Objective To investigate the effect of bifidobacteria on dextran sulphate sodium(DSS)- induced acute ulcerative colitis in mice.Methods Thirty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into nor- mal control group (n=10),0501 strain group (n=10) and c122 strain group (n=10).Fifty BALB/ C mice received 5% dextran sulphate sodium(DSS) for 7 days to induce ulcerative colitis.The mice were then divided to model group,negative control group(perfused with 0.9 NaCl solution ),positive control group(perfused with SASP of 20 mg/ml),DSS + 0501 strain group(perfused with 1?10~9 CFU/ml bifidobacteria 0501 strain solution and DSS + c122 strain group (perfused with 1?10~9 CFU/ml bifidobacteria c122 strain solution).All mice were sacrificed 9 days later.The colon specimens were measure by histoehemical staining with H-E.The expressions of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and its protein were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results The degree of colon inflam- mation in mice both in DSS+ 0501 strain and DSS+ c122 strain groups were aggravated and expressions of IL-10 mRNA and protein were reduced compared to model group.No colon inflammation was found in 0501 strain and c122 strain groups.Conclusion Some strain of bifidobaeteria may aggravate colon in- flammation in mice when mucosal harrier is destroyed.

Background The select of supporter is critical for the construction of tissue engineering cornea.Many carrier carl be utilized in the construction of tissue engineering cornea,but de-cellular corneal matrix is known to be one of optimal supporters.Objective Present study was to investigate the characteristics of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine of structure and biocompatibility for rabbit cornea stroma and limbal epithelial ceHs. Methods The porcine cornea was prepared as de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine by the application of detergent enzyme combined process.The corneal epithelial cells,keratocyte and endothelial cells of porcine were removed completely and stored in -20℃ refrigerator after sterilization.The morphology of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine was examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining under the light microscope.The structure characteristics of de.cellular corneal matrix of porcine under the scan electron microscope,and its physics features were investigated by the evaluation of water content,strength,expansion and transparency.The de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine were implanted to cornea stroma of rabbit and co-cultured with rabbit corneal epithelial cells for 4 weeks in vitro to assess the keracyte compatibility. Results The epithelial cells,keratocyte and endothelial cells of porcine were removed completely by trypsogen digestion.The collagen fibril network and collagen plates paralleled to corneal surface under the light microscope.The water content,strength,expansion。Ratio of light transparency of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine were similar to normal porcine cornea.After implantation of de.cellular comeal matrix of porcine into rabbits corneal stroma,the edema of tissue was found in one week,and edema disappeared on two weeks and became clear on four weeks after surgery.The de-cellular eorneal matrix attached to rabbit cornea stroma well.No inflammatory eell and new vessel were found after surgery.The co-cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells differentiated and proliferated on the surfaee of de-cellular corneal matrix and showed positive response for CK3.No statistically significant differences were found in the water content,strength,expansion of de-cellular cornea matrix of porcine among the normal,before dehydration,2 and 4 hours after dehydration cornea matrix(P＞0.05).However,the transparency was much better in the corneal matrix with 2-hour,4-hour dehydration in comparison with non-dehydration one(P＜0.05). Conclusion The structure features of de-cellular cornea matrix of porcine are similar to normal porcine cornea.Good biocompatibility is proved for xenogenesis of rabbit cornea.

Six flavonol glycosides were isolated and calibrated from Ginkgo biloba extract, and then used to calibrate the content in 2 baiches of G. biloba reference extract, so was rutin. RSD values of rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside-2-glu- coside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnop-yranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coum-aroyl) - glucoside were around 1.1%-4.6%, nevertheless, RSD values of quercetin-3-O-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside were more than 5%. According to the results, the reference extract of G. biloba can be used as the substitute to determine rutin, kaempferol-3-O- rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside-2-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside and kaempferol-3-0-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside instead of corresponding reference substances. So reference extract in place of single component reference in assay is feasible.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

The present study was undertaken to observe the effect of exogenously administered melatonin on the intensity of β-endorphin (β-Ep) immunoreactivity of the neuron in the arcuate nucleus of rat hypothalamus with an aim to explore the possible mechanisms of the analgesic effect of melatonin. The experimental rats were divided into two groups, one injected intraperitoneally with melatonin (110 mg/kg) and the other with only a vehicle. One hour after injection, the brain was processed for coronal sections, which were stained with immunohistochemical ABC technique. The integral optical density (IOD) and mean optical density (OD) of the stained sections were measured with a computer-assisted image-processing and analytical system. β-Ep immunoreactivity was much decreased in the sections treated with melatonin and the IOD and OD were also decreased significantly (P<0.01; P<0.05). The above results suggest that melatonin may result in a decrease of β-Ep content in the arcuate nucleus, as a result of increased β-Ep release induced by administration of melatonin. It is likely that the analgesic effect of melatonin may be in part mediated by the release of β-endorphin from the arcuate nucleus.

Plant active components characterized of many different structures and activities on multiple targets, have made them to be the important sources of inhibitors on HIV-1. For finding leading compounds with new structure against HIV-1, three key HIV-1 replicative enzymes (reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase) were used as screening models. The in vitro activities of 45 plant derived components isolated from Schisandraceae, Rutaceae and Ranunculaceae were reported. Within twelve triterpene components isolated, eight compounds were found to inhibit HIV-1 protease, in these eight active compounds, kadsuranic acid A (7) and nigranoic acid (8), inhibited both HIV-1 protease and integrase; Among fifteen lignans, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (15) and kadsurarin (16) were active on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and 4, 4-di(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenly)-2, 3-dimethylbutanol (13) active on HIV-1 integrase. All of the six alkaloids, seven flavones, and five others compounds were not active or only with low activities against HIV-1 replicative enzymes. Further studies of the triterpene components showing strong inhibitory activities on HIV-1 were warranted.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-HIV Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HIV Integrase ; drug effects ; HIV Protease ; drug effects ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Schisandraceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the culture of adventitious root of Salvia miltiorrhiza in vitro systemically.

METHODEffects of sucrose concentrations, medium pH, inoculum size and plant growth regulators on adventitious root growth and secondary metabolites production in S. miltiorrhiza were investigated.

RESULTWith the increase of initial sucrose concentration, adventitious root growth rates increased and tanshinone II A content decreased, while content of protocatechuic aldehyde showed a broken line change and its highest production was obtained under 30 g x L(-1) sucrose in the medium. As for the effect of medium pH, medium pH of 6.5, 5.5 (or 6.0) and 5.8 was favorable for adventitious root growth, tanshinone II A and protocatechuic aldehyde synthesis respectively. Furthermore, adventitious root growth, rate was greatly increased when inoculum size was 2.5%. MS medium added with 0.5 mg x L(-1) KT was much favorable for tanshinone II A and protocatechuic aldehyde accumulation.

CONCLUSIONParameters including sucrose concentrations, medium pH, inoculum size and plant growth regulators have distinct effects on the in vitro culture of adventitious root growth and secondary metabolites synthesis of S. miltiorrhiza.

Benzaldehydes ; metabolism ; Catechols ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Sucrose ; Tissue Culture Techniques

To compare the anti-HIV-1 activities of (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A and its mother compound (+/-)-calanolide A in vitro and in vivo, the inhibitory activities of the two compounds on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) were detected in vitro with isotope 3H assay. The cytotoxicity and inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) were studied in HIV-1 IIIB infected MT-4 cell cultures by MTT staining method; Mice were given with the two compounds 100 mg x kg(-1) once intraperitoneally, then the mouse sera taken on 30 min and 60 min after administration were detected for the inhibition of HIV-1 RT in vitro. The data showed that (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A and (+/-)-calanolide A inhibited HIV-1 RT in vitro with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of (3.028 +/- 2.514) micromol x L(-1) and (3.965 +/- 5.235) micromol x L(-1), and also inhibited CPE in HIV-1 IIIB infected MT-4 cell cultures with IC50 of (1.081 +/- 0.337) micromol x L(-1) and (1.297 +/- 0.076) micromol x L(-1), respectively. After intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg x kg(-1) of the two compounds in mice, all the mice sera taken 30 and 60 min afterward inhibited HIV-1 RT in vitro. In comparison with control mice sera, the inhibitory rates of the sera for (+/-)-11 -demethyl-calanolide A were (42.7 +/- 1.5)% at 30 min (P < 0.01) and (32.2 +/- 6.1)% at 60 min (P < 0.05), separately, while the inhibitory rates of the sera for (+/-)-calanolide A were (40.7 +/- 6.3)% at 30 min (P < 0.01) and (29.2 +/- 6.7)% at 60 min. The results suggested that (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A is a new non-nucleoside HIV-1 RT inhibitor, its anti-HIV-1 activities in vitro, in cell cultures and in mice were slightly higher than that of its mother compound (+/-)-calanolide A and warrants further studies.
Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; pathology ; virology ; Pyranocoumarins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) combined adjuvant chemotherapy in postponing relapse and metastasis of radical resected Ib-IIIa stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and to explore its effect in improving their quality of life (QOL) and clinical symptoms.

METHODSWe designed a cohort study of 336 radical resected Ib-IIIa NSCLC patients by analyzing disease free survival (DFS) using Log-rank test. They were randomly assigned to the control group (155 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy group) and the test group (181 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy combined CM). By using controlled method, 60 radical resected NSCLC patients undergoing NP/NC program in 2012 (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2, combined with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8/on day 1 or on day 1, 2, and 3; or carboplatin AUC = 5 on day 1) were assigned to the control group (29 cases) and the test group (31 cases). QOL scores (using EORTC QLQ-LC43 questionnaire) and TCM symptoms scores were compared between the two groups before chemotherapy, peri-chemotherapy (one day before the 2nd course of chemotherapy) , and after chemotherapy (20 days after ending the 4th course of chemotherapy).

RESULTS(1) The median DFS was longer in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference between the two groups (42.73 months vs 35.57 months , P = 0.179). In the subgroup analysis, there was statistical difference in IIIa stage DFS. The median IIIa stage DFS of was longer in the test group than in the control group with statistical difference (27.87 months vs 19. 93 months, P = 0.047). (2) In the control study, repeated measured data indicated there was significant difference in physical functions between the two groups (P < 0.05). Total scores for health states decreased more in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Scores for constipation and CM syndrome scores were higher in the test group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCM had advantages in postponing DFS of radical resected NSCLC patients, especially in IIIa stage. CM could improve their QOL and clinical symptoms during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Vinblastine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

There are dispute about the status of taxonomy among Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao. and A. pallidipurpureus stat. nov. The varieties and taxa of the complex are still in need of revision. With molecular biology study used trnH-psbA intergenic region, the taxonomic revision of Radix Astragali has been made. A. pallidipurpureus stat. nov is suggested as a new species.
Astragalus Plant ; classification ; genetics ; Astragalus membranaceus ; classification ; genetics ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo establish fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay method of detecting proteolytic activity of non-structural protein 3-4A (NS3-4A) serine protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV) for high throughput screening inhibitors against HCV in vitro.

METHODSHCV recombinant plasmid pMAL~c2/NS3-4A was transformed into the E.coli strain K12TB1. Maltose-binding-protein (MBP) NS3-4A fusion protein expression was induced by adding isopropyl-β-D-thiogalacto-pyranoside (IPTG) and purified by affinity chromatography. The proteolytic activity of MBP-NS3-4A protease was analyzed by FRET with the special protease substrate. The reaction system in this model was optimized, and the reliability of the model was evaluated.

RESULTSHigh throughput screening model for HCV NS3-4A protease inhibitors was established, and the best concentrations of enzyme and substrate were optimized. In the model, the Km value of protease was 4.74 μmol/L, Z factor was up to 0.80, and coefficient of variation (CV) was 1.91%. BILN 2061, one of the known HCV protease inhibitors, was measured with the Ki of 0.30 nmol/L.

CONCLUSIONThe assay model using FRET method for HCV NS3 4A serine protease is stable and reliable, and the model is suitable for high throughput screening for HCV NS3 4A protease inhibitors.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; Hepacivirus ; enzymology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics