OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Salvianolic acid B preconditioned endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on the Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 gene expressions at the early stage of cell differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSc) transplanted into infarcted myocardium, in order to find out the best synergism for co-transplantation of the two kinds of cells.

METHODSBMSc and EPCs of rats were isolated and cultured, and rats were modeled into acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by left coronary artery ligation. Then the EPCs preconditioned with different concentrations of Salvianolic acid B and BMSc or DMEM medium were implanted into heart ischemia area. Expressions of Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 mRNA expressions in myocardium were detected by Real-time RT-PCR 4 weeks later.

RESULTSCompared with those in the non-implanted model rats' myocardium, the gene expression of Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 mRNA were significantly higher in all the transplantation receptive groups, comparisons between the implanted groups showed that the highest value of expressions (2. 654 +/- 0.606 of Nkx2.5 and 1.573 +/- 0.372 of GATA-4) displayed in the group contained more EPCs, for 8-fold to BMSc in volume.

CONCLUSIONBMSc can differentiate into cardiac muscle like cells, and condition of their differentiation is related with the degree of the internal environment improved.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; transplantation ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

A reliable method for simultaneous determinition of eleven representative components (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, shanzhiside, geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide and secoxyloganin) in combination of chromatographic fingerpint analysis for Reduning injection was developed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The method was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 anlytical column (3. 0 mm x 100 mm, 1. 8 µm) with a guard column of Agilent UPLC Guard ZORBAX SB-C18 (3.0 mm x 5 mm) at the column temperature of 30 °C. The gradient mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A)-0. 1% phosphoric acid (B) with a flow rate of 0. 4 mL . min-1. The injection volumn was 2 µL. The detection wavelengths were set at 324 nm and 238 nm for quantit tive analysis and 225 nm for fingerpint chromatography. Neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, shanzhiside, geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide and secoxyloganin were baseline seperated with good linearity relationships (r >0. 999) between concentration and peak areas over the linear ranges. The average recoverys of the investigated compounds were 103.5%, 100. 2%, 103. 3%, 102. 8%, 101. 3%, 102. 8%, 97. 36%, 99. 62%, 98. 16%, 102. 8%, 99. 27%, respectively. Reduning injection of forty-five batches was analyzed by UPLC finge print chromatography. Thirty batches were selected to generate the reference fringerprint chromatography with fourteen common peaks. The similarity values between the reference fringerprint chromatography and the remaining fifteen batches were higher than 0. 99. The developed method was fast, accurate and sensitive. It could be used as a reference for the quality control of multiple components determination and fingerprint chromatography for Reduning injection in future.
Chlorogenic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate bi-directional modulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine on immunol cells.

METHODTwo different active portions were isolated from Kudzuvine Root(Radix puerariae), one being the ethanol extraction and another the water extraction. Different concentration of these two different portions was studied by using PMA stimulated lymphocyte or eosinophil initiated chemiluminescence system.

RESULTWater extraction of Kudzuvine Root could enhance chemiluminescence concentration dependently whereas enthanol extraction of Kudzuvine Root inhibited the chemiluminescence significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe bi-directional regulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine can be found in the same herb, because of its efficacy of different active compounds.

Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Water

Objective An analysis was conducted to investigate the iodine nutrition level of children aged 8 - 10 in low-coverage area of iodized salt of Yushu Qinghai province for providing a scientific basis for the development of effective preventive measures. Methods Yushu, Chengduo, Nangqian and Zaduo counties with higher non-iodized salt coverage rate in Yushu Qinghai province were chosen as survey counties in 2009. Three townships were selected in each county, and 2 primary schools were selected in each township and 40 urine samples of children aged 8-10 were collected randomly in each primary school. The content of urinary iodine was analyzed by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometery. Results Median urinary iodine of children aged 8 - 10 in Nangqian and Zaduo was < 100 μg/L. The percentage of median urinary iodine < 50 μg/L in Yushu was over 20%. Median urinary iodine of children aged 10 in Zaduo was 81.5 μg/L, the percentage of median urinary iodine < 50 μg/L of children aged 9 and 10 was over 20%. The percentage of median urinary iodine < 50 μg/L in children aged 9 and 10 of Yushu was over 20%. Median urinary iodine of girls in Zaduo was 87.1 μg/L, the percentage of median urinary iodine < 50 μg/L of boys in Zaduo was over 20%. The percentage of median urinary iodine < 50 μg/L of girls in Yushu was over 20%. Conclusions The iodine nutrition level of children aged 8 - 10 in Nangqian, Zaduo and Yushu counties were very low due to the impact of non-iodized salt. We propose salt market in the region to strengthen management and improve the coverage and consumption rates of iodized salt to improve the level of iodine nutrition for effective prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of fractional nitric oxide concentration in exhaled breath (FeNO) in assessing the level of asthma control in children.

METHODSA total of 226 asthmatic children were divided into controlled asthma (n= 86), partially controlled asthma (n=63), and uncontrolled asthma groups (n=77). Ninety healthy children were enrolled as controls. FeNO was measured for both asthmatic and healthy children using the Swedish-designed NIOX system.

RESULTSThe control group had an FeNO of 14±6 ppb, the controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 29±26 ppb, the partially controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 32±30 ppb, and the uncontrolled asthma group had an FeNO of 40±32 ppb. The three asthma groups showed significantly higher FeNO than the control group (P<0.05). The uncontrolled asthma group showed significantly higher FeNO than the controlled asthma group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in FeNO between the partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma groups and between the partially controlled and controlled asthma groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsthmatic children have significantly higher FeNO than healthy children, and FeNO is correlated with the level of asthma control.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of peptide mass fingerprinting for non-invasive differential diagnosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) from the non-IgA nephropathy (IgAN).?

METHODSAccording to the results of renal biopsy, 56 patients were divided into IgAN group (n=28) and non-IgAN group (n=28), and peptide mass fingerprints were acquired from these patients using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSNine different peptides were identified between IgAN and non-IgAN. The two most distinctive differentially expressed peptides, with peptide peak values of 4476.46 and 1968.10, showed area under curve values of 86.18% and 79.77%. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the accumulated explained variance of the first 8 differential peptides reached 95%, suggesting the feasibility of differential diagnosis of IgAN from non-IgAN. Comparison with the Matrix protein database identified the peptide with a relative molecular mass of 5338.08 as a fragment of mucin 4 inform and the 2082.77 peptide as fragment of α1-II type collagen inform.

CONCLUSIONMALDI-TOF MS is feasible for differential diagnosis of IgAN and non-IgAN and also has great potentials in the classification of the subtypes of other systemic diseases.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Mapping ; methods ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolic difference of body influenced by active stress and passive stress under special events.

METHODSTo detect serum multiple biochemistry index of 57 earthquake rescue medical team and 13 victims of a natural calamity in Wenchuan earthquake by using Hitachi 7600 automatic analyzer.

RESULTSStress affected biochemistry index deeply. To compared with rescue medical team, the serum ADA, ALP and TG of victims increased obviously and TP, ALB, MAO, Cr, UA, K, Na, Cl, Ca, ApoA1 and HDL decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONMany biochemistry index have been changed under stress and it relate with stress extent. The human body function status was better in active stress than in passive stress.

Blood Chemical Analysis ; China ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Metabolism ; physiology ; Rescue Work ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology

BACKGROUNDVaccinium uliginosum L. is a type of blueberry found in the Chinese Changbai Mountains. We extracted Vaccinium uliginosum Anthocyanins (A(V.uli)) to investigate its bioactivity on suppressing cancer cells.

METHODSA(V.uli) was extracted under different conditions of temperature (10°C - 35°C), pH 1.0 - 3.0, and diatomaceous earth (1.0 g - 3.0 g), followed by a HPLC analysis for the determination of the ingredients. Its anticancer bioactivities on human colon and colorectal cancer cells (DLD-1 and COLO205) were compared with those on Lonicera caerulea Anthocyanins (A(L.cae)) and Vaccinium myrtillus Anthocyanins (A(V.myr)), using cell viability assays, DNA electrophoresis and nuclear morphology assays.

RESULTSThe optimum process of A(V.uli) extraction involved conditions of temperature 20°C, pH 2.0, and diatomaceous earth 1.0 g/50 g of fruit weight. A(V.uli) contained 5 main components: delphinidin (40.70 ± 1.72)%, cyanidin (3.40 ± 0.68)%, petunidin (17.70 ± 0.54)%, peonidin (2.90 ± 0.63)% and malvidin (35.50 ± 1.11)%. The malvidin percentage was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than it in A(V.myr). A(V.uli) complied with a dose-dependent repression of cancer cell proliferation with an IC(50) (50% inhibitory concentration) value of 50 µg/ml, and showed greater anticancer efficiency than A(L.cae) and A(V.myr) under the same cell treatment conditions. These observations were further supported by the results of nuclear assays.

CONCLUSIONSThe extraction protocol and conditions we used were effective for anthocyanin extraction. A(V.uli) could be a feasible practical research tool and a promising therapeutic source to suppress human colon or colorectal cancers.

Anthocyanins ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blueberry Plants ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use

To investigate theological properties of common hydrophilic gel excipients such as Carbopol based on viscosity, the viscosity was determined by rotation method and falling-ball method. Linear regression was made between ln(eta) and concentration, the slope of which was used to explore the relation between viscosity and concentration of different excipients. The viscosity flow active energy (E(eta)) was calculated according to Arrhenius equation and was used to investigate the relation between viscosity and temperature of different excipients. The results showed that viscosities measured by two methods were consistent. Concentration of guargum (GG) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) solution had a great influence on the viscosity, k > 5; while concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone-K30 (PVP-K30) and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000) exerted a less effect on viscosity, k < 0.2; viscosity flow active energy of different excipients were close, which ranged from 30 to 40 kJ x mol(-1). Therefore, theological properties study could provide the basis for application of excipients and establish a foundation for the research of relation between excipients structure, property and function.
Excipients ; chemistry ; Gels ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyvinyls ; chemistry ; Povidone ; chemistry ; Rheology ; Temperature ; Viscosity