Twenty-three histone methyltransferase genes were obtained from transcriptome dataset of Lonicera japonica. The nucleotide and proteins characteristics, subcellular localization, senior structural domains and conservative forecasting were analyzed. The result of phylogenetic tree showed that 23 histone methyltransferases were mainly divided into two groups: lysine methyltransferase and arginine methyltransferases. The result of gene expression showed that 23 histone methyltransferases showed preference in terms of interspecies and organs. They were more expressed in buds of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis and lower in leaves of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis. Eight genes were specific expressed in flower. These results provided basis for further understanding the function of histone methyltransferase and epigenetic regulation of active ingredients of L. japonica.
Computational Biology ; Gene Expression ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Lonicera ; enzymology ; genetics ; Phylogeny

Background: Integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine may be a new approach to improve the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (Hp).Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of Weifuchun tablet versus bismuth combined with standard triple regimen as the first-line therapy of Hp infection.Methods: A total of 141 patients with Hp infection and na(i)ve to treatment were randomly assigned into 3 groups receiving a 14-day eradication therapy.In standard triple therapy group, esomeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin were given twice a day;while in Weifuchun group and bismuth group, Weifuchun tablet and bismuth potassium citrate were added, respectively, to the standard triple therapy.Hp eradication was assessed by 13C-urea breath test at least 6 weeks after the end of treatment.Hp isolates were tested for resistance to antibiotics.Results: One hundred and twenty-eight patients completed the study.Hp eradication rates in Weifuchun group, bismuth group and standard triple therapy group were 83.7%, 91.8% and 79.1%, respectively by ITT analysis and 88.4%, 97.8% and 84.6%, respectively by PP analysis.The eradication rate of Weifuchun group was lower than that of bismuth group and higher than that of standard triple therapy group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).Only PP eradication rate of bismuth group was significantly higher than that of standard triple therapy group (P<0.05).The resistant rates of Hp to clarithromycin, amoxicillin and metronidazole were 33.3%, 2.9% and 70.5%, respectively.For eradication of clarithromycin resistant strains, bismuth group was superior to Weifuchun group and standard triple therapy group (100% vs.60.0% and 66.7%, P all <0.05).All three eradication regimens showed good compliance, and no significant difference in incidence of adverse events was found between the three regimens (P>0.05).Conclusions: Weifuchun tablet combined with standard triple regimen is safe and effective for use as first-line treatment for Hp infection, however, the eradication rate is relatively low in cases infected with clarithromycin resistant strains.Bismuth combined with standard triple regimen is a good alternative in areas with high clarithromycin resistance and regions where tetracycline is unavailable.

Continuously cropping obstacle restricts ginseng production and rational use of land resource severely, and autotoxicity is one of the most important factors. In our previous work, ginseng autotoxin degrading bacteria were isolated, in the present re- search, plate culturing method and traditional physiological and biochemical method were used to analyze biological indices and protective enzyme activities, in order to elucidate the mitigative effect of autotoxin degrading bacteria on autotoxicity of P. ginseng. Results indicated that, except for palmitic acid, autotoxicity of benzonic acid, diisobutyl phthalate, diisobutyl succinate, and 2,2-bis (4- hydroxyphenyl) propane on the growth of ginseng seeds was significantly alleviated after autotoxins degrading bacteria was inoculated, and which have no evident difference with control. Except for benzoic acid, enzyme activity of SOD, POD and CAT in other autotoxin degrading treatments decreased significantly. The present research showed that, microbial degradation could alleviate the autotoxicity of autotoxins on ginseng seeds effectively, and which will be helpful for the resolution of ginseng continuously cropping obstacle problem.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Panax ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Toxins, Biological ; metabolism

The transcriptome represents the whole complement of RNA transcripts in cells or tissues and reflects the expressed genes at various life stages, tissue types, physiological states, and environmental conditions. Transcriptomics study concerning medicinal plants has become the most active area in medicinal plant genome research. Transcriptome analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of gene expression and its regulation. The study of its transcriptome has great significance in solving the questions of genetic evolution, genetic breeding, ecology and so on. Here we report the application status of transcriptomics in medicinal plants based on emergence, development and methodology of transcriptomics.
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome

Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Publishing ; standards ; Quality Control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; standards

In this study, ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer-MS^E (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E) combined with UNIFI analysis platform was used to rapidly analyze and identify the metabolites of hederagenins 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin D) and oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin B₇) and hederagenins 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin BD) in plasma and colonic tissue of normal and ulcerative colitis (UC) rats. The database and analysis methods were established based on the precise molecular weight of compounds, retention time, neutral loss and reported data, and then the final data were obtained by comparing with the blank control group, combining with the deviation and the cracking rule of the compound. The results showed that the glucoses, hydroxylation and dehydroxylation, methylation and demethylation, dehydrogenation, decarboxylation and hydrolysis of saponin D, B₇ and BD occurred in the plasma and colon tissues of normal and UC model rats. This study will clarify the metabolic transformation of Pulsatilla saponins D, B₇ and BD in rats, determine the prototype components and their metabolites that enter the body, and whether colon injury will affect their metabolism in vivo, so as to explore the possible anti-colitis effective components in the prototype or metabolites of Pulsatilla saponins D, B₇ and BD. This experiment was approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University (approval number: Y202227).

The incidence of deacclimatization to high altitude syndrome (DAHAS) prevailed up to 80% in highland troops, and 100% in manual workers, and severe DAHAS could significantly affects patients' health, work and life. So it is imperative to develop effective prevention and treatment measures for DAHAS. The present review analyzes effective prophylactic and therapeutic measures against DAHAS, implemented at our hospital.
Acclimatization ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans

This study examined the effect of long-term administration of low-dose FTY720 on survival of murine cardiac allograft and the possible mechanism. Murine models of abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation were established. Low-dose FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg) was administrated to the animals 4 days before the transplantation of cardiac allografts until the occurrence of rejection or the observation terminals. The animals without FTY720 treatment and those with syngeneic cardiac grafts transplanted served as controls. The mean survival time (MST) of grafts, and T lymphocyte subsets in grafts, peripheral blood and lymphoid organs were measured by histopathological examination or flow cytometry, and compared among groups. The results showed that the MST of allografts in FTY720-treated mice was more than 40 days, significantly longer than that in the untreated group (MST=8 days, P<0.01). After the long-term administration of FTY720, the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes in peripheral blood was diminished significantly, but the proportion of CD4(+) lymphocytes was increased in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and spleen. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the infiltration of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes in allografts was significantly inhibited after long-term administration of low-dose FTY720. It was concluded that low-dose long-term administration of FTY720 could promote T lymphocytes in lymphatic organs and decrease their infiltration in allografts, resulting in the inhibition of rejection and the long-term survival of allografts.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of primary liver cancer (PLC) treated by hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and investigate the prognostic factors.

METHODSBetween April 1999 and August 2003, 128 PLC patients received hypofractionated 3DCRT. According to UICC/AJCC staging system, there were 83 T3 patients, 45 T4, with none of them having lymph node metastasis. The mean value of gross tumor volume (GTV) was (458.92 +/- 429.8) cm(3) (6.2-2097 cm(3)). Thirty-four patients had portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). 108 patients had Child-Pugh Grade A liver cirrhosis and 20 Child-Pugh Grade B liver cirrhosis. All patients received a total dose of (53.6 +/- 6.6) Gy/4-8 Gy per fraction/3 fractions per week. Forty-eight of these patients received 3DCRT combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

RESULTSSeven patients died within 3 months after the treatment were dismissed from the series. The response rate (CR + PR) was 55% (67/121). The overall 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate was 65.0%, 43.3%, and 33.1%, respectively. T stage (P = 0.001), GTV (P = 0.0001), PVTT (P = 0.0001) and Child-Pugh Grade (P = 0.0001) had significant impact on the overall survival. However, only GTV and Child-Pugh Grade were independent significant prognostic factors by Cox-regression analysis, (P = 0.044 and P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONT stage, GTV, PVTT and Child-Pugh Grade have significant impact on the overall survival in primary liver cancer patients treated by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. But only GTV and Child-Pugh Grade are independent prognostic factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo demonstrate the specific killing of folate receptor (FR)-positive tumor cells can be achieved by folate-targeted penicillin-G amidase (PGA) combined with its prodrug substrate N-(phenylacetyl) doxorubicin (DOXP).

METHODSFolic acid was covalently linked to PGA and folate content value was determined by quantitative UV spectrophotometry. The ability of folate conjugated PGA to hydrolyze DOXP was measured by RP-HPLC. Visual demonstration of uptake by FR (+) HeLa and SKOV3 cells was detected by using FITC labeled folate-PGA and a fluorescence microscopy. The cytotoxicity of DOXP towards the cells in the presence or absence of folate-PGA was assayed by using MTT method.

RESULTSThe folate-PGA has a specific activity of 29. 8 U x mg(-1) (protein). FR selectivity was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The combination of DOXP prodrug with folate-PGA generated higher cytotoxicity towards the FR (+) cells than free doxorubicin. The IC50 was 0.72 micromol x L(-1) for HeLa cells and 0.75 micromol x L(-1) for SKOV3 cells, respectively. Further, the enhanced cytotoxicity reduced greatly with the addition of free folic acid.

CONCLUSIONFolate conjugated PGA did not significantly compromise PGA catalytic activity and enabled binding prodrug-activating enzyme PGA to folate receptor expressing cells, and increased the sensitivity of the cells to doxorubicin followed by administration of its prodrug substrate.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored ; Folic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Penicillin Amidase ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Prodrugs ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism