OBJECTIVETo systematically optimize the cultivation conditions of adventitious roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

METHODTissue cultivation technology and ultraviolet spectrophotometry were adopted to observe the effect of inoculum volume, sucrose concentration, inorganic salt concentration, number of cultivation days, gradual scale-up cultivation and bubble different angles of bioreactor on the growth of adventitious roots of P. heterophylla, and determine the content of constituents such as saponin, polysaccharide and amino acid.

RESULTThe propagation multiple of adventitious roots reached the maximum when the inoculum was 6 g in a 1 L culture shake flask. With the increase in sucrose concentration, the dry weight propagation multiples of adventitious roots followed an up and down trend. The inorganic salt concentration in a cultivation dish had a greater effect on the growth of adventitious roots, particularly 3/4 MS was the most favorable for the growth of adventitious roots. The growth curve of P. heterophylla was "S", with the biomass reaching the maximum at the 28th day.

CONCLUSIONThe inoculum volume, sucrose concentration, inorganic salt concentration, gradual scale-up cultivation and angles of bubble bioreactor had a significant effect on the growth of adventitious roots of P. heterophylla. The contents of saponin and amino acid in adventitious roots were higher than that in cultivated P. heterophylla, whereas the polysaccharide content were lower than that in cultivated P. heterophylla.

Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Caryophyllaceae ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; metabolism ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Time Factors ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI)for the differential diagnosis of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma of the head and neck.Methods Thirty-one pa-tients with histopathologically proved adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma were examined with DCE-MRI,in which 10 cases were benign and 21 cases were malignant.The data of the conventional 3.0T DCE-MRI were improved by the 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo sequence (FSPGR)method.Z-test was performed on the quantitative parameters for benign and malignant le-sions,including volume transfer constant (Ktrans ),rate constant (Kep )and extravascular extracellular space fraction (Ve ).The re-ceiver operating characteristic (ROC)curves were plotted to investigate the diagnosis.Results The mean Ktranss of the adenoid cystic carcinoma group and pleomorphic adenoma group were (0.266 ± 0.103 )min-1 and (0.1 55 ± 0.080)min-1 respectively,and the difference between them were statistically significant (Z =-2.699,P < 0.05).The difference between the keps of the aforementioned two groups was of statistical significance (Z =-2.263,P < 0.05),while that of the ves is without statistical significance (Z =-1.132, P >0.05).The areas under the ROC curves of the Ktrans and kep were 0.813 and 0.763 respectively.Choosing the optimal diagnostic cut-off points corresponding to the maximum Youden indexes 0.173 min-1 and 0.818 min-1 ,the sensitivities of Ktrans and kep for identifying the adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma were 90.9% and 81.8%,and the specificities were 77.8% and 66.7%.Ktrans was of the highest sensitivity and specificity for the identification of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma.Conclu-sion The dynamic contrast-enhanced parameter Ktrans plays a certain role in the differential diagnosis of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma of the head and neck.

The study is aimed to distinguish morphological characteristics of Dalbergiae Lignum collected from crude drug's markets and establish a identification methods and the quality standard for Dalbergiae Lignum. The macroscopic and microscopic features of Dalbergiae Lignum from crude drug's market were observed, analyzed and compared according to Hongmu specification issued by the People's Republic of China in 2000, and by the characteristics recorded in domestic monograph of Mucai Shibie (wood identification). The redwood of Dalbergiae Lignum cut into small pieces as medicinal material are dry heart wood of mahogany (trees from Dalbergia sp.), which characteristics of the small pieces as crude drug are different. There are differences in macroscopic and microscopic features about texture of wood and color, odor, taste, transverse section, radial section, tangential section. The results can provide basis for identification, application and improment of the quality standard of Dalbergiae Lignum as medicinal material.
China ; Dalbergia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Xylem ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

Sailonggu, a traditional Chinese medicine is whole skeleton of Myospalax baileyi, which is a kind of animal of rodent from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. Osteon Myospalacem Baileyiis the first category medicinal materials of China Food and Drug Administration. For better quality control, a method of the morphological identification of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi was established by means of studying characteristics of the animal skeleton, it's microscopic characteristics of powder, and literatures comparison. The characteristics of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi were observed and recorded in detail and marked by number, which could be used for identifying crude drug of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi efficiently.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rodentia ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex STR genotyping method for autosomal STR and Y-STR loci in forensic biological practice. METHODS: Widely used autosomal STR loci and Y-STR loci were selected. A set of PCR primers was designed, and a 5-dye fluorescent labeled STR multiplex PCR reagent kit was developed. RESULTS: A kit was developed which can simultaneously detect 15 autosomal STR loci, 10 Y-STR loci, and an Amelogenin. CONCLUSION The 15 autosomal STR plus 10 Y-STR kit in combination with capillary electrophoresis method was used to STR genotyping with accurate and reliable results. The new one-step testing kit can potentially be widely used in forensic cases and DNA databank in the future.
Amelogenin ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To clone and express the HIV-1B gp120 genes isolated at different organizations from a patient died of AIDS dementia complex (ADC) in eukaryotic cells.Methods Using the genomic DNA isolated from peripheral lymphnodes,choroid plexus and occipital white matter from a patient died of ADC as the template,HIV-1B gp120 gene was amplified with PCR.After sequenced,HIVIB gp120 was inserted into pcDNA3.1 ( + ) and recombinant expressing vector gp120/pcDNA3.1 ( + ) was constructed succeffuly confirming with sequencing. Then expressing vector was transfected into eukaryotic cells U87 using liposome transfection and expression of HIV-1B gp120 gene was assayed with indirect immunofluorescence.Results HIV-I B gp120 genes isolated from peripheral lymphnodes,choroid plexus and occipital white matter of the ADC patient were successfully cloned and recombinant expressing vector gp120/pcDNA3.i ( + ) could express envelope glycoprotein HIV-1B gp120 in U87 cells.Conclusion All the HIV-1B gp120 gene isolated at the different organizations of the same ADC patient could express in U87 cells,which may supply a valuable basis for studying the neurotoxicity and neurotoxic mechanism of HIV-1 gp120 protein.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate renal tissue changes in rats exposed to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound.Methods Twenty male Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly divided into a control group,a pseudo-infrasound group,and two infrasound groups-A and B.Groups A and B were exposed to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound for 2 h or4 h daily respectively over 7 days.Pathological and uhrastruetural changes in their renal tissues were observed with a light microscope and an electron microscope.Results Under the light microscope,Bowman's capsules expanded,epithelial cells were shed,and a little secretion was found in the renal tubules of infrasound group A.Slight degeneration and necrosis of the renal tubules and glomerular exudation could be observed in group B.Under the electron microscope,a large number of lysosomes displayed hyperplasia,there was interstitial edema,and leukocyte pavementing wag found in group B.Other changes such as swelling of podocytes' processes,fusion of foot processes,and vacuolization in the mitochondria could be observed in both infrasound groups.Conclusion Lengthy exposure to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound can cause severe pathological and uhrastruetural changes in renal tissue,at least in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Jatropha see soma japonicum so as to screen the optimum process and formulations. Methods The cercaria directly contacting tests with Jatro-pha seed oils extracted by 6 different extraction processes were carried out,and the mouse immediate contacting cercaria infection trials with different formulations of Jatropha seed oil and various additives were performed. Results With 95%ethanol,the ratio of material to liquid being 1∶8,and 2 h extraction,the oil extraction rate was 30.7%. The cercaria directly contacting tests showed that 6 kinds of Jatropha seed oil killed all cercaria within 30 min. In the mouse immediate contacting cercaria infection trials,the worm declined rate of Jatropha seed oil liquid was 70.97%,and the worm declined rate of the sample added with benzyl benzoate was 58.87%,and the worm declined rate of the sample added with laurocapram was 77.42%. The worm declined rate of the sam-ples added with benzyl benzoate,dibutyl phthalate and laurocapram was 100%. Conclusion The process with 95%ethanol,the ratio of material to liquid being 1∶8,and 2 h extraction is the optimum,and the Jatropha seed oil has a good killing schistosome cercaria effect.

This study was conducted to investigate the paclitaxel loaded by hydrazone bonds in poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone) micelles (mPEG-PCL-PTX) on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells and its possible mechanisms of anti-tumor activity. The cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay. Flow cytometry were used to analyze the cell cycle. The cell apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst/P staining. The expression levels of apoptotic genes expression in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The mPEG-PCL-PTX could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and promote the apoptosis. The Bax, caspase-3 protein expression were increased while Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased in A549 cells. Results showed that the polymer containing hydrazone bond is non-toxic in vitro, the mPEG-PCL-PTX micelles can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells. Key words: paclitaxel; micelle; A549 cell; proliferation; cell cycle; apoptosis
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Micelles ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Polyesters ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism