A pot experiment was conducted to study effect of drought stress on leaf physiological characteristics and growth of one year old Stellaria dichotoma seedlings. The result showed that plant height and shoot dry weight significantly decreased with decrease in soil water content; however, root length and root dry weight increased at light drought stress and decreased at severe drought stress. The result also showed that with the decrease of soil water content, proline content in S. dichotoma leaves decreased then increase, while solube protein content decreased. Activities of SOD and POD in S. dichotoma leaves significantly decreased as soil water content decreased, while activity of CAT significantly decreased at severe drought stress. Membrane permeability in S. dichotoma leaves increased, while MDA content decreased then increased as soil water decreased. These results suggest that S. dichotoma had osmotic stress resistance ability and reactive oxygen scavenging capacity at light drought stress, which caused S. dichotoma growth was no inhibited at a certain extent drought stress.
Droughts ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Stellaria ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism

Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Mucor ; pathogenicity ; Mucormycosis ; microbiology ; pathology ; Orbit ; pathology ; Sinusitis ; microbiology ; pathology

Objective:To optimize and improve the content determination method for nitroglycerin ointment. Methods:An HPLC method was used,the column was Hypersil ODS(150 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 μm),the mobile phase was acetonitrile ∶water(50 ∶50),the detection wavelength was set at 220 nm,the flow rate was 1 ml·min-1 ,the column temperature was 30℃,and the injection volume was 20 μl. Results: The results showed a good linear relationship within the concentration range of 0. 020 3-0. 203 3 mg · ml-1 ( r =0. 999 9),and the average recovery was 99. 51%(RSD=1. 06%,n=9). Conclusion: The method is rapid,accurate and reproduci-ble,and can be used to determine the content of nitroglycerin in nitroglycerin ointment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the erectile and ejaculatory function of sacral tumor patients after sacral nerve root resection and investigate the relationship of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction (EED) with the level of sacral nerve injury.

METHODSThis retrospective study included 47 male patients aged 16 to 63 (32.6 +/- 6.8) years treated by sacral tumor resection between January 2008 and August 2013. According to the levels of the sacral nerve roots spared in surgery, the patients were divided into four groups: bilateral S1-S3 (n=16), unilateral S1-S3 (n=21), unilateral S1-S2 (n=6), and unilateral S1 (n=4). The patients were followed up for 12 to 41 (27.2 +/- 10.9) months by questionnaire investigation, clinic review, and telephone calls about their erectile and ejaculatory function at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery and in August 2013.

RESULTSIn the bilateral S1-S3 group, the incidence rates of EED were 31.25% (5/16), 25% (4/16), and 12.5% (2/16) at 3, 6, and 12 months respectively after surgery, with recovery of erectile and ejaculatory function in August 2013. The incidence rates of EED in the unilateral S1-S3 group were 85.71% (18/21), 71.43% (15/21), 52.38% (11/21), and 42.86% (9/21) at 3, 6 and 12 months and in August 2013, respectively; those in the unilateral S1-S2 group were 100% (6/6), 83.33% (5/6), 83.33% (5/6), and 66.67% (4/6) at the four time points; and those in the unilateral S1 group were all 100% (4/4). No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence rate of EED among the patients of different ages or tumor types (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of postoperative EED in male patients treated by sacral tumor resection is closely related to the mode of operation. Sparing the S3 nerve root at least unilaterally in sacral tumor resection is essential for protecting the erectile and ejaculatory function of the patient.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; injuries ; surgery ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

To obtain higher potency and specificity, a series of 7-alkoxy analogues of illudalic acid was synthesized on the base of structure-activity relationship (SAR). All of these compounds exhibited submicromolar inhibition of the enzyme when tested against human leukocyte common antigen-related phosphatase (LAR) (for example, for 15e, IC50 = 180 nmol x L(-1)). They represent the most potent small-molecule inhibitors of LAR so far. These analogues also display excellent selectivity for LAR over other protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) except for the highly homologous PTPsigma. The compound 15f is of 120-fold selectivity for LAR versus PTP-1B inhibition. The development of potent enzyme-specific inhibitors is so important that they may serve both as tools to study the role of LAR and as therapeutic agents for treatment of type II diabetes.

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a serious major parasitic disease that threatens human life and health. A better understanding of the mechanism of host-schistosome interactions is the key to designing new prevention and control strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNA molecules, which lead to the degradation of the target messenger RNA (mRNA) or inhibition of its translation in a sequence-specific manner. Both schistosome and its host produce miRNAs, which can be secreted by extracellular vesicles (EVs). There is accumulating evidence that miRNAs from schistosome can be taken up by host cells, and finely manipulate the phenotype of host cells for their survival or pathogenesis in a cross-species manner, even inhibiting the growth and metastases of hepatoma cells. It is still unknown whether host free miRNAs can be taken up by schistosome, but this phenomenon is highly probable. miRNA-mediated cross-species regulation has emerged as a novel mechanism for host-schistosome interactions, and this review summarizes the advances in this regard.

Objective To study the association of liver fat content (LFC) with insulin resistance and β cell function. Methods One hundred and nine subjects including 31 cases with impaired glucose regulation (IGR), 31 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (NT2DM) and 47 normal controls (NC) with normal metabolic parameters were involved in the study. LFC was measured by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) and the insulin resistance and β cell function were evaluated by oral 75 g glucose tolerance test. Results (1 ) LFCs were3.83% (2.35% ～7.59% ) ,12. 82% (8.10%～21.37%), and 21.99% (11.89%～34.43%), being progressively raised in the respective NC, IGR, NT2DM groups(P<0.01). (2) The subjects were divided into four subgroups according to LFC Quartile: Quartile 1 (LFC<4. 04% ) , Quartile 2(4. 04% ≤LFC<9. 77% ), Quartile 3 (9.77% ≤LFC<20.78% ) ,and Quartile 4( LFC≥20.78% ). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) values were elevated significantly and progressively starting from Quartile 2(P<0. 01). (3) Insulin from 0 to 30 min ( △I30), the ratio of insulin from 0 to 30 min to glucose from 0 to 30 min ( △I30/ △G30) , C peptide from 0 to 30 min (△CP30) had a trend of increase in Quartile 2,then trended to decrease in Quartile 3. In Quartile 4, △CP30 and △I30/△G30 sharply decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The ratio of C peptide from 0 to 30 min to glucose from 0 to 30 min ( △CP30/△G30) began to decrease from Quartile 3 (P<0. 05). The ratio of area under curve of C peptide to area under curve of glucose (CPAUC/GAUC) was significantly decreased from Quartile 3(P<0.05). From Quartile 3,glucose level became abnormally elevated to impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.01). (4) LFC was positively correlated with HOMA-IR (rs =0. 618 ,P<0.01), but was negatively correlated with △CP30(rs =-0.282), △CP30/△G30(rs = -0. 404), and CPAUC/GAUC(rs = -0. 308,all P<0.01). (5) Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that LFC was the strongest predictor of HOMA-IR. Conclusions When LFC accumulated to 4% , insulin resistance occurred and the early phase of insulin secretion was compensatively increased. As the LFC further accumulated to 10% , both the early phase as well as β cell function in whole were deteriorated, and hyperglycemia developed.

The eight heavy metals and two essential constitutes of safflowers planted in linzhi which lies in Southern Tibet were analyzed by ICP-MS and by HPLC respectively. Heavy metals of safflower in the region were at the lower level and the essential constitutes were at the higher level. The better quality of safflower here was assisted by the excellent climate in tibet.
Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Tibet

OBJECTIVELocalization of tracheal stem cells in rat trachea.

METHODSExtracorporeal tracheal injury (Wistar rats) was induced by 5-FU. The process of regeneration was observed and analyzed by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSTwelve hours after treatment with 5-FU, the tracheal epithelium shed and cells with naked nuclei were seen located sparsely on the basement membrane. Six hours after removal of 5-FU, the tracheal rings were covered with flattened epithelium. These cells were poorly differentiated under electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry showed few proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-negative cells sparsely scattered among PCNA-positive cells on the basement membrane. Nine hours later, electron microscopy found that these cells differentiated into mucous cells and ciliated cells. Forty-eight hours later, the tracheal rings were entirely covered by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

CONCLUSIONSA small number of G(0) cells with naked nuclei are located sparsely on the basement membrane of the trachea. Tracheal epithelium regenerates by proliferation and differentiation of these cells. It is likely that some of these G(0) cells on the tracheal basement membrane represent tracheal stem cells.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelium ; injuries ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Regeneration ; Stem Cells ; Trachea ; injuries ; pathology ; physiology ; Wound Healing ; physiology

Objective To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and to provide evidence for the prevention of ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 198 patients with ischemic stroke were chosen and divided into two groups:with AF (71 patients)/and without AF (127 patients) groups. Clinical data and biochemical markers were collected and compared in two groups. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score systems were used to determine the risk levels in patients with AF. Finally, related risk factors of ischemic stroke with AF were determined and analyzed. Results The values of age, length of hospital stay, the hypertention history, heart rate and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) were significantly higher in the with-AF group than those in the without-AF group ( P <0.05). The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were sig?nificantly lower in the with-AF group than those of the without-AF group (P<0.05). CHA2DS2-VASc scores reached to the moderate-to-high risk level in the with-AF group. Multiple-factor logistic regression analysis showed that age and heart rate were the independent risk factors of the ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular AF. ROC analysis indicated that age (AUC=0.761, cut-off point=72.50 years old) and heart rate (AUC=0.612, cut-off point=76.50 bit/min) had predictive and di?agnostic value for the ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular AF. The age of these patients had the best sensitivity (70.4%) and specifity (71.1%), and the cut-off point of which was 72.50 years old. Conclusion The characteristics of isch?emic stroke in patients with non-valvular AF includes older age, faster heart rate, higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores and higher Hcy level.