OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition of berberine (BBR) against ECV-304 apoptosis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODSECV-304 cells were pre-treated with 128 microg/mL BBR for 2 h and then S. aureus was added (1:100). The viability of cells was detected by MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protection of BBR for infected cells was detected by DNA Ladder.

RESULTSECV-304 cells' viability were not obviously affected by berberine. But S. aureus induced ECV-304 cells' viability could be significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of BBR (P < 0.05). Besides S. aureus-induced ECV-304 apoptosis could be reduced, with significantly lessened apoptotic body and unobvious DNA degradation.

CONCLUSIONBBR could significantly inhibit S. aureus induced ECV-304 apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus

To set standards for histomorphological studies on Lysimachia fortunei, an efficacious and widely applied folk medicine in this study, in order to develop its resources. Its species were identified by observing plant morphology and herbs appearance characters, preparing slices with routine methods and defining structural characters. According to the results of morphologic observation, leaves, stamen and pistil of this plant were different from the descriptions in Flora of China. The whole herb can be used in medicines, mainly including rhizomes, stems and leaves. According to the findings in the first study on microscopic structures, its rhizomes, stems and leaves were characteristic and worth identifying. The transaction tissue structures of rhizomes and stems were under developed and contained endodermis, secretory structures; Stems had sclerenchymata of different shapes of sclereids; Leaves were bifacial and had vascular bundles under midribs, which were surrounded by parenchymal sheathes. On the surface of leaves, stomata, glandular hairs and keratin lines were morphologically different in upper and lower epidermis. The herbal power had glandular hairs, sclereids and vessels. In conclusion, herbs of L. fortunei can be identified by the above histomorphological characteristics, which lays a foundation for further development and application of L. fortunei.
Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Primulaceae ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

AIMTo investigate the bioactive constituents from the mycelium of Penicillium thomii. Which isolated from Anemone collected in Qingdao beach.

METHODSThe constituents were separated by using various chromatography and the structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectral analysis.

RESULTSFive compounds, namely penicillixanthone A (I), p-methylbenzolic acid (II), 1-O-hexadecanoyl-2-O-(9-octadecenoyl)-3-O-(9, 12-octadecadienoyl) glycerol (III), 5 alpha, 8 alpha-epidioxy-24 zeta-methylcholesta-6, 22-dien-3 beta-ol (IV) and 1, 6, 8-trihydroxyl-3-methyl-9, 10-anthracenedione (V), were isolated from the mycelium of Penicillium thomii.

CONCLUSIONPenicillixanthone A is a new compound, while the others are isolated from Penicillium thomii for the first time.

Animals ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sea Anemones ; microbiology ; Xanthones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of overweight and obesity on physical function (including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse, weight vital capacity index) in children and adolescents.

METHODSThe data of 2010 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health was analyzed. The samples of overweight and normal-weight group were randomly selected from the data by matching gender, urban or rural for getting the same number sample size as obese group (10 601 each group). The students aged 7 - 18 years were classified into 3 groups by BMI percentiles (P₅, P₁₅, P₂₅, P₅₀, P₇₅, P₈₅ and P₉₅), to analyze the change of physical function along with BMI percentile.

RESULTSCompared to the normal-weigh group, SBP of the obese boys of all age groups increased by 8.0 - 12.0 mm Hg, DBP increased by 4.7 - 5.9 mm Hg, while SBP of the obese girls increased by 7.5 - 11.6 mm Hg, DBP increased by 4.7 - 6.1 mm Hg, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). In 13 - 15-year group, pulse of obese boys was 0.8 times/min higher than that of normal-weight. In 16 - 18-year group, pulse of obese boys was 1.1 times/min higher than that of overweight or normal-weight, while pulse of obese girls were 1.5 and 1.7 times/min higher than that of overweight and normal-weight, respectively (P < 0.05). Pulses in boys aged 7 - 9 years when BMI were P₅, P₅₀, P(95) were 87.63, 87.00, 87.83 times/min, and pulses in boys aged 10 - 12 were 85.66, 85.30, 85.43 times/min, respectively. Pulses in boys aged 13 - 15 years when BMI were P₅, P₅₀, P₉₅ were 82.60, 81.39, 82.34 times/min, and pulses in boys aged 16 - 18 years were 80.15, 79.00, 79.98 times/min. In both boys and girls of all age groups, weight vital capacity index had the trend of obese < overweight < normal-weight (P < 0.05). Compared to the normal-weight group, weight vital capacity index of overweight boys decreased by 6.4 - 8.4 ml/kg, that of obese boys decreased by 11.9 - 14.8 ml/kg, while that of overweight girls decreased by 5.3 - 7.7 ml/kg, that of obese girls decreased 11.0 - 11.5 ml/kg.

CONCLUSIONCompared to the normal-weight, overweight and obese children and adolescents had elevated blood pressure, increased pulse, decreased weight vital capacity index.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Students

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the cytokine levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid and the brain injury in preterm infants. Methods From August of 2012 to August of 2013,51 preterm infants were included and 46 infants were survived. All of them were born at the Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Pro-vince,with GA≤32 weeks and high risk factors of intrauterine infection and suffering from early onset sepsis. Ac-cording to the screening findings of cerebral ultrasound and/or MRI,the infants were divided into normal group(n=28) and abnormal groups(n=18) with intracranial hemorrhage or white matter damage. The levels of interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) in the serum within 12 hours after birth and in cerebrospinal fluid within 72 hours after birth were investigated. The differences in cytokines between two groups were compared with t-test and Chi-square test,and high risk factors of brain injury were analyzed by Logistic regression models. Results The ab-normal group had higher incidence of clinical maternal chorioamnionitis[44. 44%(8/18 cases) vs 14. 29%(4/28 ca-ses),χ2=5.168,P=0.038] and higher white blood cell count[(11.51±9.03)×109/L vs(6.95±5.64)×109/L,t=-2. 107,P=0. 041]. In the abnormal group,the levels of serum IL-6 [(44. 83±16. 31) ng/L],and IL-6,IL-1βand TNF-αin cerebrospinal fluid [(51. 85±15. 65) ng/L,(11. 95±2. 58) ng/L and(193. 11±67. 25) ng/L] were higher than those in the normal group[(36.83±8.76) ng/L,(42.56±12.89) ng/L,(10.26±2.91) ng/L and(160.56± 29. 02) ng/L,respectively] with the statistical difference(t=-2. 687,-2. 250,0. 269,-2. 243,P=0. 010,0. 029,0. 044, 0. 030). Maternal chorioamnionitis,higher serum TNF-αand cerebrospinal fluid IL-6 were high risk factors for brain in-jury(P=0. 014,0. 031,0. 047). Conclusion Increased systemic and cerebrospinal fluid cytokine levels are possibly re-lated to the preterm brain injury when intrauterine infection occurred.

We have previously established a culture method to isolate and cultivate neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from the rat embryonic brain and spinal cord. In the present study, we demonstrate that the spinal cord-derived NSCs can be induced to differentiate into oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) with a combined treatment composed of (1) conditioned medium collected from B104 neuroblastoma cells (B104CM) and (2) basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, 10 ng/ml). After induction, over 95% of the cells displayed bipolar or tri-polar morphology and expressed A2B5 and platelet derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-alpha), markers that are specific for OPCs. Among PDGFR-alpha positive OPCs, only a few cells expressed glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and none expressed beta-tubulin III. In the presence of B104CM and bFGF, OPCs proliferated rapidly, formed spheres, expanded for multiple passages, and maintained their phenotypic properties. Upon withdrawal of B104CM and bFGF, these cells differentiated into either O4/GlaC-positive oligodendrocytes (OLs) or GFAP- and A2B5-positive type-2 astrocytes. Our results indicate that NSCs can be induced to differentiate into OPCs that possess properties of self-renewal and differentiation into oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes, a property similar to that of O-2A progenitor cells. The OPCs can be maintained in an undifferentiated state over multiple divisions as long as both B104CM and bFGF are present in the medium. Thus, large quantity of OPCs can be obtained through this method for potential therapeutical interventions for various neurological degenerative diseases.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; physiology ; Hexanones ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; Neuroblastoma ; pathology ; Oligodendroglia ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolites of marine fungus Alternalia sp.

METHODCompounds were separated by column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of the fermentation of marine fungus Alternalia sp. Their structures were elucidated as p-benzyloxy-phenol ( I ), p-hydroxy phenyl ethylamine( II ), 3-hydroxymethyl-8-hydroxyl-pyrrolopiperazine-2, 5-dione ( III ), 3-isobutyl-6-secbutyl-piperazine-2, 5-dione (IV), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-ergosta-6, 22-diene-3beta-ol (V), 3beta-hydroxxy-cholesta-5-ene (VI).

CONCLUSIONCompounds I , II, III, IV have the activity of inducing morphological deformation of mycelia germinated from conidia of Pyricularia oryzae. Compounds I , II , III were isolated from the genus Alternalia for the first time.

Antifungal Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ascomycota ; drug effects ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Phenethylamines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV,1 ml/kg) of the operated lungs in preventing hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.Methods Sixty American Society of Anesthsiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 65-75 yr,with body mass index of 18.5-24.0 kg/m2,were divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table method:convention group and IPPV group.In convention group,ventilator settings were adjusted with the tidal volume of 6-8 ml/kg,respiratory rate of 15 breaths/min,inspiratory/expiratory ratio of 1 ∶ 2,and fraction of inspired oxygen 70％ during OLV.In IPPV group,ventilator settings were adjusted with the tidal volume of 1 ml/kg,respiratory rate of 15 breaths/min,and fraction of inspired oxygen 70％ on the operated side during OLV,and the ventilator settings on the other side were consistent with those previously described in convention group.Before anesthesia induction (T0),at 10 min of two-lung ventilation (T1),at 15,30 and 45 min of OLV (T2,4) and at 10 min after the end of OLV (T5),blood samples were collected from the radial artery for blood gas analysis.The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and alveolar to arterial partial pressure of oxygen were recorded.Respiratory index (RI) and oxygenation index (OI) were calculated.The occurrence of PaO2 ＜ 60 mmHg,RI＞ 1.0 and OI＜ 200 mmHg was recorded during OLV.Results Compared with convention group,the RI was significantly decreased at T4,the PaO2 and OI were increased,and the incidence of PaO2＜60 mmHg,RI＞ 1.0 and OI ＜ 200 mmHg was decreased in IPPV group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion IPPV (1 ml/kg) of the operated lungs can prevent the occurrence of hypoxemia during OLV in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.

Criminal responsibility is divided into three types: full criminal responsibility, diminished criminal responsibility and criminal irresponsibility in China. In forensic psychiatric expertise, doctors often have different opinions about the responsibility in a given case because of lacking objective criteria. The evaluation of criminal responsibility is always unresolved problem in forensic psychiatric expertise. Application of these evaluation tools in forensic psychiatric expertise were reviewed in this article. The value of the tools were still controversial in the reliability and validity, but it is clear that these tools have the positive roles in ensuring the standardization and the uniformity of the forensic investigation.
Crime/psychology* ; Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Forensic Psychiatry ; Humans ; Liability, Legal ; Mental Competency ; Mental Disorders/psychology* ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Social Responsibility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of gene polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-1377C/T and expression of TLR3 with the susceptibility to enterovirus 71 (EV71) encephalitis in children.

METHODSA total of 187 children with EV71 infection (59 children in the encephalitis group and 128 in the non-encephalitis group) and 232 children who underwent physical examination were enrolled in the case-control study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the TLR3-1377C/T gene polymorphisms. ELISA was used to measure the serum level of TLR3.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of TLR3-1377C/T between the non-encephalitis group and the encephalitis group. Compared with the control group, the encephalitis group and the non-encephalitis group had significant increases in the serum level of TLR3 (P<0.05), and the non-encephalitis group had the highest level (P<0.05). The encephalitis group had a significantly higher EV71 viral load than the non-encephalitis group (P<0.01). The children aged <1 year or ≥1 year in the encephalitis group and the non-encephalitis group had significant increases in the serum level of TLR3 compared with their counterparts in the control group (P<0.05), and the children aged <1 year or ≥1 year in the non-encephalitis group had a significantly higher serum level of TLR3 than those in the encephalitis group (P<0.05). In the encephalitis group, the children aged ≥1 year had a significantly higher TLR3 concentration than those aged <1 year (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in the TLR3 concentration between the children aged ≥1 year and <1 year in the non-encephalitis group and the control group. In the encephalitis group, the proportion of children aged <1 year was significantly higher than those aged ≥1 year (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe TLR3-1377C/T gene polymorphisms are not significantly associated with the development of EV71 encephalitis. Low expression of TLR3 might weaken the inhibitory effect on virus replication and promote the development of EV71 encephalitis. The deficiency in the expression of TLR3 in serum after EV71 infection might be an important factor for the development of encephalitis in infants.

Child, Preschool ; Encephalitis, Viral ; genetics ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Toll-Like Receptor 3 ; genetics