The individuality of mangrove ecotope determined the diversity and specificity of symbiotic microorganisms and their metabolites. However, being confined by the knowledge and cultivation means, the field on mangrove symbiotic microorganisms was on starting. In this paper, the progresses on symbiotic microorganisms of mangrove were reviewed, which hint the essentiality and trends of that field.

OBJECTIVETo systematically review the efficacy and safety of sodium ferulate (SF) for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

METHODSBy computerized retrieving the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM (theses, conference and internet materials), as well as data from internet materials regarding randomized controlled clinical trials of sodium ferulate for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy were collected completely. Data were strictly extracted using the simple evaluation method recommended in Cochrane Handbook and Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.0 software.

RESULTSFourteen randomized controlled trials involving 906 patients met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that as compared with the control group, the effects in SF group were superior in terms of reducing urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) at early stage [WMD = 16.08, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 11.01 to 21.15] and clinical stage (WMD = 82.66, 95% CI: 66.95 to 98.37), urinary endothelin/endothelin-1 (ET/ET-1, WMD = 10.78, 95% CI: 8.18 to 13.39), levels of serum creatinine (SCr, WMD = 6.42, 95% CI: 1.83 to 11.01), blood urea nitrogen (BUN, SMD = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.71) and total cholesterol (TC, WMD = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.21, as well as in increasing high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, WMD = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.26), showing significant difference between groups. However, the effects of SF were insignificantly different to those of control in reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG, WMD = 0.17, 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.37) and triglyceride (TG, SMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.49 to 0.23).

CONCLUSIONSAt present the evidences show that SF is superior to the conventional treatment in reducing UAER, ET, SCr, BUN, TC and increasing HDL-C, but there is no evidence to show that SF is superior in reducing FBG and TG. However, the evidence is not strong enough due to the low quality of included literature. More large-scale, multi-center, randomized trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of SF in treating diabetic nephropathy.

Coumaric Acids ; therapeutic use ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Phytotherapy

A series of 2-(3-butynoicamidophenyl)benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized starting from 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid. Structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR and HR-MS. Their antitumor activities against human tumor cells lines (HCT116, Mia-PaCa2, U87-MG, A549, NCI-H1975) were evaluated by MTT assay. The results revealed that most of the synthesized compounds showed potent activities against HCT116, Mia-PaCa2, U87-MG tumor cells lines. Particularly, compounds 14c and 14h exhibited better activity with IC50 values of 1 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1) against U87-MG and HCT116 respectively. The structure-activity relationship of compounds was also discussed preliminarily.

BACKGROUND: Proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is associated with platelet concentration in platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Low enrich multiple cannot reach proper effects, but high level had inhibitory effects on osteoanagenesis.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different volume fraction of PRP on dog BMSC proliferation.DESIGN: A cytological in vitro study.MATERIALS: Healthy 12-month male Beagle dogs were supplied by the Experimental Animal Center, Xiangya Medical College,Central South University.METHODS: Dog BMSCs of 5 passage were adjusted to 3×10~8/L, and incubated in a 96-well plate at 200 μL per well. Following 24 hours of routine culture, primary medium and non-adherent cells were discarded. Prepared PRP gel was mixed with serum-free low-glucose DMEM containing penicillin and streptomycin, and then diluted into 5%, 6.25%, 7.5%, 8.75%, 10% volume fraction. 200 μL above-described liquid was added into the 96-well plate, which was subsequently placed in a incubator.We set up a blank control.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: MTT was used to investigate effect of different volume fraction of PRP on dog BMSC proliferation.RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, various volume fraction of PLP could promote dog BMSC proliferation in early stage. With prolonged time, proliferation speed began to increase at day 6 in the 8.75% and 10% PRP groups, entering platform stage. BMSC number was increased rapidly in the 5% and 6.25% PRP groups, especially in the 6.25% PRP group.CONCLUSION: PRP gel could promote BMSC proliferation markedly and proliferation strength of BMSCs was correlated to the density of PRP. BMSC proliferation would be accelerated by the low density of PRP.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains abundant growth factors that were needed for osteanagenesis. Moreover,the proportion of each growth factor formed by an organism, with good synergism.OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of PRP on osteogenetic activity of canine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) after induction in vitro.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The in vitro cytological experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June 2007 to February 2008.MATERIALS: Healthy 12-month male Beagle dogs were supplied by the Experimental Animal Center, Xiangya Medical College,Central South University.METHODS: The 3~(rd) generation BMSCs were collected and divided into 4 groups. BMSCs in the control group were incubated in standard medium. BMSCs in the osteogenetic induction medium group were incubated in high-glucose DMEM containing fetal calf serum, dexamethasone, beta-sodium glycerophosphate and vitamin C. BMSCs in the PRP group were incubated in low-glucose DMEM containing 6.25% PRP. BMSCs in the combination group were incubated in high-glucose DMEM containing 6.25% PRP, dexamethasone, beta-sodium glycerophosphate, and vitamin C.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Alkaline phosphatase activities were measured. Expression of collagen type I was examined by immunocytochemical staining. Calcium tuberoses were labeled using modified Von Kossa staining. Expression of osteocalcin mRNA was examined by RT-PCR.RESULTS: Levels of alkaline phosphates of all groups became increased along with time. The alkaline phosphates level of combination group was strongest (P < 0.05). Following 7 and 14 days of induction, type I collagen expressed positively in the osteogenetic induction medium and combination groups, but negatively in the PRP and control groups. Following 14 days,formation of calcium nodules were found in the osteogenetic induction medium and combination groups. Following 7 and 14 days,expression of osteocalcin mRNA were similar between the control and PRP groups (P > 0.05), which was significantly lower than the osteogenetic induction medium and combination groups (P < 0.05). Expression of osteocalcin mRNA was significantly lower in the osteogenetic induction medium group compared with the combination group (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: PRP gel can effectively promote osteoblastic effect of BMSCs after induction in vitro following induction in osteogenetic medium.

A novel series of benzyl urea analogues based on the structural modification of sorafenib were synthesized. Their in vitro antitumor activities against MX-1, HepG2, Ketr3 and HT-29 were evaluated using the standard MTT assay. While several target compounds showed inhibitory activity against multiple cancer cell lines, compound 9 was of particular interest, demonstrating IC50 values (5.69-13.6 micromol x L(-1)) comparable to those of sorafenib. Furthermore, compounds 20 and 23 showed more potent inhibitory activity against HT-29 and MX-1 when compared to sorafenib. In particular, compound 20 bearing the N-3-pyridyl moiety not only exhibited greater inhibitory activity against HT-29 cell line (IC50 3.82 micromol x L(-1)), but also had improved solubility at pH 7.2, is worthy of further investigation as a lead to identify novel antitumor agents.

Objective Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a life-threatening neonatal disease during perinatal stage. Since excitatory amino acids (EAAs) and their receptors are involved in the pathogenesis. Sodium hydroxybutyrate ( r-OH ), an intermediate metabolite of GABA, may have beneficial effects on HIBD. Methods One-hundred seven-day (7d) SD rat pups were randomly assigned to one of three groups:(Ⅰ) control group (n= 20);(Ⅱ) sham operation group (n=20)and (Ⅲ) r-OH group which was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the dose of r-OH 50 mg?kg-1 (r-OH1) (n=20),100 mg?kg-1 (r-OH2) (n=20),200mg?kg-1 (r-OH3) ( n=20).Animals in control group and r-OH group were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by 2 h of hypoxia (O2 :N2=8%:92%).Normal saline ( NS) was administered ip immediately after sham operation or hypoxia,then 3 times a day for 7 days in group Ⅰ and Ⅱ.In r-OH group r-OH was administered ip instead of NS. Brain damage was evaluated by survival rate, pathology, the ratio of weight of left to right hemisphere on the 28 th day after ischemia-hypoxia and the capacity of learning and memory using Y-Maze test. Results (1) The survival rate on the 28 th day after hypoxia or sham operation was significant lower in control group (60%) than that in the other groups (85%-95% ) (P

A series of 2-(3-butynoicamidophenyl)benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized starting from 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid. Structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR and HR-MS. Their antitumor activities against human tumor cells lines (HCT116, Mia-PaCa2, U87-MG, A549, NCI-H1975) were evaluated by MTT assay. The results revealed that most of the synthesized compounds showed potent activities against HCT116, Mia-PaCa2, U87-MG tumor cells lines. Particularly, compounds 14c and 14h exhibited better activity with IC50 values of 1 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1) against U87-MG and HCT116 respectively. The structure-activity relationship of compounds was also discussed preliminarily.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Benzothiazoles ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Nitrobenzoates ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tribuli saponins (TS) on left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats with hyperlipemia.

METHODSA composite model of myocardial infarction and hyperlipemia was established and treated with TS to observe its effect on cardiac structure and function by echocardiography.

RESULTS(1) Cardiac function: As compared with the model group, the fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) got increased, and the left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and systolic volume (LVESV) got lower in the groups treated with high dose TS and simvastatin (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but difference between the two treated groups was insignificant. (2) Cardiac structure: As compared with the model group, the left ventricular dimension end diastole (LVDd) and systole (LVDs) in the groups treated with high dose TS and simvastatin got lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No treatment showed any effect on the thickness of ventricular wall. (3)Ventricular weight index: Both high dose TS and simvastatin could decrease the left ventricular weight index (LVWI) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTS could attenuate the left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction to certain extent, and improve cardiac function in the early phase after AMI, thus playing an important role in controlling morbidity and mortality of cardiac events and long-term prognosis.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Tribulus ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Risk Assessment ; Workplace