Dietary supplementation with different alternative to in-feed antibiotic improves growth performance of broilers during specific phases.

The effects of substituting Bacillus subtilis, Astragalus membranaceus, and enzymes for aureomycin to improve the growth performance of broilers during specific phases were studied to develop alternatives to in-feed antibiotics and decrease drug residues in meat food and antibiotic resistance. Six hundred one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to 5 groups. Broilers in the control group were supplied with basal diets (CT), and those in the remaining 4 groups were supplied with feed containing aureomycin premix (AU), B. subtilis powder (BS), A. membranaceus root powder (AM), and enzyme compound powder (EN), respectively. Compared to the control group, broilers in the other groups exhibited better growth performance during different phases. Microbial analysis of cecal contents suggested that treatment with BS or EN significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria but inhibited Escherichia coli or Clostridium welchii; however, these bacteria were suppressed by AU treatment except C. welchii. The digestibility of the feed in vitro was significantly enhanced by adding BS or EN to the feed, consistent with findings for growth performance. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 3 additives could improve the growth performance of broilers during specific phases. Future studies should focus on designing suitable schedules to partially replace in-feed antibiotics.

Phillygenin activates PKR/eIF2α pathway and induces stress granule to exert anti-avian infectious bronchitis virus.

The prevalence of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is still one of causes inducing severe losses of production in the poultry industry worldwide. Vaccination does not completely prevent IBV infection and spread due to immune failure and viral mutations. ForsythiaeFructus and its compounds have been widely used in a lot of prescriptions of the traditional Chinese medicine for a long history, and it is well-known as safety and efficiency in heat-clearing and detoxifying. This study aims to investigate the anti-IBV activity and mechanism of phillygenin. The results showed that phillygenin inhibited IBV replication by disturbing multiple stages of the virus life cycle, including viral adsorption, invasion, internalization, and release in Vero cells. After being treated with 100, 125 and 150 µg/mL phillygenin, the expression of G3BP1 was significantly increased and the phosphorylation of PKR/eIF2α was activated, which increased stress granule, thereby triggering the antiviral response in Vero cells. The anti-virus activity of PHI was decreased when G3BP1 was interfered by si-RNA, and G3BP1 was down-regulated when PKR/eIF2α was interfered by si-RNA. In conclusion, our findings indicate that phillygenin activates PKR/eIF2α pathway and induces stress granule formation to exert anti-IBV, which holds promise to develop into a novel anti-IBV drug. Further study in vivo is needed to explore phillygenin as a potential and effective drug to prevent IB in poultry.

Huang Bai Jian Pi decoction alleviates diarrhea and represses inflammatory injury via PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway: In vivo and in vitro studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Huang Bai Jian Pi (HBJP) decoction, a Chinese herbal formula based on the Pulsatilla decoction (PD) and Si Junzi decoction, is efficacy to treat clinical diarrhea in calves. AIM OF THE STUDY: The mechanism of HBJP decoction to treat calf diarrhea remains unclear. This study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and anti-inflammatory mechanism of HBJP decoction on diarrhea in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, PD group and three treated groups with HBJP decoction. The diarrheal model in rats was established by multiple factors including high-sugar and fat diet, high temperature and dampness environment, biological pathogenic factors. The diarrheal animals were treated with HBJP decoction or PD for 5 days. The inflammatory model of the intestinal epithelioid cell line 6 (IEC-6) was induced by TNF-α. The clinical symptoms, blood routine and biochemistry parameters, histopathology of main organs were detected. The proteins associated with PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway and the expression levels of cytokines associated with inflammation were detected in vivo and in vitro by Western blot and ELISA. RESULTS: The model rats showed obvious diarrheal symptoms, and the obvious systemic inflammatory response accompanied with abnormal change in blood routine, biochemistry parameters and histopathology. HBJP decoction alleviated obviously the clinical symptoms, and pathological changes of the liver, colon and lung, and abnormal blood routine and biochemistry indexes in rats. The expression of P-PI3K, P-Akt, P-NF-κB, IL-1ß, IL-6 was significantly increased, and the expression of IL-10 was markedly decreased in diarrheal rats and IEC-6 with inflammation. HBJP decoction significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signal pathway and adjusted the expression of these inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: The finding suggested that HBJP decoction alleviate the inflammation in diarrhea through inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signal pathway, which provides scientific evidences for the clinical application of HBJP decoction in diarrhea.

Schisandrin Protects against Norepinephrine-Induced Myocardial Hypertrophic Injury by Inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

Aims. Heart failure is closely associated with norepinephrine-(NE-) induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Schisandrin is derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra; it has a variety of pharmacological activities, and the mechanism of schisandrin-mediated protection of the cardiovascular system is not clear. Main Methods. NE was used to establish a cardiomyocyte hypertrophy model to explore the mechanism of action of schisandrin. An MTT assay was used for cell viability; Hoechst fluorescence staining was used to observe the cell morphology and calculate the apoptosis rate. The cell surface area was measured and the protein to DNA ratio was calculated, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were detected, and the degree of hypertrophic cell damage was evaluated. WB, QRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence were used to qualitatively, quantitatively, and quantitatively detect apoptotic proteins in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Key Findings. In the NE-induced model, schisandrin treatment reduced the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes, increased the ratio of the cell surface area to cardiomyocyte protein/DNA, and also, increased the membrane potential of the mitochondria. The expression of both JAK2 and STAT3 was downregulated, and the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio was significantly reduced. In conclusion, schisandrin may protect against NE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Novel browning alleviation technology for fresh-cut products: Preservation effect of the combination of Sonchus oleraceus L. extract and ultrasound in fresh-cut potatoes.

Enzymatic browning is considered a critical factor that adversely decreases the quality of fresh-cut products. Although many individual physical or chemical methods have been explored to control browning, there are few approaches combining these technologies. In the present study, Sonchus oleraceus L. extract (SOLE) and ultrasound treatment efficiently controlled the activities of polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, lipoxygenase, soluble quinones, and intermediate and advanced products, and a lower malondialdehyde content and higher antioxidant capacity were observed in fresh-cut potato slices. More than 50 phenolics and flavonoids were identified in SOLE by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In conclusion, the combined SOLE and ultrasound treatment could serve as a promising method for attenuating enzymatic browning.

A Delicate Balance between Bacterial Iron and Reactive Oxygen Species Supports Optimal C. elegans Development.

Iron is an essential micronutrient for all forms of life; low levels of iron cause human disease, while too much iron is toxic. Low iron levels induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by disruption of the heme and iron-sulfur cluster-dependent electron transport chain (ETC). To identify bacterial metabolites that affect development, we screened the Keio Escherichia coli collection and uncovered 244 gene deletion mutants that slow Caenorhabditis elegans development. Several of these genes encode members of the ETC cytochrome bo oxidase complex, as well as iron importers. Surprisingly, either iron or anti-oxidant supplementation reversed the developmental delay. This suggests that low bacterial iron results in high bacterial ROS and vice versa, which causes oxidative stress in C. elegans that subsequently impairs mitochondrial function and delays development. Our data indicate that the bacterial diets of C. elegans provide precisely tailored amounts of iron to support proper development.

Galangin Alleviates Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model by Mediating the PI3K/AKT Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a pathological process that often occurs during liver and trauma surgery. There are numerous causes of liver I/R injury, but the mechanism is unknown. Galangin (GA) is a flavonoid, a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in medicinal herbs that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activity. This study evaluated the protective effect of GA on hepatic I/R injury. METHODS: An I/R model was created in male Wistar rats by clamping the hepatoportal vein, hepatic artery and hepatic duct for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h. A hypoxia/restoration (H/R) model was established in buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells by hypoxia for 4 h followed by normoxic conditions for 10 h. The extent of liver injury was assayed by serum ALT/AST, hepatic histology, and MPO activity. Oxidative stress was assayed by serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Expression of apoptosis-related proteins in BRL cells was assayed in western blots. Expression of AKT and p-AKT proteins in vivo and vitro were assayed in western blots. RESULTS: GA significantly decreased ALT/AST expression, reversed changes in oxidative stress markers induced by I/R, and mediated caspase-3 activity expression of apoptosis-related proteins in vivo and in vitro. Methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33258 staining confirmed that GA inhibited apoptosis of BRL cells. GA also increased the expression of phosphorylated AKT after H/R. CONCLUSION: GA reduced liver I/R injury both in vivo and vitro and inhibited BRL cell apoptosis. PI3K/AKT signaling have been involved. GA may protect against liver I/R and be a potential therapeutic candidate.

Cardioprotection of Sheng Mai Yin a classic formula on adriamycin induced myocardial injury in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Sheng Mai Yin (SMY), a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, is widely used to treat cardiac diseases characterized by the deficiency of Qi and Yin syndrome in China. SMY-based treatment has been derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), officially recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify whether SMY attenuates myocardial injury induced by adriamycin in Wistar rats with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: To quantify ginsenoside Rg1, ophiopogonin D, ophiopogonin D', schisandrin by HPLC. To establish CHF animal model, adriamycin was intraperitoneally injected in Wistar rats for 7 weeks at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight. Overall, 180 rats were randomly assigned to six groups: control, CHF model, captopril (positive control), high dose (HSMY), medium dose (MSMY), and low dose (LSMY). Experimental rats were fed 0.625 mg/kg captopril and 90 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, and 22.5 mg/kg SMY, respectively, over 7 weeks. The inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 were measured using ELISA. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were identified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Both IHC and RT-PCR were used for quantification of COL-IV expression levels in the heart tissues. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the visualization of myocardium morphology. RESULTS: The concentration of ginsenoside Rg1, ophiopogonin D, ophiopogonin D' and schisandrin in SMY was found to be 25.63 ±â€¯3.42 mg, 11.00 ±â€¯1.17 mg, 7.02 ±â€¯0.51 mg, and 25.31 ±â€¯4.28 mg per gram of SMY, respectively. Compared with CHF model group, TNF-α levels were significantly lower (p < .01) in the four drug-administered groups. Moreover, except in the SYM low dose group, IL-6 levels in the other 3 drug-administered groups were also significantly reduced (p < .01). COL-IV expression was also significantly reduced on treatment with high SYM dose (p < .05). IHC results confirmed that SMY and captopril significantly reduced MMPs expression in the heart. CONCLUSION: SMY could control or slow CHF progression by suppressing pathological changes in the myocardium in CHF models. This could be attributed at least partly to the downregulation of IL-6 and TNF-α and inhibition of overexpression of MMPs and COL-IV, which significantly relieved the cardiac-linked pathologies, decreased the risk of myocardial fibrosis, and inhibited cardiac remodeling. These findings suggested that SMY and captopril have similar efficacy for the treatment of adriamycin-induced myocardial injury. In addition, Chinese herbal preparation SMY may play a role in the treatment of cardiac diseases.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract isolated from Semen vaccariae.

Semen vaccariae, the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) Garcke, is usually used as an important medication for female mammary gland diseases; it has also been used to promote lactation for centuries in China. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract from semen vaccariae (HESV) with oral doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg•bw in mice and rats. We observed that the HESV could effectively inhibit acetic acid-induced abdominal contraction and could elevate the latency time to thermal stimuli in the hot-plate test in mice. In the xylene-induced ear-swelling test in mice, HESV could suppress the ear swelling. Additionally, HESV could significantly decrease the peritoneal capillary permeability and leukocyte infiltration in mice induced by the intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid. HESV also significantly reduced paw thickness 2-4 hours after the injection of carrageenan in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test. This study was the first to demonstrate that the oral administration of HESV might play an important role in the process of analgesia and anti-inflammation, supporting its use for female mammary gland diseases in traditional medicine.

Evaluation of bioaccumulation and toxic effects of copper on hepatocellular structure in mice.

The present study was to evaluate the hepatotoxicity effects in mice exposed to copper (Cu) used as dietary supplements for 95 days. Cu-treated mice showed increased body weight, and no toxic symptoms were observed at the beginning, but the tendency gradually changed with progress of experiment. In the liver, beneficial metals [Cu, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and molybdenum (Mo)] were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The content of Cu maintained at the same level during the experiments, but not resulting in the imbalance of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Mo being distributed. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and super oxidation dismutase (SOD) showed significantly improvement during the first 30 days in Cu-supplemented group (P<0.01) but declined rapidly from 30th to 60th days, and later, they stabilized and were not statistically significant compared with control (P>0.05). No statistically significant correlation of ceruloplasmin (CPL) activity was appreciated during the experiment. The histopathological and ultrastructural abnormalities changes were observed in the liver of mice including vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, karyorrhexis, and endolysis. Many hepatocytes showed increased collagenic fibers, appearance of triglyceride droplets, and swollen mitochondria due to oral route of copper, which may lead to lipid peroxidation and free radicals. In conclusion, our study showed that exposure to copper influenced behavioral pattern and body weight, affected several enzymatic activities, and led to the physiological and considerable structural changes in the liver of mice. The public should pay more attention to avoid being exposed to copper.

Efficacy of herbal tincture as treatment option for retained placenta in dairy cows.

Retained placenta remains therapeutic challenge in cattle. Certain traditional medicines are believed to be able to alleviate retained placenta condition and improve overall fertility in cows. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal tincture for treatment of retained placenta. The herbal tincture was extracted from a combination of Herba Leonuri, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Flos Carthami, Myrrha and Rhizoma Cyperi by percolation with 70% ethanol to a concentration of 0.5g crude herb/ml. Cows diagnosed with retained placenta (n=48) were randomly divided into one of two treatment groups (A and B), with animals in group A (n=26) receiving herbal tincture orally, and cows in group B (n=22) receiving oxytetracycline infusion into the uterus. Eighty six cows with no clinically visible pathological conditions, given birth alone and with no retained placenta diagnosis were included into control group (C). Retained placenta was expelled within 72h following initial treatment in 19 cows in group A, yet no cows in group B were recorded to expel placenta in the same time. The median number of days to first service (70.0 vs. 102.5 days; P<0.05) and median number of days open (76.0 vs. 134.0 days; P<0.01) were lower in group A than in group B. Percentage of cows pregnant within 100 days postpartum was the highest for animals in group A compared to controls (61.5% vs. 39.5%, P<0.05), and for animals in group B (61.5% vs. 22.7%; P<0.01). Herbal tincture used in the present study might facilitate expulsion of retained placenta and improve subsequent fertility, thus could present effective treatment option for retained placenta in cows.

The administration of Sheng Hua Tang immediately after delivery to reduce the incidence of retained placenta in Holstein dairy cows.

Sheng Hua Tang, a classical herbal formula consisting of Radix Angelicae sinensis, Ligustici rhizoma, Semen persicae, Zingiberis rhizoma, and Radix glycyrrhizae, is known to be beneficial in alleviating postpartum diseases and facilitating a return to normal reproductive function. This study investigated whether the administration of Sheng Hua Tang within 2 to 4 hours after delivery was effective as a preventive treatment for reducing the risk of retained placenta in Holstein dairy cows. A total of 357 cows, each of which had delivered its calf spontaneously, were randomly allocated to one of two groups. In the treatment group, the cows (n = 175) received Sheng Hua Tang with an oral dose of 0.36 g crude herb per kg·body weight once daily for three consecutive days. The controls (n = 182) received no treatment. The placental retention proportion was 4.0% and 17.0% within 12 hours after delivery in the treated and control animals, respectively (P < 0.01). We found decreases in the calving-to-first-service interval (73.2 ± 25.1 vs. 81.9 ± 32.8 days; P < 0.01), calving-to-conception interval (93.4 ± 38.8 vs. 114.6 ± 42.9 days; P < 0.01), and service per conception (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 1.9 ± 1.0 days; P < 0.01) in the treatment group compared with the control group. The first artificial insemination conception proportion was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (60.4% vs. 41.1%; P = 0.01). Moreover, the between-group difference in the proportion of cows that were pregnant within 180 days postpartum approached statistical significance (88.2% vs. 80.6%; P = 0.07). Sheng Hua Tang showed beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of retained placenta and improving subsequent reproductive performance in cows. This preventive treatment strategy would be effective in improving the management of puerperal health. The potential benefits of Sheng Hua Tang warrant further investigation to determine whether this preventive treatment strategy can be endorsed as a general preventive approach in postpartum cows.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in fruits of Acanthopanax gracilistylus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in the fruits of Acanthopanax gracilistylus. METHODS: The chemical components were isolated and purified by silica gel, ODS C-18, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatogram. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data. RESULTS: Ten compounds were isolated and identified as acankoreoside D(1), 3alpha, 11alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid(2), 3/3-([O-beta-D-glucopyranuronosyl] oxy) -olean-12-ene-28-olc acid (3),3beta-([O-beta-D-glucopyranuronosyl]oxy)-28-O-P3-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-28-olc acid(4),oleanolic acid-3-O-6'-O-methyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside(5), acantrifoside A(6), acankoreoside A(7), (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid(8), protocatechuic acid (9),beta-sitosterol(10). CONCLUSION: Compounds 2-5 are obtained from the fruits of the plant for the first time.

[Chemical constituents of Chinese red ginseng].

The chemical constituents of Chinese red ginseng (Panax ginseng) were investigated. The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silca gel, ODS, and Sephedex LH-20, column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectra data. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as: notoginsenoside R2 (1), 20(S) -ginsenoside Rg3 (2), 20(R) -ginsenoside Rg3 (3), 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg2 (4), 20(R) -ginsenosideRg2 (5), 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rh1 (6), 20(R) -ginsenoside Rh1 (7), ginsenoside Rh4 (8), -Ro (9), -Rb1 (10), -Rg1 (11), Re-(12), Rf (13), maltol (14). Compounds 1, 4, 6, were obtained from red ginseng for the first time. Compounds 2 and 3, 4 and 5-7 were enantiomers respectively, enantiomers 6 and 7 were isolated as monomer for the first time.

Clinical research into Qufeng Zhidong Recipe used to treat 31 children with tic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect and adverse reaction of Qufeng Zhidong Recipe (a recipe for dispelling wind to stop abnormal movement) used to treat children with tic disorder (TD). METHODS: The enrolled patients were randomized into a TCM group (31 cases) treated with Qufeng Zhidong Recipe and a Western medicine group (30 cases) treated with haloperidol and trihexyphenidyl. Two courses of treatment were observed with 12 weeks as one course. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were assessed with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Tic Symptom Score Scale (TSSS), TCM Syndrome Score Scale (TCMSSS), Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) and laboratory examinations. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 100% in the TCM group and 60% in the Western medicine group with statistical significance in difference (P < 0.05). All the scores in the TCM group were better than those in the Western medicine group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qufeng Zhidong Recipe can obviously relieve the symptoms and signs of TD children without toxic side-effects.

[Clinical observation of Flos magnoliae volatile oil nano-liposome nasal drops in treating pediatric allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Flos Magnoliae volatile oil nano-liposome nasal drops (FMO) in treating pediatric allergic rhinitis (PAR). METHODS: Adopting parallel controlled method, the 191 patients with PAR were randomized into two groups. The observation group was treated with FMO, and the control group with Cetirizine. The clinical efficacy, main symptoms, signs, syndromes scores of Chinese medicine, and peripheral eosinophil (EOS) count were observed after 3-week treatment. RESULTS: In the observation group, the total effective rate was 94.84%, which was higher than that in the control group (78.72%); the effective rate on alleviating main symptoms (sneezing, nasal obstruction), signs (nasal mucosa edema, pallor) and the EOS count were significantly lowered, all were better than those in the control group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: FMO has some positive effects on PAR, it might be realized by lowering the peripheral EOS.

Multicenter clinical study on the treatment of children's tic disorder with Qufeng Zhidong Recipe.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect and adverse reaction of Qufeng Zhidong Recipe (QZR) in treating children's tic disorder (TD). METHODS: With multicenter randomized parallel open-controlled method adopted, the patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, 41 cases in the Chinese medicine (CM) group and 40 in the Western medicine (WM) group. They were treated by QZR and haloperidol plus trihexyphenidyl respectively for 12 weeks as one course. In total, two courses of treatment were given. The curative effect and adverse reactions were evaluated by scoring with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Scale (TCMSS), and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS), as well as results of laboratory examinations. RESULTS: After one course of treatment, the markedly effective rate in the CM and the WM group was 14.6% and 17.5%, respectively, and the total effective rate 43.9% and 47.5%, respectively, which showed insignificant difference between groups (P>0.05). However, after two courses of treatment, markedly effective rate in them was 73.2% and 7.5%, and the total effective rate was 100.0% and 57.5%, both showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). Besides, the adverse reactions occurred in the CM group was less than that in the WM group obviously. CONCLUSION: QZR has definite curative effect with no apparent adverse reaction in treating TD, and it can obviously improve the symptoms and signs and upgrade the quality of life and learning capacities in such patients.

[The effect of lishi No.5 formula on the growth of human neuroblastoma cell line SY5Y].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Lishi No.5 formula on the growth of human neuroblastoma cell line SY5Y and find out the most effective drug dose. METHOD: SY5Y cells were administrated by Lishi No.5 formula in different concentration. MTT metabolic rate was measured as the cell survival rate, then the dose-effect curve was made. LDH leakage rate, axonal length and area of cell body were used as the indicators. RESULT: In 0.125-0.75 g x L(-1) Lishi No. 5 formula could increase the cell survival rate and MTT metabolic rate, decreased LDH leakage rate, and enhance axonal length and area of cell body, compared with control group. CONCLUSION: Lishi No.5 formula has the neurotrophic effect and can induce the survival of neuron.

[The effect of jiunaoyizhi capsul on signal transduction pathway of SY5Y cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Jiunaoyizhi capsul on the signal transduction pathway of SY5Y cell lines and explore the mechanism of the function of the capsul's enhancing neuronal growth. METHOD: Human neuroblastoma was used as cell models and they were divided into control group and experimental group. Supernatant of cell lysate was taken and immunoprecipitation was done with antibodies to proteins related to signal transduction pathway, and the immunoprecipitates were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULT: After treatment with Jiunaoyizhi capsul, expression of Akt/PKB, CREB, P-CREB was clearly increased and expression of cytochrome C decreased more than the control group. CONCLUSION: Jiunaoyizhi capsul can promote expression of some proteins related with signal transduction pathway in SY5Y cell lines. Mechanism of Jiunaoyizhi capsul's enhancing neuronal growth is relevant to expression of some proteins in signal transduction pathway.

Zinc binding to the NH2-terminal domain of the Wilson disease copper-transporting ATPase: implications for in vivo metal ion-mediated regulation of ATPase activity.

Mutations in the Wilson disease copper transporting, P-type ATPase lead to the accumulation of toxic levels of copper in the liver, brain, and kidney causing extensive tissue damage and eventual death. The NH(2)-terminal domain ( approximately 70 kDa), which contains six copies of the heavy metal-associated repeat GMT/HCXXC, is also able to bind zinc. We have used circular dichroism (CD) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to characterize zinc binding to the NH(2)-terminal metal-binding domain. These studies have revealed that zinc is able to bind to this domain with a stoichiometry of 6:1, and upon binding, induces conformational changes in the NH(2)-terminal domain. These conformational changes are completely different from those previously observed for copper binding to the domain and lead to an overall loss of secondary structure in the domain. The XAS spectra indicate that zinc is ligated primarily by nitrogen atoms and therefore has low affinity for the heavy metal-associated repeats where copper has been shown to bind. The differences between zinc and copper binding may serve as the basis for the metal-ion mediated regulation of the ATPase in vivo.