OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of dried whole plants of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and comparison of NMR data with those reported in literature.

RESULT15 compounds were isolated and identified to be 5-O-[(E)-Caffeoyl] quinic acid(l), 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(2), 4 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(3), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), methyl-3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(6), methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(7), 3,6'-O-diferuloylsucrose(8), 5'-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid(9), Scopoletin(10), scoparone (11), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxyacetophenone (12), chrysosplenol D (13), casticin (14), chrysosplenetin(15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 6, 8 and 9 are obtained from the Artemisia genus for the first time. Compounds 7 and 15 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Silica Gel

Objective To find out parental locus of control and mental health affecting students test anxiety. Methods The samples were from 5 middle schools including 1000 students,and their parents. They were investigated with the general life scales, Sarason's test anxiety scale, Symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90)and Parenting Locus of Control Scale(PLOC). Results The ratio of test anxiety: the mild was 28.8%, moderate was 45.0%, severe was 26.2% ,and felt anxiety was 55.8%. Ratio of test anxiety was higher in the boy students (X2=9.284, P =0.010) ,and heavier(F:16.42±6.70; M:15.18 ±6.51, t=2.716, P=0.007). Student test anxiety was significantly positively correlated with their parental mental health (r fatherl～11=0.166～0.272, Pfather l～11= 0.000;r mother 1～11=0.182～0.242, P mother 1～11= 0.000); Student test anxiety positively correlated with the effectiveness cof parents education, father's belief on the fate, eontrol of fathers for their children, locus of control from fathers (r1～5=0.075～0.143; P1-5=0.000～0.030);felt anxiety positively correlated with self-expect ,pressure from their mothers,over take care attitude from their parents,self-pressure from their parents( r1～6=0.068～0.230; P1-6=0.000～0.050) ,and negatively correlated with respect attitude of parents for their child, Marital relations,Communication time between the students and their parents,attitude of mother for learning( r1-7=-0.074～-0.140;P1～7=0.000～0.034). Felting test anxiety was served as a dependent factor, some factors enter the regression equation,and they were somatization of father, psychotic mother, the pressure from parents, mother over expectations, self-expectations ,the child control from student's father by Logistic regression analysis ( OR1～16=0.675～3.029;P1-6=0.000～0.007). Conclusion Students test anxiety is a common problem in male and female students. Mental health and locus of control from students' parents show test anxiety has somatization of father, psychotic mother, the pressure from parents, mother' expectations,self-expectations, the control of father for the child 6 risk factors.

OBJECTIVETo prepare a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) kit for clinical detection of IgM antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc).

METHODSImmunocapture method was used to develop the TRFIA kit for detection of the anti-HBc IgM antibodies, and the precision, cross-reactivity and sensitivity of the kit were tested with the clinical serum samples.

RESULTSThe intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of the TRFIA kit were 4.8%-7.2% and 7.5%-8.6%, respectively, and no cross-reactivity with anti-HBs, anti-HBc-IgG or anti-HBe was found. Comparison of the results of the TRFIA kit and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated greater sensitivity of the kit than ELISA in detecting the anti-HBc IgM antibodies in 584 serum samples. According to the detection results in 300 serum samples from healthy donors, the cutoff value of the TRFIA kit was 4.5 times of the fluorescence value of the negative control.

CONCLUSIONThis TRFIA kit for detecting anti-HBc IgM antibodies meets the demand for clinical application and can replace the ELISA kits.

Fluoroimmunoassay ; methods ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose (PGG) is one of the main active compounds of Guizhi Fuling capsule. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have high affinity toward template molecules synthesized by molecularly imprinted technology for its specific combined sites, which can overcome the shortcoming of traditional separation methods, such as complex operation, low efficiency, using large quantity of solvent and environmental pollution. In this paper, surface molecularly imprinted polymer (SMIP) was prepared by surface imprinting with PGG as the template molecule. Its adsorption capacity was measured by the scatchard equation. The separation of PGG from Guizhi Fuling capsule at preparatived scale was achieved with molecularly imprinted polymer as stationary phase and the purity was 90.2% by HPLC. This method can be used to prepare PGG from Guizhi Fuling capsule with large capacity and is easy to operate. It provides a new method for efficient separation and purification for other natural products.
Adsorption ; Capsules ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Imprinting ; Polymers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-complementary phenolic acids from Lonicera japonica.

METHODThe anti-complementary activity-directed isolation was carried out with the hemolysis test as guide. All isolation was evaluated for their in vitro anti-complementary activities. The structures were identified by various spectroscopic data including ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR data.

RESULTFourteen compounds were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of L. japonica extracts, including 8 phenolic acids: 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (1), chlorogenic (2), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7) and methyl caffeate acid (8); 3 iridoids: secologanoside (9), sweroside (10) and secoxyloganin (11); and 3 flavonoids: luteolin (12), quercetin (13) and kaempferol (14). Compounds 1-9 and 11-14 showed anti-complementary activity in different extents and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4) exhibited the most significant activity against the classical pathway.

CONCLUSIONCompound 14 is obtained from this plant for the first time, phenolic acids are the main anti-complementary constituents of L. japonica and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(4) is a potential complement inhibitor with strong activity, which worthy to be studied further in the future.

Complement Inactivating Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lonicera ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study whether N, N'-di-(m-methylphenyi)-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-dicarboamide (ZGDHu-1) inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human lung carcinoma cell line EBC-1 cells and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSDifferent concentrations of ZGDHu-1 and different times of culture were used to treat EBC-1 cells in vitro. The inhibition of proliferation was measured by BrdU-ELISA. Cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI staining and cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA. Phosphorylated p38MAPK and STAT3 were examined by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of bcl-2, bax, p53, Fas, and caspase-3 were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSZGDHu-1 inhibited EBC-1 cell proliferation within a certain range of treating times and does, with a 24 h IC(50) of (295 ± 25) ng/ml, 48 h of (112 ± 8) ng/ml and 72 h of (23 ± 2) ng/ml. The EBC-1 cell apoptosis was confirmed by Annexin V/PI labeling and cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA in a dose-related manner. When EBC-1 cells were treated with 50, 200, and 500 ng/ml ZGDHu-1 for 48 h, the expression rates of phosphor-p38MAPK protein were 67.4%, 88.2%, 91.1%, respectively, and that of the control was 10.6%. That of STAT3 protein were 56.5%, 43.6% and 34.6%, respectively, and that of the control was 89.1%. The expression of bax, p53 and Fas protein was significantly increased, that of bcl-2 was not changed, and that of caspase-3 was significantly decreased by the ZGDHu-1 treatment.

CONCLUSIONZGDHu-1 can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in EBC-1 cells. The mitochondrial pathway mediated by Fas may be one of its mechanisms. The apoptosis of EBC-1 cells may associate with up-regulation of phosphor-p38MAPK and down-regulation of phosphor-STAT3 in the cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Fragmentation ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Huperzine A is a potent,reversible,and blood-brain barrier permeable acetylcholinesterase irhibitor.The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics,tolerability,and bioavailability of two formulations with the established reference formulation of huperzine A in a fasting,healthy Chinese male population.This was a randomized,single-dose,3-period,6-sequence crossover study.The plasma concentrations of huperzine A were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Tolerability was assessed based on subject interview,vital sign monitoring,physical examination,and routine blood and urine tests.The mean (SD) pharmacokinetic parameters of the reference drug were Cmax,1.550 (0.528) ng/mL;t1/2,12.092 (1.898) h;AUC0-72h,17.550 (3.794) ng.h/mL.Those of the test formulation A and test formulation B were Cmax,1.412 (0.467),1.521 (0.608) ng/mL;t1/2,12.073 (2.068),12.271 (1.678) h;AUC0-72h,15.286 (3.434) ng.h/mL,15.673 (3.586) ng.h/mL.The 90％ confidence intervals for the AUC0-72h and Cmax were between 0.80 and 1.25.No adverse events were reported by the subjects or found with results of clinical laboratory test.The test and reference products met the regulatory criteria for bioequivalence in these fasting,healthy Chinese male volunteers.All three formulations appeared to be well tolerated.

Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of insulin on paraquat-induced PC12 cells. Methods Based on the Part (insulin can protect the paraquat-induced PC12 cells), immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were employed to observe the protein expressions of INR Tyr~(1162/1163) and AktSer~(473) in the group of normal PC12 cells, group of insulin interfered PC12 cells, group of PQ-induced PC12 cells and group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells, respectively. Results Group of insulin interfered PCI2 cells and group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells showed expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163), while the other groups without insulin intervention did not show the expression of that. The expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163) in the group of insulin interfered PC12 cells was higher than that in the group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells, but statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of phosphorylation protein AktSer~(473) in the group of insulin interfered PC 12 cells was obviously higher than that in the group of PQ combined with insulin interfered PC12 cells (P<0.05). Conclusion The increased expression of phosphorylation protein INR Tyr~(1162/1163) and AktSer~(473) might be one of the clues in proving that insulin may have the protective effect on PC12 cells.

Objective To summarize the treatment principle of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating Bi-impediment syndrome from the application rules of meridians and acupoints in Ming-Qing Dynasties by sorting out and analyzing the Chinese medicine literatures about acupuncture-moxibustion for Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties, for providing literature evidence for basic and clinical research of Bi-impediment syndrome.Method Via electronic retrieval ofZhong Hua Yi Dian (Zhen Jiu Tui Na Lei) (Chinese Medical Encyclopedia,Chapter of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina), the data related to Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties were extracted to establish a database categorized by meridians and acupoint features in Excel for analysis.Result There were 267 items of records about acupuncture-moxibustion in treating Bi-impediment syndrome in Ming-Qing Dynasties, involving the fourteen ordinary meridians, and 131 acupoints including 5 extra points; the frequency of using the Gallbladder Meridian ranked the top, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian; points from the Bladder Meridian were predominant, followed by the Gallbladder Meridian; there were 28 commonly-used acupoints (frequency>5), which were Quchi (LI 11, 26 times), Huantiao (GB 30, 23 times), Hegu (LI 4, 22 times), Chize (LU 5, 16 times),Yanglingquan (GB 34, 15 times), and Weizhong (BL 40, 14 times). Of the specific acupoint, the five Shu points were most frequently used, with a frequency of 217.Conclusion In the treatment of Bi-impediment syndrome with acupuncture-moxibustion, doctors in Ming and Qing Dynasties selected yang meridians more often than yin meridians, and Gallbladder, Large Intestine and Bladder Meridians had comparatively higher frequencies; regarding the application of acupoints, the specific acupoints were often used, especially the five Shu acupoints. The study results provide reference for acupoint selection in the treatment of Bi-impediment syndrome with acupuncture-moxibustion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters.

METHODSWe collected 535 semen samples, assessed sperm DNA damage by sperm chromatin dispersion test, and analyzed the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters according to the WHO criteria.

RESULTSStatistically significant differences were observed in sperm DNA damage among sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (P < 0.01). Sperm DNA damage was positively correlated with age, sperm-nucleoprotein transition, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade d sperm (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with acrosin activity (P < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, sperm concentration, the percentage of grade d sperm, sperm-nucleoprotein transition and acrosin activity were independent variables related to the DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The abnormality rates of sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and graded a + b sperm were significantly higher in the sperm DNA damage group (DFI > or = 30%) than in the normal control (DFI < 30%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA damage is closely related with sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity and seminal parameters, which may become another important independent parameter for the evaluation of sperm quality.

Acrosin ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromatin ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Nucleoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa