VAMP726 from maize and Arabidopsis confers pollen resistance to heat and UV radiation by influencing lignin content of sporopollenin.

Sporopollenin in the pollen cell wall protects male gametophytes from stresses. Phenylpropanoid derivatives, including guaiacyl (G) lignin units, are known to be structural components of sporopollenin, but the exact composition of sporopollenin remains to be fully resolved. We analyzed the phenylpropanoid derivatives in sporopollenin from maize and Arabidopsis by thioacidolysis coupled with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The NMR and GC-MS results confirmed the presence of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), G, and syringyl (S) lignin units in sporopollenin from maize and Arabidopsis. Strikingly, H units account for the majority of lignin monomers in sporopollenin from these species. We next performed a genome-wide association study to explore the genetic basis of maize sporopollenin composition and identified a vesicle-associated membrane protein (ZmVAMP726) that is strongly associated with lignin monomer composition of maize sporopollenin. Genetic manipulation of VAMP726 affected not only lignin monomer composition in sporopollenin but also pollen resistance to heat and UV radiation in maize and Arabidopsis, indicating that VAMP726 is functionally conserved in monocot and dicot plants. Our work provides new insight into the lignin monomers that serve as structural components of sporopollenin and characterizes VAMP726, which affects sporopollenin composition and stress resistance in pollen.

Rapid magnetic solid-phase extraction based on alendronate sodium grafted mesoporous magnetic nanoparticle for the determination of trans-resveratrol in peanut oils.

In the present study, a rapid and effective method based on alendronate sodium grafted mesoporous magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4@ANDS) extraction for the determination of trans-resveratrol (TRA) in peanut oils was developed by coupling with HPLC-UV detection. The Fe3O4@ANDS was prepared via Lewis acid/base interaction which was simply carried out in mild aqueous condition without the using of organic solvent. The resultant Fe3O4@ANDS encompassed amino group on its surface, and it was employed as magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent for purification and enrichment of TRA from peanut oils through hydrogen bond interaction. Under the optimized conditions, the whole pretreatment process could be accomplished within 10 min without time-consuming concentrated and reconstituted process. The linearity range of the proposed method was 1-10,000 ng/g with satisfactory correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9992. The recoveries in spiked oil samples were in the range of 78.6-118.9% with the RSDs less than 3.3% (intra-day) and 15.2% (inter-day). The limit of detection for TRA in peanut oils was 0.3 ng/g which was comparative to the reported methods by using LC-MS/MS detection. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to the analysis of TRA in several peanut oils with different brands from local market as well as other kinds of vegetable oils.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) in Improving Executive Dysfunction After Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) in treating post-stroke executive dysfunction.Method Fifty-six eligible patients with post-stroke executive dysfunction were randomized into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (26 cases). The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Baihui and the control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture. Before and after the intervention, the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) and Trail Making Test (TMT) were adopted to evaluate the executive function, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to estimate the activities of daily living (ADL).Result Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in comparing the BADS, TMT and MBI scores between the two groups (P>0.05); after the treatment, each scale was improved significantly in both groups (P<0.05). The scores of Rule Shift Cards Test (RSCT), Key Search Test (KST), Temporal Judgment Test (TJT), Zoo Map Test (ZMT) and total point of BADS, TMT-A and MBI scores in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Baihui works effectively in improving the executive function of cerebral stroke patients.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) in Improving Executive Dysfunction After Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) in treating post-stroke executive dysfunction.Method Fifty-six eligible patients with post-stroke executive dysfunction were randomized into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (26 cases). The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Baihui and the control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture. Before and after the intervention, the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) and Trail Making Test (TMT) were adopted to evaluate the executive function, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to estimate the activities of daily living (ADL).Result Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in comparing the BADS, TMT and MBI scores between the two groups (P>0.05); after the treatment, each scale was improved significantly in both groups (P<0.05). The scores of Rule Shift Cards Test (RSCT), Key Search Test (KST), Temporal Judgment Test (TJT), Zoo Map Test (ZMT) and total point of BADS, TMT-A and MBI scores in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Baihui works effectively in improving the executive function of cerebral stroke patients.

[Meta analysis of condiments fortified with sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate on the prevention and treatment of anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of condiments fortified with sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFe-EDTA) on the prevention and treatment of anemia. METHODS: The randomized controlled trials about condiments fortified with NaFe-EDTA on the prevention and treatment of anemia were collected in such databases as The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, WHOLIS, EBSCO, HighWire Press, PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM. Data were evaluated with the method of Cochrane systematic review by using RevMan 5.2.6. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials were included. NaFe-EDTA fortification group increased hemoglobin level by 3.2 g/L (weighted mean difference, 95% CI 2.9 -3.5, P < 0.001) compared with control group. Subgroup analysis found that the clearest results of NaFe-EDTA fortification to prevent anemia is in school children (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 - 0.5), the posterior of that is in child-bearing period women (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 - 0.6), while which has effect in preschool children but quite part of them were still unable to achieve the normal hemoglobin standard (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4 - 1.0). CONCLUSION: Condiments fortified with NaFe-EDTA is able to improve hemoglobin level and prevent anemia. However, more evidences should be collected to evaluate the prevention effect in preschool children.

Suppression of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms in the mice by treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) is widely used to treat cerebral disorders. Clinical trials have demonstrated therapeutic benefits of EGb 761 in various vascular diseases. Because the potential pathophysiological mechanisms appear similar to those involved in aneurysmal degeneration, we postulated that EGb 761 might affect the development and progression of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study was aimed to investigate whether EGb 761 influences the development of experimental AAAs, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: C57/BL6 mice underwent abluminal application of CaCl2 to the abdominal aorta followed by gavages with either 200mg/kg EGb 761 per day or vehicle. Six weeks after AAA induction, aortic tissue was excised for further examinations. RESULTS: EGb 761 treatment reduced the aneurysm size compared with vehicle-treated controls. EGb 761 had no effect on hemodynamics or macrophage infiltration in the aortic wall. However, nuclear factor κB protein levels were decreased in the aortas of EGb 761 treated animals. The increased ROS production, SOD and CAT activities, and mRNA expression of p47phox nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase were attenuated by EGb 761 treatment. Moreover, administration of EGb 761 preserved the destruction of the wavy morphology of the elastin during AAA formation. Zymographic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 was lowered in EGb 761 treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that treatment with EGb 761 in mice prevented the development of CaCl2-induced AAA. The possible mechanisms include decreased oxidative damage and inflammation, preservation of aortic wall architecture, and altered MMPs activities.

[Study on the standard of health protection zone for petroleum processing industry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish health protection zone standards for petroleum processing industry. METHODS: The intensity of characteristic pollutants from fugitive emission were estimated by the inverse method of ground concentration through field survey and monitoring for representative petroleum processing industry, which was calculated health protection zone by using the model of atmospheric diffusion. RESULTS: Characteristic pollutant of fugitive emission source from petroleum processing industry was confirmed as hydrogen sulfide. When local average wind speed in the past five years was less than 2, 2-4 m/s and more than 4 m/s respectively and meanwhile the scale of petroleum processing industry was less than 8 million tons, the recommended value of health protection zone were 900, 800, 700 m respectively. Besides, when the scale of petroleum processing industry was more than 8 million tons and in the same wind speed level, the recommended value of health protection zone were 1200, 1000, 900 m respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recommended value of health protection zone for petroleum processing industry was reasonable and feasible through revising and improving of the version of 1987's standard.

[Detection for alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting polyhydroxyalkaloid ingredients of Commelina communis L. by ESIMS].

For detecting polyhydroxyalkaloids-type alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting ingredients of Commelina communis L grown in China, total alkaloids were obtained from the plant by extraction with water, removal of precipitation after the addition of alcohol, enrichment and purification by ion exchange resin and sephadex LH 20 chromatography. Polyhydroxyalkaloids in the total alkaloids were detected by ion trap electron-spray ionization mass spectra (ESIMS). Several reported and unreported polyhydroxyalkaloids in the plant were detected from the material collected from Jixi county, Anhui province. The crude drug growing in China contains alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting polyhydroxyalkaloids and can be used to therapy in diabetes.