A reasonable and practicable quality standard was developed for mori liquid extract from different sources by TLC, HPLC and fingerprint technology. In TLC method, the compounds were separated on polyamide film using glacial acetic acid-water (1: 3) as mobile phase at a UV wavelength of 365 nm. All qualified samples had the spots of the same color as the control herb and substance. The RP-HPLC method was used to determine the content of mulberroside A with mobile phase of methanol-water (25: 75) at a wave-length of 326 nm. The mulberroside A was in good linear with a regression equation of Y = 46.965X (r = 0.999 6) in the range of 4.6 - 228 mg x L(-1). In 14 batches of samples, the mulberroside A in 4 batches of them was less than 0.5 g x L(-1), and was more than 2.0 g x L(-1) in the other batches. It was suggested that the content limit of mulberroside A should be no less than 1.5 g x L(-1). The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated by the similarities. It has found that the similarities of different mori liquid extracts were very low and the chemical diversity of mori cortex was the major factor of similarity. Moreover, the process impact was minimal. Thus the fingerprint was not included in this quality standard.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Morus ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

This study is to establish an HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for simultaneous determination of 5 flavones and saponins in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae including neo-mangiferin, mangiferin, timosaponin B II, timosaponin B III and timosaponin A III. Samples were analyzed on a Merck Purospher STAR column(4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile( A) and 0. 1% formic acid (B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The column temperature was set at 40 °C. The DAD detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The ELSD conditions were as follows: the nebulizing gas flow rate was 2.0 L · min(-1) and temperature of drift tube was 105 °C. The volume was 10 μL. The five compounds were well separated with good linear correlations. The mean recoveries were between 102.0%-104.0%. This method was quick and reliable which provides a foundation for quality control of R. Anemarrhenae.
Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) into epidemic cells in vitro.

METHODShMSCs were segregated from normal adult human bone marrow by Percoll solution (1.073 g/ml) , and were cultured, purified, and amplified to 3th passage in vitro. Then the hMSCs were randomly divided into control group ( with treatment of normal L-DMEM medium) and experimental group (with treatment of L-DMEM medium containing epidermal growth factor,insulin,tretinoin, calcium chloride). After 7 days of culture, the morphologic changes of hMSCs in the 2 groups were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. The expressions of P63 and PCK of hMSCs were assessed with immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThe shape of hMSCs in experimental group became irregular or oblong in shape, while that in control group were still in spindle shape. Immunohistochemical results showed that hMSCs were P63 and PCK positive in the experimental group, while those in control group were negative.

CONCLUSIONHuman mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into epidemic cell in vitro.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo analyze characteristic CT enhancement patterns of noncalcified pulmonary tuberculomas and their pathological basis.

METHODFifty-six patients with noncalcified pulmonary tuberculomas underwent surgical resection of the tuberculomas. Enhanced CT images of these tuberculomas were reviewed and analyzed in relation to the histological findings.

RESULTSOf the 56 patients, 45 showed no enhancement in the tuberculomas, which were histologically characterized by central caseous necrosis and a poorly vascularized peripheral fibrotic zone. Eleven patients showed ring-like or eggshell enhancement, and the central low density region was histologically confirmed to be caused by caseous or liquefied necrosis, while the ring enhancement resulted pathologically from moderately or well vascularized peripheral fibrotic or granulomatous tissues.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary tuberculomas consists mainly of caseous necrotic tissues characterized by no enhancement and ring or eggshell enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT.

Adult ; Calcinosis ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of direct digital radiography (DDR) in the diagnosis of asbestosis, and to analyze the difference and similarity between DDR and film-screen radiography (FSR) in terms of the radiographic features of asbestosis.

METHODSA total of 60 cases of asbestosis underwent FSR and DDR of the chest in the same day. The FSR and DDR findings were compared with respect to shapes and profusion of small opacities, pleural abnormality, and diagnostic stages.

RESULTSThe patients showed "s", "t", and "p" small opacities on chest images, with irregular "s" and "t" ones predominating (FSR: 95.0%; DDR: 91.7%). The small opacities were widely distributed in six lung zones, especially in middle and lower zones. The shapes and distribution of small opacities did not differ significantly between FSR and DDR findings (P > 0.05). For all the 60 cases, the two radiographies demonstrated a concordance rate of 64.2% (231/360) for the profusion of small opacities in lung zones (κ = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.54 ∼ 0.69), and for the 43 cases (258 lung zones) who displayed identical small opacity shapes on the two radiographies, the concordance rate was 81.0% (209/258) (κ = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.72 ∼ 0.87). FSR revealed 10 cases (16.7%) of pleural thickening, compared to 12 cases (20.0%) on DDR (P > 0.05). FSR revealed 53 cases (88.3%) of stage I asbestosis and 7 cases (11.7%) of stage II asbestosis, compared to 51 cases (85.0%) and 9 cases (15.0%) on DDR (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in diagnostic stages between the two radiographies (P > 0.05), demonstrating a concordance rate of 93.3% (56/60) (κ = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.45 ∼ 0.98).

CONCLUSIONDDR is similar to FSR in determining the shapes, distribution, and profusion of small opacities, pleural abnormality, and diagnostic stages.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asbestosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of schisandrin B (Sch-B) on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and signal transduction molecule mRNA in rat lungs exposed to SiO2, and explore the intervention mechanism of Sch-B on pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2.

METHODSNinety six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (normal saline) group, SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group. The rats were exposed to SiO2 by direct tracheal instillation to establish the silicotic animal models. SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group were treated with 1 ml SiO2 (50 mg/ml) for each rat From the first day after model establishment, SiO2 plus Sch-B group were orally given Sch-B (80 mg/kg) a day, control group and silica group were orally given olive oil. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after treatment, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed and samples were collected. The histo-pathological examination of lung was performed by HE staining. The expression levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR II and Smad4 mRNA in the lung tissues were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe results of histo-pathological examination showed that in SiO2 group, lung tissues were injured obviously; the alveolar inflammation with alveolus interval edema and inflammation cell infiltration appeared on the 3rd and 7th days; the alveolus interval became thicker, became thicker, fibroblast and collagen matrix increased markedly on 14th day; the alveolar structure was damaged, alveolar wall thickened obviously, collagen aggravation and pulmonary fibrosis displayed on 28th day. The alveolar inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis in SiO2 plus Sch-B group were significantly less than those in SiO2 group. The expressions levels of TGF-beta1 TGF-betaR II and Smad4 mRNA (TGF-1beta: 1.03 +/- 0.31, 1.33 +/- 0.39,1.08 +/- 0.26, 0.82 +/- 0.16, TGF-betaR II: 0.65 +/- 0.11, 0.80 +/- 0.16, 0.83 +/- 0.24, 0.62 +/- 0.15, Smad4:0.87 +/- 0.15, 0.68 +/- 0.11, 0.78 +/- 0.19, 0.30 +/- 0.08) in SiO2 group were significantly higher than those in the control group (TGF-beta1:0.59 +/- 0.22, 0.55 +/- 0.25, 0.56 +/- 0.20, 0.55 +/- 0.12, TGR-betaR II :0.28 +/- 0.13, 0.31 +/- 0.15, 0.34 +/- 0.15, 0.27 +/- 0.09, Smad4:0.23 +/- 0.11, 0.40 +/- 0.12, 0.39 +/- 0.12, 0.18 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the expression level of TGF-beta1 mRNA was the highest on the 7th day. The expression levels of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 mRNA (TGF-beta1:0.68 +/- 0.28, 0.88 +/- 0.25, 0.75 +/- 0.11, 0.61 +/- 0.14,Smad4:0.25 +/- 0.12, 0.45 +/- 0.09, 0.44 +/- 0.07, 0.21 +/- 0.04) in SiO2 plus Sch-B group were significantly lower than those in SiO2 group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05 ), but there were no significant differences of the TGFbetaR II mRNA expression levels between SiO2 group and SiO2 plus Sch-B group.

CONCLUSIONSch-B can reduce the pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2 through inhibition of the mRNA express of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 in the lung tissue, modulating the TGF-beta1/Smad4 signal transduction pathway and inhibiting the target gene activation.

Animals ; Cyclooctanes ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lignans ; pharmacology ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Polycyclic Compounds ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Smad4 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor gene transfected MSCs transplantation on cardiac function and fibrosis in rats heart failure model induced by adriamycin.

METHODSMSCs were isolated from SD rats by density gradient centrifugation, purified, and transfected with Ad-hHGF. ELISA were used to detect the protein expression of hHGF in these MSCs. Forty SD rats underwent intraperitoneal injection with adriamycin to induce heart failure model. 8 healthy rats served as control, 24 survival rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): Rats in Ad-hHGF transfected MSCs group were injected with Ad-hHGF transfected MSCs 2 weeks after the establishment of the model, rats in MSC group injected with suspension of MSCs only, and model group was injected with cold culture fluid. Heart function was evaluated by a physiological recorder 4 weeks after cell transplantation. Myocardial cell morphology and interstitial collagen were studied by electron microscope and were stained by Sirus red. TGF-beta1 was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS(1) MSCs could be transfected efficiently by Ad-hHGF, manifested by a higher level of expression in vitro, persisting 14 days at least. (2) Four weeks after the cells transplantion, cardiac necrosis in MSC-hHGF rats was improved when compared with those in the MSCs (P < 0.05) and Model group (P < 0.01). The heart function of the MSC-hHGF rats was greatly improved with an significant increase in LVSP and + dp/dt(max), although LVEDP still highter than that of normal rats. (3) MSC-Ad-hHGF decreased Myocardial collagen content and the level of TGFbeta1 compaired with MSCs transplanted rats (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of HGF gene transfected MSCs improved heart function, decreased myocardial collagen and the level of TGFbeta1.

Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The optimal disease staging system and treatment approaches have not yet been defined. This study aimed to evaluate the prediction of different staging systems for prognosis and treatment options of SCCE. We retrospectively accessed the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment strategy, and prognosis of 76 patients diagnosed with primary SCCE between 2001 and 2011. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 58%, 31%, 19%, and 13%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification (P = 0.002), Veterans Administration Lung Study Group (VALSG) stage (P = 0.001), predisposing factors (P < 0.001), T category (P = 0.023), and M category (P < 0.001) were prognostic factors for overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2002 AJCC TNM stage (P < 0.001) was the only independent prognostic factor for survival. The value of the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the 2002 AJCC TNM staging system was larger than that of VALSG staging system with regard to predicting overall survival (0.774 vs. 0.620). None of the single treatment regimens showed any benefit for survival by Cox regression analysis. Thus, the 2002 AJCC TMN staging system improved the prediction of SCCE prognosis; however, the optimal treatment regimen for SCCE remains unclear.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; classification ; pathology ; therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; therapy ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy ; Retrospective Studies ; Societies, Medical ; Survival Rate ; United States

Objective To explore the adverse reactions of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and treatments of the adverse reactions. Methods 6035 patients examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound were closely observed in the process and 20 minutes after the examination. The occurrence and clinical manifestations of adverse reactions were recorded. The patients were gave symptomatic treatments. Results Two of 6035 patients experienced mild adverse reactions related with contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The incidence rate was 0. 031% (2/6035). No moderate or serious adverse reaction occurred. The two patients recovered well after symptomatic treatments. Conclusions The contrast-enhanced ultrasound has high safety and low incidence rate of adverse reaction. Patients should be under close observation in the process of contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The symptomatic treatments should be gave in time.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on serum cytokines, Th1, including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), and Th2, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in patients with herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

METHODSOne hundred and six HSK patients were randomly divided into the AM treated group and the ribavirin treated group. Levels of serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and gamma-IFN of all the patients and 62 healthy person, selected from donors for control group, were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

RESULTSLevels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in HSK patients were significantly higher and those of IL-2 and gamma-IFN were significantly lower than those in the healthy control (all P < 0.01). These parameters were significantly improved in the patients of the AM group after treatment, but with no change in patients of the ribavirin group.

CONCLUSIONAM can modulate the imbalance state of Th1/Th2 in HSK patients, improve their immune function disturbance, that shows important significance in treating HSK.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology