Plant secondary metabolites (natural products) have been a source for many medicines. Their functions in plants often remain unknown, but in recent years there are more and more new compounds isolated and identified and their medicinal potentials are investigated. The major classes of plant natural products and various derivatives thereof are: phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and lignans. The major transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a central downstream regulator of inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis which controls the expression of more than 500 genes. It plays an essential role in several aspects of human health including the development of innate and adaptive immunity. The degradation of NF-κB is associated with many ailments including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. In spite of a vast literature describing NF-κB inhibitors from many natural or synthetic sources, such modulators have not been fully tapped for therapeutic purposes and the search for effective and specific inhibitors for therapeutic use with fewer side effects is still relevant and ongoing. Plant-derived phytochemicals are promising the lead compounds to develop potent and safe inhibitors for cancer and inflammatory disorders driven by NF-κB. The recent knowledge on the plant-derived phytochemicals and their major NF-κB molecular targets are briefly reviewed in this paper.

BACKGROUND:Chinese herb, bushen yizhi formula protects at certain extent learning and memory in rat model of Alzheimer disease. The drug serum in this formula can alleviate neurotoxic reaction of nerve tumor cell NG 108-15 to beta-amyloid protein. In order to understand further the mechanism and compatibility of the formula, it is necessary to carry on the study on the broken formulas.OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of drug serum in subgroups of broken bushen yizhi formulas on growth and differentiation of cell model of Alzheimer disease and probe into the compatibility rule of bushen yizhi formula in view of serum pharmacology.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: DME Center of Clinical Pharmacological Institute Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.PARTICIPANTS:The experiment was performed in DME Center of Clinical Pharmacological Institute Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to August 2003, in which, 40 healthy male SD rats of 3 months old were employed and NG108-15 cell line was frozen-preserved.into the control, original formula group (No. 1 group) [shechuanzi (Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss), gouqizi (Lycium barbarum L.), renshen (Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.), heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.), danpi (Paeonia Suffruticisa Andr.) and bingpian (Borneolum)], kidney replenishment group (No.2 group) [shechuanzi (Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss), gouqizi (Lycium barbarum L.), etc.], group for benefiting qi and nourishing blood (No.3 group)[renshen (Panaz ginseng C.A.Mey), zhishouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.), etc.] and group with bingpian (Borneolum) removed (No.4 group)[Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.], heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) and danpi (Paeonia Suffruticisa Andr.)], 8 rats in each group. The concentrated Chinese herbal solutions of every group were applied at 10 μL/g (equal to 6 g/kg of raw herbs) for gastric infusion successively,continuously for 1 month. In the control, the physical saline solution of equal dosage was used for infusion. Two hours after the last gastric infusion in rats of each group,the blood was collected from heart after anesthesia and the serum was sepaNG108-15 cell cultured in vitro was divided into 6 groups. In the control and model group, normal rat serum was contained in proliferated culture solution. In the rest 4 groups, the drug serum of No. 1 group and 3 sub-groups was contained.Simultaneously, beta-amyloid protein 25-35 in each hole was prepared to the terminal concentration 5 μmol/L (except in the control) and the culture went on for 48 hours.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:MTT method was used to determine proliferated number and survival rate of cells. Simultaneously, the ratio of neurite cells to total cell count and average length of neurit were determined.icantly than the control (0.520±0.022, 0.665±0.037, P ＜ 0.01), and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result vival rate of differentiated cells: That in model group was lower significantly than the control (58.4%, 100%) and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was the most tal cell count: That in model group was lower significantly than the control [(42.95±11.42)%, (58.75±12.84)%, P ＜ 0.01] and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was rite: That in model group was shorter significantly than the control [(356.0 ±109.0), (493.8±133.0) μm, P ＜ 0.01] and that in every drug serum group was longer than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was the most significant [(486.8±79.2) μm, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: The drug serum in all of bushen yizhi formula and every subgroup inhibits at certain extent the injury of beta-amyloid protein 25-35 to NG108-15 cell, but the results of each group are various. The protection of drug serum to the cell in every group is in the sequence from strong to weak as group with bingpian removed ＞ original formula group ＞ kidney replenishment group ＞ group for benefiting qi and nourishing blood. It is to expect a further study on the efficacy of group with bingpian removed.

Object To observe the improving effects of BUSHEN YIZHI DECOCTION (BSYZD) on interspace explore learning and memory in rat model with Alzheimer's disease. Methods Eighty 15-month Wistar rats were induced by ip D -galactose for four weeks and injection of basal nucleus of Meynert with ibotenic acid (IBO) to make AD model, then randomly divided into AD model group, Hup-A treated group, BSYZD (high dose, 12 g/kg?d) treated group and BSYZD (low dose, 6 g/kg?d) treated group, and also normal aged and young groups. After treating for four weeks, Morris water maze was used to assess the improvement of rat interspace explore learning and memory. Results In the interspace explore experiment, the significant differences were observed between the model, Hup-A treated groups and normal aged, young groups (P0.05). Conclusion BSYZD possesses a certain preventive effects on interspace explore learning and memory in AD rat model.

Withanolide A is a biologically active secondary metabolite occuring in roots and leaves of Withania somnifera. In the present study, adventitious roots from leaf explants of W. somnifera were induced for the production of withanolide-A by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 to obtain hair roots. Hair roots induction rate reached 30%. The withanolide A was determined by HPLC in different hair roots lines and different parts of W. somnifera. The average content of withanolide A in all hair roots lines were 1.96 times as high as that in wild-plant, the concentration of withanolide A in hair roots (1.783 mg x g(-1) dry weight) were 1.51 times as high as the roots of wild W. somnifera (1.180 mg x g(-1) dry weight), respectively. It is possible to obtain withanolide A from hair roots culture of W. somnifera.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; physiology ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Withania ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Withanolides ; analysis ; metabolism

The origin and development of round magnetic needle was explored, and the structure of round magnetic needle was introduced in detail, including the handle, the body and the tip of the needle. The clinical opera tion of round magnetic needle were standardized from the aspects of the methods of holding needle, manipulation skill, tapping position, strength of manipulation, application scope and matters needing attention, which laid foundation for the popularization and application of round magnetic needle.
Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Needles ; history ; standards

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Yizhi Decociton (BYD) on somatostatin-like (SS-like)neurons in hippocampal gyrus of rat models with Alzheimer's disease(AD). Methods Fifteen-month_old AD rat models were established by intraperitoneral injection of D-galactose for 4 weeks combined with ibotenic acid injection into bilateral nucleus basalis of Meynert. AD model rats were randomly allocated to AD model group(Group C), Hup-A treatment group(Group D) and BYD treatment groups (Group E and Group F,treated with high dosage and low dosage respectively), and 10 normal aged rats (Group B)and 10 normal youth rats (Group A)served as the normal control groups. The methods of immunohistochemistry and dig_labeling c-DNA probe in situ hibridization were used to detect the number of SS-like immunoreactive positive and SS mRNA expressed positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 fields and the dentate gyrus. Results The number and optic density of SS-like immunoreactive positive and SS mRNA expressed positive neurons were higher in BYD treatment groups than those in Group C (P

Objective To study the anticoagulant and fibrinolytic mechanism of vascular endothelial cells in rabbit model of blood stasis syndrome (BSS). Methods BS S rabbit model was induced by injection of noradrenaline and bovine serum albumin . The aortic endothelial cells from the normal rabbits (Group A)and BSS rabbits (Group B)were cultured primarily and subcultured. The activities of antithrombin Ⅲ (AT_Ⅲ), tis sue_type plasminogen activator (t_PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) in the plasma of rabbits and cultured supernatant were measured. Results The activities of t_PA and AT_Ⅲ were obviously decreased and PAI activity incre ased in the plasma of BSS model rabbits as compared with those of the normal rabbits (P 0.05 ). Conclusion Anticoagulant and fibrinolytic dysfunction p lays an imp ortant role in the occurrence and development of BSS.

Objective To investigate the effect of statin on trabecular bone microstructure by using trabecular bone score (TBS), a new type of bone microstructure evaluation index. Methods A total of 253 middle and aged patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2014 and March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether statin was used or not, patients were divided into two groups: 90 patients in the statin use group (statin was use for more than 1 year) and 163 in the control group (not taken any statin). Serum biochemical indicators, such as triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, fasting blood glucose and 25 hydroxy vitamin D, were compared between the two groups. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femoral neck. TBS was calculated with TBS iNsight? software, and the DXA image of lumbar spine were analyzed. Results Values of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in statin group compared with those of control group (P<0.001), while no significant differences in other biochemical indicators between two groups (P>0.05). There was higher lumbar spine BMD statin group compared to that of control group (g/cm2:1.04 ± 0.19 vs. 0.96 ± 0.14, P<0.01). There was higher lumbar spine BMD and higher TBS (1.31±0.09 vs. 1.26±0.09, P<0.01) in statin group than that of control group. There was no difference in the femoral neck BMD between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Statin increases lumbar spine BMD and improves trabecular bone microstructure in middle and aged people.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between plasma fibrinogen level and cerebral infarction (CI) as well as the difference of fibrinogen among subtypes of CI.

METHODSA case-controlled study was conducted with 131 cases of CI and 148 controls. Plasma fibrinogen levels were detected by the Clauss method.

RESULTSHigh fibrinogen level (3.09 +/- 0.94 g/L) was correlated with CI (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.51-4.04, P < 0.005) at the onset stage of the disease. Persistent high fibrinogen level (3.14 +/- 0.81 g/L) at 6-month after stroke onset was detected and correlated with CI (OR = 4.34, 95% CI: 1.80-10.51, P = 0.001). Higher fibrinogen level was correlated with total anterior circulation infarction (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarction (PACI), and posterior circulation infarction (POCI) (OR = 4.008, P < 0.001). Higher fibrinogen level was correlated with extracranial atherosclerosis (OR = 3.220, P < 0.05, but not with intracranial atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONFibrinogen level may be a risk factor of CI and probably correlates with subtypes of CI and distributions of atherosclerosis.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; Brain Infarction ; blood ; classification ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; classification ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infarction, Anterior Cerebral Artery ; blood ; Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy in the detection of unknown primary tumor site with cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSFifty-three patients with cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma treated in our department between June 2009 and December 2011 were enrolled in this study. Their primary tumor site was not detected by routine computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and laryngoscopy. The nasopharyngolarynx was examined by NBI endoscopy to explore the primary tumor site.

RESULTSA total of 53 cases with cervical lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary were examined under NBI endoscopy. The primary tumor site was confirmed by NBI examination in 47.2% (25/53) of patients, significantly better than routine radiology and endoscopy (0, P < 0.001). These primary tumors were small and superficial, with characteristic mucosal vascular morphologies. The superficial nasopharyngeal carcinomas under NBI examination showed the superficial thin branch-like or torturous line microvessels. The notable characteristics of the squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx was the well demarcated brownish area and scattered brown dots.

CONCLUSIONThe NBI endoscopy can provide better visualization of the morphology of superficial mucosal vasculature and improve the ability to detect possible primary cancer in patients with primary unknown cervical lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma in Situ ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Narrow Band Imaging ; methods ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy