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Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of HbA1c and glycemic control of acarbose chewable tablets in patients with type 2 diabetic., Method: A multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, positive controlled clinical trial was conducted. Two hundred thirty-four Chinese patients with type 2 diabetic were enrolled in eight clinical centres, who were divided randomly into the acarbose chewable tablet group (experimental group, n = 116) and the acarbose treatment group (control group, n = 118)., Results: Two hundred seven patients (88.5%) took part in the 12-week trial. At the beginning and end of the clinical trial, HbA1c and blood glucose as well as safety indexes were measured. After the treatment, the level of finger two-hour postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) was decreased 4.15 mmol/L (26.82%) and 3.54 mmol/L (22.77%), respectively, in the experiment group and the control group. The levels of venous two-hour PPBG in the experiment group and the control group were decreased 4.04 mmol/L (25.38%) and 2.75 mmol/L (17.26%), respectively, with the means of HbA1c lowering 11.67% and 12.44%, respectively. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) also was reduced significantly in both groups. Patients in both groups showed obvious weight reduction (P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups., Conclusion: In summary, acarbose chewable tablets have a definite curative effect in treating type 2 diabetic patients as HbA1c and blood glucose levels decreased significantly after the 12-week treatment., (© 2012 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd and Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University.)

Patella Baja, as a common complication of knee trauma or knee surgery, was very difficult to deal with, and scarring and shortening of the patellar tendon were looked on as the most important reason for it. Infrapatellar fat pad, also known as Hoffa's fat pad was traditionally regarded as with only buffering and lubricating functions in knee joints, which can limit the knee's excessive activities, absorb shocks from the anterior knee and reduces friction between the patellar tendon and the tibia, it should be with direct protection function and avoid the damage of patella tendon. Recently, a large number of studies had shown that adipose tissue was an accessible and abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, nerve cells, tendon cells and so on. In addition, interestingly, infrapatellar fat pad were just located behind the patellar tendon, and SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1), as a powerful cytokine that regulates inflammatory cell recruitment and stem cell homing, was unregulated after ligament injury, so there may be a certain correlation between ADSCs from infrapatellar fat pad and injured tendons, maybe ADSCs from infrapatellar fat pad can biologically repair injured tendons when patella tendon was damaged. We hypothesized injured patella tendon repairing should include not only the self-repairing of the tendon, but also the biological repairing from ADSCs in infrapatellar fat pad. When both of the repairing failed to repair the damage of the tendon, patellar tendon may begin to shrink and scar, which will result in patella Baja. In our opinion, healthy infrapatellar fat pad was with direct protection function of patella tendon and full of rich ADSCs, which may play an important part in patella tendon repairing and the developing process of patella Baja., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A supramolecular hybrid is prepared by the supramolecular surface modification of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with cationic beta-cyclodextrin-tethered ruthenium complexes through a spacer molecule that contains both an adamantane and a pyrene moiety. By employing the supramolecular hybrid, spatially controllable DNA condensation along the SWCNT skeleton is achieved by anchoring cationic ruthenium complexes on the surface. Furthermore, because of the unique physiological properties of SWCNTs, the cationic supramolecular hybrid can be used as a nonviral gene delivery system with the ruthenium complexes as a fluorescent probe to monitor uptake of DNA by cells.

The cause of the most marked changes in the evolution of life, which define the first-order stratigraphic boundary between the Precambrian and the Phanerozoic eon, remains enigmatic and a highly topical subject of debate. A global ocean anoxic event, triggered by large-scale hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) release to surface waters, has been suggested by Wille et al., on the basis of two data sets from South China and Oman, to explain the fundamental biological changes across the Precambrian/Cambrian (PC/C) boundary. Here we report a new precise SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 532.3 +/- 0.7 million years (Myr) ago (Fig. 1) for a volcanic ash bed in the critical unit that reflects the ocean anoxic event, the lowermost black shale sequence of the Niutitang Formation in the Guizhou Province, South China. This age is significantly younger than the precise PC/C boundary age of 542.0 +/- 0.3 Myr ago, approximately 10 Myr younger than the extinction of the Ediacaran fauna, and thus challenging the view of a major ocean anoxic event having been responsible for the major changes in the direction of evolution at the PC/C boundary.

Aim: To investigate the expression of CD1a and CD207 in condyloma acuminatum (CA) epidermis and to understand its significance., Methods: The mRNA expression of CD1a and CD207 in six CA epidermal lesions and in six normal controls were detected using oligonucleotide microarrys and confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein level of CD1a and CD207 in six CA epidermal lesions and in six normal controls were measured by Western blot., Results: With microarrys, the mRNA expression of CD1a and CD207 were detected markedly down-regulated in six CA epidermal lesions as compared with that in six normal controls. Moreover, the down-regulation of CD1a and CD207 was verified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of CD1a and CD207 in six CA epidermal lesions were significantly lower than that in normal controls., Conclusion: The expression of CD1a and CD207 is markedly down-regulated in CA epidermis compared with that in normal epidermis, and the results may suggest that the number of LC in CA epidermis is decreased and the function is impaired.

Beta-cyclodextrin-modified chitosan 1 was synthesized via the Schiff base reaction between 6-O-(4-formylphenyl)-beta-cyclodextrin and chitosan (CHIT), and then the supramolecular dyad assemblies 2 and 3 were respectively fabricated from the subunit 1 through the inclusion of adamantane-modified pyrene into the beta-cyclodextrin cavity and the wrapping of a CHIT chain on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The water-soluble dyad 3 further interacted with adamantane-modified pyrene, forming a stable triad assembly 4. They were extensively characterized by NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-vis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, the DNA condensation abilities of 1-4 were validated by AFM and dynamic light scattering, which indicates that the DNA-condensing capability of CHIT can be pronouncedly improved by either the pyrene grafts or the MWCNT medium. The cooperation between cationic and aromatic groups as well as the dispersion of CHIT agglomerates by MWCNTs are the key factors to enhance DNA condensation of cationic polymers.

Background: There are few studies on the abnormal morphology of Langerhans cells (LCs) in condyloma acuminatum (CA) lesions and the essence of the abnormal morphology of LCs in CA lesions is still not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to further investigate the morphological features of LCs in CA lesions., Methods: CD1a(+) LCs in 13 CA lesions and in 13 normal controls were labeled using immunohistochemistry and examined by light microscopy. Ultrastructural investigation on LCs in six CA lesions and in six normal controls was performed by electron microscopy., Results: Compared with those in normal controls, most CD1a(+) LCs in CA lesions exhibited dysplastic dendrities and abnormal distribution. The number of CD1a(+) LCs in CA lesions (26.31 +/- 18.84) was statistically lower (p < 0.001) than that in normal controls (72.00 +/- 27.40). Electron microscopy showed that the number of Birbeck granules within lesional LCs (4.00 +/- 2.94) was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) than that within normal LCs (10.80 +/- 4.78). The ultrastructures of most lesional LCs displayed degenerative changes., Conclusions: The morphology of most LCs in CA lesions shows degenerative changes, which suggest that these LCs have been functionally impaired.

Aim: To investigate differential gene expression of Langerhans cell-related chemokines in condyloma acuminatum (CA) epidermis and normal epidermis., Methods: Gene expression of Langerhans cell-related chemokines in three CA epidermal lesions and in three normal controls was screened using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays HG-U 133A 2.0, and part of the above differential gene expression was confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR., Results: With microarrays, seven down-regulated genes of Langerhans cell-related chemokine were detected in three CA epidermal lesions as compared with three normal controls, and the down-regulation of CXCR4 and CCL20 was verified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR., Conclusion: Several Langerhans cell-related chemokine genes are found down-regulated in CA epidermis as compared with normal epidermis, and the down-regulation of these genes may contribute to the decreased number and the homing disturbance of LC in CA epidermis.

Objective: To detect CCL20 and CXCR4 expressions in epidermis infected with condyloma acuminatum (CA) and normal epidermis and investigate the effect of their expressions on Langerhans cells in CA epidermis., Methods: Gene expression of CCL20 and CXCR4 in 3 epidermal CA lesions and in 3 normal epidermis specimens were detected using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays HG-U 133A 2.0, and the protein levels of CCL20 and CXCR4 in these specimens were measured by Western blotting., Results: Microarray analysis revealed markedly down-regulated mRNA expressions of CCL20 and CXCR4 in the 3 epidermal CA lesions as compared with those in the normal specimens. Western blot analysis showed that the protein expressions of CCL20 and CXCR4 in the CA lesions were significantly lower than those in normal epidermis., Conclusion: The protein and mRNA expressions of CCL20 and CXCR4 are markedly down-regulated in epidermal CA lesions, which may contribute to decreased number and backflow disturbance of Langerhans cells in these lesions.

RNA silencing is an evolutionarily conserved system that functions as an antiviral mechanism in higher plants and insects. To counteract RNA silencing, viruses express silencing suppressors that interfere with both siRNA- and microRNA-guided silencing pathways. We used comparative in vitro and in vivo approaches to analyse the molecular mechanism of suppression by three well-studied silencing suppressors. We found that silencing suppressors p19, p21 and HC-Pro each inhibit the intermediate step of RNA silencing via binding to siRNAs, although the molecular features required for duplex siRNA binding differ among the three proteins. None of the suppressors affected the activity of preassembled RISC complexes. In contrast, each suppressor uniformly inhibited the siRNA-initiated RISC assembly pathway by preventing RNA silencing initiator complex formation.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of sibutramine on body weight, body fat mass, metabolism of plasma glucose and serum lipids, and insulin resistance (IR) in primary obesity patients., Methods: A double-blind, double-placebo, randomized controlled, multi-center clinical trial was conducted. 359 voluntary obese subjects, whose body mass index (BMI) > or = 27 kg/m(2), without hypertension and diabetes, were enrolled. They were randomly divided into group A, B and C respectively. Sibutramine tablets or capsules were administered 10-20 mg/day for 24 weeks to the test groups and placebo to a control group. CT scan was used to measure the intra or subcutaneous-abdominal fat areas (IAFA, SAFA) at L(4)-L(5) level. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to measure total body fat mass (TBFM)., Results: 315 subjects continued to be followed for 24 weeks. After opening the blind, it was shown that group A received sibutramine tablet (n = 107), group B placebo (n = 104) and group C was capsule (n = 104). In group A and C body weight loss was 4.86 kg (6.42%) and 4.68 kg (6.38%), TBFM reduction was 4.07 kg (13.94%) and 4.09 kg (15.02%), SAFA decreased 7.30% and 7.45%, IAFA decreased 19.21% and 16. 98% respectively. Fasting plasma glucose decreased from 5.69 to 4.83 mmol/L and from 5.38 to 4.69 mmol/L in group A and C respectively. Fasting serum insulin decreased from 20.98 to 14.75 mU/L and from 21.11 to 14.68 mU/L, 2 h insulin decreased from 70.91 to 44.11 mU/L and from 73.13 to 41.93 mU/L in group A and C respectively. Serum triglyceride decreased from 1.98 to 1.73 mmol/L and 1.84 to 1.67 mmol/L, total cholesterol decreased from 5.08 to 4.75 mmol/L and from 5.06 to 4.46 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased from 1.13 to 1.28 mmol/L and 1.10 to 1.31 mmol/L in group A and C respectively, HOMA-IR index decreased from 5.32 to 3.32, and from 5.09 to 3.12 respectively in group A and C. Adverse drug reaction was 32.41%, 13.47% and 31.20% in group A, B and C., Conclusions: Sibutramine tablet or capsule decreases comparably body weight and TBFM, especially IAFA regulates plasma glucose and serum lipid metabolism and also decreases IR. Sibutramine is well tolerated in most of the subjects.

Aim: To analyze and compare the constituents of the volatile oil of Pogostemon cablin collected from different regions of cultivation and harvesting times in order to evaluate the quality of Shipai Huoxiang and to expound the chemical intension of Pogostemon cablin., Methods: The combination of GC and MS., Results: The volatile oil compositions of Herba Pogostemonis collected from various of cultivation regions and harvesting times are obviously different. Based on the chemical differences of the volatile oil compositions, Pogostemon cablin is divided into two chemotypes, Pogostone-type and Patchouliol-type. The former was cultivated in Guangzhou and Gaoyao regions, locally named as "Shipai Huoxiang"; the latter was locally named as "Hainan Huoxiang", cultivated in Wuchuan, Suixi and Leizhou regions of Guangdong Province and Wanning region of Hainan Province. The Pogostone-type contains rich oxygenated components, especially pogostone in the volatile oil compositions and poor non-oxygenated composition with patchouliol. The above chemical data may be used as evaluation standard for the authentic Shipai Huoxiang. The Patchouliol-type contains similar quantities of oxygenated and non-oxygenated composition, especially rich patchouliol with poor pogostone in oxygenated compositions, rich delta-guaiene and alpha-guaiene in non-oxygenation compositions. The contents of volatile oil and their constituents were varied due to different harvesting time. The yields of pogostone and volatile oil of Shipai Huoxiang was higher in July. The quality of the samples collected in this month was better., Conclusion: According to the volatile oil compositions, there are two chemotypes (Pogostone-type and Patchouliol-type) in Pogostemon cablin plant. These two chemotypes correspond to the genotypes of plastid matK gene and nuclear 18s rRNA gene by cluster analysis.

Aim: To analyze sequences of the nuclear ribosomal RNA small subunit (18S rRNA) gene and the chloroplast matK gene of crude drug Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) in order to provide molecular evidence for identification of Patchouli drug., Methods: To sequence the entire 18S rRNA gene and partial matK gene of Patchouli from Guangzhou and its substitute Wrinkled Gianthyssop (Agastache rugosa) from Sichuan using PCR direct sequencing and to detect the homology of two gene sequences between these two crude drugs., Results: The complete 18S rRNA gene sequence is 1,805 bp in length for Patchouli from Guangzhou whereas 1,794 bp for Wrinkled Gianthyssop from Sichuan. The 3'-end sequence of matK gene is 521 bp (747-1,268 nt from upstream of matK gene) for these two crude drugs. Based on multiple sequence alignment, it is found that there are 18 variable sites and 11 aligned gap sites in 18S rRNA sequence, 49 variable sites in 3'-matK sequence between these two crude drugs. The homology is 98.4% for 18S rRNA and 90.6% for 3'-matK between two crude drugs, respectively., Conclusion: DNA sequencing can provide an accurate and reliable tool in the crude drug identification of Patchouli and its substitute Wrinkled Gianthyssop.

Objective: To develop a simple, reliable approach for evaluating the quality of Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis)., Method: To determine the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and assay of four bioactive components: baicalin, baicalein, wogonin and wogonin-7-O-glucuronide by HPLC., Result: The correlative relationship between DPPH free radical scavenging activity and baicalin content was obtained., Conclusion: Bioassay of DPPH free radical scavenging activity could be used as one of the methods for quality evaluation of Chinese drug Huangqin.

Aim: To provide molecular evidence for quality evaluation and GAP production of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. cultivated in different regions in Guangdong and Hainan provinces, China, by comparing two sequences (1.2 kb of plastid matK gene and 1.8 kb of nuclear 18S rRNA gene) and two chemotypes (Pogostone-type and Patchouliol-type in essential oil composition)., Methods: PCR direct sequencing was applied to detemine the matK and 18S rRNA sequences for six samples of Pogostemon cablin from different localities., Results: The matK sequences of six samples of Pogostemon cablin from different regions of cultivation are 1,245 bp in length, which coding 415 amino acids of protein (maturase), and 18S rRNA sequences are 1,803-1,805 bp in size. Based on multiple sequence alignment, there are 47 variable sites in the matK sequence of these six samples, 17 in the 18S rRNA sequence. The cluster tree reconstructed by UPGMA method shows that the sequence divergence both in matK and 18S rRNA genes among six samples of Pogostemon cablin was well correlative with their regions of cultivation and intraspecific chemotypes of essential oil composition., Conclusion: Combining with chemical and biogeographical data, DNA sequencing can become a powerful tool in the key technique-species identification of quality evaluation and GAP production of Pogostemon cablin.

The gene frequency of 12 characters was reported in Ewenki, Oroqen, Daur, Mongol and Han nationalities in Inner Mongolia, and compared among these nationalities. The result indicated that the difference of Mongoloid fold among nationalities was significant, followed by the Folding tongue, while the difference of Handedness and Nasal profile was relatively insignificant.

Aim: To provide more molecular evidences for species relationship between Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) from China and Japanese Chuanxiong (Senkyu in Japanese) (Cnidium officinale Makino)., Methods: To sequence such two genes as internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from nuclear rDNA and maturase for lysine (matK) in tRNA(lys) (UUU) intron from chloroplast DNA of both Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale using PCR direct sequencing and to analyze the sequence variation of two genes between these two species., Results: The matK gene sequence of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale is 1268 bp in length, coding 422 amino acids of maturase protein. ITS gene sequence 699 bp, consisting of 54 bp of 18S rRNA-3', 215 bp of ITS1, 162 bp of 5.8S rRNA, 222 bp of ITS2, 46 bp of 26S rRNA-5'. Multiple sequence alignment shows that the sequence of two genes between dried crude drug and fresh voucher material of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale, there is 1 variable site (T-->C) in matK (upstream at 595 nt) and ITS (ITS1 at 54 nt) between Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale., Conclusion: Based on homology analysis of two genes plastid matK and nuclear ITS, the origin of Chuanxiong from China and Japan ought to be identical, the scientific name Cnidium officinale of Japanese Chuanxiong should be changed to Ligusticum chuanxiong.