OBJECTIVETo provide basis for making the quality standard of medicinal chrysanthemums [Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel.].

METHODThe character of pharmacognosy.

RESULTThe characters of many of chrysanthemums as well as the differences between them have been clarified.

Chrysanthemum ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in estimating if standard dose treatment is fit for the elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.Methods.Comprehensive geriatric assessments including three assessments of activity of daily living,instrumental activity of daily living and comorbidity scoring according to Cumulative Illness Rating Score for Geriatrics were adopted to assess if standard dose treatment is fit for the elderly patients in our prospective study.Thirty seven patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma,aged ＞70 years were enrolled in the study,and grouped into fit,unfit and frail groups according to comprehensive geriatric assessment scoring and their age.The treatment protocolswere not determined by comprehensive geriatric assessment scores,but by clinical judgments made by clinicians based on their clinical experience and disease features.The clinically effective response and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in the three groups.Results According to CGA scores,patients were grouped into fit [21 cases (56.8％)],unfit [7 (18.9％)] and frail [9 (24.3％)].37 cases received 213 courses of treatment at average 5.76 courses per case.The overall response (complete / partial remission) rates were [85.7％(18/21) vs.28.6％ (2/7) vs.44.4％ (4/9),x2=9.69,P=0.008] and median survival times were (44 months vs.10 months vs.9 months;x2 =7.03,P=0.03) among fit,unfit and frail groups with statistically significant differences.Total effective rate (achieving all clinical targets) in fit group of 21 cases were 100 ％ (12/12)with receiving standard dose therapy,and 66.7％ of(6/9)with low dose therapy(P=0.06).Overall response rate(total/partial remission) [85.7％(18/21) vs.28.6％(2/7) vs.44.4％(4/9),x2=9.69,P=0.008] and median survival (44 months vs.10 months vs.9 months;x2 =7.03,P=0.03) amongfit,unfit and frail groups.In fit group,the two-year overall survival was higher in patients receiving standard dose treatment than receivingpalliativetreatment,with statistical significance [83.3 ％ (10/12) vs.33.3 ％ (3/9),P =0.032],without significant hematologic toxicity observed between the subgroups.Conclusions Comprehensive geriatric assessment can identify if elderly patients diffuse large B cell lymphoma can acquire a satisfactory curative effect from a standard dose treatment ofimmunochemotherapy.

BACKGROUNDHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may induce autoimmune response and autoantibodies can be detected in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, the reported positive rate of autoantibodies in CHC patients in China varies considerably. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver-kidney-microsome type 1 autoantibodies (anti-LKM-1) in a large cohort of CHC patients, and analyzed the factors related to the presence of the autoantibodies.

METHODSA total of 360 CHC patients were enrolled in this study. Serum ANA and anti-LKM-1 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Clinical analysis was performed to disclose the related factors to autoantibody production.

RESULTSThe prevalence of ANA and anti-LKM-1 in CHC patients was 12.5% (45/360) and 2.5% (9/360), respectively. Women had a higher prevalence than men (18.9% vs 11.4%, P = 0.046). Patients with positive autoantibodies had lower HCV RNA levels (1.2 x 10(7) copies/L vs 7.2 x 10(7) copies/L, P < 0.05). Positive ANA was associated with higher serum globulin (P < 0.05). Stratified analysis showed that there were no significant differences in age, HCV genotype, disease course, clinical stage, prevalence of cirrhosis and interferon therapy between autoantibody-positive and -negative subgroups.

CONCLUSIONAutoantibodies can be induced in the course of CHC, and some CHC patients can even develop autoimmune hepatitis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE Lapachol is a natural naphthoquinone compound that possesses extensive biological activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of lapachol on rat C6 glioma both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the potential mechanisms. METHODS The antitumor effect of lapachol was firstly evaluated in the C6 glioma model in Wistar rats. The effects of lapachol on C6 cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA damage were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS)/ phenazinemethosulfate (PMS) assay, hoechst 33358 staining, annexinⅤ-FITC/PI staining, and comet assay. Effects of lapachol on topoisomerase I (TOP I) and topoi?somerase Ⅱ (TOP Ⅱ) activities were detected by TOP Ⅰ and TOP Ⅱ mediated supercoiled pBR322 DNA relaxation assays and molecular docking. TOPⅠ and TOPⅡ expression levels in C6 cells were also determined. RESULTS High dose lapachol showed significant inhibitory effect on the C6 glioma in Wistar rats (P<0.05). It was showed that lapachol could inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and DNA damage of C6 cells in dose dependent manners. Lapachol could inhibit the activities of both TOPⅠ and Ⅱ. Lapachol-TOPⅠ showed relatively stronger interaction than that of lapachol-TOPⅡ in molecular docking study. Also, lapachol could inhibit TOPⅡ expression levels, but not TOPⅠ expression levels. CONCLUSION These results showed that lapachol could significantly inhibit C6 glioma both in vivo and in vitro, which might be related with inhibiting TOPⅠ and TOPⅡ activities, as well as TOPⅡ expression.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of incomplete Kawasaki disease(KD).Methods Clinical data includi-ng test results,therapeutic methods were analyzed retrospectively in 579 patients with Kawasaki disease.They were divided into classic KD and incomplete KD and made a compared analysis.Results There were no significant differences in gender,age,symptom and laboratory examination between classic and incomplete KD.But the rate of coronary artery lesions was higher in incomplete KD(18.4%) than that of classic KD(11%).Conclusion The rate of coronary artery lesions was higher in incomplete KD,and it should be paid more attention to earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the specialty of diagnosis and surgery of tight carotid stenosis.

METHODFrom January 2000 to December 2009, 53 patients with tight carotid stenosis (> 95%) were operated on. All 53 patients had tight carotid stenosis more than 95% on one side in whom 28 had contralateral carotid stenosis or occlusion. The clinical and imaging data as well as surgical outcomes of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSForty-five patients had postoperatively done well without any complications. There were 3 cases of hemodynamic instability and one case of cardiac ischemia which resolved in one to two days. One patient developed mild hoarseness. One complicated with bacteremia due to deep vein catheter insertion. Two patients experienced brain hemorrhage. None of this series occurred perioperative brain ischemia.

CONCLUSIONSTight carotid stenosis indicates a need for expeditious carotid endarterectomy with very low rates of brain ischemia. Intraoperative shunting is seldom necessary. Postoperative hyperperfusion syndrome and brain hemorrhage should be worried. Micro-endarterectomy can effectively prevent from restenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Stenosis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the indication, time and strategy of surgery for patients with bilateral carotid atherosclerotic stenosis.

METHODSSeventy-four patients with bilateral carotid atherosclecrotic stenosis were admitted to our hospital from February 1987 to December 2007. In 34 patients who presented with unilateral symptoms and underwent ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy (CEA), contralateral CEA or carotid artery stenting (CAS) was performed in 8 because of severe stenosis (> 70%) or unstable plaque. Thirty-eight patients presented with bilateral symptoms. Among them, 15 underwent CEA on both sides, 3 were performed CEA on one side and CAS on the other side, while 20 underwent unilateral CEA only. In 2 asymptomatic patients, CEA was also performed.

RESULTSNinety-three cases of CEA were performed in 74 patients. Sixty-eight patients were uneventful after operation. Neurological deficits deteriorated in 2 patients. Four patients developed cardiac ischemia, cerebral hemorrhage and hoarseness respectively. Sixty-seven patients were followed-up for 4.9 years. No cerebral ischemia relevant to operated carotid artery developed in 63 patients.

CONCLUSIONSIf the indication is obvious, CEA should be performed no matter how contralateral carotid artery is. The strategy of therapy is individual. Whether using shunt depends on intra-operative monitoring.

Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Carotid Stenosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents

The hybrid xylanase TB was constructed by the substitution of the N-terminus segment of the Streptomyces olivaceoviridis xylanase XYNB with corresponding region of Thermomonosporafusca xylanase TfxA. The hybrid gene tb, encoding the TB, was correctly expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and Pichia pastoris GS115. TB was purified and its enzymatic properties were determined. The results revealed that the optimal temperature and optimal pH of TB were at 70 degrees C and 6.0, which have been obviously improved compared with those of XYNB. The thermostability of TB were all about six-fold of XYNB's after incubating the properly diluted enzyme solutions at 80 degrees C and 90 degrees C for 3min, respectively. The pH stability of TB was 5 to approximately 9, which was narrower than that of XYNB. Still, TB remains a high specific activity as XYNB does. Analysis of a homology modeling and sequence similarity were used to reveal the factors influencing the enzymatic properties of TB and the discussion for the relationship between structure and function of xylanase was given.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Desulfurococcaceae ; enzymology ; genetics ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pichia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptomyces ; enzymology ; genetics ; Structure-Activity Relationship

A homology modeling of xylanase XYNB from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis A1 was made by Swiss-Model. The hydrophobic Interaction between beta-sheet B1 and B2 in the tertiary structure model of XYNB was compared with other thermophilic xylanase. A T11Y mutation was introduced in XYNB by site-dirrected mutagenesis to improve the thermostability of the enzyme. The XYNB and mutant xylanase (XYNB') expressed in Pichia pastoris were purified and their enzymatic properties were determined. The result revealed that the thermostability of XYNB' was obviously higher than that of XYNB. The optimal temperature of XYNB' for its activity was 60 degrees C, similar to XYNB. But, compare to XYNB, the optimal pH value, the Km value and the specific activity of XYNB' had also been changed. The research results suggested that the aromatic interaction between beta-sheet B1 and B2 in xylanase should increase enzyme thermostability. The mutant xylanase XYNB' is a good material for further research in the relationship between structure and function of xylanase.
Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; chemistry ; genetics ; Enzyme Stability ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutant Proteins ; chemistry ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Folding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Streptomyces ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Glucosidase ; chemistry ; genetics

In order to improve the fermentation potency of phytase in recombinant host and decrease the production cost, the pichia expression vector pGAPZalpha-A was modified by introduction of an AOX1 promoter from vector pPIC9 and the resulted vector pAOXZalpha is an methanol induced vector. After that, a phytase gene appA-m was cloned into pAOXZalpha to construct the recombinant vector pAOXZalpha-appA-m. The recombinant Pichia pastoris 74#, which already contains one copy of appA-m and its fermentation potency exceeded 7.5 x 10(6) IU/mL, was used as the host strain for the transformation of pAOXZalpha-appA-m. The Pichia pastoris transformants were gained by electroporation. PCR results indicated that the appA-m expression box has integrated into the genome of Pichia pastoris and the original construction of phytase gene has not changed. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that phytase was overexpressed and secreted into the medium supernatant. Recombinants with high expression level were screened and used for fermentation. In 5L fermentor, the expression level of phytase protein achieved 4 mg/mL and the phytase activity (fermentation potency) exceeded 1.2 x 10(7) IU/mL, which was about 1.6-fold compared with that of the host strain 74#. Moreover, the improved recombinant Pichia pastoris is excellent at expression stability and heredity stability.
6-Phytase ; genetics ; Fermentation ; Gene Dosage ; Pichia ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombination, Genetic