[Objective] To analyse the constituents of Viscum ovalifolium DC. [Methods] The chemical constituents of Viscum ovalifolium DC were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, purified by crystallization and identified by spectroscopy method. [Results] Lupeol acetate, ?-amyrin and oleanolic acid were isolated and identified. [Conclusion] Lupeol acetate, ?-amyrin and oleanolic acid are isolated from Viscum ovalifolium DC for the first time.

【Objective】The chemical constituents of Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata.were studied to screen the constituents with antitumor activity.【Methods】Chromatography was used for the isolation and purification of chemical constituents of Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata..And their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and physiochemical properties.Meanwhile,the in-vitro antitumor activities of two kinds of triterpenoids and one kind of sitosterol were investigated.【Results】Four compounds were isolated from Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata.and their structures were identified as genkwanin(1),?-amyrin acetate(2),erythrodiol(3) and ?-sitosterol(4).Compounds 2 and 3 had an inhibitory effect on mice sarcoma 180(S180),Ehrlich ascites carcinoma(EAC) and ascties hepatoma(HeAP),and compound 4 had an inhibitory effect on mice S180 and EAC,their half-inhibitory concentrations being less than 400??g/mL.【Conclusion】Compounds 1～4 are isolated from Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata.for the first time,and compound 1 is isolated from Loranthaceae for the first time.Triterpenoids and steroids from Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata.exert certain antitumor activity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and explore the correlation of serum TGF-β1 with radiation injury and disease-free survival.

METHODSThe average serum TGF-β1 level (50.2∓3.2 ng/ml) determined from 32 healthy volunteers was used as the standard value for NPC patients in this trial. Fifty-seven patients with early-stage (T1-2N0-1M0) NPC without prior treatment were divided into two groups with serum TGF-β1 level before treatment lower than or equal to the standard value (group A, 29 cases) and a level beyond the standard value (group B, 28 cases). Serum TGF-β1 level was determined in all the patients before, during and after the radiotherapy to evaluate the radiation injury and therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThe serum TGF-β1 level before radiotherapy was significantly lower in group A than in group B (35.4∓1.4 vs 58.8∓1.0 ng/ml, P<0.05). After radiotherapy, acute radiation mucositis and skin reaction was significantly severer in group B (P<0.05). The serum TGF-β1 level before radiotherapy was significantly higher in patients with grade 3 acute radiation mucositis and skin reaction than in those with injuries below grade 3 (54.0∓2.2 vs 42.0∓2.3 ng/ml and 54.3∓2.4 vs 43.4∓2.2 ng/ml, P<0.05). The two groups showed no significant differences in the locoregional failure rate (3.4% vs 7.1%), distant metastasis rate (3.4% vs 10.8%) or disease-free survival (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRadiotherapy can significantly decrease serum TGF-β1 level in early NPC patients. Serum TGF-β1 level before radiotherapy can help predict the degree of acute radiation mucositis and skin reaction, but shows no correlation with disease-free survival of early-stage NPC patients.

Carcinoma ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; Radiation Injuries ; blood ; Survival Rate ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

BACKGROUND: The participation of laboratories in external quality assessment (EQA) programs is required for the quality assurance of nucleic acid amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis. This study aimed to construct a new quality control (QC) material applicated in EQA of C. trachomatis PCR. METHODS: A QC material-HTB-SiHa cells transfected with a recombinant plasmid containing the cryptic plasmid sequence-was constructed for C. trachomatis PCR detection, and four different panels, each consisting of 4 positive samples with serial dilution of the constructed QC material and 1 negative sample, were distributed by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories among four groups of 275, 268, 317, and 304 participants across China from 2011 through 2012. A total of eight commercial kits were used for C. trachomatis PCR detection in participants. RESULTS: Nine laboratories reported false-positive results (0.9%). As the series dilution increased, the correct reporting of the data sets decreased; the lowest correct rate was 96.3% in the weakest positive samples (104 copies/mL). Eight laboratories reported false-positive results, and 42 laboratories reported false-negative results in the EQA detection of C. trachomatis. No significant differences were observed in the detection of the constructed C. trachomatis positive samples (97.9%, 98.5%, 100%, 98.5%; P=0.36) and negative samples (100%, 99.0%, 100%, 99.0%; P=0.764) using four commercial kits commonly used in China. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the EQA study indicated that the constructed material provides a noninfectious, stable control material with sufficient volume for PCR detection of C. trachomatis.
Cell Line ; Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis ; Chlamydia trachomatis/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; False Negative Reactions ; Humans ; Laboratories/*standards ; Plasmids/genetics/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*standards ; Quality Control ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic