Phytochelatin-Mediated Cultivar-Dependent Cd Accumulations of Lactuca sativa and Implication for Cd Pollution-Safe Cultivars Screening.

Cd pollution-safe cultivar (Cd-PSC) is a feasible strategy to minimize Cd contamination in leafy vegetables. The shoot Cd concentrations of 23 Lactuca sativa cultivars under Cd stress ranged from 0.124 to 2.155 mg·kg-1 with a maximum cultivar difference of 8 folds. Typical Cd-PSC C16 (L) and high-Cd-accumulating cultivar C13 (H) were screened to investigate the mechanisms of Cd accumulations in L. sativa through determining Cd concentrations, Cd subcellular distributions, phytochelatin profiles, and phytochelatin biosynthesis-related genes' expressions. Higher Cd distribution in a heat stable fraction in C13 (H) indicated that the high Cd accumulation trait of C13 (H) mainly depended on the Cd-phytochelatin complexes. Root phytochelatin concentrations were significantly elevated in C13 (H) (5.83 folds) than in C16 (L) (2.69 folds) (p < 0.05) under Cd stress. Significantly downregulated expressions of glutathione S-transferase rather than the regulation of phytochelatin synthesis genes in the root of C13 (H) might be responsible for sufficient glutathione supply for phytochelatins synthesis. These findings suggested that phytochelatin elevation in C13 (H) would favor the Cd root to shoot transportation, which provides new insights into the phytochelatin-related cultivar-dependent Cd accumulating characteristic in L. sativa.

Walnut Protein Peptides Ameliorate DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Damage in Mice: An in Silico Analysis and in Vivo Investigation.

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a food with food-medicine homology, whose derived protein peptides have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. However, the effects and mechanisms of walnut protein peptides on ulcerative colitis (UC) in vivo have not been systematically and thoroughly investigated. In this study, we applied virtual screening and network pharmacology screening of bioactive peptides to obtain three novel WPPs (SHTLP, HYNLN, and LGTYP) that may alleviate UC through TLR4-MAPK signaling. In vivo studies have shown that WPPs improve intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction and reduce inflammation by inhibiting activation of the TLR4-MAPK pathway. In addition, WPPs restore intestinal microbial homeostasis by reducing harmful bacteria (Helicobacter and Bacteroides) and increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Candidatus_Saccharimonas). Our study showed that the WPPs obtained by virtual screening were effective in ameliorating colitis, which has important implications for future screening of bioactive peptides from medicinal food homologues as drugs or dietary supplements.

Stage III deficient mismatch repair colon patients get greater benefit from earlier starting oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen.

We evaluate the prognostic value of chemotherapy and other prognostic factors on overall survival among colon patients with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR), and determine the optimum time to start chemotherapy after surgery. Data of 306 colon cancer patients with dMMR who received radical surgery were collected from three Chinese centers between August 2012 and January 2018. Overall survival (OS) was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank. Cox regression analysis were used to assess influencing prognosis factors. The median follow-up time for all patients was 45.0 months (range, 1.0-100). There was a nonsignificant OS benefit from chemotherapy for patients with stage I and stage II disease, including high-risk stage II disease (log-rank p: 0.386, 0.779, 0.921), and a significant OS benefit for patients with stage III and stage IV disease for receiving post-operation chemotherapy (log-rank p = 0.002, 0.019). Stage III patients benefitted from chemotherapy regimens that contained oxaliplatin (log-rank p = 0.004), and Starting chemotherapy with oxaliplatin treatment earlier resulted in better outcomes (95% CI 0.013-0.857; p = 0.035). Chemotherapy regimens containing oxaliplatin can prolong the survival time of stage III and IV dMMR colon cancer patients. This beneficial manifestation was more pronounced after starting chemotherapy treatment early post operation. High risk stage II dMMR colon patients including T4N0M0 cannot benefit from chemotherapy.

[Effect of acupotomy intervention on the expressions of proteoglycans in lumbar intervertebral disc of rabbits with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupotomy intervention on the expressions of biglycan(BGN), decorin(DCN) and Caspase-3 in lumbar intervertebral disc of rabbits with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (LIDD), so as to explore its possible mechanism in relieving LIDD. METHODS: Thirty male Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into normal, model and acupotomy groups, with 10 rabbits in each group. The LIDD model was established by axial compression method, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to judge whether the model was successful or not. After modeling, the acupotomy was applied to lumbar (L)4-L5 spinous process space and bilateral transverse processes for loosening, twice a week for 4 weeks. The structural changes of L4-L5 intervertebral disc were observed by MRI. The morphological changes of lumbar spine were observed by HE staining. The expression of Caspase-3 in nucleus pulposus was observed by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expressions of DCN and BGN in intervertebral disc were detected by Western blot, separatively. RESULTS: After mode-ling, the rabbits showed slow movement, stiff back muscles with cords or nodules, the fibrous ring structure of lumbar intervertebral disc was disordered, the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced, and the signal intensity of L4-L5 intervertebral disc was decreased in the model group relevant to the normal group. At the same time, the expression of Caspase-3 in nucleus pulposus was increased significantly (P<0.05), and the expression levels of DCN and BGN in intervertebral disc were decreased significantly (P<0.05). After acupotomy treatment, the modeling induced slow movement, stiff back muscles and disordered structure of lumbar intervertebral disc were significantly improved. The number of nucleus pulposus cells was increased, the signal intensity of L4-L5 intervertebral disc was enhanced, the expression of Caspase-3 in nucleus pulposus was decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the expression levels of DCN and BGN in intervertebral disc were increased significantly (P<0.05) compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: Acupotomy intervention can inhibit cell apoptosis, reduce the degradation of extracellular matrix in nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc, and restore the normal force balance and dynamic balance of lumbar spine, which may be one of its mechanisms underlying improving LIDD.

Effects of deficient mismatch repair on the prognosis of patients with stage II and stage III colon cancer during different postoperative periods.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prognostic role of deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) systems in stage II and stage III colon cancer patients during different postoperative periods. We also assessed whether patients aged ≥75 could benefit from chemotherapy. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted across three medical centers in China. Kaplan-Meier survival methods and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce imbalances in the baseline characteristics of the patients. Landmark analysis was performed to evaluate the role of dMMR during different postoperative periods. RESULTS: The median follow-up time for all patients was 45.0 months (25-75 IQR: 38.0-82.5). There was no significant OS (p = 0.350) or DFS (p = 0.752) benefit associated with dMMR for stage II and III patients during the first postoperative year. However, significant OS (p < 0.001) and DFS (p < 0.001) benefits were observed from the second postoperative year until the end of follow-up. These differences remained after propensity score matching. Moreover, chemotherapy produced no OS (HR = 0.761, 95% CI: 0.43-1.34, p = 0.341) or DFS (HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.51-1.88, p = 0.961) benefit for patients aged ≥75 years. CONCLUSION: The benefits of dMMR in stage III patients were observed from the second postoperative year until the end of follow-up. However, the prognosis of patients with dMMR is not different from that of patients with proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) during the first postoperative year. In addition, elderly patients aged ≥75 years obtained no significant survival benefits from postoperative chemotherapy.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Spiraea japonica var. acuminata Franch. (Rosaceae).

Spirea japonica var. acuminata Franch. (Rosaceae) is a Chinese herbal medicine distributed in southwest and east China. The first complete chloroplast genome of Spirea japonica var. acuminata Franch. was assembled and reported in this study. The genome is 153,822 bp in length and contained 125 encoded genes in total, including 80 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 37 transfer RNA genes. The phylogenomic analysis showed that Spirea japonica var. acuminata Franch. was closely related to Spirea blumei, Spirea trilobata, Spirea mongolica and Spirea insularis according to the current sampling extent.

[Effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress and apoptosis-related proteins in obese mice induced by high-fat diet].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress and apoptosis-related proteins of liver in obese mice induced by high-fat diet. METHODS: A total of 45 male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into a control group (10 mice) and a model established group (35 mice). Mice in the model established group were fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish the obesity model. After model established, 30 mice were randomized into a model group, a non-acupoint group and an acupoint group, 10 mice in each one. Acupuncture was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), " Zusanli" (ST 36), "Yishu" (EX-B 3) in the acupoint group and the points of 0.5 cm and 1 cm to the base of tail in the non-acupoint group, 15 min each time, once a day for 8 weeks. Mice in the control group were fed with normal diet, while mice in the other 3 groups were fed with high-fat diet continuously for 8 weeks. The body weight was measured at 0, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th week in each group respectively. After 24-week intervention, the weight of white adipose tissue of epididymis and perirenal and liver was measured; the levels of serum alanine transaminase(ALT) and glutamic oxaloacetic aminotransferase (AST) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; liver homogenate was used to detect the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD); the liver morphology was observed by HE staining; the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight of mice in the model group, the acupoint group and the non-acupoint group was decreased on 16th week into experiment (before intervention, P<0.05); compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group, the body weight of mice in the acupoint group were decreased after intervention (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the weight of white adipose tissue and liver, the levels of serum ALT and AST, the level of liver MDA, the expression of liver Bax were increased (P<0.05); the activity of liver SOD and the expression of liver Bcl-2 were decreased in the model group after intervention (P<0.05). Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group, the weight of white adipose tissue and liver, the levels of serum ALT and AST, the level of liver MDA, the expression of liver Bax were decreased (P<0.05); the activity of liver SOD and the expression of liver Bcl-2 were increased in the acupoint group after intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yishu"(EX-B 3) can improve obesity and obesity related hepatic disorder by regulating oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis in liver.

Research "recover from illness defense complex" helper T cell immune mechanisms based on the "Fuxie" theory clearing away heat evil thoroughly nourishing kidney treatment of recurrent blood-heat syndrome Psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic, painful, disfiguring, and disabling dermatological disease, which affects the physical and mental health of patients and impacts their quality of life. Current conventional systemic therapies can be costly, present risks of side effects, have limited efficacy and commonly recur following treatment cessation. Some Chinese herbal medicine therapies have shown therapeutic benefits for psoriasis vulgaris, including relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, and a potential of reducing relapse rate. However, explicit evidence has not yet been obtained. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a pilot randomized controlled trial with the objective of investigating the effect of Jia Wei Liang Xue Xiao Feng San granules on relapse rate of recurrent PV and the correlation between Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and key psoriasis-related cytokine changes and the number of cells. A total of 102 participants were recruited for this study, including 72 patients with recurrent PV, 15 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who have recovered for more than 1 year. A total of 72 patients, with recurrent PV, will be randomized (1:1) to receive the oral Chinese herbal medicine Jia Wei Liang Xue Xiao Feng San or the oral Acitretin Capsule treatments for a period of 8 weeks. After this period, participants whose PASI scores improvement reached more than 75%, will undergo a 52-week follow-up phase.The primary outcome measures are as follows:The secondary study outcomes will include:This trial may provide a novel regimen for recurrent PV patients if the granules decrease recurrence rate without further adverse effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics approval was provided by the Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine regional ethics review committee. The ethics approval number is 2018KL-055. The design and the results of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900022766).

The Protective Effect of Vanadium on Cognitive Impairment and the Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease in APPSwe/PS1dE9 Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widely distributed neurodegenerative disease characterized clinically by cognitive deficits and pathologically by formation of amyloid-ß (Aß) plaque and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Vanadium is a biological trace element that has a function to mimic insulin for diabetes. Bis(ethylmaltolato) oxidovanadium (IV) (BEOV) has been reported to have a hypoglycemic property, but its effect on AD remains unclear. In this study, BEOV was supplemented at doses of 0.2 and 1.0 mmol/L to the AD model mice APPSwe/PS1dE9 for 3 months. The results showed that BEOV substantially ameliorated glucose metabolic disorder as well as synaptic and behavioral deficits of the AD mice. Further investigation revealed that BEOV significantly reduced Aß generation by increasing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and insulin-degrading enzyme and by decreasing ß-secretase 1 in the hippocampus and cortex of AD mice. BEOV also reduced tau hyperphosphorylation by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B and regulating the pathway of insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta. Furthermore, BEOV could enhance autophagolysosomal fusion and restore autophagic flux to increase the clearance of Aß deposits and phosphorylated tau in the brains of AD mice. Collectively, the present study provides solid data for revealing the function and mechanism of BEOV on AD pathology.

Therapeutic effects of moxibustion simultaneously targeting Nrf2 and NF-κB in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Moxibustion is the main alternative medicine treatment that has been beneficial to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication secondary to diabetic microvascular injury. However, the underlying protective mechanism of moxibustion against neuroinflammation remains unclear. We hypothesized that moxibustion treats DPN by regulating the balance of nuclear factor-2 erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-nuclear factor-kappa light chain enhancer of B cells (NF-кB). In vivo, diabetes was induced in rats by injecting streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg; i.p.). Moxibustion was then applied to "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Guanyuan" (BL 26), and "Yishu" (EX-B 3) acupuncture points. Nerve conduction was detected. Serum interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NF-κB and Nrf2 proteins were examined through immunoblot analysis. The mRNA of NF-κB and Nrf2 was evaluated through RT-PCR. We found that the conduction velocity and amplitude of the action potentials of sciatic nerve conduction were reduced in the DPN model group but were rescued by moxibustion treatment. Moxibustion also improved the effect of DPN on other parameters, including ultrastructural changes, NF-κB and Nrf2 expression in the sciatic nerve, and serum IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 levels. Our data suggested that moxibustion may alleviate neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and by activating Nrf2. Moxibustion may also provide therapeutic effects for patients with DPN by simultaneously targeting Nrf2 and NF-κB.

Anti-inflammatory effect of external use of escin on cutaneous inflammation: possible involvement of glucocorticoids receptor.

Escin, as an internally applied anti-inflammatory agent, has been widely used in the treatment of inflammation and edema resulting from trauma or operation in the clinic. However, the effect of its external use on cutaneous inflammation and edema remains unexplored. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects of external use of escin were studied in carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced capillary permeability in rats, paraxylene-induced ear swelling in mice, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. Effects of external use of escin gel on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were determined by ELISA. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored by detecting the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with Western blotting and Real-time PCR analyses, with further exploration of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions. We demonstrated that external use of escin showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on acute and chronic inflammation in different animal models and its anti-inflammatory effects might be related to down-regulation of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1ß. The results also showed that escin exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the expression of GR, with the possible mechanism being inhibition of the expressions of GR-related signaling molecules such as NF-κB and AP-1.

[Effect of acupuncture on macrophage polarization of white adipose tissue in obese mice induced by high-fat diet].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at acupoints and non-acupoints on macrophage polarization of white adipose tissue in obese mice induced by high-fat diet(HFD). METHODS: Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), and other mice were fed with HFD for 16 weeks to establish model. Thirty model mice, which were successfully established and continuously fed with HFD for 8 weeks, were randomized into a model group, a non-acupoint group and an acupuncture group (n=10/group). The mice in the control group were continuously fed with common food for 8 weeks. From the second day after model established, the mice of the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3); the mice of the non-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at two non-acupoints in tail, 15 min a time, once a day for 8 weeks. After model establishment and on the second day after the last acupuncture treatment, the body weight was recorded. The level of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) in eye socket blood were measured. The morphological structure of epididymis white adipose tissue (eWAT) in mice was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The mRNA expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS), CD206 in eWAT of mice were determined with real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The protein expressions of iNOS and CD206 in eWAT were determined with immunohistochemistry staining (IHC). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight in the model, non-acupoint and acupuncture groups increased at the 16th and 24th weeks (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the body weight of the acupuncture group at the 24th week decreased (P<0.05). The serum TG and TC in the model group increased compared with those of the control group (both P<0.05). The TC in the non-acupoint group decreased (P<0.05), and the TG and TC in the acupuncture group decreased compared with those in the model group (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA expressions of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS in the model and non-acupoint groups increased compared with those in the control group (all P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of IL-10 and CD206 decreased (all P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05), and the mRNA expressions of IL-10 and CD206 were higher (both P<0.05). HE staining showed alveolate adipose tissue in the control group with numbers of unilocular adipose cells, vacuolar polygon or circle. The adipose cells in the model group were larger and irregular with larger intercellular space. The adipose cells in the acupuncture group were minified with smaller intercellular space. Compared with those in the control group, the protein expressions of iNOS increased (both P<0.05) and those of CD206 decreased (both P<0.05) in the model and non-acupoint groups. Compared with those in the model group, the protein expression of iNOS decreased (P<0.05) and that of CD206 increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve inflammation of obese mice through affecting macrophage polarization of white adipose tissue.

Effects of Weipixiao (胃痞消) on Wnt pathway-associated proteins in gastric mucosal epithelial cells from rats with gastric precancerous lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Weipixiao (胃痞消, WPX) on Wnt pathway-associated proteins in gastric mucosal epithelial cells from rats with gastric precancerous lesions (GPL). METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, vitacoenzyme (0.2 g·kg(-1)·day(-1)), WPX high-dose (H-WPX, 15 g·kg(-1)·day(-1)), WPX medium-dose (M-WPX, 7.5 g·kg(-1)·day(-1)) and WPX low-dose (L-WPX, 3.75 g·kg(-1)·day(-1)) groups. After successfully establishing the GPL model, the rats were consecutively administered WPX or vitacoenzyme by gastrogavage for 10 weeks. Differential expression of Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-proteincoupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), Wnt1, Wnt3a, and ß-catenin in gastric mucosal epithelial cells in all groups were immunohistochemically detected, and the images were taken and analyzed semiquantitatively by image pro plus 6.0 software. RESULTS: Gastric epithelium in the model group showed significantly higher expression levels of Lgr5, MMP-7, Wnt1, Wnt3a and ß-catenin than those of the control group(P<0.01). Interestingly, we also observed Lgr5+ cells, which generally located at the base of the gastric glandular unit, migrated to the luminal side of gastric epithelium with GPL. The expression levels of Lgr5, MMP-7, Wnt1, and ß-catenin were all down-regulated in the L-WPX group as compared with those of both model and vitacoenzyme groups (P<0.05). A similar, but nonsignificant down-regulation in expression level of Wnt3a was noted in all WPX groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the therapeutic mechanisms of WPX in treating GPL might be related with its inhibitory effects on the expressions of Lgr5, MMP-7, Wnt1, ß-catenin and the aberrant activation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

CO2 Fixation, Lipid Production, and Power Generation by a Novel Air-Lift-Type Microbial Carbon Capture Cell System.

An air-lift-type microbial carbon capture cell (ALMCC) was constructed for the first time by using an air-lift-type photobioreactor as the cathode chamber. The performance of ALMCC in fixing high concentration of CO2, producing energy (power and biodiesel), and removing COD together with nutrients was investigated and compared with the traditional microbial carbon capture cell (MCC) and air-lift-type photobioreactor (ALP). The ALMCC system produced a maximum power density of 972.5 mW·m(-3) and removed 86.69% of COD, 70.52% of ammonium nitrogen, and 69.24% of phosphorus, which indicate that ALMCC performed better than MCC in terms of power generation and wastewater treatment efficiency. Besides, ALMCC demonstrated 9.98- and 1.88-fold increases over ALP and MCC in the CO2 fixation rate, respectively. Similarly, the ALMCC significantly presented a higher lipid productivity compared to those control reactors. More importantly, the preliminary analysis of energy balance suggested that the net energy of the ALMCC system was significantly superior to other systems and could theoretically produce enough energy to cover its consumption. In this work, the established ALMCC system simultaneously achieved the high level of CO2 fixation, energy recycle, and municipal wastewater treatment effectively and efficiently.

Efficient counter-current chromatographic isolation and structural identification of two new cinnamic acids from Echinacea purpurea.

Two new cinnamic acids, 2-O-caffeoyl-3-O-isoferuloyltartaric (3), and 2, 3-di-O-isoferuloyltartaric acid (5), along with three known caffeic acids, cichoric acid (1), 2-O-caffeoyl-3-O-feruloyltartaric acid (2) and 2-O-caffeoyl-3-O-p-coumaroyltartaric acid (4), have been successfully isolated and purified from Echinacea purpurea. In this study, we investigated an efficient method for the preparative isolation and purification of cinnamic acids from E. purpurea by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The separation was performed using a two-phase solvent composed of n-hexane-ethyl-acetate-methanol-0.5% aqueous acetic acid (1:3:1:4, v/v). The upper phase was used as the stationary phase and the lower phase as the mobile phase, with a flow rate of 1.6 mL/min. From 250 mg of crude extracts, 65.1 mg of 1, 8.3 mg of 2, 4.0 mg of 3, 4.5 mg of 4, and 4.3 mg of 5 were isolated in one-step, with purities of 98.5%, 97.7%, 94.6%, 94.3%, and 98.6%, respectively, as evaluated by HPLC-DAD. The chemical structures were identified by electro spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra. HSCCC was very efficient for the separation and purification of the cinnamic acids from

[Effects of snow cover on the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of Sibiraea angustata leaf litter in western Sichuan plateau, Southwest China].

Soil-borne bag method was adopted to study the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of Sibiraea angustata leaf litter under different depths (0, 30 and 100 cm) of snow cover in western Sichuan plateau in January-May, 2010. In snow-free plot, the mass loss rate of the litter over the five months was 29.9%; in the plots with 30 and 100 cm snow cover, the litter mass loss rate was 33.8% and 35.2%, respectively. During the decomposition, definite N enrichment in the litter was observed, while the P enrichment fluctuated. The C content and C/N ratio of the litter decreased sharply at the early stage of decomposition, but increased gradually after then. Snow cover greatly contributed to the rapid decomposition of litter and the N enrichment in the litter, but had little effects on the litter C and P contents. In western Sichuan plateau, durable snow cover with a depth of > 30 cm could alter the litter decomposition pattern, and substantially affect the soil nutrient turnover and plant community composition.

Protective effects of scutellarin against cerebral ischemia in rats: evidence for inhibition of the apoptosis-inducing factor pathway.

Scutellarin (Scu) is the major active principle (flavonoid) extracted from Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz, a Chinese herbal medicine. In this paper, we investigated the effects of Scu on brain injury through the inhibition of AIF-mediated apoptosis induced by transient focal brain ischemia in rats. Rats were treated with Scu for 7 d and then subjected to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 2 h of ischemia and 22 h of reperfusion, the infarct volume and the neurological deficit were determined by TTC staining and Longa's score. IN SITU end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragments (TUNEL) was employed to determine the degree of DNA fragmentation. NAD content and PARP activity in brain homogenate were determined. The expression of AIF in the nucleus was analyzed by Western blot. The present study showed that Scu significantly reduced the infarct volume and ameliorated the neurological deficit. An increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and a decrease in the NAD level were also observed after 2 h of ischemia and 22 h of reperfusion. At the same time, Scu (50 and 75 mg kg (-1), i. g.) treatment reversed brain NAD depletion and reduced DNA fragmentation. Scu also inhibited PARP overactivation and AIF translocation from the mitochondria to the nucleus following cerebral I/R. These findings suggested that the neuroprotective effects of Scu on brain ischemic injury-induced apoptosis might be associated with inhibition of PARP-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent translocation of AIF.

Neuroprotective effects of scutellarin on rat neuronal damage induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect and mechanisms of scutellarin, a flavonoid extracted from Erigeron breviscapus Hand Mazz, against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS: Rats were pretreated ig with scutellarin for 7 d and then subjected to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The infarct volume and neurological deficit were determined by TTC staining and Longa's score. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was evaluated by measurement of the Evans blue (EB) content in the brain with a spectrophotometer. The total NOx content was determined. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms (iNOS, eNOS, nNOS) and the key angiogenic molecules, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Scutellarin significantly reduced infarct volume (P<0.05 or P<0.01), ameliorated the neurological deficit and reduced the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (P<0.05). When rats were pretreated with scutellarin (50 or 75 mg/kg), upregulation of eNOS expression and downregulation of VEGF, bFGF, and iNOS expression was observed, whereas scutellarin had no effect on nNOS expression. CONCLUSION: Scutellarin has protective effects for cerebral injury through regulating the expression of NOS isoforms and angiogenic molecules.

[Establishment and biological characteristics of orthotopic transplantation tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of the establishment of the orthotopic transplantation tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice and its tumor biological characteristics. METHODS: H22 cells of hepatocellular carcinoma were inoculated to form ectopic transplanted model in mice by subcutaneous injection. Then the subcutaneous tumors were implanted into the liver of mice, and the orthotopic transplantation tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma was established. RESULTS: The successful rate of the orthotopic transplantation tumor model was 95.6% and the spontaneous metastatic rate was 81.8%, the rate of mass ascites was 40.9% and the natural extinctive rate was 0%. The natural survival time in the orthotopic transplantation tumor model was 28 days and the proliferation of tumor in transplanted model was accelerated after 2 weeks or so. CONCLUSION: The orthotopic transplantation tumor model in mice is an ideal model for studying the metastatic mechanism and screening anti-tumor drugs for liver cancer, just because of its high successful rate and high spontaneous metastatic rate with no natural extinction.