Many Chinese drugs (CHD) have showed their significant effects of integral immune-regulation, and lots of researches have conducted in recent years for exploring their mechanism from different levels, like cytological, molecular and genetic levels. In this paper, the relation between immune-regulation of CHD and Toll-like receptors/nuclear factor-kappaB (TLRs/NF-kappaB) signaling pathway was introduced in brief based upon the achievements of previous researches. It was pointed out that the two are closely related, to explore mechanism of CHD in this way is meaningful not only for further deepening the theoretical understanding of CHD's pharmacological immunoregulation, but also be practically facilitate for enhancing therapeutic efficacy of CHD and developing new CHD.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptors ; immunology

A new species of genus shewarella Shewanellade decolorations S12, was isolated from activated sludge of a textile-printing waste-water treatment plant. In the anaerobic condition, S12 could conserve energy for growth by using Fe3 + as the terminal electron acceptor. At the optimal condition of pH8, temperature 30℃, ferric citrate 800mg/L, sodium lactate 2g/ L, yeast extract 0. 5g/ L , the cell growth increased with the raise of the amount of the Fe3+ reduction in 8k The effect of different carbon soucres, nitrogen sources, pH values and growth temperatures on the anaerobic Fe3 + reduction of Shewanella decolorations S12 was investigated. LB was favorable for Fe3 + reduction. Glucose and sodium lactate also were favorable for Fe3+ reduction. The cell growth and Fe3 + reduction increased with the raise of the amount of the yeast extract from 0 to 4g/L The amounts of the sodium lactate of 6g/ L and ferric citrate of 800mg/L were suitable for strain S12 growth and Fe3+ reduction. In the optimum initial pH value range of 6 -8 for Fe3+ reduction, strain S12 growth increased with the raise of the pH val- ue. Strain S12 could growth and reduce Fe3+ at the temperature range of 20 -40℃. The best temperature for strain S12 growth and Fe3 + reduction was 301.

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)(EC 1.15.1.1)is a metalloenzyme that is found in almost all organisms and catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide anion radical to hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen. Three unique and highly compartmentalized mammalian SOD have been biochemically and molecularly characterized to date: Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, SOD1), MnSOD (Manganese Superoxide Dismutase, SOD2)and EC-SOD (Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase, SOD3). Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, SOD1)is a copper and zinc-containing homodimer that is found almost exclusively in intracellular cytoplasmic spaces. CuZnSOD is widely distributed and comprises about 90% of the total SOD. Cytoplasmic and periplasmic SOD exists as dimers,whereas chloroplastic and extracellular enzymes exist as tetramers. Structure supports independent functional evolution in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. CuZnSOD are thought to protect the brain, lungs, and other tissues from oxidative stress. This paper reviewed the gene, molecular and chemical structure and biological function of CuZnSOD.

The integration of Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine (WM) is the only way for the development of medicine, and it is the best form for unifying systems theory and reductionism. In this paper, systems biology and its application in medical research were discussed. The authors put forward that systems biology may possibly interpret the scientific connotation of the complex theoretic systems of CM, which will make WM to well know the human body and disease. We hold that systems biology is a bridge of integrated CM and WM.
Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Systems Biology

The methods to determine the total phenols, total saponins, and marker constituents salidroside, chlorogenic acid and 3, 4-dihydroxy-phenylethyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in the samples of Sargentodoxae Caulis were established to provide the evidence for the improvement and revision of the quality standard of the crude material recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition). The content of total phenols was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, using gallic acid as a reference substance. The content of total saponins was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, using 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-2)-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl] asiatic acid as a reference substance. The contents of salidroside, chlorogenic acid and 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethyl-β-D-glucopyranoside were detected by HPLC. The linear ranges were 1.01-7.04 mg x L(-1) for total phenols, 37.7-201 μg for total saponins, 0.025 8-1.55 μg for salidroside, 0.076 2-5.44 μg for chlorogenic acid, and 0.064 9-3.47 μg for 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethyl-βP-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. Their average recoveries were 99.12%, 99.11% 105.5%, 99.08%, and 101.6%, respectively. The contents of total phenols and total saponins were 3. 04% -11. 9% and 0. 87% -3. 63%. The contents of salidroside, chlorogenic acid and 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethyl-β-D-glucopyranoside fluctuated from 0.018% to 0. 572%, from 0.041% to 1.75% and from 0.035% to 1.32%. The established methods were reproducible, and they could be used for the quality control of Sargentodoxae Caulis. The present investigation suggested that total phenols, salidroside, and chlorogenic acid should be recorded in the quality standard of Sargentodoxae Caulis and their contents should not be less than 6.8% for total phenols, 0.040% for salidroside, and 0.21% for chlorogenic acid.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Phenol ; analysis ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the change in the distensibility of large arteries and its influencing factors in elderly patients with essential hypertension.

METHODSAutomatic measuring system for pulse wave velocity (PWV) was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV as an index reflecting distensibility of large arteries. 118 hypertensive patients aged 64 - 83 (mean age 67.12 +/- 10.26) years were included in the study. Of them, 87 were males and 31 were females.

RESULTSPWV of 118 hypertensive patients increased with increasing age (P < 0.001). Multivariate regressive analysis demonstrated that age and systolic blood pressure had the close relationship with PWV (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONHypertension of the elderly could cause reduction of distensibility of large arteries. Age and systolic blood pressure had the close relationship with distensibility of large arteries in elderly patients with essential hypertension.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Carotid Arteries ; physiopathology ; Elasticity ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) in vitro.

METHODSHuman PDLSC were cultured in vitro using tissue culture method.The cells were cultured and incubated with various concentrations of FGF-2 and VEGF [A:α-MEM with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (control 1); B:A supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2; C:A supplemented with 10 µg/L VEGF; D:A supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2 and 10 µg/L VEGF; E:α-MEM with 10% FBS (control 2); F:E supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2; G:E supplemented with 10 µg/L VEGF; H:E supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2 and 10 µg/L VEGF]. Soluble tetrazolium salts assay was used to evaluate the proliferative capacity on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th d. Then the groups were changed according to result of the proliferation assay (control:α-MEM with 2% FBS; FGF-2 group:control supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2; VEGF:control supplemented with 10 µg/L VEGF; Combination group:control supplemented with 20 µg/L FGF-2 and 10 µg/L VEGF). The cell cycle, migration and adhesion capacities were evaluated using flow cytometer, soluble tetrazolium salts assay, cell adhesion assay and scratch wound-healing motility assay.

RESULTSIn 2% volume fraction serum containing medium, FGF-2 and VEGF did not stimulate the cell proliferation. However, in 10% serum condition, in groups treated with FGF-2 for 3,5 or 7 d, the A value was (1.22 ± 0.17, 2.15 ± 0.19, 2.72 ± 0.11) respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the control group (0.76 ± 0.16, 1.25 ± 0.06, 1.64 ± 0.09) (P < 0.01) while lower than that in the group treated with FGF-2 and VEGF in combination on the 5 th and 7 th d (2.46 ± 0.17, 3.18 ± 0.27) ( P < 0.05). The A value in the VEGF group on the 5 th and 7 th d is higher than the control group while lower than the FGF-2 group (1.66 ± 0.05, 2.13 ± 0.13) (P < 0.05). Flow cytometer showed that the proliferation index in VEGF group [(34.3 ± 2.0)% ] were significantly lower than those in FGF-2 [(46.8 ± 3.2)%] group and (FGF-2+ VEGF) group [(45.0 ± 4.0)%] but higher than in the control group [(14.5 ± 1.7)%] (P < 0.01). The cell migration assay indicated that the group stimulated with FGF-2 showed no migration promoted effect. Cell adhesion assay showed that the ratio of the adhesive cells number to the original cells number is greater in the FGF-2 group (79 ± 4) than in the VEGF group (62 ± 4) (P < 0.05). Light microscope identified a better cellular morphology on the adhesive surface in the group with FGF-2 than groups without FGF-2.

CONCLUSIONSBoth FGF-2 and VEGF could simulate the proliferation of PDLSC in a dose dependent manner, and showed an synergistic effect. FGF-2 was more effective to promote the adhesive capacity of PDLSC compared with VEGF. VEGF could facilitate the migration of PDLSC to the wound side.

Adult ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

AIMIn order to discover new inhibitors and enhancers of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), an in vitro assay to determine NOS activity was established for high throughput screening.

METHODSThe activity of NOS was detected based on the change of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) concentration in the reaction system by the fluorescence density. The enzyme was prepared from bovine brain by gradient centrifugation. The reaction performed in black 96 well micro-plate with a final volume of 90 microL. Every factor which would affect the results such as the concentration of NADPH, L-arginine (L-Arg, used as substrate) and enzyme protein was optimized in different conditions. At last, 5,600 samples (compounds and extracts) were screened by the method.

RESULTSThe test signal (fluorescence density) in the reaction system was influenced by many different factors such as temperature and concentration of substrates. The ideal system contains protein 1.50 mg.mL-1, L-Arg 1 mmol.L-1, NADPH 0.1 mmol.L-1 at 37 degrees C. In this method, there were about 2% samples which emit fluorescence, and about 0.5% samples which quench the fluorescence. So these samples were deleted from the sample library. The effects of these samples on activity of NOS were distributed in a normal manner. About 2% samples had potential effects on the NOS activity (including inhibitors and enhancers).

CONCLUSIONThe method can be performed by high throughput screening and gives the stable data, not only for inhibitors, but also for enhancers of NOS activity.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; NADP ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitroarginine ; pharmacology

Objective To understand the treatment circumstance of ST-elevation myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients at public hospitals in Shenzhen.Methods Directed by Public Hospital Administration at Shenzhen Municipality (PHASM) and led by Chest Pain Treatment Quality Control Center at Shenzhen People's Hospital (CPTQCC-SZ),25 public hospitals in Shenzhen, including 15 PCI-capable hospitals and 10 non-PCI-capable hospitals,we investigated on the overall treatment conditions and the STEMI patient treatment situations from October to December 2015 in these hospitals. A regression analysis was performed between a few factors and the success rate of STEMI treatment was reviewed. Results 383 STEMI cases twere registered between October to December 2015 in the 25 public hospitals in Shenzhen,with 324 case treated in PCI-capable hospitals and 59 cases in non-PCI-capable hospitals. There were statistical differences between the PCI-capable hospitals and non-PCI-capable hospital in fields of total number of senior cardiologists (work year ≥ 3 year),total number of beds in general cardiology beds and number of beds in cccu(all P<0.01). There was no difference in the time of obtaining the first ECG at patient arrival between hospitals(P=0.052).Time for laboratory results availability for troporin was significantly shorter in PCI-capable hospital[(25.0±4.2)min vs.(58.0±2.8)min,P=0.002] .Among the PCI-capable hospitals,the mean D-to-B time was 320 minutes, and mean F-to-B time was 380 minutes. In non-PCI-capable hospitals,D-to-N time ranged from 20 to 350 minutes and F-to-N time ranged from 25 to 380 minutes. Conclusions There are gaps among the overall conditions of the public hospitals in Shenzhen. The overall conditions and chest pain treatment conditions of non-PCI-capable hospitals had bigger gaps with PCI-capable hospitals.

A fraction named GFC-1 with high antioxidant activities in vitro was isolated from the enzymatic hydrolysates of roasted pills of Asini Corii Colla, and the peptides in this fraction were identified. The enzymatic hydrolysates were isolated and purified with anion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-25 filtration chromatography successively. GFC-1, a fraction isolated from the hydrolysates, exhibited the highest DPPH and ABTS scavenging capacity (DPPH 47. 95% at 2.0 g x L(-1) and ABTS 97.20% at 0.40 g x L(-1). Nine peptides from GFC-1 were identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS coupled with TurboSEQUEST search software and Swiss-Prot data base, and a high repetition core sequence GPAGPP*GPP* was also found.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Equidae ; Hydrolysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Peptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Protein Hydrolysates ; chemistry ; Skin ; chemistry