Epmedii Folium is a commonly used traditional Chinese drug, and is beneficial for the "liver" and "kidney" s function in Chinese medicine. Recently, the origin of this drug is more complex. Most of the identification studies are emphasized on the species certified by the pharmacopoeia and other related species from the same genus of Epimedium, but few was emphasized on the counterfeit. In this paper, one counterfeit of Epmedii Folium, identified as the dried leaf of Quercus variabilis (Fam. Fagaceae), has been reported based on field investigation, comparing specimen of Epmedii Folium and Q. variabilis,using the macroscopic, microscopic and TmC methods. It is resulted that they could be identified clearly not only by the macroscopic features, such as the vein character and the tooth apex, but also by the microscopic features, such as the vascular bundles of the midrib, the non-glandular hair, the anticlinal wall of the epidermis cell and the calcium oxalate crystal. Furthermore their TLC chromatograms showed also difference. This study will give reference for the identification of Epmedii Folium and the related supervision and inspection work.
China ; Discriminant Analysis ; Epimedium ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Quercus ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

Objective To establish and optimize three-cube FRET assay in living cells and analyze subunit assembling of iGluR receptors. Methods Taking HEK293 cells cotransfed with pECFP and pEYFP as negative control, and those transfected with pECFP-YFP as positive control,different calculation methods using fluorescence microscopy were compared. Results These calculation methods were all suitable for FRET measurement in the system. but the measurement results were affected by the ratio of Donor/Acceptor (D/A) in some degree,and different calculation methods have different optimized conditions. FRET measurement using FR value showed subunit specific assembly of iGluR subtypes.Conclusion There are different optimized conditions for these different calculation methods in the three-cube FRET measurement system,and a further evidence is provided for subunit specific assembling of iGluR subtypes from the FRET assay.

To enhance the immunogenicity of DNA and adenoviral vector vaccines expressing HIV-1 subtype B gp160, human interleukin 15 (hIL15) DNA adjuvant (pVR-hIL15) was constructed. BALB/c mice received DNA prime/protein boost immunization with pVR-HIVgp160/Ad5-HIVgp160 alone or combined with pVR-hIL15. Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Compared with those immunized with vaccines alone, the mice immunized with vaccines combined with pVR-hIL15 had significantly increased specific cellular response and antibody titer (P < 0.05). It suggests that the IL15 DNA adjuvant can enhance the immune responses induced by prime-boost regimen using DNA and adenoviral vector encoding HIV-1 subtype B gp160.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp160 ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Interleukin-15 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

Treatment based on syndrome differentiation is an essential feature of traditional Chinese medical diagnosis. The interventions based on changes of syndrome types in randomized controlled trials are complicated, leading to the difficulty of blind method enforcement. This article described a double-blind method. It could be used in randomized controlled trials under the condition of different syndrome types and different medications. It numbered drugs in two stages, and in two phases to achieve double-blind. This method not only guaranteed investigators and subjects to be in blinded conditions, but also achieved using different medications for patients of different syndromes. It also caused no drug waste. It was scientific and feasible.
Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Single-Blind Method

AIM: To discover more active and water-soluble derivatives of tetracyclic diterpenoids containing an exo-methylene cyclopentanone or an α-methylenelactone moiety. METHODS: All of the key intermediates were synthesized from stevioside, and the target compounds were obtained through glycosylation of the 4-carboxyl group. The cytotoxicity of the target compounds against six human cancer cell lines, HepG2, Bel-7402, A549, U251, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were evaluated by the MTT assay. RESULTS: Compound 1b was more effective than the positive control adriamycin against the HepG2, Bel-7402, A549, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.12, 0.91, 0.35, 0.08, and 0.07 μmol·L(-1), respectively. Moreover, compound 3c exhibited the most potent and selective cytotoxic activity against the HepG2 cell line (IC50, 0.01 μmol·L(-1)). CONCLUSION Compounds 1b and 3c could be considered as potential anticancer candidates for further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Kaurane ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo establish the quantized criteria for TCM syndrome diagnosis of angina pectoris (AP) using the entropy-based complex systems partition method (EBCSPM).

METHODSFour hundred and three AP patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the operation group (302 cases) and the examination group (101 cases). The symptomatic information of the patients was extracted using EBCSPM to make sure the contribution degree of each symptom to syndrome diagnosis, and the diagnostic threshold was established by the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC).

RESULTSThe basic syndromes manifested during AP were collateral-qi stagnation, collateral-qi deficiency and stagnation, turbid phlegm, blood stasis, phlegm-heat, heat-fire, yin deficiency and yang deficiency, etc. Different symptoms contributed to syndrome diagnosis to different degrees and with different diagnostic thresholds, showing good sensitivity and specificity in the prospective verification on the 101 patients in the examination group.

CONCLUSIONEBCSPM is applicable for quantizing TCM diagnostic criteria, and the established criteria shows favorable diagnostic efficacy for TCM syndrome diagnosis of AP.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnosis ; Automatic Data Processing ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Entropy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Research Design ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syndrome

Objective To investigate the effects of bradykinin (BK) on the proliferation of rabbit corneal endothehal ceils (RCECs) and the expression of tight junction-related proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and zonula occludens-1-associated nucleic-acid-binding protein (ZONAB),and to explore the underlying mechanisms of BK on cell proliferation in corneal endothelium.Methods RCECs at logarithmic growth phase were treated with different concentrations of BK (0.01,0.1,1,10 μmol · L-1) BK group,with the controls left untreated.Morphological changes of cells in each group were examined under phase-contrast microscope,and MTT assays were used to detect cell proliferation at 24 h,48 h,72 h,96 h after BK treatment.And,at 72 h,the expression levels of ZO-1 and ZONAB protein were determined by Western blot.Results After 72 h of treatment,the cells in each group were fused into pieces and closely linked into a monolayer;but after 96 h,the growth of the cells was restricted,with the intercellular space become larger and the cells exfoliated.Compared with the control group,BK induced a significant increase of absorbance value and cell viability,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.001),and the promoting effects showed a concentration-dependent manner,and 1 μmol · L-1 BK demonstrated the strongest regulative effect (P ＜ 0.001).Western blot results showed that BK upregulated the expression of ZO-1 and ZONAB protein in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion BK can stimulate the proliferation of RCECs in a time-and concentration-dependent manner,and the mechanisms are probably associated with ZO-1/ZONAB-mediated signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the associations between polymorphisms of LEPR Gln223Arg,LEPR Pro 1019Pro and the risk on obesity.Methods A computerized search on literature was carried out in Wanfang,CNKI,VIP databases and CBM,PubMed,EMBASE databases to collect articles published between 1979 and 2010 concerning the associations between polymorphisms of LEPR Gln223Arg and/or LEPR Pro 1019Pro and risk of obesity in the Chinese population.Odds ratios (ORs) were used to assess the strength of the association,and 95％ confidence intervals (CIs) to present the precision of the estimates.Meta-analysis was performed using the STATA statistical software.Results Fifteen literature were collected for Meta-analysis by the uniform inclusion and exclusion criteria.There were 1096 obese patients and 949 controls for polymorphisms of LEPR Gln223Arg in 9 papers,together with 961 obese patients and 818 controls for polymorphisms of LEPR Prol019Pro in 8 papers.Overall,there were significant associations between decreased risk of obesity and LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphisms (-668 A→G) (G versus A,OR=0.66,95％CI:0.49-0.89; AG and GG versus AA,OR=0.50,95％CI:0.32-0.77; respectively).There were significant associations between increased risk of obesity and LEPR Prol019Pro polymorphisms (-3057 G→A) (A versus G,OR=1.61,95％CI:1.15-2.26; AG and AA versus GG,OR=1.50,95％CI:1.08-2.08; respectively).Conclusion Variant alleles at both LEPR-668 and LEPR-3057 were associated with obesity in the Chinese Han-dominated population.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanisms of Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Bickerstaff' s brainstem encephalitis (BBE) by studying their clinical and electrophysiological characteristics.Methods The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of 13 MFS and 7 BBE cases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2000 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The electrophysiological parameters included sensory and motor nerve conduction,electromyography,F wave,sympathetic skin response and brainstem auditory evoked potential and blink reflex.Results MFS and BBE had similar clinical characteristics:respiratory symptoms were the most common infectious symptoms before disease onset; Ophthalmoplegia,facial palsy and bulbar symptoms were common; They both had cerebrospinal fluid albuminocytological dissociation and positive serum anti-GQ1b antibody.However,BBE had more central nervous system lesion signs clinically such as conscious disturbance,positive Babinski' s sign and central facial palsy.Electrophysiologically,MFS and BBE also had similar electrophysiological features:sensory nerve abnormality ratios were 6/13,2/7 respectively,with prominently reduced sensory nerve active potential amplitude,normal or slightly slowed sensory conduction velocity; Motor nerves abnormality ratios were 2/13,1/7 respectively,with slightly prolonged distal motor latency and normal compound muscle action potential; Electromyography abnormality ratios were 1/7,0/4 respectively; F wave frequency abnormality ratios were 3/13,5/7 respectively,and in some cases,F wave frequency would restore; Sympathetic skin response abnormality ratios were 1/2,1/3 respectively; Blink reflex abnormalityratios were 1/2,1/1 respectively,with central involvement in BBE; Brainstem auditory evoked potential abnormality ratios were 3/5,1/4 respectively,with wave Ⅰ latency or amplitude abnormality.Conclusion The similarities of clinical and electrophysiological features suggest that MFS and BBE have the same mechanism and they form a continuous spectrum with variable central nervous system and peripheral nervous system involvement.