1H-MRS and its application in study of microwave induced impairment of learning and memory: a review / 军事医学

The brain is the center of neurological functions.Learning and memory are the most basic and significant neurological functions.Previous studies demonstrated that microwave radiation could induce impairment of learning and memory.Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive and in vivo technique that can measure and analyze neurochemicals and their related metabolites,which can facilitate the investigation of the mechanism by which microwave radiation induces learning and memory impairment.In this paper,we reviewed the studies on microwave radiation induced learning and memory impairment,1H-MRS technique and its applications in learning and memory research,and the applications of 1 H-MRS in studies on learning and memory impairment induced by microwave radiation.

Cloning and expression analysis of a key device of HMGR gene involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis of Panax ginseng via synthetic biology approach / 药学学报

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (HMGR), the first enzyme of mavalonic acid pathway, is one of the key devices involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis based on synthetic biology approach. The open reading frame of a novel HMGR gene from Panax ginseng (PgHMGR2) was cloned and analyzed in this study. PgHMGR2-encoding protein showed 71.6% sequence similarity to a P. ginseng HMGR in GenBank. The full-length cDNA sequence of PgHMGR2 containing 1 770 bp, which encodes 589 amino acids, was cloned by RT-PCR strategy from P. ginseng. The bioinformatic analysis showed that PgHMGR2-encoding protein contained two transmembrane regions and the HMG_CoA_reductase domain, without signal peptide. The protein sequence of PgHMGR2 had the highest sequence similarity (99%) with Panax quinquefolius HMGR (GenBank accession No. ACV65036). The expression level of PgHMGR2 was the highest in flower based on a real-time PCR analysis, followed by leaf and root, and the lowest was in stem. The result will provide a foundation for exploring the molecular function of PgHMGR2 involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis based on synthetic biology approach in P. ginseng plants.

Salvia miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant / 药学学报

Research on medicinal model organism is one of the core technologies to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The research progress of Salvia miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant is summarized in this paper. The genome of S. miltiorrhiza is small and its life cycle is short, as well as this plant can be stably genetically transformed. Because S. miltiorrhiza possesses the important medicinal and economic values, recently the transcriptome and genome of S. miltiorrhiza have been significantly recovered. The research prospect of S. miltiorrhiza as medicinal model plant in TCM was discussed, including biosynthesis of active components and their genetic regulation, relationship between quality of TCM and ecological environments, and selective breeding of good quality lines. Furthermore, as medicinal model plant, the construction of mutant library for S. miltiorrhiza, the genome map with high quality, and the functional genome should be investigated. Accompanying modern investigation of life sciences, the platform for medicinal model plant, S. miltiorrhiza, will be promoted to be established. It is important to develop the ethnopharmacology and new drugs around the world.

Genomics and synthetic biology of traditional Chinese medicine / 药学学报

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) genomics and TCM synthetic biology are two hot fields in the TCM modernization. TCM genomics, including transcriptomics, structural genomics, genomic markers and functional genomics, aims to elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of TCM bioactive compounds and mine the related genes encoding enzymes involved in these pathways by analyzing genetic information on the original species of TCM, thus promoting the development of TCM synthetic biology, genome-assisted molecular identification and molecular breeding, and elucidation of the genetic mechanism underlying "Daodi". Genomics and related research provide us much deeper understanding of life process and improve our ability to create new life or modify the present organisms. Based on TCM genomics, TCM synthetic biology sets up a series of procedures to realize the production of TCM pharmacological active compounds in microorganism, including screening and modification of parts and devices, establishment of standardized part and device libraries, and reconstruction and modification of the biosynthetic pathway of TCM pharmacological active compounds in microorganism. TCM synthetic biology will provide a new resource of TCM pharmacological active compounds for the pharmacological study and research & development of new drugs, thus enhancing the core competitiveness of our pharmaceutical industry in the international markets.

Investigation on treatment of fetal growth restriction by salvia injection combined with composite amino acid / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of salvia injection (SI) combined with composite amino acid (CAA) in treating fetal growth restriction (FGR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 106 pregnant women with FGR hospitalized from January 2007 to January 2008. Patients were randomized into 2 groups equally, the treated group (53 cases) treated with SI plus CAA, and the control group treated with CAA alone, all for 7 days. The clinical effect and umbilical blood flow (S/D) in patients were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The total effective rate in the treated group was 81.13%, it was 88.80% (16/18) for patients in the gestation period of 24+ -28 weeks, 80.00% (12/15) for those of 28+ -32 weeks, and 75.00 (15/20) for 32+ -36 weeks, while in the control group, the corresponding rates were 69.81%, 77.77% (14/18), 66.66% (10/15), and 65.00% (13/20), respectively. The difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). (2) After treatment, S/D significantly lowered in patients of the treated group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), no matter how long the gestation period was, but it was insignificantly changed in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined treatment with SI and CAA on FGR could improve the condition of the fetus.</p>

Antitumor effect of nanospheres coupled with the anti-human liver cancer monoclonal antibody HAb18 / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare nanospheres coupled with the anti-human liver cancer monoclonal antibody HAb18 and evaluate its immunoreactivity and antitumor effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The nanosphere coupled with the antibody was prepared by intermolecular cross-linking the anti-human liver cancer monoclonal antibody, HAb18, with human serum albumin nanospheres containing ADM [termed HAS(ADM)-NS] via a new hetero-bifunctional cross-linker SPDP. Condensation test and immunofluorescence assay were used to evaluate the immunoreactivity of the nanospheres, and specific binding of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS with liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 was observed with optical and electron microscopes. The specific cytotoxic effects on the target cells were evaluated in vitro by MTT assay. HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS, HAS(ADM)-NS and ADM were injected separately into nude mice bearing human liver carcinoma to evaluate the inhibitory activity of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The immunoreactivity of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS was well preserved. HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS could bind specifically with the SMMC-7721 cells. The IC(50) of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS against SMMC-7721 cells was 44.6 microg/ml, lower than that of HAS(ADM)-NS (345.5 microg/ml) and ADM (365.5 microg/ml). The inhibition rate of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS on the growth of liver cancer xenografts was significantly higher than that of HAS(ADM)-NS and ADM (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS has immunoreactivity and can actively and specifically target the liver cancer cells. The antitumor activity of HAb18-HAS(ADM)-NS is significantly higher than that of HAS(ADM)-NS and ADM.</p>