Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Steroids ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the expression in the VEGF,TGF-?1 of cervical squamous car- cinoma infected by HPV16,18.Methods Cells exfoliated from cervix(collected by clinician)of 99 women with cervical cancer and 54 women as a control group were analyzed blindly by human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 Fluorescent Polymerase Reaction Diagnositic kit.The expression of VEGF,TGF-?1 of the positive HPV16,18 of 38 women with cervical squamous cancer were studied by immunohistochemical stain.Results The positive expression of HPV16,18 was observed in 53 in the case of cervical cancer with positive rates of 54 %,but the positive rates was 7 % in the control group(P

Animals ; Asia ; epidemiology ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Mutation

AIMTo investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on histology and behavioral tests during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in gerbils.

METHODSGlobal cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries for 10 min in gerbils. Three doses of MT were administrated intraperitoneally 30 min prior to the onset of ischemia. Locomotor activity was measured by using the open field method 3 and 7 days after the ischemic episode. T maze test was carried out 4, 5 and 6 days after ischemia to assess the working memory of gerbils. Neuronal damage was assessed in CA1 pyramidal layer of gerbil hippocampus and evaluated 7 days after ischemia.

RESULTSMT significantly reversed the locomotor activity increases, ameliorated learning and working memory deficit, and reduced the extent of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells injury after transient global cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil.

CONCLUSIONMT provides significantly protective effect against both histological and behavioral consequences of global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Female ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Memory ; drug effects ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neurons ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of connective tissue growth factor on the pathogenesis of human hypertrophic scar.

METHODSNormal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured in vitro. The collagen synthesis of fibroblasts were measured by H3-proline incorporation method. The expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA of fibroblasts were detected with immunocytochemistry staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods.

RESULTSCompared with normal skin fibroblast, the collagen synthesis and the expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA in the hypertrophic scar fibroblast was higher (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONConnective tissue growth factor may play an important role in promoting the fibrotic process of hypertrophic scar.

Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The response rules of pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were studied to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of GERD. Seventy-six cases of GERD were included into an observation group while 30 healthy volunteers were recruited into a control group. A mechanical measurement device of pressing pain that could measure the pain threshold was adapted to observe the pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in GERD patients and healthy volunteers. The test area is from spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra to that of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T1 -T12), including acupoints and non-acupoints on the Governor Vessel. As a result, in the observation group the pain threshold of T5-T7 spinous process clearance, which was the location of Shendao (GV 11), Lingtai (GV 10) and Zhiyang (GV 9), was lower than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). This result indicated that there was significant pressing pain in T5-T7 spinous process clearance in patients with GERD, which could be taken as an important auxiliary diagnosis and a new thinking method in the treatment of GERD with acupuncture.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Pressure ; Sensation ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the human cord blood adult stem cells (ASCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro induced by combined stimulation with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem cell factor (SCF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The adult stem cells were obtained through density gradient centrifugation and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The adult stem cells were cultured in DMEM with HGF (10 ng/ml)+SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) in induced group I. In induced group II the enriched cells were cultured in DMEM with SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) and the undifferentiated cells acted as the control group without the factors. The morphology of cells was observed by the inverted phase contrast microscopy; the expression of albumin (Alb), human hepatocyte cytokeratin (CK18) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were detected by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR assay in the 21-day culture. Alb secreted by hepatocytes in the medium was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at day 7, 14, 21, 23 and 25. The results showed that the shapes of ASCs changed and their sizes and number increased in the course of culture in group I. After being induced for three weeks, the cells turned round and resembled hepatocyte-like cells. The mRNA for Alb could be detected by RT-PCR in the differentiated adult stem cells in group I, and the mRNA for AFP was poorly detected by RT-PCR at day 21. Alb and CK18 were positive through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry at day 21, compared with group II and the control group. In group I, Alb in the medium significantly increased, compared with control group, and reached the highest level at day 21, then decreased at day 23. It is concluded that under some definite inducing conditions, human cord blood adult stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and HGF plays a critical role during the course.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; pharmacology

AIMIn order to investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells on proliferation and differentiation towards megakaryocytes of CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood in vitro.

METHODSAfter mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells were advancely planted in DMEM medium and grown up to 80%, then the CD34+ cells were added to culture with mesenchymal stem/ progenitor cells or without mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells in DMEM for 14 days with TPO + IL-3 + SCF, TPO + IL-3 + SCF + IL-11 respectively. After cultured for 14 days, mononuclear cells (MNCs) were counted by automatic cell analyzer. The number of CD41+ cells and platelets were detected by flow cytometry. Platelets function were assessed through platelet aggregation test which was induced by thrombin.

RESULTSAs compared with the control group, the number of MNCs of co-culture system was not increased significantly (P > 0.05), but the number of CD4+ cells and platelets were increased significantly (P < 0.05). The platelets were aggregated by thrombin induced which could be seen in microscope or flow cytometry.

CONCLUSIONIt is concluded that mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells may be promoted to induce the cord blood CD34+ cells to differentiate towards megakaryocyte in the culture medium.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; physiology

AIMTo study the biochemistry of lanthanides, the cooperative action of inorganic and organic anti-tumor drugs.

METHODSA series of rare earth complexes were synthesized with Ln(NO3) 6H2O, Phen and 5-Fu. Their anti-tumor activity was measured by the improved MTT, SRB methods.

RESULTSThe formula of complex Ln[(Phen)2(5-Fu)3(NO3)](NO3)2(Ln = Y, La, Ce, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er; Phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline; 5-Fu = fluorouracil) was characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, IR, TGA, and 13C NMR spectra. The preliminary biological activity studies indicated that Lanthanide complex has strong anti-tumor activity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe complex might have anti-tumor cooperation action.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cerium ; chemistry ; Drug Synergism ; Dysprosium ; chemistry ; Erbium ; chemistry ; Fluorouracil ; chemistry ; Gadolinium ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lanthanoid Series Elements ; chemistry ; Lanthanum ; chemistry ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; Samarium ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Yttrium ; chemistry

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny