Beta-Elemene is an antitumor drug which is isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Curcumae Phaeocaulis Rhizoma, it is the main component of elemene which is extracted from the plant and delivered via blood circulation after intravenous injection. The antitumor effect of beta-elemene in vitro and in vivo was definite, and beta-elemene could improve the patient immunity and no sever side effect, drug resistance or bone marrow suppression were found during the clinical studies. And human serum albumin (HSA) is a primary extracellular protein which has a high concentration distribution in blood plasma and has many characteristic physiological functions. Therefore, the binding of beta-elemene to protein may be very important for absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. Therefore, the study on the interaction of beta-elemene with drug-carrying protein is very important. In this work, molecular binding of beta-elemene to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by using spectrofluorometer. the binding constants suggested that a strong interaction and the formation of a complex between beta-elemene and HSA. This clearly implies that beta-elemene can be stored and removed by the proteins in the body. Furthermore, the fluorescence quenching results showed that the HSA fluorescence was quenched by beta-elemene through static quenching mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters showed that hydrophobic interactions play a role in the binding of beta-elemene to HSA. The negative deltaH(0) and positive deltaS(0) in case of beta-elemene therefore showed that electrostatic attraction play a role in the binding of beta-elemene to HSA.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Protein Binding ; Serum Albumin ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Thermodynamics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficaly and safety of Tiepi Fengdou Granule (TFG) and Capsule (TFC) combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in treating lung cancer patients with Qi-Yin asthenia syndrome (QYAS).

METHODSEighty patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups: the TFG group (32 cases), the TFC group (32 cases) and the Shengmai Capsule control group (16 cases). Changes of symptoms of QYAS, main symptoms of lung cancer, Karnofsky scoring as well as the blood routine test were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of symptom improving in the TFG group and the TFC group was 81.2% and 93.3% respectively, showing insignificant difference between the 2 groups (P > 0.05), but both were higher than that in the Shengmai Capsule control group (50.0%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Additionally, as compared with those before treatment, the neutrophil count increased and the lymphocytes count obviously decreased in the TFC group after treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth dose-forms of the remedies, TFC and TFG, have significant effects in treating lung cancer with QYAS, but with insignificant difference between them.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Qi ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

ObjectiveTo study the influence of Jiuqiang Naoliqing (JNQ) on the expression of calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP)and Synapsin Ⅰ in brain of the spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). MethodsThe rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Wistar group, SHR group, lower dose of JNQ treated SHR group and higher dose of JNQ treated SHR group. The expression of CGRP and Synapsin Ⅰ in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex were determined by immunohistochemistry after treatment for 3 weeks. ResultsCompared with the Wistar group, the expression of CGRP and Synapsin Ⅰ in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex of SHR group significantly decreased. The treatment with lower dose of JNQ significantly enhanced the expression of CGRP in cortex(P<0.05 vs SHR).The treatment with higher dose of JNQ significantly enhanced not only the expression of CGRP in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex, but also that of Synapsin Ⅰ in the CA1 subfield of hippocampus selectively in comparison with SHR group. ConclusionJNQ may improve the micro circulation in brain by up regulating the expression of CGRP and enhance the modulating function of central nervous system by up regulating the expression of Synapsin Ⅰ in spontaneous hypertension rats.

To investigate the chemical compounds from the twigs of Euonymus alatus, nine compounds were isolated and identified as(+)-delta(2,11)-enaminousnic acid(1), 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(2), acetyl 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(3), camaldulenic acid(4), betulinic acid(5), 6beta-hydroxy-stigmast-4-en-3-one(6), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone(7), ethyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate(8), 4,4'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl(9). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2-4 and 7-9 were obtained from the Euonymus genus for the first time. In vitro study showed that compounds 2 and 3 showed significant anti-tumor activities to BEL-7402 and HCT-8 at the concentration of 10 mg x L(-1). The inhibition rate of compound 2 was 61.78% and 68.29%, whereas the inhibition rate of compound 3 had reached to 70.91% and 84.07%.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Euonymus ; chemistry ; Humans

Methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH, E.C.3.1.8.1) coding gene mph from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3, isolated and identified by our lab, was successfully expressed in E. coli AD494 (DE3)/ pET32a(+) system as soluble fusion form at high level. The recombinant MPH showed nearly 4～5 fold higher specific activity to parathion than the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3. In addition, the thermal stability of the recombinant enzyme was improved comparing with the wild type enzyme.

BackgroundThe meibomian gland carcinoma is an eyelid malignant tumor with a domestic incidence after basal cell carcinoma.Meibomian gland carcinoma is not sensitive to radiation therapy and chemotherapy,and the related factors with its recurrence and metastasis are rarely reported.ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the clinical and pathologic features of meibomian gland carcinoma with multiple operations and the effectiveness of histologically controlled excision.MethodsThe clinical data and the histopathologic sections of 34 cases of the meibomian gland carcinoma diagnosed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in September 2003 to April 2011,and the treating effectiveness of histologically controlled excision was evaluated. ResultsIn this group of cases,the appearing rate of the meibomian gland carcinoma was resemble in both lateral eyes.A higher morbidity was on the upper eyelid (26/34,76.5％) and then the lower eyelids (5/34,14.7％ ) and both (3/34,8.8％).The average ages of these cases were 57.5 years old.Sixteen of 21 misdiagnosed cases were identified as chalazion at the first visit,and no histopathological examination was performed in 11 cases after initial operation.Twenty-six cases(76.5％ )were identified as meibomian gland carcinoma in initial histopathologic diagnosis.Two cases had histologically controlled excision and 16 cases had simple excision while 16 cases had chalazion enucleation in the first operation.All the patients had histologically controlled excision in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center with 58.8％ of the patients having pagetoid invasion.Sixteen cases were followed up for 5 months to 8 years after histologically controlled excision,in which none died of recurrence and metastasis of meibomian gland carcinoma.No significant differences were found in the pathological feature between 16 lost patients and 18 followed-up patients(P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Misdiagnosis of meibomian gland as chalazion is a main cause of repeat operations of meibomian gland carcinoma.Histologically controlled excision is a feasible therapy for the recurrence and metastasis of meibomian gland carcinoma.

Background Cellular autophagy is a non-apoptosis death form of tumor tissue.Research determined that arsenie trioxide (As2O3) leads to apoptosis of tumor cells.But whether As2O3 induce autophagy of SO-Rb50 cells or not is unclear.Objective This study was to assess the effects of As2O3 on autophagy of SO-Rb50 cells.Methods As2O3 with the concentration of 0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L was used to treat the SO-Rb50 cell line for 48 hours,and the growth and proliferation of SO-Rb50 cells were detected using MTT assay (A570).pGFP-LC3,a marker of autophagy,was constructed to transfer SO-Rb50 cells,and the cells were then divided into RPMI-1640 culture group (untreated group),As2O3 + RPMI-1640 culture group (As2O3 treated group) and rapamycin culture group (positive control group).Autophagy of SO-Rb50 cells was examined by laser confocal microscope and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) influorescence staining,respectively,48 hours following cell culture.Ultrastructural features of autophagy were examined with transmission electron microscope (TEM).The percentage of autophagy positive cells in different concentrations of As2O3 treated groups was calculated with flow cytometer.Results The A570 values of SO-Rb50 cells were 2.194±0.066,1.841 ±0.213,1.035±0.046,0.374±0.042 and 0.167±0.019 in 0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L As2O3 treated groups,with a significant difference among these 5 groups(F=547.636,P＜0.05),and those of 0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L As2O3 treated groups were significantly reduced in comparison with untreated group (P =0.000).The positive granular spots for GFP-LC3 chimeric protein were seen to aggregate in autophagic vacuoles in the As2O3 treated group and positive control group,but diffuse cytoplasmic signal for GFP-LC3 was found in the untreated group.Normal ultrastructure of SO-Rb50 cells was exhibited in the untreated group,and many double-membrane-like bound vesicles and autlysosomes were documented in the As2O3 treated group and positive control group under the TEM.A lots of MDC fluorescence granule were found in the As2O3 treated group and positive control group rather than the untreated group.Flow cytometry showed that the percentages of SO-Rb50 cells were 0,15.6％,42.7％,57.9％,79.5％ and 89.0％ in the 0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L As2O3 groups and positive control group,respectively,showing a As2O3 concentration-dependent increase.Conclusions As2O3 can induce the autophagy of SO-Rb50 cells and inhibit the proliferation of SO-Rb50 cells.Autophagic response of SO-Rb50 cells appears prior to the nuclear change after exposed to As2O3.The degree of autophagy of SO-Rb50 cells is associated with As2O3 dose.

Objective To study the prevalence of food intolerance and to explore its related factors among adult health check-up receivers.Methods A total of 863 adults who took physical examinations in our hospital from April to October 2011 were enrolled in this investigation.Height,body weight and blood pressure were measured,and serum IgG level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The total positive rate of food intolerance was 73％,and the leading intolerance items were crab (40.1％ ),egg (29.8％ ),cod fish ( 21.6％ ),milk ( 20.0％ ) and soybean ( 14.4％ ).Females showed significantly higher prevalence of food intolerance than males.Various positive rate of milk or soybean intolerance was found in different age groups.No correlations of serum specific IgG with body mass index and systolic or diastolic blood pressure were observed.In logistic regression analysis,the odds ratio of food intolerance of women was 1.67 ( 95 ％ confidence interval 1.190 to 2.607 ).ConclusionsThe prevalence rate of food intolerance was high.The risk for food intolerance was significantly increased in women.Specific IgG antibody detection may help to early prevent and diagnose food intolerance-related diseases.

Two effective flavobacterium strains FCN1 and FCN2 were isolated from the sludge which had been contaminated by coke-plant waste water for a long time.Before isolation,the naphthalene was used to cultivate such sludge for seven weeks as the sole carbon source and its concentration adding to the cultivating system was increased up to 50mg/L gradually.The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading characteristics of our isolates themselves and with inorganic ions was studied respectively.The testing results show that our two isolates can transform and degrade anthracene,phenanthrene and pyrene.After 10 hours reaction,the removing rates of anthracene,phenanthrene and pyrene by FCN1 were 84%,69%,80% and by FCN2 were 76%,40%,71% respectively.After 106 hours,the removing rates of TOC caused by anthracene,phenanthrene and pyrene were 70%,54%,69% by FCN1 and 63%,50%,46% by FCN2.The Fe 3+ and Mg 2+ can accelerate the degrading reaction of FCN1.

Acyl carrier protein is an essential component involved in the biosynthesis of DHA(Docosahexaenoic Acid) via PKS(Polyketide synthase) pathway,which takes the growing acyl chain from one enzyme to another.One cDNA clone,with high homology of ACP,was isolated from Schizochytrium sp.FJU-512 cDNA library.The deduced amino acid sequence contained 142 residues with isoelectric point of 5.04 and had the 4'-phosphopantetheine prosthetic(4'-PP) binding site.The target fragment was digested with BamHⅠ/HindⅢand inserted into the expression vector pET-30a resulting in the plasmid pET-30a/acp.The recombinant vector was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) and induced by IPTG.SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that ACP was effectively expressed.