Chemical constituents of triterpenoids from Euphorbia resinifera / 中国中药杂志

The combination of normal-phase silica gel column chromatography, octadecyl silica(ODS) column chromatography, semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), etc. was employed to isolate and purify the chemical components from Euphorbia resinifera, and 7 triterpenoids were separated from the ethanol extract of the medicinal materials. Their structures were identified by various spectroscopy methods as cycloartan-1,24-diene-3-one(1), cycloartan-1,24-diene-3-ol(2), 3β-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24-diene-11-one(3), lnonotusane C(4), eupha-8,24-diene-3β-ol-7,11-dione(5), eupha-24-methylene-8-ene-3β-ol-7,11-dione(6), and eupha-8,24-diene-3β,11β-diol-7-one(7). Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, and compound 3 is obtained from nature for the first time.

Evaluation of Erythrocyte Iron Incorporation in Beijing Prepubertal Children Using a Single Stable Isotope Tracer Method / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#To analyze the rate of erythrocyte iron incorporation and provided guidance for the iron nutrition for prepubertal children.@*Methods@#Fifty-seven prepubertal children of Beijing were involved in this study and each subject was orally administered 3 mg of Fe twice daily to obtain a total of 30 mg Fe after a 5-d period. The stable isotope ratios in RBCs were determined in 14th day, 28th day, 60th day, and 90th day. The erythrocyte incorporation rate in children was calculated using the stable isotope ratios, blood volume and body iron mass.@*Results@#The percentage of erythrocyte Fe incorporation increased starting 14 th day, reached a peak at 60 d (boys: 19.67% ± 0.56%, girls: 21.33% ± 0.59%) and then decreased. The erythrocyte incorporation rates of Fe obtained for girls in 60th day was significantly higher than those obtained for boys ( < 0.0001).@*Conclusions@#The oral administration of Fe to children can be used to obtain erythrocyte iron incorporation within 90 d. Prepubertal girls should begin to increase the intake of iron and further studies should pay more attention to the iron status in prepubertal children.

Clinical Efficacy and 5-HT，VIP Levels of Hegan Granule in Treating Non-erosive Reflux Disease of Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Hegan granule in the treatment of non-erosive reflux disease with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome and its effect on quality of life, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) level. Method: Patients with non-erosive reflux disease of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into treatment group (32 cases) and control group (33 cases). The treatment group was orally given Hegan granules after meal, 10 g/bag, 1 bag/time, 2 times/day. The control group was orally given with omeprazole enteric-coated tablets twice daily, 20 mg/grain. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The total scores of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, SF-36 health scale scores, 5-HT and VIP levels were observed before and after treatment. Result: The medical efficacy of the two groups was 87.5%and 81.8%in the treatment group and the control group, respectively. The treatment group was superior to control group (PPPPConclusion: Hegan granule has a good clinical efficacy in treating patients with non-erosive reflux disease and liver stagnation and spleen deficiency. It can significantly alleviate the symptoms of TCM, improve the quality of life of patients, and reduce the sensitivity of esophageal viscera.

Immunogenicity of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum NC8 expressing goose parvovirus VP2 gene in BALB/c mice

Goose parvovirus (GPV) continues to be a threat to goose farms and has significant economic effects on the production of geese. Current commercially available vaccines only rarely prevent GPV infection. In our study, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum NC8 was selected as a vector to express the VP2 gene of GPV, and recombinant L. plantarum pSIP409-VP2/NC8 was successfully constructed. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant protein was approximately 70 kDa. Mice were immunized with a 2 × 109 colony-forming unit/200 µL dose of the recombinant L. plantarum strain, and the ratios and numbers of CD11c⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, and interferon gamma- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-expressing spleen lymphocytes in the pSIP409-VP2/NC8 group were higher than those in the control groups. In addition, we assessed the capacity of L. plantarum SIP409-VP2/NC8 to induce secretory IgA production. We conclude that administered pSIP409-VP2/NC8 leads to relatively extensive cellular responses. This study provides information on GPV infection and offers a clear framework of options available for GPV control strategies.

Zinc Absorption from Representative Diet in a Chinese Elderly Population Using Stable Isotope Technique / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the dietary zinc absorption in a Chinese elderly population and provide the basic data for the setting of zinc (Zn) recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for Chinese elderly people.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 24 elderly people were recruited for this study and were administered oral doses of 3 mg 67Zn and 1.2 mg dysprosium on the fourth day. The primary macronutrients, energy, and phytic acid in the representative diet were examined based on the Chinese National Standard Methods. Fecal samples were collected during the experimental period and analyzed for zinc content, 67Zn isotope ratio, and dysprosium content.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean (± SD) zinc intake from the representative Chinese diet was 10.6 ± 1.5 mg/d. The phytic acid-to-zinc molar ratio in the diet was 6.4. The absorption rate of 67Zn was 27.9% ± 9.2%. The RNI of zinc, which were calculated by the absorption rate in elderly men and women, were 10.4 and 9.2 mg/d, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study got the dietary Zn absorption in a Chinese elderly population. We found that Zn absorption was higher in elderly men than in elderly women. The current RNI in elderly female is lower than our finding, which indicates that more attention is needed regarding elderly females' zinc status and health.</p>

Associations of polymorphisms of methionine synthase A2756G and methionine synthase reductase G66A with the risks of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the associations between polymorphisms of methionine synthase(MTR) A2756G and methionine synthase reductase(MTRR) G66A and risk of coronary artery disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literatures in Medline reporting the relationship between polymorphisms of MTR A2756G and MTRR G66A and risk of coronary artery disease from January 1990 to May 2010 were searched. A total of 14 relevant articles were selected and 13 of them met the criteria. A Meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) to evaluate the relationship between polymorphisms of MTR A2756G and MTRR G66A and risk of coronary artery disease. All analyses were performed using the STATA statistical software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 13 studies, eight case-control studies containing 2143 cases of coronary artery disease and 2270 controls were included in the analysis of MTR A2756G and risk of coronary artery disease. Meanwhile, five case-control studies with 811 cases of coronary artery disease and 387 controls were included in the analysis of MTRR G66A and risk of coronary artery disease. In the analysis of MTRR G66A related to the risk of coronary artery disease, there were 246 GG carries, 397 AG carriers and 168 AA carriers in the group of coronary artery disease, against 102 GG carriers, 203 AG carriers and 82 AA carriers in the control group. Compared with the MTRR GG carriers, the risk of coronary artery disease decreased significantly by 27% (OR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.54 - 0.99) and 25% (OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.56 - 1.00) (Egger's test t = -0.19, P = 0.862) in the MTRR 66 AG and AG/AA carriers, respectively, and also decreased in the MTRR AA carriers but significant difference was observed (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.42 - 1.68). There was no significant association between coronary artery disease and MTR A2756G.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggest that MTRR66 may play a role in coronary artery disease susceptibility. MTRR 66 A allele carries are associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of coronary artery disease susceptibility.</p>

Experimental study on Shuigou (GV 26) of inhibiting effect for neuronal necrosis in rats: morphological evidence of the specificity of acupoint / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint on inhibiting the neuronal necrosis induced by the middle cerebral artery obstruction (MCAO) in rats through the morphological observation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty two healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, false-ope ration group, model control group, non-acupuncture group, Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group, 7 rats in each group. Besides the normal and false-operation groups, the experimental modal of MCAO was established in the other groups by using the Zea-Longa thread method. Acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint (below the costal region) were selected respectively in the Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group for puncturing at 180 times/min for 5 seconds. Its effect was estimated by measuring the rate of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the light microscope and the degree of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) At the level of the light microscope, comparing with the model control group (0.66 +/- 0.18), of the neuronal necrosis there were no significant differences in the rate of neuronal necrosis in the non-acupuncture group (0.67 +/- 0.34) and non-acupoint acupuncture group (0.59 +/- 0.11) (both P > 0.05), while it was significantly decreased in the Shuigou-acupuncture group (0.200 +/- 12) (P < 0.05). It indicates that no intervention and wrong (non-acupoint) intervention could light the damage of the neurons, however, only right intervention (Shuigou, GV 26) can obviously decrease the rate of the neuronal necrosis, showing with the specificity of acupoint. (2) At the level of the electron microscope, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the non-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group is similar to that of the model control group, showing with the serious edema and structure damage. In contrast, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the Shuigou-acupuncture group is similar to that of the normal group and false-operation group, showing with light neuronal damage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncturing Shuigou (GV 26) could protect the involved neurons and inhibit the neuronal necrosis induced by the MCAO in rats, but acupuncturing the non-acupoint couldn't, which imply that there is the specificity of acupoint in the acupuncture.</p>

Effects of acupuncture at different acupoints on cerebral blood flow in cerebral ischemia model rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into effective methods for treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction and specificity of acupoints in the acupuncture treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established with thread ligation according to Zea-Longa's method. They were divided into normal group, non-operation group, model control group, non-acupuncture group and acupuncture group, and the acupuncture group was divided into sham-acupuncture group and four Xingnao Kaiqiao groups (contain Shuigou group, Neiguan group, Chize group, Sanyinjiao group and Weizhong group). Then they were treated by acupuncture at "Shuigou" (GV 26), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Chize" (LU 5), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Weizhong" (BL 40) and non-acupoints, 3 times/second, for 5 seconds. Cerebral blood blow (CBF) was used for assessment of the effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with the model control group, in the non-acupuncture group CBF did not significantly change (P>0.05); compared with the non-acupuncture group, after acupuncture CBF was significantly increased in the Shuigou group and the Neiguan groups (all P<0.05), but did not significantly increased in the Chize group, Sanyinjiao group and Weizhong group (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CBF has a tendency of spontaneous cure within 72 h after cerebral infarction in the MCAO rat; acupuncture can significantly improve CBF in the MCAO rat, so it is an effective method for treatment of ischemic stroke; among the acupoints in the "Xingnao Kaiqiao" needling method, "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) have obvious effect in improvement of CBF, indicating acupoint specificity of "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) in treatment of ischemic stroke.</p>

Sodium current kinetics of transitional myocytes in Koch triangle of rabbit hearts / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Few studies have explored the inward sodium current (INa) kinetics of transitional cardiomyocytes. This study aimed to explore the kinetics of transitional cardiomyocytes types alpha and beta.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to study the rapid INa of isolated transitional cardiomyocytes in the Koch triangle of rabbit hearts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Maximal amplitude and density of INa in type alpha and type beta was (-1627 +/- 288) pA (alpha), (-35.17 +/- 6.56) pA/pF (beta) and (-3845 +/- 467) pA (alpha), (-65.64 +/- 10.23) pA/pF (beta) (P < 0.05). Steady state activation curves of INa, fitted to a Boltzmann distribution for both types, were sigmoid in shape. Half activation voltage and slope factors did not significantly differ between types at (-43.46 +/- 0.85) mV (alpha), (-41.39 +/- 0.47) mV (beta) or (9.04 +/- 0.66) mV (alpha), (11.08 +/- 0.89) mV (beta). Steady state inactivation curves of INa, fitted to a Boltzmann distribution in both types were inverse "S" shape. Half inactivation voltage and slope factors were (-109.9 +/- 0.62) mV (alpha), (-107.5 +/- 0.49) mV (beta) and (11.78 +/- 0.36) mV (alpha), (11.57 +/- 0.27) mV(beta), (P > 0.05), but time constants of inactivation were significantly different at (1.10 +/- 0.19) mV (alpha) and (2.37 +/- 0.33) ms (beta), (P < 0.05). Time constants of recovery from inactivation of INa for both types were (122.16 +/- 27.43) mV (alpha) and (103.84 +/- 28.97) ms (beta) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transitional cardiomyocytes in rabbit hearts show a heterogeneous, voltage gated and time dependent fast inward sodium current. Types alpha and beta show the features of INa similar to those in slow- and fast-response myocytes, with probably better automaticity and conductivity, respectively.</p>

Study on optimum stimulation parameter for Shuigou (GV 26) in Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>to investigate the influence of acupuncture parameter on acupuncture effect and to probe the optimum stimulation parameter for Shuigou (GV 26) in Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat model of middle cerebral artery obstruction (MCAO) was replicated and "Shuigou" (GV 26) was stimulated by 9 acupuncture parameters combined by two factors at 3 levels, i. e. frequency 1, 2, 3 times/second, and needling duration 5 s, 60 s, 180 s. The effects of acupuncture at "Shuigou" (GV 26) with the 9 different acupuncture parameters on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the MCAO rat were investigated by orthogonal test, factor analysis and one-way ANOVA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acupuncture effect was influenced by acupuncture frequency, acupuncture duration and their combination. Among them, the acupuncture duration was the most important factor. The best acupuncture effect could be attained by using as long acupuncture duration as possibly with the fastest acupuncture frequency.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method, acupuncture at "Shuigou" (GV 26) with fastest frequency and enough long duration can get the best acupuncture effect, which are the optimum stimulation parameters for "Shuigou" (GV 26).</p>

Establishment of a rat model of severe heatstroke complicated with endotoxemia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a rat model of heatstroke complicated by endotoxemia for studying the pathogenesis of severe heatstroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups, namely normothermic saline group (group C), heat exposure saline group (group H), normothermic LPS group (group L), and heat exposure LPS group (group HL). The rectal temperature (Tr), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and respiratory rate (RR) of the rats receiving different treatments were continually monitored and their white blood cell count (WBC) and histology of the lungs were observed at 0, 40, 80 and 120 min after the treatments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rats in HL-Group displayed significantly higher Tr (43.04+/-0.11 degrees C), HR (660+/-42 beats/min), and RR (150+/-11/min) but lower MAP (49.0+/-3.5 mmHg) as compared with the C Group. There were significant differences in the values of Tr, HR, RR and MAP between HL and group L and in HR and MAP between H groups HL and. The rats in group H displayed significantly higher WBC than group C. In contrast, the rats in L groups HL and had significantly lower WBC. LPS injection and heat stress induced pulmonary edema and features characteristic of acute microvascular lung injury in the rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rat model established by LPS injection and heat stress can successfully mimic the development of severe heatstroke after LPS challenge and heat stress, and provides a suitable model for studying the primordial role of the lungs in the pathogenesis of severe heatstroke.</p>

Effect of autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation on renal function following renal ischemic-reperfusion in rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of autologous bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) transplantation via the renal artery on renal function recovery following renal ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BMSCs were collected and isolated from rabbits. Twenty-eight rabbits were subjected to renal pedicle clamping for 105 min and randomized subsequently into transplantation group and control group. BMSCs or saline were injected into the kidney via the renal artery, respectively. Before and 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after I/R injury the venous blood was collected to measure the serum levels of SCr and BUN, and the renal tissue was sampled for pathological observation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One and 3 days after I/R injury, serum Cr and BUN levels increased significantly to the highest level in both groups. On the 7th day serum Cr and BUN levels in the transplantation group were lower than those in control group and remained so till the end of the experiment. On the 28th day, the levels of serum Cr (90.1+/-11.1 micromol/L) and BUN (8.0+/-1.5 mmol/L) in the transplantation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (135.6+/-32.5 micromol/L and 10.9+/-2.5 mmol/L, respectively, P<0.05). Pathological observation of the renal tissue revealed renal tubular epithelial cell degeneration, necrosis and abscission.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BMSC transplantation can accelerate renal function repair after acute tubular necrosis resulting from I/R injury, and decrease serum Cr and BUN levels in early stage following the injury.</p>

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of single myocardial cells from Koch triangle of rabbit heart / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of cardiac cells in Koch triangle are still disputed. We studied the appearance and electrical properties of these diverse myocytes to elucidate their complex electrophysiological phenomena.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Experiments were conducted using cooled charge coupling device (CCD) system and whole cell, patch clamp technique to determine the morphology, action potential and sodium current density of single viable myocytes enzymatically isolated from the Koch triangle of rabbit hearts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morphologically, cardiac cells in shape of spider, tiny spindle, slender spindle, rod and strip were observed in percentage of 3.0 +/- 0.3, 35.0 +/- 5.0, 15.0 +/- 2.0, 40.0 +/- 5.0 and 6.0 +/- 0.7 respectively. The cellular dimensions and capacitance gradually increased in the above order (all P < 0.05). Electrophysiologically, action potential configurations recorded from them were similar respectively to nodal (N), atrial nodal (AN), nodal Hisian (NH), atrial (A) and Hisian like potentials obtained from the intact atrioventricular nodal preparations. Diastolic depolarization appeared in all myocytes except for rod cells. Sodium current density increased in the order of tiny spindle, strip, rod, slender spindle cell (all P < 0.05), but could not be detected in spider-shaped cells. Linear regression analysis revealed that membrane capacitance was correlated negatively to the rate of diastolic depolarization r = -0.70, P < 0.001, but positively to maximum depolarization potential, amplitude of action potential, upstroke velocity and maximum peak value of sodium current density r = 0.84, 0.80, 0.87 and 0.75, respectively; all P < 0.001.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results demonstrated that spider-shaped, spindle, rod and strip cells in Koch triangle might correspond to pacemaking, transitional, atrial and Purkinje like cells, respectively. Furthermore, tiny spindle and slender spindle cells were referred to transitional cell alpha (TCalpha) and beta (TCbeta) accordingly considering their distinctive electrical properties. Different myocytes with diverse electrical properties constituted the infrastructure of sophisticated electrophysiological phenomena in Koch triangle. In view of the prominent percentage and electrical properties, tiny spindle and slender spindle cells were presumed to play important roles.</p>

Arterial blood gas analysis in Lipopolysaccharide-heat co-stressed rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the change in vital signs and arterial blood gas in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected heat exposed rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: saline-injected normothermic control (C-Group), saline-injected heat exposed (H-Group), LPS-injected normothermic control (L-Group), LPS-injected heat exposed (HL-Group). Rectal temperature (Tr), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), arterial blood gas were continually monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The rats in HL-Group displayed significantly high values of Tr (43.04 degrees C +/- 0.11 degrees C) and HR [(660 +/- 42) beats/min] and low values of MAP [(49.0 +/- 3.5) mm Hg] compared with C-Group. There was a significant difference in the values of Tr, HR, and MAP between HL-Group and L-Group and in the values of HR and MAP between HL-Group and H-Group. (2) The values of PaO(2), HCO(3)(-), PaCO(2) were significantly lower than those in C-Group at 40 min after LPS-injected heat stress. At 120 min, the PaO(2) [(11.59 +/- 1.11) kPa], HCO(3)(-) [(10.42 +/- 1.06) mmol/L], PaCO(2) [(2.82 +/- 0.81) kPa] in HL-Group were significantly lower than those in L-Group. A significant difference in the values of HCO(3)(-) and PaCO(2) between HL-Group and H-Group was also observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LPS-injected heat stress primes the rat to advance and augment the change in vital signs, arterial blood gas, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.</p>