Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Keratins ; immunology ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

This paper was aim to screen microorganisms with attenualed efficiency for Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid A by liquid-state fermentation. Twelve Chinese medicine were detected by UPLC and aristolochic acid A was only founded in four species of Aristolochia, those were Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis, Aristolochiae Radix, Aistolochia Contorta Bunge and Herba Aristolochiae Mollissima,but not in the others. With the four Chinese medicine containing aristolochic acid A as raw material, ten microorganisms were tested, and the content of aristolochic acid A was detected by UPLC. The results showed that one microorganism can decrease content of aristolochic acid A in all those four Chinese medicine.
Aristolochic Acids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(MEHP) on proliferation of primary neural stem cells(NSCs)of rats and NE-4C cells of mice and on the migration of NE-4C cells and the mechanism. METHODS NE-4C or NSCs were treated with MEHP 1,10,100 and 1000 μmol · L-1 for 72 h,respectively. The cytotoxicity was estimated with the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell proliferation was analyzed by EdU assay. The mRNA expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor(GR),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3)and sex determining region Y (SRY)-box 2(Sox2) were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein expression levels of total GR,GRβ, Sox2,Stat3 and p-Stat3 were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS Cell viability of NE-4C cells and NSCs at MEHP 1000μmol·L-1 was significantly decreased,which was 70.3%and 40.0%of the control group, respectively. EdU assay showed that MEHP 100 μmol · L-1 decreased NE-4C cells and NSCs by 74.8%and 12.0%(P<0.05)compared with control. The effect of MEHP on the cell migration of NE-4C was evidenced by the fact that the migration was obviously reduced to (63.4±2.0)%(P<0.05)after treatment with MEHP 100μmol · L-1 for 72 h. The mRNA expression levels associated with proliferation and migration in NE-4C of GR,Stat3 and Sox2 in MEHP 100 μmol · L-1 group were down-regulated to 49.8%,26.0% and 14.0%of control(P<0.05). At MEHP 100μmol · L-1,mRNA of GR, Stat3 and Sox2 in NSCs declined to 10.0%,14.0% and 15.3% of normal control. Western blotting results revealed that protein expressions of GR,GRβ,Sox2 and p-Stat3 were remarkably inhibited by MEHP 100 μmol · L-1 in that the relative expression of NE-4C was 0.92 ± 0.17,0.87 ± 0.35,0.81 ± 0.22 and 0.62 ± 0.24(P<0.05). The corresponding protein expression in NSCs was 0.82 ± 0.20,0.56 ± 0.12,0.84 ± 0.36 and 0.53 ± 0.20(P<0.05)when the cells were treated with MEHP 100μmol · L-1 for 72 h. CONCLUSION MEHP can inhibit the proliferation and migration of NE-4C cells and NSCs possibly by decreasing Stat3 and Sox2 that are mediated by GRβ.

Objective To study the effect of intensive trunk muscle training on balance and walking in pa- tients with hemiplegia caused by stroke.Methods A total of 90 stroke patients were recruited and randomly divid- ed into a treatment group(45 cases)and a control group(45 cases).All the patients were given conventional reha- bilitation training.Meanwhile,intensive trunk muscle training was also administered for those in the treatment group as well.The trunk control function,balance ability and walking ability were assessed by using the trunk control test, Berg Balance Scale and the balance subscale of the Fugl-Meyer physical performance test,and Holden's functional ambulation classification,respectively,before and after 6 weeks of training.Results It was found that all the pa- tients scored better with the trunk control test,Berg's balance scale,the balance subscale of the Fugl-Meyer physical performance test and Holden's ambulation classification after treatment,and there were significant differences between the two groups after treatment(P

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in Chengdu Han population.

METHODSSequence polymorphisms of the mtDNA control region, hypervariable regions I and II from 100 unrelated Chinese Hans were determined by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSequences of 404 nucleotides for hypervariable region I and 379 nucleotides for region II were obtained. Ninety-two and fifty variable sites were revealed in region I and region II respectively as compared to the reference sequence, and a total of 97 different genetic patterns from both the regions I and II were determined. The probability of identity was estimated at 1.84% for region I, 1.94% for region II, and 1.18% for both the regions.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that sequence polymorphism of mtDNA control region would be very useful in forensic practice as a marker for individual identification.

Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Mytilin-derived-peptide-1 (MDP-1) and mytilin-derived-peptide-2 (MDP-2) are two truncated decapeptides with reversed sequence synthesized corresponding to the residues 20-29 of mytilin-1 (GenBank Accession No. FJ973154) from M. coruscus. The objective of this study is to characterize the structural basis of these two peptides for their antimicrobial activities and functional differences, and to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of MDPs on Escherichia coli and Sarcina lutea. The structures of MDP-1 and MDP-2 in solution were determined by 1H 2D NMR methods; the antibactericidal effects of MDPs on E. coli and S. lutea were observed by transmitted electron microscopy (TEM). Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 have a well-defined loop structure stabilized by two additional disulfide bridges, which resemble the-hairpin structure of mytilin-1 model. The surface profile of MDPs' structures was characterized by protruding charged residues surrounded by hydrophobic residues. TEM analysis showed that MDPs destroyed cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall of bacteria and the interface between the cell wall and membrane was blurred. Furthermore, some holes were observed in treated bacteria, which resulted in cell death. Structural comparison between MDP-1 and MDP-2 shows that the distribution of positively charged amino acids on the loop of MDPs is topologically different significantly, which might be the reason why MDP-2 has higher activity than MDP-1. Furthermore, TEM results suggested that the bactericidal mechanisms of MDPs against E. coli and S. lutea were similar. Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 could attach to the negatively charged bacterial wall by positively charged amino acid residues and destroy the bacteria membrane in a pore-forming manner, thus cause the contents of the cells to release and eventually cell death.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Wall ; drug effects ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Mytilus ; chemistry ; Sarcina ; drug effects

Animals ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cricetinae ; Leishmania donovani ; drug effects ; Male ; Mesocricetus ; Sesquiterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of radiofrequency catheter ablation on left atrial (LA) size and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and whether there is any difference between segmental pulmonary vein ostial isolation (SPVI) and circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA).

METHODSSixty-six patients with highly symptomatic atrial fibrillation were assigned to undergo either SPVI or CPVA. Transthorax echocardiography was performed before, 1 day, 1 months and 3 months after the procedure. LA dimension, LA area, late diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve inflow (A) and peak atrial systolic mitral annulus velocity (A') were recorded.

RESULTSOf 66 consecutive patients with symptomatic PAF, 30 patients underwent SPVI and 36 underwent CPVA. After a mean follow-up of (315 +/- 153) days, 21 patients (70%) after SPVI and 28 patients (75%) after CPVA were free of atrial tachyarrhythmia. As compared with the baseline, LA area decreased at 1-month after ablation in SPVI group and at 3-month in CPVA group. LA dimension decreased also in SPVI group, but did not in CPVA group. A velocity and A' velocity declined remarkably 1 day after CPVA, and restored 3 months later. The former went back to the level of baseline, and the latter exceeded it apparently. In SPVI group, A velocity increased at 1-month, and maintained in 3-month after ablation. A' velocity increased at 3-month after ablation. No reduction of A velocity or A' velocity was found after SPVI.

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated a decrease in LA area and an improvement in LA systolic function 3 months after ablation for PAF. The LA damage by CPVA was more than that by SPVI, which was characterized by the reduction of LA function 1 day after procedure and the delayed improvement of LA size and functional parameters.

Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Atrial Function, Left ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and the adverse effects of erlotinib in the treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Chinese patients.

METHODSFrom November 2005 to March 2009, a total of 519 patients with unresectable, local advanced, relapsed or metastatic NSCLC were enrolled in the trial. All the patients were treated with erlotinib 150 mg/day until disease progression or intolerable toxicity or for other reasons. The response rate, time to disease progression, overall survival and toxicity were analyzed.

RESULTSOf these 519 patients, 1 case had complete response, 127 cases had partial response and 263 cases had stable disease, resulting in an overall response rate (CR + PR) of 26.7%, disease stable rate of 54.9% and disease control rate (CR + PR + SD) of 81.6%. The median time to progression was 6.44 months and median overall survival was 15.37 months. The major erlotinib treatment-related adverse events (AE) were mild (CTC AE 1/2), only 3 cases had severe adverse effect, 1 case had interstitial lung disease and died of respiratory failure.

CONCLUSIONThe study presents excellent response rates, time to progression and overall survival of erlotinib treatment for advanced NSCLC in Chinese patients, and its adverse events are tolerable.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease Progression ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Exanthema ; chemically induced ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; chemically induced ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Quinazolines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate