Objective To make the identification of medicinal herbs in Salvia L. quickly and accurately. Methods In this work,DNA barcoding and chemical fingerprint were compared for the identification of herbs in Salvia L. First, the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region two amplified from 48 medicinal plants in Salvia L., and three other groups of medicinal plants in Lamiaceae were sequenced. A molecular phylogeny was constructed using the minimum evolution and maximum parsimony methods according to their sequence diversity. Second, the water-solution bioactive components and lipid soluble components were tested by HPLC. Then a chemical phylogeny was built using HPLC fingerprint data. Comparing the molecular and chemical phylogenetic trees revealed many similarities. Results DNA barcoding was sequencing based and could therefore provide more accurate results within a shorter time especially in large-scale studies. Conclusion The results show that ITS2 region is a novel DNA barcode for the authentication of the species in Salvia L. This is the first work to show the relationship between DNA barcoding and chemical components.

Background Autoimmune pancreatitis (ALP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of pancreas.We evaluated the clinical manifestations,imaging,and histological presentations of AlP in Chinese patients,and investigated the roles of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergic diseases in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of AIP.Methods The clinical records of 22 patients diagnosed with AlP were reviewed and analyzed.All patients with AlP fulfilled the 2006 revised diagnostic criteria proposed by Japan Pancreas Society or the Korean Criteria for AIP.Results Half (11/22) of AlP patients had allergic diseases.Twenty-one patients had elevated serum IgE levels,and 14 patients had IgE levels more than 3 times that of normal.There were no significant differences between the patients with higher or lower IgE,with or without allergic disease,in clinical features,laboratory tests,diffuse or focal lesions,or the choice of treatment methods; however,more complaints of body weight loss were observed in patients with higher IgE levels.Patients with higher IgE levels and with allergic diseases were more likely to have onset in March,April,May,August,September,or October.IgE levels decreased after therapy,but increased again during recurrence.Increased number of mast cells was found in the pancreatic tissue in AIP.Conclusions IgE maybe a useful marker for monitoring therapeutic response and recurrence of AlP.Allergic processes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIP.

AIMTo observe the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and platelet activating factor (PAF) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats and the efficacy of Ginkgolide B (BN52021) in treating SAP.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: model group (SAP), treatment group (BN) and negative control group (NC). SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in Wistar rats. NC rats only receive abdominal incision. In groups of SAP and NC rats received the femoral vein injection of isotonic Na chloride 15 minutes after induction of SAP; in BN group,rats received BN52021 instead. After operation rats were sacrificed at 1, 6 and 12 hour for plasma IL-12 and PAF determined with ELISA.

RESULTSAn increase of IL-12 in group BN was observed VS group SAP or group NC at 1 h stage (p = 0.011, P < 0.01). At 6 h or 12 h stage,an increase of IL-12 in group SAP was observed VS group NC (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The plasma level of PAF in group SAP or group BN was increased significantly at 1 h time stage VS group NC (P < 0.001). At 6 h or 12 h stage, a decrease of PAF in group BN or group NC was observed VS group SAP (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt confirmed that the plasma level of cytokine IL-12 in SAP group was decreased significantly in early stage and it witnessed a remarkable increase of cytokine PAF. The plasma level of IL-12 was increased in early stage but PAF was decreased in rats treatment by BN52021 which inhibited the development of SAP.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; blood ; Platelet Activating Factor ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The dried succulent stems of Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma and Cistanche tubulosa Wight.) are one of the most widely used components of traditional Chinese medicines. However, it is often confused and substituted with the roots of Orobanche pycnostachya, Boschniakia rossica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Standl., Cistanche sinensis Beck, and Cistanche salsa (C. A. Mey.) Beck. In this study, we identified psbA-trnH regions from species and tested their suitable for the identification of the above mentioned taxa. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Cistanche species. Additionally, the average genetic distance of psbA-trnH ranging from 0.077% to 0.743%. In contrast, the intra-specific variation among Cistanche species was found to be significantly different from those of other species, with percentages of variation studied ranged from 0% to 0.007%. The sequence difference between the psbA-trnH sequences of Cistanche species and Orobanche pycnostachya ranged from 0.979% to 1.149%. The distance between the Cistanche species and Boschniakia rossica ranged from 1.066% to 1.224%. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region represent a barcode that can be used to identify Cistanche species and other morphologically undistinguishable species.

Animals ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; blood ; Rabbits ; Serum ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN expression of macrophages.

METHODSHuman monocytic cell line THP-1 cells were co-cultured with EMMPRIN-highly-expressed MCF-7 cells; MMP-9 production was assayed by zymography. THP-1 cells were induced by PMA, expression of EMMPRIN was assayed by Western blotting. Cells were treated with resveratrol or PPARgamma agonist--pioglitazone during differentiation, EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 activity were assayed. U937 cells were co-transfected with PPARy expression and luciferase-coding reporter vector, then cultured with pioglitazone or resveratrol, the activating capability of resveratrol on PPARgamma was evaluated by measuring the luciferase activity. THP-1 cells were pretreated with PPARgamma antagonist--GW9662 before pioglitazone or resveratrol treatment, then assayed for EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 production.

RESULTSEMMPRIN expression was greatly increased during the differentiation from monocytes to macrophages; co-culturing with MCF-7 cells significantly increased MMP-9 production by monocytes. Both resveratrol and pioglitazone markedly inhibited EMMPRIN expression during monocytes differentiation. Resveratrol significantly activated PPARgamma and GW9662 greatly decreased the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONEMMPRIN expression is greatly up-regulated from monocytes to macrophages, which may play a role in inducing MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages. Resveratrol can significantly inhibit EMMPRIN expression via activating PPARgamma, which may be the underlying mechanism of its inhibitory effect on MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages.

Anilides ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Basigin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

Breast metastases from extramammary neoplasms are very rare. We presented a 66 year-old female with metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma to the breast. She presented with consolidation over the left upper lobe of her lung undetermined after endobronchial or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy, and this was treated effectively after antibiotic therapy at initial stage. The left breast lumps were noted 4 months later, and she underwent a modified radical mastectomy under the impression of primary breast carcinoma. However, the subsequent chest imaging revealed re-growing mass over the left mediastinum and hilum, and cells with the same morphological and staining features were found from specimens of transbronchial brushing and biopsy. An accurate diagnosis to distinguish a primary breast carcinoma from metastatic one is very important because the therapeutic planning and the outcome between them are different.
Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; secondary ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

Actinomycosis is an uncommon disease, which is usually manifested as cervicofacial infection and related to poor oral hygiene or compromised immune function. Pulmonary actinomycosis is rare, but its diagnosis is changing due to its variable presentation and the similarity in appearance to other intrapulmonary diseases. Here we report an 80-year-old man with a solitary pulmonary nodule over the left upper lobe. Pulmonary neoplasm was highly suspected in this patient and thus resection of the mass was undertaken through video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Histopathological examination demonstrated this patient had an Actinomyeces infection. While the application of VATS in patients with pulmonary actinomycosis has rarely been reported in literature, we conclude that VATS is valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with undetermined pulmonary nodule(s).
Actinomycosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Video Recording ; methods

Objective To observe the curative effect of Fuzhengxiaojia decoction on precancerous lesion of gastric cancer (PLGC).Methods We randomly divided 44 patients with PLGC in our hospital into control group (n=22)and treatment group (n=22).The control group was given 4 Weifuchun tablets each time and three times per day and while the treatment group was given one Fuzhengxiaojia decoction of 400 mL besides the medication of the control group.They were treated for two courses,one course lasting for one month.Results Superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),IgG,IgM and IgA in the two groups had no significant differences before treatment (P＞0.05).After treatment,compared with those in the control group,SOD (t=2.144,P=0.044)and GSH-Px (t=2.322,P=0.030)increased,while MDA(t=3.096, P=0.005),IgG(t=2.421,P=0.025),IgM(t=3.377,P=0.003)and IgA (t=2.521,P=0.020)decreased. The main symptom scores in the two groups did not significantly differ before treatment (P＜0.05).After treatment, compared with those in the control group,the scores for main symptoms like reduced food intake (t=3.924,P＜0.001),stomach noise (t=4.161,P＜0.001)and gastric or hypochondriac swelling (t=2.881,P＜0.009) decreased in the treatment group.The rate of effective cases was higher than that in the control group (χ2=4.539, P=0.033).Conclusion The effect of Weifuchun combined with Fuzhengxiaojia prescriptions in treating PLGC is better than Weifuchun alone,which is related to improving redox and immunoglobulin.

Background and purpose:To perform whole mount technique in the diagnosis of the prostate cancer could provide orientation to the specimen. Whole mount technique has great value in pathologic diagnosis and morphological research. However, limited by the specimen-making technique, shortage of equipment and heavy workload, this technique has not been generally accepted in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the signiifcance of whole mount technique in the diagnosis of the prostate cancer by comparing the clinical and pathological variables between whole mount patients and conventional ones after radical prostatectomy (RP).Methods:A total number of 229 patients’ whole mount RP specimens were recruited in the study from Dec. 2012 to Feb. 2014. The control group included 393 patients’ specimens which underwent conventional sampling from Jan. 2010 to Jun. 2012. We compared the clinical and pathological variables between the groups, including age, preoperative PSA level, methods of diagnosis, preliminary diagnostic Gleason score, clinical T stage, postoperative Gleason score, pathological T stage, positive surgical margin, extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion and pelvic lymph node metastasis.Results:Two groups shared similar preoperative parameters. Also there was no signiifcant difference between the whole mount and the conventional sampling groups in postoperative Gleason score, pathological T stage, extraprostatic extension and pelvic lymph node metastasis. However, positive surgical margin and seminal vesicle invasion rates were much higher in the whole mount group than the control one and both of the differences reached statistical signiifcance (26.2%vs 17.6%, 23.1%vs 17.0%;P=0.010, 0.025)Conclusion:After compared the clinical and pathological variables, we could conclude that whole mount technique has prevalence in the diagnosis of the positive surgical margin and seminal vesicle invasion compared with the conventional sampling technique. Thus, whole mount technique should be strongly recommended in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.