Objective To study the supporting role of traditional Chinese medicine GanFuAn in the treatment of high-risk state of liver cancer by color Doppler ultrasound.Methods Based on a number of joint detection of tumor markers,85 patients of liver cancer were selected from patients with chronic hepatitis B.Among these 85patients,50 patients were selected in a treatment group and treated with Chinese herbal preparation GanFuAn,with ultrasound and tumor markers serving as joint monitoring; while the other 35 patients were selected in a control group and treated with conventional treatment.Results In the treatment group,the liver tumor markers or liver tumor continually diminished.5 cases showed tumor disappear.38 cases showed effective results,while 7 cases showed no effects.The total incidence rate of liver cancer was 14％;while in the control group,none case showed tumor disappear.20 cases showed effects and 15 cases showed none effects.The cumulative incidence rate of liver cancer induced by chronic hepatitis was 43％,with all the cases have been confirmed by pathology.Conclusion Color doppler ultrasound was an intuitive,non-invasive dynamic method to monitor liver tumor's growth and decline.

A reasonable and practicable quality standard was developed for mori liquid extract from different sources by TLC, HPLC and fingerprint technology. In TLC method, the compounds were separated on polyamide film using glacial acetic acid-water (1: 3) as mobile phase at a UV wavelength of 365 nm. All qualified samples had the spots of the same color as the control herb and substance. The RP-HPLC method was used to determine the content of mulberroside A with mobile phase of methanol-water (25: 75) at a wave-length of 326 nm. The mulberroside A was in good linear with a regression equation of Y = 46.965X (r = 0.999 6) in the range of 4.6 - 228 mg x L(-1). In 14 batches of samples, the mulberroside A in 4 batches of them was less than 0.5 g x L(-1), and was more than 2.0 g x L(-1) in the other batches. It was suggested that the content limit of mulberroside A should be no less than 1.5 g x L(-1). The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated by the similarities. It has found that the similarities of different mori liquid extracts were very low and the chemical diversity of mori cortex was the major factor of similarity. Moreover, the process impact was minimal. Thus the fingerprint was not included in this quality standard.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Morus ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To observe the relationship between serum level of H-FABP before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods A total of 104 cases were recruited in this study. PCI was performed 12 h after onset. The concentration of H-FABP was detected before operation. Gensini score system was used to calculate the integral of all patients after coronary angiography. According to Gensini score, patients were divided into three groups, 34 cases in group A (8≤Gensini scores<41), 34 cases in group B (41≤Gensini scores<64) and 36 cases in group C (Gensini scores≥64). Indicators were analyzed statistically including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), smoking history, H-FABP, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), fasting blood sugar, diabetes (DM) and hypertension. The patients were followed up for 12 months after operation. According to the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), patients were divided into MACE group and non-MACE group. The related factors of two groups were statistically analyzed. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of MACE for patients with STEMI after emergency PCI. Results There is a gradually increasing tendency in total cholesterol levels among three A, B and C groups (P<0.05). LVEF values were lower in B group and C group than that of A group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in levels of SBP, DBP, H-FABP, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, fasting plasma glucose and smoking history, DM, and hypertension between three groups (P>0.05). In 12-month follow-up, the proportion of STEM combined with DM, the time from onset to PCI, the level of TC, the level of H-FABP before operation and Gensini score were significantly higher in MACE group than those of non-MACE group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that STEM combined with DM, higher serum level of H-FABP before operation were risk factors of MACE in 12-month after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion For patients with acute STEM combined with diabetes and elevated preoperative serum level of H-FABP, be alert to the occurrence of MACE in 12-month after PCI.

GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

Background and purpose:The incidence of liver cancer is high in China. Primary liver cancers usually occur in patients with liver cirrhosis, which is a challenge for the early diagnosis of liver cancer. Our purpose is to investigate the efifcacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the early identiifcation and diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regularly tracking and supervising the high risk population. Methods:A total of 320 high risk patients of HCC admitted in our hospital from February 2011 to November 2013 were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound and hepatic CEUS. The differential diagnosis of malignant HCCs from benign ones was based on the enhancement patterns of hepatic lesions in different phases on CEUS. Results:Twenty patients were diagnosed as small HCC among 320 HCC high risk patients who were under regular surveillance using CEUS and all were pathologically conifrmed. Seven of the 20 HCC cases were smaller than 1.0 cm and 13 measured 1.1-2.0 cm. There were 6 (30.0%) HCCs presented as“early wash-in and slow wash-out”atypical pattern of HCC. The small size of the lesion and iso-echogenicity were the main factors of atypical pattern of HCC on CEUS.Conclusion:Ultrasonography and CEUS surveillance is a useful strategy for the early detection of small HCCs in high risk patients, which can help them to receive proper therapeutic management in time.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a simple biological labora-tory animal, with similar biological structure and physiological functions to mammals. Almost transparent embryos, in vitro de-velopment of embryos and up to 87% of human genetic similari- ties enable a wide application of zebrafish in the field of pharma-ceutical research. In this paper, we have studied the application of zebrafish in drug metabolism, the research of Chinese medi-cine, the evaluation of drug toxicology and safety, the screening of drugs and the discovery of new drugs, the research of regener- ative drugs, so as to provide new ideas of zebrafish in the field of pharmacy.

OBJECTIVETo study the association between HAb18G expression, tumor parameters, metastatic potential and prognosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for HAb18G protein using SP methods was carried out in 144 cases of NSCLC. Nineteen cases of benign lung lesions and 41 cases of normal lung tissue were used as controls. The intensity (positive unit/PU) of HAb18G expression was assessed quantitatively by image analysis software. The results were correlated with tumor parameters, metastatic potential and follow-up data.

RESULTSThe intensity of HAb18G protein expression was significantly higher in NSCLC than that in controls (P = 0.000). In squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas, the expression of HAb18G protein in well-differentiated tumors was lower than that in moderately to poorly differentiated tumors (P = 0.001). Tumors of TNM stage IV had stronger expression than tumors of lower stages (P = 0.000). HAb18G PU was greater in tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without nodal metastasis (P = 0.045). The PU value of tumors with maximal diameter greater than 5 cm was higher than that of the smaller tumors (P = 0.000). It was also higher in male than in female patients (P = 0.046). There was no association between HAb18G protein expression and age of patients, history of smoking, tumor types and gross morphology (P > 0.05). The five-year survival rate in cases with low HAb18G protein expression was higher than that in cases with high expression (P = 0.006). Univariate analysis indicated that patients with high HAb18G protein expression carried a poor prognosis (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that expression of HAb18G protein was an independent prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC (P = 0.032, relative risk 3.962).

CONCLUSIONSHAb18G protein expression is associated with tumor progression and prognosis. It may represent a useful biomarker for prognostic evaluation.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basigin ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo construct the acid-sensitive potassium hannel-3(TASK3) eukaryotic expression plasmid and to establish a stable SH-SY5Y cell line expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged TASK3.

METHODSTASK3 coding region was subcloned into pEGFP-N1 plasmid to construct a recombinant vector alled pEGFP-TASK3. The correct recombinant expressing plasmid was transfected with X-feet transfection reagent to SH-SY5Y cells. The cell line stably expressiing EGFP tagged-TASK3 gene was established by screening with antibiotic G418 and fluorescence microscope. The expression and localization of the EGFP tagged-TASK3 fusion protein was detected by Western blot and confocal microscope. Exposure of the SH-SY5Y cell line expressing stably TASK3-eGFP fusion proteins was exposed to different pH media (7.0, 6.7, 6.4, 6.1) for 24 h, the cell viability was assessed with cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8).

RESULTSAll the results of identification by PCR, digestion with restriction endonuclease and sequencing indicated that the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-TASK3 was constructed correctly. The stable SH-SY5Y cell line expressing EGFP tagged-TASK3 fusion protein was successfully established. Exposure of the wild type SH-SY5Y cells and the stable SH-SY5Y-GFP tag-TASK3 cell line to different pH media (7.0, 6.7, 6.4, 6.1) for 24 h, the cell viability of two group cells significantly reduced with pH declining, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with wild type SH-SY5Y cells, the cell viability of stable SH-SYSY-GFP tag-TASK3 cell line increased significantly with the same pH media, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-TASK3 is successfully constructed and the cell line stably expressing TASK3-eGFP fusion is established which is important for their fundamental research and potential applications.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; genetics ; Transfection

Synthetic biology research methods which design and build a new artificial biological systems (medicinal plants or microorganisms system) with specific physiological functions through clarifying and simulating the basic law of the biosynthesis of active components of traditional Chinese medicine, is considered to be a potential method to produce an abundant resources of bioactive components. Tanshinones is a kind of diterpene quinone compounds with important pharmacological activities from traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza. This article systematically introduced the research progress of the synthetic biology of S. miltiorrhiza, in order to provide references for studies on other terpenoid bioactive components of traditional Chinese medicines, and give new research strategies for the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine resources.
Diterpenes, Abietane ; biosynthesis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; metabolism ; Synthetic Biology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of T lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1 (Tiam1) and the progression, metastasis, TNM stage, and histological types of lung carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of Tiam1 in 116 lung carcinoma specimens. The expression intensity (measured in positive unit, PU) of Tiam1 in these tissues was assessed quantitatively using Imagepro Plus image analysis software.

RESULTSThe PU of Tiam1 was significantly greater in primary lung carcinomas with lymph node metastases than in those without metastases (t=-2.089, P=0.039). Lung cancers of TNM stage II-IV had stronger expression than those of stage I (t=-2.272, P=0.025). The PU of Tiam1 differed significantly between different histological types of lung cancer, and squamouscell cell carcinoma had a lower PU than adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma (P<0.05). The intensity of Tiam1 expression was not associated with the patients' gender, age, general types, smoking history, pneumoconiosis or differentiation of lung carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONThese results strongly suggest that Tiam1 is an invasion and metastasis inducing factor of lung carcinoma. The overexpression of Tiam1 is closely associated with lymph node metastases, TNM stage and histological types of lung carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1