Review on NMR as a tool to analyse natural products extract directly: Molecular structure elucidation and biological activity analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Natural products, the small organic molecules produced by plants, microbes and invertebrates, often present in the form of a mixture, this leads to the structural characterisation of natural extracts often requiring time-consuming multistep purification procedures. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is traditionally utilised as a tool for the structural elucidation of pure compounds. Contemporarily, an up-to-date trend in the application of NMR in natural product research is shifting to the direct NMR analysis of crude mixtures, to obtain molecular structure and biological activity information without performing cumbersome separation. OBJECTIVE: To review works of literature on the evolution, principle and progress of NMR technologies for analysing mixtures, we focus on the successful application of NMR technologies in direct analysis of natural product extracts. METHODOLOGY: Based on our research experience, academic tracking and extensive literature search, which involved, but not limited to, the use of various databases, like Web of Knowledge and PubMed. The keywords used, in various combinations, to retrieve recent literature on the successful application of NMR technologies to sheer natural product extracts, and excluded artificially natural product mixture and biofluid. RESULTS: NMR technologies for direct natural extracts analysis, including two-dimensional J-resolved spectroscopy (2D-JRES), pure shift NMR, diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY), statistical correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY), concentration-ordered NMR spectroscopy (CORDY), saturation transfer difference (STD) and water-ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY) were illustrated. CONCLUSIONS: By these methods, molecular structure and biological activity information will be directly obtained from NMR analysis of natural products extract, aiming to save experimental time and expenses.

Development a multi-immunoaffinity column LC-MS-MS method for comprehensive investigation of mycotoxins contamination and co-occurrence in traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Mycotoxins are poisonous secondary fungal toxic metabolites and harmful to human health. Traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMs), including more than two hundred functional foods, are vulnerably bred fungi, causing spoilage and multi-mycotoxins contamination. This study established a simultaneous analytical method by using multi-mycotoxins immunoaffinity column (multi-IAC) and HPLC-MS/MS to evaluate mycotoxins' contamination levels and natural incidence in TCMs. Aflatoxins (AFs, including AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FB1 and FB2), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxins in three TCMs or functional foods of Polygalae Radix (PR), Coicis Semen (CS) and Eupolyphaga Steleophaga (ES) were detected. The systematically investigated results of 30 batch AFB1 positive samples revealed co-occurrence and correlation of multi-mycotoxins are significant differences in various matrices. All the samples in this study contain more than 5 mycotoxins. AFB1-AFs, AFB1-FBs, AFB1-DON, and AFB1-T-2 are the most observed co-occurrence, AFB1-OTA is also of concern due to its synergistic toxicity. This study's results can be used to establish guidelines for screening mycotoxin contaminants and limitations on acceptable levels in TCMs. Simultaneously, mycotoxin's correlation results in different matrices can also provide a reference for the standardization of TCM production and processing.

miR-124 increases the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma cells through targeting STAT3 / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-124 in glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines LN229 and LN229R,as well as the regulatory mechanism of miR-124 on radiosensitivity of LN229R cells.Methods miR-124 mimic (miR-124) and negative control (miR-NC),STAT3 overexpression plasmid (STAT3) and pcDNA3.1 vector (pcDNA) were transfected or co-transfected into radioresistant glioma cells LN229R.qRT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression of miR-124 in LN229 and LN229R cells.The survival rate and sensitivity-related parameters of LN229R cells at different doses were analyzed by cloning formation assay.Cell apoptosis of LN229R was evaluated by flow cytometry.Targeting gene of miR-124 was predicted using Targetscan software and verified by the double-luciferase reporter assay.Western blot assay was performed to detect STAT3 protein expression.Results The expression of miR-124 in LN229R cells (0.32 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than that in LN229 cells (1.02 ± 0.09) (t =12.780,P＜0.05).Transfection of miR-124 mimics promoted the expression of miR-124 in LN229R cells (4.02±0.39) compared with miR-NC group (0.95±0.06) (t=13.476,P＜0.05).After 8 Gy irradiation,the survival rate of LN229R cells transfected with miR-124 mimics (0.003 ± 0.000 4) was significantly lower than that in miR-NC group (0.033±0.005 0) (t=5.655,P＜0.05),and the apoptosis rate (22.34±2.42) ％ was significantly higher than that in miR-NC group (4.69 ± 0.51) ％ (t =12.361,P＜0.05).STAT3 was identified to be a target gene of miR-124.Exogenous restoration of STAT3 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-124 on LN229R cell survival.Conclusion miR-124 increases the radiosensitivity of LN229R cells by targeting STAT3.

[Assessment of the physical status of elderly patients with prostate cancer].

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the primary malignancy threatening men's health in the United States and its incidence is increasing in China year by year. Many PCa cases are found in the advanced stage or in the old age, treated with unstandardized options, with negligence of comprehensive assessment of the patient's physical status, which may frequently add to the physical, psychological and economic burdens of the patient and even result in death. On the other hand, some excessively conservative therapeutic options may cause the loss of the best time of management or lead to deterioration of the disease. Therefore, sufficient importance should be attached to the comprehensive assessment of the physical status of the elderly PCa patient before treatment and the choice of the best therapeutic protocol.

Assessment of the physical status of elderly patients with prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the primary malignancy threatening men's health in the United States and its incidence is increasing in China year by year. Many PCa cases are found in the advanced stage or in the old age, treated with unstandardized options, with negligence of comprehensive assessment of the patient's physical status, which may frequently add to the physical, psychological and economic burdens of the patient and even result in death. On the other hand, some excessively conservative therapeutic options may cause the loss of the best time of management or lead to deterioration of the disease. Therefore, sufficient importance should be attached to the comprehensive assessment of the physical status of the elderly PCa patient before treatment and the choice of the best therapeutic protocol.

ITPI: Initial Transcription Process-Based Identification Method of Bioactive Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula.

Identification of bioactive components is an important area of research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. The reported identification methods only consider the interaction between the components and the target proteins, which is not sufficient to explain the influence of TCM on the gene expression. Here, we propose the Initial Transcription Process-based Identification (ITPI) method for the discovery of bioactive components that influence transcription factors (TFs). In this method, genome-wide chip detection technology was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The TFs of DEGs were derived from GeneCards. The components influencing the TFs were derived from STITCH. The bioactive components in the formula were identified by evaluating the molecular similarity between the components in formula and the components that influence the TF of DEGs. Using the formula of Tian-Zhu-San (TZS) as an example, the reliability and limitation of ITPI were examined and 16 bioactive components that influence TFs were identified.

[Assessment of the social values of ecosystem services based on SolVES model: A case study of Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park, Shanghai, China.] / 基于SolVES模型的生态系统服务社会价值评估­­ä»¥å´æ·žç‚®å°æ¹¾æ¹¿åœ°æ£®æž—å ¬å›­ä¸ºä¾‹.

Human demand for various ecosystem services continues to increase. The previous studies focused mainly on using economic methods to assess ecosystem service values, but few studies took social attributes and spatial heterogeneity into consideration. In this paper, we selected Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park in Shanghai as the study area, and used Social Values for Ecosystem services (SolVES) model to assess the social values of several ecosystem services, such as aesthetic, biodiversity, cultural, recreation, etc. The results showed that the "hotspots" were situated in the places which were close to the water landscape with a broad vision such as the lawn park, Wusong Fort memorial square and waterfront observation deck. Aesthetic, historic, biodiversity, cultural, recreation and therapeutic values were the visitors' preference values. Visitors' prefe-rences could be influenced by the water landscape and the roads significantly. The value indexes of aesthetic, biodiversity, recreation and therapeutics had a significant negative correlation with the distance to water (DTW) and the value indexes of aesthetic and therapeutics had a significant negative correlation with the distance to roads (DTR). Visit frequency could influence visitors' attitudes and preferences towards biodiversity and therapeutics. SolVES had the potential to explicitly assess the social values of ecosystem services at a small scale.

Study on active ingredient and mechanism in preventing vascular dementia of Tianzhusan coming from Tujia medicine.

To make clear of the absorbed components of Tianzhusan (TZS) and its possible mechanism in preventing vascular dementia (VD), the rats' models of VD were prepared by a permanent ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. After 60 days, rats were administrated with TZS for 0.1 g x kg(-1), and the volume is 0.02 mL x g(-1). After 3 days, the medicated serum was prepared and detected by UPLC, and then we predicted the possible chemical structure of the absorbed components of TZS. According to the absorbed components, the potential targets of TZS were found by ligand profiling of Discovery Studio 3.5. All of these target genes were submitted to DAVID onine for gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The 5 absorbed components of TZS have been predicted, and four of them have been identified as parishin B, parishin C, parishin, pennogenin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosy-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucoside. Through reverse finding targets, we got 861 pharmacophore models and 9 pathways from KEGG, BIOCARTA after document verification. These results showed that the efficacy mechanism of TZS on VD perhaps were be related with these absorbed components and pathways. If the traditional herbs could be proved effective by efficacy tests, the serum pharmacochemistry, computer-aided drug design, system biology and other technologies can be used in the next experiments, which will be beneficial to fast discovery of material basis and mechanisms of traditional medicine coming form ethnic minorities.

Construction and identification of immortalized rat astrocyte cell line expressing enkephalin / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide a sound cell source for further ex-vivo gene therapy for chronic pain, we attempt to develop an immortalized rat astrocyte cell line that expresses enkephalin regulated by doxycycline.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrovirus infection method was employed to develop an immortalized rat astrocyte cell line that could express enkephalin regulated by doxycycline. The hPPE gene expression level of immoralized astroyte cells (IAC)/ hPPE was detected by RT-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence staining and radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IAC carrying Tet-on system transfected with preproenkephalin gene could secrete enkephalin that was regulated by doxycycline in a dose-dependent manner and hPPE gene activation could be repeated in on-off-on cycles through administration or removal of doxycycline.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An immortalized rat astrocyte cell line that secrete enkephalin under the control of doxycycline is established successfully, which provides a research basis for transgenic cell transplantation for analgesia.</p>

Evaluation of NR2B peptide as subunit vaccines against experimental neuropathic pain / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>NR2B containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays an important role in the facilitation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. The discrete distribution of NR2B subunit in the central nervous system (CNS) may support reduced side effects of agents that act selectively at this site. Therefore, we investigated the hypothesis that a humoral autoimmune response targeting the NR2B subunit of NMDA receptor relieves pain like behaviours produced by peripheral injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were immunized subcutaneously with NR2B-Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (NR2B-KLH) three times at two-week intervals. NR2B specific IgG titres in sera and cerebrospinal fluid were determined by indirect ELISA. Seven days after the third immunization, 2 of the 3 terminal branches of the sciatic nerve (tibial and common peroneal nerves) were tightly ligated. Behavioural testing was carried out on every other day after surgery, until 7 days after surgery. The lumbar spinal cord (L4-6) was removed on day 7 after ligation. The expression of NR2B protein in the lumbar spinal cord was determined using Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the second vaccination, NR2B specific IgG in sera was detected to be > 0.5 microg/ml in six of nine rats. After the third vaccination, all the immunized rats had > 2.2 microg/ml. Titres of NR2B specific IgG in sera peaked 42 days post initial immunization and persisted for over 70 days. No NR2B specific IgG was detected in sera from PBS or KLH group. The behavioural thresholds in NR2B group were significantly higher than those in PBS and KLH groups on day 7 after ligation. NR2B specific IgG in CSF in NR2B group could not be detected on day 1 before spinal dissection; but could be detected on day 7 after surgery. The expression of NR2B protein in group NR2B was significantly lower than in PBS and KLH groups on day 7 after surgery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The NR2B peptide could be used as a vaccine against neuropathic pain, which could be associated with reduction of NR2B protein in the lumbar spinal cord.</p>

Construction of an immortalized rat astrocyte strain with inducible enkephalin expression / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To construct an immortalized rat astrocyte strain expressing enkephalin which can be regulated by doxycycline.Methods pRevTet-On and recombinant plasmid pRevTRE/hPPE were transfected into packaging cell PT67 respectively by standard lipofectamine methods.The supernatant containing RevTet-On virus was used to infect immortalized rat astrocyte strain(IAST)and RevTRE/hPPE virus was used to infect the IAST/Tet-On cell.Immortalized rat astrocyte strain that stably expressed Tet-regulated enkephalin was established. hPPE gene expression level of IAST/Tet-On/hPPE cell strain was detected by real time-PCR,immuno- cytochemistry and radio-immunoassay.Results Real time-PCR,immuno-cytochemistry and radio-immunoassay confirmed the level of enkephalin expression was regulated by doxycycline in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion An immortalized rat astrocyte strain which secrets enkephalin as controlled by doxycycline has been constructed successfully.