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

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

Danshen,an efficacious agent for cardiovascular diseases,has been found to play an essential role in kidney injury.In the present study,the effect of Danshen on cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction was investigated in a mouse model.Danshen was administered to mice at a dose of 3 g/kg 4 days before and 3 days after cisplatin treatment.A single intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg cisplatin was used to induce nephrotoxicity.The mice were sacrificed 72 h after cisplatin intoxication.Biochemical parameters including serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were analyzed.Histopathological changes of kidney tissues were detected using HE staining.Antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) and peroxidative product (MDA) were detected.Protein expressions of Nrf2 and its target genes including HO-1 and NQO1 were measured by Western blotting.The results showed that pretreatment with Danshen significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in the cisplatin-treated mice.Histopathological examination showed that Danshen mitigated the renal damage induced by cisplatin.Moreover,Danshen restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) and normalized the MDA contents in renal tissues.Western blotting revealed that Danshen enhanced the expressions of Nrf2 and its target genes in cisplatin-exposed mice.It was suggested that Danshen protects against the cisplatin-induced renal impairment in the mice,which is potentially associated with the upregulation of Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway.

BACKGROUNDThe incidence of HIV-1-related infection diseases and the mortality of AIDS have dramatically decreased since highly active antiretroviral therapy began to be used clinically in China in 1999. And we initiated a second clinical trial using a combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir to observe the effects of the immunoreaction.

METHODSTwenty patients with laboratory-confirmed chronic HIV-1 infection were recruited. Blood samples were collected initially and during the weeks after initiation of treatment. Within 48 hours of blood sampling, peripheral blood plasma and mononuclear cells were separated using routine methods. HIV-1 viral load was measured in thawed plasma samples. Within 48 hours of peripheral blood sampling, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets were enumerated.

RESULTSThe drug regimen was efficient in reducing HIV-1 plasma viral load and increasing total CD4(+) T cell counts. The percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets expressing CD38 and HLA-DR activation markers was positively correlated with plasma viral load and tended to normalize.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir was generally well tolerated and efficient at reducing HIV-1 RNA. Furthermore, the treatment improved the immunological function.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase ; blood ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-HIV Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Benzoxazines ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; HIV Protease Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; HIV-1 ; HLA-DR Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Indinavir ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Middle Aged ; Oxazines ; administration & dosage ; Viral Load

Objective To investigate the correlation between the changes of serum S100B protein level in acute phase and the scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE) in patients with brain concussion, and evaluate the role of serum S100B protein level in the prognosis of cognition disorders after brain concussion. Methods The serum S100B protein level was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 126 cases of brain concussion 6 and 12 h, and 3 d after admission, and these data were compared with those in 96 cases of moderate head trauma without transitory loss of consciousness (admitted to our hospital at the same period, control group). MMSE was performed 1 and 14 d and 3 months after injury, and the correlation between the changes of serum S100B level in acute phase and MMSE scores was observed. Results As compared with that in control group,the serum S100B protein level in patients with brain concussion was significant higher at 6 and 12 h after admission(P＜0.05). The serum S100B protein level at 6 h, but not at 12 h and 3 d after admission, was closely associated with the MMSE scores 1 and 14 d and 3 months after injury. Conclusion Early elevation of S100B within 6 h of admission in patients with brain concussion, obviously correlating with cognitive impairment, may serve as an important prognostic marker in predicting clinical outcome of cognition disorders after brain injury.

Objective： This stduy was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism of cell proliferation inhibited by tea polyphenols in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-LMP1. Method： Light microscope, MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western blot,and reporter gene analysis were applied to investigate the effects of tea polyphenols and(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the cell cycle and related molecular mechanisms. Result： After treatment of CNE-LMP1 cells with tea polyphenols(200 μ g/ml), the number of proliferating cells was obviously decreased as determined by light microscopy, and the survival rate of cells decreased from 100％ to 38.1％ as determined by MTT assay. With the increase of tea polyphenols concentrations, the number of cells in S-phase was obviously decreased from 22.20％ to 13.16％ (200 μ g/ml), and the number of cells in Phase G1 were elevated from 68.50％ to 74.08％ . It suggested that tea polyphenols could arrest the cell cycle at G1/S checkpoint. The transcription and the expression of cyclin D1 were obviously declined 4-5 fold. Furthermore, after treatment with tea polyphenols, transactivities of NFκ B and AP-1 was obviously down-regulated in CNE-LMP1 cells for 5-6 and 7-8 fold, respectively. Conclusion： Tea polyphenols could arrest cell cycle and inhibit cells proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and down-regulation of the gene transcription and expression of cyclin D1 might also be involved in these events.

Child ; Fibula ; transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Periosteum ; transplantation ; Wrist Joint ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the expressions of P33ING1, P53 and their relationships with apoptosis in anal canal carcinoma (ACC).

METHODSThe expressions of P33ING1, P53 proteins were measured by immunohistochemistry method (SP method), and apoptosis was detected in 42 cases with ACC, 36 cases with anal canal adenoma (ACA) or anal canal papilloma (ACP), and 40 cases with paraanal inflammatory mass(PAIM).

RESULTSThe positive expression rates of P33ING1 and P53 proteins were 40.5% (17/42), 97.2% (35/36) and 97.5% (39/40), 50.0% (21/42), 22.2% (8/36) and 27.5% (11/40) respectively, and the average apoptosis indexes(AI) were (10.27+/- 1.23) per thousand, (42.75+/- 0.98) per thousand and (42.67+/- 1.04) per thousand respectively in ACC, ACA or ACP and PAIM. There were significant differences in the positive expression rates of P33ING1, P53 and apoptosis index between ACC and the other two groups respectively (P< 0.05). Among 21 cases of ACC with positive expression of P53 protein,there were 18 cases with P33ING1 negative expression.

CONCLUSIONSP33ING1 expression decrease in ACC, which may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of ACC. P33ING1 and P53 may have an synergistic effect of suppressing cell growth and accelerating cell apoptosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1 ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of Hantavirus (HV) and Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) coinfection in their hosts.

METHODSHV and Ot were used to infect Vero E6 cells cultured in vitro singly, simultaneously or successively. Genes of HV and Ot were identified in different generation cells with RT-PCR.

RESULTSFive experiment groups of infected Vero E6 cells were tested, the results were as follows: HV and Ot were both positive in infected Vero E6 cells passaged 2 times and the positive rate increased following the passaged times in HV and Ot infection groups, simultaneously or successively. However, in the groups which were infected with HV and Ot separately, the gene of HV or Ot could be detected in infected Vero E6 cells passaged only once and the positive rate increased following the times of the passaged. The positive rate was higher in the singly infected groups than in those infected simultaneously or successively.

CONCLUSIONCoinfection of HV and Ot did exist in the hosts while HV and Ot could inhibit each other in the initial infection stage.

Animals ; Cell Division ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Hantavirus ; pathogenicity ; Hantavirus Infections ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; pathogenicity ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scrub Typhus ; Vero Cells

In order to investigate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the molecular mechanism of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), which was induced by guinea pig spinal cord homogenate + complete freund adjuvant on Wistar rats, we observed the gene of HO-1 and its protein expression with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry 1, 7, 14, and 21 d after EAE induction in rats. The relationship between HO-1 and the symptoms of EAE was also observed. The results showed that the levels of HO-1 mRNA and its protein expression were very low in the brains of the control group, whereas they were enhanced gradually with pathological course in the brain and onsets of symptoms, signs of EAE. On day 7, the level of HO-1 mRNA reached the peak, but the expression level of HO-1 protein in the brains reached the peak on day 14. The immunoreactive cells of HO-1 were mainly located at the choroid plexuses and subfornical organ (SFO), as well as in regions around the "sleeve-like" lesion foci, all of which were coincident with the locations of lesions of EAE. The levels of HO-1 mRNA and its protein expression were lowered gradually on day 21, which were in parallel with the severities of symptoms and signs of EAE. After a specific inhibitor of HO-1, Snpp-9, was applied, both of the symptoms and pathological lesions of EAE in the rat brains were mitigated markedly. Therefore, these results may suggest that the dynamic changes of HO-1 mRNA and its protein expression are in parallel with the changes of symptoms and pathological lesions of EAE in the brain. In conclusion, the levels of HO-1 mRNA and its protein expression in brains may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EAE, and application of inhibitors of HO-1 may be one of the potential therapeutic ways for the prevention and treatment of EAE.
Animals ; Brain ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Female ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Subfornical Organ ; metabolism ; pathology