Considerable knowledge about the biology of forest tree has been gained in the recent years by the application of the new genomic technologies to study tree growth and development as well as the response of trees to biotic and abiotic stresses. Proteomics is becoming an important content in the biology of forest tree. A review is given about the progress in forest tree proteomics research in the areas of population genetics, genetic mapping, stress physiology, organs and tissues, and wood formation, etc. Furthermore, forest tree proteome database is briefly introduced. Finally, the prospect of proteomics is discussed.

Objective To observe the effect of Acanthus ilicifolius alkaloid A (HBOA) on PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in rats with hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and to explore the mechanism of action of HBOA against liver fibrosis. Methods Rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, high, medium; and low-dose HBOA groups (100, 50, 25 mg/kg), and colchicine group (0.4 mg/kg). Except for the normal group, the rats in other groups were given with a 50% CCl4 olive oil solution twice a week for 12 weeks to induce a rat model of liver fibrosis. From the ninth week of modeling, the drug-administered group was given the corresponding test drug once daily for 4 weeks. After the experiment, the body mass change and liver index were calculated. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the liver homogenate of each group were detected. The protein expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K in liver tissue was detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, the body weight of mice of each drug-administered group was significantly increased, and the liver index, and ALT and AST levels were decreased in liver tissue. In addition, HBOA high and medium-dose groups significantly inhibited the protein expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K. Conclusion HBOA has a protective effect on hepatic fibrosis rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.

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 explore the effects of shaving and no hair removal to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). Methods Retrieved domestic and international electronic literature databases by using computer. Randomized controlled triaks (RCTs) according to inclusion criteria were selected and evaluated. Special software was used to analyze data. Results There were seventeen RCTs and thirteen studies involving 4104 peoples concerned two methods of preoperative preparation of skin: shaving hair removal and only cleaning the surgical site. One trial involving 382 peoples showed that there was no difference in SSIs between shearing hair group and removing hair with a razor group. Furthermore, three trials involving 370 people compared the difference in the positive rate of culturing bacteria of surgical sit between the two methods:shaving hair removal, and cleaning the surgical site only. The result showed there was no statistically significant difference between two methods. Conclusions As for the methods of preoperative preparation of skin, in the SSIs, cleaning hair is superior to removing hair with a razor and no evidence shows sheafing hair is superior to removing hair with a razor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for the determination of quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-beta-D-gentiobioside in Semen Descurainiae.

METHODHPLC was used with self-made quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-beta-D-gentiobioside as reference substances.

RESULTThe average collection was 99.78%, RSD 2.4%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is appropriate for quality control of Semen Descurainiae.

Brassicaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Seeds ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effect of IKKε knock-down on the biological characteristics of U251 glioblastoma cells. Methods IKKε small interfering RNA (IKKε siRNA) mediated by lipofectamine were transfected into U251 cells while cells transfected with scrambled siRNA and control cells were prepared.RT-PCR was employed to detect expressions of IKKε in the transfected cells.The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay.Flow cytometry was used to monitor changes in cell cycle.Cell invasion was evaluated by Transwell assay.Moreover,the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),cyclin D 1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) that regulated proliferation,invasion and cycle progression of the transfected cells and the changes of NF-κB after transfection were examined by Western blotting. Results RT-PCR revealed that the proliferation of U251 cells was inhibited,the cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase and the invasive activity was attenuated in cells transfected with IKKe siRNA,with significant differences as compared with the cells transfected with scrambled siRNA and control cells (P＜0.05).The expressions ofPCNA,MMP9 and cyclin D1 were down-regulated in the IKKε knock-down cells, as compared with the other 2 groups. In addtion, transposition of NF-κB reduced from the cytoplasm to the nucleus after transfection. Conclusion As IKKε plays a vital role in proliferation and invasion of glioma cells,it may serve as a potential target ofgene therapy for glioma.

OBJECTIVEThrough studying the difference between the hypertensive patients and those with normal blood pressure who all from the same hypertensive pedigree, we tried to find the factors which would decrease the risk of hypertension.

METHODSHypertensive patients, when coming to the cardiovascular clinic of Xuan Wu Hospital from 2003 to 2004, were defined as the members of the hypertensive pedigrees through inquiry. 84 families including 368 persons, with 192 syblings were involved. Metabolic syndrome could be defined by the criterion of adult treatment panel III.

RESULTSWhen compared with normal blood pressure persons, clinical examinations of the hypertensive patients had an higher levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose and body mass index (BMI). The hypertensive group showed higher ratios among male patients, smokers, alcohol drinkers, having irritable personality and high-salt-intake. Through logistic regression, overweight, smoking and irritable temperament showed positive relations with hypertension. The rate of metabolic syndrome was higher in hypertension group.

CONCLUSIONIt is important that either persons with normal blood pressure or hypertension should control their body weights (BMI) since the rate of metabolic syndrome in hypertension group was high.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETracheobronchomalacia is one of the common respiratory tract dysplasia in children. Its symptoms are nonspecific, and routine methods are unreliable in the assessment of tracheobronchomalacia in children. In addition, many physicians are confused about its clinical characteristics, so tracheobronchomalacia is often underdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features of tracheobronchomalacia in children and to investigate the diagnostic value of flexible bronchoscopy for children with tracheobronchomalacia.

METHODFor diagnosis and treatment, 229 children out of 4725 patients hospitalized in the division of respiratory disorders were examined by Olympus BF3c-20 flexible bronchoscopy or by Olympus BF-P20 flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia with propofol, in Chongqing Children's Hosptial from April 2004 to April 2006. Fifty-three cases were confirmed to have tracheobronchomalacia by bronchoscopy, patients' data including airway lesion, age, sex, clinical characteristics, aided examinations, treatment, final outcomes, were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Of the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia, 31 were not suspected for this diagnosis prior to bronchoscopy, who were instead misdiagnosed as refractory pneumonia, difficult-to-control asthma, bronchial foreign body, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary atelectasis of unknown origin or bronchiolitis. (2) In the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia aged one month to eight years, 41 were infants, 6 were younger than two years, 4 were younger than 3 years and the rest 2 cases were older than 3 years. The risk of tracheobronchomalacia related inversely with ages. Ten cases were girls and 43 were boys. (3) Eleven cases had tracheomalacia, 24 bronchomalacia, 18 tracheobronchomalacia; 12 cases had malacia on left lung, 11 on right lung, 19 on both sides; 21 children were mild cases, 25 moderate cases, 7 severe cases. (4) In the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia, 28 had recurrent or prolonged wheezing, 16 chronic cough, 5 recurrent respiratory infections, 2 atelectasis of unknown origin, and 2 dyspnea.

CONCLUSIONSThe infants and toddlers seem to be predisposed more to the bronchomalacia than the older children. Clinical features of children with airway malacia were variable and atypical, expiratory stridor and cough are the most commonly reported symptoms. Flexible bronchoscopy should be regarded as a "golden standard" method for diagnosing TBM.

Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Tracheobronchomalacia ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the extract from gardenia on influenza viral pneumonia in mice and virus-induced cytopathic effect.

METHODThe mice were infected by influenza virus in nasal, the lung inflammation, mortality rate and life elongation rate were observed respectively. The anti-viral activity of the extract from gardenia was accessed by cytopathic effect (CPE) in vitro and 0% toxicity concentration (TC0), 50% toxicity concentration (TC50), 50% inhibitor concentration (IC50), therapeutic index (TI) were determined by Reed-Muench method.

RESULTThe pneumonia induced by influenza virus in mice was inhibited significantly by the extract from gardenia, as the mortality rate decreased and the life elongation rate increased remarkably. Meanwhile the NO content in serum decreased significantly; The cytopathic effect induced by six kinds of viruses was inhibited remarkably.

CONCLUSIONThe six kinds of viruses were inhibited significantly by the extract from gardenia which inhibitory effect on mice influenza viral pneumonia was related to the NO content decreased.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; virology ; Esophagus ; cytology ; virology ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; drug effects ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Orthomyxoviridae ; pathogenicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pneumonia, Viral ; blood ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; drug effects