An antibiotic-producing bacterium, which was numbered as 20 #-5, was separated from the soil in Chongqing. It was identified as the member of pseudomonas. Gram positive bacteria are badly suppressed by it. The antibiotic secreted by 20 #-5 can endure 100℃ for half an hour, and it can also go through the ultrafiltration membrane with pores of 0.22?m.

Aim To determine potential biomarkers contributed to occurrence, development and recovery of ethanol-induced liver injury in rat and elucidate hepatoprotective effect of Yin Chen Hao Tang based on metabonomic investigation. Methods A UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabonomic method was developed for investigating trajectory change and inter-relationship of urinary metabolome of rats with different treatments. Results Four potential biomarkers were determined which contributed to occurrence, development and recovery of ethanol-induced liver injury in rat, and Yin Chen Hao Tang could significantly recover trajectory change in disorder. Conclusion The developed method was successfully applied to investigate ethanol-induced liver injury in rat, and also hepatoprotective effect of Yin Chen Hao Tang was elucidated.

In this paper, the five strains of Polygonatum odoratum were used as the experimental materials to test the supercooling point, freezing point, the degree of supercooling, the transition stage time, cooling time and water composition of the plant tissue. The cold resistance of P. odoratum was analyzed with the Gray Correlation Method. The results showed that the cold resistances of the five strains of P. odoratum were different, and the water content of plant tissue had some relevance with freezing point and supercooling point, whereas, it could not be measured when the moisture content was too low. The order of cold resistance of the five strains of P. odoratum was ZJCY, DYYZ, XYYZ, CYYZ and JZ I.
Cold Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; classification ; physiology ; Water ; analysis

BACKGROUNDMacro- and microvascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients, but their mechanisms remain unclear. Recent reports provide evidence that the levels of CD55 and CD59 are decreased in diabetic microvascular diseases. However, very little is known about the levels of CD55 and CD59, the relationship between them and carotid artery intima-media thickness, and the effects of statins on CD55 and CD59 in diabetic macrovascular diseases.

METHODSThe mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD55 and CD59 expression on peripheral blood leucocyte subsets (lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils) was studied using flow cytometry, and carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasonography in 23 healthy subjects (controls), 19 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and 43 patients with type 2 diabetes and macrovascular diseases (T2DM-M). The patients with T2DM-M were assigned to two subgroups based on whether statins were used: group with statins (n = 23) and group without statins (n = 20).

RESULTSCompared with the controls and T2DM, the MFI of CD55 positive neutrophils was significantly lower in T2DM-M (P = 0.049 vs controls and P = 0.033 vs T2DM); similarly, the MFI of CD59 positive monocytes was also lower in T2DM-M (P = 0.038 vs controls and P = 0.043 vs T2DM). The MFI of CD59 positive neutrophils in T2DM-M was lower than in T2DM (P = 0.032). The levels of CD55 and CD59 were negatively associated with age and blood pressure (r = -0.245 - -0.352, P = 0.041 - 0.003), but not acute-phase reactants and carotid artery intima-media thickness. The levels of CD55 and CD59 increased after treatment with statins, but the results were not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCD55 and CD59 expressions on peripheral blood leucocytes are decreased in T2DM patients with macrovascular diseases. The results suggest that the decreased levels of complement regulatory proteins might play an important role in diabetic macrovascular diseases.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CD55 Antigens ; immunology ; CD59 Antigens ; immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; immunology ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the time course of granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF), estrogen and various doses of atorvastatin on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mobilization.

METHODA total of 48 male New Zealand White rabbits were treated with placebo, estrogen (0.25 mg.k(-1).d(-1)), Atorvastatin (2.5, 5, or 10 mg) and G-CSF (50 microg/rabbit/d), respectively. Peripheral EPCs number was surveyed weekly for 4 weeks by FACS analysis (double-positive for PE-CD34/FITC-CD133) and under fluorescent microscope (double-positive for FITC-UEA-1/Dil-acLDL). Serum nitric oxide (NO) and lipids were also measured at the third week.

RESULTSPeripheral EPCs was significantly increased in G-CSF treated animals and remained constant for 4 weeks compared to placebo treated animals. Atorvastatin increased peripheral EPCs dose-dependently from 2.5 to 5 mg and peaked at the third week while peripheral EPCs number was not affected by 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1) atorvastatin during the first 3 weeks and was significantly higher only in the fourth week compared to placebo group. Estrogen also significantly increased peripheral EPCs at the third and fourth week compared to placebo group. At the third week, serum NO was similar in G-CSF group, significantly higher in atorvastatin 5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) and estrogen groups while significantly lower in atorvastatin 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1) group compared to placebo group. Serum lipids were similar among various groups.

CONCLUSIONAtorvastatin, estrogen and G-CSF could mobilize EPCs. The mobilization efficacy is as follows: G-CSF > atorvastatin 5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) > estrogen > atorvastatin 2.5 mg.k(-1).d(-1) > atorvastatin 10 mg.k(-1).d(-1). NO might partly contribute to the mobilizing effect of estrogen and atorvastatin.

Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; Stem Cells ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the expression patterns of metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 protein in invasive breast carcinoma and to determine the clinicopathological and prognostic values of its various localization and relation to the tumor phenotypes.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue array from 263 invasive breast carcinomas to investigate the protein expressions of MMP-13, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2.

RESULTSMMP-13 protein was detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells and peritumoral fibroblasts. High level expression of MMP-13 protein in tumor cells was associated with more lymph node involvement and higher tumor grade (both P < 0.01), and positively correlated with HER2 (P = 0.015) and TIMP-1 protein (P < 0.01) expression in carcinoma cells. Moreover, high expression of MMP-13 was associated with shortened overall survival for the entire patient population and the patient group with positive lymph node. Tumor cell derived MMP-13 had different impact on patients with different HER2 status. Peritumoral fibroblasts derived MMP-13 protein, although correlated with tumor cell derived MMP-13 and associated with lymph node stage and HER2 expression, was found having less prognostic impact. Univariate survival analysis showed that the tumor size, grade, lymph node status, PR status, HER2 expression, tumors TIMP-1 and MMP-13 expression were prognostic factors. However, multivariate survival analysis showed that only tumor size, lymph node status, HER2 expression, tumors TIMP-1 and MMP-13 were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONMMP-13 protein expressed by tumor cells correlates with the invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma, and therefore, may serve as a poor prognostic marker for the patient.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; analysis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; classification ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of Liangyuan Pipagao on cough reflex and ciliary action. Liangyuan Pipagao is a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Cough was induced by aerosol citric acid in guinea pigs and aerosol capsacin in mice. Excretion function of the airway in mice was determined by phenol red method. Ciliary movement function of frog esophagus was examined by a migration method of charcoal granules. RESULTS: Liangyuan Pipagao inhibited both the citric acid-induced cough in guinea pigs and capsacin-induced cough in mice. ID(50)value 2.64 g/kg (95%Cl1.12 approximately 6.19) and 11.40 g/kg (95%Cl5.76 approximately 22.58) respectively. Further, Liangyuan Pipagao increased phenol red excretion in mice airways and stimulated ciliary action of frog esophagusin a dose-dependent fashion. ED(50) value 7.70 g/kg (95%Cl 4.62 approximately 12.83) and EC(25) value 1.07 X 10(-4) (95% Cl 0.394 approximately 2.92x10(-4)) respectively. CONCLUSION: Liangyuan Pipagao a traditional Chinese medicine may have anti-tussive as well as expectorant actions.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of extracapsular extension (ECE) of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 1230 cases of nodal positive breast cancer treated in our department from 1989 to 1995 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS486 (39.5%) from the 1230 cases were ECE positive. There was a higher incidence of ECE in postmenopausal women than premenopausal ones (47.5% versus 35.5%, respectively, P < 0.001). The patients in ECE positive group had a larger tumor size (5.11 +/- 2.53 cm versus 3.90 +/- 1.80 cm, P < 0.001). 18.3% of patients with stage T1 were ECE positive, stage T2 were 36.4%, and stage T3 were 54.4%, and the difference was significant (P < 0.001). ECE was correlated with the number of positive axillary lymph nodes. The ECE positive group had more positive nodes than ECE negative group (16.96 +/- 12.16 versus 5.24 +/- 6.60, P < 0.001). 6.1% of patients with 1 positive node were ECE positive, 13.5% with 2 - 3, 35.8% with 4 - 9, 62.3% with 10 - 19, and 84.0% with more than 20 positive axillary nodes, and there was a significant difference among those groups (P < 0.001). ECE had no association with ER/PR status (P = 0.706). ECE was a risk factor of local-regional recurrence, but the relapse time had no significant difference (P = 0.559). ECE was also a risk factor of distant metastasis, and the relapse time had a significant difference (P < 0.001). The median metastasis free time was 30.0 (2 approximately 172) months in ECE positive group, while 37.5 (2 approximately 170) months in ECE negative group (P = 0.006). CE occurred in 60.4% of the patients with firstly diagnosed bone, skin and distant lymph node metastasis, but in 42.0% of the patients with firstly diagnosed visceral metastasis (P = 0.001). The metastasis-free survival rate, locoregional recurrence-free survival rate and overall survival rate of the ECE positive group were much shorter than that of the ECE negative group. COX proportional hazard regression single factor analysis and multi-factor analysis suggested that ECE is an independent factor of metastasis-free survival, locoregional free recurrence and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of ECE in breast cancer is positively related with tumor size and the number of positive lymph nodes. It is also a risk factor of locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis. ECE positive group has a much shorter metastasis-free survival, locoregional recurrence-free survival and overall survival. ECE is a risk factor of those three indexes.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Cisplatin ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy ; Methotrexate ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postmenopause ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo optimize the animal model of liver injury that can properly represent the pathological characteristics of dampness-heat jaundice syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODSThe liver injury in the model rat was induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4) ) respectively, and the effects of Yinchenhao Decoction (, YCHD), a proved effective Chinese medical formula for treating the dampness-heat jaundice syndrome in clinic, on the two liver injury models were evaluated by analyzing the serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialchehyche (MDA), total bilirubin (T-BIL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) as well as the ratio of liver weight to body weight. The experimental data were analyzed by principal component analytical method of pattern recognition.

RESULTSThe ratio of liver weight to body weight was significantly elevated in the ANIT and CCl(4) groups when compared with that in the normal control (P<0.01). The contents of ALT and T-BIL were significantly higher in the ANIT group than in the normal control (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the levels of AST, ALT and ALP were significantly elevated in CCl(4) group relative to those in the normal control P<0.01). In the YCHD group, the increase in AST, ALT and ALP levels was significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), but with no significant increase in serum T-BIL. In the CCl(4) intoxicated group, the MDA content was significantly increased and SOD, GSH-PX activities decreased significantly compared with those in the normal control group, respectively (P<0.01). The increase in MDA induced by CCl(4) was significantly reduced by YCHD P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONYCHD showed significant effects on preventing liver injury progression induced by CCl(4), and the closest or most suitable animal model for damp-heat jaundice syndrome may be the one induced by CCl(4).

1-Naphthylisothiocyanate ; toxicity ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Annonaceae ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Body Weight ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Jaundice ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of different nutrition therapies on abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.

METHODSThe 83 cases of pregnant women with abnormal glucose metabolism who came to nutrition clinic were randomly divided into two groups before 30 weeks pregnancy: 42 cases in traditional food exchange serving group (FES) and 41 cases in food exchange serving based on glycemic load group (FES + GL). Traditional food exchange serving and food exchange serving based on glycemic load were used as the different nutrition therapies for two groups respectively until the time of delivery. The influence of two nutrition therapies on the blood glucose and pregnancy outcomes were observed.

RESULTSThe daily food glucose load (GL) after nutrition therapy in the FES + GL group (145.9 ± 26.3) were significantly decreased than that of the FES group (179.9 ± 28.9, t = 5.602, P < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 h postprandial glucose (2 h PG) ((4.63 ± 0.97) and (6.15 ± 1.07) mmol/L, respectively) after nutrition therapy in the FES + GL group were significantly lower than that in pre-nutrition therapy ((4.96 ± 0.81) and (9.13 ± 1.61) mmol/L, t = 2.237, 11.202, respectively, all P values < 0.05). The 2 h PG in the FES + GL group ((6.15 ± 1.07) mmol/L) after nutrition therapy was significantly lower than that of the FES group ((6.86 ± 1.26) mmol/L, t = 2.760, P < 0.05). 19.51% (8/41) of the total incidence of complications in the FES + GL group was lower than that (11/42, 26.19%) in the FES group, but the difference was not significant (χ² = 0.524, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFES based on GL was much easier to reduce blood glucose compared with FES. Two nutrition therapies can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with abnormal glucose metabolism.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes, Gestational ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucose Metabolism Disorders ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nutritional Support ; methods ; Pregnancy