Objective To study the relationship between serum amyloid A(SAA)and the common carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)in type 2 diabetic(T_2DM)patients.Methods Sixty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes,and 20 healthy subjects regarded as the normal controls(NC)were enrolled in the study from January to July of 2005.SAA levels were measured using ELISA.The carotid IMT were examined by hypersensitive color Doppler ultrasonography.Results SAA level was significantly elevated in type 2 diabetes group compared with that in the control3.08(2.1~5.06)mg/L vs 1.37(1.07~1.86)mg/L,P

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Asparagus filicinus. Methods: Silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and preparative TLC were used to isolate and purify the compounds. All the compounds were identified based on spectral analysis (including MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR). Results: Sixteen phenolic compounds were isolated from 90% ethanol extract in the roots of A. filicinus and were characterized as 3′-methoxynyasin (1), (+)-nyasol (2), (-)-4′-O-methyl-nyasol (3), iso-agatharesinol (4), gobicusin A (5), 4-[5-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3-penten-1-ynyl] phenol (6), 1-methoxy-2-hydroxy-4-[5-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3-penten-1-ynyl] phenol (7), gobicusin B (8), 1-O-p-coumaroyl-3-O-feruloylglycerol (9), 1, 3-di-O-feruloylglycerol (10), syringic acid (11), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (12), fumalic acid (13), caffeic acid (14), trans-coniferyl alcohol (15), and vanillic acid (16), respectively. Conclusion: These phenolic compounds are isolated from A. filicinus for the first time except compounds 2 and 12.

Objective: To study the flavonoids from the roots of Ephedra sinica in Ephedra Tourn. ex L. Methods: The roots of E. sinica were extracted with 90% ethanol, and isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18 gel column chromatography. All the compounds were identified based on spectral analyses (including MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR). Results: Thirteen flavonoids were isolated from the roots of E. sinica and were characterized as ephedrannin A (1), mahuannin A (2), mahuannin B (3), mahuannin D (4), apigenin (5), kaempferol (6), quercetin (7), dihydroquercetin (8), 3′, 4′, 5, 7-tetrahydroxy flavanone (9), (+)-catechin (10), (-)-epi-catechin (11), afzelechin (12), and (-)-epi-afzelechin (13), respectively. Conclusion: Compounds 7-13 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Objective To investigate the effect of lobaplatin combined with irradiation on human nasopharyngeal cancer cell line CNE2,and to illuminate its mechanism of radiosensitization.Methods MTT assay was used to detect the outcome of lobaplatin and irradiation on CNE2 cell proliferation.Clonogenic assay was applied to testify the radiosensitization effect of lobaplatin on the cells.Flow cytometry was used to check the cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis.Western was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2,Bax and cleaved Caspase-3.Results The proliferation of CNE2 cells was reduced by lobaplatin in a dose-dependent manner.50IC of lobaplatin on CNE2 cells and lobaplatin combined with 4 Gy irradiation was 1.610 μmol/L and 0.077 μmol/L,respectively.The radiosensitization ratio of the combination group was over 3.Within 24 h of drug treatment,the percent of cells in G2/M phase increased with the concentration of lobaplatin.When the concentration of lobaplatin increased to 6 μmol/L,the cells of combination group were arrested at S phase.The apoptosis rate of lobaplatin (5 μmol/L) group,radiotherapy(4 Gy)group and combination group was 15.6％,11.3％ and 61.8％,respectively.Western blot showed that the expressions of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 increased but Bcl-2 decreased in the combination group.Conclusion Lobaplatin could increase radiosensitization of human nasopharyngeal cancer cell line CNE2,probably by depressing Bcl-2 but enhancing Bax expression and hence activating Bcl-2/Bax-Caspase signaling pathway.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Subclavian Artery ; injuries ; Treatment Outcome

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Residues ; analysis ; Electrochemistry ; Ethidium ; analysis ; Luminescent Measurements ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antibacterial agents in the marine fungus Penicillium sp. F00120 from the deep sea sediments in the South China Sea. METHODS: The compounds were purified by a combination of chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by MS, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic analysis. The antimicrobial activities of the isolates were evaluated by the agar plate diffusion method. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated from the culture and were characterized as ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen -3-one(1), 25-hydroxyergosta4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen-3-one(2), ergosta-7, 22-dien-3β, 5α, 6β-triol (3), ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3β-ol(4), 5α, 8α-epidioxyergosta-6, 22-dien-3β-ol(5), 5α, 6α-epoxyergost-8(14), 22-dien-3β, 7α-diol(6), cholesterol(7), and 4-hydroxyacetophenone(8), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-3 and 6-8 are isolated from this fungus for the first time. Compounds 3, 4, and 8 shows moderate antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coll.

Objective To discuss the therapeutic methods and strategies of fractionated embolization in treating large cerebral arteriovenous malformation (cAVM). Methods During the period from May 2005 to May 2013 at authors’ hospital, endovascular fractionated embolization was performed in 35 cases with large cAVM. The lesions were located in the frontal lobe (n = 11), the parietal lobe(n = 8), the temporal lobe (n = 6), the occipital lobe (n = 4), the lateral temporal area (n = 2) and the deep white matter and basal ganglia (n = 4). The longest diameter of the lesions was 6 - 12 cm, with a mean of 7.23 cm. The number of supply vessels was 2 - 5. The lesions were drained by superficial veins in 13 cases, by deep veins in 9 cases and by both superficial and deep veins in 17 cases. The exit stenosis of the draining vein was seen in 3 cases, while the dilatation of the draining vein was found in 6 cases. Angiography showed that the lesions were situated at the right side in 16 cases and at the left side in 19 cases. Results A total of 297 times of embolization operating-process were carried out in the 35 patients, of which NBCA was used in 107, ONYX in 153 with, FuAiLe medical adhesive in 15, combination use of NBCA and ONYX in 9 and combination use of ONYX and FuAiLe medical adhesive in 13. No death occurred after treatment. After the first embolization, the residual malformation volume usually decreased to < 50%. The interval between the first and the second embolization was 1 - 3 months. Generally, two to four times of embolization were performed in each patient. Complete occlusion of the lesion was obtained in 26 cases, and sub - complete occlusion of the lesion (> 80%embolization) in 9 patients. Good recovery was achieved in all patients. After fractionated embolization, the volume of the cAVMs was decreased gradually and ultimate clinical cure was achieved, which laid the foundation for conducting further micro - neruosurgery or radiation therapy. Conclusion For the treatment of large cerebral arteriovenous malformation, fractionated embolization has reliable therapeutic effect. Therefore, this technique should be recommended in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of EUS in patients with chronic abdominal pain of suspected pancreatic origin.Methods The EUS findings and related clinical data of 106 patients with chronic abdominal pain of suspected pancreatic origin(excluding the patients with suspected pancreatic malignancies)from 1991 to 2004 in PUMCH were retrospectively analyzed.Results(1)The principal dis- ease interpreting the chronic abdominal pain of suspected pancreatic origin(excluding pancreatic malignan- cies)was chronic pancreatitis(CP)(57.5%),the following contributions were other pancreatic diseases (18.9%)and unknown diseases(11.3%).(2)The sensitivity and specificity of EUS for diagnosing CP was 95.1% and 64.4% respectively,the positive predictive value(PPV)and negative predictive value (NPV)was 78.4% and 90.6% respectively.(3)Abhormalities of pancreatic parenchyma structure based on EUS were the main findings(90.2%)in patients with CP and non-homogeneous echo pattern combined with hyper echoic dots or calcification was the predominant feature(52.5%).The value of isolated inhomo- geneity and focal enhanced eehogenicity for diagnosing CP were limited(P＞0.05).Abnormalities of pan- ereatic ductal system were presented in 63.9% of patients with CP and dilation of pancreatic duct was the major feature(34.4%).CP with focal mass(inflammatory pseudotumor)was usually presented as hypo e- choic mass in the pancreatic head based on EUS(90%),which was similar to the EUS feature of pancreatic cancer.(4)The general accordant rate based on EUS with ERCP or BT-PABA were 77.8% and 70.4% re- spectively,and the correct rate based on combine diagnosis were 100% and 95.2%.Conclusion CP is the main source of chronic abdominal pain of suspected pancreatic origin(excluding pancreatic malignancies). EUS has good sensitivity but inadequate specificity for diagnosing CP,while ERCP may be more sensitive than EUS for detecting pancreatic ductal lesions.Pancreatic parenchymal abnormalities contribute the major EUS features of CP but the value of isolated inhomogeneity and focal enhanced echogenicity for diagnosing CP are limited.

A new steroid with a long cross-conjugation structure, 15a-hydroxy-(22E, 24R)-ergosta-3, 5, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-7-one (1), was isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus aculeatus. Its structure was established by the extensive spectroscopic analyses, and its cytotoxicities against P388, HL-60, and PC-3 cell lines were measured in vitro.
Animals ; Aspergillus ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cholestenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Seawater ; microbiology