Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) has been used as traditional medicine in Asian countries for more than 2,000 years. P. ginseng contains many active components such as ginsenosides, peptides, essential oil and polysaccharides, among which, P. ginseng polysaccharides were reported to have immunomodulating, anti-cancer, anti-adhesive and antioxidant activities. For better understanding of the structures and biological activities of all the ginseng polysaccharides, here the recent research achievements were reviewed. This review would be helpful for the relevant researchers to get useful information.
Antineoplastic Agents ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Traditional ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of different operative methods for duodenal diverticulum. Methods Articles of operations for duodenal diverticulum that were published between January 2000 to August 2006 were retrieved from China Journal Full-text Database, and the symptom remission rate and complication rate were underwent Meta-analysis. All data were analyzed by chi-square test. Results There was significant difference in symptom remission rate between Billroth Ⅱ subtotal gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and diverticulectomy, diverticulum inverting suture, sphincteroplasty of Oddi (χ~2= 21.269, 4.285, 12.914, 19.266, 3.938, P < 0.05). The difference in complication rate between Billroth Ⅱ subtotal gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and diverticulectomy, diverticulum inverting suture reached statistical significance (χ~2 =4.164, 9.166, 7.926,4.659, 4.858, P < 0.05). Conclusion For duodenal diverticulitis and the related complications which can not be effectively managed by internal medical treatment and with obvious symptom, Billroth Ⅱ subtotal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostumy are safe and effective.

Some studies on nocardiosis in cultured fish were critically reviewed,including pathogenic bacterium,taxonomy,pathogenicity,histopathologically,diagnosis,controlling method and immunology. Some problem and advice on this disease were suggested.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of internal fixation with screw through femoral epiphyseal plate on growth in- hibition via an experimental study.

METHODSForty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups and 10 rabbits in each group. Epiphyseal plate was injured by penetrating of screws, and the size of damage area was controlled by changing the number of threads. Group A: blank group; group B: injury area accounted for 4% of the epiphyseal plate; group C: injury area accounted for 6%; group D: injury area accounted for 8%. The internal fixation was removed after 2 weeks, and the results were observed with X-ray film for 4 groups to judge the complications such as early closure of epiphyseal.

RESULTSIn each group, there were no statistical differences in the length of the femoral neck, the diameter of femoral neck, the diameter of the femoral head, and the epiphyseal plate closure time. The growth speed of the length and diameter of the femoral neck, as well as the diameter of femoral head, were quicker on the early phase, and the speed was slowest when the epiphyseal plate was being closed.

CONCLUSIONThe injury area of epiphyseal plate under 8% is safe for its growth. Because no evidences demonstrate the growth inhibition of epiphyseal plate, the screws can be used for rabbit epiphyseal plates.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femur Head ; growth & development ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Growth Plate ; growth & development ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rabbits ; Salter-Harris Fractures

Objective To study the influence of sub-chronically exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)on heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression in rat hippocampus. Methods Forty eight healthy adult male SD rats were randonly divided into 6 groups: blank control, olive control and four B[a]P-treated groups, which were exposed intra-peritoneally to B[a]P at the doses of 0.5, 1.5, 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg for 90 days. The learning and memory function was measured by Morris water maze. The expression level of Hsp70 and hsp70 mRNA in rat hippocampus were detected by Western-blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the Hsp70 expression levels in hippocampus CA1, CA2, CA3, DG regions, which were reflected by average gray values of Hsp70 immunoreactive products measured by image analysis system. Results The results of Morris water maze test showed the escape latencies and total distances of navigation in 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly higher than those in two control groups and 0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg B[a]P groups (P＜0.05).The duration of the third quadrant of the space search experiment in 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P group was significantly lower than those in two control groups and 0.5 mg/kg B[a]P group (P＜0.05). The expression levels of Hsp70 and hsp70 mRNA in rat hippocampus decreased with the B[a]P dose. The expression levels of Hsp70 in 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly lower than those of two control groups and 0.5 mg/kg B[a]P group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ). The expression levels of hsp70 mRNA in 0.5, 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly lower than those in two control groups (P＜0.01) and the expression level of hsp70 mRNA in 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P group was significantly lower than those in other B[a]P groups. The results of immunohistochemistry examination indicated that the average gray values of Hsp70 immunoreactive products in CA1, CA2, CA3, DG regions decreased with dose of B[a]P. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the expression of Hsp70 protein in hippocampus and the average escape latency (r=-0.428, P＜0.05). There was a negative correlation between the expression of hsp70 mRNA in hippocampus and the average escape latency,the total distance of the third quadrant (r=--0.677 and r=-0.594, P＜0.01 ). There was a positive correlation between the expression of hsp70 mRNA in hippocampus and the average total duration of the third quadrant (r=0.597, P＜0.01). Conclusion Sub-chronic exposure to B[a]P could inhibit the expression of Hsp70 in rat hippocampus, which was related to the ability of learning and memory of rats and the inhibition effects did not have the region-specificity.

Objective To study the influence of sub-chronically exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)on heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression in rat hippocampus. Methods Forty eight healthy adult male SD rats were randonly divided into 6 groups: blank control, olive control and four B[a]P-treated groups, which were exposed intra-peritoneally to B[a]P at the doses of 0.5, 1.5, 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg for 90 days. The learning and memory function was measured by Morris water maze. The expression level of Hsp70 and hsp70 mRNA in rat hippocampus were detected by Western-blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the Hsp70 expression levels in hippocampus CA1, CA2, CA3, DG regions, which were reflected by average gray values of Hsp70 immunoreactive products measured by image analysis system. Results The results of Morris water maze test showed the escape latencies and total distances of navigation in 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly higher than those in two control groups and 0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg B[a]P groups (P＜0.05).The duration of the third quadrant of the space search experiment in 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P group was significantly lower than those in two control groups and 0.5 mg/kg B[a]P group (P＜0.05). The expression levels of Hsp70 and hsp70 mRNA in rat hippocampus decreased with the B[a]P dose. The expression levels of Hsp70 in 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly lower than those of two control groups and 0.5 mg/kg B[a]P group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ). The expression levels of hsp70 mRNA in 0.5, 4.5 and 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P groups were significantly lower than those in two control groups (P＜0.01) and the expression level of hsp70 mRNA in 10.0 mg/kg B[a]P group was significantly lower than those in other B[a]P groups. The results of immunohistochemistry examination indicated that the average gray values of Hsp70 immunoreactive products in CA1, CA2, CA3, DG regions decreased with dose of B[a]P. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the expression of Hsp70 protein in hippocampus and the average escape latency (r=-0.428, P＜0.05). There was a negative correlation between the expression of hsp70 mRNA in hippocampus and the average escape latency,the total distance of the third quadrant (r=--0.677 and r=-0.594, P＜0.01 ). There was a positive correlation between the expression of hsp70 mRNA in hippocampus and the average total duration of the third quadrant (r=0.597, P＜0.01). Conclusion Sub-chronic exposure to B[a]P could inhibit the expression of Hsp70 in rat hippocampus, which was related to the ability of learning and memory of rats and the inhibition effects did not have the region-specificity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of subchronic exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on the mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (bax, bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-6, and caspase-9) and the activities of Caspase-3, Caspase-6, and Caspase-9 in the hippocampal neurons of rats and to investigate the neurotoxic mechanism by which B[a]P induces the apoptosis of neurons.

METHODSFifty-two healthy SD rat were randomly divided into five groups according to preliminary neurobehavioral test results: blank control group, solvent control group, and 1.0, 2.5, and 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups; the rats in exposure groups were intraperitoneally injected with B[a]P every other day for 90 days. The Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of rats; flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis ratio of hippocampal neurons; real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-related genes; spectrophotometry was used to measure the activities of their en-coded proteins.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, solvent control group, and 1.0 mg/kg B[a]P exposure group, the 2.5 and 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups hada significantly longer mean escape latency period (P < 0.05) and a significantly increased number of times of platform crossing (P < 0.05), and the 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure group had significantly lower length and percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant (P < 0.05). The early apoptosis ratio rose as the dose of B[a]P increased (P trend < 0.05); the early apoptosis ratios of 1.0, 2.5, and 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups were significantly higher than those of blank control group and solvent control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, solvent control group, and 1.0 and 2.5 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups, the 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure group had significantly increased Bax expression (P < 0.05) and significantly decreased Bcl-2 expression and Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P < 0.05). The 2.5 and 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups had significantly higher expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-6 than the blank control group, solvent control group, and 1.0 mg/kg B[a]P exposure group (P < 0.05). The activities of Caspase-3, Caspase-6, and Caspase-9 were significantly higher in the 2.5 and 6.25 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups than in the blank control group and solvent control group (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the activities of Caspase-3, Caspase-6, and Caspase-9 and early apoptosis ratio of hippocampal neurons in rats (r = 0.793, P = 0.019; r = 0.886, P = 0.006; r = 0.773, P = 0.025). There were no significant differences in the mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Caspase-6, and Caspase-9 among these groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSubchronic exposure to B[a]P can induce apoptosis of hippocampal neurons; its mechanism may be related to the fact that B[a]P can induce upregulated expression of Bax, inhibit expression of Bcl-2, lead to decrease in Bcl-2/Bax ratio, induce upregulated expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-6, and cause increase in the activities of Caspase-3, Caspase-6, and Caspase-9.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective:To analyze the effects of espO gene knockout on the biological characteristics of enterhemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Methods:Two-step methods mediated by the suicide plasmid pCVD442-Δ espO and plasmid pTrc99a were used to construct the espO gene-deleted strain (Δ espO) and the complemented mutant (CΔ espO), respectively. HeLa cells were infected with different EHEC strains to analyze the biological functions and lethal effects of espO gene during infection. Results:PCR, electrophoresis and gene sequencing showed that the Δ espO and CΔ espO mutants were successfully constructed. Compared with the wild-type strain, neither the Δ espO nor CΔ espO mutant showed significant difference in growth rate, indicating that the espO gene had no influence on the growth and replication of EHEC. Furthermore, EspO could activate the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF)-induced NF-κB signaling pathway, while the effector protein NleB could inhibit the process. EspO could not inhibit the death of HeLa cells induced by TNF or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) after EHEC infection. Conclusions:In this study, we successfully constructed the espO gene-deleted and complemented mutants of EHEC and preliminarily analyzed the interaction between espO gene and host cells and the effects of espO gene on cell apoptosis during infection, which provided reference for further research on the in vitro biochemical activity and in vivo pathogenic roles of EspO.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage (tuina) for treating recurrent respiratory tract infection in children with cerebral palsy due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung. Methods: A total of 70 children with cerebral palsy who suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional rehabilitation training, while the observation group was given additional spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage, and the control group additionally took oral Yu Ping Feng granule. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the total effective rate, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, and serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM and IgG. Results: The difference in total effective rate between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased to varying degrees than those before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01); the differences in the scores of various TCM symptoms between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IgA, IgM and IgG of the children in both groups increased to varying degrees, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The between-group differences in the IgA, IgM and IgG levels after treatment were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage can effectively treat recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung in children with cerebral palsy, relieve the clinical symptoms and improve immune function, and thus is worthy of clinical promotion and application.