Plasma concentrations of immunoreactivc beta-endorphin in patients with NIDDM were measured by radioimmuno-assay. It was found that the plasma beta-endorphin levels decreased in 68 cases of NIDDM especially in those with long duration of illness and chronic complication. These results suggested that beta-endorphin may be related to diabetes and its chronic complication.

In order to establish a method for the determination of the sterols of the oil in the freeze-dried acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and to evaluate its antioxidant activities, a saponification/extraction procedure and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis method were developed and validated for the analysis of phytosterols in PEE (Petroleum ether extract). Separation was achieved on a Purosper STAR LP C18 column with a binary, gradient solvent system of acetonitrile and isopropanol. Evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was used to quantify β-sitosterol and the total sterols. Peak identification was verified by retention times and spikes with external standards. Standard curves were constructed (r = 0.999 2) to allow for sample quantification. Recovery of the saponification and extraction was demonstrated via analysis of spiked samples. The highest content of total sterols is β-sitosterol. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using the total oxyradical scavenging capacity assay (TOSC assay). The result showed that the PEE exhibited significant antioxidant properties, sample concentration and the antioxidant capacity had a certain relevance.
Antioxidants ; analysis ; Arecaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phytosterols ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis

HER2, a member of epidermal growth factor receptor family proteins, is overexpressed in about 30% of human breast cancer. Increased levels of HER2 are associated with poor patient prognosis and enhanced metastasis. RNA interference (RNAi) is developed recently as a new technique which can inhibit gene expression specifically in mammalian cells. On the basis of previous study,in which two target sequences with favorable RNAi effect on HER2 were identified, a series of dual promoter siRNA-expressing vectors containing two opposing U6 and H1 promoters were constructed. After transfection of HER2-overexpressing SKBR3 breast cancer cells with the siRNA-expressing vectors, downregulation of HER2 was identified quantitatively. Subsequently, the siRNA-expressing cassettes were subcloned into lentiviral vectors by LR recombination reaction and lentivirus was prepared successfully. The results from infection of SKBR3 cells with siRNA-expressing lentivirus demonstrated that lentiviral-mediated RNAi could downregulate HER2 expression efficiently through fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR), western blot, and FACS analysis. Furthermore, cell growth was inhibited in cell proliferation assay after treatment with siRNA lentivirus.A new tool for clarifying the function of HER2 in cancer metastasis and developing the gene therapy drug was offered.

Four triterpenoids were isolated and purified from the 95% ethanol extract of Maytenus guangxiensis by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, MCI column chromatography and preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were determined from their physicochemical properties and spectral data. They were identified as maytguanone A (1), maytguanone B (2), 11α-methoxyurs-12-ene-1β,3β-diol (3), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,11α-diol (4). Compounds 1 and 2 are new triterpenoids, along with compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from M. guangxiensis for the first time. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 3 and 4 was evaluated using the MTT procedure with three cancer cell lines. The results show that compound 3 displayed good inhibitory effects against HeLa, with an IC₅₀ of 10.68 μmol·L^-1.

OBJECTIVETo study on relation of indications of Back-shu points of zang- and fu-organs with The Bladder Channel of Foot-Taiyang.

METHODSWith analysis of origin of Back-shu points of zang- and fu-organs and their indications, the relation of Back-shu points with the incidental and fundamental aspects, theory of qi-flow, and the characteristics of the parts of indications of acupoints reflected by Back-shu points, relations of indications of Back-shu points of zang- and fu-organs with The Bladder Channel of Foot-Taiyang were studied.

RESULTSIndications of Back-shu points, a group of acupoints on the circulation route of The Foot-Taiyang Channel, are not found in the channel, which is difficult to explain from twelve channel theory. However, the relation of the incidental and fundamental aspects, theory of qi-flow, and the characteristics of the parts of indications of acupoints with the indications, and the branches of channels presented due to channel tropism of acupoints, etc. contribute to explain the indications of Back-shu points for diseases and syndromes of five zang-organs and six fu-organs.

CONCLUSIONThe relation of indications of acupoints with disease groups and circulation route of channels can not be discussed simply by Miraculous Pivot . Channels.

Robust and efficient control of therapeutic gene expression is needed for timing and dosing of gene therapy drugs in clinical applications. Ribozyme riboswitch provides a promising building block for ligand-controlled gene-regulatory system, based on its property that exhibits tunable gene regulation, design modularity, and target specificity. Ribozyme riboswitch can be used in various gene delivery vectors. In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in extending ribozyme riboswitch's application from gene-expression control to cellular function and fate control. High throughput screening platforms were established, that allow not only rapid optimization of ribozyme riboswitch in a microbial host, but also straightforward transfer of selected devices exhibiting desired activities to mammalian cell lines in a predictable manner. Mathematical models were employed successfully to explore the performance of ribozyme riboswitch quantitively and its rational design predictably. However, to progress toward gene therapy relevant applications, both precision rational design of regulatory circuits and the biocompatibility of regulatory ligand are still of crucial importance.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Ligands ; Models, Theoretical ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; Riboswitch ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Ru'ai Shuhou Recipe (RSR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 300 patients with breast cancer were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated with Western medicine and RSR, and the patients in the control group were treated only with Western medicine (the same as the treatment group). In the two groups, the 5-year recurrence rates after mastectomy in breast cancer were investigated. RESULTS: Thirty-four breast cancer patients were lost to five-year follow-up during the course of investigation, and 266 breast cancer patients went through the evaluation. The 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The recurrence rate after mastectomy was influenced by positive lymph node, primary breast tumor size, clinical stage, and patients' health status. There was significant difference in the 5-year recurrence rates between the two groups (P<0.05) under the following conditions, such as the positive lymph nodes more than four, the primary breast tumor larger than two centimeters, and in the clinical stage II and III, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/progesterone receptor (PR)-positive and ER-negative/PR-negative. The recurrence rate was not associated with the operation method and age distribution. CONCLUSION: RSR can reduce the 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) type 1 receptor blocker losartan on the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in metabolic syndrome (MS)kidney. Methods Seven-week-old male obese Zucker rats,a model of MS,were randomly divided into losartan treated and untreated group,and lean Zucker rats were used as controls.The obese Zucker rata of treated group received losartan for 4 months continuously.COX-2 expression was examined for all rats after 4 months.AngⅡ-stimulated mesangial cells and cortical tissue from AngⅡ-infused C57BL/6 mouse kidney by osmotic minipumps were used in this study.RNA and protein were obtained from renal cortical tissue or mesangial cells for RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Compared to the lean controls,obese Zucker rats showed a significant increase of COX-2 expression in the renal cortical tissue and these abnormalities were prevented by administration of losartan. Furthermore,the direct stimulation of AngⅡincreased COX-2 expression in mesangial cells in vitro and renal cortical tissue in vivo.Conclusions MS-induced COX-2 expression in the kidney is regulated by AngⅡ.Losartan as a non COX-2 inhibitor can protect MS kidney,at least in part,by inhibition of COX-2 activation.

Realgar-containing Niuhuang Jiedu tablet (NHJD) has been applied in clinic for more than 800 years. However, because realgar contains arsenic (As), it has aroused wide concerns and controversies both at home and abroad. Currently, there are two misunderstandings about realgar-containing Chinese patent medicines. First, some people exaggerated realgar's toxicity as that of arsenic. Second, they recommended to remove realgar from traditional Chinese medicine compounds. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on NHJD, and proposed different opinions: (1) It is inappropriate to take total As as the index in safety evaluation of NHJD. (2) The toxicity of NHJD is dependent on the dose and duration of administration. (3) Realgar is an active ingredient of NHJD, and shall be deeply studied. Classic realgar-containing traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, such as Niuhuang Jiedu tablet, shall be evaluated with rigorous modern scientific basis, with the aim to guide rational and safe application.
Animals ; Arsenicals ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sulfides ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Tablets ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome