The current study to separate and identify constituents from Millettia nitida var. hirsutissima. The compounds from Millettia nitida var. hirsutissima were isolated by means of various chromatographic techniques such as column chromatography over ODS and Sephadex LH-20, preparative HPLC, and the structures of these isolated compounds were identified through spectroscopic analyses. Nine isoflavonoids and two flavans were isolated and identified as 5-O-methy genistein (1), 7-hydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (2), ononin (3), catechin (4), formononetin (5), genistein (6), calycosin (7), (-)-gallocatechin (8), sissotrin (9), wistin (10), daidzin (11). Compounds 1, 2, 9 are obtained from the genus Millettia for the first time,and compounds 4, 8 are isolated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Millettia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure

Background: Dampness-heat syndrome is a major syndrome type in patients with a sharp deterioration of chronic renal failure (CRF). Qingshen Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, could relieve the clinical symptoms of CRF patients, and was considered to have a certain reversal effect on rapid deterioration of renal function. Objective: To observe the changes of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-18 levels in CRF patients with a sharp deterioration and dampness-heat syndrome, and to explore the curative efficacy of Qingshen Granule. Design, setting, participants and interventions: Sixty CRF patients with a sharp deterioration and dampness-heat syndrome from Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were randomly divided into treatment group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases), with another 20 healthy individuals as normal control. The patients in the treatment and control groups were all treated with Jiedu Xiezhuo II, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, given as retention enema. Qingshen Granule was additionally administered to the patients in the treatment group with 1 dosage each time and 3 times a day. The treatment course was one month. Main outcome measures: The levels of serum IL-8 and IL-18 in the normal individuals and before and after treatment in the treatment and control groups were detected. Results: The total response rates of treatment group in clinical efficacy assessment and assessment of syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine (86.67% and 86.67%) were higher than those of the control group (56.67% and 60%), and there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). The levels of serum IL-8 and IL-18 in CRF patients before treatment were obviously higher than those in the healthy individuals (P<0.01), and there were no differences in the levels of IL-8 and IL-18 before treatment between the treatment group and control group (P>0.05). After one-month treatment, the levels of serum IL-8 and IL-18 were markedly decreased in the two groups (P<0.01), and the levels of serum IL-8 and IL-18 in the treatment group were markedly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were differences in decreased degrees of IL-8 and IL-18 levels between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: CRF patients with a sharp deterioration and dampness-heat syndrome have high serum IL-8 and IL-18 levels. Qingshen Granule can reduce the levels of serum IL-8 and IL-18, and improve the renal function and ameliorate the clinical symptoms.

With its abilities of trans-synaptic tracing and self-replication and wide host range, pseudorabies virus (PRV) has been applied in the field of neuroanatomy since the 1970s. Four decades of PRV application have made many advances in researches on neuronal tracing with PRV. Mechanism studies focused on investigating infection of primary neurons and tracing direction in secondary neurons, while application studies focused on development of new pathological strains and innovation of tracing techniques. To date, the mechanism and application of viral tracing are not completely figured out yet. Integration of molecular biology technology will improve the efficiency in related researches.
Animals ; Cell Tracking ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Neurons ; virology ; Pseudorabies ; virology

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of overexpressed proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy (CP).MethodsLevels of tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum of 31 CP children, 20 healthy children (as controls), 37 neonates with CP risk factors such as hypoxic-ischemic injury and/or perinatal infection, and 20 healthy neonates (as controls) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) retrospectively.ResultsLevels of TNF-α and IL-6 of CP children and neonates with CP risk factors were significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P<0.05). TNF-α level of CP children was significantly higher than that of neonates with CP risk factors (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in IL-6 level between two groups.ConclusionOverexpressed proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of CP and may be an independent risk factor of CP.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of rosiglitazone on the expressions of nuclear factor-κB and matrix metalloprotease (MMP-9) in peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) in patients with coronary heart disease. Method This was a clinical case-control study. Forty-eight actue coronary symdrome (ACS) patients (ACS group), and 20 patients with stable angina (SA) (control group) were collected. They were performed coronary arteriography in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Xiangya Hospital from March to April in 2007. Exclusion criteria included acute infection, trauma or surgery patients within four weeks, cerebral vascular accident, liver and kidney dysfunction, cancer, and so on. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and transformed into MDMs with macrophage colony-stimulating factor treatment. The transformed MDMs were randomly assigned into subgrougs and incubated with 0 /μmol/L, 1 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L, 20 μmol/L of rosiglitazone respectively. The expressions of PPAR-γ mRNA, MMP-9 mRNA were determined by RT-PCR and nuclear factor-κB P65 (NF-KB P65) expression by immunohistochemistry. Multiple comparisons were examined for significant differences using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results The basal expression of PPAR-y mRNA was lower, in contrast, the levels of NF-KB P65 and MMP-9 mRNA were higher in ACS group than control group. PPAR-γ mRNA expression were significantly upregulated in both ACS and control groups with rosiglitazone treatment. PPAR-γ mRNA expression was positive correlation, while the expressions of MMP-9 mRNA were negative correlation with the rosiglitazone concentration in the ACS group. Rosiglitazone inhibited the expression of NF-KB in a concentration-independent manner in ACS and control groups. Conclusions The expression of PPAR-y mRNA is inhibited, while the activity of NF-KB and expression of MMP-9 mRNA are enhanced in MDMs of ACS cases. Rosiglitazone intervention may inhibit NF-KB activity and MMP-9 expression by upregulation of PPAR-y expression in MDMS of patiens with ACS.

Objective To observe the effects of triptolide on drebrin and cofilin expression in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheim-er's disease (AD). Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into control group, model group and triptolide-treated group with 20 cases in each group. The AD model was established with unilateral injection of beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1- 40) into hippocampus in rats. The control group was established with unilateral injection of normal saline with the same volume into hippocampus in rats. The triptolide-treated group was administered triptolide intraperi-toneally, 0.4 mg/kg, once a day, for 15 days after modeling. Spine density of hippocampal neurons was assayed by Golgi staining. Drebrin and cofilin expression of hippocampal neurons was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The spine density of hippocampal neurons was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05). The average optical density of drebrin was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the the model group (P<0.01), while the cell number and average optical density of cofilin were lower (P<0.05). The drebrin mRNA expression was higher in the triptolide-treated group than in the model group (P<0.05), and the cofilin mRNA expression was lower (P<0.01). Conclusion Triptolide may delay the degeneration of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons of AD rats by regulating the expression of drebrin and cofilin.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of Poly I:C in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

METHODSSMMC-7721 cells were treated with different doses of Poly I:C for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the cell growth inhibition rate was analyzed with CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle and the apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry with Annexin-V and PI staining, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta mRNA in cells.

RESULTSIn the cells exposed to Poly I:C at low, moderate, and high doses, the inhibitory rates was the highest in high-dose Poly I:C group, and at a given Poly I:C dose, prolonged exposure resulted in significantly increased cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that Poly I:C induced cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner and significantly increased the percentage of G1-phase cells as compared with that in the control group. The mRNA level of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta were also increased following Poly I:C treatment in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONPoly I:C can induce significant growth inhibition and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner possibly by causing cell cycle arrest and TLR3 signaling pathway activation that leads to IFN-beta production and cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Poly I-C ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 3 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe curative effect and clinical outcome in 30 recipients undergoing allogcneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) combined with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Methods 30 patients with a median age of 32.6 years underwent allo-HSCT, of which 11 patients with AML, 14 patients with ALL, and 5 patients with CML They all have a HLA-identical sibling. PBSCswere mobilized with G-CSF. Three hundreds milliliter bone marrow blood was transplanted to the patients on the day that the PBSC was transplanted. Amended Bu/Cy was used as the conditioning regimen. MTXcombined with CsA and MMF was used as GVHD prophylaxis. Results A median number of mononuclear cells of (5.13±2.6)x10~8/kg recipient's weight was collccted from peripheral blood, and (1.3±0.6)x10~8/kgrecipient' s weight from bone marrow blood. Engraftment of neutrophils and platelets was achieved at a median of (12.1±3.25) days and (14±5.33) clays respectively. Ⅰ - Ⅱ acute GVHD occurred in 40.0 % cases,Ⅲ - Ⅳ acute GVHD occurred in 3.3 % cases, and chronic GVHD developed in 43.3 % cases. Severe cGVHD developed in 3.3% cases. The 2 years disease free survival rate (DFS) by the day of transplantation was 72.0 %. Conclusion PBSCT combined with BMT was effective to cure leukemia. The results also suggested that PBSC recipients had an lower incidence of aGVHD and cGVHD as compared with previous reports.

OBJECTIVETo study the alteration of thymus matrix lymphocyte generator (TSLP) and change of the Th factor in the course of disease development, and to analyze the curative effect of inhalation of Vitamin A (VA) with corticosteroid for the treatment of asthmatic pneumonia.

METHODSAsthmatic pneumonia models were prepared by challenging rats with inhalation of ovalbumin for 4 weeks, and rested for 1 week. The treatment with VA and corticosteroid inhalation for 1 week was followed. The rat thymus and lung specimen were examen by histochemical and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSAfter 4 - 5 weeks of stimulation, there were more TSLP-positive cells and alveolar macrophages (AM) found in thymus and lung tissue of asthmatic group, the cell proliferation in spleen and thymus was obvious, and blood Th factors elevated. The inflammation within the lung tissue aggravated gradually. In VA group, the expression of TSLP and Th2 factors were all lowered at the 4th week. The TSLP expression slightly increased at the 5th week, and the cell proliferation within T-cell zone of spleen and thymus was strong at first and weakened later. Alveolar microphages (AM) increased significantly and the inflammation in the lung subsided gradually at the 5th week. In the hormone group, TSLP and Th2 factors expression in both thymus and lung were decreased at the 5th week, while the cell proliferation in thymus and lung was gradually increased. The quantity of AM was decreased, whereas the inflammation of the lung was increased gradually at the 5th week.

CONCLUSIONDuring asthmatic period elevated TSLP expression was accompanied by Th2 type responses while VA and corticosteroid both suppressed TSLP and Th2 factors expression. VA alone promoted T lymphocyte proliferation as well as the antigen elimination function by AM, after ceasing the usage, the lung inflammation abated gradually. In contrast, after ceasing the use of corticosteroid, inflammation aggravated.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Asthma ; complications ; Beclomethasone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vitamin A ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use