OBJECTIVETo study the flavonoids of the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata.

METHODTwelve flavonoids from the 85% EtOH extract were isolated by the silica gel column, Sephadex LH-20 column, ODS column chromatography and HPLC, and their structures were identified by the spectal analyses and chemical evidences.

RESULTThe 12 compounds were obtained and identified as 7-O-methylwogonin (1), 7-O-methyldihydrowogonin (2), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 5'-tetramethoxy-flavone (3), skullcapflavone-2'-methoxylether (4), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 3'-tetramethoxyflavone (5), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-7, 8, 2', 3'-tetramethoxyflavone (6), dihydroskullcapflavone (7), 5, 7, 8-trimethoxydihydroflavone (8), 5, 2'-dihydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflvone (9), andrographidine C (10), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxyflavone (11), 5, 7, 3', 4'-tetrahydroxyflavone (12).

CONCLUSIONCompound 6 is a new naturally occurring product isolated from A. paniculata, and compound 8, 11 and 12 are obtained for the first time from the Andrographis species.

Andrographis ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of the gene polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 2 ( TLR2) and TLR4 with the susceptibility and recurrence of condyloma acuminatum (CA).

METHODSUsing Snapshot, we detected the gene polymorphisms of TLR2 597(T/C), 1350(T/C), 15607(A/G), and 2258(G/A) and TLR4 896(A/G) and 1196(C/T) in the peripheral blood of 140 CA patients and 105 HPV-negative controls. We made comparisons between the CA patients and controls as well as between the cases of recurrent CA and those of non-recurrence at 6 months after treatment.

RESULTSThere were 72, 48, and 20 cases of genotype TT, TC, and CC of TLR2 597 (T/C), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 71, 31, and 3 cases in the controls. The gene frequency of mutant C was 31. 43% in the patients, significantly higher than 17.62% in the controls (χ2 = 12.04, P < 0.01), and it was 38.68% in the recurrent cases, remarkably higher than 27.01% in the non-recurrent cases (χ2 = 4.16, P < 0.05). There were 74, 49, and 17 cases of genotype TT, TC, and CC of TLR2 1350( T/C), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 73, 29, and 3 cases in the controls. The gene frequency of mutant C was 29. 64% in the patients, significantly higher than 16. 67% in the controls (χ2 =11.05, P < 0.01), and it was 36.79% in the recurrent cases, markedly higher than 25. 29% in the non-recurrent cases (χ2 = 4.18, P < 0.05). There were 44, 66, and 30 cases of genotype AA, AG, and GG of TLR2 15607(A/G), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 26, 58, and 21 cases in the controls. There was no significant difference in the gene frequencies of mutant G between the two groups (χ2 = 0.33, P > 0.05). No mutant genes of TLR2 2508 (G/A) or TLR4 896(A/G) and 1196(C/ T) were detected in either the CA patients or the controls. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed a tight linkage between TLR2 597 (T/C) and 1350(T/C) (D' = 1, r2 = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONTLR2 597(T/C) is tightly linked to 1350(T/C), which is correlated with both the susceptibility and the recurrence of condyloma acuminatum.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Condylomata Acuminata ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Recurrence ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the early appearance of SARS on chest CT scan and its role in the early diagnosis Methods Forty cases of SARS in keeping with the criteria of the Ministry of Health had chest CT scans within 7 days of onset of symptoms, and CR chest X-ray films were available as well These chest X-rays and CT images were retrospectively reviewed to determine if there were any abnormalities on the images The lesions on the chest CT images were then further analyzed in terms of the number, location, size, and density Results Positive abnormalities on chest CT scans were revealed in all 40 SARS cases Positive findings on CR chest films were showed in only 25 cases, equivocal in 6, and normal in 9 cases The main abnormalities seen on CT and X-rays were pulmonary infiltrations varied markedly in severity 70% cases had 1 or 2 lesions on chest CT scan, 30% cases had 3 or more lesions The lesions seen on chest CT scan tended to be ground-glass opacification, sometimes with consolidation which was very faint and inhomogeneous, easily missed on chest X-rays Typically the lesions were located in the periphery of the lung, or both central and peripheral lung, but very rare in a pure central location They were commonly in the shape of patch or ball Conclusions Chest CT scan is much more sensitive in detecting the lesions of the lung in SARS The early appearance of SARS on chest CT scan is characteristic but non-specific, indicating that chest CT scan plays a very important role in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SARS

Objective To explore the changes of the levels of interleukin-17(IL-17),matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9) and immunoglobulin E(IgE) in serum of asthmatic children and analyzing the correlation.Methods Twenty-eight asthmatic children and 14 healthy children were collected to determin the levels of IL-17,MMP-9 by sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,and the correlation of IL-17,MMP-9 and IgE in serum were analyzed.Results The levels of IL-17,MMP-9 and total IgE in serum of asthmatic children were significantly higher than that of control group(Pa0.05).Conclusions The levels of IL-17 and MMP-9 increase in asthmatic airway inflammation.IL-17 and MMP-9 play an important role in asthmatic airway inflammation and airway rebuilding.

OBJECTIVETo study the diterpenoids in the 85% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata.

METHODFourteen diterpenoids from the 85% EtOH extract were isolated by the silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography and HPLC, and their structures were identified by the spectal analyses and chemical evidences.

RESULTThe 14 compounds were obtained and identified as neoandrographolide (1), 3, 14-di-deoxyandrographolide (2), andrographolide (3), 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide (4), 19-hydroxy-8 (17), 13-labdadien-15, 16-olide (5), 14-deoxy-andrographolide (6), 3-oxo-14-deoxy-andrographolide (7), isoandrographolide, (8), bisandrographolide (9, 10, 11), deoxyandrographiside (12), 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographiside (13), andrographiside (14), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 7 was a new natural product, and compound 5 was obtained for the first time from the Andrographis species.

Andrographis ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tetrahydronaphthalenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

AIM(+/-) Ibuprofen sugar derivatives were prepared in order to decrease side-effects and increase bioavailability of (+/-) ibuprofen.

METHODSThe synthesis of derivatives were performed using 1,2:3, 4-di-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranose, 1,3,4,5-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-amino-beta-D-gluctopyranose, 3,4 6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-N-acetyl-beta-D-gluctosylamine and 2,3,6,2',3',4',6'-hepta-O-acetyl-beta-D-lactosylamine as glycosyl donors, respectively. Target products (4, 7, 12a, 12b, 13) were obtained after deprotection.

RESULTSFive compounds (4, 7, 12a, 12b, 13) were synthesized as new compounds. The structures of all objective compounds were confirmed by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HMQC, COSY, IR and MS.

CONCLUSIONIt was found that 12a showed better anti-inflammatory activity than (+/-) ibuprofen.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemical synthesis ; therapeutic use ; Ibuprofen ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Random Allocation

Objective To investigate the threshold of IgG anti-A (B) antibody with microcolumn gel method and analyze the correlations between the incidence of neonatal hemolytic disease and IgG antibody titer in pregnant women as well as their age for the guidance of prenatal early prevention.Methods Based on blood type of 3 463 perinatal pregnant women and their husbands,the titers of prenatal antibody IgG against A and B were determined by both microcolumn gel and test tube method.The 1 620 pregnant women with blood type O were divided into three groups according to different pregnancy times (1,2,3 or more than 3 times).The titers of serum IgG anti A and B were determined every 4 weeks from the 22th week using micro column gel method.The newborn hemolytic disease-related indicators were detected simultaneously.Results In this laboratory,256 of the antibody titer by microcolumn gel method was used as the indoor reference value.The geometric average titer of IgG anti-A was 169 in 2 257 person-times of perinatal women,and the titer of IgG anti-B was 143 in 1 711 person-times of perinatal women.The 1 620 women with blood type O were continuous monitored at different pregnant times.In 896 women with first pregnancy,260 cases (29.02％)showed 256 or more than 256 of IgG anti A (B)antibody titer,107 cases (43.15％) in 248 women with the second pregnancy showed 256 or more of IgG anti A (B) antibody titer,and 220 cases (46.70％) in 476 women with the third pregnancy or more showed 256 or more of IgG anti A (B) antibody titer.The average ages of the pregnant women with increased 1,2 and 3 antibody titers were 26.4,27.8 and 29.9 respectively,and the incidences of hemolytic disease of newborn (HDN) were 21.66％,40.94％ and 84.90％ respectively.Conclusion In detecting IgG antibody in prenatal serum of pregnant women with O type,the sensitivity of microcolumn gel method for IgG antibody should be obviously higher than that of the traditional test tube method.The reference value of microcolumn gel method or IgG antibody titer was obviously higher than that of test tube method.The positive rate of IgG anti-A antibody in multiple pregnancies was significantly higher than that in the first pregnancy.The incidence of HDN may increase with the age of pregnant women when the titer of IgG antibody increased by 2 or more titers.

Three-dimensional (3D) culture of cells could closely mimic the in vivo situation with regard to cell function and microenvironment compared with plane monolayer cultured cells. In this paper, we established 3D culture of rat WB-F344 cells with rotary cell culture system (RCCS) to simulate microgravity environment, and examined cells proliferation, morphology, microstructure, E-cadherin protein quantity and mRNA expression of adhesion molecules by count the number of cells, optical microscope, transmission electron microscope and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results demonstrated that cells were polyhedron with lots of micovilli and mitochondria, which grow well and packed together densely to form irregular aggregates. Adjacent cells were connected with desmosome and tight junction. With the regard, the aggregates behaved 3D growth characteristics. Moreover, compared with control, mRNA level of Fibronectin and E-cadherin protein were increased, the changes maybe is the part mechanism in this microgravity simulated cells culture models which strengthened cells junction. This rotating 3D model might facilitate the study of interactions of cell-cell, cell-matrix and the mechanisms.
Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibronectins ; genetics ; Rats ; Spheroids, Cellular ; ultrastructure ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects and mechanism of blood enriching on mouse model of blood deficiency syndrome induced by cyclophosphamide of albiflorin and paeoniflorin.

METHODAlbiflorin and paeoniflorin were determined by using animal models of blood deficiency syndrome induced by cyclophosphamide. The amount of WBC, RBC, HGB, index of thymus gland and spleen, and the changes of GM-CSF, IL-3 and TNF-α in serum were detected after the treatment.

RESULTCompared with the model group, the amount of WBC in the group of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin and 30 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin were increased obviously (P < 0.01). The amount of RBC in the group of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin and 30 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin were increased obviously (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), which did not had a significant difference compared with the same dose. The index of thymus gland in the group of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin was superior to the model group (P < 0.01), the difference was significant compared with the same dose of paeoniflorin (P < 0.05). The GM-CSF in serum in all groups of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin, 15 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin, 30 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin and 15 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin increased obviously (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05); The IL-3 in serum in both group of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin and 30 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin also increased (P < 0.001). The content of TNF-α in group of 30 mg x kg(-1) albiflorin and 30 mg x kg(-1) paeoniflorin were reduced (P < 0.01), which showed the obvious difference compared with the same dose group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAlbiflorin had the effect of blood enriching by regulating the immune function, same with the paeoniflorin. The probable mechanism of nourishing blood and liver of Paeoniae Radix Alba was not only the better effect of adjusting the content of TNF-α, but also might act synergistically with paeoniflorin.

Animals ; Blood Cells ; drug effects ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; pharmacology ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; blood ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Interleukin-3 ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of vector-mediated RNA interference for HER-2-positive breast cancer therapy.

METHODSA plasmid vector capable of mediating HER-2 RNA interference was constructed, and HER-2-positive breast cancer cell line SKBR-3 was transfected with this constructed vector. The expression of HER-2 mRNA and protein was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the growth and apoptosis of SKBR-3 cells was analyzed after transfection.

RESULTSThe expressions of HER-2 mRNA and HER-2 protein was downregulated in response to vector-mediated HER-2 RNA interference, which also resulted in tumor cell growth inhibition and increased number apoptotic cells.

CONCLUSIONHER-2 is a good target for RNA interference and RNA interference targeting HER-2 can lead to HER-2 breast cancer cell apoptosis and growth inhibition.

Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection