Humans ; Inflammation ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; chemistry

The macroscopic characteristics, tissue, caterpillar body wall and powder of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis in different batch numbers were observed and researched by the macroscopic and microscopic identification methods. The result shows that the morphology, size, abdominal annulations of caterpillar, etc. of 0. xuefengensis are the macroscopic identification characteristics, the caterpillar body surface mycelium, body wall sculpture and crochets on abdominal legs are the microscopic identification characteristics. These characters are stable and regular discriminant features, which are proved to be the identification basis of O. xuefengensis. In addition, The characters such as crochets on abdominal legs arrange in two parallel ellipse rings, the inner crochets are long strip, and the external toes are unciform, are specific.
Animals ; Hypocreales ; cytology ; Moths ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; microbiology

Andrographis paniculata from different parts and origins were analyzed by UPLC-PDA fingerprint to provide refererice for related preparation technology. Using the peak of andrographolide as reference, 27 common peaks were identified, and digitized UPLC-PDA fingerprints for 23 batches of andrographis paniculata were established in this research. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out after feature extraction. The contents of andrographolide, neoandrographolide, deoxyandrographolide, dehydroandrographolide were determined by external standard method. The Plackett-Burman design combined with pareto chart was used to analyze the factors influencing the robustness of the method. It was found that the medicinal part has a more remarkable influence on the quality of andrographis paniculata than the origin. The contents of the 4 lactones the differ greatly in the different parts of andrographis paniculata, and the pH of the mobile phase is an important factor that influenced the robustness of the method.
Andrographis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Drug Stability ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Tetrahydronaphthalenes ; analysis

Bilingual teaching is adapted to the development of higher education in china.Based on actual fact of college,teaching mode,evaluation and effect of bilingual teaching on medical microbiology were studied,which started with necessity of bilingual teaching to use original edition teaching material in English. The result would provide some gist to choice the suitable pattern of bilingual teaching for other subject of our college.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in peripheral blood monocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to explore the effect of the expression of COX-2 mRNA in ACS. METHODS: The expressions of COX-2 mRNA in peripheral blood monocytes from 18 normal subjects and 42 ACS patients were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the monocytes from patients were incubated with celecoxib in vitro. The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in supernates of monocytes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The expression of COX-2 mRNA and the secrections of IL-6 and MMP-9 in peripheral blood monocytes in ACS patients significantly increased compared with those from normal controls [0.61 +/- 0.17 vs 0.11 +/- 0.09; (97.24 +/- 11.21) ng/L vs (22.15 +/- 6.30) ng/L; (41.20 +/- 8.41) g/L vs (11.76 +/- 4.23) g/L; all P < 0.05, respectively]. Celecoxib reduced IL-6 and MMP-9 secretion level of monocytes from ACS patients up to 48% and 50% respectively (all P < 0.05), in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION COX-2 in peripheral blood monocytes may play an important role in the acute coronary syndrome.
Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; enzymology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEto explore the potential role of apolipoprotein A5 (apoA5) on the hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-lowering effects of statin.

METHODStwenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups: (1) control group (n = 8), with no special treatment; (2) HTG group (n = 8), treated with 10% fructose water for 6 weeks; (3) statin group (n = 8), treated with 10% fructose water for 2 weeks and cotreated with atorvastatin 10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) for another 4 weeks. Body weight, fasting plasma lipids and the hepatic expressions of apoA5 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)α were determined. In separate in vitro experiments, we tested the effects of atorvastatin on TG and the expressions of apoA5 and PPARα in HepG2 cells.

RESULTS(1) at 6 weeks, plasma TG was higher in rats in HTG group than in controls, which was significantly reduced in statin group (both P < 0.05). (2) Rat hepatic apoA5 expression in HTG group was significantly lower than in control group and was significantly higher in statin group than in HTG group (both P < 0.05). (3) Similarly, rat PPARα mRNA expression in HTG group was lower than in control group and was higher in statin group than in HTG group (both P < 0.05). (4) Statin significantly upregulated the expressions of apoA5 and PPARα and decreased TG in HepG2 cells. The above effects induced by statin was blocked in the presence of PPARα inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONSupregulation of apoA5 expression contributes to TG lowering effect of statin via PPARα signaling pathway.

Animals ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoproteins ; blood ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Down-Regulation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between serum apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) and lipid profile or high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSSerum apoA5 and hs-CRP levels were measured by ELISA and immunoturbidimetry in control subjects (n = 232), patients with stable angina (SA, n = 127), unstable angina (UA, n = 116) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n = 112). Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were also measured.

RESULTSCompared with controls [(108.7 +/- 23.2) microg/L] and SA patients [(78.3 +/- 20.2) microg/L], serum ApoA5 level was significantly increased in UA [(340.6 +/- 63.5) microg/L] and AMI patients [(373.2 +/- 73.8) microg/L] (all P < 0.05). ApoA5 was positively correlated with TG (r = 0.63 and 0.67, respectively, all P < 0.05) and hs-CRP (r = 0.57 and 0.55, respectively, all P < 0.05) in UA and AMI patients but there were no significant correlations between ApoA5 and TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in ACS patients (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased serum apoA5 level and the positive correlation between ApoA5 and serum TG and hs-CRP in ACS patients might reflect increased inflammation responses in ACS patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Aged ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoproteins A ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic relationship and diversity of 3 species which belong to Tripterygium.

METHODSamples were collected and divided into 4 types: typical T. wilfordii, typical T. hypoglaucum and their middle type according to morphological characters, and T. regelii. RAPD markers were used to measure the genetic relationship and diversity of 110 individuals from 22 natural populations in China.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION10 primers were selected from 100 ones screened. A total of 128 bands were scored and 123 of them were polymorphic. Cluster analysis indicated that all the samples could be divided into 3 parts: 5 individuals from T. regelii gathered closely and were separated from other population and formed single branch. All 4 populations from T. hypoglaucum gathered directly. The middle type showed a nearer relationship with T. wilfordii than with T. hypoglaucum, although there was genetic differentiation between populations from middle type and those from T. wilfordii. The middle type has more diversity than T. wilfordii. The distance between different middle type populations and T. wilfordii was different. The existence of middle type populations between T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum suggested that the 2 species should be combined into one species. Considering all populations except T. regeli, the generic differentiation among populations was significant and the genetic diversity existed mainly among different populations. So samples of Tripterygii should be collected from different ppopulations for the reservation of the genetic diversity.

Biodiversity ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Plant ; analysis ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Tripterygium ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development

BACKGROUNDAdipocytes behave like a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) participates in the local chronic inflammatory response, and high-density lipoprotein could counterbalance the proinflammatory function of oxLDL, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F on the secretion and expression of MCP-1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by oxLDL and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSFully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated in the medium containing various concentration of L-4F (0-50 μg/ml) with oxLDL (50 μg/ml) stimulated, with/without protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 (10 μmol/L) preincubated. The concentrations of MCP-1 in the supernatant, the mRNA expression of MCP-1, the levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) were evaluated. The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber.

RESULTSOxLDL stimulation induced a significant increase of MCP-1 expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which were inhibited by L-4F preincubation in a dose-dependent manner. PKA inhibitor H-89 markedly reduced the oxLDL-induced MCP-1 expression, but no further decrease was observed when H-89 was used in combination with L-4F (50 μg/ml) (P > 0.05). OxLDL stimulation showed no significant effect on C/EBPα protein level but increased C/EBPβ protein level in a time-dependent manner. H-89 and L-4F both attenuated C/EBPβ protein level in oxLDL-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONSOxLDL induces C/EBPβ protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner and enhances MCP-1 secretion and expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. L-4F dose-dependently counterbalances the pro-inflammatory effect of oxLDL, and cyclic AMP/PKA-C/EBPβ signaling pathway may participate in it.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; analysis ; physiology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; secretion ; Cyclic AMP ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; physiology ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

BACKGROUNDFrom late May 2009, sporadic imported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) were continuously confirmed in Shanghai, but there were few reports on its clinical presentation in China. The aim of the study was to investigate the demographic and clinical features of the laboratory-confirmed cases and the treatment with oseltamivir.

METHODWe performed a retrospective study in the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SHAPHC), reviewing the medical records of the laboratory-confirmed patients derived from June 10 to July 20, 2009.

RESULTSA total of 156 cases were enrolled, of whom 152 had a history of recent travel. The mean age was 22.6 years and 89 cases (57.1%) were males. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and sore throat, with children more likely to run a temperature above 38.5 degrees C than adults. The mean leucocyte count was 5.4 x 10(9)/L, the mean neutrophil count 3.2 x 10(9)/L and the mean lymphocyte count 1.4 x 10(9)/L. Other findings included a normal range or elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and a normal or decreased level of prealbumin; the levels of prealbumin and CRP were significantly lower in the children than in the adults. Fifty-two patients had abnormal chest CT results, with small unilateral or bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, axillary and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and local pleural thickening, while no cases showed symptoms of hypoxia. All the patients received oseltamivir and recovered without complications, but the duration of fever and virus shedding were significantly longer in the children than in the adults.

CONCLUSIONSTravel-related circulation may be an important reason for the H1N1 epidemic in the non-epidemic areas, and the virus caused mild respiratory symptoms. The infection in children was more severe in terms of prealbumin levels, temperature, the duration of fever and virus shedding. Oseltamivir was effective for H1N1, but more effective in the adults than in the children.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oseltamivir ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult