The β-Glucuronidase gene (sbGUS) cDNA firstly from Scutellari abaicalensis leaf was cloned by RT-PCR, with GenBank accession number KR364726. The full length cDNA of sbGUS was 1 584 bp with an open reading frame (ORF), encoding an unstable protein with 527 amino acids. The bioinformatic analysis showed that the sbGUS encoding protein had isoelectric point (pI) of 5.55 and a calculated molecular weight about 58.724 8 kDa, with a transmembrane regions and signal peptide, had conserved domains of glycoside hydrolase super family and unintegrated trans-glycosidase catalytic structure. In the secondary structure, the percentage of alpha helix, extended strand, β-extended and random coil were 25.62%, 28.84%, 13.28% and 32.26%, respectively. The homologous analysis indicated the nucleotide sequence 98.93% similarity and the amino acid sequence 98.29% similarity with S. baicalensis (BAA97804.1), in the nine positions were different. The expression level of sGUS was the highest in root based on a real-time PCR analysis, followed by flower and stem, and the lowest was in stem. The results provide a foundation for exploring the molecular function of sbGUS involved in baicalcin biosynthesis based on synthetic biology approach in S. baicalensis plants.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Glucuronidase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment

Objective To study the acute inhalation toxicity of 50% Luowei,a plant molluscacide,in rats. Methods Twenty adult Wistar rats,half male and half female,were given of 5000 mg/m3 of 50% Luowei through a dynamic inhalation de?vice and the death and recovery of the rats were observed within 14 days,and LC50 was drawn. Results After exposure,the ac?tivities of the rats decreased and a few individual animals had scratching symptom,but the symptom disappeared after the expo?sure. No animals died during the whole observation period. Therefore,the acute inhalation LC50 was greater than 5000 mg/m3 for rats,and Luowei belonged to low toxicity level. Conclusions 50% Luowei will not cause animal death if it is inhaled into ani?mal body. However,people still need to wear protective equipment in production and use.

A test was conducted to examine the effect of several electron donors such as glucose, sodium acetate, Fe0, Fe0+glucose and Fe0+sodium acetate on reductive dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) through inoculating the unacclimated anaerobic mixed bacteria. The optimum condition and sus-tainability of Fe0 as electron donor was also been discussed. The results showed that, Fe0+glucose enhanced the dechlorination of contaminant effectively compared to glucose. Sodium acetate, Fe0 and Fe0+sodium acetate were all effective electron donors and Fe0 was the optimum, the optimum initial pH was 8.0 and quantity of added Fe0 was 2.0 g/L. 4-CP was the mainly intermediate product for 2,4-DCP dechlorination. Fe0 could support the electron for reductive dechlorination of 2,4-DCP continuously. In contrast, when so-dium acetate as electron donor, the effect of dechlorination was inferior to Fe0 with the consumption of sodium acetate.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the apoptosis of testicular germ cells in hyperlipidemic rats.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 42 four-week-old male Wistar rats into a normal control group (n = 12) and a high-fat group (n = 30) to be fed on a normal diet and a high-fat diet, respectively, for 10 weeks. Then we measured the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the serum using an automatic biochemistry analyzer, detected the apoptosis of testicular germ cells by TUNEL staining, and determined the protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 and. caspase-12 in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe concentrations of TG and TC were significantly increased in the animals of the high-fat group ([3.00 ± 0.92] and [3.04 ± 0.39] mmol/L) as compared with the control rats ([1.43 ± 0.41] and [1.55 ± 0.23] mmol/L) (P < 0.01), and so was the apoptosis index of the testicular germ cells ([37.17 ± 2.74]% vs [5.16 ± 0.81]%, P < 0.01). The high-fat group, in comparison with the control, also showed remarkably upregulated protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 (0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.86 ± 0.05 vs 0.19 ± 0.01 and 0.37 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) and caspase-12 (0.34 ± 0.02 and 0.87 ± 0.01 vs 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.34 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) in the testis tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe apoptosis of testicular germ cells is increased in hyperlipidemic rats, which may be attributed to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; physiology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation

Objective: To investigate the free radical scavenging activities of the extract from pomegranate peel and compare with that from juice. Methods: Free radicals (-2O, 稯H and ROO? scavenging activities were investigated in different special chemical systems. Its inhibition activity on LDL oxidation was studied with LDL oxidation model in vitro. Results:Both extracts had strong abilities to scavenge -2O, 稯H and ROO?radicals and prevent LDL oxidation in dose-dependent manner. The extract from peel showed higher activities than that from juice. Conclusion: The natural antioxidants in the extracts of pomegranate peel or juice can effectively scavenge -2O, 稯H and ROO?radicals, and prevent LDL oxidation significantly, especially much more in the former.

Crystal structures of chemical drugs has been being investigated widely. But few attention has been paid to polymorphs-phenomena of active ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). Taking anhydrous dehydroandrographolide and hydrousprim-O-glucosylcimifugin as example, differences between TCM reference substances (RSs) with different crystal structures were discussed by using microscopy, melting point determination, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and infrared (IR) methods. The results showed that different crystal structures could lead to change of melting points, thermal behaviors and IR spectrum. It's indicated that polymorphs may be considered if different physicochemical properties were obtained when applying TCM RS. Differences of chemical properties of active ingredients from TCM with different crystal structures need further investigation.
Crystallization ; Differential Thermal Analysis ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Reference Standards ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; methods ; standards ; Transition Temperature

Citrus aurantium is one of the most common traditional Chinese medicines. In this paper, the chemical components, content determination and pharmacological actions of C. aurantium were summarized for the comprehensive utilization of its resources. Because of the complicated resources of C. aurantium, only one single component as index couldn't reflect the quality and effects and comprehensive evaluation which concluding multiple components should be established in the future quality control. In recent years, the pharmacological effects research of C. aurantium has made tremendous progress, and it is important to explore new drugs from the development and utilization of the active ingredient of C. aurantium. In recent years, the pharmacological effects research of C. aurantium has made tremendous progress, and it is important to explore new drugs from the development and utilization of the active ingredient of C. aurantium.
Citrus ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Objective: To investigate the effects of pomegranate peel extract on antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat diet in comparison with pomegranate juice extract. Method: The hyperlipidemic model was developed by feeding C57BL/6J mice a high fat diet. The effects of pomegranate peel extract (supplemented in drinking water) on serum FRAP value, paraoxonase(PON), GSH-Px and SOD activities as well as serum and hepatic lipids contents were observed. The morphologic change of aortic walls was also examined. Results: The antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism were improved by supplementation of pomegranate peel extract in hyperlipidemic mice. The pathologic changes manifested in aortic walls were also inhibited. The pomegranate juice extract presented similar effects. Conclusion: The pomegranate peel extract inhibited the early process of atherosclerosis. The possible mechanisms were related to the improved antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism.

ObjectiveTo diagnose and classify 249 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) according to the WHO standards.MethodsAccording to the WHO standards,cell morphology,cytogenetics,immune phenotype and bone marrow pathologic biopsy in 249 cases of MDS were analyzed.ResultsGreat shape and oval cell of mature erythrocyte could be observed in all MDS patients peripheral blood. The incidence of immature erythrocyte,immature granulocyte,pelger-like abnormal nucleus and neutrophils cells without granular increased with subtypes progressing.These abnormal characteristics and proportion tended to more apparent with MDS subtypes progressing.With the dynamic follow-up,we found the rate of MDS transition to AL increased with subtypes progressing(P＜0.05 ).The immune phenotype analysis of 148 patients was undertook and found that the trend to express myeloid specific antigen (CD33) increased gradually with subtypes progressing The chromosome inspection in 138 patients was undertook and found that 53 patients (38.7 ％ with abnormal karyotype,mainly in 20q- and +8;16 cases with complex abnormal karyotype (28 ％), two patients in 5q-. 180 patients were underwent bone marrow biopsy at the same time and found that 19 patients with abnormal morphology;42 patients with bone marrow fibrosis.ConclusionsCombining with multiple index to detect the MDS contributes to the classification and diagnosis more accuratcly and long-term follow-up helps to judgment the prognosis.

Objective To explore the significance of dysplasia and cytogenetic changes to the diagnosis and typing of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Methods The dysplasia performance of each series in every isoforms was observed by the bone marrow aspiration and peripheral blood smear to the 132 patients with MDS. At the same time do the chromosome karyotype was analizad combined with morbidness cells and chromosome karyotype abnormal analysis associated with MDS subtype. Resuits Acorrding to the dysplasia ≥0.10, the totle detection rate of granulocyte series, erythrocyte series and megakaryocytic was 43.4 ％.The morbidness granulocyte and megalokaryocyte ≥0.10was mainly in RCMD (P ＜ 0.01); morbidness erythrocytes≥0.10 mainly in RA + RARS (P ＜ 0.01). the totle detection rate of chromosome karyotype abnormal in MDS was 44.0 ％.The detection rate in RA and RARS was lower than other isoforms,but showed no statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).the relationships of dysplasia and chromosome karyotype abnormal with the isoforms of MDS:in RA group,50.0 ％(3/6) patients had karyotype abnormal simultaneous the detection of morbidness cells≥0.10, 76.0 ％(19/25) in RCMD group and 60.9 ％(14/23) in RAEB group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Theve is relationships between the patients with chromosome karyotype abnormal and dysplasia ≥0.10 and the isoforms of MDS. Closely monitoring the hemopoiesis and cytogenetic changes is significance to diagnose MDS.