Aim Kadsuraheteroclita ( Roxb ) Craib ( Schizandraceae) is a medicinal plant termed Xuetong in Chinese Tujia ethnomedicine. Xuetong possesses therapeutic effects of, in the terms of Chinese medical theories, reinforcing vital energy, promoting blood cir-culation, expelling wind-evil, and removing damp-e-vil, and has been long used for the prevention and treatment of rheumatic and arthritic diseases, especial-ly in the southern China. The HPLC analysis has iden-tified that the ethanol extract of Xuetong contains large-ly biologically active lignans and triterpenoids. Our previous studies have shown that KHS exhibits very fa-vorable safety profile and potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In the present study, we investiga-ted anti-arthritic effects and the possible mechanisms of Xuetongon adjuvant-induced arthritis ( AIA ) in rats. Methods AIA was established in male Sprague-Daw-ley ( SD ) rats as described previously, and animals were daily treated by gavage with Xuetong ethanol ex-tract ( 1. 0 g · kg-1 ) or vehicle ( 0. 3% CMC-Na ) throughout the 30-day experiment. The incidence and severity of arthritis were evaluated using clinical pa-rameters. On day 30, bone destruction of the arthritic joints was assessed by computed tomography( CT) and histopathological analyses. The serum levels of pro-in-flammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. Results Treatment with 1. 0 g/kg Xuetong significantly inhibited the onset and pro-gression of AIA. The vehicle-treated rats all developed severe arthritis, while the incidence of AIA in the Xue-tong-treated rats was as low as 55%( P=0. 035 ) . The Xuetong -treated rats exhibited 1. 8 to 2. 3 fold reduc-tion of paw swelling, and gained 10 to 20% more body weight than the vehicle-treated AIA rats throughout the experiment. CT and histopathological examinations re-vealed that Xuetong markedly protected AIA rats from cartilage and bone destruction of joints. Moreover, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were signifi-cantly decreased in the Xuetong-treated rats than the vehicle-treated AIA rats. Conclusions These data strongly support the clinical use of Xuetong for rheu-matic and arthritic diseases, and suggest that Xuetong is a valuable candidate for further investigation to be a new anti-arthritic drug with favorable safety profile.

Objective To establish a HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of melatonin in human saliva.Methods Sabra samples and internal standard(itopride)were extracted by dichloromethane after alkalization.The analysis was conducted using a Sunfire C18 column with gradient elution and the column temperature iS 35 ℃.The mobile phase consisted of methanol and water with 0.1%formic acid at flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1).Analysis in mass Was operated by the electrospray ionization.Results LLOQ of the method is 5.48 pg·mL~(-1)(S/N ＞10).The standard curve is linear in the range of 5.48～250.00 pg·mL~(-1)(γ2=0.9994).LLOD is 2 pg·mL~(-1)(S/N＞3).The RSDs of interday and intra-day are all less than 15%.The extraction recovery is closed to 60%.Conclusion The method is fast,precise and sensitive,and suitable for the determination of melatonin in human saliva.

Paeoniflorin is one of the bioactive components of Paeonia lactiflora, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It is the main monoterpene glucoside isolated from the P. lactiflora in 1963. Since then, researchers have found that paeoniflorin has multifold pharmacological effects. In this review, based on the recent available papers published in PubMed and National Knowledge Infrastructure Data Base, we present the major current approaches in understanding the detection methodology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology, and toxicology of paeoniflorin.
Animals ; Benzoates ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glucosides ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monoterpenes

This study aims to analyze the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 strains prevailing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, China. The pol gene fragments from 250 newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected MSM individuals during 2006-2010 in Beijing were amplified by RT-nested PCR, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. HIV-1 pol gene from 189 individuals were amplified and analyzed; 81 (42. 9%), 3 (1. 6%), 2 (1.0%), 88 (46. 6%), and 15 (7.9%) individuals were infected with HIV-1 subtypes B, B', C, CRF01_AE, and CRF07_BC, respectively. The subtypes B and CRF01_AE could both be grouped into two clusters, and CRFO7_BC strains shared high homology and were presumed to originate from a common ancestor. The HIV-1 circulating in MSM in Beijing had a lower genetic diversity than in heterosexuals. The HIV-1 epidemic (2006-2010) in MSM in Beijing was actually a rapid spread of HIV-1 CRF01 AE and B, or rather native strains of the two viruses.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Epidemics ; Genetic Variation ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Homosexuality, Male ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the anesthetic effect of modified anesthesia in the bronchoalveolar lavage.

METHOD118 cases randomly fell in two groups: traditional group: intramuscular injection of 10 mg diazepam prior to routine anesthesia; modified group: preoperative intramuscular injection of 50 mg dolantin,and venous injection of 2 ml physiological saline, 10 mg dexamethasone, 5 mg ephedrine; observe the anesthetic effect, satisfaction and lavage quantity in patients.

RESULTSThe excellence rate and satisfaction of anesthetic effect are both 100% in modified group while 82.76% and 76.2% in the tradition group. The result indicates the excellence rate and satisfaction of anesthetic effect in modified group are better than the traditional group with a significant difference (P<0.05); the lavage quantity in the modified group is significantly higher than that in the traditional group with a significant difference (P<0.01 ).

CONCLUSIONDolantin, dexamethasone and ephedrine preoperatively used with a good anesthetic effect can improve the cooperation of patients in bronchoalveolar lavage with less pain and increased lavage quantity, thereby worthy of clinical application.

Adult ; Anesthesia ; methods ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of strychnos alkaloids on the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells.

METHODSStrychnos alkaloids free of strychnine and brucine were extracted from Strychnos nux vomica, and the effects of Strychnos alkaloids on the survival of HEK293 and PC12 cells were evaluated using MTT assay. In vitro cultured adult rat neuroprogenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus were treated with different concentrations of Strychnos alkaloids for 2 days, and the cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation assay.

RESULTSAt the concentration above 0.5 mg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced toxic effect against HEK293 cells (P<0.0001), while for PC12 cells, Strychnos alkaloids inhibited the cell survival at the concentration as low as 5 microg/ml (P<0.0001). After 2 days of exposure to 50 microg/ml Strychnos alkaloids, the neuroprogenitor cells showed significantly decreased number of BrdU-positive cells (P<0.01), but the total cell number remained stable when compared with that of the control cells (P>0.05), whereas at the concentration of 100 microg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced obvious cytotoxicity against the neuroprogenitor cells.

CONCLUSIONStrychnos alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloids as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Neurons ; cytology ; PC12 Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Strychnos ; chemistry

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

Objective To establish a high throughput targeted method to study phospholipids profding and to screen out and quantitate the potential biomarkers in urine samples.Methods The phospholipids in urine was extracted by modified MTBE(methyl tert-butyl ether)method.Semi -quantitative analysis of phospholipids in urine was realized by using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-qua-drupoles/trap (HPLC-ESI-Q/Trap) technique.7 standards and 15 endogenous phospholipids were chosen to conduct method validation,including specificity,sensitivity,precision,matrix effect,carryover effect,stability and recovery.Principal component analysis (PCA) of quality control (QC) samples interspersed during the detection process was used to evaluate the reliability of the data obtained.Results The lower limit of quantitation of 7 phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine 0.25 ng· mL-1,phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine 2.00 ng· mL-1,phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol 1.00 ng · mL-1,sphingomyelin 625.00 pg · mL-1,respectively.During the continuous analysis,the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the retention time was 0.72％-3.44％,the peak area was 0.71％-10.53％.The recoveries of the 7 phospholipids were in the range of 54.05％-105.73％.All samples were stable after being stored 12 h at room temperature,being stored 24h after preparation,two freeze-thaw cycles and being cryopreserved 1 month at-80 ℃.QC samples in the first principal component diagram showed that the data was reliable.Conclusion The developed HPLC-ESI-Q/Trap method was simple,stable and sensitive,which can be applied to the subsequent study of large sample size of phospholipidomics research and quantitative analysis of potential urinary phospholipids biomarkers.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of serum inhibin B (INH B) levels as an indicator of the presence of testicular spermatozoa in nonobstructive azoospermia.

METHODSForty patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), 20 patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA), and 10 fertile volunteers were involved in this study. A chemoluminescence method was used to measure the levels of FSH; Inhibin B was analysed by using sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay.

RESULTSPatients with nonobstructive azoospermia has significantly higher levels of serum FSH [(21.34 +/- 12.15) IU/L] and significantly lower levels of inhibin B [(53.15 +/- 58.74) ng/L] than patients with obstructive azoospermia [FSH: (3.94 +/- 1.52) IU/L, INH B: (162.49 +/- 78.38) ng/L, P < 0.01] and fertile volunteers [FSH: (4.27 +/- 2.84) IU/L, INH B: (228.49 +/- 110.68) ng/L, P < 0.01]. Mean serum inhibin B were significantly higher in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia who had spermatozoa on TESE than in those in whom no spermatozoa was found on TESE [INHB: (90.31 +/- 72.18) ng/L vs (19.54 +/- 20.38) ng/L, r = 0.528, P < 0.01], but mean FSH levels did not have similar predictive power (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum INH B level seems to be more accurate than serum FSH in the prediction of presence of testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. Serum inhibin B determination may be substitute of TESE as a diagnostic index.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Inhibins ; blood ; Luminescent Measurements ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology ; surgery

Objective To understand the forming cause of the Oncomelania hupensis snail-existent non-endemic areas of schistosomiasis(SENEAS),and to verify the conclusion of previous studies,so as to provide the evidence for schistosomiasis monitoring in such areas in Nantong City,Jiangsu Province. Methods The controlled field tests were carried out to observe the O. hupensis snails artificially infected by schistosome miracidia in SENEAS. The influence of the soil from SENEAS and the en-demic areas on O. hupensis snails artificially infected by miracidia were observed. Results All the experimental snails could be infected by schistosome miracidia except the smooth-shell snails from Tangyuan Village in the controlled field test environment of SENEAS or the endemic areas. The infection rates of the smooth-shell snails were lower than those of the ribbed-shell snails , but there were no statistically significant differences. The mortality rates of the smooth-shell snails were higher than those of the ribbed-shell snails,which were statistically significant (χ2Xindian = 135.118,χ2Shuangdian = 122.836,χ2Baipu =154.436,χ2Dingyan =138.288,χ2Control=151.923,all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the infection rates of snails between each test group of the soil from SENEAS and the endemic areas(χ2Rugao=0.071,χ2Rudong=0.216,both P>0.05). Also there was no signifi-cant difference between each test group and the control group without soil(χ2=7.148,P>0.05). Conclusion It is likely to form the spread of schistosomiasis in SENEAS in Nantong City with sufficient amount of infection source of schistosomiasis im-ported. It is still necessary to implement the surveillance of schistosomiasis and O. hupensis snails in Nantong City.