Key quality attributes of benchmark samples of famous classical formula Kaixin Powder / 中国中药杂志

We prepared 15 batches of Kaixin Powder benchmark samples with the decoction pieces of different batches. Further, we established the specific chromatograms and index component content determination method of Kaixin Powder benchmark samples and analyzed the peaks and similarity of the chromatograms. With sibiricose A5, sibiricose A6, polygalaxanthone Ⅲ, 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, ginsenoside Rb_1, β-asarone, α-asarone, and dehydropachymic acid as index components, the index component content determination method was established and 70%-130% of the mean content of each component was set as the range. The chromatograms of 15 batches of Kaixin Powder benchmark samples had a total of 22 characteristic peaks, among which 8 peaks were identified, which represented sibiricose A5, sibiricose A6, polygalaxanthone Ⅲ, 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, ginsenoside Rb_1, β-asarone, α-asarone, and dehydropachymic acid, respectively. The chromatograms shared the similarity of 0.992-0.999. The 15 batches of benchmark samples had sibiricose A5 of 0.34-0.55 mg·g~(-1), sibiricose A6 of 0.43-0.57 mg·g~(-1), polygalaxanthone Ⅲ of 0.12-0.19 mg·g~(-1), 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose of 1.08-1.78 mg·g~(-1), ginsenoside Rb_1 of 0.33-0.62 mg·g~(-1), β-asarone of 2.34-3.72 mg·g~(-1), α-asarone of 0.11-0.22 mg·g~(-1), and dehydropachymic acid of 0.053-0.079 mg·g~(-1). This study established the specific chromatograms and index component content determination method of Kaixin Powder benchmark samples, and the method was simple, feasible, reproducible, and stable. This study provides a scientific basis for further research on the key chemical properties of the benchmark samples and preparations of Kaixin Powder.

Tissue-Specific Gamma-Flicker Light Noninvasively Ameliorates Retinal Aging.

Aging is a risk factor for multiple retinal degeneration diseases. Entraining brain gamma oscillations with gamma-flicker light (γFL) has been confirmed to coordinate pathological changes in several Alzheimer's disease mouse models and aged mice. However, the direct effect of γFL on retinal aging remains unknown. We assessed retinal senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (ß-gal) and autofluorescence in 20-month-old mice and found reduced ß-gal-positive cells in the inner retina and diminished lipofuscin accumulation around retinal vessels after 6 days of γFL. In immunofluorescence, γFL was further demonstrated to ameliorate aging-related retinal changes, including a decline in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta expression, an increase in complement C3 activity, and an imbalance between the anti-oxidant factor catalase and pro-oxidant factor carboxymethyl lysine. Moreover, we found that γFL can increase the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in the inner retina, while revealing a decrease of ATF4 expression in the inner retina and positive expression in the outer segment of photoreceptor and RPE layer for aged mice. Western blotting was then used to confirm the immunofluorescence results. After mRNA sequencing (NCBI Sequence Read Archive database: PRJNA748184), we found several main mechanistic clues, including mitochondrial function and chaperone-mediated protein folding. Furthermore, we extended γFL to aged Apoe-/- mice and showed that 1-m γFL treatment even improved the structures of retinal-pigment-epithelium basal infolding and Bruch's membrane. Overall, γFL can orchestrate various pathological characteristics of retinal aging in mice and might be a noninvasive, convenient, and tissue-specific therapeutic strategy for retinal aging.

Effects of Tanreqing Capsule on the negative conversion time of nucleic acid in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Traditional Chinese medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tanreqing Capsule (TRQC) was used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of TRQC in the treatment of COVID-19.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 82 patients who had laboratory-confirmed mild and moderate COVID-19; patients were treated with TRQC in one designated hospital. The treatment and control groups consisted of 25 and 57 cases, respectively. The treatment group was given TRQC orally three times a day, three pills each time, in addition to conventional Western medicine treatments which were also administered to the control group. The clinical efficacy indicators, such as the negative conversion time of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid, the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid, the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid, and the improvement in the level of immune indicators such as T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD45) were monitored.@*RESULTS@#COVID-19 patients in the treatment group, compared to the control group, had a shorter negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid (4 vs. 9 days, P = 0.047) and a shorter interval of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid (0 vs. 2 days, P = 0.042). The level of CD3@*CONCLUSION@#Significant reductions in the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid and the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid were identified in the treatment group as compared to the control group, illustrating the potential therapeutic benefits of using TRQC as a complement to conventional medicine in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19. The underlying mechanism may be related to the improved levels of the immune indicator CD3

Early therapeutic interventions of traditional Chinese medicine in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the early interventions of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on the conversion time of nucleic acid in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and find possible underlying mechanisms of action.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were treated with TCM, at a designated hospital in China. The patients were categorized into three groups: TCM1, TCM2 and TCM3, who respectively received TCM interventions within 7, 8-14, and greater than 15 days of hospitalization. Different indicators such as the conversion time of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid, the conversion time of fecal nucleic acid, length of hospital stay, and inflammatory markers (leukocyte count, and lymphocyte count and percentage) were analyzed to observe the impact of early TCM interventions on these groups.@*RESULTS@#The median conversion times of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid in the three groups were 5.5, 7 and 16 d (P < 0.001), with TCM1 and TCM2 being statistically different from TCM3 (P < 0.01). TCM1 (P < 0.05) and TCM3 (P < 0.01) were statistically different from TCM2. The median conversion times of fecal nucleic acid in the three groups were 7, 9 and 17 d (P < 0.001). Conversion times of fecal nucleic acid in TCM1 were statistically different from TCM3 and TCM2 (P < 0.01). The median lengths of hospital stay in the three groups were 13, 16 and 21 d (P < 0.001). TCM1 and TCM2 were statistically different from TCM3 (P < 0.01); TCM1 and TCM3 were statistically different from TCM2 (P < 0.01). Both leucocyte and lymphocyte counts increased gradually with an increase in the length of hospital stay in TCM1 group patients, with a statistically significant difference observed at each time point in the group (P < 0.001). Statistically significant differences in lymphocyte count and percentage in TCM2 (P < 0.001), and in leucocyte count (P = 0.043) and lymphocyte count (P = 0.038) in TCM3 were observed. The comparison among the three groups showed a statistically significant difference in lymphocyte percentage on the third day of admission (P = 0.044).@*CONCLUSION@#In this study, it was observed that in COVID-19 patients treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicines, TCM intervention earlier in the hospital stay correlated with faster conversion time of pharyngeal swab and fecal nucleic acid, as well as shorter length of hospital stay, thus helping promote faster recovery of the patient. The underlying mechanism of action may be related to improving inflammation in patients with COVID-19.

Changes in cell membrane properties and phospholipid fatty acids of bacillus subtilis induced by polyphenolic extract of Sanguisorba officinalis L.

Sanguisorba officinalis L. (family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae) is a plant found throughout Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Eastern Asia. This study demonstrated the antibacterial activity of a purified polyphenolic extract (PPE) from S. officinalis L. against Bacillus subtilis using growth inhibitory and apoptosis assays, and investigated the antibacterial mechanism responsible for changes in cell membrane properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that PPE altered the cell wall and membrane properties of B. subtilis. Further determination of cell membrane integrity and permeability revealed that B. subtilis membrane integrity was more severely damaged by PPE at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) than at the minimum bactericidal concentrati on (MBC). Instead, PPE at the MBC reduced cell membrane fluidity by significantly decreasing the proportion of anteiso- and iso-branched phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) from 64.17 ± 0.28% and 27.23 ± 0.03% in the control to 5.57 ± 1.06% and 6.00 ± 1.40%, respectively (P < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy revealed different effects of PPE on cell morphology, demonstrating that, at the MIC and MBC, PPE exerted antibacterial activity by disrupting the cell membrane and reducing cell membrane fluidity, respectively. Consequently, this study elucidated changes in the bacterial membrane due to exposure to PPE and its potential use as an antimicrobial agent. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The abuse of synthetic chemical preservatives raises food safety concerns; however, plant-derived polyphenolic compounds may be a safe and effective alternative. This study demonstrated the strong antibacterial activity of a purified polyphenolic extract (PPE) of Sanguisorba officinalis L. and revealed its antibacterial mechanism against Bacillus subtilis, suggesting that it may provide a useful antimicrobial agent in food industry applications.

Impact of Herbal Preparations on Outcomes of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the impacts of two herbal preparations for human immunodeficiency virus/aquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients, Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (, SLFZC) and Qingdu Capsule (, QDC), on the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).@*METHODS@#HIV/AIDS patients met the criteria were all enrolled in a 1-year cohort study, in which patients receiving HAART alone were designated as Group A, those receiving HAART in combination with SLFZC were designated as Group B, and those receiving HAART in combination with QDC were designated as Group C, 100 cases in each group. The dose of SLFZC was 1.48 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily, and QDC 1.56 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily. T cell subsets, HIV RNA and HIV-1 drug resistance were detected at enrollment and 1 year after treatment. Patients were followed up every 3 months, during which side-effects and other clinical data were recorded.@*RESULTS@#After 1-year treatment, the median increment in CD counts was 165.0, 178.0 and 145.0 cells/μL for Group A, B and C, respectively. HIV RNA was undetectable in 94% of patients in Group A, 96% in Group B and 92% in Group C. There were no differences regarding the increment in CD counts, HIV RNA and frequency of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations. Two of the 14 suspected side-effect symptoms, i.e. fatigue and dizziness, were lower in Groups B and C than in Group A (P<0.05, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: SLFZC and QDC do not have a negative impact on immunological and virological response to HAART; however, these preparations are not as potent in reducing HAART-associated side-effects as anticipated.

Study on rapid quality analysis method of Shengxuebao Mixture / 中国中药杂志

A rapid analysis method based on ultraviolet-visual(UV-Vis) spectroscopy, near infrared(NIR) spectroscopy and multivariable data analysis was established for quality evaluation of Shengxuebao Mixture. The contents of eight active ingredients of Shengxuebao Mixture including albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetra-hydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, specnuezhenide,ecliptasaponin D, emodin, calycosin-7-glucoside and astragaloside Ⅳ were simultaneously detected by using this method. HPLC-UV-MS was used as a reference method for determining the contents of these ingredients. Partial least squares(PLS) analysis was implemented as a linear method for multivariate models calibrated between UV spectrum/NIR spectrum and contents of 8 ingredients. Finally, the performance of the model was evaluated by 24 batches of test samples. The results showed that both UV-Vis and NIR models gave a good calibration ability with an R~2 value above 0.9, and the prediction ability was also satisfactory, with an R~2 value higher than 0.83 for UV-Vis model and higher than 0.79 for NIR model. The overall results demonstrate that the established method is accurate, robust and fast, therefore, it can be used for rapid quality evaluation of Shengxuebao Mixture.

Analysis on the effects of health education and promotion on osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly residents in Jiangsu province / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To study the effects of community comprehensive intervention model on osteoporosis, in order to provides a reference for osteoporosis health education work. Methods A multistage stratified random cluster sampling was applied to conduct a survey in Jiangsu province, in accordance with the economic level and geographic location. Nanjing, Nantong and Xuzhou cities were sampled, three urban streets were sampled in every district , respectively. A total of 1 500 40-69 years old community residents were screened, 619 high-risk participants for osteoporosis were arranged into the intervention group, and a total of 590 residents from the same communities were chosen as control group, who were gender- and age-matched with the intervention group. The intervention group residents received health management and comprehensive intervention, after half a year, a self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the effects. Results Compared with control group, after six months, knowledge of intervention group related to osteoporosis awareness was improved significantly, such as the most serious harm to human body for osteoporosis (χ2=24.27), characteristic of osteoporosis (χ2=11.05), basic supplements to improve bone health (χ2=60.65) , the recommended daily calcium intake to postmenopausal women and the elderly (χ2=26.80), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); daily behavior related to diet and exercise of intervention group has improved significantly, such as drinking milk or itsproducts less than 3 days a week (χ2=25.83), eating beans and products for less than 3 days a week (χ2=19.20), drinking coffee for more than three days a week (χ2=7.77), not often taking outdoor activities (χ2=18.55) ,(P<0.05);Diseases and symptoms related to osteoporosis in intervention group was significantly reduced (P<0.001). Conclusions The osteoporosis is one of the most important public health problem for Jiangsu province, the work for osteoporosis prevention and control should be emphasized in community.

Pharmacokinetic Effect of Aikeqing Granule by Different Medication Ways on Zidovudine in HAART of Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study pharmacokinetic effect of Aikeqing Granule (AG) by different medication ways on zidovudine (AZT) in highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART) of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 36 rats were administered with corresponding medications by gastrogavage, group I [HAART: AZT 31.5 mg/kg +3TC 31.5 mg/kg + Efavirenz (EFV) 63.0 mg/kg], group II (HAART+AG525 mg/kg), group III (HAART and AG 525 mg/kg after a 2-h interval). Drug concentrations of AZT were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) before HAART, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 h after HAART, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters [such as t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUCo-t, plasma clearance rate (CL)] were calculated by DAS2.0 Software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The-equation of linear regression of AZT was good, with the precision, coefficient of recovery, and stability definitely confirmed. AUC in group II and III was larger than that of group I. There was no statistical difference in t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-12 h, or AUC0-∞ among groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AG combined HAART could enhance the Cmax of AZT.</p>

Efficacy observation of cervical spondylosis treated with acupuncture at three lines of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on cervical spondylosis between acupuncture at three lines of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) and oral administration of jingfukang granules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred cases of cervical spondylosis were divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 150 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, according to the different types of cervical spondylosis, acupuncture was applied at three lines of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2), once a day. In the medication group, jingfukang granules were prescribed for oral administration, one bag each time, three times a day. The treatment of ten days made one session in the two groups and two sessions were required totally. Before and after two sessions of treatment, the clinical assessment scale for cervical spondylosis (CASCS) was adopted to evaluate the score of subjective symptoms, clinical physical signs and adaptability as well as the total score in the patients of the two groups and the efficacy was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients' symptoms and physical signs were alleviated, the adaptability was improved and the score of each item and the total score were increased in the two groups after treatment (all P<0.01). The improvements in the acupuncture group were better than those in the medication group (all P<0.01). The curative and markedly effective rate was 90.7% (136/150) in the acupuncture group, better than 66.0% (99/150) in the medication group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at three lines of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) achieves the significant clinical efficacy on cervical spondylosis. This therapy is superior to relieving symptoms and physical signs and recovering adaptability as compared with jingfukang granules.</p>

Treating HIV/AIDS patients by shenlin fuzheng capsule and qingdu capsule: an analysis of clinical effectiveness / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical effectiveness of Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (SFC) and Qingdu Capsule (QC) in treating HIV/AIDS patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 220 patients with complete clinical data, who received consecutive treatment for 6 months were selected from the database. They were assigned to two groups whether they would rather receive antiretroviral drugs, the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group and the integrative medicine (IM) group. The 129 patients in the CM group were treated with SFC or QC, while the 91 patients in the IM group were treated with SFC or QC combined highly active antiretroviral agents. Total score and single score of clinical symptoms and signs, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and changes of body weight before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared. CD4+ cell counts were compared between before treatment and 6 months after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total score of clinical symptoms and signs were lower at 3 and 6 months of treatment than before treatment respectively (P < 0.01). The single score of clinical symptoms and signs such as cough, weakness, shortness of breath, vomit, spontaneous perspiration, hair loss,and chest pain were also lowered at 3 and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the KPS increased (P < 0.05). The body weight increased (P < 0.05) and CD4 cell counts decreased (P < 0.05) in the CM group. There was no statistical difference in body weight or CD4 cell counts in the IM group between before and after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SFC and QC could improve clinical symptoms and signs of HIV/ AIDS patients, but failed to deter the decrease of CD4+ cell counts.</p>

Clinically randomized controlled trials of moxibustion with salt in bamboo circle for treatment of periarthritis of shoulder / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical therapeutic effect of moxibustion with salt in bamboo circle on periarthritis of shoulder. METHODS Eighty-six cases were randomly divided into a salt-moxibustion group and an electroacupuncture group, 43 cases in each group. The salt-moxibustion group was treated by moxibustion with salt in bamboo circle on the part of obvious pain and hot compress moxibustion on its periphery. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Jianzhen (SI 9), etc. After treatment, the analgesic effect and improvement degrees of active function of the shoulder joint were observed and 3 months later they were followed-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two therapies had analgesic effect and could improve active function of shoulder joint, but the salt-moxibustion group in the transient analgesic effect and the improvement degree of active function of the shoulder joint was better than the electroacupuncture group (P< 0.01, P < 0.05). Follow-up survey showed good clinical therapeutic effects in the two groups. The effective rates of pain and active function of shoulder joint were 97.7% and 93.0% in the salt-moxibustion group and 93.0% and 88.4% in the electroacupuncture group, respectively, with no significant differences between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion with salt in bamboo circle has an obvious therapeutic effect on periarthritis of shoulder, and it has transient analgesic effect and improves active function of shoulder joint, with a stable and long-term therapeutic effect.</p>

Study and application about a modality preventing iodine deficiency disorders in coastal salt-produced areas / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To discuss the strategy and intervention measures of the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD)control in coastal salt.producing areas so as to shoot the problem of non-iodized salt causing IDD.Methods Accordinng to different areas,periods and crowds,eomplicatd measures and strategies were taken such as supply of iodized salt to peopie in special need while universalizaion of iodized salt,health promotion,private salt factory censu8 and close.iodized salt quality monitoring and promotion of technology of iodized salt producion in Xiamen, where the probiem of non-iodized salt Was serious since 1995.Results Iodized salt manufactured Was qualified in a increased rate from 89.50% in 1995 to 96.17% in 1997,stablized at 99.00%since 2000.Qualified iodized salt sold in the shops waft increased from 87.33%in 1996 to 96.33%in 1998.Popularization covered by iodized salt in urban areas increaased from 0.92%in 1 995 to 100.00%in 2000,and it Was increased from 0 to 99.00%in suburban area8 and increased from 0 to 89.00%in rural areas.Since 2001 iodized salt covered up 93.00%of the people.The rate of child goitre in urban,suburban and rural areas respectively Wag 16.44%(228/1387), 20.57%(266/1293) and 24.93%(651/2611).Moreover,beginning from 1996,it reduced tO below of 5.00%respectively in 1999,2001 and 2005.The median of urinary iodine of children in urban,suburban and rural areas respectively was 137.50, 102.12,94.66 μg/L in 1995,since 1997 it reached 100.00μg/L and kept at 120.00μg/L In 2007 the median of urinarv iedine of children respectively was 271.10,240.40,198.10μg/L in urban,suburban and rural areas.The pereentage of awareness of IDD knowledge was 74.00%(444/600)in students in 1997 and reached 95.00% since 2000.Conclusion The paRern of eliminating iodine deficiency dis ease in Xiamen has successful established,which works efficiently and sets an example for iodized salt supplement in non-iodized salt areas and continually eliminating the iodine deficiency disease.

TUBVP and HOLEP: desirable surgical options for large benign prostatic hyperplasia ( >80 ml) / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the safety and efficacy of the two surgical alternatives, transurethral bipolar vaporization resection of the prostate (TUBVP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP), in the treatment of large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analyses were made of 56 cases of large BPH ( >80 ml), 34 treated by TUBVP with the Bipolar Vaporization System (ACMI Medical Ltd, U.K.) at 160 W in cutting and 80 W in coagulation mode, and 22 by HOLEP with the Holmium Laser System (LUMNIS Ltd, US) at 100W. The safety and efficacy of the two approaches were assessed based on the operative and follow-up data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood loss was significantly less in the HOLEP than in the TUBVP group ( P < 0.01), but the time of postoperative bladder irrigation and catheter indwelling was obviously shorter in the latter. IPSS, Qmax and Residual unine were markedly improved at 1 and 3 months after the surgery, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both TUBVP and HOLEP are safe and effective surgical options for the treatment of large BPH. Particularly the former, easier to be popularly applied, is promising to be a new "gold standard" in the surgical treatment of BPH.</p>

Salvianolic acid A inhibits nucleoside transport and potentiates the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the inhibitory activity of salvianolic acid A (SAA) on nucleoside transport in cancer cells and its antitumor effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>[3H] thymidine and [3H] uridine transport assays were used to determine the inhibitory activity on nucleoside transport in Ehrlich carcinoma cells. The cytotoxicity to cultured cancer cells was examined with clonogenic assay. The antitumor effect in vivo was evaluated with transplantable tumor model in mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SAA was shown to inhibit thymidine and uridine transport in Ehrlich carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 18.1 and 17.1 micromol x L(-1), respectively. By clonogenic assay, the IC50 of SAA for KB cells was 44.7 micromol x L(-1). SAA markedly potentiated the cytotoxicity of 5-FU and mitomycin C in KB cells as well as the cytotoxicity of MTX in human hepatoma BEL-7402 cells. For in vivo experiment, sarcoma 180 cells were transplanted sc in mice and tested drugs were administered ip. When administered separately, SAA at 200 mg x kg(-1) and 5-FU at 10 mg x kg(-1) inhibited tumor growth by 41% and 27%, respectively. Combination of the two drugs inhibited tumor growth by 63% (CDI = 0.86).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SAA is active in blocking nucleoside transport in cancer cells and potentiates the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. As an agent showing moderate antitumor effect in vivo, SAA might be useful in combination cancer therapy.</p>

Rat enterocytes secrete SLPs containing alkaline phosphatase and cubilin in response to corn oil feeding.

Surfactant-like particles (SLP) are unilamellar secreted membranes associated with the process of lipid absorption and isolated previously only from the apical surface of enterocytes. In this paper, the intracellular membrane has been isolated from corn oil-fed animals, identified by its content of the marker protein intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP). Another brush-border protein, cubilin, and its anchoring protein megalin have been identified as components of extracellular SLP, but only cubilin is present to any extent in intracellular SLP. During fat absorption, IAP is modestly enriched in intracellular SLP, but full-length cubilin (migrating at 210 kDa in fat-fed mucosal fractions) falls by one-half, although fragments of cubilin are abundant in the intracellular SLP. Both IAP and cubilin colocalize to the same cells during corn oil absorption and colocalize around lipid droplets. This localization is more intense during feeding of corn oil with Pluronic L-81, a detergent that allows uptake of fatty acids and monoglycerides from the lumen, but blocks chylomicron secretion. Confocal microscopy confirms the colocalization of IAP and the ligand for cubilin, intrinsic factor. Possible roles for cubilin in intracellular SLP include facilitating movement of the lipid droplet through the cell and binding to the basolateral membrane before reverse endocytosis.

Studies on saponin constituents in roots of Panax quinquefolium / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the saponins constituents in roots of Panax quinquefolium cultivated in China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The methanol extract from roots of P. quinquefolium cultivated in Jiling province of China was extracted by chloroform and n-butanol successively. Ten pure saponins were isolated from the n-butanol extract by silica gel and RP-8 reversed-phase column chromatography. Their structures were identified by means of spectral methods and compared with known compounds.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ten saponins were isolated from P. quinquefolium. They were identified as ginsenoside Rg1(2), Re(5), Rd(7), Rc(8), Rb1(9), Rb2(10), 24(R)-ginsenoside Rg3(3), 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside RT5(1), F11(4) and notoginsenoside K(6), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This work has elucidated the saponins constituents of P. quinquefolium cultivated in Jilin province of China and has shown that compound 1 was isolated from this plant for the first time.</p>

Regulation of osteocalcin gene expression by a novel Ku antigen transcription factor complex.

We previously described an osteocalcin (OC) fibroblast growth factor (FGF) response element (FRE) DNA binding activity as a target of Msx2 transcriptional regulation. We now identify Ku70, Ku80, and Tbdn100, a variant of Tubedown-1, as constituents of the purified OCFRE-binding complex. Northern and Western blot analyses demonstrate expression of Ku and Tbdn100 in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. FGF2 treatment regulates Ku, but not Tbdn100, protein accumulation. Gel supershift studies confirm sequence-specific DNA binding of Ku in the OCFRE complex; chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirm association of Ku and Tbdn100 with the endogenous OC promoter. In the promoter region -154 to -113, the OCFRE is juxtaposed to OSE2, an osteoblast-specific element that binds Runx2 (Osf2, Cbfa1). Expression of the Ku.Tbdn100 complex up-regulates both the basal and Runx2-dependent transcription driven by this 42-bp OC promoter element, reconstituted in CV-1 cells. Synergistic transactivation occurs in the presence of activated FGF receptor 2 signaling. Msx2 suppresses Ku- and Runx2-dependent transcription; suppression is dependent upon the Msx2 homeodomain NH(2)-terminal arm and extension. Pull-down assays confirm physical interactions between Ku and these co-regulatory transcription factors, consistent with the functional interactions identified. Finally, cultured Ku70 -/- calvarial cells exhibit a profound, selective deficiency in OC expression as compared with wild-type calvarial cells, confirming the biochemical data showing a role for Ku in OC transcription. In toto, these data indicate that a novel Ku antigen complex assembles on the OC promoter, functioning in concert with Msx2 and Runx2 to regulate OC gene expression.