Four triterpenoids were isolated and purified from the 95% ethanol extract of Maytenus guangxiensis by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, MCI column chromatography and preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were determined from their physicochemical properties and spectral data. They were identified as maytguanone A (1), maytguanone B (2), 11α-methoxyurs-12-ene-1β,3β-diol (3), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,11α-diol (4). Compounds 1 and 2 are new triterpenoids, along with compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from M. guangxiensis for the first time. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 3 and 4 was evaluated using the MTT procedure with three cancer cell lines. The results show that compound 3 displayed good inhibitory effects against HeLa, with an IC₅₀ of 10.68 μmol·L^-1.

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence of skeletal and/or articular malformations in central core disease (CCD) patients, and their risk of malignant hyperthermia (MH) in orthopedics. Methods28 unrelated patients with central core disease collected in the past 23 years were analyzed retrospectively. Results22 patients showed limb muscle weakness, while 6 patients didn't show any clinical symptom. Skeletal and/or articular malformations appeared in 21 patients, including joint contracture in 11, joint dislocation in 9, scoliosis in 12, lordosis in 5 and thoracic deformity in 1. 6 of the 10 patients could not endure orthopedic operation because of MH attack or dubitable MH attack. Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) test performed on other 8 patients with MH family history or MH attack showed all those patients were MH susceptibilities. ConclusionSkeletal and/or articular malformations are common in CCD, as well as MH attack in orthopedics.

Objective To study the effects of airborne particles exposure on the micronucleus frequency of human binucleate lymphocytes. Methods Airborne particles were collected at a residential area of Taiyuan city with classification air samplers.The organic substance was extracted by dichloromethane acetone and methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Four metals,Ni Pb Cd and Cr in airborne particles were extracted by 1∶1 nitric acid and determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.The mutagenicity of the extracts of airborne particles was studied with cytokinesis-locking assay. Results The content of airborne particles in the area was 0.791 9 mg/m3exceeded the related standard by 4.28 times. The small particles contained more metals elements and organic substances than the big particles. The extracts of airborne particles induced a significant increase in micronucleus production P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tangzhiping Granule (TZPG) on blood lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) in rats with insulin resistant diabetes (IRD).

METHODSA blank control group consisted of randomly selected normal rats was set up. The remaining rats were established to IRD model by high-fat high-sugar diet feeding and streptozotocin injection. Then the 32 successfully modeled rats were randomized into the model group (treated by saline), the Tangmaikang group (treated with Tangmaikang Granule 1.35 g/kg), and the two TZPG groups treated with high dose (2.70 g/kg) and low dose TZPG (1.35 g/kg) respectively through intragastric infusion for 4 weeks. The body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (INS), blood lipids including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and FFA were detected, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) calculated.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, BW, FBG and INS increased while ISI decreased in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All the above-mentioned abnormal indices were improved in the three treated groups (Tangmaikang, high and low dose TZPG group), but the improvements in the high dose TZPG group were more significant than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similar outcomes were also seen in blood lipids detection, in which TG, TC, LDL-C and FFA were higher and HDL-C were lower in model rats than those in blank controls, they were improved in the three treated groups (P < 0.05), and the best improvements were seen in the high dose TZPG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTZPG could reduce levels of BW, FBG, INS, TC, TG, LDL-C and FFA, and increase levels of ISI and HDL-C in rat model of insulin resistant type 2 diabetes, so as to improve the insulin resistance in them.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; blood ; Female ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the rehabilitation effects ergometry on COPD patients.

METHODSThirty COPD out-patients in our Hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups. Rehabilitation group, 15 patients, performed leg ergometry exercise of 80% peak Watt x 30min/d x 3d/w x 12w. Another 15 patients were control group without exercise. All patients received conventional therapy. Pulmonary function testing (PFT), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), Borg and CAT sores were done at both baseline and 12 w.

RESULTSThere was no statistically difference in lung function testing, blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise test when pre- exercises between 2 sub-groups. The IC, peak VO2 and peak, W of rehabilitation group significantly increased (P < 0.05); and Borg and CAT.scores significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from baseline; and other PFT and ABG did not change (P > 0.05). While there was no difference in control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLeg submaximal ergometry rehabilitation improves health condition and ameliorate dyspnea symptoms in COPD patients.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Dyspnea ; therapy ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; therapy ; Respiratory Function Tests

Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; adverse effects ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Lactamases ; chemistry ; genetics

To study the dynamic change law of bioactive constituents from Polygonum multiflorum, and to explore the optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum. Determination of stilhene glucoside, anthraquinones and catechin from P. multiflorum in different harvest times by MEKC-DAD, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to comprehensive evaluation for bioactive constituents. There are obvious differences among the contents of active ingredients in various collecting periods samples, the content of stilbene glucoside was the highest in November, the total content of combined anthraquinone was the highest in November and December, the content of catechin was the highest in September. The comprehensive evaluation index obtained with principal component analysis showed that the sample collected in November is significantly higher than those with other samples. The optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum is November.
Electrophoresis ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo reveal the allelic frequencies and haplotype frequencies of fourteen Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a Tibetan population.

METHODSThe Y-chromosomal STR loci were analyzed from 126 healthy unrelated autochthonous male individuals of Chinese Tibetan using a multiplex PCR system. Allele and haplotype frequencies for these loci were determined by the AmpFISTR Y filer PCR Amplification kit.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-one alleles were detected from the 14 STR loci. The allele diversity values (DP) for each locus ranged from 0.4104 (DYS391) to 0.9489 (DYS385a, b), the DP value of these loci were higher than 0.5 except for that of DYS391. A total of 105 haplotypes were identified in the Y-STR loci, among which 103 were unique, while two occurred more than once. The overall haplotype diversity for the Y-STR loci was 0.9998, and the discrimination capacity was 0.9898.

CONCLUSIONThe 14 STR loci above belong to loci of high discriminating ability, the haplotypes are highly polymorphic.

Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of tanshinone II A on the cell signal transduction system protein kinase B (Akt) in rats with hypertrophy of the myocardium induced by partial constriction of the thoracic aorta.

METHODSRat models of myocardial hypertrophy were established by the thoracic aorta partial constriction method. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, the model group, the valsartan treatment group, and the low-, medium-, and high-dose tanshinone treatment groups. The heart mass index (HMI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), and interventricular septal thickness (IVS) were detected by high-frequency ultrasonography. The myocardial fiber diameter (MFD) was detected by HE staining, and the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta in the myocardium were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operative group, the levels of HMI, LVMI, LVPW, IVS, and MFD were increased respectively in the other groups (P<0.05); the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta were also increased in the other groups. Compared with the model group, the levels of HMI, LVMI, LVPW, IVS, and MFD were decreased respectively in all treatment groups (P<0.05); the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta were decreased in all treatment groups as well. There was no significant difference, however, among the low-, medium-, and high-dose tanshinone treatment groups and the valsartan treatment group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II A can prevent myocardial hypertrophy by its action on the protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; enzymology ; prevention & control ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects