Objective To apply accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique to extract Achyranthes bidentata and to explore the application of this technique in quality control of Chinese materia medica. Methods Investigation of single factor was used to optimize the conditions that affected the efficiency for ASE from A. bidentata by RP-HPLC using ecdysterone as a quantitative marker. Results The optimized conditions for ASE of A. bidentata were obtained as follows: methanol as solvent, particle size between 0.3 and 0.45 mm, temperature at 100 ℃, pressure under 10.34 MPa, 6 min duration and once extraction. Conclusion ASE technique can be used to extract A. bidentata quickly and effectively.

Objective To investigate the effects of Chinese herb formula Tangtongfang by bathing the affected feet of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in the pattern of Qi deficiency and blood stasis. Methods A parallel, randomized, controlled clinical research was performed. 70 diabetics in the inpatient and outpatient divisions of the Department of Endocrinology, Guanganmen Hospital, from January 2005 to October 2007 were investigated. They were divided randomly into two groups, treatment group and control group, 35 cases in each group. Before study, there were no statistic differences between the two groups, including gender, age, course of diabetes mellitus(DM), course of DPN, blood glucose (including fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose), traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) symptom scores and nerve conduction velocity (NCV). The treatment group were treated with Tangtongfang bathing and the control group were treated with warm water bathing. Each group was also administered Vitamin B1 20 mg, t.i.d and Vitamin B6 20 mg, t.i.d respectively. All patients were keeping their routine treatment and diabetic care to control their blood glucose, such as diets, practices and drugs. Clinical symptoms and electrophysiological tests in diabetic peripheral neuropathy syndrome were investigated. The period of treatment was 8 weeks.Results After study, 9 cases retreated from this clinical trial totally, 4 cases in the treatment group whereas 5 in the control group. Among 4 common single symptoms, coolness feeling of the feet of diabetic patients was significantly improved (P<0.05) after bathed with Tangtongfang. The change of TCM symptom scores and tibialis NCV was significantly improved (P＜0.001, P<0.05) in the treatment group. The improvement ratio was 45.2% and 61.3% in the treatment group, while was 10% and 3.3% in the control group. In each group there was no statistical difference between pre-and post-study with blood test, urine test, blood ALT, blood BUN and Cr, ECG examination (P>0.05). No adverse event was observed in each group.Conclusion Tangtongfang bathing improved several symptoms of patients suffering from DPN, especially the symptom of coolness feeling of the patients' feet. No adverse event was observed. This result showed that Tangtongfang bathing was worthy of using as a safe agent in treatment of DPN.

Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the effect of leptin on the secretion of chemokine in THP1 cells and explore its related mechanism, and to provide basis for research on the role of leptin in immune response.Methods The expressions of Ob-Rb and Ob-Rt in THP1 cells were detected by RT-PCR and flow cytometry (FCM).The THP1 cells at logarithm growth phase were selected and randomly divided into blank control group and different concentrations(10,50,100,200μg· L-1 )of leptin groups.Transwell chamber assay was performed to detect the number of invated THP1 cells.The THP1 cells were divided into blank control group and 100μg·L-1 leptin group.Western blotting method was carried out to detect the expressions of p-AKT,p-ERK 1/2,and p-STAT3 in THP1 cells.The THP1 cells were divided into blank control group and 100μg·L-1 leptin group,100μg·L-1 leptin+ DMSO group,100μg·L-1 leptin+50μmol·L-1 AG490 group,100μg·L-1 leptin+10μmol·L-1 LY294002 group and 100μg·L-1 leptin+ 10 mol·L-1 PD980590 group.RT-PCR and Western blotting methods were performed to detect the expression of IL-8.Results Ob-Rb and Ob-Rt were highly expressed in THP1 cells. Compared with blank control group,the number of invated THP1 cells was significantly increased in 50,100,and 200μg·L-1 leptin groups (P<0.05).Compared with blank control group,the expressions of p-STAT3,p-ERK 1/2 and p-AKT in THP1 cells were up-regulated in 100 ug·L-1 leptin group(P<0.05).Compared with blank control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of IL8 in THP1 cells in 50,100,and 200μg·L-1 leptin groups were remarkably increased(P<0.05);compared with 100μg·L-1 leptin group,the expressions of IL-8 in THP1 cells in 100μg·L-1 leptin+10 mol·L-1 PD980590 group and 100μg·L-1 leptin+10μmol·L-1 LY2 94002 group were decreased(P<0.05),while the expression of IL-8 in 100μg·L-1 leptin+ 50μmol·L-1 AG490 group had no change(P>0.05).Conclusion leptin can up-regulate the expression of chemokine in THP1 cells,which might be associated with PI3K-AKT and MAPK/ERK 1/2 signaling pathways.

Objective To examine how stroke affects muscle coordination and whether muscle function will be improved after rehabilitation.Methods Ten stroke patients with mild hemiparesis and six age-and sex-matched controls were investigated at baseline.Velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (VE-PC MRI) and surface eleetromyography (sEMG) were performed to evaluate muscle coordination of thigh muscles during knee extension and flexion and the effect of rehabilitation. Results Using VE-PC MRI,we found that the peak velocity of rectus femoris was lower in the affected limb (P

From an aqueous extract of Lonicera japonica flower buds, sixteen compounds were isolated by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over macroporous resin, MCI gel, silica gel, and sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis as 6'-O-acetylvogeloside (1), 6'-O-acetylsecoxyloganin (2), dichlorogelignate (3), guanosinyl-(3' --> 5')-adenosine monophosphate(GpA,4) , 5'-O-methyladenosine (5), 2'-O-methyladenosine (6), adenosine (7), syringin (8), methyl 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeate (9), (-)-dihydrophaseic acid 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), ketologanin (11), 7α-morroniside (12), 7β-morroniside (13), kingiside (14), cryptochlorogenic acid methyl ester (15), and 6-hydroxymethyl-3-pyridinol (16). All the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, 3 and 5 are new natural products, and 4 is the first example of dinucleoside monophosphate isolated from a plant extract.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure

Chondroitinase has been used as an important tool in the study of the structure, function and distribution of glycosaminoglycans for many years. Recently, the enzyme has been reported to be a potential enzyme for chemonucleolysis, an established treatment for intervertebral disc protrasion. In this paper, a chondroitinase had been purified from the culture supernatant of Aeromonas sobria YH311 using a simple purification procedure of ammonium sulfate precipitation, QAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. The immobilization of purified chondroitinase using sodium alginate or cellulose as carriers has also been studied. The chondroitinase obtained from Aeromonas sobria YH311 was purified 55-fold to 95.3% pure, the specific activity of the purified enzyme was 31.86u/mg and the yield was 37%. The molecular weight of chondroitinase from Aeromonas sobria YH311 was determined by SDS-PAGE to be 80kD, which was almost the same as those chondroitinase AC from Arthrobacter aurescens, Aeromonas liquefaciens and Flavobacterium heparinum. But its isoelectric point was 4.3 - 4.6, which was far lower than the microbial chondroitinase AC. After the immobilization on sodium alginate or cellulose, the properties of chondroitinase changed greatly. The optimum temperature and pH of the free enzyme were 50 degrees C and 7.0 respectively, and about 10% activity remained after heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 20 minutes, and 47% activity remained after two weeks storage at 4 degrees C. The chondroitinase immobilized on sodium alginate had the optimum temperature and pH of 40 degrees C and 7.0 respectively, about 50% activity remained after 80 degrees C heat treatment for 120 minutes and 50% remained after 30 days storage at 4 degrees C. The chondroitinase immobilized on cellulose had the optimum temperature and pH of 70 degrees C and 6.0 respectively, and more than 70% activity remained after heat treatment at 80 degrees C and 30 days storage at 4 degrees C. The yield of the immobilization was very low, with 18.56% for alginate and 18.86% for cellulose.
Aeromonas ; enzymology ; Chondroitinases and Chondroitin Lyases ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; metabolism ; Temperature

Objective To identify mutations site and clinical characteristics of a familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) proband diagnosed clinically through DNA sequencing and family analysis in the proband and his family members of 3 generations.Methods Blood samples and clinical data of the kindred of total 29 from 3 generations members were collected.Proband had a physical examination electrocar-diogrom and vascular ultrasound.The proband and his family members took routine clinical exams,and genomic DNA was isolated.The promoter region and the 18 exons of low density liporotein receptor(LDLR) gene were screened by Touch down polymerase chain reaction -single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing.The result of sequencing were matched gene sequence published in the BLAST database.Results 1.Increased intima-media thickness and plaque were detected in the common carotid artery,right subclavian artery of the proband.Aortic valve regurgitation was found by echocardiography.2.No mutation R3500Q of ApoB100 was observed.3.Two heterozygous mutations in exon 10 and 13 of LDLR gene (W462X and A606T) were identified.The proband and 5 members of paternal relatives showed W462X heterozygosis mutation in exon 10 of LDLR gene which introduced the change from tryptophone to a new stop codon.The proband's mother and grandmother harboured A606T heterozygous mutation in exon 13 of LDLR gene due to a single base pair substitution of G for A in the codon for residue 1 879.Conclusions Disease causing mutations of proband are W462X and A606T compound heterozygosis mutation in exon 10 and 13 of LDLR gene inherited from mother and father.Proband shows homozyous phenotype though the genotype analysis indicates heterozygous mutations.

AIM:To investigate the value of 3D-optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the diagnosis of macular disease before phacoemulsification.METHODS:Clinical records of 423 cataract patients (512 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation in our hospital from June to December in 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.In addition to preoperative routine examination of fundus, Topcon 3D-OCT 2000 was used to examine the macula, the detection rate of macular disease was compared, risk factors of cataract combined with macular disease were analyzed.RESULTS:The OCT image results of 305 cases (384 eyes, 72.1%) were successfully obtained, 133 cases showed macular disease (146 eyes), the detection rate was 28.5% (95%CI:27.64%-29.40%);the macular disease of 35 cases (37 eyes) were detected by routine examination of fundus before operation, the detection rate was 7.2% (95%CI:6.72%-7.74%);the detection rate of 3D-OCT was significantly higher than routine examination of fundus for macular disease (χ2=79.05, P<0.01).Female, over 65 years old, surgical history of diseased eye, and high myopia were risk factors of cataract combined with macular disease, the relative risk was 1.705 (95%CI:1.091,2.664), 1.893 (95%CI:1.219,2.939), 6.593 (95%CI:2.027,21.447) and 95%CI:5.130 (2.841,9.263) respectively, the risk of cataract combined with macular disease showed an increasing trend with rising age.CONCLUSION:In preoperative examination of cataract patients, 3D-OCT has higher sensitivity in the detection of macular disease, especially for women, over 65 years old, high myopia and surgical history of diseased eye, 3D-OCT can be used as a routine preoperative examination.

Objective To discuss the value of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of fetal agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC). Methods Sixty-seven fetuses from Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital performed fetal MRI from July 2013 to December 2014 were included in this study. All fetuses (67 cases) with suspected ACC were studied with a 1.5T MR unit within 3 days after ultrasound examination. Prenatal ultrasound and MRI findings were studied. Results All the 67 ACCs previously suspected on ultrasound were confirmed by MRI. Among the 67 ACCs, 58 cases were complete ACC and 9 cases were partial ACC. Corpus callosum body and/or splenium absence was found in all 9 partial ACC cases. In all cases, on MRI, corpus callosum complete or partial absence was showed on the median sagittal images, and mild to moderate ventriculomegaly and abnormal morphology in lateral ventricle was shown on the axial or coronary images. Conclusions MRI has high value in diagnosis of ACC. When ACC is found or suspected by ultrasonophy, MRI examination is suggested to confirm the diagnosis.