Nitric oxide(NO) is essential for reducing post-harvest product senescence and storage losses. NO may slow down the senescence of agricultural products and improve their quality, suggestive of its great potential in the postharvest preservation of agricultural products. The development of NO as a post-harvest preservative is supported by the investigation of its role and mechanism in agricultural product ageing. In this review, the mechanisms of NO in the post-harvest senescence of agricultural products were explored. NO is produced mainly via the nitrate reductase(NR) and NO synthase-like(NOS) pathways. Usually, NO donors include sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), S-nitrosoglutathione(GSNO) and NO gas fumigation. NO delays agricultural product senescence by regulating ROS metabolism, enhancing antioxidant activity, reducing respiration, activating cell wall metabolism, inhibiting ethylene synthesis, and promoting energy metabolism. Melatonin(MT), ethylene(ETH), hydrogen gas(H

OBJECTIVE: To systematic evaluate the outcome of open-wedge high tibial osteotomy(OWHTO) and unicomartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in treating medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: According to the retrieval strategy made by the Cochrane collaboration, a computer-base research of Medline, Pubmed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was performed and search deadline was March 2018. Related Chinese and English orthopedic journals and conference papers were manually searched. Controlled studies of OWHTO and UKA in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis were included. The quality of included researches was evaluated, and the data of postoperative knee function, complications, total knee arthroplasty(TKA) revision rates, and postoperative pain were extracted. Meta analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 8 articles that met the criteria were included containing a total of 675 patients. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in postoperative HSS score, knee score, functional score, and Lysholm score between the OWHTO and UKA groups(=0.32, =0.87, =0.22, =0.53). The range of joint motion in the OWHTO group was better than that in the UKA group, and the difference was statistically significant(=0.009). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications and the rates of revision to TKA between the two groups(=0.81, =0.23). There was no difference in postoperative knee pain between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In the treatment of medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee that meets the surgical indications, OWHTO had better postoperative joint mobility. The results were similar in postoperative knee score, postoperative complications, and postoperative TKA revision rates between OWHTO and UKA groups.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Osteotomy ; Tibia ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expressions of acetylcholine (ACh) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the lungs of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and explore the mechanism of EA in treating COPD.Methods:Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group,a COPD group,and an EA group,with 10 rats in each group.The control group was a group of normal rats.The COPD rat model was induced by cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).The COPD rats were treated with EA at bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Zusanli (ST 36) in the EA group,30 min each time,once a day,successively for 14 d.The lung function was tested.The contents of ACh and MUC5AC in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between pulmonary function and the content of MUC5AC in lungs.The mRNA and protein expressions of MUC5AC in lung tissues were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB),respectively.The immune response of MUC5AC was observed by immunohistochemistry.Results:Eight rats were left in each group,and the other two died.Compared with the control group,the total airway resistance (Raw) increased significantly and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) decreased significantly in the COPD group (P＜0.01);compared with the COPD group,the Raw level declined significantly and Cdyn increased significantly in the EA group (P＜0.01).The contents of ACh and MUC5AC in the lungs and BALF were remarkably higher in the COPD group compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01,P＜0.001);compared with the COPD group,the contents of ACh and MUC5AC were significantly lower in the EA group (P＜0.05,P＜0.001).There was a negative correlation between MUC5AC content and lung function (P＜0.001).The mRNA and protein expressions of MUC5AC in the lungs were significantly higher in the COPD group than in the control group (P＜0.001);compared with the COPD group,the expressions were significantly lower in the EA group (P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the immune response of MUC5AC in the airway epithelium significantly increased in the COPD group (P＜0.001);the immune response of MUC5AC was significantly lower in the EA group compared with that in the COPD group (P＜0.001).Conclusion:EA treatment can improve the lung function of COPD rats,which may be related to its effect in the down-regulation of ACh and MUC5AC contents in the lungs as well as the inhibition of mucus hypersecretion.

Hyoscyamine and scopolamine are two main alkaloids in Atropa belladonna with great medicinal value. In this paper, the contents of hyoscyamine and scopolamine, the upstream products in alkaloid synthesis, and the expression levels of key enzyme genes PMT, TRⅠ and H6H in secondary metabolism of A. belladonna seedlings were measured to clarify the mechanism of nitrogen forms regulating alkaloids synthesis.The results showed that the 50/50 (NH⁺₄/NO⁻₃) treatment was more favorable for the accumulation of alkaloids and the conversion of hyoscyamine to scopolamine. The content of putrescine was almost consistent with the change of key enzymes activities in the synthesis of putrescine, they both increased with the rise of ammonium ratio, reaching the highest at 75/25 (NH⁺₄/NO⁻₃). The detection of signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) showed that the NO concentration decreased with the decrease of nitrate proportion. Further detection of gene expression levels of PMT, TRⅠ and H6H in TAs synthesis pathway showed that a certain amount of ammonium promoted the expression of PMT and H6H in roots. When the ratio of ammonium to nitrate was 50/50, PMT, TRⅠ and H6H in leaves and roots had higher expression levels. It can be speculated that the regulation of the formation of hyoscyamine to scopolamine by nitrogen forms mainly through affecting the expression of key enzyme genes. 50/50 (NH⁺₄/NO⁻₃) treatment increased the gene expression of TRⅠ in both leaves and roots as well as PMT and H6H in roots, promoting the synthesis of putrescine to hyoscyamine and the conversion of hyoscyamine to scopolamine.
Atropa belladonna ; enzymology ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hyoscyamine ; biosynthesis ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Scopolamine ; metabolism

Objective To study the effect of the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger with antigout activity on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 in rats.Methods Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (3 rats of each group):three groups of the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvi-cina Roger ( test groups, the low dose group, the middle dose group and the high dose group with equivalent to 1, 2, 4 g? kg -1, respectively), two positive control groups and one blank control group.The rats in the low dose, the middle dose and the high dose test groups were adminis-tered daily by gavage at corresponding dose of the petroleum ether frac-tion of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger for 10 consecutive days.The rats in positive control groups were treated by dexamethasone ( 100 mg? kg-1? d-1 , ip, daily for 4 days ) or phenobarbital ( 80 mg? kg-1? d-1 , ip, daily for 3 days ) .Blank control rats received equivalent volume of sterile normal saline daily by gavage for 10 consecu-tive days.The levels of CYP450 activity, mRNA, protein in rat liver mi-crosome were analyzed by LC/MS/MS or RP-HPLC-FLD, RT-PCR, Western blot, respectively.Results CYP1A2 activity, protein expression and mRNA levels were increased signifi-cantly in a dose-dependent manner with the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger at low, middle and high dose, respectively.Conclusion The petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachis-vicina Roger can induce CYP1A2 in rats, suggesting the potential of drug-drug interactions between the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger and the inducers, inhibitors, or substrates of CYP1A2.

Objective To explore the expression of P -glycoprotein ( P-gp) in rat liver during acute inflammation ( AI ) and the possible mechanism involved.Methods Twenty rats were randomly divided into two groups:model group (n=10) and control group (n=10).The rats in model group were treated by a single 5 mg? kg -1 intraperitoneal injec-tion of lipopolysaccharide ( LPS).Control rats received equivalent injec-tion of sterile normal saline.The levels of P-gp, ubiquitinated P-gp and 26 S proteasome activity in both groups were analyzed by Western blot, immunoprecipitation and fluorescence detection, respectively. Results Compared to the control groups, ubiquitination levels of liver P-gp and 26S proteasome activity in model groups were significantly in-creased ( P<0.01 ) , accompanied by an decrease of liver P-gp protein expression level. Conclusion The participation of the ubiquitin -proteasome system in down-regulation of liver P-gp expression levels under AI conditions.

Objective To investigate the effect of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) inhibition by siRNA on the apoptotic susceptibility , the chemosensitivity of colon carcinoma cells.Methods Four siRNA specifically targeting eEF1A1 were designed and synthesized in vitro and were transfected into colon carcinoma HCT -116 cells.Reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction ( RT -PCR ) and Western blot assay were used to validate gene -silencing efficiency of eEF1A1.The cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry ( FCM ).Cell growth state and 50% inhibition concentration ( IC50 ) of 5-fluorouracil ( 5 -FU ) and cisplatin was determined by MTT assay.Results siRNA specific to eEF1A1 can efficiently decrease the expression of eEF1 A1 in colon carcinoma HCT -116 cells.When eEF1A1 was inhibited , the reproductive activity of colon carcinoma HCT-116 cells was significantly lower than the control groups ( P<0.05).The study also showed that IC 50 of 5-FU and cisplatin on colon carcinoma HCT -116 cells treated by siRNA was decreased ( P<0.05).Conclusion The siRNA targeting eEF1A1 gene can effectively inhibit the expression of eEF1A1 gene, resulting in enhancing the apoptotic susceptibility , the chemosensitivity of 5-FU and cisplatin on colon carcinoma HCT -116 cells.

In this study, the variation of pharmacokinetics behavior of raltitrexed (RTX) in rats after repeatedly injected with Huangqi injection was investigated. Twelve SD rats were divided into two groups: the multidose group and the RTX group. Rats in multidose group were iv. injected with Huangqi injection (dose of 1.575 mL x kg(-1)) everyday at 8 am for a week, and had free accesses for food and water. The rats were fasted for food but not water since 8 h before the eighth day. At the eighth morning, firstly, rats were injected with Huangqi injection (dose of 1.575 mL x kg(-1)), and 5 min later, were injected with RTX (dose of 0.467 mg x kg(-1)); rats in RTX group were not disposed in the previous seven days, also had free accesses for food and water, and were iv. injected with raltitrexed at the same time as Multidose group at the eighth day morning. Rat plasma was collected at different time and processed with methanol to precipitate the protein before HPLC assays. The pharmacokinetics parameters for two groups were calculated by software 3P97. Through the observation of drug concentration in plasma and time curve, we found that at almost every time point the concentration of RTX in plasma in multidose group was lower than the RTX group. When comparing the pharmacokinetics parameters between the multidose group and the RTX group, the average of AUC(0-t) and half-life(t1/2) of multidose group were decreased from 56 080 microg x min x L(-1) and 15.07 min to 35 834 microg x min x L(-1) and 8.95 min, respectively, while the clearance (CL) was increased from 0.51 to 0.83 mL x h(-1). Therefore, it could be deduced that repeatedly injected with AR injection may influence the renal excretion and glycometabolism of RTX, thus change pharmacokinetics behavior of raltitrexed in rats plasma. This result may give us a hint to prudantly manage the drug combination of RTX and Huangqi injection.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Injections ; Male ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiophenes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Atropa belladonna is a medicinal plant and main commercial source of tropane alkaloids (TAs) including scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are anticholine drugs widely used clinically. Based on the high throughput transcriptome sequencing results, the digital expression patterns of UniGenes representing 9 structural genes (ODC, ADC, AIH, CPA, SPDS, PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) involved in TAs biosynthesis were constructed, and simultaneously expression analysis of 4 released genes in NCBI (PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) for verification was performed using qPCR, as well as the TAs contents detection in 8 different tissues. Digital expression patterns results suggested that the 4 genes including ODC, ADC, AIH and CPA involved in the upstream pathway of TAs, and the 2 branch pathway genes including SPDS and TRII were found to be expressed in all the detected tissues with high expression level in secondary root. While the 3 TAs-pathway-specific genes including PMT, CYP80F1, H6H were only expressed in secondary roots and primary roots, mainly in secondary roots. The qPCR detection results of PMT, CYP80F1 and H6H were consistent with the digital expression patterns, but their expression levels in primary root were too low to be detected. The highest content of hyoscyamine was found in tender stems (3.364 mg x g(-1)), followed by tender leaves (1.526 mg x g(-1)), roots (1.598 mg x g(-1)), young fruits (1.271 mg x g(-1)) and fruit sepals (1.413 mg x g(-1)). The highest content of scopolamine was detected in fruit sepals (1.003 mg x g(-1)), then followed by tender stems (0.600 mg x g(-1)) and tender leaves (0.601 mg x g(-1)). Both old stems and old leaves had the lowest content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The gene expression profile and TAs accumulation indicated that TAs in Atropa belladonna were mainly biosynthesized in secondary root, and then transported and deposited in tender aerial parts. Screening Atropa belladonna secondary root transcriptome database will facilitate unveiling the unknown enzymatic reactions and the mechanisms of transcriptional control.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Atropa belladonna ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; genetics ; Hyoscyamine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; metabolism ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; metabolism ; Tropanes ; metabolism

Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Ureter ; surgery ; Urinary Bladder