AIM To study the phenylethanoid glycosides from Verbenae Herba.METHODS The 80%ethanol extract from Verbenae Herba was isolated and purified by silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,TLC and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Nine compounds were isolated and identified as verbofficoside A(1),cistanoside D(2),epimeredinoside A(3),verbascoside(4),isoverbascoside(5),cistanoside C(6),cistanoside F(7),decaffeoylacteoside(8),jionoside C(9).CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new compound.Compounds 3 and 6-9 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective To explore the correlation between hippocampal zinc transporter 1 and 3 expressions and epilepsy in spontaneously epileptic rats (ESRs) and normal rats, and observe the alternations of zinc homeostasis in zinc-containing neurons after seizure. Methods Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect zinc transporter 1 and 3 expressions in the hippocampus of both ESRs with recurrent seizures and normal Wistar rats. Results At both the mRNA and protein levels, hippocampal zinc transporter 1 expression in ESRs with recurrent seizures was significantly higher than that in normal Wistar rats, while hippocampal zinc transporter 3 protein expression was comparable between the two groups. Conclusion Hippocampal zinc transporter 1 expression is up-regnlated and Zn2+ in the hippocampal neurons, especially the post-synaptic neurons, can be elevated in ESRs after recurrent seizure. Up-regulated zinc transporter 1 expression in the hippocampus may protect the neurons against seizure-induced injuries by decreasing Zn2+ levels in the neurons.

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the fruits of Psidum littorale Raddi.METHODS The ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of 90％ ethanol extract from P.littorale were isolated and purified by silica,Sephadex LH-20,D-101 macroporous resin and preparative HPLC column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by spectral data.RESULTS Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as lupeol (1),betulin (2),nigaichigoside F1 (3),2oα-hydroxybetulinic acid (4),(-)-episyringaresinol (5),(+)-syringaresinol (6),(+)-isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-glucopyranoside (7),(7S,8R)-urolignoside (8),benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (9),butanedioic acid (10),β-sitosterol (11),daucosterol (12).CONCLUSION Compounds 1-9 are isolated from genus Psidium for the first time.

Ras is best known for its ability to regulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Mutations in Ras are associated with the abnormal cell proliferation which can result in incidence of all human cancers. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a downstream effector of Ras and plays important roles in prognosis of tumors. Recently, evidence has gradually accumulated to demonstrate that there are other effectors between Ras and ERK, these proteins interact each other and constitute the thorough Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The pathway has profound effects on incidence of esophageal carcinoma and clinical applications of some chemotherapeutic drugs targeting the pathway. Further understanding of the relevant molecular mechanisms of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway can be helpful for the development of efficient targeting therapeutic approaches which contribute to the treatment of esophageal cancer. In this article, roles of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in esophageal carcinoma as well as pharmacological targeting point in the pathway are reviewed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; ras Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of the contralateral testicular histology and germ cell apoptosis after unilateral testicular torsion (UTT) and to determine whether the contralateral testis is injured or not.

METHODSSixty SD male rats were divided into control group (12 rats) and experimental group(48 rats). The former underwent sham operation of the left testis under general anaesthesia. The latter underwent left testis torsion(720 degrees) for 6 h, and then 4 of them were sacrificed and the other 44 were subdivided into the torsed testis untwisted group (22 rats) and the torsed testis removal group (22 rats), 7-8 rats were sacrificed and both testes (twisted and untwisted) were removed 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery. All testes underwent histological and germ cell apoptosis examination.

RESULTSThere were significant histological changes in the contralateral testis, and the germ cell apoptosis was increased greatly in the contralateral testis.

CONCLUSIONSUTT can cause contralateral testicular injury, whose mechanism may be related to reperfusion, and torsed testis removal can prevent or reduce damage to the contralateral testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Germ Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of inversion-table in the treatment of lower pole renal stones.

METHODSFrom March 2006 to September 2008, 36 patients with lower pole renal calculi were treated by inversion-table, 13 cases with stone diameter from 4 mm to 20 mm received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) combined with inversion-table treatment and other 23 cases with stone diameter from 2 mm to 4mm received inversion-table treatment alone.

RESULTSAll of 36 cases underwent inversion-table treatment successfully and no one had cardio-cerebral accident. After following up 3 months, the radiologically documented complete stone clearance rate at 3 months group was 83.3%.

CONCLUSIONInversion-table treatment is a safe and valuable adjunct in assisting passage of lower pole renal stone fragments after mini-invasive treatment of stone and can improve stone-free rate.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; therapy ; Lithotripsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posture ; Treatment Outcome ; Vibration ; therapeutic use

To investigated the chemical constituents of the roots of Psidium guajava,we isolated seven compounds by silica gel column chromatography.These include oleanane derivatives,2 α,3β,6β,23-tetrahydroxylurs-12,20(30)-dien-28-oic acid β-D-glucopyranoside (1),2α,3β,6β,23-tetrahydroxylurs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid β-D-glucopyranoside (2),2α,3β,23-trihydroxylurs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid β-D-glucopyranoside (3), nigaichigoside F1(4),asiaticoside C (5),2α,3β,6β,19α,23-pentahydroxylurs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid β-Dglucopyranoside (6) and 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxylurs-12-en-28-oic acid (7).Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis with reference to the published data.Compound 1 is brand new,compounds 2-6 were first isolated from this plant.The new compound was evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma Bel 7402 in vitro.The results were expressed as the ratio of inhibiting Bel 7402 cells growth by comparing to untreated cells.The new compound (concentration:25 μmol·L^-1) showed the ratio values of 52.5%.

We investigated the chemical constituents of the leaves of Psidum littorale, which include 16 flavonoids, including seven flavonols, six flavonoid glycosides and three flavonones. The compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and by comparison with published data. Seven flavonols were kaempferol (1), isorhamnetin (2), myricetin-3,7,3'-trimethyl ether (3), laricitrin (4), quercetin (5), myricetin (6) and quercein-3,4'-dimethyl ether (7), six flavonoid glycosides were guaijaverin (8), hyperoside (9), 5,4'-dyhydroxy-3,7,5'-methoxyflavone-3'-O-β-D-glucoside (10), laricitrin-3-O-xyloside (11), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12) and myricetin-3-O-β-D-xyloside (13). Three flavonones were 4'-O-methyldihydroquercetin (14), dihydroapigenin (15) and ampelopsin 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (16). Compound 10 is a new chemical, compounds 2-4, 7, 10-16 were first isolated from this plant. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data of compound 11 were not reported in literature.

Animals ; Chloroquine/pharmacology* ; Longevity ; Rats