The cloning of promoter is important for studying the genetic engineering and the regulation of gene expression in plants. Two promoters Os772 and Os359, which are predicted to be highly expressed in the endosperm of rice from the EST database were cloned. After construction of the Os772∶∶GUS and Os359∶∶GUS expression vectors, they were transformed into rice. X-Gluc staining of transgenic plants showed that Os772 and Os359 can promote GUS gene expression in matured endosperm but not in root, stem, leaf and flower. This result indicates Os772 and Os359 are two rice endosperm-specific promoters.

Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart Sounds ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Phonocardiography ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology ; Young Adult

Objective To explore a more reasonable and effective therapeutic regimen and evaluate prognostic factors in hepatoblastoma patients after combined therapy.Methods Sixteen patients diagnosed on hepatoblastoma between Jan.2000 and Nov.2007 were reviewed and followed-up.Resection with chemotherapy was taken among 16 cases.Chemotherapy included pre-operation and post-operation.Five cases were cured by transcatheter arterial chemombolization(TACE).Six cases were cured by single chemotherapy(both TACE and single chemotherapy were taken in 2 cases).Five cases weren't cured by pre-operation chemotherapy.Nine cases were subjected to curative resection,3 cases to alleviative resection,2 cases with single chemotherapy,1 case with single TACE,and 1 case refused operation and left hospital.Their mean survival duration was 13.5 months(3-98 months).SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results The total survival rate of cases as stage Ⅳ as lower than cases as stage Ⅰ,Ⅱand Ⅲ.Both alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)100 000 ?g/L cases had worse survival rate.The prognosis of mixed type was better than fetal type,embryonal type and anaplasia type.The survival rate of cases with standard chemotherapy was higher than cases with unstandard chemotherapy.And the surgical resection cases had better survival chance than non-surgical resection cases.The survival rate of surgical residual cases was worse than non-surgical residual cases.Conclusions Chemotherapy can improve the total survival rate and long-term survival rate of hepatoblastoma patients.TACE is a safe and effective choice for hepatoblastoma patients.We need to be alert and make the diagnosis as early as possibe,and treat it early and properly.

Objective To investigate the alterations of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in patients with sepsis and septic acute kidney injury, and explore the clinical significance.Methods Fifty-five patients with sepsis and forty-three patients with septic acute kidney injury were enrolled in this study. At the same period, thirty healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group.T lymphocyte subsets inclu-ding CD3 +T, CD4 +T, CD8 +T cells, and CD4 +T/CD8 +T in peripheral blood were detected by flow cy-tometry, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ( APACHE Ⅱ) were graded within twenty-four hours after admission.Then, correlation of the APACHEⅡscores and T lymphocyte subsets was ana-lyzed.Results In the septic acute kidney injury group, peripheral blood CD3 +T, CD4 +T cell percenta-ges, and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ratio were significantly lower than those in the control group and the sepsis group (all P <0.05).In the septic acute kidney injury group with stage 3, CD3+T, CD4 +T cell percentages, and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ratio in the patients were significantly lower than those in stage 1 and stage 2 ( all P <0.05).In the septic acute kidney injury group,CD3 +T, CD4 +T cell percentages, and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ra-tio were significantly lower in dead group than those in survival group (all P <0.05).APACHEⅡscores in patients with sepsis were significantly negatively correlated with peripheral blood CD4 +T cell percentages and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ratio ( r =-0.645,-0.492, allP <0.05).Conclusions There are varying de-grees of cellular immune imbalance in patients with sepsis and septic acute kidney injury, characterized by decline of circulating CD3 +T, CD4 +T cell percentages, and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ratio.CD4 +T cell percenta-ges and CD4 +T/CD8 +T ratio are closely related to the severity and prognosis of septic acute kidney injury.

To study the impact of five different origin processing methods, namely natural drying, drying in baking shop, drying by microwave heating, drying in drum and drying with sulphur fumigation, on the quality of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base in Jiangsu Province, with the contents of chlorogenic acid and galuteolin and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints as the evaluation indicators. The results showed that different origin processing methods had significant impact on the content of chlorogenic acid and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints, but with no significant difference on the content of galuteolin. By means of drying by microwave heating and drying in drum, the samples showed higher contents of chlorogenic acid, respectively 3.67% and 3.39%. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.815 and 0.793, respectively. By means of the drying in baking shop and the drying with sulphur fumigation, the contents of chlorogenic acid in the samples were 2. 87% and 2. 53% , respectively. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.964 and 0.765, respectively. The lowest content of chlorogenic acid in naturally dried samples was 1.92%. The similarity of HPLC fingerprints was 0.940. According to the findings as well as the internal control standards for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos herbs of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. , Ltd. , the optimum processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base was the drying in baking shop. This study provided a theoretical basis for determining the processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base of Jiangsu Province.
China ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control

Objective To understand the skeletal metabolism in glucocorticoids-treated children with kidney diseases and to evaluate the role of Alfacalcidol plus calcium supplements.Methods A retrospective self-controlled study was performed in children with kidney diseases,admitted to Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital from July 2012 to November 2014,and they conformed to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Inclusion criteria:children with renal diseases were included when they were administered with glucocorticoids,Alfacalcidol and calcium at the enrollment and follow-up,whose proteinuria was in remission or improved on follow-up,and renal function defined by glomerular filtration rate was more than 80 mL/(min · 1.73 m2),and they were followed up for at least 3 months.Exclusion criteria:whereas on follow-up,children with renal diseases were excluded if glucocorticoids was discontinued,or the follow-up period was less than 3 months,and related parameters were not available at the initial and finial visit.Serum levels of calcium,phosphate,alkaline phosphatase,25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-VitD) were detected,and bone mineral density at the left radius and mid tibia was measured by using quantitative ultrasound at the initial and finial visit.The levels of calcium,phosphate,alkaline phosphatase,25-OH-VitD and bone mineral density were compared between the initial and finial visit.Results A total of 29 cases (23 male,6 female) were recruited.Their ages at study entry were 2.4 to 14.9 years.Underlying disorders were primary nephrotic syndrome(17 cases),IgA nephropathy (4 cases),lupus nephritis (3 cases),purpura nephritis (2 cases),acute glomerulonephritis (1 case),Sjogren's disease(1 case),and autoimmune disease(1 case).At the time of enrollment,the course of disease was 1 to 69 months (median course of disease was 8 months),the duration of using corticosteroid was 0-60 months (median duration was 5 months),and the follow-up time was 92-409 days.The serum calcium,alkaline phosphatase and 25-OH-VitD levels at finial visit[(2.29 ±0.11) mmol/L,(153.21 ±71.00) U/L,and (40.96 ± 11.40) nmol/L,respectively] were significantly higher as compared with those at initial visit [(2.17 ± 0.16) mmol/L,(114.10 ±64.48) U/L,and (31.64 ± 10.99) nmol/L,respectively],and the differences were significant (all P ＜ 0.01),whereas there was no significant difference in serum level of phosphorate between initial and finial visit[(1.45 ±0.25) mmol/L vs.(1.48 ± 0.25) mmol/L] (t =-0.452,P ＞ 0.05).Meanwhile,there was significant difference in serum level of albumin level between initial and finial visit [(31.41 ± 9.31) g/L vs.(42.09 ± 4.00) g/L,t =-3.670,P ＜ 0.001].Compared with baseline assessment,bone mineral density at the left radius and tibia improved or maintained in 24/29 patients,whereas that of 5/29 patients declined.However,compared with initial and finial visit of bone mineral density in all patients(0.09 ± 1.58 vs.0.22 ± 1.07 at the left radius;0.93 ± 1.13 vs.1.00 ± 1.35 at the mid tibia),there was no significant difference (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Bone loss can be prevented by Alfacalcidol plus calcium supplement in glucocorticoids-treated children with kidney diseases.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of total flavonoid of chrysanthemum on the expressions of Fas and FasL in male rabbits with dry eye, and to investigate the therapeutic effects of the total flavonoid of chrysanthemum on dry eye.
METHODS: Totally 150 male Japanses white rabbits were divided into blank group ( group A ) , sham -operated group ( group B ) , model group ( group C ) , androgen control treatment group (group D), and total flavonoid of chrysanthemum treatment group ( group E ) . The dry eye model was established with orchiectomy on group C, D and E. Rabbits in group E were treated with total flavonoid of chrysanthemum. Rabbits in group D were treated with androgen intramuscular injection. Rabbits in the group A, group B, group C was treated with normal saline. All rabbits were detected with Schirmer's Ⅰ test and tear break-up time (BUT). Fas, FasL were checked on immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS:The Schirmer's I test values of group E was significantly higher than that of group C ( P<0. 01 ) and the BUT value of group E was significantly longer than that of group C ( P<0. 01 ). The quantity of positive expression of Fas in glandular tube cell and acinar epithelial celland apoptosis cells of group E after treatment at 1, 3, 5mo were significantly lower than that of group C, cell population of the positive expression of FasL was obviously higher than that of group C (P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION:The main component of chrysanthemum is flavonoid, which could significantly inhibit happening of dry eye in rabbit after androgen level lowered and lacrimal gland apoptosis and keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability.

Isolation and purification of chemical constituents from solid culture of endophyte Chaetomium globosum in Imperata cylindrical was performed through silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration over Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Nine compounds were obtained and their structures were determined as chaetoglobosin F(1), chaetoglobosin Fex(2), chaetoglobosin E(3) cytoglobosin A(4), penochalasin C(S), isochaetoglobosin D (6), N-benzoylphenylalaninyl-N-benzoyphenylalaninate(7), uracil(8) and 5-methyluracil(9), respectively, based on HR-MS and NMR data and comparison with literatures. Compound 7 was isolated from Chaeeomium sp. for the first time. In vitro cytotoxicity of compounds was evaluated using MTT mothed and 1,3,4 and 5 showed inhibition activity to the human cervical carcinoma cell HeLa with IC50 values of 99.43, 23.77, 97.92, 86.25 micromol x L(-1), while positive cotolocisnin Ad apno1ch alse IC50 24.33 micromol x L(-1).
Biological Factors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chaetomium ; chemistry ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Poaceae ; microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To investigate the prognosis and efficiency of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)in children. Methods A retrospective analysis of 35 cases of biopsy - proven membranous nephropathy without secondary factors was performed,who were found present with ne-phrotic proteinuria and admitted to hospital from March 2004 to July 2013,to explore the efficiency of treatment with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor and its prognosis. Results The 35 IMN cases included 18 boys and 17 girls,and the ratio was 1. 1∶ 1. 0. The mean age at onset was(11. 3 ± 0. 5)years with a range of 3. 0 - 17. 1 years. Five cases with gross hematuria,24 cases present with microscopic hematuria,8 cases with hypertension,1 case with chronic renal insufficiency,and 2 cases were complicated with thrombosis. According to membranous nephropathy staging criteria,9 cases(25. 7% )were in stage Ⅰ,16 cases(45. 7% )in stage Ⅱ,10 cases(28. 6% )in stage Ⅲ;about 94. 3%(33 / 35 cases)had mesangial cells and mesangial matrix with mild to moderate hyperplasia. They were all treated with glucocor-ticoid initially and one of them showed sensitive to flucocorticoid but developed flucocorticoid resistance after relapse, while all the others were flucocorticoid - resistant. Cyclophosphamide A(CsA)was introduced to 17 cases and at least lasted for 3 months,in which 13 cases(76. 5% )reached complete remission and 3 cases reached partial remission, while 1 case didn't achieve remission,and the mean time for proteinuria to disappear was(4. 9 ± 3. 7)months;5 cases were treated with Mycophenolate mefetil( MMF),among which 4 cases reached complete remission in 2 months,4 months,5 months,and 9 months separately,while 1 case reached partial remission. Cyclophosphamide(CTX)was intro-duced to 6 cases,in which the mean cumulative dosage was(91. 2 ± 46. 5)mg/ kg,among them 1 case(87 mg/ kg) reached complete remission,1 case(160 mg/ kg)partial remission,but 4 cases didn't achieve remission. One case reached remission after Rituximab(RTX)was introduced. One case got partial remission after Leflunomide(LEF)was introduced,and the complete remission rate was higher in those treated with combined therapy of glucocorticoid and CsA than those treated with glucocorticoid only(76. 5% vs 12. 5% ,P = 0. 004),but the total efficacy showed no difference (94. 2% vs 62. 5% ,P = 0. 081). The complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 38. 5% ,P = 0. 042)and total efficacy (94. 1% vs 61. 5% ,P = 0. 040)were higher in those with combined therapy of steroid and CsA than those treated with steroid and other immunosuppressor. The complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 16. 7% ,P = 0. 018)and total efficacy (94. 1% vs 33. 3% ,P = 0. 008)were also higher than those treated with steroid and CTX,but the complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 80. 0% ,P = 0. 687)and total efficacy(94. 1% vs 100. 0% ,P = 0. 773)showed no difference com-pared with those treated with steroid and MMF. Conclusions IMN shows glucocorticoid resistance mostly,while CsA had definite efficiency and may be better than CTX. And the efficiency of MMF should be noted.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of early combination treatment with intratympanic glucocorticoid injection for sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL).METHODSTotal of 178 patients with diagnosis of SSNHL, including 44 with hearing loss at middle-low frequencies,50 at high frequencies,44 at all frequencies and 40 at total deafness, were randomly divided into combination treatment group (CT group) and systemic oral prednisone group (OP group).CT group (82 patients) received intratympanic administration of methylprednisolone and oral prednisone in tapering doses. Pure-tone threshold audiometry (PTA) was performed at week 8 after beginning of therapy. RESULTSIn middle-low frequencies, the final PTA and PTA improvement were 26.14±24.82 dB and 42.23±1.61 dB in CT group respectively, and were 37.91±13.98 dB and 30.00±13.30 dB in OP group respectively (both P<0.05). In high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness SSNHL group, the differences of the final PTA and PTA improvement were not statistically significant in both groups. The PTA improvement in CT group for total deafness (26.52±14.03) dB was more than that of OP group (22.06±11.17)dB (t=2.361,P<0.05). In middle-low frequencies, the recovery rate was 72.73%(16 cases) in CT group, and 40.91% (9 cases) in OP group, the difference was significant (χ2=4.539,P<0.05), but not in apparent effective rate, effective rate and total effective rate. In high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness, there were no significant differences in therapeutic effect. The recovery rate of total CT group (40.24%) was significantly increased compared with that of OP group (26.04%)(χ2=4.061,P<0.05), the differences of apparent effective rate, effective rate and total effective rate were not statistically significant in both groups.CONCLUSIONFor low-middle frequencies SSNHL, the early combination treatment with intratympanic glucocorticoid injection leads to higher hearing recovery and therapeutic effect compared with traditional oral prednisone. Systemic application should be applied for high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness of SSNHL.