 in control group 21 d after PEI. Tumor size in control group was larger than that in 75% ethanol group (t=6.32, P＜0.05) and anhydrous ethanol group (t=6.74, P＜0.05), in 50% ethanol group was larger than that in 75% ethanol group (t=4.99, P＜0.05) and anhydrous ethanol group (t=12.77, P＜0.05). No difference of tumor size was found between 50% ethanol group and control group, nor between 75% ethanol group and anhydrous ethanol group. ALT and AST both increased in all groups 1 d after PEI and returned to normal 7 d later except anhydrous ethanol group. ALT and AST in anhydrous ethanol group were higher than those in other groups (t=4.10, 4.49, 3.06, 5.79, 5.91, 4.11, all P＜0.05), and no difference of ALT and AST was detected between other groups. Area of coagulation necrosis enlarged with the increase of ethanol concentration. Conclusion Anhydrous ethanol and 75% ethanol both have obvious inhibition function to the rabbit VX2 tumor, while 75% ethanol has little damage to the liver function and is suitable for PEI.

Objective To study the chemical composition from leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius.Methods Some chromatography methods were used in the isolation procedure,while the structures were determined on the aids of NMR and MS spectral analyses.Results A new compound,together with five known compounds,was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the leaves.The new compound is characterized as 5,8-dihydroxyl-(5H,8H)-?-ionol(Ⅰ).Other compounds are obtained for the first time from the title plant and identified as ent-kaurane-3?,16?,17-triol(Ⅱ),entkaurane-16?,17-diol-19-oic acid(Ⅲ),3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde(Ⅳ),1-pentacosanol(Ⅴ),and 1-octacosanol(Ⅵ),respectively.Conclusion Compounds Ⅰ-Ⅵ are isolated from the plants of genus Smallanthus for the first time.Compound Ⅰ is a ?-ionol derivate firstly isolated from genus Smallanthus.It is named as sonchifolol.

Objective To investigate the methods of reducing radiation dose in CT coronary angiography through optimizing individualized scan dosage protocol.Methods Two hundred patients (group A)underwent coronary CTA examination which was performed with fixed 120 kV and variable mA according to their BMI.The mA was set as 150-300 mA(BMI ＜ 18.5 kg/m2),300-500 mA (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ＜ 25.0 kg/m2),and 500-800 mA(BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2).When all examinations were finished,a linear regression was employed to analyze the correlation between mA and BMI,body surface(Suf),image noise(SD)respectively.The results of the analysis were used to formulate a regression equation,which was further used to establish a table list for quick search on how much mA that individualized coronary CTA scan would need.Another 200 patients(group B)enrolled for the individualized scan were scanned under new protocol that previous study established.The tube voltage was 100 and 120 kV.The tube current was variable according to the data in the table list.One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-wallis H test were used for statistics.Results Regression equation between mA and BMI,Suf,SD was:mA =17.984 × BMI + 169.149 × Suf-2.282 × SD-361.039.The SD(group A:32.08 ± 5.80,group B:28.60±4.47),dose index volume(CTDIvol)[group A:(41.97 ± 11.37)mGy,group B:(33.18±10.07)mGy],effective dose(ED)[group A:(10.91 ±3.07)mSy,group B:(8.83 ±2.72)mSv]had significant differences between the two groups(F =43.45,63.71,49.07 respectively,P ＜0.01 for all).The SD and ED results obtained in group B were better than those in group A.Conclusion Better performances were obtained when BMI combined Suf was used as a new individualized protocol than when BMI was used only,which means good image quality and lower radiation dosage in coronary CTA examination.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between ITS sequence of Arctium lappa and Fructus Arctii quality of different origin.

METHODThe samples of Fructu arctii materials were collected from 26 different producing areas. Their ITS sequence were determined after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quality were evaluated through the determination of arctiin content by HPLC. Genetic diversity, genotype and correlation were analyzed by ClustalX (1.81), Mage 4.0, SPSS 13.0 statistical software.

RESULTITS sequence of A. was obtained from 26 samples, and was registered in the GenBank. Corresponding arctiin content of Fructus arctii and 1000-grain weight were determined. A. lappa genotype correlated with Fructus arctii quality by statistical analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe research provided a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of Fructus arctii geoherbs.

Arctium ; chemistry ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Furans ; analysis ; Genotype ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Software

OBJECTIVETo identify the traditional medicine Fructus Arctii from its adulterants by ITS.

METHODTwenty-six samples of the different Fructus Arctii materials and 10 samples of the adulterants of the fruits of A. tomentosum, Onopordum acantium, Silybum marianum, and Amorpha fruticosa were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, amplified cloned and sequenced.

RESULTITS sequences were obtained from 26 samples respectively, there were Fructus Arctii 641 bp, A. tomentosum 641 bp, Onopordum acantium 639 bp, Silybum marianum 630-631 bp, Amorpha fruticosa 625-626 bp, which were registered in the GenBank. The similarity in ITS sequences between Fructus Arctii and the adulterants was less than 95%. In contrast, the similarity between any pair of Fructus Arctii was greater than 99%. The similarity was 98.29%-99.22% between Fructus Arctii and A. tomentosum. Phylogeny tree reconstruction using UPGMA analysis based on ITS nucleotide sequences can effectively distinguish Fructus Arctii from adulterants.

CONCLUSIONITS sequences can be used as a reliable molecular marker for the identification of Fructus Arctii.

Arctium ; genetics ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Genetic Markers ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Ardipusilloside-I is a natural triterpenoid saponin, which was isolated from Ardisia pusilla A. DC. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stimulation of ardipusilloside-I on gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo. The experiment of smooth muscle contraction directly monitored the contractions of the isolated jejunal segment (IJS) in different contractile states, and the effects of ardipusilloside-I on myosin were measured in the presence of Ca²⁺-calmodulin using the activities of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC₂₀) phosphorylation and myosin Mg²⁺-ATPase. The effects of ardipusilloside-I on gastro emptying and intestinal transit in constipation-predominant rats were observed, and the MLCK expression in jejuna of constipated rats was determined by western blot. The results showed that, ardipusilloside-I increased the contractility of IJS in a dose-dependent manner and reversed the low contractile state (LCS) of IJS induced by low Ca²⁺, adrenaline, and atropine respectively. There were synergistic effects on contractivity of IJS between ardipusilloside-I and ACh, high Ca²⁺, and histamine, respectively. Ardipusilloside-I could stimulate the phosphorylation of MLC₂₀ and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of Ca²⁺- dependent phosphorylated myosin. Ardipusilloside-I also stimulated the gastric emptying and intestinal transit in normal and constipated rats in vivo, respectively, and increased the MLCK expression in the jejuna of constipation-predominant rats. Briefly, the findings demonstrated that ardipusilloside-I could effectively excite gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Ardisia ; Atropine ; Blotting, Western ; Epinephrine ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility* ; Histamine ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myosin Light Chains* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase* ; Myosins* ; Phosphorylation* ; Rats ; Saponins