Objective:To compare the release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides in sporoderm-broken and nonbroken spores of Ganoderma lucidum, and establish a comparatively correct method for the determination and analysis of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs.Method:The release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides was determined on the basis of phenol-sulfuric acid modification in different conditions.Result:The release ability of polysaccharides of sporoderm-broken spores was much grerter than that of nonbroken spores; and the phenol-sulfuric acid modified cation method proved excellent in accuracy and reproducibility, with a relative error less than 1.5%.Conclusion:The spores should be wall-wracked if used as a nutriment, or for extraction and analysis of their effective components. The method can be successfully used for the determination of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs or nutriments.

Animals ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Oligosaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical features of CPB-4, a heteropolysaccharide obtained from Cynanchum paniculatum.

METHODSugar composition analysis, methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance were used to determine the sugar composition, linkages, main chain, branch chains and branching points.

RESULTCPB-4 is composed of L-arabinose, L-xylose, L-rhamnose and D-galactose in closely molar ratios of 0.8:0.2:0.2:1.0. Its main chain is comprised of 1, 5 linked galactose and side chains are comprised of terminal xylose, terminal arabinose, oligosaccharide of arabinose and oligosaccharide of arabinose, rhamnose and galactose. The branching points are located at C-6 and C-2 of galactose.

CONCLUSIONCPB-4 is a new heteropolysaccharide from C. paniculatum.

Arabinose ; isolation & purification ; Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Methylation ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhamnose ; isolation & purification ; Xylose ; isolation & purification

AIMTo separate and purify the anti-myocardial ischemic polysaccharide fraction with a homogenous molecular weight from Ophiopogon japonicus, then study the chemical structure of the parts.

METHODSCrude polysaccharides were prepared by extracting the tube root fraction of Ophiopogon japonicus with water, then precipitation with ethanol. From the crude polysaccharides, the polysaccharide of MDG-1 was separated and purified using ultrafiltration, DEAE Sepharose FF and Sephadex G-25 column chromatography. Its structure was studied by complete hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analysis etc.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONMDG-1 was a water-soluble beta-D-fructosan, containing a backbone composed of Fruf (2 --> 1), and a branch of Fruf (2 --> 6) Fruf (2 --> per average 2. 8 of main chain residues. Mn, Mw and Mp of MDG-1 were 3 400, 4 800 and 5 000, respectively. MDG-1 contains trace of Glc, which maybe connect to its reducing terminal. Molar ratio of Fru and Glc is approximately 35: 1.

Methylation ; Molecular Structure ; Molecular Weight ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Plant Tubers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

AIMTo study the chemical structure of SC3, an acidic polysaccharide from Salvia chinesis.

METHODSBased on chemical (including sugar composition analysis, methylation analysis, uronic acid reduction and partial acid hydrolysis) and spectral analysis (IR, NMR, ESI-MS), the structural characterization of SC3 was investigated.

RESULTSSC3 was composed Rha, Ara, Gal and GalA, with its mean molecular weight of 7.7 x 10(4). By means of methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, NMR and ESI-MS spectrum, the linkages and sequence information of SC3 were obtained.

CONCLUSIONSC3 is an complicated acidic polysaccharide, obtained for the first time from the plant.

Arabinose ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Galactose ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Molecular Weight ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhamnose ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Salvia ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic accumulation regulation of dry substance and four coumarin constituents in root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, so to provide the basis for optimal harvest time.

METHODRoots of P. praeruptorum were collected periodically. The dry weight of the roots was measured and the content of four coumarins was determined by HPLC method.

RESULTThe dry substance accumulation of the root reached the maximum amount and the coumarin contents maintain stability at the end of the vegetative growth period. The coumarins of roots decline significantly in the reproductive growth period.

CONCLUSIONThe most optimum collecting time of root of P. praeruptorum cultivated in Ningguo county in Anhui province should be from December to next February.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe primary submucous type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or the recurrent NPC in the parapharyngeal space is difficult to be diagnosed histologically by conventional biopsy because of the obstruction of the surrounding structures. This study was performed to evaluate the needle biopsy approach through the madibular area into the parapharyngeal space under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) for NPC.

METHODSBetween July 6, 2005 and October 23, 2009, a total of 6 patients were enrolled into the study. Two patients with cervical lymph node metastasis were clinically suspicious of NPC according to their clinical manifestations. However, no cancer cell could be found by repeated nasopharyngeal biopsies followed by histologic examinations. The other 4 patients were diagnosed with recurrent NPCs by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or/and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan, showing tumors in the parapharyngeal spaces in 3 patients and enlarged retropharyngeal lymph node in 1 patient. The CT-guided puncture was performed through the mandibular skin and the cutting needle biopsy was taken at the parapharyngeal space focus.

RESULTSAll the cutting needle biopsies of projected locations have been performed safely. Finally, all the 7 specimens met the requirement of pathologic diagnosis and the cases were all confirmed histologically to be NPCs. The main complication was mild ache at the puncture point. No blood vessel or nerve was injured and no patient needed special treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe CT-guided puncture biopsy of the parapharyngeal space through the mandibular area is simple and feasible. It can be an additional option for routine nasopharyngeal biopsy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mandible ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the prevalence of coronary artery disease and risk factors in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA).MethodsCoronary angiography was performed immediately after abdominal angiography in 70 elderly(＞50 years)consecutive patients with AAA. Medical history and imaging characteristics were evaluated. Results CAD was diagnosed in 63 patients(90. 0%)by coronary angiography: 20(28.6%)patients with single-vessel disease(SVD), 15(21.4%)with 2VD, 22(31.4%)with 3VD and 6(8. 6%)with left main disease + 3VD. Multi-variance logistic analysis showed that peripheral disease was the strongest predictor for CAD in AAA patients. Conclusion Coronary angiography should be performed in elderly AAA patients due to the high prevalence of CAD in this patient cohort.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical outcome of 934 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy alone.

METHODS34 patients were treated from Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 1999. The radiation fields were delineated according to the CT/MRI imaging findings on disease extent. Two lateral opposing isocentric portals with customized blockings were used for the nasopharynx and upper neck. The dose delivered to tumor in the nasopharynx was 68-70 Gy/2 Gy fraction/7 weeks. The doses delivered to the neck was 60-70 Gy/6-7 weeks for patients with positive lymph nodes and 50 Gy/5 weeks for the patients with negative lymph node.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year overall survival rate (OS) was 89.5%, 81.9%, 78.1% and 75.7%, and metastasis-free survival rate (MFS) was 84.0%, 77.2%, 74.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 80.8%, 73.1%, 68.5% and 65.1%, and the relapse-free survival rate (RFS) was 95.5%, 92.7%, 90.3% and 87.3%, respectively. The overall failure rate was 30.9% (289/934). At the end of the radiotherapeutic course, the percentage of residual disease was 14.6%. The 4-year loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis rates after radiotherapy were 7.2% and 9.2% with a median time of 19.3 months and 12.8 months.

CONCLUSIONIt may be helpful to improve radiotherapy curative effect when the target is individually designed through improving irradiation technique according to CT/MRI findings and by shortening the overall course time, enhancing irradiation dose and strictly implementing QA/QC measures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe perioperative aortic dissection (AD) rupture is a severe event after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B AD. However, this life-threatening complication has not undergone systematic investigation. The aim of the study is to discuss the reasons of AD rupture after the procedure.

METHODSThe medical record data of 563 Stanford type B AD patients who received thoracic endovascular repair from 2004 to December 2011 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Double entry and consistency checking were performed with Epidata software.

RESULTSTwelve patients died during the perioperation after thoracic endovascular repair, with an incidence of 2.1%, 66.6% were caused by aortic rupture and half of the aortic rupture deaths were caused by retrograde type A AD. In our study, 74% of the non-rupture surviving patients had the free-flow bare spring proximal stent implanted, compared with 100% of the aortic rupture patients (74% vs. 100%, P = 0.213). The aortic rupture patients are more likely to have ascending aortic diameters = 4 cm (62.5% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.032), involvement the aortic arch concavity (62% vs. 27%, P = 0.041) and have had multiple stents placed (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONSThoracic AD endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment option for AD with relative low in-hospital mortality. AD rupture may be more common in arch stent-graft patients with an ascending aortic diameter = 4 cm and with severe dissection that needs multi-stent placement. Attention should be paid to a proximal bare spring stent that has a higher probability of inducing an AD rupture. Post balloon dilation should be performed with serious caution, particularly for the migration during dilation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Rupture ; etiology ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents