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

Background: Early diagnosis and accurate staging are important to improve the cure rate and prognosis for pancreatic cancer.This study was performed to develop an automatic and accurate imaging processing technique system,allowing this system to read computed tomography(CT)images correctly and make diagnosis of pancreatic cancer faster.Methods: The establishment of the artificial intelligence(AI)system for pancreatic cancer diagnosis based on sequential contrast-enhanced CT images were composed of two processes: training and verification.During training process,our study used all 4385 CT images from 238 pancreatic cancer patients in the database as the training data set.Additionally,we used VGG16,which was pre-trained in ImageNet and contained 13 convolutional layers and three fully connected layers,to initialize the feature extraction network.In the verification experiment,we used sequential clinical CT images from 238 pancreatic cancer patients as our experimental data and input these data into the faster region-based convolution network(Faster R-CNN)model that had completed training.Totally,1699 images from 100 pancreatic cancer patients were included for clinical verification.Results: A total of 338 patients with pancreatic cancer were included in the study.The clinical characteristics(sex,age,tumor location,differentiation grade,and tumor-node-metastasis stage)between the two training and verification groups were insignificant.The mean average precision was 0.7664,indicating a good training effect of the Faster R-CNN.Sequential contrast-enhanced CT images of 100 pancreatic cancer patients were used for clinical verification.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve calculated according to the trapezoidal rule was 0.9632.It took approximately 0.2 s for the Faster R-CNN AI to automatically process one CT image,which is much faster than the time required for diagnosis by an imaging specialist.Conclusions: Faster R-CNN AI is an effective and objective method with high accuracy for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of E-cadherin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its relationship with cervical lymph node metastasis.

METHODSThe expression of E-cadherin in 80 patients with NPC was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSLower expression of E-cadherin was associated with advanced N-stage of the tumor (P = 0.018). There was no significant correlation between the expression of E-cadherin and lymph node size (P = 0.435). The expression of E-cadherin was higher in patients with cervical lymph node metastasis limited to a single area than that distributing in some scattered areas (P = 0.000). There was a trend that the expression of E-cadherin in the cases with the tumor and lymph nodes in the same side was higher (56.5%) than that in the patients with bilateral lymph node metastases (32.6%), however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.059). The expression rates of E-cadherin in patients with lymph node metastasis in levels II, III and Va were higher than that in levels I, IV, Vb and VI, but with a non-significant difference (P = 0.059).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of E-cadherin has influence on the lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. E-cadherin expression is negatively correlated with the numbers of the lymph node metastases and the metastasis distance, i.e. a lower expression of E-cadherin leads to an advanced N-stage. The lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer from above to below is more considerably influenced by E-cadherin expression than the metastasis towards contralateral lymph nodes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the value of single source dual energy CT for quantitative measurement of liver fat fraction in the rabbit model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups.Six rabbits were fed with standard chow as a control group for 3 weeks.TwentyGfour rabbits were divided into four groups and fed with highGfat, highGcholesterol diet to reach different stage of NAFLD model for 1 ,3 ,4 and 8 weeks respectively before dualGenergy CT scanning.1 40 keV polychromatic CT values (QC),70 keV monochromatic CT values (Mono 70 keV),slope,effective atomic number (EffectiveGZ)and fat concentration based on dualGenergy CT fat decomposition (Fat/Water)were measured.Liver samples were obtained to measure the fat fraction and staged according to Burnt staging system.Correlations between different CT indexes and fat fraction were analyzed.ROC was used to evaluate the diagnosis efficacy of different parameters.Results Correlation between fat concentration based on dualGenergy CT fat decomposition and fat fraction (r＝0.936)was better than that between 140 keV polychromatic CT values (r＝－0.838)and 70 keV monochromatic CT values (r＝－0.906),as well as effective atomic number (r＝－0.858)and slope (r＝0.863).In terms of diagnostic performance of material decomposition fat imaging,the values of area under the curve were 0.944 (stage 0 vs.stage 1 or more severe),0.995 (stage 1 or less severe vs.stage 2 or more severe)and 1 (stage 2 or less severe vs.stage 3)with optimal cutoff values of 59.310,99.5 17 and 22 3.02 3 mg/cm3 ,respectively.Conclusion The dualGenergy CT can quantitatively measure liver fat concentration as a noninvasive surrogate bioGmarker in the rabbit model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.DualGenergy CT derived material decomposition fat images can provide more diagnostic information at the early stage of NAFLD.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a rare disease of unknown etiology. The exact pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is still not well known. In the past decades, many protein molecules have been found to be involved in the development of IPAH. With proteomic techniques, profiling of human plasma proteome becomes more feasible in searching for disease-related markers. In present study, we showed the protein expression profiles of the serum of IPAH and healthy controls after depleting a few high-abundant proteins in serum. Thirteen spots had changed significantly in IPAH compared with healthy controls and were identified by LC-MS/MS. Alpha-1-antitrypsin and vitronectin were down-regulated in IPAH and may be valuable candidates for further explorations of their roles in the development of IPAH.
Blood Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Databases, Protein ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; genetics ; Proteomics

Mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel type (SCN5A) may evoke severe, life-threatening disturbances in cardiac rhythm, including long QT syndrome, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (Brugada Syndrome), and isolated cardiac conduction disease. There is increasing awareness of the role of common polymorphisms in altering gene function and in susceptibility to diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in SCN5A gene and the distribution of these identified SNPs in Chinese Han nationality. SCN5A gene was sequenced by fluorescent labeling automatic sequencing method in 120 unrelated samples from Han nationality in South China. Allele frequency distribution was tested by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The results showed that a total of 5 SNPs were identified in SCN5A gene, including three SNPs in code region, one SNP in regulatory region and the other in intron 23 adjacent to donor splicing site. The distribution of the SNPs in SCN5A gene was uneven. These allele frequencies in Han population of South China were as follows: G87A (A29A) 27.5%, A1673G (H588R) 10.4%, 4245+82A>G 32.8%, C5457T (D1819D) 41.3% and G6174A 44.9% respectively. The SNPs G87A (A29A), 4245+82A>G and G6174A were reported for the first time. There was no significant difference in the allele frequency of A1673G (H558R) within different ethical populations (P>0.05). C5457T (D1819D) allele frequency of Han population in South China was similar to that observed in Japanese (P>0.5), but higher than that in American (p<0.005). There was no significant difference in the distribution of the SNPs between male group and female group (all p>0.05). S1102Y and other 10 SNPs identified in other ethnic populations have not been detected in Chinese Han population. The allele distribution of SNPs was in good unity with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It is suggested that the SNP distribution of SCN5A gene varies within different nationalities. These data will be of use for genetic association studies of acquired arrythmias and investigation of sensitivity to drug therapy.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; physiology ; Sodium Channels ; classification ; genetics

The aim of this article was to investigate the dependence of ventricular wallstress-induced refractoriness changes on pacing cycle lengths and its mechanism in anaesthetized rabbits. The rabbit heart preparation was used. The left ventricular afterload was increased by partially clipping the root of the ascending aorta. The changes in effective refractory periods (ERP) induced by the left ventricular afterload rising were examined at different pacing cycle lengths (1000, 500, 300 and 200 ms). In addition, the effect of streptomycin on these changes was also observed. The results are as follows: (1) The rising of left ventricular afterload led to marked changes in ERP at rapidly pacing cycle lengths (300 ms, 21+/-5 ms, 17.0%; 200 ms, 19+/-3 ms, 18.8%. P<0.01) than at slow ones (1000 ms, 3+/-2 ms, 1.5%; 500 ms, 7+/-3 ms, 4.0%. P>0.05); (2) Streptomycin inhibited the changes caused by the left ventricular afterload rising at pacing cycle lengths 300 ms and 200 ms (P>0.05). It is suggested that ventricular wallstress-induced refractoriness changes are pacing cycle length-dependent, and the effect of streptomycin appears to be consistent with the inhibition of stretch-activated ion channels.
Animals ; Aorta ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Constriction ; Mechanoreceptors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; drug effects ; Streptomycin ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function ; drug effects ; physiology

BACKGROUNDMutations in the cardiac sodium channel gene (SCN5A) may lead to a broad spectrum of familial arrhythmias, including long QT syndrome (LQTS), idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF), and isolated cardiac conduction diseases. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in the SCN5A gene also play an important role in the manifestation of disorders involving cardiac excitability. In this study, we investigated the polymorphisms of the SCN5A gene in Han Chinese and its relation to Brugada syndrome (BS).

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from 120 unrelated healthy volunteers and 48 unrelated Brugada syndrome patients by means of standard procedures. All exons including the putative splicing sites of the SCN5A gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly or after subcloning using an ABI Prism 377 DNA sequencer.

RESULTSA total of 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the Han Chinese population, including 3 novel ones: G87A(A29A), 4245 + 82A > G, and G6174A. The allele frequencies of each SNP in the Han Chinese population were as follows: G87A (A29A) 27.5%, A1673G (H558R) 10.4%, 4245 + 82A > G 32.8%, C5457T (D1819D) 41.3%, and G6174A 44.9%. S1102Y and 10 other SNPs identified in other ethnic populations were not detected in this study. There was no significant difference in the allele frequency of A1673G (H558R) between different ethnic populations (all P > 0.5). On the other hand, the allele frequency of C5457T (D1819D) among Han Chinese was similar to its frequency among Japanese (P > 0.5), but higher than that among Americans (P < 0.005). The allele G1673 (R558) was over-represented in BS patients compared to controls (P < 0.005), but there was no significant difference in genotype frequencies at this locus. There were also no differences in either the allele or genotype frequencies of the 4 other identified SNPs when comparing BS patients with healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution of SCN5A SNPs may vary between different ethnicities. The polymorphism of A1673G might be associated with BS and may contribute to a susceptibility to BS in Han Chinese.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; Syndrome ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; genetics

OBJECTIVEo clone angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) gene, to analyze its amino acids and nucleotides sequence and to investigate tissue distribution of ACE2 in adult mice.

METHODSThe full-length ACE2 encoding sequence was amplified from the RNA of mice kidney tissue by RT-PCR technique, cloned into plasmid pGEM-T easy, then subcloned into plasmid pcDNA3.1+. After identification of DNA sequence, the recombinant plasmid pmACE2 was transfected into Cos7 cells with lipofectin reagent. The transient expression of ACE2 molecule was detected by SDS-PAGE. Sequence analysis was conducted with CLUSTALX program. Tissue distribution of ACE2 in mice was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSA fragment about 2.6 kb was amplified and the recombinant plasmid pmACE2 was confirmed by two-enzyme digesting and DNA sequencing. The cloned DNA sequence was consistent with that previously reported, except for 3 variations: A701G, T1102C and T1330C. SDS-PAGE proved that expression of a soluble, truncated products form of ACE2 was a glycoprotein of approximately 80 kD in Cos7 cells. The predicted mice ACE2 sequence contained an N-terminal signal sequence (amino acid residues 1-18), a single HHEMGHIQ zinc-binding domain (amino acid residues 373-380) and C-terminal membrane anchor (amino acid residues 738-765). Mice ACE2 showed 84 % identity with that of human, and 90 % identity with that of rat. Expression of ACE2 was the greatest in lungs, hearts and kidneys, and moderate levels were also detected in testes and livers.

CONCLUSIONMice ACE2 gene has been cloned and successfully expressed in vitro. The tissue-specific expression of ACE2 in different species is not identical.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Carboxypeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Sequence Analysis ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether puerarin can augment endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) numbers, promote EPC proliferation, migration and adhesion.

METHODTotal mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After 7 days culture, attached cells were stimulated with puerarin (to make a series of final concentrations: 0. 1, 0.5, 1, 3 mmol x L(-1)) or vehicle control for the respective time points (6, 12, 24, 48 h). EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPCs proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis activity were assayed with MT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating those on fibronectin-coated dishes, then adherent cells were counted.

RESULTIncubation of isolated human MNCs with puerarin dose increased the number of EPCs, maximum at 3 mmol x L(-1), 24 hours (approximately 1-fold increase, P < 0.01). In addition, puerarin also promoted EPC proliferative, migratory, adhesive and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can augment the number of EPCs with enhanced functional activity.

Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Time Factors ; Veins ; cytology