To determine the number average molecular mass of chitosan-oligosaccharide by u-sing the acetylacetone's method based on the color-producing reaction with amino terminal . Via the tests on the repetitiveness, accuracy and the stability, supposed this method was reliable. At the same time, the contrastive results of HPLC and the traditional K3Fe(CN)6 method indicate that the acetylacetone method was more suitable for the determination of chitosan-oligosaccharide molecular mass.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect of total saponins from stems and leaves of Panax ginseng (GSLS) on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced kidney damage in mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS Thirty-two male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control group, CDDP group, and GSLS(150 and 300)+CDDP groups. GSLS was administered to mice by oral gavage once a day for 7 d. On the 7th day, a single injection of CDDP 20 mg·kg-1 was given 1 h after GSLS 150 and 300 mg·kg-1 before GSLS 150 and 300 mg·kg-1 continued to be given for 3 d. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) , catalase (CAT) in renal tissue, reduced glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α) and interleukin 1β(IL-1β) of cisplatin induced mice were detected after 72 h. HE and PAS staining were used to observe the renal histopathological changes;While TUNEL and Hoechst33258 staining were employed to observe apoptosis in kidney tissues. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, CDDP group had a significant reduction in relative body mass (P<0.05), and the level of GSH and CAT in kidney tissues (P<0.05). The level of CRE, BUN, TNF-α, and IL-1βin serum and renal indexes significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), especially BUN and CRE that respectively doubled and quadrupled. CDDP group developed glomerulus swelling, renal tubular expansion and epithelial cell necrosis. Trans?parent tube type of tube cavity appeared, the nucleus pycnosis disappeared, but renal interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared. There was a large amount of glycogen deposition and high expressions of TUNEL positive cells and Hoechst33258 positive cells. Compared with CDDP group, the levels of BUN and CRE in GSLS treatment group significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in serum, glycogen deposition was reducted and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells decreased in kidney tissues (P<0.05). The level of TNF-α, IL-1β(P<0.05) and the degree of renal tissue necrosis were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in CDDP+GSLS 300 group, but there was a significant increase in the level of CAT and GSH (P<0.05). CONCLUSION GSLS can protect against mouse kidney injury induced by cisplatin. The mechanism may be related to oxidation, reduced inflammation reaction and resistance to apoptosis.

Objective To study the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepri1 on apoptosis and the expression of Fas and FasL in the kidney of rats with adriamycin-indued nephritic glomeruosclerosis.Methods After uninephrectomy and the injection of adriamycin induced rats model with glomerulosclerosis, benazapril(6 mg/kg) was delivered daily by gavage to the rats in therapeutic groups for 12 weeks.Apoptosis was examined by means of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl trans ferase mediated d-UTP nick end label ling(TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry was utlized to detect the expression of Fas and FasL.Software of pathological analysis quantitated the level of Fas and FasL.Results Compared with those of the control group, the kidney of model group had moresevere glomerulosclerosis, much more apoptotic cells and higher level of exprssion of Fas and FasL. The degree of glomeruloscleroais, the nuxner of apoptotic cells and the level of expression of Fas and FasL were ameliofated by benazepril treatment.Conclusion Benazepril may suppress the excessive apoptosis of kidney cell by lowering the expression of the protin correlatng apoptosis Fas and FasL,so as to postpone the process of glomeruosclerosis.

The crude toxin was extracted from hypha and culture solution of Phyllosticta commelimecola through three different polarity solvent: benzinum, puncificatum ethyl acetate and chloroform. The result indicated that the toxin secreted by Phyllosticta commelimecola not only was in hypha but also in culture solution and the extracting effect of ethyl acetate was the best. The soybean median and PSK media can be respectively used as solid and liquid culture media to produce toxin and grow mycelium. The optimal cultural conditions for producing toxin were temperature 32℃,cultured period 14d, cultured ways shaking of 150r/min.

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on nNOS expression after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats and the possible mechanism of protective effect of propofol on brain. Method Seventy-eight male Wistar rats, weighting 250 ~ 300 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups:(1)Sham operation group (S group, n=6) was performed with scham operation; (2) Ischemia-reperfusion group (group I-R, n=36) was subjected to 2-hour right middle cerebral artery occlusion and then reperfusion was followed, saline (1 mg/kg) was injected into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe before reperfusion;(3) Propefol group (group P, n=36) was injected with propofol (1mg/kg) into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe right after ischemia. Group I-R and group P were divided into 3 subgroups according to the reperfusion time: 1 h, 3 h and 6 h. The neurological function of all rats were tested before reperfusion. The cerebral infarction area of the whole brain was calculated with TIC staining (n=6). The pathological change of brain was observed from HE staining (n=6) and the nNOS protein expression was obtained by immuno- histochemical method (n=6). Results Compared with I-R group, the neurological function was better in group P(P

Objective To observe the effects of five flavonoids include rutin(RU),dihydromyricetin(DMY),hesperetin(HP),daidzein(DA)and hydroxysaffor yellow A(HYSA)on myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by H2O2 and to explore their relationships with Keshan disease and the possible mechanism.Methods Primary cultured cardiocytes of neonatal rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,and flavonoids preincubation group.The cardiocyte apoptosis was examined by fluorescent staining,the rates of apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins associated with apoptosis were observed:by Western blot.Results Compared with model group[(24.33±6.51)%],RU[(13.95±3.80)%],DA[(11.82±3.50)%],HYSA[(12.33±3.78)%]could decreased the rate of apoptosis(P＜0.05).The five flavonoids could up-regulate Bcl-2 expression,down-regulate Bax expression,and increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio[RU(0.989±0.094),DMY(0.931±0.280),HP(0.980±0.095),DA(1.049±0.092),HYSA(1.031±0.039),vs model(0.490±0.046),the difference had statistical significances(P＜0.05)],but the Bcl-xl did not significantly changed(P＞0.05).Conclusions RU,DMY,HP,DA and HYSA have antiapoptotic effects on cardiomyocyte via regulating Bcl-2 and Bax,which gives us a hint in prevention and treatment of Keshan disease.

