The content of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of Panax notoginseng in different productive area was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis was made on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) with acetonitrile and water containing 4.1 g x L(-1) sodium acetate as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.01 - 1.03 g x L(-1). The average recovery of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng was 101.7% (RSD 1.1%, n = 3) and 97.3% (RSD 0.38%, n = 3), respectively. The contents of GABA in the samples of different productive areas were not significant different, and the average contents of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng were 0.49% and 0.53%. This method was simple and reliable, and it was suitable for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of P. notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo make full use of the plant resources of Panax notoginseng, nutritional compositions and mineral elements were analyzed in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different areas in Yunnan.

METHODUsing the national standard method, water, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein and mineral elements were determined in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different growing areas.

RESULTResults showed that there were higher contents of crude fiber and crude protein, and lower content of crude fat in the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng. Meanwhile, a large number of mineral elements were determined in two locations of P. notoginseng, and the contents of Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Mg were obvious higher among these mineral elements.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng were nutritious and suggested that the aerial part may be utilized as new resources foods.

Flowers ; chemistry ; Nutritive Value ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Objective To observe the effects of iodine excess on thyroid morphology,the expression of thyroid peroxidase and sodium iodide symporter mRNA and to explore their mechanisms.Methods One-month SD rats were divided into three groups:control iodine(CI),high iodine Ⅰ(HI Ⅰ)and high iodineⅡ(HI Ⅱ)and were fed with water containing iodine in different concentrations by adding K103(5,5000,10 000μg/L)respectively.Rats were sacrificed after being fed for six months.The morphology of thyroid was investigated under light microscopy and electron microscopy,the serum thyroid hormones and ratio of TPO/β-actin and NIS/β-actin were measured by radio-immunoassay and RT-PCR method.Results The major changes were increased follicles with colloid accumulation in HI groups.The levels of serum thyroid hormones TT3 and TT4 were decreased gradually from CI[(75.68±13.99,1.45±0.49)nmol/L]to HI Ⅰ[(73.82±16.48,1.34±0.31)nmol/L]and HIⅡ groups[(70.65±11.43,1.15±0.39)nmol/L],but there were no significant differences among three groups(F=O.371,l.163,P＞0.05).The TPO and NIS mRNA expressions in HI Ⅰ(1.28±0.10,0.56±O.17)and HI Ⅱ(1.14±0.04,0.39±0.06)were significantly lower(F=30.863,62.62.675,P＜O.05)than those of control group(1.39±0.08,0.71±0.13).Conclusions Chronic iodine excess leads to definite histological changes in rat thyroid,and inhibits the expressions of TPO and NIS mRNA as well as thyroid hormone synthesis,which in turn acts as a protective mechanism against iodine excess.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo establish the HPLC fingerprint of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate buffer (2. 5 per thousand acetic acid-ammonia pH 10.5) (60:40). The UV detection wavelength was set at 240 nm and the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL x min(-1).

RESULTThe RSD of precision and repeatability was less than 2%. Under the selected chromatographic conditions, good HPLC fingerprints of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii were obtained.

CONCLUSIONThe method was simple, accurate and repeatable. It can be used for the quality control of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii.

Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Plant Tubers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among oxygen concentration, quorum sensing system, type secretion system, and biofilm production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

METHODSA total of 23 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured at different levels of environmental oxygen for three days. Then biofilm mass and alginate were quantified. The expression levels of LasI and RhlI were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The secretion of exoenzyme S was examined by Western blot.

RESULTSBoth the biofilm mass (R=0.455, P=0.000) and alginate (R=0.367, P=0.000) were positively correlated with oxygen concentration. Real time PCR showed that the expression levels of LasI and RhlI were not significantly correlated with oxygen concentration (R=0.025, P=0.794; R=-0.044, P=0.653), the production of biofilm (R=0.001, P=0.990; R=0.011, P=0.909), or alginate(R=0.029, P=0.770; R=0.193, P=0.064). Western blot showed that the optimal oxygen concentration range for exoenzyme S secretion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged 10% to 30%.

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia can promote the production of biofilm and alginate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Las/Rhl system may not participate in biofilm production at the early stage due to the low bacteria amount. The increased production of biofilm may inhibit the expression of Type Secretion system and thus inhibit bacterial virulence.

Alginates ; metabolism ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; metabolism ; physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the association of vitamin D level with asthma control and pulmonary function in children with asthma.

METHODSA total of 150 children with asthma were enrolled as observation group, and 55 healthy children were enrolled as control group. According to the level of asthma control, the children were divided into good control group, partial control group, and non-control group. Chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay was used to measure the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] for all groups. According to the level of 25(OH)D, the asthmatic children were divided into normal vitamin D group, vitamin D insufficiency group, and vitamin D deficiency group. Pulmonary function was measured for all asthmatic children.

RESULTSThe observation group had a significantly lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the control group (25± 7 ng/mL vs 29± 4 ng/mL; P<0.05). The normal vitamin D group had the highest asthma control rate, followed by the vitamin D insufficiency group and the vitamin D deficiency group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in pulmonary function among the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsthmatic children have a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than healthy children. The serum level of 25(OH)D is associated with the level of asthma control and has no association with pulmonary function.

Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Vitamin D ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the factors influencing insulin resistance in children with different nutritional status during pubertal development.

METHODSThree hundred children with simple obese aged 7 to 17 years, and 300 normal healthy children and 300 children with malnutrition, matched for age (+/- 3 months) and height (+/- 2 cm), were selected. Fasting serum levels of leptin, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured for them.

RESULTSLevels of fasting serum insulin in obese children, except for boys at Tanner stage I and girls at Tanner stage II, were higher than those in normal and malnutrition children (P < 0.01). Average serum level of leptin in obese boys and girls at varied Tanner stages was higher than that in normal children, and higher in normal children than that in children with malnutrition (P<0.01). Serum level of TG in obese children [(1.53 +/- 0.13) mmol/L] was higher than that in normal ones [(1.12 +/- 0.10) mmol/L] and in children with malnutrition [(1.03 +/- 0.09) mmol/L]. There was no significant difference in levels of fasting blood glucose and other blood lipids between the three groups of children. Insulin sensitivity decreased with pubertal development and its index reversely correlated with Tanner stage and serum level of leptin (r=-0.27 and -0.36, respectively, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONObesity (BMI), serum level of leptin and pubertal development were independent risk factors for insulin resistance in children aged 7 to 17 years.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Estradiol ; blood ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Malnutrition ; blood ; Obesity ; blood ; physiopathology ; Puberty ; physiology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo construct a eukaryotic expression vector containing aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) gene and investigate the effects and its possible mechanisms of ALDH2 gene on cell proliferation and anti-oxidative damage in the K562 cells.

METHODSAn eukaryotic expression vector containing the ALDH2 gene cloned from human hepatocytes was constructed and transfected into K562 cells by liposome. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of ALDH2. MTT assay was used to check the cell proliferation and trypan blue exclusion to check K562 cells damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). RT-PCR and fluorescence spectrophotometry were used to determine the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) respectively.

RESULTSRT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed distinct higher ALDH2 protein expression in gene transfected group. The latter group had a higher cell proliferation (P < 0.05) and survival rate against H2O2 induced-oxidative damage, being increased by 7.8 times (IC(50) was 12.3 µmol/L and 1.4 µmol/L for K562-pcDNA3.1-ALDH2 and control cells, respectively, P < 0.01). The HO-1 mRNA expression and the generation of intracellular ROS were downregulated at a specific concentration of H2O2 in the ALDH2 gene transfected group.

CONCLUSIONALDH2 gene transfection can protect K562 cells against oxidative damage, and the downregulation of HO-1 expression and intracellular ROS may be involved in this process.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; K562 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo analyze the difference in microRNAs expression between MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells and explore the association between microRNA and drug resistance of breast cancer.

METHODSThe drug resistance of MCF-7/ADR cells was evaluated using MTT assay and flow cytometry. Microarray technique and RT-PCR were used to analyze the differential expressions of the microRNA between MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells.

RESULTSThe drug resistance index of MCF-7/ADR cells relative to the parental MCF-7 cells was 33.2. The percentages of the side population in MCF-7/ADR and MCF-7 cells were (9.50-/+0.9)% and (0.85-/+0.2)%, respectively. Microarray analysis of MCF-7 to MCF-7/ADR cells identified 36 differentially expressed genes, including 16 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated genes in MCF-7/ADR cells. RT-PCR identified 14 microRNAs that were differentially expressed between MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells, including 7 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated ones in MCF-7/ADR cells. Of these differentially expressed microRNAs, mir-221, mir222, mir-130a, and mir-155 showed significantly increased expression, and mir200a, mir-200b, mir-200c, and mir-421 showed significantly lowered expression in MCF-7/ADR cells as indicated by the results of microarray analysis and RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONMCF-7/ADR cells show a different microRNA expression profile from its parental MCF-7 cells, suggesting the involvement of microRNAs in tumor cell drug resistance. This finding provides a experimental basis for further study of mechanism underlying the drug resistance of breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured