Human Annexin A5: from Biomarkers to Therapeutic Candidates / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Human annexin A5 (hAnxA5) as an important functional protein molecule in the human body, widely exists in human cells and body fluids. hAnxA5, a member of annexin group with complex structure, exhibits a variety of biological functions by reversibly and specifically binding phosphatidylserine (PS) in a calciumdependent manner and plays an important role in many human physiological processes. This paper has made induction and summary of the biochemical characteristics, mechanism, biological effects and important biomedical applications of hAnxA5. The hAnxA5 is present in the form of monomer and often exercise biological functions in a polymer. hAnxA5 affects the occurrence and development of pathological phenomena, such as vascular thrombosis disease, autoimmune disease, tumor disease, pulmonary fibrosis and lung injury, nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, etc. As a biomarker, hAnxA5 has also been adopted in the study of diseases such as tumor, neurodegenerative diseases, heart failure, acute renal injury, asthma and so on. As novel drug candidates, hAnxA5 and its derivatives have been designed and applied to the therapeutic exploration of many kinds of diseases, especially for thrombotic diseases. There are also some gaps and shortcomings for hAnxA5 research. The in-depth of its research will not only expand the understanding of structure and functional relationships, but also promote its application in the field of biomedicine.

Studies on absorption kinetics of scopoletin in rat stomachs and intestines / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study absorption kinetics of scopoletin in rat stomachs and intestines.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rats was cannulated for in situ recirculation. UV and HPLC methods were used to determine the concentrations of phenolsulfonphthalein and scopoletin, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The absorption rates in rat stomachs at 2 h after administration was 76.31%; The absorption rates at colon, duodenum, ileum and jejunum were 46.25%, 40.54%, 38.21%, 32.77%, respectively. The absorption rate constant (Ka) at concentrations of 10.0144, 20.0288-40.0576 mg x L(-1) in intestine were 0.6434, 0.6137, 0.5970 h(-1), respectively. The Ka of scopoletin at pH of 6.0, 6.8 and 7.4 in intestine were 0.6217, 0.6033, 0.6137 h(-1), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The concentrations and pH values of scopoletin solution had no distinctive effect on the absorption kinetics. The absorption of scopoletin was a first-order process with passive diffusion mechanism. Scopoletin was well absorbed at stomachs and intestines in rats. Colon was the best absorption site of scopoletin, which suggest that a sustained-release preparation should be suitable for this compound.</p>

Effect of Rehmannia glutinosa water extraction on insulin resistance and gene expression of resistin in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Rehmannia glutinosa water extraction (RGL) on adipose metabolic disorder and gene expression of resistin in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The wistar rats model of 2-DM were induced by high calorie feeding and small dose injection of STZ. Rats were randomly divided into diabetic model group, diabetic model treated with RGL (2.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), RGL (1.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), RGL (0. 6 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and normal control group. The levels of FPG, FINS, TG, HDL, LDL, CH and IR were measured, and the mRNA expression of resistin was determined by RT-PCR, the protein expression measured by SDS-PAGD at the end of 8 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The gene expression of resistin in RGL group were lower than that of diabetic model (P < 0.01). The levels of FPG, FINS, TG, LDL, CH, IR in RGL group were lower than that of diabetic model (P < 0.05), and HDL were higher (P < 0.05). CONCLUDE: RGL can improve insulin resistance in the experimental 2-DM rats, can effectively ameliorate adipose metabolic disturbance and decline IR and FINS by increasing the gene expression of resistin.</p>

Study of correlation and effect of smoking on semen quality of men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the correlation and effect of smoking on the semen quality of men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>61 men, non-smoker, who had one or more children as normal fertility control group and adult males attending the infertility clinic, including 110 non-smokers and 191 smokers, were recruited for the study. The smokers were divided into subgroups according to the amount and duration of smoking. Semen parameters(volume, sperm density, viability, motility and morphology) were examined and seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The semen volume, pH, sperm density, viability and forward progression, as well as the seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and SOD were much lower in the medium, heavy and long-term smokers than in the non-smokers(P < 0.01). The sperm density, viability and forward progression, and the seminal plasma Zn, Cu and SOD levels were negatively correlation with the amount and duration of cigarette smoking(P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The effect of smoking on semen parameters of infertile men were dose-effect and time-effect relationship. Medium, heavy and long-term smoking adversely affected the semen quality in a population of men visiting the infertility clinic.</p>