Metabolic abnormalities were identified and carotid intima-media-thickness(IMT)was measured in 221 individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome(MS).The results indicated that IMT was significantly thicker in MS individuals than that in non-MS individuals(P＜0.01).And there was a tendency of progressive increase in IMT with increasing components of metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological and biological features of micrometastasis in early gastric cancers.

METHODSEleven cases of early gastric cancer with micrometastasis (micrometastatic, MM group) and 46 cases of early gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis (control group) were included in the study. Immunochemical staining of ssDNA, bcl-2, p53, E-cadherin, Ki-67, CD34 was performed. The superficial lesions, invasive fronts and lymph nodes were examined in both groups.

RESULTSPositive rate of ssDNA at the superficial lesions in MM group was higher than that in control group. In MM group the positive rate of ssDNA in micrometastasis was higher than that at invasive fronts and in lymph nodes. Positive rate of bcl-2 at the superficial lesions in micrometastasis was higher than that at invasive fronts and lymph nodes. Positive rate of c-myc at the superficial lesions in MM group was higher than that in control group. Positive rate of E-cadherin and the percentage of microvascular areas at the lymph nodes in MM group was lower than those in control group. Proliferative ability of cancer cells at superficial lesions and lymph nodes in MM group was lower than those in control group. Lymph nodes <3 mm in micrometastasis accounted for 27.3%.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological and biological features of micrometastasis in early gastric cancer show low positive rate of ssDNA, E-cadherin, Ki-67 and low percentage of microvascular areas at the lymph nodes.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cadherins ; analysis ; DNA, Single-Stranded ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chemical Fractionation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To investigate the mutations of pedocyte molecules in patients with late onset familial focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS). Methods Thirty-one pedigrees of late onset familial FSGS in Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from Sep 1997 to Oct 2007 were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis standard of familial FSGS was as follows:(1) the age of presentation was more than 12 years old. (2) in one pedigree, two or more individuals were proven as FSGS by renal biopsy, or at least one was proven to be FSGS by renal biopsy, the others presented renal insufficiency or pmteinuria without precise causes. One hundred unrelated healthy people were screened as control group. Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood cells were amplified by PCR and then sequenced for mutations of NPHS2, ACTN4 and TRPC6. Results A novel missense heterozygotic mutation L316P of ACTN4 was identified inone pedigree. The mean onset age of the affected members of this pedigree was (38.7±7.4) years old and their kidney injury progress was slow. Proteinuria of the proband's brother was not improved by immunosuppressor. All 3 affected members of this family had such heterozygotic mutation. A novel missense heterozygotic mutation Q889K of TRPC6 was found in another pedigree. The mean onset age of the affected members in this pedigree was (38.0±4.2) years old. Three members presenting renal disease in this family all had such heterozygotic mutation but with different clinical manifestations. A quiescent mutation G467G of TRPC6 was also identified. Above variants were not found in healthy controls. No NPHS2 mutation was found to cause familial FSGS in these pedigrees. Conclusions A novel mutation L316P of ACTN4 and a new mutation Q889K of TRPC6 are identified in Chinese patients of late onset familial FSGS. No NPHS2 mutation is found to induce FSGS in these pedigrees.

The high price of the reference substances is an obstacle for the HPLC analysis of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. To solve this problem, a new method based on the standard reference extract (SRE) was proposed. In this study, the extract of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos was calibrated, and the long-term stability was investigated. Different concentration solutions of SRE were prepared for establishment of the calibration profiles, and 6 organic acids were determined. T-test was used for the comparison of the determination results via reference substances and SRE, and the results demonstrated that there is no significant difference between the two methods. The presented method can be used for the quality control of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, and will also offer reference to resolve similar problems.
Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

The rol genes on pRiA4 plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes are potent genes that promote secondary metabolism. Molecular breeding of Atropa belladonna can be conducted by introducing rol genes to increase tropane alkaloids (TAs) content in A. belladonna. In this study, the rolB gene was overexpressed in A. belladonna plants to study the effect of rolB gene on the biosynthesis of TAs. The phenotype, TAs content and expression levels of key enzyme genes in the pathway of TAs biosynthesis of transgenic A. belladonna were analyzed. The results showed that transgenic A. belladonna had developed root system, enlarged leaves, increased leaf fresh weight, deepened leaf color, enlarged flowers, changed flower shape, reduced pistil height and decreased pollen vitality. The content of TAs in the stems of transgenic A. belladonna was significantly higher than that of the control, and the contents of scopolamine, anisodamine, hyoscyamine can reach 2.11-2.91, 1.23-2.37 and 4.88-5.20 times of the control, respectively. Compared with the control group, the expressions of key enzymes putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT), type III polyketide synthase (PYKS), tropinone reductase I (TRI), aromatic amino acid aminotransferase 4 (ArAT4), UDP-glycosyltransferase 1 (UGT1) and hyoscyamine 6-β-hydroxylase (H6H) in the TAs biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated, and the expression of tropinone reductase II (TRII) as a metabolic shunting gene was down-regulated. The results indicated that rolB gene enhanced TAs synthesis ability in roots and accumulation in stems of A. belladonna by enhancing metabolic flow of TAs synthesis pathway and weakening the metabolic shunt of competing pathway. This study laid a foundation for molecular breeding of A. belladonna with high-yield TAs content using rolB gene.

OBJECTIVETo study the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin.

METHODThe ultrafiltration was employed to determine the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin. The plasma concentrations of methyl protodioscin were measured by HPLC-MS-MS.

RESULTThe plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin with rat plasma at the concentration of 20.0, 100 and 200 microg x mL(-1) were (94.6 +/- 0.16)%, (91.6 +/- 0.35)% and (86.10 +/- 0.60)%, respectively, while the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin with normal human plasma at the above concentrations were (82.11 +/- 5.12)%, (84.54 +/- 0.32)% and (88.52 +/- 1.02)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe binding rate of methyl protodioscin with plasma protein is high.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Ultrafiltration

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of using Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsule (JTSC) combined with Atorvastatin Calcium Tablet (ACT) or ACT alone in treatment of combined hyperlipidemia.

METHODSA randomized, double blinded, parallel control, and multi-center clinical research design was adopted. Totally 138 combined hyperlipidemia patients were randomly assigned to the combined treatment group (A) and the atorvastatin treatment group (B) by random digit table, 69 in each group. All patients took ACT 20 mg per day. Patients in the A group took JTSC 100 mg each time, 3 times per day. Those in the B group took JTSC simulated agent, 100 mg each time, 3 times per day. The treatment period for all was 8 weeks. Serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were observed before treatment, at week 4 and 8 after treatment; and safety was assessed as well.

RESULTSAt week 4 and 8 after treatment serum TG decreased by 26.69% and 33.29% respectively in the A group (both P < 0.01), while it was decreased by 25.7% and 22.98% respectively in the B group (both P < 0.01). At week 8 decreased serum TG was obviously higher in the A group than in the B group (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, serum levels of LDL-C and TC levels decreased significantly in the two groups (all P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the drop-out value and the drop-out rate of serum LDL-C and TC levels (P > 0.05). At week 8 the serum HDL-C level showed an increasing tendency in the two groups. No obvious increase in peptase or creatase occurred in the two groups after treatment.

CONCLUSIONJTSC combined with ACT could lower the serum TG level of combined hyperlipidemia patients with safety.

Adult ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Morus multicaulis.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by ion exchange resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH -20 column chromatographies. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTTwelve compounds were isolated from the leaves of this plant. Their structures were identified as 1-deoxynojirimycin (1), fagomine (2), 2-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (3), quercetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (4), kaempferol (5), quercetin (6), scopoletin (7), D-aspartic acid (8), L-proline (9), D-alpha-alanine (10), myo-inositol (11) and dausterol (12).

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

1-Deoxynojirimycin ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Imino Pyranoses ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Morus ; chemistry ; Piperidines ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization