In order to explore reasonable artificial cultivation pattern of Thesium chinense, the biological characteristics and nutrients change in the process of winter dormancy of T. chinense was studied. The phenological period of T. chinense was observed by using fixed-point notation and the starch grains changes were determined dynamically by PAS-vanadium iron hematoxylin staixjing method. Soluble sugar and starch content were measured by anthrone-sulfuric acid method and amylase activity was determined by DN'S method. The results showed that the normal life cycle of T. chinense was two years. T. chinense was growing by seed in the first year, but growing by the root neck bud in the second year. During the process of dormancy, starch and soluble sugar could mutual transformation in different periods. T. chinense had sufficient carbohydrate to maintain growth and also a lot of small molecules to improve their ability to fight against adversity.
Plant Dormancy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Santalaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Starch ; analysis ; metabolism

[Objective] To investigate the expression of MICA mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma and give a more comprehensive understanding to its immune evasion.[Methods] RT-PCR was used to analyze MICA mRNA in 11 osteosarcoma tissues and 5 osteosarcoma cell lines.MICA expression was examined in 66 paraffin-embedded osteosarcoma tissues and 6 paraffin-embedded normal bone tissues by immunohistochemistry,and MICA protein in 9 fresh osteosarcoma tissues was detected by Western blot too.MICA surface expression was estimated by flow cytometry.[Results] Nine of eleven (81.8%) osteosarcoma specimens and all of the five cell lines consistently expressed MICA mRNA.Up-regulation of MICA expression was found in osteosarcoma (34/66,51.6%),compared with normal bone tissues (0/6,0%).The cell lines Saos-2,MG63,and HOS showed positive surface MICA expression,while the U2OS and OS732 showed very limited expression.[Conclusion] MICA mRNA and protein predominantly expressed on osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines.

Objective To investigate the effect of elevating the root of tongue bare-handed to assist ProSeal laryngeal mask airway insertion in patients with tongue body hypertrophy under general anesthesia. Methods Sixty ASAⅠ~Ⅲgrade patients with tongue body hypertrophy undergoing surgery in general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups:30 cases in each group. After anesthesia induction ,laryngeal mask airway was inserted in the observation group with assistance of elevating the root of tongue bared-handed ,while inserted in the control group by standard method.Insertion time ,success rate of the first and secondary and total insertion ,pharyngolaryneal complications at 24 hours after removal were recorded ,as well as the success rate of gastric tube intubation was recorded. Results Compared with the control group ,insertion time was significantly shortened (P < 0.05). Success rate of the first and total insertion were increased (P < 0.05).Success rate of gastric tube intubation was increased(P < 0.05),and pharyngolaryneal complications were decreased (P < 0.05) in the observation group. Conclusions Elevating the root of tongue bare-handed to assist ProSeal laryngeal mask airway insertion in patients with tongue body hypertrophy is a simple and fast method with high success rate ,good apposition and less complications. Its efficacy is better than that of the standard method.

Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key regulator of high density lipoprotein (HDL). Owing to its important role in the reverse of cholesterol transport, CETP has become a hotspot target in modulating lipid drug design. In this paper, structure based pharmacophore (SBP) models for CETP inhibitors were built based on the protein structure 4F2A from Protein Database (PDB). The best pharmacophore contained six hydrophobic features, one hydrogen bond acceptor feature and nine excluded volume features, with the N and CAI value was 3.33 and 2.31 respectively. Then the model was used to search the traditional Chinese medicine database (TCMD) and 629 compounds originated from 315 TCM herbs were obtained. Molecular docking was also used to validate SBP by analyzing the critical amino acid residue and the interaction between potential active compounds and receptor. In this study, several TCM herbs, like Lycii Frutus and Schisandrae chinensis fructus, which contained more optimal SBP based screening results, have been reported hypolipidemic effect, and need to be studied deeply in a more focused research on herbal active constituents. Therefore, this study could provide reliable fundamental data for exploring the action mechanisms of TCM, and be applicable to identify lead candidates, which can be utilized as starting scaffolds for natural CETP inhibitors.
Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Docking Simulation

Objective To investigate the association of interferon (IFN) γ gene polymorphisms and risk and prognosis of HPV cervical infection.Methods PCR-ASP was used for detectiug IFN-γ rs2430561 polymorphism in 179 HPV positive patients and 328 HPV negative normal controls.Results The frequency of A allele of 63.7％ (228/358) was significantly higher than the frequency of T allele of 36.3％ (130/358) in HPV positive group (P =0.045).The frequencies were 41.3％ (74/179) in AA genotype and 14.0％ (25/179) in TT genotype,women carrying AA genotype increased the risk of HPV infection compare with those with TT genotype (OR =1.784,95％ CI:1.031-3.088,P =0.039).During follow-up,the rate of HPV positive again in AA genotype was 83.8％ (62/74),while TT genotype was 20.0％ (5/25).In the analysis of Kaplan-Meier,the cumulative HPV negative rates of AA,TA and TT genotype exhibited significantly different (P =0.008).The cumulative HPV negative rate of AA genotype was the lowest (1.1％-5.9％).Conclusions IFN-γ rs2430561 polymorphisms confer the susceptibility to HPV infection.Women with AA genotype exhibited higher risk of infection and inclined to be continuous status and recurrence after HPV infection.

To separate and identify chemical signals which induce Thesium chinense haustorium formation, the components of T. chinense roots secretion collected with XAD-4 resin were detected by GC-MS. The effect of DMBQ as exogenous signals to induce haustorium formation in T. chinense was studied. Fifty-three compounds of 9 types had been detected, including hydrocarbons, esters, organic acids, ketones, alcohols, nitrogen containing compounds, phenolic acids, aldehyde and quinine. It is worth noting that the 2, 5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone has the core structure of 1,4-benzoquinone, which may play an important role in the parasitic relationship of Prunella vulgaris and T. chinense: DMBQ worked effectively on inducing haustoria, but induction effects vary widely in different concentrations. DMBQ with the concentration of 1 μmol x L(-1) showed the best effect of the inducing ability with a ratio of 110.52 when treated to induce haustoria.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Prunella ; chemistry ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) combined intravenous injection and/or Neiguan (P6) injection with droperidol in preventing and treating post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after thyroid tumor surgery.

METHODSRecruited were 120 female patients who underwent selective thyroid tumor surgery were randomly assigned to the control group, the TAES group, the IV group (intravenous injection of droperidol), and the P6 group [Neiguan point (P6) injection of droperidol], respectively, 30 cases in each group. Thirty min before anesthesia induction, 2 mL 0.9% normal saline injection was intravenously injected to those in the control group. Patients in the TAES group received TEAS at bilateral P6 points. 2.5 mg (1 mL) droperidol added in 1 mL 0.9 normal saline was intravenously injected to those in the IV group and injected at bilateral P6 points of those in the P6 group. The occurrence and severity of PONV were observed within 0 - 6 h and within 6 - 24 h after operation in each group.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the incidence and the severity of PONV within 0 - 6 h and within 6 - 24 h after thyroid surgery were significantly reduced in the three treatment groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence or the severity of PONV among the TAES, IV and P6 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTEAS at P6 could dramatically reduce the occurrence and the severity of PONV after thyroid tumor surgery. Besides, it got equivalent effect to that by intravenous injecting droperidol or by injecting droperidol at P6.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Single-Blind Method ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

OBJECTIVETo study the expression levels of ERCC2, UDG, and PCNA in cisplatin-treated A549 cell line.

METHODComet assay, RT-PCR, and western blot were used to study the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERCC2, UDG, and PCNA.

RESULTSWhen treated with IC(20) cisplatin, the DNA damage level increased as the cisplatin treated time increased within 24 h of cisplatin treatment. The tail state 12 h and 24 h after treatment was 5.02 +/- 0.68 and 7.22 +/- 0.53 respectively, which was significantly higher than those of the controls (2.73 +/- 0.29). The tail state 24 h after treatment was not significantly different from that of the controls. The DNA damage level decreased to normal after cisplatin treatment in 24 h (tail state 3.64 +/- 0.7). The expression levels of ERCC2, UDG, PCNA protein (4.37 +/- 0.57, 5.47 +/- 0.46, 2.21 +/- 0.47 respectively) and mRNA (0.71 +/- 0.08, 0.74 +/- 0.06, 0.82 +/- 0.09) were increased significantly within 24 h exposure and decreased to normal 24 h after cisplatin treatment. The 3 enzymes' mRNA and protein expression increased when treated with cisplatin, but the changes of protein level were slower than those of mRNA levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe DNA repair capability in A549 cells increases after cisplatin treatment. Cisplatin was a positive regulation of ERCC2, UDG, PCNA expression levels, which causes the increase of mRNA, and protein. The positive regulation only works in a short time and returns normal after 24 h of cisplatin treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Comet Assay ; DNA Glycosylases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA Helicases ; DNA Repair ; drug effects ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Transcription Factors ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein

BACKGROUNDIn prokaryotic organisms, the mechanism responsible for the accurate partition of newly replicated chromosomes into daughter cells is incompletely understood. Segregation of the replication terminus of the circular prokaryotic chromosome poses special problems that have not previously been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of several protein components (MreB, MreC, and MreD) of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton for the faithful transmission of the chromosomal terminus into daughter cells.

METHODSStrain LQ1 (mreB::cat), LQ2 (mreC::cat), and LQ3 (mreD::cat) were constructed using the Red recombination system. LQ11/pLAU53, LQ12/pLAU53, LQ13/pLAU53, LQ14/pLAU53, and LQ15/pLAU53 strains were generated by P1transduction of (tetO) 240 -Gm and (lacO) 240 -Km cassettes from strains IL2 and IL29. Fluorescence microscopy was performed to observe localization pattern of fluorescently-labeled origin and terminus foci in wild-type and mutant cells. SOS induction was monitored as gfp fluorescence from PsulA-gfp in log phase cells grown in Luria-Bertani medium at 37°C by measurement of emission at 525 nm with excitation at 470 nm in a microplate fluorescence reader.

RESULTSMutational deletion of the mreB, mreC, or mreD genes was associated with selective loss of the terminus region in approximately 40% of the cells within growing cultures. This was accompanied by significant induction of the SOS DNA damage response, suggesting that deletion of terminus sequences may have occurred by chromosomal cleavage, presumably caused by ingrowth of the division septum prior to segregation of the replicated terminal.

CONCLUSIONSThese results imply a role for the MreBCD cytoskeleton in the resolution of the final products of terminus replication and/or in the specific movement of newly replicated termini away from midcell prior to completion of septal ingrowth. This would identify a previously unrecognized stage in the overall process of chromosome segregation.

Chromosome Segregation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo improve the survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for prefabrication of an osteo-musculo-cutaneous flap.

METHODSIn a mouse model, the compound of MSCs and p(3HB-co-3HH) were embeded in the latissimus dorsi muscle as an experimental group and the muscle pocket of the buttock as the control. The examinations of the HE staining, hybridization in situ of osteonectin mRNA and Von kossa staining were used to evaluate the results.

RESULTSThe expression of osteonectin mRNA and the Von kossa staining showed that the latissimus dorsi muscle group was superior to the control in 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the surgery in vivo.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the above-mentioned technique may be a good alternative for the prefabrication of the osteo-musculo-cutaneous flap.

Animals ; Fascia ; transplantation ; Histocytochemistry ; methods ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Models, Animal ; Osteonectin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Tissue Engineering ; methods