Objective To investigate the relationship of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of kallikrein 3 (KLK3) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) and environmental factors with prostate cancer predisposition in Chinese. Methods The genotypes of KLK3(rs273583 is locate between KLK an KLK) and VDR (rs731236 is located exon 9) were determined by TaqMan/MGB Probe technology in 108 prostate cancer (PCa) patients and 242 community-based normal controls. The demographic information, body mass index(BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, tea drinking, sport activity and other environmental factors were collected for the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship of genetic polymorphisms and environmental risk factors with PCa. Results The frequencies of SNP rs273583 (A/G) for KLK3 AA, AG and GG genotypes were 13. 89%, 62. 96% and 23. 15% in PCa patients and 37. 19%, 44. 63%, 18. 18% in controls, respectively, with significant difference found between the two groups(P = 0. 00). The frequencies of SNPs rs731236 (T/C) for VDR TT,TC and CC genotypes were 88. 89%, 9,26%, 1. 85% in PCa patients and 90. 50%, 9. 10%, 0. 40% in controls, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups. The study also showed that the risk for PCa in tea drinkers was only 0. 58 fold that of non-tea drinkers (QR = 0. 58,95%CI,0. 35-0. 96). Conclusion Our study indicates that tea drinking is associated with the development of PCa; tea drinking is a protective factor against PCa; SNP rs273583 o KLK i sgnificantly correlated with PCa; moreover, there is a multiplicative interaction between SNP rs273583 o KLK an environment factor. SNP rs73123 o VD i no correlate wit PCa.

Multi-target drugs can simultaneously adjust multiple links of the disease network. Despite the higher efficacy and lower toxicity caused by single targets, multi-target drugs become ideal drugs for treating complicated diseases as well the main direction of drug R & D. By virtue of their structural diversity, higher multi-target activity and lower toxicity, natural products become an important source for developing multi-target drugs. Computer-aided drug design (CADD) is a commonly used multi-target drug R&D method, which mainly includes virtual screening and pharmacophore design. In this paper, the authors made a systematical analysis and discussed the prospects and advantages of various methods for multi-target drug R&D with natural products.
Biological Products ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Biomedical Research ; instrumentation ; Computer-Aided Design ; Drug Design ; Humans ; Molecular Targeted Therapy

To study the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) between the stuctures of 29 flavonoids and the inhibitory activity of their multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 1 and 2 by using the comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA). By studying the impact of the combination of different molecular force fields, researchers obtained the molecular force fields that played an important role in inhibiting the activity of MRP1 and MRP2, built the optimized QSAR model, and discussed the structural modification method for flavonoids' multidrug resistance-associated protein inhibitor. The results of the study could not only provide the guidance for new drug R&D, but also help partially discuss the synergy mechanism between MRP1 and MRP2 receptors and traditional Chinese medicines containing flavonoids.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To explore the high risk factors, pathogenesis and methods of early diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) in premature infants.Methods The history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia was investigated in premature infants;TORCH-IgM antibodies in cord blood of premature infants were measured by ELISA; Nitric oxide (NO) levels in their cord blood were determined by nitric acid reducing enzyme means. Results Thirty-nine of 52 premature infants in PVL group had a history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia; TORCH-IgM antibody positive rate in cord blood of premature infants in PVL group was significantly higher than that in control group(P

Objective To construct and identify the RNAi eukaryotic vector of Skp2 gene and to observe its interfering effect on the growth of SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells.Methods The specific shRNA sequence was designed and synthesized according to the Skp2 cDNA sequence in GenBank.The sequence was cloned into plasmid pGenesil-1.Then recombinant vector was transfected into SPC-A-1 lung cancer cells by Lipofectamine 2000.The expressions of Skp2 mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR and the levels of Skp2 protein were detected by Western blot.The cell growth suppression was analyzed by MTT assay.Distribution of cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry.Results The sequence of template and specific siRNA was correct by sequence analysis.Obvious decrease was observed in the levels of Skp2 mRNA and Skp2 protein after Skp2 shRNA transfection(P

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell

The combined application of statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and fibrates that activate PPAR-α can produce a better lipid-lowering effect than the simple application, but with stronger adverse reactions at the same time. In the treatment of hyperlipidemia, the combined administration of TCMs and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in treating hyperlipidemia shows stable efficacy and less adverse reactions, and provides a new option for the combined application of drugs. In this article, the pharmacophore technology was used to search chemical components of TCMs, trace their source herbs, and determine the potential common TCMs that could activate PPAR-α. Because there is no hyperlipidemia-related medication reference in modern TCM classics, to ensure the high safety and efficacy of all selected TCMs, we selected TCMs that are proved to be combined with statins in the World Traditional/Natural Medicine Patent Database, analyzed corresponding drugs in pharmacophore results based on that, and finally obtained common TCMs that can be applied in PPAR-α and combined with statins. Specifically, the pharmacophore model was based on eight receptor-ligand complexes of PPAR-α. The Receptor-Ligand Pharmacophore Generation module in the DS program was used to build the model, optimize with the Screen Library module, and get the best sub-pharmacophore, which consisted of two hydrogen bond acceptor, three hydrophobic groups and 19 excluded volumes, with the identification effectiveness index value N of 2. 82 and the comprehensive evaluation index CAI value of 1. 84. The model was used to screen the TCMD database, hit 5,235 kinds of chemical components and 1 193 natural animals and plants, and finally determine 62 TCMs. Through patent retrieval, we found 38 TCMs; After comparing with the virtual screening results, we finally got seven TCMs.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; metabolism ; Animals ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Molecular ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Technology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on the function and maturation of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-derived plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).

METHODSCML-derived pDCs were sorted by flow cytometry, and then incubated with APS (at 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/L). After 24 hours, the concentrations of IFN-α, IL-6, TNF-α were detected with ELISA. Five days later, the cultured cells were collected and analyzed for immotype, morphology and ultramicrostructure.

RESULTSThe level of IFN-α, IL-6, TNF-α was significantly higher in samples from CML remission group than that in untreated pDCs, and newly diagnosed pDC (P < 0.05) or untreated group. APS could promote more pDCs differentiating to dendritic cells (DCs) in CML remission group than in untreated-pDCs in a dose-dependant manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAPS can enhance the immune function of pDCs, promote differentiation and maturation of pDCs from CML patients.

Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology

The rate of corneal graft rejection is still high for high-risk keratoplasty although immune suppression drug is routinely used.The role of traditional Chinese medicine in corneal transplantation is concerned gradually.Heijingpaichitang on the prevention and treatment of rats with high-risk corneal allograft rejection needs further study.Objective This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of heijingpaichitang on high-risk corneal transplantation immune rejection in rats.Methods Sixteen female SD rats were used as the donors and 32female Wistar rats were served as recipients.The high-risk corneal trasplantation models were established by corneal suture in 32 Wistar rats,and then homogeneity variant SD-Wistar corneal transplantation was performed.The recipients were randomized into model control group,cyclosporinc A (CsA)group,heijingpaichitang group and CsA +heijingpaichitang group.CsA,heijingpaichitang and CsA + heijingpaichitang was orally administered 4 days after operation once per day for 15 days,and normal saline solution was used at the same way in the model control group.Ocular anterior segment reaction was examined under the slit lamp and corneal opacification,edema and neovasculation were scored based on Larkin' s criteria.Rejection index of the corneal graft was recorded and the graft survival time was calculated.The pathological examination of the corneal graft was carried out in all rats,and the inflammatory cells in the corneas and CD4+ cells in the periphery blood were assayed using flow cytometry.The use of the animals complied with ARVO Statement.Results Corneal graft rejection occurred in 10 days after operation in the model control group,12-13 days in the CsA group and heijingpaichitang group and 22 days in the CsA +heijingpaichitang group.Compared with model control group,the scores of the corneal opacification,corneal edema and neovascularization were significantly lower in the CsA group,heijingpaichitang group and CsA+heijingpaichitang group (P＜0.05),and all the scores were declined in the CsA+ heijingpaichitang group compared with CsA group and heijingpaichitang group(P＜0.01),but no significant differences were seen in the scores between the CsA group and heijingpaichitang group(P＞0.05).The mean survival time of grafts was (10.38 ±1.69)days in the model control group,(22.50 ± 3.07) days in the CsA + heijingpaichitang group,with the significant difference (t =-9.790,P =0.000).The pathological examination of graft showed that the lymphocytes and new blood vessels were less in the CsA+heijingpaichitang group compared with CsA group and heijingpaichitang group 15 days after operation.Flow cytometry verified that the number of lymphocytes in graft,CD4+cells and CD4+/CD8+ in periphery blood were significantly lower in the heijingpaichitang group,CsA group and CsA+heijingpaichitang group compared with model control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions Heijingpaichitang can inhibit immune rejection to certain extent in high-risk corneal transplantation rat and has a similar effect to 0.1％ CsA.Heijingpaichitang and 0.1％ CsA have a synergistic effect.

Drug transport is an important source of inter-individual variations in drug responses and is also a common site where drug-drug interactions happen. In recent years, more and more novel identified transporters have been added into the transporter super family, and this trend will continue in the future. Among the transporter members of this family, ATP-dependent efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (MDR1) and organic anion transporters (OATP) are the most important proteins involved in drug transport. MDR1 is the most well known transporter. Widely distributed in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney and so on, MDR1 plays an important role in drug absorption, distribution and excretion. Its functional genetic polymorphisms have significantly changed the pharmacokinetics of its substrate drugs, which has important clinical implications. OATP expressed in multiple tissues, and it mediated the drug excretion through the bile acid and kidney. Some genetic polymorphism of OATP genes is the cause of some abnormal drug responses.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 ; genetics ; Drug Interactions ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic