OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the quality of Artemisia annua L. samples planted in different site condition in Chongqing Wulong county and to provide a fast and convenient assaying of artemisinin in Artemisia annua L. samples in the industrial development of this Chinese herbal medicine. METHODS: The Artemisia annua L. planted in different site condition in Chongqing Wulong county were sampled during harvesting time, which were subjected to many processing steps such as drying by baking, crushing, microwave extraction and color reaction etc. Then the absorbance of the test liquid was detected by UV-spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 290 nm. Finally Artemisinin content was computed based on the regression curve of standard solution and the quality of the Artemisia annua L. samples was evaluated. RESULTS: The liner concentration range of Artemisinin was 8～40 mg?mL-1 (r=0.999 8) with an average recovery rate of 99.98% (RSD=1.48%, n=9).CONCLUSION: The results showed that site condition did have effect on the quality of Artemisia annua L. to some degree. UV-Vis method is simple, rapid and reproducible, and suitable for the quality control of Artemisia annua L. samples.

Objective To evaluate the value of PET-CT in patients with breast cancer and to determine if the PET-CT can provide additional information to predict early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Methods NAC was given to 20 patients with breast cancer confirmed by biopsy puncture from September 2009 to March 2012.The PET-CT was carried out for all patients before NAC.TEC program with three weeks for one cycle was selected.After 6 days of the first cycle,the PET-CT was performed again.The changes of standard uptake value before and after the first cycle were compared.At the same time hand palpation was selected to detect the changes in tumor size before and after the first cycle of NAC.The changes of the standard uptake value and in tumor size need to refer to the pathology Miller & Payne classification methods to evaluate the efficacy of the NAC.Results The SUV were (7.51±1.76) Bq/ml and (4.98±1.61) Bq/ml before and after chemotherapy (t =7.916,P ＜ 0.05) the maximum tumor diameters were (9.62±4.38) cm and (8.89±4.08) cm before and after NAC (t =2.154,P＞ 0.05).SUV had highly correlated with pathological MP classification (r =0.725,P =0.000); while for the tumor size there was no significant change (r =0.026,P =0.824).Conclusion PET-CT can predict the efficacy earlier and is more accurate than clinical efficacy standard for the NAC.

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF-5) is an important factor to regulate the formation and development of the cartilage and bone, it plays a crucial role on the promotion of repairing bone, cartilage and tendon ligament injury. OBJECTIVE: To transfect eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA 3.1(+)/GDF-5 to bone marrow stroma stem cells of mouse and to check the expression of extracellular matrix and proteoglycan which relates with the cartilage formation and differentiation. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro observation regarding cells was performed in the central laboratory of Wuhan Union Hospital between March and December in 2008.MATERIALS: Twenty Kunming specimen male mice were offered by Experimental Animal Center of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA 3.1(+)/GDF-5 was preserved at the laboratory.METHODS: The man-ow stroma stem cells were isolated from mouse bone marrow and cultured in vitro with whole bone marrow adherence method. Passage 3 cells were incubated on 6-well plate and began to transfect when they were 90% confluent. Experiment was assigned into three groups: trensfection group underwent transient transfection of liposome-mediated pcDNA 3.1(+)/GDF-5 using LipofectamineTM2000; blank plasmid group was transfected with blank plasmid pcDNA 3.1(+); control group was added with equal volume of liposome and other protocols were the same as above. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The transfection efficacy was identified success by the expression of GDF-5 gene and protein using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry at 72 heurs following transfection, cartilage matrix Ⅱ collagen expression was determined as above methods. Then marrow stroma stem cells were cultured for additional two weeks to check expression of proteoglycan with alcian blue staining.RESULTS: In the transfection group, a 219-bp specific amplification band was visible, there were brown positive stain in the cytoplasm of marrow stroma stem calls; In blank plasmid group and control group, no GDF-5 trensfection, specific amplification band or obvious stain of cytoplasm was observed. In the transfection group, the collagen Ⅱ gene was detected to express at 225 bp, with brown yellow stain in cytoplasm; in the blank plasmid group and control group, no collagen Ⅱ gene expression or SP ～ stain was observed. Alcian blue staining results showed the transfected cells were stained blue while those in the blank plasmid group and control group were not metachromasia stained.CONCLUSION: Gene trensfection of pcDNA 3.1 (+)/GDF-5 to marrow stroma stem cells can significantly raise expression of collagen II and proteoglycan, and promote the chondrogenic differentiation of marrow stroma stem cells.

Objective To establish the chromatographic fingerprint of Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae(RAM) from GAP base at Youyang by HPLC for the quality control.Methods With Symmetry C_(18) colunm(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m),gradient elution was performed by mobile phase containing MeOH-H_2O(65%—100%).The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min and detection wavelength was 254 nm.Eleven batches of RAM from various producing areas were comparatively analyzed to establish a fingerprint.Results(Eleven) Mutual peaks were selected in chromatography.Among the obtained fingerprint,the most of the detected peaks were separated effectively.The accuracy,repeatability,and stability of this method were satisfied.The RSD of relative retention time of mutual peaks which existed in all samples was less than 1%.The results of peak area were in accordance with the request of fingerprint.Conclusion The esta-(blished) fingerprint can be used for the quality control and species identifying of RAM.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the 8 main quality characteristic indexes of fruit-using Chaenomeles speciosa and C. sinensis fruits produced in Chongqing and explore the comprehensive assessment for the fresh eating-quality of the samples based on the theory of fuzzy comprehensive.

METHODThe total sugar content, titratable acid content, ascorbic acid content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of fresh samples were determined, and the oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, total flavones and total saponins content of dried sample were determined by HPLC and colorimetry method. The fuzzy probability method was used to comprehensively evaluate their fresh eating-quality of the fruit-using C. speciosa and C. sinensis fruits produced in Chongqing.

RESULTThe mean SOD activity of C. speciosa and C. sinensis fresh fruits separately was 15.99 U x mg(-1) and 27.40 U x mg(-1), respectively. And the fresh fruit titratable acid content, total sugar content, ascorbic acid content separately was 0.357 g x L(-1), 0.854 mg x L(-1), 1.118 mg x L(-1) and 0.252 g x L(-1), 0.845 mg x L(-1), 1.260 mg x L(-1), respectively. The oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, total flavones and total saponins content was 0.320%, 0.461%, 43.90 mg x g(-1), 23.11 mg x g(-1) and 0.255%, 0.176%, 41.24 mg x g(-1), 15.01 mg x g(-1), respectively. The Chaenomeles speciosa and C. sinensis sample quality mean comprehensive evaluation value was 0.599 and 0.367 based on the fuzzy probability method.

CONCLUSIONThe edible quality of fruit-using C. speciosa fruits are better than C. sinensis fruits produced in Chongqing. And the fuzzy probability method could be used to quality comprehensive evaluation of samples containing many trait paramaters.

Ascorbic Acid ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Colorimetry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Rosaceae ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the infection situation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as the mycorrhizal structures of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, and the main types and quantities of AMF spores in rhizosphere soil.

METHODThe arbuscular mycorrhizal of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were detected by Phillips and Hayman staining. At the same time, some AMF spores were accessed by Gendemann's Wet-screening method and identified by their morphological characteristics.

RESULTArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could infect the roots of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and formed arbuscular mycorrhizal. Infection rate was from 35.3% to 98.6%, indicating that infection strength was strong. From 10 soil samples collected in Yunnan, 11 Acaulospor species, 7 Glomus species, 3 Gigaspora species and 3 Scutellospora species were isolated and identified, including Acaulospora appendicola, A. brieticulata, A. excavata, A. foveata, A. lacunosa, A. laevis, A. koskei, A. myriocarpa, A. polonica, A. rehmii, A. scrobiculata, Glomus albidum, G. ambisporum, G. deserticola, G. fragarioides, G. luteum, G. microaggregatum, G. multiforum, Gigaspora albida, G. margarita, G. ramisporophora, Scutellospora calospora, S. pellucida and S. gilmorei. Among them, Acaulospora brieticulata was advantage species.

CONCLUSIONAMF may be a potent biological resource which can stimulate the growth of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Fungi ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Magnoliopsida ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Mycorrhizae ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Soil Microbiology

Objective To investigate effect of remote ischemic preconditioning(RIPC)com-bined with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation(tVNS)on reperfusion injury in ST-segment eleva-tion myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods A total of 132 STEMI patients were selected,and were randomly divided into control group,tVNS group and combined group(RIPC combined with tVNS)before percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).A total of 9 of the 132 patients were exclu-ded,including 42 in the control group,40 in the tVNS group,and 41 in the combination group.The area under the curve(AUC)of creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)within 72 h and the ventricular arrhythmia(VAs)within 24 h after reperfusion were compared among the three groups.The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of the three groups were compared at admission and 24 h after reperfusion.Results The AUC of CK-MB in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the control group within 72 h(P＜0.05).The total number of premature ventricular beats and the number of ventricular tachycardia in the tVNS group and combined group were significantly lower than those in the control group within 24 h after reperfusion(P＜0.05).The levels of IL-6,HMGB1 and TNF-α in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the control group 24 h after reperfusion(P＜0.05).LVEF in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the light group at 7 days after reperfusion(P＜0.05).Conclusion The tVNS significantly reducs the incidence of VAs after PCI in STEMI patients,but has little effect on the level of reperfusion inflam-matory markers,myocardial infarction size,and acute left ventricular systolic function.The tVNS com-bined with RICP can produce significant benefits in the above indexes.

Objective To investigate effect of remote ischemic preconditioning(RIPC)com-bined with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation(tVNS)on reperfusion injury in ST-segment eleva-tion myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods A total of 132 STEMI patients were selected,and were randomly divided into control group,tVNS group and combined group(RIPC combined with tVNS)before percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).A total of 9 of the 132 patients were exclu-ded,including 42 in the control group,40 in the tVNS group,and 41 in the combination group.The area under the curve(AUC)of creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)within 72 h and the ventricular arrhythmia(VAs)within 24 h after reperfusion were compared among the three groups.The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of the three groups were compared at admission and 24 h after reperfusion.Results The AUC of CK-MB in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the control group within 72 h(P＜0.05).The total number of premature ventricular beats and the number of ventricular tachycardia in the tVNS group and combined group were significantly lower than those in the control group within 24 h after reperfusion(P＜0.05).The levels of IL-6,HMGB1 and TNF-α in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the control group 24 h after reperfusion(P＜0.05).LVEF in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the light group at 7 days after reperfusion(P＜0.05).Conclusion The tVNS significantly reducs the incidence of VAs after PCI in STEMI patients,but has little effect on the level of reperfusion inflam-matory markers,myocardial infarction size,and acute left ventricular systolic function.The tVNS com-bined with RICP can produce significant benefits in the above indexes.