Objective To investigate whether polymorphisms of apolipopretein D gene (APOD) have an effect on the risk for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD).Methods Combination of polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing technique to screen all exons (1-5),along with flanking exon-intron boundaries of the ApoD gene.We investigated the polymorphisms of ApoD in 256 SAD patients and 294 healthy controls from North China by PCR-RFLP technique.Association of every polymorphism with AD was analyzed in this case-control study.Results Two ApoD (rs5952 and rs1568566) polymorphisms were detected and there were significant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies for the 2 ApoD polymorphisms respectively between cases and controls.Logistic analysis showed that rs5952C or rs1568566T allele carrier increased the risk for SAD (rs5952 adjusted OR=1.817,95% CI 1.237--2.669,χ2=9.282,P=0.002 ; rs1568566 adjusted OR=1.563,95% CI 1.060-2.306,χ2=5.072,P=0.024).The APOD polymorphisms showed gender specific associations.The linkage disequilibrium of the 2 single nucleotide polymorphism loci was found between rs5952 and rs1568566 of ApoD.Conclusion Polymorphisms of rs5952 and rs1568566 in APOD might play an important role in modifying risk for SAD.

Objective To study the absorption and transportation of flavonoids in Herb Epimedii by using Caco-2 monolayer model. Methods Caco-2 cell monolayer model was used to study the bi-direction transport of icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and baohuoside Ⅰ. The concentration of the five flavonoids in cell culture medium was measured by UPLC and the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) were calculated. Results The absorptive permeability coefficients (PAB) of icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and baohuoside Ⅰ were 5.91?10-7, 3.22?10-7, 2.76?10-7, 4.23?10-7, and 1.46?10-6 cm/s, respectively. Except baohuoside Ⅰ, the other four flavonodes had lower permeabilities, and the secretive permeabilities (PBA) of all the flavonoids were larger than their absorptive permeabilities. Among them, the PBA of baohuoside Ⅰ was 9.8 times as much as the PAB. Conclusion The results suggest that the intestinal absorption of the five flavonoids is lower, which might have efflux mechanism by transporters, and the absorption of monloglycoside (e.g. baohuoside Ⅰ) is better than that of diglycoside (e.g. icariin) and triglycoside (e.g. epimedin A, epimedin B, and epimedin C).

To elucidate the processing mechanism of Herba Epimedii from the new view of the intestinal absorption and metabolism.From analyzing the literatures of processing mechanism and togethering with the research of our lab,a new idea of processing mechanism of Herba Epimedii was brought:the pharmacologically active and easier absorbed flavonoids might be present more in the herbs when changing the heating processing parameters and thereby increased or maintained the efficacy.This thesis first pointed the new idea and method that the intestinal absorption and metabolism of herbs should be considered when studying the mechanism of processing.

Objective To construct an RNA interference vector to down-regulate X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis(XIAP)gene and study the RNA interference effect on the cell cycle and growth of ovarian cancer.Methods Oligonucleotides of 64 base pairs for hairpin RNA targeting XIAP were designed, chemically synthesized,annealed,and cloned into the pSUPER vector.After identification by restriction digestion,the correct vectors were transiently transfected into SKOV3 cells,a human ovarian cancer cell line.The XIAP mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.The proteins were detected by western blot and indirect immunofluorescence staining.Flow cytometry(FCM)analysis and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay method were applied to measure cell cycle,cell growth and sensitiveness to cisplatin.Results SKOV3 cells had a high level expression of XIAP.The vector of RNA interference,which can interfere with XIAP gene was successfully constructed.After transient transfection,the expression of XIAP protein was significantly decreased in SKOV3 cells and the value of relative density was 3584?124,2138?65,1973?80 and 110 ?12,respectively(P=0.0334).At the same time,the expression of XIAP mRNA was decreased accordingly and the value of relative density was 6674?274,4532?107,2322?57 and 1864?78, respectively(P=0.0127).The FCM results showed that,the vector could increase the number of cells in G_1 phase compared with parent cells and compared with the cells transfected with pSUPER(P

AIM: To investigate the ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Sancao prescription (Spica prunellae, Oldenlandia diffuse (willd) Roxb, Herba agrimoniae) on the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). METHODS: 95% ,60% and 30% ethanolic extract and aqueous extract were prepared from Sancao pre-scription. The MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory action against the proliferation of A549. RESULTS: IC_(50) of 60% ethanolic extract over A549 was one of the lowest in extracts. Combination of 60% and 90% ethanolic extract showed the synergistic antitumour activity. CONCLUSION: Ethanolic extract of Sancao prescription has and effect on human hung adenocarcinoma(A549).

AIM:To establish an HPLC method for determining cinnamaldehyde,costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone in the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Cinnamomum cassia and Aucklandia lapp.METHODS:The assay was performed on an Agilent HC-C_(18)(150 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column by UV detector at the wavelength of 210 nm with acetonitrile-water(gradient elutio)as the mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,and the column temperature was 30℃.RESULTS:There were good relationships between peak area and sample size of cinnamaldehyde in the range of 148.5-1 732.5 ng,between peak area and sample size of costunolide in the range of 69.42-809.9 ng,and between peak area and sample size of dehydrocostuslactone in the range of 70.32 to 820.4 ng.Average recoveries of them were in turn 99.65%(RSD 0.72%)-99.57%(RSD 1.28%),and 98.90%(RSD 0.81%),respectively.CONCLUSION:The present method is convenient,sensitive and accurate with good reproducibility and can be used for the quality control of the supercritical CO_2 extract of Cinnamomum cassia and Aucklandia lapp.

Peritumoral edema (PTE) of the metastasis tumor of brain (MTB) refers to the abnormal increase of moisture in the surrounding cerebral parenchyma of the brain tumor. The mechanism of PTE occurrence of MTB is complicated, and the influencing factors are diverse. PTE is one of the key factors that affect patient survival and cure. Researchers from China and overseas believe that it may be related to the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or VEGF receptor, aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), matrix metalloproteinase-9, interleukin-6, hypoxia inducible factor-1a, and other molecular biology factors. Studies of these molecular biologi-cal factors provide objective scientific evidence for the prevention, control, monitoring, treatment, and prognosis of PTE of metasta-sized brain tumor. In addition to the traditional dehydration therapy of PTE, the use of PTE-related molecular biological factors pro-vides a new approach for the treatment. AQP-4 agonists or antagonists and VEGF receptor antagonists also have good therapeutic poten-tials. In this paper, the authors reviewed the PTE-related molecular biological factors of MTB.

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated by pancreatic encephalopathy (PE). METHODS: Clinical data from 255 patients with SAP from January 2005 to December 2006 were reviewed. Thirty-one SAP patients had PE, and 224 SAP patients did not. Clinical characteristics of SAP patients in both PE group and non-PE group were analyzed. RESULTS: Ranson scale and the incidence rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), renal failure, hypoproteinemia, hypocalcemia and hyperglycosemia in PE group were higher than those in non-PE group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II and CT severity index scales, the activities of amylase and lipase, the incidence rate of liver function failure, the infection rate and the operability between the PE group and the non-PE group (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ARDS and hyperglycosemia were high risk factors. Cure rate in PE group was higher than that in non-PE group. CONCLUSION: Nosogenesis of PE is the result of multiple factors. ARDS and hyperglycosemia may be the high risk factors for PE.

This study aims to observe different factors which affected the bionic enzymatic hydrolysis of icariin into baohuoside I and to optimize the reaction conditions in order to provide research foundation for building a novel bionic enzymolysis drug delivery system. To simulate the environment in vivo, 37 degrees C was set as the temperature and artificial intestinal juice and gastric juice were selected as the buffer solutions. Taking the conversion of baohuoside I as index, the effects of the kinds of enzyme, enzyme activity, substrate concentration, reaction time, pancreatin in artificial intestinal juice and surfactant on the conversion of baohuoside I were investigated. The results showed that cellulase, beta-glucosidase and snailase were all inactive in artificial gastric juice and no baohuoside I generated. Pancreatin in artificial intestinal juice couldn't significantly influence the activity of beta-glucosidase or snailase (P > 0.05), but noticeably decrease the activity of cellulase (P < 0.05). In artificial intestinal juice, the conversion of baohuoside I was highest by using beta-glucosidase, and the optimum reaction conditions were determined as follows: enzyme activity 10 U x mL(-1), substrate concentration 1 mg x mL(-1), 3 g x L(-1) rhamnolipid and reaction time 3 h. Under this condition, the conversion of baohuoside I was 99.8%.