Objective: To break the seed dormancy and improve the germination rate of the Nirtaria sibirica seeds. Methods: N. sibirica seeds were treated with soaking in warm water, storing with moisture sand, and immersing seed in H2SO4 (98%) and gibberellic acid (GA), then the germination rate, germination vigor, and germination peak period of the seeds were determined. Results: The germination rate and germination vigor were 30% and 10% under soaking in warm water. The seeds began to germinate on the day 7 and reached the germination peak on the day 10.The germination rate and germination vigor were 55.5% and 26.5% under storing with moisture sand for 37 d. The seeds began to germinate on the day 2 and reached the germination peak on the day 10.The germination rate and germination vigor were 86.8% and 60.3% under storing with moisture sand for 95 d. The seeds began to germinate on the day 2 and reached the germination peak on the day 7.The germination rate and germination vigor were both 90.0% under being treated with 98% H2SO4 for 2 h. The seeds began to germinate on the day 1 and reached the germination peak on the day 4.Seeds after being treated with 98% H2SO4 for 2 h were sowed on the dark medium of MS + 0.5 g/mL BA + 0.5 g/mL GA, and the germination rate and germination vigor both reached to 98.1%. The seeds began to germinate on the day 1 and reached the germination peak on the day 4. Conclusion: The dormancy of N. sibirica seeds is caused by hard seed vessels. The best way of breaking the seed dormancy is first treated with 98% H2SO4 for 2 h and then cultured in the dark medium of MS + 0.5 g/mL BA + 0.5 g/mL GA, which could effectively break the dormancy of hard seeds and reach a high germination rate.

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-17A(IL-17A)and interleukin-22(IL-22)in the lung of cigarette smoke exposed mice and the effect of smoking cessation and N -acetylcysteine (NAC )treatment . Methods BALB /c mice in experimental groups were exposed to cigarette smoke.Then the smoke-exposure was stopped and mice were treated with NAC gavage.The mice were executed 1,2,and 3 months after smoking cessa-tion.Lung tissue sample and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were collected.HE staining was used to observe the pathologic changes of the lung and ELISA was used to measure the level of IL-17A and IL-22.Results Con-siderable emphysematous changes was found in the lung of mice exposed to cigarette smoke.Compared with the controls,the level of IL-17A and IL-22 elevated remarkably in pulmonary tissue and BALF after smoking exposure and declined gradually after smoking cessation.Additional NAC gavage treatment enhanced the decline tendency. Conclusion IL-17A and IL-22 might play a complex role in the chronic inflammatory changes of lung in mice ex-posed to cigarette smoke.

The fragmentation pathways of five estrogens (estradiol, estrone, equilin sulfate, 17 a-dihydroequilin sulfate and equilenin sulfate) have been studied with high resolution and high mass accuracy using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF/MS) in the negative ion mode. Molecular weights were obtained from [M-H](-) ions in the product ion spectra. The results indicate that the five structurally similar estrogens have similar fragmentation pathways. Using their stable isotope forms as internal reference compounds, the accurate mass and composition of the fragment ions were determined. During collision-induced dissociation (CID), cleavage is initiated by loss of oxygen atoms from carbon-17, after which D and C rings cleave sequentially and rearrange to finally form stable conjugate structures with highly abundant characteristic fragment ions at m/z 183 (accompanied by m/z 181), m/z 169 and m/z 145 (accompanied by m/z 143). Understanding these characteristic fragmentation pathways of estrogens will be helpful in identifying the structures of steroid hormones in general.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Equilenin ; chemistry ; Equilin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Estradiol ; chemistry ; Estrogens ; chemistry ; Estrone ; chemistry ; Ions ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

In this study, the buffering capacity of amphiphilic pH-sensitivity copolymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate (PEOZ-CHMC) was evaluated. The ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX x HCl)-loaded liposomes (DOX-L), and then the post-insertion method was used to prepare PEOZ-CHMC and polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG-DSPE) modified DOX x HCl-loaded liposomes (PEOZ-DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L). The physico-chemical properties, in vitro drugs release behavior, cellular toxicity and intracellular delivery of liposomes were evaluated, separately. The results showed that PEOZ-CHMC has a satisfactory buffering capacity. The sephadex G-50 column centrifugation method and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and particle size of liposomes. The EE and particle size of DOX-L were (97.3 ± 1.4) % and 120 nm, respectively, and the addition of PEOZ-CHMC or PEG-DSPE had no influence on EE and particle size. The zeta potentials of three kinds of liposomes were negative. The release behavior of various DOX liposomes in vitro was investigated by dialysis method. In phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a sustained manner. While in PBS at pH 5.0, the release rate of DOX x HCl from PEOZ-DOX-L increased significantly, which suggested DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a pH-dependent manner. The intracellular delivery of liposomes was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The CLSM images indicated that PEOZ-DOX-L showed efficient intracellular trafficking including endosomal escape and release DOX x HCl into nucleus, as well as the DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L had no this effect. The cytotoxicity of liposomes against MCF-7 cells was detected by using MTT assay. The results showed that antiproliferative effects of PEOZ-DOX-L enhanced with pH value decreased, whereas DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L did not have any significant difference in inhibitions at different pH conditions. Therefore, the problems of the inhibition of cellular uptake of liposomes and the failed endosomal escape of pH-sensitive liposomes by PEG chain can be overcome by the pH-sensitive liposomes constructed by PEOZ-CHMC.
Cell Nucleus ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Endosomes ; Formates ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; MCF-7 Cells ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyamines ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo determine the possible difference in vasodialtation effect of quercetin and rutin.

METHODSThe isolated rat thoracic aorta was treated with phenylephrine (PE), and the effects of quercetin and rutin on the preconstricted aorta rings with or without endothelium were determined by organ bath technique. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl-ester (L-NAME), guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue, cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin were used to explore the mechanism.

RESULTSQuercetin (10-160 micromol/L) caused vasorelaxation of aorta rings preconstricted with PE in endothelium-intact and denuded aorta rings in a dose-dependent manner. Rutin(10-160 micromol/L) caused dose-dependent vasorelaxation in endothelium-intact rings preconstricted with phenylephrine, but not in denuded aorta rings. The maximal response (Rmax) values calculated from vasorelaxation curves of quercetin and rutin were (77.20+/-6.11)% and (44.28+/-7.48)%, respectively. There was no difference between median effective concentration (EC(50)) values of quercetin and rutin. Pretreatment with L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) abolished the vasorelaxation by rutin,but did not influence the vasodilating effect of quercetin in endothelium-intact rings. Pretreatment with methylene blue (10 mmol/L) canceled the vasorelaxation both by quercetin and rutin. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 micromol/L) attenuated the vasodilatation of quercetin, but did not affect the vascular effect of rutin.

CONCLUSIONThe vasodilatation effect of quercetin is more potent than rutin. The vasodilatation effect of quercetin might be mediated by guanylyl cyclase and cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway, while the vasodilatation by rutin might be via nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase pathway.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Guanylate Cyclase ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phenylephrine ; pharmacology ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rutin ; pharmacology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the relationship between size,shape and function of the left atrium appendage (LAA) and its thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to provide evidence for clinical risk assessment,prognosis evaluation and treatment guidance.Method Length,diameter,end-diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection velocity (PEV) of LAA were measured in 41 patients with AF,and thrombus in LAA was detected by TEE.Results Thrombus in LAA was detected in seven of 41 patients of AF (17%).No significant difference in size and EDV was found between the patients with and without thrombus,but there was significant difference in PEV between them (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the vascular activity of extract from mulberry leaves (EML) on rat thoracic aorta and the underlying mechanism.

METHODSIsolated thoracic rings of Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted on the organ bath and the tension of the vessel was recorded.

RESULT(1) EML produced a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation of aorta preconstricted by high K(+) (60 mmol/L) or 10(-6) mol/L phenylephrine (PE) in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded arteries. (2) EML at EC(50) concentration reduced the calcium dose-response curve. (3) After incubation of aorta with verapamil, EML induced vasocontraction of aorta preconstricted by PE, which was abolished by ruthenium red.

CONCLUSIONThe vascular effect of EML is biphasic, the vasorelaxation is greater than the vasocontraction. The vasorelaxation induced by EML may be mediated by inhibition of voltage-and receptor-dependent calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells, while the vasocontraction is via activation of ryanodine receptor in endoplasmic reticulum.

Acetates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Potassium ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; physiology ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

Objective · To explore the prognostic factors for postoperative radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the effects of lymph nodes metastasis status on the survival of patients and failure modes of treatment. Methods · Data of 121 patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent radical resection and postoperative radiotherapy from 2006 to 2013 were collected. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate prognostic factors with the log-rank test and the Cox regression model. The differences in OS and recurrence patterns between patients with different lymph node metastasis status were compared. Results · The median DFS of all patients was 22.57 months and median OS was 32.90 months.Multivariate analysis showed that KPS score, length of lesion, and positive lymph nodes ratio (pLNR) were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. For patients with positive lymph nodes, the median DFS of patients with pLNR ≤ 0.15 and pLNR>0.15 were 33.43 and 19.20 months (P=0.04).Patients without nodal skip metastasis (NSM) had better median OS than patients with NSM, but the difference was not statistically significant. OS was significantly worse in patients with pLNR>0.15 and NSM than in other patients with positive lymph nodes (median OS of 14.33 vs 32.50 months, P=0.02).pLNR had a better prognostic value for OS than the number of positive lymph nodes (AUC=0.673, P=0.04). Analysis of the failure patterns showed that more distant metastases were observed in patients with pLNR>0.15, while more local and regional recurrences were observed in patients with pLNR ≤ 0. 15. Conclusion · The status of lymph nodes metastasis is associated with the prognosis of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced ESCC. pLNR has a better prognostic value for OS for patients with positive lymph nodes. The recurrence pattern varies in patients with different pLNR after postoperative radiotherapy. The patients with high pLNR and NSM have poor prognosis.

Objective To analyze the epidemic features of anemia among students aged 6-11 years old in Minghang District,to provide basis for the control and prevention strategies of anemia among school students.Methods Surveillance on hemoglobin concentration was conducted among 42 872 students aged from 6 to 11 years old between 2012 and 2015.All data analyses were completed by SPSS 18.0 statistical software.Results The prevalence rate of anemia among school students 6-11 years old was 5.05％ (95％CI:4.84-5.26).The prevalence rate of anemia among girls was 5.28％,which was significantly higher than that 4.84％ among boys (x2 =4.24,P =0.037).Six-year-old boys and girls were most susceptible to anemia.Compared to students in Hope Schools,public school students are more vulnerable to anemia (boys:OR =2.37,95 ％ CI:2.03-2.76;girls:OR =2.08,95 ％ CI:1.74 -2.49).Overweight and obese students had a lower risk of anemia than average students (boys:OR =0.65,95 ％ CI:0.55-0.76;girls:OR =0.75,95 ％ CI:0.61-0.92).The three-year cumulative incidence of anemia was 12.80％ (95 ％CI:12.49-13.12).The cumulative incidence among girls was 14.52％,which was significantly higher than that of 11.28％ among boys (x2 =100.26,P＜0.001).Six-year-old boys have the highest three-year cumulative risk among all students,while 10-11-year-old girls have the highest three-year cumulative incidence.The risk of anemia in Hope School was found highest in all schools (boys:RR =1.93,95％CI:1.72-2.16;girls:RR =1.20,95 ％CI:1.04-1.39).Overweight and obesity were considered protective factors to anemia (boys:RR =0.75,95％CI:0.67-0.84;girls:RR =0.77,95％CI:0.68-0.88).The primary and recurrent detection rates of anemia were 14.58％ and 2.54％.The anemia among students was mainly detected during the first examination despite the differences in ages,schools and nutrition conditions (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The prevalence of anemia among primary school students in Minhang District is at a mild level.Control measures should be adopted,including monitoring of hemoglobin in all school children and adolescents,taking individual intervention measures based on results,promoting the health education for adolescent girls and parents of school children,and paying special attention to Hope School and students with recurrent and continuous anemia.

Objective To investigate the relationship between eating habits and childhood obesity by the method of cross-sectional survey in order to provide scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of childhood obesity.Methods We enrolled first-year students in Minhang District of Shanghai who participated in physical examination in 2014.Information was obtained from standardized face to face interviews of their parents or guardians with detailed questions on demographic characteristics,dietary habit,food preference,physical activity,sleep time and so on.Odds ratio (OR) and 95％ CI were calculated by unconditional Logistic regression models.Results Finally,5 752 students were enrolled in the study.The rate of obesity was 15.16％ (boys:18.35％;girls:11.83％) and the rate of over weight was 14.31％ (boys.:15.15％;girls:13.43％).Meat-based diet (OR=1.58,95％ CI:1.32-1.91),skipping breakfast (OR =1.87,95％ CI:1.01-3.46),eating too much caffeine-containing food (OR =1.66,95％ CI:1.09-2.51) and eating fast (OR:3.32-14.95) were associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity.Plant-based diet (OR =0.51,95％ CI:0.35-0.74) and choosy in food (OR:0.38-0.64) were associated with a decreased risk of childhood obesity.Besides,we found that children who preferred meat (OR =2.11,95％CI:1.42-3.14) and cured food (OR =1.42,95％ CI:1.05-1.92) had a higher risk of obesity.Conclusions Our results support the association between eating habits and childhood obesity.