In this study, 101 strains of bacteria were isolated from arct ic water and sediment samples. The methanol extracts of the fermented broth prod uced by these strains were screened in vitro for anti-tumor activity on mou se tsFT210 cells using the method of flow cytometry, and screened for antibacter ial activity by the method of paper disk diffusion. The result showed that one strain exhibited anti-tumor activity and eight strains had antibacterial activ ity. The stability of the antibacterial components produced by strain AR084 an d its optimum medium were also studied. The research indicated that arctic bac teria had potential application in pharmaceutics.

Proteins extracted from two varieties of Chinese roses leaves were separated by two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) with immobilized pH gradient (IPG). Many difference proteins were isolated with molecular weights ranging 10-30 kDa and pI5-6. Three proteins of high levels observed in a gel were excised and identified using peptide mass fingerprinting and MS-MS. A summary of the identified proteins and their putative functions are presented. They are identified as eIF-5A、LEA protein and Hsp17. 5. Functions of these proteins in plant tolerance to high temperature were discussed.

The incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines is related to the clinical medication safety, so has attracted wide attentions from the public. With the deepening of studies on the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines represented by 18 incompatible herbs, the incompatibility of theory traditional Chinese medicines has raised to new heights. From the origin of incompatibility theory of traditional Chinese medicines, relationship of herbs, harms of incompatible herbs and principle of prevention to toxic effects of specific incompatible medicines, the innovation and development of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory was explored. Structurally, the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines refers to the opposition of two herbs based on seven emotions and clinical experience. The combination of incompatible herbs may lead to human harms, especially latent harm and inefficacy of intervention medicines. The avoidance of the combination of incompatible herbs and the consideration of both symptoms and drug efficacy are the basic method to prevent adverse reactions. The recent studies have revealed five characteristics of incompatible herbs. Toxicity potentiation, toxication, efficacy reduction and inefficacy are the four manifestations of the incompatible relations. The material changes can reflect the effects of toxicity potentiation and toxication of opposite herbs. The accumulation of toxicity and metabolic changes are the basis for latent harms. The antagonistic effect of main efficacies and the coexistence of positive and negative effects are the distinctive part of the incompatibility. The connotation of incompatible herbs plays an important role in the innovation of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory.
Drug Incompatibility ; Drug Therapy ; history ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; pharmacology ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of individual genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes on urinary styrene metabolites.

METHODS58 workers occupationally exposed to styrene were divided into the high exposure group (≥ 100 mg/m³) and the low exposure group (< 100 mg/m³). The microfluidic chip technology was used to determine the SNPs of CYP2B6, CYP2D6 and GSTP1 and the influence of gene polymorphisms on the metabolism of styrene was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of urine styrene metabolites level was influenced by genotypes of CYP2B6, CYP2D6 and GSTP1 [(280.28 +/- 100.60) mg/g Cr vs (183.48 +/- 127.52) mg/g Cr, (233.04 +/- 77.56) mg/g Cr vs (152.46 +/- 95.47) mg/g Cr, (32.88 +/- 7.14) mg/g Cr vs (24.47 +/- 5.59) mg/g Cr, P < 0.05)]. The metabolism of CYP2B6 G/G homozygotic genotype to styrene was more active than G/T heterozygotic genotype and T/T mutation genotype. The level of PHEMA in GSTP1 homozygotic genotype subjects was significantly higher than that in the group of homozygotic genotype [(32.07 +/- 7.32) mg/g Cr vs (25.59 +/- 6.95) mg/g Cr, P < 0.05)]. The influence of CYP2D6 genotypes on urinary metabolites was also observed in the same study [(56.36 +/- 109.72) mg/g Cr vs (177.13 +/- 116.21) mg/g Cr, (118.73 +/- 84.55) mg/g Cr vs (148.48 +/- 99.83) mg/g Cr, (18.29 +/- 13.50) mg/g Cr vs (19.95 +/- 13.30) mg/g Cr, P < 0.05)].

CONCLUSIONGenotypes of CYP2B6, GSTP1 and CYP2D6 are related to susceptibility to the metabolism of styrene in human.

Adult ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; genetics ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Styrene ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between cyclosporine-induced chronic nephrotoxicity (CAN) and renin-angiotensin II in humans is still contradictory. This study was conducted to detect the levels of renin and angiotensin II (ANGII) both in renal tissue and plasma from kidney transplantation patients suffering from CAN.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with allograft biopsy-proven CsA-related chronic nephrotoxicity (CAN group) and chronic rejection (control group) were enrolled in this study. Renal tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with renin and ANGII antibodies. Renin and ANGII plasma levels were measured when the biopsy was performed. The relationship between expression of renin or ANGII and clinicopathological manifestations were also investigated. The cyclosporine plasma level was obtained 2 hours after morning dose (C2). In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and rat mesangial cells (MC) were incubated with different concentrations of CsA (0, 250, 500, 1000 microg/L) for 24 hours. Secretion and expression of renin and ANGII was measured by radioimmunoassay or immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSRenal pathological scores for renin and ANGII expression were significantly higher in specimens of CAN than in controls (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of renin, ANGII and C(2) in the CAN group were higher than the control group, but no significant difference was found ((0.37 +/- 0.12) ng x ml(-1)x h(-1) vs (0.20 +/- 0.10) ng x ml(-1) x h(-1), P = 0.076; (122.69 +/- 26.73) pg/ml vs (121.88 +/- 36.35) pg/ml, P = 0.977; (719.04 +/- 55.89) ng/ml vs (658.80 +/- 90.78) ng/ml, P = 0.196, respectively). In vitro, renin as well as ANGII expression increased significantly in both HUVEC and MC after the cells were incubated with CsA for 24 hours (P < 0.05). CsA also stimulated the secretion of ANGII in HUVEC and MC in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSRenal allograft biopsy is important to differentiate chronic CsA-related nephropathy from chronic rejection. The intrarenal renin angiotensin system plays an important role in CsA-related chronic nephropathy. The histological lesions of CsA nephrotoxicity fail to correspond spontaneously to either the change of C2 level or the change of renin and ANGII plasma level. CsA stimulates the secretion of ANGII and the expression of renin and ANGII in HUVEC and MC. Blockage of RAS may be helpful for therapeutic intervention in the progression of CsA-related chronic nephropathy.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiotensin II ; analysis ; blood ; Cyclosporine ; adverse effects ; Endothelial Cells ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renin ; analysis ; blood ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the protecting mechanism of Yixintong for heart ischemia-reperfusion injury at cellular and subcellular levels, by observing the effects of Yixintong on three kinds of calcium channels.

METHODThe effects of Yixintong on Ca2+ influx on leak calcium channel, receptor-operationg calcium channel (ROC) and pulse-dependent calcium channel (PDC) were observed respectively, by using rat aortic smooth muscle cell and radioactive 45Ca technique.

RESULTYixintong has no effects on leak calcium channel, but can inhibit the Ca2+ influx in ROC and PDC significantly.

CONCLUSIONYixintong can inhibit the Ca2+ influx in slow channel in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are a kind of pluripotent stem cells capable of relieving inflammation and edema in injured areas, promoting microvascular regeneration and improving wound healing. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs transplantation on acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and the effect on microvessel density of the rat brain tissue. METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, TBI model group and UC-MSCs treatment group (n=10 per group). TBI models were made in the rats by free fall method. US-MSCs (1.5×106) were infused through the cerebral ventricle in the rats. Neurological severity scores were assessed at 24 hours after cell transplantation. The microvessel density in the injured brain tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry method at 14 days after cell transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the TBI model group, the microvessel density value was significantly increased after UC-MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05), and the neurological severity score also became better in the UC-MSCs treatment group (P < 0.05). In summary, UC-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve became vascular remodeling and have a good neuroprotection in acute TBI rats.

Objective To determine the curative effect of dilation for achalasia with temporary cardia stent in different diameters based on a long-term follow-up.Methods The study cohort was comprised of 135 patients of achalasia.Among them differentiated by stent diameters as followings:30 patients were treated under fluoroscopy with dilation of temporary cardia stent in 20 mm diameter(group A), 30 patients with dilation of temporary eardia stent in 25 mm diameter(group B),and 75 patients with dilation of temporary cardia stent in 30 mm diameter(group C).135 cardia stents were temporarily placed in the 135 patients and withdrawn after 3 -5 days via gastroscopy.All the stents were inserted and withdrawn successfully.The follow-up in all groups lasted 6-128 months.Results Six(20.0%)out of 30 patients,6(20.0%)out of 30 patients,5(22.7%)out of 22 patieuts,6(37.5%)out of 16 patients,5 out of 9 patients,3 out of 3 patients in group A exhibited dysphagia relapse during 6 months,1 year,3 years,5 years,8 years,and 10 years follow-up,respectively. Four(13.3%)out of 30 patients,4(13.3%)out of 30 patients,3(13.0%)out of 23 patients,4(22.2%)out of 18 patients,5(45.5%)out of 11 patients,and 3 out of 4 patients in group B exhibited dysphagia relapse during 6 months,1 year,3 years,5 years,8 years,and 10 years follow-up,respectively.No(0.0%)out of 75 patients, 1(1.5%)out of 66 patients,4(8.3%)out of 48 patients,6(18.2%)out of 33 patients,6(33.3%)out of 18 patients,2 out of 5 patients in group C exhibited dysphagia relapse during 6 months,1 year,3 years,5 years,8 years,and 10 years follow-up,respectively.Conclusion Dilation with temporary cardia metal stent in 30 mm diameter is the best dilation for achalasia in long-term follow-up.

Objective To observe the effect of ginsenoside Rb1,the most abundant ginsenoside in ginseng root,on differentiation and lipolysis of 3T3-L1 cells and to explore its anti-diabetic mechanism.Methods 3T3-L1 preadipoeytes were induced under standard differentiation process in the presence of 0.1,1,10,100?mol/L ginsenoside Rb_1 for 6 days.Oil red O staining,measurement of triglyceride contents and glucose uptake assay were performed.The expressions of mRNA and protein of PPAR?2,C/EBP?,ap2,glucose transporter (Glut) 1,and Glut4 were analysed with quantitative real time-PCR and Western blot.The binding affinity of Rb_1 to PPAR?-LBD was evaluated by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).Lipolysis of adipocytes was examined by the measurement of glycerol released from adipoeytes treated with Rb_1 for 1 h.Results Ginsenoside Rb_1 facilitated differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipoeytes in a dose-depondent manner.10?mol/L ginsenoside Rb_1 increased lipid accumulation by about 56%.Treatment of differentiating adipocytes with 10?mol/L ginsenoside Rb_1 increased the expressions of PPAR?2 and C/EBP?mRNA and protein,as well as mRNA expression of ap2,one of their target genes.After treatment of differentiating adipoeytes with Rb_1,basal and insulin-mediated glucose transport augmented significantly accompanied by up-regulations of mRNA and protein level of Glut4,but not of Glutl.SPR showed Rb_1 could bind to PPAR?which suggested Rb_1 was a ligand of PPAR?.Ginsenoside Rb_1 inhibited basal lipolysis in adipoeytos in a dose-dependent manner.However,it did not affect isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis.Conclusion As a PPAR?ligand,ginsenoside Rb_1 promotes adipogenesis,inhibitas basal lipolysis and inereasos basal and insulin-mediated glucose transport in cultured adipoeytes.Therefore,anti-diabetic and insulin-sensitizing activity of ginsenosides is,at least in part,involved in the enhancing effect on PPAR?2 and C/EBP?expressions,hence promoting adipogenesis and glucose uptake,and inhibiting lipolysis in adipocytes.

A 24-year-old male suffered from acute nephritic syndrome, liver dysfunction, and mesenteric mass. Laboratory examination showed a variety of autoantibodies (ANA, SM, and A-β2-GP1) were positive. The biopsies of the kidney and the mesenteric mass were performed. The diagnosis was typeⅤ + Ⅲ lupus nephritis accompanied with Castleman's disease. Then the patient was given induction therapy of glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide for the first 3 months, followed by rituximab as maintenance therapy. The patient was followed up after 0, 3, and 9 months. After 3-month treatment, lupus nephritis was partially remitted, and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) decreased to 4 scores in an inactivity phase from 20 scores in a serious activity phase at baseline. Nine months later, lupus nephritis was completely remitted and 50％ mesenteric mass was regressed through CT scanning. Lupus nephritis can accompany with multicentric Castleman's disease. Due to lack of clinical specificity and effective therapy, patients may have a high misdiagnosis rate and poor prognosis. The most reliable way to establish a definitive diagnosis relays on histopathologic confirmation. The management of induction therapy of glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide, followed maintenance therapy of rituximab may become a beneficial treatment.