A new flavonoid glycoside, (-)-2S-8-methyl-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with five known ones, quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-α-L-arabinoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-arabinoside (3), guaijaverin (4), trifolin (5) and hyperin (6), was isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus robusta. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD spectra data and physicochemical methods. In addition, 2-6 were isolated from E. robusta for the first time.
Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injury.

METHODSFrom December 2008 to May 2010,three-column reconstruction via posterior approach was implemented to 21 patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries. There were 13 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 23 to 54 years old(averaged,35.5 years old). Injured vertebrae: 1 patient had injury in T11, 4 patients had injuries in T12, 8 patients had injuries in L1, 5 patients had injuries in L2, 3 patients had injuries in L3. The Cobb angle was (25.34 +/- 3.42) degrees. The operation time,blood loss during operation, Cobb angle and the bony fusion were observed.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 24 to 27 years old, with an average of 25.6 months. The operation time ranged from 135 to 275 min, with a mean of 185 min. The blood loss during operation ranged from 700 to 1 650 ml (averaged, 870 ml). All the patients had complete decompression. Postoperative Cobb angle was (4.01 +/- 2.03) degrees, and (4.34 +/- 2.38) degrees at the latest follow-up. All the patients got bony fusion.

CONCLUSIONTo the patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries, three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach has both anterior approach and posterior approach advantages, which can obtain excellent clinical outcomes.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Bacteria are regarded as the main hazard in food industry, and b acteria can be affected by a static magnetic field (SMF) with high intensity. S o the SMF would be useful for controlling the bacteria’s hazard to food. The e ffect of magnetic induction, treatment time on bacteria, and the survival probab ility of bacteria under SMF were studied for investigating their action regulari ty, and the DNA fingerprint of strains after magnetic treatment was compared wit h that of control. The research results would lay the basis of SMF application in food industry on theory and practice.

AIMTo investigate the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the differentiation and clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte during the differentiation period.

METHODSThe morphological changes of 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation after the treatment of IL-8 was observed by Oil-Red O staining. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method. MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation were applied to examine the changes of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell cycle analysis was taken by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIL-8 could inhibit the differentiation and GDPH activity in a dose dependent manner. IL-8 decreased the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion after induction. Also, the proportion of cells in G1 phase was increased and that of cells in S and G2 phase was declined after the treatment of IL-8.

CONCLUSIONIL-8 inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by decreasing the clonal expansion of the cells.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacology ; Mice

BACKGROUNDWith the widespread use of ventilators in treating critically ill patients, the morbidity of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is increasing accordingly. VILI is characterized by a considerable increase in microvascular leakiness and activation of inflammatory processes. In this study we investigated the effects of inflammatory mediators in VILI rat serum on endothelial cytoskeleton and monolayer cellular permeability, as well as the therapeutic effect of ulinastatin, to explore the pathogenesis and the relationship between biotrauma and lung oedema induced by VILI.

METHODSThirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (normal tidal volume ventilation), group B (high tidal volume ventilation) and group C (high tidal volume ventilation plus ulinastatin). The serum of each rat after ventilation was added to endothelial cell line ECV-304 medium for two hours to observe the effects of serum and/or ulinastatin on endothelial fibrous actin and permeability.

RESULTSCompared to rats ventilated with normal tidal volume, serum of rats ventilated with high tidal volume caused a striking reorganization of actin cytoskeleton with a weakening of fluorescent intensity at the peripheral filament bands and formation of the long and thick stress fibres in the centre resulting in endothelial contraction and higher permeability. Prior treatment with ulinastatin lessened the above changes significantly. The changes of permeability coefficient of endothelial permeability after group A, B or C rats serum stimulation were (6.95 +/- 1.66)%, (27.50 +/- 7.77)% and (17.71 +/- 4.66)% respectively with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe proinflammatory mediators in the serum of the rats given high tidal volume ventilation increases endothelial permeability by reorganizing actin cytoskeleton, and pretreatment with ulinastatin lessens the permeability by inhibiting of proinflammatory mediators.

Actins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Glycoproteins ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Lung Injury ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Tidal Volume ; drug effects ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; adverse effects

In eukaryotes protein phosphorytion is a key event. By reversible protein phosphorylation eukaryotes control many cellular processes including signal transduction, gene expression, the cell cycle etc. Phosphoproteomics involves identification of phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides, localization of the exact residues that are phosphorylated and quantitation of phosphorylation. Because protein phosphorylation is a dynamic process, and it is present at low abundance within cells, and the phosphorylated sites on proteins might vary, and mass spectrometry (MS) signals from phosphopeptides are usually suppressed etc., so phosphoprotein analysis have more difficulties than nonphosphoprotein. In this article, we outline several analysis techniques for separation, identification and quantitation of phosphorylated proteins and peptides, and discuss the progress in these techniques. At present, MS is still an essential core identification technology for phosphoproteomic studies, To search better enrichment strategies are the main challenges in this rapidly evolving field. A major goal of quantitative proteomics is precise quantification and identification of proteins in complex mixtures. A common method for quantitative proteome analysis is the stable isotope labeling method. Today there is no single method that supersedes all others techniques for Phosphoproteomic studies. With continued development of sample preparation techniques and instrumentation, it should be possible to perform a global analysis of protein phosphorylation.
Animals ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Phosphoproteins ; analysis ; Phosphorylation ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of endothelin-1 and its receptors on hypertrophy or proliferation of cultured cardial cells.

METHODSCardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were isolated by trypsin digestion method, DNA and protein synthesis were measured by 3H-dexyribonucleotidethymine (3H-TdR) and 3H-Leucine (3H-Leu) incorporation, while protein content was measured by Bradford method. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression of cardiomyocyte was measured by reverse transcripted-polymerase chain reaction. Selective endothelin (ET) receptor subtype antagonists BQ123 and BQ788 were used to block ET(A) receptors (ET(A)R) and ET(B)R respectively and to observe the effects of the two receptors during cardiac hypertrophy.

RESULTSET-1 significantly increased the 3H-TdR and 3H-Leu incorporation rate of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner and increased protein content. Furthermore, ET-1 promoted the ANP mRNA expression of cardiomyocyte. ET(A)R antagonist remarkably blocked these effects, while ET(B)R antagonist had no obvious effect.

CONCLUSIONSET-1 can induce the hypertrophy for cardiomyocytes and the proliferation for cardiac fibroblasts. These effects are mediated by ET(A)R.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; physiology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; pathology ; Hypertrophy ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Endothelin A ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Yufeining, a traditional Chinese medicine, on induced sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable phase.

METHODSThirty-six patients with COPD were divided into trial group (18 cases) and control group (18 cases) randomly. The trial group was treated with Yufeining pills taken orally for half a year; the control group was not given any medicine. Routine lung function was recorded before and after treatment. Total cell count (TCC), differential cell counts (DCCs) and IL-8 in induced sputum were determined at the baseline and 6 months later.

RESULTSThe indices of lung function improved significantly after 6 months' treatment in trial group (P < 0.05); TCC and absolute neutrophil count decreased significantly compared with baseline in the trial group (P < 0.05); Sputum IL-8 concentration dropped significantly after 6 months' treatment, from a mean of 5.216 +/- 2.914 microg/L to 4.222 +/- 2.140 microg/L (P < 0.05). There were insignificant changes in the parameters in the control group between baseline and 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONYufeining could improve lung function, decrease sputum TCC, absolute neutrophil count and IL-8 concentration, and relieve airway inflammation in patients with COPD in the stable phase.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDNitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). A change in the balance of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and NO in the ALI/ARDS can also add to these problems. However, the profile of ET-1 and the balance of ET-1 and NO are still unknown in a VILI model.

METHODSModels of oleic acid induced ALI were established in dogs; these models were then randomized into three groups undergone different tidal volume (VT) mechanical ventilation, which included a VT6 group (VT equaled to 6 ml/kg body weight, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) equaled to 10 cmH2O, n = 6), a VT10 group (VT equaled to 10 ml/kg body weight, PEEP equaled to 10 cmH2O, n = 4) and a VT20 group (VT equaled to 20 ml/kg body weight, PEEP equaled to 10 cmH2O, n = 6) for 6-hour ventilation. The levels of ET-1 and NO in serum and tissue homogenates of lung were observed throughout the trial.

RESULTSPaO2 was increased after mechanical ventilation, but hypercapnia occurred in the VT6 group. The magnitudes of lung injury in the VT20 group were more severe than those in the VT6 group and the VT10 group. Serum levels of ET-1 and NO increased after ALI models were established and slightly decreased after a 6-hour ventilation in both the VT6 group and the VT20 group. The serum ET-1 level in the VT20 group was higher than that in the VT6 group and the VT10 group after the 6-hour ventilation (P < 0.05) while the serum NO levels were similar in the three groups (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum ratio of ET-1/NO between any two out of three groups (P > 0.05), although there was a significant positive relationship between serum ET-1 and serum NO (r = 0.80, P < 0.01). The levels of ET-1 and NO in the lung were increased after ventilation. The lung ET-1 level in the VT20 group was significantly higher than that in the VT6 group and VT10 group (both P < 0.05) while there was no significant difference in lung NO levels between two groups (P > 0.05). In the lung tissue, the ratio of ET-1/NO was significantly higher in the VT20 group than in the VT6 group and VT10 group after the 6-hour ventilation (P < 0.05) as there was a significant positive relationship between ET-1 and NO in the lung (r = 0.54, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe production of ET-1 and NO was increased in serum and lung tissue in a VILI model. But the ET-1 levels increased much more than the NO levels in the lung, though there was a significant positive relationship between levels of ET-1 and NO. These results showed that there was an interaction between ET-1 and NO in a VILI model and changing the balance of ET-1 and NO levels might contribute to the pathophysiologic process of VILI.

Animals ; Colorimetry ; Dogs ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; metabolism ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors affecting the prognosis of invasive pulmonary fungal infection (IPFI) in patients after kidney transplantation.

METHODSThis retrospective study involved 80 concurrent patients with IPFI after receiving kidney transplantation in Zhujiang Hospital from January 1, 2000 to April 1, 2010. Fourteen factors including age, gender, pathogens, body temperature on day 5, renal insufficiency, mechanical ventilation, and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) on day 5 were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis to identify the factors related to the prognosis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that a normal body temperature on day 5 of antifungal treatment (P=0.024), fasting high blood glucose (P=0.001), renal insufficiency (P=0.002), malnutrition (P=0.018), time of infection after transplantation (P=0.046), low CPIS on day 5 (P=0.000) and mechanical ventilation (P=0.000) all affected the prognosis of the patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that renal insufficiency (OR=18.096), mechanical ventilation (OR=130.7) and low CPIS on day 5 (OR=0.011) were independent prognostic factors, among which the low CPIS on day 5 was a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONTimely and adequate empirical therapy and renal replacement therapy, along with adjusted anti-fungal therapy protocol according to the CPIS score on day 5, may improve the prognosis of IPFI after kidney transplantation.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors