OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of dried whole plants of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and comparison of NMR data with those reported in literature.

RESULT15 compounds were isolated and identified to be 5-O-[(E)-Caffeoyl] quinic acid(l), 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(2), 4 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(3), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), methyl-3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(6), methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(7), 3,6'-O-diferuloylsucrose(8), 5'-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid(9), Scopoletin(10), scoparone (11), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxyacetophenone (12), chrysosplenol D (13), casticin (14), chrysosplenetin(15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 6, 8 and 9 are obtained from the Artemisia genus for the first time. Compounds 7 and 15 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Silica Gel

AIMTo investigate the effects of soy isoflavones (SI) on the expression of Bax mRNA and Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries of perimenopause rats.

METHODSThe animal model of perimenopause rats was established by unforced aging. 12 month-old presenilins female Wistar rats were administered by intragastric (ig) with low (500 mg/kg), middle (158 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) does of SI for 8 weeks. The expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries were detected by RT-PCR. Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and MDA content and SOD activity in serum were detected by chemi-chromatometry.

RESULTSIntervention of SI could significantly decrease the expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries and MDA content in serum, increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and SOD activity in serum of presenilins rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSoy isoflavones could down-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA and increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in aged ovaries. It is probably one of the mechanisms to improve the function of aged ovaries in perimenopause rats.

Animals ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Female ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Perimenopause ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose (PGG) is one of the main active compounds of Guizhi Fuling capsule. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have high affinity toward template molecules synthesized by molecularly imprinted technology for its specific combined sites, which can overcome the shortcoming of traditional separation methods, such as complex operation, low efficiency, using large quantity of solvent and environmental pollution. In this paper, surface molecularly imprinted polymer (SMIP) was prepared by surface imprinting with PGG as the template molecule. Its adsorption capacity was measured by the scatchard equation. The separation of PGG from Guizhi Fuling capsule at preparatived scale was achieved with molecularly imprinted polymer as stationary phase and the purity was 90.2% by HPLC. This method can be used to prepare PGG from Guizhi Fuling capsule with large capacity and is easy to operate. It provides a new method for efficient separation and purification for other natural products.
Adsorption ; Capsules ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Imprinting ; Polymers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

Purpose To determine the incidence,degree and radiographic characteristics of knee Jsign in recurrent patella dislocation patients.Method It was a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 59 recurrent patella dislocation patients.The knee J-sign was classified into negative (-),positive one degree(mild,l+)and positive two degree(gross,2+)based on the severity of patellar lateral translation at the extreme extension of knees with quadriceps contracted actively.The computed tomography(CT)examination at 0° extension of the knee was performed to quantify the degree of patellar lateral translation and tilt,with three CT parameters measured and calculated in axial slices:patella bisect offset index (BOI),patella trochlear-groove (PTG) distance and patella lateral tilt (PLT) angle.Results In all the 59 patients,72.9％(43/59)showed positive J-sign,27.1％(16/59)of positive one degree(1+) and 45.8％(27/59)of positive two degree(2+).All the three CT parameters increased with the severity of Jsign(P＜0.05).Conclusion Among 59 recurrent patella dislocation patients,we have found 72.9％ of positive knee J-sign.The severity of J-sign has a positive correlation with the degree of patellar lateral translation and tilt.

Objective To quantify the patellar mal-tracking combined with J-sign using the computed tomography (CT).Method Fifty-three adult patients diagnosed as recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) were chosen.According to their patellar tracking during knee active flexion and extension,they were divided into group A(with positive J-sign) and group B(with negative J-sign).The CT examinations were performed in all patients at 0°extension of the knee and the patella bisect offset index (BOI),patella troehlear-groove distance (PTG) and patella lateral tilt (PLT) were measured in the axial position and compared.The receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) curve was used to analyse the accuracy and stability of the three J-sign parameters.Results In all the 53 patients,thirty-seven(69.8％) knees were of positive J-sign,while the rest 16 were of negative J-sign.The mean values of CT parameters BOI,PTG and PLT in group A were significantly larger than those of group B.Moreover,the area under the curve for BOI,PTG and PLT were 0.906,0.883 and 0.833 respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of BOI were 83.3％ and 87.5％,while the predicting cut-off value was 97.5％.Conclusion In all the 53 recurrent patella instability patients,the morbidity of patella proximal mal-trackingis 69.8％.The CT parameter BOI can be used to quantify the J-Sign into positive and negative groups.

OBJECTIVEThis study investigates the differences in condylar position between centric relation (CR) and maximum intercuspation (MI) in Angle's Class II orthodontic patients before treatment.

METHODS80 cases, who were Angle's Class II pretreatment patients, and 50 cases, who were normal(ideal) occlusion were accepted. Dental casts were mounted on Panadent articulator with CR bite record, taken by bilateral manipulation and load testing. The differences in condylar position between CR and MI in all three spatial planes were measured using the Panadent condylar position indication (CPI).

RESULTS(1) The positive rate of CR-MI discrepancy was 92.50%(74 cases) in the group of Angle's Class II malocclusion and 10.00% (5 cases) in the group of normal occlusion(P< 0.001). 2)74.32% (55 cases) CR-MI discrepancy in 74 cases in the group of Angle's Class II pretreatment patients were coincidence discrepancy. (3)91.25% patients in the group of Angle's Class 11 malocclusion and 66.00% in the group of normal occlusion present occlusion interferences which located at the posterior teeth.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that orthodontists should be aware of a high incidence of condylar displacement in Angle's Class ii pretreatment patients, and measure condylar displacement before the start of comprehensive orthodontic treatment to unmask real jaw relationships and avoid possible misdiagnoses.

Adult ; Centric Relation ; Dental Arch ; Dental Articulators ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Mandibular Condyle

AIMObserve the effects of er-long-zuo-ci-wan (EIZCW, a compound of Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the spontaneous discharge of external cortex of inferior colliculus (ICx) and secondary auditory cortex (AII) of chronic tinnitus model rats induced by salicylate acid, to explore the neural mechanisms underlying ELZCW preventing tinnitus.

METHODS30 adult SD rats were involved and divided into three groups, normal control group, chronic tinnitus model group and ELZCW prevention group. Extracellular recording techniques and stereotaxic method were used. The spontaneous spikes were recorded and analyzed from ICx and all in different group rats. The average rate of spontaneous discharge and the interspike interval histogram of spontaneous activities were used as indexes.

RESULTS(1) Compared with normal control group, the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the ICx in the chronic tinnitus model group increased significantly (4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz vs. 3.14 +/- 0.40 Hz, P < 0.05). Furthermore analysis showed that the discharge rate of short spike interval from the ICx in the chronic tinnitus model group increased than that of the normal group (0-40 ms: 58% vs. 40%; 0-4 ms: 9% vs. 5%). And there was an increasing tendency of the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the AII in the chronic tinnitus model group compared with that in the normal group. (2) Compared with the chronic tinnitus model group, the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the ICx and AII in the ELZCW prevention group significantly decreased than that in the chronic tinnitus model group (ICx: 2.41 +/- 0.21 Hz vs. 4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz, P < 0.01. AII: 2.24 +/- 0.24 Hz vs. 4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz , P < 0.01). And the discharge rate of short spike interval from the ICx and AII in the chronic tinnitus model group decreased than that in the normal control group (ICx: 0-40 ms 50% vs. 58%, 0-4 ms 4% vs. 9%. All: 0-22 ms: 24% vs. 31%, 0-8 ms 19% vs. 16%).

CONCLUSIONIf the increasing of the spontaneous activities of ICx and AII in chronic tinnitus rats means tinnitus, the use of ELZCW could decrease this kind of changes.

Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; physiopathology ; Auditory Pathways ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylic Acid ; Tinnitus ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-complementary phenolic acids from Lonicera japonica.

METHODThe anti-complementary activity-directed isolation was carried out with the hemolysis test as guide. All isolation was evaluated for their in vitro anti-complementary activities. The structures were identified by various spectroscopic data including ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR data.

RESULTFourteen compounds were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of L. japonica extracts, including 8 phenolic acids: 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (1), chlorogenic (2), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7) and methyl caffeate acid (8); 3 iridoids: secologanoside (9), sweroside (10) and secoxyloganin (11); and 3 flavonoids: luteolin (12), quercetin (13) and kaempferol (14). Compounds 1-9 and 11-14 showed anti-complementary activity in different extents and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4) exhibited the most significant activity against the classical pathway.

CONCLUSIONCompound 14 is obtained from this plant for the first time, phenolic acids are the main anti-complementary constituents of L. japonica and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(4) is a potential complement inhibitor with strong activity, which worthy to be studied further in the future.

Complement Inactivating Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lonicera ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of upper airway stenosis after Le Fort III osteotomy and midfacial distraction osteogenesis (DO).

METHODSEleven cases (age, 5-16 yrs) with severe midface dysostosis complicated with exophthalmos, anterior crossbite and upper airway stenosis were treated by using Le Fort III osteotomy and midfacial DO from August 2000 to February 2007. The 3D reconstruction of the upper-airway from CT data was used to evaluate the upper airway volume before and after the operation. And meanwhile polysomnography was carried out to demonstrate the upper airway functional changes.

RESULTSThere was a 64.3% mean increase [mean, (9.13 +/- 6.94) ml, P < 0.05] in upper airway volume in the 11 cases after the operations. It showed that there was significant improvements in the indexes of polysomnography after the operations, such as apnea and hypopnea index, average SaO2, minimum oxygen saturation and snore index.

CONCLUSIONSThe Le Fort III osteotomy and midfacial distraction osteogenesis can efficiently relieve the symptoms of upper-airway stenosis in severe midfacial dysostosis.

Acrocephalosyndactylia ; complications ; Adolescent ; Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniofacial Dysostosis ; complications ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDA major shortcoming in tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) is the lack of healthy and easily attainable smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Smooth muscle progenitor cells (SPCs), especially from peripheral blood, may offer an alternative cell source for tissue engineering involving a less invasive harvesting technique.

METHODSSPCs were isolated from 5-ml fresh rat peripheral blood by density-gradient centrifugation and cultured for 3 weeks in endothelial growth medium-2-MV (EGM-2-MV) medium containing platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF BB). Before seeded on the synthesized scaffold, SPC-derived smooth muscle outgrowth cell (SOC) phenotypes were assessed by immuno-fluorescent staining, Western blot analysis, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cells were seeded onto the silk fibroin-modified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (SF-PHBHHx) scaffolds by 6x10(4) cells/cm2 and cultured under the static condition for 3 weeks. The growth and proliferation of the seeded cells on the scaffold were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining.

RESULTSSOCs displayed specific "hill and valley" morphology, expressed the specific markers of the SMC lineage: smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin, calponin and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM MHC) at protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels. RT-PCR results demonstrate that SOCs also expressed smooth muscle protein 22alpha (SM22alpha), a contractile protein, and extracellular matrix components elastin and matrix Gla protein (MGP), as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). After seeded on the SF-PHBHHx scaffold, the cells showed excellent metabolic activity and proliferation.

CONCLUSIONSPCs isolated from peripheral blood can be differentiated into the SMCs in vitro and have an impressive growth potential in the biodegradable synthesized scaffold. Thus, SPCs may be a promising cell source for constructing TEBVs.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; cytology ; Caproates ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Immunophenotyping ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics