The study of peptide drugs has been an important direction in research and development of new drugs. However, lots of natural macromolecular peptides are limited in clinical use by their metabolic instability and low bioavailability. In recent years, the active small peptidomimetics open up a new hotspot of peptide drug development with the characteristics of low molecular weight, high bioactivity and structural modification. Many peptidomimetics are on the market or on the clinical study. This paper elaborated the small peptidomimetics approved by American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2005 to 2014, and reviewed their researching status with source, synthetic method, chemical structure, marketing time, indication, clinical efficacy and safety. Research prospects in this field were discussed.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Peptidomimetics ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Objective To study the expression and the relation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)and matrix metal proteinase-2(MMP-2)in rectal cancer and evaluate their roles in rectal carcinogen- esis and development.Methods The expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in 52 cases of rectal cancer was de- tected by immunohistochemical SP technique.12 cases normal rectal tissue served as the control group.Re- suits The expression of VEGF in rectal carcinoma(67.3 %)was much higher than that in control group(P

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of human swine streptococcosis occurred in some areas of Jiangsu Province from late summer to autumn since 1998.Methods The epidemiologic and clinical features of 42 cases were collected and analyzed.The bio- chemical features of strains isolated from patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested,and the homogeneity were compared among 15 Streptococcus suisⅡ.Results All patients had acute infection toxe- mic symptoms such as chill,fever,headache and malaise etc.Toxic shock syndrome or meningitis syndrome were the major clinical manifestations.Forty two cases of human swine streptococosis were classified into 3 types:the rates of general,shock and meningitis type were 7.1% (3/42),38.1% (16/42) and 54.7%(23/42),respectively.Ten patients were died of shock type,32 were cured.Strain isolated from patients was identified as Streptococcus suisⅡby API-Strep,the biochemical reactional code was 0641473,and appraised result was 99.9%.There was highly homogeneity in the strains of Streptococcus suisⅡisolated from patients and sick pigs identified by genomic fingerprinting.Com- bined therapy of large doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone was effective in these patients.Conclusions Human swine streptococosis is zoonosis caused by Streptococcus suisⅡand the clinical manifesta- tions are variable.In the cases of shock type,the onset of disease is stormy and the fatality rate is very high.While the prognosis of general and meningitis type is good and the majority of the cases are cured by effective antibiotic therapy.

As an important part of Chinese medicinal materials, uncommon-territorial herbs are also the most complex parts in the herbal medicine markets. Through years of investigation on the key markets of Chinese herbal medicine, the meaning of uncommon-territorial herbs, their historical evolution, origin and characteristics were clarified in this paper, and some countermeasures were put forward for its development.
Biological Evolution ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo explore the differentiation mechanism of population biology between "Cangzhu" and "Baizhu", commonly used traditional Chinese drugs.

METHODThe wild populations of Atractylodes in Anhui Province were investigated successively, in which specimens were studied, and the cultivated population was observed.

RESULTThe wild A. macrocephala and A. lancea, A. lancea subsp. luotianensis and A. lancea presented a series of successive transitions, which was caused by the change of ecological environment. A. macrocephala, A. lancea and A. lancea subsp. luotianensis were extreme types of the series of transitions, which were the germplasm of "Baizhu", "Cangzhu" and "Hancangzhu". The transitional types between A. macrocephala and A. lancea were similar of A. japonica, whose effect was the intermediate of "Baizhu" and "Cangzhu".

CONCLUSIONThe development and differentatiation of commodites, the source of germplasm and the selection of geo-herbs of "Baizhu", "Cangzhu" and "Hancangzhu" are corresponding with the development of population biology of genus Atractylodes.

Altitude ; Atractylodes ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; growth & development ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; China ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; growth & development ; Population Dynamics

OBJECTIVETo explain the molecular evidence of revision of taxonomic placement of Peucedanum decursivum based on the nrDNA ITS sequence.

METHODPCR amplification, DNA sequencing and cladistic analysis.

RESULTThe ITS sequences and phylogenetic tree of 5 species of Angelica were and Peucedanum were acquired, in which 5 species were divided into 2 groups, Angelica group and Peucedanum group. P. decursivum was placed in the Angelica group.

CONCLUSIONP. decursivum belongs to genus Angelica. The scientific name of P. decursivum should be revised as A. decursivum. A. decursivum and P. praeruptorum should be used as crude drug respectively.

Angelica ; classification ; genetics ; Apiaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics

Objective To discuss the clinical effect of the ramified musculocutaneous flap pedicled with the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery treatment of bones and arthrsis of extremity in- fections with soft tissue defects.Methods The muscle flap blooded with the muscular branch of lateral fem- oral muscle and musculocutaneous flap blooded with the musculocutaneous branch were designed,all of which were pedicled with the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral arteryIn clinic24 cases of bones and arthrosis of extremity infections with soft tissue defects were treated with this kind of ramified musculocutaneous flap.Results Of the 24 cases23 cases were survived while 1 case was lost16 cases were healed at stageⅠ8 cases were healed at stageⅡSinus has formated in 3 casesone of which twicebut they were healed in one year with the treatment of debridmentsFour cases with osteomvelitis and bone defect were treated with bone grafting in the later 6～8 months after the wound has healedTwenty-two cases were followed-up for 6～20 monthsinfcetiou didn't recur.Conclusion This kind of ramified musculocutaneous flap has such ad- vantages as longer blood vessel pediclefilling the defects completely flexible application and stronger anti-in- fectionthat it may be an effective way in treating bones and arthrosises of extremity infections with soft tissue defects.

OBJECTIVEThe microscopic structure and histochemical localization of the Polygonatum sibiricum, P. cytonema, P. filipes, P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum was studied.

METHODScanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital biological microscope (DBM) were applied in the research.

RESULTVenation bundle showed in three types included collateral, amphivasal and incomplete amphivasal bundles. Morphological differences of venation bundles could be seen under the fluorescence microscope. Calcium oxalate existed in the mucilage cells looked similar to columnar crystals under SEM. In rhizome of Polygonatum, polysaccharides presented in mucilage cells, saponins and volatile oil were found in ground tissue.

CONCLUSIONMicrostructure difference of rhizomes would be used for identification of the Polygonatum plants. Polysaccharides and saponins are distributed in different cells of Polygonatum plants.

Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Histocytochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Saponins ; analysis

A new sesquiterpene hydroquinone (1) was isolated from a deep sea sediment derived fungus, Phialocephala sp.. Its structure and stereochemistry were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and optical rotation. This compound was tested for cytotoxicity against P388 (murine leukemia cell) and K562 (human leukemia cell) cell lines, and displayed strong cytotoxic effects with IC50 value of 0.16 and 0.05 micromol x L(-1), separately.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ascomycota ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia P388 ; pathology ; Mice ; Molecular Structure