Dryness-alleviating effect of processed Aurantii Fructus from Lingnan based on correlation of fecal metabolomics and dryness / 中国中药杂志

With the approach of untargeted metabolomics and correlation analysis, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of Aurantii Fructus from Lingnan region in alleviating dryness by analyzing the different effects of raw Aurantii Fructus(RAF) and processed Aurantii Fructus(PAF) on fecal endogenous metabolism in normal rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group(C), an RAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)), and a PAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)). After seven days of administration, the effects of RAF and PAF on dryness-related indexes were compared, including water intake, fecal water content, salivary secretion, the expression of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland, as well as the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon. The fecal samples in each group were determined by LC-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for screening the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in alleviating dryness of RAF. The results indicated that both RAF and PAF showed certain dryness, and the dryness of RAF was more significant. Moreover, PAF could alleviate dryness of RAF to a certain extent by reducing the water intake, fecal water content, and the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon and increasing the salivary secretion and the levels of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland. According to the analysis of fecal metabolomics, 99 and 58 metabolites related to dryness were found in RAF and PAF respectively, where 16 of them played an important role in alleviating dryness of RAF. Pathway analysis revealed that the mechanism of PAF in alleviating dryness of RAF was presumably related to the regulation of riboflavin metabolism, purine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, alanine metabolism, aspartate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and retinol metabolism pathways. This study suggested that PAF might alleviate dryness of RAF by affecting the metabolic levels of the body, which provides a new basis for further clarifying the processing mechanism of PAF.

Research strategy for quality-biomarkers of traditional Chinese medicine based on effect benchmarks / 药学学报

The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine provides the premise of its modernization and globalization. Currently, the dual quality control based on chemical benchmark and effect benchmark has been recognized domestically and internationally. Research efforts have lead to establishment of a series of effective quality control methods based on chemical components, medicinal properties, microscopic characteristics, material constituents and pharmacodynamic targets. In the study of quality control based on chemical benchmarks, fruitful results on fingerprints, DNA barcodes, and quality markers have been achieved. However, due to a variety of factors, such as growth period, origin, growth environment and preparation process of traditional Chinese medicine, the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine based on chemical benchmarks remains difficult to fully reflect the quality of traditional Chinese medicine. At present, there is still a dispute on how to accurately reflect the quality of traditional Chinese medicines based on chemical benchmarks. For example, the index components selected in the Chinese medicine quality standards are difficult to totally reflect all the components of Chinese medicine, and the relevance between the index components versus therapeutic effect is not yet clear. In view of the complex signal network by cascade reaction and crosstalk of multi-signaling pathways within an organism, and the coordinated regulation of multi-components and multi-targets of traditional Chinese medicine, there may be different components regulating the same signal network or situations where the amount of certain chemical components within a range is not sufficient to cause a change in the signal network. Therefore, the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine based on the effect benchmark may be a useful supplement to the quality standard of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper proposes a Q-biomarker research strategy based on the effect benchmark in order to provide a methodological reference for the quality control research of traditional Chinese medicine.

Toxicity-efficacy converting of ginseng combined with Fuzi Banxia incompatibility in heart failure stage of cor pulmonale / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Fuzi Banxia is one of eighteen antagonisms, previous studies have shown that the incompatibility could play special effects in the specific condition of diseases and appropriate compatible environment. The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity-efficacy of ginseng combined with Fuzi Banxia incompatibility intervening in the heart failure stage of cor pulmonale and to explore its mechanism. Methods: Monocrotaline (MCT)-induced cor pulmonale were used in this study. Ultra high-resolution small animal ultrasound real-time imaging system and the right heart catheterization were used to estimate cardiac function. Semi automatic biochemical analyzer was used to test myocardial enzyme LDH, CK, and CK-MB in serum. The heart tissues were stained with HE, and TUNEL assay was used to assess the pathomorphological changes and myocardial apoptosis. The expression of hypertrophy and apoptosis associated genes: ANP, BNP, β-MHC, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the right ventricle were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Fuzi Banxia combined with ginseng obviously attenuated mortality, decreased RVHI, and increased cardiac index; RVSP and mPAP were significantly reduced, and EF and FS were raised obviously; Myocardial enzymes LDH, CK, and CK-MB were pronounced attenuated; heart diameter reduced, right ventricular dilatation was significantly decreased, inflammatory cell infiltration notably reduced, and cardiac apoptosis rate was decreased obviously. Meanwhile, the expression of hypertrophy-related ANP, BNP, and β-MHC mRNA were up-regulated, the expression of apoptosis-related Bax mRNA was down-regulated, and the expression of anti-apoptosis-related Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were up-regulated. Conclusion: Ginseng compatible environment could attenuate cardiac toxicity of Fuzi Banxia incompatibility intervening in the heart failure stage of cor pulmonale, and improve cardiac function, which may be related to the expression of hypertrophy and apoptosis associated genes, and thus delay the occurrence and development of heart failure.

Effects of cisplatin combined with heparanase inhibitor on proliferation and invasion of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the effects of cisplatin combined with heparanase inhibitor OGT2115 on proliferation, invasion and migration of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE-2 and to provide a new target for the treatment of metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. MTT assay was used to detect the cell viability of CNE-2 after exposure to different concentrations of DDP (2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 micromol x L(-1)), different concentrations of OGT2115 (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2 and 6.4 micromol x L(-1)), and DDP combined with OGT2115. Transwell assay was applied to analyze the effects of drugs on invasion and migration of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Wound healing assay was performed to detect cell migration and heparanase activity was analyzed by ELISA. MTT results showed that DDP can inhibit the proliferation of CNE-2 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 24.03 micromol x L(-1) at 24 h (P < 0.05), low concentration of DDP has almost no inhibitory effect on cell invasion and migration. DDP combined with OGT2115 can significantly inhibit cell invasion and migration. Inhibition of heparanase can significantly enhance anti-invasion and anti-proliferation of DDP.

Comparative study on pathology of non involuting congenital hemangioma and infantile hemangioma / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To distinguish non involuting congenital hemangioma (NICH) and infantile hemangioma (IH) by comparing the pathological structure and marker antigen expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Jan. 2005 to Aug. 2010, 39 paraffin-embedded samples, including 13 cases of NICH, 13 cases of proliferating IH and 13 cases of involuting IH, were collected from operation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological structure. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed to investigate the expression of Glut-1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lobules of capillaries were well-defined in NICH. The lobules were surrounded by abundant fibrous tissue. The capillaries were often large and integrity in NICH. There were few mitosis and apoptosis in endothelial cells and stromal cells in NICH. While in IH, the pathologic findings were totally different. Immunochemistry revealed that the Glut-1 was expressed in endothelial cells of IH, but not in NICH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NICH has a steady histologic structure and low proliferation, while the endothelial cells in proliferative IH has a high proliferation. Glut-1 can be used as the reliable marker antigen for differential diagnosis of NICH and proliferative infantile hemangiomas.</p>

Acquisition of fetal cells from transcervcial cells in early pregnancy and immunocytochemical study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the presence of trophoblast cells in the lower uterus in early pregnancy, identify fetal cells by immunocytochemistry, and determine the best timing for sample collection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples from healthy gravida in early pregnancy were divided into HE group (I) and immunocytochemistry group (II), and those from healthy nonpregnant women were also divided into HE group (III) and immunocytochemistry group (IV). Four different methods (usage of a cotton swab, aspiration of the cervical mucus, lavage of the endocervical canal, and lavage of the intrauterine cavity) were employed for collecting the samples, which were tested with HE staining or immunocytochemistry, and the presence of fetal cells was observed under optical microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>Fetal cells were detected in the genital tract of the gravida in early pregnancy. Utilization of the lavage of the endocervical canal or the lavage of the intrauterine cavity allowed greater amount of fetal cell acquisition, and sampling of the fetal cells between 50 days and 79 days of gestational age yielded optimal results. These sampling methods may provide safe and effective means for prenatal diagnosis with minimal invasiveness.</p>

Morbidity regularity of severe complications of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy in clinics / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To analyse incidence of the severe complications of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and the influence on the outcome of pregnancy.Methods A retrospective study of 4107 cases among 71 020 cases who delivered in hospitals from 1995 to 2004 in Guangzhou was conducted. Results The morbidity of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy was 5.78%,in which the morbidity of severe pre-eclampsia was 27.78% (1141/4107),of mitis pre-eclampsia was 72.22% (2966/4107). Maternal mortality rate was 0.19% (8/4107),and the specific mortality rate was 11.26/100 000.The proportion of severe complications of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy from high to low was as follows:placental abruption 1.68% (69/4107),DIC 1.36% (56/4107),hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy induced cardiopathy(induced cardiopathy) 1.05% (43/4107),renal failure 0.97% (40/4107),cerebrovascular accident 0.58% (24/4107),and hemolysis,elevated liver enzymes and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome 0.51% (21/4107).Mortality caused by severe complications of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy were as follows:cerebrovascular accident 17% (4/24),HELLP syndrome 10% (2/21),DIC 5% (3/56) and induced cardiopathy 2% (1/43).The proportion of perinatal mortality from severe complications were as follows:placental abruption 43% (33/77),HELLP syndrome 42% (10/ 24),DIC 34% (22/64),renal failure 25% (11/44),cerebro vascular accident 24% (6/25)and induced cardiopathy 16% (8/49).Conclusions (1) The morbidity of severe complications from high to low are: placental abruption,DIC,induced eardiopathy,renal failure,eerebro vascular accident and HELLP syndrome.(2) The main causes of mortality for gravida and puerperant are:cerebro vascular accident, HELLP syndrome,DIC and induced cardiopathy.(3) The major complications harmful to perinatal newborns are in the order of:placental abruption,HELLP syndrome,DIC,renal failure,eerebro vascular accident and induced cardiopathy.