[Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection].

Objective: To explore the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxianwan for 78 weeks. Methods: Patients with chronic HBV infection were randomly treated with entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxian for 78 weeks. Ishak fibrosis score was used for blind interpretation of liver biopsy specimens. The improvement in liver fibrosis condition before and after the treatment was compared. Student's t test and non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis test) were used to analyze the measurement data. The categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test method and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to test bivariate associations. Results: Liver fibrosis improvement rate after 78 weeks of treatment was 36.53% (80/219) and the progression rate was 23.29% (51/219). The improvement of liver fibrosis was associated to the degree of baseline fibrosis and treatment methods (P < 0.05). The improvement rate of hepatic fibrosis in patients treated with anluohuaxianwan combined with entecavir at baseline F < 3 (54.74%, 52/95) was significantly higher than that in patients treated only with entecavir (33.33%, 16/48), P = 0.016 and the progression rate of hepatic fibrosis (13.68%, 13/95) was lower than that in patients treated alone (18.75%, 9/48), P = 0.466. In patients with baseline F < 3, the proportion of patients with improved and stable liver fibrosis in the combined treatment group (68.1%, 32/47) was higher than that in the treatment group alone (51.7%, 15/29). Conclusion: Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment can significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Furthermore, it has the tendency to improve the stability rate and reduce the rate of progression of liver fibrosis.

The effect of selenium supplementation on coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Selenium is a crucial mineral with antioxidant and immune functions, and selenium deficiency may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the effect of selenium supplementation on CHD is still controversial according to numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of our meta-analysis study was to investigate the impact of selenium on CHD. METHODS: PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were systematically searched to identify RCTs evaluating the effect of selenium supplementation on CHD mortality, blood lipid profile (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and the level of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) from inception until September 20, 2016. Odds ratio of CHD mortality and the associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed effect model. Weighted mean difference or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine the lipid profile, serum CRP, and GSH-PX using fixed effect or random effect models depending on the observed heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 16 eligible RCTs with 43998 participants were included. Significant effects were observed for serum CRP (SMD=-0.48; 95% CI, -0.96 to 0; p=0.049) and GSH-PX (SMD=0.5; 95% CI, 0.36-0.64; p<0.001) after selenium supplementation. However, selenium supplementation was not statistically associated with CHD mortality and an aberrant lipid profile. CONCLUSION: Selenium supplementation decreased serum CRP and increased the GSH-PX level, suggesting a positive effect on reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in CHD. However, selenium supplementation is not sufficient to reduce mortality and to improve the lipid status.

[Application of intraoperative cell salvage combined with leukocyte depletion filter on radical nephrectomy for renal carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: 2 case reports].

Intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS) has been widely used to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion and prevent blood transfusion related complications during surgery. However, due to the risk of transfusion related reaction, contamination, and immunological reaction, its use for tumor patients has been controversial and limited. To explore the feasibility of the application of IOCS in cancer patients, we reported 2 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with tumor embolism in IVC that underwent radical nephrectomy,and inferior caval venous thrombectomy receiving IOCS combined with leukocyte depletion filter (LDF) from August 2016 to November 2016 in our hospital. The cell saver blood salvage (Haemonetics, 5+) was used for these 2 cases. The salvaged blood was filtered through the LDF before infusion. For case 1 (male 45-year-old) the total operation time was 505 min, and the estimated blood loss was 4 500 ml. A total of 1 000 mL autologous blood, 12 u allogeneic packed red blood cells (PRBC), 1 200 mL fresh frozen plasma (FFP) were infused during the procedure. The patient was discharged from hospital after 75 days without complications. The postoperative follow-up for 3 months showed no tumor recurrence or metastasis. For case 2 (a male patient, aged 51 years), the total operation time was 490 min, and the estimated (blood loss was 7 000 mL. the patient received 2 700 mL autologous blood transfusion, 12 u allogeneic packed red blood cells (PRBC), and 2 400 mL fresh frozen plasma (FFP). The patient was discharged from hospital after 86 days without severe complications. the postoperative follow-up for 6 months showed no tumor recurrence or metastasis for this patient. Other relevant retrospective studies with this technique showed that cell salvage could be used safely in many kinds of cancer patients, for example, bladder cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer. Furthermore,numerous researches have proved the safety and efficacy of the combination of these two techniques, the intraoperative cell salvage technique and leucocyte depletion filter in cancer patients. Here we only reported two cases using IOCS and LDF. Further work is needed to determine whether the use of intraoperative cell salvage combined with leukocyte depletion filter can be used safely for patients with HCC.

Assessment of genetic diversity of bermudagrass germplasm from southwest China and Africa by using AFLP markers.

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon (common bermudagrass) is widely distributed geographically between approximately 45°N and 45°S latitude, penetrating to approximately 53°N latitude in Europe. The extensive variation of morphological and adaptive characteristics of the taxon has been substantially documented, but information is lacking on DNA molecular variation in geographically disparate forms. The genetic diversity of 51 wild accessions of bermudagrass from southwest China (Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Tibet) and 8 African bermudagrass was analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism molecular markers. A total of 670 polymorphic bands were detected with 11 primer combinations, of which 663 (98.74%) bands were found to be polymorphic. The genetic similarity among the accessions ranged from 0.64-0.96 with an average of 0.78. All 59 wild accessions were clustered into 5 eco-geographic groups, and nearly all accessions from the same area were classified into the same group and were found to be associated with their geographical distributions. Therefore, complex geographical and ecological environments are important factors for the genetic structure and geographical distribution of C. dactylon.

Analysis of genetic diversity among wild bermudagrass germplasm from southwest China using SSR markers.

Fifty-five wild accessions of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) were collected from southwest China (Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Tibet), and their genetic diversity was analyzed using simple sequence repeat markers. A total of 267 polymorphic bands were detected with 18 primer combinations. The genetic similarity among the accessions ranged from 0.688 to 0.894 with an average of 0.797. All 55 wild accessions were clustered into 7 eco-geographic groups. Our data showed that the dendrogram was almost in accordance with geographic distribution, and accessions from the same collection sites tended to be clustered into the same group. A genetic differentiation analysis revealed that the percentage of genetic variance was 70.07 and 29.93% within and among groups, respectively. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results for C. dactylon in southwest China.

Amelioration of graft ischemia-reperfusion injury by breviscapine in rat small bowel transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the effects of breviscapine to ameliorate graft ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in a rat small bowel transplantation model. METHODS: Thirty-six recipients were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12): operative controls, in which grafts were implanted immediately after harvesting; an I/R control group with grafts preserved in cold lactated Ringer's solution at 4 degrees C for 4 hours before transplantation; and a breviscapine group wherein the graft was treated in the same way as the I/R control group but breviscapine (25 mg/kg/d) was injected intraperitoneally into both the donors and the recipients for 3 days before the operation of and into the recipients after transplantation. We compared the pathological scores for I/R injury, apoptosis index, and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the graft. RESULTS: Breviscapine diminished the pathological change caused by I/R injury (breviscapine vs I/R control on 24 hours after operation, 1.50 +/- 0.55 vs 2.17 +/- 0.75; P < .05), decreased the apoptotic index (breviscapine vs I/R control at 24 hours after operation, 27.33 +/- 0.167 vs 73.83 +/- 0.077; P < .05), and reduced the graft tissue content of MDA (breviscapine vs I/R control on 24 hours after operation, 1.717 +/- 0.131 vs 3.167 +/- 0.196; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Breviscapine may protect the transplanted small intestine against I/R injury during transplantation in rats.

Promoting of melanocyte adhesion and migration by Malytea Scurfpea fruit in vitro.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Malytea Scurfpea Fruit (MSF) on melanocyte adhesion and migration. Human epidermal melanocytes were treated with MSF and examined for adhesion to bovine serum fibronectin-coated culture dishes. Control and treated cells were also examined for migration into micropore filters coated with the same protein. Compared with control, MSF-treated melanocytes adhered to the dishes more easily and migrated into the filters in a dose-dependent manner. MSF at a dose of more than 200 micro g/ml did not increase melanocyte adhesion and migration accordingly. With the exception of MSF 10 micro g/ml, at every concentration of MSF there were significant differences between treated and untreated melanocytes (p < 0.01) when the adhesion test was studied. Regarding migration, even at a concentration of MSF 10 micro g/ml, obviously increased cell numbers were found compared with MSF untreated melanocytes (p < 0.01). MSF promoted melanocyte adhesion and migration; this could explain, in part, the capacity of MSF to regulate melanocyte function in vitiligo.

In vivo and in vitro studies on the antitumor activities of MCP (Malva crispa L. Powder).

Four short-term in vivo and in vitro tests were used to further confirm the antitumor activities of MCP, a vegetable powder, prepared from Malva crispa L. (i) In the H22 hepatoma-transplanting test, MCP had antitumor action, but MCP residue did not show such action; 5-FU appeared to have more potent antitumor activities and more harmful effects than MCP. (ii) In the micronucleus (MN) test, MCP significantly decreased MN frequency. (iii) In the cancer cell culture systems, the MCP fat-soluble extract revealed inhibitory effects on the growth and proliferation of the human hepatoma and the gastric cancer cells in a dose-response manner. (iv) In the colony formation test, MCP also altered the morphology of human gastric cancer cells. It was suggested that MCP could be consumed not only by healthy subjects for cancer prevention but also by patients with cancer as supplementary treatment in combination with anticarcinogenic drug such as 5-FU, cyclophosphamide (CP).

An increase in apparent affinity for sucrose of mung bean sucrose synthase is caused by in vitro phosphorylation or directed mutagenesis of Ser11.

A mutational analysis of mung bean (Vigna radiata Wilczek) sucrose synthase was performed by site-directed mutagenesis of the recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, in which two different acidic amino acid residues (Asp or Glu) were introduced at Ser11 (S11D, S11E). Only the wild-type enzyme (Ser11) was phosphorylated in vitro by a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase from soybean root nodules, suggesting that this is the specific target residue in mung bean sucrose synthase. The apparent affinity for sucrose was increased in this phosphorylated enzyme and also in the S11D and S11E mutant enzymes, although the affinities for UDP-glucose and fructose were similar in the wild-type, phosphorylated wild-type, and mutant enzymes. These results suggest that a monoanionic (1-) side chain at position 11 mimics the Ser11-P2- residue to bind and cleave sucrose for the synthesis of UDP-glucose. Since the S11E mutant enzyme showed the lowest K(m) (sucrose) and the highest catalytic efficiency of the recombinant proteins, the enzymic properties of this S11E mutant were further characterized. The results showed that replacement of Ser11 with Glu11 modestly protected the sucrose synthesis activity against phenolic glycosides and altered the enzyme nucleotide specificity. We postulate that the introduction of negative charge at Ser11 is possibly involved in the enzymatic perturbation of sucrose synthase.

[Clinical study on treatment of chemo- or radiotherapy induced leukopenia with fuzheng compound].

The therapeutic effect of Fuzhen Compound, a Chinese herbal medicine, on leukocyte count in 59 patients with cancer of advanced stage after chemo-or radiotherapy were observed. Among 41 cases with leukopenia before treatment, leukocyte of 37 cases were normalized after treatment, the count pre-and post-treatment were (2.8 +/- 0.6) x 10(9)/L and (5.9 +/- 1.4) x 10(9)/L respectively (P < 0.01). In 18 patients with normal leukocyte count before treatment, the counts of 17 cases were still kept in normal after treatment. The time for leukcoyte recovering was 8.0 days in average, while that of 23 patients did not take Fuzhen Compound was 20.6 +/- 1.8 days. The results indicated that the Fuzhen Compound could alleviate the inhibition of chemo-or radiotherapy on hemopoietic function of bone marrow and has leukocytogenic effect.

[Determination of ranunculin in Pulsatilla chinensis and synthetic ranunculin by reversed phase HPLC].

A method for the determination of ranunculin in Pulsatilla chinensis and synthetic ranunculin by reversed phase HPLC using betamethasone as internal standard is described. The column employed was a 10 micron LiChrosorb RP-18 (230 x 14 mm), the eluting solvent consisted of methanol-water (40:10, V/V) and the effluent was monitored at 225 nm. The advantages of this method are simple, rapid and accurate. The coefficients of variation are less than 1%.

Determination of avicularin in Polygonum aviculare L. by square wave polarography.

A method for the determination of avicularin in Polygonum aviculare L. is described. Square wave polarography (SWP) with a static mercury drop electrode was used to observe the reduction of avicularin. The supporting electrolyte was an acetate buffer solution of pH 4. Avicularin gives a well-defined peak at a potential of -1.30 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). An excellent linear relationship was obtained between the concentration (1.20-3.59 x 10(-6) mol/L) and peak current. The method can be used to analyze small amounts of sample.

Coulometric titration of total flavonoids in Sophora japonica L.

A method for the determination of total flavonoids in Sophora japonica L. by coulometric titration was developed. The titration was carried out in a mixture of 1 mol/L KBr--2 mol/L HCl (1:1) and bromine was generated at the anode, rutin reacted with two moles of bromine with an n value of 4. The advantages of this method are simple and rapid, it can be used to analyze small amount of sample.

Determination of total flavonoids in Epimedium brevicornum maxim by differential pulse polarography.

The polarographic behavior of icariin in various electrolytes was studied. It was found that a well defined peak was obtained in 0.05 mol/L ammonium sulfate supporting electrolyte at a potential of -1.51 V (vs Ag/AgCl). An excellent linear relationship was obtained between the concentration (1.28-3.85 X 10(-6) mol/L) and peak current. The method can be used to analyze flavonoids in small amount of medicinal herb samples.