A new indole alkaloid from bulbils of Dioscorea opposite Thunb / 药学学报

This study was designed to study the chemical constituents from bulbil of Dioscorea opposite Thunb.. Four compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. On the basis of physic-chemical characters and spectroscopic data analysis, these compounds were identified as lyzalkaloid (3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-6H-pyrido[6,5-b]indol-5(1H)-one) (1), anoectochine (2), ginsenine (3), and 2-hydroxy-3-(1H-indol-3-yl) propanoic acid methyl ester (4). Compound 1 is a new indole alkaloid, named as lyzalkaloid. Compounds 2-4 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The cytotoxic activities were assessed by MTT assay. All compounds exhibited the cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MDA-231 with IC50 values of over 100 μmol·L-1, respectively. All compounds show no significant cytotoxic activities against HepG2, MDA-231 cancer cell.

Effect of TSP-2 antibody against a single epitope of mouse Toll-like receptor 2 extracellular domain on nuclear factor-kappa B and cytokine expression in the intestine of septic mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of the antibody TSP-2 against a single epitope of mouse Toll-like receptor 2 extracellular domain (mTLR2ECD) on the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and cytokines in the intestinal tissue of septic mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the sham-operated group, model group, TSP-2 treatment group and rabbit IgG treatment group. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and at 6, 12 or 24 h after the operation, the ileal tissues were harvested from the mice for HE staining. NF-κB expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA expressions were detected with qRT-PCR and their protein expressions by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NF-κB expression in the intestinal tissue significantly increased in the model group as compared with that in the sham- operated group, and decreased after TSP-2 treatment. The model group also showed significantly increased expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein in the intestinal tissue (P<0.05), which were lowered by TSP-2 (P<0.05) but not by rabbit IgG treatment (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The TSP-2 antibody can protect the intestine and delay the development of sepsis by inhibiting NF-κB activation and down-regulating TNF-α and IL-6 expressions in mice.</p>

Effect of TSP-2 antibody against a single epitope of mouse Toll-like receptor 2 extracellular domain on zymosan A-induced peritonitis in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of the antibody TSP-2 against a single epitope of mouse Toll-like receptor 2 extracellular domain (mTLR2ECD) on the inflammation in mice with zymosan A-induced peritonitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In mice with peritonitis induced by intraperitoneal injection of zymosan A, pretreatments with PBS, normal rabbit IgG and TSP-2 antibody at two different doses (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) were administered via the tail vein. Six hours after intraperitoneal injection of zymosan A, Evans blue was injected through the tail vein, and the frequency of writhing of the mice within 20 min were recorded. The mice were then sacrificed for peritoneal lavage, and the lavage fluid was collected to assess the exudation of Evans blue in the supernatant. The peritoneal leukocyte count, mast cell degranulation and release of such inflammatory mediators as platelet activating factor (PAF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in the lavage fluid were observed by cell counting, specific cell staining, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with PBS or rabbit IgG groups, TSP-2 treatment resulted in significantly reduced writhing response of the mice and lowered Evans blue exudation and leukocyte count in the peritoneal lavage, with also decreased degranulation of the mast cells induced by C48/80.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TSP-2 antibody against a single epitope of mTLR2ECD inhibits the inflammatory response in mice with zymosan A-induced peritonitis.</p>

One-step multiplex RT-PCR for rapid screening of type A, B and novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay for simultaneous screening of type A, B and novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two pairs of universal primers in were designed for amplifying the M gene and NS gene of type A and B influenza viruses, respectively. A pair of specific primers of HA gene was designed to detect novel A (H1N1) influenza virus. A one-step method was used to establish the multiplex RT-PCR system. A blinded experiment was carried out to validate the accuracy of this assay in comparison with the results of real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. The clinical practicability and efficacy of this assay was also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The RT-PCR products were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis, which yielded distinct bands of the target fragments without non-specific reactions, suggesting the high efficiency and specificity of the multiplex RT-PCR. Blinded study of 50 samples demonstrated a concordance rate of 100%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This multiplex RT-PCR assay allows one-step simultaneous detection of type A, B and novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses rapidly and accurately, and provides a valuable low-cost screening technique for influenza epidemic monitoring and early diagnosis.</p>

Cloning and expression of murine Toll-like receptor-2 N terminal and preparation of its antibody / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare the recombinant murine Toll-like receptor-2 N-terminal (mTLR-2N) fusion protein and obtain anti-mTLR-2N polyclonal antibody.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The gene encoding 153 amino acids of mTLR-2N was amplified by PCR and cloned into pET32A vector with sequence verification. The recombinant fusion protein was expressed in E. coli and purified by Probond resin column. Rabbits were immunized with fusion protein to obtain the polyclonal anti-sera, and the antibodies were identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recombinant fusion protein was efficiently expressed and purified. The polyclonal antibodies could bind to the fusion protein expressed in different vectors as the antigens in ELISA, and also bind with RAW264.7 cells expressing mTLR-2 and CHO cells transfected with full-length mTLR-2 gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant mTLR-2N fusion protein is obtained and the anti-mTLR-2N polyclonal antibody can recognize natural mTLR-2 on the cell surface.</p>

A follow-up study of family intervention for rehabilitating chronic outpatients with schizophrenia in the country / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveThe trial was to examining the effectiveness and cost effects of family intervention for rehabilitating chronic outpatients with schizophrenia in the country.Methods90 subjects were randomly assigned to the family intervention group and the control group. Both groups received the same treatments, but the family intervention courses mainly containing mental health education were given to the family intervention group for one year. During the time, all subjects were evaluated with standard rating scales and self made criteria. ResultsThe family intervention group demonstrated clinical results significantly superior to those of the control group on overall improvement according to the scores on the SDSS, the SAPS, the SANS and the MRSS. Substantially, the direct and indirect average cost in the family intervention group was significantly lower than those of the control group. Conclusions Family intervention is effective not only in making the schizophrenics recover from illness but also in both increasing their social functions and reducing their medical cost.