Objective: Paris fargesii is an important medicinal plant and its secondary metabolites, steroidal saponins, synthesized by the mevalonate pathway are the active ingredients. The study on the gene of the key enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl- glutaryl-coenzyme A reductases (HMGR) in the mevalonate pathway is helpful for the regulation of steroidal saponins syntheses. Methods: In the basis of degenerate primers designed according to mRNA homologous conserved regions of 11 HMGRs from 11 plant species published on NCBI and total RNA extracted from the seedling of P. fargesii, a 404 bp fragment of HMGR was amplified by reverse transcription PCR technology, which is a new cDNA as searching in the Genbank. Results: Sequence analysis showed that the obtained fragment had 76%-81% identification compared with other seven plant species. The deduced amino acid seqence was predicted to have a wider and higher homology with other plants. Conclusion: Protein characteristic zones, conserved regions, and phylogenetic analysis by Prosite and ClustalX could give preliminary evidence for the existence of HMGR in P. fargesi, which is the report of HMGR gene isolated from the plants in Liliaceae for the first time.

Objective To investigate parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition therapy for esophageal cancer patients nutritional status improvement.Methods Totally 63 patients with esophageal cancer were chosen,preoperative Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) nutritional screening through joint after parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition therapy.Patients with intestinal tolerability and complications after surgery on days 1 and 7 days nutrition indicators were observed,including total serum protein,albumin,prealbumin,hemoglobin,and lymphocyte count.Results Preoperative risk malnutrition occurred in 39 patients.Compared to patients on day 1 after the first 7 days,serum levels had no significant difference in total protein.Albumin,prealbumin,hemoglobin,and lymphocyte counts were significantly different statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions NRS2002 for nutritional screening patients at risk of malnutrition can be determined,and the combined parenteral and enteral nutrition therapies can improve nutritional status of patients with esophageal cancer.

Purpose:To study the expression of the PS2 protein in breast cancer and the relationship with patient's clinical characterisitcs.Methods:PS2 protein was examined by immunocytochemistry in 50 patients with breast cancer. Results:The intensity of PS2 expression was directly related with histological grade,tumor size,lymph nodes metastasis,distant metastasis,pathological type and ER expression.Conclusions:PS2 can be used as a prognostic factor of breast cancer.

Objective To study the effect of nicotine on the expression of αvβ3 integrin in cultured neonatal bovine cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (BCMEC). Methods Flow cytometry was utilized to determine the cell ratio of in vitro cultured neonatal BCMECs adhesive to rat monocytes (MN), after the former were treated with nicotine prior to the incubation with MNs. The effect of niocotine on αvβ3 expression in BCMEC was observed with ELISA. Results In response to 10-5 mol/L ni cotine pretreatment, the adhesive cell ratio of BCMECs to MNs was increased (P<0.05) and enhanced αvβ3 expression was observed, in comparison with those when nicotine of lower concentrations were administered. In contrast, more obvious increase in the adhesive cell ratio and αvβ3 expression was observed when the pretreatment protocol with nicotine (10-7~10-5 mol/L) and IL-1β was adopted, and the effect of nicotine was concentration-dependent. The endothelial adhesion to MNs induced by nicotine and IL-β was obviously blocked by anti-αvβ3 integrin Ab. Conclusion Nicotine may increase the expression of αvβ3 integrin in BCMEC.

Objective To study the effect of nicotine on the expression of αvβ3 integrin in cultured neonatal bovine cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (BCMEC). Methods Flow cytometry was utilized to determine the cell ratio of in vitro cultured neonatal BCMECs adhesive to rat monocytes (MN), after the former were treated with nicotine prior to the incubation with MNs. The effect of niocotine on αvβ3 expression in BCMEC was observed with ELISA. Results In response to 10-5 mol/L ni cotine pretreatment, the adhesive cell ratio of BCMECs to MNs was increased (P<0.05) and enhanced αvβ3 expression was observed, in comparison with those when nicotine of lower concentrations were administered. In contrast, more obvious increase in the adhesive cell ratio and αvβ3 expression was observed when the pretreatment protocol with nicotine (10-7~10-5 mol/L) and IL-1β was adopted, and the effect of nicotine was concentration-dependent. The endothelial adhesion to MNs induced by nicotine and IL-β was obviously blocked by anti-αvβ3 integrin Ab. Conclusion Nicotine may increase the expression of αvβ3 integrin in BCMEC.

OBJECTIVETo observe the auxiliary efficacy and safety of Hebi Recipe (HR)in treating early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 63 early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony were randomly assigned to the treatment group [32 cases, treated by HR (one dose per day, taken in two portions for 24 successive weeks) plus Methotrexate (MTX)] and the control group (31 cases, treated by MTX alone). The dosage of MTX was increased from 7.5 mg to 12.5 mg, once per week, 24 weeks as one course of treatment. Efficacy for Chinese medical syndromes, American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) improvement rate, disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), laboratory related indices [ESR, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP)], and related ultrasonic inspection items (synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint), and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate (83.9%, 26/31 cases) and ACR20 improvement rate (74.2%, 23/31 cases) were higher in the treatment group than in the control group [60.7% (17/28 cases), 46.4% (13/28 cases); P < 0.05]. Compared with before treatment in the same group, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, ACR20 improvement rate, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Liver dysfunction occurred in 1 case of the treatment group. One leucopenia and 2 liver dysfunction occurred in the control group.

CONCLUSIONHR could effectively improve joints and systemic symptoms of early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Phytotherapy ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Antipsychotic Agents ; poisoning ; Clozapine ; blood ; poisoning ; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

To discuss the effect of environmental factors and photosynthesis on the growing of plant and the content of active components in Scutellaria baicalensis, the photosynthetic physiology index and diurnal changes of flavonoid constituent of S. Baicalensis were observed and tested in flowering and fruiting stages, and in the meantime environmental parameters were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed data by using path analysis and gray correlation analysis. The results showed that PAR and SWC were important environmental factors impacting on photosynthesis of S. baicalensis. SWC, RH and Ca were important environmental factors impacting on baicalin content. PAR, Po and Ta were important environmental factors impacting on baicalein content.
Environment ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

The study aims to solve the instability problem of methylphenidate (MPH) in plasma, and establish a LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determining of MPH in human plasma. The stabilities of MPH in different media were studied, and the degradation characteristics of MPH in these media were also investigated by HPLC and LC-MS/MS. To a 200 microL aliquot of freshly collected plasma sample, 10 microL 2% formic acid was added immediately to prevent the hydrolysis of MPH in human plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Sapphire C18 column using the mobile phase of methanol - 5 mmol.L-1 ammonium acetate buffer solution containing 0.1% formic acid (46 : 54). MPH was quantified by tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring. The detection used the transitions of protonated molecules at m/z 234.2-->84.1 for MPH and m/z 260.3-->183.1 for propranolol (IS), separately. The intra- and inter-assay precisions were all below 5.0%. The accuracies were all in standard ranges. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 0.035-40 ng.mL-1. The methods fulfilled the demand. The method was used to determine the concentration of MPH in human plasma after a single dose of 36 mg MPH tablet to 6 healthy Chinese volunteers. The method is suitable for the precisely determination of MPH and for pharmacokinetic study of MPH in human plasma.
Adult ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study is to explore depression metabolic markers in rat hippocampus and to investigate the anti-depressant effect of genipin and its mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabonomics. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was conducted to establish the depressive rat model. At the beginning of the third week, genipin low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)), middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)), high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)), and venlafaxine (50 mg x kg(-1)) were given to the CUMS rats separately once daily for two weeks except control and model groups. Rat hippocampus was analyzed by 1H NMR based metabonomics after drug administration for 2 weeks. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of rat hippocampus of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed with metabolic effects of CUMS including decreasing in glycine and N-acetylaspartate, increasing in inositol, glutamate, lactate, glutamine, taurine and alanine. Genipin showed ideal antidepressive effects at a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1) in rats, decrease of inositol, glutamate, lactate, alanine were observed, while glycine and N-acetylaspartate were increased. Important influence has been found on normal nervous system function of these significant changed metabolites, which suggests that the antidepressant effect of genipin may be played by enhancing the activity of neurons in hippocampus, repairing and improving the function of the neuron. The metabonomics approach is an effective tool for the investigation of the anti-depressant effect and pharmacologic mechanisms of genipin.
Alanine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Glycine ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley