Palladium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Reaction of Cyclopropenones with Vinyl Epoxides.

We report herein the Pd-catalyzed selective ring-opening reaction of cyclopropenones with vinyl epoxides. By using a commercially available Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3-BINAP catalyst, a wide range of conjugated alkadienyl carboxylates could be accessed in good yield and excellent regioselectivity. The new application of zwitterionic π-allyl palladium intermediates has been demonstrated in organic synthesis.

[Shenfu injection induces the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF) on the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS: We divided prostate cancer PC-3 cells into a blank control group and three experimental groups, the latter treated with SF at 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then we determined the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay, measured their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and detected the expression of P53 mRNA by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the survival rates of the prostate cancer PC-3 cells in the 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml SF groups were (93.76 +/- 2.63)%, (81.21 +/- 1.80)% and (18.01 +/- 3.84)% at 24 hours, (94.67 +/-1.11)%, (78.33 +/- 2.89)% and (10.34 +/- 1.44)% at48 hours, and (91.30 +/- 0.47)%, (36.67 +/- 1.56)% and (1.33 +/- 0.32)% at 72 hours, all significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p53 mRNA was also markedly increased in all the three experimental groups at 48 hours (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: SF can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which may due to its upregulation of the p53 mRNA expression.

[Integral syndrome differentiation, local syndrome differentiation and microcosmic syndrome differentiation --thinking on the modern TCM system of syndrome differentiation dependent treatment].

From the historic and realistic viewpoints, the authors discussed the theory of TCM syndrome differentiation, pointing out that the modern TCM system of syndrome differentiation dependent treatment should consist of three components, the integral syndrome differentiation, local syndrome differentiation and microcosmic syndrome differentiation, they are independent comparatively and supplementary with each other.

[Expressions of OB-R, IRF-1 and GR-ß in airway smooth muscle cells of obese rats with asthma].

AIM: To explore the relationship between obesity and difficult-to-treat asthma by observing the expressions of leptin receptor (OB-R), interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and glucocorticoid receptor-ß (GR-ß) in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of obese rats with asthma. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 2 groups with normal weight: control group (group A), asthmatic group (group B), and 2 groups with obesity: control group (group C), asthmatic group (group D). The trachea smooth muscle was obtained from the rats of each group, and ASMCs were isolated, purified, and cultured in vitro. Then the expression of OB-R mRNA was measured by RT-PCR, and the levels of IRF-1 and GR-ß proteins were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of OB-R mRNA in airway smooth muscle cells in group B, C and D were higher than that in group A, while it in group D was significantly higher than group B and C. What's more, the levels of IRF-1 and GR-ß proteins increased in group B, C and D as compared with group A, and were significantly higher in group D than in group B and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: The increased expressions of OB-R, IRF-1 and GR-ß in ASMCs of obese rats with asthma may play a role in the onset of obese asthma and glucocorticoid resistance.