Identification of medicinal plants within the Apocynaceae family using ITS2 and psbA-trnH barcodes / 中国天然药物

To ensure the safety of medications, it is vital to accurately authenticate species of the Apocynaceae family, which is rich in poisonous medicinal plants. We identified Apocynaceae species by using nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and psbA-trnH based on experimental data. The identification ability of ITS2 and psbA-trnH was assessed using specific genetic divergence, BLAST1, and neighbor-joining trees. For DNA barcoding, ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions of 122 plant samples of 31 species from 19 genera in the Apocynaceae family were amplified. The PCR amplification for ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences was 100%. The sequencing success rates for ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were 81% and 61%, respectively. Additional data involved 53 sequences of the ITS2 region and 38 sequences of the psbA-trnH region were downloaded from GenBank. Moreover, the analysis showed that the inter-specific divergence of Apocynaceae species was greater than its intra-specific variations. The results indicated that, using the BLAST1 method, ITS2 showed a high identification efficiency of 97% and 100% of the samples at the species and genus levels, respectively, via BLAST1, and psbA-trnH successfully identified 95% and 100% of the samples at the species and genus levels, respectively. The barcode combination of ITS2/psbA-trnH successfully identified 98% and 100% of samples at the species and genus levels, respectively. Subsequently, the neighbor joining tree method also showed that barcode ITS2 and psbA-trnH could distinguish among the species within the Apocynaceae family. ITS2 is a core barcode and psbA-trnH is a supplementary barcode for identifying species in the Apocynaceae family. These results will help to improve DNA barcoding reference databases for herbal drugs and other herbal raw materials.

Investigation of PRAM1 Expression Features and Their Clinical Significance in AML via Gene Expression Microarray Database / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical phenotype and its prognostic value of PRAM1 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the gene expression microarray platform of 486 AML cases, the PRAM1 expression phenotypes were summarized in all of AML subtypes. The PRAM1 expression features were explored in every differentiation stage of hematocytes through normal human stem cell chips and bone marrow gene expression microarray. The clinical drugs which could up-regulate PRAM1 expression in AML cell lines should be found out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PRAM1 expression was the richest in the inv(16) AML and the lowest in the t(15;17)M3, almost the same in the other subtypes of AML. By the classification of molecular abnormalities, PRAM1 expression was more in the panel of CN-AML with CEBPAdm than the other two panels. Interestingly, high/low expression of PRAM1 could be re-classified in the CN-AML, and the EFS is statistically significant. It was proven again that PRAM1 is more expressed in the mature granulocytes. Finally, it was confirmed that decitabine and the chidamide could up-regulate PRAM1 expression in AML cell lines, and chidamide effect is better.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PRAM1 expression is the lowest in t(15;17) M3 and the highest in inv(16) AML. The high expression of PRAM1 is a sign for favorable prognosis in the CN-AML. PRAM1 is more expressed in mature granulocytes, chidamide can up-regulate PRAM1 expression in AML cell lines.</p>

Research Progress of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathways in Leukemia-Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays an important role in the occurrence and development of leukemia. Using the inhibitors of key signaling components in the signaling pathway is new strategy for the treatment of leukemia. In recent years, the screening of these inhibitors and their in vitro and in vivo researches have become a hot spot in the field of treatment. In vivo and in vitro experiments and early clinical studies have shown that these inhibitors have good effect and application prospects in the treatment of leukemia. This review focuses on the recent advances of the role of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in the occurence, development and treatment of leukemia.

PCR Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Trichomonas gallinae from Domestic Pigeons in Guangzhou, China

Avian trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas gallinae is a serious protozoan disease worldwide. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is the main host for T. gallinae and plays an important role in the spread of the disease. Based on the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA of this parasite, a pair of primers (TgF2/TgR2) was designed and used to develop a PCR assay for the diagnosis of T. gallinae infection in domestic pigeons. This approach allowed the identification of T. gallinae, and no amplicons were produced when using DNA from other common avian pathogens. The minimum amount of DNA detectable by the specific PCR assay developed in this study was 15 pg. Clinical samples from Guangzhou, China, were examined using this PCR assay and a standard microscopy method, and their molecular characteristics were determined by phylogenetic analysis. All of the T. gallinae-positive samples detected by microscopic examination were also detected as positive by the PCR assay. Most of the samples identified as negative by microscopic examination were detected as T. gallinae positive by the PCR assay and were confirmed by sequencing. The positive samples of T. gallinae collected from Guangzhou, China, were identified as T. gallinae genotype B by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, providing relevant data for studying the ecology and population genetic structures of trichomonads and for the prevention and control of the diseases they cause.

A time series analysis on under 5 mortality rate in Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

Objective To study the temporal distribution regular pattern of under 5 mortality rate(U5MR)from 1 998 to 201 4 in Zhejiang Province,and to predict the under 5 mortality rate in 201 5.Methods A time series ARIMA (p,d,q) forecasting model for U5MR was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 statistical analysis software.Results The UMAR showed downward trend.The ARIMA(2,1 ,2)model of U5MR from 1 998 to 201 4 in Zhejiang Province is yt =-0.696 +0.636yt -1 +0.024yt -2 +0.340yt -3 +αt -0.003αt -1 +0.997αt -2 ,and the model fitting was good.Each of the actual mortality was consistent with the trend of model prediction,and was within the 95% confidence interval.The predicted value of U5MR was 4.08‰ (95% CI:1 .52‰ -6.64‰)in 201 5.Conclusion Time series analysis is an effective way to analyze the temporal distribution regular pattern of U5MR,which could be used for short -term prediction.

Retrospective Analysis of the Impact of Treatment on Prognosis in 44 Adolescents and Young Adult Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics and the impact of treatment on prognosis in 44 adolescents and young adult (AYA) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 44 AYA ALL patients admitted in our hospital from September 1997 to April 2014 were analyzed retrospectively and the impact of treatment on overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of the patients at diagnosis was 23.7 (15-37) years and the male/female was 2.38:1. Out of them 88.6% of patients achieved complete remission (CR) after 1 course of induction chemotherapy, 35 patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and 6 patients received chemotherapy, 3 patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) as consolidation therapy in CR1. The expected 3-year OS and EFS rates of all the 44 patients were 64.3% and 61.7% respectively. The expected 5-year OS and EFS rates were 55.4% and 56.6% respectively. Allo-HSCT was not superior to chemotherapy and auto-HSCT in all the 44 patients (P = 0.308 for OS and P = 0.291 for EFS). In allo-HSCT group, the treatment related mortality was 22.9%, and the differences of OS and EFS in standard risk and poor risk AYA ALL patients were no significant (P = 0.775 for OS and P = 0.817 for EFS). However, compared with chemotherapy and auto-HSCT, allo-HSCT could significantly improve the OS and EFS in standard risk AYA ALL (P = 0.0296 for OS and P = 0.0359 for EFS).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Allo-HSCT as consolidation therapy may provide survival improvement for standard risk AYA ALL. However, further prospectively randomized clinical study is warranted to confirm whether allo-HSCT is an optimal treatment for AYA ALL, which is still controversial at present.</p>

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of 34 Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Retrospective Analysis / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of 34 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical records of 34 MCL patients admitted from October 2007 to February 2015 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively, the influcence of clinical characteristics, therapeutic protocol and biological indicators on overall survival (OS) was investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of the patients at diagnosis was 58.4 years, with a significant male predominance (3.25: 1), 58.8% of patients had bone marrow involvement, 29.4% had alimentary tract involement, and 79.4% were in Ann Arbor stage III-IV. The expected 3 and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of all the 34 patients were 63.6% and 55.6% respectively. Rituximab in combination with chemotherapy was not significantly superior to chemotherapy alone in terms of OS in this study (68.4 months vs. 51.8 months, P = 0.979). In univariate analysis, absolute monocyte count (AMC) >0.375 × 10(9)/L and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level at diagnosis were associated with poor OS (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Most patients were diagnosed at advanced stage. Rituximab plus chemotherapy can prolong OS time, but no statistically significant difference is observed, which maybe due to the fewer patients in this retrospective study. The high level of AMC and LDH at diagnosis are poor prognostic factors.</p>

Study on abnormal expression of transforming growth factor-β1 in maternal blood and placenta of patients with fetal growth restriction / 中国医师杂志

Objective To find out the relationship between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and transforming growth factor -β1 (TGF-β1). Methods The levels of TGF-β1 in maternal serum and placental tissue of FGR were detected with using ELISA and immunohistochemistry technique, and it was compared with those of normal term pregnancy. Results The levels of TGF-β1 in maternal serum of FGR group were significantly higher than those of normal term pregnancy (76. 5 ± 33. 4 VS 47.6 ± 24. 2, t' = 4. 65, P ＜0. 05). As for the intensity of the immunohistochemistry signal, TGF-β1 in syncytiotrophoblastic cells of FGR was markedly higher than that of control group (81.82% vs 5.83%, P ＜0. 01). Conclusions The levels of TGF-β1 are closely related with FGR.

Coptidis rhizoma extract protects against cytokine-induced death of pancreatic beta-cells through suppression of NF-kappa B activation

We demonstrated previously that Coptidis rhizoma extract (CRE) prevented S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine-induced apoptotic cell death via the inhibition of mitochondrial membrane potential disruption and cytochrome c release in RINm5F (RIN) rat insulinoma cells. In this study, the preventive effects of CRE against cytokine-induced beta-cell death was assessed. Cytokines generated by immune cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are crucial mediators of beta-cell destruction in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The treatment of RIN cells with IL-1beta and IFN-gamma resulted in a reduction of cell viability. CRE completely protected IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-mediated cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Incubation with CRE induced a significant suppression of IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, a finding which correlated well with reduced levels of the iNOS mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which CRE inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation. The IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-stimulated RIN cells showed increases in NF-kappa B binding activity and p65 subunit levels in nucleus, and IkappaBalpha degradation in cytosol compared to unstimulated cells. Furthermore, the protective effects of CRE were verified via the observation of reduced NO generation and iNOS expression, and normal insulin-secretion responses to glucose in IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-treated islets.

HUMAN TfR GENE EXPRESSION BEFORE AND AFTER IRON SUPPLEMENTATION IN WHITE BLOOD CELL DETECTED BY FLUORESCENCE QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION / 营养学报

Objective:To quantitively detect TfR gene expression of human white blood cell before and after iron supplementation. Methods:Before and after iron supplementation,10 healthy women were phlebotomized separately,and the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to analyze the expression difference of TfR gene in human white blood cell. Results:TfR gene expression decreased after iron supplementation in 10 women,more evidently in 7 cases,where the expression level was half less than before iron supplementation. Conclusion:TfR gene expression of human white blood cell could be quantitatively measured by FQ-PCR,and was decreased after iron supplementation in 10 women. It explained that the regulative mechanism of TfR mRNA expression by iron is also suitable to white blood cell.

Evaluation of therapeutic studies on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis published in Chinese journals by means of evidence-based medicine / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the quality and the effectiveness of therapeutic studies on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis published in Chinese journals by means of evidence-based medicine. Methods:Relevant papers were searched in Chinese Biological Medical Disc (CBMDisc)database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) database. Papers using randomized controlled trials (RCT) were identified and analyzed according to the international standards of evidence-based medicine. Results:There were totally 98 articles focusing on therapeutic studies of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis and only 22 of them met RCT criteria. Study design, diagnostic standards, therapeutic effects and adverse effects decribed in those 22 papers were fully evaluated by means of evidence-based medicine. Conclusions:Research quality of the analyzed papers could not meet clinical needs and Meta analysis could not been done due to their low quantity and poor quality. However, as far as the published articles concerned, GM-CSF showed a good short-term treatment effect.