Objective To investigate the chemical constituents in Desmodium blandum and their antitumor bioactivity.Methods Various chromatographic techniques were employed for the isolation and purification of the constituents by butanol at 50 ℃ including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20.The compounds structures were elucidated by spectral analyses(IR,UV,NMR,and MS).Then their cytotoxic activity was studied.Results They were identified as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (Ⅰ),5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine(Ⅱ),citrusinol(Ⅲ),yukovanol(Ⅳ),(Z)-1-(4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propene(Ⅴ),(Z)-1-(3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl) propene(Ⅵ),methyl protocatechuate(Ⅶ),katuranin(Ⅷ).Conclusion Eight compounds are isolated from the stems of D.blandum for the first time.In the MTT antitumor experiments,compounds Ⅰ and Ⅲ—Ⅵ have the cytotoxic activity to KB cell.

Objective To evaluate the safety of modified sputum induction in moderate to very severe COPD during exacerbation. Methods Ninety patients with moderate, severe or very severe COPD during exacerbation (27 with type Ⅰ and Ⅱ respiratory failure,18 with coronary heart disease, 38 with tachycardia) were chosen as research subjects. All the patients underwent induced sputum. During induction , all patients were given electrocardiographic monitoring and pulmonary function check every 5 minutes and FEV1, HR, SpO2 in the process of testing were recorded. Results Ninety patients underwent 224 sputum inductions progress, 222 were safety. Qualified sputum samples were collected for 216 times, sputum induction was successful in 96.43% of occasions. Heart rate rising and SpO2 reducing during sputum induction mainly occurred in the beginning 5 minutes, FEV1 did not change in the whole process. Conclusion Modified sputum induction can be safe through closely monitoring in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD with exacerbation, even with type Ⅰ or typeⅡ respiratory failure. But the risk of sputum induction will increase if patients with coronary heart disease and tachyarrhythmia, especially within beginning 5 minutes of sputum induction.

Banksia is a significant element in vegetation of southwestern Australia, a biodiversity hotspot with global significance. In particular, Banksia hookeriana represents a species with signif-icant economic and ecological importance in the region. For better conservation and management, we reported an overview of transcriptome of B. hookeriana using RNA-seq and de novo assembly. We have generated a total of 202.7 million reads (18.91 billion of nucleotides) from four leaf sam-ples in four plants of B. hookeriana, and assembled 59,063 unigenes (average size=1098 bp) through de novo transcriptome assembly. Among them, 39,686 unigenes were annotated against the Swiss-Prot, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein databases. We showed that there was approximately one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) per 5.6–7.1 kb in the transcriptome, and the ratio of transitional to transversional polymorphisms was approximately 1.82. We compared unigenes of B. hookeriana to those of Arabidopsis thaliana and Nelumbo nucifera through sequence homology, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation, and KEGG pathway analyses. The comparative analysis revealed that unigenes of B. hookeriana were closely related to those of N. nucifera. B. hookeriana, N. nucifera, and A. thaliana shared similar GO anno-tations but different distributions in KEGG pathways, indicating that B. hookeriana has adapted to dry-Mediterranean type shrublands via regulating expression of specific genes. In total 1927 poten-tial simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were discovered, which could be used in the genotype and genetic diversity studies of the Banksia genus. Our results provide valuable sequence resource for further study in Banksia.

Objective To investigate the chondrogenic feasibility of the human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs)as cartilage tissue engineering seed cells ,type Ⅱ collagen composite glycosaminoglycan scaffold as the cellular carrier and cell‐scaffold complex .Methods The type Ⅱ collagen composite glycosaminoglycan scaffolds was prepared .The pore diameter , porosity and hydrophilia of scaffold materials were observed and measured by electronic microscope .The corresponding histological analysis on the scaffold materials was performed .hUCMSCs of P3 generation were cultured and identified .The hUCMSCs suspen‐sion was inoculated in the type Ⅱ collagen composite glycosaminoglycan scaffold for conducting culture without adding inducer .The samples were taken out after 3 weeks and performed the toluidine blue and safranin O staining ,type Ⅱ collagen immunohistochemi‐cal staining and SEM scanning .Results hUCMSCs of P3 generation highly expressed the mesenchymal cell marker CD29 and CD105 ,while hardly expressed endothelial cells of CD34 and hematopoietic cell markers .The type Ⅱ collagen composite glycosami‐noglycan scaffold presented white porous foam like ,the porosity was (91 .8 ± 2 .17)% ,the average pore diameter was 110‐230 μm , which was homogeneously distributed and had interpenetration .The scaffold showed good hydrophilicity with the water absorption expansion rate of (213 .71 ± 1 .31)% .The scaffold staining of toluidine blue ,safranin O and type Ⅱ collagen was positive .The car‐tilage‐like tissues were observed ,and gradually increased in the surface of cell‐scaffold complex along with culture ,which were posi‐tive in Toluidine blue ,safranin O and type Ⅱ collagen staining ,the electronic microscopic observation displayed that the cells were actively proliferated in the scaffold ,closely adhered with the materials ,the cartilage‐like cells and a large number of peripheral colla‐gen fibers with zigzag connection could be seen .Conclusion Compositing hUCMSCs and type Ⅱ collagen composite glycosamin‐oglycan scaffold could construct tissue‐engineering cartilage in vitro without induction ,which lays a certain experimental foundation for the repair of cartilage damage .

This study was aimed at observing the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol on the microarchitecture of cancellous bone and exploring the influence of microarchitectural change on the biomechanical properties. Thirty 6-month-old unmated female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 rat each): sham-operated control group (Sham), ovariectomized group (OVX)and Estradiol Benzoate treated group (EBT). All rats were housed in standard environmental conditions. Five months after operation, the rats were sacrificed. The biomechanical properties of the third lumbar vertebras (L3) were measured with compression testing in vitro. Micro-CT scanning was performed on the fourth lumbar vertebras (L4) in vitro. In comparison with the corresponding variables of Sham, the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and the trabecular number (Tb. N) of OVX were reduced remarkably, and the trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) and the structural model index (SMI) of OVX were enhanced obviously. These facts implicated that the bone trabecular plate-like structure of OVX were decreased. BV/TV, Tb. N and the trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) of EBT were greater than those of OVX. Tb. Sp and SMI of EBT were much smaller than those of OVX. The results of mechanical test showed that the maximum forioe (Fmax), the maximum stress (sigmamax) and the elastic modeulus (E) of the lumbar vertebral cancellous bone of OVX were declined sharply, while the aforesaid biomechanical index of EBT was improved distinctly. The performance of three-dimensional micro-CT and the mechanical testing to assess microarchitecture of cancellous bone are useful for evaluating the state of osteoporosis and the antiosteoporotic effect of agents.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Osteoporosis ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vemurafenib in the treatment of BRAF V600E-mutated Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) . Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, response rate, adverse events and survival of 12 patients with ECD treated with vemurafenib from March 2015 to October 2020 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Results:Of 12 patients [7 males and 5 females, median age = 51.5 (range, 32-66) years old], the median number of organs involved was 6 (range, 4-8) , and the median treatment duration of vemurafenib was 11 (3-60) months. All patients had improvement of clinical symptoms, of which 2 cases were completely relieved, and 10 cases were partially relieved. Seven patients evaluated by 18F-FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography achieved a metabolic response, including 2 patients with a complete metabolic response and 5 patients with a partial metabolic response. The common adverse events in the overall cohort were grade 1 to 2 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 5.0) , including skin rash (58.3%) , arthralgia (25.0%) , and digestive tract reactions (16.7%) . The median follow-up time was 13.5 (3-60) months. One patient with central nervous system involvement died due to a cerebrovascular event, and one patient relapsed 10 months after drug withdrawal. The estimated 2-year overall survival rate and 2-year progression free survival rate were 88.89% and 66.67%, respectively. Conclusions:Vemurafenib is safe and effective in the treatment of BRAF V600E-mutated ECD.

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum is one of the world's top ten plant pathogens, mainly infecting cruciferous economic crops and ornamental flowers. In this study, an antibacterial gene cpxP (Gene ID: 29704421) was cloned from the genome of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, and constructed on the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-15b, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), then stability and bacteriostatic experiments of the purified CpxP protein were performed. The final concentration of IPTG was 1 mmol/L, obtaining high-efficiency exogenous expression of the CpxP protein. There was no other protein after purification, and the destined protein exhibited good thermal stability and pH stability. The antibacterial test results showed that the inhibition rate of the CpxP protein on carrot slice was 44.89% while the inhibition rate on potato slice was 59.41%. To further explain its antibacterial mechanism, studying the spatial structure of this protein can provide new ideas for the control of soft rot and new protein pesticide targets.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pectobacterium carotovorum ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of induced membrane technique in the staged treatment of adult chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis (CHOM) of long bone.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 22 adult patients with CHOM of long bone who had been admitted to the 920th Hospital, Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2016 to December 2019. There were 18 males and 4 females, aged from 16 to 56 years (average, 31.81 years). Their disease duration ranged from 0.6 to 42.0 years, averaging 18.4 years. By the Cierny-Mader anatomical classification, 4 cases were type Ⅰ, 6 cases Type Ⅲ, and 12 cases type Ⅳ. In the first stage, the bone defects were filled with antibiotic bone cement after thorough debridement. In the second stage when the infection had been controlled, the bone defects were repaired with bone grafts after removal of the bone cement. Bone healing time and complications were followed up. The treatment effects were evaluated by comparisons of the infection control indexes [including clinical manifestations like local redness, swelling, pus, and pain, and blood white blood cell count, C-Reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well] before the primary surgery, before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up.Results:The volumes of the bone defects after stage-one debridement ranged from 54 cm 3 to 176 cm 3 (mean, 90.9 cm 3). All patients were followed up for 20 to 51 months (mean, 30.1 months) after surgery. All bone defects healed after 4 to 11 months (mean, 6.6 months). Postoperatively, infection developed at the bone extraction site of the posterior superior iliac spine in 3 cases and pain was observed at the donor site in one case, but the conditions were relieved after symptomatic treatment. Fracture and plate breakage occurred at the bone defect site in one case who had fallen down 7 months after operation, but responded to reoperation. The last follow-up revealed such symptoms as redness, swelling and pus discharge in none of the patients. The white blood cell count [(5.70 ± 1.57) × 10 9/L and (5.65 ± 1.58) × 10 9/L], CRP [(7.56 ± 2.57) mg/L and (7.25 ± 3.83) mg/L] and ESR [(9.64 ± 2.90) mm/h and (10.55 ± 5.23) mm/h] before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up were significantly lower than those before the primary surgery [(8.24 ± 2.18) × 10 9/L, (49.54 ± 19.56) mg/L, and (42.68 ± 13.77) mm/h] (all P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the indexes before the secondary surgery and at the last follow-up ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:In the staged treatment of adult CHOM of long bone, the induced membrane technique can effectively control infection, achieve repair of bone defects, and reduce complications.