To providing evidence about nitrogen adequate application of Platycodon grandiflorum, the pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen on the growth, physiological metabolism and the quality of P. grandiflorum. The activity of NR, GS and SOD, POD and CAT were determined. And the nitrate and ammonium nitrogen content, photosynthetic characteristics, active components of P. grandiflorum were determined. The results showed that the nitrate nitrogen content and P. biomass reached its maximum value, when NH4(+)-N/NO3(-) -N was 0: 100, the activity of NR. The activity of GS was the highest at the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75 and ammonium nitrogen content was the highest at 75:25. The activity of SOD decreased and then increased with the increasing of NO3(-) -N. At the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75, the activity of CAT had its maximum value and the content of MDA had the minimum value. At the same time, the content of platycodon D was the highest at this treatment. The studies had shown that different nitrogen forms and ratio had a significant effect on the characteristics of photosynthetic physiology, nitrogen metabolism and resistance adjustment, growth and the quality of P. grandiflorum. The NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75 was a suitable ratio of nitrogen forms for the growth of P. Grandiflorum and accumulating the content of platycodon D.
Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Platycodon ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

In order to reveal feasibility of different concentrations of Ca2+ and SA on Platycodon grandiflorum under high temperature stress, the effects of Ca2+ on physiological index and related photosynthetic parameters were studied. Pot cultured P. grandiflorum leaves under the same outdoor conditions were sprayed with CaCl2 and SA separately, and then placed in the high incubator [35 degrees C/25 degrees C (day/night), light intensity 3 600 lx], and sprayed with distilled water at 25 degrees C and under high temperature stress were set as the control. The related photosynthesis, relative conductivity, contents of proline, malondialdehyde, soluble protein, activities of SOD and CAT, ASA and GSH content were measured. The results show that the 6 mmol x L(-1) CaCl2 and 1.5 mmol x L(-1) SA enhanced the activities of SOD and CAT, the contents of proline and soluble protein, and effectively reduced the damage of heat stress on cell membrance. At the same time, the exogenous Ca2+ and SA increased the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid, the efficiency of leaf photosynthesis and ASA and GSH content, and thus effectively resisted the oxidative stress caused by high temperatures, but with the increasing concentration of spraying, P. grandiflorum decreased the ability to resist high temperature stress. In conclusion, the foliage spraying CaCl2 and SA could reduce the damage of high temperature stress on P. grandiflorum leaves.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Platycodon ; metabolism ; Salicylic Acid ; metabolism ; Stress, Physiological

Myopia is a common eye disease, and pathological myopia is mainly caused by abnormal axial elongation.The weakening of scleral biomechanics is one of the important characteristics of pathological myopia.In recent years, preventing the growth of the eyeball through strengthening the posterior sclera and improving the scleral stiffness has become a primary method to treat pathological myopia.Direct enhancement of scleral stiffness by scleral cross-linking is a new treatment under study, and the main methods of it include scleral collagen crosslinking induced by the photosensitizer riboflavin and ultraviolet-A irradiation, and induced by chemical reagent.People with myopia, especially high myopia, are more likely to suffer from primary open angle glaucoma.Glaucoma and myopia in the early stage are similar in clinical manifestations as well as the pathogenesis, which can promote and influence each other.There are some similarities in strengthening sclera, improving the scleral biomechanical properties, reducing axial elongation and scleral deformation in the treatment of the two diseases.Whether scleral cross-linking can be used as a new treatment of glaucoma and to reduce retinal ganglion cells damage has become a new research hotspot.In this article, the research progress in scleral cross-linking for the treatment of myopia and glaucoma were summarized, and the existing disputes were discussed in order to analyze the future of scleral cross-linking therapy.

OBJECTIVETo establish the model of bone mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells (BMSC-SMCs) and investigate the role of BMSC-SMCs in the development and progression of artherosclerosis.

METHODSBMSCs were isolated from the femoral bone of SD rats by adherent tissue culture method, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were obtained from the thoracic aorta. The differentiation of BMSCs into BMSC-SMCs was induced in the conditioned medium. The specific markers of BMSCs and BMSC-SMCs were identified by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. After treatment with 80 mg/L oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 72 h, the growth characteristics of BMSC-SMCs and VSMCs were observed. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze the cell cycle of BMSC-SMCs and VSMCs.

RESULTSBMCS-SMCs transformed into foam cells after treatment with ox-LDL, which was more obvious in comparison with VSMCs. The growth curve of BMSC-SMCs and VSMCs presented with an S-shape pattern with the cell doubling time of 20 and 32 h, which was reduced to 15 and 28 h after treatment with 80 mg/L ox-LDL, respectively. Flow cytometry showed that exposure to 80 mg/L ox-LDL significantly increased G(0)/G(1) and decreased S and G(2)/M phase cells in both BMSC-SMCs (P<0.01, n=3) and VSMCs (P<0.05, n=3) in comparison with the control cells.

CONCLUSIONBMSC-SMC might be involved in the formation of fatty core and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (lncRNA-GAS5) in breast cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the cancer cells.

METHODSReal-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA-GAS5 in 37 pairs of breast cancer and adjacent non-tumor tissues and in parental MCF-7 cells and paclitaxel-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7/PR) cells, and the correlation of lncRNA-GAS5 expression with the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was investigated. The expressions of the genes related with cell cycle and EMT at both the mRNA and protein levels were detected using qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The changes in the biological behaviors and morphology of breast cancer cells with either lncRNA-GAS5 knockdown or overexpression were observed. Nude mouse models were established bearing breast cancer xenografts derived from MCF-7/PR cells or MCF-7/PR cells over-expressing lncRNA-GAS5, and the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel on tumor growth was evaluated.

RESULTSThe transcriptional levels of lncRNA-GAS5 were significantly lower in breast cancer tissues than in the adjacent non-tumor tissues (P<0.05), and decreased lncRNA-GAS5 expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer (P<0.05). lncRNA-GAS5 expression was also significantly lowered in paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cells and showed a positive correlation with P21 expression and a negative correlation with CDK6. MCF-7 cells during EMT presented with a lowered expression of lncRNA-GAS5, whereas lncRNA-GAS5 over-expression strongly suppressed MCF-7/PR cell migration and invasion, and increased the susceptibility of the cells to paclitaxel. In the tumor-bearing nude mouse models, lncRNA-GAS5 overexpression in the tumor cells obviously enhanced the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel on tumor growth and lung metastasis by reversing the EMT marker proteins.

CONCLUSIONA decreased expression of lncRNA-GAS5 promotes lung metastasis of breast cancer by inducing EMT, suggesting the potential of lncRNA-GAS5 as a therapeutic target in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE The effects of vinegar-processing on overall compatibility of Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair were investigated based on assessment model of regulation on painful menstruation as efficacy from overall angle of the herb-pair.METHODS The experimental strategy to look for common regularity of GC-MS technology combined with principal component analysis and identification methods based on AMDIS and retention index was used to analyze the changes of chemical constituents from volatile oils between crude and vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair comprehensively and systematically.RESULTS Fifty-four chemical components had been identified in volatile oils of crude Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair while fifty-two chemical components had been identified in volatile oils of vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair.In addition, The changes of chemical constituents from volatile oils in crude and vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair were inconsistent with those in crude and vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma (Artemisiae Argyi Folium).On the whole, in volatile oils of vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair, the content of most low boiling point compounds belonging to Artemisiae Argyi Folium was decreased while the content of most high boiling point compounds belonging to Cyperi Rhizoma had no obvious change, and the relative content of α-cyperone was increased to some extent.The compounds with significantly increasing contents in volatile oils of vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair were deoxy-sesquiterpenoids, long chain fatty alcohols, and long chain aliphatic ketones.Nevertheless the content of terpenoid oxide derivatives was decreased.CONCLUSION By employing the strategy to look for common regularity of GC-MS technology combined with principal component analysis and identification methods based on AMDIS and retention index, we could identify the differences of chemical constituents from volatile oils between crude and vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair comprehensively, scientifically, and rapidly.Overall, the toxicity of volatile oils in Cyperi Rhizoma-Artemisiae Argyi Folium herb-pair was decreased, the safety was increased, and the efficacy of regulation on painful menstruation was strengthened after vinegar-processing.The strategy used in this paper would be a certain reference significance for analyzing other complex systems on Chinese herbal medicines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the serologic characteristics, genetic background and population distribution of B2 and AB2 subtype in Chinese ABO blood group. The classic blood group serological technology was used to detect ABO blood group of the propositus and their family members, the anti-B1 serum prepared by yourself was used to investigate the distribution of B1/B2 and AB1/AB2 subtype of the blood donor. The results indicated that the antigen of propositus was AB2 subtype and that of his child was B2 subtype. The anti-B1 antibody was detected in blood serum of propositus; the antigen of 3 from 2318 blood donors with B blood group were found to be B2 subtype, the antigen of 2 from 826 blood donors with AB blood group were found to be AB2 subtype. The investigation on propositus and the 3 B2 blood donor families showed that B2 antigen displays genetic characteristics of blood group. It is concluded that B2/AB2 subtype is from family inheritance, while B2 subtype is amounted to 0.129% in B blood group, and AB2 subtype is amounted to 0.224% in AB blood group.
ABO Blood-Group System ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; China ; Female ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

As the smallest unit of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility, herb-pair has the basic characteristic of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility. In recent years, herb-pair investigation has attracted much attention, which is an indispensable part of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. With the decrease of the efficiency in the discovery of new drug, how to discover new drugs from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair has also been a bottleneck for the research and development of drug. The authors reviewed the domestic and foreign literatures in the latest years and summarized the current situations and the existing problems of herb-pair study. Based on these investigations, the authors innovatively proposed a novel concept of "precision herb-pair". Difference from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair or formulae with extensive roles and unclear efficacies, "precision herb-pair" belongs to a developed new mini herb-pair formula with an exact treatment and a relatively clear composition based on a certain specific disease. In addition, the authors also proposed a new strategy of "herb-pair - screen of multiple constituents based on column separation and in vitro cell viability - fuzzy target recognition pharmacology - re-evaluation of precision herb-pair", and successfully applied it to the development of a precision herb-pair from Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This proposed new strategy is simple, easy to carry out, and has a wide application, and can offer references and thoughts for the modern investigation of herb-pair and the research and development of new drug.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, nonspecific and complex intestinal disease. The current clinical treatment guideline of this disease recommends a variety of options with oral western medicines, such as aminosalicylic acids, glucocorticosteroids, and immunosuppressors. However, due to their unstable therapeutic effects, high toxicities, and strong drug dependence, they are not suitable for long-term administration. Baizhu Shaoyao powder, a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, is clinically and commonly used for tonifying spleen and softening liver as well as eliminating dampness and relieving diarrhea. Recent researches suggest that Baizhu Shaoyao powder has significant effect in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This article reviewed the research progress on the curative effect and action mechanism of Baizhu Shaoyao powder in treating ulcerative colitis, and provided the ideas and directions for its further research in future.