Chemical constituents from whole herb of Hedyotis scandens / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents in the water extract of the whole herb of Hedyotis scandens by silica gel, ODS, and MCI column chromatographies together with preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The structures of isolated constituents were identified by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, etc. Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as methyl 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetate(1), 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetic acid(2), 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid(3), salicylic acid(4), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxypyridine(5), syringic acid(6), hydroxycinnamic acid(7),(R)-6-methyl-4,6-bis(4-methylpent-3-enyl)cyclohexa-1,3-dienecarbaldehyde(8), 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol(9), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(10), isoscopoletin(11), syringaresinol(12), and pinoresinol(13). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new phenolic acid compounds, compounds 3-5, 8-11, and 13 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 6, 7, and 12 were obtained from H. scandens for the first time. The activity test showed that compounds 1 and 10 had a certain inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium smegmatis, with MIC_(50) values of 58.5 and 33.3 μg·mL~(-1), respectively.

High glucose induces myocardial cell injury through increasing reactive oxygen species production

Objective: To study the injury effect and molecular mechanism of high glucose on myocardial cells. Methods: Myocardial cells H9c2 were cultured and divided into the control group treated with DMEM containing 5.5 mmol/L glucose, the high glucose group treated with DMEM containing 35 mmol/L glucose, and the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group pre-treated with 1000 ?mol/L NAC and treated with DMEM containing 1000 ?mol/L NAC and 35 mmol/L glucose. The production of ROS and the expression of mitochondria pathway apoptosis molecules in cells as well as the contents of collagen and collagen metabolism molecules were measured. Results: After 8 h, 16 h and 24 h of treatment, ROS RFU as well as Bax, CytC, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expression in cells and Col-I, Col-III, PINP and PIIINP protein levels in culture medium of high glucose group were higher than those of control group, Bcl-2 protein expression were lower than those of control group, but CTX-I protein levels in culture medium were not significantly different from those of control group; after 24 h of treatment, Bax, CytC, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expression in cells as well as Col-I, Col-III, PINP and PIIINP protein levels in culture medium of NAC group were lower than those of high glucose group whereas Bcl-2 protein expression was higher than that of high glucose group. Conclusions: High glucose can induce myocardial cell apoptosis, increase collagen synthesis and accelerate interstitial fibrosis by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species.

High glucose induces myocardial cell injury through increasing reactive oxygen species production

Objective:To study the injury effect and molecular mechanism of high glucose on myocardial cells.Methods:Myocardial cells H9c2 were cultured and divided into the control group treated with DMEM containing 5.5 mmol/L glucose, the high glucose group treated with DMEM containing 35 mmol/L glucose, and the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group pre-treated with 1 000 μmol/L NAC and treated with DMEM containing 1 000 μmol/L NAC and 35 mmol/L glucose. The production of ROS and the expression of mitochondria pathway apoptosis molecules in cells as well as the contents of collagen and collagen metabolism molecules were measured.Results:After 8 h, 16 h and 24 h of treatment, ROS RFU as well as Bax, CytC, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expression in cells and Col-I, Col-III, PINP and PIIINP protein levels in culture medium of high glucose group were higher than those of control group, Bcl-2 protein expression were lower than those of control group, but CTX-I protein levels in culture medium were not significantly different from those of control group; after 24 h of treatment, Bax, CytC, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expression in cells as well as Col-I, Col-III, PINP and PIIINP protein levels in culture medium of NAC group were lower than those of high glucose group whereas Bcl-2 protein expression was higher than that of high glucose group.Conclusions:High glucose can induce myocardial cell apoptosis, increase collagen synthesis and accelerate interstitial fibrosis by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the novel ligustrazine derivatives / 药学学报

Using ligustrazine as the leading compound, we designed and synthesized ten novel ligustrazine derivatives, whose structures were determined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Inhibitory effects of the new compounds on the proliferation of A549, A549/DDP and HBE cells were detected by MTT assay. The inhibi-tory activity of the synthesized compounds on migration and invasion of A549 cells were evaluated through scratch assay and transwell assay. Mechanism of the inhibition on migration and invasion was investigated by Western blotting. In addition, the cell cycle was analyzed with flow cytometry. The results showed that, both compounds Z8 and Z10 have an anti-proliferative activity, and the potencies of inhibition of tumor-cell migration and invasion were attributed to the down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. The compounds Z8 and Z10 could also enhance G2/M arrest in A549 cell as revealed by cell cycle analysis.

Evaluation of nutritional status of school-age children after implementation of "Nutrition Improvement Program" in rural area in Hunan, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the nutritional status of school-age children in rural area in Hunan, China from 2012 to 2015 and to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Nutrition Improvement Program for Compulsory Education Students in Rural Area" (hereinafter referred to as "Nutrition Improvement Program").</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The nutritional status of school-age children aged 6-14 years was evaluated after the implementation of the "Nutrition Improvement Program" and the changing trend of the children's nutritional status was analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed on the monitoring data of the school-age children aged 6-14 years in rural area in Hunan, China from 2012 to 2015, which came from "The Nutrition and Health Status Monitoring and Evaluation System of Nutrition Improvement Program for Compulsory Education Students in Rural Area".</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 2015, female students aged 6-7 years in rural area in Hunan, China had a significantly greater body length than the rural average in China (P<0.05). However, the other age groups had significantly smaller body length and weight than the rural averages in China (P<0.05). After the implementation of "Nutrition Improvement Program", the prevalence rate of growth retardation decreased (P<0.05), but the prevalence rate of emaciation increased (P<0.05). At the same time, the prevalence rate of overweight/obesity increased (P<0.05) and the prevalence rate of anemia decreased (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The implementation of "Nutrition Improvement Program" has achieved some success, but the nutritional status of school-age children has not improved significantly. Overweight/obesity and malnutrition are still present. Therefore, to promote the nutritional status of school-age children it is recommended to improve the measures for the "Nutrition Improvement Program".</p>

Verapamil and hypothermia protect spermatogenesis of torsioned testes in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of verapamil and hypothermia on the spermatogenesis of rats after testicular torsion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty healthy pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 5 groups: A (testis torsion), B (testis torsion + verapamil), C (testis torsion + hypothermia), D (testis torsion + verapamil + hypothermia) and E (control). After treatment, the left testis was removed for the observation of the histological changes under the microscope and measurement of the percentage of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HE staining showed disordered arrangement, reduced layers and decreased number of spermatogenic cells, apoptotic bodies, necrosis and partial invasion of inflammatory cells in all the groups but E, most obvious in Group A. The apoptosis rates of germ cells in Groups A, B, C, D and E were (32.11 +/- 2.20)%, (20.18 +/- 1.50)%, (20.02 +/- 1.90)%, (13.75 +/- 1.40)% and (8.56 +/- 0.90)%, respectively, and the Makler scores in the 5 groups were (14.47 +/- 1.35), (15.45 +/- 0.75), (15.48 +/- 0.75), (16.22 +/- 0.72) and (19.60 +/- 0.56), respectively, both with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased apoptosis of germ cells after testicular torsion-and-reposition may reduce the spermatogenesis of the testis. Either verapamil or local hypothermia can enhance testicular resistance against injuries, and the combination of the two can more efficiently prevent the germ cells from apoptosis.</p>

Prevalence and related factors of prostatitis-like symptoms in young men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence and related factors of prostatitis-like symptoms among young men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study was a cross-sectional survey of 2500 young men aged 18-30 years in the city of Weifang, and all of them completed a questionnaire on prostatitis. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression procedures were used to investigate the risk factors among the young men with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The valid response rate was 85% (n = 2125). Of the 128 subjects (6.02%) identified as having chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, the mean age was 21.8 years, the average pain score was 6.98 +/- 0.29, and the average voiding score was 3.77 +/- 0.25. Of the sampled population, 39 men had prostatitis-like symptoms with an index pain score of 8 or more. Significant risk factors include frequent masturbation, prolonged sitting, long-time fixed posture, cold environment, stress at home and work.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study suggested that chronic prostatitis-like symptoms are common among young men, and the urethritis history, frequent masturbation, prolonged sitting, long-time urine holding, cold environment, and stress at home and work might be significant risk factors.</p>

Inhibitory Activity Screening of Endophytic Fungi from Polygala tenuifolia Willd / 微生物学通报

Eighty-five endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots、stems and leaves of Polygala tenuifolia Willd, among which, fifty-two from natural plants and thirty-three from cultivated ones. Sev-enty-six strains were classified as twenty-three fungal genera. The inhibitory activity screening to fourteen microbe were conducted research. The results showed that some endophytic fungi had remarkble inhibitory activities to Bacillus subtilis, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Fusarium kyrushuense and they were all belonged to Fusarium, Alternaria, Aphanocladium respectively. All of the endophytic fungi isolated from Polygala tenuifolia showed no inhibitory activities to Staphyloccocus aureus, Salmonel-lae enteritis, Bibrio parahemolyticus.