Alkaloids ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry ; Harringtonines

Objective To explore the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-1(MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in sternomastoid muscle and explore the pathogenesis of sternomastoid muscle fibrosis in congenital fibra muscular torticollis in children.Methods The hyperplastic state of collagen fiber were determine by Masson collagen stainning method and muscular torticollis and fibra torticollis was differed,obtained 22 cases of the fibra torticollis group.Immunohistochemical method was used to determine the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in sternomastoid muscle of fibra torticollis and compared them with 6 cases of control group.Results By the immunohistochemical method,the expression of MMP-1 in the experiment group significantly decreased than that in control group(P0.05).Conclusion In congenital fibra torticollis,the sternomastoid muscle fibrosis is related to the decrease of MMP-1.

Objective To summarize the incidence and treatment experience of the effectiveness and adverse reactions of the different immunosuppressive protocols and to increase the long-term survival rate in kidney recipients. Methods Single-center retrospective analysis was performed on 3102 cases of kidney transplant recipients in effectiveness and adverse reactions of different immunosuppressive protocols. The immunosuppressive protocols were as follows: CsA + Aza + Pred,low dose CsA + MMF + Pred, low dose Tac + MMF + Pred, low dose CsA + SRL + Pred, and low dose Tac+ SRL+ Pred. Results The 1-, 5-, 10-year survival rate of patients/kidney in low dose CsA + MMF + Pred protocol was higher than that in CsA + Aza + Pred protocol. The incidence of adverse reactions, such as hypertension, hyperuricemia, kidney and liver toxicity, and leukopenia was significantly lower, but the incidence of diarrhea was significantly higher in CsA + MMF + Pred protocol than in CsA + Aza + Pred protocol (all P＜0. 01). The incidence of hyperglycemia was significantly higher (P＜0. 05), and that of hairy and gingival hyperplsia was significantly lower (P＜0. 05) in low dose Tac+ MMF+ Pred than in low dose CsA+ MMF+ Pred protocol. The incidence of hyperlipidemia in low dose CsA (or Tac)+ SRL + Pred was significantly higher than in CsA (or Tac)+ MMF+ Pred protocol (P＜0. 05). The incidence of hirsutism in low dose Tac + SRL + Pred was significantly lower than that in CsA + SRL + Pred protocol (P ＜ 0. 05). The incidence of hyperglycemia in low dose Tac + SRL + Pred was significantly higher than that in low dose CsA + SRL + Pred protocol. Conclusion The triple drug protocol with a low dose of CsA (or Tac)+ MMF+ Pred significantly improved the survival of renal transplant recipients and graft, and reduced the incidence of adverse reactions, especially Tae + MMF + Pred protocol. Adjustment of the immunosuppressant dosage and protocol, improvement of eating habits, exercise, reduction of blood pressure, reduction of blood lipid, and control of blood glucose were particularly important in preventing and controlling adverse reactions during kidney transplantation.

Though parched Chinese herbal medicines contain less effective or index components, their pharmacological actions do not reduce or even become improved to some extent. However, the current studies related to material basis could not explain the changes in property, flavour and efficacy of parched Chinese herbal medicines. Meanwhile, due to the lack of objective and specific evaluation indexes, the quality evaluation could not reflect features of parched Chinese herbal pieces. Therefore, how to break the bottleneck for the studies on parched Chinese herbal pieces, make further innovation and conduct in-depth studies on the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines are common problems that medical scholars are facing. According to the findings in the previous studies, the author proposed to explain the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines by studying Maillard reaction and establish specific quality evaluation indexes according to the features of parched Chinese herbal pieces, and conducted relevant studies.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Maillard Reaction ; Quality Control

The present study aims to predict the action targets of antidepressant active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan to understand the "multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways" mechanism. Using network pharmacology, the reported antidepressant active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan (saikosaponin A, saikosaponin C, saikosaponin D, ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid and pachymic acid), were used to predict the targets of main active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan according to reversed pharmacophore matching method. The prediction was made via screening of the antidepressive drug targets approved by FDA in the DrugBank database and annotating the information of targets with the aid of MAS 3.0 biological molecular function software. The Cytoscape software was used to construct the Xiaoyaosan ingredients-targets-pathways network. The network analysis indicates that the active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan involve 25 targets in the energy metabolism-immune-signal transmutation relevant biological processes. The antidepressant effect of Xiaoyaosan reflects the features of traditional Chinese medicine in multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways. This research provides a scientific basis for elucidation of the antidepressant pharmacological mechanism of Xiaoyaosan.
Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; Coumaric Acids ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; Glucosides ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Lactones ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monoterpenes ; Sesquiterpenes ; Software

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) determination in CD4+ cells in cytomegalovirus pneumonia after renal transplantation.Methods The ATP level of CD4+ T cells was measured by ImmuKnowTM kit.The ATP levels were determined in 187 renal transplant recipients before and 30,60,90,180 days after operation,and at the time of CMV pneumonia and 4 weeks after treatment of CMV pneumonia.The associations between ATP levels and CMV pneumonia were analyzed.Analysis of variance (ANOVA),Pearson-Spearman and relative risks were used for data analysis.Results 17 cases out of 187 renal transplant recipients were diagnosed as CMV pneumonia (9.1％),and the onset of CMV pneumonia started on the (2.8 ±1.2)month after renal transplantation.ATP concentrations in CD4+ T cells were significantly lower after operation than those before operation (P＜0.01).ATP concentrations reached the lowest on the about postoperative day 90 (P＜0.05),then increased gradually.In 17 recipients with CMV pneumonia,the ATP levels before and 30,90 days after operation,at the time of CMV pneumonia and 4th week after treatment of CMV pneumonia were (376 ±182),(283 ± 146),(196 ± 112),(145 ± 102) and (236 ± 117) μg/L respectively.ATP levels at the time of CMV pneumonia were significantly lower than any other time points (P＜0.05).There was close correlation between ATP levels and CMV pneumonia.Conclusion The determination of ATP in CD4+ cells could reflect the status of cell-mediated immunity in renal transplant recipients,and could evaluate the severity and prognosis of CMV pneumonia and guide the clinical treatment.

Objective To assess the risk factors of postphlebitic syndrome(PS)after deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. Method In this study,102 DVT patients managed by conservative therapy were recruited.Data including age,sex,etiopathogenesis,anticoagulation,pathogenesis, elasticstocking therapy,degree of lower extremity exercise,INR,WBC,PT%and FIB were analyzed by single factor analysis and COX analysis. Result PS developed in 67.60%cases,single factor analysis shows:sex(P=0.025),anticoagulation(P=0.000),elastic-stocking therapy(P=0.000),degree of lower extremity exercises(P=0.000),INR(P=0.033),WBC(P=0.012),PT%(P=0.000),FIB(P=0.002)are related to the occurrence of PS.COX regression shows that anticoagulation(P=0.011),the degree of lower extremity exercise(P=0.019),elastic-stocking therapy(P=0.000)are related to PS.Age (P=0.299),etiopathogenisis(P=0.838)and pathogenesis(P=0.2 17)are not statistically PS related.Conclusion DVT is a multi-factors related disease.Multivariant analysis revealed that elastic-stocking (P=0.000),anticoagulation(P=0.011)and the degree of lower extremity exercises(P=0.019)are related to the development of PS.

4-Hydroxybenzoate (4HBA) is an important chemical compound used for synthesis of liquid crystal. Production of 4HBA from renewable resources is an effective mean to solve problems such as environmental pollution and petroleum shortage. This review briefly introduces the chemical synthesis of 4HBA from oil compounds, and mainly describes the progress in 4HBA biosynthesis from renewable resources by plants and microorganisms. In most intriguing aspect of plant-based synthesis of 4HBA is the appeal of directly synthesizing a chemical from CO2. However, the glucosylation system in plant cells converting 4HBA to glucose conjugates, causing the post treatment a problem. The recombinant microorganisms produce pure 4HBA, but less efficient. A new strain of Microbulbifer has ability to naturally accumulate 4HBA from glucose. Elucidation of the metabolic pathways and regulation systems would improve 4HBA synthesis efficiency.
Alteromonadaceae ; metabolism ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Glycosylation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Parabens ; metabolism ; Plants ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Sp3 in the transcriptional regulation of enamelin gene.

METHODSBy bioinformatic analysis, a putative responsive element for Sp3 was identified. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to examine the interaction between Sp3 and enamelin. 5'-flanking regulatory region of enamelin was cloned and ligated into pGL3-basic luciferase vector. Sp3 and the Enam-luc were cotransfected into mouse ameloblast-like cell line, and the activity of luciferase was examined.

RESULTSThe results showed that Sp3 could not directly bind to the enamelin regulation region and activate enamelin transcription.

CONCLUSIONSSp3 might not be involved in transcriptional regulation of enamelin gene via an indirect interaction.

5' Flanking Region ; genetics ; Ameloblasts ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Dental Enamel Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Luciferases ; Male ; Mice ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional ; Sp3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the action targets of ginseng (GS) and Panax notoginseng (PN), Chinese herbs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation, on angiogenesis signaling pathway (VEGFR-2-Ras-MAPK) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSTo block the signal pathway by turns, at the first, added the IC50 of VEGFR-2 inhibitor, SU5416, and detected its downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK expression using Western Blot. Secondly, added the IC50 of the Ras inhibitor, FPP, and detected its downstream signaling protein MAPK expression.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, adding SU5416 made the Ras, MAPK expression significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and adding FPP made the expression of MAPK significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the group treated by SU5416 alone, the expression of downstream signaling protein Ras, MAPK were significantly higher in the group treated by SU5416 plus GS and PN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); same state also found in comparison MAPK expression between groups treated with FPP alone and FPP plus GS and PN (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe angiogenesis mechanism of GS and PN on HUVEC may be realized by increasing the protein expression of three key signals, VEGFR-2, Ras and MAPK, respectively.

Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Panax ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; ras Proteins ; metabolism