Class Ⅱa bacteriocins can be considered as the major subgroup of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria, not only because of their large number, but also because of their activities and potential applications. They have first attracted particular attention as listericidal compounds and are now believed to be the next in line if more bacteriocins are to be approved in the future. The present review attempts to provide an insight into general knowledge available for class Ⅱa bacteriocins and discuss common features and recent findings concerning these substances.

Objective To investigate sonographic patterns of intussusception with relationship to pathologic change,reducibility and ischemia. Methods Twenty-one intussusceptions were surgically induced in rabbits,and in vitro ultrasonography was compared with the corresponding pathologic changes. Ultrasonography findings in 25 cases of pediatric intussusception confirmed by means of air enema examination or surgery were analyzed. Results The results of animal experiment showed that:①when no ischemia of intestine loop occurred,axial images of intussusception showed a "target-like" mass,if ischmia of intestine loop appeared,it demonstrated as a "doughnut-like" mass; ②bowel unviability and reducibility seemed clearly related to the thickness of hypoechoic external rim of the "doughnut" mass and blood flow on color Doppler flow images (CDFI) in intussusceptum. When the flow on CDFI in intussusception was absent,the possibility of bowel necrosis was increased( P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of paeoniflorin on antagonising the delayed neuronal death (DND) induced by cerebral ischemia,and the relation between DND, cerebral tissue energy metabolism, nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

METHODIncomplete cerebral ischemia induced was induced by ligating bilateral arteries carotis communis for 20 min followed by reperfusion 48 h in rats. The indexes including Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, lactic acid content, Ca(2+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, NO content and NOS activity were determined in fore brain cortex at 48 h after reperfusion.

RESULTNa(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase activity were lowered (P < 0.01), NO level was decreased (P < 0.01), NOS activity dropped (P < 0.01) in cerebral tissue at 48h after reperfusion, but lactic acid level had no change. Paeoniflorin could prevent reduction of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), increase NO level (P < 0.01), enhance NOS activity (P < 0.01) at 48h after reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONDND induced by ischemia may be concerned with energy metabolism disorder and decrease of NO formation. Paeoniflorin may play the role of antagonising cerebral ischemia by adjusting cerebral energy metabolism and nitric oxide formation.

Animals ; Benzoates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Gerbillinae ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism

In this study, the general bacterial probe and specific cellulolytic bacterial probes were used to quantify the bacteria in rumen. The total RNA were extracted and then hybridized with general bacterial probe after a dilution of concentration. The result showed that there was a high correlation between the hybridization signal and the dilution of total bacterial RNA. Based on the result above, the quantities of three cellulolytic bacteria in rumen sample were detected. The comparative RNA percentage of three cellulolytic bacteria to total bacterial RNA were similar to the previous reports. It can be concluded that the quantification of bacteria in rumen could be conducted by this approach, and which could be used in future research.

To determine the genetic diversity of Haloxylon ammodendron collected from 14 sites in 5 provinces, 103 H. ammodendron samples of 12 wild populations and 2 cultivated which collected from 14 sites in 5 provinces were analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers. PopGen32 and NTSYSpc2.1 was applied to evaluate genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations. The average percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) of total H. ammodendron populations was 94.13%, the average Nei's gene diversity index (H(e)) from 14 populations was 0.308 0, and the Shannon's genetic diversity index (I) was 0.467 6. The results indicated that the genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations was high. Genetic differentiation index (G(st)) was 0.313 8, and the gene flow (N(m)) was 1.093 5 at the population level. The level of gene flow of H. ammodendron showed it possessed the feature of wind-pollinated outcrossing plants. AMOVA analysis indicated that genetic variation of H. ammodendron was much higher within groups (89.34%) than that among groups (10.66%), moreover genetic variation within groups mainly occurred among populations in different producing areas (84.80%). Cluster analysis (UPGMA) was applied to generate dendrogram based on Nei's genetic distances of 14 populations. Samples from Xinjiang and Qinghai were clustered respectively as a clade for their distant genetic relationship, while Samples from Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia were clustered together for their close genetic relationship. Genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations is high in China, and genetic differentiation among regions is small, thus abundance within this specie is high at this stage. Therefore, wild nursery and artificial cultivating in different areas are effective measures for the conservation and sustainable utilization of H. ammodendron resources.
Amaranthaceae ; genetics ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; China ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and investigate the related molecular mechanism.

METHODSAfter incubating cultured HSCs for 24 h with different concentrations of NGF (100, 200 or 400 ng/mL), the cell proliferation was observed by XTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Morphological changes in response to a 24 h exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSNGF significantly inhibited HSC proliferation (P less than 0.05) in a dose-independent manner. The optical densities of the XTT colorimetric assay were 0.66+/-0.03 for 100 ng/mL NGF, 0.69+/-0.03 for 200 ng/mL NGF, and 0.66+/-0.03 for 400 ng/mL NGF, all of which were significantly lower than that of the control group (0.73+/-0.01; P less than 0.05). All concentrations of NGF led to significantly higher numbers of HSCs in the G2 phase (100 ng/mL: 14.83+/-5.41%, 200 ng/mL: 14.73+/-2.50%, and 400 ng/mL: 14.87+/-2.06%), compared to that detected in the control group (7.47+/-4.39%; P less than 0.05). Twenty-four hours of exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF caused morphological changes indicative of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONNGF inhibits the proliferation of HSCs, possibly by arresting the cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. NGF-inhibited cells may also undergo apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of paeoniflorin on blood brain barrier and pathological changes in brain ischemia.

METHODMice were divided into sham operation group, model group, positive control group-Deng zhanhua tablet group and three different dose (high, middle, low-dose) groups of paeoniflorin. The neurological symptoms of rats were observed. The SOD of ischemic brain tissue, MDA BBB and EAA contents were determined. The ultrastructure on the brain cells was inspected by transmission electron microscope.

RESULTPaeoniflorin had the protetive effects on 4VO model of total cerebral ischemia. Paeoniflorin could obviously increase SOD content, reduce MDA content in rat brain-tissue and alleviate oxidative stress damage by cerebral ischemia on rat brain. Paeoniflorin could improve pathological changes of cell nuclear, perikaryon, mitochondria and myelin sheath, which was the morphologic basis of the protective effect on ischemia. Paeoniflorin could alleviate the incrense of EAA content caused by and hypoxia and inhibit the excitatory neural toxicity by EAA.

CONCLUSIONPaeoniflorin has the protection effect on the brain edema after cerebral ischemia, the oxidative stress damage on brain tissue, the ultrastructure lesions of cells and the BBB. The protective mechanism may be related to inhibiting intracellular calcium overload, anti-free radical and reducing EAA content.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Benzoates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron ; Monoterpenes ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Huganjiexian decoction on rat hepatic fibrosis and the creation of cytokines.

METHODSRat hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneally injection of carbon tetrachloride. At the same time, these rats were treated with different dosages of Huganjiexian decoction. Sho-saiko-to compound treating group and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treating group were used as positive controls. After twelve weeks, all rats were executed. Histopathologic changes were observed after H.E and Masson stainings. The expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGF-beta 1 and PDGF-BB in liver were detected by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSCompared with fibrotic group, hepatic fibrosis in decoction groups was significantly improved. In decoction groups, levels of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGFbeta1 and PDGF-BB were decreased, especially in the low-dose curcumin group. The TGF-beta 1 positive percentage were 7.56%+/-2.18%, 29.25%+/-7.84%, 13.54%+/-4.15%, 21.82%+/-6.64%, 20.06%+/-7.14%, 13.78%+/-4.35%, 12.75%+/-3.98% in liver tissues from normal group, model group, low, middle, high curcumin, Sho-saiko-to compound and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treating groups respectively (P less than 0.05); while the PDGF-BB positive percentage were 1.68%+/-0.41%, 11.70%+/-2.28%, 3.65%+/-0.76%, 5.24%+/-1.04%, 6.37%+/-1.12%, 4.16%+/-0.61%, 3.38%+/-0.56% in liver tissues from those groups respectively (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHuganjiexian decoction can improve rat hepatic fibrosis, possibly via inhibiting the expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGFbeta1 and PDGF-BB.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the major effective factors under the climatic conditions of Guangxi which influence artemisinin content, in order to determine the best planting region.

METHODThe correlation, the gradually regression analysis with the statistical analysis system, the geography space analysis and the regionalization with GIS were used for the study.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe temperature and the sunshine-hour were the major effective factors to artemisinin content, followed by the rainfall amount, the humidity showed less influence, and wind speed had no effect; And the climatic factors of seedling stage and the flowering season were the most influences to the artemisinin content. The artemisinin content was higher during the flowering season, in the region of temperature relatively lower and the rainfall amount smaller. The knoll and the mountainous region in northeast and southwest of Guangxi is the best suitable region for the Artemisia annua planting. The plain area in the southeast and middle of Guangxi is the not suitable region; Other areas are suitable regions for the A. annua planting.

Artemisia annua ; growth & development ; China ; Climate ; Geography ; Humidity ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Temperature ; Wind

OBJECTIVETo analyze the residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

METHODThe SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg collected in literatures. And, Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution condition of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg in Chinese crude drugs.

RESULTChinese crude drugs were contaminated by heavy metals in different levels. The content of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 21.0%, 12.0%, 9.7%, 28.5%, 6.9%, respectively; the phenomena of two, three and four metals exceeding limited standard simultaneity in a drug were also found and the percentage was 4.6%, 1.5%, 0.7%, respectively; the content of heavy metals in Radix Platycodi, Radix Asari and Rhizoma Coptidis was higher among the thirty-six Chinese crude drugs; All of the content of five heavy metals in Barbary Fructus Lycii Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae, Radix Panacis Quiquefolii and Fructus Aurantii were below the limit; The pollution levels of heavy metals in different locality were different; The content of Cu, Pb in cultivated Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in wild Chinese crude drugs, while the content of As in wild Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in cultivated Chinese crude drugs.

CONCLUSIONThe pollution levels of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs were detailed reported in this paper. And it provided ways for the further study of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

Cadmium ; analysis ; Copper ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lead ; analysis ; Mercury ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis