Secondary metabolites of endophyte Chaetomium globosum isolated from Hypericum sampsonii / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of fungus Chaetomium globosum isolated from Hypericum sampsomii. Methods: By means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and HPLC, the chemical constituents of solid culture broth of C. globosum were separated systematically. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by means of physico-chemical properties and spectral data. Results: By means of spectroscopic evidences, eight compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract part of the fungus C. globosum, which were identified as glolactone A (1), 4’-epialtenuene (2), altenuene (3), chaetomugilin Q (4), chaetomugilin D (5), chaetomugilide B (6), chaetoglobosin Vb (7), and chaetoglobosin C (8), respectively. Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound named glolactone A, and compounds 2 and 3 are isolated from this fungus for the first time.

Effects of concentrated growth factors on the angiogenic properties of dental pulp cells and endothelial cells: an in vitro study

Abstract The aim was to investigate the angiogenic effects of concentrated growth factors on human dental pulp cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Cells were treated with concentrated growth factor extracts. The CCK-8 assay and cell cycle assay were conducted to evaluate cell growth. Cell migration was evaluated by the Transwell migration assay. Angiogenesis-associated mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. A tube formation assay was conducted to evaluate the angiogenic capacity in vitro. The data showed that compared with the control, concentrated growth factor extracts significantly promoted dental pulp cell proliferation and differentiation and endothelial cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Concentrated growth factor extracts also promoted the tube-like structure formation of endothelial cells in vitro. The RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that concentrated growth factor extracts upregulated the expression of angiogenesis-related genes - chemokine receptor-4, platelet-derived growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor - in dental pulp cells. In conclusion, concentrated growth factors showed proangiogenic effects on dental pulp cells and endothelial cells and have good application potential for dental pulp revascularization.

An in vitro study of the angiogenic effects of concentrate growth factor on human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to explore the effects of concentrate growth factor extracts (CGFe) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Concentrate growth factor (CGF) were prepared from the peripheral blood of healthy donors, followed by CGFe. Four groups were designed based on cell culture medium, as follows: 2%CGFe, 5%CGFe, 10%CGFe, and control. The proliferation activity of HUVECs was detected by cell cycle and CCK-8 assays. The migration of HUVECs was detected by scratch assay. The mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) were examined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results of CCK-8 and cell cycle assays showed that CGFe promoted the proliferation capability of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner, and the data had statistical significance among four groups (P<
0.05). The cell migration assay indicated that CGF accelerated wound closure in a dose-dependent manner after 12 h of culture (P<0.05). The results of qRT-PCR showed that CGF upregulated the expression levels of VEGF, CXCR4, and PDGF in HUVECs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CGFe can promote the proliferation, migration, and angiogenic differentiation of HUVECs. Thus, CGF might be an appropriate cure for dental pulp revascularization.</p>

Investigation of elemental concentration and extraction rate of polysaccharides from Liuwei Dihuang prescription" by ICP-MS / 中国中药杂志

A method was established for the simultaneous analysis of 25 trace elements and heavy metals in polysccharides from Liuwei Dihuang prescription, including Li, Be, B, Ti, Mg, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi. The different rate of elemental extraction in Al, Fe, Mg, B, Ti, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba was made in water and different concentration of alcohol. The samples, digested via microwave, calibrated by internal standard elements such as Ge and In, with bush branches and leaves as the controlled reference standard, were inlet into ICP-MS to analyze the contents of the 24 trace elements and heavy metals. The detection limits of the 24 elements were in the range of 0.007-2.225 µg · L(-1), while the RSD was below ≤ 4. 0%, with their recovery ranging from 84. 1% to 116%. Big different of the elemental extraction rates could be found by using different ethanol solutions. The method is simple, rapid and accurate, and can be used for the quality control of trace elements and heavy metals in Liuwei Dihuang polysccharides. With the aid of the obtained result, we may increase the extraction of necessary element while making an attempt at multi-element speciation in polysccharides from Liuwei Dihuang.

The exploration and practice on the self-designed experiments of extract preparations in phar-macy teaching / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The self-designed experiments of extract preparations is practiced in pharmacy teach-ing. Students work in groups, first consulting literature material, selecting the prescription and devis-ing a plan. Then, if the plan has carried on the feasible proof, students begin to purchase raw materi-als, complete the extraction and separation of effective components, the preparation of molding and the analysis of experimental results and finally form their self-evaluation. This experiment can strengthen students' experiment skill and promote their comprehensive application ability of all the subjects in the pharmacy field. At the same time it can also play an important role in the improvement of the students' social practice ability and the cultivation of students' creative thinking.

Polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene associated with magnitude of left ventricular hypertrophy in male patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Even carrying an identical gene mutation, inter- and intra-family variations have been noticed worldwide in the presence and the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy and sudden death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Modifier genes may contribute to the diversity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene has been established to be associated with parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy in community based male subjects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of ACE2 gene polymorphisms with the phenotype of HCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 261 consecutive HCM patients and 609 healthy controls were enrolled into this study. The polymorphism of rs2106809 and rs6632677 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and confirmed by sequencing. Logistic regression model and multivariate analysis were used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of variations of ACE2 for HCM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The T allele of rs2106809 and C allele of rs6632677 conferred increasing risk for HCM (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.77, P = 0.04; OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 - 1.21, P = 0.002, respectively), and the 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD), the TC haplotype was independently associated with a higher OR for HCM (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.21 - 1.87) after adjusted for conventional risk factors. And the risk alleles were associated with thicker interventricular septal thickness of HCM ((20.0 +/- 6.3) mm vs (17.9 +/- 5.5) mm, P = 0.03 and (21.3 +/- 5.9) mm vs (17.9 +/- 5.8) mm, P = 0.04, respectively). No association was found between the two polymorphisms with female patients with HCM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Minor alleles of ACE2 gene might be the genetic modifier for the magnitude of left ventricular hypertrophy in male patients with HCM.</p>