Dried roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) are among the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in clinic. The material basis for its efficacy mainly includes hydrophobic tanshinones and hydrophilic salvianolic acids. The traditional effects of Danshen are "removing stasis and relieving pain, activating blood to promote menstruation, clearing heart fire and tranquilization". According to modern pharmacological studies, Danshen and its main components have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effect. Recent studies showed that Danshen and its main components also demonstrated protective effects on liver injury models induced by carbon tetrachloride, D-galactosamine, acetaminophen and alcohol. In this paper, the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of Danshen were summarized and studied.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Tissue samples of Fabricius' bursa collected from Nanning, Yulin, Beihai and Wuzhou in the provinces of Guangxi in China during the years of 2000-2007, were detected by a established reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique for IBDV. Viral isolation was performed on the positive samples by chicken embryo inoculation via chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM). Results showed that 27 isolates of IBDV were obtained. A set of primers were designed to amplify the vVP2 of 27 isolates by RT-PCR and the PCR products were sequenced. The sequences of all the isolates and reference viruses were analyzed and compared, and their phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the nucleotide sequences. The results indicated that isolate BH11, TZ(3), 050222, YL051, NN0603, NN0611and QX0602 etc, altogether 17 isolates, which accounted for 62.96 percent of total isolates, were identified to be very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) and have the highest homology to vvIBDV reference strains. In the phylogenetic analysis, they are divided into 3 groups and have a long distance to commonly used vaccine stains. Isolate NN040124 and YL052 were identified as intermediate-plus virulent strains and showed a highest homology to classical strains of 52-70 and STC. 8 isolates of YLZF2, 040131 etc were identified as attenuated vaccine strains and showed a highest homology to classical strain of CU1. The results from the study demonstrated that the viruses prevailing in chickens in these 4 regions in Guangxi province in the recently 7 years were vvIBDV and their origins were complex. The antigenicity of some isolates may have been drifted.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Birnaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

Objective To investigate the characteristic of ?-amyloid precursor protein (A?) processing in activated platelet in AD.Methods Thirty-six sporadic AD patients and 30 control subjects were included in this study.Blood was collected from the subjects to separate platelets.After treated by thrombin,the soluble amyloid precursor protein (APP) level in the snpernatants of platelets from 36 were analyzed by means of western blot with a specific antibody recognizing soluble APP.Meanwhile A? level was measured by radioimmunoassay.Results After treated with thrombin,the level of soluble APP in the supernatants of platelets in patients with AD decreased by 31.0% (P

The rice gall dwarf disease, caused by the Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) is a serious disease occurring in rice in many regions of Guangdong province. As a basis to control the disease we have studied the genomic diversity of a variety of isolates from different locations. Genome segment 8(S8), encoding a main outer capsid protein (Pns8) of RGDV five isolates (BL, CH, DQ, GZ, XY) from Guangdong province was cloned and sequenced. The results revealed that all the S8 segments of the five isolates consisted of 1 578 nucleotides and had a single open reading frame (ORF) extending for 1 301 nucleotides from nucleotide 21 which encoded a polypeptide of 426 amino acids with an estimated molecular weight of 47.4 kDa. The S8 full-length sequence and the ORF sequence shared 97.3%-98.8% and 97.3%-99.1% nucleotide sequence identities within the five Chinese isolates, and shared 94.8%-95.6% and 95.0%-96.0% identities with those of the Thailand isolate respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pns8 in GZ isolate was identical to that in the Thailand isolate, while the amino acid sequence variability of Pns8 within five Chinese isolates ranged from 0.5% to 2.1%. These results indicate that the S8 segment of RGDV is highly conserved in different isolates from different locations. The S8 cDNA from the XY isolate was cloned into the plasmid vector pET-28b(+) and a fused expression protein with an apparent molecular mass of 51kDa was specifically detected in an analysis of Escherichia coli Rossetta(DE3)Ⅱcells. To our knowledge, this is the first report on analysis of the RGDV segment 8 sequence and genetic comparison of different RGDV isolates and their protein expression.

This project is targeted on exploring some improving approaches to isolate and culture the microorganisms which are difficult to be isolated and cultured through the conventional ways. The results showed that betaine, sodium pyruvate, SOD and catalase are helpful for increasing the total number and variety of isolated strains. A kind of combined method was also used to isolate the micro-colony which can not be seen by naked eyes on the plates. Totally 52 Actinomycetes and 103 bacteria and 17 fungi were obtained from 4 soil samples using the above methods. 4. 325% microorganisms were obtained as positive strains to inhibit the growth of some kinds of test bacteria, which is higher than the percent using generally isolated ones. These microbial natural products may remain an important resource for the drug discovery.

Objective To observe the sequence of fat deposit and its relationship with insulin resistance in SD rats fed by high fat diet.Methods Normal 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into normal chow (NC,n=40)and high fat diet(HF,n=40)groups.Triglyceride(TG)in serum,liver and muscle were measured;glucose infusion rate(GIR)and the mRNA level of genes related to lipid metabolism in liver and muscle were determined in different stages.GIR was detected by eugiyeemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp for evaluating the insulin sensitivity.Gene expression was determined by real-time PCR.Results(1)As compared with NC group,serum TG was not increased after high fat feeding for4 and 8 weeks,it began to increase after 12 weeks [0.52(0.15-1.00) mmol/L vs O.31(0.09-0.53)retool/L, P0.05)in skeletal muscle.After 8 weeks,the expression of ACC1 in liver in HF group was increased by 20.6%,CPT-1 was decreased by 27.1%(P

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a vitamin A derivative and plays an important role in the regulation of cell aggregation, differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, and inflammatory response. In recent years, some progress has been made in the role of ATRA in renal diseases, especially its protective effect on podocytes. This article reviews the research advances in podocyte injury, characteristics of ATRA, podocyte differentiation and regeneration induced by ATRA, and the protective effect of ATRA against proliferation, deposition of fibers, and apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; Humans ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Objective To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein and its mRNA in vitro of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to investigate the role of interferon-?(IFN-?) on the expression of BLyS.Methods PBMCs were obtained from 25 SLE patients (mean age of 31+14) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age of 28?10).They were randomized into IFN-?(5 ng/ml) group and control group.PBMCs were col- lected at 0,6,12 and 24 h for BLyS mRNA assessment using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound BLyS protein detection using flow cy- tometry (FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.Results①The expression of BLyS mRNA and membrane- bound protein in PBMCs was significantly higher in individuals with SLE compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05);②IFN-?enhanced BLyS mRNA expression in PBMCs in both healthy controls and SLE patients,with the greatest effect at 6 h (stimulated vs unstimulated,0.42?0.19 vs 0.25?0.14,P＜0.01;0.59?0.28 vs 0.44?0.21,P＜0.01 );③IFN-?also increased the expression of membrane-bound BLyS protein in both healthy con- trols and individuals with SLE (FACs,mean fluorescence intensity,4.5+3.0 vs 3.7~2.6,P

Objective To investigate the ability of nurse-patient communication and Self-efficacy between baccalaureate and associate nursing students, and provide instruction for fostering the nurses' positive ability of nurse-patient communication and Self-efficacy. Methods Thirty baccalaureate nursing students from Grade 2005 and 30 associate nursing students from Grade 2006 in the nursing school of Mudanjiang Medical College were selected by random sampling and were investigated with the ability nurse-patient communication Scale by XuYaHong and General Self-Efficacy Scale by Ralf scchwarzer. Results The total level of nursepatient communication ability was medium or above that. There was significantly different in the ability of nursepatient communication between nurses with different educational level in terms of the total scores of nurse-patient communication, scores of coffering information and understanding patients, those in baccalaureate nursing students were higher than those in associate nursing students. Conclusions The clinicle teacher must take implemation to cultivate the ability of nurse-patient communication during the clinical practice. The result suggests that teachers should build the students' positive self-efficacy to improve their nurse-patient communication, ability.

Background Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign tumor in children with prevalence in the face and neck.Various treatment options including oral propranolol have been described for IH,but the mechanism of drugs remains enigmatic.The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis and establish a reliable in vivo model of IH which can provide platform for drug exploration.Methods Stem cells from the proliferating hemangiomas (HemSCs) were isolated by CD133-tagged immunomagnetic beads.Their phenotype and angiogenic property were investigated by flow cytometry,culturing on Matrigel,real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR),immunofluorescent staining and injection into BALB/c-nu mice.Results HemSCs had robust ability of proliferating and cloning.The time of cells doubling in proliferative phase was 16 hours.Flow cytometry showed that HemSCs expressed mesenchymal markers CD29,CD44,but not endothelial/hematopoietic marker of CD34 and hematopoietic marker CD45.The expression of CD105 was much lower than that of the reported hemangioma derived or normal mesenchymal stem cell (MSC).Real-time PCR showed that the mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) of HemSCs were higher than that of neonatal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).After HemSCs were cultured on Matrigel in vitro,they formed tube-like structure in a short time (16 hours) and differentiated into endothelial cells in 7 days.After 1-2 weeks of implantation into immunodeficient mice,HemSCs generated glucose transporter 1 positive blood vessels.When co-injected with HUVECs,the vascularization of HemSCs was greatly enhanced.However,the single implantation of HUVECs hardly formed blood vessels in BALB/c-nu mice (P ＜0.05).Conclusions HemSCs may be some kinds of primitive mesoderm derived stem cells with powerful angiogenic ability,which can recapitulate human hemangioma by co-injecting into immunodeficient mice with HUVECs.