Astragalus polysaccharide has been widely used in food and medicinal industry owing to its health-promoting properties. In order to characterize better the relationship among molecular weight, structure-activity and activities, a simple method was used different concentration of ethanol including 30% (PW30), 50% (PW50), 70% (PW70), 75% (PW75), 80% (PW80) and 90% (PW90) to precipitate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight. As a result, PW90 showed smooth surface and the strongest antioxidant activity among these six fractions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, graded ethanol precipitation was a simple method to separate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight with different antioxidant activity fractions.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Tumor angiogenesis provides adequate oxygen and nutrition for tumor development and supports tumor growth and metastasis. Stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in pancreatic cancer microenvironment are involved in tumor growth such as promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In this study, anti-CXCR4 nanobody (CXCR4 Nb) and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) &CXCR4 bispecific nanobody (PX4 BsNb) were expressed in Escherichia coli system and purified by nickel column affinity chromatography. We investigated the anti-angiogenesis activity and mechanism of CXCR4 Nb by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Ethical approval was obtained for collection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC) samples from the Local Ethics Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethic Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The results showed that CXCR4 Nb at 0.1 μmol·L^-1 could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) promoted by pancreatic stellate cells in vitro. CXCR4 Nb and PX4 BsNb at 0.3 mg·kg^-1 obviously decreased tumor angiogenesis and inhibited the tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice, the inhibitory rates were 28.8% and 36.1%, respectively. CXCR4 Nb significantly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis with great safety, which provides support for application of CXCR4 Nb and anti-angiogenesis therapy of pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVETo identify SNP in flos Lonicerae, and authenticate Lonicera japonica from its adulterants and the mixture by using bidirectional PCR amplification of specific alleles (Bi-PASA).

METHODSNP of L. japonica and its adulterants was identified by using ClustulW to align trnL-trnF sequences of the Lonicera genus from GenBank database. Bi-PASA primer was designed and the PCR reaction systems including annealing temperature optimized. Optimized result was performed in 84 samples to authenticate L. japonica, its adulterants and the mixture.

RESULTWhen the annealing temperature was 61 degrees C, DNA from L. japonica would be amplified 468 bp whereas PCR products from all of the 9 adulterants were 324 bp. The established method also can detect 5% of intentional adulteration DNA into L. japonica.

CONCLUSIONThe Bi-SPASA could authenticate L. japonica from its adulterants and the mixture.

Alleles ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; analysis ; genetics ; Flowers ; genetics ; Lonicera ; classification ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Transfer, Leu ; genetics ; RNA, Transfer, Phe ; genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Species Specificity

Increasing evidence has revealed that maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.Potential relevance between the placental inflammation and CMV-related autism has been reported by clinical observation.Meanwhile,abnormal expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 in placenta of patients with chorioamnionitis was observed in multiple studies.IL-6 and IL-10 are two important maternal inflammatory mediators involved in neurodevelopmental disorders.To investigate whether murine CMV (MCMV) infection causes alterations in placental IL-6/10 and TLR2/4 levels,we analyzed the dynamic changes in gene expression of TLR2/4 and IL-6/10 in placentas following acute MCMV infection.Mouse model of acute MCMV infection during pregnancy was created,and pre-pregnant MCMV infected,lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated and uninfected mice were used as controls.At E13.5,E14.5 and E18.5,placentas and fetal brains were harvested and mRNA expression levels of placental TLR2/4 and IL-6/10 were analyzed.The results showed that after acute MCMV infection,the expression levels of placental TLR2/4 and IL-6 were elevated at E13.5,accompanied by obvious placental inflammation and reduction of placenta and fetal brain weights.However,LPS 50 μg/kg could decrease the IL-6 expression at E13.5 and E14.5.This suggests that acute MCMV infection during pregnancy could up-regulate the gene expression of TLR2/4 in placental trophoblasts and activate them to produce more proinflammatory cytokine IL-6.High dose of LPS stimulation (50 tg/kg) during pregnancy can lead to down-regulation of IL-6 levels in the late stage.Imbalance ofIL-6 expression in placenta might be associated with the neurodevelopmental disorders in progeny.

OBJECTIVETo probe into effective methods for treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction and specificity of acupoints in the acupuncture treatment.

METHODSThe rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established with thread ligation according to Zea-Longa's method. They were divided into normal group, non-operation group, model control group, non-acupuncture group and acupuncture group, and the acupuncture group was divided into sham-acupuncture group and four Xingnao Kaiqiao groups (contain Shuigou group, Neiguan group, Chize group, Sanyinjiao group and Weizhong group). Then they were treated by acupuncture at "Shuigou" (GV 26), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Chize" (LU 5), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Weizhong" (BL 40) and non-acupoints, 3 times/second, for 5 seconds. Cerebral blood blow (CBF) was used for assessment of the effect.

RESULTSAs compared with the model control group, in the non-acupuncture group CBF did not significantly change (P>0.05); compared with the non-acupuncture group, after acupuncture CBF was significantly increased in the Shuigou group and the Neiguan groups (all P<0.05), but did not significantly increased in the Chize group, Sanyinjiao group and Weizhong group (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCBF has a tendency of spontaneous cure within 72 h after cerebral infarction in the MCAO rat; acupuncture can significantly improve CBF in the MCAO rat, so it is an effective method for treatment of ischemic stroke; among the acupoints in the "Xingnao Kaiqiao" needling method, "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) have obvious effect in improvement of CBF, indicating acupoint specificity of "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) in treatment of ischemic stroke.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; Brain Ischemia ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint on inhibiting the neuronal necrosis induced by the middle cerebral artery obstruction (MCAO) in rats through the morphological observation.

METHODSForty two healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, false-ope ration group, model control group, non-acupuncture group, Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group, 7 rats in each group. Besides the normal and false-operation groups, the experimental modal of MCAO was established in the other groups by using the Zea-Longa thread method. Acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint (below the costal region) were selected respectively in the Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group for puncturing at 180 times/min for 5 seconds. Its effect was estimated by measuring the rate of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the light microscope and the degree of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the electron microscope.

RESULTS(1) At the level of the light microscope, comparing with the model control group (0.66 +/- 0.18), of the neuronal necrosis there were no significant differences in the rate of neuronal necrosis in the non-acupuncture group (0.67 +/- 0.34) and non-acupoint acupuncture group (0.59 +/- 0.11) (both P > 0.05), while it was significantly decreased in the Shuigou-acupuncture group (0.200 +/- 12) (P < 0.05). It indicates that no intervention and wrong (non-acupoint) intervention could light the damage of the neurons, however, only right intervention (Shuigou, GV 26) can obviously decrease the rate of the neuronal necrosis, showing with the specificity of acupoint. (2) At the level of the electron microscope, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the non-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group is similar to that of the model control group, showing with the serious edema and structure damage. In contrast, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the Shuigou-acupuncture group is similar to that of the normal group and false-operation group, showing with light neuronal damage.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncturing Shuigou (GV 26) could protect the involved neurons and inhibit the neuronal necrosis induced by the MCAO in rats, but acupuncturing the non-acupoint couldn't, which imply that there is the specificity of acupoint in the acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and preliminarily evaluate the reliability and validity of the Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy ScaleeBreast Cancer (SMSES-BC) related to chemotherapy. METHODS: The study included three stages. This paper presents the results of stage 2 and stage 3. In total, 34 items in the SMSES-BC were found during stage 1 from qualitative findings, a literature review, and expert suggestions; the 34 items were used for the psychometric properties test. Test-retest reliability and Cronbach alpha were assessed in the first sample, which included 45 participants for the pilot test (stage 2). The second sample, which included 152 patients, was used to assess the construct validity and concurrent validity (stage 3). RESULTS: The pilot test results revealed a test-retest reliability of .73 (p < .001) and Cronbach alpha coefficient of .96 for the total scale. Three factors (managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, acquiring problem solving, and managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances) were identified from exploratory factor analysis. Correlation coefficient r was .40 (p < .001), which supported the association between SMSES-BC and the General Self-Efficacy Scale for concurrent validity. CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrate acceptable reliability and validity for the SMSES-BC that was developed for measuring symptom-management self-efficacy related to chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. This study suggests further research to validate the construct of the SMSES-BC.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*psychology ; Drug Therapy/*psychology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Patients/*psychology ; Pilot Projects ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care/*psychology ; Self Efficacy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taiwan

Adolescent ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; complications ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo gain an insight into large genomic deletions in mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 in Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) patients in order to improve genetic detections of HNPCC kindreds.

METHODSFourteen peripheral blood DNA samples were obtained from 14 unrelated HNPCC patients, and fluorescent labeled quantitative multiplex PCR was used to detect large genomic deletions in MSH2 and MLH1 genes.

RESULTSOne of the fourteen probands, a man, was found to have MSH2 exon 1-7 deletions. His cancer-distressed son was also found to have the mutations. Additionally, three normal members of the family had the same mutations.

CONCLUSIONLarge genomic deletions which mainly present to MSH2 account for 20% of general pathological sequence changes of MSH2 and MLH1 genes in Chinese HNPCC patients, and large genomic detections of mismatch repair genes should be included in the regular genetic detections of Chinese HNPCC kindreds.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; ethnology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo screen the proteins interacting with FXR1P for functional investigation of FXR1P.

METHODSThe yeast strain AH109 transformed with the recombinant expression vector pGBKT7/FXR1 was mated with the yeast strain Y187 pretransformed with human fetal brain cDNA library. The positive clones were screened and identified by sequence analysis.

RESULTSThe recombinant expression vector pGBKT7/FXR1 was constructed successfully. Five proteins binding to FXR1P were screened from human fetal brain cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system, including CMAS, FTH1, GOLGA4, HSD17B1 and CSH1.

CONCLUSIONSThese results provide new clues for investigating the biological functions of FXR1P and the pathogenesis of Fragile X syndrome.

Autoantigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Estradiol Dehydrogenases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ferritins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques