AIM: To study the quality standard of Compound Shencha Granuls (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae, Radix Rehmanniae, etc.). METHODS: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae and Rhizoma et Radix Polygoni Cuspidati in Compound Shencha Granule were distinguished by TLC. Ursolic acid was determinated by TLCS. RESULTS: The methods of TLC to distinguish Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae and Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati were feasible without negative inference. Ursolic acid content in three groups of samples was 1.24 - 1.58 mg?g -1 . CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and reproducible. It can be used for the quality control of Compound Shencha Granule.

Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; diagnosis ; Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the expression of cysteine rich-protein 61 (Cyr61) on renal tubular cells,to explore its effects against hypoxic induced kidney injury and the underlying mechanisms.Methods A stably Cyr61 expressed tubular cell line Cyr61-HK2 was established based on HK2 cells and recombinant Cyr61-lentivirus.BrdU incorporation assay was used for cell proliferation.The apoptosis of cells was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V and propidiumiodide staining.Western bloting was used to detect the protein expression of BAD,Akt and ERK.Results (1) Cyr61-HK2 cells displayed more proliferation ability than HK2 cells.(2) Under hypoxia condition,the apoptosis of both HK2 and Cyr61-HK2 cells increased,but the apoptosis of Cyr61-HK2 cells was lesser than HK2 cells.(3) The expression of Cyr61 led to the phosphorylation of BAD,Akt and ERK on 0 h,0.5 h,1 h (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of Cyr61 can promote cell proliferation and dampen cell apoptosis induced by hypoxia,which may be involved in the Akt/ERK signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of triiodothyronine on the expression of alpha subunit of C protein Co (Coa) gene in cultured rat cerebral cortex neurons. Methods Primary cultured neurons of rat were prepared from the cerebral cortex at embryonic day 19. The neurons were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum. After 7 days, the neurons were cultured in different media; DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum (group A), DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group B), 0.5nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group C) , 5nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group D) and 50nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group E). The neurons were cultured for another 7 days and total RNA was extracted. Goa mRNA leves were measured by competitive RT-PCR. Results As compared with group A, Coa mRNA leves in group B, D and E were low (P 0.05). Conclusion T, has dual effects on the expression of Coa gene in cultured rat cerebral cortex neurons. T3 down-regulated Coa mRNA in cultured neuron. However, in the absence of T3, Goa mRNA was also very low. Thyroid hormone may exert their action on brain development by regulating the the expression of Goa gene.

Objective To evaluate CT and MRI features of brain lesions in CO poisoning and to compare the ability of detecting rate of lesions by CT and MRI.Methods CT and MRI appearances in 52 cases with CO poisoning were analysed and compared.Results Necroses and degenerations of globus pallidus in 9 cases,cerebral white matter demyelination in 3 cases and brain atrophy in 3 cases were showed by CT.The detecting rate was 28.8% by CT while,necroses and degeneration of glodus pallidus were observed in 24 cases and white matter change in 7 cases were observed by MRI,the detecting rate was 59.6% which was higher than that of CT (?

Objective:To determine the immunological effects of a new type adjuvant CTA 1-DD/IgG.Methods:Intranasal im-munization of BALB/c mice with OVA in combination with adjuvant CTA 1-DD or CTA1-DD/IgG.Blood samples were subjected to OVA-specific IgG Abs detection and IgG subclass profiles assessment using ELISA.Splenic plasma cells secreting anti-OVA Abs were detected by ELISPOT.Results:CTA1-DD/IgG showed stronger activity in inducing OVA-specific IgG Abs and splenic Abs-secreting cells compared with CTA1-DD.The enhancement of IgG1,IgG2a and IgG2b Abs were observed,and the ratio IgG2a/IgG1 were >1 in both groups.Conclusion: CTA1-DD/IgG can exert enhanced adjuvant effects compared with CTA 1-DD.Mixed IgG subclasses are induced,indicating a more balanced Th1/Th2 response.

The objective of this study is to develop a sensitive and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for simultaneous determination of artemisinin, arteannuin B, artemisic acid, and scopoletin, and study the pharmacokinetics of the four constituents in mouse serum after oral administration of the four components to mice. The analytical column used was Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 (2.1 mm x 150 mm, 5 mm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile: 0.5% acetic acid (60: 40) and the flow rate was 0.3 mL x min(-1). The temperature of the column was 40.0 degrees C. In this condition, we established an analysis method to simultaneously determine the four components. A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of artemisin in derivatives in mice plasma. The method we established has a linear range of 5-3 000 μg x L(-1) with a good sensitivity and specificity for all of the four components. This method is simple, rapid, accurate and suitable for the determination of the content of the four compounds.
Animals ; Artemisinins ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Mice ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scopoletin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe relationship between selenium deficiency and the changes of synaptic structure in the CA3 area of hippocampus were studied in the third generation rats.

METHODSA selenium deficiency model was established by feeding rats with selenium-deficient food. The rats were divided into 4 groups: control (Se+I+), selenium deficiency (Se-I+), iodine deficiency (Se+I-), and both deficient group (Se-I-). The hippocampuses were dissected from the third generation rats on the 21st gestational day and the ultrastructural features of hippocampal synapses were observed with electron microscope. The length of active zone, synaptic curvatures, post-synaptic density (PSD) and synaptic cleft were quantitatively described.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the length of active zone and the thickness of PSD were significantly decreased in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(261.7 +/- 50.1) nm, (286.7 +/- 41.6) nm and (220.8 +/- 61.6) nm contrast to (312.4 +/- 47.7) nm, P < 0.01], so were the synaptic curvatures in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(22.9 +/- 6.3) nm, (27.5 +/- 8.6) nm and (25.2 +/- 6.5) nm contrast to (48.1 +/- 12.3) nm, P < 0.01]; the width of synaptic cleft were also decreased significantly in Se-I- [(11.1 +/- 3.3) nm contrast to (16.1 +/- 4.0) nm, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSelenium deficiency might cause changes of neuronal functions at the synaptic level, and furthermore, affect learning and memory.

Animals ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Iodine ; deficiency ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Selenium ; deficiency ; Synapses ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Objective To transfect EGFP gene to porcine embryonic fibroblasts ( PEFs) of Tibetan miniature pigs by Lonza Nucleofector II machine and compare the tansfection efficiency between this method and the lipofection method. Method A plasmid carrying green fluorescent protein ( GFP) was transfected into PEFs of Tibetan miniature pigs via the Lonza Nucleofector II machine ( program U020) and by Lipofectamine 2000.Results 5 hours after nucleofection, green fluorescence was observed, indicating 80%transfecting efficiency in the nucleofection group, which is significantly higher than the lipofection group. Conclusion Nucleofector II machine can efficiently transfect PEFs, provides a reliable method for efficiently generate transgenic Tibetan minipigs.

Objective To investigate the role of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary lymphoma and lymphoma-like lesion of the uterine cervix. Methods Three cases of primary cervical diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and two cases of cervical lymphoma-like lesion were retrospectively studied by detecting their PCRIgH rearrangement and chromosomal break of IgH, bcl-6, bcl-2 and mye genes with FISH. Results PCRIgH gene rearrangement analysis demonstrated that the monoclonal rearrangement of IgH gene was occurred in 3 cases of cervical lymphoma and 1 case of lymphoma-like lesion, Interphase FISH analysis detected IgH gene break and bcl-6 gene break in all the three cases of cervical lymphoma, while no specific chromosomal break of IgH, and bel-6, bcl-2 and myc genes was detected in two cases of cervical lymphoma-like lesion.Conclusion PCR-IgH gene rearrangement is not specific to cervical B-cell lymphoma. Analysis of IgH gene break and bcl-6 gene break with interphase FISH is helpful to differential diagnosis between B-cell lymphoma and lymphoma-like lesion of the uterine cervix.