Animals ; Drug Tolerance ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Morphine ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

Eighty-five endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots、stems and leaves of Polygala tenuifolia Willd, among which, fifty-two from natural plants and thirty-three from cultivated ones. Sev-enty-six strains were classified as twenty-three fungal genera. The inhibitory activity screening to fourteen microbe were conducted research. The results showed that some endophytic fungi had remarkble inhibitory activities to Bacillus subtilis, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Fusarium kyrushuense and they were all belonged to Fusarium, Alternaria, Aphanocladium respectively. All of the endophytic fungi isolated from Polygala tenuifolia showed no inhibitory activities to Staphyloccocus aureus, Salmonel-lae enteritis, Bibrio parahemolyticus.

In this paper, miRNAs features were briefly introduced and agreeable points were discussed from 4 aspects: organs relationship, syndrome research, Chinese medical pathogeneses, and actions of Chinese herbs. miRNAs, as information media for organs interrelation, was believed to explain Chinese medical pathogeneses and reveal partial molecular mechanisms of Chinese medicine. miRNAs in the body fluid could be taken as one of biological bases of syndromes.
Biomedical Research ; China ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; MicroRNAs ; Syndrome

Background: Current knowledge indicates that oxidative damage and the following inflammation is pivotal pathway for myocardial cell death. In recent decades, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as a novel endogenous vasodilator and neuromodulator due to its antioxidation capacity. However, whether H2S pretreatment in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes is a protection effect against oxidative stress remains elusive. Methods: Primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured, subsequently, pretreated with the H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are evaluated. The levels of superoxide dismutase (Sod2) and Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), a deacetylation enzyme, were detected by Western blotting. The statistics was performed using independent?sample t?test. Results: NaHS (100 μmol/L) had no toxicity to primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, NaHS pretreatment significantly improved neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes survival after H2O2?induced cell death, indicated by the decrease in LDH release (40.00 ± 2.65%vs. 65.33 ± 4.33%, P < 0.01) and ROS production (1.90 ± 0.33 vs. 4.56 ± 0.56, P < 0.05), and that the salubrious effect was accompanied by the upregulation of Sod2 expression. In addition, the study showed that NaHS pretreatment improved mitochondrial DNA number in neonatal mouse cardiomyocyte. Furthermore, the result demonstrated NaHS increased the expression of Sirt1 in neonatal mouse cardiomyocyte. Ex 527, an inhibitor of Sirt1, could attenuate these effects of NaHS?induced Sod2 expression and mtDNAnumber increase, furthermore, abrogate the cytoprotective effects of NaHS for neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. Conclusion: Sirt1 mediated H2S?induced cytoprotection effects in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes.

A medical robot that is used for closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary locking nailing in treatment of tibial fracture is designed.The system is primarily composed of stereotaxic frame and computer system.Using C-shaped arm-taken X-ray images containing various marked points and keyhole-two-end-center of intramedullary nail,the system calculates the actual position of keyhole in the coordinate system of stereotaxic frame according to space mapping relation and locates the pilot hole on the reference coordinate according to computation.Electric-traction system can realize the precise reduction and remote control operation by network transmission of operation data.In the closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary nail for treatment of tibial fracture in 17 patients,robot reducing fracture and computer-assisted localization of distal keyhole were used.Remote control operation was applied in 4 of them.All operations were performed according to the preset procedure and planning of robot and navigation system.All distal lock nails were successfully implanted at one time.Results demonstrated that both medical robot and computer-assisted localization and navigation system can satisfy fracture reduction and distal Iock nail implantation in the closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary nail for treatment of tibial fracture and shorten intraoperative fluoroscopy time;in addition,remote control operation is reliable and easily mastered due to its simple systemic structure.

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the analgesic time-effect characteristics and changes in concentrations of rabbit's hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NE) caused by buccal acupuncture in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rabbits,and to reveal the analgesic central mechanism of buccal acupuncture,thereby providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of pain by buccal acupuncture.Methods:Forty rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a body acupuncture group,and a buccal acupuncture group,with 10 rabbits in each group.No model was established in the normal group,while equal dose of normal saline was injected at the matched site and time point;rabbits in other groups were subjected to the establishment of RA models using egg protein.From the 27th day of the experiment,rabbits in each group received the designated intervention.Rabbits in the normal group and the model group were fixed for 30 min every day using the same method as those in the other groups.In the acupuncture group,Dubi (ST 35) and Zusanli (ST 36) on bilateral hind limbs were selected.Perpendicular needling (using the needles with 0.25 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length) was performed with twirling manipulation for 15 s at intervals of 5 min.The needles were retained for 30 min and acupuncture was performed once a day.In the buccal acupuncture group,the knee point in the buccal acupuncture and needles with a diameter of 0.25 mm and a length of 15 mm were selected.Oblique needling was performed with twirling manipulation for 15 s at intervals of 5 min.The needles were retained for 30 min and acupuncture was performed once a day.The thermal pain thresholds at the 0,5,15,30,60,120 and 240 min after the 1st and 10th acupuncture therapy were measured with a PL-200 thermal-inducing pain meter.After the 10th acupuncture therapy,rabbit's hypothalamus was removed,and the 5-HT and NE concentrations in the hypothalamus at the peak point of the acupuncture pain threshold curve were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results:The analgesic effect was obvious at 5 min after buccal acupuncture started,peaked at 30 min,and decreased to the lowest value at 240 min.Rabbits in the body acupuncture group began to show significant analgesic effect at 15 min,which was peaked at 30 min,and began to decline at 60 min.The pain threshold at 240 min was still higher than that at 0 min.Compared with the model group,the concentrations of hypothalamic 5-HT in the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group was significantly increased,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05).The NE/5-HT ratios in hypothalamus in the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group were significantly lower than the ratio in the model group,and the differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05);difference in the decrease was statistically significant between the buccal acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The analgesic effect of buccal acupuncture shows an obvious time-dependent curve.It is characterized by rapid onset of pain relief,rapid increase and decline in pain threshold.5-HT and NE levels in rabbit's hypothalamus can be affected by buccal acupuncture,with increased 5-HT concentration and reduced NE/5-HT ratio.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate drug resistance and genotypes of the extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) and AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Uygur and Han newborns in Urumqi.

METHODSDisk diffusion test (Kirby-Bauer) was used for detecting drug resistance of 299 strains to twenty two kinds of antibiotics. Resistance genes of the ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamase-producing strains were amplified by multiplex PCR and subtypes were confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. Total 148 strains were selected with random number table and sequenced, which included TEM-, SHV-, CTX-M-1-, or CTX-M-9-positive ESBLs-producing strains and DHA-, or CIT-positive AmpC β-lactamase-producing strains. Antibiotic resistant rates were analyzed by Whonet 5.4 and statistic analysis was performed by chi-square (χ(2)) test with PEMS 3.1.

RESULTSThe antibiotic resistant rates between Uygur and Han newborns significantly differ in ESBLs-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae to Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (80.0% (40/50) and 56.0% (28/50), χ(2) = 6.6176, P = 0.0101), in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli to Sulbactam and Cefoperazone (54.2% (32/59) and 94.0% (47/50), χ(2) = 21.4512, P = 0.0000), and in AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae to Sulbactam and Cefoperazone (100.0% (20/20) and 72.2% (26/36), χ(2) = 6.7633, P = 0.0093) and to Amikacin (65.0% (13/20) and 25.0% (9/36), χ(2) = 8.6246, P = 0.0033). Although SHV gene of ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli was detected from Uygur newborns at only 3.4% (2/59) and not detectable from Han newborns, TEM, CTX-M-1, and CTX-M-9 group genes were all detected over 38.0% (19/50). Among the detected strains, the subtypes of TEM and CTX-M-1 were mainly TEM-1 and CTX-M-15, respectively; whereas the subtypes of SHV and CTX-M-9 included SHV-1, 2, 11, 12, 27, 61, 99 and CTX-M-9, 14, 24, 27, 65, respectively. The strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying two or more kinds of ESBLs genotypes were 56.7% (42/74) - 90.0% (63/70). Two species carrying the AmpC gene in two kinds of newborns were only grouped in the subtypes of DHA-1 and CMY-44, and other subtypes were not detected at all. Moreover, TEM-positive ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli were detected from Uygur newborns at the higher rate than that from Han newborns (71.2% (42/59) and 50.0% (25/50), χ(2) = 5.1291, P = 0.0235), while there was no difference in other genotypes detected between two kinds of newborns (χ(2) < 3.7780, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant differences in antibiotic resistance and genotype distribution of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli between two nationality newborns, and these two bacteria detected in this study carried multi-resistance genes and showed high resistant to β-lactamase antibiotics.

Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; China ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Infections ; microbiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Klebsiella Infections ; microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; genetics ; beta-Lactamases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic inflammatory interstitial lung disease with an unknown cause. Recent studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of IPF.

METHODSTo explore the genetic background of patients with IPF, a candidate gene approach was employed to screen for mutations in seven genes among members with familial IPF in mainland of China.

RESULTSWithin six of the candidate genes, a total of 31 point mutations were identified. Among the missense mutations, the SFTPA1 exon 6 CAG > AAG (Gln238Lys) and SFTPB exon 2 CAC > CCC (His2Pro) mutations caused changes in the physical and chemical properties of amino acids. Each sequence alteration was identified in sporadic IPF patients, control specimens (pneumonia patients and healthy persons). Genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of codon 238 in exon 6 of SFTPA1 were noted significantly higher in patients with IPF than those in other two control subjects. The computational protein structure prediction by protein homology modeling confirmed differences in three-dimensional structure between mutant SFTPA1 and original SFTPA1.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the functions of the mutant candidate genes vary, these genes may ultimately result in damage to alveolar epithelial cells, initiating the progress of pulmonary fibrosis. In particular, while pathophysiological mechanisms need to be illustrated, the Gln238Lys missense variant of exon 6 in the SFTPA1 may have potential susceptibility in the development of IPF, which was shown in patients with sporadic IPF with a statistically higher frequency.

Adult ; China ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the exons 2 to 4 of the MICA gene and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSBy PCR-SSOP, DNA samples from 56 AS patients and 112 random healthy individuals, as normal control were genotyped to analyse the polymorphism in exons 2, 3, 4 of the MICA alleles.

RESULTSMICA*008 was dominant in MICA allele,accounted for 32.14% and 30.36% in AS patients and normal controls respectively. The frequency of MICA*007 was significantly increased in AS patients, when compared with normal controls (chi-square=10.18, P<0.05, RR=2.50). No difference was found in the other MICA alleles. The haplotype analysis revealed that there were the strong linkage disequilibrium between MICA and HLA-B of AS patients, and normal controls. There was a difference in MICA*007-B27 between two groups (chi-square=18.46, P<0.05, RR=7.47). Both HLA-B27 and MICA*007 were strongly associated with AS. Stratified analysis showed that HLA-B27 was significantly relative to AS,while it was not found between MICA*007 and AS.

CONCLUSIONThe increased frequency of MICA alleles may be due to its strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B27.

Alleles ; Exons ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; genetics