Cloning and Functional Characterization of Full-length cDNA Encoding Squalene Synthase from Fritillaria thunbergii Miq / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Squalene is a key metabolic intermediate for sterols and various other triterpenoids. Its biosynthesis is catalyzed by squalene synthase (SQS), which converts two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate to squalene. The biosynthetic pathway of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq isosteroid alkaloids is similar to that of triterpenoids. In this study, a full-length cDNA of squalene synthase from Fritillaria thunbergii Mig (FtSQS) was cloned using rapid amplification from cDNA ends (RACE) technology. GenBank accession number was KF551097. 2. Bioinformatics methods were used to characterize the FtSQS in detail, including the detection of conserved regions, sequence homology analysis, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, and phylogenetic tree analysis. The results showed that its open reading frame (ORF) was 1 230 bp and encoded 409 amino acids. Protein-Blast alignment found that amino acid homology with SQS of Indian pine, Truncate alfalfa, Purple shirt, Potato, Bupleurum, Golden iron lock and Arabidopsis reached 73. 84%, 73. 23%, 72. 24%, 70. 66%, 70. 66%, 69. 44%, 68. 14%. Promoter analysis indicated that the 5' upstream region of FtSQS possessed various potential elements associated with physiological and environmental factors. To obtain a soluble recombinant protein, 24 hydrophobic amino acids were deleted from the carboxyl terminus, and the C-terminal truncated mutant FtSQS (FtSQSATM) was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). SDS-PAGE analysis suggested that approximately 66 kD recombinant protein was checked. The in vitro enzymatic reaction proved that FtSQS could catalyze farnesyl pyrophosphate to generate squalene. Expression level of FtSQS mRNA in leaves was the highest, followed by stem and root, but in bulb was much lower than that in other tissues. It suggests that leaves are active organ for biosynthesis of peimine. The identification and function of FtSQS provides an important basis for the study of secondary metabolites of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of ferulic acid-puerarin-astragaloside in combination with neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of the active ingredients combined therapy on inflammatory factors interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) based on pharmacodynamics in rats. Methods: The animal model was built by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The method for evaluating the concentrations of the FA-Pr-Al components in rat plasma was established by using HPLC and the expression levels of IL-1β and NPY were determined by ELISA. A new mathematics method of the trend of percentage rate of change (PRC) was used to assess the correlation between pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Results: FA-Pr-Al in combination reduced neurological deficits, decreased infarct volume and inhibited the expression levels of IL-1β and NPY (all Pmax was reached. Astragaloside's PRC value was significantly higher than those of FA and puerarin between 120 to 180 min. Conclusions: The pharmacokinetics of FA-Pr-Al in combination were closely related its pharmacodynamics in treating ischemia/reperfusion injury, and the components of FA-Pr-Al may have a synergistic pharmacological effect. Astragaloside may play a more pronounced role in regulating IL-1βand NPY levels compared with puerarin or FA.

Simultaneous bilateral fractures of the femoral neck caused by high energy: A case report and literature review / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Simultaneous bilateral fractures of the femoral neck are rare injuries, which are reportedly induced by low-speed energy with predisposing factors including systemic diseases, medications and eclamptic seizures. Those caused by high energy are even rarer. High energy-induced bilateral fractures of the femoral neck conceive of high incidence of mortality and present great challenges in the early management. We report one case of a 52-year-old man with simultaneous bilateral fractures of the femoral neck which resulted from a motor pedestrian accident. One-stage closed reduction and internal fixation was done following the emergent resuscitation and neurosurgical management for concomitant brain injuries. The fractures united. There was no pain in the hips, and they had a normal range of motion. The treatment protocol, mechanism of the injury and possible postoperative complications were discussed to expand a comprehensive understanding about these infrequent types of fractures.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of ferulic acid-puerarin-astragaloside in combination with neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of the active ingredients combined therapy on inflammatory factors interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) based on pharmacodynamics in rats.@*METHODS@#The animal model was built by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The method for evaluating the concentrations of the FA-Pr-Al components in rat plasma was established by using HPLC and the expression levels of IL-1β and NPY were determined by ELISA. A new mathematics method of the trend of percentage rate of change (PRC) was used to assess the correlation between pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD).@*RESULTS@#FA-Pr-Al in combination reduced neurological deficits, decreased infarct volume and inhibited the expression levels of IL-1β and NPY (all P<0.05) compared with the model group. FA, Pr and Al all displayed two compartment open models in rats. Clockwise hysteresis loops were obtained by time-concentration-effect curves. IL-1β and NPY level changes in the plasma followed an opposite trend to the plasma concentration tendency after Cmax was reached. Astragaloside's PRC value was significantly higher than those of FA and puerarin between 120 to 180 min.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The pharmacokinetics of FA-Pr-Al in combination were closely related its pharmacodynamics in treating ischemia/reperfusion injury, and the components of FA-Pr-Al may have a synergistic pharmacological effect. Astragaloside may play a more pronounced role in regulating IL-1βand NPY levels compared with puerarin or FA.

The effect and mechanism of Yiqi Tongluo Jiedu capsule against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury / 药学学报

To observe the effect and mechanism of Yiqi Tongluo Jiedu capsule aganist cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, the SD rats were randomly divided into following groups: sham-operated group, model group, the group of low, medium and high dose of Yiqi Tongluo Jiedu capsule, and nimodipine group. Using focal middle cerebral artery embolization (MCAO) model, following items were observed: symptoms of neurological deficit score; infarct volume; activity of SOD, content of MDA and NO, activity of NOS of ischemic brain tissue; Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression; content of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNFalpha in serum; IL-1beta mRNA expression of ischemic brain tissue. Results showed that Yiqi Tongluo Jiedu capsule could significantly reduce the symptoms of neurological deficits, promote the recovery symptoms of neurological deficits; narrow infarct volume of brain tissue obviously, reduce the percentage of infarct volume; raise activity of SOD, reduce content of MDA and NO, reduce activity of NOS; increase Bcl-2 protein, reduce Bax expression; reduce content of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNFa in serum; reduce IL-1beta mRNA expression of ischemic brain tissue. Yiqi Tongluo Jiedu capsule has significant protective effects against ischemic brain injury, it has significant anti-apoptotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Chuanxiongzine-astragaloside IV decreases IL-1β and Caspase-3 gene expressions in rat brain damaged by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion: a study of real-time quantitative PCR assay / 生理学报

The purpose of this study was to establish an absolute quantitative method to detect IL-1β and Caspase-3 gene expressions in rat brain after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) using real-time PCR. Rats were randomized into the following groups: sham operation group, model group (cerebral I/R group), astragaloside IV (AST IV) group, chuanxiongzine-AST IV group and nimodipine group (n = 10 in each group). The rats in all the groups except sham operation group were subjected to cerebral I/R treatment. Sham operation and model groups were treated by normal saline (5 mL/kg). AST IV, chuanxiongzine-AST IV and nimodipine groups received 20 mg/kg AST IV, 10 mg/kg chuanxiongzine plus 20 mg/kg AST IV, and 10 mg/kg nimodipine treatments, respectively. The administrations of drugs were performed with intraperitoneal injections at 0 and 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, till to 7 d after I/R. A real-time quantitative PCR assay was developed for absolute quantification of the expressions of IL-1β and Caspase-3 genes. The absolute quantification approach relies on the construction of an accurate standard curve. Thus, two plasmids which contained rat IL-1β and Caspase-3 genes respectively were constructed. The cloned circular plasmids were then quantified using a spectrophotometer and used as standards. Standard curves were generated, and the copy numbers of IL-1β and Caspase-3 mRNA isolated from I/R-damaged brain tissue were also calculated by SYBR Green I dye method using specific primers. The results showed that melting curves exhibited sharp peaks, and PCR product also generated prominent band with expected size in agarose gel electrophoresis, which validated the optimization of the selected primer sets of IL-1β and Caspase-3 genes. The optimal annealing temperatures of IL-1β and Caspase-3 genes were 59 °C and 61.2 °C, respectively. Real-time PCR results showed that the expression of IL-1β and Caspase-3 genes in the model group was significantly elevated compared to that in the sham operation group. However, compared to those in the model group, IL-1β and Caspase-3 gene expressions were obviously decreased in AST IV, chuanxiongzine-AST IV and nimodipine groups. Especially in chuanxiongzine-AST IV group, those two genes showed the most significant expression down-regulation. These results suggest the absolute quantitative method established in the present study is capable of detecting the changes of IL-1β and Caspase-3 gene expressions in rat brain damaged by I/R.

Pharmacokinetics of PEG-rhG-CSF and rHSA-hG-CSF in mice determined with ELISA / 药学学报

Double antibody sandwich-type ELISA was used to detect rhG-CSF in serum to study the pharmacokinetics of rhG-CSF, PEG-rhG-CSF and rHSA-hG-CSF in mice and to confirm that PEGlyation and albumin fusion of rhG-CSF technology can prolong half-life of G-CSF. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with 3P87 software. T1/2 s of rhG-CSF, PEG-rhG-CSF and rHSA-hG-CSF are 2. 1 , 14.2 and 10. 6 h, respectively. T1/2 s of PEG- rhG-CSF and rHSA-hG-CSF are 7, 5 times than T1/2 s of rhG-CSF, respectively. Tpeak s of PEG-rhG-CSF and rHSA-hG-CSF are 15, 13 times than Tpeak of rhG-CSF, respectively. The result of ELISA indicates that PEGlyation and albumin fusion of rhG-CSF technology can prolong half-life of G-CSF.