The medicinal herbs derived from genus Senecio have been commonly used in Chinese medicine and triggered attention in recent decades for that they contain the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Therefore the botanical pharmacognostic study to authenticate those herbs based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics is important for the assurance of safety when they are applied as raw material for extracts or for finished products. In this paper, 13 taxa (11 species and 2 varieties) of Senecio plants were collected and their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were observed and described by digital microscopic illustration. The results showed that the distribution of collenchyma in the cortex, the level of development for pericycle, the location of the phloem, and the ratio of pith in transverse sections of the stems, and the morphology of the leaf epidermal cells, the stomatal types and the non-glandular hairs in leaf surface view were found to be the main microscopic characteristics for authentication of different Senecio species. The herbs derived from genus Senecio can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, and those observation can be used for the identification of commercial crude drugs from Senecio plants.

Objective To investigate the association between levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the risks of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Methods After excluding subjects with known liver disease, excess alcohol consumption and serum ALT≥40 IU/L,1 664 subjects aged 40 years or older from Baoshan Community, Shanghai were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood sampling. Biochemical features were evaluated and the metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria with modification on waist circumference cutoff which is more appropriate for an Asian population. Results Increased ALT levels were associated with more unfavorable metabolic risk profiles. The prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome in participants with increasing ALT quartiles were 29. 2% , 38. 0% , 44.9% , and 62. 9% , respectively (P for trend <0. 01 ). ALT concentrations were significantly elevated with increasing number of the metabolic syndrome components (P for trend<0.01). Serum ALT levels were significantly associated with the risks of metabolic syndrome and most of its components in a dose-response manner. As compared with participants in the first ALT quartile, the risks of metabolic syndrome were increased by 146% , central obesity by 204% , hypertension by 35% , high triglycerides by 133% , and hyperglycemia by 72% in participants of the fourth ALT quartile. Conclusions A high-normal serum ALT level was significantly associated with an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.

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 investigate the expression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) in human gastric cancer, and to evaluate the correlation of PAK4 protein level with clinical pathologic parameters. Methods Immunohistochemical method was employed for detecting the expression of PAK4 in tissue samples obtained from 95 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. Western blot was also used to measure the expression of PAK4 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa in 40 patients and also in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Results Immunohistochemical staining results showed that positive PAK4 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was 67.4%, and 96.9% of those (62/64) was located in the cytoplasm, while only 3.1% (2/64) was on the cell membrane. Expression of PAK4 was revealed to be significantly and positively correlated with both TNM stage (X2=10. 426, P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (X2= 4.912, P<0.05 ). Western blot showed that PAK4 expression of gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa (t=-5. 978, P<0.01). Expression of PAK4 could also be detected in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Compared with GES-1, expression of PAK4 is higher in MKN45, AGS, N87 and BGC823, but it was lower in MGC803, MKN1 and SGC7901. Conclusion The overexpression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) may be correlated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the expression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) in human gastric cancer, and to evaluate the correlation of PAK4 protein level with clinical pathologic parameters. Methods Immunohistochemical method was employed for detecting the expression of PAK4 in tissue samples obtained from 95 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. Western blot was also used to measure the expression of PAK4 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa in 40 patients and also in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Results Immunohistochemical staining results showed that positive PAK4 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was 67.4%, and 96.9% of those (62/64) was located in the cytoplasm, while only 3.1% (2/64) was on the cell membrane. Expression of PAK4 was revealed to be significantly and positively correlated with both TNM stage (X2=10. 426, P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (X2= 4.912, P<0.05 ). Western blot showed that PAK4 expression of gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa (t=-5. 978, P<0.01). Expression of PAK4 could also be detected in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Compared with GES-1, expression of PAK4 is higher in MKN45, AGS, N87 and BGC823, but it was lower in MGC803, MKN1 and SGC7901. Conclusion The overexpression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) may be correlated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of Zuogui pill (ZGP), a Chinese compound recipe for tonifying Shen, on ovarian function in mice with premature ovarian failure (POF).

METHODSBALB/C female mice model of POF was established by multiple sites subcutaneous injection of ovarian antigen elicited with ovarian tissue of SD female rats, and treated with ZGP at different time points in the modeling, with prednisone as positive control. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) in peripheral blood were measured with radioimmunoassay, and ovarian antibody (AoAb) was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of ovarian growth and differentiation factor-9 was detected with in situ hybridization.

RESULTSPOF model mice manifested such abnormalities as increased FSH, decreased E2, and positive AoAb in peripheral blood, with lymphocytes infiltration in ovarian mesanchyma, reduction of GDF-9 mRNA positive oocytes, and decrease of growing and mature follicles. ZGP could reduce the increase of FSH, increase the level of E2, inhibit the production of AoAb, raise the GDF-9 mRNA positive cells of oocytes, increase the number of growing and mature follicles. The clinical efficacy was more significant in early stage than in advanced stage.

CONCLUSIONZGP can improve immune inflammatory injury of ovary, and shows therapeutic effect on POF.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovarian Follicle ; pathology ; Ovary ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

Objective To analyze the association of elevated carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)with low-grade albuminuria in a community-based population. Methods A total of 10 375 participants aged 40 years or older were recruited using cluster sampling from Jiading district, Shanghai. Standardized questionnaires were adopted to collect information on health status and lifestyles. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and blood pressure, and biochemical tests for blood and urine were performed. CIMT was detected by B-mode ultrasound examinations. 9 523 subjects were included for final analysis. All these subjects were divided into 4 groups according to sex-specific urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ( UACR ) quartiles. CIMT≥upper decile of the population was defined as elevated CIMT and low-grade albuminuria was defined as UACR≥sex-specific upper quartile. The relationship between UACR and CIMT was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of elevated CIMT in this population aged 40 years or older with albuminuria in normal range was 21. 44%. Comparing to participants without elevated CIMT, those with elevated CIMT showed higher level of UACR (4. 79 vs 4. 51 mg/g, P<0. 01). The metabolic status was deteriorated with the increment of UACR level. The prevalences of elevated CIMT were 18. 99%, 19. 24%, 20. 20%, and 27. 33% from the lowest to highest UACR quartile, respectively(Ptrend<0. 01). After adjusting for some conventional cardiovascular risk factors, multiple logistic regression revealed that compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of UACR, those in the highest quartile had a 1. 25-fold risk of elevated CIMT. Conclusions This study shows that low-grade albuminuria is positively associated with elevated CIMT, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged and elderly adults.

OBJECTIVETo establish a HPLC fingerprint for quality evaluation of Cortex Moutan.

METHODThe HPLC chromatographic fingerprinting of 30 lots of Cortex Moutan was established and major peaks were identified by LC-MS and MS-MS.

RESULTThe HPLC fingerprint of Cortex Moutan was established, showing 15 characteristic peaks. The areas of these peaks were found to complied with the following rule: paeonol > 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-glucos > methyl gallate > galloylpaeoniflorin > gallic acid > oxypaeoniflorin > other compounds.

CONCLUSIONThe chromatographic fingerprinting of Cortex Moutan with high specificity can be used to control its quality and monitor lot to lot consistency.

Acetophenones ; analysis ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; classification ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; analysis ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; classification ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

The medicinal herbs derived from genus Senecio have been commonly used in Chinese medicine and triggered attention in recent decades for that they contain the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Therefore the botanical pharmacognostic study to authenticate those herbs based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics is important for the assurance of safety when they are applied as raw material for extracts or for finished products. In this paper, 13 taxa (11 species and 2 varieties) of Senecio plants were collected and their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were observed and described by digital microscopic illustration. The results showed that the distribution of collenchyma in the cortex, the level of development for pericycle, the location of the phloem, and the ratio of pith in transverse sections of the stems, and the morphology of the leaf epidermal cells, the stomatal types and the non-glandular hairs in leaf surface view were found to be the main microscopic characteristics for authentication of different Senecio species. The herbs derived from genus Senecio can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, and those observation can be used for the identification of commercial crude drugs from Senecio plants.
Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Senecio ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Species Specificity

Objective To investigate the effect of povidone - iodine diluent on proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cell HeLa and to provide the theoretical basis for its clinical application. Methods Human cervical cancer cell line HeLa in logarithmic growth phase were treated with different dilutions of povidone - iodine and the cells treated with physiological saline were set as the control group. The cells viability,morphological change,formation of apoptotic bodies,cell apoptosis and the apoptosis - related protein expression in HeLa cells were assessed by MTT assay,Hoechst33342 staining, AnnexinV / PI flow cytometry and Western blotting. Results Povidone - iodine diluent remarkably inhibited human cervical cancer cell line HeLa growth in a concentration - dependent manner. The inhibitory rates of HeLa cells were 25. 3% , 30. 8% ,33. 4% ,60. 3% ,71. 2% ,85. 3% ,89. 1% and 91. 2% when the concentration of povidone - iodine solution were 0. 001% ,0. 005% ,0. 01% ,0. 05% ,0. 1% ,0. 5% ,1% and 2% ,respectively. The nuclear chromatin of HeLa cells treated with povidone - iodine dilution was agglutinated and contracted,and the nucleus was fragile and appeared apoptotic body,with dense and dense stain or fragment dense staining. With the increase of the concentration of povidone -iodine dilution,the apoptotic rate of HeLa cells increased,so were Caspase - 8 ,Caspase - 3 and cleaved PARP. Conclusion Diluted povidone - iodine can strongly inhibit the proliferation of human cervical cancer cell line HeLa and the possible mechanism was the promotion of apoptosis.