Advances in mechanism and application of the heating effect in breeding of microorganism are reviewed in this paper. Heat produces mutagenesis effect and screening effect. Heating mutagenesis effect is occurred through the substitution of G-C base pair induced by heat, and heating screening effect produces higher forward mutation rate induced by other mutagens.

Litsea cubeba is one of aromatic medicinal plant belonging to family Lauraceae. The roots, stems and fruits of L. cubeba have been widely applied as folk medicines in some districts in China for relieving rheumatism and cold, regulating Qi (meridian) to alleviate pain. Previous studies revealed that this species contains major alkaloids, in specific aporphines, and minor flavonoids, lignans as well. Related pharmacological investigations demonstrated its activities and clinical applications on cardiovascular diseases, anti-cancer, against rheumatoid arthritis, relieving asthma and anti-allergic effects, as anti-oxidants, and so on. As an effort for further exploration of this bioactive ingredients and potential drug development, this paper summarizes most phytochemical and pharmacological results. Further, future prospects are also included.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

The peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is a Mongolia folk medicine, mainly distributed in Helan mountain, inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. It has been used for the treatment of cardiopalmus, angina pectoris, and cardiopulmonary diseases for a long history. Contemporary research revealed the presence of major lignans, sesquitepenes, and essential oils, and showed myocardial ischemia related diseases. This review summarizes the plant origins, taxonomic disputes, phytochemical and pharmacological research progress, hopefully to provide reference for full medicinal utilization, clarification of biological effective substance, and drug development.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Syringa ; chemistry

A phytochemical investigation on the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba led to the isolation of seven isoquinolone alkaloids. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, these alkaloids were identified as (+)-norboldine (1), (+)-boldine (2), (+)-reticuline (3), (+)-laurotetanine (4), (+)-isoboldine (5), (+)-N-methyl-laurotetanine (6), and berberine (7), respectively. Among them, 7 was isolated from the genus for the first time. The evaluation of these compounds showed weak anti-inflammatory activity against NO production in RAW 267.4 and BV-2 cells.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

In this article, the research of chemical constituents and bioactivities in recent ten years has been reviewed of plants from the 12 genera in Flacourtiaceae related to the medicinal resources in China. The research in China about the plants from Flacourtiaceae was done very little, but many literatures have been reported abroad. The plants from Flacourtiaceae mostly contain the constituents such as aromatic glucosides, lignanoid glucosides, diterpenoids and cyclopentenoid cyanohydrin glucosides et al. These compounds or plant extracts mainly show antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities. The research of plants from Carrierea, Itoa and Bennettiodendron of Flacourtiaceae in China is still blank. The systemic research about chemical constituents and bioactivities of plants from these genera will play important roles in the discovery of novel natural products and active constituents, and provide valuable reference for the classifying of plants from these genera.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flacourtiaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Flavonolignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification

It was estimated that about 428 species of genus Corydalis are distributed all worldwide, with about 298, especially 10 groups and 219 species being uniquely spread in China. The genus Corydalis have been widely employed as folk medicines in China, especially as traditional Tibetan medicines, for treatment of fever, hepatitis, edema, gastritis, cholecystitis, hypertension and other diseases. The phytochemical studies revealed that isoquinoline alkaloids are its major bioactive ingredients. The extensive biological researches suggested its pharmacological activities and clinic applications against cardiovascular diseases and central nervous system, antibacterial activities, analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-injury for hepatocyte, and so on. As an effort in promoting the research of pharmacodynamic ingredients, this article presents an overview focusing on the distribution, phytochemical and pharmacological results of Corydalis species that have been applied in traditional Tibetan medicinal, hopefully to provide a reference for the new Tibetan medicine development from Corydalis plant resource.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; classification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Phytotherapy

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of a Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula, by solvent extraction, repeated chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative TLC techniques, led to the isolation of 9 compounds. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of its 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, their structures were identified as oleracein E(1), N-( trans-p-coumaroyl) tyramine (2), chrysoeriol (3), apigenin (4), hydnocarpin (5), p-coumaric acid glucosyl ester (6), stigmast-5-ene-3beta-ylformate (7), 3beta-hydroxy-7alpha-ethoxy-24beta-ethylcholest-5-ene (8), and beta-sitosterol (9), respectively, among which compounds 6-8 were isolated from the genus for the first time,and 1,3 were isolated from the species for the first time. A MTT method was applied to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of compounds 14 against the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2), and compound 1 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2,with its inhibitory rate of 52.2% at 10 micromol x L(-1).
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Papaveraceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage (tuina) for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Six English and Chinese databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), Cochrane Library and PubMed databases, were independently searched to identify appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying therapeutic massage for KOA compared to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone. The main outcome measures were total effectiveness and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score. Results: A total of 8 RCTs were included and they were of average quality. The results showed that therapeutic massage was more effective than NSAIDs comparing total effectiveness [risk ratio (RR)=1.14, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.21), P<0.0001]; compared with NSAIDs, therapeutic massage produced more significant improvements in pain [mean difference (MD)=-2.06, 95％CI (-2.75, -1.36), P<0.00001], stiffness intensity [MD=-0.90, 95％CI (-1.05, -0.75), P<0.00001] and joint function [MD=-12.48, 95％CI (-13.91, -11.05), P<0.00001]. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage was more effective than oral NSAIDs in treating KOA. In relieving pain and stiffness and improving the function of knee joint, therapeutic massage was superior to NSAIDs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapy of Keutel syndrome, and thereby to minimize the misdiagnosis.

METHODData of a case of Keutel syndrome diagnosed at the Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University were analyzed and related literature were reviewed.

RESULTAn 8-month-26-day-old boy was presented with inspiratory and expiratory stridor and wheezing after movement on lung auscultation. His craniofacial appearance was characterized by midfacial hypoplasia with a broad depressed nasal bridge. The nose was small and flat. A grade 2-3/6 systolic murmur was heard between the second and third ribs at left edge of the sternum. The end phalanges of his fingers were thickened. Chest radiograph showed tracheobronchial cartilage calcification and tracheobronchial stenosis. Echocardiographic examination revealed the right pulmonary stenosis. With endoscopic surgery, antiobstructive and antibiotic therapy clinical symptoms were improved. Three weeks later he died of lung reinfection after he was discharged from our hospital. English literature search with "Keutel syndrome" as the key word at "PubMed" showed 22 articles covering 26 patients, and the clinical symptoms were hearing loss (91%), persistent respiratory symptoms (68%), recurrent otitis media/sinusitis (67%), growth development delay (52%) in turn, and signs were brachytelephalangism (100%), low nasal bridge (95%), midfacial hypoplasia (93%), cardiac murmur (69%), and auxiliary examinations showed abnormal cartilage calcification (100%), pulmonary arterial stenosis (72%), tracheobronchial stenosis (50%).

CONCLUSIONThe diagnosis of Keutel syndrome should be considered in patients with brachytelephalangism, abnormal cartilage calcification, peripheral pulmonary stenosis, and midfacial hypoplasia. Tracheal stenosis was main clinical manifestation in part of patients.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Cartilage ; diagnostic imaging ; Cartilage Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hand Deformities, Congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheal Stenosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in cell cycle induced by cisplatin (DDP) and the effect of antisense oligonucleotide (AsODN) targeting Chk1/2 on DDP-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cell line A549 cells.

METHODSThe characteristics of cell cycle and apoptosis induced by DDP were detected by flow cytometry using SubG1 method. Chk1/2 mRNA and protein expression were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot under best condition of transfection of AsODN targeting Chk1/2 by lipofection. Apoptosis of A549 cells induced by DDP was determined by flow cytometry using AnnexinV-FITC staining after transfection of Chk1/2 AsODN.

RESULTSAsynchronized A549 cells were treated with 10 micromol/L DDP, and significant S-phase arrest was observed at 12 h later. Transfection with antisense oligonucleotide targeting Chk1/2 inhibited the Chk1/2 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Either Chk1 or Chk2-specific AsODN consistently enhanced DNA damage-induced apoptosis by 100% - 200%, compared with that in the sODN control (P < 0.05), but combined use of Chk1- and Chk2-specific AsODN did not show synergistic effects as compared with that induced by treatment with Chk1- or Chk2-specific AsODN alone (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChk1 and Chk2 may be regarded as effective targets of chemotherapy for lung cancer. Silencing the key effector Chk1 and Chk2 genes may significantly increase the chemosensitivity of lung cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Checkpoint Kinase 1 ; Checkpoint Kinase 2 ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection