Expression of key enzyme genes and content of saikosaponin in saikosaponin biosynthesis under drought stress in Bupleurum chinense / 中国中药杂志

To research the expression of key enzymes in saikosaponin biosynthesis and the content of saikosaponin under the drought stress, the study focused on the gene-level and the end product responses to environmental change. Taking the five months of Bupleurum chinense as research materials, the contents of saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D under different stress levels were measured by HPLC. The drought was simulated by poly ethylene glycol. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of four key enzymes genes HMGR, IPPI, FPS, β-AS and the expression of β-tubulin was set as a reference gene. The results showed that drought stress significantly improved the content of saikosaponin. The contents of SSa and SSd were highest researching 0.648% and 0.781%, respectively when the concentration of PEG was 10%. Meanwhile, the results reflected that the expression of four key enzymes had risen differently and FPS, β-AS raised significantly(P<0.01). In addition, the results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the expression of the four key enzymes genes and the content of saikosaponin. In a word, the contents of secondary metabolites were regulated by the expression of key enzymes genes under the drought stress in B. chinense.

Chinese Internet Searches Provide Inaccurate and Misleading Information to Epilepsy Patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Most patients with epilepsy want to learn as much as possible about the disease, and many have turned to the internet for information. Patients are likely to use information obtained from the internet to control their epilepsy, but little is known about the accuracy of this information. In this survey, we have assessed the feasibility and usability of internet-based interventions for the treatment of epilepsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data were collected from an internet search. Different search terms were used to obtain general information on epilepsy together with information about medication, types of epilepsy, treatment, women's health, and other information. The accuracy of the information was evaluated by a group of experts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1320 web pages were assessed. The majority were websites related to health. A large number (80.2%) of web pages contained content related to the search term. A significant number of web pages 450/1058 (42.5%) claimed to provide information from a credible source; however, only 206/1058 (19.5%) of the information was accurate and complete; 326/1058 (30.8%) was accurate but incomplete; 328/1058 (31.0%) was correct but nonstandard, and 198/1058 (18.8%) was inaccurate. The authenticity of the information was not significantly different between the two search engines (χ2 = 0.009, P = 0.924). No significant difference was observed in the information obtained from a specialist or nonspecialist source (χ2 = 7.538, P = 0.057). There was also no correlation between the quality of the information and the priority (χ2 = 6.880, P = 0.076).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Searching for information about epilepsy on the internet is convenient, but the information provided is not reliable. Too much information is inaccurate or for advertisement purposes, and it is difficult for patients to find the useful information. Turning to the internet for medical knowledge may be harmful. Physicians should be aware that their patients may search for information on the internet and guide them to safe, reputable websites.</p>

Clinicopathological study of sporadic Burkitt lymphoma in children / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the fourth most common malignant tumors in children, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) accounts for 30-50% of all pediatric lymphomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and c-myc gene rearrangement of sporadic BL in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-two cases of pediatric BL were retrospectively analyzed for clinical features, immunohistochemistry, EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) status by in situ hybridization and c-myc gene rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 92 cases, male is predominant in sex distribution (M: F = 3.38:1). The average age at diagnosis was 4.97 years. Polypoid BL showed a lower clinical stage (P = 0.002), and advanced clinical stage and low serum albumin level at diagnosis were associated with poor outcome (P = 0.024 and 0.053, respectively). The positive expression of CDl0, B-cell lymphoma-6, MUMl and EBER were 95.7% (88 cases), 92.4% (85 cases), 22.8% (21 cases), 41.3% (38 cases), respectively. The expression of MUM1 were not associated with EBV infection status (P = 1.000). c-myc gene rearrangement was detected in 94.6% (87/92). Clinical treatment information for 54 cases was collected, 21 patients died of tumor after surgery alone, 33 patients received surgery and chemotherapy, and of which six patients died shortly afterwords (MUM1 positive expression in 3 cases, P = 0.076).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The anatomical location, growth pattern and serum albumin level of BL were associated with biological behavior. MUM1 may be a potential adverse prognostic marker, and not associated with EBV infection status.</p>

Biocompatibility of a novel biological piezoelectric ceramic to the rat periosteum derived osteoblast / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A novel biological piezoelectric ceramic was made by beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and lithium sodium potassium niobate (LNK) piezoelectric ceramics. To study its biocompatibility to osteoblast isolated from the cranium of 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The biological piezoelectric ceramic TCPLNK1/10, TCPLNK5/5 respectively mixed by beta-TCP and LNK piezoelectric ceramic at the ratio of 1/10 and 5/5. Then osteoblasts were used and seeded respectively on the negative and positive surfaces of TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5. Growth and proliferation of the osteoblasts on TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5 surfaces were evaluated in vitro by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, fluorescence dyeing of osteoblast skeleton protein and MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cell morphology of osteoblast on positive and negative surfaces of TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5 was normal, and both adhesion and growth characteristics showed better than control group. The growing osteoblasts on the TCPLNK1/10 negative surface were significantly higher than others. The negative surface of TCPLNK1/10 possessed better osteogenesis potential than others in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The surface of TCPLNK may permit the imitation piezoelectric effect of natural bone for bone regeneration.</p>