AIM: To observe the changes in contrast sensitivity (CS) between emmetropic pilots, glasses wearing, and after laser in situ keratomileuses ( LASIK) surgery pilots, provide the basis for the physical examination standard after operation.
METHODS:The CS of 13 emmetropic pilots (26 eyes), 12 glasses wearing pilots (24 eyes) and 10 with LASIK (20 eyes) , under photopic, scotopic and scotopic with glare environments at four different spatial frequencies ( 3, 6, 12 and 18cpd ) were measured and the resluts were analyzed by statistics.
RESULTS:Under photopic environments, there was no significant difference in the low spatial frequency (3cpd) among the three groups (P>0. 05). The CS of emmetropic pilots was better than that of the myopic and with LASIK, and there was significant difference (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in CS between myopic and with LASIK (P>0. 05). Under scotopic environments, there was no significant difference in the low spatial frequency (3cpd)among the three groups (P>0. 05). The CS of emmetropic and with LASIK pilots were better than that of the myopic, and there was significant difference ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in CS between emmetropic and with LASIK (P>0. 05). Under scotopic with glare environments, the CS of emmetropic and myopic pilots were better than that of the with LASIK, and there was significant difference (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in CS between myopic and with LASIK (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSION: The CS after LASIK is decreased compare with emmetropic pilot, specially under scotopic with glare environments. A perfect identification standard should be set up.

Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.

METHODSWe randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).

CONCLUSIONNicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Nicotine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tars ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

The aim of the paper is to reveals the variations of Dendrobium officinale amino acids in different strains and parts for breeding excellent varieties, and providing scientific basis for the expanding of medicinal or edible parts. The contents of 17 amino acids in 11 strains of D. officinale were determined by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis method. The total amino acids content of leaves was from 6.76 to 7.97 g per 100 g, and the stems was from 1.61 to 2.44 g per 100 g. As the content of amino acids in leaves was significantly higher than that of stems, and the composition was close to the ideal protein standard proposed by FAO/WHO. The leaves of D. officinale had the good prospect for the development of functional foods. The 9 x 66 strain which with high yield and polysaccharide content had the highest amino acids content both in stems and leaves, indicated crossbreeding could improve the quality of varieties. Compared the amino acids content of D. officinale in two main harvest periods, the harvest time has a significant impact on amino acids content of D. officinale. This study demonstrates that the harvesting time of D. officinale stems is suitable for leaves as well, which is the period before bolssom.
Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; classification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; classification

Polygala hongkongensis Polycalaceae is mostly distributed in southern China, such as Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian and Sichuan provinces. And its herbs is used as a remedy of heat-clearing and detoxicating, removing food retention, promoting blood flow and expelling phlegm to arrest coughing in the folk medicine. Previous phytochemical investigations on Polygala plants have reported that the main chemical constituents are sapaonins, xanthones and oligosaccharide esters. To the best of our knowledge, there is no chemical report on the Polygala hongkongensis Hemsl. yet. In order to search and make use of natural resources from Polygala and to find the bioactive compounds and new compounds, we carried out studies on chemical constituents of this plant. The herbs of P. hongkongensis were extracted with 70% MeOH. The extract was combined and evaporated in vacuum to residue, which was suspended in water and successively partitioned with EtOAc and n-BuOH. Part of the n-BuOH extract was isolated and purified by various column chromatographs such as a macroporous resin, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column and semipreparative HPLC. The structures of isolated and purified compounds were determined by spectral analysis such as UV, IR, HRESI-MS, ESI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, H-H COSY, NOESY and physico-chemical property. Six compounds were identified as polyhongkonggaline (1), 3, 6'-di-O-sinapoyl-sucrose (2), tenuifoliside A (3), glomeratose D (4), cis-syringin (5), syringaresinol-4'-O-beta-D-monoglucoside (6). Compounds 1 is new compound, and 2-6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Farther studies on the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. hongkongensis will be carried out.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygala ; chemistry ; Pyrrolidines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sucrose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

This paper revealed the accumulation regularity of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts contents of Dendrobium officinale leaves, which have provided basis for the development and utilization of the leaves. The polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts contents of three D. officinale strains leaves collected in different growing periods were determined by phenol-sulfric acid method and hot-dip method respectively. The results showed that the content of polysaccharides in leaves was 4.45% -12.17%, and was about a quarter in stems. The alcohol-soluble extracts content in leaves was 7.45% - 29.34%, and was 1.5 times that of stems. The quality variation of polysaccharides in leaves was closely related to the phenophase. The leaves with lower level of metabolism in three stages: winter, early germination stage and deciduous period, which led to lower content of polysaccharides. The leaves at the vigorous growth stage with higher content of polysaccharides. The alcohol-soluble extracts were closely associated to the formation and germination of buds. The content of alcohol-soluble extracts peaked before sprout, and promoted the growth of new shoots.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; metabolism ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo isolate and elucidate the constituents of herbs of Polygala hongkongensis.

METHODThe constituents were isolated and purify by chromatographic on silica gel, Sephadax LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures were determined by NMR and MS spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds were identified as euxanthone (1), 1, 3, 6-trihydroxyxanthone (2), 1, 4, 7-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-xanthone (3), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (5), and methy 1 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoate (6).

CONCLUSIONThe known compounds 1-6 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Parabens ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygala ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE To explore downstream regulatory pathway of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in colon cancer cells (RKO) through detecting miR-21 and its target PDCD4, and the influence of miR-21 regulation on the sensitivity of RKO cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the effect of 5-FU on the viability of RKO cells with knockout of miR-21 or high expression of PDCD4. Real-time was used to determine the expression of PDCD4, ABCC5 and CD44 in RKO cell after knockout of miR-21. RESULTS MTT assay reveals that the IC50 of 5-FU in RKO-WT cells (52.82 ± 0.06 umol/L) was about 67% higher than in miR-21 knockout cells (32.23 ± 0.05 umol/L) (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis ratio elevated after knockout of miR-21. High expression of PDCD4, a target gene of miR-21, can negatively regulate the expression of ABC transporter ABCC5 and the stem cell marker CD44. CONCLUSION MiR-21 can mediate the drug resistance to 5-FU by inhibiting its target PDCD4, which can regulate the expression of ABCC5 and CD44 genes.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 5 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; genetics ; Lipoproteins ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study postoperative anorectal dynamic change in ultra-low rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic intersphincteric resection.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 26 ultra-low rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic intersphincteric resection in our department from January 2007 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed (observation group). Thirty rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection by the same surgical team in the same period from the Medical Record Room were randomly extracted as control group. The observation indexes included preoperative and postoperative anal resting pressure(ARP), anal maximum squeeze pressure (AMSP), rectal maximum tolerable volume (RMTV), rectal anal inhibition reflex (RAIR) and Wexner anal function scores (0 means normal).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in clinical baseline data between the two groups(all P>0.05), except the distance from lower edge of tumor to dentate line [(2.9±0.4) cm in observation group vs. (5.0±0.5) cm in control group, P=0.000]. There were no differences in preoperative anorectal manometry and Wexner anal function score between two groups (all P>0.05). The average follow-up time in observation group and control group was 14.5 months and 14.0 months respectively. Three months after operation, significant differences between observation group and control group (all P=0.000) were as follows: defecation frequency [(6.0±1.5) times/day vs. (2.5±1.0) times/day], Wexner anal function score(5.0±0.9 vs. 2.9±1.2), ARP [(32.0±6.7) mmHg vs. (45.0±8.2) mmHg], AMSP [(90.1±6.9) mmHg vs. (110.0±7.5) mmHg], RMTV [(61.0±7.2) ml vs. (91.1±7.5) ml] and positive rate of RAIR [11.5%(3/26) vs. 66.7%(20/30)]. One year after surgery, there were no significant differences in defecation frequency, Wexner anal function scores, ARP, AMSP and RMTV between the two groups (all P>0.05), however the difference in positive rate of RAIR was still significant[38.5%(10/26) vs. 93.3%(28/30), P=0.000].

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic intersphincteric resection for ultra- low rectal cancer can achieve satisfactory anorectal dynamic effect.

Aged ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Pressure ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectum ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis hexapetala.

METHODThe compounds were separated by means of solvent extraction, repeated chromatography with silica gel and HPLC. The structures were determined by spectral analysis.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated as friedelin (1) , anemonin (2) , beta-sitosterol (3) , palmitic acid (4) , vanillic acid (5) , isolariciresinol (6) , 5-hydroxumethyl-5H-furan-2-one (7) , n-nonane (8) , daucosterol (9).

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Clematis ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Naphthols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Palmitic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification