0.05).Expressions of IL-2 in tears significantly decreased 1 d,1 week and 1 month after LASIK(P0.05).Compared with the expression of NGF in tears before operation,those of 1 d,1 week,1 month and 3 months after LASIK were significantly increased(P

During the process of growth, harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can be easily contaminated by fungi and their metabolites like mycotoxins, which not only express negative effects on the quality and safety of CHMs and their processed products, but also pose great threats to human health. Now, some chemical synthetic fungicides have been frequently used to control the growth of fungi and accumulation of mycotoxins in the preservation of CHMs. However, the concentration and type of chemical fungicides allowed for postharvest application are restricted due to the disadvantages of their high residual toxicity, long degradation period and pollution to the environment and so on. Therefore, it is critical to research and develop some highly effective, safe and non-toxic, natural, environment-friendly fungistatic agents from plants to prevent CHMs from being contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins. The paper reviews mycotoxins and their harmfulness, the effective compounds of fungistatic plants as well as the antifungal mechanism to provide scientific evidences for developing novel and effective fungistatic agents plants. Then, the application prospect of fungistatic agents from plants in the preservation of CHMs was discussed.
Animals ; Fungi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mycotoxins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of astragalus (As) on calcium accumulation and SERCA2a gene expression in left ventricular tissues in rats with pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODcardiac hypertrophy was induced by clipping the abdominal aorta in rats. Male SD rats were allocated to six groups: sham-operrated (Sham), aortic stenosis (Model), model +As-L (5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-M (10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-H (20 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and model + captopril (0.05 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), a positive control). The drugs were administered orally from the 13 th week after surgery. Rats were examined after 12 week treatment with drugs. The cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by left ventricular mass index (LVMI, left ventricular weight/ body weight). The calcium content in left ventricular tissue was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. SERCA2a mRNA and protein expressions in left ventricular tissues were determined by half-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot normalized to abundance of GAPDH mRNA and protein, respectively.

RESULTThe increase of LVMI was dose-dependently lessened by As (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The effect of As-H was similar to that of Captopril. As markedly attenuated calcium accumulation in myocardial tissure (P < 0.01). RT-PCR and Western blot results demonstrated that SERCA2a gene expressions were downregulated (P < 0.05) significantly in model group compared with sham group. As-H upregulated SERCA2a gene expressions (P < 0.05), whereas Captopril had no effect on that.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibition of As on left ventricular hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats may partly contribute to its attenuation of calcium accumulation and up-regulation of SERCA2a gene expressions in left ventricular tissues.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Heart ; drug effects ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features and the prognostic factors of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS).

METHODS55 cases of endometrial stromal sarcoma were reviewed and categorized into 3 pathologic types based on the related literatures, i.e., low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS), undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma with nuclear uniformity (UES-U) and undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma with nuclear pleomorphism (UES-P). Meanwhile, the pathologic features were reviewed, including fibroid, myoid, mucoid, and epithelioid differentiation and mitotic index. Clinical and follow-up data were collected.

RESULTSIn endometrial stromal sarcoma, two or three pathologic types co-existed in one case, including 12.8% (5/39) of LGESS, 5/9 of UES-U, and 5/7 of UES-P. Mitotic index varied in different regions of one tumor from rare to high. Multi-differentiation was also commonly seen in ESS. The numbers of cases in LGESS, UES-U and UES-P were 39, 9 and 7, with recurrence rate of 51.6% (16/31), 5/6 and 2/3, respectively. There was no death case in LGESS, and 2 cases were died in UES-U and UES-P, respectively. In the 2 death cases of UES-U, both had focus of UES-P. There was a significant difference in the recurrence rate between cases with different mitotic index (≥ 10/10 HPF and < 10/10 HPF, P = 0.009), especially in LGESS group. All death cases had high mitotic index (> 30/10 HPF).

CONCLUSIONSIt is a common phenomenon in ESS that two or three pathologic types may exist in one case, especially in UES-U and UES-P. And multi-differentiation is also commonly seen in ESS. So adequate pathologic sampling is important for pathologists to make a correct diagnosis of ESS in daily work. The recurrence rates are significantly higher in cases with high mitotic index, especially in LGESS. In addition, the presence of UES-P and high mitotic index may increase the risk of death in the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Differentiation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Mitotic Index ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

In this paper, the RP-HPLC specific chromatography was adopted, with DIKMA-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) as the chromatographic column, with a gradient elution compose of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid at flow rate of 0.8 mL · min(-1), the detection wavelength was 220 nm. The difference of the HPLC specific chromatograms between the Lu Dangshen and other different base sources and different producing area of Codonopsis Radix was compared, involved in the similarities and differences of the number and the relative peak area of characteristic peaks in the HPLC specific chromatograms. The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen was established and the relative retention times of seven peaks was determined, and the peaks of codonopyrrolidium B, syringin, lobetyolin, tangshenoside I and atractylenoide III were identified; The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen provided a method for scientific evaluation and effective control the quality of Lu Dangshen from Shanxi famous-region.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Phenylpropionates ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVEThe study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of astragaloside IV (ASI) on the activation of microglial cells.

METHODAfter pre-incubated with ASI for 2 h, microglial cells BV-2 were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) for 1. 5 h and 24 h, respectively. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was measured by Griess method. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was detected by ELISA approach. Cellular gene expressions of CD11b, TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were examined by quantitative-PCR analysis. Total and phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB was analyzed by Western blot method.

RESULTASI could significantly inhibit the increased secretion of TNF-α and NO from BV-2 cells upon IFN-γ stimulation (P < 0.001). Further study showed that ASI significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and exhibited a trend to reduce that of iNOS. IFN-γ and ASI have no obvious effect on gene expression of CD11b. Moreover, ASI inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB elicited by IFN-γ stimulation.

CONCLUSIONASI could restrain microglial activation through interfering STAT1/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing gene expres- sion of IL-1β and TNF-α, and thus inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and TNF-α.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai,nearly mature seeds of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata(Zingib-eraceae),mainly contains flavonoids and terpenoids,which have significant anti-tumor effect.The anti-cancer mechanisms of Semen A.katsumadai include anti-proliferation,apoptosis induction,anti-metas-tasis, energy metabolism modulation and anti-inflammation. This paper reviews the latest advances in studies on the anti-tumor components and the underlying mechanisms of Semen A. katsumadai, the purpose of which is to contribute to the study of both chemical constituents and anti-cancer pharmacology of Semen A.katsumadai.

Objective To develop a field X-ray vehicle frame motion control simulation circuit based on Proteus.Methods Corresponding component models of Proteus were selected to construct the circuit according to the circuit block diagram.SCM control program was developed and debugged.The frame motion control simulation was executed through dynamic simulation of motor running,simulation results analysis with different parameters and verification of the circuit efficacy.Resnlts DC motor positive and negative rotation controlled by the button was realized,which solved the problems of X-ray vehicle frame motion.Conclusion Proteus can be used to implement system simulation of analog circuit,digital circuit,SCM and peripheral circuit as well as to construct virtual circuit lab.The equipment maintainer enhances medical equipment maintenance based on circuit simulation,circuit model analysis,failure simulation and failure position determination.

BACKGROUNDTp15, Tp17, Tp45, and Tp47 are outer-membrane proteins found in Treponema pallidum, the etiologic agent of syphilis. These proteins are potent antigens and are potential markers for the serological detection of syphilis. The present study analyzed antibodies to these protein antigens (TP-IgM and TP-IgG) in human serum and investigated the expression of these antibodies during different stages of syphilis.

METHODSSerum samples were collected from 69 subjects (male 45, female 24) diagnosed with syphilis and analyzed by Western blotting for the expression of IgM and IgG against the four protein antigens. Expression levels of the target antibodies were compared during the same stage of syphilis as well as between different stages of this disease.

RESULTSIn subjects with primary syphilis, the positive rate of Tp45 IgM was higher than that of other TP-IgM. Tp15 IgM was detected only in subjects with tertiary syphilis. Similarly, the seroprevalence of Tp45 IgG in primary syphilis was higher than for other TP-IgG. No target TP-IgM was detected in subjects with latent syphilis. In subjects with secondary syphilis, the expression level of Tp15 IgG (138.73 ± 20.16) was higher than for other target TP-IgG. In subjects with tertiary syphilis, all target TP-IgG were detected. In subjects with tertiary or latent syphilis, the expression levels of Tp45 IgG (121.33 ± 11.04 and 110.10 ± 40.19, respectively) were higher than those of other target TP-IgG. The expression levels of all Tp-IgM were similar before or after anti-syphilis treatment. In comparison, the expression levels of all TP-IgG decreased compared with the pre-treatment levels, and this decrease was statistically significant (both P < 0.05) for Tp17 IgG and Tp47 IgG.

CONCLUSIONSAfter Treponema pallidum infection, Tp45 IgM appeared first and Tp15 IgM occurred during later stages. The positive rates of all TP-IgG increased with the duration of this disease. Anti-syphilis treatment reduced the expression levels of Tp17 IgG and Tp47 IgG. Larger-scale studies are required to further validate the value of Tp15, Tp17, Tp45, and Tp47 as markers for the early detection of primary and latent syphilis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syphilis ; diagnosis ; Treponema pallidum ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of the ethanol extract isolated from Weiqi Decoction (WQD-EE) on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODSBy using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detectors (HPLC-UV) assay and MTT method, the main compounds in WQD-EE and cell viability were detected. And cell cycle distributions were determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodine (PI) staining while apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI double staining. Finally, caspase-3 activities were measured by colorimetric method and protein expression was determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSHPLC analysis showed that naringin (35.92 μg/mg), nobiletin (21.98 μg/mg), neohesperidin (17.98 μg/mg) and tangeretin (0.756 μg/mg) may be the main compounds in WQD-EE. WQD-EE not only inhibited AGS and MCF 7 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but also blocked cell cycle progression at G2/M stage as well as inducing cell apoptosis at concentrations triggering significant inhibition of proliferation and cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. While at 0.5 mg/mL, WQD-EE significantly increased caspase-3 activity by 2.75 and 7.47 times at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, WQD-EE in one hand reduced protein expressions of p53 and cyclin B1, and in other hand enhanced protein expressions of cytochrome c and Bax. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Fas L and Fas were not significantly affected by WQD-EE.

CONCLUSIONSWQD-EE inhibits AGS cell proliferation through G2/M arrest due to down-regulation of cyclin B1 protein expression, and promotes apoptosis by caspase-3 and mitochondria-dependent pathways, but not by p53-dependent pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Humans ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification