Jan-Yi Chang

The effect of Chinese medicinal herb Zingiberis rhizoma extract on cytokine secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The ethanolic extract of the Chinese medicinal herb Zingiberis rhizoma, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), was found to show biphasic effects on secretion of cytokines by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. In this study, the augmentative effect of Zingiberis rhizoma extract on cytokine secretion was shown to be time dependent. No significant secretion of cytokine was noted when the reaction time was 1 or 3 h. Secretion of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by the mononuclear cells was markedly increased in the presence of a low concentration of Zingiberis rhizoma extract, varying from 10-30 mg/ml, when the reaction time was 18 or 24 h. A higher concentration of the herbal extract did not show similar or stronger augmentative effect as did low concentration of the herbal extract.

Rapid molecular diagnosis of hemoglobin variants by RT-PCR of reticulocyte mRNA and direct sequencing

We have developed a rapid and simple approach for the molecular characterization of hemoglobin variants by a one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of reticulocyte mRNA and direct sequencing of the product. This method can selectively amplify the alpha 1- or alpha 2-globin gene or the beta-globin gene transcript. The amino acid substitution of Hb G-Taichung is due to a G----C mutation at codon 74 of the alpha 1-globin gene, that of Hb J-Meinung to a G----A substitution at codon 56 of the beta-globin gene, and that of Hb Kaohsiung (or New York) to a T----A substitution at codon 113 of the beta-globin gene. The amplified segment encompassed the sequence from upstream of the initial codon behind the Cap site to downstream of the terminal codon before the polyadenylation addition signal. Hence, all hemoglobin variants should be able to be characterized by this approach.

The Effect of Evodia Rutaecarpa Extract on Cytokine Secretion by Human Mononuclear Cells in vitro

The effect of Evodia rutaecarpa extract on cytokine secretion by human mononuclear cells in vitro was investigated. Evodia rutaecarpa extract of various concentrations in mononuclear cell culture medium showed biphasic effects on the secretion 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) by the mononuclear cells. Generally speaking, a low to medium level of Evodia rutaecarpa extract, in concentrations ranging from 10% to 30%, showed significant stimulating effects on the secretion of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF. On the other hand, high level of Evodia rutaecarpa extract, with concentration more than 40%, lost its stimulating effects. Moreover, reaction time affected the stimulating effects of Evodia rutaecarpa extract on cytokine secretion by mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cell culture medium containing Evodia rutaecarpa extract that was allowed to react for 18 or 24 hours showed significantly better stimulating effects than that reacted for 1 or 3 hours.

Hb Prato [α31(B12)Arg→Ser (α2)] and α‐Thalassemia in a Taiwanese

Hb Prato [a31(B12)Arg!Ser] was discovered in an Italian family in 1978 by Marinucci et al. (1), and subsequently by De Marco et al. in 1992 (2) in a Calabrian family. This hemoglobin (Hb) variant is due to the replacement of the arginine residue by serine at position 31 of a2-globin chain. We recently observed the same variant in a Taiwanese. The individual was a compound heterozygote for Hb Prato and a-thalassemia (thal). The following hematological results were observed: Hb 8.8 g=dL, RBC 4.56 10=L, PCV 0.290 L=L, MCV 63.5 fL, MCH 19.4 pg, MCHC 30.5 g=dL, ferritin 38.9 ng=ml. The percentage of the various Hb fractions were as follows: 49.5, 49.6 and 0.9% for Hb X, Hb A, and Hb A2 (Hb A2 þHb A2), respectively. This Hb variant migrated toward the anode slower than Hb J-Meinung [b56(D7)Gly!Asp] but faster than Hb A on cellulose acetate electrophoresis [Fig. 1(A), lane 2]. Because of the amount of the Hb variant (49.5%), Hb A2 0.9% and an MCV level of 63.5 fL, a b chain variant with a-thal or an a chain variant with a-thal were suspected; a1-, a2and b-globin gene analyses were performed. DNA was isolated from white blood cells using standard methods. The a-thal mutations were detected using the method of Liu et al. (3) and Chang et al. (4), respectively. The a1-, a2and b-globin genes were amplified using the protocols of Chang et al. (5, 6). The products of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were purified and sequenced as described before (5,6). The results