The chemical constituents of 95% ethanol extract of Melastoma dodecandrum were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC, to obtain thirteen compounds eventually. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as quercetin (1), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-(6"-O-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O- [2",6"-di-O-(E)-coumaroyl]-β-D-glucopyra-noside (6), luteolin (7), luteolin-7-O-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (8), apigenin (9), apigenin-7-(6"-acetyl-glucopyranoside) (10) , naringenin (11), isovitexin (12), and epicatechin-[8,7-e] -4β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dyhydroxyl-2(3H)-pyranone (13). Eight compounds(3,5,6,8-11 and 13) were obtained from M. dodecandrum for the first time.
Apigenin ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dextrans ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Kaempferols ; analysis ; Luteolin ; analysis ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analysis ; Silica Gel

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Breynia fruticosa.

METHODVarious chromatographic techniques were employed for isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated by chemical evidence and spectral methods.

RESULTSeven compounds were obtained and identified by spectroscopic methods and compared with authentic samples as aviculin [(+)-isolariciresinol-9'-rhamno-pyranoside], friedelan-3beta-ol, friedelin, arborinone, isoarborinol, 5-hydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxy flavone, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-acetophenone.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were firstly isolated from B. genus, furthermore, aviculin was isolated from Euphorbiaceae for the first time.

Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar spinal stenosis is conventionally treated with surgical decompression. However, bilateral decompression and laminectomy is more invasive and may not be necessary for lumbar stenosis patients with unilateral radiculopathy. We aimed to report the outcomes of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. METHODS: Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with unilateral lower extremity radiculopathy who received limited unilateral decompression and bilateral pedicle screw fixation were included and evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Ligamentum flavum thickness of the involved segments was measured on axial magnetic resonance images. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included. The mean preoperative VAS score was 6.6+/-1.6 and 4.6+/-3.1 for leg and back pain, respectively. Ligamentum flavum thickness was comparable between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side (p=0.554). The mean follow-up duration was 29.2 months. The pain in the symptomatic side lower extremity (VAS score, 1.32+/-1.2) and the back (VAS score, 1.75+/-1.73) significantly improved (p=0.000 vs. baseline for both). The ODI improved significantly postoperatively (6.60+/-6.5; p=0.000 vs. baseline). Significant improvement in VAS pain and ODI scores were observed in patients receiving single or multi-segment decompression fusion with fixation (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Limited laminectomy and unilateral spinal decompression followed by bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion achieves satisfactory outcomes in patients with spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. This procedure is less damaging to structures that are important for maintaining posterior stability of the spine.
Back Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Lower Extremity ; Radiculopathy* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVETo study the alkaloids of Macleaya cordata and their anti-tumor activities.

METHODAlcohol and liquid-liquid extraction were used methods were used to extract the alkaloids constituents, and silica gel, reverse-phase octadecylsilyl (ODS), sephadex LH-20 chromatographic methods and HPLC were applied to isolate and purify compounds. MS, NMR spectroscopic methods were used to determine their structures. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these chemical components for MCF-7 and SF-268 cell lines was measured by MTT method.

RESULTTwelve alkaloids were isolated from the fruits of M. cordata, and their structures were identified as: maclekarpine E (1), 6-acetonyldihyrochelerythrine (2), cavidilinine (3), 6-acetonyldihyrosanguinnarine (4), O-methylzanthoxyline (5), 6-methoxy-dihydrosanguinarine (6), spallidamine (7), 6-hydroxyldihydrochelerythrine (8), arnotianamida (9), dihydrosanguinarine (10), protopine (11), and cryptopine (12).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 3, 7-9 were isolated from M. cordata for the first time, and compound 5 is a new natural product. The results of cytotoxic assay indicated that compound 6 showed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and SF-268 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.61 μmol · L(-1) and 0.54 μmol · L(-1), respectively.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Papaveraceae ; chemistry

Case-Control Studies ; Creatine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnosis ; urine ; Infant, Newborn ; Lactic Acid ; urine ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests

Background Since the measurement method establishment of serum ferritin abroad in early period of theseventies, the iron deficiency had been divided into two types: the non-anemia and anemia types. In orderto go step further studies, we must ertablish the bemoglobin targets of the two types. Methods One hurdred and fifty-two children in experimontal group, from 6 to 7 years old, and allcome from Qinghai province. There are 29 children in Xining city, 24 in Guide, 26 in Gongbe, 40 in Gui-nan and 33 in Maduo countics. There are 36 health children aged from 6 to 7 years old in the controlgroup, and all comes from Beijing. The Hb, RBC, HCT, HCTW and FEP wcre determined. Results The three targets correlating with Hb (Hb, MCH and MCHC); correlating with RBC (RBC,HCT and MCV); the two targets correlating with RBC_weight (HCTW and CMCW) and correlating withFEP of RBC(FEP and MCEP) have very significant difference between experimental group and control group. Conclusion The determination values of the 10 targets are not same in children in different districts,and the values of all the target: are increased on different degree along with the increase in altitude of ele-vation. There is very important significance on the studies of iron deficiency and altitude hypoxia to establish the normal values of the 10 targets.

OBJECTIVETo screen the high risk factors for relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) respectively, then to compare the contribution of each risk factor to relapse and investigate the relevant mechanisms.

METHODSA retrospective study from single center involved in 262 evaluable cases of leukemia received allo-HSCT over the past 8 years, of them 69 cases with ALL, 90 AML (except APL) and 103 CML. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis to screen the high risk factors.

RESULTSThe risk factors significantly affecting relapse in ALL included: Cytogenetic risk classification, the cycles of initial induction chemotherapy; AML: Cytogenetic risk classification, minimal residual disease (MRD) level before transplant, reconstitution of WBC, and CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocyte ratio in the graft; CML: disease stage before transplant.

CONCLUSIONSThe relapse risk after HSCT of ALL mainly depends on the grade of malignancies, and the relapse risk of AML is closely related to the course of transplant. Chronic phase of CML favors a good prognosis after HSCT. Cytogenetic risk classification is the most relevant predictor of relapse after HSCT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigated the relationship between the serum levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines and the progress of viral hepatitis C and the outcome of interferon therapy.

METHODSSerum cytokine detection used the method of ELISA. HCV genotype were classified by direct sequencing. HCV RNA loads were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-2 and TGF-beta in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C were lower hut IL-5 was higher than those of normal control. The level of IL-6 was positively related to the sera level of ALT and was negatively related to sera HCV RNA load. Patients of HCV genotype 1 had higher sera quantities of IL-6 than those of genotype 2 and patients of genotype 2a had lower sera quantities of IL-2 than those of 2b. The levels of IL-2 had the tendency to decrease whereas IL-6 had the tendency to increase when time went on. The level of TGF-beta increased at early phase but decrease later. There were no difference of all cytokines detected between the groups of response and nonresponse before interferon therapy, hut the quantity of serum IFN-gamma were increased after interferon therapy in the response group.

CONCLUSIONThe tested cytokines co-participate in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and have the relationship with the clinical manifestations of the patients. There were no correlation between the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines in the serum before IFN treatment and the result of IFN therapy. Increasing IFN-gamma in the serum induced by IFN treatment is associated with sustained virological response.

Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infusion in patients with steroid-resistant severe acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).

METHODSA total of 19 patients with steroid-resistant severe aGVHD received MSCs infusion treatment. The treatment response, transplantation-related mortality, events associated with infusion and relapse rate were analyzed.

RESULTSTwo patients with grade II, 5 patients with grade III and 12 patients with grade IV aGVHD received a total of 58 infusions of MSCs. The mean total dose of MSCs was 2.13 (range 0.60 - 7.20)×10(6) cells per kg bodyweight. Seven patients received one infusion, 2 patients received two infusions, and 10 patients received three or more infusions. Eleven patients had a complete response and 4 had a partial response and 4 had no response. No patients had side-effects during or immediately after infusions, and no MSCs related tumorigenesis was detected to date. Eleven patients survived and 8 died, 4 for aGVHD, 1 for infection and 2 for aGVHD with concomitant infection and 1 for underlying leukemia relapse. The cell viability of freshly prepared MSCs is 93% (92% - 95%) by trypan blue staining. The cell viability of programmatically frozen and thawed MSCs is 72% (70% - 74%).

CONCLUSIONInfusion of umbilical cord-derived MSCs expanded in vitro is an effective therapy for patients with steroid-resistant severe aGVHD without negative impact on relapse. Freshly prepared MSCs are superior to frozen and thawed cells in terms of cell viability.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Middle Aged ; Steroids ; pharmacology ; Survival Rate ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of rapamycin (RPM)-loaded poly (lactic-co- glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) on the proliferation, distribution of cell cycle, and expression of p27 protein in human umbilical arterial vascular smooth muscle cell (HUASMC) in vitro.

METHODSThe primarily culture model of HUASMC was successfully established by explant-attached method in vitro. The cells were administrated with different doses of RPM, and RPM-PLGA NPs were observed as treat groups compared with PLGA NPs and M231-SMGs medium cultured group. The effect of RPM-PLGA NPs on proliferation of HUASMC was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry method. The influences of RPM-PLGA NPs on the cell cycle and cellular growth kinetics of HUASMCs were tested by flow cytometry. The effect of RPM-PLGA NPs on the expression of p27 protein of HUASMCs was assessed through an immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the proliferation of HUASMCs was inhibited by 50 microg/L and higher concentration of RPM-PLGA NPs in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The numbers of cells entering cell cycle of S/G2/M phases were significantly lower in RPM-PLGA NPs and RPM treated groups. Histologically, the expression of p27 were up-regulated in 500 microg/L RPM-PLGA NPs and 100 microg/L RPM treated group (all P < 0.01 ) when compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSRPM-PLGA NPs has a similar effects as RPM in inhibiting the growth of in vitro cultured HUASMC. It can remarkably suppress the expression of in vitro cultured HUASMC p27 protein, arrest its cell cycle at G1/S phase, and inhibit its proliferation.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nanoparticles ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Arteries ; cytology