Effect of Notoginsenoside-Rg1 on the Expression of Several Proteins in the Striatum of Rat Models with Parkinson＇s Disease

After establishing hemi-Parkinsonian rat models, the relationships between neuron death and the expression of several proteins, such as c-Fos, GFAP, GDNF, NF-κB and some cytokines were determined. Therapeutics experiments with notoginsenoside-Rg1 were carried out. The research results show that the expressions of GFAP, NF-Kκ and c-Fos will obviously increase in the lesion side of the striatum and the expression of GDNF will decrease, which implies that the signal transduction pathway may participate in the apoptosis in neurons. The levels of some cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β in the striatum of PD rat models increased compared to those of normal rats. The results of the therapeutics experiments show that notoginsenoside-Rg1 may repress the immune inflammation response and regulate the immune function through the neuro-immune molecular network. Therefore, notoginsenoside-Rg1 can be used as an effective drug for anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, and can be used in the therapy of Parkinson＇s disease（PD）.     

Fluorescent humic substances–arsenic complex in well water in areas where blackfoot disease is endemic in Taiwan

The relationship between the four components, (1) fluorescence intensity, (2) arsenic concentration, (3) pH and (4) total dissolved solids, (TDS) measured in well waters from areas in Taiwan where blackfoot disease (BFD) is endemic was studied, as well as the relationships between the four degrees of BFD and each of the above four symptomatic components, in order to evaluate the etiological factors of BFD more progressively. The following 95% confidence intervals were obtained in well water samples (n = 1189): fluorescence intensity, 26.837–32.570; arsenic concentration, 0.103–0.127 mg dm^?3; pH, 7.466–7.519; and TDS 733.063–801.647 mg dm^?3. Fluorescence intensities of the four degrees of BFD were not all the same (F = 64.54, P < 0.001), and nor were arsenic concentrations (F = 72.03, P < 0.001), pH values (F = 7.30, P < 0.001), nor TDS values (F = 10.76, P < 0.001). In addition, multiple comparisons indicate that the higher the epidemical degree, the higher the fluorescence intensities, arsenic concentrations and pH values become; however, such a relationship is not found for TDS values. Moreover, the fluorescence intensities have positive linear correlations with arsenic concentrations (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), pH (r = 0.25, P < 0.001), and TDS (r = 0.18, P < 0.001), as do the arsenic concentrations with pH (r = 0.22, P < 0.001). Of the four epidemical degree groups, pairs are not significantly different from one another in correlation coefficients between fluorescence intensity and arsenic concentration, which implies a steady relationship between fluorescent compounds and arsenic. We conclude that fluorescent compounds in well water, as possible etiological factors of BFD, are closely related to arsenic along with pH and TDS values in the areas where BFD is endemic. In addition, we infer that a complex is formed by fluorescent compounds, arsenic and other metals.     

微量元素与精神病的研究

一些基础医学实验研究和临床观察的资料表明，精神疾病患者体内的微量元素存在着显著的异常，已引起了国内外学者广泛关注，本文根据近年来的国内外文献报道，概述了微量元素锌（Ｚｎ），铜（Ｃｕ），铁（Ｆｅ）和常量元素钙（Ｃａ），镁（Ｍｇ）的生理作用及与精神病关系的研究进展。     

Aluminium(III) as a promoter of cellular oxidation

Aluminium has been known as a neurotoxic agent to experimental animals since the last century (Arch. Exp. Pharmacol. 40 (1897) 98). However, great interest arose in it bioinorganic chemistry as well biology when it was demonstrated to be the causative agent in pathologies related to the long-term dialysis treatment of uremic subjects with renal failure (Life Chem. 11 (1994) 197), and as a potential etiopathogenic cofactor for several neurodegenerative diseases. The inorganic biochemistry of aluminium is still largely to be discovered. In this review the pro-oxidative property of aluminium toward biological membrane will be presented and its implications in involvement in human pathology will be discussed in an interdisciplinary frame from the bioinorganic point of view.     

心脑血管病患者头发微量元素铜、锌含量调查

调查了心脑血管病患者头发微量元素铜、锌含量，发现患者发现Cu、Zn含量普通遇低于正常值。     

Prediction of the binding site of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine in acetylcholinesterase by docking studies with the SYSDOC program

Summary In the preceding paper we reported on a docking study with the SYSDOC program for predicting the binding sites of huperzine A in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [Pang, Y.-P. and Kozikowski, A.P., J. Comput.-Aided Mol. Design, 8 (1994) 669]. Here we present a prediction of the binding sites of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine (E2020) in AChE by the same method. E2020 is one of the most potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE, and this molecule has puzzled researchers, partly due to its flexible structure, in understanding how it binds to AChE. Based on the results of docking 1320 different conformers of E2020 into 69 different conformers of AChE and on the pharmacological data reported for E2020 and its analogs, we predict that both the R- and the S-isomer of E2020 span the whole binding cavity of AChE, with the ammonium group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴, Phe³³⁰ and Asp⁷², the phenyl group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴ and Phe³³⁰, and the indanone moiety interacting mainly with Tyr⁷⁰ and Trp²⁷⁹. The topography of the calculated E2020 binding sites provides insights into understanding the high potency of E2020 in the inhibition of AChE and provides hints as to possible structural modifications for identifying improved AChE inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

The polysaccharide extracts from the fungi Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum do exhibit AChE inhibitory activity

The polysaccharide (PSH) extracts from the edible mushroom species Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were screened in liquid for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChE) activity. Both extracts were found to display inhibition of the aforementioned enzyme reaching similar IC₅₀ values of 0.62 ± 0.07 and 0.61 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. According to the means of FTIR spectroscopy, these PSH extracts mostly contained β-glucans. However, the presence of some proteins and polyphenolics as minor ingredients were also detected. Compared with existing literature data for anti-AChE activity of the sugar samples, the findings within this study may be treated as a profound bioactivity. Consequently, this study puts some light on the possible use of the screened macrofungi in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.     

116例冠心病患者血清中钙镁镉铅铍含量的探讨

测定了１１６例冠心病患者血清中钙、镁、镉、铅、铍的含量并与正常对照组比较。结果显示，常量元素钙、镁与微量元素镉、铅含量降低，而铍的含量升高。它们之间的差异有显著性或高度显著性，Ｐ〈０．０５或Ｐ〈０．０１。     

冠心病微量元素谱的计算机模式识别

用计算机多元分析研究冠心病微量元素谱，识别冠心病患者与健康者；非线性映射法判别率男性８６．６％，女性９６．２％；ＳＩＭＣＡ差别法正确回判率男性８５．０％，女性８８．３％。     

Protein Prenylation: An (Almost) Comprehensive Overview on Discovery History, Enzymology, and Significance in Physiology and Disease

Summary. Since 1979, when prenylation has been first discovered as chemical oddity of a yeast mating factor, the two forms of this posttranslational modification of proteins (farnesylation and geranylgeranylation) have been found as wide spread among proteins from Eukarya and their viruses. This review attempts to summarize as comprehensively as possible the enzymological processes of prenylation and the various aspects of their biological significance. The substrate proteins of prenyltransferases are known to carry a sequence signal composed of a cysteine-containing 4–5 residue stretch at the utmost C-terminal end that is N-terminally preceded by a flexible and polar linker region of ca. 10 residues. Postprenylation processing of substrate proteins can involve C-terminal proteolysis, C-terminal carboxyl methylation, and other steps of maturation. The prenyl anchor functions as module for membrane attachment or for protein–protein interaction. Prenyl anchor carrying proteins fulfill a large array of functions in signaling and regulation of cellular processes. Therefore, they are involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, the most prominent one being cancer. Farnesyltransferase inhibitors show surprisingly high efficiency in controlling tumor growth in model systems but, so far, clinical trials with human patients have remained without the desired success. Interference into prenylation pathways appears also a promising treatment principle in a variety of parasitic diseases.