China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; physiology ; Listeriosis ; epidemiology ; Serotyping

This paper is aimed to study the effects of nitrogen form on the growth and quality of Chrysanthemums morifolium at the same nitrogen level. In order to provide references for nutrition regulation of Ch. morifolium in field production, pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse at experimental station of Nanjing Agricultural University. Five proportions of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen were set up and a randomized block design was applied four times repeatedly. The results showed that the growth and quality of Ch. morifolium were significantly influenced by the nitrogen form. The content of chlorophyll and photosynthesis rate were the highest at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75; The activities of NR in different parts of Ch. -morifolium reached the highest at the NH4(+) - N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 0: 100. The contents of nitrate nitrogen in the root and leaves reached the highest at the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 50:50. The activities of GS, GOGAT and the content of amylum increased with the ratio of NO3(-) -N decreasing and reached it's maximum at the NH4 + -N/NO3 - -N ratio of 100: 0. The content of ammonium nitrogen were the highest at the NH4 + -N /NO3 --N ratio of 75: 25, while the content of soluble sugar reached the highest at the NH4(+)-N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75. The content of flavones, chlorogenic acid and 3,5-O-dicoffeoylqunic acid were 57.2 mg x g(-1), 0.673% and 1.838% respectively, reaching the maximum at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75; The content of luteoloside increased with the ratio of NO3(-) -N increasing and reached it's maximum at the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 0: 100. The yield of Ch. morifolium reached it's maximum at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75. Nitrogen form has some remarkable influence on the nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis and growth, Nitrogen form conducive to the growth and quality of Ch. morifolium at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75.
Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Chrysanthemum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Flowers ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Glutamate Synthase ; metabolism ; Glutamate Synthase (NADH) ; metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of color silk cocoon extraction-sericine on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and Smad3 protein expression in kidney of diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats.

METHODS60 male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 12): normal control group, DN model group, sericine treatment group, metformin group and sericine prevention group. The rats in model group, sericine treatment group, metformin group and sericine prevention group were all established DN rats model by intraperitoneally injected streptozotocin (STZ). Blood glucose > or = 16.7 mmol/L was taken as standard to judge if the rats model were successfully established. After the rats model were successfully established, the rats in sericine treatment group were lavaged with sericine (2.4 g/(kg x d), 35 d). The rats in metformin group were lavaged with metformin (55.33 mg/(kg x d), 35 d). The rats in sericine prevention group were lavaged with the same dose sericine for 35 d before injecting STZ. The blood glucose and kidney weight/body weight of rats in each group were respectively detected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of TGF-beta1 and Western blot to detect the expression of Smad3 in kidney.

RESULTSCompared with normal control rats: the blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight, TGF-beta1 and Smad3 expression in kidney of rats in model group increased obviously (P < 0.01). The blood glucose, TGF-beta1 and Smad3 expression in kidney of rats in sericin treatment group, sericin prevention group and metformin group were significantly lower than that of model group (P < 0.01). Moreover, there were no obvious differences between sericin treatment group, sericin prevention group and metformin group (P > 0.05). The kidney weight/body weight of rats in sericin treatment group, sericin prevention group and metformin group were significantly lower than that of model group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the kidney weight/body weight of rats in sericin treatment group and sericin prevention group were obviously lower than that of metformin group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSericin can inhibit activation of TGF-beta1/Smad3 signal pathway in kidney of DN rats, lighten glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis, so has protective and preventive effects on kidney injury of DN rats. Moreover, the therapeutical and preventive effects of sericin on DN are similar with metformin.

Animals ; Bombyx ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEStudies on the substance with nourishment Yin for a reasonable and rational auality appraise for turtleback.

METHODTo separate by chromatography and identifying with MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR.

RESULTTwo compounds were separated and identified as hexadecanoyl cholesterol ester and cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONThe two compounds are isolated from turtleback for the first time.

Animals ; Cholesterol ; isolation & purification ; Cholesterol Esters ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Turtles

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Modified Wenjing Decoction (MWJD) on the ovarian oxidative damage of cold coagulation blood stasis (CCBS) model rats, thus consummating the action mechanisms of MWJD for treating gynecopathy of CCBS syndrome.

METHODSFemale SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, and the treatment group. Rats in the model group and the treatment group were placed in the ice water (0 -1 degrees C) to establish the rat model of CCBS syndrome. Meanwhile, MWJD was given by gastrogavage to rats in the treatment group for 2 weeks. Rats were decapitated during the oestrous cycle. The serum levels of estradiol (E2), progestone (P), testosterone (T) were detected. The bilateral ovarian tissues were taken out and operated on ice. The total bilirubin (TBIL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxygen capacity (T-AOC) were detected after homogenate.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, serum levels of E2, P, T, and ovarian levels of TBIL, SOD, T-AOC all obviously decreased in the model group, and the ovarian MDA level increased, showing statistical difference (P <0. 05, P <0.01). After treated by MWJD, when compared with the model group, serum levels of E2, P, T, and ovarian levels of TBIL, SOD, T-AOC increased, the ovarian MDA level decreased, showing statistical difference (P <0.05, P <0.01). All indices except serum T level and the ovarian MDA content restored to the normal levels (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe ovarian functions are abnormal in CCBS model rats. MWJD could restore the ovarian functions by improving the ovarian oxidative damage state, thus treating gynecopathy of CCBS syndrome.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Ten compounds were isolated from the leaf of Eucommia ulmoides by means of recrystallization and chromatographic techniques such as D-101 macroporous resin, MCI resin, ODS gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Rp-HPLC. Their structures were identified by NMR spectral analyses as kaempferide 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (1), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-xylosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucoside (5), (2S,3S)-taxifolin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (6) ,4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (7), (+)-cycloolivil (8), pinoresinol beta-D-glucoside (9), squalene (10). Among them compounds 1,5-7,10 were isolated from the Eucommia genus for the first time. In the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, compound 2 exhibited significant activity (IC50 13.7 micromol x L(-1)), compared with vitamin C (IC50 59.9 micromol x L(-1)); compounds 1, 3 and 9 showed moderate activity (IC50 161,137, 214 micromol x L(-1)), compared with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (IC50 236 micromol x L(-1)); compound 4 and 6 showed weak activity (IC50 264, 299 micromol x L(-1)).
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its signaling pathway molecules in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the association between these factors and genesis and metastasis of OSCC.

METHODSThe express of TGF-beta1, TbetaRI, TbetaRII and Smad4, a pivotal downstream molecule of its signaling, in 10 normal oral mucosa tissues and 108 OSCC was detected by SP immunohistochemistry, and thier correlation with genesis and metastasis of OSCC were assessed.

RESULTSThe expressions of TbetaRII and Smad4 were lower in the tumors (34.3%, 38.9%) than those in the normal oral epithelium (80.0%, 100.0%, P < 0.05). The positive expression rates of TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI in the normal oral epithelium and OSCC were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between TGF-beta1, Smad4, TbetaRII, TbetaRI expression and clinical stages (P < 0.01). The expression of TGF-beta1 was related with histological differentiation and tumor localization (P < 0.05). There was a relationship beteween Smad4 expression and histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of TbetaRII in the samples with lymph node metastasis was less than that in the ones without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), although there was no association between expression of TbetaRII and lymph node metastasis status.

CONCLUSIONThere is an important relationship between the abnormal TGF-beta1/Smad4 signal pathway and genesis and development of OSCC, while the low expressed Smad4 and TbetaRII may promote the metastasis of OSCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tb cell line.

METHODSCell counting method was used to examine the inhibitory effect of TGF-β₁ on Tb cell and flow cytometry (FCM) assay performed to measure the changes of cell cycle. Superarray was used to screen the changing expression of genes in TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway.RT-PCR method was used to detect the results of Superarray.

RESULTSTGF-β₁ showed significant inhibiting effect on OSCC Tb cell line. TGF-β₁ blocked the cell cycle at G₁ phase. The expression level of activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ACVRL-1), anti-mullerian hirmine (AMH), cyclim-dependent kinase inhibitor-2B (CDKN-2B) and transforming growth factor-beta-indnced factor (TGIF) was higer in the cells treated with TGF-β₁ than in control, while TDGF-1 expression was down-regulated. ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B gene expression was consistent with the results of Superarray.

CONCLUSIONSTGF-β₁ can inhibit the growth of OSCC Tb cell line. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cell cycle and the expression of ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B in TGF-β₁-Smads signaling pathway.

Activin Receptors, Type II ; metabolism ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

BACKGROUNDDelirium is a common and deleterious complication in critically ill patients after surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of delirium in critically ill patients after non-cardiac surgery, and to investigate the relationship between the serum cortisol level and the occurrence of postoperative delirium.

METHODSIn a prospective cohort study, 164 consecutive patients who were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit after non-cardiac surgery were enrolled. Baseline characteristics and perioperative variables were collected. Blood samples were obtained on the first postoperative day and serum cortisol concentrations were measured. Delirium was assessed using the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale until the seventh postoperative day or the disappearance of delirious symptoms.

RESULTSPostoperative delirium occurred in 44.5% of patients (73 of 164). The median time to first onset of delirium is 0 (range 0 to 5 days) and the median duration of delirium is 3 (1 to 13) days. Independent risk factors of postoperative delirium included increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 2.646, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.431 to 4.890, P = 0.002), a history of previous stroke (OR 4.499, 95%CI 1.228 to 16.481, P = 0.023), high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score on surgical intensive care unite admission (OR 1.391, 95%CI 1.201 to 1.612, P < 0.001), and high serum cortisol level on the 1st postoperative day (OR 3.381, 95%CI 1.690 to 6.765, P = 0.001). The development of delirium was linked to higher incidence of postoperative complications (28.8% vs. 7.7%, P < 0.001), and longer duration of hospitalization (18 (7 to 74) days vs. 13 (3 to 48) days, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSDelirium was a frequent complication in critically ill patients after non-cardiac surgery. High serum cortisol level was associated with increased incidence of postoperative delirium.

Aged ; Critical Illness ; Delirium ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors