The clinical data and routine biochemical parameters of 64 maintenance hemodialysis (MHD)patients and 20 controls were analyzed in the study.Serum cystatin C levels were detected by latex particle enhalice inununo-turbidimetry:and the cardial structure and function were assessed by echocardiography.As MHD time extended,the levels of semm cystatin C increased gradually,accompanied with high incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).The LVH-positive patients had higher systolic blood pressure and left veHtricular mass index,and had higher serum cystatin C than tllose in LVH-negative patients.The serum cystatin C levels were positively correlated with left yentricular mass index(r=0.633,P<0.01)and systolic blood pressure(r:0.397,P<0.01).The results suggest that serum cystatin levels may be an influencing factor for long-term cardiacvascular complication in MHD patients.

Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; Diverticulum ; complications ; Hematoma ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Staff ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

To reveal the variation of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extract contents of Dendrobium officinale, the polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts contents of three D. officinale strains were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method and hot-dip method, respectively. The results showed that the contents of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extracts and their total content were significantly different among D. officinale samples collected in different periods, and the variations were closely related to the phenology of D. officinale. Additionally, the quality variation of polysaccharides was closely related to the flowering of D. officinale, while the alcohol-soluble extracts was closely associated to the formation and germination of buds. According to the dynamic variation of these two compounds, it is more reasonable to harvest D. officinale at biennials pre-bloom than at specific harvesting month considering polysaccharides content. It is better to harvest before the germination of buds considering alcohol-soluble extracts. While with regards to both polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extract, it is better to harvest this plant at the period from the sprouting to pre-bloom next year.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification

To reveals the effects of tree species on polysaccharides content of epiphytic Dendrobium officinale. The polysaccharides content of D. officinale attached to living tress in wild or stumps in bionic-facility was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method. There were extremely significant differences of polysaccharides content of D. officinale attached to different tree species, but the differences had no relationship with the form and nutrition of barks. The polysaccharides content of D. officinale mainly affected by the light intensity of environment, so reasonable illumination favored the accumulation of polysaccharides. Various polysaccharides content of D. officinal from different attached trees is due to the difference of light regulation, but not the form and nutrition of barks.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Light ; Plant Bark ; physiology ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Trees

The marine biological source of mineral drugs recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version) mainly including pearl, nacre, clam shell, common oyster shell, ark shell, cuttle bone, and sea-ear shell are widely used in clinical. Calcium carbonate and a small amount of protein are the main components in this type of drugs. In this paper, a systematical and comparable study were carried out by determination of calcium carbonate by EDTA titration method, the crystal of calcium carbonate by X-Ray powder diffraction and the total amino acids (TAAs) of the hydrolyzed samples by ultraviolet spectrophotometry method. As a result, the crystal structure is calcite for common oyster shell, mixture of calcite and aragonite for nacre and sea-ear shell, aragonite for the other drugs. The content of calcium carbonate ranged from 86% to 96%. Cuttle bone has the highest amount of TAAs among the seven drugs which reached 1.7% while clam shell has the lowest content of 0.16% on average. In conclusion, an effective method was developed for the quality control of marine mineral drugs by comprehensive analysis of calcium carbonate and TAAs in the seven marine mineral drugs.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; analysis ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of paraquat on induction of cell damage and miR-133b expression in PC12 cells.

METHODSCytotoxicity of PC12 cells was measured by MTT assay, following the PC12 cells treatment with 50, 100, or 300 µmol/L paraquat. Cell apoptosis was examined by the method of Annexin V-FITC/PI in flow cytometry (FCM) and the relative level of miR-133b expression was measured by real time RT-PCR, following the PC12 cells treatment with 100 or 300 µmol/L paraquat.

RESULTSSurvival rate of PC12 cells treated with 100 or 300 µmol/L paraquat was lower than that of the vehicle control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), in the dose dependent pattern. Apoptotic rate of PC12 cells treated with 100, 300 µmol/L paraquat was higher than that of the vehicle control group (P < 0.05). The relative level of miR-133b expression of PC12 cells treated with 300 µmol/L paraquat was higher than that of the vehicle control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSParaquat may cause cell damage and induce apoptosis in PC12 cells, and induce miR-133b expression.

BACKGROUND:Foreign studies have found that the magnesium alloy stent is safe and effective, but there are few studies on the degradation performance of magnesium alloy stents in China.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the degradation of degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent in the rabbit abdominal aorta and the effect of degradation process on vascularization.METHODS:Twenty-eight rabbits were enrolled, and the degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent was implanted into the rabbit abdominal aorta. Postoperative abdominal aortic X-ray examination and histological observation were done at 30, 60, 90, 120 days after implantation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) X-ray examination: 30 days after implantation, the stent expanded completely with structural integrity; 60 days after implantation, the stent deformation, partial stent fracture, and lose of support were found; 90 days after implantation, only a small amount of support rod residues were found, and the majority of the stent was degraded; and 120 days after implantation, there was no support rod residual, and the stent was degraded completely. (2) Histological observation: 60 days after implantation, the number of residual support rods was less than that 30 days after implantation (P< 0.05), the number value at 90 days after implantation was lower than that at 30 and 60 days after implantation (P< 0.05), and the number value at 120 days after implantation was lower than that at 30, 60, 90 days after implantation (P < 0.05), indicating that the number of residual support rods was negatively correlated with post-implantation days. The time for complete stent degradation was 124.8 days. The intimal area at 90 days after implantation was higher than that at 30, 60, 120 days after implantation (P < 0.05), while the lumen area was smaler than that at 30, 60, 120 days after implantation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the intimal area and lumen area at latter three time points after implantation. To conclude, the degradation of the degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent in the rabbit abdominal aorta can be completed within 124.8 days, and at 90 days after the stent is implanted, vascular intimal hyperplasia and lumen stenosis are most serious, and then gradualy reduced.

Objective To constract and evaluate the cationic anticancer peptide Temporin-1CEa liposomes and evaluate anti-breast cancer activity in vitro.Methods The polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified liposomes containing Temporin-1CEa, one recently discovered cationic anticancer peptide ( CAP) , were constructed by using reverse-phase evaporation method.The encapsulation efficiency, particle size and Zeta potential of the Temporin-1CEa-containing liposomes (Temporin-1CEa-LIP) were characterized.In addition, that had the furhter evaluated of the stability and specific toxicity against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro.Results The data suggested that the PEG-modified liposomes served a promising drug delivery system for CAPs, those indicated by the encapsulation efficiency was (55.57 ±1.56)%, the particle size was (105.3 ±1.37) nm and the Zeta potential was ( -16.17 ±0.964) mV.Moreover, the in vitro test also indicated that Temporin-1CEa-LIP exerted good stability in serum, and it could be efficiently uptaken by MCF-7 cells.Most importantly, after 24h exposure, Temporin-1CEa-LIP showed toxicity against MCF-7 cells, as potent as Temporin-1CEa. Conclusion The results demonstrates that the PEG-modified liposome is a good drug-delivery system and Temporin-1CEa-LIP could serve as potential anti-tumor candidate for cancer therapy.

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