Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex is the dry bark of Cleistocalyx operculatus. It is the raw material of Compound Hibiscuse which is external sterilization antipruritic drugs. The quality standard of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex in Guangdong Province "standard for the traditional Chinese medicine" (second volumes) only contains TLC identification. It is unable to effectively monitor and control the quality of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex. A reversed-phase HPLC method was established for the determination of 3, 3'-O-dimethylellagic acid from Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex and the content was calculated by external standard method for the first time. Under the selected chromatographic conditions, the target components between peaks to achieve effective separation. 3,3'-O- dimethylellagic acid standard solution at the concentration of 1.00 - 25.0 mg x L(-1) showed a good linear relationship. The standard curve was Y = 77.33X + 7.904, r = 0.999 5. The average recovery was 101.0%, RSD was 1.3%. The HPLC method for the determination of 3,3'-O-dimethylellagic acid in Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex is accurate and reliable. It can provide a strong technical support for monitoring the quality of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Syzygium ; chemistry

The compound that distributes in the herbs with one common effect was named as "co-effect compound" (CEC). The CECs of three traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) effects, purgative, relieving pain and clearing heat, had been found and studied. A strong corresponding relationship was found between the pharmacological activities of CECs and the TCM effect they belong to. The study shows that it may be a feasible method to connect traditional effect of TCM with modem pharmacological activity.
Anthraquinones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Cathartics ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

0.05).Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of CCR2-64I was not associated with hypertension in Han Chinese elders.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; secondary

To explore differentially expressed genes in leukemia gene expression profile and identify main related genes in acute leukemia, gene expression profiles were analyzed in bone marrow/leucopheresis peripheral blood stem cells samples from 9 acute leukemia patients and their sibling donors with the use of oligonucleotide microarrays. 163 reported leukemia-related genes were involved in the study. The oligonucleotide primers were designed, synthesized and spotted on the chemical-material-coated-glass plates in array. The total RNAs were isolated from nine patients' bone marrow or leucopheresis peripheral blood cells and from nine their sibling donors peripheral blood stem cells treated by G-CSF, then collected by CS-3000 cell selection machine, and were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the oligonucleotide microarray. The results showed that in four patient/donor pairs with B-ALL, 5 up-regulated (RIZ, STK-1, T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1A, Cbp/p300, Op18) and 1 down-regulated genes (hematopoietic proteoglycan core protein) were identified; In five patient/donor pairs with AML-M(4) and AML-M(5), 6 up-regulated (STAT5B, ligand p62 for the Lck SH2, CST3, LTC4S, myeloid leukemia factor 2 and epb72) and 1 down-regulated genes (CCR5) were identified. In conclusion, on the basis of distinguishing study of specific genetic related recipient/sibling donor pairs, screening leukemia-related genes with oligonucleotide microarrays, a set of 13 up-regulated or down-regulated genes among 163 leukemia-related genes has been identified. The result has further confirmed that above genes play critical role in the molecular mechanism of acute leukemia.
Blood Donors ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Microtubule Proteins ; genetics ; Milk Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; Siblings ; Stathmin ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo scan for mutations of polycystic kidney disease 1 gene (PKD1) in Chinese population in order to find some features about Chinese patients and a better approach to detect mutations.

METHODSTwenty-five PKD-affected individuals from twenty-one unrelated genealogies and sixteen controls participated in the study. Thirty-five blood samples and six tissues were obtained after receiving informed consent and were in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using standard procedures. PCR amplification of genomic DNA was performed to generate the aimed fragments. Amplified fragments were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A GC clamp was attached to the 5' primer. After that, the abnormal fragments were sequenced on freshly amplified specific PCR products with the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. Sequencing was performed for all samples to evaluate DGGE.

RESULTSAimed fragments of exons 44 and 45 were amplified. DGGE detected eleven abnormal PCR fragments. Two novel mutations were identified by sequencing, included one nonsense mutation (C12217T) and one frameshift (12431delCT). In addition, one polymorphism (A50747C) was identified. The mutation detection rate is 8% in our study.

CONCLUSIONTwo novel pathogenic mutations were detected, including one nonsense mutation (C12217T) and one frameshift (12431delCT).

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proteins ; genetics ; TRPP Cation Channels

OBJECTIVE: To analyze pathological characteristics of organs recovered during forensic autopsy submitted by legal medicine experts. METHODS: From Baoji city, 358 cases of forensic autopsy specimens from a series of routine exams were collected. And histopathological diagnoses were reviewed. RESULTS: Majority of the 358 cases were young men. The major causes of death were trauma, sudden death and poisoning. The cause of death was determined with histology in 250 cases. No typical histological changes were noted in 101 cases. The tissue autolysis and decomposition were present in 7 cases. The major pathological diagnosis was cardiovascular disease, followed by diseases in respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems. CONCLUSION Forensic autopsy with its professional characteristics, is different from regular autopsy. When diagnosing cause of death by histopathological examination, pathologists should collaborate with legal medicine experts to know the details of the cases, circumstances surrounding the death, and specific forensic pathological characteristics.
Anxiety ; Autolysis ; Autopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; China ; Cooperative Behavior ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations ; Male

AIMTo determine the mechanisms of glucocorticoids in inhibiting advanced prostate cancer growth.

METHODSThe cell proliferation and cell cycle of prostate cancer DU145 cells following dexamethasone treatment were determined by proliferation assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Western blot analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and expression of cyclin D1 in DU145 cells with or without glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction verified the expression of GR mRNA in DU145 cells.

RESULTSDexamethasone significantly inhibited DU145 cell proliferation at the G(0)/G(1) phase. Western blot analysis showed a dramatic reduction of ERK1/2 activity and cyclin D1 expression in dexamethasone-treated cells. The decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in dexamethasone-treated cells was attenuated by GR blockade. Additionally, the effects of dexamethasone in inhibiting cyclin D1 expression were altered by GR blockade.

CONCLUSIONDexamethasone suppresses DU145 cell proliferation and cell cycle, and the underlying mechanisms are through the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 expression. The inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression is attenuated by GR blockade, suggesting that GR regulates ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 pathways. These observations suggest that dexamethasone has a potential clinical application in prostate cancer therapy.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Tadalafil combined with behavior therapy in helping obtain semen from infertile men in whom masturbation has failed.

METHODSSixty male infertile patients from whom masturbation had failed to obtain semen were equally assigned to receive Tadalafil combined with behavior therapy (combination group) or Tadalafil only (control group). All the patients took Tadalafil 20 mg orally the night before the day of semen collection by masturbation. Before this procedure, the patients of the combination group practiced masturbation 16 - 24 times at home.

RESULTSThe average ages of the patients were (37.0 +/- 5.1) yr and (37.5 +/- 5.2) yr and their IIEF-5 scores were 16.50 +/- 1.25 and 16.90 +/- 1.09 in the combination and the control group, respectively, neither with statistically significant difference between the two groups. Semen was successfully obtained from 9 patients (30.0%) of the combination group and 1 patient (3.33%) of the control group, with statistically significant difference between the two groups (chi2 = 7.680, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy training the patients and establishing a conditioned response to masturbation, Tadalafil combined with behavior therapy can significantly increase the success rate of semen collection from the male infertile patients in whom masturbation fails.

Adult ; Behavior Therapy ; Carbolines ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Masturbation ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Semen ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDTwist is a highly conserved epithelial-mesenchymal transcription factor that has been reported to be a key factor in tumor malignancy, including lymph node metastasis. It represents the major step of dissemination and serves as a chief prognostic indicator of disease progression. However, the mechanism by which Twist regulates lymph node metastasis remains incompletely understood. Studies on the mechanism of metastasis are thus required for determining appropriate therapeutic strategies.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry for lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor 1 (LYVE-1), Ki-67, Twist, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) was performed to detect lymphatic vessel density (LVD), cell proliferation levels and the expressions of Twist, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 were determined from 66 primary supraglottic carcinoma tissue samples from 36 patients with lymph node metastasis (pathological N+, pN+) and 30 patients without metastasis (pathological N0, pN0). Western blotting analysis of the proteins in pN+ and pN0 primary tumors was used to characterize the expressions of Twist, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 further.

RESULTSThe LVD was 22.4 ± 10.3 in pN+ patients and 6.8 ± 4.1 in pN0 ones. For Ki-67, the number of proliferous cells in pN+ patients was greater than that in pN0 ones. Both, however, were associated with their clinical nodal stages. In pN+ patients, Twist, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 expressions were 86.11% (31/36), 80.56% (29/36), and 58.33% (21/36), respectively. These values were higher than those found for pN0 patients (i.e., 13/30, 11/30, and 7/30, respectively) (P < 0.05). Among the samples with Twist expression, 88.64% were VEGF-C-positive and 59.09% were VEGFR-3-positive. The pN0 counterparts were 4.55% and 9.09%, respectively (P < 0.05). The expressions of Twist, VEGF-C, and VEGFR-3 in pN+ patients obtained through Western blotting analysis were significantly higher than those in pN0 patients, and the levels of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were positively correlated with that of Twist.

CONCLUSIONSTwist expression correlates with lymph node metastasis. The mechanism involved in such a correlation may be related to lymphangiogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; Lymphangiogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Twist-Related Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; metabolism