The present work is to investigate the chemical constitutions of Hyptis rhomboidea and their antifungal activities. The compounds were isolated by Toyopearl HW-40, Sephadex LH-20, MCI-Gel CHP-20, RP-18, PTLC and silica column chromatographic methods and subjected to evaluate some monomers antifungal activity of eight kinds of plant pathogenic bacteria. Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as ethyl caffeate (1), ursolic acid (2), oleanolic acid (3), vanillactic acid (4), methyl rosmarinate (5), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), ilexgenin A (8), beta-amyrin (9), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (astrgalin, 10) and cholest-5-ene-3beta, 4beta-diol (11). Compound 1 showed the strongest inhibitory effect on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum with the MIC 16.2 mg x L(-1), and compound 5 showed the strongest inhibitory effect on S. minor and Exserohilum turcicum with MIC 16.2, 8.1 mg x L(-1), respectively. All compounds were isolated from the H. rhomboidea for the first time, and compounds 1 and 5 showed antifungal activity.
Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fungi ; drug effects ; Hyptis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells. We used connexin43 specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to reduce the expression of connexin43 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and investigated the effects of connexin43 downregulation on intercellular communication, viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC. Treatment of siRNA markedly reduced the expression of connexin43 by -80% in HUVEC (P < 0.05), and decreased the intercellular communication by -65% (P < 0.05). The viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with that of the normal cells. The results suggest that temporally downregulation of connexin43 expression at early stage of wound to inhibit the abnormal angiogenesis characterized with leaky and inflamed blood vessels, maybe a prerequisite for coordinated normal healing process.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Wound Healing

Objective To study the proteins related to aging in aortic of old rats for laying the foundation of further study of aging mechanism.Methods The rat model of aging was built,and all model rats were divided into 4 groups:the adult group(9 weeks),the old group(12 months)of WistarKyoto (WKY) rats,and the age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Blood pressure of 4 groups was observed.Morphological change of aorta was observed by HE staining.Differential proteins were identified by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation,(iTRAQ)-coupled liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry technology.Part of differential proteins was subsequently detected by real time PCR and Western blot.Results The mean SBP of the old group SHR was higher than WKY of 97.1％ (t=39.00,P＜0.05),and the adult group of SHR was also higher than WKY of 5.4％(t=3.64,P＜0.05).Compared with the adult group,aging change in the aortic morphology of old SHR and WKY were shown in HE staining,and the change in SHR rats was more marked.7 proteins related to aging were identified by Mass spectrum analysis,and they were Profilin-1,Prelamin A,HSP70,creatine kinase-M,Fibulin-5,eIF5A and Prohibitin.Part of differential proteins was subsequently confirmed by real time PCR and Western blot.Prelamin-A was up-regulated in the old group of WKY and SHR (0.15±0.01 vs.0.45±0.04,0.34±0.02 vs.0.78±0.06) (t=12.67,12.06,all P＜0.01),Prohibitin was down-regulated in the old group of WKY and SHR(1.34±0.05 vs.1.01± 0.06,1.24±0.05 vs.0.88±0.08) (t=7.41,7.09,all P＜0.01).Profilin-1 was up-regulated in the old group of WKY and SHR (9.12±0.4 vs.20.76±0.8,16.84±0.5 vs.55.16±0.9) (t=22.55,64.46,both P＜0.01),and Profilin-1 expression in the old group of SHR was higher thanWKY (55.16±0.90 vs.20.76±0.8,t=49.49,P＜0.01).Conclusions Differential proteins of the old rat aorta are identified through the comparative proteomics method.These differential proteins will provide new targets for the prevention and control of vascular aging.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of intermedin preconditioning on hypoxic injury in rat's cardiac myocytes and to provide the hypothetical mechanism of sudden cardiac death in the field of forensic pathology. METHODS: The H9c2 cultured rat cardiac myocytes were randomly divided into control group, hypoxia group and IMD group. The myocardial cell viability, cellular ultrastructure, intracellular calcium concentration and apoptosis rate were determined by MTT assay, transmission electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, cell viability obviously decreased with inner ultrastructure injury in the hypoxia group (P<0.05), while cell viability significantly increased in the IMD group by reducing the hypoxia injury of cardiac myocytes (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, [Ca2+]i (fluorescence intensity) and apoptosis rate significantly increased in the hypoxia group, but decreased in the IMD group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION IMD increases the cell survival rate and decreases the cell apoptosis inhibited by intracellular calcium overload from hypoxia. This finding may reveal the mechanism of protective effects of myocardial hypoxia, and provide a scientific basis for the identification sudden cardiac death.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxia ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium/cytology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/physiology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

?AIM: To retrospectively analyze the surgical strategies and outcome of traumatic lens dislocation.?METHODS: Retrospective study. Clinical data of 105 cases ( 105 eyes ) diagnosed with traumatic lens dislocation from April to June 2014 in our hospital were recruited. According to position of dislocated lens and complicated situations, different surgical approaches were performed, including intracapsular lens extraction, phacoemulsification, vitrectomy through pars plana and lensectomy. Meanwhile, vitreo-retinal or anti-glaucoma surgeries were performed in complicated cases. Preoperative and postoperative LogMar ( Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution ) visual acuity were compared by paired t-test. Perioperative complications including expulsive choroidal hemorrhages and recurrent retinal detachment were recorded and assessed.?RESULTS: All 105 dislocated lenses were removed completely. Visual acuity of 91 eyes ( 86. 7%) were significantly improved postoperatively. The visual acuity of most patients was 0. 1-0. 3 ( 42 eyes, 40. 0%) and 1 patient’s visual acuity with lens subluxation reached more than 0. 8 postoperatively. Expulsive choroidal hemorrhages occurred in 1 eye intraoperatively and 1 eye postoperatively. Recurrent retinal detachment was observed in 2 eyes postoperatively.? CONCLUSION: According to position of the lens dislocation, personalized surgery strategy is critical for therapy of traumatic lens dislocation. Expulsive choroidal hemorrhage is one of most several complications and should be managed properly.

AIM:To evaluate 23G vitrectomy for macular edema in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) combined with vitreoretinal traction (VMT) or epiretinal membrane (ERM).METHODS:Totally 22 patients (22 eyes) diagnosed with macular edema of RVO combined with VMT or ERM were retrospectively analyzed.Twelve cases performed with 23G vitrectomy together with peeling of inner limiting membrane (ILM) and/or ERM were considered as the observation group or intervention group.Ten cases without vitrectomy were recruited as control group.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6mo were recorded and compared.RESULTS:At baseline, the difference of BCVA and CRT between observation group and control group was not statistically significant (P=0.645, 0.206).After vitrectomy, the BCVA and CRT of RVO patients in observation group were significantly improved compared with baseline at each follow-up (F=2.895, P=0.048;F=16.431, P<0.01).However, the BCVA and CRT in control group remained the same as baseline at every follow-up.Moreover, the BCVA and CRT in observation group were much better than that in control group at both 3 and 6mo after vitrectomy.However, the BCVA and CRT between two groups were not significantly different at 1mo postoperatively.CONCLUSION:The 23G vitrectomy could markedly improve BCVA and reduce CRT in RVO patients with macular edema combined with VMT and/or ERM.

China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; history ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDDendritic cells (DCs) are one of the most important antigen presenting cells in the human body, and DCs at various stages of maturation possess different or even opposite functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of growth hormones on the functional status of cord blood-derived DCs encompassing immunophenotype, ability to excrete interleukin (IL)-12 and provoke autologous leukomonocyte.

METHODSMononuclear cells were isolated from fresh cord blood, with IL-4 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) used to induce and stimulate the mononuclear cells. Growth hormone at different concentrations was used to modify DCs, and then DCs morphology, number and growth status were observed. The immunophenotype of DCs was detected with a flow cytometer. The concentration of IL-12 in the DCs supernatant was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and DCs functional status was evaluated by autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions.

RESULTSMononuclear cells from cord blood can be differentiated into DCs by cytokine induction and growth hormone modification. With the increase in growth hormone concentrations (5 - 100 microg/L), the expression of DCs HLA-DR, CD1alpha, CD80 and CD83 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The ability of DCs to secrete IL-12 was significantly improved (P < 0.05), and the ability of DCs to activate autologous lymphocytes was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). Pegvisomant was able to ablate the effects of growth hormone on DCs.

CONCLUSIONSGrowth hormone may facilitate DCs induction and maturation, and improve the reproductive activity of autologous lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Growth hormone may serve as a factor of modifying DCs to achieving maturity.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDIncreasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells. In this study, we observed the memory improving properties of curcumin in mice and investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcumin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSThe mice were given AlCl(3) orally and injections of D-galactose intraperitoneally for 90 days to establish the AD animal model. From day 45, the curcumin group was treated with curcumin for 45 days. Subsequently, the step-through test, neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on the AD model mice. In cultured PC12 cells, AlCl(3) exposure induced apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viabilities; flow cytometric analysis to survey the rate of cell apoptosis; DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 to observe nuclei changes in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2 to investigate the mechanisms by which curcumin protects cells from toxicity.

RESULTSCurcumin significantly improved the memory ability of AD mice in the step-through test, as indicated by the reduced number of step-through errors (P < 0.05) and prolonged step-through latency (P < 0.05). Curcumin also attenuated the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and inhibited apoptosis accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the activity of Bax did not change (P > 0.05). AlCl(3) significantly reduced the viability of PC12 cells (P < 0.01). Curcumin increased cell viability in the presence of AlCl(3) (P < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis decreased significantly in the curcumin group (P < 0.05) when measured by flow cytometric analysis. Curcumin protected cells by increasing Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the level of Bax did not change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates that curcumin improves the memory ability of AD mice and inhibits apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells induced by AlCl(3). Its mechanism may involve enhancing the level of Bcl-2.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange