As a kind of the plant tissue cultures, hairy root culture is characterized by rapid growth without exogenous hormones source and high yield of secondary metabolites, which attracted the attention of scholars in resent years. This work systematically summarized the research of medicinal plant hairy roots, including the mechanism, current situation of medicinal plant hairy roots, and their applications.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Jinghua Weikang Capsule (JWC) on chronic gastritis (CG).

METHODSNinety patients with CG were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group treated with domperidone 10 mg, 3 times per day orally, the high and low-dose JWC groups treated with JWC 160 mg and 80 mg respectively 3 times per day. The therapeutic course for all groups was 14 days. Dyspeptic symptom score, gastric emptying rate and quality of life (QOL) in patients were observed.

RESULTSDyspeptic symptom score was 19.97 +/- 1.85 and 24.40 +/- 1.85 after treatment in high and low-dose JWC groups respectively, lower than that before treatment (28.33 +/- 1.88 and 27.70 +/- 1.68, P <0.05); QOL improved obviously in all the three groups, among which the high-dose JWC group showed the best effect. The adverse reaction of JWC was very mild.

CONCLUSIONJWC is an effective and safe drug for alleviating dyspeptic symptoms in patients with CG, its effect is more evident when high dose is applied.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Capsules ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the influence of propylene glycol mannite sulfate ( PGMS ) on the expression of tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF-α) and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) , in diabetic retinopathy by a rat model, to study the mechanism of PGMS against diabetic retinopathy, and provide a reliable theoretical and experimental evidence for the PGMS to be applied to clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.?METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups, normal control group, diabetic control group and PGMS in group, the PGMS in groups included the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. 1% streptozotocin ( STZ) of 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in rats to establish the diabetic models. The PGMS with the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg were used to gavage in different groups of models for 12wk.Twelve weeks later, the animals were sacrificed and retinas were isolated. The aqueous humors and serums were taken, expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retinas, aqueous humors and serums were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) , respectively.The location and the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retina tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.?RESULTS: Twelve weeks after the use of PGMS, the level of blood glucose was not changed.ELISA showed that the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in serum and retina was significantly increased in diabetic control group than in normal control group(P<0.05), but in the groups which PGMS was given reduced, lower than those in diabetes mellitus( DM) group, especially as the concentration of PGMS increased ( P<0.05 ).But the levels of aqueous humor's TNF-αand IL-1βproteins in PGMS group were not reduced.Immunohistochemistry showed that the TNF -α protein was almost not expressed in normal control group. But the TNF-αprotein was highly expressed in diabetic control group. The expression mainly located in the ganglion cell layer, the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The TNF-αprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg PGMS, the TNF-αprotein was almost not expressed at the group of 100mg/kg PGMS.When the normal control group was detected, the IL-1βprotein was weakly expressed in the outer plexiform layer.But the IL-1βprotein was also highly expressed in diabetic control group.The expression mainly located in the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The IL -1βprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg PGMS.?CONCLUSION:PGMS can treat the diabetic retinopathy by downregulating the expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βin early diabetic retinopathy.PGMS maybe have a good control effect on early diabetic retinopathy.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Microbiological Techniques ; Sepsis ; blood ; microbiology

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) can achieve fertility by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) coupled with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the key to which is the successful retrieval of sperm from the testis. Although improved testicular sperm extraction techniques have increased the chances of sperm retrieval, to predict preoperatively the success of sperm retrieval from NOA patients remains challenging. A non-invasive diagnostic technique predicting the presence of sperm in the testis would be useful for avoiding possible surgical intervention. At present, some preoperative variables, such as serum FSH, inhibin B level, testis volume, genetic analysis, histopathology on diagnostic biopsy, Raman Spectroscopy, and molecular and protein markers, have provided new insights into the chances of successful sperm retrieval in NOA males. This review aims to evaluate the preoperative factors currently available for predicting the outcomes of sperm retrieval from NOA patients.
Azoospermia ; therapy ; Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Inhibins ; blood ; Male ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; Testis ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of combination of Epimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus on osteoporosis rats induced by retinoic acid.

METHODSixty three-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Epimedii Folium group, the Ligustri Lucidi Fructus group, the combination group of Epimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and the raloxifene group. The osteoporosis model was established through oral administration with retinoic acid for two weeks. Meanwhile, all of treatment groups were administered with corresponding drugs for three weeks. The contents of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP) were detected, and the pathomorphological changes of femurs were observed.

RESULTThe model control group showed much lower contents of serum Ca and P than the normal control group, but with significantly higher AKP and StrACP activity than the normal control group. The femoral head area showed reduced, narrow and sparse trabecular bones, with typical osteoporosis-like changes. Compared with the model control group, all of treated groups showed significant increase in Ca and P contents in serum, and down-regulate AKP and StrACP levels, while trabecular bones became more and wider, and densely interweaved as a reticular formation. Among them, the combination group showed the most significant effect.

CONCLUSIONEpimedii Folium and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus could effectively correct the abnormal bone metabolism and improve pathological conditions of bone tissues, so as to show the anti-osteoporosis effect. The combined application of the two drugs showed a better efficacy.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Calcium ; blood ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Femur ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Tretinoin ; adverse effects

Background The pathogenesiof age-related maculadegeneration (AMD) iassociated with the senility of human retinal pigmenepithelium (RPE) cells.Seeking drug to arresRPE cell senility iof significance fothe prevention and treatmenof AMD.Research showed thathe lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) can delay senility,buitinfluence on RPE cell aging iunclear.Objective Thistudy wato discusthe protective effecand mechanism of LBP on RPE cell aging.MethodPorcine retinal neural epithelial layewaisolated,and photoreceptooutesegmen(POS) waextracted by density gradiencentrifugation and marked by FITC.The POwathen co-cultured with RPE cellin the medium containing 0.01,0.10 and 1.00 g/L LBP fo24 hours.The areof fluorescence,representing the amounof POphagocytosed by RPE cells,wameasured undethe fluorescenmicroscope to evaluate the influence of LBP on the phagocytifunction of RPE cells.The POS-induced RPE lipofuscin-uptake cell model waestablished by co-culturing human RPE cellwith porcine POfo3 weeks.The RPE-POco-culture cell model waincubated in medium containing 0.01,0.10 o1.00 g/L LBP,and the autofluorescence caused by lipofuscin up-taken into RPE cellwadetected with flow cytometry.cell counting kiwaused to assescell proliferation and viability (value) 24,48 and 72 hourafteculturing.ResultPorcine POpresented athin rodundethe lighmicroscope and appeared abilayedisc-like structureundethe transmission electron microscope,and itFITC-labeled yellow-green autofluorescence waobserved undethe fluorescenmicroscope.No POwaup-taken into the RPE cellin the normal control group,buthe areof POphagocytosed by RPE cellwagradually enlarged with increasing doseof LBP,showing significandifference among the group(F =21.425,P =0.006).Compared with the POcontrol group,the phagocytosed areincreased avariouconcentrationof LBP+POgroup(P＜0.01).Flow cytometry showed thathe autofluorescence value in the POcontrol group wamore highethan thaof the normal control group.Athe LBP dose increased,the autofluorescence value in the RPE celldeclined gradually and iwaneathe normal value in the 1.00 g/L LBP+ POgroup.The rate of proliferation of the lipofuscin RPE cellvaried with the increase of doseof LBP with the maximal value in the normal RPE group and minimal value in the lipofuscin RPE group,and the rate of proliferation of the lipofuscin RPE cellascended with increasing doseof LBP until neathe normal value in the 1.00 g/L LBP + lipofuscin RPE cellgroup (P＞0.05).ConclusionLBP enhance the anti-aging effecof human RPE cellby strengthening the phagocytiability to POand the ability to remove lipofuscin and by heightening the proliferation of human RPE cells.

Objective To establish HPLC-UV fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae from Hebei Province and get the control fingerprint.To compare the fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae collected from different habitats with the control fingerprint so as to establish a specific method for the quality con- trol of genuine Radix Polygalae.Methods The fingerprints of 19 batches of genuine Radix Polygalae were obtained from Waters 1525 pump.The chromatographic procedure was carried out with Diamonsil~(TM) C_(18)(250 mm)?4.6 mm,5?m)as an analytic column and a mixture consisting of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid in gradient as mobile phase.The detection wavelength was 316 nm.The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min.The temperature of column was 35 C.Results The control fingerprint of HPLC-UV was set up.The fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae from different habitats were compared.Conclusion The operation of this method is simple,quick,accurate,and could be used for the identification and quality control of genuine Radix Polygalae.

Nerve growth factor is one of the most important factors playing an important role in regulating the growth, development and survival of the neuron. The purified NGF from human placenta has been reported, the tissue from which can be isolated the NGF is very limited. It is important for basic research and clinic application to expression hNGF by genetic engineering. By polymerase chain reaction,gene fragment encoding the mature part of ?-NGF was amplified using the DNA of human placenta as template. The fragment was sequenced and inserted into expression vector pET-15b, and the recombinant expression vector pET15b-NGF was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3)pLysS. After inducing with IPTG the NGF was higher expressed up to 25% of the total cell proteins. The expression product was purified with metal chelate affinity chromatography on Ni-IDA agarose under denaturing condition. The purity of rNGF was higher than 90% and yield of rNGF was 4.56mg/L expressing bacteria. SDS-PAGE revealed the NGF expression product had a Mr 16kDa. Western-blot displayed the recombinant product had strong immunological activity with rabbit anti-human ?-NGF polyclonic antibodies. The expression products were dealed with solubilizing inclusion bodies and refolding protein. The test of nerve fiber growth of chicken embryo DRG neurons displayed rNGF had biological activity.