Fourteen compounds were isolated from Dalbergia odoriferae and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica and sephadex LH-20 gel and structurally identified by spectral analysis. These compounds were identified as 4, 9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan (1), medicarpin (2), 2', 4', 5-trihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (3), 2', 3', 7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavan (4), formononetin (5), 3, 8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (6), koparin (7), 3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarp-6a-ene (8), 2'-hydroxyformononetin (9), stevenin (10), 2', 7-dihydroxy-4', 5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (11), lyoniresinol (12), 2, 4-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-benzophenone (13) and neokhriol A (14). Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Antibacterial activity assay showed that compound 4 had inhibitory effect on Ralstonia solanacearum.
Anisoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzophenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromatography ; methods ; Dalbergia ; chemistry ; Dextrans ; Gels ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pterocarpans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ralstonia solanacearum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Silica Gel

OBJECTIVEThe effect of the different fertilizing levels on yields and main active components of Pinellia ternata from Sichuan was studied under the cultivated condition, in order to provide theoretical basis for the standardized cultivation.

METHODUsing one of the wild populations of P. ternate from Sichuan as tested material, the experiment was performed with orthogonal designing methods L25 (5(3)). During growth and development period, agronomic traits such as number of sprouting, inflorescence and bulblets were counted. After harvesting, main chemical compositions, growth and proliferation rates were determined.

RESULTIn different fertilizing levels, the P. ternata from Sichuan showed the same growth rhythm, though there were significant difference (P < 0.05) among the average emergence rate,whereas extremely significant difference (P < 0.01) were detected among the average ratio of bolting, the average bulbils, individual growth rate, individual proliferation rate, beta-sitosterol and alkaloid content under different fertilizing levels. Nitrogenous fertilizer that affected the content of alkaloids and beta-sitosterol were extremely significant (P < 0.01), whereas phosphate and potassium fertilizer had no significant effect. The effect of fertilizer factor and inter effects on beta-sitosterol showed no significant effect, but have influence on other indexes.

CONCLUSIONThe optimum fertilizer composition was 315 kg x hm(-2) of nitrogen, 225 kg x hm(-2) of P2O5 and 270 kg x hm(-2) of K2O.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; Nitrogen Compounds ; analysis ; Phosphates ; analysis ; Phosphorus Compounds ; analysis ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Potassium Compounds ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis

China ; epidemiology ; Demography ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore the features of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the hippocampus in schizophrenia patients before and after stereotactic neurosurgery.

METHODS1H-MRS was performed to determine NAA/Cr and CHO/Cr ratios on the bilateral hippocampal regions before and after stereotactic neurosurgery in 20 schizophrenia patients, with 20 healthy individuals as the controls.

RESULTSThe NAA/Cr ratio in the hippocampal regions was significantly lower and the CHO/Cr ratio significantly higher in schizophrenia patients before the surgery than in the healthy controls (P<0.01). The NAA/Cr and CHO/Cr ratios in the hippocampal regions underwent no significant changes in the patients after the surgeries (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeuronal and cell membrane metabolism impairment is present in the hippocampus of schizophrenia patients, and stereotactic neurosurgery does not produce obvious adverse effects on the cell membrane metabolism in the hippocampus of the patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Female ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Protons ; Schizophrenia ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of terpenes from fructus corni (TFC) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (220 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The fasting blood glucose of mice were tested 15 days later and that greater than 13.9 mmol/L were regarded as the diabetic mice which were divided randomly into the model and TFC groups. TFC dissolved by physiological saline (P.O, 80 mg/kg) was administrated to the TFC group for successive 8 weeks since the 15th day.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, the weight index increased significantly. The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was markedly decreased and malondialdehyde(MDA), the inflammatory factors (TNF-alpha, IL-6) were obviously increased in myocardium. The histopathological examination suggested that myocardial cells disarranged, swelling and the intercellular space increased in model group. It also showed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts in TFC group. The above change was improved significantly.

CONCLUSIONTFC ameliorated the alterations of cardiomyopathy in diabetic mice induced by alloxan. the mechanism might be related to decrease blood glucose, antioxidative stress and inflammatory factors.

Alloxan ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Terpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

To demonstrate and evaluate five different methods in the determination of temporal clustering on infectious diseases. The incidence rates of bacillary dysentery in Jinshui district, Zhengzhou city, Henan province from 2008 to 2010 were analyzed by 5 different methods-Cluster Analysis, Runs Test, Negative Binomial Distribution, Circular Distribution and Concentration Ratio. Through Cluster Analysis, data showed that the epidemic period was from May to Sept. with August as the peak. Runs Test confirmed a cluster of month-incidence in 2008 and 2009 (P < 0.05) and a random distribution in 2010. The Concentration Ratio showed a weakened seasonal incidence cluster to a certain extent by M from 2008 to 2010. The Circular Distribution demonstrated an inclining cluster of time (P < 0.01) and it was on July 11(th) and 29(th), as well on August 24(th) in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In terms of day-incidence, the Negative Binomial Distribution presented a cluster in 2008 and 2010, but with no significant difference in 2009. The five above said methods could flexibly be used in determining the temporal clustering of infectious disease at different occasions.
China ; Cluster Analysis ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDCancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction remains a virulent malignancy with poor prognosis. Rapid progresses were made in chemotherapeutic agents and the development of molecular markers allowed better identification of candidates for targeted therapy. This study aimed to identify the candidate peptides used for anti-angiogenic therapy of esophageal cancer by in vivo screening C7C peptide library for peptides binding specifically to blood vessels of human esophageal cancer.

METHODSThe phage displayed C7C peptide library was injected intravenously into mice bearing human esophageal tumor xenografts under renal capsule. After 5 rounds of screening, 13 clones were picked up individually and sequenced. During each round of screening, titers of phage recovery were calculated from tumor xenograft and control tissues. Homing of these 9 peptides to tumor vessel was detected by calculating phage titers in the tumor xenograft and control tissues (lung and spleen) after each phage was injected into mice model, and compared with the distribution of phage M13 and VIII-related antigen in tumor xenograft by immunohistochemical staining. Comparisons among groups of data were made using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni multiple comparisons test.

RESULTSThe number of phage recovered from tumor tissue of each round increased gradually in tumor group while decreased in control groups (P < 0.01 in tumor and spleen, P < 0.05 in lung). Immunohistochemical staining showed similar staining pattern with M13 antibody or VIII-related antigen antibody, suggesting that phages displaying the selected peptides could home to blood vessel of human esophageal cancer. According to their DNA, 9 corresponding peptide sequences were deduced. And the homing ability to blood vessel of phages displaying the selected peptides was confirmed by comparing with their recovery in tumor and control tissues. Two motifs, YSXNXW and PXNXXN, were also obtained by analyzing the homology of these peptide sequences. The staining distribution of phage with the sequence of PNPNNST was similar to that of the blood vessel marker factor VIII-related antigen staining. After sequencing, each phage with the selected peptide of PNPNNST with 1.0 × 10(11) pfu/ml was injected intravenously into mice. The homing ability to tumor vessel of these 9 kinds of peptides in the xenograft was higher than control tissues (lung and spleen).

CONCLUSIONNine peptides obtained from in vivo screening homed to the blood vessel of human esophageal cancer, and the two motifs of YSXNXW and PXNXXN are the possible biochemical recognition units binding to vascular endothelial cells of esophageal cancer.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; therapeutic use

Objective　To establish animal model for hypertrophic scar and study the characters of its morphology and collagen metabolism. Methods　A total of 64 round wounds (diameter of 6 mm each) with total skin loss were made on the ventral side of rabbit ear using a trephine. Morphology and collagen metabolism of scar wounds were studied at 14,21,35,70 and 98 days after operation, respectively. Results　There were 76% elevated scars developed (45/59 wounds) on the ventral side of rabbit ear at 21 days and 46% elevated scars disappeared (11/24) at 98 days after operation. There were numerous fibroblast proliferation and whorl-arranged collagen fibers at 21 and 35 days. The number of fibroblast decreased, but irregular-arranged fibers still presented in the elevated scars at 70 and 98 days after operation. Hydroxyproline content in elevated scars at 21 days was higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05), and at 35 days was 3 times as that in normal skin and at 98 days was also markedly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05). Conclusion　Excessive deposition of collagen is a characteristic of hypertrophic scar in rabbits. The conversion of normal scarring to hypertrophic scarring in rabbits occurs at 14～21 days after operation. Both development and regression of hypertrophic scar in rabbit are quicker than that in human.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Henan province.Methods Epidemiological characteristics and related factors of JE cases in Henan province from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological method and JE IgM antibodies of the serum or cerebrospinal fluid of the cases were detected by ELISA.Results 3099 cases were reported in Henan province from 2006 to 2010.The incidence fluctuated from 0.39/100 000 to 1.08/100 000,and the incidence rate was decreasing.Patients were concentrated mainly in Xinyang,Nanyang and Luoyang cities,which accounted for 60.12％ of the total.The peak season was in July-September,accounted for 93.26％ of all the cases.Most cases were in 0-14 year old (83.61％) in the whole province.However,in Luoyang city,number of cases in the ≥ 15 year old group,had an obvious increase (57.63％).Compared with the provincial data,significant difference was found between the two ≥ 15 year old groups (x2=330.0341,P＜0.05)statistically.20.23％ of the JE cases were vaccinated but 75.54％ of them did not complete the whole course.79.77％ of the cases were not sure if they had received the vaccination.42.98％ of the JE cases were confirmed through laboratory tests but other 45.95％ of them were clinically diagnosed,with the rest 11.07％ were suspected cases.Conclusion The distribution of JE cases showed seasonal,regional characteristics and crowd differences in Henan province.Basic immunization and the program on strengthening immunization of JE should be further standardized.The laboratory diagnosis rate of JE cases should be further improved.

Objective　To establish animal model for hypertrophic scar and study the characters of its morphology and collagen metabolism. Methods　A total of 64 round wounds (diameter of 6 mm each) with total skin loss were made on the ventral side of rabbit ear using a trephine. Morphology and collagen metabolism of scar wounds were studied at 14,21,35,70 and 98 days after operation, respectively. Results　There were 76% elevated scars developed (45/59 wounds) on the ventral side of rabbit ear at 21 days and 46% elevated scars disappeared (11/24) at 98 days after operation. There were numerous fibroblast proliferation and whorl-arranged collagen fibers at 21 and 35 days. The number of fibroblast decreased, but irregular-arranged fibers still presented in the elevated scars at 70 and 98 days after operation. Hydroxyproline content in elevated scars at 21 days was higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05), and at 35 days was 3 times as that in normal skin and at 98 days was also markedly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05). Conclusion　Excessive deposition of collagen is a characteristic of hypertrophic scar in rabbits. The conversion of normal scarring to hypertrophic scarring in rabbits occurs at 14～21 days after operation. Both development and regression of hypertrophic scar in rabbit are quicker than that in human.