Chaenomelis Fructus contains triterpenoids,phenylpropanoids,flavonoids,organic acids,esters, amino acids,lipids,steroids and other chemical constituents and possesses various pharmacological properties,includ- ing the analgesic,inflammatory,immune-enhancing and hepatoprotective effects as well as the anti-gastric ulcer,anti- intestinal injury and anticancer activities. This paper reviews the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Chaenomelis Fructus,and also addresses some ideas and Methods: for the research on Chaenomelis Fructus.

Ocular diseases in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infected patients have attracted increasing attention due to their impact on quality of life. As HIV treatment continues to improve, opportunistic eye infections are decreasing, while HIV-associated retinopathy is becoming a growing concern. HIV-associated retinopathy, including a series of structural changes in the retina and optic nerves(thinning of the nerve fiber layer, changing in blood vessels), has been found to cause decreased visual sensitivity, visual field defect, color vision disorder. However, the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neuroretinal disorder has not been fully clarified, and the existing findings may be related to direct destruction of retinal optic nerve tissue by HIV virus, chronic inflammation, and destruction of the blood-retina barrier. Understanding the pathological characteristics and possible mechanisms of HIV-associated neuroretinal disorder is expected to provide new ideas and approaches for the treatment of the disease and improve the quality of life of HIV-infected patients.

Child, Preschool ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; beta-Thalassemia ; genetics

Chigger mites is a group of arthropods and some of them are vectors of scrub typhus. As a common synanthropic rodent species, the Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) often harbors lots of ectoparasites including chigger mites. According to some “data mining” strategies, the present study took the advantage of the abundant original data from a long-term field ecological investigation between 2001 and 2015 to make a detailed analysis of chigger mites on R. norvegicus in Yunnan Province, Southwest of China. From 18 of 33 investigated counties, only 1414 chigger mites were collected from 1113 Brown rats with relatively low infestations. The 1414 individual chigger mites were identified as comprising 61 species, 11 genera and 2 subfamilies of the family Trombiculidae with a high species diversity (S=61, H’=3.13). Of 61 mite species, there were four main species, Walchia ewingi, Ascoschoengastia indica, W. koi and A. rattinorvegici, which accounted for 44.41% of the total mites. All the chigger mites were of aggregated distribution among different individuals of R. norvegicus. The Brown rats in the outdoor habitats harbored much more individuals and species of chigger mites with a higher mean abundance (MA=1.46) and mean intensity (MI=12.53) than in the indoor habitats (P<0.05). The overall infestation of the rats was significantly higher in the mountainous landscapes than in the flatland landscapes (P<0.001). The species similarity (Css) of the mites on the male and female rats reached 64.44% with sex biased infestations. The male rats harbored more species and individuals of the mites than the female rats. The adult rats harbored more species and individuals of the mites than the juvenile rats. The species abundance distribution of the mites was successfully fitted by Preston’s lognormal model with S ^ (R)=15e–[0.31(R–1)]2 (α=0.31, R2=0.95). On the basis of fitting the theoretical curve by Preston’s model, the total mite species on R. norvegicus was estimated to be 86 species, and 25 rare mite species were missed in the sampling field investigation. The curve tendency of the species-plot relationship indicates that R. norvegicus have a great potential to harbor many species of chigger mites, and more species of the mites would be collected if more rats are sampled.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the key entry enzyme of plant phenylpropanoid pathway. It plays an important role in the biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin, an anti-tumor lignan that is currently produced from its main natural source Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying. In this study, we cloned the gene ShPAL encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase by RT-PCR from the root of S. hexandrum ecotype inhabited in the Aba' district, Sichuan, based on its public SRA transcriptome data-package. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the ShPAL-encoded protein is composed of 711 amino acids, contains the conserved domains of PAL, and has the signature motif within the active center of aromatic ammonia-lyases. Moreover, ShPAL protein was predicted to have a secondary structure mainly composed of α-helix and random coil, a typical 'seahorse' shape monomer tertiary structure, and a homologous tetramer three-dimensional structure by Swiss-Modelling. The phylogenetic lineage analysis indicated ShPAL was of the highest sequence identity and the shortest evolutionary distance with the PAL of Epimedium sagittatum from the same Berberidaceae family. Subcellular localization experiments showed that ShPAL protein was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, despite of a minority on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Furthermore, ShPAL protein was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by histidine-tag affinity chromatography. Its enzymatic activity was determined up to 20.91 U/mg, with the optimum temperature of 41 ℃ and pH of 9.0. In contrast, the enzyme activity of its F130H mutant decreased by about 23.6%, yet with the same trends of change with temperature and pH, confirming that phenylalanine at this position does affect the substrate specificity of PAL. Both the wild type and the mutant have relatively poor thermostability, but good pH-stability. These results may help to further investigate the regulatory role of PAL in the process of podophyllotoxin biosynthesis and advance the heterologous synthesis of podophyllotoxin to protect the germplasm resource of S. hexandrum. They also demonstrate that ShPAL has a potential application in biochemical industry and biomedicine.
Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism* ; Podophyllotoxin ; Phylogeny ; Cloning, Molecular

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of the MW-9 on ulcerative colitis(UC)and reveal the underlying mechanism, so as to provide a scientific guidance for the MW-9 treatment of UC. Methods The model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells was established. The effect of MW-9 on RAW264.7 cells viability was detected by MTT assay. The levels of nitric oxide(NO)in RAW264.7 macrophages were measured by Griess assay. Cell supernatants and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines containing IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β were determined by ELISA kits. Dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC model in mice was established and body weight of mice in each group was measured. The histopathological damage degree of colonic tissue was assessed by HE staining. The protein expression of p-p38, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK was detected by Western blot. Results MW-9 intervention significantly inhibited NO release in RAW264.7 macrophages with IC50 of 20.47 mg·L-1 and decreased the overproduction of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α(P<0.05). MW-9 had no cytotoxicity at the concentrations below 6 mg·L-1. After MW-9 treatment, mouse body weight was gradually reduced, and the serum IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were significantly down-regulated. Compared with the model group, MW-9 significantly decreased the expression of p-p38 and p-ERK1/2 protein. Conclusions MW-9 has significant anti-inflammatory activities both in vitro and in vivo, and its underlying mechanism for the treatment of UC may be associated with the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo study genome-wide gene expression changes in gastric cancer cells after iodine-125 ¹²⁵(I) particle irradiation.

METHODS¹²⁵I particles were used to irradiate three gastric cancer cell lines of various differentiation levels:high (BGC-823) , medium (AGS) and low (NCI-N87) .Whole-genome gene expression was investigated with microarray. The gene expression in iodine-125 irradiated and untreated cancer cells was compared, and the genes with transcript levels altered for at least 2 folds (P < 0.05) were selected. The change in gene expression levels was verified by using quantitative real-time (qRT) -PCR.

RESULTSThe three gastric cancer cell lines received the same dose rate of ¹²⁵I particle irradiation. Cluster analysis showed that the Gene Ontology (GO) categories did not change in the three cell lines, but changes in gene expression levels were evident for many genes. After ¹²⁵I particle irradiate NCI-N87 cells, 895 genes were up-regulated, 786 genes were down-regulated; AGS was irradiated by ¹²⁵I seed, there were 124 genes upregulated, 161 genes were down-regulated; BGC-823 cells were treated by ¹²⁵I seed irradiation, 2 412 genes upregulated, 3 243 downregulated genes. After ionizing radiation can cause very complex transcriptional regulation changes, KEGG pathway analysis shows that these differentially expressed genes overlap in a particular cell pathway. Four genes, TRAF3IP2-AS1, SDC1, RABL2B and NOM, were found having at least 2-fold difference in expression (P < 0.05) , and the gene expression alteration was confirmed by qRT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONS¹²⁵I particle irradiation caused gene expression changes in gastric cancer cells. The expressions of TRAF3IP2-AS1, SDC1, RABL2B and NOM are altered significantly in all three cell lines studied, indicating that these genes may play an important role in the ¹²⁵I seed treatment of gastric cancer. These genes could be potential targets for developing anti-cancer drugs in the future.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe liver cirrhosis with esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding (GEVB) after endoscopic variceal ligation and treatment of early oral nutrition liquid in patients administered to reduce the risk of early rebleeding.

METHODSSeventy-eight patients with cirrhosis who received therapeutic endoscopy after GEVB and who suffered from malnutrition were randomly divided into a treatment group (oral solution group, n=40) and a control group (regular diet group, n=38).Both of the two groups received food at 12 hours after therapeutic endoscopy.After 14 days, the rates of early rebleeding rate and liver function recovery were compared for the two groups. T-test, rank test, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, less patients in the treatment group experienced rebleeding (0/40 vs. 5/38; x2=5.624, P=0.018); the treatment group also showed significantly improved indexes of liver function (all P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONs GEVB after endoscopic treatment with early oral nutrition liquid administration can reduce in the early rebleeding risk and improve function and malnutrition status.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of CSF1PO, TPOX and TH01 in 5 minority populations only resided in Yunnan province.

METHODSDNA extraction from bloods and multiplex amplification of CSF1PO, TPOX and TH01 were carried out. The technique of denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining method were used.

RESULTSThe data on the distribution of allele frequencies of 3 loci(CSF1PO, TPOX and TH01) in Achang Deang Bulang Pumi and Jino were collected and analyzed.

CONCLUSIONThe allele distribution of the loci were in good agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equibrium. A satisfactory result was obtained and some significant genetics differences were noticed in different populations.

Alleles ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics

AIM:To explore the effect of intravitreal injection FasL inhibitors on corneal apoptosis, Fas, FasL expression, Treg numbers in blood and lymph nodes and rejection index in rats after corneal transplantation.METHODS:A total of 24 SD rats(24 eyes)who received penetrating keratoplasty were randomly divided into two groups: PBS group received intravitreal injection of PBS(12 rats, 12 eyes)and FasL inhibitor group(12 rats, 12 eyes). Rejection index was recorded every week and blood samples and lymph node were collected at 1, 3 and 5wk after surgery to analyze the proportions of Treg. Corneal tissue was collected for detecting the expression of Fas and FasL and number of apoptosis.RESULTS: The expression of Fas, FasL in FasL inhibitor group decreased significantly compared with the PBS group(all P<0.05); Corneal cell apoptosis significantly decreased in FasL inhibitor group, and it was the lowest at 5wk after surgery; Treg numbers in blood and lymph nodes significantly increased in FasL inhibitor group at 3wk after surgery(all P<0.05); rejection index of corneal transplantation in the FasL inhibitor group was significantly lower than that of PBS group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Intravitreal injection of FasL inhibitors after corneal transplantation could reduce the apoptosis in all layers of cornea, increase the number of Tregs in blood and lymph nodes, and alleviate rejection.