Peganum harmala L. (P. harmala) is a significant economic and medicinal plant. The seeds of P. harmala have been extensively utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, Uighur medicine, and Mongolian medicine, as documented in the Drug Standard of the Ministry of Health of China. Twelve novel tryptamine-derived alkaloids (1-12) and eight known compounds (13-20) were isolated from P. harmala seeds. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first reported instances of tryptamine-derived heteromers, comprising tryptamine and aniline fragments with previously undocumented C-3-N-1' linkage and C-3-C-4' connection, respectively. Compounds 3-5 were identified as indole-quinazoline heteromers, exhibiting a novel C-3 and NH-1' linkage between indole and quinazoline-derived fragments. Compound 6 demonstrates the dimerization pattern of C-C linked tryptamine-quinazoline dimer. Compound 8 represents a tryptamine-derived heterodimer with a distinctive carbon skeleton, featuring an unusual spiro-tricyclic ring (7) and conventional bicyclic tryptamine. Compounds 9-11 constitute novel 6/5/5/5 spiro-tetracyclic tryptamine-derived alkaloids presenting a unique ring system of tryptamine-spiro-pyrrolizine. Compounds 1-3 and 6-11 were identified as racemates. Compounds 2, 7, 9, 10, and 12 were confirmed via X-ray crystallographic analysis. All isolated compounds (1-20) exhibited varying degrees of antiviral efficacy against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Notably, the anti-RSV activity of compound 12 (IC₅₀ 5.01 ± 0.14 μmol·L^-1) surpassed that of the positive control (ribavirin, IC₅₀ 6.23 ± 0.95 μmol·L^-1), as validated through plaque reduction and immunofluorescence assays. The identification of anti-RSV compounds from P. harmala seeds may enhance the development and application of this plant in antiviral therapeutic products.
Antiviral Agents/isolation & purification* ; Tryptamines/isolation & purification* ; Peganum/chemistry* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Humans ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/drug effects* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Objective To explore the potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms of Shujinxi External Granules in the treatment of osteoarthritis(OA).Methods The chemical constituents and targets of Shujinxi External Granules were collected from TCMSP,TCMIP,TCMID and HERB databases,and the target genes related to OA were obtained from GEO database.Screening the overlapping targets,Cytoscape software was used to construct the"Shujinxi External Granules-compounds-OA-targets"and protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the overlapping targets through DAVID database,and the compounds and proteins with the highest degree values were selected for molecular docking by using AutoDock Vina.Results There were 85 components and 915 targets were found in Shujinxi External Granules.The 4 383 targets of OA were obtained,and 248 overlapping targets were screened out between Shujinxi External Granules and OA.The key target proteins were epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),cyclin-dependent kinase 1(CDK1),matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),and the key compounds were N-trans-feruloyltyramine,palmatine,balanophonin,aurantiamide acetate,Saroaspidin A,luteolin,schizandrin,rhynchophylline,rhynchophylline A,kaempferol,1-piperoylpiperidine.A total of 489 biological processes,162 cellular components and 87 molecular functions were obtained by using GO functional enrichment analysis,and 100 signaling pathways related to the therapeutic of Shujinxi External Granules were obtained by using KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.The molecular docking results showed that N-trans-feruloyltyramine,1-piperonoylpiperidine and rhynchophylline A had good binding ability to the key targets EGFR,CDK1 and MMP9,respectively.Conclusion The Shujinxi External Granules may bind to the key targets EGFR,CDK1,and MMP9 in the pathways in cancer,hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1)and calcium signaling pathway through the key active components,such as N-trans-feruloyltyramine,rhynchophylline A,and 1-piperoylpiperidine,to exert the therapeutic effects on OA.

Objective: : To investigate the relationship between the expression of RUNX1 isoforms and the clinical curative effect and the prognosis of acute leukemia (AL), in order to provide valuable experimental data for the individualized treatment, MRD (minimal residual disease) monitoring and prognosis prediction of AL. Methods: AL patients with primary treatment (PT, n=88) and recrudescence (RC, n=10) that treated at the Department of Hematology of Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from April, 2012 to April, 2013 were included in this study. Real-time PCR was used to examine the mRNA expression of RUNX1 isoforms (RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c) in PT patients, RC patients and controls (non-malignant hematological disease patients).The changes in mRNA expression of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c in patients before and after the chemotherapy were also observed. Results： ： (1)The expression levels of RUNX1a mRNAinAML andALL PT group andAML RC group was significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05); The expression level of RUNX1a mRNAinAMLPT group was increased compared withALLPT group (P<0.05). (2) The expression levels of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c mRNAinAML andALL patients at initial treatment were significantly higher than those after complete remission (CR) (P<0.05). (3) By comparing the expression levels of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c mRNA at initial diagnosis, there was no significant difference between 6-month death group and survival group, CR group and NCR (non-complete remission) group after first cycle of chemotherapy, or the high leukocyte group and non-high leukocyte group (all P>0.05).The expression level of RUNX1a mRNA in AML-ETO positive group was higher than that of negative group (P<0.05). (4) The expression levels of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c mRNA in patients with acute leukemia decreased with the increasing chemotherapy cycle, and significantly increased when had a relapse, which may even succeed the initial level.Conclusion: RUNX1a isoforms participate in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia, and isrelated to the relapse ofAML. The expression levels of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c mRNAare related to the clinical efficacy that can be used as an indicator of curative effect, but have no significant correlation with the prognosis of the disease.Dynamic monitor of theexpression levels of RUNX1a and RUNX1b/c isomers can be used as an effective indicator of MRD monitoring after chemotherapy, which can be used to evaluate the efficacy and identify the risk of recurrence at early stage.

Objective:To study the antitumor mechanism of W40,a monomer purified from Wedelia prostrate (Hook.et Arn.) Hemsl.Methods:The effects of W40 on the cell proliferative of GLC-82 cells were detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay.The migratory abilities of GLC-82 cells were observed by wound healing assay.Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis.The levels of apoptosis-relative proteins and cell proliferation-related proteins,such as Caspase-3,PARP,Stat3 and ERK,were detected by Western blotting.Results:MTF assay showed that W40 had a significant cytotoxic effect on non-small cell lung cancer GLC-82 cells.Colony formation assays showed that W40 significantly inhibited GLC-82 cells proliferation.The migration of GLC-82 cells was inhibited by W40 in a dose-dependent manner.Flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rate increased gradually in a concentration-dependent manner.W40 down-regulated Stat3 as decreasing p-Stat3 and downstream proteins of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1.At the same time,W40 up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax,and increased the cleavaged Caspase-9,Caspase-3 and PARP.W40 also down-regulated BRAF / MAPK / ERK signal pathway as decreasing p-BRAF,p-MEK and p-ERK.Conclusions:W40 induced apoptosis by inhibiting BRAF / MAPK / ERK and Stat3 signaling pathways.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum total bile acid level and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods The clinical data of 1408 patients who had underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into coronary atherosclerosis group (stenosis ≥ 50%, 681 cases) and coronary normal group (stenosis < 50%, 727 cases) according to the results of coronary angiography. The general clinical data, serum total bile acid, serum creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and so on were compared between 2 groups, and the indexes analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results There were no significant differences between 2 groups in the sex constitution, the family history of hyperlipidemia and the history of lipid-lowering therapy (P>0.05). The rate of smoking, rate of hypertension, rate of diabetes, age, body mass index (BMI), creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, total bile acid and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in coronary atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than those in coronary normal group:18.6%(127/681) vs. 14.2%(103/727), 64.6%(440/681) vs. 45.8%(333/727), 48.5%(330/681) vs. 22.7%(165/727), (58.9 ± 12.2) years vs. (56.7 ± 13.1) years, (25.6 ± 4.3) kg/m2 vs. (24.9 ± 4.5) kg/m2, (70.28 ± 15.94)μmol/L vs. (52.79 ± 12.75)μmol/L, (6.82 ± 2.73) mmol/L vs. (5.57 ± 2.35) mmol/L, (7.86 ± 4.38)μmol/L vs. (5.63 ± 3.71)μmol/L and (3.32 ± 0.69) mmol/L vs. (2.28 ± 0.57) mmol/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05 or <0.01). The Spearman correlation analysis result showed that coronary atherosclerosis was positively correlated with men, age, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, serum creatinine and total bile acid (r=0.084, 0.068, 0.322, 0.263, 0.073, 0.248 and 0.176; P < 0.05 or < 0.01). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that men, diabetes, hypertension, serum creatinine, BMI ( >24 kg/m2) and total bile acid levels were risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis (P<0.05 or<0.01). Conclusions The serum total bile acid level is positively correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, which may be one of the independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the expressions of CDX2 and β-catenin in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their correlation. Methods Real-time PCR was used to determine the expressions of CDX2 and β-catenin mRNA in 43 de novo ALL and 30 non-malignant patients (used as control). Results The positivity rate of CDX2 mRNA expression in ALL group was 93%, but CDX2 mRNA expression couldn′t be detected in the control group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of β-catenin could be detected in patients in both two groups, butβ-catenin mRNA expression in the ALL group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). And mRNA expressions of CDX2 andβ-catenin were significantly correlated with WBC counts and LDH level (P<0.01). When the ALL patients acquired complete remission (CR), the mRNA expressions of CDX2 and β-catenin were significantly decreased compared with their newly diagnosed status , while disease-relapsed the mRNA expressions of CDX2 andβ-catenin were increased again. There was significantly positive correlation between CDX2 and β-catenin mRNA expressions (r = 0.835, P = 0.000). Conclusion Up-regulation of CDX2 and activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway coexist in the ALL patients and the mRNA expressions of CDX2 and β-catenin are positively correlated.

Objective To investigate the effect of taking medical students as standardized patients(SSP) on problem based leaming(PBL) teaching in clerkship.Methods Totally 161 students (grade 2008) selected from clinical medical department was divided into PBL group(n=81) and lecture-based learning(LBL) group(n=80).SSP was introduced into PBL teaching and LBL group was taught by LBL.After the clerkship,theory test was conducted in two groups and questionnaire was given to LBL group.Statistical analyses were conducted by SPSS 13.0,measurement data were analyzed by t test and enumeration data were described by frequency and constituent ratio.Results Theory test results showed that the average score of medical record analysis was (37.35 ± 5.95) in PBL group,much higher than (33.25 ± 4.89) in LBL group(P=0.001) ;the total score was (71.20 ± 8.67) in PBL group,much higher than that of (67.79 ± 9.87) in LBL group(P=0.018) as well.The average scores of choice question in 2 groups were (33.85 ± 5.05) and (34.24 ± 6.87),without significant differences(P=0.658).The constituent ratio of answer ‘OK' regarding 10 entries in questionnaire was more than 75％.The constituent ratio of answer ‘OK' regarding 3 entries(SSP matching degree,SSP without implied language or action,stimulating the learning interest) was more than 90％.Conclusions Introducing SSP PBL teaching can improve students' ability of clinical analysis and problem solving but not so effective for the basic theoretical knowledge grasp.SSP could replace standardized patients in PBL teaching.

Objective To explore the effects of diethylenetriamine/nitric oxide (DETA/NO)on capillary spasm and early brain injury (EBI)after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)in rats.Methods Sixty-nine male Sprague-dawley rats were randomized into three groups:sham group,SAH group and DETA/NO group.SAH model was established by wearing out the willis ring with thread and then Garcia neurological score was observed in the general animals.The expressions of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)and PDGFRβwere detected by dual immunofluorescence staining;nitric oxide kit was used for detecting brain tissue NO concentration.Changes in the hemoglobin-stimulated capillaries were observed in rat slices.Results Three days after surgery,neurological deficit score was remarkably improved in DETA/NO group compared with that in SAH group (P<0 .0 5 ). Immunofluorescence results showed that the expressions of peri-capillaryαSMA and PDGFRβwere significantly increased after SAH (P<0.05 ),and that DETA/NO could down-regulate the expressions (P<0.05 ).NO concentration was greatly reduced about 3 hours after SAH and then gradually increased;DETA/NO could maintain the concentration of NO at an early stage (P<0 .0 5 ).The capillary contraction was observed in slices perfused with hemoglobin;DETA/NO could alleviate capillary spasm.Conclusion DETA/NO can alleviate the severity of capillary spasm and EBI after SAH in rats.

Objective To lateralize epileptic foci in interictal electroencephalography (EEG) signal by using causal analysis method.Methods On the basis of frequency domain causal analysis,the adapted directed transfer function (ADTF),power spectrum weighted ADTF(psADTF) method was proposed by applying the power spectrum information in defined frequency band with normalized ADTF,to fit the frequency information features of different epileptic wave.EEG signals of two groups of 30 epilepsy patients were analyzed by psADTF.Group Ⅰ included 15 presurgical patients and 104 epilepsy spikes were picked from EEG signals.Group Ⅱ included 15 outpatient patients and 98 epilepsy spikes were picked from EEG signals.Results 96 of 104 spikes of group Ⅰ were lateralized properly by psADTF according to surgery sites,and the accuracy rate was 92％.94 of 98 spikes of group Ⅱ were lateralized properly by psADTF according to three technicians' judgments,with the accuracy rate of 96％.Conclusion Our results proves that the psADTF method over interictal EEG spikes can be a great help to clinical epileptic foci lateralization.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of CXCR4 and CD133mRNA in primary lesion of primary gastric adenocarcinoma and the relation with clinicopathological features,and to explore the correlation of CXCR4 and CD133.MethodsThe primary lesion of primary gastric adenocarcinoma and normal tissues adjacent to gastric cancer were obtained from 50 patients.The diction of CXCR4 and CD133 protein expression was detected by the immunohistochemical staining,and the relative gray scale values of CXCR4 and CD133mRNA by semi-quantitative RT-PCR (Fisher' s exact probability method).Their relationship with clinicopathological features was also investigated ( Spearman relation analysis).ResultsThe positive rates of CXCR4 and CD133 protein in gastric cancers were 76.0％ and 66.0％ respectively,which were significantly higher than that in normal tissues adjacent to gastric cancer ( 16.0％ and 10％ ; P =0.000,P =0.000).The increment of relative gray scale values of CXCR4mRNA was associated with the larger tumor diameter,the later TNM stage and the occurrence of lymphatic metastasis( P ＜ 0.05 ).And the larger diameter of tumor,the later TNM stage were associated with the higher relative gray scale values of CD133mRNA (P ＜0.05).The levels of the relative gray scale values of CXCR4 mRNA and CD133mRNA were positively related(r =0.453,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe higher expression of CXCR4 and CD133mRNA correlateswith tumour diameter,TNM stage and lymphatic vessel invasion. The relative gray scale values of CD133mRNA increase with the increment of the relative gray scale values of CXCR4.