Objective: To explore the effects of Polygonatum odoratum on body based on metabonomics. Methods: The ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and principle component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the changes of endogenous substances in rats after intragastric administration of Polygonatum odoratum. Results: Significant differences between the control group and administration group were observed in PCA and OPLS-DA model. Five potential biomarkers between control group and administration group were identified. The relative content of Alpha-Tocotrienol, PC(14:1(9Z)/14:1(9Z)), Stearic acid, Theasapogenol A, Docosahexaenoic acid increased. Conclusion: The biomarkers had many beneficial activities, so the Mongolian medicine Polygonatum odoratum had the function of health care. Key words: Mongolian drug; Polygonatum odoratum; Biomarkers; UPLC-MS

OBJECTIVETo research the effects of Guizhi Fuling capsule on sex hormones levels in blood serum and breast issue morphology of hyperplasia of mammary glands model rats.

METHODThe unpregnancy SD rat models of hyperplasia of mammary glands were established by injecting 0.5 mg x kg(-1) benzoate estradiol. After five weeks doses,the effects of Guizhi Fuling capsule 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 g x kg(-1) and Rupixiao tablet 0.5 g x kg(-1) on the changes of papilla diameter, height and breast issue morphology of the naimal models were explored, and sex hormones levels in blood serum were measured.

RESULTGuizhi Fuling capsule can inhibitnipple swell, improve breast tissue morphology pathological profiles of the animal models, and decrease oestradiol (E2) level and increase progesterone (P) level in blood serum.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that Guizhi Fuling capsule could, improve mammary gland pathological profiles. Regulating sex hormone levels may be its important mechanism for treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands.

Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats

OBJECTIVEAllgrove syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima and many cases have multi-systems disorder: endocrine, gastrointestinal tract, eyes and nervous system. This syndrome is also known as achalasia-addisonianism-alacrima syndrome or triple A syndrome. Allgrove syndrome is now known to be caused by mutations of AAAS gene encoding the aladin protein. In the present paper, we report a Chinese mainland girl with Allgrove syndrome with mutations in the AAAS gene.

METHODThe patient was a 7-year-old girl complained of coma and dark skin; she was treated as Addison disease for 2 years and had vomiting for 9 months before the second admission. Gene analysis was performed after extracting genomic DNA by amplification and sequencing of the specific fragments of AAA gene.

RESULTSThe patient was confirmed to have adrenal insufficiency at the age of 5 years and 6 months. During the second hospitalization, she was found to have a remarkable brisk reflexion, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, alacrima and achalasia besides ACTH resistance. The girl was born to consanguineous parents. Based on these findings, she was diagnosed as having Allgrove syndrome. Mutation analysis revealed a novel homozygous deletion of a single G, c.771delG, in exon 8 of the AAAS gene. This frame shift mutation was predicted to create a premature stop codon at locus 290, p.R258GfsX33, leading to a truncated and non-functioning aladin protein. Both the parents were heterozygous for the mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical manifestations and AAAS gene mutations analysis confirmed the diagnosis of Allgrove syndrome. Gene analysis indicated that this syndrome is an autosomal recessive inherent disorder. ALADIN is significant for the normal cell function. When compared with reported cases, it seems that there are no remarkable relation between gene mutation loci and clinical manifestations in Allgrove syndrome.

Adrenal Insufficiency ; genetics ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; China ; Consanguinity ; DNA ; analysis ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Esophageal Achalasia ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; genetics ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins ; genetics ; Optic Atrophy ; genetics ; physiopathology

Adult ; Carcinoma ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; virology ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of photocatalytic nano-TiO₂ on nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice and underlying mechanism.

METHODSNude mice bearing human nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft were randomly divided into six groups: nano-TiO₂ + UV irradiation (with gradient concentration of nano-TiO₂); nano-TiO₂ alone and UV irradiation alone and blank control. The nano-TiO₂ suspension was injected into xenografts, and 24 h after UV light with the wave length of 330 - 400 nm, all the xenografts were removed and sectioned for HE staining. Ultrastructure and apoptosis of tumor cells in the xenografts were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The expression of Caspase-3 was examined immunohistochemical staining and the apoptosis was detected with TUNEL.

RESULTSPathological analysis showed significant inflammatory responses (grade II and III) with local necrosis occurred in tumor tissues after nano-TiO₂ photodynamic therapy, but not in the negative control and blank control. TEM showed the nano-TiO₂ particles entered into the cytoplasm and the nucleus of tumor cells and many tumor cells had morphological changes for apoptosis. Significant positive expression of Caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells were found in the the xenografts with the treatments of nano-TiO₂ + UV irradiation compared to control (P < 0.01), which were enhanced with the increases in nano-TiO₂ concentration (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPhotocatalytic nano-TiO₂ can inhibit the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice by inducing Caspase-3 expression and apoptosis in the tumor cells.

Animals ; Carcinoma ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Photochemotherapy ; Titanium ; therapeutic use ; Transfection ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective:To discuss the endometrial and sub-endometrial perfusion by using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) so as to assess the clinical value of endometrial receptivity.Methods: 86 cases, that were divided into healthy group (49 healthy females) and infertility group (37 patients with infertility), were enrolled in the research. All of cases received detection of color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and CEUS per vaginam at later period of proliferation, ovulatory period and window phase of implantation, respectively. In these cases, 20 healthy females and 18 patients received endometrial biopsy. The microvessel density (MVD) and time intensity curve (TIC) were analyzed.Results: At the later period of proliferation, the endometrial and sub-endometrial perfusion of the healthy females were significantly more abundant than that of the infertility females as the results of CDFI (x2=4.575,P<0.05). As the results of biopsy for later period of proliferation and ovulatory period, the endometrial MVD of infertility females were significantly lower than that of healthy females (t=7.821, t=8.659,P<0.05). As the results of CEUS for later period of proliferation and ovulatory period, the endometrial and sub-endometrial perfusion peak intensity (Pi) value and area under the curve (AUC) value of healthy females were significantly higher than that of infertility females (t=8.004,t=1.269,t=6.581,t=6.759,P<0.05). Besides, the sub-endometrial Pi were positive correlation with MVD at healthy group and infertility group, respectively.Conclusion:The CEUS can assess the endometrial receptivity through accurately detected endometrial and sub-endometrial perfusion. Therefore, it is worthy to be popularized in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo discover new drugs which may be applied to diseases of the immune system, hemogenesis system diseases and tumors, several high-throughput drug screening cell models based on JAK-STAT signal pathway have been established.

METHODSFour repeats of STAT DNA binding conserved sequences were synthesized, subcloned into pGL-Luc reporter vector and stably transfected into cell lines in vitro. Cell clones with high copy numbers of STAT binding sites and reporter genes were chosen as high-throughput drug screening cell models. The cell models were tested with known anti-allergic drugs and anti-tumor drugs by determining luciferase activity. The reaction was performed in 96 well micro-plates with a final volume of 50 microL.

RESULTSThe cell models by performing rapid fluorescence assay were shown to be highly sensitive and stable after testing with cytokine and drugs. The modification of the expression plasmid simplified this method and made it more practical. It also provided good linear correlation, wide range of assay, highly sensitive and good reproducibility.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be performed by high-throughput drug screening for effective extraction of Chinese traditional herbs.

Anti-Allergic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Jurkat Cells ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Signal Transduction ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of 2-dimentional ultrasonography and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in primary bone tumor. METHODS: The hemodynamic parameters such as systolic maximum velocity (Vmax), diastolic minimum velocity (Vmin), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of intratumoral folw in 93 patients with primary bone tumors proved by histopathology were studied using 2-dimentional ultrasonography and CDFI techniques. RESULTS: The bone destruction periosteum response and soft tissue mass were essentially revealed with 2-dimentional ultrasonography techniques. The intratumoral flow features were clearly shown by CDFI. The Vmax and Vmin in malignant bone tumor were significantly higher than those in benign one (P < 0.01). RI and PI in malignant bone tumor were lower than those in benign one (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Observing the features of bone tumor and hemodynamic parameters by 2-dimentional ultrasonography and CDFI has a great clinical value in diagnosing primary bone tumor and distinguishing the malignant and benign bone tumors.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; methods

To investigate the implementation effect of health education path in neo-natal disease screening , then promoting popularization and development of neonatal disease screening . [ Methods] The health education path was worked out for neonatal disease screening .A total of 986 cases of single birth mothers and their newborns were as the observation group , in which the path of health educa-tion was implemented for them .And 1 052 cases of single birth mothers and their newborns were as the con-trol group, in which the traditional method of health education was done .Comparison was made between the two groups in neonatal disease screening rate , positive recall rate , degree of parturient about understanding and mastering the knowledge of neonatal disease screening , parturient satisfaction and parental satisfaction . [ Results] The neonatal disease screening rate , positive recall rate , degree of parturient about under-standing and mastering the knowledge of neonatal disease screening , parturient satisfaction and parental satisfaction were all better in the observation group than those in the control group ( P <0.05 ). [ Conclusion] The health education path for neonatal disease screening can effectively promote its devel-opment and popularization .