Dolomiaea plants are perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family with a long medicinal history. They are rich in chemical constituents, mainly including sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, triterpenes, and steroids. The extracts and chemical constituents of Dolomiaea plants have various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-gastric ulcer, hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. However, there are few reports on Dolomiaea plants. This study systematically reviewed the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Dolomiaea plants to provide references for the further development and research of Dolomiaea plants.
Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Asteraceae ; Triterpenes ; Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Phytochemicals/pharmacology*

Chinese medicine processing is a procedure to process medicinal materials under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theories by using unique methods in China. The medicinal materials can only be used clinically after proper processing. With the development of the modernization of TCM, it is difficult to solve the problems in the inheritance, development, and internationalization of Chinese medicine processing. Metabonomics, a new omics technology developed at the end of the last century, is used to infer the physiological or pathological conditions of the organism with the methods such as NMR and LC-MS via investigating the changes in endogenous small molecule metabolic network after the organism is stimulated by external environment. Metabonomics coincides with the holistic view of TCM because it displays the characteristics of integrity, comprehensiveness, and dynamics, and it has been widely applied in the field of Chinese medicine processing in recent years. This study summarized the application of metabonomics in the processing mechanism and quality control of Chinese medicine processing and prospected the development of this technology in the field of Chinese medicine processing.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolomics/methods* ; Quality Control

Syndrome is a nonlinear "internal-excess external-deficiency", "dynamic spatial-temporal" and "multi-dimensional" complex system and thus only by using a versatile method can the connotation be expounded. Metabonomics, which is dynamic, holistic, and systematic, is consistent with the overall mode of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)(holistic view and syndrome differentiation and treatment). Therefore, metabonomics is very important for the research on the differentiation, material basis, and metabolic pathways of syndromes, and efficacy on syndromes. This study reviewed the application of metabonomics in the study of TCM syndromes in recent years, which is expected to objectify the research on TCM syndromes.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolomics ; Syndrome

Objective: Although benzene is a confirmed environmental carcinogen, the mechanism of its carcinogenicity remains largely unclear. The suggested oncogene, miR-221, is elevated and plays important roles in various tumors, but its role in benzene-induced carcinogenesis remains unknown. Methods: In the present study, we constructed hydroquinone (HQ, a representative metabolite of benzene with biological activity)-transformed malignant cell line (16HBE-t) and analyzed the level of miR-221 in it with qRT-PCR. Exosomes from 16HBE-t cells incubated with or without an miR-221 inhibitor were isolated by ultracentrifugation, characterized by transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscope, and then transfected into 16HBE cells. The effects of exosomal miR-221 on apoptosis induced by HQ in recipient cells were determined using flow cytometry. Results: The amount of miR-221 in 16HBE-t was significantly increased compared with controls. When recipient cells ingested exosomes derived from 16HBE-t, miR-221 was increased, and apoptosis induced by HQ was inhibited. Blocking miR-221 in 16HBE-t using an inhibitor did not significantly alter miR-221 or apoptosis in recipient cells. Conclusion Exosomal miR-221 secreted by 16HBE-t inhibits apoptosis induced by HQ in normal recipient cells.
Apoptosis ; Bronchi/cytology* ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Epithelial Cells ; Exosomes ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; MicroRNAs

Objective To investigate the visual acuity condition of preschool children in Yangpu District of Shanghai, providing the basis for formulation of corresponding intervention measures for myopia. Methods The inspection equipment was the international standard logarithmic E-word visual acuity chart, and the Canon RK-F1 automatic computer optometry instrument.By using cross-sectional study and random cluster sampling method, a total of 1 415 preschool children in 5 kindergartens in Yangpu District were selected according to their ages and genders, and their visual acuity and refractive parameters were examined with the result being statistically analyzed. Results In preschool children of Yangpu District, their envisage rate was 80.4%, myopia rate 16.7% and hyperopia rate 2.9%.There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of envisage, myopia and hyperopia between different age groups (χ²=3.419, P=0.755) and different genders (χ²=2.433, P=0.296).The rate of poor vision for preschool children in Yangpu was 10.5%.There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of poor vision between different age groups (χ²=9.637, P=0.022) and different genders (χ²=4.191, P=0.041). Conclusion The visual acuity rate and myopia rate in preschool children are not optimistic and need further screening and early intervention.

Objective: To study on the physical and chemical properties of dichroa alkali hydrochloride and to establish a method for the determination of entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes. Method: HPLC was used to determine the content of dichroa alkali hydrochloride with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-triethylamine-glacial acetic acid(9:91:0.35:0.75) and detection wavelength at 265 nm.The oil-water partition coefficient of this compound in different pH range was measured by shake flask method.The stability of the dichroa alkali hydrochloride in phosphate buffer solution with different pH after sterilization at 125℃ for 30 min was investigated.Ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes.The microcolumn was prepared by dextran gel and cation exchange resin,respectively.Then the free drug and liposome were separated by centrifugation,the drug content was measured,and the encapsulation efficiency was calculated.The t-test was performed using SPSS 20.0 software,the differences between these two methods were compared. Result: In the pH 6-9,the oil-water partition coefficient of dichroa alkali hydrochloride increased with increasing of pH,which was between 0.016 and 1.44;the recovery rate of dichroa alkali hydrochloride after sterilization was 37.16%-57.91%.Between the dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation,there was no significant difference in the entrapment efficiency of the liposomes. Conclusion: Dichroa alkali hydrochloride is suitable for preparation of liposomes.However,its stability is not ideal,so the experimental temperature should be strictly controlled in the preparation process.Dextran gel microcolumn centrifugation and cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation can be used to determine the entrapment efficiency of dichroa alkali hydrochloride liposomes,and the cation exchange resin microcolumn centrifugation is suggested after comparison.

To explore the resource of endophytic actinomycete in Fritillaria unibracteata, and alleviate the shortage of F. unibracteata resource, using F. unibracteata as experimental materials which growth in the western Sichuan plateau and cut its healthy bulb. Pure culture, insert, TLC and Oxford cup were applied to observe the mycelial morphology, research the ability of producing alkaloid and its antibacterial activity. Totally, 14 endophytic actinomycete strains were isolated by using Gao culture media. Based on the color reaction, 5 typical strains were selected for producing alkaloid. Through the TLC technique, all strains produced 2 obvious alkaloids spots. Antibacterial activity determination showed that the antimicrobial effects of 2 strains is prominent, the diameter up to 11 mm.16S rRNA gene sequence comparison analysis showed that 5 strains belonging to the Streptomyces. The alkaloids produced by endophytic actinomycetes are not related to F. unibracteata, but its fermentation liquid has antibacterial effect, it is worthy of further study.

Objective To investigate the influence from compressing manipulation by flexing hip and knee in supine position on stress distributions in the pelvis and strain distributions in the sacroiliac joints by 3D finite element method, and discuss the possibility of moving the whole sacroiliac joints under such manipulation. Methods A 3D finite element model of the normal pelvis was constructed based on CT images. According to the manipulation principle, the compressing force in flexing hip and knee was decomposed in two directions, and loaded on the 3D finite element model to calculate stress of the pelvis and strain of the sacroiliac joints. Results Under the loading of simulative manipulation, stress of the pelvis was mainly located at 1/3 part of the anterior inferior of the sacroiliac joints, the greater sciatic notch, and the middle 1/3 part of the inferior and anterior of gluteal lines. The maximum strain of the sacroiliac joints was mainly located in the posterior superior, posterior inferior and central 1/2 part of the sacroiliac joints. Conclusions The compressing manipulation by flexing hip and knee can only move 1/3 part of the interior of the sacroiliac joints, rather than the whole of the sacroiliac joints.

BACKGROUNDSmall noncoding microRNAs regulate gene expression in cardiac development and disease and have been implicated in the aging process and in the regulation of extracellular matrix proteins. However, their role in age-related cardiac remodeling and atrial fibrillation (AF) was not well understood. The present study was designed to decipher molecular mechanisms underlying age-related atrial structural remodeling and AF.

METHODSThree groups of dogs were studied: adult and aged dogs in sinus rhythm and with persistent AF induced by rapid atrial pacing. The expressions of microRNAs were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Pathohistological and ultrastructural changes were tested by light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis index of myocytes was detected by TUNEL.

RESULTSSamples of atrial tissue showed the abnormal pathohistological and ultrastructural changes, the accelerated fibrosis, and apoptosis with aging and/or in AF dogs. Compared to the adult group, the expressions of microRNAs-21 and -29 were significantly increased, whereas the expressions of microRNAs-1 and -133 showed obvious downregulation tendency in the aged group. Compared to the aged group, the expressions of microRNAs-1, -21, and -29 was significantly increased in the old group in AF; contrastingly, the expressions of microRNA-133 showed obvious downregulation tendency.

CONCLUSIONThese multiple aberrantly expressed microRNAs may be responsible for modulating the transition from adaptation to pathological atrial remodeling with aging and/or in AF.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Atrial Fibrillation ; etiology ; Atrial Remodeling ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; physiology ; Dogs ; Electrocardiography ; Fibrosis ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; physiology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Objective To investigate the stress shielding after mini-plate internal fixation for mandibular fractures. Methods Eighteen patients with mandibular fractures were selected. X-rays were taken before operation and 3,4, 6 months after operation when the plates were removed. The bone density of the mini plate area was examined and compared among different time interval groups. Results The bone density before operation ( 125.41 ± 2. 47 ) and 3 months after operation ( 120. 19 ± 3.52 ) was not significantly different, but became lower 4 and 6 months after operation than before operation. Conclusions There appeared stress shielding after internal fixation for 4 and 6 months in mandibular fracture,and the mini plate should be removed at those times.