A simple and sensitive method was developed to screen ?-PL p ro duced strains from soils. 150mg/L K_2Cr_2O_7 was added to th e solid medium for actinomycetes enriching. A basic dye, methylene blue, incorp orated in the agar plate to detect alkali producers, because dye reacted with th e secreted basic polymers by electrostatic interaction with the secreted basic p dymers and formed special zoon. And then dragendorff regent was used to detect alkaloid producers. Four ?-PL producers were obtained by TLC analysis. Meanw hile, phylogenetic analysis of PL6-3 strain, including morphology, physiologica l and biochemical characters and chemotaxomy were performed and phylogenetic tre e was constructed based on the 16S rDNA sequences. And the results indicated th at PL6-3 strain is a member of Kitasatospora.

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of 2-(8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-oxo-1-H-2-benzopyran-3-Y1) propionic acid (NM-3) on lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer using orthotopic implantated tumor models of BALB/C nude mice. Methods A BALB/C nude mouse model of transplanted in situ human gastric cancer was established. Twenty-eight nude mice were divided into four groups with 7 each: control group, NM-3 treated group, carboplatin (10 mg/kg) treated group,and NM-3 combiantion group injected with normal saline, 5 mg/kg of NM-3, 10 mg/kg of carboplatin or 5 mg/kg of NM-3, + 10 mg/kg carboplatin, respectively, twice a week for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, all mice were sacrificed for detection of lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD),lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluranic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1), podoplanin and Prox-1 byimmunohistochemistry with staining. Results In comparison with control group, the LYVE-1 level in other three groups was decreased with no significant difference (P＞ 0.05). The concentrations of podoplanin and Prox-1 in NM-3 group and combination group decreased significantly than those in control group and carboplatin group (P ＜ 0.05). The number of LMVD in NM-3 group and combination group was 4.72±0.50 and 4.78± 0.38, respectively, which was significantly lower than that in control group (7.35±0.55)and carboplatin group (6.98i0.35, P＜0.05). Conclusion The NM-3 can inhibit the growth of gastric cancer by interfering lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer.

In this study, 101 strains of bacteria were isolated from arct ic water and sediment samples. The methanol extracts of the fermented broth prod uced by these strains were screened in vitro for anti-tumor activity on mou se tsFT210 cells using the method of flow cytometry, and screened for antibacter ial activity by the method of paper disk diffusion. The result showed that one strain exhibited anti-tumor activity and eight strains had antibacterial activ ity. The stability of the antibacterial components produced by strain AR084 an d its optimum medium were also studied. The research indicated that arctic bac teria had potential application in pharmaceutics.

Objective The cytotoxic microbial strains isolated from the deep ocean water and sediments were screened,and the secondary metabolites of bioactive fungus c2b were investi- gated.Methods Active bioactive microbial strains were screened using brine shrimp and chro- nic medulla leucocythemia leukocythemia(K562)cell line.The cytotoxic components of fun- gus c2b were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation and solvent extraction,silica gel col- umn chromatography and preparative HPLC.Their structures were established by pbysico- chemical properties and spectral analyses.The cytotoxicities of compounds were evaluated by SRB method.Results and Conclusion Twenty-nine strains of fungi were isolated.Among them,seven strains showed cytotoxic activities.Six compounds(1～6)were isolated and i- dentified as N-acetyl histamine(1),chrysogine(2),ergosterol peroxide(3),5,8-epidioxy- 24-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3?-ol(4)cerevisterol(5)and(4E,8E)-N-[(2'R,3'E)-2'-hy- droxy-3'-hexadecenoyl]-1-O-?-D-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadiene(6),respective- ly.Compound 3 and 4 showed median cytotoxicity.

OBJECTIVETo study the pulmonary toxicity to rats induced by the nanosized SiO(2) or the standard SiO(2).

METHODSSeventy-two male SD rats were divided into three groups: the nanosized SiO(2) group, the standard SiO(2) group and the control group. 24 rats each group. The nanosized SiO(2) group and the standard SiO(2) group were instilled intratracheally with 0.5 ml suspension of 0.6 mg/ml nanosized SiO(2) or standard SiO(2) respectively while the control group was instilled with 0.5 ml physiological saline. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day after exposure, six rats were sacrificed at each time point and the total white cells counts and total protein in BALF and the histopathological changes were observed. The pulmonary toxicities of the two SiO(2) dusts were compared.

RESULTSNanosized SiO(2) caused significant increase at 3rd, 7th, 14th day after the exposure [(16.0 +/- 6.0) x 10(6), (11.1 +/- 4.0) x 10(6), (12.2 +/- 4.6) x 10(6)] compared with saline (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the total numbers of white cells and on the 3rd after the exposure compared with standard SiO(2) [(5.7 +/- 3.7) x 10(6), P < 0.01]. Meanwhile, Nanosized SiO(2) significantly increased the total protein on the 14th, 28th day after the exposure (0.41 +/- 0.14, 0.41 +/- 0.19 g/L) compared with saline or standard SiO(2) and nanosized SiO(2) on the 3rd, 7th day after the exposure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Nanosized SiO(2)-treated rats showed marked white cell infiltration in alveolar space or around brondum the blood vessel. Standard SiO(2) caused similar but less severe responses compared with nanosized SiO(2). Van Gieson's-stained sections showed no significant fibrosis in these dust-exposed rats at 28th day after the exposure.

CONCLUSIONNanosized SiO(2) can cause severer and longer pulmonary toxicity in rats than standard SiO(2). The pulmonary particle load threshold of nanosized SiO(2) may be lower than that of standard SiO(2).

Animals ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; toxicity ; Particle Size ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo observe preventive and therapeutic effect of Yifei Jianpi Recipe (YJR) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model rats and to explore its mechanism from the way of airway inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion.

METHODSThe COPD rat model was established by using cigarette smoking combined with intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (control group), the model group, the YJR group, 6 in each group. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 0. 1 second (FEV0. 1), FEVO. 1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) was tested by lung function device. Pathological changes of bronchi and lung tissues were observed by HE staining. Airway Goblet cells were observed using AB-PAS staining. Contents of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein expressions of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), nuclear factor KB (NF-KB), mucin 5AC (Muc5AC), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rat airway were detected by immunohistochemical assay. mRNA expressions of TLR4 and Muc5AC in bronchi and lung tissues were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT qPCR).

RESULTSChanges of bronchi and lung tissues in the model group rats were consistent with typical pathological manifestations of COPD. Compared with the model group, the degree of lung injury was significantly alleviated in the YJR group. Compared with the control group, FVC, FEV0. 1, FEVO. I/FVC, and PEF were decreased (P <0. 01), contents of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in BALF were significantly increased (P <0. 01), protein expressions of ICAM-1, NF-KB, Muc5AC, and TLR4, mRNA expression levels of Muc5AC and TLR4 in bronchi and lung tissues were also significantly increased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, FVC, FEV0. 1, FEV0. 1/FVC, and PEF were significantly increased in the YJR group (P <0. 01, P <0. 05), but the rest indices were significantly lowered (P <0. 01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONYJR could decrease contents of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in BALF of COPD model rats, inhibit protein expression levels of ICAM-1, NF-κB, Muc5AC, and TLR4.in airway and lung tissues, thus playing preventive and therapeutic roles by reducing airway inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion.

Animals ; Bronchi ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Mucin 5AC ; metabolism ; Mucus ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of ginseng-sanqi extract (GSE) on the vascular endothelium growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in VEGFR-2-Ras-MAPK signal pathway of angiogenesis in cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSThe protein expressions of VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK in HUVEC and the effects of GSE (at different doses) and basic fibrin growth factor (bFGF) on them were detected by Western-Blot test.

RESULTSGSE can enhance the expression of angiogenesis signaling proteins (VEGFR-2, Ras, MAPK) to different extents, especially in the groups treated by bFGF or higher dose GSE, the levels showed significant differences to those in the blank group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONGSE can promote the expressions of VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK in the angiogenesis signaling pathway, which may be the foundation of Chinese medicine for tonifying qi and activating blood circulation in promoting endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis.

Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism

[ABSTRACT]AIM:Toobservetheeffectofazithromycinontheratswithchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease ( COPD) , and to explore the underlying mechanism about the airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion.METH-ODS:Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, COPD model group, azithromycin treatment group. The COPD model was established by the method of cigarette smoking combined with intratracheal injection of LPS.Patho-logical changes of the bronchi and lung tissues of the rats were observed with HE staining.Pulmonary ventilation function in the rats was detected with pulmonary function instrument.The levels of IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-αin bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA.The expression of MUC5ac and TLR4 at mRNA and protein levels in bronchi and lung tissues was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:HE staining showed that the changes of bron-chi and lung tissues in model group were consistent with typical pathological manifestations of COPD .Compared with model group, these changes were alleviated in treatment group.The pulmonary functions in model group were significantly de-creased compared with control group.The levels of IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-αin the BALF in model group were significantly increased compared with control group (P<0.05).The expression of MUC5ac and TLR4 at mRNA and protein levels in model group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05).Compared with model group, the degree of the descent in pulmonary function in treatment group was significantly lessened.Compared with model group, the levels of IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-αin treatment group were significantly inhibited (P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of MUC5ac and TLR4 at mRNA and protein levels in treatment group was significantly lower than that in model group ( P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSION:Azithromycin decreases the levels of IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-αin the BALF of COPD model rats, inhibits the protein expression of MUC5ac and TLR4 in the lung tissues, thus playing a preventive and therapeutic role to reduce airway inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion.

Adult ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; Men's Health ; Middle Aged ; Minority Groups ; Reproductive Medicine ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

correlation with cross-sectional area and negative correlation with bucking ratio. The effect of fat mass on hip geometric parameters at the three regions was inconsistent. (3) Fat mass and percentage of body fat ( Fat%) showed negative correlation with cross-sectional area and average cortical thickness and positive correlation with bucking ratio in young group. However, the negative contribution produced by fat mass and Fat% to hip geometric structure became weaker gradually in middle-aged and older groups. ( 4 ) Limb lean mass yielded the largest positive contribution to cross-sectional area and average cortical thickness at all three regions in young group. However, the contribution produced by trunk lean mass became the largest positive contribution to cross-sectional area and average cortical thickness in older group. Conclusions Among all the body composition parameters, hip BMD has showed the most marked correlation with hip geometric structure. Lean mass is ranked the second in the correlation. The impacts of fat mass and lean mass on hip geometry are changing with aging and their different tissue distributions.