The purpose of this study was to explore the interaction mechanism between glycyrrhiza protein and berberine in the decocting process of Rhizoma Coptidis and Liquorice and its effect on the pharmacodynamic effect. In this experiment, licorice crude protein was obtained from licorice decoction pieces, and it was found that licorice crude protein and berberine could form spherical supramolecular particles after decocting together. Morphological characterization was carried out by using Malvin particle size analyzer and emission scanning electron microscopy, and the supramolecular particles were observed to be nanoscale, which was significantly different from the morphology of licorice protein and berberine. The results of ultraviolet, infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the mechanism of molecular interaction was induced by weak bonds such as electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of berberine was significantly affected by the supramolecular particles of licorice protein-berberine, which were significantly different from the mechanical mixture. This study reveals the pharmacological value of macromolecular substances such as proteins in the decoction of licorice and Coptis chinensis from a new perspective, which is helpful to promote the secondary development of clinical effective prescriptions, especially the research on the pharmacological substance basis of classic famous prescriptions.

Chlorogenic acid displays several important roles in the therapeutic properties of many herbs, such as antioxidant activity, antibacterial, antiviral, scavenging free radicals and exciting central nervous system. Only about one-third of chlorogenic acid was absorbed in its prototype, therefore, its gut metabolites play a more important role in the therapeutic properties of chlorogenic acid. It is necessary to consider not only the bioactivities of chlorogenic acid but also its gut metabolites. This review focuses on the potential activities and mechanisms of chlorogenic acid and its gut metabolites on central nervous system diseases.
Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To investigate smoking with its reasons and nicotine dependence in schizophrenic inpatients. Methods Self -designed questionnaire,russell reason for smoking questionnaire and fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FNTD ) were used to investigate the reasons of current smoking status in 245 schizophrenic inpatients. Results There were 43 (17.55%)current smoking among 245 schizophrenic inpatients,including 41 (95.35%)males and 2(4.65%)females;and 21(48.84%)were severely dependent on nicotine who was all male.The average score of FNTD was 4.15 ±2.18.According to the scores of russell,the total scores of smoking reasons were 22.92 ±12.89and 27.67 ±17.36 in male and female patients respectively,with no significant difference(P>0.05).The highest scores of smoking questionnaire were in addiction,activities of hands or mouth and calmness.Conclusion The schizophrenic inpatients were severely dependent on nicotine.The main reasons are addiction,activities of hands or mouth and calmness.

It is a common understanding that turbidity and precipitation of traditional Chinese medicine are easy to occur in the process of decocting. At present, our research group found that the cause of "multi-phase of traditional Chinese medicine decoction" mainly came from the interaction between the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine, especially the interaction of acid and base components. For example, the Liquorice and Rhizoma chinensis was a supramolecular system formed by a large number of active components in the decoction (>30%), and could stably exist in the decoction system. In this study, the supramolecular part was extracted, and the morphology of the supramolecular part was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. It was observed that the supramolecular particles were uniform in size and regular in shape. The main components of supramolecular sites were identified by liquid mass spectrometry (LC-MSⁿ). The results of UV and IR spectra showed that the chemical components of Liquorice and Rhizoma chinensis in the co-decocting process collided with each other, and weak bonds were formed between the functional groups of the molecules, which then induced the aggregation to form supramolecules. Thereafter, Through the diarrhea model of mice, sensory evaluation and antibacterial activity evaluation found that Liquorice and Rhizoma chinensis decocted together enhanced the antibacterial activity of Rhizoma, and compatibility "reconcile" Rhizoma "big bitter cold" property compared with single decoction group and interval administration group. All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and the relevant regulations of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine on experimental animals were strictly followed. In this study, supramolecular chemistry method was used to preliminarily discuss the scientific connotation of "increasing efficiency and decreasing toxicity" of Liquorice and Rhizoma chinensis combined decoction from three perspectives of "property, efficacy and taste", and provide new ideas for the basic research of "reconcile" compatibility of Liquorice.

This study was designed to investigate the correlation between autophagy and polarization of macrophages in atherosclerosis (AS) plaque in arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees. Femoral artery specimens from arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees were performed hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, oil red O and immunofluorescence staining to observe the morphology of atherosclerotic plaque, phenotype of macrophages and autophagy in plaque; using real-time quantitative RT-PCR technology to detect the mRNA level of M1 and M2 type markers in arterial tissue; to analyze polarized signal pathway and autophagy protein levels in macrophages by Western blotting. Arterial specimens staining showed obvious lipid deposition and obvious infiltration of amount of foam cells and inflammatory cells. Macrophages were mainly expression M1 type in percentage in fibrous plaque. Although both M1 and M2 macrophages were upregulated in atheromatous plaque, the increase was dominant in M2 type in percentage. The level of autophagy was significantly higher in the atheromatous plaque than that of fibrous plaque. The expression of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA was significantly higher in fibrous plaque than that of atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01 or 0.05), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), CD163 and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA was significantly lower than that in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The levels of p-STAT1 and NF-κB were significantly increased in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01), while p-STAT6 expression was significantly increased in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The level of LC3-II was significantly higher in atheromatous plaque than that in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01). Macrophages in early atherosclerotic plaque were induced to M1 type through p-STAT1/NF-κB pathway and expressed moderate levels of autophagy; while macrophages in advanced plaques were induced to polarization of M2 type through p-STAT6 pathway. M2 macrophages expressed a higher level of autophagy than M1 macrophages.
Amputees ; Arginase ; metabolism ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Autophagy ; Cell Polarity ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUNDThe study was designed to investigate the status of molecular epidemiology of HCMV in Urumqi through genetic comparison of clinical isolates.

METHODSDNA sequences of 2.0-2.6 kb were amplified by polymerase chain reaction from three relatively conservative gene regions (DNA polymerase, glycoproteins H, and major immediate-early antigen) of 28 clinical HCMV strains and then were analysed by restriction enzymes.

RESULTSThe restriction patterns of the clinical isolates which did not have relation in epidemiology were greatly different, but the patterns of the clinical isolates related in epidemiology such as strains paired in mother and infant were quite similar. Of eight mother and infant pairs, from whom HCMV were isolated, four pairs showed identity of restriction profiles within each pair for all three amplified regions, four pairs showed differences between mother and infant.

CONCLUSIONThese results confirm the high degree of genetic variability among cytomegalovirus strains in Urumqi. Analysis of PCR-RFLP can indicate transmission of HCMV infection and facilitate its molecular epidemiologic studies.

China ; epidemiology ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; genetics ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

A UPLC-MS/MS method based on metabonomic skills was developed to study the serum metabolic changes of rats after acute liver injury induced by CCl4 and to evaluate the action mechanism of Si-Ni-San. The integrated data were exported for principal components analysis (PCA) by using SIMCA-P software, in order to find the potential biomarkers. It showed that clear separation of healthy control group, model group, silymarin group, Si-Ni-San group was achieved by using the PCA method. Nine significantly changed metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers of acute liver injury. Compared with the health control group, the model group rats showed higher levels of phenylalanine, tryptophan and GCDCA together with lower levels of LPC 16 : 0, LPC 18 : 0, LPC 18 : 1, LPC 16 : 1, LPC 20 : 4 and LPC 22 : 6. These changes of serum metabolites suggested that the disorders of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis and anti-oxidative damage were related to acute liver injury induced by CCl4. Si-Ni-San might have the anti-liver injury effect on all these four metabolic pathways.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; etiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glycodeoxycholic Acid ; blood ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; blood ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Phenylalanine ; blood ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tryptophan ; blood

The Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) graphene ( PEDOT-rGO) composite film was prepared by one step pulse potentiostatic method, based on the π-π* interaction and the polymerization reaction of hydrogen bond between the graphene ( rGO) and the aromatic ring of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene ( EDOT) monomer. Then the nickel nanoparticles ( NiNPs ) were electrodeposited on composite film to obtain a composite film-modified glassy carbon electrode ( NiNPs/PEDOT-rGO/GCE ) . The catalytic performance of NiNPs/PEDOT-rGO/GCE towards the oxidation of glucose was studied by electrochemical method. The experimental results showed that the NiNPs/PEDOT-rGO/GCE could be used as a nonenzyematic sensor for detection of glucose. This method had high stability, good selectivity, wide linear range ( 2 μmol/L-58 mmol/L) and low detection limit (0. 7 μmol/L), realizing the rapid and sensitive detection of glucose.

BACKGROUNDBecause of the pivotal role of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules in regulating the immune response and their extensive polymorphism, it is not surprising that particular HLA class II alleles have been implicated in susceptibility to allergic diseases and in restriction of the IgE responses to a variety of allergens. We investigated the relationship between HLA-DRB genotype and allergies to various penicillins and explored HLA-DRB restriction of IgE responses to these derivatives of penicillin.

METHODSRadioallergosorbent test was used to examine 8 kinds of specific IgE antibodies (4 major and 4 minor antigenic determinants) in the sera of 248 patients with an allergy to penicillins and 101 healthy subjects without any allergic reaction. Some (113 patients and 87 healthy control subjects) were chosen from all subjects to type for HLA-DRB alleles by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with control subjects, a significantly increased frequency of DR9 was present in 77 patients with allergic reactions, with immediate hypersensitive reaction and with urticaria (P = 0.011; P = 0.019; P = 0.005 respectively). Conversely, a significantly decreased frequency of DR14.1 was found in 80 patients with positive IgE antibodies, with immediate reaction and with urticaria compared with control group (P = 0.024; P = 0.038; P = 0.038). A possible excess of HLA-DR17 was found in subjects who were responsive to benzylpenicilloyl compared with those were not (chi(2) = 5.134, P = 0.023), and of HLA-DR4 was found in subjects responsive to phenoxomethylpenicillanyl (PVA, chi(2) = 4.057, P = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONHLA-DRB gene may be involved in allergy to penicillins through modulating specific serum IgE to penicillins.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Genotype ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penicillins ; adverse effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo prepare a decellularized whole laryngeal scaffold by utilizing a perfusion-decellularized technique, reseed cells on it, and construct decellularized laryngeal muscles.

METHODSPerfusion decellularized larynxes were obtained by common carotid arterious perfusion with detergents. Then they were performed by macroscopic view, histological examination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cartilage viability. Decellularized laryngeal scaffold were then reseeded with inducted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Composites were transferred into greater omentums of rabbits after one day's adherence and harvested after eight weeks. Macroscopic view, histological examination and immunohistochemistry were performed.

RESULTSPerfusion larynxes became transparent after two hours. Histology and SEM indicated that perfusion method showed better decullularized effect. More vintages and collagen fibers but no intact cell or nuclei were retained in the decellularized matrix. Porosity measured by Image pro plus 6.0 was 80.4% +/- 3.2% (x +/- s). Chondrocyte vitality assay indicated chondrocyte vitality rate in the perfusion group was 86.9% +/- 1.5%. After eight weeks, vascularization formed and integrated cartilage frameworks still remained. Histological examination could clearly show the presence of muscle bundles and vessels. Immunohistochemical examination indicated that sarcomeric-alpha actin expressed positively in corresponding areas.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible to reseed MSCs into the decellularized laryngeal muscle matrix for constructing tissue-engineered laryngeal muscles. This in vivo maturation into the omentum could be the first step before in situ implantation of the construct.

Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; Feasibility Studies ; Laryngeal Muscles ; cytology ; physiology ; Larynx, Artificial ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds