Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Comparison of intubating conditions between dexmedetomidine and remifentanil when combined with sevoflurane-nitrous oxide for anesthesia induction in pediatric patients / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To compare the intubating conditions between dexmedetomidine and remifentanil when combined with sevoflurane-nitrous oxide (N2O) for anesthesia induction in the pediatric patients.Methods A total of 122 pediatric patients,aged 4-10 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ,undergoing elective plastic surgery,were randomly divided into dexmedetomidine group (group D,n =61) and remifentanil group (group R,n=61).Eight percent sevoflurane and 60％ N2O were inhaled for induction of anesthesia,and the fresh gas flow was set at 6 L/min.After disappearance of eyelash reflex,dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg and remifentanil 1 μg/kg were intravenously injected over 50-60 s in D and R groups,respectively,and 1 min later tracheal intubation was performed.The intubating conditions were graded,and the satisfactory intubating conditions and successful intubation were recorded.The development of adverse cardiovascular reactions and complications such as hyoxemia and laryngospasm before and after intubation and postoperative pharyngodynia was recorded.Results Compared with group D,no significant change was found in the success rate of intubation,rate of satisfactory intubation,intubating condition grade or incidence of postoperative pharyngodynia (P＞ 0.05),and the incidence of hypertension and sinus tachycardia after intubation was significantly increased in group R (P＜0.05).No pediatric patients developed hyoxemia,laryngospasn or sinus tachycardia in two groups.Conclusion When 8％ sevoflurane and 60％ N2O are inhaled for anesthesia induction,combing with dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg produces better clinical efficacy than combing with remifentanil 1 μg/kg in improving the intubating conditions for pediatric patients.

Effect of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine Injection(1 μg/kg)on the Intubating Conditions without Muscle Relaxants in Children after Inhalation Induction with Sevoflurane / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine injection(1 μg/kg)on the intubating conditions after inhalation induction with sevoflurane 8% and nitrous oxide(NO)50% in children. Methods Totally 122 patients aged 4-10 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ undergoing elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided to dexmedetomidine group(intraveneously injected with dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg)and control group(injected with normal saline)by using the random sampling table.On arrival of the operating room,anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane 8% and NO 50% in oxygen 50%.When the patient became unconscious,the intravenous cannula 24was inserted on the dorsum of hand.One minute later,laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were performed.The intubating conditions were assessed by the scoring system in the previous study. Results The rates of acceptable conditions were 97% and 90% in dexmedetomidine group and in control group(P=0.143),and the rates of excellent conditions were 82% and 67%(P=0.04),respectively.In dexmedetomidine group,there were no signifi-cant differences of mean arterial presser and heart rate between the time-point of before intubation and the time-point of immediately after intubation.Conclusion Intravenous bolus of dexmedetomidine(1 μg/kg)can effectively improve the intubating conditions after inhalation induction of sevoflurane 8% and NO 50% in children and make the hemodynamics more stable during tracheal intubation.

Comparison of Sedative Effects of Two Spray Administration of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Doses for Premedication in Children / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To compare two spray administration of intranasal dexmedetomidine (DEX) doses for premedication in children. Methods In this prospective,randomized,double-blind study,41 children aged 3-6 years were enrolled. Children were assigned to receive either spray administration of intranasal DEX 1 μg/kg (Group D1) or 2 μg/kg (Group D2). The Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were evaluated at 5 min intervals. Sedation status at separation from patient was also evaluated. Heart rate (HR) and saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO) were recorded before and every 15 min after drug administration. Results The median sedation onset time was 30 min and 20 min in group D1 and group D2,respectively. Compared with the children in group D1,those in group D2 were significantly more sedated when they were separated from their parents (61.9% vs. 95.0%,respectively)(χ=5.549,P=0.010). In Group D2,the HR decreased by 15.8% (t=2.415,P=0.021) 30 min after the spray administration of intranasal DEX. Compared with the baseline values,there was no significant difference in both groups in terms of SpO(t=-1.426,P=0.162;t=-1.096,P=0.280)and HR in group D1 (t=-0.299,P=0.767) 30 min after the spray administration of intranasal DEX. Conclusion Spray administration of intranasal DEX 2 μg/kg provides superior sedation in children.

Effects of Two Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Doses as Premedication on Sevoflurane ECfor Successful Laryngeal Mask Airway Placement in Children / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To observe the effects of two different intranasal dexmedetomidine doses as premedication on the ECof sevoflurane for successful laryngeal mask airway placement in children. Methods Children aged 3-6 years, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, and scheduled for plastic surgery were enrolled in this study. Children were assigned to receive either spray administration of intranasal dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg (group D1, n=21) or 2 μg/kg (group D2, n=20) approximately 30 minutes before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane up to 8% in 100% O, with fresh gas flow set to 6 L/min. After the pupil fixed to the middle position, sevoflurane dial setting was reduced to 5% and fresh gas flow reduced to 3 L/min. The endtidal sevofluran (ET) concentration for laryngeal mask airway insertion sustained for 10 minutes after vein intubation, which was determined according to the Dixon's up and down method. The initial endtidal sevoflurane concentration in each group was set at 2%. ETwas increased/decreased (1:1.2) in the next patient according to the response to laryngeal mask airway insertion. Bispectral index, mask acceptance, all response to laryngeal mask airway insertion, and ETof laryngeal mask airway insertion of children were recorded. Results The bispectral index value was 77.4±3.6 in group D2, which was significantly lower than that (87.4±1.9) in group D1 when children entered operation room (P<0.05). Mask acceptance was 76.2% in group D1 and 90.0% in group D2. The ECof sevoflurane for laryngeal mask airway insertion was 1.09% (95% CI=0.89%-1.28%) in group D2, which was lower than 1.59% (95% CI=1.41%-1.78%) in group D1 (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with the dose of 1 μg/kg, spray administration of intranasal dexmedetomidine 2 μg/kg as premedication can reduce the sevoflurane ECfor successful laryngeal mask airway placement in children.

Comparison of the Ambu Aura-i with the Air-Q Intubating Laryngeal Airway as A Conduit for Fiberoptic-guided Tracheal Intubation in Children with Ear Deformity / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To compare the Ambu Aura-i with the Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway for fiberoptic-guided tracheal intubation in ear deformity children.Methods Totally 120 children who were scheduled for elective auricular reconstruction surgery requiring general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomized to receive either the Ambu Aura-i (Aura-i group) or Air-Q (Air-Q group). The time for successful tracheal intubation was assessed. The attempts for successful device insertion, leak pressures, cuff pressures, fiberoptic grade of laryngeal view, time for removal of the device after endotracheal intubation, and complications were recorded. Results Device placement, endotracheal intubation, and removal after endotracheal intubation were successful in all patients. The Air-Q group required longer time than the Aura-i group in device placement[(14.1±7.2) s vs. (10.8±5.2) s, P<0.05], successful endotracheal intubation [(39.8±9.5) s vs. (24.1±8.2) s, P<0.05], and device removal [(18.2±5.1) s vs. (14.7±3.7) s, P<0.05]. There were no differences in fiberoptic grade of view between these devices, and the percentage of glottis seen was 80.0% (Air-Q group) vs. 86.7% (Aura-i group). The leak pressure was (20.5±4.8) cmHO in the Air-Q group and (22.2±5.0) cmHO in the Aura-i group (P<0.05), and the cuff pressure was (22.9±11.5)cmHO in the Air-Q group and (33.9±15.9) cmHO in the Aura-i group (P<0.05). Hemodynamic changes were not significantly different between two group. The incidence rate of sore throat two hours after operation was 6.5% (n=4) in the Air-Q group and 5% (n=3) in the Aura-i group. Conclusion Both Ambu Aura-i and Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway are effective conduits for beroptic-guided tracheal intubation, with advantages including simple operation, high success rate, and fewer complications, especially the Ambu Aura-i.

Chemical comparison of different Farfarae Flos by NMR-based metabolomic approaches / 药学学报

1H NMR-based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of 21 Farfarae Flos (FF) samples from different growth regions. Principal component analysis showed that wild and cultivated FF could be separated clearly, suggesting a big chemical difference existed between them. Supervised PLS-DA analysis indicated that the wild samples showed higher levels of secondary metabolites, such as bauer-7-ene-3β, 16α-diol, chlorogenic acid, rutin, 7-(3'-ethylcrotonoyloxy)-1α-(2'-methyl-butyryloxy)-3, 14-dehydro-Z-notonipetranone (EMDNT), tussilagone, β-sitosterol and sitosterone. This is consistent with traditional experience that the quality of wild samples are better than that of cultivated ones. The content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids senkirkine also differed greatly among samples from different habitats. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that senkirkine is positively correlated with 4, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rutin, kampferol analogues, to a statistically significant extent. The correlation between the toxic compounds and the bioactive components in FF should be further studied.

Infantile DiGeorge syndrome: autopsy diagnosis and clinicopathologic analysis in 5 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate clinicopathological features of DiGeorge syndrome (DGS).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The clinical features, histological and immunohistochemical findings were analyzed in 5 cases of DGS by autopsy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five cases of DGS in male infants aged 4 days, 1 month, 7 months, 10 months, and 13 months respectively. Gross and microscopic observations revealed that thymic cortex was depleted of lymphocytes or showed few, dispersed lymphocytes. The thymic medulla showed predominantly epithelial cells with calcified Hassall bodies as well as lymphocyte depletion. T lymphocytes were also scarce in the tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue of ileum. In addition, 3 of the 5 patients also showed parathyroid aplasia or dysplasia, and congenital hypertrophy of the ventricular septum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pathological changes indicate that clinicians should be aware of defects of immune system if the infants suffer from severe infections. Pathologists should recognize the importance of abnormalities of lymphohematopoietic tissues in the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases such as DGS.</p>

Relationship between Tiam-1 expression and the biological behaviors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the protein expression of T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis gene 1 (Tiam-1) and the biological behaviors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of Tiam-1 protein in 60 specimens of NPC tissue, 20 specimens of chronic nasopharyngitis (CN) tissue, and 6 tumor tissues from nude mice inoculated with metastatic human NPC cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positivity rate and average score for Tiam-1 expression were significantly higher in NPC tissues than in CN tissue (63.33% vs 36.67%, 2.9167 +/- 1.3057 vs 0.7000 +/- 0.9234; chi(2)=20.429, P=0.001; t=7.0162, P=0.0000, respectively). No difference was found in Tiam-1 expression among NPC patients in different T stages (F=2.36, P=0.0811), while the expression differed significantly between the patients with lymph node metastasis and those without metastasis, and also between patients with organ metastasis and those without (P=0.0001). High Tiam-1 expressions were found in the tumor tissues in nude mice inoculated with metastatic NPC cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tiam-1 expression is closely associated with the invasiveness and metastasis of NPC, indicating that Tiam-1 is an important factor that promotes the invasion and metastasis of NPC.</p>

Overexpression of Tiam1 gene and its relationship with invasive and metastatic ability of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore biological aspects of Tiam1 gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tiam1/C1199HA expression plasmids were transfected into nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells of C666-1 and CNE1 by lipofectamine2000. RT-PCR, real-time PCR and Western blot Analyses were performed to evaluate the expression of Tiam1 mRNA and protein levels, respectively. In vitro cell adhesion, wound healing and matrigel invasion assays were used to study the biological impact of Tiam1 on cell adhesion, mobility and invasion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tiam1 over expression significantly increased the abilities of adhesion, migratory and invasion of C666-1 and CNE1 cells, comparing with that of the control untransfected cells (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tiam1 expression correlates with the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.</p>

Effect of Tiam-l gene silencing on human colorectal carcinoma cell line SW480 metastasis in nude mice observed by real-time whole-body fluorescence imaging / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Tiam-l gene silencing on the metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cell line SW480 in nude mice by real-time whole-body fluorescence imaging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-labeled human colorectal carcinoma cells, SW480/EGFP(+)/Tiam-1(-) and SW480/EGFP(+), were implanted into nude mice via tail vein injection or orthotopic colonal inoculation, and real-time whole-body fluorescence imaging was performed to compare the difference in tumor progression and metastasis between the two cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both SW480/EGFP(+) and SW480/ EGFP(+)/Tiam-1(-) cells stably expressed EGFP, and Tiam1 gene expression was reduced in SW480/EGFP(+)Tiam-1(-) to 30% of the expression level in SW480/EGFP(+) cells. The growth rate of the two cell lines had no significant difference in vitro (P>0.05), but SW480/EGFP(+)/Tiam1(-) cell proliferation and metastasis were depressed obviously in comparison with SW480/EGFP(+) in vivo (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tiam-1 gene may play an important role in invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer.</p>

Repair of glutamate-induced excitotoxic neuronal damage mediated by intracerebroventricular transplantation of neural stem cells in adult mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a possibility of repairing damaged brain by intracerebroventricular transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mice subjected to glutamate-induced excitotoxic injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse NSCs were isolated from the brains of embryos at 15-day postcoitum (dpc). The expression of nestin, a special antigen for NSC, was detected by immunocytochemistry. Immunofluorescence staining was carried out to observe the survival and location of transplanted NSCs. The animals in the MSG + NSCs group received intracerebroventricular transplantation of NSCs (approximately 1.0 x 10(5) cells) separately on day 1 and day 10 after 10-d MSG exposure (4.0 g/kg per day). The mice in control and MSG groups received intracerebroventricular injection of Dulbecco's minimum essential medium (DMEM) instead of NSCs. On day 11 after the last NSC transplantation, the test of Y-maze discrimination learning was performed, and then the histopathology of the animal brains was studied to analyze the MSG-induced functional and morphological changes of brain and the effects of intracerebroventricular transplantation of NSCs on the brain repair.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The isolated cells were Nestin-positive. The grafted NSCs in the host brain were region-specifically survived at 10-d post-transplantation. Intracerebroventricular transplantation of NSCs obviously facilitated the brain recovery from glutamate-induced behavioral disturbances and histopathological impairs in adult mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intracerebroventricular transplantation of NSCs may be feasible in repairing diseased or damaged brain tissue.</p>