Objective To investigate the effect of levodopa on melanogenesis in Penicillium mameffei (PM),and to determine if melanization affects the antifungal drug susceptibility of PM.Methods A clinical isolate of PM,GXMU121011,was inoculated onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) containing different concentrations (0.1-10 mmol/L) of levodopa at an inoculum density of 1.0 × 106 cfu/ml,or onto SDA containing 1 mmol/L levodopa at three inoculum densities (1.0 × 105,1.0 × 106,1.0 × 107 cfu/ml),and cultured at 37 ℃ for 7 days.Subsequently,melanization of PM colonies was observed.The paper-disk method was used for antifungal susceptibility testing,and the diameter of inhibition zones of itraconazole,fluconazole and amphotericin B against 8 clinical strains of PM was determined on SDA with or without levodopa.Results The melanization of PM colonies increased when the concentration of levodopa increased from 0.1 to 1.0 mmol/L,peaked when that reached 1.0 and 3.0 mmol/L,but mildly decreased when that continuously increased beyond 3.0 mmol/L,and a slight shrinkage was observed in PM colonies when that was 10.0 mmol/L.The color of colonies deepened along with the increase in inoculum density of PM.The average diameters of inhibition zones of itraconazole,fluconazole and amphotericin B against PM were all significantly lower on SDA with levodopa than on SDA without levodopa (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Levodopa concentration and inoculum density both affect melanogenesis in PM.Melanization may decrease the susceptibility of PM in yeast phase to itraconazole,fluconazole and amphotericin B in vitro.

Adult ; Cough ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; Pharyngitis ; complications ; parasitology ; Pharynx ; Pruritus ; etiology

Bdellovibrio bacteria BDF-H16 was isolated from the gut of Carassius auratus gibelio with Aeromonas sobria.Its shape was ob- served by light microscopy,phase-contrast microscopy,electron microscopy and some of its biological characteristics were also studied.It was demonstrated that BDF-H16 was an gram-negative bacterium and had a bacilliform or arc bacilliform shape with a flagellum at one end.Its size was mostly 0.2?m～0.5?m?0.8?m～1.2?m.It had a wide prey area and could lyse all tested gram-negative bacteria and some gram-positive bacteria.The best lysis conditions to Escherichia coli were 6.75?10~9 cfu/mL of prey bacteria concentration,pH7.0～7.5,28℃.It could grow in the solid culture added 0.85%～5.00% NaCl and was inhibited by enrofloxacin and norfloxacin.

Objective To study the natural history of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progress to dementia and to evaluate the efficacy of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil on MCI.Methods Ninty-eight patients with MCI including amnestic MCI and non-amnestic MCI were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with donepezil or not were separately divided to two groups while they were matched by sex, age,degree of MCI and possession of the ApoE?4 allele.The rate of conversion from MCI to dementia, measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE),Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale- Cognitive section(ADAS-Cog) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R),was compared between the two groups.Results In aMCI group,the rate of conversion dropped by 15.1% and 8.3% (P0.05).Conclusion Donepezil could postpone the conversion of MCI to dementia.

Animals ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology

The revelant literatures about chemical constituents from the plant Bacopa monnieri and their pharmacological activities were consulted and summarized. The plant contains major chemical compounds including triterpenoids and their glycosides, flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and sterols. It has the impact on central nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, respiratory system and endocrine system, in addition to anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidation, hypoglycemic, antitumor, anti-microbial and liver and kidney protection and other pharmacological activities. This paper reviewed the chemical compositions and pharmacological activities, and provided a scientific basis for further research and development of the plant.

Objective To explore the effect of big strain rhodiola injection on levels of leptin and leptin receptor mRNA in serum and liver of rabbit with fatty liver.Methods 120 healthy adult male New Zealand white rabbits were grouped with a random number table method.30 rabbits with normal diet for eight weeks in normal group;90 rabbits in fat group were fed with high fat diet for four weeks to prepare fatty liver model in which 30 rabbits were fed with high-fat diet for four weeks as model group,30 rabbits with high-fat diet and glyburide metformin tablets [150 mg/(kg·d)]for 4 weeks as control group,30 rabbits with high-fat diet and big strain rhodiola injection [40 mg/(kg·d)]for four weeks as experimental group.After the test, levels of serum leptin,hepatic leptin,expression levels of leptin receptor mRNA and levels of liver index were compared among groups.Results Serum leptin and liver leptin in experimental group and control group were all increased to varying degrees,and the serum leptin level [(4.51 ±1.17)ng/mL],liver leptin level [(6.43 ±1.93)ng/mL]of experimental group was lower than that of control group respectively,in which the serum leptin was (7.36 ±1.26)ng/mL and liver leptin was (12.33 ±3.27)ng/mL (P<0.05).Serum leptin and leptin liver receptor mRNA in experimental group and control group were all increased to varying degrees,and the serum leptin mRNA level (0.98 ±0.15),liver mRNA level (1.78 ±0.33)of experimental group was lower than that of control group,in which the mRNA level of serum leptin was (2.57 ±0.29)and liver leptin mRNA levels was (3.31 ±0. 26)(P<0.05).Levels of liver index in experimental group and control group were increased,and liver index of experimental group [(3.98 ±0. 13)%]was lower than that in control group [(4.77 ±0.20)%],and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Big strain rhodiola injection could significantly reduce leptin levels in serum and liver of rabbits,reduce expression the leptin receptor mRNA levels and improve liver index,which has guiding significance for the treatment of fatty liver.

Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture on obestatin in rat with simple obesity. Methods: Obesity was induced in male SD rats with high-fat and -glucose diet for 10 weeks. Twenty-four rats with obesity were randomly divided into untreated group and electro-acupuncture group, with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 normal SD rats serving as controls were fed standard rat chow. Rats in the electro-acupuncture group were treated with electro-acupuncture on bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Tianshu (ST25) and Pishu (BL20) acupoints for fifteen days consecutively. Rats in the blank control group and untreated group were not interfered. Body weight was measured every 3 days during treatment. After treatment, obestatin in serum and hypothalamus was detected by radioimmunoassay or immunohistochemiscal method respectively. Visceral fat weight was also detected. Results: Body weight and visceral fat weight of rats in the untreated group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (P<0.01). Body weight and increase of body weight in the electro-acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.01). Visceral fat weight in the electro-acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the untreated group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference as compared with the blank control group. The obestatin expression in hypothalamus was higher in the untreated group than in the blank control group (P<0.05), while it was lower in the untreated group than in the electro-acupuncture group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture has an effect against obesity in rats, which may be related to up-regulating obestatin expression in hypothalamus.

Objective To investigate the effect of RNA interference plasmids of cysteine-rich 61(Cyr61) on hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) in rats.Methods The plasmids containing the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of Cyr61 were constructed.Expression of Cyr61 mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.The hyperplasia of VSMC was assessed by MTT.DNA synthesis was measured by incorporating ~3H-TDR.Plasmid construction was confirmed by DNA sequencing.Results PCyr61-shRNA transfection significantly decreased the level of mRNA and protein of Cyr61 in VSMC.The cell number,optical density and concentration of DNA in pCyr61-shRNA group were significant decreased(P