During the process of growth, harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can be easily contaminated by fungi and their metabolites like mycotoxins, which not only express negative effects on the quality and safety of CHMs and their processed products, but also pose great threats to human health. Now, some chemical synthetic fungicides have been frequently used to control the growth of fungi and accumulation of mycotoxins in the preservation of CHMs. However, the concentration and type of chemical fungicides allowed for postharvest application are restricted due to the disadvantages of their high residual toxicity, long degradation period and pollution to the environment and so on. Therefore, it is critical to research and develop some highly effective, safe and non-toxic, natural, environment-friendly fungistatic agents from plants to prevent CHMs from being contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins. The paper reviews mycotoxins and their harmfulness, the effective compounds of fungistatic plants as well as the antifungal mechanism to provide scientific evidences for developing novel and effective fungistatic agents plants. Then, the application prospect of fungistatic agents from plants in the preservation of CHMs was discussed.
Animals ; Fungi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mycotoxins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; methods

AIMTo study the effects of PKC activation on apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion in L-6TG rat skeletal myoblasts.

METHODSCultured L-6TG cells were divided into 3 groups: control group (C), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), PMA + ischemia/ reperfusion group (PMA), SOD, XOD and free calcium and mitochondrial respiration in L-6TG cell were evaluated in each group. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometer with PI staining method and agarose gel electrophoresis, the immunohistochemical method was used to determine the expression of caspase-3.

RESULTSCompared with I/R group, in PMA group, XOD , free calcium in L-6TG cell and apoptotic percentage all decreased significantly, while SOD and mitochondrial respiration in L-6TG cell increased. DNA fragmentation analysis of L-6TG cell showed no laddering pattern. The expression of caspase-3 was down regulated significantly.

CONCLUSIONActivation of PKC can lessen ischemia/reperfusion injury and apoptosis through lessening oxidative injury and mitochondrial injury, adjusting calcium dyshomeostasis and down expression of caspase-3.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Myoblasts, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

AIMTo investigate the effect of pretreatment with taurine on liver injury changes and the change of tumor necrosis factor alpha and NFkappaB expression following rats limbs ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODSThe model of limbs ischemia/reperfusion injury on rats was adopted in the experiment. Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups (n = 10): Control group, T group, I/R group and TR group. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and MDA in the plasma, MDA, MPO, calcium in liver tissues were measured by colorimetric method. The content of TNF-alpha in plasma and liver tissues was determined by radioimmunoassay. The morphologic changes were observed with HE staining. The expressions of NF-kappaBp65 in liver tissues were tested by immuno-histochemistry method.

RESULTSIt was found that against the control group, the test values of ALT, AST, et al. and expressions of TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB increased in I/R group and TR group, but values of those in TR group were lower than in I/R group.

CONCLUSIONTaurine can decrease the levels of TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB. It can mitigate the liver injury after limb ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Liver ; blood supply ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Taurine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesentery ; blood supply ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; Splanchnic Circulation ; drug effects

Metabolome has become an important part of Systems Biology, and a large set of data has already gained by applying the methods of metabolome. How to deal with the data and how to combine data of metabolome with data of other omics are problems that can not be ignored. An Enzyme Amount Multiple Factor was imported into the enzyme kinetic equation. When the enzyme amount in the system changed, in silico model, it means to alter the Enzyme Amount Multiple Factor. In order to observe ethanol concentration response to enzyme amount changes in S. cerevisiae glycolysis pathway model, enzyme amount was separately set at high and low level, the corresponding Enzyme Amount Multiple Factor value was 10 and 0.1, relatively. Based on the result of simulation, twelve enzymes in pathway were separated into two classes, class I and class II by cluster analysis. The four enzymes belonging to class I, ADH, HK, PFK and PDC, all catalyze irreversible reactions. The six out of eight enzymes belonging to class II, ALD, GAPDH, GlcTrans, lpPEP, PGI and TIM, catalyze reversible reactions. The other two enzymes belonging to class II, lpGlyc and PK, catalyze irreversible reactions. Based on this method, data of metabolome and proteomics are easily integrated to accomplish relatively overall analysis of system properties.
Algorithms ; Cluster Analysis ; Computer Simulation ; Enzymes ; classification ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; metabolism ; Glycolysis ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Models, Biological ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism ; Systems Biology ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on multiple organ edema in the rats which suffered from hind limb ischemia/reperfusion( LI/R).

METHODSTwenty four Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): control group (C group), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R group ), Salvia miltiorrhiza group (SM group). Referring to Tourniquet method, the model rats which underwent 4 hours ischemia and 4 hours reperfusion of hind limbs were made. Thirty minutes before reperfusion, SM was given to the rats in SM group by tail vein injection at the dose of 5 mL/kg. Accurately weighed one gram of heart, liver, kidney, lung, brain, intestine and skeletal muscle from every animals, weigh these specimens after baking (60 degrees C, 55 hours), calculated the ratio of wet and dry (Wet/Dry,W/D). The levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) ,interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma and the contents of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were measured. The morphologic changes of skeletal muscle were observed with microscope.

RESULTSIt was found that after suffering from ischemia/reperfusion, the W/D of every specimens increased in different degree (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In plasma, the values of SOD decreased but MDA increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels of IL-1, IL-6 ,TNF-alpha-a in plasma increased (P < 0.05, P <0.01). After LI/R, infiltration of inflammatory cells, broaden interstitial around muscle fiber and disordered arrangement of muscle fibers could be seen under microscope. However, Compared with LI/R group, W/D and levels of serum inflammatory factors in SM group were all lower, the values of SOD in plasma increased but MDA in plasma failed down. Pathological changes in skeletal muscle were improved.

CONCLUSIONLimb ischemia/reperfusion can lead to multiple organ edema, Salvia miltiorrhiza can prevent the edema in some degree by anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation.

Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Edema ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the in-stent lumen visibility and image quality of coronary stents by dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography, and the diagnostic accuracy of DSCT in the detection of coronary in-stent restenosis.

METHODSDSCT was performed at 147 stents in 78 patients at an interval of (21.8?22.2) months after coronary stent implantation. Axial multi-planar reconstruction of the stents and curved-planar reconstruction through the median of the stents were evaluated for stent image quality on a 5-point scale, and the stent lumen diameters were detected. Thirty out of these 78 patients underwent conventional coronary angiography within one month after CT angiography. The patency of 60 stents were independently evaluated by two blinded readers.

RESULTSImage quality was good to excellent on average score (1.6?0.6) . Stent image quality score was correlated with stent diameter, stent location, and heart rate. All stents were assessable in lumen visibility with an average visible lumen diameter percentage of (72.2?12.2) %. Visible lumen diameter percentage was correlated with stent diameter and stent location. For the stents with calcified plaques, the visible lumen diameter percentage at the calcified site was significantly lower than that at the non-calcified site (P<0.001) . Compared with the conventional coronary angiography, 12 out of 14 in-stent stenoses were correctly detected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the detection of in-stent stenosis was 85.7%, 95.7%, 85.7%, and 95.7%, respectively. For stents whose diameter >0.275cm, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all 100%. The agreement between CT findings and coronary angiography results was 93.3%, and it was correlated with stent diameter and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONSUsing a DSCT, coronary stent lumen is partially visible and the image quality is high. Stent diameter and location can influence the stent lumen visibility and image quality. DSCT has a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of in-stent restenosis and may be a valuable modality for the follow-up of coronary artery stent patency."

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Vascular Patency

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of the soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR/sErbB1) level in the peripheral blood in development, invasiveness, apoplexy of each type of pituitary tumor.

METHODSThe sEGFR level was determined in peripheral serum from 190 patients with pituitary diseases by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The sEGFR levels were measured in 10 pituitary Rathke's pouch, 18 pituitary hyperplasia, 161 pituitary adenomas including 30 microadenomas, 83 large adenomas, 48 giant adenomas, 1 pituitary carcinoma, and 28 healthy controls.

RESULTSIn the patients with pituitary hyperplasia, microadenoma, large adenoma, giant adenoma, and pituitary carcinoma, the sEGFR level was 188.92 +/- 32.62, 209.83 +/- 19.01, 333.20 +/- 69.33, 405.85 +/- 37.38, and 617.45 fmol/mL independently. They were all significantly higher than patients with pituitary Rathke's pouch (156.78 +/- 18.24 fmol/mL, P < 0.001) and healthy control group (159.11 +/- 40.50 fmol/mL, P < 0.05). The sEGFR level in pituitary carcinoma was higher than pituitary adenoma. In patients with pituitary adenoma, the sEGFR level was positive correlated to the size of pituitary adenomas (r=0.998), the significant difference was observed for the sEGFR level in each group of the patients with pituitary adenomas (P < 0.001). Furthermore, in patients with pituitary ACTH-secreting microadenomas, the serum sEGFR levels in invasiveness (295.00 +/- 77.80 fmol/mL) was higher than that in non-invasiveness (210.60 +/- 16.4 fmol/mL, P < 0.05). In patients with pituitary ACTH-secreting, PRL-secreting, GH-secreting, and non-functioning large adenomas, the serum sEGFR levels in invasiveness (407.86 +/- 28.50, 399.25 +/- 30.10, 386.00 +/- 13.08, and 369.25 +/- 36.70 fmol/mL) was higher than that in non-invasiveness (335.25 +/- 63.49, 300.64 +/- 47.57, 297.00 +/- 61.93, and 269.30 +/- 25.68 fmol/mL) respectively (P < 0.05). In patients with invasive pituitary PRL-secreting, GH-secreting, and non-functioning giant adenomas, the serum sEGFR levels not significantly different in between invasiveness (417.50 +/- 35.94, 409.50 +/- 69.14, and 417.50 +/- 44.13 fmol/mL) and non-invasiveness (386.00 +/- 49.64, 417.50 +/- 44.03, and 409.51 +/- 35.17 fmol/mL) (P > 0.05). In patients with pituitary large adenomas, the sEGFR levels in pituitary apoplexy (377.48 +/- 39.18 fmol/mL) was higher than that in non-pituitary apoplexy (343.18 +/- 68.17 fmol/mL, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe increased level of peripheral serum sEGFR is concomitant with development, proliferous size of the adenomas in patients with pituitary adenomas. In addition, the elevated levels of serum sEGFR occur in pituitary apoplexy as clinical active tumors, and the non-invasive ACTH secreting adenomas. The sEGFR levels could be differentiated helpfully between pituitary adenomas and non-pituitary adenomas. These data suggest that serum sEGFR could be as a referable marker of the size and activation of proliferation in pituitary adenoma.

Adenoma ; blood ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma ; blood ; pathology ; Craniopharyngioma ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pituitary Apoplexy ; blood ; Pituitary Gland ; pathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood

A switch thrombin aptamer sensor was constructed based on the host-guest competition mode ofβ-cyclodextrin (β-CD ) . The aptamer that modified with ferrocene ( Fc ) at its terminal was fixed on the surface of the gold electrode via the host-guest recognization with β-CD. When thrombin was present, the configuration of aptamer transformed from vertical linear to "G-quadruplex" and far away from the electrode surface, which resulted in a decrease in the redox current of the aptamer probe and produce "Signal-off"effect. On the basis of this, a high sensitive detection of thrombin was made. The detection result indicated that the thrombin concentration had a consideration linear response to the signal of aptasensor between 5 . 0 × 10-13-5. 0 × 10-9 mol/L, and as low as 2. 0 × 10-13 mol/L thrombin had been detected. This method for thrombin detection showed a higher specificity compared to other protein molecules. Besides, the sensor was constructed easily and possessed excellent regeneration, which provided a significant platform for highly efficient real-time detection of thrombin in biological serum samples.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the factors of CXCR4, CXCL12, CD44, and CD147 as early potential diagnostic biomarkers by determining their expression levels in invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas.

METHODSFresh pituitary adenoma specimens were collected from 35 pituitary adenoma (21 invasive and 14 non-invasive) patients who underwent surgical treatment in our Neurosurgery Department between January and April of 2009. The expression levels of CXCR4, CXCL12, CD44, and CD147 were evaluated firstly by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy in single cell suspensions, and then by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin tissue sections.

RESULTSFlow cytometric analyses showed that the percentage of CXCR4- and CXCL12-positive cells from invasive pituitary adenomas (IPA) was significantly higher in the single cell suspensions than that from non-invasive pituitary adenomas (nIPA) (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that CXCR4 and CXCL12 staining index scores of the invasive pituitary adenomas were significantly higher than those of the non-invasive pituitary adenomas (P<0.05). In contrast, neither flow cytometry nor immunohistochemical staining demonstrated significant difference between CD44 and CD147 expression levels, respectively.

CONCLUSIONExpression levels of CXCR4 and CXCL12 are correlated with the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas. Therefore, rather than CD44 and CD147, CXCR4 and CXCL12 may potentially serve as biomarkers for early detection of pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; CD47 Antigen ; metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism