The tuberous roots of Aconitum carmichaeli are largely used in traditional Chinese medicine and widely grown in Jiangyou, Sichuan, China. During the growth process, this medicinal plant releases a large amount of allelochemicals into soil, which retard the growth and development of near and late crops. Therefore, a pure culture experiment was thus carried out by seed soaking to study the allelopathic effects of extracts from tuberous roots of A. carmichaeli (ETR) on the seed germination and young seedling growth of Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, and Medicago sativa, the late pasture grasses after cultivation of A. carmichaeli. The results showed that three pasture grasses varied significantly in seed germination and young seedling growth in response to ETR concentrations. Seed germination of M. sativa was stimulated by low ERT concentration (0.01 x g(-1)), while all of pasture grass seeds germinated poorly in solution with 1.00 g x L(-1). Seed soaking with 1.00 g x L(-1) also inhibited significantly the growth of pasture young seedlings, with M. sativa showing the highest seedling height reduction of 42.05% in seeding height, followed by T. repens (40.21%) and L. perenne with about 11%. Cultivation of L. perenne could thus be beneficial to increase whole land productivity in A. carmichaeli-pasture grass cropping systems. In addition, hydrolysis of protein, starch, and inositol phosphates was blocked and free amino acids, soluble sugars and phosphorus were decreased in seeds by seed soaking with ETR, which could be one of the reason for the inhibition of seed germination. There was a significant reduction in root vigor, nitrate reductase, and chlorophyll after the seed treatment with ETR, indicating the suppression of nutrient uptake, nitrate assimilation, and photosynthesis by allelopathic chemicals in ETR, which could lead to the slow growth rate of pasture grass seedlings.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Allelopathy ; China ; Pheromones ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Poaceae ; drug effects ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanism of peroxisome proliferate-activated receptor α(PPARα) activation on acute myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol (Iso) in rats. Methods Thirty male Wistar rats, weighting 160～180 g, were randomly divided into control group, Iso group, fenafibrate(FF) group(each n=10) according to physique quantity. Acute myocardial injury caused by Iso abdomen cavity injection induced ischemia was established and the protective effects of peroxisome proliferate-activated receptor α activation were accessed by the level of ereatine kinase(CK), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) in serum as well as the activities of myoperoxidase(MPO) in myocardium, and the protein expressions of PPABα in myocardium by Western blot. Results The level of serum CK in control group, lso group and FF group, was (62.41±9.47),(101.71±11.05),(75.64±11.73)kU/L, respectively(F= 34.34, P<0.01). Whereas the level of serum CK in Iso group and FF group was higher than that in control group(P<0.01 or<0.05), the level of serum CK in FF group was lower than that in Iso group(P<0.01). The levels of LDH in these three groups were (5912.20±204.44), (6365.78±137.10), (6089.76±169.60) U/L, respectively(F= 17.54, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the levels of LDH in Iso and Fir groups were significantly increased(P<0.01 or<0.05). But the level of LDH in FIr group was decreased compared with that in Iso group(P<0.01). The activities of myocardial MPO in these three groups were (1.95±0.10),(3.89±0.17),(2.49±0.19)U/g, espectively(F=391.68,P< 0.01). The activities of myocardial MPO in Iso and FF groups were higher than that in the control group (all P< 0.01), while the activities of myocardial MPO in FIr group were lower than that in lso group(P<0.01). The protein expressions of PPARα in myocardium of these three groups were 251.57±10.95,191.97±10.74,215.08±9.61, respectively(F=82.69, P<0.01). Conclusion PPARα activation by its actor FF can exert protective effects on the acute myocardial ischemia injury induced by lso in rats through inhibiting the release of inflammatory cell factors.

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized from the extract of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma and the optimization of synthesis was studied. The absorbance of UV-visible spectroscopy was determined under the different influencing factors such as extracting time of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma powder, reation temperature of synthesis, volume of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma extract and concentration of AgNO3 to seek the optimization conditions. By means of FT-IR, TEM, DLS and XRD, the silver nanoparticles were characterized. The results showed that when the boiling time of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma powder was 5 min, resultant temperature was 25 degrees C, the volume ratio of 0.1 g x mL(-1) Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma extract and 1 mmol x L(-1) AgNO3 was 1 to 10, and the reaction time was 3.5 h, the obtained silver nanoparticles had mean size about 27 nm and Zeta potential about -34.3 mV with good uniformity and dispersivity. Therefore, the green synthesis method of silver nanoparticles using extract of traditional Chinese medicine is stable and feasible.
Fagopyrum ; chemistry ; Light ; Metal Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Scattering, Radiation ; Silver ; chemistry ; Silver Nitrate ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Temperature ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To explore the relationship of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and carotid plaques in patients with coronary heart disease and analyze the related factors of carotid plaques.Methods This study enrolled 209 patients.13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) was used to assess Hp infection.Based on the results of 13C-UBT,patients were divided into infection-positive group (101 patients) and infection-negative group (108 patients).The incidence of carotid plaques was detected by color Doppler,and plasma homocysteine (Hcy),total cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),fibrinogen (Fbg),high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured and compared.Results The incidence of carotid plaques in infection-positive group(69.31％,70/101) was higher than that in infection-negative group (55.56％,60/108),and there was significant difference (P =0.040).There was significant difference in hs-CRP between infection-positive group and infection-negative group [(3.91 ± 1.91) mg/L vs.(2.65 ± 1.15)mg/L] (P =0.041).There were no significant difference in Hcy,TC,LDL-C,Fbg between infection-positive group and infection-negative group (P ＞ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that Hp infection was correlated with carotid plaques in patients with coronary heart disease.The severity of Hp infection had no significant effect on the incidence of carotid plaques.Conclusions Hp infection-positive patients with coronary heart disease may have a higher incidence of carotid plaque,regardless of Hcy,LDL-C,Fbg and TC level.This study shows that Hp is correlated with carotid plaque.The severity of Hp infection has no significant effect on the incidence of carotid plaque.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and metabolic syndrome(MS) in children and adolescents with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Four elementary schools and 4 middle schools were selected from Haidian district in Beijing with representative cluster sampling.Two hundred and eighty obese children(obese group),65 obese children with NAFLD(NAFLD group) and 264 normal weight children(healthy control group) aged 7 to 18 years were recruited from the 8 schools with uncompletely randomized sampling.Data including questionnaire,anthropometric measurements,B type ultrasonographic examination for liver were collected and fasting blood laboratory assay were determined.Variables including triglyceride(TG),adiponectin,alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were skewed distribution and natural logarithmical transformations were performed.Chi-square test for category and multiple binary Logistic regression analysis were used to statistical analysis.Results Body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference(WC) in obese group and NAFLD group were higher than those in healthy control group.All the chi-square tests for trend among the 3 groups were statistically significant(P

By retrieving the clinical research literature of treatment functional dyspepsia by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from January 2004 to December 2014 based on China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), we would establish a TCM decoction database for treating functional dyspepsia in this study. One hundred and sixty-four literature were included, involving 159 prescriptions, 377 medicines, in a total of 1 990 herbs. These herbs can be divided into 18 categories according to the effectiveness; and qi-regulating herbs, blood circulation herbs, and antipyretic herbs ranked top three ones according to the frequency of usage of the herbs, whose medicine usage frequency accounted for 51.81%. Usage frequency of 16 herbs was over 30, and Atractylodes, Radix, Poriaranked top three according to the usage frequency. Medicinal properties were divided into 9 kinds according to the frequency statistics, and the top three were warm, flat, and cold. Taste frequency statistics were classifiedinto 9 kinds, and the top three were acrid, sweet, and bitter. In frequency statistics of the meridian tropism of herbs, it was classifiedinto 11 kinds, and the top three were spleen, stomach, lung. The analysis can provide a reference for treatment and study of TCM of functional dyspepsia.
China ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Internet ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

AIMTo investigate whether DADS induce MGC803 cell apop tosis and cell cycle arrest. METHODSMGC803 cell growth inhibitio n was measured by MTT assay. Flow cytometry and acridine orange fluorescent stai ning method were used to determine the induction of apoptosis and the change of cell cycle. RESULTSMTT assay showed that adding 20,30,40 mg?L -1 DADS for 72 h suppressed MGC803 growth by 25 7%,58 6%,69 0% respective ly. Partial cells presented the characteristic morphological changes of apoptosi s under the fluorescent microscope. The apoptosis rate ncreased in time-depende nt manner. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that treating MGC803 cell with DADS significantly increased in the percentage of cells in the G 2/M phase. The proportion of cells in the G 2/M phase after treatment with 30 mg?L -1 DADS for 24 hours was comparable (46 0%), and more than four times that occu rring in untreated cells (9 9%). Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis also demonstrated that DADS induced apoptosis of MGC803 cell in time-dependent manner. T he pencentage of apoptotic cell was 3 53% after 0 h of 30 mg?L -1 DADS tr eatment. This pencentage of apoptotic cell rose steadily over time reaching 9 8 % after 24 h and 39 5% after 48 h. CONCLUSIONDADS could induce apoptosis of MGC803 cells and block the cell cycle at G 2/M phase.

OBJECTIVE:To understand the pharmacists’knowledge for the rational drug use in the elderly,and to provide ref-erence for promoting the role of pharmacists in it. METHODS:A questionnaire was designed according to the Beers Criteria(2012 edition)to investigate the situation of pharmacists’(who were from some third-grade class-A hospitals in Guangzhou and some sec-ond-grade class-A hospitals in Foshan)knowledge for rational drug use in the elderly,and the data was statistically analyzed. RE-SULTS:Totally 190 questionnaires were sent out,and 176 were recycled with effective recovery of 92.63%. In the investigation, 30.11% of the pharmacists knew the knowledge well,23.30% was poor,and the rest was moderate. From 20 questions,the cor-rect answer rate more than 80% was only 5. Pharmacists in clinical pharmacy department showed higher score than those in non-clinical pharmacy department,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);the pharmacists worked in clinical pharma-cy,or pharmacists with higher title and longer working time acquired higher score,there was significant difference in the scores of pharmacists with different titles and working time(P<0.05);there was no significant difference among pharmacists from differ-ent grades of hospitals and education background(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The pharmacists are not familiar with the rational use of drugs knowledge in the elderly well,and the understanding is related to working department,professional title and working time. It is necessary to strengthen the training and examination of pharmacists in rational drug use in the elderly,value and develop the construction of clinical pharmacy for the elderly actively.

Objective To evaluate the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in early in vivo monitoring of tumor response to cisplatin,and analyze the relationship between 18F-FDG uptake in tumor and the corresponding pathological changes.Methods Thirty VX2 rabbits were divided into 5 groups by random number table with 6 in each group,including 4 treatment groups and 1 control group.18F-FDG PET/CT were performed before and after (6,12,24 and 36 h post-injection respectively) intravenous administration of cisplatin (7 mg/kg) in the treatment groups,respectively.The control group was injected with physiological saline followed by 18F-FDG PET/CT.The ROI was drawn and the SUVmax and T/NT ratio were calculated.The tumor necrosis rate and apoptosis index were observed by histopathologic examination.Paired t test,GamesHowell test and arcuation correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.Results Significant differences were found in SUVmax and T/NT of the control group before and after injection of physiological saline (6.58±1.67 vs 9.77±2.45,52.93±3.90 vs 29.34±3.31;t=-5.480,17.593,both P＜0.05).18F-FDG uptake decreased after 6 h post-injection of cisplatin,with the mean SUVmax decrease rate of (11.83±8.89) ％ and the mean T/NT decrease rate of (59.00±8.22)％.In the 24 h treatment group,18F-FDG uptake decreased most,and the mean SUVmax decrease rate was (42.33±33.80)％,the mean T/NT decrease rate was (83.50± 7.69) ％.The SUVmax and T/NT of those 2 groups were significantly different from those of the control group,and no difference was found between the 2 treatment groups(all P＜0.05).The changes of SUVmax and T/NT were positively correlated with apoptosis index and tumor necrosis rate (r=0.750,0.794,0.804,0.874,all P＜0.05).Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT is a sensitive method for monitoring early response to tumor chemotherapy in VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits at 24 h after treatment.

Objective To explore the occurrence site, clinical manifestations, endoscopic and radiographicfeatures, pathologiccharacteristics, diagnosis, treatmentandprognosisof gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (GEP-NEN).MethodsFrom January 2000 to June 2010,medical records of 87 GEP-NEN patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were collected. The neuroendocrine properties of the tumors were determined by immunohistochemistry staining of neuroendocrine markers Syn and CgA.Then according to histology and proliferation activity, the GEP-NEN tumors were classified as neuroendocrine tumor (G1 and G2 grade), neuroendocrine carcinoma (G3 grade) and mixed adenoendocrine carcinoma (G3 grade).Results36 cases (41.4％) of GEP-NEN tumors were in pancreas, followed by 18 cases in rectum (20.7％), 9 cases in stomach (10.3％) and 6 cases in duodenum (6.9％).Total 69 of 87 GEP-NEN cases (74.7％) were nonfunctional tumors, a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms or symptoms caused by local tumor compression were the most first symptoms, and no one case presented carcinoid syndrome.The manifestations of endoscopy and radiographic image were tumor occupying lesion.Of 87 GEP-NEN cases, 69 cases were neuroendocrine tumor (79.7％), 13 cases were neuroendocrine carcinoma (14.9％) and 5 cases were mixed adenoendocrine carcinoma (5.4％).The percentage of grade G1, G2 and G3 tumors were 64.9％、 14.9％ and 20.2％ respectively.Muscularis or serosa infiltration were found in 22 GEP-NEN patients (47.8％) at the first visit, lymphatic metastasis was in 18 cases (20.7％) and distant metastasis were in 18 cases (20.7％), mostly migrated to liver.Immunohistochemistry staining positive rates of CgA and Syn were 74.2％ and 88.1％.A total of 79 patients (90.8％) were underwent surgery.The 1-, 3-and 5-year survival rates were 76.9％, 54.2％and 41.7％ during follow-up.ConclusionsGEP-NEN may occur at any part of the digestive system,the clinical manifestations are variable.Endoscopy and radiographic examination play an important role in tumor diagnosis, but final diagnosis is mainly based on pathological detection, and surgery is the main treatment option.The prognosis of the tumor is correlated with the pathological classification,grading and condition of distant metastasis.