Abstract: Objective　To investigate the clinical characteristics and incidence of Brucella encephalitis and meningitis in children. Methods We report the clinical data of a child with Brucella melitensis meningitis in children, and summarize the incidence, diagnosis methods and treatment of Brucella encephalitis or meningitis in children, taking into account the relevant domestic and foreign literature from January 2014 to December 2020. Results　A 4-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with status epilepticus on March 15, 2021 because of interrupted right limb numbness for 16 hours and convulsions for 2 hours. She had 2 non-febrile convulsions three months before admission and was diagnosed with epilepsy. This incident was acute, accompanied by low fever, with epilepsy as the main manifestation. Cerebrospinal fluid test suggested central nervous system infection, but the nature of infection could not be determined by routine and biochemistry of cerebrospinal fluid.The cerebrospinal fluid next generation sequencing confirmed that the pathogen of the infection was B. melitensis, which was further verified by the peripheral blood antibody test. After effective antibiotics combined with a full course of treatment, the patient recovered after six months of treatment. A total of 60 articles were retrieved in the database, including 29 in Chinese. During this period, a total of 7 cases of brucellosis in children with nervous system involvement were reported, one of which was a case report, and the other 6 cases were mentioned in the comprehensive analysis of children with brucellosis. Conclusions　Brucella encephalitis or meningitis in children has a low incidence and various clinical features, which are easy to be misdiagnosed or missed.

OBJECTIVETo study the change in ultrastructure of C6 glioma cells after photodynamic therapy (PDT), to compare morphological differences in necrosis and apoptosis before and after PDT treatment, and to evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy on the blood brain tumor barrier (BTB) of C6 glioma.

METHODSThe model was produced by transplanting C6 glioma cells cultured in vitro using Peterson method into the caudate nuclei of Wister rats. The experiment group received PDT for two weeks after the operation. The sub-cellular structure, blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and BTB in both groups were observed under electron microscope.

RESULTSApoptosis in different phases and necrosis could be observed in some C6 glioma cells. Swelling occurred on the ultrastructure of cellular organs such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in most of the cells. Damage to the BTB, reduction of the number of cellular organs in endothelial cells of the capillary blood vessels, stretch of the tight junction, and enlargement of the gaps between endothelial cells were also seen in the experiment group. Meanwhile, limited impact on the normal sub-cellular structures and BBB was observed.

CONCLUSIONPDT could induce apoptosis and necrosis of C6 glioma cells due to the damage to the ultrastructure of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The weakened function of C6 glioma BTB initiated by PDT makes it possible to perform a combined therapy of PDT and chemotherapy for glioma.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; ultrastructure ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; ultrastructure ; Photochemotherapy ; Rats

A new ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UANE) method coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE) using ultrasonic fountain was established for the extraction of eight common ginsenosides from leaves of Panax quinquefolium L. The extraction system has been designed and several experimental parameters,including the type and volume of extraction solvent,pH value and salt concentration of extraction solvent,type and volume of elution solvent,and amount of C18, extraction time were examined and optimized. Under the optimal conditions,the recoveries of ginsenosides were in the range of 96. 3% -110. 6%, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the range of 2.8%-4.3%,indicating that the method has a good performance for the extraction of these ginsenosides. Compared with traditional UANE-SPE method, the modified method simplified the extraction device,shortened the extraction time and improved the extraction efficiency.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) in the retina of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and its relation to the alteration of retinal blood vessels.

METHODSEighty-six newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into hyperoxia and air groups, then each group was further divided into 1, 3, 7 and 14 days subgroups. The rats in hyperoxia group inhaled 75% oxygen and ROP model was thus set up. These animals were sacrificed respectively after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, then the retinal endothelial cells were marked by CD34 to observe the change of retinal blood vessels. The expression of VEGF, flt-1 and flk-1 in the retina was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe retinal capillary density index (RCDI) in control group increased as days went on (F = 21.589, P < 0.01, but it was the least on the 7th day in hyperoxia group, after the rats had been returned to air for 7 days, RCDI increased significantly (F = 67.885, P < 0.01); In the control group, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was the strongest in the retina on the 7th day, the result had significant difference as compared with the 1st and 14th day (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF and flk-1 on the 7th day in hyperoxia group was weaker than that of control group (P < 0.05). But on the 14th day in hyperoxia group, they were stronger than that of control (P < 0.05). The localization of the expression of flt-1 was changed when blood vessels altered, but there was no significant difference in expression intensity as a whole (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen the premature retina was exposed to hyperoxia, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was reduced, and retinal blood vessels were also decreased; but the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was stronger in retina when premature rats were exposed to relative hypoxia, and the retinal blood vessels also increased significantly. It is concluded that VEGF and flk-1 may play important roles in the development of retinal blood vessels and its change in ROP. However, flt-1 has less effect compared with flk-1.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hypoxia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; analysis ; Retina ; chemistry ; pathology ; Retinal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is an uncommon, acute, and aggressive fungal infection occurring in several immunocompromised states including poorly controlled diabetes. ROCM causes a very high residual morbidity and mortality due to the angioinvasion property of the fungus. Acromegaly is a chronic condition resulting from the excessive secretion of growth hormone, generally from pituitary adenoma. Although it has been demonstrated that acromegalic patients have an increased risk of neoplasm, gastric cancer with acromegaly is very rare. We experienced a case of pituitary mucormycosis in the diabetic patient with acromegaly and gastric cancer. The patient was treated successfully with subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma, and a systemic application of amphotericin B for the mucormycosis.
Acromegaly* ; Amphotericin B ; Fungi ; Gastrectomy ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Mortality ; Mucormycosis* ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Stomach Neoplasms*

The chemical consituents from Artabotrys hongkongensis were separated and purified by column chromatographies with silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and RP-HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis, as well as comparisons with the data reported in the literature. As a result, 16 sesquiterpenes were isolated and elucidated as blumenol A (1), 4, 5-dihydroblumenol A (2), (6R, 9S)-3-oxo-a-ionol (3), 3-hydroxy-β-ionone (4), dehydrovomifoliol (5), (3R, 6R, 7E) -3-hydroxy-4, 7-megastigmadien-9-one (6), sarmentol F (7), 10-oxo-isodauc-3-en-15-oic acid (8), fukinone (9), petasitolone (10), β-eudesmol (11), trans-3β-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- 8aβ-methyl-5-methylenedecalin-2-one (12), 10-hydroxyaristolan-9-one (13), aristol-8-en-1-one (14), aristolan-9-en-1-one (15), and aristolan-1, 9-diene (16). This is the first study on the chemical consituents of A. hongkongensis, and all compounds were isolated from the genus Artabotrys for the first time.

AIM: In an effort to identify novel, small molecules which can affect the proliferation of lung cancer cells, F-01A, a polyether antibiotic isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces was tested. METHOD: F-01A was tested for its antitumor properties on the lung cancer cell line SPC-A-1, at six doses (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 μmol·L(-1)), using various cellular assays. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay, Hochest 33258 was used to study nuclear morphology; DNA ladder and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were also evaluated. RESULTS: F-01A induces apoptosis against SPC-A-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 is 0.65 μmol·L(-1), and the inhibition at 5 μmol·L(-1) is 87.89%. Further, JC-1 staining indicates F-01A could induce the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the DNA fragment is evident. CONCLUSION Mechanistic analysis showed that F-01A induced apoptosis of cancer cells probably in the mitochondrial pathway. The antitumor actions of F-01A involve activation of the apoptotic pathway against SPC-A-1 cells, and it may be valuable for further drug development.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Growth Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

The phytochemical investigation of the stems of Homalium stenophyllum afforded seven new phenolic glycosides (1-5 and 8-9) and two known compounds (6 and 7). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric data and chemical hydrolysis. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory activities against the NO production in LPS-induced macrophages were evaluated.

Objective: Taking electronic-eye (visual analyzer) technique,based on the powder color of Andrographis Herba,to investigate the applicability of electronic-eye technique and evaluate the quality of Andrographis Herba with different commercial specifications. Method: HPLC was employed to determine contents of andrographolide,dehydroandrographolide,14-deoxyandrographolide,neoandrographolide in 50 batches of Andrographis Herba with different commercial specifications(stems,leaves and aerial parts).Color of these samples were measured by electronic-eye technique.The data were analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis.The ability of electronic-eye to distinguish the different commercial specifications of Andrographis Herba was investigated and the correlation of chroma space system parameters (L^*,a^*,b^*) with active components was investigated. Result: There was remarkable difference in contents of 4 diterpenoids in Andrographis Herba from different parts,their contents in leaves was the highest,followed by the aerial parts(mixture of stems and leaves),and their contents in stems was the lowest.The results of PCA was divided into two classes,namely the stem part,leaf and aerial parts,indicating that electronic-eye could be used to distinguish the quality of Andrographis Herba.The correlation results showed that there were significant negative correlation(P<0.01) between L^*(lightness value) and the contents of andrographolide,dehydroandrographolide,14-deoxyandrographolide,neoandrographolide and the total content of these 4 components.In addition,L^* of samples that did not conform to the lower limit of determination in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopeia was ≥ 69.5,and the L^* of more than 90% of the samples in accordance with the requirements was <69.5. Conclusion: Electronic-eye technique provides a new method and idea for the quality evaluation of Andrographis Herba.

OBJECTIVETo analyze retrospectively the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

METHODSThe engraftment, graft versus host disease (GVHD), infection, relapse, and survival of 13 CMML patients received allo-HSCT were observed. The clinical outcome of allo-HSCT for CMML was analyzed.

RESULTSThirteen (10 males and 3 females) CMML patients with a median age of 38 years old received allo-HSCT including 4 from HLA-matched unrelated donors, 6 from HLA-matched sibling donors and 3 from haploidentical related donors. All 13 patients achieved engraftment, and the median time of neutrophil engraftment and platelet engraftment were 12 (11-18) days and 15 (10-55) days respectively, acute GVHD occurred in 8 patients. After the median follow-up of 13 (6-29) months, the overall survival, disease free survival and relapse were 53.8%, 53.8%, 7.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT can improve the survival of patients with CMML, and is a effective method for treatment of CMML.

Adult ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous