Effects of Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides I with different schedules on its antitumor efficiency in tumor bearing mice and production of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF, CSF activity in normal mice

Effects of Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides I (PAP-I), 5 approximately 40 mg/kg in timing of 7 times/wk, 3 times/wk and 1 time/wk on their antitumor efficiency in Sarcoma-180 bearing mice were comparatively investigated. The results confirmed that PAP-I (10 mg/kg, 3 times/wk) reached its optimal antitumor efficiency. Concanavalin A-, lipopolysaccharides-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the IL-2 production were tested in normal mice which were treated with PAP-I, 5 approximately 50 mg/kg in timing of 1 time/wk and 3 times/wk. The results showed that PAP-I could augment lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production in the group treated with PAP-I in timing of once a week. However, in the group 3 times/wk, PAP-I could significantly weaken lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production. Further studies on IL-1, TNF and IL-6 secreted from macrophages and the level of CSF activity in serum of normal mice with different schedules showed that PAP-I (10 mg/kg, 3 time/wk) was the best one in regulating the production of IL-1, TNF, IL-6 and CSF activity. M-CSF was confirmed in the serum by using monoclonal antibody of IL-3, GM-CSF and polyclonal antibody of M-CSF. These results suggested that the antitumor effect of PAP-I, may be mainly related to its augmenting effect on macrophages in mice.

Stereoselective bimolecular phenoxy radical coupling by an auxiliary (dirigent) protein without an active center

The regio- and stereospecificity of bimolecular phenoxy radical coupling reactions, of especial importance in lignin and lignan biosynthesis, are clearly controlled in some manner in vivo; yet in vitro coupling by oxidases, such as laccases, only produce racemic products. In other words, laccases, peroxidases, and comparable oxidases are unable to control regio- or stereospecificity by themselves and thus some other agent must exist. A 78-kilodalton protein has been isolated that, in the presence of an oxidase or one electron oxidant, effects stereoselective bimolecular phenoxy radical coupling in vitro. Itself lacking a catalytically active (oxidative) center, its mechanism of action is presumed to involve capture of E-coniferyl alcohol-derived free-radical intermediates, with consequent stereoselective coupling to give (+)-pinoresinol.

The incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in urban districts of Shanghai (1989-1993)

A retrospective study on the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) among children aged 0-14 years was carried out from 1989-1993 in urban Shanghai, China. The average annual population at risk (0-14 yr) consisted of 1,401,664 children. All the cases were collected from the hospitals (primary source) and from primary and middle schools and kindergartens (second source) with independent validation of case ascertainment. There were 53 IDDM cases from the primary source, 23 from the secondary source, with a total of 58. The ascertainment corrected total number of IDDM cases was 67 by the capture-recapture method. The average crude annual incidence rate was 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-1.04] and ascertainment corrected incidence rate 0.96 (95% CI 0.80-1.12) per 100,000. Peak incidence fell in 1992 and in the 9 year-old group. The incidence of childhood IDDM in the urban districts of Shanghai was reconfirmed to be the lowest in the world but by comparing the results of former investigations a trend was found of increasing incidence of IDDM.

[Effects of osthol and total-coumarins from Cnidium monnieri on immunological function in kidney yang deficiency mice]

Mice were injected intraperitoneally with hydrocortisone acetate to replicate the animal model of Kidney Yang Deficiency (KYD). Osthol and total-coumarins (TCR) from the fruit of Cnidium monnieri were administered orally to model mice. The effects of osthol and TCR on the immunological function of the KYD mice were observed. The results showed that compare with those in normal mice, the percentage of phagocytosis and the index of macrophage phagocytosis, the level of serum hemolysin and the proliferation of lymphocytes lowered significantly (P < 0.01) in model mice. It was shown that administering osthol or TCR could notably (P < 0.01) prevent the above-mentioned lowering in model mice, revealing that osthol and TCR could improve the immunological function of KYD mice.

Effect of electric field on erythrocyte sedimentation rate. IV. Volume fraction dependence of human red cells in plasma

We measured the volume fraction dependence of erythrocyte sedimentation for human red cells in autologous plasma while the volume fraction, Hct, ranges from 0.220 to 0.650. A modified electrophoretic instrument was employed to investigate the electric effect of an upward DC field on erythrocyte sedimentation at a constant source supply of Vs = 60.0 +/- 0.5 V. The sedimentation curves all coincided well with the sigmoidal type equation, l = lmax/¿l + (t50/t)n¿, at Vs = 0, or 60.0 V. Here, lmax is the length of plasma level, l, when the time, t, tends to infinity; t50 is the elapsed time when the plasma level falls to lmax/2, and n is a constant (n > 0). A non-linear least-squares method was employed to fit experimental data. It was found that lmax decreased and t50 increased with the increase of Hct, while n ranged from 1.53 to 3.95. The volume fraction dependence of sedimentation velocity, Vmax, defined as the maximum slope of the sedimentation curve, fits well with an exponential-type curve, both at Vs = 60.0 V and at Vs = 0 V: Vmax = Vs (1-Hct)exp(-BHct), where Vs is the velocity at infinite dilution and B is a phenomenological parameter. In the range of Hct = 0.220-0.650, Vs and B are 326.1 mm/hr and 4.30, respectively, at Vs = 60.0 V, while they are 130.4 mm/hr and 2.46, respectively, at Vs = 0 V.

Leflunomide inhibits cytokine-induced DNA synthesis of rabbit synovial cells in culture

The effects of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on DNA synthesis of rabbit synovial cells were studied. IL-1 beta 1000-10,000 U.ml-1, IL-6 10-1000 U.ml-1, TNF alpha 0.5-50 U.ml-1 and GM-CSF 1-100 ng.ml-1 concentration-dependently stimulated DNA synthesis in rabbit synovial cells in culture. Leflunomide (LFM) and its metabolite A77 1726 elicited an inhibitory effect on such cytokine-induced DNA synthesis of synovial cells. These results suggested that IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF alpha and GM-CSF play a key role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Inhibition of cytokine-induced proliferation of synovial cells by LFM may partially explain its antirheumatic activity.

Inhibitory effects of triazolodiazepine on mouse splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro

Effects of triazolodiazepine (Tri) on mouse splenocyte proliferation and macrophage phagocytosis were studied. Tri 0.1-10 mumol.L-1 significantly inhibited concanavalin A (Con A) 5 micrograms.ml-1 and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 10 micrograms.ml-1-induced splenocyte proliferation and phagocytic activity of activated peritoneal macrophages. Tri 10 mumol.L-1 reduced Con A-induced colony stimulating factor release from mouse splenocytes and LPS-challenged intracellular and extracellular interleukin-1 production from peritoneal macrophages. These results partially explain the wide and strong anti-inflammatory effects of Tri.

[Qualitative analysis of Chinese drug xiakucao (Prunella)]

A high performance gas chromatographic procedure has been developed for the quantitation of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in different parts of Xiakucao collected in different periods. The study provides a scientific foundation for increased availability and rational collecting periods of Xiakucao.

Triterpenoid glycosides from Stauntonia hexaphylla

On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of two new bisdesmosidic triterpenoid glycosides, named staunoside D and E, which were isolated from Stauntonia hexaphylla, were established as 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-[beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-hederagenin-28- O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] ester and 28-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]ester, respectively. Three known triterpenoid glycosides were also isolated. A new proglycoside was isolated from the cleavage of the ester-glycosidic linkage and its structure characterized.

[Effect of Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides I on production of colony-stimulating factors of mouse splenocytes in vitro]

Phytolacca acinose polysaccharides I (PAP-I), M(r) = 10,000, activated mouse splenocytes to produce colony-stimulating factors (CSF) in vitro. The level of CSF was tested by [3H]TdR uptaken by bone marrow cells and rmGM-CSF was used as standard. PAP-I (10-500 micrograms.ml-1) increased CSF production of the splenocytes treated with or without concanavalin A. When the concentration of PAP-I was 100 micrograms.ml-1, the level of CSF was about equivalent to that of rmGM-CSF 11.8 +/- 1.8 ng.ml-1. After a 3-d incubation of PAP-I with the splenocytes, CSF was assayed. The longer the incubation, the higher were the CSF concentrations. The CSF type in supernants of splenocytes induced by PAP-I was determined by IL-3 McAb, GM-CSF McAb, and M-CSF PcAb. The type of CSF was found to be interleukin-3.

Triterpenoid glycosides from Stauntonia hexaphylla

From Stauntonia hexaphylla, two new 3,28-bisglycosidic triterpenoid glycosides named staunosides A and B, were isolated along with three known triterpenoid glycosides, one of which was isolated from nature of the first time, though it had previously been obtained from the acid hydrolysate of kizuta saponin K12. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, the structures of staunosides A and B were elucidated as 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-hederagenin-28-O-[beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]ester and 28-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)- beta-D-glucopyranosyl]ester, respectively.

Effects of Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides I on immune function in mice

Radioactivities of [3H]TdR uptaken by splenocytes and released from [3H]TdR-labeled YAC-1 cell line were measured to determine the degree of lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity. Seven days after mice treated with Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides I (PAP-I) 5-50 mg.kg-1, the NK cell activity, and lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A 5 micrograms.ml-1 or lipopolysaccharides 10 micrograms.ml-1 were significantly augmented. Splenocytes from mice treated with ip PAP-I 5-50 mg.kg-1 were incubated with Con A 5 micrograms.ml-1 for 24 h to induce interleukin-2 (IL-2) and for 40 h to induce NK cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Radioactivities of [3H]TdR uptaken by CTLL-2 cell line and YAC-1 cell line were used to measure the IL-2 and NKCF activities, respectively. PAP-I enhanced the production of IL-2 and NKCF. These results suggest that PAP-I augments the immunological functions in vivo.

A survey of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Hubei Province, China

From June to August, 1987 a survey of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out by means of aspirator and light-sticky traps in nine counties viz., Yunxi, Wudangshan, Snennongjia, Zigui, Yichang, Lichuan, Laifeng, Hongan and Yangxin, Hubei Province. A total of nine species had been identified: Phlebotomus chinensis, P. kiangsuensis, P. mongolensis, Sergentomyia anhuiensis, S. koloshanensis, S. nankingensis, S. squamirostris, S. zhengjiani and S. barraudi. Their distribution was summarized in a map.

Yemuoside YM7, YM11, YM13, and YM14: Four Nortriterpenoid Saponins from Stauntonia chinensis

Four new nortriterpenoid saponins, named yemuoside YM (7) ( 1), YM (11) ( 2), YM (13) ( 3), and YM (14) ( 4), were isolated from STAUNTONIA CHINENSIS Decne. A new prosaponin, named yemuoside YM (16) ( 5), was isolated from the cleavage of the ester-glycoside linkage of 1. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, their structures were elucidated.

Changes in erythrocyte membranes in burned rabbits

Eighteen white rabbits were subjected to a 30 per cent TBSA full thickness burn. Wound infection was found 9-13 days after injury and became severe a week or so later. ATPase activities, antioxidation ability, the proteins of erythrocyte membranes, and the Na+ contents of erythrocytes and serum were determined. The Ca++-ATPase activity was elevated during the first 17 days postburn, but showed a decline at the time of severe wound infection; the Na+,K+-ATPase activity showed peaks on postburn days 2 and 6, and then fluctuated above the preburn level. The change in Mg++-ATPase activity was similar to Na+,K+-ATPase. The erythrocyte Na+ content was increased, and the level of serum Na+ was decreased up to postburn day 6. Subsequently the erythrocyte Na+ was reduced and the serum Na+ increased up to day 17 postburn. The percentage of erythrocyte haemolysis in H2O2 was increased after the burn and became markedly so during wound infection, indicating that the antioxidation ability of burned rabbit erythrocytes was markedly impaired. During the period of wound infection, Coomassie blue-stained protein bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel showed some changes in size and proportion in burned rabbits. For example, the second band was wider, the band 2 to band 1 ratio increased, and band 5 was smaller than before injury. These results seem to show that burn injury, especially when associated with sepsis, may affect both the structure and function of biological membranes.