Advance on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Stellera plants have been conducted. The chemical constituents include terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, volatile oils, and other compounds. Pharmacological studies showed that diterpenoids and biflavones showed strong activities, such as antitumor, anti-HIV, and immune regulations. This review hopes to provide a scientific basis for further research and explorations of the medicinal values of the genus.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; classification

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; secretion ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

OBJECTIVEThe relationship between selenium deficiency and the changes of synaptic structure in the CA3 area of hippocampus were studied in the third generation rats.

METHODSA selenium deficiency model was established by feeding rats with selenium-deficient food. The rats were divided into 4 groups: control (Se+I+), selenium deficiency (Se-I+), iodine deficiency (Se+I-), and both deficient group (Se-I-). The hippocampuses were dissected from the third generation rats on the 21st gestational day and the ultrastructural features of hippocampal synapses were observed with electron microscope. The length of active zone, synaptic curvatures, post-synaptic density (PSD) and synaptic cleft were quantitatively described.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the length of active zone and the thickness of PSD were significantly decreased in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(261.7 +/- 50.1) nm, (286.7 +/- 41.6) nm and (220.8 +/- 61.6) nm contrast to (312.4 +/- 47.7) nm, P < 0.01], so were the synaptic curvatures in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(22.9 +/- 6.3) nm, (27.5 +/- 8.6) nm and (25.2 +/- 6.5) nm contrast to (48.1 +/- 12.3) nm, P < 0.01]; the width of synaptic cleft were also decreased significantly in Se-I- [(11.1 +/- 3.3) nm contrast to (16.1 +/- 4.0) nm, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSelenium deficiency might cause changes of neuronal functions at the synaptic level, and furthermore, affect learning and memory.

Animals ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Iodine ; deficiency ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Selenium ; deficiency ; Synapses ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Adult ; Aortic Valve ; microbiology ; pathology ; Autopsy ; Brain ; microbiology ; pathology ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; complications ; microbiology ; pathology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; pathology ; Sepsis ; complications ; microbiology ; pathology ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; complications ; microbiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

Adult ; Antidotes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Parathion ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Pralidoxime Compounds ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

China ; epidemiology ; Hexanes ; toxicity ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

Objective　To investigate the effects of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) on recovery of small intestinal epithelia from radiation injury in mice. Methods　Mice received a single 8 Gy dose of total body irradiation from 60Co gamma ray followed by treatment with GLP-2 or vehicle. DNA and protein content in small intestinal mucosa were measured, and small intestine was processed for histological examination with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Results　Small intestinal mucosal DNA and protein content, villus height, and villus number significantly decreased in irradiated mice, partial villus tips were ulcerated. GLP-2 administration caused increase in DNA and protein content, villus height, and villus number as compared with irradiated control group. Meanwhile, the villus tips were lack of ulceration. Conclusion　GLP-2 can promote recovery of small intestinal epithelia from radiation injury in mice.

Objective　To study the effect of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity in small intestinal epithelia in mice after radiation injury and its relation with the change of small intestinal epithelial proliferation. Methods　Mice were given a single dose of 8 Gy of total body 60Co gamma irradiation and then divided into GLP-2 and control groups. The activity of MAPK and proliferation rate in small intestinal epithelia were measured. Results　The activity of MAPK in small intestinal epithelia was higher in GLP-2-treated mice than in irradiated mice, and the proliferation rate in small intestinal epithelia significantly increased in GLP-2-treated mice. These two indices were of significantly positive correlated. Conclusion　GLP-2 can promote small intestinal epithelial proliferation in irradiated mice, and this may be related to activation of MAPK in small intestinal epithelia.

In this study, based on the transcriptome data, we cloned the full-length cDNAs of TwAACT gene from Tripterygium wilfordii suspension cells, and then analyzed the bioinformation of the sequence, detected the genetic differential expression after being induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) by RT-PCR. The full-length cDNA of the TwAACT was 1 704 bp containing a 1 218 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 405 amino acids (GeneBank accession No. KP297934). The deduced isoelectric point (pI) was 6.10, a calculated molecular weight was about 41.20 kDa, and online prediction showed that TwAACT had two catalytic active sites. After the induction of MeJA, the relative expression level of TwAACT increased rapidly. The expression level of TwAACT was highest at 24 h. TwAACT was cloned firstly, that laid the foundation for identifying thegene and illustrating thebiosynthesis mechanism and its synthetic biology.
Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess how trace element selenium and B27 supplements affect the neural stem cell (NSc) differentiation in vitro.

METHODSThe development and differentiation of NSc from the newborn rat were observed with primary culture and subculture during treating by sodium-selenite, and selenium-methyl-cysteine (SMC). The immunocytochemistry techniques were used to identify the NSc and mature protein expression with neuron marker beta-tubulin, astrocyte marker GFAP, and oligodendrocyte marker CNPase. The neurosphere morphology and neurite outgrowth were observed.

RESULTSAdding the complete B-27 serum-free supplement, Selenium could promote the neurosphere viability, development and differentiation. Without selenium and B-27, neurosphere could not survive and differentiate. Without B-27 in the medium but there containing selenium, the neurosphere could promote the viability and development into neuron, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte, as compared with the no-containing B-27 and selenium groups, these differentiated cells might have more quantity, more branches and better morphological nerve net. The count of the neuron, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte was 11.2/Hp, 16.1/Hp and 9.3/Hp.

CONCLUSIONSThe selenium should be very important for neural stem cells' survival. Selenium could promote the neurosphere cells differentiation and development.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; pharmacology ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Organoselenium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Selenocysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tubulin ; metabolism