The symbiotic bacterium exists in the intestines of entomopathogenic nematodes and is a potential biological agent.Systematic classification of these bacteria is scarce in China.In this paper,seven strains of symbiotic bacteria from local entomopathogenic nematodes were identified by both observation of mor-phology,physiological,biochemical characteristics and sequence analysis of 16S rDNA fragments.

Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China over one hundred years. But its effect on antioxidant and drug-metabolizing enzymes are unknown. This study was to observe the effects of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) on the activities of antioxidant and drug metabolism enzymes (DMEs) in liver of rats. Male SD rats, treated with XFZYD at the dosage of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g x kg(-1) per day for 15 days, serum were collected, tissue fluid, cytosols and microsomes isolated from liver tissues were prepared by centrifugation according to the standard procedure, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and drug-Metabolizing Enzymes were determined by UV-V is spectrophotometer. In serum, the activities of AST was not significantly affected by the treatment with XFZYD, at the high- est dose, the levels of ALT, Cr and BUN were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). GPX were significantly increased at the dose of 7.02, 14.04 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), CAT were significantly increased at the highest dose (P < 0.05). T-SOD was not significantly af- fected by this treatment. In the liver tissue, GPX was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), GST, CAT and T-SOD were not significantly affected following this treatment. In cytosols, GST was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), T-SOD was remarkable induced at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05). In microsomes, XFZYD had no significant effect on Cytochromeb5, NADPH-Cytochrome P450 reductase, CYP3A, CYP2E1 and UGT, XFZYD significantly in- duced GST at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), and the level of GSH were significantly increased by XFZYD at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g kg(-1) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest XFZYD can induce the activities of GPX, CAT, SOD, GST and increase GSH level in liver of rats, which indicate XFZYD may have detoxification and antioxidant functions.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of total saponins of the root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng (PNS) on drug metabolism enzyme CYP3A in rat livers and its kinetic analysis.

METHODMicrosome enzyme was prepared by differential velocity centrifugation. Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) of CYP3A, 50% inhibitory concentration of PNS on CYP3A, and the inhibition type and the inhibition constant of CYP3A (Ki, Kis) of PNS on CYP3A were calculated by Lineweaver-Burk and the low of semi-effect-probit.

RESULTTotal saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng inhibited CYP3A activity, with IC50 of 689.54 mg x L(-1). Compared with the substrate aminopyrine, CYP3A showed Km of 0.036 mmol x L(-1) and Vmax of 21.01 micromol min(-1) x g(-1). Total saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng showed a mixed inhibition on CYP3A, with the inhibition constants of 247.79 mg x L(-1) (Ki) and 321.79 mg x L(-1) (Kis).

CONCLUSIONTotal saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng have a significant effect on CYP3A activity in rat livers.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Kinetics ; Liver ; chemistry ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of NPAS2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and analyze its relationship with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients.

METHODSReal-time q-PCR was used to detect the expression of NPAS2 mRNA in 40 fresh CRC tissues and paired adjacent tissues; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of NPAS2 protein in 120 paraffin-embedded tumor and adjacent tissues. The relationship between NPAS2 expression level and the 5-year survival rate of 78 CRC patients with follow-up data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the adjacent tissues, fresh CRC tissue expressed significantly lower NPAS2 mRNA levels (P<0.01). Among the paraffin-embedded CRC tissues, 19.2% were positive for NPAS2 expression, as compared to a much higher rate of 62.5% in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The expression of NPAS2 was correlated with the tumor size, lymph node metastasis and TNM stages (P<0.05) but not with the patients' gender, age, distant tumor metastasis, differentiation, or invasion. Patients with high NPAS2 expression levels had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate than those with low NPAS2 expressions (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONNPAS2 is down-regulated in CRC and closely correlated with the malignant biological behavior of the tumor and 5-year survival of the patients, suggesting its value in predicting the prognosis of the CRC patients.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo review the effects of the active components of Chinese herbs on drug metabolizing-enzymes.

METHODRelevant research papers reported in recent years were consulted and studied.

RESULTThe drug metabolizing-enzymes cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase and glutathione S-transferase were inhibited or induced by the flavonoids, furocoumarins, and the active components extracted from salvia miltiorrhiza and hypericum perforatum, and so on, which therefore slowed or sped metabolism of other drugs in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSIONMuch attention should be paid to the metabolic interaction of the Chinese herbs when coadministered with other drugs.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Furocoumarins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been one of the most common complications of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Glomerular hyperfiltrationis central in earlystage of DN and leads to the progression of renal architectonic and functional abnormalities. Salvi?anolic acid A (SalA) has been proved to protect diabetic complications such as hepatic fibrosis and neuropathy. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of SalAon glomerular endothelial dysfunctionand diabetic nephropathy. METHODS Primary glomerular endothelial cells were subjected to assess permeability under injury of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs-induced changes of RhoA/ROCK pathway and cytoskeleton rearrangement were assessed bywestern blotandimmunoflu?orescence. The beneficial effects of SalA on diabetic nephropathy were investigated in a rat model induced by high-fat and high-glucose diet combined with low dose of streptozocin (35 mg·kg- 1, ip). Renal function and architectonic changes were evaluated by biochemical assay and PAS staining. RESULTS SalA 3μMameliorated AGEs- induced glomerular endothelial permeability (P<0.05) and suppressed rearrangement of cytoskeleton through inhibiting AGE-RAGE-RhoA/ROCK pathway. SalA 1 mg · kg- 1 markedly reduced endothelium loss (P<0.01) and glomerular hyperfiltration (P<0.05) in diabetic kidney. Subsequently,SalA 1 mg·kg-1 suppressed glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial matrix expansion, eventually reduced 24 h-urinary albumin and ameliorated renal function by decreasing blood urine nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and serum n-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG). AGEs-RAGE-Nox4-induced oxidative stress was suppressed by the treatment of SalA 1 mg·kg-1. CONCLUSION SalA ameliorated AGEs-induced glomerular endothelial hyperpermeability, and effec?tively protected against early-stage diabetic nephropathy by reducing hyperfiltration and alleviating renal structural deterioration through inhibiting AGEs and its downstream pathway. Thus, SalA might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ginkgolides on gene expression of hepatic cytochrome P-450 in rats.

METHODSprague-Dawley rats were administered ginkgolides (100 mg x kg(-1) body weight) through oral gavage once daily for four consecutive days. The level of gene expression in liver tissues was analyzed by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (competitive RT-PCR).

RESULTA single and prospective band of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1/B2, CYP2C11, CYP2E1, CYP4A1 and cyclophilin was observed after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) when the reactive system of reverse transcription (RT) had no target RNA, which confirmed the competitor had a specific capacity to bind to the CYP or cyclophilin primer. CYP1A1 mRNA was not dectectable in the livers of untreated control rats and ginkgolides-treated rats. The levels of CYP2C11 and CYP2E1 were not changed by ginkgolides treatment. In contrast, the levels of gene expression for CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/B2 were decreased, however, the levels of gene expression for CYP3A1 and CYP4A1 in ginkgolides group were distinctly increased compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONA specific effect of ginkgolides on cytochrome P-450 gene expression was observed in this investigation. Ginkgolides had various effects on different cytochrome P-450 isoforms.

Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytochrome P450 Family 4 ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Ginkgolides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Choroid ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Male ; Tuberculoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Young Adult

Objective To find out whether the effects of childhood physical abuse on internet addiction disorder in adolescence could be mediated by self-esteem.Methods 3798 high school students selected from 76 classes in Grade One and Grade Two,were asked to fill in the anonymous questionnaire,which including the demographic characteristics of students,Young' s Internet Addiction Scale,Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales and Rosenberg' s Self-Esteem Scale.Results Childhood physical abuse could directly predict less self-esteem and internet addiction disorder (r=-0.108,P＜0.01,r=0.057,P＜0.01 ) and had significant indirect effects on intemet addiction disorder which could be mediated through self-esteem (a=-0.703,standardized b=-0.104,z=5.052,P＜0.001 ).Self-esteem had mediated 22.5％ of the childhood physical abuse cases on their internet addiction disorders during the period of adolescence.Conclusion Self-esteem could partially mediate the relationship between childhood physical abuse and internet addiction disorder.The mediating roles of self-esteem suggested that salient leverage points could make a change through empowerment training,self-esteem group training on self-esteem enhancement in the stage of adolescence.

AIM To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo Capsules (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Hirudo,Scorpio,etc.) combined with routine treatment on fibrinogen (Fib) and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in appropriate patients for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.METHODS One hundred and six patients were randomly assigned into control group (n =50) for routine treatment and observation group (n =56) for combination therapy of Tongxinluo Capsules and routine treatment.Both groups had their Fib and MPV levels evaluated,and safety compared.RESULTS Thirty,ninety days after the treatment,the two groups reported less incidence of composite cardiovascular events (refractory angina pectoris,relapsing myocardial infarction or death) (P ＜ 0.01),and the observation group had an even more obviously reduced plasma Fib level (P ＜0.01).The significantly decreased after-treatment MPV levels in the two groups were observed (P ＜ 0.05),and a most distinct decrease extent was found in the observation group after 90 d (P ＜ 0.05).For the bleeding events,the incidence rates of the observation group and the control group were 5.4％ and 4.0％,respectively.CONCLUSION For appropriate candidates of CABG surgery,Tongxinluo Capsules shows its efficacy in dissolving thrombus and improving clinical symptoms without serious bleeding risk.