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.

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

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.

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

AIMTo observe the effect of vitamin E (VE) on ovarian apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 and Bax and its impact on antioxidant capacity in aged female rats and to study the senility-delaying effect and mechanism of VE on ovary.

METHODSNatural aging female rats were given different doses of exogenous VE. Then apoptosis regulatory protein Bcl-2, Bax expression in ovarian grandlose cells were detected by using immunohistochemical methods and Western blot. The contents of serum total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by using biochemical methods.

RESULTSContrasted with adult control group, the level of Bcl-2 expression in Senile control group was lower and the level of Bax expression was higher (P < 0.01), Serum SOD activity decreased and the level of MDA significantly increased (P < 0.01). Contrasted with senile control group, the level of Bcl-2 expression increased in VE group, the level of Bax expression decreased (P < 0.05), the level of MDA expression significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVE can regulate apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2, Bax expression and confront free radical damage which contribute to a protective effect for ovarian grandiose cells.

Aging ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; Ovary ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of mifepristone combined with oral or vaginal misoprostol for termination of pregnancy between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation. Methods This was a randomized, multi-center, open clinical trial. A total of 625 women at 8-16 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive 200 mg oral mifepristone followed by either oral misoprostol 400 μg every 3 hours or vaginal misoprostol 400μg every 6 hours for a maximum of 4 doses 36-48 hours later. There were 417 women in oral group with 198 at 8-9 weeks and 219 at 10-16 weeks, while 208 women in vaginal group with 99 at 8-9 weeks and 109 at 10-16 weeks. The outcome measures were the success abortion rate, induction to abortion interval, the amount of bleeding, reoccurrence of menstruation and adverse events. Results Abortion rate was significantly higher in vaginal group [98.1% (202/206)] than that in oral group [94.0%(390/415), P=0.023]; concerning termination of pregnancy at 8-9 weeks and 10-16 weeks respectively, there were no significant differences between oral and vaginal groups (P=0.156, P=0.073). The induction to abortion interval was no significant difference in oral and vaginal group in different gestational weeks ( P=0.238, P=0.273). The average induction to abortion interval was (4.1 ± 6.6) hours and (6.0 ± 4.5) hours respectively in terminating 8-9 weeks and 10-16 weeks of gestation. Concerning the amount of bleeding within 2 hours of placenta expulsion, there was significant difference between oral group [(63±46) ml] and vaginal group [(55 ± 45) ml] in terminating 8-9 weeks of gestation (P=0.047), while there was no significant difference between groups in terminating 10-16 weeks of gestation [oral group (76 ± 52) ml versus vaginal group (76 ± 61) ml, P=0.507]. The reoccurrence of menstruation was about 37 days in both oral and vaginal groups. Two cases of incomplete abortion were serious adverse events (SAE) relating to treatment. The common adverse events (AE) of nausea and vomiting were significantly higher in oral group [57.2% (239/417), 36.3% (151/417)] than those in vaginal group [45.4% (94/208), 26.1% (54/208); P=0.005, 0.011]. Conclusion Oral or vaginal misoprostol combined with mifepristone, is effective and safe for termination of pregnancy between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation.

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