Today, the understanding of the sequence and structure of biologically relevant targets is growing rapidly and researchers from many disciplines, physics and computational science in particular, are making significant contributions to modern biology and drug discovery. However, it remains challenging to rationally design small molecular ligands with desired biological characteristics based on the structural information of the drug targets, which demands more accurate calculation of ligand binding free-energy. With the rapid advances in computer power and extensive efforts in algorithm development, physics-based computational chemistry approaches have played more important roles in structure-based drug design. Here we reviewed the newly developed computational chemistry methods in structure-based drug design as well as the elegant applications, including binding-site druggability assessment, large scale virtual screening of chemical database, and lead compound optimization. Importantly, here we address the current bottlenecks and propose practical solutions.
Computational Biology ; Drug Design ; Drug Discovery ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

BACKGROUNDPreeclampsia is a multifactorial disease during pregnancy. Dysregulated lipid metabolism may be related to some preeclampsia. We investigated the relationship between triglycerides (TGs) and liver injury in different preeclampsia-like mouse models and their potential common pathways.

METHODSPreeclampsia-like models (Nw-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester [L-NAME], lipopolysaccharide [LPS], apolipoprotein C-III [Apo] transgnic mice + L-NAME, β2 glycoprotein I [βGPI]) were used in four experimental groups: L-NAME (LN), LPS, Apo-LN and βGPI, respectively, and controls received saline (LN-C, LPS-C, Apo-C, βGPI-C). The first three models were established in preimplantation (PI), early-, mid- and late-gestation (EG, MG and LG). βGPI and controls were injected before implantation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), 24-hour urine protein, placental and fetal weight, serum TGs, total cholesterol (TC) and pathologic liver and trophocyte changes were assessed.

RESULTSMAP and proteinuria were significantly increased in the experimental groups. Placenta and fetal weight in PI, EP and MP subgroups were significantly lower than LP. Serum TGs significantly increased in most groups but controls. TC was not different between experimental and control groups. Spotty hepatic cell necrosis was observed in PI, EG, MG in LN, Apo-LN and βGPI, but no morphologic changes were observed in the LPS group. Similar trophoblastic mitochondrial damage was observed in every experimental group.

CONCLUSIONSEarlier preeclampsia onset causes a higher MAP and urine protein level, and more severe placental and fetal damage. Preeclampsia-like models generated by varied means lead to different changes in lipid metabolism and associated with liver injury. Trophoblastic mitochondrial damage may be the common terminal pathway in different preeclampsia-like models.

Animals ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; physiology ; Liver ; injuries ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; blood ; pathology ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; blood ; pathology ; Pregnancy ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Trophoblasts ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the validity of single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography for estimation of right ventricular (RV) volume.

METHODSFifteen human RV casts were obtained from 15 subjects who died from non-cardiac causes within 24 hours after death. These casts were photographed respectively and their volumes were calculated by using the single plane Simpson's method based on a new half-circle model. The actual RV cast volumes were determined by water displacement method.

RESULTSThe actual RV volume was (64.23 +/- 24.51) ml and the calculated volume was (58.04 +/- 24.45) ml. The calculated RV volume underestimated the actual volume by (6.19 +/- 12.38) ml, but there was no significant difference between the actual and the calculated RV volume (P > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the actual cast volume and the calculated volume (r = 0.983, P < 0.01). The regression equation was: RV actual volume = 1.074 x (RV calculated volume).

CONCLUSIONRV volume calculated by single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography is accurate and deserves further study.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiocardiography ; methods ; Cardiac Volume ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Ventricular Function, Right ; X-Rays ; Young Adult

Abstract?AlM:To investigate the influence of lOL refractive index ( Rl ) on measurement of straylight following cataract surgery.?METHODS:ln this case-control study, 77 eyes of 77 age-related cataract patients who underwent cataract phacoemulsification with posterior chamber aspherical arylic lOL implantation surgery in the Eye Hospital of China Medical University from Aug 2013 to Mar 2014, with a best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) of 0. 5 or better, were classified into 3 groups randomly using 3 types of lOL: Tecnis ZCB00 Group ( Rl = 1. 47, 22 eyes of 22 subjects); Hoya PY60AD Group ( Rl=1. 52, 24 eyes of 24 subjects);Alcon SN60WF or lQ Group ( Rl=1. 55, 31 eyes of 31 subjects ) . BCVA, pupil size, astigmatism, axial length, intraocular straylight were measured respectively.? RESULTS: Age, axial length, BCVA, pupil size, astigmatism of the three groups were not significant difference (P>0. 05). The straylight of Tecnis, Hoya, lQ group were 1.04±0. 15, 1. 19±0. 14, 1. 14±0. 18. Straylight levels had significant differences among three groups ( F=5. 352, P = 0. 007 < 0. 05 ). There was no significant correlation between BCVA and straylight value (r=-0. 133,P=0. 124>0. 05).?CONCLUSlON:Patients chosen the higher Rl lOL may have a higher straylight level after the surgery.