To propose the new concept of multidimensional omics, and define that the multidimensional omics is a proper method for studying the material base and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds. Zhuanggu Zhitong capsule was taken for example to study its effect against experimental postmenopausal osteoporosis. From the perspective of chemi-omics, genomics and proteomics of TCM, it systematically interpreted the efficacious materials and mechanisms of Zhuanggu Zhitong capsule in preventing and treating experimental postmenopausal osteoporosis, while taking the lead in designing a three dimensional form to intuitively exhibit the results of the multidimensional omics study. This study provides a new idea and solution for studies on the efficacious materials and mechanisms of TCM compounds.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Genomics ; Humans ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proteomics

Objective To investigate the changes in the levels of human blood nutritious metabolites and its major regulating factors after exposure to abnormal acceleration of sea state,and to provide clues for further investigating the mechanism of fatigue due to maritime operations.Methods Using randomly sampling method,60 healthy male adults from one troop were selected as the subjects on April 20,2010.All subjects were exposed to six degrees of freedom motion simulator ship for 15 min.Their blood samples were collected before and after exposure to abnormal acceleration immediately.The metabolomic technology was used to measure the levels of nutritious metabolites in the serum.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of glucocorticoids,adrenaline,insulin,glucagon,ghrelin,resistin,leptin,and gastric inhibitory peptide.Results After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects showed significant decreases in the levels of serum essential amino acids,such as L-lysine [(23.63-±8.24)×106 vs (32.83±13.58)×106,P＜ 0.05],L-methionine[(4.16±1.12)×106 vs (5.80±1.69)×106,P＜0.05],and L-tryptophan[(29.38±8.56)×106 vs (35.93±11.82) ×106,P＜0.05],and the levels of some non-essential amino acids,such as L-histidine [(1.69± 0.55)×106vs (2.16±0.92)×106,P＜0.05] and 4-hydroxy-L-proline [(3.21±1.50)×106vs (7.92±4.79)×106,P＜ 0.05].After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects had significant increases in the levels of serum carbohydrate metabolites,such as glucose [(2412.40±700.36) ×106 vs (1939.30±554.33) × 106,P＜0.05] and pyruvic acid [(9.97±5.96)×106 vs (2.43±1.34)×106,P＜0.05],and the levels of fat metabolites,such as β-hydroxybutyric acid [(37.47±60.21)×106 v.s (10.29±20.64)×106,P＜0.05],oleic acid [(31.94±30.39)×106 vs (15.94±10.37)×106,P＜0.05],and linoleic acid [(26.19±19.16)×106vs (13.58±6.29)×106,P＜0.05].After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects had significant increases in the levels of serum glucocorticoids [(743.63±129.06) nmol/L vs (539.66±155.58) nmol/L,P＜0.05],adrenaline [(725.04±367.08) pmol/L vs (482.58±194.97) pmol/L,P＜0.05],glucagon [(5.85±1.57) pmol/L vs (5.18±1.64) pmol/L,P＜0.05],and ghrelin[(62.55±32.34) pmol/L vs (40.47±22.18) pmol/L,P＜0.05],and decreases in the levels of serum insulin [(107.41±21.09) pmol/L vs(150.89±48.65) pmol/L,P＜0.05],gastric inhibitory peptide[(41.05±17.91) pmol/L vs (170.34±82.64) pmol/L,P＜0.05],leptin [(25.62±21.75) nmol/L vs (46.50±27.40) nmol/L,P＜0.05],and resistin [(209.24±107.65) nmol/L vs (535.04±263.13) nmol/L,P＜0.05].Conclusion After exposure to abnormal acceleration of sea state,the levels of serum nutritious metabolites show significant changes and the levels of fatigue-associated products,such as serum pyruvic acid,increase significantly,which may be related to induced stress response and changes in the levels of metabolic regulators.

Objective To investigate the changes in the levels of human blood nutritious metabolites and its major regulating factors after exposure to abnormal acceleration of sea state,and to provide clues for further investigating the mechanism of fatigue due to maritime operations.Methods Using randomly sampling method,60 healthy male adults from one troop were selected as the subjects on April 20,2010.All subjects were exposed to six degrees of freedom motion simulator ship for 15 min.Their blood samples were collected before and after exposure to abnormal acceleration immediately.The metabolomic technology was used to measure the levels of nutritious metabolites in the serum.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of glucocorticoids,adrenaline,insulin,glucagon,ghrelin,resistin,leptin,and gastric inhibitory peptide.Results After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects showed significant decreases in the levels of serum essential amino acids,such as L-lysine [(23.63-±8.24)×106 vs (32.83±13.58)×106,P＜ 0.05],L-methionine[(4.16±1.12)×106 vs (5.80±1.69)×106,P＜0.05],and L-tryptophan[(29.38±8.56)×106 vs (35.93±11.82) ×106,P＜0.05],and the levels of some non-essential amino acids,such as L-histidine [(1.69± 0.55)×106vs (2.16±0.92)×106,P＜0.05] and 4-hydroxy-L-proline [(3.21±1.50)×106vs (7.92±4.79)×106,P＜ 0.05].After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects had significant increases in the levels of serum carbohydrate metabolites,such as glucose [(2412.40±700.36) ×106 vs (1939.30±554.33) × 106,P＜0.05] and pyruvic acid [(9.97±5.96)×106 vs (2.43±1.34)×106,P＜0.05],and the levels of fat metabolites,such as β-hydroxybutyric acid [(37.47±60.21)×106 v.s (10.29±20.64)×106,P＜0.05],oleic acid [(31.94±30.39)×106 vs (15.94±10.37)×106,P＜0.05],and linoleic acid [(26.19±19.16)×106vs (13.58±6.29)×106,P＜0.05].After exposure to abnormal acceleration,the subjects had significant increases in the levels of serum glucocorticoids [(743.63±129.06) nmol/L vs (539.66±155.58) nmol/L,P＜0.05],adrenaline [(725.04±367.08) pmol/L vs (482.58±194.97) pmol/L,P＜0.05],glucagon [(5.85±1.57) pmol/L vs (5.18±1.64) pmol/L,P＜0.05],and ghrelin[(62.55±32.34) pmol/L vs (40.47±22.18) pmol/L,P＜0.05],and decreases in the levels of serum insulin [(107.41±21.09) pmol/L vs(150.89±48.65) pmol/L,P＜0.05],gastric inhibitory peptide[(41.05±17.91) pmol/L vs (170.34±82.64) pmol/L,P＜0.05],leptin [(25.62±21.75) nmol/L vs (46.50±27.40) nmol/L,P＜0.05],and resistin [(209.24±107.65) nmol/L vs (535.04±263.13) nmol/L,P＜0.05].Conclusion After exposure to abnormal acceleration of sea state,the levels of serum nutritious metabolites show significant changes and the levels of fatigue-associated products,such as serum pyruvic acid,increase significantly,which may be related to induced stress response and changes in the levels of metabolic regulators.

BACKGROUNDProteasome subunits (PSMB) and transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) loci are located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II region play important roles in immune response and protein degradation in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PSMB and TAP and Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted by genotyping SNPs in PSMB8, PSMB9, TAP1, and TAP2 genes in the Chinese population. Subjects included 542 sporadic patients with PD and 674 healthy controls. Nine identified SNPs in PSMB8, PSMB9, TAP1, and TAP2 were genotyped through SNaPshot testing.

RESULTSThe stratified analysis of rs17587 was specially performed on gender. Data revealed that female patients carry a higher frequency of rs17587-G/G versus (A/A + G/A) compared with controls. But there was no significant difference with respect to the genotypic frequencies of the SNPs in PSMB8, TAP1, and TAP2 loci in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONChinese females carrying the rs17587-G/G genotype in PSMB9 may increase a higher risk for PD, but no linkage was found between other SNPs in HLA Class II region and PD.

ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 2 ; genetics ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 3 ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigen Presentation ; Case-Control Studies ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; immunology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the diagnostic value of larval excretory-secretory antigen in Angiostrongylus cantonensis (LESA) infection.

METHODSA.cantonensis larvae harvested from mice brain were cultured in vitro. The LESA and the adult worm antigens of A.cantonensis (AWA) were collected and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Two ELISA systems were established using the two antigens (LESA-ELISA and AWA-ELISA) to detect the serum spectra from different sources.

RESULTSSDS-PAGE and Western blotting displayed fewer protein and antigen bands for LESA than for the adult antigen. Two distinct bands of LESA (with relative molecular masses of 40 000 and 26 000) showed reactivity with the sera from patients with A. cantonensis infection. The serum levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to LESA increased at the beginning of infection in mice, reaching the peak on day 5 after infection and decreased on day 10. Compared with AWA-ELISA, LESA-ELISA showed a lower seropositive ratio in suspected patients with A.cantonensis, with also a lower cross-positive ratio in patients with schistosomiasis and clonorchis sinensis.

CONCLUSIONLESA possesses fewer antigen reaction bands than AWA. Although with a slightly lower positive ratio than AWA, LESA has a higher specificity for detecting serum antibodies in suspected cases of A.cantonensis infection, and therefore shows a potential for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis especially in the early stage and in current infection.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; immunology ; Animals ; Antigens, Helminth ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Larva ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Strongylida Infections ; diagnosis ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of psoralidine in rats with ovariectomy, and preliminarily study its mechanism.

METHODSixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: the sham operation group, the model group, the psoralidine low-dose group (4 mg x kg(-1)), the psoralidine high-dose group (16 mg x kg(-1)) and the Zhuangguzhitong capsule group, with 12 rats in each group. Thirteen weeks later, their blood and bone samples were collected to detect bone density, bone biochemistry, pathomorphology, serum E2 and CT.

RESULTPsoralidine could up-regulate the bone density of lumbar vertebra and thighbone of rats with ovariectomy (P < 0.05), the maximum bending strength of thighbone (P < 0.05), and serum E2 and CT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPsoralidine has a good active effect on postmenopausal antiosteoporosis. Its mechanism may be related to such pathways as E2 and CT.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; administration & dosage ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo develop a primer-extension in combination with denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (PE-DHPLC)-based assay for prenatal diagnosis of the five most common beta-thalassemia mutations in Chinese.

METHODSThe human beta-globin gene fragment was amplified by PCR, followed by a multiple PE reaction specific for each five mutations. Then the PE product mixtures were separated for genotyping of beta-globin gene mutations using fully-denaturing DHPLC analysis.

RESULTSIn a blind study, prenatal diagnosis was performed on thirty-six at-risk families for beta-thalassemia major. Reverse dot blot (RDB) analysis was used to validate each result, showing an accuracy rate of 100% for PE-DHPLC in a total of 108 samples tested. Overall, by PE-DHPLC analysis, the authors could identify the genotypes involving the five mutations and normal alleles corresponding to 94.4% (102/108) and actually make final decision for prenatal diagnosis covering 97.2% (35/36).

CONCLUSIONThe PE-DHPLC protocol can be a simple, rapid, and highly accurate assay in the prenatal detection of common beta-thalassemia mutations.

Base Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genotype ; Globins ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective: To determine the effects of ginsenoside rg3 on the body weight of C57BL/6J obese mice and to investigate its underlying weight loss mechanisms with a focus on white fat browning-related factors. Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 successive weeks to construct the obese model. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a standard chow diet to construct normal control group. After 8 weeks of intervention with ginsenoside rg3, the food intake, body weight, body fat mass, blood sugar, and lipid profiles of the mice in each group were detected. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histological morphology of the adipose tissues. Real-time poly-merase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were applied to detect the gene and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gama (PPARγ), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator -1alpha (PGC-1α), PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1).Results: Compared to normal control group mice, the body weight, food intake, body fat composition, and blood lipid levels of model group mice increased significantly. After 8 weeks of intervention with ginsenoside rg3, body weight, body fat composition, food intake, and blood lipid profiles decreased. HE staining showed that ginsenoside rg3 can improve white adipocyte hypertrophy to a certain extent. RT-PCR and WB demonstrated that ginsenoside rg3 can increase the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, PGC-1α, PRDM16, and UCP-1 in the adipose tissues of obese mice. Conclusion: The weight reduction effect of ginsenoside rg3 may be related to the promotion of white fat browning.

BACKGROUNDThe genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) includes sequences encoding the putative protein X4 (ORF8, ORF7a), consisting of 122 amino acids. The deduced sequence contains a probable cleaved signal peptide sequence and a C-terminal transmembrane helix, indicating that protein X4 is likely to be a type I membrane protein. This study was conducted to demonstrate whether the protein X4 was expressed and its essential function in the process of SARS-CoV infection.

METHODSThe prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein X4-expressing plasmids were constructed. Recombinant soluble protein X4 was purified from E. coli using ion exchange chromatography, and the preparation was injected into chicken for rising specific polyclonal antibodies. The expression of protein X4 in SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells and lung tissues from patients with SARS was performed using immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemistry technique. The preliminary function of protein X4 was evaluated by treatment with and over-expression of protein X4 in cell lines. Western blot was employed to evaluate the expression of protein X4 in SARS-CoV particles.

RESULTSWe expressed and purified soluble recombinant protein X4 from E.coli, and generated specific antibodies against protein X4. Western blot proved that the protein X4 was not assembled in the SARS-CoV particles. Indirect immunofluorescence assays revealed that the expression of protein X4 was detected at 8 hours after infection in SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells. It was also detected in the lung tissues from patients with SARS. Treatment with and overexpression of protein X4 inhibited the growth of Balb/c 3T3 cells as determined by cell counting and MTT assays.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide the evidence of protein X4 expression following SARS-CoV infection, and may facilitate further investigation of the immunopathological mechanism of SARS.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Growth Inhibitors ; analysis ; physiology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; chemistry ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; SARS Virus ; chemistry ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; metabolism ; Vero Cells ; Viral Structural Proteins ; analysis ; physiology

Objective To explore the electrophysiological results and rehabilitation outcome of two prelingually deafened pediatric cochlear implant patients with auditory neuropathy.Methods Preoperative audiological evaluation,intra-postoperative electrically evoked auditory brainstem response(EABR)and neural response telememetry(NRT)record for the two cases were conducted in Beijing Tongren Hospital.A one year follow-up was performed.Data collected before and at 6,12-month intervals after implantation were compared with that from control pediatric cochlear implant patients matched for the same duration of implant use as this two cases. Results The two children implanted had not had any postoperative medical or cochlear implant device complications. Intraoperative EABR and NRT were elicited in case 1 with unrepeatable waveforms. After 12 months of training,Case 1 had shown significant improvements in sound detection,speecn perception abilities and communication skills,which was better than the control group.and the eJectrophysiological results became normal.Case 2 had also benefited from cochlear implantation, even though no recognizable NRT was found until he returned 12 month after the operation.Conclusions The desynchronization of auditory path had been changed after the electrical stimulation ongoing 12 months for children with auditory neuropathy.The two children had not had any complications postoperatively,and eacn child had shown improved listening and communication skills. Cochlear implantation COUld help patients witn auditory neuropathy to improve their communication skill and go back to the main stream.