This study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities of flavans from flex centrochinensis S. Y. Hu in vitro and their structure-activity relationship. LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage was used as inflammatory model. MTT assay for cell availability, Griess reaction for nitric oxide (NO) production, the content of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and PGE, were detected with ELISA kits; DPPH, superoxide anion and hydroxyl free radicals scavenging activities were also investigated. According to the result, all flavans tested exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in different levels. Among them, compounds 1, 3, 4 and 6 showed potent anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NO, TNF-alpha, IL-lp and IL-6, of which 1 was the most effective inhibitor, however, 2 and 5 were relatively weak or inactive. The order of free radical scavenging activities was similar to that of anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, these results suggest that 3, 4 and 6, especially of 1, were,in part responsible for the anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activity of Ilex centrochinensis. Hydroxyl group at 4'-position of B-ring plays an important role in the anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging capacities.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ilex ; chemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Objective To study the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) and hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and mental behaviors of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods During the period from 2014 January to 2016 January,20 subjects were selected from inpatients of the third hospital of yunnan porvince,before and after treatment,the plasma levels of Hcy and hs-CRP in patients with AD were tested by enzymatic methods.The pathological behavior rating scale (concerns-AD) was used to estimate the treatment effect.Results There were significant differences in the mental behavior score and Hcy and CRP levels between the before and after the treatment in AD patients (P＜0.01) Conclusion Plasma levels of Hcy and CRP have correlation with mental behaviors of patients with AD.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and the related factors of allergic rhinitis in Xinjiang College students.Methods Five universities'students in Urumqi were chosen as the research subjects,the question-naire survey was conducted by the method of cluster sampling,and the results were analyzed.Results 1 609 ques-tionnaires were valid from 2 000 questionnaires.The prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis was 36.8% in the five univer-sities in Urumqi.Prevalence rate increased with grade.The prevalence rates of drinking,regular cleaning nasal cavity, scrubbing their nose in allergic rhinitis were 43.2%,40.7%,53.8% respectively,which were higher than those in not drinking,not regular cleaning nasal cavity,not scrub nose,the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =6.945,9.679,100.845,all P <0.05 ).There was no significant differences in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among college students and gender,nationality and BMI(all P >0.05).Conclusion Allergic rhinitis not only closely related to the grades and the environmental factors,but also has some connections with living habits(drink,clean nasal cavity and scrub noses).

OBJECTIVETo establish determination method of formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and succinic acid in dental plaque with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

METHODSAfter the samples were centrifuged, 2 microL supernatant was transferred to a 1 mL centrifuge tube and diluted in water, then was determined with HPLC. The mixture of phosphate buffer and methanol (97:3) as mobile phase throughout the experiment. The determination of organic acid was performed on Phenomenex C18 column and at their maximum absorption wave.

RESULTSThe linear ranges of formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and succinic acid were 0.110-500, 0.049-500, 0.047-500, 0.084-500 microg/mL. The detection limits were 0.110, 0.049, 0.047, 0.084 microg/mL. The relative standard derivation were 9.5%, 7.9%, 4.3%, 4.2%. The average recoveries of samples were 82%-112%, 82%-102.5%, 90%-115%, 80%-110%.

CONCLUSIONThe method was simple, quick and adapt for analysis of organic acid in dental plaque.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dental Plaque ; Formates

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sensory neuropeptide substance P combined with epidermal stem cells (ESC) on wound healing and nerve regeneration in diabetic rats.

METHODSESC that had been isolated from SD rats were identified and cultured in vitro, and they were inoculated onto nourishing layer of amniotic membrane to construct amniotic membrane-ESC. Four full-thickness skin wounds were produced on the back of each of 48 diabetic rats. The resulted 192 wounds were randomly divided into ESC + substance P group, ESC group, substance P group, and control group according to the lottery method, with 48 wounds in each group. Wounds in ESC + substance P group and ESC group were transplanted with amniotic membrane-ESC, and those in substance P group and control group were transplanted with amniotic membrane. After transplantation, 250 µL substance P in the concentration of 1 × 10(-7) mol/L was injected around and into the middle of the wounds in ESC + substance P group and substance P group, 2 times a day, and continued for 4 days, while 250 µL PBS solution was injected in the above-mentioned position in ESC group and control group as control, 2 times a day, and continued for 4 days. On post injury day (PID) 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 23, the wound healing rate (with 8 wounds at each time point) was observed and determined, and changes in wound tissue structure were observed with HE staining. On PID 4, 7, and 10, collagen distribution in wound tissue was observed with Masson staining, and type I and type III collagen deposition in wound tissue was respectively observed after immunohistochemical staining. The distribution of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and regeneration of substance P positive nerve fibers in wound tissue were observed with immunohistochemical staining on PID 14 and 23. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test.

RESULTS(1) The wound healing rate in ESC + substance P group reached 100.0% on PID 14, which was obviously earlier than that in ESC group, substance P group, and control group, healing was respectively observed on PID 17, 17, and 23. The wound healing quality in ESC + substance P group was better than that in the other three groups as shown by HE staining. (2) On PID 10, collagen that was darkly stained and widely distributed was observed in wound tissue of ESC + substance P group and substance P group, while collagen in the other two groups was lightly stained and narrowly distributed. Deposition quantity of type I collagen gradually increased, and that of type III collagen gradually decreased in the wounds of each group over time. On PID 4, 7, and 10, distribution amount of type I collagen in wound tissue of ESC + substance P group was significantly higher than that in ESC group (with t value respectively 32.72, 118.21, 26.71, P values all below 0.01) and control group (with t value respectively 44.37, 22.76, 30.32, P values all below 0.01), while there was no significance between ESC + substance P group and substance P group. On PID 4, 7, and 10, distribution amount of type III collagen in wound tissue of ESC + substance P group was significantly higher than that in ESC group (with t value respectively 32.27, 28.68, 14.51, P values all below 0.01) and control group (with t value respectively 35.68, 22.52, 22.24, P values all below 0.01). (3) A large amount of PGP 9.5 and regeneration of substance P positive nerve fibers, and some peripheral nerve fibers in deep wound extending to epidermis were observed in wound tissue of ESC + substance P group and substance P group. A small amount of PGP 9.5 and regeneration of substance P positive nerve fibers without peripheral nerve fibers extending to epidermis were observed in deep wound tissue of ESC group and control group. On PID 14, 23, ratios of area of PGP 9.5 positive nerve fiber in the wounds of ESC + substance P group were (3.86 ± 0.25)% and (7.03 ± 0.28)%, and they were significantly higher than those of ESC group [(1.48 ± 0.30)%, (3.01 ± 0.43)%, with t value respectively 23.95, 30.27, P values all below 0.01] and control group [(1.46 ± 0.23)%, (2.84 ± 0.29)%, with t value respectively 27.35, 40.32, P values all below 0.01]. On PID 14, 23, ratios of substance P positive nerve fiber area in the wounds of ESC + substance P group were (2.01 ± 0.14)% and (1.19 ± 0.11)%, which were obviously higher than those of ESC group [(0.85 ± 0.17)%, (1.34 ± 0.21)%, with t value respectively 20.50, 2.60, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01] and control group [(0.74 ± 0.15)%, (1.30 ± 0.17)%, with t value respectively 23.98, 2.41, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSJoint application of substance P and ESC can effectively promote healing of wound and nerve regeneration in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Substance P ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Wound Healing

One approach to apply precision agriculture to optimize crop production and environmental quality is identifying management zones. In this paper, the variables of soil electrical conductivity (EC) data, cotton yield data and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data in an about 15 ha field in a coastal saline land were selected as data resources, and their spatial variabilities were firstly analyzed and spatial distribution maps constructed with geostatistics technique. Then fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm was used to define management zones, fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) were used to determine the optimal cluster numbers. Finally one-way variance analysis was performed on 224 georeferenced soil and yield sampling points to assess how well the defined management zones reflected the soil properties and productivity level. The results reveal that the optimal number of management zones for the present study area was 3 and the defined management zones provided a better description of soil properties and yield variation. Statistical analyses indicate significant differences between the chemical properties of soil samples and crop yield in each management zone, and management zone 3 presented the highest nutrient level and potential crop productivity, whereas management zone 1 the lowest. Based on these findings, we conclude that fuzzy c-means clustering approach can be used to delineate management zones by using the given three variables in the coastal saline soils, and the defined management zones form an objective basis for targeting soil samples for nutrient analysis and development of site-specific application strategies.
Cluster Analysis ; Crops, Agricultural ; Electric Conductivity ; Soil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of beryllium sulfate( BeSO_4) on apoptosis of human embryonic lung fibroblast( MRC-5 cell). METHODS: MRC-5 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into 6 groups: a control group,a low-,medium- and high-dose BeSO_4 group,an antagonist group,and an activator group. The former 4 groups were given final concentrations of 0,1,10 and 100 μmol / L of BeSO_4,respectively. The combined treatment of BeSO_4and2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate( 10 μmol / L final concentration) was used in the antagonist group. The combined treatment of BeSO_4 and inositol triphosphate( IP3)( 10 μmol / L final concentration) was used in the activator group. After 24 and48 hours of culture,the cells were harvested. The apoptosis of MRC-5 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The intracellular calcium ion( Ca~(2+)) was detected using laser scanning confocal microscope. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the relative expression of IP_3RⅢ and B-cell lymphoma-2( BCL-2) mRNA and the protein expression of IP_3RⅢ and IP3 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The apoptosis rates of cells in the 3 BeSO_4 dose groups at the time points of 24 and 48 hours were lower than those in the control group at the same time points( P < 0. 05). The apoptosis rate of the antagonist group was lower than those in medium-dose BeSO_4 group and control group at the same time points( P < 0. 05). At the time point of 48 hours,the apoptosis rate of the activator group was lower than that of control group( P < 0. 05) and higher than that of the medium-dose BeSO_4group( P < 0. 05). As for the Ca~(2+)concentration at time point of 24 hours,the low-dose BeSO_4 group was lower than the control group( P < 0. 05),and the high-dose BeSO_4 group was higher than the control group( P < 0. 05). The Ca~(2+)concentrations at time point of 48 hours in the medium- and high-dose BeSO_4 groups were lower than that in the control group( P < 0. 05). Compared with the medium-dose BeSO_4 group and control group at time points of 24 and 48 hours,the Ca~(2+)concentrations in the antagonist group decreased( P < 0. 05),while thoes of the activator group increased( P < 0. 05). The expression of BCL-2and IP_3RⅢmRNA in the 3 BeSO_4 groups,the activator and antagonist group were higher than those of the control group( P <0. 05). The expression of IP3 R Ⅲ protein at the time point of 24 hours in the medium-dose BeSO_4 group,the activator group and the antagonist group were lower than that of control group( P < 0. 05). The expression of IP_3RⅢ protein at the time point of 48 hours,the high-dose BeSO_4 group was lower than the control group( P < 0. 05); the activator and antagonist groups were higher than the medium-dose BeSO_4group( P < 0. 05). The expression of IP3 protein in the lowand medium-dose BeSO_4 groups and the activator group were higher than that in the control group( P < 0. 05). The expression of IP3 protein in activator group was higher than the medium-dose group( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: BeSO_4 might change the Ca~(2+)concentration and inhibite the apoptosis of MRC-5 cell through regulating the IP3 R / Ca~(2+)pathway,IP3 can improve the decrease of Ca~(2+)concentration in MRC-5 cells induced by BeSO_4.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of signal intensity index (SII) of skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), select a best cut-off SII value to predict the outcome of NPC. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-two NPC patients (92 men, 30 women) with skull-base invasion were included. All patients underwent MRI, signal intensities on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) were measured for each invaded site and its contralateral normal counterpart. The SIIs were calculated, receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The optimal cut-off values were extracted. The overall survival (OS) rates of 5-year follow-up were performed. Results: Sensitivities for differentiating skull-base invasion from normal contralateral anatomy were 98.9%, 88.5% and 70.0%, and specificities were 98.9%, 96.0% and 74.4%, respectively. There were three cut-off values for differentiating invasion from normal anatomy of skull-base, 49%, 98%, and 60%. Significant difference in OS rates (84.2% vs. 57.1%, p=0.007) was seen for SII threshold values > 60% and those ≤ 60%. Conclusions: The SII might be a useful means of differentiating invasion from normal tissue at the skull-base in NPC. The cut-off value of quantitative SII at the skull-base may aid in monitoring the response to treatment of NPC patients.

Objective　To investigate the occurrence of postural hypotension (PH) in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus with or without hypertension (DMH or DM), and the relationship of PH and diabetic neuropathy, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Methods　A total of 30 cases of type 2 DM and 30 cases of DMH were included in this study. The blood pressure of all subjects were measured in supine and standing body positions respectively and PH was defined as a decline from supine to standing was ≥20 mmHg in systolic blood pressures (SBP). The concentrations of blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured to calculate the insulin sensitive index (ISI). Autonomic and peripheral function was determined by measuring the postural heart rates and the conduction speeds of superficial peroneal and communicating branch of peroneal nerves etc respectively. Results　Significant difference (P<0.01) was found in the occurrence of PH in the patients with DM (40%) and those with DMH (67%). The changes of postural blood pressure were more obvious in those with DM+PH and DMH+PH than in those with simple DM (P<0.01). The conduction speeds of newes were significantly lower in those with DMH+PH than with simple DM (P<0.05), but the occurrence of autonomic neuropathy had no difference between the 2 groups. There was no difference in postural heart rate, body mass index and blood glucose levels in fasting and 2 h after meal among the DM, DM+PH and DMH+PH groups. The concentrations of plasma insulin of those with DMH+PH were significantly higher, but their ISI significantly lower than those of the patients with DM respectively (P<0.01). The decline of postural SBP in patients with DMH+PH had a significantly positive correlation with their plasma insulin levels in fasting condition (r=0.689, P<0.01). Conclusion　The patients with DMH are more prone to PH compared with those only with DM and PH damages their peripheral nerves. Most of diabetic patients with PH suffer from obvious IR and hyperinsulinemia, and if with hypertension, the above metabolic disturbances are more severe.

Objective Data on the leukapheresis from 26 pediatric patients with hematologic or solid malignancies was retrospectively evaluated to screen predictive factors affecting the efficacy of peripheral blood stem cell(PBSC) collection from donors,as well as hematopoietic recovery in recipients.Methods We present our experience with 49 apheresis from 26 granulocyte-colory Stimulating factor mobilized donors and analyzed the correlations between the mobilization,the leukocyte count in the donor peripheral blood and the MNC and CD_(34)~+ cell yields in collecting products and the neutrophil and platelet recovery of recipients.Results The process of mobilization and apheresis were well tolerated by our pediatric donors.The median numbers for harvested MNCs and CD_(34)~+ cells were 4.5?10~8/kg and 1.9?10~6/kg of recipient body weight,respectively.Mobilizing dose positively affected the number of mononuclear ceus(MNC) but not CD_(34)~+ cells in the apheresis products.The CD_(34)~+ cell number in the apheresis product was influenced significantly by donor circulating MNC on the day of harvest and correlated with recipient′s engraftment after PBSC was reinfused.Conclusions The MNC yield was stable and met with the demand for autologous stem cell transplantation while the CD_(34)~+ cell number varies obviously from each donor.Since a rapid engraftment was associated with a high number of CD_(34)~+ cells collected,which was in turn predicted by the level of the pre-apheresis CD_(34)~+ cells in the peripheral blood of donors,it is necessary to monitor the donors′ CD_(34)~+ cell during mobilization to determine the optimal time for apheresis.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):148-150