OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on levels of neuropeptide Y1-36 and calcitonin gene-related peptide immune reactive substances (ir-NPY, ir-CGRP) in blood plasma and pons-oblongata after hypoxia-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats.

METHODSSeven-day old rats were randomized into HIBI group (A), HIBI + SM group (B) and sham operation group(C). And each group was subdivided into 4 subgroups according to the different time after operation. 0.5 ml SM was injected intraperitoneally immediately and every 12 hrs afterwards. Changes of ir-NPY and ir-CGRP levels in plasma and pons-oblongata were observed immediately and 12, 24 and 48 hrs after HIBI by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSPlasma levels of ir-NPY and ir-CGRP in different times after HIBI were all significantly raised but those in pons-oblongata were either raised or lowered to a certain degree. Part of the elevated ir-NPY could be reversed by SM injection.

CONCLUSIONCentral and peripheral neuropeptide Y1-36 and calcitonin gene-related peptide take part in the pathophysiological process of HIBI, SM could partially reverse the abnormal post-HIBI elevation of ir-NPY, which may be one of the pathways of SM in promoting recovery of damaged brain function.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Ischemia ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Structure of natural product-ursolic acid was modified for increasing its antitumor activity. Ursolic acid was acylated, esterified, hydrolized or oxidized to obtain target pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with different substitutes. Sixteen derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized including eleven new compounds. Anti-tumor activities of ursolic acid and these derivatives against HeLa, SKOV3 and BGC-823 cells in vitro were investigated by MTT assay. The results indicated that compounds 7a and 8a were found to have stronger cell growth inhibitory than ursolic acid on HeLa cells and SKOV3 cells separately, and are worth to be intensively studied further.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Triterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of fascin, an actin bundling protein, in the development and progression of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and explore its association with the clinicopathologic characteristics and 5-year survival of the patients.

METHODSUsing tissue array and immunohistochemistry, the expression of fascin was determined in 241 ESCC tissues and the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues.

RESULTSESCC tissues showed a significantly higher overexpression rate of fascin than the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues (68.9% vs 15.5%, P<0.05). The overexpression of fascin was correlated to lymph node metastasis and TMN stage, but not to the patients' age, gender, tumor differentiation and general classification. Survival analysis showed that abnormal expression of fascin was associated with the 5-year survival rate of patients with ESCC.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of fascin may play an important role in the progression of ESCC, and detection of fascin expression may have important prognostic values.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into the pseudogene (psi) region of genome of rabies virus rHep-Flury strain, and a recombinant rabies virus carrying GFP, designated as HEP-GFP, was rescued by reverse genetics system. It was demonstrated that green fluorescent protein could be expressed in the chimeric virus after 5 passages in BHK-21 cell line. The research indicated that the pseudogene (psi) region in the genome of rHEP-Flury strain, as an independent functional unit in the process of virus assembly, could independently carry and express exogenous genes.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the antiinflammatory effect of a compound TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) agent on animal models. The agent contains ant extractive and a blent of three herbal products, herba epimedii, fructus cnidii, and fructus lycii.

METHODThree animal models to induce experimental inflammation in rats, including carrageenin--induced paw edema, cotton-ball granuloma and adjuvant induced arthritis, were chosen to study the antiinflammatory effect of the TCM agent.

RESULTThe TCM agent showed a marked inhibitory effect on edema induced by all three types of inflammation in rats, the inhibitory rate of the TCM agent at the dose of 0.20, 0.40 and 0.80 g.kg-1 in granuloma model bing over 25% at 1 hour post oral administration, and being 23.8%, 22.7%, 39.7% at 6 hour. In addition, the TCM agent also showed a significant preventive as well as therapeutic effect on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, and improved the pathological changes of the animal joints with the induced arthritis.

CONCLUSIONTCM agent has significant antiinflammatory effects on the three above mentioned animal models.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Ants ; Arthritis ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Cnidium ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; drug therapy ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Materia Medica ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the direct effects of fenvalerate (Fen) on sperm motility in SD rats.

METHODSSperm were isolated from caudal epididymides of healthy adult male rats with the diffusion method. The motility parameters of the isolated sperm, such as VCL, VSL, VAP, BCF, STR and LIN, were monitored by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system after 1, 2 and 4 h Fen-exposure in vitro at concentrations of 0, 1, 4, 16 and 64 micromol/L respectively.

RESULTSAfter 1 and 2 h Fen-exposure, VSL, BCF, STR and LIN decreased significantly at 64 micromol/L compared with the control group. After 4 h Fen-exposure, the motility parameters VCL, VSL, BCF, STR and LIN dropped progressively at 64 micromol/L, and VCL declined markedly at 16 micromol/L. However, only VCL and STR showed alterations in a time-response manner.

CONCLUSIONFen may affect the caudal epididymal sperm and produce a direct toxic effect on sperm motility in SD rats.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Nitriles ; toxicity ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between the polymorphisms of excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1), X-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1), glutathione S-transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1) and the survival of advanced gastric cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based combination chemotherapy.

METHODSEighty five patients with advanced gastric cancer accepted oxaliplatin/5-FU-based chemotherapy as first-line chemotherapy were investigated. Peripheral venous blood was taken before chemotherapy. DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood. The genetic polymorphisms were detected by real-time PCR assay. The association between time to progression, overall survival and the polymorphisms was analyzed.

RESULTSThe median time to progression of the 85 cases was 5.3 months, and the median overall survival was 8.0 months. ERCC1-118 C/C, XRCC1-399 G/G and GSTP1-105 A/G + G/G were favorable genotypes and the number of the favorable genotypes was associated with survival of the patients. The median overall survival was 12.5 months, 10.0 months, 6.5 months and 4.5 months for patients with 3 favorable genotypes, 2 favorable genotypes, 1 favorable genotype and none favorable genotype, respectively, with a significant difference (χ(2) = 35.54, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGenetic polymorphisms of ERCC1-118, XRCC1-399 and GSTP1-105 are associated with TTP and OS of advanced gastric cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin/5-Fu-based combination chemotherapy as the first-line chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Disease Progression ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the twigs of Morus alba L..METHODS The 60％ ethanol extract from M.alba twigs was isolated and purified by ODS,sephadax LH-20 and semi-preparative column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2'-hydroxyresveratrol 3-(6-O-β-D-glucopyanosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (1),3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2'-hydroxyresveratrol 4'-(6-O-β-D-glucopyanosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (2),mulberroside A (3),mulberroside E (4),mulberroside F (5),transoxyresveratrol-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6),trans-oxyresveratrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7),cis-mulberroside A (8),3,4-dimethoxyphenyl β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9),kelampayoside A (10).CONCLUSION Compounds 9 and 10 are isolated from genus Morus for the first time,compounds 1,2,4-7 are first isolated from this plant.

OBJECTIVETo study the pathological characteristics of salivary malignant myoepithelioma with characteristic multinodular architecture.

METHODSTo observe the histologic and cytologic characteristics of 19 cases of de novo salivary malignant myoepithelioma with multinodular growth pattern. Immunohistochemistry of calponin, SMA, S-100, GFAP, cytokeratin, PCNA was done on 11 cases and ultrastructure was observed on 3 cases.

RESULTS19 tumors presented characteristic multinodular growth pattern, mostly accompanied by central necrosis. Neoplastic nests invaded the surrounding normal tissue and tumor cells displayed a variety of pleomorphism. Epitheliod cell was the most predominant cell type. Tumor-related extracellular matrix formation was revealed among tumor cells. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for calponin, SMA, S-100, GFAP, AE1/AE3, CKH and PCNA. Myofilaments were found in neoplastic cell cytoplasm under the electron microscope.

CONCLUSIONHistologic and cytologic observation, immunostaining and ultrastructural study all supported the myoepithelial and malignant nature of the tumor.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Myoepithelioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVEX-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is the most common inherited disorder of peroxisomal metabolism which is characterized by demyelination of central nervous system, impaired adrenal cortex and abnormal accumulation of very long chain fatty acids in body fluid and tissues. In this study, the clinical features and the genotype-phenotype relationship were investigated so as to help early diagnosis.

METHODSClinical data of 89 Chinese patients with X-ALD were analyzed and mutation spectrums in 53 of the patients were investigated by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 89 cases, 60 (67.4%) had childhood cerebral ALD (CCALD, mean age of onset was 6.5 years, range 2 - 10 years), 18 (20.2%) had adolescent cerebral ALD (ACALD, mean age of onset 12.1 years, range 11 - 19 years), 7 (7.9%) had adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN, mean age of onset 23 years, range 6 - 39.5 years), and two cases were asymptomatic and another 2 had simple Addison's disease only. CCALD was the most common and severe phenotype, visual impairment was the most common initial symptom in CCALD and ACALD patients. Twenty four cases (63%) in whom hydrocortisone and ACTH were measured showed adrenal insufficiency. Forty five different mutations were identified in 53 patients. Missense mutations were the most common. No hotspot mutation was found in these patients and 1415delAG, the most frequent mutation found worldwide seemed not to be the real "hotspot" in these Chinese patients. The same phenotype may be due to diverse genomic mutations. A single mutation may result in different phenotypes even within a family.

CONCLUSIONThe phenotype distribution, initial symptom and gene mutation spectrum of Chinese patients may not be completely consistent with those in other countries. The clinical phenotype of the disease had no definite relationship with the nature of gene mutations.

Adolescent ; Adrenoleukodystrophy ; genetics ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Young Adult