Crocetin, a naturally occurring carotenoid, possesses antioxidant and antiatherosclerotic properties, of which the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of crocetin (0.1, 1, 10 μmol·L(-1)) on angiotensin II (Ang II, 0.1 μmol·L(-1)) induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. The effects of crocetin on the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also observed. The results demonstrated that crocetin notably suppressed Ang II induced NF-κB activation (P<0.01) and VCAM-1 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01) in HUVECs, accompanied by a markedly reduced monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, preincubation with crocetin resulted in a significant enhancement of cellular antioxidant capacity (P<0.05, P<0.01), while Ang II induced intracellular ROS decreased markedly (P<0.05, P<0.01). These results indicated that crocetin was capable of suppressing Ang II induced VCAM-1 expression and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion by suppression of NF-κB activation, which might be derived from the enhancement of antioxidant capacity and subsequent reduction of intracellular ROS.
Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

Designed the degenerate primers of alcohol dehydeogenase and L-lactate dehydrogenase to aug- ment Ethanoligenens harbinense B49 genomic DNA, and obtained about 780 bp and 610 bp PCR product respectively. Augmented flank sequences of the two PCR fragments with the Cassette PCR method. Similar- ity alignment showed that the products of the cloned DNA were very high similar to those of alcohol dehy- drogenase genes and L-lactate dehydrogenase genes respectively. One of the two sequences was 1902 bp long, and the ORF of adh was 1101 bp long and encoded 366 amino acids. Its putative molecular weight was about 39.71 kD, its calculational isoionic point was pH 5.93. The maximal identity and positive was 51% and 73% with Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 adh. The other one was 2490 bp long, and the ORF of adh was 951 bp long and encoded 316 amino acids. Its putative molecular weight was 34.23 kD, its calcula-tional isoionic point was pH 6.09. The maximal identity and positive was 55% and 74% with Bacillus megaterium L-ldh. Successfully cloning these two genes would not only enrich the gene resources of L-lactate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase genes, but also give the scientific warrant for the meta- bolic engineering research and the construction of the gene-engineering bacteria.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD2 Antigens ; metabolism ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Breakage ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Objective To find out the iodine nutritional status and thyroid function of pregnant and lactating women in the urban areas of Wuwei City of Gansu Province,and to provide a scientific basis for iodine supplementation.Methods Blood and urine samples of pregnant (52 persons) and lactating women (59 persons) were collected in 2009.Urinary iodine content was measured with arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometric.Serum free three triiodothyronine(FT3),free thyroid hormone(FT4),triiodo thyronine(TT3),serum total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected with direct chemiluminescence immunoassay.Results The medians urinary iodine of pregnant and lactating women were 274.68,217.88 μg/L.The rates of low urinary iodine (pregnant women below 150 μg/L,lactating women lower than 100 μg/L) were 9.62％ (5/52) and 6.78％ (4/59).Serum TT3,TT4 levels in pregnant women[(2.48 ± 0.59),(132.18 ± 33.36)nmoL/L] were higher than that in the lactating women[(2.16 ± 0.49),(108.79 ± 28.36)nmol/L,t =-3.123,-3.971,all P ＜ 0.05].Thyroid dysfunction incidence rates of pregnant and lactating women were 17.31％ (9/52) and 8.47％ (5/59).Thyroid dysfunction was mostly subclinical hypothyroidism.Conclusions Overall iodine nutrition of pregnant and lactating women is in good condition,some individuals have the trend of hypothyroidism.It is necessary to carry out routine monitoring of urinary iodine and thyroid function.

A method for simultaneous determination of PCDDs, dl-PCBs, BFRs and PBDD/Fs in flue gas from stationary source was developed. The sample was extracted by Soxhlet apparatus with toluene, and followed by purification through sulfuric acid partition and multi-layer silica gel column separation. The target compounds were then all separated by passing through the active carbon-dispersed silica gel column and reversal eluting. Gas chromatography coupled with a thermostable capillary column ( short length, thin stationary phase film) was operated at pulse injection mode. High resolution mass spectrometry set at low-electron-energy ionization was used for quantification. The high- and low-brominated compounds were determined simultaneously. The detection limits of this method were 0. 081-1. 2 pg for PCDD/Fs, 0. 10-0. 32 pg for dl-PCBs, 0. 14-12 pg for PBDEs, 0. 26-16 pg for new BFRs, 0. 44-3. 6 pg for tetra- to hepta-BDD/Fs and 8. 2-12 pg for OBDD/F. Recoveries ( RSDs) in spiked flue gas samples were 88%-115%(2. 9%-6. 1%) for PCDD/Fs, 84%-118% (3. 2%-10%) for dl-PCBs, 71%-135% (2. 1%-18%) for PBDEs, 71%-114% (2. 9%-7. 4%) for new BFRs, 83%-127% (5. 2%-10%) for tetra-to hepta-BDD/Fs and 52%-149% ( 23%-24%) for OBDD/F. All quality control data fell within the acceptable range specified in analysis standards for flue gas.

The safety of Chinese patent medicine has become a focus of social. It is necessary to carry out work on post-marketing clinical safety evaluation for Chinese patent medicine. However, there have no criterions to guide the related research, it is urgent to set up a model and method to guide the practice for related research. According to a series of clinical research, we put forward some views, which contained clear and definite the objective and content of clinical safety evaluation, the work flow should be determined, make a list of items for safety evaluation project, and put forward the three level classification of risk control. We set up a model of post-marketing clinical safety evaluation for Chinese patent medicine. Based this model, the list of items can be used for ranking medicine risks, and then take steps for different risks, aims to lower the app:ds:risksrisk level. At last, the medicine can be managed by five steps in sequence. The five steps are, collect risk signal, risk recognition, risk assessment, risk management, and aftereffect assessment. We hope to provide new ideas for the future research.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; economics ; therapeutic use ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Humans ; Patents as Topic ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of high-frequency electromagnetic field (HF-EMF, 30 MHz, 0-1600 V/m) on the apoptosis and ultramicrostructure of the hippocamp and demonstrate the cytotoxicity of hippocamp.

METHODS120 Wistar female adult rats were randomly divided into ten groups based on body weight with different levels of 30 MHz electromagnetic field (0, 25, 100, 400, 1600 V/m) for eight hours daily. Five group rats were irradiated for three days. The other five group rats were irradiated for fifty-six days. Weekly the rats were continuously exposed five days. The apoptotic rate of the hippocamp was detected with TUNEL System. Meanwhile, the ultramicrostructure was observed with the transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS(1) There was no significant difference on the apoptotic rate and pathological change of the hippocamp cell between the exposure and the control groups through short term experiment (P > 0.05). (2) The apoptotic rate of the granulocyte on the DG campus of the hippocamp in the 400 V/m group and the 1600 V/m group (0.165% +/- 0.049%, 0.189% +/- 0.049% respectively) were increased significantly (P < 0.01) through inferior chronic experiment compared with the control group (0.052% +/- 0.016%). Along with the increase of radiation dose, the ultramicrostructure of the neuron cell appeared more abnormal cells. Especially there were marked change on the neuron in the 1600 V/m group.

CONCLUSIONSThere is no association between cell apoptotic rate of the hippocamp and short period exposure to HF-EMF (30 MHz, 25-1600 V/m). However inferior chronic exposures to HF-EMF might induce the cytotoxicity, especially in the high dose exposure (1600 V/m) under our experiment.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Endocytosis ; radiation effects ; Female ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Neurons ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Armillifer agkistrodontis (Ichthyostraca: Pantastomida) is a parasitic pathogen, only reported in China, which can cause a zoonotic disease, pentastomiasis. A complete mitochondrial (mt) genome was 16,521 bp comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 non-coding region (NCR). A phylogenetic tree drawn with the concatenated amino acid sequences of the 6 conserved PCGs (atp6, cox1-3, and nad2) showed that A. agkistrodontis and Armillifer armillatus constituted a clade Pentastomida which was a sister group of the Branchiura. The complete mt genome sequence of A. agkistrodontis provides important genetic markers for both phylogenetic and epidemiological studies of pentastomids.
Amino Acid Sequence ; China ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Genes, rRNA ; Genetic Markers ; Genome ; Genome, Mitochondrial* ; Humans ; Pentastomida* ; RNA, Transfer ; Siblings ; Tongue* ; Trees ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVETo review the clinical features and therapeutic experience in children with plastic bronchitis.

METHODSFourteen children with plastic bronchitis were reviewed retrospectively, 12 of which were under two years old. The clinical features are characterized by sudden onset, episodes of profound hypoxia and respiratory tract obstruction. SaO2 was between 0.70 and 0.80 even with mask oxygen inhalation. Eight cases were pyretic, 4 cases expectorated jel-like bronchial casts. The chest X-ray picture showed patchy consolidation or atelectasis unilaterally (10 cases) or bilaterally (2 cases). Pulmonary marking thickening and patchy shadow were observed in 2 cases. Twelve cases underwent rigid bronchoscopy and the bronchial casts were removed. Two cases underwent endotracheal intubation.

RESULTSEight cases of 12 children received therapeutic bronchoscopy were cured. Other 4 cases had second therapeutic bronchoscopy and bronchial casts were removed again in 3 cases, one died from pulmonary hemorrhage. Two cases who underwent endotracheal intubation died from the multiple organ failure (MOF). Pathologic results showed:the bronchial casts were composed mainly of mucus and fibrin, inflammatory cell infiltrate were observed in 6 cases (Type 1, inflammatory), no cellular infiltrate occurred in 8 cases (Type 2, acellular).

CONCLUSIONSPlastic bronchitis is a severe and dangerous disease. The branching plastic casts may obstruct part or the entire tracheobronchial, causing respiratory failure. Bronchoscopy and pathologic examination are essential for it's diagnosis and treatment.

Airway Obstruction ; Bronchitis ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Retrospective Studies

Despite Salvia miltiorrhiza being one of the most important medicine plants in China, there is a limited availability of genomic resources, especially of the expressed sequence tag-based markers. In this study, we selected and characterized functional markers in S. miltiorrhiza, which consisted of 4,192 non-redundant expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from 10,288 identified S. miltiorrhiza ESTs in dbEST data bank. Among them, 159 simple sequence repeats (SSR) were detected, which amounted to 3.79% of the non-redundant starting sequence population. This incidence was equivalent to one EST-SSR in every 12.74 kb of S. miltiorrhiza ESTs. Among the different motifs ranging from 1 bp to 6 bp, di-nucleotide repeat motif was the most abundant (77, 48.43%), followed by tri-nucleotide (41, 25.79%), hexa-nucleotide (23, 14.47%), penta-nucleotide (12, 7.55%) and tetra-nucleotide (6, 3.77%). In 47 identified motif types, the detected frequency above 5% were GA/CT (16.35%), AG/TC (15.09%), TCA/AGT (10.69%), AT/TA (6.29%), GAAAAG/CAAAAC (6.29%) and TA/AT (5.03%). Based on flank sequence of detected SSR, a total of 83 EST-SSR primer pairs were designed and tested for the amplification efficiency, polymorphism and transferability in thirteen S. mihiorrhiza samples and other ten species from the genus Salvia. The results showed that 72 primer pairs were successfully amplified in S. miltiorrhiza samples to yield and 279 loci with an average of 3.88 loci per primer pair. The cross-transferability of S. miltiorrhiza EST-SSR markers to other ten Salvia plants was very high, ranging from 60% to 100% with an average of 85%. Further analysis of the genetic similarity based on the polymorphic bands showed the EST-SSR could detect the genetic diversity on different levels among the whole test samples and distinguish the S. miltiorrhiza from other Salvia plants effectively. It is expected that the potential markers described here would add to the repertoire of DNA markers needed for genetic analysis, linkage mapping and comparative genomics studies in S. miltiorrhiza and related Salvia genus plants.
DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity