Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Indium ; Life Tables ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Health ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

According to the designed specific primers of gene fragment based on the Salvia miltiorrhiza transcriptome data, a full-length cDNA sequence of SQS2 from S. miltiorrhiza f. alba was cloned by the method of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The SmSQS2 cDNA sequence was obtained, this sequence is named SmSQS2 and its GenBank registration number is KM244731. The full length of SmSQS2 cDNA was 1245 bp, encoding 414 amino acids including 5'UTR 115 bp and 3'UTR 237 bp. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that SmSQS2 had relative close relationship to the SQS2 of S. miltiorrhiza. The induction of E. coli [pET28-SQS2] in different temperature, induction time, IPTG concentrations and density of inducing host bacterium (A600) were performed, Shaking the culture at 30 degrees C until the A600 is approximately 0.6 and add IPTG to final concentration of 0.2 mmol x L(-1), and then the optimal expression of SmSQS2 recombinant protein were accumulated after the induction time of 20 h. The research provided important base for the study of sterol and terpene biosynthesis of SQS2 in S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.
Cloning, Molecular ; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment

Objective To study the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP) and the activation of DCs in OVA-induced murine asthma model, and investigate the effects and underlying mecha-nisms of TSLP on lung inflammation. Methods Thirty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, OVA group and TSLP neutralizing antibody treated group. The asthma model was evaluated by airway responsiveness and histological analysis of lung tissues ; The levels of TSLP mRNA in lungs were determined by quantitative real-time PCR; The expression of TSLP in lungs were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot; The expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 in BALF was detected by FACS. Results Both the histological analysis of lung tissues and the airway responsiveness were all consistent with the characteris-tic of murine asthma model. The expression of TSLP and TSLP mRNA in the OVA group was significantly in-creased compared with blank group. The expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 in BALF from OVA group was increased significantly compared with the control group. Furthermore, treating mice with TSLP neutralizing antibody reduced the expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 on dendritic cells, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the OVA group. Conclusion Our study indicate that TSLP was highly expressed in the bronchial epithelia of murine asthma model, via upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, induce DCs to active CD4~+ T cells and pro-duce type 2 responses, so that aggravating the lung inflammation of asthma. Blocking TSLP is capable of in-hibiting the production of Th2 cytokines, thus presents a promising strategy for the treatment of asthma.

BACKGROUND:The intracel ular accumulation of reactive oxygen species leads to oxidative stress. Hypoxia is widespread in physiological and pathological condition. Variation of bone proliferation and differentiation when bone tissues cultured or bone cel s induced toxicity by reactive oxygen species under hypoxia have not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE:To observe the biological characteristics of MC3T3-E1 pretreated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in hypoxia, thus understanding the cel mechanism underlying prolonged bone healing in the elderly with osteoporosis and diabetes. METHODS:The MC3T3-E1 cel s pretreated with different concentrations of H2O2 were cultured in different oxygen concentrations. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 was detected by cel counting kit-8. The cel differentiation was detected through alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining. Total RNAs were extracted and used for analyzing the mRNA levels of col age type 1, alkaline phosphatase and Cbfa1. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When MC3T3-E1 pretreated with 200μmol/L H2O2 for 6 hours, the cel proliferation was increased with time, but lower than that in the control group. The alkaline phosphatase activity was weakened, and the number of mineralized nodes was decreased at the early stage of differentiation. When MC3T3-E1 pretreated with 400μmol/L H2O2 for 6 hours, the cel proliferation was decreased obviously. The alkaline phosphatase activity was stil weakened, and the number of mineralized nodes was decreased further, but not affected by hypoxia. When MC3T3-E1 pretreated with 400μmol/L H2O2 for 6 hours and then cultured in hypoxia, the mRNA expression of Cbfa1 was decreased, but the mRNA expressions of col age type 1 and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased. These results suggest that MC3T3-E1 pretreated with low concentration of H2O2 show a significant decrease in proliferation, while MC3T3-E1 pretreated with a high concentration of H2O2 and cultured in hypoxia show a decrease in osteogenic differentiation, especial y at the early stage of alkaline phosphatase formation.

Objective:To explore the possibility of using peritoneal alternatively activated M2 macrophages to prevent rejection after islet allotransplantation in a murine model.Methods:Peritoneal monocytes from C57BL/6 mice were induced and modulated to M2 and M0 macrophages in vitro,then the phenotype of macrophage was assessed by flow cytometry.C57BL/6 mice were induced diabetic by streptozotocin (STZ) injection and transplanted with islets isolated from BALB/c mice under the left kidney capsule.The recipients were randomly divided to 3 groups (n=8).A total of 2.5× 106 M2 macrophages were injected intravenously at 0,3,7 d after transplantation in islet+M2 group;2.5×106 M0 macrophages were injected intravenously at 0,3,7 d after transplantation in islet+M0 group;the mice in islet+PBS group were injected with PBS.Blood glucose was monitored after transplantation.On day 10 after transplantation,2 recipients in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed,and the left kidneys were resected for pathological examination.Results:Achievement of euglycemia was significantly prolonged after islet transplantation in the islet+M2 group than that in the other two groups (P＜0.01).The median survival time of islet allografts in the islet+PBS group,the islet+M0 group,and the islet+M2 group were 6.5 (4-10),7.5 (4-10),and 24(＞ 15) d,respectively.Pathological examination also showed that the grafts in islet+M2 group remained an intact structure with positive insulin stain and no apparent lymphocytes infiltration,while the graft was rejected in other 2 groups with negative insulin stain and massive lymphocytes infiltration.Conclusion:Peritoneal alternatively activated M2 macrophages can prevent rejection after islet allotransplantation,prolong the survival time of islet allografts and enhance the tolerance of the recipient to blood glucose in mice.

The genus Nodulisporium, is known to produce secondary metabolites with structural diversity. A new alkaloid, 2-hy- droxy-1,1-dimethyl-1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-one(1), was isolated from the extract of a fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. fermented with rice, together with three known phenols, tyrosol(2), hydroxytyrosol(3), and hydroxytyrosol acetate(4). Their structures were identified by detailed spectroscopic analyses.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Xylariales ; chemistry

To establish a HPLC method for simultaneously determining plasma concentrations of gastrodin (Gas) and its metabolites hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), puerarin (Pur) and internal standard (IS) p-hydroxyphenylethanol (Tyr) in rats and studying the pharmacokinetic process and interactions of gastrodin and puerarin after single and combined intravenous injection and oral administration. With Tyr as the internal standard, plasma samples were processed with methanol for protein precipitation, supernatant was dried with N2, and residues were re-dissolved with acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid (20: 80). Chromatography was carried out on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-Aq C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm), with acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid as the gradient mobile phase for the gradient elution. The UV detector wavelength was set at 221 nm for Gas HBA and IS and 250 nm for Pur. After the single or combined administration of Gas and Pur, their plasma concentrations in rats were detected. WinNonlin 5.2 pharmacokinetic software and SPSS 17. 0 software were used to respectively calculate pharmacokinetic parameters of each group, make a statistical analysis and compare the pharmacokinetic processes of Gas and Pur after the single or combined administration. According to the results, the absolute recoveries between low, media and high concentrations of Gas, HBA and Pur and IS as well as Tyr were more than 77.20%, with a good linearity (r > 0.999 6, n = 5) for Gas, HBA and Pur within concentration ranges of 0.10-101, 0.03-7.58 and 0.05-5.98 mg xL ('1) respectively. The lower limits of quantification for Gas, HBA and Pur were 0.10, 0.03, 0.05 mg x L(-1), respectively. Their in-ra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 12% with the accuracy between 85. 1% -1 10. %. All of the three substances and IS were stable during the whole analysis process. The findings showed significant differences in the main in vivo pharmacokinetic parame-ers in rats (AUC, C.(max) T,½ T.(max) MRT) after the single and combined administration of Gas and Pur. Either after the oral adminis-ration or after the intravenous injection, parameters showed a lower clearance rate ( L) longer mean residence time ( RT) and higher relative bioavailability, especially after the oral administration. Specifically, the relative bioavailability of the combined oral ad-inistration of Pur was 10. 7 times of that of the single administration, while that of Gas was 1. times of that of the single administra-ion. The combined administration of Gas and Pur can promote the absorption, decrease the elimination rate and prolong the mean resi-ence time. The method is simple and accurate and can be applied in the simultaneous determination of plasma concentrations of Gas, HBA and Pur in rats and the pharmacokinetic studies.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Benzyl Alcohols ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Aged ; Bronchoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect and toxicity of chemotherapy, used alone or in combined with Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI), for the treatment of advanced colorectal carcinoma (ACRC).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-two patients with ACRC were equally randomized by digital table, to the treated group, treated by chemotherapy of FOLFOX regimen combined with SFI, and the control group treated by FOLFOX regimen alone. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction of the treatment in patients were assessed.

RESULTSThe effective rate (CR +PR) was 63.2% (48/76) in the treated group and 46.1% (35/76) in the control group, showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The median survival time in the two groups was 31 weeks and 28 weeks respectively. CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly increased in the treated group (1.56 +/- 0.21, 1.64 +/- 0.28, P < 0.05), but significantly decreased in the control group (1.58 +/- 0.22, 1.46 +/- 0.33, P < 0.01). Quality of life in the former group was higher than that in the latter group (P < 0.05). Times/case of nausea, vomiting, leukopenia occurring in the control group was more than those in the treated group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBy combining with SFI, some adverse reactions of chemotherapy (such as nausea, vomiting, leukopenia) and its influence on patients' immunity could be alleviated in treating ACRC, which might enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, and improve the quality of life and prolong the median survival time in patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; therapeutic use ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the structure and degradation property of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-collagen complex drug membrane.

METHODSDrug collagen membrane was complexed with PVA. The physical and chemical properties of the membrane were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, forier transform-infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Degradation experiment was performed to determine the degradation property of membrane and a degradation curve was therefor drawn.

RESULTSThe thermodynamic stability of collagen membrane was not destroyed by adding PVA. Collagen had good compatibility with PVA. Compared with collagen membrane, collagen-PVA complex membrane had smaller and evener pores. Adding PVA decreased the degradation rate of membrane.

CONCLUSIONSPVA-collagen membrane has better microstructure and antidegradation property than collagen membrane.

Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Collagen ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Membranes ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared