To study the chemical constituents from the bark of Myrica rubra, fourteen compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract using various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of chemical properties and spectroscopic data, as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol (1), myricanol (2), myricanone (3), myricanol 11-sulfate (4), myricitrin (5), quercetin (6), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (7), tamarixol (8), uvaol (9), ursolic acid (10), taraxerol (11), myricadiol (12), β-sitosterol (13) and β-daucosterol (14). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, named as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol, compounds 8, 9 were isolated from the genus Myrica for the first time.
Diarylheptanoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Myrica ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Bark ; chemistry

Objective To explore the relationship between the inflammatory reaction and insulin function in children with critically ill.Me-thods Ninty-six children with critical disease in Oct.2003 to Oct.2006 were enrolled in the study.Blood sugar,plasma insulin,C-peptide,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,C reactive protein(CRP)were measured in the peak period and convalescence.Results Blood sugar and plasma levels of insulin,C-peptide,TNF-?,CRP were significantly higher in the peak period than those in the convalescence(Pa

Multidrug resistance (MDR) occurs frequently after long-term chemotherapy,resulting in refractory cancer and tumor recurrence.Therefore,combatting MDR is an important issue.Autophagy,a self-degradative system,universally arises during the treatment of sensitive and MDR cancer.Autophagy can be a double-edged sword for MDR tumors:it participates in the development of MDR and protects cancer cells from chemotherapeutics but can also kill MDR cancer cells in which apoptosis pathways are inactive.Autophagy induced by anticancer drugs could also activate apoptosis signaling pathways in MDR cells,facilitating MDR reversal.Therefore,research on the regulation of autophagy to combat MDR is expanding and is becoming increasingly important.We summarize advanced studies of autophagy in MDR tumors,including the variable role of autophagy in MDR cancer cells.

Animals ; Biofilms ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Yersinia pestis ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAdhesion molecules play an important role in the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare concentrations of soluble forms of adhesion molecules in patients with different clinical presentations of coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight patients with CAD were divided into three groups; the first group was acute myocardial infarction group (AMI group, n = 45), the second group was unstable angina pectoris group (UAP group, n = 48), the third group was stable angina pectoris group (SAP group, n = 35). We compared them with patients with normal coronary arteries (control group, n = 31). The serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin were measured in all subjects.

RESULTSThe serum level of VCAM-1 in the AMI group was significantly higher than in the UAP, SAP and control groups (P < 0.01). The level in the UAP group was significantly higher than the SAP group and control group (P < 0.01) and the level in the SAP group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). The serum ICAM-1 level was significantly elevated in the AMI, UAP and SAP groups as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The levels of serum E-selectin and P-selectin in the AMI and UAP groups were significantly higher than in the SAP and control groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin, as markers of inflammation, showed the importance of inflammatory processes in the development of atherosclerosis and clinical expression of CAD. Soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin concentrations are useful indicators of the presence of atherosclerosis and the severity of CAD clinical presentation.

Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; pathology ; E-Selectin ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is a novel method of gene amplification with high specificity, sensitivity and rapidity, which can be applied for disease diagnosis in shrimp aquaculture. The method is performed under isothermal conditions with a set of four specially designed primers that recognize six distinct sequences of the target. In the present study, according to the conservative regions of non-structural protein gene NS1, a set of four specific primers were designed, and a rapid detection of IHHNV was established by LAMP assay. The parameters of reaction time and temperature were optimized, and its specificity and sensitivity were assessed. The reactions were carried out at 60 degrees C, 62 degrees C, 63 degrees C, 64 degrees C, 65 degrees C, 66 degrees C, 67 degrees C, 68 degrees C for different time (0 min; 15 min; 30 min; 45 min; 60 min; 75 min). A plasmid pMDIHHNV carrying target sequence of LAMP detection was constructed. Ten-fold serially diluted pMDIHHNV (10(7)-10(0)copies/microL) was used as template for LAMP assay to investigate the detection limit. To determine the specificity, LAMP assays were carried out with DNA templates from other pathogens (White spot syndrome virus; WSSV, Taura Syndrome Virus; TSV, Aeromonas. hydrophila, V. alginolyticus, Vibrio. parahaemolytious, Escherichia. coli). The results showed the optimized LAMP assay for the rapid detection of IHHNV was performed at 65 degrees C for 60 min. The LAMP assay had an unequivocal detection limit of 100 copies/microL, and it was 1,000 times lower than that of PCR. The nucleic acids of other pathogens were not amplified by this LAMP system with the specific primers, which showed a good specificity. The resulting amplicons were detected using visual observation after the addition of SYBR Green I and gel electrophoresis. We investigated the efficacy of UNG (uracil-N-glycosylase) and dUTP in avoiding carry-over contamination in the LAMP assay procedure and explored its effect on the amplification efficiency. Products of LAMP with dUTP adding could be lysed by UNG to avoid LAMP products carry-over contamination effectively. The LAMP assay could be finished within an hour, requiring only a regular laboratory water bath or heat block for reaction and the result could easily be detected using visual observation. Clinically suspected IHHNV-infected shrimp samples were detected by both LAMP and PCR assay, and the result indicated that IHHNV was detected rapidly by LAMP instead of by PCR.
Animals ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Densovirinae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Penaeidae ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining anticoagulation potency of Sparganii Rhizoma, and evaluate the effect of Sparganii Rhizoma herbs from different producing areas on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; and study the material basis of Sparganii Rhizoma through the correlation analysis on its anticoagulation potency, ferulic acid and total flavonoid content.

METHODThe anticoagulation time of Sparganii Rhizoma from different producing areas with activeated partial thromboplastin time for their active extracts. Their biopotency was calculated by using the method of "parallel lines of dose effect" (3, 3). The degree of correlation between their anticoagulation potency and chemical constituents were calculated by using Pearson correlational analysis method.

RESULTSparganii Rhizoma and is control drugs had a good linear relationship between dose and effect (Y = 172.76X - 193.39, R2 = 0.9955). The method had better accuracy (RSD 4.7%), repeatability (RSD 2.3%) and intermediate precision (RSD 5.4%), finding that the biopotency of Sparganii Rhizoma from different producing areas ranged between 52.33-238.58 U x g(-1), and all of them passed the test on reliability. The results of correlation analysis showed no remarkable relationship between the anticoagulation potency of Sparganii Rhizoma and the contents of the two chemical constituents.

CONCLUSIONThis biopotency determination method established in the experiment can be used as one of approaches for qulaity evaluation on Sparganii Rhizoma.

Animals ; Anticoagulants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Typhaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficiency of the disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD) in the surgical treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 249 outpatients with phimosis or redundant prepuce to be treated with DCSD (n = 129) and by conventional circumcision (CC, n = 120), respectively. Then we compared the safety and efficiency of the two strategies.

RESULTSComparisons between DCSD and CC showed that the operation time was (4.02 +/- 0.69) vs (30.8 +/- 4.05) min, blood loss was (1.07 +/- 1.29) vs (8.72 +/- 2.15) ml, intraoperative pain score was 0.81 +/- 0.81 vs 2.42 +/- 1.15, 24-hour postoperative pain score was 1.84 +/- 1.02 vs 4.99 +/- 1.36, postoperative complication rate was 13. 95% (18/129) vs 9.17% (11/120), wound healing time was (13.99 +/- 9.06) vs (17.48 +/- 3.49) d, satisfaction with the penile appearance was 98.4% (127/129) vs 95% (109/120), and treatment cost was (2215.62 +/- 17.67) vs (576.47 + 15.58) Y RMB. DCSD exhibited obvious superiority over CC for shorter operation time, less blood loss, milder intraoperative pain, sooner wound healing, and better penile appearance, but it also had a higher rate of postoperative complications (P > 0.05) and involved more treatment cost than the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe disposable circumcision suture device affords ideal clinical effects and therefore deserves clinical popularization.

Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; Disposable Equipment ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Surgical Staplers ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the sensitivity and reproducibility of Allglo and TaqMan probe in the detection of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) using fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (QPCR).

METHODSThe reference sample of SIV was diluted to 6 gradient concentrations; at each concentration 12 samples were tested to analyze the variations within batches, and each sample was tested for 12 times for analysis of variations between batches by QRT-PCR using TaqMan probe and Allglo probe. The results of QPCR using the two probes were analyzed with ABI7300 PCR system software.

RESULTSIn QPCR using TaqMan and Allglo probe, the lower limit of sensitivity for SIV detection was both 50 copies/mL. Assessment of the reproducibility of the tests showed that the maximum and minimum coefficients of variation between batches were 0.63% and 0.33% with Allglo probe, respectively, as compared with 1.33% and 0.2% with TaqMan probe. The maximum and minimum coefficients of inter-batch variation was 1.77% and 0.95% with Allglo probe, respectively, as compared with 1.86% and 1.03% with TaqMan probe.

CONCLUSIONAllglo probe shows a better performance then TaqMan probe in detection of SIV QPCR.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed the important role of free radicals in renal damage induced by high-energy shock waves (HESW). This study aimed at investigating the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on free radical-mediated HESW-induced damage to renal tubules in a live rabbit model.

METHODSForty-five healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 15), sham group (n = 15), and herb-treated group (n = 15). Three days prior to HESW application, the controls received verapamil (0.4 mg/kg), the shams received physiological saline (20 ml), and the herb-treated animals received Astragalus membranaceus (2.4 g/kg) intravenously. HESW (1500 shocks, 18 kV) was applied to the right kidneys of all anesthetized rabbits. We measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels before and after shock treatment in blood and kidney homogenates. Histopathological changes were also observed.

RESULTSMDA levels increased and SOD activity decreased significantly in the sham group (P < 0.05 for both) after shock treatment. MDA levels showed a much less increase in the controls (P < 0.05) and did not increase to statistically significant levels in the group receiving Astragalus membranaceus (P > 0.05). SOD values were significantly higher in the controls than in the shams (P < 0.05). By contrast, SOD levels recovered rapidly in the rabbits receiving Astragalus membranaceus, reaching a nadir within 24 hours, and returning to baseline more quickly than in control and sham rabbits (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that renal tubular damage in the controls was less severe than in the shams, while damage in the Astragalus membranaceus group was even more mild, with rapid recovery in comparison with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides preliminary evidence indicating that Astragalus membranaceus has strong protective effects on free radical-mediated renal tubular damage induced by HESW and that these effects are superior to the effects of verapamil.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Free Radicals ; toxicity ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; adverse effects ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Verapamil ; pharmacology