Intestinal Absorption of Triterpenoids and Flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma in the Human Caco-2 Monolayer Cell Model.

Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Triterpenoids and flavonoids from the plant have many beneficial effects and their chemical structures are modified in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. However, absorption of these triterpenoids and flavonoids still needs to be defined. Here, the uptake and transepithelial transport of the selected major triterpenoids, glycyrrhizin (1), glycyrrhetic acid-3-O-mono-ß-d-glucuronide (2), and glycyrrhetinic acid (3); and the selected major flavonoids, licochalcone A (4), licochalcone B (5), licochalcone C (6), echinatin (7), isoliquiritin apioside (8), liquiritigenin (9), liquiritin apioside (10) isolated from Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma, were investigated in the human intestinal epithelium-like Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Compounds 3, 5-7, and 9 were designated as well-absorbed compounds, 2 and 4 were designated as moderately absorbed ones, and 1, 8, and 10 were assigned for the poorly absorbed ones. The absorption mechanism of well and moderately absorbed compound was mainly passive diffusion to pass through the human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer. These findings provided useful information for predicting their oral bioavailability and the clinical application.

[Value of bronchoalveolar lavage as a rescue measurement for systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of bronchoalveolar lavage as an emergency treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with concurrent diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). METHODS: A total of 21 SLE plus DAH patients were divided randomly into 2 groups. The patients in Group A received methylprednisolone 1000 mg/d for 3 days while those in Group B methylprednisolone 1000 mg/d for 3 days in combination with a bronchoalveolar lavage. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), oxygen saturation (SaO2) and Borg scale (BS) for quantitative evaluation of dyspnea were recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: Except for PaCO2, all other parameters of blood gas analysis in all patients in Group A (P > 0.05) were better after treatment than before (all P < 0.05). After treatment, PaO2 and SaO2 in Group B were higher than those in Group A (all P < 0.05), but PaCO2 was not markedly changed (P > 0.05). BS decreased significantly in both groups (both P < 0.01). And more decrease was observed in Group B as compared with Group A after treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Bronchoalveolar lavage plus a high-dose implosive therapy of methylprednisolone may alleviate hypoxemia and dyspnea in acute period of SLE complicated with DAH.

[Surveillance on poliomyelitis neutralization antibody level in the border areas in Jilin province].

OBJECTIVE: This project is designed for understand poliomyelitis (Polio) neutralization antibody level in the the border areas in Jilin province. METHOD: 263 serum samples were collected from age groups of under 1-year-old, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-14, 15-19 and above 20-years-old. Microplate neutralization test was used to determine antibody level. RESULT: Positive rates of neutralization antibody against Polio type I, II, III were 94.98%, 94.59%, 92.28%. The geometric mean titre of Polio type I, II, III were 1:40.53, 1:29.68, 1:20.71 respectively,which was decreased with the age increasing. CONCLUSION: The population especially the population under 15-years-old lived in places that near the border in Jilin province had good immunity barriar against poliomyelitis.

[Investigation on the information system of immunization site at township level in Jilin province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of the expanded program on immunization (EPI) ralated to the immunization site at towns, and provide reliable base for it. METHODS: Questionnaires about the status of information system were filled out by all immunization site at towns, and descriptive method was applied to analyze the EPI and infomation service, personnel, equipments, funds and information system status. RESULTS: Among all the immunigation site in Jilin province, monthly running accounts for 75.85%, vaccination in designated sites and homes accounts for 46.77% and 40.41% respectively; the personnel whose age was under 45-year-old accounts for 77.31%, and the personnel whose work experience was more than 3 years accounted for 86.98%, 39.15% of all the personnel had little knowledge about using computer, and 46.93% of which had basic knowledge. 7.23% of all the immunigation site at towns had computers for EPI management, and 5.53% of which had optical cable or ADSL network service. Funds for EPI related information system and management at all immunization site at towns was little. CONCLUSION: Computers should be equipped as soon as possible, and computer related training should be enhanced; funds input should be increased. Pilot project about EPI related information network at county level should be carried out to obtain useful experience and to improve the information system so that the EPI related information network could be expanded.

[Application of a simple method for the detection of measles virus genome by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)].

OBJECTIVE: A new simple RT-LAMP method was applied to detect measles virus nucleic acid and compared with nest-RT-PCR. METHODS: Compare the detection rate of the RT-LAMP method with that of nest-RT-PCR by detecting measles virus nucleic acid from measles virus and clinical samples. RESULTS: The nucleic acid positive rates of all 23 strains of measles virus are all 100% by the two methods. But to the detection of 18 clinical samples which are negative in measles isolation, the nest-RT-LAMP showed 56.52% positive rate of nucleic acid of measles virus and nest-RT-PCR showed 47.83%. CONCLUSION: RT-LAMP is more sensitive than nest-RT-PCR.

[Genotype and gene charactrization of wild-type measles viruses circulated in Jilin Province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the genotype and gene characterization of measles wild viruses circulated in Jilin provinces, and to provide scientific evidences for setting down controlling and preventing strategy and measures. METHODS: 38 strains of measles virus isolated in 2001-2006 were genotyped by RT-PCR-RFLP, some strains of measles virus in Jilin province were chosen for the phylogenetic analysis and for the homology analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences. RESULTS: All the 38 strains of measles virus were identified as H1 genotype by RT-PCR-RFLP, and 29 strains of them were identified further as H1 a by sequence analysis. The homology of nucleotide was 88.0%-89.4% and the homology of amino acid was 91.8%-92.7% .The average diversity was less than 1.4%. CONCLUSION: The measles virus of H1a genotype was the circulating virus within recent years in Jilin province. There were the same measles virus strains circulating and transmitting at different years and also the different H1a measles virus strains co-circulating at the same year. There were the same transmission chain caused by the same measles virus with other provinces.

[Study on chemical constituents in seeds of Helicia nilagirica (II)].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in seeds of Helicia nilagirica. METHOD: The ethanol extract was seperated by petroleum ether, dichloromethane, n-butanol in sequence, then isolated by silica gel column chromatography. The structures were identified and elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. RESULT: Five compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane and n-butanol extracts, identified as p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), gallic acid (3), helicide (4), 4-formylpymyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). CONCLUSION: All the compounds except IV were isolated from the plant for the first time. The compounds I, II and III were isolated from the genus Helicia for the first time.