Astragalus polysaccharide has been widely used in food and medicinal industry owing to its health-promoting properties. In order to characterize better the relationship among molecular weight, structure-activity and activities, a simple method was used different concentration of ethanol including 30% (PW30), 50% (PW50), 70% (PW70), 75% (PW75), 80% (PW80) and 90% (PW90) to precipitate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight. As a result, PW90 showed smooth surface and the strongest antioxidant activity among these six fractions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, graded ethanol precipitation was a simple method to separate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight with different antioxidant activity fractions.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Fibronectin containing extra domain A (EDA+ FN),a functional glycoprotein participating in several cellular processes,correlates with chronic liver disease.Herein,we aim to investigate the expression and secretion of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the underlying mechanisms.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN were determined by ELISA in clinical samples.Western blotting and flow cytometry were performed on L02 and HepG2 cell lines to analyze whether the levels of EDA+ FN were associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related cell death.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN in NAFLD patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects,and positively related with severity of ultrasonographic steatosis score.In cultured hepatocytes,palmitate up-regulated the expression of EDA+ FN in a dose-dependent manner.Conversely,when the cells were pretreated with 4-phenylbutyrate,a specific inhibitor of ER stress,up-regulation of EDA+ FN could be abrogated.Moreover,silencing CHOP by shRNA enhanced the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes following palmitate treatment,which was involved in ER stress-related cell damage.These findings suggest that the up-regulated level of EDA+ FN is associated with liver damage in NAFLD,and ER stress-mediated cell damage contributes to the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex STR genotyping method for autosomal STR and Y-STR loci in forensic biological practice. METHODS: Widely used autosomal STR loci and Y-STR loci were selected. A set of PCR primers was designed, and a 5-dye fluorescent labeled STR multiplex PCR reagent kit was developed. RESULTS: A kit was developed which can simultaneously detect 15 autosomal STR loci, 10 Y-STR loci, and an Amelogenin. CONCLUSION The 15 autosomal STR plus 10 Y-STR kit in combination with capillary electrophoresis method was used to STR genotyping with accurate and reliable results. The new one-step testing kit can potentially be widely used in forensic cases and DNA databank in the future.
Amelogenin ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo discuss the relations of dental fluorosis and the social economic status in fluorosis-stricken villages where drying the corn by burning coal was prevail.

METHODSA total of 6 fluorosis-endemic villages and one non-endemic village were involved in the study. The general fluorine intake and the concentrations of fluorine in corn, in the pupils' were tested. Dental fluorosis among the pupils was also examen. A individual interview or household questionnaire survey was conducted to probe the economic condition and staple food structure in 600 adults.

RESULTSThe fluorosis prevalence was lower in the villages of transportation convenience, higher income, less coal-dried corn intake. There was a declining trend of dental fluorosis in the corresponding age groups (r: 0.912, 0.916; P < 0.05); There was no significant changes in age-specified dental fluorosis in the low income villages. The correlation (r) of corn fluorine concentration and student's age-specified dental fluorosis prevalence and disparity was 0.755 - 0.980 (P < 0.05) and 0.302 - 0.811; The urine fluorine concentrations were 0.811 and 0.915 (P < 0.05). It was assumed that there was a negative correlation between family cash income and the dental fluorosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe corn fluorine concentration is closely related to age-specified dental fluorosis. With the economic improvement, taking less coal-burned corn is the one of major factors in reducing the of dental fluorosis in these areas.

China ; Coal ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Feeding Behavior ; Fluorine ; analysis ; urine ; Fluorosis, Dental ; economics ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Rural Population ; Zea mays

According to the comparison between Ashi points and trigger points, a modern medical explanation that trigger points could be considered as a special Ashi points was put forward, and a further investigation on the enlightenment of theory and practice of trigger points to the pathological specificity, positioning and the intervention methods of trigger points was as follows: Ashi points could be central trigger points, whose pathology is degeneration and contracture of sarcomere; it is not always in the area of pain, while the signs of pain may be helpful for its stereotaxic positioning; the intervention methods of Ashi and trigger points can be learned from each other. This is a new angle of view on Ashi points, which has contributed to the exploration and improvement of its theory and practice.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Pain Management ; Trigger Points ; physiopathology

Objective To explore the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB gene polymorphism and allergic reaction of anti-tuberculosis drugs in Chinese Han population.Methods HLA-DRB alleles in 35 patients with allergic reaction and 42 patients with no allergic reaction were analyzed using sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) method.Results The frequency of DR7 gene in allergy group was significantly higher than that in patients without allergic reaction group (10.0％ vs 1.2％,RR =10.25,P ＜0.05).Conclusion DR7 may be a susceptible gene for allergic reactions to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Objective To explore the correlation between the genetic polymorphisms of organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP1B1),steady-state trough concentrations of rifampicin and the occurrence of hepatotoxicity induced by rifampicin.Methods Ninety tuberculosis (TB) patients were continuously administrated equal doses of rifampicin,34 cases developed drug-induced liver injury (DILI),while 56 had non drug-induced liver injury (non-DILI).Then trough concentrations of rifampicin in these subjects were determined by LC-MS/MS,and OATP1B1 388A ＞ G genotyping was obtained by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) methods.Finally,the correlations analysis were undertaken between the genetic polymorphisms of OATP1B1,steady-state trough concentrations of rifampicin and incidence of hepatotoxicity induced by rifampicin.Results There were 68 patients carrying wild-type genotypes and 22 carrying mutant genotypes in 90 subjects,with mutation rate of 24.44％.In which,mutant genotypes rates were 8.82％ (3 cases/34 cases) and 33.93％ (19 cases/56 cases) in DILI group and non-DILI group.Rifampicin trough concentration of patients with mutant genotypes was (5.63 ±4.16) ng· mL-1,3.43 times that of wild-type genotypes,which was (1.64 ±4.81) ng · mL-1.Likewise,concentration of rifampicin in non-DILI group was (3.82 ± 5.80) ng · mL-1,5.97 times that of DILI group,which was (0.64 ± 1.85) ng · mL-1.Mutation rate of OATP1B1 388A ＞ G in non-DILI group was 33.93％,3.85 times that in DILI group.The incidence of hepatotoxicity in patients carrying wild-type genotype was 45.59％,amounting to 3.34 times that of mutant genotypes.Conclusion Genetic polymorphisms of OATP1B1 may have significant impacts on steady-state trough concentration of rifampicin in Chinese patients and the occurrence of hepatotoxicity.

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of a Chinese family with inherited long QT syndrome(LQTS).

METHODSThe disease-causing gene was tentatively determined in light of the clinical manifestations and electrophysiological properties, and then polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used for screening and identifying mutation.

RESULTSA missense mutation G940A(G314S) in the KCNQ1 gene was identified, which was the 'hot spot' of long QT syndrome mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation that is involved with long QT syndrome in Chinese patients is the same as that in the European, American and Japanese patients.

China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel ; genetics ; Long QT Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

We studied the effects of Chinese traditional medicine rhynchophylline (Rhy) on human ether-a-go-go related gene (HERG) channel and characterized the electrophysiological properties of Rhy's pharmacological effect on HERG channel using Xenopus oocytes. Xenopus oocytes were injected with either 23 nl (5.75 ng) HERG cRNA or 23 nl distilled water. Xenopus oocytes were randomly assigned to receive one of the following different concentrations of Rhy: (1) control, (2)10 mumol/L Rhy, (3)100 mumol/L Rhy, (4) 500 mumol/L Rhy, (5) 1 000 mumol/L Rhy, (6) 10 000 mumol/L Rhy. Cell currents were recorded in oocytes. The peak tail currents of HERG channel were inhibited by Rhy. The inhibition was in a dose-dependent manner [IC(50)=(773.4 +/- 42.5) mumol/L]. Experiment with 100 mumol/L Rhy indicated that the degree of HERG blockade showed some voltage dependence (within -40 mV to -20 mV ). Kinetic analyses revealed that Rhy decreased the rate of channel activation. The findings indicate that Rhy inhibits HERG encoded potassium channels. It may underline the molecular mechanism of myocardial electrophysiological characteristics associated with this drug.
Animals ; Depression, Chemical ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Indole Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; methods ; RNA, Complementary ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Xenopus