Baicalin attenuates focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury by inhibition of protease-activated receptor-1 and apoptosis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the neuro-protective effects of baicalin in Wistar rats with focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety adult male Wistar rats weighing 320-350 g were randomly divided into the following groups (n=5): (a) sham control group; (b) vehicle group, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and received vehicle intraperitoneally; (c-e) baicalin groups, which were subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with baicalin 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The neurological scores were determined at postoperative 1, 3 and 7 d after the treatment. The expression of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), PAR-1 mRNA and Caspase-3 were determined using Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant decrease was noted in the neurological score in the baicalin group compared with that of the vehicle group (P<0.01). Additionally, down-regulation of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 and Caspase-3 was observed in the baicalin groups compared with those obtained from the vehicle group (P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose baicalin group (25 mg/kg), remarkable decrease was noted in neurological score, and the expression of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 as well as Caspase-3 in the high-dose group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baicalin showed neuro-protective effects in focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury through inhibiting the expression of PAR-1 and apoptosis.</p>

Mesorhizobium shangrilense sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Caragana species.

Five strains of bacteria isolated from nodules of Caragana bicolor and Caragana erinacea in Yunnan Province of China were classified within the genus Mesorhizobium in the class Alphaproteobacteria. The highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was determined to be to Mesorhizobium loti LMG 6125(T) (99.7 %) and Mesorhizobium ciceri UPM-Ca7(T) (99.7 %). Polyphasic taxonomic methods including SDS-PAGE of whole-cell soluble proteins, comparative housekeeping sequence analysis of atpD, glnII and recA, fatty acid profiles and a series of phenotypic and physiological tests allowed us to cluster the five strains into a coherent group while differentiating them from all previously established Mesorhizobium species. The DNA-DNA relatedness between the representative strain CCBAU 65327(T) and the type strains of M. loti and M. ciceri was 26.5 and 23.4 %, respectively, clearly indicating that strain CCBAU 65327(T) represents a novel species for which we propose the name Mesorhizobium shangrilense sp. nov. Strain CCBAU 65327(T) (=LMG 24762(T) =HAMBI 3050(T)) is designated as the type strain, and could nodulate Caragana microphylla, Caragana intermedia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Astragalus adsurgens, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna radiata and Phaseolus vulgaris in cross-nodulation tests.

Bradyrhizobium spp. and Sinorhizobium fredii are predominant in root nodules of Vigna angularis, a native legume crop in the subtropical region of China.

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop native to China, but its rhizobia have not been well characterized. In the present study, a total of 60 rhizobial strains isolated from eight provinces of China were analyzed with amplified 16S rRNA gene RFLP, IGS-RFLP, and sequencing analyses of 16S rRNA, atpD, recA, and nodC genes. These strains were identified as genomic species within Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ochrobactrum. The most abundant groups were Bradyrhizobium species and Sinorhizobium fredii. Diverse nodC genes were found in these strains, which were mainly co-evolved with the housekeeping genes, but a possible lateral transfer of nodC from Sinorhizobium to Rhizobium was found. Analyses of the genomic and symbiotic gene backgrounds showed that adzuki bean shared the same rhizobial gene pool with soybean (legume native to China) and the exotic Vigna species. All of these data demonstrated that nodule formation is the interaction of rhizobia, host plants, and environment characters.

Genetic diversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with Caragana species in three ecological regions of China.

Twenty-two genospecies belonging mainly to Mesorhizobium, and occasionally to Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium, were defined among the 174 rhizobia strains isolated from Caragana species. Highly similar nodC genes were found in the sole Bradyrhizobium strain and among all the detected Mesorhizobium strains. A clear correlation between rhizobial genospecies and the eco-regions where they were isolated was found using homogeneity analysis. All these results demonstrated that Caragana species had stringently selected the rhizobia symbiotic genotype, but not the genomic background; lateral transfer of symbiotic genes from Mesorhizobium to Bradyrhizobium and among the Mesorhizobium species has happened in the Caragana rhizobia; and biogeography of Caragana rhizobia exists. Furthermore, a combined cluster analysis, based upon the patterns obtained from amplified 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S intergenic spacer restriction analyses, BOX PCR and SDS-PAGE of proteins, was reported to be an efficient method to define the genospecies.

Mesorhizobium caraganae sp. nov., a novel rhizobial species nodulated with Caragana spp. in China.

Five rhizobial strains representing the largest group in the genus Mesorhizobium associated with Caragana spp. in China were characterized taxonomically. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these microsymbionts belonged to the genus Mesorhizobium, with Mesorhizobium tianshanense USDA 3592(T), Mesorhizobium temperatum SDW018(T) and Mesorhizobium mediterraneum UPM-Ca36(T) as the closest neighbours (>/=99.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Genotypic fingerprinting by whole-cell protein electrophoresis, DNA-DNA hybridization, comparative housekeeping sequence analysis of the atpD, glnII and recA genes, fatty acid profiles and a series of phenotypic and physiological tests allowed the novel group to be differentiated from all previously recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium. This group therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Mesorhizobium caraganae sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain CCBAU 11299(T) (=LMG 24397(T)=HAMBI 2990(T)). Cross-inoculation tests showed that strain CCBAU 11299(T) could form effective nodules on Caragana microphylla, Caragana intermedia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Astragalus adsurgens and Phaseolus vulgaris.

Mesorhizobium spp. are the main microsymbionts of Caragana spp. grown in Liaoning Province of China.

Caragana species are woody legumes widely distributed in the arid regions of China. These plants form root nodules but their nodule bacteria have not been clearly classified. A total of 112 symbiotic bacterial isolates were obtained from four Caragana species grown in Liaoning Province and were characterized with ARDRA, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins, BOX-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Most of them were classified as Mesorhizobium belonging to 11 putative species. Three isolates were identified as Rhizobium etli and Burkholderia spp. This study offers new information about the Caragana-rhizobia association and resource for selection of inoculants used in sustainable agriculture and for further studies on the Caragana rhizobia.

Protective effect of Noningkang Granule on brain in intracerebral hemorrhagic rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Naoningkang Granule (NG), a Chinese medicinal preparation formulated for clearing heat and detoxication, on brain tissue in intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the sham operated group, the model group and the high-, medium- and low-dose NG groups. Collagenase VII was injected into caudate nucleus to induce rat model of ICH, corresponding dosage of NG was started to give to the 3 NG groups by gastrogavage 2 h after modeling, and saline of equal volume was given to the other 2 groups instead. The brain tissue of rats was taken in batches at the 3rd and 7th day for pathomorphological observation using HE stain, and detection of thrombin receptor-1 (PAR-1) expression and nerve cell apoptosis in the peripheral tissue of hemorrhagic brain with immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay, as well as for measurement of water content in brain tissue by wet-to-dry weight method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PAR-1 expression elevated in the model rats. As compared with the model group, the pathomorphological changes significantly improved, PAR-1 expression decreased, apoptotic cells re-duced and brain edema alleviated in the 3 NG groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overexpression of PAR-1 in the brain tissue might mediate the nerve cell apoptosis and brain edema in ICH rats. The mechanism of NG in protecting hemor-rhagic brain tissue might be related with its actions in inhibiting the post-cerebral high PAR-1 expression to re-duce cell apoptosis and relieve brain edema.</p>

Improvement of reduction of prominent malar complex through an intraoral incision / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve the technique of prominent malar complex reduction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The improvements of the operation procedure included double-oblique osteotomy of the prominent malar complex, accessorial tiny preauricular incision and the way that the complex was moved upward, inward or posteriorly. The zygomatic body was fixed with microplate screw or steelwire. The jugal soft tissue was lifted to prevent facial slack. The method was used in 17 cases from June 2000 to April 2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Postoperative follow up for 4 approximately 24 months showed satisfactory result in all the cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This modified method resolved some problems in reduction malarplasty through an intraoral approach.</p>

Clinical study of fuzheng jiangnian capsule in improving pre-thrombosis correlated factors in patients with coronary heart disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Fuzheng Jiangnian Capsule (FZJN) on the pre-thrombosis correlated factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients with CHD complicated with blood hyperviscosity syndrome were treated with conventional treatment and randomly divided into three groups by the additional treatment, i. e. the FZJN group (FZJN, a preparation with action of invigorating Pi, supplementing Shen, and activating blood circulation), the CSDP group [Compound Salviae droplet pill, CSDP) with the action of activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis) and the aspirin (ASP) group, 30 patients in each group. After two months of treatment, clinical efficacy, the levels of endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), coagulation factor I (Fib), D-dimer (DD), thrombocytic granule membranous glucoprotein (CD62p), superoxide dismutase (SOD), high- and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C) in patients before and after treatment were observed and compared with those in the healthy control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy control group, the levels of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p were significantly higher, NO and SOD significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in all the patients with CHD. Compared with the same group before treatment, the levels of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p, LDL-C in the FZJN group lowered significantly, while NO and SOD raised significantly (P <0.05, P <0.01). ET and CD62p in the CSDP group lowered significantly, while SOD raised significantly (P < 0.05), CD62p in the ASP group lowered significantly (P < 0.05). No statistical difference was found in comparison of DD or ET, though certain improvement was shown. The total effective rate in relieving TCM syndromes and angina pectoris, and the decrease or stop rate of nitrate esters medication were superior in FZJN group to those in the CSDP group and the ASP group, respectively (P <0.05). The rate of electrocardiogram improvement in the FZJN and CSDP group was superior to that in the ASP group (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increase of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p, and decrease of NO and SOD levels were found in patients with CHD in prethrombosis stage. Compared with ASP, compound Chinese medicinal herbs can act on the prethrombosis manner of CHD patients through multi-paths, multi-links. FZJN showed better efficacy in improving correlated blood molecule markers and clinical syndromes than CSDP, suggesting that the possible mechanism of FZJN might be related to its actions in dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation, alleviating endothelial cell damage, inhibiting activity of blood platelet, regulating coagulation-fibrolysis balance, improving metabolism of free radicals as well as lowering the level of LDL-C.</p>