OBJECTIVETo evaluate the curative effect of Danxiaoling Pill (DXLP), a Chinese herbal preparation, in treating intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP).

METHODSFifty-eight cases of ICP were divided randomly into two groups and treated by DXLP and Composite Yiganling as control respectively with the other identical conventional treatment. The changes of clinical symptoms, related laboratory parameters after treatment and the condition of labor were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in both groups was 100%, but the markedly effective rate in the DXLP treated group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). Levels of blood cholyglycine acid (CGA), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein were all decreased in both groups after treatment, but DXL showed a better efficacy in decreasing CGA, ALT and AST than that of Yiganling. Moreover, the amniotic fluid meconium contaminated rate, premature delivery occurrence in the DXLP group were lower than those in the control group, while the weight of newborn baby was higher in the former than in the latter.

CONCLUSIONDXLP could effectively lower the serum bile acid and improve liver function in treating ICP.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycocholic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; blood ; drug therapy

The fragmentation pathways of five estrogens (estradiol, estrone, equilin sulfate, 17 a-dihydroequilin sulfate and equilenin sulfate) have been studied with high resolution and high mass accuracy using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF/MS) in the negative ion mode. Molecular weights were obtained from [M-H](-) ions in the product ion spectra. The results indicate that the five structurally similar estrogens have similar fragmentation pathways. Using their stable isotope forms as internal reference compounds, the accurate mass and composition of the fragment ions were determined. During collision-induced dissociation (CID), cleavage is initiated by loss of oxygen atoms from carbon-17, after which D and C rings cleave sequentially and rearrange to finally form stable conjugate structures with highly abundant characteristic fragment ions at m/z 183 (accompanied by m/z 181), m/z 169 and m/z 145 (accompanied by m/z 143). Understanding these characteristic fragmentation pathways of estrogens will be helpful in identifying the structures of steroid hormones in general.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Equilenin ; chemistry ; Equilin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Estradiol ; chemistry ; Estrogens ; chemistry ; Estrone ; chemistry ; Ions ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Chlorogenic acid displays several important roles in the therapeutic properties of many herbs, such as antioxidant activity, antibacterial, antiviral, scavenging free radicals and exciting central nervous system. Only about one-third of chlorogenic acid was absorbed in its prototype, therefore, its gut metabolites play a more important role in the therapeutic properties of chlorogenic acid. It is necessary to consider not only the bioactivities of chlorogenic acid but also its gut metabolites. This review focuses on the potential activities and mechanisms of chlorogenic acid and its gut metabolites on central nervous system diseases.
Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism

The status of marine bioresources and the marine eco-environment issues were summarized and discussed, and the strategies for the development of Chinese marine bioresources in the future were proposed. The degradation of marine eco-environment and unreasonable exploitation of the resources resulted in acute decline of Chinese marine bioresources. The feasible stratagies for the sustainable use of marine bioresources should be to intensify the basic research on marine bioresources science, to strengthen the protection of the marine environment and conservation of marine living resources, and to exploit and utilize marine bioresources scientifically and reasonably by using high-technology including marine biotechnology.

The purpose of this study is to explore depression metabolic markers in rat hippocampus and to investigate the anti-depressant effect of genipin and its mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabonomics. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was conducted to establish the depressive rat model. At the beginning of the third week, genipin low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)), middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)), high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)), and venlafaxine (50 mg x kg(-1)) were given to the CUMS rats separately once daily for two weeks except control and model groups. Rat hippocampus was analyzed by 1H NMR based metabonomics after drug administration for 2 weeks. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of rat hippocampus of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed with metabolic effects of CUMS including decreasing in glycine and N-acetylaspartate, increasing in inositol, glutamate, lactate, glutamine, taurine and alanine. Genipin showed ideal antidepressive effects at a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1) in rats, decrease of inositol, glutamate, lactate, alanine were observed, while glycine and N-acetylaspartate were increased. Important influence has been found on normal nervous system function of these significant changed metabolites, which suggests that the antidepressant effect of genipin may be played by enhancing the activity of neurons in hippocampus, repairing and improving the function of the neuron. The metabonomics approach is an effective tool for the investigation of the anti-depressant effect and pharmacologic mechanisms of genipin.
Alanine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Glycine ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Squalene synthase (SQS) is a key enzyme in plant terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. This study focused on cloning and analysis of Huperzia serrata SQS (HsSQS1) gene. After searching the transcriptome dataset of H serrata, one unique sequence encoding SQS was discovered. The primers were designed according to the transcript sequence of HsSQS1 from the H. serrata transcriptome dataset. The open reading frame of HsSQS1 was cloned using RT-PCR strategy. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein were performed. The cDNA (named as HsSQS1) contains a 1263 bp open reading frame and encodes a predicted protein of 420 amino acids. The GenBank accession number for this gene is JQ004938. HsSQS1 contains two transmembrane regions, without signal peptide. The conserved domain of squalene synthase was presented in HsSQS1. HsSQS1 was more abundant in H. serrata root than in leaf and stem. This study cloned and analyzed squalene synthase gene from H. serrata for the first time. The result will provide a foundation for exploring the mechanism ofterpenoid biosynthesis in H. serrata plants.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; genetics ; Huperzia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; Plant Stems ; enzymology ; Plants, Medicinal ; enzymology ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical value of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) for duodenal lesion.

METHODSA total of 78 patients with duodenal lesion were treated with ESD from November 2006 to August 2010. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 46 male and 14 female patients. The mean age was(54±9) years. The lesion location included the duodenal bulb(n=39, 50%), the junction of bulb and descending part(n=19, 24.4%), and the descending part(n=20, 25.8%). The mean diameter of the lesions was(2.1±1.7) cm. Fifty-one(65.4%) lesions originated from the mucosa, including inflammatory/ hyperplastic polyps(n=22, 28.2%), villous/tubular adenoma(n=26, 33.3%), and hamartomas polyps(n=3, 3.8%). Twenty-five(32.1%) lesions originated from the submucosa, including Brunner's glands adenoma(n=15, 19.2%), ectopic pancreas(n=3, 3.8%), carcinoid tumor(n=3, 3.8%), lipoma(n=2, 2.6%), myxoinoma(n=1, 1.3%), and angio-lymphangioma(n=1, 1.3%). There were two lesions originated from the muscularis propria(n=2, 2.5%), and both were ectopic pancreas. All cases received ESD successfully. The mean operative time was(37±41) min and the mean blood loss was(23±15) ml. The perioperative complication rate was 35.9%(28/78), including intraoperative perforation(n=6), delayed perforation(n=3), intraoperative hemorrhage(n=10), delayed bleeding(n=7), and transient elevation of serum amylase(n=2). Postoperative pathological examination showed vascular invasion with tumor cells in one patient, who received extended resection later. The remaining 77 patients showed no recurrence during the followed up(rang, 3-23 months) using endoscopy.

CONCLUSIONESD is an effective, safe, minimally invasive method for the management of duodenal lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Duodenal Diseases ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic self-expanded metal stent for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction.

METHODSFifty-six cases of gastric outlet obstruction, collected from March 1999 to January 2008, were treated by endoscopic self-expanded metal stents. The success rate, complication rate and survival were evaluated.

RESULTSAmong the 56 cases, the male to female ratio was 33 to 23, and the average age was [65+/-14 (24-86)] years. Seventeen cases were gastric cancer, 4 duodenal carcinoma, 7 peri-ampulla carcinoma, 13 metastasis cancer and 15 presented recurrence after operations. The success rate of stent implantation was 98.2% (55/56). Forty-nine cases (87.5%) could eat liquid food 1-3 days after operations and eat semifluid food 4-9 days later. Forty-two cases (76.4%)could eat normal food after 10-16 days. The main complications included 14.5% of cases with pain, 1.8% with stent shift, 25.5% with bleeding and no one with perforation. Until January 20, 2008, 53 cases (96.4%) had been followed up. The mean survival time was [139+/-15 (14-332)] days, and the median survival time was 135 days. The re-stenosis rate was 5.7%, including 3 cases, happened in 143, 158 and 190 days after the operations respectively, and was successfully treated by second stent implantation.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic implantation of self-expanded metal stent is a micro-invasive, safe, effective method for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metals ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To discuss the value of vivo proton MR spectroscopy,perfusion and diffusion imaging in grading of diffuse astrocytomas.Methods One hundred fifty-four cases with diffuse astrocytomas proved pathologically were collected.35 cases with diffuse astrocytomas including 8 astrocytomas(WHO grade Ⅱ),13 anaplastic astroeytomas(grade Ⅲ)and 14 glioblastoma muhiforms (grade Ⅳ)underwent MR spectroscopy.The Cho/Cr,NAA/Cr and Lac/Cr of three groups in 35 cases were compared.The other 76 cases including 36 low-grade glial tumors(grade Ⅱ),20 anaplastic glial tumors (grade Ⅲ)and 20 glioblastoma multiforms(grade Ⅳ)underwent conventional MR imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging before surgical resection or stereotactic biopsy,the characteristics of the curve and the value of the maximum relative regional cerebral volume(rrCBV)in the diffuse astrocytomas with various grades were analysed.Fourty-three cases of diffuse astrocytomas including 26 astrocytomas(grade Ⅱ),6 anaplastic astrocytomas(grade Ⅲ)and 11 glioblastoma multiformes (grade Ⅳ)underwent diffusion MRI and the apparent diffusion coefficient rate(ADCR)were compared. Results The Cho/Cr of diffuse astrocytomas in three grades were 2.709?1.228,5.812?2.374 and 5.289?1.462 respectively.There were statistically significant differences between astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas,astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiformes for Cho/Cr(P0.05).The Lac/Cr of diffuse astrocytomas in three groups were 0.100?0.083,1.879?1.595 and 3.656? 2.195 respectively,the differences among three groups were all significant(P0.05).The maximum rrCBV values of glial tumors with Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ grade were 1.379?0.739,2.654?1.072,3.218?1.565 respectively and the differences among them were statistically significant(P

In order to investigate the cellular immunoresponses mediated by chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (anti-CD20 McAb) through dendritic cells (DCs), mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood (PBMNC) and DCs from PBMNCs in vitro were generated with normal methods. Human CD20 positive lymphoma cell line-Raji cells were treated with different methods including treatment with anti-CD20 McAb (group R), treatment with heat-induced apoptosis (group A) and treatment with anti-CD20 McAb+heat-induced apoptosis (group R+A), then Raji cells treated with above-mentioned methods as tumor antigen were loaded on DCs. The phagocytosis of DCs to tumor antigen was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), the auto-mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed with antigen-primed DCs, the release of INF-gammafrom effector cells was detected by ELISPOT, the killing of effector cells on Raji cells was assayed by MTT. The results showed that under TEM, no pronounced phagocytosis of DCs was seen in group R, while the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies could be easily seen in group A and the more cell fraqments were observed in group R+A. The FCM indicated that the expressions of CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR on DCs in 3 experimental groups were higher than those in group control (p<0.05), while expression positive rate in group R+A was higher than those in group R and A (p<0.05). The detection of lymphocyte surface antigen revealed that proportions of CD8+ cells in all experimental groups were higher than those in group control (p<0.05), count of CD56+ cells in group R and R+A increased, as compared with group A and control, difference was significant (p<0.05). ELISPOT assay indicated that amount of cells releasing IFN-gamma in all experimental groups was higher than that in group control, and also number of spots in group R+A significantly higher than that in other groups at effector-targetor ratio=1:10 (p<0.05). The results of killing assay demonstrated that killing rate on Raji cells in all experimental groups increased as compared with group control (p<0.05), while killing rate in group R+A was higher than that in group R and A. It is concluded that anti-CD20 McAb can mediate DC to induce cellular immunoresponse against lymphoma, that is, to stimulate and amplify specific CTLs and NK cells. Anti-CD20 McAb combined with DCs primed by heat-stressed tumor cells as antigen can further enhance cellular immunoresponse against lymphoma.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antigen Presentation ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; immunology ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Chimera ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; immunology ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology