Laminar Distribution of Neurochemically-Identified Interneurons and Cellular Co-expression of Molecular Markers in Epileptic Human Cortex / 神经科学通报·英文版

Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are fundamental elements of cortical circuits and play critical roles in shaping network activity. Dysfunction of interneurons can lead to various brain disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Based on the electrophysiological properties, cell morphology, and molecular identity, interneurons could be classified into various subgroups. In this study, we investigated the density and laminar distribution of different interneuron types and the co-expression of molecular markers in epileptic human cortex. We found that parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) neurons were distributed in all cortical layers except layer I, while tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were abundant in the deep layers and white matter. Cholecystokinin (CCK) neurons showed a high density in layers IV and VI. Neurons with these markers constituted ~7.2% (PV), 2.6% (SST), 0.5% (TH), 0.5% (NPY), and 4.4% (CCK) of the gray-matter neuron population. Double- and triple-labeling revealed that NPY neurons were also SST-immunoreactive (97.7%), and TH neurons were more likely to express SST (34.2%) than PV (14.6%). A subpopulation of CCK neurons (28.0%) also expressed PV, but none contained SST. Together, these results revealed the density and distribution patterns of different interneuron populations and the overlap between molecular markers in epileptic human cortex.

Prediction of protein subcellular locations by ensemble of improved K-nearest neighbor / 生物工程学报

Adaboost algorithm with improved K-nearest neighbor classifiers is proposed to predict protein subcellular locations. Improved K-nearest neighbor classifier uses three sequence feature vectors including amino acid composition, dipeptide and pseudo amino acid composition of protein sequence. K-nearest neighbor uses Blast in classification stage. The overall success rates by the jackknife test on two data sets of CH317 and Gram1253 are 92.4% and 93.1%. Adaboost algorithm with the novel K-nearest neighbor improved by Blast is an effective method for predicting subcellular locations of proteins.

Comparison of the Effects on Angiogenesis Activity between Whitmania Pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria Manillensis Lesson Based on a Zebrafish Model / 中国药师

Objective:To investigate and compare the effects of water extracts of Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria ma-nillensis Lesson on the angiogenesis of Tg (kdrl:mCherry) zebrafish. Methods:The zebrafish embryos 6-8 hours after fertilization (6-8hpf) were transferred to the culture medium containing Whitmania pigra Whitman or Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson extract at different concentrations, and the culture medium containing the drugs was replaced every 24 h. And then, at 72 hpf, the larvalmorphology and intersegmental vessels were observed under a microscope. The hatchability of 48-and 72-hpf embryos, and the number of intersegmen-tal vessels and the heart rate of 72-hpf juveniles were measured. Results:Compared with the control group, when the concentration of Whitmania pigra Whitmanis was higher than 30μg· ml-1 , and the concentration of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson was higher than 20μg· ml-1, the number of intersegmental vessels was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Compared with the control group, at 48 hpf, when the concentration of the drug groups was higher than 40 μg· ml-1 , the hatchability of the two groups significantly decreased ( P<0. 01);at 72 hpf, the hatchability of Whitmania pigra Whitman decreased significantly at the concentration of 100 μg·ml-1 (P<0.01), while the hatchability of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson decreased significantly at the concentration of 80 μg· ml-1(P <0. 01). There was no obvious yolk sac edema, pericardial edema and spine curvature in the two groups. The heart rate decreased sig-nificantly (P<0. 01), while was still within the normal range. Conclusion:Both Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria manillen-sis Lesson have notable anti-angiogenic activity, and the anti-angiogenesis activity of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson is stronger. They both have effects on the development of zebrafish embryos, while the toxicity is not obvious.

Comparative Studies on Anti-thrombin Activity and Anticoagulant Mechanism between Whitmania Pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria Manillensis / 中国药师

Objective:To compare the anti-thrombin activity and the effects on the coagulation pathway between Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria manillensis to provide scientific reference for the anticoagulation mechanism revelation for Hirudo. Methods:Anti-thrombin titration and chromogenic substrate assay-extraction-HPLC were applied to study the anti-thrombin activity of Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria manillensis. APTT, PT and TT were determined by a clotting assay to compare the effects on the path-way of blood clotting. Results:The anticoagulation activity order measured by anti-thrombin titration was living Hirudinaria manillensis> dried Hirudinaria manillensis > > dried Whitmania pigra Whitman. The results of chromogenic substrate assay-extraction-HPLC in-dicated that the low dose of aqueous extract promoted the thrombin activity, while the high dose inhibited the thrombin activity. Hirudi-naria manillensis significantly inhibited the activity of thrombin, while Whitmania pigra Whitman showed weak anti-thrombin activity only at the higher dose. All leeches could prolong APTT, PT and TT. However, living Hirudinaria manillensis mainly affected TT, and dried Hirudinaria manillensis mainly affected APTT. Dried Whitmania pigra Whitman dramatically influenced APTT and TT. All the results indicated that the anticoagulant activity of Whitmania pigra Whitmanis was significantly higher than that of Hirudinaria manillen-sis. Conclusion:There are notable differences in the anti-thrombin activity and the effect on the pathway of blood clotting between Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria manillensis.

Study on Enantiomer Separation for Atropine by Capillary Electrophoresis / 中国药师

Objective:To investigate the enantiomer separation for atropine by capillary electrophoresis .Methods:Capillary elec-trophoresis was used with an elastic quartz capillary column (60 cm ×75 mm, effective length of 40 cm).The concentration of phos-phate buffer was 30 mmol· L-1 .The high and time of injection was 10 cm and 5 s, respectively.The detection wavelength was 225 nm.The best separation conditions were selected including the type and concentration of chiral resolving agent , pH of the buffer solu-tion, operating voltage and organic solvent.Results:The optimum conditions of separation were as follows:the pH of buffer solution was 7.0, the concentration of S-β-CDP was 10 mg· ml-1 , and the operating voltage was 12 kV.Conclusion: The method is simple and fast, which can be used to se parate the optical isomers of atrpo ine.

Separation of Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine by Capillary Electrophoresis / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To establish a capillary electrophoresis method to separate ephedrine and psedudoephedrine. Methods RM-β-CD and HP-β-CD were set as additives. A capillary electrophoresis method was set up. The effects of types and concentrations of additives, the concentrations and pH values of buffered solution, running voltage and organic solvent on the separation of ephedrine and psedudoephedrine were investigated.Results Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine could be successfully separated by using either RM-β-CD or HP-β-CD as additives. When RM-β-CD was used as additive, the best separation conditions were as follows: separation voltage 10 kV, 25 mmol/L Tris-H3PO4 (pH 2.42), 20 mg/mL of RM-β-CD. Under the conditions, the resolution of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine was 1.56 and they were separated successfully within 13 min. When HP-β-CD was used as additive, the best separation conditions were as follows: separation voltage 10 kV, 25 mmol/L Tris-H3PO4 (pH 3.00), 50 mg/mL of HP-β-CD. Under the conditions, the resolution of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine was 2.73 and they were separated successfully within 15 min.ConclusionThis method is reliable, rapid and repeatable. It can be used as separation determination method for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Content Determination of Hyodeoxycholic Acid in Artificial Calculus Bovis by Pre-Column Derivatization HPLC-UV Method / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To establish a pre-column derivation HPLC-UV method for the content determination of hyodeoxycholic acid in artificial calculus bovis. Methods The hyodeoxycholic acid was derived by 2-bromo-2’-acetonaphthoneat using triethylamine as the catalyst in 60 ℃ water bath. After that, a HPLC-UV method was established to determine the content of hyodeoxycholic acid in artificial calculus bovis. Results When the derivatising time at 60 ℃ water bath was 50 min, the radio of the molar amount of derived reagents and hyodeoxycholic was over 20:1 and the radio of catalyst and hyodeoxycholic was over 15:1; the reaction was completed. The calibration curve was linear within the range of 0.1–2 μg for hyodeoxycholic acid (r=0.999 7), and the average recovery was 97.85% (RSD=1.6%). In this sample, the content of hyodeoxycholic is 4.12%. Conclusion The method is with high sensitivity, highly reproducible, reliable and accurate for the content determination of hyodeoxycholic acid in artificial calculus bovis.