Ricin is a plant toxin isolated from the seed of the castor plant(Ricinus communis). As a typical II ribosome inactivating protein,ricin consists of two polypeptide chains named ricin toxin A chain(RTA)and ricin toxin B chain(RTB),linked via a disulfide bridge. RTB binds to both glycopro?tein and glycolipid at the surface of the target cell and mediates ricin to be endocytosed and transported retro?gradely to the endoplasmic reticulum. After being reduced and retrotranslocated to the cytosol,RTA mediates its toxicity due to its activity of a RNA N- glycosidases. Aside from its main toxic effect of protein synthesis inhibition,ricin also displays other properties that contribute to its toxicity such as inducing apoptosis,cytokine secreting and peroxidation. Ricin is stable and can be easily isolated. It has many routes of intoxication with no specific antidotes. Due to its natural abundance,remarkable toxicity,and the potential to be used in biological warfare as well as terrorist attacks,ricin has been classified as a Category B biothreat agent. Here we reviewed its history as a biothreat agent,constitu?tion,intoxication mechanism,detection methods and the development of specific antitodes.

The self-made high sensitivity and selectivity micro-biosensor was applied to monitor the change of dopamine in cerebral nucleus in rats in vivo. The micro-biosensor was prepared and used to detect dopamine level in vitro and monitor the dynamic change of dopamine in different cerebral nucleus in vivo. The results showed the lowest concentration of dopamine that could be detected by the biosensor was 32.5 nmol/L. Its positive peak was significantly different from that of AA, 5-HTP and E. The biosensor could keep working for monitoring the dopamine concentration in the cerebral tissue for more than 10 h. It was concluded that the microsensor has high sensitivity and selectivity to dopamine and can be used to dynamically monitor the change of dopamine in vivo.
Biosensing Techniques/*instrumentation ; Biosensing Techniques/methods ; Brain Chemistry ; Corpus Striatum/*metabolism ; Dopamine/*analysis ; Microelectrodes ; Monitoring, Physiologic

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference to promote the proper use of TCM decoction pieces.METHODS:According to Beijing TCM Decoction Piece Dispensing Regulation,stratified random sampling method was adopted to select a group of physicians in our hospital and conduct questionnaire survey about their knowledge of the prescription handling of 8 commonly used TCM decoction pieces including Scutellaria baicalensis,Angelica sinensis,Fritillary,Phellodendron chinense,Aconitum carmichaeli,Eucommia ulmoides,Ziziphus jujuba,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.Then,the survey data was collected and analyzed.RESULTS:A total of 81 questionnaires were given out and all were returned with effective recovery rate of 100％.In terms of professional titles,associate chief physicians showed the lowest average error rates in prescription handling cognition (27.5 ％),compared with physicians (35.8％) and attending doctors (37.0％).They made most mistakes about Fritillary and E.ulmoides.To the contrary,both physicians and attending doctors made most mistakes about E.ulmoides.In the scope of working life,physicians from different groups showed similar average error rates in prescription handing recognition (31.3％-38.8％).All of them made most mistakes about P.chinense and E.ulmoides.As for major,those who study western internal medicine shared larger average error rates (43.8％) than those who study internal medicine of TCM (36.8％),traumatology and orthopedics of TCM (31.8％) and acupuncture (36.5％).Each major showed the highest error rates in E.ulmoides.The order of 8 TCM decoction pieces from the most mistakes to the least mistakes made by physicians was E.ulmoides,P.chinense,Fritillary,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,S.baicalensis,A.carmichaeli,Z.jujuba and A.sinensis.CONCLUSIONS:Physicians with different professional titles,working life and majors show deficiency in knowledge about the prescription handling of 8 commonly used TCM decoction pieces.Generally,physicians show the worst understanding of E.ulmoides.

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Biopsy ; Child ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Rhabdomyolysis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Virus Diseases ; complications

OBJECTIVETo establish a characterization system of traditional Chinese medicinal properties in line with modern scientific cognition regularity, in order to reveal properties of traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian and relations of effects of medicinal properties.

METHODBy collecting data about traditional Chinese medicinal properties recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2005 Edition), literature and data about pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicines recorded in the Chinese Materia Medica, by using the method of association rules, the authors dug pharmacological effect rules corresponds to relevant medicinal property combinations, with the medicinal property combination of traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian as the target.

RESULTIt was found that either obvious different pharmacological effects or identical pharmacological characteristics existed in traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian.

CONCLUSIONWith the aim to explore the correlations between traditional Chinese medicine medicinal properties and pharmacological effects, the authors linked the traditional Chinese medicine theory with modern research achievements, in order to provide the ideas and methods for interpreting mechanisms of medicinal properties.

Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Meridians

Objective To investigate in vitro anti-hydatid efficacy on Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex(EgPSC) by using albendazole sulfoxide(ASOX) and its two enantiomeric antipodes, L-ASOX and D-ASOX.Methods Eg protoscoleces were divided into eight groups and cultured in the DMEM culture media under two concentrations(50 ?g/ml and 100 ?g/ml) of ASOX, L-ASOX and D-ASOX respectively.The appropriate controls included(i) a culture containing an equal amount of DMSO and(ii) a culture medium alone.The mortality of EgPSC in each group was daily counted until 100% EgPSC death in some groups.Results Significant difference of EgPSC mortality was found among the three drugs with various concentrations compared to control group(P0.05), but between ASOX group and L-ASOX group(P

OBJECTIVE:To promote rational clinical use of drugs by the aid of computer.METHODS:The databases for basic data of drugs,irrational use of commonly-used drugs,compatibility of agents for injection and consultation for drug use in periods of prequancy and lactation were established.Modules for inquiry,addition,revision,deletion and maintaince were designed.The computer real time monitoring system for rational clinical use of drugs was thus developed.RESULTS&CONCLUSION:This system is simple,flexible and quick,and can check the prescription and provide consultation for compatibility between drugs.It is suitable for extensive use in clinical practice.

Objective To study the effect of Jade -Screen Powder (JSP)on regulating expression of 5 microRNAs associated with helper T cells in asthmatic mouse model.Methods Forty Balb /c mice were randomly di-vided into 4 groups,1 0 mice for each group,namely normal control,asthma model,JSP treatment and Dexamethasone treatment.The mouse models of allergic inflammation on both upper and lower airways were established by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge.Interleukin(IL)-1 3 and IL -1 7 expressions were detected from lung homogenates by ELISA.Hematoxylin and eosin staining was also performed to observe the pathological changes in the lung tissue.The expressions of miR -1 46a,miR -1 46b,miR -21 0,miR -1 26 and miR -21 a were detected by quantitative real time PCR from splenocytes.Results The lower levels of IL -1 3 [(6.382 ±1 .690)μg/L]and IL -1 7 [(24.21 2 ± 1 .250)μg/L]were found in JSP treatment group compared with those in the asthma model group [(20.1 54 ±7.960)μg/L;(50.31 2 ±5.770)μg/L,rseparately],there was significant difference in IL -1 3 between JSP group and the asthma model group,as well as IL -1 7 (t =3.785,P =0.005;t =9.891 ,P =0.000).Same findings were found in Dexamethasone treated group as well [IL -1 3:(9.366 ±3.460)μg/L,IL -1 7:(29.1 32 ±4.960)μg/L;t =2.779, P =0.024;t =6.225,P =0.000].However,upregulation of miR -21 0 was observed in JSP treatment group (2.052 ± 0.871 )compared with that in the asthma model group (4.034 ±1 .379)(3.95 folds,t =2.71 8,P =0.026).Mean-time,the expression of miR -1 26 in JSP group (4.920 ±0.924)and Dexamethasone group (3.862 ±1 .51 0)in-creased compared with asthma model group (6.024 ±0.447)(2.1 5 folds,t =2.405,P =0.043,and 4.48 folds,t =-3.069,P =0.01 5).Conclusions Th2 and Th1 7 T cells participate in the pathogenesis of asthma and the asthmatic process can be inhibited by JSP.JSP may affect the helper T cells by regulating miR -21 0 and miR -1 26.

Mouthpart developmental histology of Whitmania pigra at different month of age were studied by paraffin section, HE staining combined alcian blue and periodic acid schifts reaction procedure (AB-PAS). The following results was obtained: Change ranges: oral width 0.6 mm (1-3 month), 1.2 mm (34 month); oral diameter 0.3 mm (1-3 month); 1.2 mm (34 month), the oral size reached maximum during 4-6 months and unchanged thereafter. Oral lip had a thin protective film located in the front of the mouthpart. The W. pigra possessed three jaws in oral cavity, the big one was in dorsum, the other two separated on both side of abdomen respectively. Jaws and muscular pharynx were interrelated closely. The jaws were composed by cuticle, epithelial layer, muscularis and jaw cavity from outside to inside. In the front of jaws had mastoid abdomen with function of secreting acidophilic granule from 2 month age. Oral cavity was composed by mucosa, submucosa and muscularis inside and outside. Oral cavity was rich of peristomial nerves. And pharynx was composed of mucosa, muscularis, adventitia from inside to outside. The folds height and width become heighten and thicken. Mucosa epithelium from complex flat epithelium changed into columnar epithelium, muscularis gradually developed into thickened along with growing. Muscular thickness reached maximum at 4 months. Mucous cells of W. pigra were classified into I-IV types based on different staining and two mainly morphological shapes (Tubular, Pear-shaped). Jaws, oral cavity, pharynx by AB-PAS staining showed little changes at different month of age. Mucous cells were few at 1 month age, and type II cells were increased rapidly in 2-3 month age in oral lip. Oral cavity contains more mucous gland cells type I. Under the muscularis there were connective tissues which distributed a few of mucous cells type II.
Animals ; Female ; Histology ; Leeches ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Male ; Mouth ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; chemistry

Studies on the variation of amylase, lipase and lrotease activity of Whitmania pigra in 0-6 months old using 3, 5-dinitro- salicylic acid colorimetry, right-nitrophenyl palmitate ester (ρ-NPP) colorimetry and folin-phenol method. The results showed that pro- tease activity remained low before 1.5 months old and with the highest activity in 2 months old, but after showing a small peak in 4 months, alkaline protease rapid declined. Amylase was low at born, then gradually increased the activity of the highest in 2.5 months old. Lipase with a strong vitality at birth, then 1 month with minimum and 2 months peaked, but appeared a small peak in 4 months old. In summary, only lipase exhibits strong activity at birth, lipase with the strongest activity in the digestive tract during develop- ment. Protease, lipase and amylase with the strongest activity at 2-3 months old, but were decreased after 4 months old.
Age Factors ; Amylases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Leeches ; enzymology ; Lipase ; metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism