A novel biosensor for aflatoxin B1 detecting has been reported. The biosensor electrode for AFB1 detecting was assembled by immobilized aflatoxin-oxidoreductase using open-ended multi-walled carbon nanotubes as matrix. Its linear range was between 0.16?M and 3.2?M. And if the specific anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody and aflatoxin oxidoreductase were both immobilized on the electrode with Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes, the detection limit of the modified electrode could be 16 nM with a 10 times improved sensitivity. The aflatoxin enzyme biosensor assembled this way strode one step forward its practical application.

Acetylcholine and A23187, two acetylcholinergic agonists, were used to induce the stimulus-secretion coupling of the isolated rat adrenal medulla cells. Morphometry of numerical density and electron probe X-ray quantitative microanalysis were adopted to measure the alterations in the number and calcium content of chromaffin granules in adrenal medulla cells during the agonist treatment. Secretion of epinephrine was detected by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that the Ca content of the isolated rat adrenal medulla chromaffin granules dropped significantly after a 10-min incubation with the agonists, whereas the number of chromaffin granule decreased slowly during the agonist treatment and the epinephrine concentration raised significantly after a 20-min incubation with the agonists. The decrease of granule Ca content occurred earlier than the increase of epinephrine concentration, suggesting that the calcium released from chromaffin granule may in part account for the induced cell secretion.

The combined application of statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and fibrates that activate PPAR-α can produce a better lipid-lowering effect than the simple application, but with stronger adverse reactions at the same time. In the treatment of hyperlipidemia, the combined administration of TCMs and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in treating hyperlipidemia shows stable efficacy and less adverse reactions, and provides a new option for the combined application of drugs. In this article, the pharmacophore technology was used to search chemical components of TCMs, trace their source herbs, and determine the potential common TCMs that could activate PPAR-α. Because there is no hyperlipidemia-related medication reference in modern TCM classics, to ensure the high safety and efficacy of all selected TCMs, we selected TCMs that are proved to be combined with statins in the World Traditional/Natural Medicine Patent Database, analyzed corresponding drugs in pharmacophore results based on that, and finally obtained common TCMs that can be applied in PPAR-α and combined with statins. Specifically, the pharmacophore model was based on eight receptor-ligand complexes of PPAR-α. The Receptor-Ligand Pharmacophore Generation module in the DS program was used to build the model, optimize with the Screen Library module, and get the best sub-pharmacophore, which consisted of two hydrogen bond acceptor, three hydrophobic groups and 19 excluded volumes, with the identification effectiveness index value N of 2. 82 and the comprehensive evaluation index CAI value of 1. 84. The model was used to screen the TCMD database, hit 5,235 kinds of chemical components and 1 193 natural animals and plants, and finally determine 62 TCMs. Through patent retrieval, we found 38 TCMs; After comparing with the virtual screening results, we finally got seven TCMs.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; metabolism ; Animals ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Molecular ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Technology

In the current study, nine flavonoids were isolated and purified from 75% ethanol extract of Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring by column chromatographic techniques over macroporous resin, polyamide, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and pre-HPLC. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analyses, these compounds were elucidated as cirsimarin (1), nepitrin (2), apigenin-6-C-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-α-L-arabinopyranoside (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), 2,3-dihydroamentoflavone (6), 4'-O-methylamentoflavone (7), 2,3-dihydro-4'-O-methyl-amentoflavone (8), and 2,3,2",3"-tetrahydron-4'-O-methyl-robustaflavone (9). Compounds 1-5 belong to flavonoid glycosides and were isolated from the genus Selaginella for the first time.
Flavonoids ; analysis ; Selaginellaceae ; chemistry

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of COX-2 and the relation- ship between COX-2 and PTEN in endometrial adenocarcinoma(EAC).Methods The expression of COX-2, PTEN protein was detected by SP-immunohistochemical method in EAC,endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, corresponding normal endometrium.Results The positive rates of COX-2 protein increased from normal en- dometrium(13.33%) to endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia(50.00%) and adenocarcinoma(64.58 %)(P

Objective To investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Hubei Han population. Methods Genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 of 270 patients with UC (UC group) who were admitted to the Zhongnan Hospital, People's Hospital of Wuhan University, Tongji Hospital and Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2002 to December 2009 and 623 healthy people ( control group) were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction. All UC patients were allocated to distal UC group (n= 229) and extensive UC group (n =41 ) according to the location of the lesions; and all UC patients were also allocated to mild-moderate group (n = 237) and severe group (n = 33 ). The genetic polymorphisms of GSTP1 of these patients and healthy people were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The genotypes of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 were also detected. GSTM1 and GSTT1 containing small DNA segments ( 157 bp and 480 bp) were defined as GSTM1 (+) and GSTT1 (+), otherwise, GSTM(-) and GSTT1 (-), respectively. All data were analyzed by chisquare test. Results The frequencies of GSTM1(-), GSTT1(-) and GSTP1 (Val/Val) were 70.7% (191/270),64.8% (175/270) and 48.9% (132/270) in the UC group, and 41.7% (260/623), 47.2% ( 294/623 ) and 34.3% (214/623) in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 63. 404,22. 320, 25. 384, P ＜0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTT1 (-) and GSTP1 (Val/Val) were 71.6% (164/229) and 57.6% (132/229) in the distal UC group, which were significantly higher than 31.7% (13/41) and 29.3%( 12/41 ) in the extensive UC group ( x2 = 24.528, 9.609, P ＜ 0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTM1 (-) were 65.1%(149/229) in the distal UC group and 56.1% (23/41) in the extensive UC group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 1. 210, P ＞ 0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTT1 (-) and GSTP1 ( Val/Val ) were 71.6%(164/229), 31.7% ( 13/41 ) in the distal UC group and 57.6% ( 132/229), 29.3% ( 12/41 ) in the extensive UC group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 24. 528, 9. 609, P ＜ 0. 05 ). There was no significant difference in the frequencies of GSTM1 (-), GSTT1 (-), GSTP1 (Val/Val) in the mild-moderate group and the severe group( x2 = 0. 623, 1. 884, 3. 403, P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusions Variant genotypes of GSTs are significantly correlated with UC in Hubei Han population. The severity of UC may not be correlated with variant genotypes of GSTs.

A novel biosensor for aflatoxin B1 detecting has been reported. The biosensor electrode for AFB1 detecting was assembled by immobilized aflatoxin-oxidoreductase using open-ended multi-walled carbon nanotubes as matrix. Its linear range was between 0.16μM and 3.2μM. And if the specific anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody and aflatoxin oxidoreductase were both immobilized on the electrode with Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes, the detection limit of the modified electrode could be 16 nM with a 10 times improved sensitivity. The aflatoxin enzyme biosensor assembled this way strode one step forward its practical application.

OBJECTIVEAutologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) is an important method for treatment of malignant solid tumors in children. The mobilization and collection of blood stem cells is crucial for APBSCT. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of mobilization and collection of blood stem cells by CIE or IEV chemotherapy protocol in APBSCT in children with neuroblastoma (NB) or rhabdomyosarcoma.

METHODSThe protocols of CIE (cisplatin, etoposide) and IEV (vincristine, dosfamide, etoposide) were used as mobilization chemotherapy in 8 cases of NB with stage IV and 3 cases of rhabdomysacoma with stage III, respectively. The results of the mobilization of blood stem cells were observed.

RESULTSOf the 11 cases, mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34+ cells were successfully collected and the volume of MNC and CD34 averaged (5.55 ± 1.43)× 10(8)/kg and (4.88 ± 2.48) × 10(6)/kg, respectively. No severe complications were observed during the mobilization and collection. A rapid hemopoietic reconstitution was observed in 10 children after APBSCT. One with NB out of the 10 children died of left heart failure 32 days after APBSCT. Others (9 cases) showed a nearly normal result of routine peripheral blood test 60 days after APBSCT.

CONCLUSIONSCIE or IEV protocol is effective and safe for the mobilization and collection of peripheral blood stem cells in children with NB or rhabdomysacoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Neuroblastoma ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Recombinant Proteins ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous

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

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast induced by dexamethasone.

METHODSOsteoblasts were extracted from skulls in newly born (within 24 hours) SD rats, and digested with collagenase. The first passage of cells were used for experiments. Cells were cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of dexamethasone (0, 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) ,10(-4) mol/L). Alkaline phosphatase staining were carried out after 1 week and numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red staining were observed after 3 weeks. Accordingly, following the treatment of 10(-5) mol/L dexamethasone for 1 week, cells were cultured in the medium with serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text). One week after Cumibao (Chinese character: see text) treatment, cells were stained with Alkaline phosphatase and collagen I and PCNA were examined by Western-blot. However, the observation of numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red stain required one more week.

RESULTSHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the expression of PCNA, collagen I, alkaline phosphatase and reduce the number of mineralized nodes of osteoblast, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley