Polysaccharides with multiple biological activities are usually considered as one of the major bioactive compounds in Chinese medicines (CMs). At present, the development of drug and functional foods related to polysaccharides have attracted a great deal of attention due to their great potential effects and diverse action mechanisms. However, quality control of polysaccharides is the bottleneck and a challenge due to their complexity and chemical diversity. Actually, the bioactivities of polysaccharides are closely related to their molecular structures. In order to ensure their safety and efficacy, the development of novel approaches based on the molecular structures for the improvement of quality control of polysaccharides is significantly important. Therefore, in this article, the relationship between biological activities and chemical structures, as well as the action mechanisms of polysaccharides from CMs were summarized first. Furthermore, saccharide mapping, a novel strategy for quality control of bioactive polysaccharides from CMs, was introduced and the application and perspectives were also discussed.
Carbohydrate Sequence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective: To investigate the effect of diabetes on the intensity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a)-SUMOylation and SERCA2a activity of myocardium in experimental rats.
Methods: The 8 weeks old SD rats were divided into 2 groups, Diabetic group, with diet-induced type 2 diabetic rats and Control group, with normal rats. The systolic and diastolic cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography and left ventricular pressure measurement. The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and SUMOylation kit.
Results: Compared with Control group, Diabetic group had decreased systolic and diastolic cardiac functions, especially for diastolic function;decreased SERCA2a protein expression and intensity of SUMOylation;decreased SUMOylation E2 (Ubc9 ) protein expression. The protein levels of SUMO1, SAE1 and SAE2 were similar between 2 groups.
Conclusion: The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 decreased in diabetic myocardium which implies that SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 were closely related to the damage of diabetic myocardium in experimental rats.

Objective To explore students nurses′acceptance of case-based group assessment. Method A total of 100 student nurses participated in the survey by a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate the perception and acceptance of the student nurses. Results The score on the acceptance of case-based group assessment was (2.44 ± 0.46). The items with higher acceptance included teamwork spirit, clinical reasoning and decision-making ability, and the items with lower acceptance were improving of nurse-patient communication and the nursing skills. Conclusions The student nurses have a good acceptance of the case-based group assessment and think this assessment method can contribute to development of teamwork spirit and competency of clinical reasoning and decision-making. On the other hand, they suggest we should strengthen the ability in nurse-patient communication and optimize the links in ability assessment.

Objective To analyze the expression of interleukin (IL)-31 in tuberculous pleural effusion,and to evaluate its diagnostic value of tuberculous effusion.Methods Seventy-one patients with pleural effusion were enrolled,including 40 cases of tuberculous pleural effusion and 31 cases of malignant pleural effusion.Luminex method was applied to detect the IL-31 expression in pleural effusion.IL-31 levels were compared using non-parametric Mann-WhitneyU test,and the receiver operator characteristic (ROC)curve was used to elvaluate the diagnostic value of IL-31 .Results IL-31 expression in tuberculous pleural effusion was significantly higher than that in malignant pleural effusion with statistical significance (529.4 ng/L vs 13.8 ng/L,U =62,P <0.01 ).Based on the level of IL-31 expression,area under the ROC curve was 0.95 with the optimum cut-off value of 67.5 ng/L.Thus,the sensitivity and specificity of IL-31 ≥67.5 ng/L for diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy were 82.5 % (95 %CI :73.3% - 94.2%)and 100.0% (95 %CI :91 .4%-100.0%),respectively.Conclusion IL-31 is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion, which favors the differentiation of tuberculosis from malignance.

A stimulate method for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers ( PBDEs) and derivatives (OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in egg samples was developed by gel permeation chromatography ( GPC) and dispersive solid phase extraction ( DSPE) combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric ( HPLC-MS/MS) and gas chroma-tography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry ( GC-NCI/MS ) . The analytes were extracted with mixture of hexane and dichloromethane (1∶1, V/V) by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), and purified by 100 mg C18 dispersive solid phase extraction ( SPE) sorbents followed with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) , and then analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI/MS), respectively. The quantita-tion was carried out external standard method. The recoveries of objects were 64. 5%-97. 2% and 65. 6%-109 . 2% ( except BDE85 was 54 . 8%, OH-BDE-137 was 47 . 4%) spiked at 1 . 0 μg/kg or 5 . 0 μg/kg in egg white and egg yolk, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 20. 2%. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the object were 0. 01-0. 2 μg/kg.

Obje:ctive To establish an optimized method to isolate, culture and identify human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro and induce their osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Methods The hUCMSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord by digestion with collagenase. After serial subcultivation in vitro, the stem cells were passaged. Morphologic appearance of hUCMSCs was observed under an optical microscope and atomic force microscope. The proliferation rate was measured by MTT assay. Cell cycle and surface antigens were measured by flow cytometry. The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was tested and evaluated by specific staining methods. Results The isolation of hUCMSCs by digestion with collagenase was efficient. After seeded for 24 hours, the adherent cells showed spindle shape and fibroblast cell-like shape and the size of hUCMSCs was homogeneous. The similar growth curves of passage 3 and 7 exhibited a great potential for proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CD29, CD44 and CD105 were highly expressed on the surface of passages 3 cells, but the expression was negative for CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR. After culture in inducing medium, the cells were successfully induced into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. These cells were highly positive for alkaline phosphate staining and also showed mineralization presented with von kossa staining after 4 weeks' culture induction of osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, liquid vacuoles were detected by oil red O staining after 3 weeks' culture induction of adipogenic differentiation. Conclusion An in vitro method for isolation and purification of hUCMSCs from human umbilical cord has been established. The cultured cells were composed of only undifferentiated cells and their biological properties were stable. The hUCMSCs are expected to be a new type of stem cells of tissue engineering.

Objective To explore the associations of serum Mir-217 with silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1)and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)in type 2 diabetic patients with different urinary albumin excretion rates. Methods A total of 479 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into normoalbuminuric(D1, n=181), microalbuminuric(D2, n=165), and macroalbuminuric(D3, n=133)subgroups. 192 normal subjects served as control group. Serum level of Mir-217 was detected by realtime PCR. Serum Sirt1, HIF-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with control subjects, serum Mir-217 level was significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients and gradually increased in D1, D2, and D3 groups(P<0. 01). The parameters of age, diabetes duration, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistant index(HOMA-IR), HbA1C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol( LDL-C) , total cholesterol ( TC ) , triglyceride ( TG ) , serum uric acid ( SUA ) , blood urea nitrogen(BUN), HIF-1α, VEGF, and Mir-217 all were positively correlated with ACR(all P<0. 05). High density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C)and Sirt1 were negatively correlated with ACR(both P<0. 05). VEGF, HIF-1α, Mir-217, BUN, diabetes duration, LDL-C, Sirt1, and SUA were independent factors that influenced ACR(all P<0. 01). Additionally, diabetes duration, HOMA-IR, HbA1C, ACR, LDL-C, TC, TG, SUA, BUN, HIF-1α, and VEGF were positively correlated with Mir-217(all P<0. 05), while Sirt1 was negatively correlated with Mir-217(P<0. 01). Conclusion Serum Mir-217, as a possible biomarker for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, may be involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy by promoting chronic inflammatory reaction, renal fibrosis, and angiogenesis.

267 newly-diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into normoalbuminuria group [group N-UAlb, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR)<30 mg/g, n=103], microalbuminuria group(group M-UAlb, UACR 30~300 mg/g, n=88 ) , and macroalbuminuria group ( group L-UAlb, UACR>300 mg/g, n=76). The control group(group NC) consisted of 114 healthy individuals. Serum betatrophin, adiponectin(APN), and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) levels were determined with ELISA methods and the parameters of body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), OGTT 2h plasma glucose(2hPG), fasting insulin(FINS), OGTT 2h postprandial insulin(2hPINS), fasting C-peptide(FCP), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistant index(HOMA-IR), and blood lipid were collected. Compared with group NC, the serum betatrophin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes were obviously increased. In patients with type 2 diabetes, betatrophin levels increased along with the increase of UACR and there were significant differences in betatrophin among the three groups(P<0. 01). Betatrophin positively correlated with UACR, HbA1C, FPG, 2hPG, FINS, 2hPINS, HOMA-IR, TC, LDL-C, and TG( r were 0. 785, 0. 225, 0. 136, 0. 241, 0. 386, 0. 223, 0. 411, 0.216,0.193,and0.298,allP<0.05),and betatrophin were also positively correlated with APN and IL-1β(rwere 0. 643 and 0. 710, both P<0. 01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that UACR, HbA1C, FINS, and TG were independent relevant factors affecting betatrophin levels.

Objective To improve the understanding of the characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in the elderly patients, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment level. Methods Monitoring results of polysomnography (PSG) from 110 elderly OSAHS patients were analyzed retrospectively. The general conditions, sleep architecture, apnea and hypopnea events, oxygen reduction as well as possible correlations between various indicators were analyzed using SPSS18.0 statistical software. Results The median rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep time of elderly patients with OSAHS accounted for 2. 17% and 76.73%,respectively. The median arousal index was 45.6 times/h. The longest time of sleep apnea was (51.94±22.06) s, the median of average sleep apnea time was 22.50 s, the longest time of hypopnea was (47.06±12.52) s and the average hypopnca time was (21.50±4.63) s. The median respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of all patients was 21.50, the patients with RDI between 5 and 20 accounted for 46.40%, with RDI between 20 and 40 accounted for 31.80% and with RDI over 40 accounted for 21.8%. The average oxygen saturation accounted for (93.45% ± 2.81%), the lowest oxygen saturation accounted for (76.3%± 10. 5%) and the median oxygen desaturation index was 31.6;times/h. BMI was negatively correlated with lowest oxygen saturation (r=-0. 378, P＜0.01) and average oxygen saturation ( r = - 0. 355, P ＜ 0. 01 ), while was positively correlated with oxygen desaturation index (r=0. 338, P＜0. 01 ). The lowest oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with the longest time of obstructive apnea (r= -0. 47, P＜0. 01 ), the average time of obstructive apnea (r=-0.316, P＜0.01), the longest time of hypopnea (r=-0.293, P＜0.01) and the average time of hypopnea (r=-0. 277, P＜0.01). The median time intervals of oxygen desaturation during supine, left side and right side position were 2.36 min, 11.54 min and 12.45 min,respectively. The median time intervals of oxygen desaturation during left side and right side position were both longer than that of supine position (Z= -6.12 and -7. 10 respectively, both P＜0.01).Conclusions Elderly patients with OSAHS manifest obvious disorder of sleep structural and sleep fragmentation. According to RDI, the majority of the patients are classified as mild to moderate in severity. However, elderly patients with OSAHS are severe regarding to hypoxia relatively. The severity of hypoxia is related with BMI and the lasting time of sleep-disordered breathing events, and hypoxia are less severe when sleeping on left side or on right side.

Objective To investigate the currents impact on delayed rectifier potassium (HERG)regulated by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in gastric cancer cells and its mechnism. Methods ① The HERG mRNA, protein and current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without COX-2 antisense vector were measured by RT-PCR, Western blot and patch-clamp, respectively. ② cAMP concentration in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without COX-2 antisense vector was measured by ELISA. ③ The mutant HERG, which was absence of cAMP-binding domain, was constructed by PCR and transfected into gastric cancer cells. ④ The impact of COX-2 inhibitor and proglandin (PG) E2 on HERG current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without mutant HERG was investigated by patch clamp. ⑤ The effects of agonist and antagonist of cAMP and inhibitor of protein kinase (PK) A on HERG current in gastric cancer cells transfected with or without HERG mutant were observed by patch clamp. Results ① The expression of HERG mRNA and protein in gastric cancer cells transfected with COX-2 antisense vector were not altered, but the amplitude of HERG current was diminished (P<0.05). ② The cAMP concentration in gastric cancer cells transfected with COX-2 antisense vector was lower than that in parental gastric cancer cells (P<0.05). ③ COX-2 inhibitor and PGE2 had influence on the HERG currents in gastric cancer cells. COX-2 inhibitor reduced and PGE2 enhanced the amplitude of HERG current in gastric cancer cells. However, neither COX-2 inhibitor nor PGE2 showed any negative or positive effects on currents of mutant HERG. ④ cAMP agonist enhanced the amplitude of HERG current and cAMP antagonist reduced the amplitude in gastric cancer cells. Neither agonist nor antagonist had effect on currents of mutant HERG. ⑤ PKA inhibitor did not influence the HERG current of parental gastric cancer cells and gastric cancer cells transfected with mutant. Conclusions COX-2 regulates HERG current through its catalytic product of PGE2, which binds with its receptor on the gastric cancer cells and alters cAMP level in gastric cancer cells, cAMP interacts with HERG protein by binding with cAMP-binding domain of HERG protein and exerts impact on HERG current. PKA does not participate in this process.