Z-Ligustilide, a major phthalide isolated from a widely used traditional Chinese medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong, possesses various pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and vasorelaxing effects. However, it is unstable and inclined to degrade in natural conditions, which limits its study and application greatly. In this study, degradation behavior of Z-ligustilide and its degradation products stored at room temperature under direct sunlight were investigated and structure elucidated by HPLC-UV, UPLC-QTOF-MS and NMR. Z-ligustilide degradation and total five degradation products were generated and detected. Two degradation products were unequivocally identified as senkyunolide I and senkyunolide H by comparison with reference compounds. Another two degradation products were further isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and structure elucidated as (E)-6, 7-trans-dihydroxyligustilide and (Z)-6, 7-epoxyligustilide by 1H and 13C NMR, respectively. The degradation pathways of Z-ligustilide were finally proposed. Oxidation, hydrolysis and isomerization are the major degradation reactions.

Objective To establish HPLC fingerprint for evaluating and controlling the quality of Gastrodia elata. Methods HPLC Analysis and similarity calculation were used for establishing fingerprint chromatogram and classifying 18 different original samples; LC-MS and pure compound comparisons were employed for the fingerprint peaks identification. Results HPLC Fingerprint chromatogram was cons- tructed with 27 fingerprint peaks, 17 of which were common fingerpring peaks and 12 main compounds were identified. According to the similarity to standardize herbal medicine, 18 samples could be classified three groups, Anhui-Henan, Shanxi-Sichuan, and Yunnan habitats. The two critical points were 0.80 and 0.58 for correlation coefficient and 0.88 and 0.73 for cosine values. Conclusion The selected fingerprint peaks are diagnostic for G. elata and the constituted HPLC fingerprint chromatogram could be used for identifying different habitats and served as a powerful tool for further quality control of G. elata.

Objective To evaluate the complication rate of secondary surgery in patients with benign thyroid disease. Methods From June 1992 to June 2003, 65 patients underwent reoperation. Operative procedures. pathology and complications were reviewed. Results The first surgery was unilateral in 27 cases (41.5%), bilateral in 38 (58.5%). Reoperation identified carcinoma in 8 cases with complications developed in 8 cases and left over permanent in 1 case (1.5%). Conclusion The complication rate of second operation is higher than that of first thyroid surgery, but still acceptable.

In this study, the rescue effect of receptor activator for nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) on zoledronate acid (ZOL) induced inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and gene expression of NF-kappaB p50 and c-Jun was investigated. Mice calvarial osteoblasts (OBs) were harvested and co-cultured with RAW264.7 cells and the cells were divided into 4 groups and received treatment with ZOL and RANKL, either single or combined. The formation of multi-nucleated osteoclast (OC) was examined and gene expression of NF-kappaB p50 and c-Jun was detected. Group B (ZOL) showed least multi-nucleated OC and resorption lacunae among the 4 groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and it was followed by group C (ZOL+RANKL). Group D (RANKL) showed highest OC and resorption lacunae while it was similar to Group A (control) (P > 0.05). Gene expression of NF-kappaB p50 and c-Jun was the lowest in group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) among the four groups and was significantly increased in group C when compared with group B (P < 0.05). Group A and D showed highest gene expression and they were similar to each other (P > 0.05). This study suggest that RANKL might partly rescue ZOL induced inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, and the effect of RANKL and ZOL on osteoclastogenesis may be mediated by NF-kappaB p50 and c-Jun.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; drug therapy ; Cell Line ; Diphosphonates ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; pharmacology

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetulus ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Quality Control ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Transfection

Objective To study the effect of zoledronate (ZOL) on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase Ⅱ δ (CaMK Ⅱ δ) and down-stream gene expressions during osteoclast differentiation.Methods Mouse osteoclast precursors RAW264.7 cells were divided into the control group and ZOL group.The cells in both groups were induced with 50μg/L receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and were harvested on 5 d,while the cells in ZOL group were also simultaneously treated with 1 × 10-6 mol/L ZOL for 2 d.Five days later,the cells were harvested and examined osteoclastogenesis,as well as gene expressions of CaMK Ⅱ δ,nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cell-sarcoma receptor coactivator (c-Src).Results The number of TRAP positive multinuclear osteoclasts,number and size of dentin absorption lacunae and area in the ZOL group were (20.0±3.2),(18.0±4.2) and (6 335.3± 1 043.2)μm2 respectively,which were significantly lower than (36.0 ± 8.4),(37.2 ± 5.0) and (11 636.2 ± 3 661.1) μm2 in the control group and decreased by 44.4 ％,51.6 ％ and 45.6 ％ respectively (P＜0.01).ZOL also significantly inhibited the gene expressions of CaMK Ⅱ δ,NFATc1,TRAP and c-Src,and the mRNA levels of these genes were decreased by 44.1％,49.0％,53.8％ and 49.6％ respectively,the protein level were decreased by 43.5 ％,32.2 ％,45.5 ％ and 48.0 ％ respectively.The immunofluorescent cytochemistry detection results showed the fluorescence intensity of CaMK Ⅱ δ,NFATc1,TRAP and c-Srcin in the ZOL group was significantly weakened when compared with the control group.Conclusion ZOL could significantly inhibit the osteoclast formation and bone absorption function,and down-regulates gene expressions of CaMK Ⅱ δ,NFATc1,TRAP and c-Src in osteoclast differentiation.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in Chinese by detailed clinicopathological and laboratory assessments.Methods The baseline features of 36 patients with biopsy-proven disease were reviewed.The diagnosis was confirmed by pathology review according to consensus diagnostic criteria and clinicopathologic correlation.Disease activity and damage were assessed by the IgG4-RD responder index (RI).Results Thirty (83.3％) of the patients were male,while six were female,and the average age of onset was 65.1 years.All of the 36 patients had active disease,in which submandibular gland,lymph nodes,retroperitoneal tissue were the most common affected organs in this group of patients.Among 36 patients,77.7％ had elevated serum IgG4 concentrations and 44.4％ had hypocomplementemia.Patients with elevated serum IgG4 had a higher RI,a greater number of organs involved (P ＜ 0.01 for all comparisons).The correlation between serum IgG4 level and RI (r=0.737,P ＜ 0.01) was stronger than IgG,ESR,CRP and serum complement levels.The incidence of hypocomplementemia in IgG4-RD patients with renal involvement was higher than that in IgG4-RD patients with other organs involvement (P ＜ 0.01).Twenty-eight patients received glucocorticoids therapy,and had lower RI and serum IgG4 concentration after therapy (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Both IgG4-RD RI and IgG4 concentration may be regarded as assessment markers of disease activity and therapeutic effect of IgG4-RD.The diagnosis of IgG4-RD should be supported by histopathology and clinical features.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To study the expression profiles and the role of Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II delta ( CaMKIIδ) during osteoclast differentiation .METHODS:Mouse RAW264.7 cells were induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand ( RANKL) at 50μg/L for osteoclastogenesis .Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase ( TRAP) staining and bone resorption lacunae examination were performed to verify osteoclast formation .The expression of CaMKIIδat mR-NA and protein levels was also determined by immunofluorescent cytochemistry , RT-qPCR and Western blot at days 0, 1, 3 and 5.RESULTS:TRAP positive multinuclear cells with bone resorption function were formed after 5 d of induction. The mRNA levels of CaMKIIδdetected by RT-qPCR were 1.028 ±0.041, 2.478 ±0.087, 10.524 ±1.284 and 42.914 ± 2.667 at days 0, 1, 3 and 5, respectively, while the protein levels of CaMKIIδ detected by Western blot were 0.762, 0.963, 1.802 and 3.136, respectively.The changes of protein level were also verified by immunofluorescence cytochemis -try, in which the fluorescence intensity increased in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The expres-sion of CaMKIIδincreases with the differentiation of osteoclasts .CaMKIIδmay play a key role in the osteoclastogenesis .

This is to report the screening, extracting and validating antitumor components and compounds from Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data. In this work, different components from Stellera chamaejasme L. were collected by HPD macroporous resin and polyamide resin column, and their antitumor activity on A549 were tested by MTT assay. Activity results indicate that activity of components at 30-39 min is more potent than that of Stellera chamaejasme L. extract, and the activity of components at 33.97 min is equivalent to positive drug, cis-platinum at 100 microg x mL(-1), but with totally different mode of action. Under the case of discrete activity, the weight analysis is capable of screening active components and compounds from natural products.

Chronic periapical periodontitis is characterized by destruction of periapical tissue and demonstrates translucent feature under X-ray examination. In this article, a localized mineralized structure, which showed high density under X-ray examination, was reported in a patient with chronic periapical periodontitis of left maxillary first premolar. Possible causes of the structure were analyzed and relevant literatures were reviewed.
Bicuspid ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Periapical Periodontitis ; Periodontitis