0.05,respectively).But most inte-restingly,the MMP-9 showed a positive relevance(r=0.686,P

Objective To detect and analyze the mutation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3(FGFR3) gene among a family with congenital achondroplasia(ACH).Methods Six blood samples of family member in this pedigree were cellected according to the informed consent process for genetic research,and 2 unralted healthy human blood sample were taken as controls.The mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 on FGFR3 gene was detected by using Polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP)and polyme-rase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease technology(PCR-RFLP) methods.Results Using PCR-SSCP method firstly,only the proband with ACH and his father in this family had the same abnormal band.The amplified products including 1 138 loci on FGFR3 gene further was analyzed by Sfe Ⅰ digestion,3 fragments including 164 bp,109 bp and 55 bp were detected in the proband and his father again,and the other members in the family and 2 controls just showed 164 bp band.It indicated that just 2 patients (proband and his father) showed heterozygous G→A transition mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 on the FGFR3 gene.The amplified products at 1 138 loci was also detected by MspⅠ digestion,just 1 band was observed in all members in this family and 2 controls.It showed that there was no G→C substitution at nucleotide position 1 138.Conclusions The G→A transition mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 in transmembrane domain of FGFR3 gene may be the main cause of achondroplasia in this family.In this pedigree,the proband showed's father a de novo mutation which was transferred to his child again.

GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVETo observe the evolutionary tendency of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) of the limbic system in post-stroke model rats and the intervention effect of Yinao Jieyu Recipe (YJR).

METHODSMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n =6), the sham-operation group (n =7), the multiple cerebral infarction (MCI) group (n =10), the post-stroke depression (PSD) group (n =10), the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group (n =10), and the Western medicine (WM) treatment group (n =10) according to random digit table after open-field testing. Rats in the normal control group were routinely fed. 0. 3 mL normal saline was intravenously pushing from the external carotid artery to rats in the sham-operation group, and distilled water administered to them by gastrogavage. Each dose allogenic microthrombi were in vitro pushed to rats in the rest groups from the external carotid artery. The PSD model was duplicated by 21-day chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and single cage feeding in the PSD group 7 days after surgery. After preparing models rats in the CM group and the WM group were administered with YJR and Nimodipine respectively for 4 successive weeks. Changes of BDNF and the intervention effect of YJR were observed at week 1, 2, and 4 after intervention.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results of BDNF showed, compared with the normal control group, expression levels of BDNF in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala decreased in the MCI group at week 2 and 4 (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05) ; expression levels of BDNF in each part decreased in the PSD group at week 1-4 (P <0.01). Compared with the MCI group, expression levels of BDNF in each part decreased in the PSD group at week 1-4 (P <0. 01). Compared with the PSD group, expression levels of BDNF in each part increased in the CM group at week 1-4 (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONBDNF changes existed in post-stroke model rats, and YJR could slow down this progress.

Amygdala ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stroke ; drug therapy

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine in treating depression,and to discuss the action mechanism of this acupuncture method.Methods:One hundred depression patients were allocated to an observation group and a control group according to the random number table,with 50 cases in each group.The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine tablets,20 mg each time,once a day for successive 6 weeks;the observation group was additionally given cranial suture acupuncture,once a day for 6 weeks.They were scored by Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) before the treatment and respectively after 1-week,2-week,4-week and 6-week treatment.The clinical efficacy and safety were also observed.Results:After 6-week treatment,the total effective rate was 94.0％ in the observation group versus 78.0％ in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).The HAMD-17 scores respectively after 1-week,2-week,4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly lower than the score before the treatment in the observation group (all P＜0.05);the HAMD-17 scores respectively after 2-week,4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly different from the score before the treatment in the control group (all P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the HAMD-17 score between the two groups respectively after 4-week and 6-week treatment (both P＜0.05).Conclusion:Cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine can ease the symptoms of depression,with faster onset and more significant therapeutic efficacy compared with paroxetine alone.

Ten Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were isolated from the bulbs of Lycoris radiata. Their structures were identified as oxovittatine (1), apohaemanthamine (2), 9-O-demethylhomolycorine N-oxide (3), incartine (4), ismine (5), 6-O-methylpretazettine (6), tazettine (7), ungeremine (8), homolycorine (9), and O-methyllycorenine (10) by spectroscopic data analyses. Compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2 and 3 were reported form the genus Lycoris for the first time and compounds 4-6 were isolated form the title plant for the first time.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Lycoris ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the promoter of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene and the susceptibility of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Cantonese.

METHODSA total of 176 NPC Cantonese NPC patients and 202 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. G/A genotyping of the SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene was performed by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR products.

RESULTSThe genotype frequency of heterozygote G/A was 50% (88/176) and 47.5% (96/202), and that of the homozygote variant A/A was 15.3% (27/176) and 18.3% (37/202) in NPC patients and healthy individuals, respectively. Statistics analysis revealed no evident correlations of the G/A and A/A genotypes to the clinical phenotypes of NPC in either NPC group or healthy control group (OR7equals;1.022, 95%CIequals;0.668-1.564 for G/A+A/A). Analysis after stratification by age and gender found no such correlations either.

CONCLUSIONThe genotype frequencies of SNP locus rs189037 in the promoter of ATM gene are similar between NPC patients and healthy subjects, suggesting that rs189037 is not related to the genetic susceptibility of NPC in Cantonese.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study quality test, and establish quality classification standard of Platycodon grandiflorum.

METHODThe seed quality and planting quality of P. grandiflorum from different producing areas and in different growing years were measured.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe range of seed purity, weight per 1000 seeds, seed moisture content,seed viability were determined and the primary seed quality classification standard was established.

Germination ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; physiology ; Platycodon ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; physiology ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; physiology ; Water ; analysis ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) gene *008 allele and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODSMICA*008 allele was detected in 86 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia and 81 unrelated normal individuals by way of sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Anti-HCMV IgM was also detected in the sera of these subjects with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSMICA*008 allele frequency was lower in patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia than in the control group (22.2% vs 34.3%, Chi(2)=4.98, P<0.05). The infection rate of HCMV was significantly higher in those individuals with genotype of MICA*008 (-) than in those with MICA*008 (+), and moderate correlation was suggested between MICA*008 and HCMV infection (C=0.5829, 0.6142).

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with MICA*008 positivity is not liable to HCMV infection, but those with MICA*008 (-) can be vulnerable to HCMV infection, suggesting an inverse correlation between MICA*008 allele with HCMV.

Alleles ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; virology

OBJECTIVETo explore immunoregulatory mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in H-2 haploidentical bone marrow cells transplantation mice.

METHODSBALB/c female mice irradiated with 8Gy 60Co gamma-rays were divided into two groups: MSCs group, infused cm-DiI labeled MSCs from female CB6F1 mice and monocytes from the bone marrow and spleen of male CB6F1; Control group, only infused monocytes from the bone marrow and spleen of male CB6F1. T-lymphocyte subpopulation of peripheral blood cells, T and B cells proliferation stimulated by ConA and LPS, mixed lymphocyte reaction between donor and recipient and third part, the sry-gene chimerism of bone marrow, spleen and thymus of the recipient, the distribution of MSCs in the recipient, the incidence rate of GVHD and survival were observed.

RESULTSThe CD3 at +90 d the percent of CD3+ CD4+ cells, and CD4/CD8 at +30 d in the MSCs group were higher than that in control post-transplantation, respectively (P < 0.05). The proliferation activity of B cells recovered more rapidly and that of T cells recovered comparably in MSCs group as compared with that in control group. The result of MLR between donor and recipient was lower in MSCs group than that in the control; and that between recipient and the third part had no difference. The sry-gene chimerism of bone marrow and spleen of the recipient was higher in MSCs group than in control at +30 d. The MSCs mainly distributed in intestine, thymus, bone marrow, liver, heart of the recipient after transplantation. The incidence of acute GVHD was higher and the survival rate was lower in MSCs group than that in control group (P < 0.05). Chronic GVHD occurred in the control group at +90 d, while in the MSCs group at +120 d.

CONCLUSIONSMSCs might improve stem cell engraftment, promote lymphocyte and humoral immunity recovery, decrease incidence of GVHD and increase survival by inducing specific immunologic tolerance and repairing organs injuries.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; immunology ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C