Objective: To compare the difference of volatile specific odor components of Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR) processed by different methods such as yellow wine washing, dipping and firing, so as to provide research ideas for establishing the identification methods of different processed products of ASR and further study the mechanism of ASR traditional methods. Methods: Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to detect and compare the volatile components of ASR samples washed with different concentrations and processed by different methods, and compare the composition changes. PCA, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze the differences in volatile components combined with SIMCA 14.1 software. Results: GC-IMS fingerprints showed that the volatile components of ASR at different concentrations were different. It was identified that the volatile components included 55 monomers and dimers and polymers of some substances. 2-Octanol, E-2-heptan aldehydes, acetone, 2-pentanone and 5-methyl-2-furan methanol could be used as the characteristic volatile substances of yellow wine washing of ASR. Ethyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-hexanol and ethyl 2-methylbutyrate could be used as characteristic flavor substances of yellow wine dipping of ASR. Furfural dimer, 3-methylbutanol and benzaldehyde could be used as characteristic volatile substances of yellow wine firing of ASR. The results of PCA showed that the resolution of each group of samples was good. PLS-DA analysis showed that 2-undecenal, 2-butanone, and acetone were different components with different concentrations yellow wine washing of ASR samples. OPLS-DA analysis showed that 2-undecenal, ethyl octanoate, dimer and acetone were the main components of ASR samples processed by different methods. Conclusion: The GC-IMS technology combined with stoichiometry proved that the volatile components of ASR processed by yellow wine washing, dipping and firing were different, which provided a reference for further research on traditional processing methods in classical prescription.

To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To discuss the clinical performance of ICARE rebound tonometer.Methods Intraocular pressure measurements were performed on 112 cases(224 eyes)with non-contact tonometer and ICARE rebound tonometer respectively.Results The intraocular pressure of right eyes which measured by ICARE rebound tonometer was(15.4 ±3.4)mm Hg,and the left eyes' was(15.6 ±3.2)mm Hg on average,but they were(13.5 ±2.7)mm Hg and(13.6 ±2.6)mm Hg respectively measured by non-contact tonometer There was significant difference between the two tonometer(t =4.384,4.535;P ＜0.01).Conclusions lOP measured by ICARE rebound tonometer is higher than that of non-contact tonometer when IOP is in the normal range.ICARE rebound and non-contact tonometer have a good consistency.

Objective To study the therapeutic effect of photocatalytic nano-TiO2 on nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice and underlying mechanism. Methods Nude 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.Results Pathological 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 xenograts 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 ).Conclusion Photocatalytic nano-TiO2 can inhibit the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma xenograft in nude mice by inducing Caspase-3 expression and apoptosis in the tumor cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of miR-23a and metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) and their clinical significance in colon carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 92 cases of colon carcinomas were collected with both the tumor and paired normal tissue samples for the study. The miR-23a targeting MTSS1 was evaluated by luciferase reporter vector. Cell invasion potential was evaluated by trans-well invasion assay. In-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect miR-23a and MTSS1 expression.

RESULTSMiR-23a downregulated the expression of MTSS protein and enhanced the invasiveness of colon carcinoma. The expression rates of miR-23a and MTSS1 were 87.0% (80/92) and 17.4% (16/92) in colon carcinoma cases, respectively (P < 0.01). The up-regulation of miR-23a expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.029) and depth of invasion (P = 0.000). The expression of miR-23a was higher in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.041). Down-regulation of MTSS1 expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.027) and depth of invasion (P = 0.017). The expression of MTSS1 was lower in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.009). The expression of miR-23a had significantly negative correlation with that of MTSS1 (r = -0.594, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONSMiR-23a expression promotes colon carcinoma cell growth, invasion and metastasis through inhibition of MTSS gene. Both the low expression of MTSS1 and high expression of miR-23a may serve as important biological markers for the malignant phenotypes of colon cancer, such as invasion and metastasis.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of curcumin derivatives B06 on myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, normal control group (NC group), high fat group (HF group), high fat treatment group (FT group), diabetes mellitus group (DM group) and diabetes treatment group (DT group) (n = 7). The late four groups were fed with high fat food, after four weeks of high fat feeding, the rats from DM group and DT group were injected with low dosage of streptozocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes mellitus, FT group and DT group were gavaged with curcumin derivatives B06 at the dosage of 0.2 mg/kg x d. The blood glucose and lipid were detected biochemically, blood insulin was assayed by ELISA and the insulin resistance index was calculated, the morphology of myocardium was observed by light and transmission electron microscopy, the protein expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKalpha) and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (p-AMPKalpha) in myocardium were tested by Western blot.

RESULTSThe level of blood glucose, lipid, insulin and the insulin resistance index were increased in HF group and DM group, but they were decreased after the treatment with B06. The expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha were decreased, but they became increased after the treatment of B06. There were increased collagen fibers in interstitium and expansion of mitochondria in cytoplasm of myocardium from DM group, but they were ameliorated in B06 treatment group.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that B06 may relieve the damage of myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats and the increased expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha may be involved in it.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

The study was aimed to explore the apoptosis effect of ouabain on Jurkat cells and its mechanism. MTT method was used to observe the inhibitory effect of ouabain on Jurkat cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected by using flow cytometry (FCM) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling reaction method (TUNEL). The protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and active subunits of caspase-3 were measured by Western blot. Activities of caspase-3 were determined by colorimetry method. The results showed that ouabain could induce apoptosis of Jurkat cells, the expression of Bax protein in process of cell apoptosis, caspase-3 activity of Jurkat cells were remarkably enhanced after ouabain treatment. It is concluded that ouabain may induce apoptosis of Jurkat cells due to the activation of caspase-3 resulting from regulation of Bax protein and Bcl-2 gene expressions.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genes, bcl-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Ouabain ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVESMetabolic syndrome (MS) in adolescents was reported to be closely associated with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. However, no unified treatment measure for MS in adolescents is currently available. The aim of this study was to measure the changes of serum adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity and other biochemical markers after metformin therapy in adolescents with MS, which might provide some information for set up a unified therapeutic measure for MS in adolescents.

METHODSIn this study, 348 moderately or severely obese adolescents and 24 non-obese healthy adolescents matched in age and sex were enrolled. The obese group included 208 males and 140 females aged from 7 to 16 years (11.5 +/- 2.1 years). Oral glucose tolerance test and biochemical markers measurement were done to all these subjects. Whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting serum adiponectin were compared among 36 adolescents with MS (who had two or three abnormalities of hyperglycosemia, hypertension or dyslipidemia), 61 simple obese subjects without abnormality of biochemical markers and 24 healthy controls. Moreover, the changes of WBISI, HOMA-IR and adiponectin levels in 20 cases with MS after metformin therapy for 3 months were measured.

RESULTS(1) HOMA-IR in control group (1.3), simple obese group (2.3) and MS group (4.9) increased by turns (F = 54.08, P < 0.001). WBISI and serum adiponectin in control group, simple obese group and MS group decreased by turns with significant difference [89.6, 22.8 and 10.7, F = 30.06; (7.1 +/- 2.6), (5.9 +/- 1.9), (2.8 +/- 0.9) mg/L, F = 64.93; P < 0.01 for all]. (2) HOMA-IR after metformin therapy decreased [5.7 (1.9-12.4) vs. 2.9 (0.9-7.4), t = 5.05, P < 0.01]; while the serum adiponectin levels increased with significant differences [(3.0 +/- 0.9) mg/L vs. (6.1 +/- 1.9) mg/L, t = 6.19, P < 0.01]. Systolic blood pressure [(132.4 +/- 7.5) mm Hg vs. (116.6 +/- 9.1) mm Hg, t = 8.36, P < 0.01], 2-hour glucose [(8.2 +/- 2.9) mmol/L vs. (5.3 +/- 1.0) mmol/L, t = 3.96, P < 0.01], triglyceride [(2.8 +/- 1.2) mmol/L vs. (1.3 +/- 0.9) mmol/L, t = 4.22, P < 0.01], total cholesterol [(4.9 +/- 0.6) mmol/L vs. (4.0 +/- 0.6) mmol/L, t = 4.72, P < 0.01], alanine aminotransferase [80.5 (29.0-286.0) U/L vs. 56.0 (23.0-163.0) U/L, t = 3.80, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONInsulin sensitivity in adolescents with MS was lower than that of simple obese group. Metformin can improve or ameliorate adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity and some clinical markers.

Adiponectin ; blood ; secretion ; Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Fasting ; blood ; Female ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; secretion ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Metformin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Obesity ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence trend and epidemiological characteristics of neural tube defects (NTDs) in perinatal in Zhengzhou city from 1996 to 2005.

METHODSData collected from hospital were used to depict the epidemiology of NTDs in Zhengzhou. All perinatal fetuses born in hospitals had an access within 7 days after delivery. The prevalence were calculated by perinatal'year, sex, birth area (urban versus rural) and maternal age. All monitored perinatal (162,074) accounted for 32.66% from totals (496,203).

RESULTSAll 238 cases were found NTDs, and the overall prevalence rate was 14.68/10,000. The annual prevalence rate presented a decreasing trend during that period. The rates in rural and urban area, in male and female birth were 29.28/10,000 and 9.63/10,000, 11.42/10,000 and 17.74/10,000 respectively. There were significant differences among maternal-age-specific prevalence rates (chi2 = 22.952, P = 0.000). The rates of <20 years group(53.76/10,000) and >35 years group(21.74/10,000) were higher than others.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of NTDs in rural area is higher than that in urban, female's is higher than male's in Zhengzhou. The annual prevalence rates of NTDs presents a decreasing trend in the past ten years.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Distribution ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 in the normal and spastic segments of colon in patients with Hirschsprung disease(HD), and to explore the correlation of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 with pathogenesis of HD.

METHODSFrom 2005 to 2010, resected colon specimens of 30 cases with HD were selected for this study. Normal colonic segments were served as control group, while the transitional and spastic segments as experimental group. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting, and RT-PCR were applied to detect the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2.

RESULTSA large number of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 positive gangliocytes were observed in the control group, while none was observed in spastic segments. Significantly less Notch-1 and Jagged-2 positive gangliocytes were found in the transitional segments. Western blotting revealed that Notch-1 and Jagged-2 protein levels in spastic segments (0.19±0.02 and 0.13±0.04) were less than that in transitional segments and normal segments (0.58±0.05 and 0.52±0.04, 0.72±0.04 and 0.69±0.04, respectively)(P<0.05). RT-PCR revealed that Notch-1 and Jagged-2 mRNA levels were consistent with protein expression.

CONCLUSIONNotch-1 and Jagged-2 are not expressed in spastic colon segments, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of HD.

Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Jagged-2 Protein ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction