Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; tau Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To determine the aromatase protein expression in A549 cell and to investigate the effects of 17? estrogen (E 2), testosterone (T), estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen (TAM), and aromatase inhibitor DL aminoglutethimide (AMIN) on the growth and proliferation of A549 cells. Methods The expression of aromatase protein was determined by immunohistochemical methods. The changes of cell cycle and cell number before and after treatment with E 2, T, TAM, and AMIN were measured by flow cytometry and tetrazolium method (MTT). Results The aromatase protein was positively expressed in A549 cells. The aromatase inhibitor AMIN and 5?10 -7 mol/L TAM could inhibit the growth of A549 cells and block them in G 0/G 1 phase ( P

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.

In this paper, the popular domestic varieties and quality standard of Scrophulariaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine were analyzed. The results showed that there were 11 genera and 99 species (including varieties), as well as 28 medicinal materials varieties of Scrophulariaceae plants were recorded in the relevant literatures. In relevant Tibetan standards arid literatures, there are great differences in varieties, sources, parts, and efficacies of medicinal plant. Among them, about 41.4% (including 41 species) of endemic plants, about 15.2% (including 15 species) of the original plants have medicinal standard legal records, except the medicinal materials of Scrophalaria ningpoensis, Lagotis brevituba, Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Veronica eriogyne general, most varieties have not completed quality standard. Consequently it is necessary to reinforce the herbal textual, resources and the use present situation investigation, the effects of the species resources material foundation and biological activity, quality standard, specification the medical terms of the plants, and promote Tibetan medicinal vareties-terminologies-sources such as the criterion and quality standard system for enriching the varieties of Tibetan medicinal materials and Chinese medicinal resources.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Scrophulariaceae ; chemistry ; classification

In this paper, the domestic varieties and quality standard of Leguminosae medicinal plants used in Tibetan medicine were analyzed. The results showed that there were 36 genera and 142 species (including varieties), as well as 64 medicinal materials varieties of Leguminosae plants were recorded in relevant literatures. In relevant Tibetan standards and literatures, there are great differences in varieties, sources, used parts, and efficacy of medicinal plants. Among them, about 38.0% (including 54 species) of the endemic plants, about 25.4% (including 36 species) of the original plants have medicinal standard legal records, except 9 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine general quality standard more fairly completed, the most varieties have only description about characters, identification, etc. Therefore it is necessary to reinforce study for the herbal textual, resources and the use present situation, chemical components and biological activity, quality standard, medicinal terms specification, to promote establishment of quality standard system for variety-terminologies-sources of Tibetan medicinal plants.
Fabaceae ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; standards

Objective To investigate the safety of rituximab combination chemotherapy in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin' s lymphoma (B-NHL) complicated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection,and assess the incidence of HBV reactivation reduced by prophylactic lamivudine.Methods A retrospective study of HBV-related markers,HBV-DNA and liver function was performed before and after rituximabcontaining treatment in B-NHL patients.Thirty nine B-NHL patients with HBcAb(+)/HBsAb(-) were divided into prophylactic group (14 cases) and control group (25 cases).The incidences of HBV reactivation,functional damage of liver were measured.Results Among the 108 B-NHL patients who received rituximab combinatio nchemotherapy,15 (13.89 ％) were HBsAg (+) and 39 (36.11％) HBsAg (-) / HBcAb (+).Of the 15 HBsAg (+)patients,2 (13.3 ％) experienced reactivation of HBV.The prevalence of HBV reactivation was 7.7 ％(1/13) in patients who received prophylactic antiviral treatment and 50 ％ (1/2) in those who did not receivelamivudine.Among the 39 HBsAg (-) / HBcAb (+) patients,3 cases (7.7 ％) experienced reactivation of HBV.The prevalence of HBV reactivation was 0 in patients who receivcd prophylactic lamivudine treatment and 12 ％ (3/25) in those who did not receive this antiviral drug.Conclusion Prophylactic lamivudine before rituximab combination chemotherapy can reduce HBV reactivation obviously.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the neuroprotective function of alpha7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) and its roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSpecific RNA interference to alpha7 nAChR mRNA expression was performed by gene specific small interference RNA (siRNA). SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with the siRNA or treated with 20 micromol/L 3-[2, 4-dimethoxybenzylidene] anabaseine (DMXB), an alpha7 nAChR agonist. After 48 hrs culture, levels of alpha7 nAChR mRNA and protein were monitored by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In the second experiment, SH-SYSY cells treated with siRNA or DMXB were exposed to 1 micromol/L Abeta(25-35), followed by protein analysis of alpha-form of secreted beta-amyloid precursor peptide (alphaAPPs), and total APP was assayed by Western blotting. In addition, lipid peroxidation and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction were measured by spectrophotometry.

RESULTIn RNA interference group, as compared with controls, alpha7 nAChR mRNA and protein levels were decreased with inhibitory efficiency by 80% and 69%, respectively, along with a decrease in protein levels of alphaAPP and reduction of MTT. However the product of lipid peroxidation was increased. There was an enhanced gene inhibition of alpha7 nAChR by Abeta. While cells treated with DMXB, the alpha7 nAChR protein was increased by 23% as compared with that of the control, along with decrease of alphaAPP and ERK 1/2 at the protein level. The enhanced expression of alpha7 nAChR reduced the neurotoxic effects resulted from Abeta.

CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate that alpha7 nAChR may play a significant neuroprotective role by enhancing cleavage of APP, improving antioxidant defenses and limiting the toxicity of Abeta, which has been implied in the pathogenesis of AD.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Nicotinic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Protease Nexins ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; physiology ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

OBJECTIVETo investigate and study the endangered Tibetan medicinal plant species, their moisture content, biomass and resources reserves in Lhasa region.

METHODThe rare and endangered Tibetan medicinal plant resources were investigated by plot-quadrat method, walking and inquiry ways, sampling and drying method.

RESULTThere were 37 species of rare and endangered plants, belonging to 22 families and 34 genera in Lhasa region. The moisture content of aerial part was higher than that of underground part in many plants. The moisture content of Przewalskia tangutica was the highest (91.97%), and the lowest one was Fritillaria delavayi (only 25.99%). The mean biomass of Rubus biflorus was the highest (1 830.480 g), that of Cordyceps sinensis was the lowest (0.291 g). The root-shoot ratio of Asparagus filicinus was the maximum (5.313), the minimum was Aconitum gymnandrum (0.286). The largest output was 18.000 kg x hm(-2) for Berberis agricola, the output of Saxifraga pasumensis was the lowest (0.007 kg x hm(-2)). The resources reserves of the rare and endangered plants were 15683.697 t in Lhasa region, the maximum was 7690.230 t for B. agricola, 49.03% of the total reserves, the minimum was 2.393 t for S. pasumensis, only 0.015%.

CONCLUSIONThe characteristics of rare and endangered plants were as follows: abundant species and complex habitats, widely distribution but uneven, rich reserves and high economic value. We suggested to update the endangered level of medicinal plants, strengthen the scientific research on these plants, maintain sustainable utilization of the rare and endangered plants in Lhasa region.

Conservation of Natural Resources ; Endangered Species ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Tibet

Adult ; Choanal Atresia ; complications ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Humans ; Male ; Nose ; abnormalities ; Osteoma ; complications ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; complications