A new kind of curcin (curcin 2), induced by several kinds of stresses from Jatropha curcas leaves, under the control of the 35S CaMV (cauliflower mosaic virus) promoter, was introduced into tobacco genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. Curcin 2 protein was only detected in the transgenic tobacco plants transformed with the cur2p fragment (coding premature curcin 2 protein), but not in the plants transformed with cur2m fragment (coding mature curcin 2 protein). The transgenic lines expressing curcin 2 showed increased tolerance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

BACKGROUND:The relationship between the occurrence time and clinical symptoms of bone marrow edema in nontraumatic femoral head necrosis is stil controversial. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the relationship of bone marrow edema in nontraumatic femoral head necrosis with Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging and pain grading. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with nontraumatic femoral head necrosis (58 hips) were confirmed to have bone marrow edema on MRI T1 weighted images and T2 fat suppression images. Then, the patients were graded according to the MRI Classification Method reported by Zhao Pei-rong, the ARCO Staging System and Harris hip score for pain grading. We analyzed the correlation of bone marrow edema with ARCO staging and pain grading. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The incidence rate of bone marrow edema in ARCO I-III was increased in sequence, and the difference was statisticaly significant (χ2=27.69,P=0.001); the average rank of bone marrow edema in ARCO I-III was increased significantly (χ2=19.947,P=0.000). The incidence rate of bone marrow edema also increased among different pain grading, and the difference was statisticaly significant (χ2=57.0, P=0.000); the average rank of bone marrow edema among different pain grading was increased significantly (χ2=174.0,P=0.000). The presence and aggravation of bone marrow edema indicate the enlargement of necrosis area and the aggravation of symptoms in patients with nontraumatic femoral head necrosis, which can be used as an auxiliary index for the appraisal of disease progression.

Objective To make a further understanding of mammographic features of simple cyst of the breast (SCB).Methods Molybdenum target radiographic signs in 39 cases with SCB proved pathologically and were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of the 56 SCB in 39 cases, 23 were diagnosed rightly as SCB, 10 as fibroadenoma, 2 as cancer and the remaining 4 were undefined. The diagnostic accuracy and misdiagnosis were 59.0% and 41.0% respectively. Radiograph showed round in 12, ovoid in 38, mild lobed in 4 and comet tail form in 2. The borders of cyst were distinct and sharp in 26, distinct partly and indistinct partly in 27,indistinct completely in 3. The density was homogeneous in 54 with calcifications in 2. Of the 56 SCB, the length axes of cyst were upright to chest wall in 20 and towards nipple in 18. The cysts could be transformed with pressure in 4.Conclusion Careful analysis of radiographic features of SCB is helpful for diagnosing accurately this disease.

Aim To investigate the immunomdulatory effects of total flavones of oldenlandia diffusa willd (FOD).Methods In immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide, IgM production,proliferation of T and B lymphocytes, levels of IL-2 and INF-? in serum were used to study the specific immunity of FOD. White blood cell count of mice suppressed by cyclophosphamide and cytarabine was used to observe the non-specific immunity of FOD.Results FOD(60 (mg?kg~(-1))) enhanced IgM production in (immunosup-)pressed mice induced by Cy and white blood cell count of mice suppressed by cytarabine and cyclophosphamide ;FOD(15,30 and 60 mg?kg~(-1)) increased proliferation of T and B lymphocytes and enhanced levels of IL-2 and INF-? in serum in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Conclusion FOD enhances the specific and non-specific immunity.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Microglia ; immunology ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Oxidopamine ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Bushen Huoxue Compound (BHC) on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF mRNA in retinal Muller cells under high glucose condition or advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) condition by using serum pharmacological method.

METHODSThe retinal Müller cells of 5-7 days post-natal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were cultured with modified enzyme-digestion method. Purified retinal Muller cells were cultured in normal conditions, high glucose condition (50 mmol/L) or AGEs (50 mg/L and 100 mg/L) conditions, and BHC-containing serum was added to culture medium. The LDH leakage and VEGF expressions were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the relative expression of VEGF mRNA was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA were significantly increased in the high glucose group, the low dose AGEs group and the high dose AGEs group (all P < 0.01). The LDH leakage was obviously increased in the high dose AGEs group, when compared with the normal control group and the high glucose group (P < 0.01). The LDH leakage, expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA were obviously decreased by BHC-containing serum both in high glucose and AGEs conditions (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BHC-containing serum had no significant effect on the LDH leakage and expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in normal conditions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAGEs intervention could obviously lower the stability of Müller cell membrane. Up-regulated expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in cultured Müller cells could be induced by AGEs or high glucose. BHC-containing serum could stabilize the stability of Müller cell membrane, inhibit the transcription of VEGF mRNA and decrease the protein expression of VEGF, which might be one of important mechanisms for preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Glucose ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method versus ordinary acupuncture on superficial fascia for treating neck type cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz. Methods:A total of 64 Kyrgyz patients conforming to the diagnostic criteria of neck type cervical spondylopathy were included. The patients were randomized into a Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were treated with Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method to stimulate the superficial fascia, the stimulation sites were primarily located at bilateral sides of the cervical vertebra as well as the trigger points in shoulder-neck region; patients in the conventional acupuncture group were punctured at the same acupoints, with twirling reducing method, and the depth of insertion was determined by the treated region. Patients in both groups received treatment every day for a succession of 5 d as a course, with a 2-day interval between 2 courses, and the whole treatment lasted for 3 courses. After 3 courses of treatment, the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and neck disability index (NDI) were measured to compare the clinical effect between the two groups. Results: After treatment, scores of MPQ and NDI scale dropped when compared with those before treatment, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05); scores of MPQ and NDI in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were substantially lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.9％ in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and the cured rate was 78.1％, which were higher than 81.3％ and 40.6％ in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (bothP<0.05). Conclusion: Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method by stimulating superficial fascia to treat cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz can produce a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture treatment, and is effective in improving pain and stiffness in patients, and thus is worth clinical popularization.

As a kind of commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng has a high reputation at home and abroad. The research of ginseng has been expanded to medicine, pharmacy, biology, food science and other fields, with great achievements in recent years. Ginseng contains ginsenosides, volatile oil, carbohydrates, amino acids, polypeptides, inorganic elements and othser chemical constituents. Each component has extensive physiological activity, and is the base of ginseng's effect. After processing, the complicated changes are taken place in the constituents of ginseng, and some new substances produced. This paper aims to review the studies on chemical constituents and their mechanisms during ginseng processing, and the ideas, methods and the direction of the development of traditional Chinese medicine processing in the future.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Vertigo ; surgery ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve ; surgery

Objective To study the distribution of apolipoprotein E(apoE) genotypes and alleles in children with primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS),and to investigate the relationship between apoE gene polymorphism and disturbance of serum lipid metabolism.Methods Forty-six children with PNS were compared with 39 age-sex-matched healthy children.Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyeride(TG),high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C),apoA_1,apoB and apoA_1/B were detected,and polychain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) combined with gene sequence determination was used to confirm the apoE genotypes in two groups.Results 1.Serum TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,apoB and apoA_1/B in PNS group were higher than those of control group,respectively(P