Ten flavonoids were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the seeds of Alpinia galanga Willd. with a combination of various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. On the basis of spectroscopic data analysis, they were elucidated as (2R, 3S)-pinobaksin-3-cinnamate (1), (2R, 3R)-pinobaksin-3-cinnamate (2), pinocembrin (3), pinobaksin (4), 3-O-acetylpinobaksin (5), galangin (6), galangin-3-methylether (7), kumatakenin (8), 3-methylkaempferol (9) and (2R, 3R)-3, 5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (10). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 2, 5 and 10 were isolated from the genus Alpinia for the first time, and others were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Alpinia ; chemistry ; Benzopyrans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cinnamates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the ultrastructural features of taste pores and taste pits of human taste buds.

METHODSThree samplers obtained randomly from adults were divided into two perts, and transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the fine structure of taste buds in human circumvallate papillae.

RESULTSThe longer diameter of the taste pores was 1.02 - 7.36 microm, and most of taste pores contained no taste hair and dense material, and the profile of taste pit was triangular.

CONCLUSIONSTaste hair and dense material were seldom observed in most of taste pores.

Adult ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Taste Buds ; ultrastructure ; Taste Perception ; Tongue ; ultrastructure

Objective To study the relationship between myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) of human skeletal muscle and postmortem interval (PMI). Methods The protein concentrations of human right bi-ceps brachii muscle and right quadriceps femoris muscle were obtained at different PMI, and detected at room temperature by biuret method. The MFI of skeletal muscle at 540 nm was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Regression analysis was performed with time of death as independent variable (x) and MFI as dependent variable (y). Results In early PMI, the MFI of human skeletal muscle increased obviously according to the prolongation of PMI, and peaking by 12 h and then tended to steady. Within 12 h after death, the regression equations of right biceps brachii muscle and right quadriceps femoris muscle were y=32.660+3.227 x(r=0.9879) and y=32.380+3.495 x(r=0.9839), respectively. Conclusion There's high correlation between MFI and PMI. Combining with forensic practice, MFI can be used for the estimation of early PMI (especially in 12 h).

Objective To analyze the biological activity of bioactive peptides in human breast milk and to find the polypeptides so as to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of breast milk-derived bioactive peptides on neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC).Methods Six mothers who gave birth to preterm neonates were enrolled in this study and 5 mL of their breast milk secreted within 2-5 postnatal days were collected for 6 times and blended subsequently.Bioactive peptides from maternal milk of the preterm infants were separated by ultrafiltration and analyzed by using tandem mass spectrometry.Polypeptides possibly with biological function were screened out by using bioinformatics software and the protein function cluster online analysis software was used to predict the polypeptides associated with infection according to the biological function of their precursor proteins.The ATCC25922,an Escherichia coli strain commonly associated with infection in NEC and drug solution (sulbactarr/cefoperazone) were used to conduct the drug susceptibility testing and bactericidal kinetics testing,so as to verify the antibacterial effects of bioactive peptides in the breast milk.Results Four thousand three hundred and eleven peptides contained in breast milk were identified successfully,of which 1 370 were non-differential peptides,and 188 peptides possibly with biological activity and 11 peptides were associated with infection.The peptide compound in the breast milk had antimicrobial activity and bactericidal power against Escherichia coli.Conclusions The active peptide compounds in the breast milk have antimicrobial activity,which play an important role in the prevention of NEC.Finding the true antimicrobial peptides with in vivo and in vitro biological activity by using antimicrobial spectrum test is expected.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ancient Chinese medical formula Xiayuxue Decoction ([symbols; see text], XYXD) on activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and defenestration of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver of mice.

METHODSHigh performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the main components of XYXD and control the quality of extraction. C57BL/6 mice were induced liver fibrosis by CCl4 exposure and administered with XYXD for 6 weeks simultaneously. Liver tissue was investigated by hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius-red staining. Sinusoidal fenestrations were observed by scanning electronic microscopy and fluorescent immunohistochemistry of PECAM-1 (CD31). Whole liver lysates were detected of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type-I collagen by Western blot. Primary rat HSCs-T6 cells were analyzed by detecting α-SMA, F-actin, DNA fragmentation through confocal microscopy, Western blot, terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and cellomics arrayscan, respectively.

RESULTSAmygdalin and emodin in XYXD were identified. XYXD (993 mg/kg) inhibited Sirius red positive area up to 70.1% (P<0.01), as well as protein levels of α-SMA and type-I collagen by 42.0% and 18.5% (P<0.05) respectively. In vitro, XYXD (12.5 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL) suppressed the activation of HSCs and reversed the myofibroblastic HSCs into quiescent, demonstrated as inhibition of fluorescent F-actin by 32.3% and 46.6% (P<0.05). Besides, XYXD induced the apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells by 20.0% (P<0.05) and 49.5% (P<0.01), evidenced by enhanced TUNEL positivity. Moreover, ultrastructural observation suggested XYXD inhibited defenestration of SECs, which was confirmed by 31.1% reduction of protein level of CD31 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXYXD inhibited both HSCs activation and SECs defenestration which accompany chronic liver injuries. These data may help to understand the underlying mechanisms of XYXD for prevetion of chronic liver diseases.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Myofibroblasts ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the epidemiological,genealogic characteristic,familial history of the families with fatal familial insomnia,its clinical and pathological features as well as the heredity rule of related genes.Methods 135 familial members of 7 eras were studied.Vein blood samples from patients as well as from some familial members were collected.PRNP gene was studied with PCR,its serial was determined and then authenticated with Nsp I.Brain tissue was obtained for neuropathological test and PrPSc test with Western blot method.Results Clinical symptoms of the 2 diagnosed cases were typical.11 familial members died of similar neural disease.32 samples of their familial members,codon at D178N of PRNP of 11 members was mutated,with mutation rate as 34.38% while D129N showed as methionine.Brain tissue of both probands denaturalized into spongiform and the nerve fiber was absent but PrPSc protein was identified.Conclusion Genealogy was described in the family with fatal familial insomnia since the patients had typical clinical symptoms and pathological characteristics.It seemed necessary to confirm cases of fatal familial insomnia and their genealogy with epidemiological data and to investigate its gene characteristics as well as with neuropathological and Western blot tests.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase Ⅱ clinical trial design was used in this study to recruit subjects who were in line with the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, and were diagnosed as recurrent oral ulcers, gingivitis, and acute pharyngitis. A total of 240 cases were included and randomly divided into a placebo group and a Huanglian Jiedu Pills group. The clinical efficacy of Huanglian Jiedu Pills in treating the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin was evaluated by using the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scale. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine and evaluate the levels of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), 4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE), and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) in plasma of the two groups before and after administration and to predict their application value as clinical biomarkers. The results showed that the disappearance rate of main symptoms in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group was 69.17%, and that in the placebo group was 50.83%. The comparison between the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and the placebo group showed that 4-HNE before and after administration was statistically significant(P<0.05). The content of 4-HNE in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05), but that in the placebo group had no statistical significance and showed an upward trend. After administration, the content of ATP in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly(P<0.05), indicating that the energy metabolism disorder was significantly improved after administration of Huanglian Jiedu Pills and the body's self-healing ability also alleviated the increase in ATP level caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin to a certain extent. ACTH in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05). It is concluded that Huanglian Jiedu Pills has a significant clinical effect, and can significantly improve the abnormal levels of ATP and 4-HNE in plasma caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, which are speculated to be the effective clinical biomarkers for Huanglian Jiedu Pills to treat the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin.
Humans ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Hot Temperature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Adenosine Triphosphate