To investigate the suitable site environment for Atractylodes lancea, field trials in different niches was carried out, and the seedling growth, biomass and volatile oil components in different microhabitas was studied. The study found that the survival rate, plant height, volatile oil content of those which growing under the bamboo were significantly higher than those exposed in the open field. The survival rate understory was (76 ± 15.1) %, plant height understory was (77 ± 14. 8) cm and the summation of the four kinds of volatile oil content understory reached up to 4.09%; The same evaluation values of these indicators of the four faces in the open field respectively: survival rate is 30%, plant height was (77 ± 14.8) cm and the summation of the four kinds of volatile oil content was 2.24%. But, the yield of the understory (41 ± 22.3) g was significantly lower than those four faces in the open field (104.5 g) on the contrary. For the four open field towards, the yield of the east facing, which organic matter and other nutritional conditions were better than others, was significantly higher than those in the other facings. A. lancea was found to be an anti-poor and shading-like or growing in east facing slope herb through the correlation analysis of light, temperature, soil and leaf nutrients with seedling growth, biomass and volatile oil components. It also reminds us that the understory herb with high survival rate, low incidence, low management costs, and high medicinal ingredients, although it's production is not so high, but it can be improved by increased organic fertilizer. So the ecological planting patterns which can intercropping herbs with the forest was proposed.
Atractylodes ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature

The study was aimed to investigate the possibility of enhancing transfection efficiency of branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) in HeLa cells by hydrophobic tail of bee venom peptide (melittin). Hydrophobic tail of melittin was synthesized and its membrane permeable activity was evaluated by hemolysis test. The peptide was mixed with BPEI and the transfection efficiency was determined in HeLa cells by using green fluorescent protein gene (GFP) as a reporter gene. The cytotoxicity of the mixture was analyzed by MTT assay at 24 hours after transfection. The results indicated that the synthesized peptide had permeable activity leading to hemolysis in both neutral and acidic solution. At optimal condition, the peptide could significantly improve the transfection efficiency of BPEI and the cytotoxicity of the mixture was lower than BPEI itself. It is concluded that hydrophobic tail of melittin may be a potential enhancer to improve transfection efficiency mediated by cationic polymers in difficult to transfect cells.
HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Melitten ; chemistry ; genetics ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Polyethyleneimine ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Objective To develop the method of 16S rRNA gene clone library for tick bacterial flora analysis, and to analyze the detection effective of pathogens in tick and capacity of bacterial flora diversity. Methods Primers were designed according to the specific gene of Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella henselae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and templates were choosen by positive PCR result to amplify the DNA extracted from the ticks. One set of primers targeting 16S rRNA gene conserved region were chosen to amplify certain fragments, DNA extraction, PCR reaction, cloning and sequencing. Nucleotide sequences were compared with GenBank database. Calculated Coverage values of clone library and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. Results Sixteen defined genus-or species-bacteria were detected in 103 valid sequences. Eight species were edge type (Clone No. > 5). Three kinds of pathogens were identified (Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia sp). Three kinds of pathogens were not edge type(Clone No. < 5). Coverage value was 96.11%, and Shannon-Wiener index was 2.40. Analysis results of cloning sequence showed that tick-parasitic bacteria mainly were α and γ deformation mycetes which accounted for 56.25% (9/16). Conclusions The 16S rRNA gene sequences technology could make relative quantitative of bacterial flora, and detect many kinds of pathogens in tick. It's a good method for detection of pathogens and bacterial flora analysis.

BACKGROUNDHigh peritoneal transport status was previously thought to be a poor prognostic factor in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, its effect on diabetic nephropathy PD patients is unclear in consideration of the adverse impact of diabetes itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of peritoneal transport characteristics on nutritional status and clinical outcome in diabetic nephropathy patients on PD.

METHODSOne hundred and two diabetic nephropathy patients on PD were enrolled in this observational cohort study. According to the initial peritoneal equilibration test result, patients were divided into two groups: Higher transport group (HT, including high and high average transport) and lower transport group (LT, including low and low-average transport). Demographic characteristics, biochemical data, dialysis adequacy, and nutritional status were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were compared. Risk factors for death-censored technique failure and mortality were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with LT group (n = 37), serum albumin was significantly lower and the incidence of malnutrition by subjective global assessment was significantly higher in HT group (n = 65) (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that death-censored technique failure and mortality were significantly increased in HT group compared with that in LT group. On multivariate Cox analyses, higher peritoneal transport status and lower residual renal function (RRF) were independent predictors of death-censored technique failure when adjusted for serum albumin and total weekly urea clearance (Kt/V). Independent predictors of mortality were advanced age, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and lower RRF, but not higher peritoneal transport status.

CONCLUSIONSHigher peritoneal transport status has an adverse influence on nutrition for diabetic nephropathy patients on PD. Higher peritoneal transport status is a significant independent risk factor for death-censored technique failure, but not for mortality in diabetic nephropathy patients on PD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biological Transport ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Peritoneal Dialysis

20?10~9/L.The proteinuria decreased or disappeared.The antinuclear antibody decreased or became negative.The level of complement was increased.The following complications were ob- served:septicemia in 2 patients,cytomegalovirus infection in 2 patients,renal toxicity in 1 patient,acute left heart failure in 3 patients and cardiac arrhythmia in 3 patients.There was no transplantation related mortality. Conclusion APBSCT may improve the disease activity and the immunological markers in SLE.It is a valid therapy for refractory SLE,but the long-term effects need to be observed.

Objective To study the expressions of nucleostemin gene mRNA and Ki-67antigen in pituitary adenomas and investigate the role of nucleostemin gene in the tumorigenesis and development of pituitary adenomas. Methods Seventy-one samples of pituitary adenomas were collected. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of nucleostemin gene mRNA in samples. Immunohistochemistry technique was applied to examine Ki-67 antigen expression in the paraffin sections of samples. At the same time,coherent clinical data were collected. Results Nucleostemin gene mRNA was detectable in all samples of pituitary adenomas. Between invasive and noninvasive pituitary adenomas, the difference of nucleostemin expression was extremely significant (P＜0.01), and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was also significantly different (P＜0.05). The difference of Ki-67LI between recurrent and non-recurrent groups was significant (P＜0.05). There was a positive correlation between nucleostemin gene and Ki-67LIlevels (r=0.237, P＜0.05). Conclusions Nucleostemin gene plays an important roles in the invasion of human pituitary adenoma. Expression of nucleostemin gene is positively related to Ki-67 antigen expression, and both may be the valid clinical detection markers for assessing proliferation, invasion and recurrence of pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the myocardium after cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important pathologic basis of post-cardiac arrest of syndrome (PCAS), and apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. To lessen myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury after cardiac arrest and CPR, it is important to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy supply in the myocardium. This study aimed to observe changes of cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein on the myocardium after CPR in rats, and the protective effects of different doses of exogenous phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate, CP) on them. METHODS: A total of 32 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (group A), CPR group (group B), low-dose CP group (group C, CP 0.5 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 1.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR) and high-dose CP group (group D, CP 1.0 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 2.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR). Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation and CPR started at 7 minutes after asphyxiation in groups B, C and D. Myocardium samples were taken at 24 hours after CPR. Cardiomycytic apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Cardiomyocytic apoptosis index (AI) and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein increased more significantly in groups B, C and D than in group A (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Baxratio significantly decreased (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in group D than in group C (P<0.05), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exogenous phosphocreatine, especially at a large dose, could inhibit cardiomyocytic apoptosis and alleviate myocardial injury after CPR in rats.

In order to find the optimal topographical factor for regionslization, the content of cimetidine in 116 Sinopodophyllum hexandrum sample collected from Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, Tibet, Yunnan and Shaanxi provinces, was determined. Using mathematical statistics and geographical spatial analysis of GIS analysis, the relationship between content of podophyllotoxin and influencing factors including altitude gradient and gradient position was analyzed. It is found that the optimal altitude was 2 800 m to 3 600 m, the aspect of slope north or northeast and northwest and the slope 12 degrees to 65 degrees with a high suitability degree. Considering the artificial planting, the suitable planting area for S. hexandrum is comfirmed. The topographical factor is important for S. hexandrum regionalization, but has hardly effect on podophyllotoxin content. The results of the study provide an important scientific basis for S. hexandrum production development. But there are many factors which affect suitability index and podophyllotoxin content of S. hexandrum, it is necessary to consider other factors like climate and soil while exploitation and protection of S. hexandrum.
Altitude ; Berberidaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Ecosystem ; Podophyllotoxin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the expression level and significance of glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) in normal breast tissue, adenosis, adenoma and breast carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 147 cases of female breast tissue samples, including 92 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, 26 cases of breast fibroadenoma, 24 cases of breast adenosis and 5 cases of normal breast tissues, were collected for quantitative detection of the expression of Glut-1 protein by immunohistochemistry (EnVision method) and Western blot, and its mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn normal breast tissue and benign lesions of the breast, Glut-1 was undetectable or only weakly detectable in cytoplasm of ductal and acinar epithelia. In contrast, the intensity of Glut-1 staining was significantly higher in invasive ductal carcinomas (P = 0.0002) with protein expression predominantly in cellular membrane and lesser in cytoplasm. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of Glut-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in invasive ductal carcinoma than fibroadenoma (P =0.001 for protein; P <0.05 for mRNA) and adenosis (P =0.001 for protein; P < 0.05 for mRNA). There was a significant difference among groups (P = 0.0002 for protein; P = 0.0001 for mRNA).

CONCLUSIONSGlucose transport activity, as indicated by Glut-1 protein and its mRNA expression, significantly increases in breast carcinoma than non-cancerous lesions. The over-expression of Glut-1 in breast carcinoma is tightly coupled with tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, implying that Glut-1 may serve as a new marker in the early diagnosis and prognostication of breast malignancy as well as a new therapeutic target.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucose ; physiology ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Prognosis