The Estrogenic Activity of Isoflavones Extracted from Chickpea Cicer arietinum L Sprouts in Vitro

Isoflavones have drawn attention due to their potential therapeutic use. Isoflavones are the important chemical components of the seeds and sprouts of chickpea and higher isoflavones in sprouts than in seeds. However, there have been no previous reports of the estrogenic activity of isoflavones extracted from chickpea Cicer arietinum L sprouts (ICS) in vitro. In this study, which incorporated several in vitro bioassays methods, we systematically evaluated the estrogenic properties of ICS. MTT assay showed that ICS at the low concentration ranges (10^?3–1 mg/L) promoted MCF‐7 cell growth, while at high concentrations, (>1 mg/L) inhibited cell proliferation, indicating ICS worked at a diphasic mechanism. Flow cytometric analysis further calculated the proliferation rate of ICS at low concentration (1 mg/L). ERα/Luc trans‐activation assay and then semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis indicated that ICS at low concentrations induced ERα‐mediated luciferase activity in MCF‐7 cells and promoted the ER downstream target gene pS2 and PR trans‐activation. These effects were inhibited by ICI 182,780, a special antagonist of ER, indicating that an ER‐mediating pathway was involved. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) expression in Ishikawa cells showed that ICS at low concentrations stimulated AP expression. Our current study is the first to demonstrate that ICS has significant estrogenic activity in vitro. ICS may be useful as a supplement to hormone replacement therapy and in dietary supplements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The quagmire of relaxation times

NMR researchers continue to be puzzled by the quagmire of relaxation times of normal and malignant cells. Here a simple theory points out that the dissimilarities of relaxation behavior are not due to macromolecule alterations or phase transition in the water but to the consumption of dissolved oxygen in the cell associated water. The percentage of hypoxic and anoxic cells and growth rate of a tumor will determine the oxygen consumption in the absence of reduced blood flow, which is indeed a reflection of relaxation behavior.     

木犀草素抑制人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖作用的研究

目的研究木犀草素（Luteolin,Lu）对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖的体外抑制作用及其机制。方法 DPPH法测定Lu抗氧化活性;MTT法测定Lu对BGC-823细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布影响及诱导凋亡的作用;倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化。结果 Lu清除自由基的能力与其浓度呈正相关（r2=0.979）;5,10,20,40μmol/L的Lu作用48 h后对BGC-823细胞增殖抑制率分别为5.08%,7.09%,25.27%和53.77%,半数抑制浓度（IC50）为（37.88±5.81）μmol/L;Lu以浓度依赖性阻滞细胞周期在G2/M期,且S期细胞比例呈下降趋势。40μmol/L的Lu作用72 h后,BGC-823细胞凋亡率显著增高（P〈0.01）;镜下观察发现经Lu处理后细胞固缩并伴随细胞膜破裂的现象。结论 Lu在体外对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖有明显的抑制作用,且呈剂量依赖性;抗氧化、改变细胞周期及诱导细胞凋亡是其抗肿瘤作用的机制。     

新疆4种绢蒿属植物及近缘种银蒿的ITS/ITS2条形码鉴定研究

目的：评价ITS/ITS2热点条形码序列对新疆4种绢蒿属植物及其近缘种银蒿的鉴别能力,为绢蒿属植物分类鉴定提供分子参考依据。方法：对15份绢蒿属及银蒿植物样本进行DNA提取、PCR扩增、双向测序,采用CodonCode Aligner软件对序列峰图进行校对拼接,MEGA6.0分析序列碱基组成及变异,计算K2P遗传距离并构建聚类邻接树,预测ITS2序列二级结构,评估鉴别能力。结果：西北绢蒿、针裂叶绢蒿种内变异位点及信息位点数均小于银蒿。ITS序列种间、种内遗传变异均大于ITS2序列。ITS/ITS2 序列邻接（NJ）树均聚为3支,绢蒿属、银蒿1、银蒿2。绢蒿属ITS2序列二级结构与银蒿有差异。结论：通过ITS/ITS2序列的种间K2P遗传距离、邻接树、ITS2序列二级结构分析,ITS、ITS2序列具很好的属鉴定效果,不同产地的针裂叶绢蒿被区分开。     

榅桲子总黄酮提取工艺研究

目的 优选榅桲子中总黄酮的最佳提取工艺条件.方法 以芦丁为对照品,用分光光度法在506 nm波长处测定榅桲子总黄酮含量,优选总黄酮的提取工艺.结果 测得样品中总黄酮含量为13.60 mg•g-1,最佳提取工艺：乙醇浓度为75%,料液比1：10(倍)、回流时间 2.5 h,回流温度60 ℃,提取3次.结论 选用芦丁为对照品,用紫外分光光度法测定榅桲子总黄酮含量准确度较高,方法 简便,切实可行.     

Three new lignans from the seeds of Saussurea involucrata

Three new lignans, arctigenin-4-O-(6'-O-acetyl-β-d-glucoside) (1), arctigenin-4-O-(2'-O-acetyl-β-d-glucoside) (2), and arctigenin-4-O-(3'-O-acetyl-β-d-glucoside) (3), together with two known lignans, were isolated from the seeds of Saussurea involucrata. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, and mass spectral analysis.     

柱前衍生HPLC法分析榅桲多糖中单糖组成及PTP1B抑制活性

目的 建立柱前衍生反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)法测定榅桲多糖中单糖的组成及摩尔比,检测榅桲多糖的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶1B(PTP1B)抑制活性。方法 采用水提醇沉法提取榅桲多糖,并用PTP1B体外模型进行抑制活性测定。榅桲多糖样品经三氟醋酸(TFA)(2 mo1·L-1)和硫酸(2 mo1·L-1)的混合溶液降解为单糖后,经1-苯基-3-甲基-5-吡唑啉酮(PMP)柱前衍生化,利用RP-HPLC法,检测单糖的PMP衍生物。结果 榅桲多糖中含有甘露糖、鼠李糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖、阿拉伯糖等单糖,摩尔比为0.10 ∶ 0.72 ∶ 1.12 ∶ 4.23 ∶ 4.73。榅桲多糖具有良好的PTP1B抑制活性,其IC50为 2.068 μg·mL-1,初步推测榅桲多糖具有抗Ⅱ型糖尿病的潜力。结论 该方法具有简便、快速、重现性好的特点,可用于榅桲多糖的单糖组成分析及质量控制。     

Simplified quantification of urinary protein excretion in children with nephrotic syndrome

Objective: To assess the value of single voided random (spot) urinary protein to creatinine ratio in accurately predicting the 24-hour urinary protein excretion in Pakistani pediatric population with nephrotic syndrome. Design: Cross-sectional, analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: The Pediatric Department, Nishtar Hospital/ Children Complex, Multan, from January 2003 to November, 2005. Patients and Methods: Fifty seven children between 1-18 years with nephrotic syndrome were included. Seventy pairs of spot urine (5 milliliter) and 24-hour urine were collected in different phases of their disease e.g. initial, induction and remission. The protein to creatinine ratio was determined in spot urine samples and total protein content in 24-hour urine samples. The correlation between the ratio and 24-hour urinary protein excreted was determined using Pearson's coefficient (r) linear regression analysis. Results: The protein to creatinine ratio in a spot urine sample was significantly correlated with the 24-hour urinary protein. The correlation coefficient (least square method) was found to be significant (r=0.9444). A random (spot) urinary protein to creatinine ratio of greater than 2 correlated well with the massive proteinuria (i.e. nephrotic syndrome), between 2 to 0.2 indicated glomerulopathy while a ratio of less than 0.2 was suggestive of physiological values. Conclusion: The random spot urinary protein to creatinine ratio can reliably be used to assess the degree of proteinuria in children with nephrotic syndrome and can replace the 24-hour urinary protein excretion/collection.     

The development, implementation, utilization and outcomes of a comprehensive dental program for older adults residing in long-term care facilities

This paper documents the experience of the University of British Columbia's Geriatric Dentistry Program (GDP) with emphasis on the dental treatment needs of patients during its first year of operation. The GDP provided access to dental care for residents of longterm care facilities, education for hospital staff concerning daily mouth care, education of dental students and an opportunity for research. The first year of clinical activity saw a small, yet significant, improvement in oral health for residents using the dental services. We hope that the outcomes of this new dental program for long-term care facilities will encourage dentists to provide care for this vulnerable population.