Garcinia plants are one of the rich sources of natural xanthones and benzophenones which have attracted a great deal of attention from the scientists in the fields of chemistry and pharmacology. Recently, many structurally unique constituents with various bioactivities, especially anti-tumor activity, have been isolated from Garcinia plants. This concise review focused on the anti-cancer activity natural products isolated from Chinese Garcinia plants, and the research finding by authors and collaborators over the past several years were cited.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzophenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Garcinia ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Xanthones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified as a novel human coronavirus and posed great threat to public health world wide,which calls for the development of effective and safe vaccine urgently. In the study, peptide epitopes tagrgeting spike antigen were predicted based on bioinformatics methods. Nine polypeptides with high scores were synthesized and linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Female BALB/C mice were immunized with individual polypeptide-KLH, and the total IgG was detected by ELISA as well as the cellular mediated immunity (CMI) was analyzed using ELIs-pot assay. The results showed that an individual peptide of YVDVGPDSVKSACIEVDIQQTFFDKTWPRPIDVSKADGI could induce the highest level of total IgG as well as CMI (high frequency of IFN-γ secretion) against MERS-CoV antigen in mice. Our study identified a promising peptide vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV and provided an experimental support for bioinformatics-based design of peptide vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Computational Biology ; Coronavirus Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the immunogenicity and cross protective effects of two novel HCV DNA vaccines in a mice model.Methods Two self-replicating alphavirus vector-based HCV DNA vaccines, pSCK CE1E2Y and pSCK H155, were constructed based on the genes encoding the structural pro-teins (Core, E1 and E2) and structural and NS3 fusion proteins (Core, E1 , E2 and NS3) of a HCV strain isolated from a Chinese patient (genotype 1b, Hebei strain), respectively.Western blot analysis was per-formed to detect the expression of fusion antigens.The BALB/c mice were intradermally immunized with the recombinant DNA vaccines by using electroporation.The immune responses induced in mice and the cross protective effects of the recombinant DNA vaccines were evaluated.Results The DNA vaccines effectively expressed the target antigens in vitro.The antigen-specific antibody responses and specific T cell immune re-sponses were induced in mice by the immunization of replicative DNA vaccines.However, no effective cross protection was provided by either of the DNA vaccines in the surrogate challenge model based on a recombi-nant heterologous HCV (JFH1, 2a) vaccinia virus strain.Conclusion Although no effective cross protec-tion was observed, both of the two replicative DNA vaccines could induce strong humoral and cellular im-mune responses against multi-target antigens of HCV strains.This study has paved the way for further inves-tigation on the development of novel HCV vaccines.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; Female ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Professional Competence ; Work ; psychology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on inflammatory factors in children with asthma.Methods Eighty children with moderate asthma who aged 6-14 years old were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups:5 mg once daily montelukast,or inhaled 100 ?g twice daily budesonide and 5 mg montelukast with inhaled budesonide 100 ?g per day.Each dose group received medicine for 12 weeks.Before starting therapy and 12 months later,clinical effects were observed,and pulmonary function was measured in patients simultaneously;concentrations of serum and sputum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), IL-5 and TNF-? were measured respectively;also the peripheral blood eosinophil (Eos)was counted.Results Following treatment,clinical evaluation was improved and there were significant increases in pulmonary function in asthmatic children.Compared with control group,the levels of serum ECP,IL-5,TNF-? and blood Eos counting increased significantly in asthmatic children.The blood Eos counting was significantly correlated with ECP concentration in serum of children with asthma(P

Objective To investigate the development strategy of novel T cell based vaccine against HCV infection.Methods BALB/c mice were primed with pSCK-based DNA vaccine and boosted with type 5 adenoviral vector-based vaccine, which expressed the structural proteins ( Core, E1 and E2) de-rived from a Chinese HCV patient (genotype 1b, Hebei strain).Enzyme linked immunospot assay (ELIS-POT) and intracellular cytokine staining ( ICS) were used to analyze the elicited antigen-specific immune re-sponses and the efficacy of cross-protection.Results Immunization of mice with the prime-boost vaccination strategy elicited stronger T cell immune responses against multiple HCV antigens than using the DNA vac-cines alone, especially the IFN-γ-secreting T cell responses against E1 protein as indicated by ELISPOT as-say.ICS data indicated that the prime-boost regimen elicited more TNF-α-producing CD4+and IFN-γ-produ-cing CD8+T cells against E1 protein and high levels of IFN-γ-producing CD4+and CD8+T cells against E2 protein in comparison with immunization with DNA vaccines.Moreover, the prime-boost vaccination was ca-pable of eliciting effective cross-protection in a surrogate challenge model based on a recombinant heterolo-gous HCV (JFH1, 2a) vaccinia virus.Conclusion The prime-boost vaccination using DNA and rAd5-based vaccine expressing HCV structural antigens induced significant cellular immune response and cross-protection in mice, suggesting the possibility of using it as a promising T cell based vaccine against HCV in-fection.

Objective To observe the effect of fluoxetine on the single prolonged stress model which mimic the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods Rats receiving single prolonged stress (SPS) (2 h restraint + 20 min FST + anaesthesized to lose consciousness with ethylether) or not were given fluoxetine or tap water for 15 days. Elevated plus maze(EPM),open-field test(OF) and morris water maze(MWM) tests were used to evaluate rats' fear response to environment,high alertness,anxiety & depression behavior,and learning and memory ability. Results In open field test, group of fluoxetine(F1 (8895. 85 ± 599. 78) mm, (40. 23 ±4. 32) s;F2 (8654.07 ±866.05)mm,(41.57 ±4.34)s, P<0.05) showed significant increase in activity times and horizontal motion distance compared with group of SPS (4678.85 ±495.33)mm, (22.15 ±3.43)s, P<0.05). In EPM experiment,group of fluoxetine(F1 (32. 62 ± 4. 57)% , (17. 58 ± 3. 23)% ; F2 (39. 75 ± 4. 46)% , (19. 74 ± 4.44) %) showed significant increase in percentage of the open-arm into the maze and percentage of the open arm pause compared with group of SPS ((23.67 ±2. 87)% ,(12.46 ±2.55)% , P<0.05). In MWM experiment,the escape latency of the SPS group increased significantly in comparison to that in sham group (P<0.01) and fluoxetine group. Fluoxetine significantly reversed the SPS-induced decrease in time spent in the target quadrant (P< 0.05). Conclusion Added fluoxetine can obviously improve rats' fear response to environment ,high alertness ,anxiety & depression behavior as well as learning and memory ability.

To develop a safe and broad-spectrum effective hepatitis C virus (HCV) T cell vaccine,we constructed the recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine that carried the hepatitis C virus truncated NS3 and core fusion proteins. The expression of the fusion antigen was confirmed by in vitro immunofluorescence and western blotting assays. Our results indicated that this vaccine not only stimulated antigen-specific antibody responses,but also activated strong NS3-specific T cell immune responses. NS3-specific IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD4+ T cell subsets were also detected by a intracellular cytokine secretion assay. In a surrogate challenge assay based on a recombinant heterologous HCV (JFH1,2a) vaccinia virus,the recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine was capable of eliciting effective levels of cross-protection. These findings have im- portant implications for the study of HCV immune protection and the future development of a novel vaccine.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Cross Protection ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Core Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To assess the safety and effectiveness of self-made side hole balloon for treating no-reflow following percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Methods Twenty-three patients diagnosed with no-reflow during PCI from Jan. 2012 to Jan. 2013 were enrolled. Residual stenosis, thrombosis, dissection, and spasm of coronary artery were excluded. The mean age of the 23 patients was (62. 0±13. 8) years old. Of the 23 patients 14 had ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 9 underwent elective PC.I. There were 11 cases with no-reflow in the left anterior descending branch, 8 in the right coronary artery and 4 in the circumflex branch. The drugs (nitroglycerin and tirofiban) were selectively injected into the vessel using sel-made side hole balloons. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade before and after procedure, ST segment resolution (STR),ST-T changes for 24 and 72 hours and complications (perforation, dissection,and thrombosis of coronary artery) were observed postoperatively. Patientswere followed up by ECG and echocardiogram at 1 month after PC.I. Incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and cardiac function were observed 6 months after PC.I. Results After intracoronary administration of drug therapy, TIMI grade-1 flow was found in 3 patients, TIMI grade-2 flow in 5 patients and TIMI grade-3 flow in15 patients. In patients with STEMI, complete resolution ((≥3;70%) was found in 8 patients,partial resolution (30%-69%) in 4, and no resolution (<30%) in 2. One of the 2 patients with ventricular electrical storm was treated with temporary cardiac pacing and drug therapy and recovered within 1 week; the other one with pericardial tamponadewho was treated with emergency surgery repair died. In 9 patients undergoing selected PCI, transient ST segment changes were noted in 3 patients which recovered within 1 week after conservative treatment; with no perforation, dissection,or thrombosis of coronary artery. One month after discharge, echocardiogram of the 22 patients showed a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of (50. 6± 14. 3) % and a fractional shortening in the short axis view of 0. 36±0. 04, and ECG showed non-specific changes of ST-T in 6 patients. In 4 patients with STEMI, culprit artery showed TIMI grade-3 by angiography performed during PCI for non-culprit vessel 1 month after primary PC.I. At 6 months after primary PCI, there was no MACE; 18 patientswere in New York Heart Association Class I and 4 in Class E. Conclusion Self-made side hole balloon is a safe, economical, effective and convenient method for intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin and tirofiban in treating no-flow during PCI, but the result still needs further verification.

Objective To develop an effective and broad immune protective vaccination strategy by using DNA and recombinant vaccinia-based H5N1 vaccines.Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with various prime-boost regimens by using different DNA ( pIRES-based or pVRC-based) and recombinant vaccinia (Tiantan strain, rTTV)-based H5N1 vaccines expressing multivalent antigens (HA, NA, M1 and M2).The differences of immunity induced by two DNA vaccines were compared between intradermal electro -poration (IDE) and intramuscular electroporation (IME) deliveries.Immune responses were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition( HAI) assay, neuraminidase ( NA)-specific antibody measured by ELISA , mi-croneutralization assay and IFN-γELISPOT assay .Results High levels of humoral immunity and T cell re -sponses were induced in mice primed with DNA-based vaccine than those primed with rTTVb-ased vaccine . DNA priming by IDE resulted in higher levels of neutralizing antibody in mice than those by IME delivery . Higher levels of HAI and anti-NA antibodies as well as NA-specific T cell responses were induced by pVRC-based DNA prime than those by pIRES-based DNA prime .HA-specific T cell responses were also enhanced in mice primed with pVRC-based DNA than those primed with pIRES-based DNA by IME .Conclusion The prime-boost strategies by using DNA-based vaccine in combination with rTTV-based H5N1 vaccine could induce humoral and T cell responses in mice against multi-antigens .Immunities induced by vaccines in com-bination might be modulated by various prime regimes .The study provided references for the further develop-ment of novel H5N1 vaccine and the optimization of immunization programs of combined multi-antigen vac-cine candidates .