In this study, the psbA-trnH sequence as DNA barcode was used to evaluate the accuracy and stability for identification pteridophyte medicinal material Pyrrosiae Foliumas from adulterants. Genomic DNA from 106 samples were extracted successfully. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances and ML tree were calculated using software MEGA 6.0. The intra-specific genetic distances of 3 original plants were lower than inter-specific genetic distances of adulterants. The ML tree indicated that Pyrrosiae Folium can be distinguished from its adulterants obviously. Therefore, the psbA-trnH sequence as a barcode of the pteridophyte, can accurately and stably distinguish Pyrrosiae Folium from its adulterants.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Ferns ; classification ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Quality Control

The genes of short armed hammerhead ribozyme targeting against two sites on positive strand (194-196) and negative strand (89-91) of ASSVd were designed, synthesized and cloned according to the action manner of hammerhead ribozyme. The full lengths of the genes are 42 bp (RzASSVd(+)) and 40 bp (RzASSVd(-)). After transcription in vitro, the ASSVd positive and negative RNA labeled with 32P were mixed with the ribozyme transcript and incubated 3-4 h at 50 degrees C or 37 degrees C. The results were assayed on 8% PAGE (containing 8 mol/L urea) and autoradiogrammed. As predicted, the transcript of the active RzASSVd(-) could cleave the ASSVd negative strand RNA with a high activity but had no cleavage effect on the ASSVd positive strand. The transcript of the RzASSVd(+) gene could cleave the ASSVd positive strand but its cleavage activity was very low. As the same, it cannot cleave the negative strand either. On the base of the result, we construct dimmer ribozyme gene pGEMRzASSVd(+/-) containing both RzASSVd(+) and RzASSVd(-).
Cloning, Molecular ; Malus ; virology ; Plant Diseases ; virology ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viroids ; metabolism

Objective: To study magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) technique. Methods: An external force actuator was developed, the imaging pulse sequence of MRE was designed,and tissue simulating phantoms were constructed. The actuator controlled by the pulse sepuence produced shear waves at low frequency on the surface of the phantoms. A modified gradient echo sequence was developed with motion sensitizing gradient (MSG)imposed along X,Y or Z direction.Cyclic displacement within the medium induced by shear waves caused a measurable phase shift in the received MR signal.From the measured phase shift,the displacement at each voxel could be calculated,and the propatating shear waves within the medium were directly imaged. By adjusting the phase offsets,the dynamic propagation of shear waves in a wave cycle was obtained.The phase images were processed to aquire quantitative elasticity image using local frequency estimation(LFE)method. The experiments were implemented with 1.0% and 1.5% tissue simulating agarose gel. Shear waves at frequency of 150 Hz,200 Hz,250 Hz,and 300 Hz were applied. Results: The phase images of MRE directly imaged the propagating shear waves within the phantoms.The wavelength of shear waves varied with the change of exciting frequency and stiffness of the phantoms. The wavelength of shear waves was exactly proportional to the frequency and stiffness of the phantom. The contrast of elasticity in agarose gel with two concentrations was clearly demonstrated on elasticity images.Conclusion: The phase images of MRE can directly visualize the propagation of shear waves in the medium. The elasticity image of MRE can quantitatively image the elastic modulus of the medium

In order to identify Cimicifugae Rhizoma from its adulterants and to ensure its safe use, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants were amplified and bidirectionally sequenced by DNA barcoding technology. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed by the CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. The genetic distances were computed by MEGA 5.0. Identification analyses were performed using neighbor-joining (NJ) methods. The length of ITS2 sequence of the three origin plants of Cimicifugae Rhizoma include Cimicifuga heracleifolia, C. foetida, C. dahurica was 217, 219 and 219 bp, respectively. Their intraspecific genetic distance was much lower than the interspecific genetic distance with their closely related species. The NJ tree of ITS2 indicated that the three origin plants of Cimicifugae Rhizoma formed a monophyletic clade, Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. The authors proposed that ITS2 sequence was suitable for the authentication of Cimicifugae Rhizoma and its adulterants.
Base Sequence ; China ; Cimicifuga ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Benzene ; poisoning ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control

Since initiation of training on laboratory of molecular biology in my school, we accumulated experience in teaching process especially among international students and application of pedagogy as well as technology. Strengths, weakness and opportunities are analyzed to improve teaching quality.

AIM: To study the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on ClC-3 chloride channel protein expression in cultured bovine cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (CSMC). METHODS: Cell culture and Western blot. RESULTS: 1 The endogenous ClC-3 expression was found in basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and microvessel; 2 The molecular weight of expressed ClC-3 chloride channel protein was about 95 ku; 3 ET-1 enhanced ClC-3 protein expression which was inhibited by nifedipine and SK&F96365. Cyclopiazonic acid(CPA) increased the expression of ClC-3 protein in a concentration-dependant manner, and enhanced ET-1 effect on this protein expression. CONCLUSION: ET-1 stimulated ClC-3 chloride channel protein expression in cultured bovine cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. The intracellular Ca2+ plays an important role on signal transduction pathway in ClC-3 protein expression process.

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of ICAM-1 (CD54) in pediatric tumor and acute leukemia (AL), so as to understand the distribution of ICAM-1 and its clinical significance. The expression of ICAM-1 in tissues of 46 pediatric tumor patients were detected by immunohistochemistry, and in bone marrow cells of 60 pediatric acute leukemia (AL) patients were detected by flow cytometry. 46 pediatric tumor patients included 10 lymphoma, 3 hepatoblastoma, 6 neuroblastoma, 2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 6 Ewing's bone sarcoma, 2 fibrosarcoma, 5 primitive neuroectodermal tumor, 11 nephroblastoma and 1 osteosarcoma. 60 AL pediatric patients included 20 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients and 40 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) patients containing 20 M1, M2, M3 patients and 20 M4, M5. The results indicated that expression of ICAM-1 was more positive in all 3 hepatoblastoma cases, which represent a higher positive rate than that in lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma of bone and osteosarcoma. However, no expression of ICAM-1 was observed in fibrosarcoma, nephroblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor patients. On the other hand, the expression rate of ICAM-1 was 55 in ALL, 65 in ANLL M1, M2, M3, and 50 in ANLL M4, M5. It is concluded that the expression of ICAM-1 in pediatric tumor and AL has variability. The ICAM-1 positive expression is observed in hepatoblastoma and ANLL M1, M2, M3 patients, whereas it is undetectable in fibrosarcoma, nephroblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor patients.
Child ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective To observe the distribution and metabolism of arsenic speciation in urine of rats exposed to different concentrations of dimethylaraenic acid (DMA) through drinking water.Methods Thrity six weaning Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control,low-dose group and high-dose group,12 rats in each group(6 female and 6 male); average body weight of female rats was (60 ± 5)g,and male rats was (50 ± 5)g.All rats of the 3 groups were given DMA at concentrations of 0,100,200 mg/L,respectively,corresponding to their specific groups through drinking water for 10 weeks.Inorganic arsenic(iAs),monomethylarsenic acid(MMA),DMA and trimethylarsenic compound (TMA) in urine were measured by hydride generation trapping and ultrahypothermia coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry.Results After feeding for 10 weeks,the differences of rat urinary concentrations of iAs,MMA,DMA and TMA between normal control,low-dose group and high-dose group were statistically significant(x2 =25.441,25.942,25.751,17.767,all P＜ 0.01).Urinary concentrations of iAs,MMA and DMA(2.541,4.383,24.447 mg/L) of low-dose group were significant higher than those of normal control (0.784,0.000,0.743 mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05) ; iAs,MMA,DMA and TMA(3.978,7.186,35.112,4.518 mg/L) of high-dose group were significantly higher than those of normal control(0.784,0.000,0.743,0.000 mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05).The concentrations increased along with increasing doses of DMA concentrations in drinking water(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions After rats are exposed to DMA,most of the DMA are excreted in unchanged form in urine and a small portion of DMA is metabolized into TMA.