Huge Nevus Lipomatosus Cutaneous Superficialis on Back: An Unusual Presentation

Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis (NLCS) is a benign dermatosis, histologically characterized by the presence of mature ectopic adipocytes in the dermis. We hereby report a case of a 10-year-old boy who presented with multiple huge swellings on the scapular regions and lower back. The lesions were surmounted by small papules, along with peau-d orange appearance at places. Histology showed features consistent with NLCS. The case is being reported for the unusual clinical presentation.     

精子DNA完整性与体外受精-胚胎移植临床结局的相关性研究

目的 探讨精子DNA完整性与精液参数及体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）/卵胞浆内单精子注射（ICSI）临床结局的关系.方法 选择2008年6月～2009年6月在解放军105医院生殖医学中心接受IVF/ICSI治疗的179对不育夫妇作为研究对象,采用吖啶橙试验（AOT）对116例实施IVF和63例实施ICSI治疗的男性患者进行精子DNA完整性分析,根据精子DNA碎片指数（DFI）将患者分为DFI≤30%组和DFI＞30%组,比较两组间精液参数、受精率、卵裂率、优胚率、胚胎冷冻率、着床率和临床妊娠率.结果 DFI ＞30%组精子畸形率显著高于≤30%组（P＜0.01）,但两组间精子密度、活动率、前向运动精子（a＋b）均无显著性差异（P＞0.05）;DFI＞30%组IVF和ICSI的优胚率、ICSI的胚胎着床率和临床妊娠率均显著低于DFI≤30%组（P＜0.01,P＜0.05）.结论 精子DNA完整性与精子形态密切相关,精子DNA损伤在IVF/ICSI过程中对胚胎质量有负面影响,并显著影响ICSI的胚胎着床率和妊娠率,建议行ICSI前应对精子DNA完整性进行评估.     

Subcellular fractionation of human eosinophils: Isolation of functional specific granules on isoosmotic density gradients

Subcellular fractionation has been an important tool in investigating human eosinophil structure and function, including localizing of cytokine/chemokines within granules, investigating granule protein translocation and intracellular transport during eosinophil secretion, and studying secretory mechanisms of granules. The resolution of organelles obtained by subcellular fractionation was improved considerably after the introduction of nonionic iodinated density-gradient metrizamide and Nycodenz media that, unlike sucrose, exhibit relatively low tonicity throughout the gradient. However, the structure and membrane preservation of isolated organelles were still compromised due to the lack of gradient isoosmolarity. This paper describes a detailed protocol of subcellular fractionation of nitrogen cavitated eosinophils on an isoosmotic iodinated density gradient (iodixanol - OptiPrep) and the isolation of well preserved and functional membrane-bound specific granules.     

Chemosensitization of human leukemia K562 cells to taxol by a Vanadium-salen complex

Vanadium complexes are a heterogeneous class of compounds exhibiting interesting biological properties. Herein, we report the effect of a vanadium-salen complex (VO-salen) on proliferative behavior of K562 cell line. The results revealed that VO-salen at 6–32 μM inhibited K562 proliferation with no distinct alteration in cell morphology, extent of apoptosis and/or differentiation. Our results indicated that VO-salen complex has just a cytostatic effect and capable of arresting the affected cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle. In addition, we evaluated the combined effects of VO-salen complex and taxol. The cell cycle analyses showed that VO-salen complex enhanced taxol-induced G2/M arrest and also increased taxol-induced apoptosis through a decrease in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax which might account for the decrease in the apoptosis threshold among the affected cells. These findings support that combination of VO-salen, as a chemosensitizer, and taxol might constitute an affective new strategy for leukemia therapy.     

Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection: The sensitivities and specificities of microscopy, culture and PCR assay

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare wet mount-, Giemsa stain-, acridine orange fluorescent stain-, cultivation- and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches to establish which method or combination of methods was most effective in the laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis. STUDY DESIGN: Out of 200 investigated patients with various gynecological complaints, Trichomonas vaginalis infection was detected in 27 (13.5%) by any of methods investigated. Among women with trichomonads, a typical clinical finding was presented in only nine. For analysis of sensitivity and specificity of the methods used, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve concept with culture as a gold standard was applied. RESULTS: Infection was diagnosed by wet mount in 14 (7.0%) women, by Giemsa stain in 11 (5.5%) and by acridine orange stain in 16 (8.0%) women. In 21 (10.5%) women, it was diagnosed by culture in Diamond's medium, and in 22 (11.0%) by PCR. For the initial diagnosis of trichomoniasis, wet preparation is the test that is widely available in most STD clinics, but its sensitivity is poor (66.67%). Giemsa stain shows a low sensitivity of 52.38%. Acridine orange shows reasonable sensitivity and specificity of 71.43% and 99.44%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR (80.95% and 97.21%) did not exceed that of culture. CONCLUSION: With regard to the fact that trichomoniasis can have an atypical or even asymptomatic course, in order to accurately diagnose this disease, microbiological investigation is necessary. Comparison of different methods showed that at least two techniques, such as culture and acridine orange staining, have the potential for better diagnosis of T. vaginalis infection. PCR detection of infection has been demonstrated to be highly specific and sensitive, but its availability and cost effectiveness are in question. PCR could provide an alternative for laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis by culture.     

HPLC法测定辣椒中碱性橙的含量

目的:建立辣椒中碱性橙的HPLC测定方法。方法:选择HPLC法测定辣椒中碱性橙的理想色谱条件,并测定辣椒中碱性橙的含量及加标回收率,作方法学论证。结果:碱性橙在0.40~100.00μg/ml的范围内,线性良好,线性方程y=3.80e+004x+6.09+003,r2=0.9999。碱性橙最低检出浓度为0.32 mg/L。样品添加浓度为0.40~30.00 mg/kg时,方法回收率为91.5%~108.5%。结论:以HPLC法检测非法添加于辣椒中碱性橙的含量,操作简便、定量准确可靠。     

Safety evaluation of p‐synephrine following 15 days of oral administration to healthy subjects: A clinical study

Extracts of bitter orange (BOE, Citrus aurantium L.) and its primary protoalkaloid p‐synephrine are extensively consumed as dietary supplements. p‐Synephrine is also present in foods and juices prepared from various Citrus species. The safety of p‐synephrine has been questioned as a result of structural similarities with ephedrine. This study assessed the cardiovascular (stimulant) and hemodynamic effects of BOE (49 mg p‐synephrine) daily given to 16 healthy subjects for 15 days in a placebo‐controlled, cross‐over, double‐blinded study. A physical evaluation by a cardiologist, as well as heart rates, blood pressures, and electrocardiograms were determined, and blood samples were drawn at baseline, and Days 5, 10, and 15. Serum levels for caffeine and p‐synephrine were measured at 1 and 2 weeks. Subjects completed a 10‐item health and metabolic questionnaire at baseline and on Day 15. No significant changes occurred in heart rate, electrocardiograms, systolic blood or diastolic pressures, blood cell counts, or blood chemistries in either the control or p‐synephrine treated groups at any time point. No adverse effects were reported in response to the bitter orange (p‐synephrine). Caffeine consumed by the participants varied markedly. Under these experimental conditions, BOE and p‐synephrine were without stimulant (cardiovascular) and adverse effects.     

Protection of glycyrrhizic acid against AGEs-induced endothelial dysfunction through inhibiting RAGE/NF-κB pathway activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots) is used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its vascular complications. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA, also known as Glycyrrhizin), a triterpenoid saponin glycoside, is considered to be a bioactive component in Licorice and is beneficial to diabetic vascular complications.

Aim of study

The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential protective activities on AGEs-induced endothelial dysfunction, including anti-apoptosis, antioxidant stress and anti-proinflammatory responses, and explore the underlying mechanism.

Materials and methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated and pre-treated with GA (10⁻⁹–10⁻⁶ M) or RAGE-Ab (5 μg/ml) in the presence or absence of 200 μg/ml AGEs. AO/EB fluorescence staining assay was performed to evaluate anti-apoptosis activity. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in cell supernatant were detected by kits while the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) kit. Immunocytochemistry analysis was designed to determine transforming growth factor beta1(TGF-β1) protein expression while immunofluorescence analysis for RAGE and NF-kB. The protein expressions of TGF-β1, RAGE and NF-kB were analyzed by Western blot analysis.

Results

Pretreatment with GA at a concentration of 10⁻⁸–10⁻⁶ M significantly reduced the AGEs-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. GA significantly increased antioxidant enzyme SOD activity and decreased peroxide degradation product MDA level in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GA also remarkably inhibited the overgeneration of AGEs-induced ROS. Both immunocytochemistry analysis and western blot analysis showed that GA significantly decreased the protein expression of poinflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 in a similar manner which RAGE-Ab did. Additionally, AGEs-induced RAGE and NF-kB protein expressions were down-regulated significantly by the pretreatment with GA or RAGE-Ab.

Conclusion

These findings provide evidences that GA possesses protective activity on AGEs-induced endothelial dysfunction, including anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation and antioxidant stress, via inhibiting RAGE/NF-kB pathway. GA might be an alternative for the prevention and treatment of diabetic vascular complications in an appropriate dosage.     

Boron inhibits aluminum-induced toxicity to citrus by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major factor limiting plant productivity. The objective of the present study was to develop the mechanisms of boron (B) alleviating aluminum toxicity in citrus. The results showed that aluminum toxicity severely hampered root elongation. Interestingly, under aluminum exposure, boron supply improved superoxide dismutase activity while reducing peroxidase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities. Likewise, the contents of H₂O₂, lipid peroxidation, protein and proline in roots were markedly decreased by boron application under aluminum exposure. Our results demonstrated that boron could alleviate aluminum toxicity by regulating antioxidant enzyme activities in the roots.     

中药广陈皮与新会皮药名出现年代考

广陈皮是中国传统道地药材,广东陈皮的简称,作为道地中药使用历史悠久。"广陈皮"的道地药名在宋代文献中比较罕见,但经笔者考证其另有别名"真橘皮"、"真陈皮",提前了"广陈皮"作为道地药材使用的起源时间,而之前有学者认为是源于明代李时珍的《本草纲目》。广陈皮历来是"广药"中的大宗药品,畅销海内外,为各地医生推崇和群众喜爱。广陈皮在2016年入选广东省首批立法保护的8种岭南药材之一。新会皮做为广陈皮中的上品,两者经常可以互相指代,特别到了清代,很多地方出现广陈皮即是指新会皮,所以它们也有共同的发展脉络,但新会皮也有其独特的道地药史。2006年10月,国家质检总局正式批准并公告新会陈皮产品为国家地理标志产品。