Mechanism study of adaptive response in high background radiation area of Yangjiang in China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the adaptive response mechanisms in high background radiation area (HBRA) among Yangjiang local people through gene and protein expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and S100A6 in peripheral blood and sputum in inhabitants of HBRA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 53 male inhabitants were selected from HBRA in Yangjiang as the exposure group, while 53 male inhabitants were selected from Enping (control area, CA)as the control group. The content of RAGE and S100A6 gene and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting assay. Thermo luminescent dosemeter(TLD) assay was used to measure the outside dose and estimate the effective dose.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective dose in CA and HBRA was respectively 1.95 mSv and 6.24 mSv, which was 3 fold difference. Compared with CA, RAGE and S100A6 expression were significantly reduced in both gene and protein level in HBRA. The relative median mRNA expression of RAGE and S100A6 in peripheral blood were respectively 0.28, 1.06 and 0.16, 0.79 in CA and HBRA group, there was significance (with analysis Z values of -2.587 and -2.328 respectively, P < 0.05) with Wilcoxon rank test. For the protein of sputum, the relative median expression were respectively 2.98, 2.25 and 0.53, 0.47 with significant difference (with analysis Z values of -2.201 and -2.366 respectively, P < 0.05) by Wilcoxon rank test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The low expression of RAGE and S100A6 in HBRA group might be correlated with the adaptive response and the low mortality of cancer in HBRA.</p>

Establishment of a novel preliminary screening model for bioactive parts of folium of Isatis indigotica based on biothermodynamics / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To apply a novel method for screening the bioactive parts and substances of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) based on biothermodynamic theories.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The power-time curves of Escherchia coli proliferation at different concentrations of decoction and its five bioactive parts of folium of Isatis indigotica (FII) were determined by TAM Air Isothermal Calorimeter. The growth rate constants of promotive and inhibitory actions were calculated. Moreover, the potential pharmacological action of FII was analyzed from the point of view of TCM theory.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The growth rate constant k1 and Pm of the studied bacterium in the presence of the decoction of FII were concentration-dependant. The k1 and Pm increased with the mass increase of the decoction and its water-extract of FII. However, the value of k1 and Pm decreased with the increasing concentrations of its other four organic solvent parts. The experimental results revealed that the sequence of inhibitory activity of different extracts was n-BuOH extract > EtOAc extract > chloroform extract > PE extract.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decoction and its water-extract of FII stimulated the metabolism of E. coli. While the other four organic solvent extracts of the total decoction inhibited the growth of tested bacterium. The microcalorimetric method has many virtues such as extensive applicability, convenience, etc, and provides a new and useful means for primary screening the bioactive parts and substances of TCM.</p>

Phytochemical and pharmacological research progress in Leontopodium medicinal plants / 中国中药杂志

This paper reviewed the phytochemical and pharmacological research progress in Leontopodium medicinal plants, including the resource distribution, the chemical constitutes, the pharmacological activities and clinical application. The review has provided some information for the study and development of Leontopodium medicinal plants in future.