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A new triterpenoid saponin ( 1 ), along with five known compounds ( 2-6 ), was isolated from Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC, of which compounds 2-4 were obtained for the first time from this plant. The structures were confirmed by the analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS data, and comparison with previous spectral data. Anti-liver fibrotic activities of the isolates were determined as proliferation inhibition of LPS-induced activation of HSC-T6 in vitro .

To investigate the efficacy of laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in alleviating symptoms among patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks. The randomized controlled trial has been performed from May 2021 to April 2023. Patients were eligible who had Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks on out-patient Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital. The laser acupuncture group received class IV laser treatment for 3 times per weeks, a total of 72 times. The control group received the same treatment procedure except the laser parameter. The primary outcome measures comprised House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system and electroneurography. Secondary outcome measures comprised Sunnybrook facial grading system, electromyography, and the blink reflex. A total of 84 participants were included (42 control group, 42 laser acupuncture group). After treatment, House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.30; P < 0.001), and the pathologic numbers of electroneuronography were statistically different between the laser acupuncture group and control group, including orbicularis oculi (OR,0.08; 95% CI, 0.02-0.21; P < 0.001), Frontalis muscle (OR,0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.39; P < 0.001), Orbicularis oris (OR,0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.36; P < 0.001), Ala nasi muscle (OR,0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18; P < 0.001). In secondary outcomes, Sunnybrook facial grading system, has significant difference between the two groups (20.26; 95% CI, 14.69 to 25.83; P < 0.01). Latency by ENoG, include orbicularis oculi (-0.61; 95% CI, -0.43 to -0.09; P < 0.001), frontalis muscle (-0.12; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.03; P < 0.01), orbicularis oris (-0.28; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.16; P < 0.001), and ala nasi muscle (-0.26; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.16; P < 0.001). All amplitudes of MUAPs and durations by electromyography (EMG) showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group after treatment. For the frontalis muscle, the amplitude of MUAPs was -64.23 (95% CI, -80.89 to -47.56; P < 0.001) and duration was -1.18 (95% CI, -1.49 to -0.87; P < 0.001). For orbicularis oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -29.82 (95% CI, -55.03 to -4.62; P = 0.02) and duration was -0.57 (95% CI, -0.94 to -0.20; P < 0.001). For depressor angulli oris, amplitude of MUAPs was -47.06 (95% CI, -62.15 to -31.97; P < 0.001) and duration was -2.21 (95% CI, -2.69 to -1.72; P < 0.001). Blink reflex, including R1 (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.16; P < .001), R2 (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.004-0.29; P < .001), and R2 latency differences (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.51; P < .001), have significant difference between the two groups, respectively. The findings suggest that laser acupuncture relieve symptoms for patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05846217., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Two new triterpenoid saponins ( 1 and 2 ), together with two known saponins ( 3 and 4 ) were isolated from Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC. Their structures were elucidated by the comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 represented the rare example of an oleanane-type triterpenoid with two sugar moieties at C-3 and C-28. The cytotoxic activity of four compounds was evaluated against normal heptocell BRL-3A in vitro .

Objective: To determine whether photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) by class IV Multiwave Locked System laser treatment as an adjunctive therapy could relieve symptoms in patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks. Materials and methods: This nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients were eligible if they had Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks at the out-patient department of otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital. The control group consisted of patients recruited between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. The PBMT group consisted of patients recruited between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. In this study, the PBM used has a wavelength of 808 and 905 nm, 1.2 W power (808 nm is 1 W, 905 nm is 200 mW), continuous mode emission (808 nm) and pulsed mode emission (905 nm), 8.35 J/cm 2 dosimetry, administered 3 times per week, 72 times of total treatment. The primary outcome measures included the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system, the Sunnybrook facial grading system, and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE). Secondary outcome measures comprised electroneurography, electromyography, and the blink reflex. Results: A total of 54 participants were included (27 in the control group and 27 in the photobiomodulation group). After 6 months, the House-Brackmann grading system [risk difference, -0.59, confidence interval (95% CI), -0.81 to -0.38, relative risk, 0.27, 95% CI, 0.13-0.56, p  < 0.001], Sunnybrook facial grading system (21.14, 95% CI, 11.71-30.58; p  < 0.001), and FaCE (-0.20, 95% CI, 0.41-0.02; p  = 0.07) had significant difference between the two groups. Latency of ala nasi muscle (10.92, 95% CI, 5.58-16.27; p  < 0.001) was not statistically significant after treatment compared with the control group; however, most of the electrophysiological examinations have significant difference between the two groups, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that PBMT may relieve symptoms for patients with Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05585333.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was a world-wide health burden. H3K27 acetylation, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and miRNA were all implicated in NAFLD regulation, yet the detailed regulatory mechanism was not well understood. LncRNA NEAT1, miR-212-5p, and GRIA3 expression were detected both in high fatty acid-treated hepatocytes cells and NAFLD patients. Lipid droplets were stained and analyzed by oil red O staining. Expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and GRIA3 was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. RNA level of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-212-5p was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The binding sequences of lncRNA NEAT1/miR-212-5p and miR-212-5p/GRIA3 were predicted bioinformatically and validated through luciferase assay. ChIP was performed to analyze H3K27 acetylation on the promoter of lncRNA NEAT1. LncRNA NEAT1 and GRIA3 was upregulated, while miR-212-5p was downregulated in NAFLD patients. FFA promoted lncRNA NEAT1 and GRIA3 expression while suppressing miR-212-5p and promoted lipid accumulation as indicated by increased oil red O staining and FAS and ACC expression. ChIP indicated enrichment of H3K27 on NEAT1 promoter. Inhibition of H3K27 acetylation suppressed lncRNA NEAT1 level. Luciferase results indicated direct interaction of NEAT1/miR-212-5p (which was confirmed by RIP) and miR-212-5p/GRIA3. LncRNA NEAT1 knockdown upregulated miR-212-5p level and inhibited FFA-induced lipid accumulation while suppressing GRIA3 expression. Such function was antagonized by miR-212-5p inhibition and GRIA3 knockdown counteracted with miR-212-5p inhibition. H3K27 acetylation was enriched within the promoter of lncRNA NEAT1 and promoted lncRNA NEAT1 transcription. LncRNA NEAT1 could then interact with miR-212-5p and suppress its cellular concentration., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

At present, the breakthrough of the key techniques of artificial intelligence (AI), including image recognition, deep learning, neural network, Robot technique, etc., greatly promote the development of discipline crossing and medicine. In the present paper, we make an in-depth discussion about the future application of inter-discipline techniques of acupuncture-moxibustion and AI. We think that some of the current instruments have been part of the new acupuncture-moxibustion devices and may have the potential to intersect with the AI discipline. Relying on these existing devices and those of meridian detection, we can obtain relatively objective data, and further conduct meridian-syndrome differentiation and big data collection to possibly realize remote medical treatment. In addition, we may also develop an AI system for studying the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies. Nevertheless, there still exist a lot of problems and challenges in clinical, teaching and scientific researches. It is recommended that the discipline of acupuncture-moxibustion should be intersected with the AI subject and formulate appropriate development strategies, promoting a faster and better development of acupuncturology.

By HPLC-MS n and HRMS analyses, the structures of 52 polyoxypregnane glycosides were rapidly inferred from Dregea sinensis Hemsl on the basis of their sodium-cationized molecules [M + Na] + and predominant diagnostic ions resulting from the saccharic chain on C3 and the neutral loss of substituent on C11 and C12. Compounds 1 and 7 significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation in vitro .[Formula: see text].

Background: In December 2019, an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China. The characteristics of COVID-19 patients treated in local hospitals in Wuhan are not fully representative of patients outside Wuhan. Therefore, it is highly essential to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in areas outside Wuhan or Hubei Province. To date, a limited number of studies have concentrated on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with different genders, clinical classification, and with or without basic diseases., Aim: To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Hengyang (China) and provide a reliable reference for the prevention and control of COVID-19., Methods: From January 16 to March 2, 2020, a total of 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hengyang, and those cases were included in this study. The diagnostic criteria, clinical classification, and discharge standard related to COVID-19 were in line with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 7) released by National Health Commission and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in pharyngeal swab specimens was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. All the data were imported into the excel worksheet and statistically analyzed by using SPSS 25.0 software., Results: A total of 48 cases of COVID-19 were collected, of which 1 was mild, 38 were moderate, and 9 were severe. It was unveiled that there were 31 (64.6%) male patients and 17 (35.4%) female patients, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.82:1. The range of age of patients with COVID-19 was dominantly 30-49 years old [25 (52.1%) of 48], followed by those aged over 60 years old [11 (22.9%)]. Besides, 29.2% (14 of 48) of patients had basic diseases, and 57.2% (8 of 14) of patients with basic diseases were aged over 60 years old. The occupations of 48 COVID-19 patients were mainly farmers working in agricultural production [15 (31.5%) of 48], rural migrant workers from Hengyang to Wuhan [15 (31.5%)], and service workers operating in the service sector [8 (16.7%)]. The mean latent period was 6.86 ± 3.57 d, and the median was 7 [interquartile range (IQR): 4-9] d. The mean time from onset of symptoms to the first physician visit was 3.38 ± 2.98 (95%CI: 2.58-9.18) d, with a median of 2 (IQR: 1-5) d, and the mean time from hospital admission to confirmed diagnosis was 2.29 ± 2.11 (95%CI: 1.18-6.42) d, with a median of 2 (IQR: 1-3) d. The main symptoms were fever [43 (89.6%) of 48], cough and expectoration [41 (85.4%)], fatigue [22 (45.8%)], and chills [22 (45.8%)]. Other symptoms included poor appetite [13 (27.1%)], sore throat [9 (18.8%)], dyspnea [9 (18.8%)], diarrhea [7 (14.6%)], dizziness [5 (10.4%)], headache [5 (10.4%)], muscle pain [5 (10.4%)], nausea and vomiting [4 (8.3%)], hemoptysis [4 (8.3%)], and runny nose [1 (2.1%)]. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils were significantly reduced in the majority of the patients. The levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, blood glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), myoglobin (MB), and creatine kinase (CK) were increased in 64.6%, 44.7%, 43.2%, 37.0%, 29.5%, 22.9%,20.8%, 21.6%, 13.6%, and 12.8% of patients, respectively. The incidence of ALT elevation in male patients was remarkably higher than that in females ( P < 0.01), while the incidences of AST, CK, and blood glucose elevations in severe patients were remarkably higher than those in moderate patients ( P < 0.05, respectively). Except for the mild patients, chest computed tomography showed characteristic pulmonary lesions. All the patients received antiviral drugs, 38 (79.2%) accepted traditional Chinese medicine, and 2 (4.2%) received treatment of human umbilical-cord mesenchymal stem cells. On March 2, 2020, 48 patients with COVID-19 were all cured and discharged., Conclusion: Based on our results, patients with COVID-19 often have multiple organ dysfunction or damage. The incidences of ALT elevation in males, and AST, CK, and blood glucose elevations in severe patients are remarkably higher., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

The visualization of biological networks is critically important to aid researchers in understanding complex biological systems and arouses interest in designing efficient layout algorithms to draw biological networks according to their topology structures, especially for those networks with potential modules. The algorithms of grid layout series have an advantage in generating compact layouts with overlap-free nodes compared to force-directed; however, extant grid layout algorithms have difficulty in drawing modular networks and often generate layouts of high visual complexity when applied to networks with dense or clustered connectivity structure. To specifically assist the study of modular networks, we propose a grid- and modularity-based layout algorithm (GML) that consists of three stages: network preprocessing, module layout and grid optimization. The algorithm can draw complex biological networks with or without predefined modules based on the grid layout algorithm. It also outperforms other existing grid-based algorithms in the measurement of computation performance, ratio of edge-edge/node-edge crossings, relative edge lengths, and connectivity F-measures. GML helps users to gain insight into the network global characteristics through module layout, as well as to discern network details with grid optimization. GML has been developed as a VisANT plugin (https://hscz.github.io/Biological-Network-Visualization/) and is freely available to the research community., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are closely related to the age at which infection was acquired. Infection acquired in adult life tends to be self-limited, in contrast to perinatal acquirement, for which chronic persistence of the HBV is a general outcome. Innate immunity plays an indispensable role in early virus infection, facilitating virus clearance. However, it has been reported that HBV is under-recognized and poorly eliminated by the innate immune system in the early stages of infection, possibly explaining the long-lasting persistence of viremia afterwards. Furthermore, due to the existence of covalently closed circular DNA, chronic HBV clearance is very difficult, even when patients are given interferon-α and nucleotide/nucleoside analogs for antiviral therapy. The mechanism by which HBV evades innate immune recognition and establishes persistent infection remains a subject of debate. Besides, some researchers are becoming more interested in how to eradicate chronic HBV infection by restoring or boosting innate immunity. This review aimed to summarize the current knowledge on how intrahepatocyte signaling pathways and innate immune cells act after the onset of HBV infection and how these actions are related to the persistence of HBV. We anticipate the insights presented herein to be helpful for future development of novel immune therapeutic strategies to fight HBV infection., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Background: This study aims to explore the relationship between serum vitamin A and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) levels with pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in children with stable asthma., Methods: A total of 117 cases of children with stable asthma were assigned into the case group and 129 healthy children underwent physical examination during the same period into the control group. Electrochemiluminescence was employed to determine serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels. The children with stable asthma were further divided into the mild, moderate, and severe groups according to their degree of asthma. A pulmonary function meter was used to assess the pulmonary function indexes: percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/predictive value (FEV1%pred), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). The children's quality (QOL) of life with asthma was evaluated by their activities of daily living (ADLs) and Medical Research Council (MRC) scores. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlations of serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels with FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MVV, ADL, and MRC., Results: Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were lower in children with stable asthma than those who were in the control group (P < .05). The severe group showed the lowest FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MVV, and ADL scores, and the highest MRC score compared to the mild and moderate groups (all P < .05). Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were positively correlated with pulmonary function and ADL score in children with stable asthma, while serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were negatively correlated with MRC score (all P < .05). In the case group, serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were positively correlated with serum calcium and phosphorus levels (all P < .05)., Conclusion: These findings indicate that increased serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels reflect good pulmonary function and good QOL in children with stable asthma.

Six new C-21 steroidal glycosides (1-6) were separated from the root of Dregea sinensis Hemsl. and their structures were elucidated using extensive nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectral analyses. Isolated compounds were evaluated for antitumor activity, which showed that compound 3 had moderate activity in Jurkat cells (IC 50 19.54 ± 0.91 μM), and compounds 1-4 had significant effects against IL-2R and TNFR2 (IC 50 1.518 ± 0.06 μM to 5.9 ± 0.07 μM).

Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based scores such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in ulcerative colitis. In some previous serological markers are commonly used to detect the severity of the Crohn's disease (CD), but their sensitivity and specificity are relatively low. So we want to use simple indicators which are easy to obtain to predict disease severity. Now, we investigated and compared the capacity of NLR and other inflammatory markers in detecting CD activity and differentiating CD patients from healthy controls. These CD patients had not received corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs within a defined period of time. Data from our hospital between 2010 and 2012 was used. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cells (WBC), platelet count and albumin were measured in 44 patients with active CD, 66 patients with inactive CD, and 55 healthy blood donors. Disease activity was assessed by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index. In the active CD group, NLR values were found to be elevated compared to inactive CD patients and controls (6.00±7.38, 5.53±6.18 and 1.84±0.85, respectively), but statistical difference was not found between active and inactive CD groups. The overall accuracy of NLR (cutoff: 2.13 fl), CRP (cutoff: 10.5 mg/dl), ESR (cutoff: 19.5 mm/hour) and WBC (cutoff: 9.2 × 10(9)/l) in differentiating CD patients from healthy controls was 80.9%, 67.3%, 71% and 60% respectively. NLR values were found to be correlated with WBC and CRP levels. NLR increased in CD patients compared with healthy subjects. NLR had the best accuracy in determination of CD patients and healthy controls. NLR did not show a discriminative value in disease activity.

Thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common congenital cyst in the head and neck, which is defined usually occurring in children. However, intra-thyroid thyroglossal duct cyst in an adult is unusually found. Here we describe a case of a 45-year-old woman who was found neck mass along the midline for 5 years. During the surgery we found a separated nodule in the left inferior pole of the thyroid. Surprisingly the diagnosis of the nodule was confirmed by pathology and histological examination demonstrating that it was the thyroglossal duct cyst. Intra-thyroid thyroglossal duct cyst in an adult is a rare finding, with few cases reported. For it is generally thought that any thyroid tissue found in the lateral aspect of the neck may indicate metastatic deposits from well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Although pathogenesis of an alone thyroglossal duct cyst in the left inferior pole of the thyroid remains unknown, our case could suggest thyroglossal duct cyst should not be excluded in the differential diagnosis of lateral neck masses especially when it simulates nodules in the thyroid.

Two new C-21 steroidal glycosides, dregeosides D (1) and E (2), were isolated from the roots of Dregea sinensis. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-ESI-MS analysis. Finally, the inhibited effects of the isolated compounds on interleukin 2 receptor were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Dragon's blood is a bright red resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen (Yunnan, China). As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, it has great traditional medicinal value and is used for wound healing and to stop bleeding. Its main biological activity comes from phenolic compounds. In this study, phenolic compounds were made into dropping pills and their protective effects were examined by establishing focal cerebral ischemia rats model used method of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO), and by investigating indexes of neurological scores, infarct volume, cerebral index, cerebral water content and oxidation stress. Compared to model group, high, middle and low groups of Dragon's blood dropping pills could improve the neurological function significantly (p<0.01) and reduce cerebral infarct volume of focal cerebral ischemia rats remarkably (p<0.05-0.01). Meanwhile, each group could alleviate cerebral water content and cerebral index (p<0.05-0.01) and regulate oxidative stress of focal cerebral ischemia rats obviously (p<0.05-0.01). Activities of middle group corresponded with that treated with positive control drug. The results obtained here showed that Dragon's blood dropping pills had protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia rats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Dragon's blood is a bright red resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis. It is a traditional medicinal that is used for wound healing and to stop bleeding. Its main biological activity appears to be from phenolic compounds found in Dragon's blood. In this study, the radioprotective effects of Dragon's blood were examined after whole brain irradiation of rats with either 100 MeV/u Carbon (12)C(6+) heavy ions or (60)Co γ-rays. The amounts of radiation-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in irradiated rat brains were compared with and without Dragon's blood treatment. Compared to the "irradiation only" control group, the Dragon's blood treatment group significantly decreased malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels induced by oxidative stress in radiation exposed rats (P < 0.05). Dragon's blood also significantly reduced radiation-induced inflammatory cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and interleukin-6 levels (P < 0.05) and inhibited hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in (60)Co γ-ray irradiated rats. Furthermore, Dragon's blood significantly increased expression of brain-derived neurophic factor and inhibited the expression of pro-apoptotic caspase 3 (P < 0.05-0.01). Finally, Dragon's blood significantly inhibited expression of the AP-1 transcription factor family members c-fos and c-jun proteins (P < 0.05-0.01). The results obtained here suggest that Dragon's blood has radioprotective properties in rat brains after both heavy ions and (60)Co γ-ray exposure.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dragon's Blood from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen (Yunnan, China), as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, was shown to have certain antithrombotic effects. A new preparation process was used to extract effective components from Dragon's Blood. A 95% ethanol extract A (EA) and a precipitate B (PB) fraction were obtained and compared. Reliability of the preparation process was validated by pharmacodynamic experiments., Materials and Methods: A rat/mouse thrombosis and blood stasis model was developed for this study, and EA and PB effects on thrombosis, platelet functions and blood coagulation activities were analyzed., Results: It was observed that the EA fraction had significantly better inhibitory effects than the PB fraction on thrombosis (p<0.05), platelet aggregation function (p<0.01) and anticoagulation activity (p<0.05-0.01)., Conclusions: The results obtained here showed that EA fraction from Dragon's Blood contained pharmacologically effective compounds with antithrombotic effects, partially improving platelet function and anticoagulation activity., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In previous study, we demonstrated the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Belamcanda chinensis leaves in rats. Here, we separated the aqueous extract of B. chinensis leaves and investigated the spectrum-effect relationships between HPLC chromatograms and hypoglycemic activities of different isolates from B. chinensis leaf extract. Sequential solvent extraction with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetic ester and n-butanol provided several isolates showing similar hypoglycemic activities, making it difficult to discriminate the active fractions. Stepwise elution through HP20 macroporous resin by water, 40% and 95% ethanol provided isolates with distinct hypoglycemic activities, representing a simple, rapid and efficient preparative separation method. Combination of HPLC chromatogram and pharmacological effect targeted a hypoglycemic activity-related region in HPLC chromatogram. Each peak in this region was analyzed by UV spectrum scan. Most of them were flavonoids in which tectoridin and swertisin were known flavonoids with anti-diabetic activities. In together, this work provides a general model of combination of HPLC chromatography and pharmacological effect to study the spectrum-effect relationships of aqueous extract from B. chinensis leaves, which can be used to find principle components of B. chinensis on pharmacological activity., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Molecular imprinting as a promising and facile separation technique has received much attention because of their high selectivity for target molecules. In this study, the superparamagnetic lysozyme surface-imprinted polymer was prepared by a novel fabricating protocol, the grafting of the imprinted polymer on magnetic particles in aqueous media was done by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and the properties of the imprinted polymer were characterized in detail. Its high selective adsorption and recognition to lysozyme demonstrated the separation ability of the magnetic imprinted material to template molecule, and it has been used for quick and direct separation of lysozyme from the mixture of standard proteins and real egg white samples under an external magnetic field. Furthermore, the elution of lysozyme from the imprinted material was achieved by PEG/sulphate aqueous two-phase system, which caused lysozyme not only desorption from the imprinted materials but also redistribution in the top and bottom phase of aqueous two-phase system. The aqueous two-phase system exhibited some of the extraction and enrichment effect to desorbed lysozyme. Our results showed that ATRP is a promising method for the protein molecularly imprinted polymer preparation.

Objective: To study the suitable oxygen concentration in hypoxic preconditioning., Methods: Short-term and long-term intermittent hypoxia modes were designed and the effects of various oxygen concentrations on body weight, blood oxygen saturation, swimming capability were analyzed., Results: The rate of body weight gain in rat model decreased gradually when exposed to hypoxia environment for long time. When the concentration of oxygen changed from 15% to 8%, accompanied with the decreasing of oxygen concentration, a platform was observed in blood oxygen saturation of rat model after hypoxic preconditioning training. Rat swimming capability improved significantly. After trained in 10% hypoxia environment, the swimming capability of kunming mice improved obviously., Conclusion: Proper level of hypoxic preconditioning training could improve hypoxia tolerance and enhance the rat sport capability significantly. 15%-10% oxygen concentration range could be regarded as a helpful effective area for hypoxic preconditioning, 10% oxygen concentration might be the eligible concentration for hypoxic preconditioning training.

Objective: To study the flavonoids compounds from the effective fraction of Thesium chinese in anti-inflammation., Methods: The isolation and purification were carried out by many kinds of column chromatographic techniques. The flavonoids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and elucidated by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and ESI-MS., Results: Five compounds were obtained and therir structures were determined as kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (I), rutinoside (II), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (III), kaempferyl 5-methyl ether (IV), apigenin-5-O-neohesperidoside (V)., Conclusion: Compounds IV and V are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective: To evaluate the association of elevation in serum uric acid with the development of coronary artery disease, and to determine the relationship between uric acid and Glu(298) Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Chinese Han Nationality., Methods: The Glu(298) Asp variant of the eNOS gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 58 patients with ACS and 43 healthy controls. The severity of ACS was expressed by the number of affected vessels and by the Duke scoring system., Results: The frequencies of the eNOS Glu/Glu, Glu/Asp, and Asp/Asp genotypes in the ACS group were not significantly different from those of controls (43.1%, 36.2%, 20.7% vs. 48.8%, 34.9%, 16.3%, respectively; chi (2) = 0.446, P = 0.800). In comparison with subjects who had Glu(298) allele in the eNOS gene, the risk of ACS was not increased among Asp/Asp carriers (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.479 to 3.755, P = 0.575). There was no significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the Duke score [(46.73+/-19.90) score for Asp/Asp vs. (48.33+/-19.61) score and (38.19+/-15.12) score for Glu/Glu and Glu/Asp, respectively, P=0.248], but there was a significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the serum uric acid level in ACS group [(298.92+/-87.27) micromol/L for Glu/Glu vs.(380.80+/-95.80) micromol/L and (346.16+/-93.71) micromol/L for Glu/Asp and Asp/Asp, respectively, P = 0.017]., Conclusion: Glu(298) Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene appears to have no association with ACS in the Chinese Han Nationality, but a significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the serum uric acid level is found in patients with ACS.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of Cephalotaxus sinensis leaves and to identify the active components. The antihyperglycemic effect of various fractions (FA, FB, FC, FD) of the 80% ethanol extract of the leaves was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Among the tested fractions, FC was the most active. FC (0.48 g/kg) given orally for 10 d reduced significantly (p<0.001) the blood glucose of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The food and water intakes of FC (0.48 g/kg)-treated diabetic rats were reduced significantly (p<0.001) when compared to the 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-treated diabetic rats. The activity-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract of C. sinensis leaves furnished three flavonoid compounds, apigenin-5-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-6-O-beta-D-acetylglucopyranoside] (1), apigenin (2), and apigenin-5-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (3). The elevation of GLUT-4 protein level in membrane preparations from mice adipocytes was detected by Western blot analysis after adipocytes were pre-incubated with FC (0.1, 1, 10 mg/ml), apigenin (0.1, 2 mg/ml) and apigenin-5-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-6-O-beta-D-acetylglucopyranoside] (0.1, 2 mg/ml), respectively. Phytochemical investigation and HPLC-DAD analysis of FC indicated that the flavonoids were the major constituents in this fraction. These results suggest that the fraction from C. sinensis leaves is a promising drug for the treatment of diabetes, and that the flavonoids from this plant are the active constituents.

As it is now well-established that nitric oxide plays an important role in many physiological processes, there is a renewed interest in dinitrosyl-iron complexes (DNICs). The question concerning the electronic structure of DNICs circles around the formal oxidation states of the iron and nitric oxide of the Fe(NO)2 core. Previous infrared measurements of nu(NO) alone point out inconsistencies in assigning electron configurations and charges on metals, inherent from the measurement of one parameter external to the metal. This work represents the first experimental and theoretical attempt to assign vibrational modes for the {Fe(NO)2}9 core of DNICs. The following complexes are investigated, [PPN][S5Fe(NO)2] (1), [PPN][Se5Fe(NO)2] (2), [PPN][(SPh)2Fe(NO)2] (3), and [PPN][(SePh)2Fe(NO)2] (4). The analysis of isotopically edited Raman data together with normal coordinate calculation permitted assignment of nu(NO) and nu(Fe-NO) stretching and delta(Fe-N-O) bending modes in these complexes. The assignments proposed are the first ever reported for the DNICs; a comparison of nu(NO) and nu(Fe-NO) stretching frequencies in DNICs is now feasible. The Fe(NO)2 core electronic configuration in these complexes is described as {Fe1+(*NO)2}. Results from 1 and 3 have been complemented by density functional theory (DFT) frequency calculations. In addition to providing a reasonably correct account of the observed frequencies, DFT calculations also give a good account of the frequency shifts upon 15NO substitution providing the first link between DFT and Raman spectroscopies for DNICs. Through the use of a combination of NO intraligand and metal-ligand vibrational data for the Fe(NO)2 core, normal coordinate analysis gives a NO stretching force constant, which compared to molecular NO gas, is significantly reduced for all four complexes. The hybrid U-B3LYP/6-311++G(3d,2p) density functional method has been employed to analyze the molecular orbital compositions of predominantly NO orbitals based on the crystal structure of complex 1. The molecular orbital not only revealed the bonding nature of the {Fe(NO)2}9 core but also provided a qualitative correct account of the observed low NO vibrational frequencies. The calculation shows that the NO is involved in a strong donor bonding interaction with the Fe1+. This donor bonding interaction involves the 5sigma molecular orbital of the NO, which is sigma-bonding with respect to the intramolecular NO bond, and removal of electron density from this orbital destabilizes the NO bond. Though it is too ambiguous to extrapolate a nu(Fe-NO)/nu(NO) correlation line for {Fe(NO)2}9 DNICs based only on the data reported here, the feasibility of using a vibrational systematics diagram to extract the electron configurations and charges on metals is demonstrated based on the vibrational data available in the literature for iron-nitrosyl complexes. The data provided here can be used as a model for the determination of effective charges on iron and the bonding of nitric oxides to metals in DNICs.

Objective: To establish a determination method of astragulin in Thesium chinese., Method: RP-HPLC analytical method was established using a Polaris C18 column and acetonitrile-water (23:77) as the mobile phase, with a flow rate of 10 mL x min(-1), detected at 346 nm. The method of sample is refluxing exation by 50% alcohol for 2 times., Result: The content of astragulin was from 0. 120% to 0. 155%, in different groups of T. chinese collected from the same location., Conclusion: The method was validated to show convenient and reliable.

Obese gene (ob) is a novel gene cloned recently. The product of ob gene Leptin is an important signal reflecting body fat mass and controlling body weight. In this study the complete nucleotide sequences of porcine ob cDNA were identified, and the homology with ob genes from other species was also compared. The porcine fat cDNA was constructed based on lambda Uni-ZAP system. The primers designed on the consensus region of human and mouse ob gene were employed to perform PCR-screening of the cDNA library, and a 366 bp DNA fragment amplified from total RNA of pig fat cells was used to confirm positives as a hybridization probe. The complete ob cDNA with 3277 bp in length was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequences of ob genes between different species were very conservative. The overall identity of ob nucleotide sequences was 88.5% between pig and human, 84.7% between pig and mouse. The homology of ob amino acid sequences was 86.0% between pig and human. 83.4% between pig and mouse. The result of RT-PCR for transcripts detection of pig ob gene indicate that ob gene was expressed not only mainly in adipose tissue but also slightly in other tissues such as kidney, liver, spleen, heart and muscle, which imply that expression nature of pig ob gene is different from that of human and mouse ob gene.