Objective To analyze electromyographic (EMG) activities of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) before and after an exercise program.Methods 26 subjects with PFPS were randomly divided into the EMG biofeedback plus exercise group (group A) and exercise only group (group B) with 13 cases in each group. All patients in two groups were trained with family exercise program, but the patients of the group A used a EMG biofeedback while training. The relative activities of VMO and VL of all patients in two groups were assessed with the EMG apparatus for a continuous 6 hours period before and 8 weeks after training. At the same time the intensity of the knee pain was also assessed.Results There was no statistics difference in VMO/VL EMG ratio of the group B ( P>0.05), whereas the group A had significantly higher VMO/VL EMG ratio ( P<0.05).Conclusion The EMG biofeedback apparatus used in home exercise program of PFPS patients can improve the recruitment of VMO.

0.05). Conclusion Tianma Gouteng Decoction can reverse left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TGF-? 1 expression in cardiac muscle tissue.

Objective To investigate the effect of Candida albicans and its components on the expression level of human beta-defensin-2 mRNA (HBD-2) in keratinocytes in vitro. Methods Different components of Candida albicans were isolated by lyticase, repeated freezing and thawing, sonication, and centrifugation. The keratinocytes and HaCaT cell lines were co-cultured with Candida albicans and its cellular components for 24 h. The expression level of HBD-2 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Low expression level of HBD-2 mRNA in the unstimulated keratinocytes and HaCaT cells was detected. The HBD-2 mRNA expression levels in the keratinocytes stimulated by Candida albicans, the extract of its cell wall, and pure mannan were significantly increased (P 0.05). Conclusions Candida albicans, the extract of cell wall of Candida albicans, and commercial mannan can increase the expression level of HBD-2 mRNA in keratinocytes.

N-Benzyl matrinol was obtained by hydrolysis, benzylation and reduction reaction from matrine. A series of hybrids (8a-8n) from (phenylsulfonyl)furoxan and N-benzyl matrinol were synthesized and biologically evaluated as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents. All target compounds were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against human hepatocellular Bel-7402, SMMC-7721, Bel-7404, and HepG2 cells in vitro by MTT method. The results indicated that all of these compounds had potent anti-proliferative activity which were more potent than their parent compound and 5-FU, especially 8a-8h and 8j showed the strongest anti-HCC HepG2 cell activity with IC50 values of 0.12-0.93 μmol x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fluorouracil ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Oxadiazoles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe mainfestations of syndrome and biochemical indices of hypertensive model rats with excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (EAPDS), and to explore its possible pathological mechanism.

METHODSEAPDS rat model was prepared in 50 Wistar rats by feeding with high fat forage. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 10 Wistar rats was set up by feeding with normal forage. After 25-week continuous feeding, 22 rats with body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) exceeding 25% those of the control group were selected as a model group. BW, BP, blood lipids, and related serological indicators were detected in all rats. Morphological changes of target organs were observed. mRNA expression levels of leptin receptor (LepR), Janus kinase2 (Jak2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (Socs3), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K), serine threonine kinase (Akt), nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κBp65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α (IKKα), NF-kappa-B inhibitor β (lKKβ), NF-kappa-B inhibitor α (IKBα), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of AT1 and LepR in aorta were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BW, BP, and blood lipids increased; serum levels of leptin (Lep) , Ang II, Hcy, ET-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and p2-MG increased, but NO decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Aortal endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation occurred in the model group, accompanied with heart and renal injury. Compared with the control group, mRNA expression levels of LepR, Jak2, Stat3, Socs3, AT1 , PI3K, Akt, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IKBα, and AMPK in aorta were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05), while the expression of IKKa decreased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochem- ical staining showed, brownish yellow deposit of AT1 and LepR was obviously increased, with more extensively positive distribution. Western blot results showed, as compared with the control group, protein expression levels of AT1 and LepR obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModel rats exhibited typical syndromes of EAPDS. They put up weight with fat abdomen, gloomy hair, poor appetite, hypersomnia, lowered activities , reduced food intake, loose stool, dark red tongue, white tongue with white, thick, greasy fur. Lep could be taken as one of objective indicators for evaluating hypertension rat model with EAPDS.

Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; blood ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Adolescent ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; microbiology

WRKY transcription factor is one of the Zinc finger proteins which contains a highly conserved WRKY domain and is a family of the plant-specific transcription factor. The plasmid pET28a-SmWRKY1 harboring Salvia miltiorrhiza WRKY1 (SmWRKY1) gene was successfully transformed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The conditions on protein expression of SmWRKY1 in E. coli, including induction duration, temperature, IPTG concentration and the E. coli concentration were optimized. The results showed that the highest protein expression of SmWRKY1 was obtained at 24 hours after the E. coli was cultured in the presence of 0.2 mol x L(-1) IPTG at 20 degrees C with A600 values of 1.0-1.5. This recombinant histidine-tagged protein was expressed at 2.454 g x L(-1) as inclusion body, which was first extracted using urea, and then purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography and identified by SDS-PAGE. The expression of SmWRKY1 in E. coli was further confirmed by western blotting analysis.
Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics

To prepare rivastigmine liposome, rivastigmine was loaded into liposome via ammonium sulfate gradient method. Its pharmacokinetic profile in rats was evaluated after intranasal administration. The size, zeta potential, entrapped efficiency and release of rivastigmine from the liposome in vitro were determined. Plasma concentration of rivastigmine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) using antipyrine as internal standard. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0. The entrapped efficiency of rivastigmine liposome was (33.41 +/- 6.58) %, with the mean diameter of 154-236 nm and zeta potential of (-10.47 +/- 2.41) mV. The release behavior of rivastigmine was fitting the first order equation in vitro. The pharmacokinetic studies indicated that the C(max), T(max) and AUC(0-infinity), of rivastigmine liposome were (1.50 +/- 0.15) mg x L(-1), 15 min and (89.06 +/- 8.30) mg x L(-') x min, respectively. Rivastimine liposome was absorbed rapidly, and could reach a certain concentration in rat plasma after intranasal delivery.
Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Liposomes ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Particle Size ; Phenylcarbamates ; administration & dosage ; blood ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rivastigmine ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of detection of IgM antibodies to EV71-infection patients,and compared characterisation of RT-PCR,IgM capture ELISA and neutralization test.Methods Virus RNA,neutralization titer and IgM antibody in 115 EV71-infection patients were detected by EV71 real-time RT-PCR kit( EV71-PCR kit),neutralization test,and EV71 IgM-capture ELISA kit (EV71-IgM kit),respectively.Results Using EV71-IgM kit,the detection rate was 80.9％ (93/115,95％ CI:72.5-87.6) among the 115 EV71-infection patients,and was 2.6％ among the 228 healthy children.Simultaneously,sera collected after 1-2 day of disease onset showed an IgM positivity of 70.4％ (38/ 54).The positive rate of EV71-PCR among these patients was 82.6％ (95/115,95％ CI:74.4-89.0),so there was no statistically significant differences between it and EV71-IgM kit.In addition,the detection rate in EV71-infection patients could increase to 92.2％ by combined detection of EV71-PCR and EV71-IgM kit.Conclusion EV71-IgM kit was a rapid and valuable way for the early diagnosis of EV71 infection,and could significantly improve detection rate for EV71 infection by combining with EV71-PCR kit.

AIMTo study the membrane stabilization effect and mechanism of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes; Saikosaponin-D (SSD) liposomes were prepared by using CHEMS as a membrane stabilizer and its encapsulation efficiency and hemolytic activity were evaluated.

METHODSDifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and calcein release were used to study membrane stabilization effect of CHEMS on DPPC membrane, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to study the interacting mechanism of CHEMS with DPPC, sedimentation experiment was done to study the interaction of CHEMS with SSD and hemolytic study was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes with CHEMS as membrane stabilizer.

RESULTSDSC analysis showed that CHEMS and cholesterol (CHOL) could all decrease the Tm value slightly and the deltaH value markedly. CHEMS was more effective than CHOL in decreasing the deltaH value of DPPC membrane. It suggested that CHEMS was more effective in increasing DPPC membrane stability. It was also proved by calcein release study carried out both in PBS and 30% plasma. The findings by FT-IR suggested that CHEMS has both hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction with the polar head of DPPC. CHEMS did not form insoluble complex (INCOM) with SSD by sedimentation experiment. Stable SSD-liposomes were prepared using DPPC and CHEMS and decreased effectively the hemolytic activity of SSD, SSD-liposomes may be given intravenously at a concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1), while free SSD was forbidden to be given intravenously.

CONCLUSIONCHEMS was more effective than CHOL in increasing DPPC membrane stability, and it could be of great use in the preparation of cholesterol-dependent hemolytic saponins-liposomes. The hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes was greatly reduced, allowing a possible concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1) to be intravenously administered.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol Esters ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Fluoresceins ; metabolism ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Liposomes ; Oleanolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared