In order to clarify the chemical constituents of Cistanche deserticola cultured in Tarim desert, a systematically phytochemical investigation was carried out. The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography, such as silica gel, Sephadex LH- 20, MCI gel, ODS and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were determined on the basis of MS, NMR spectroscopic analysis and/or comparison with literature data. Eleven lignans were isolated from the 85% ethanol extract of the stems of C. deserticola cultured in Tarim desert. Their structures were identified as (+)-syringaresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (+)-isoeucommin A (2), eucommin A (3), (+)-pinoresinol monomethylether β-D-glucoside (4), lariciresinol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), lariciresinol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), conicaoside (7), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol γ'-O-β-D-glucoside (9), citrusin A (10), and alaschanioside A (11). Compounds 1, 3-7, 10 and 11 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 2, 8 and 9 were obtained from this species for the first time.
Cistanche ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

Objective To analyze the clinical features of 27 Chinese patients with Kennedy's disease(KD), a sex-linked inheritance disorder. Methods We collected the clinical data of 27 KD patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by gene examination to analyze their clinical features, as well as their serum levels of sex hormones and biochemical indicators. Results Patients with spinal and bulhar muscular atrophy tend to have an adult onset, exhibiting a slow progression of lower motor neuronal weakness and atrophy involving limbs and bulbar zones. Part of the invalids presented signs of androgen insensitivity such as gynecomastia or reduced sexual function, even though their degrees of sex hormones were normal. There was mild motor functional lesion which correlated with the course of the disease ( r = 0. 77, P = 0. 000). The degrees of creatine kinase ( ( 920. 10 ± 495.54 ) U/L ) and triglyceride ( ( 3.27 ± 2. 78) mmool/L) increased mildly and was significantly different from the levels of healthy ones (107.20 U/L,t =7.517,P =0.000;1.40 mmol/L, t =2.687,P =0.017). Conclusions Basically, Chinese KD patients present the same clinical features as the literature reports, however they have distinctive aspects such as elevated degree of triglyceride. The present research can help us to understand the features of Chinese KD more particularly.

In order to encourage the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the state has set up a spe-cial project and funds to construct the National TCM Clinical Research Base. The goal is to establish a regular line with the development of TCM clinical research and innovation platform gradually. Ensuring the project proceeds suc-cessfully, we have taken a series of initiatives that include the personnel training, the establishment of the network center, medical diagnostic centre, imaging centre, ethical platform and the laboratory. Also, we have explored the operation mode which matches the construction. During the process of construction, we have found that four elements are particularly important for the base development, which are top-level design, leadershipˊs attention, financial sup-port, solidarity and cooperation.

AIM　To determine whether O-β -D-fructofuranosyl-〔(2→1 )-O-β-D-fructofuransyl〕4α-D-glucopyranoside (inulin-type hexasaccharide, IHS), a monomer extracted from the roots of Morinda of ficinalis How, has antidepressant action. METHODS Fo rced swimming tests in mice and rats and differential-reinforcement-of-low-r ate 72 second schedule (DRL 72 s) in rats were used. RESULTS In the forced swimming test in mice, IHS (80 mg*kg-1, po), like the effe ct of clinically effective antidepressant desipramine (10 mg*kg-1, ip)， produced significant decrease in immobility time. IHS (20 mg*kg-1，po ) also elicited significant decrease in immobility time in forced swimming test in rats, which was comparable to the effect of desipramine (40 mg*kg-1, po). Moreover, in the DRL 72 s in rats, IHS (5～10 mg*kg-1, ip), s imilar to desipramine (5 mg*kg-1, ip), elicited significant increase in reinforcers. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that IHS has antidepressant action and is an effective component extracted from the root s of Morinda officinalis How.

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of P38MAPK inhibitor on the soft palate reconstruction of the rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia. METHODS The animals were divided into normal control group, hypoxia control group and SB203580+hypoxia group (every group 20 rats). After 5 weeks, the expressions of p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK protein on the soft palate of the rats were detected with immunohistochemical techniques and western blot. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group, the soft palate tissue thickness of the hypoxia group were increased most obviously; Levels of p38MAPK were increased in hypoxia control group; Compared with the hypoxia control group, the levels of p-p38MAPK group were decreased in SB203580+hypoxia group. CONCLUSION p38MAPK may play important roles in the soft palate reconstruction of the rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Objective To explore the role of the SerpinB5 and β-catenin in occurrence and development of the primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expressions of SerpinB5 and β-catenin protein and mRNA in carcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues of 60 patients with primary HCC were detected by immumohistochemistry and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Results The positive expression rate of SerpinB5 protein and SerpinB5 mRNA in carcinoma tissues were significantly lower than those in paracancerous tissues:25.0%(15/60) vs. 63.3%(38/60) and 1.12 ± 0.43 vs. 5.19 ± 0.39, and there were statistical differences (P<0.01). The positive expression rate of β-catenin protein and β-catenin mRNA in carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those that in paracancerous tissues: 65.0%(39/60) vs. 31.7%(19/60) and 4.23 ± 0.25 vs. 1.19 ± 0.17, and there was statistical difference (P<0.01). Decreased SerpinB5 expression was associated with higher serumα-fetoprotein level, larger tumor size, poor differentiation, advanced TNM stage, capsule invasion and tumor thrombosis (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Increased β-catenin expression was associated with poor differentiation, advanced TNM stage, capsule invasion and tumor thrombosis (P < 0.01 or < 0.05). The correlation analysis result showed that SerpinB5 had negative correlation withβ-catenin (carcinoma issues:r=-0.346, P=0.001;paracancerous tissues:r=-0.258, P = 0.024). Conclusions The abnormal expression of SerpinB5 and β-catenin may contribute to the progression and biologically malignant behavior of primary HCC, and SerpinB5 and β-catenin exists synergistic effect in the occurrence and development of primary HCC.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is the initiator of RNA interference and inhibits gene expression by targeted degradation of specific messenger RNA. siRNA-mediated gene regulation has high efficiency and specificity and exhibits great significance in the treatment of diseases. However, the naked or unmodified siRNA has poor stability, easy to degrade by nuclease, short half-life, and low intracellular delivery. As an emerging non-viral nucleic acid delivery system, ionizable lipid nanoparticles play an important role in improving the druggability of siRNA. At present, one siRNA drug based on ionizable lipid nanoparticles has been approved for the treatment of rare disease. This review introduces the research progress in ionizable lipid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery, focusing on the effect of each component of lipid nanoparticles on the efficiency of siRNA-mediated gene silencing, which provides new references for the studies on ionizable lipid nanocarriers for siRNA delivery.

Objective To find the effective therapeutic arrangement through investigating the clinical characteristics of chronic cardiac insufficiency with anaemia. Methods A total of 46 cases of anemia from 315patients who had been admitted to department of cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University for chronic cardiac insufficiency with anaemia were selected. They were divided into two groups. There were 22 patients in the first group who only accepted treatment to improve cardiac function (normal cardiac, diuretic,vasodilator therapy, etc.), and 24 patients in the second group who accepted treatment to improve cardiac function while receiving anti-anemia therapy treatment, oral ferrous sulfate tablets(0.3 g/tablet), 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day and(or) 2 times per week subcutaneous erythropoietin 3000 U. The hemoglobin(Hb), red blood cell(RBC) ,hematocrit (HCT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV) , cardiac output(CO) and E peak and A peak ratio(E/A) were observed before and after treatment. By logistic regression, grade grade Ⅱ , Ⅲ , Ⅳ, the incidence of anaemia were 7.9% (10/126), 19.2% (23/120) and 24.6% (17/69),respectively. Grade Ⅱ compared with grades Ⅲ, Ⅳ, the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 4.08, 3.12, all (3.49 ± 0.17) × 1012/L, (0.36 ± 0.08)%, (48.9 ± 3.11)%, (15.6 ± 1.8)%, (38.9 ± 3.7)%, (4.4 ± 1.6)% and (130.7 ±5.75)g/L, (4.12 ± 0.25) × 1012/L, (0.43 ± 0.02)%, (58.5 ± 2.65)%, (18.0 ± 2.5)%, (49.1 ± 7.7)%, (5.1 ± 1.2)%in the first and second groups, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(t =value of Hb, RBC, HCT, LVEF, FS,SV, CO were (102.7 ± 6.93)g/L, (3.41 ± 0.12) × 1012/L, (0.35 ± 0.07)%,(47.5 ± 2.86)%, (16.0 ± 2.4)%, (38.2 ± 7.9)%, (3.7 ± 1.4)%, respectively. Compared with those after treatment,the difference was statistically significant (t = 15.632, 13.325, 5.569, 17.182, 3.186, 2.999, 3.074, all P ＜ 0.05);Ⅳ-level relative risk were 1.62, 3.14(P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01) . Conclusions Based on the standard treatment with treatment of anemia, cardiac contractile function can be improved.

OBJECTIVETo explore effect of iron overload on the proliferation and apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cell(MSCs) and the possible mechanism.

METHODSIron overload model of MSCs was established by adding ferric ammonium citrae (FAC) into the culture medium at different concentrations (100, 200, 400 Μmol/L) and incubated for different lengths of time (12, 24, 48 h). The levels of labile iron pool (LIP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured to confirm oxidative stress state in the model. Changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis after iron overload were measured through population double time(DT)and annexin V-PI assay. Finally, the expressions of phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (P-p38MAPK), p38MAPK, protein kinase B (AKT), and p53 were determined through Western blot analysis to investigate which ROS-mediated signaling pathway was involved in this process.

RESULTSThe LIP level of MSCs was significantly increased by FAC treatment at 400 Μmol/L (mean fluorescence intensity 482.49±20.96 vs. 303.88±23.37, P<0.05). The level of intracellular ROS was positively correlated with the concentration of FAC and reached a peak level when cultured with 400 Μmol/L FAC (P<0.05).After treatment with 400 Μmol/L FAC at different time points (12 h, 24 h, and 48 h), the DT of MSCs was (1.47± 0.11) d, (1.80±0.13) d, and (2.04±0.14) d, respectively, which was signifcantly longer than that of the control, which was(1.20±0.05)d (P<0.05).The apoptosis rate was also significantly higher in iron overload group[(3.51±1.17)% vs.(0.66±0.62)%, P<0.05]with consequent increase in the expressions of P-p38MAPK, p38MAPK, and p53 proteins in iron overload group, while no significant difference was found in the expression of AKT.

CONCLUSIONIron overload can inhibit the proliferation of MSCs and induce their apoptosis through the generation of ROS, which is probably due to the stimulation of p38MAPK- p53 signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Animals ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Goats ; Humans ; Mice ; Skin ; cytology ; immunology ; Skin, Artificial ; Swine