To control the quality of Maca, the quality standard was established in this study. According to the methods recorded in the Appendix of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 Edition), the water, extract, total ash, acid insoluble substance, and heavy metals inspections in Lepidium meyenii were carried out. N-benzyl-9Z, 12Z-octadecadienamide in L. meyenii was identified by TLC, and it was determined by HPLC. The results showed that the N-benzyl-9Z, 12Z-octadecadienamide identification of TLC was a strong mark and specificity. In content determination experiment, the linearity of N-benzyl-9Z, 12Z-octadecadienamide was in the range of 0.01-2 microg (r = 0.9998), and the average recovery (n=9) was 99.27% (RSD 2.0%). The methods were simple, accurate, with good reproducibility. It is suitable for quality control L. meyenii.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Lepidium ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the effect of ethyl gallate on invasion capabilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Using cell adhesion and transwell assay, separately, the effects of ethyl gallate on the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. The Akt-NF-κB signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blot. Also, the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Ethyl gallate inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro (P<0.05), inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, phosphorylation of AKt and protein expression of NF-κB. It is concluded that ethyl gallate can inhibit the abilities of invasion of breast cancer in vitro by inhibiting the mRNA levels of MMP-9/MMP-2, phosphorylation of Akt and protein expression of NF-κB.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytotoxic effect of extracts of Trichosanthes kirilowi (TK) root on Hela cells in vitro and its probable anti-tumor mechanism.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect in vitro on the growth of Hela cells was evaluated by microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT). Cell ultrastructural changes were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and DNA agarose electrophoresis was performed to determine apoptosis and biochemical changes of Hela cells.

RESULTSExposure of Hela cells to TK extracts for 24-48 hrs resulted in a cell growth arrest, which showed in a time- and dose-dependent manner (r > 0.880, P < 0.01). With SEM and TEM, marked changes were observed, including microvilli disappearance or reduction, cell membrane vesiculation, cell shrinkage, condensation of chromosomes and apoptotic bodies with complete membrane. Besides, the apoptosis of Hela cells was confirmed by typical DNA ladder formation on gel electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONExtracts of TK has a marked anti-tumor activity and could induce apoptosis of Hela cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Trichosanthes ; chemistry

Objective To analysis and determine the possibility of the Citellus undulatus infected with Yersinia pestis surviving the winter in an experimental study, and to provide scientific experimental basis for the study on the mechanism of Yersinia pestis preservation. Method In 2006,09 to 2007,04 and 2007,09 to 2008,04 in Xinjiang Wusu-Gurtu natural foci of plague, under natural conditions, the over the winter process of Citellus undulatus carrying the plague bacteria was simulated, and 178 Citellus undulatus were infected with Yersinia pestis (1×107 Bacteria/mouse) using artificial injection method. One hundred seventy-eight Citellus undulatus infected with Yersinia pestis were kept into a construction of the black (1-5 ℃) basement (2 meters under the ground) in the plague focus. In doing so, these Citellus undulatuses almost simultaneously stepped into hibernation. After waking up from hibernation in following year in April, the survived mice carrying the plague bacteria were observed. Results Sixty-eight mice survived among the 178 infected with Yersinia pestis after 6 months of hibernation (through October to the following year in April), and the remaining 110 were all dead without pulling through the hibernation period. The survival rate was 38.2% (68/178). The organ culture of Yersinia pestis of the 110 dead mice(Citellus undnlatus) were tested, 67 were negative(-), 43 positive(+), with a positive rate of 39.1%(43/110). Among the rats with positive plague bacteria, the congestive pulmonary edema and the pathological changes of the hemorrhagic inflammation of the heart, liver, spleen, kidney and injection site could be seen clearly; the plague-free mice were not found to have any pathological changes. The survived 68 mice over the winter were autopsied and observed after being fed up for 20 days. No any pathological changes were found among these mice, and culturing of Yersinia pestis of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and the tissue of injection site of these mice were all negative (-). Conclusions Citellus undulatus can carry Yersinia pestis during hibernation, but some fail to carry the bacteria through the entire process of hibernation persistently. Yersinia pestis was negative in the survived mice at the end of hibernation. The results showed that Citellus undulatus can not carry Yersinia pestis over the winter.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that arthroscopic al-inside technology for meniscus repair has achieved good outcomes, and arthroscopic suture combined with sodium hyaluronate has an important role in the cartilage repair. OBJECTIVE:To observe the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic al-inside suture repair combined with sodium hyaluronate injection in the repair of discoid meniscus tears. METHODS:Twenty-two patients with discoid meniscus injury were subjected to arthroscopic al-inside suture repair combined with sodium hyaluronate injection. Al cases were confirmed to have attached edge relaxation or longitudinal crack in operation. After repair, effective rehabilitation training was done. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The operations for the 22 cases were al successful and there was no complication. Al patients were fol owed up for over 18 months. According to Ikenchi’s method (Lysholm knee score criterion), 11 cases were rated excel ent, 8 were rated good, and 3 were rated fair, with an excel ent/good rate of 86.36%. It is demonstrated that the al-inside suture repair under the guide of arthroscopy in discoid meniscus cases can remain the most appropriate anatomical structure of the meniscus that can play an effective function, and has the advantage of minimal invasion. Arthroscopic al-inside suture repair combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate and standard rehabilitation training result in a lower complication rate and effectively promotes the meniscus repair.

Adult ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fourth Ventricle ; Ganglioglioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 ; Rosette Formation ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

The rice water weevil (RWW) Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an invasive insect pest of rice Oryza sativa L. in China. Little is known about the interactions of this weevil with indigenous herbivores. In the present study, adult feeding and population density of the weevil, injury level of striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and pink stem borer Sesamia inferens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to rice, as well as growth status of their host plants were surveyed in a rice field located in Southeastern Zhejiang, China, in 2004 with the objective to discover interspecific interactions on the rice. At tillering stage, both adult feeding of the weevil and injury of the stem borers tended to occur on larger tillers (bearing 5 leaves) compared with small tillers (bearing 2~4 leaves), but the insects showed no evident competition with each other. At booting stage, the stem borers caused more withering/dead hearts and the weevil reached a higher density on the plants which had more productive tillers and larger root system; the number of weevils per tiller correlated negatively with the percentage of withering/dead hearts of plants in a hill. These observations indicate that interspecific interactions exist between the rice water weevil and the rice stem borers with negative relations occurring at booting or earlier developmental stages of rice.
Animals ; Coleoptera ; growth & development ; Oryza ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Population Density ; Weevils ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate how network education can improve college students' knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in Ningbo city.

METHODSFrom December 2012 to June 2013, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among college students in Ningbo city about the effects of network education on their knowledge about sexual psychology, sexual physiology, sexual ethics, and reproductive health.

RESULTSA total of 7 362 college students accomplished the investigation, of whom 2 483 (42.1% males and 57.9% females) received network education, while the other 4 879 (24.1% males and 75.9% females) did not. Approximately 47.1% of the male and 28.0% of the female students acquired sexual and reproductive knowledge via network education. Reproductive health-related network education significantly enriched the students' knowledge about the reproductive system and sex, pubertal development, sexual physiology, conception and embryonic development, methods of contraception, sexual psychology, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention, pregnancy care and eugenics, and environment- and occupation-related reproductive health (P < 0.01). It also remarkably improved their cognitive attitude towards reproductive health knowledge (P < 0.01). Those who received reproductive health-related network education showed a significantly higher rate of masturbation (P < 0.01) but markedly later time of the first masturbation (P < 0.01) than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONNetwork education can enhance the effect of reproductive health education among college students and improve their sexual experience and health.

China ; Contraception ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Masturbation ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; psychology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

Animals ; Disease Progression ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Renal Agents ; pharmacology ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sclerosis