Discrimination of Dioscorea species (Chinese yam) using FT-IR integrated with chemometric approach.

Dioscorea oppositifolia is an important crop and functional food. D. oppositifolia tuber is often adulterated with D. persimilis, D. alata, and D. fordii tuber in the commercial market. This study proposed an integrated Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) with chemometric approach to differentiate these four Dioscorea species. A total of 107 Dioscorea spp. tuber samples were collected from different locations in China. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), PCA-Class, and Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) were utilised to classify the FT-IR spectra. In this PCA is unable to differentiate the Dioscorea spp. tuber effectively. However, PCA-Class and OPLS-DA can distinguish spp. these 4 species Dioscorea tuber with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Additionally, the RMSEE, RMSEP and RMSECV values for OPLS-DA model were low, showing that it is a good model. The combination of FT-IR with the PCA-Class and OPLS-DA is practical in discriminating Dioscorea spp. tubers.

Application of FT-IR spectroscopy and chemometric technique for the identification of three different parts of Camellia nitidissima and discrimination of its authenticated product.

Camellia nitidissima C.W. Chi is a golden camellia recognized in Chinese herbology and widely used as tea and essential oil in Chinese communities. Due to its diverse pharmacological properties, it can be used to treat various diseases. However, unethical sellers adulterated the flower with other parts of Camellia nitidissima in their product. This study used an integrated tri-step infrared spectroscopy method and a chemometric approach to distinguish C. nitidissima's flowers, leaves, and seeds. The three different parts of C. nitidissima were well distinguished using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), second-derivative infrared (SD-IR) spectra, and two-dimensional correlation infrared (2D-IR) spectra. The FT-IR and SD-IR spectra of the samples were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), PCA-class, and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) for classification and discrimination studies. The three parts of C. nitidissima were well separated and discriminated by PCA and OPLS-DA. The PCA-class model's sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity were all >94%, indicating that PCA-class is the good model. In addition, the RMSEE, RMSEP, and RMSECV values for the OPLS-DA model were low, and the model's sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity were all 100%, showing that it is the excellent one. In addition, PCA-class and OPLS-DA obtained scores of 27/32 and 26/32, respectively, for detecting adulterated and other TCM reference flower samples from C. nitidissima. Combining an infrared spectroscopic method with a chemometric approach proved that it is possible to differentiate distinct sections of C. nitidissima and discriminate adulterated samples of C.nitidissima flower.

Vasorelaxant effect of 5,7,4'- Trihydroxyflavanone (Naringenin) via endothelium dependent, potassium and calcium channels in Sprague Dawley rats: Aortic ring model.

Naringenin is a naturally occurring flavanone (flavonoid) known to have bioactive effects on human health. It has been reported to show cardiovascular effects. This study aimed to investigate the possible vasorelaxant effect of naringenin and the mechanism behind it by using a Sprague Dawley rat aortic ring assay model. Naringenin caused significant vasorelaxation of endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (pD2 = 4.27 ± 0.05; Rmax = 121.70 ± 4.04%) or potassium chloride (pD2 = 4.00 ± 0.04; Rmax = 103.40 ± 3.82%). The vasorelaxant effect decreased in the absence of an endothelium (pD2 = 3.34 ± 0.10; Rmax = 62.29 ± 2.73%). The mechanisms of the vasorelaxant effect of naringenin in the presence of antagonists were also investigated. Indomethacin, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, atropine, 4-aminopyridine, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, glibenclamide and propranolol significantly reduced the relaxation stimulated by naringenin in the presence of endothelium. Besides that, the effect of naringenin on the voltage-operated calcium channel (VOCC) in the endothelium-intact aortic ring was studied, as was intracellular Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in the endothelium-denuded aortic ring. The results showed that naringenin also significantly blocked the entry of Ca2+ via the VOCC, SERCA/SOCC and suppressed the release of Ca2+ from the SR. Thus, the vasorelaxant effect shown by naringenin mostly involve the COX pathway, the endothelium-dependent pathway via NO/sGC/prostaglandin, calcium and potassium channels.

A study of risk factors of mortality in 142 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock / 中国基层医药

Objective To study the risk factors of mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. Methods 142 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in ICU were observed and divided into alive group (98 patients)and dead group (44 patients)by using hospital mortality.The risk factors of mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock patients were assessed by binary logistic regression.Results Independent mortality risk factors were inotropic agents (OR =4.329,95%CI:1.045 -17.937,P =0.043),blood glucose >10 mmol/L (OR =3.771,95%CI:1.214 -11.710,P =0.022)and APACHE Ⅱ score (OR =3.098,95%CI:2.012 -4.760,P =0.000),while PaO2 /FiO2 after early goal -directed therapy (EGDT)was protective factor (OR =0.682,95%CI:0.500 -0.930, P =0.016).Conclusion Severe sepsis and septic shock patients with inotropic agents,blood glucose >10mmol/L, high APACHE Ⅱ score and decreased PaO2 /FiO2 after EGDT indicate poorly prognosis.

Expression and clinical significance of Dyrk1b in the specimens and cells of cervical lesions / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To detect and explore the expression and clinical significance of dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase1b (Dyrk1b) in the specimens and cells of cervical lesions. Methods (1)All the data were collected from 75 patients with cervical cancer and 52 cases with squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL)admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical College during Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2013 and confirmed by pathological examination, included 60 cases of stageⅠand 15 cases of stageⅡ, 12 cases with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(LSIL)and 40 cases with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL). While, 28 cases with chronic cervicitis were chosen as the control group. The protein expression of Dyrk1b was detected by immunohistochemistry among the four groups.(2)The expression of Dyrk1b in HeLa and SiHa cells were detected by western blot method and the expression of Dyrk1b protein were also detected after treatment of AZ191 (5, 10 μmol/L) for 48 hours in HeLa and SiHa cells.(3)The cellular survival and proliferation of HeLa and SiHa cells treated by different concentrations of AZ191(2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 μmol/L)for 48 hours were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.(4)The rate of apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells was detected by flowcytometry after treatment of AZ191 (5, 10μmol/L) for 48 hours. Results (1)The positive rates of Dyrk1b protein in chronic cervicitis, LSIL, HSIL and cervical squamous cancer by immunohistochemistry were 11%(3/28), 1/12, 42%(17/40)and 71%(53/75), respectively. The expression of Dyrk1b in cervical squamous cancer and HISL were higher than those in LSIL and chronic cervicitis (P0.05). Expression of Dyrk1b was correlated with stromal invasion depth of cervical cancer (P0.05). (2) Dyrk1b protein was expressed in different levels in HeLa and SiHa cells, and the expression of Dyrk1b was decreased gradually as the increased of the concentration of AZ191 in both HeLa and SiHa cells by treatment of AZ191 for 48 hours. (3) Different concentration of AZ191 treated on cervical cancer cells could inhibit the cellular proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner(P<0.01), concomitant to the decreased cell survival rate. The apoptosis rate of HeLa and SiHa were increased significantly after 10μmol/L AZ191-treatment for 48 hours, but no any difference induced by 5 μmol/L AZ191-treatment compared to control group. Also,there was no any difference between Hela and SiHa cells in either inhibitory effect or apoptosis rate induced by AZ191. Conclusions Dyrk1b is over-expressed in either specimens or cells of cervical cancer. The expression of Dyrk1b protein in cervical lesions is increased as the progression of disease. Dyrk1b inhibitor AZ191 could inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in cervical cancer cells.

Comparative studies on genetic resource of characteristics of Alisma / 中国中药杂志

Based on the introduction and cultivation of Alisma germplasm which were from Fujian, Jiangxi and Sichuan provinces, the biological characteristics, morphological characteristics and quality were observed and studied. After three-year continuous experiment and monographic study, there were remarkable difference in the biological characteristics, morphological characteristics and product quality of Fujian Alisma, Sichuan Alisma and Jiangxi Alisma. Fujian Alisma and Jiangxi Alisma were the same plant species of A. orientalis, whereas Sichuan Alisma and Fujian Alisma were the different plant species of A. plantago-aquatica. The study results will provide the theoretical and practical basis for the genuine medicinal materials research and good agricultural practice (GAP) of Alisma.

Effect of Ambroxol inhalation on prevention and cure of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rats caused by cigarette smoking exposure / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To observe interference effect of Ambroxol (AMB) hydrochloride injection on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rats caused by cigarette smoking exposure.Methods Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rat models were established by simple cigarette smoking exposure,interfered with AMB inhalation.Rats were divided into three groups.Cell counts were examined routinely in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).The concentrations of Matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)、interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) in BALF were measured.Quantitative analysis of pulmonary mean linear intercept (MLI),mean alveolar numbers (MAN),pulmonary alveolar area (PAA) and the relative area of elastic fibers were measured.Results Concentrations of MMP-9,IL-8 and TNF-? in BALF of COPD rats were positively correlated with total counts of white blood cell (WBC),percentage of neutrophil and absolute counts of neutrophil in BALF.Pulmonary elastic fibers were severely damaged in COPD rats;MLI,PAA were higher than those in control group (P0.05).Conclusion Simple cigarette smoking can cause COPD in rats.MMP-9,IL-8 and TNF-? in airway and alveoli pulmonum probably participate in the destruction of elastic fibers and forming of COPD.AMB inhalation can inhibit release of IL-8 and TNF-? in airway and alveoli pulmonum of COPD rats,alleviate the inflammation of local airway caused by cigarette smoking,playing a role in preventing and curing experimental COPD of rats.