One marine actinomycete strain FIM02-523 was isolated from marine soil in the East China Sea in Fujian Province. The fermentation broth of strain FIM02-523 exhibited potent antitumor activities. Strain FIM02-523 grew well on most media tested, the colonies were orange to dark brown but lacked aerial hy-phae, no diffusible pigments were observed. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, morphological analyses, physiological and biochemical characteristics demonstrated that strain FIM02-523 belong to the genus Mi-cromonospora, may be a strain of the type species Micromonospora chalcea.

Objective To study the antifungal metabolites from marine microorganism FIM03-1149.Methods The producing strain was identified by taxonomical studies.The antifungal compound FW03-1149 was extracted by organic solvents and purified by silica gel column and preparative HPLC from the culture broth of FIM 03-1149.The structure of FW03-1149 was determined by MS data analysis and physico-chemical properties.Results and Conclusion The producing strain was named as Micromonospora sp.FIM03-1149.Compound FW03-1149 was determined to be neorustmicin,showed strong antifungal activities.

Objecfive To investigate the role of serum Insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1,insulinlike growth factor-binding potein(IGFBP)-3 in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods The serum concentration of IGF-1,1GFBP-3 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method in 45 acute SHP patients,40 recoverv patients and 30 healthy controls.Results The serum levels of IGF-1 [(452±183)μg/L],IGFBP-3 [(13 897±3124)μg/L] and C-reactive protein(CRP)[(20±8)mg/L]in acute phase were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(P<0.0 1)and higher than those during recovery period.The serum level of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 for the HSP patients dropped back slowly and their levels during recovery period were the same as those in healthy controls(P>0.05).The serum levels of IGF-1[(621±253)μg/L] and IGFBP-3[(18 763±3173)μg/L] were higher in the renal damage group than in the non-renal damage group(P<0.01).and the same in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms group as in patients without gastrointestinal symptoms group(P>0.05).whereas the serum level of CRP was not significantly different(P>0.05).The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 showed positive correlation with the level of CRP(r=0.624,0.672,P<0.01).Conclusion The IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may play an important role in the pathological mechanism of HSP.The level of IGF-1 may be used as an indicator for HSP disease activity and progression.IGF-1 mav have a close relation with the damageof renaJ system in HSP.

Objective To study interleukin-1 receptor(IL-1R) and connexin(Cx36) gene expression following Mg 2+-free-induced seizures in cultured developing neuron. Methods Rat embryo cortical neurons cultured for 6 and 17 days were exposed to Mg 2+-free media to induce seizure. At different time after Mg 2+-free treatment, real-time RT-PCR was used to detect IL-1R and Cx36 mRNA expression. Results 1. IL-1R mRNA expression transiently decreased after Mg 2+-free treatment in neurons cultured for 6 and 17 days in vitro. Then the levels of IL-1R mRNA expression recovered in neurons cultured for 6 days, but IL-1R mRNA expression were increased in neurons cultured for 17 days compared with control group and the peak was at 24 hours. 2. In neurons cultured for 6 days in vitro, Cx36 mRNA expression increased after Mg 2+-free treatment compared with control group, the peak was at 24 hours. But in neurons cultured for 17 days in vitro, Cx36 mRNA expression decreased at 6 hours after Mg 2+-free treatment compared with control group, the peak was at 24 hours. Conclusions IL-1R mRNA and Cx36 mRNA expression following Mg 2+-free-induced seizures are different between the neurons cultured for 6 and 17 days in vitro. This is possibly related to the different neuron injury between 6 and 17 days in vitro following seizures.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression pattern of caspase-3 and HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) at different time after cerebral contusion in rat, and explore the new method for estimating the injury interval. METHODS: The cerebral contusion model was established using adult SD male rats. Then the rats were randomly allocated into 8 groups: 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after cerebral contusion, sham-operation and normal control. Expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 protein after cerebral contusion in rat was detected by Western blotting. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe the number of HAX-1 positive cells and TUNEL-stained cells after cerebral contusion. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-3 increased parallelly with the time after cerebral contusion and reached the peak value on 3 d. The expression of caspase-3 decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). The expression of HAX-1 positive cell went up after injury, and reached the peak value at 6 h (P < 0.05), then turned down gradually after 12 h and went out of detection after 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained cells increased obviously at 2 h and reached the peak value on 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 after cerebral contusion has time sequential regularity, which may provide new evidence for forensic diagnosis of cerebral contusion interval.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cerebellum/pathology* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effects of zinc deficiency on the expressions of Th1/Th2 cytokine interferon-?(IFN-?) and interleukin-4(IL-4)in asthmatic rats.Methods Animal models of asthma and zinc deficiency were established.Thirty-two SD rats were divided into 4 groups according to weight:zinc deficient diet with ovalbumin(OVA) challenge group(group A),zinc normal diet with OVA challenge group(group B),zinc normal pair-fed diet with OVA challenge group(group C) and zinc normal diet with saline challenge group(group D).The contents of IFN-? and IL-4 in lung homogenate were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The levels of IFN-? and IL-4 mRNAs were observed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with group D,the content and mRNA expression of IFN-? of lung in group A,group B and group C all decreased significantly(all P0.05).No marked difference was found between group B and group C in all the results.Conclusions Zinc deficiency reduces the expression of IFN-? but have no influence on IL-4.The imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokine may be associated with the increasing airway inflammatory reaction in zinc deficient asthmatic rats.

0.05),higher rate of maternal mortality and perinatal mortality(P

To further uncover the scientific significance and molecular mechanism of the Chinese herbs with pungent hot or warm natures, endogenous and exogenous expression systems were established by isolation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and transfection of HEK293 cells with TRPV1 channel gene separately. On this basis, the regulation action of capsaicin, one main ingredient from chili pepper, on TRPV1 channel was further explored by using confocal microscope. Besides, the three-sites one-unit technique and method were constructed based on the brown adipose tissue (BAT), anal and tail skin temperatures. Then the effect of capsaicin on mouse energy metabolism was evaluated. Both endogenous and exogenous TRPV1 channel could be activated and this action could be specifically blocked by the TRPV1 channel inhibitor capsazepine. Simultaneously, the mice's core body temperature and BAT temperature fall down and then go up, accompanied by the increase of temperature of the mice's tail skin. Promotion of the energy metabolism by activation of TRPV1 channel might be the common way for the pungent-hot (warm) herbs to demonstrate their natures.
Adipose Tissue, Brown ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Capsaicin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; TRPV Cation Channels ; physiology ; Temperature ; Thermogenesis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effectiveness of implanting miniscrew serving as anchorage instead of molars in treating maxillary dental arch crowding and protrusive patients mandibular molars complete missing.

METHODSEight adult patients aged from 22 to 38, whose maxillary dental arch were crowding and protrusion, with mandibular molars missing were chosed. At the missing side, a miniscrew was implanted on the buccal surface, 11-13 mm away from the distal end of the second premolar. After implanting, a self-made miniscrew traction cap was attached to its supergingival section by keyway retention. Premolars and anterior teeth were tracted in turn to distal end. Intermaxillary traction II was made necessarily on the traction cap.

RESULTSSuccessful results were acquired after treating together with normal overbite, overjet and right occlusion relation. It took 24 months in the longest course, 15 months in the shortest course and 20.8 months on average.

CONCLUSIONThe implanting miniscrew anchorages could be used in maxillary dental arch crowding and protrusive patients with single molars complete missing.

Adult ; Bicuspid ; Bone Screws ; Cephalometry ; Dental Arch ; Humans ; Molar ; Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures ; Overbite ; Tooth Movement Techniques

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on pancreatic beta cell mass in type 1 diabetic mice.

METHODDiabetic mice induced by multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) were administered either APS (100, 200, 400 mg x kg(-1) body weight) or saline intraperitoneally daily, and sacrificed after 15 or 30 days of treatment. Streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method with counterstain was performed to determine the effect of APS on insulitis. Indirect double immunofluorescence for Insulin/Ki67 (counterstained by Hoechst33258) and Insulin/Cleaved caspase-3 was used to evaluate pancreatic cell (besides beta cell) proliferation, beta cell neogenesis, beta cell apoptosis and beta cell mass. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was utilized to characterize pancreatic regenerating protein 1 mRNA levels, and ELISA method was performed to measure the levels of cytokine IFN-gamma and IL-4 secreted by splenocytes.

RESULTAttenuated insulitis, upregulated beta cell mass, increased number of neogenetic pancreas islets, decreased number of apoptosis beta cells and downregulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio were significantly time-and dose-dependent on APS treatment, when compared to saline controls. However, no significant differences of the number of pancreatic proliferative cells or replicative cells and pancreatic regenerating protein 1 mRNA levels were demonstrated between APS (APS100, APS200 and APS400) and saline vehicle group on day 15 and 30 with APS treatment.

CONCLUSIONAPS can upregulate pancreatic beta cell mass in type 1 diabetic mice, strongly associated with improved autoimmunity.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lithostathine ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptozocin ; Transcription Factors