The volatile oils of endophyte isolates R1 (Acremonium sp.) and R2 (Acremonium sp.) from Aqui-laria sinensis were extracted by solvent method. Twenty and sixteen ingredients were identified from the volatile oils of R1 and R2 by GC-MS, respectively. Fatty acids, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, hexa-decanoic acid etc., were the main components, whereas terpenoids like 1,8-cineole, zingiberene, ar-curcumene were also found in both oils. It’s the first report about the volatile oil constituents of endophyte isolates from A. sinensis.

We describe the prenatal diagnosis and postnatal follow-up of a fetus with a pericallosal lipoma diagnosed by MRI. The pregnant woman was admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in February 2019. MRI examinations with multiple sequences and imaging methods were performed prenatally at 31 +6 and 38 +3 weeks of gestation, and at two days and three months postnatally. The MRI images showed that the corpus callosum was normal and the lesion was located around the corpus callosum, with high signal intensity on T1 weighted imaging, medium-to-high signal intensity on T2 weighted imaging, and low signal intensity on fat suppression sequence. No abnormal blood vessels were found on susceptibility-weighted imaging and time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography sequences. Based on the prenatal and postnatal MRI findings, the tumor was clinically diagnosed as a pericallosal lipoma.

Objective To compare the difference in the effects on liver function between transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) alone and the combination of TIPS and left gastric vein embolization (LGVE) in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods This research was a retrospective study.From September 2014 to September 2015,31 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent TIPS (TIPS group) and 29 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent TIPS combined with LGVE (TIPS+LGVE group) were enrolled.The data of the liver function of patients before and after operation were collected and the Child-Pugh score and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) were also calculated.Student's t test and chi-squared test were performed for statistical analysis.Results The preoperative portal vein pressures of TIPS group and TIPS+LGVE group were (28.48±2.77) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (28.38± 2.92) mmHg,respectively.And after operation,the portal vein pressures decreased to (17.81 ± 1.47) mmHg and (17.97 ± 2.04) mmHg,respectively,and the differences were both statistically significant (t=18.908 and 11.648,both P＜0.01).At 12 months after operation,Child-Pugh score of TIPS+ LGVE group was 5.69 ± 1.19,which was significantly lower than that before operation (7.03±1.76),and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.398,P=0.001),which was also lower than that of TIPS group at the same time point (6.52 ± 1.54),and the difference was statistically significant (t =2.303,P=0.025).At 12 months after operation,the component ratio of patients with Child-Pugh grade A of TIPS±LGVE group was 89.7％ (26/29),which was higher than that before operation (44.8％,13/29),and the difference was statistically significant (x2=13.228,P＜0.01).The component ratio of patients with Child-Pugh grade B was 6.9 ％ (2/29),which was lower than that before operation (41.4 ％,12/29),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =9.416,P＜ 0.01).Conclusions TIPS significantly reduces portal vein pressure in patients with liver cirrhosis and it does not deteriorate liver function of patients in the long term.The combination of TIPS and LGVE is better than TIPS alone in improving liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis,especially in improvig long-term liver function in patients of Child-Pugh A and B grade.

Biosurfactants (BSs) are highlighted owing to their multiple advantages in diverse applications. To screen a superior strain that producing a blend-biosurfactant of lipopeptide and glycolipid, the hemolytic activity assay on blood agar plates, the modified oil-red spreading test and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry identification of the purified products was carried out. Bacillus subtilis THY-7 was selected and its principal products were surfactin and dirhamnolipid. The medium component and culture conditions of THY-7 were optimized by both single factor and orthogonal experiments. After 48 h optimal batch culture in flask, the cell density (OD600) was 37.0 and the product titer was 2.4 g/L, which was 3.4 folds and 3.1 folds of that under original condition, respectively. A fed-batch culture in a 5 L fermentor was further performed coupling with in situ recovery of foam, in which the titer of blend-BS increased to 4.5 g/L at 25 h. Quantification by HPLC and anthrone colorimetry revealed that surfactin and dirhamnolipid accounted for 74% and 22% of the blend-BS, respectively.
Bacillus subtilis ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Culture Media ; Glycolipids ; biosynthesis ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lipopeptides ; biosynthesis ; Surface-Active Agents ; metabolism

Objective To summarize the experiences and protocol of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technique in donors with brain death and unexpected cardiac arrest.Method We described here the organ donation of one case of brain death complicated with hemodynamic instability and cardiac arrest,and the corresponding recovery of the receptor liver.A 50-year old female developed brain death due to brain aneurysmal hemorrhage.He was given two kinds of high-dose vasopressor,but hemodynarnic instability was not improved.After ECMO support,the hemodynamics turned to stable,but unexpected cardiac arrest happened.The total operating time of ECMO was 5 h,including 4 h after cardiac arrest.The liver was transplanted into a 65-year old female with hepatocellular carcinoma (diagnosed by Hangzhou Criteria) by classic orthotopic liver transplantation with end-to-end anastomosis.Result One liver and two kidneys were obtained successfully,and all the receptors recovered uneventfully.The post-operative ALT and AST levels reached the peak at 169 U/L and 365 U/L respectively,and returned to normal two weeks later.Conclusion ECMO can be used to support brain death complicated with hemodynamic instability and unexpected cardiac arrest.It can save precious time for organ donation,and preserve the function of liver and kidney as well.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on nerve regeneration of transected sciatic nerve in animal models.

METHODSForty SD rats weighing 220-240 g were randomized into a PQQ group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Each animal underwent sciatic nerve transection operation. After the operation, PQQ 0.5 ml (250 microg/Kg) was injected at the operation site in the PQQ group, while the same volume of normal saline was delivered in the control group. Nerve functional evaluation, electrophysiological index recording were carried out according to the experimental design. Newly generated nerve specimens were harvested 12 weeks postoperatively for morphological studies.

RESULTSIn the PQQ group there was a good nerve regeneration and the sciatic nerve function, sciatic nerve function index, electrophysiological index and morphological appearance were superior to the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPQQ has a remarkable effect in enhancing nerve regeneration of transected peripheral nerve.

Animals ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; PQQ Cofactor ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; pathology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ) on proliferation and expression of c-fos, c-jun, CREB and PCNA in cultured Schwann cells.

METHODSSchwann cells were cultured and purified in vitro. The purity of Schwann cells was identified by immunofluorescence of S-100. After synchronization of cell cycle by serum-free medium, different concentration of PQQ (0,1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 nmol/L) were added into culture medium for 72 h. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell cycle. The content of c-fos, c-jun, and CREB mRNA were detected by RT-PCR, and the expression of PCNA protein was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSAfter PQQ treatment, the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase decreased and the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phase increased. After treated by PQQ at concentration of 1-10,000nmol/L, content of c-fos,c-jun,CREB mRNA was increased by 0.33,0.42 and 0. 52 fold (P < 0. 05). However, at concentration of 1 000 nmol/L, there was no difference in mRNAs content when compare to control (P >0.05). And it showed a decline at concentration of 10,000 nmol/L (P < 0.05). PCNA protein expression was up-regulated at PQQ concentration of 1-100 nmol/L. At 100 nmol/L, the expression increased by 1.17 fold (P < 0.05); However, at 1,000 nmol/L, there was no difference in PCNA expression when compared to control. And 10,000 nmol/L of PQQ inhibited the expression of PCNA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWhen treated with PQQ at concentration of 10-100 nmol/L, the proliferation of Schwann cells increased and the expression of c-fos,c-jun, CREB and PCNA was up-regulated.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Genes, fos ; Genes, jun ; PQQ Cofactor ; pharmacology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) kinase cascade, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signal pathway on Schwann cells proliferation promoted by Pyrroloquinoline Quinine (PQQ) and its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSSchwann cells were cultured and purified in vitro. The purity was identified by S-100. Different time and concentration of PQQ was added into culture medium. The expression of ERK1/2 and phosphorylated-ERK1/2 was detected by western blot. The expression of p-ERK1/2 after blocking of MEK signal pathway by specific inhibitor PD98059 was detected by western blot.

RESULTSMorphological change was observed in PQQ treated Schwann cells. 1-500 nmol/L PQQ could up-regulate the expression of p-ERK1/2, and 1000 nmol/L had no effects, while 10 000 nmol/L exhibited inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). p-ERK1/2 increased to peak 1 h after PQQ added, and this up-regulation of p-ERK1/2 was inhibited by PD98059 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPQQ could affect morphology of Schwann cells and activation of ERK1/2. MEK inhibitor PD98059 could, block this activation. It suggests that MEK/ERK signal pathway should be involved in Schwann cells proliferation promoted by PQQ.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Quinolines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction

Aim To investigate the effect of asiatic acid on apoptosis and autophagy in human glioblastoma T98G cells. Methods MTT colorimetry was employed to assay the cellular proliferating activity. The fluores-cence microscope and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect the morphological changes. The cell ap-optosis and autophagy were analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin-V/7-AAD and MDC staining respective-ly. The expressions of associated proteins were detected by Western blot to analyze the mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy. Results MTT assay showed that the growth of T 9 8 G cells was inhibited by asiatic acid ( IC50 =46. 3 μmol · L-1 ) . Annexin V/7-AAD stai-ning and Western blot revealed that asiatic acid in-duced apoptosis in T98 G cells by reducing the expres-sion of Akt, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increasing the expression of Caspase-3. MDC staining and Western blot showed that the per-centage of MDC-positive cells was decreased and the expressions of Beclin-1 , LC3-II and Atgs were inhibi-ted by asiatic acid treatment. 5 μmol·L-1 chloroquine was used to up-regulate the expressions of LC3-Ⅱand Beclin-1 . Asiatic acid-inhibited autophagy was blocked and the total apoptotic rate was reduced remarkably. Conclusion Asiatic acid suppresses T98 G cells pro-liferation by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell au-tophagy, and the very role of inhibiting autophagy could promote apoptosis to a certain extent.

UPLC-MS-MS system was used for the identification of arbidol metabolites in the rat feces, urine and plasma samples. The system was so powerful a way with high ability of separation and analysis, based on both chromatography and mass properties. The isotope of Br was also a good indicator for metabolites finding. There were altogether 9 metabolites detected and identified, including 2 phase I biotransformation products and 7 phase II ones. It is concluded that arbidol mainly undergo metabolic reactions such as N-demethylation, S-oxidation, glucuronidation and sulfation in rats.