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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

OBJECTIVE Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is an official plant that grows in arid or semi-arid areas.Our early work demonstrated that Cistanche extracts protect against sperm damage in mice under bisphenol A induced reproductive damage. Echinacoside (ECH)is one of the major active components. The present study investigated the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of ECH against oligoasthenospermia in rat and identified the interaction between ECH and AR. METH-ODS The distribution of ECH was assayed by HPLC,the quantity and quality of sperm was evaluated and hormone levels were determined by radioimmunosorbent assay. The levels of androgen receptor (AR)and key steroidogenic-related genes were reduced as determined by Western blotting and qPCR analysis.The interaction between ECH and AR were evaluated by fluorescence localization assay,indi-rect ELISA and molecular docking. RESULTS ECH significantly increased the quantity of sperm and secretions of luteinizing hormone and testosterone.ECH was distributed to the hypothalamus but not in the testes.ECH combined with hypothalamic AR in the pocket of Met-894 and Val-713 to inhibit transfer of AR from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the hypothalamus.While negative feedback of sex hormone regula-tion was inhibited, positive feedback was stimulated to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone subsequently enhancing the quantity of sperm. C. militaris significantly alleviated the BPA-induced reproductive damage by increasing testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and glutathione (GSH); as well as by reducing serum malondialdehyde (MDA). C. militaris not only obviously enhanced the levels of serum LH and T, but it also improved the sperm count and motility compared to the BPA-treated group.CONCLUSION C.militaris and ECH protect the BPA induced reproductive damage.ECH blocks AR activity in the hypothalamus to increase the quantity of sperm and protect against oligoasthenospermia in rats.

Objective To explore the incidence and clinical characteristics of Han and Uygur pa- tients with ulcerative colitis(UC)in xinjiang.Methods Six hundred and ninty nine patients with UC from 2000 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to ethnic back- ground,including 522 Han patients and 177 Uygur patients.General data,age,clinical manifestation,le- sion range,lesion degree and complications were recorded in the 2 groups respectively.Results The detec- tion rate of UC by endoscopy in Urgur group was higher than that in Han group(P

Objective To study the association between Mycoplasma penetrans (Mpe) infection and clinicopathology of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods Blood samples of 118 IgAN patients, 90 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 89 healthy people were collected. Mpe DNA in serum was detected by PCR and positive samples were confirmed by Southern blotting. According to Mpe infection, IgAN patients were divided into positive and negative groups. Association between clinicopatholgical features of IgAN and Mpe infection was examined.Results Significantly higher Mpe positive rate was found in IgAN group as compared to CKD and healthy groups (16.0% vs 2.2% and 1.1%, P＜0.01). In Mpe positive group, 42.1% patients presented macroscopic hematuria, which was significantly higher than that in Mpe negative group (P＜0.01). While Mpe negative group had greater proteinuria, higher serum creatinine level, higher Lee grading of pathology compared to Mpe positive group. There were no differences of tubulointerstitial lesions and arteriole hypertrophy between two groups. Conclusions IgAN patients have higher Mpe infection rate than CKD patients and healthy people. Mpe positive IgAN patients have more macroscopic hematuria. Mpe infection may be associated with the pathogenesis of IgAN.