Pentacyclic triterpenoids are a class of widespread natural compounds containing six isoprene structures with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, immune regulation, etc. The structural modifications of pentacyclic triterpenoid natural products and the drug development have always been a hot research topic. This article reviews the recent progresses in the structural modifications, pharmacological effects, and clinical studies of different kinds of pentacyclic triterpenoid natural products.

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on adenine nucleotides in the myocardial tissues of the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) rats, and to explore the mechanism of EA pretreatment on myocardial prevention and protection in MIRI rats. Methods:Forty SPF male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a blank group, a sham operation group, a model group, an EA at Neiguan (PC 6) group and an EA at Hegu (LI 4) group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group only received binding to the rat plate, 30 min/time, once a day for 7 d; on the 7th day, rats in the sham operation group were subjected to threading for 40 min at the left anterior descending coronary artery without ligation, and then the rats were allowed to stand for 60 min before collection of the specimens; on the 7th day, rats in the model group were subjected to threading at the left anterior descending coronary artery with ligation, for 40 min before the blood flow was restored, and then the rats were allowed to stand for 60 min before collection of the specimens; on the 7th day of pretreatment with EA at Neiguan (PC 6) or Hegu (LI 4) for 30 min per day (once a day for 7 d), rats in the EA at Neiguan (PC 6) group and EA at Hegu (LI 4) group were subjected to modeling and sample collection same as in the model group. The left ventricular myocardium of the lower left anterior descending coronary artery was collected from rats in all 5 groups. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to observe the changes in myocardial pathological morphology. The change in the adenine nucleotide level of myocardial tissue was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results:The HE staining and ultrastructure showed that the myocardial injury was severer in the model group compared with the sham operation group. Compared with the model group, the myocardial injury in the EA at Neiguan (PC 6) and the EA at Hegu (LI 4) groups was mild or hardly any. The adenine nucleotide levels in the sham operation group and the model group were all decreased compared with the blank group (allP<0.05); compared with the sham operation group, the adenine nucleotide level of the model group was also decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05); compared with the model group, the adenine nucleotide level in the EA at Neiguan (PC 6) group was increased (P<0.05), and the adenine nucleotide level in the EA at Hegu (LI 4) group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The adenine nucleotide level in the EA at Hegu (LI 4) group was higher than that in the EA at Neiguan (PC 6) group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the EA at Neiguan (PC 6) group, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in the EA at Hegu (LI 4) group were significantly increased (allP<0.01). Conclusion:Both EA at Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) can alleviate the pathological damage to myocardium in MIRI rats, and increase the adenine nucleotide level in myocardial tissues, and thus protect MIRI rats. EA at Hegu (LI 4) has a better protective effect than Neiguan (PC 6).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) on the proliferation of hepatic oval cells, and the influencing factors.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CXCR4 on the cell surface when WB-F344 cells were growing in the culture medium with and without transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) respectively. Western bolt was used to detect the expression of β-catenin and its phosphorylation level. The translocation of β-catenin was shown by confocal microscopy analysis. Q-RT-PCR was used in detecting the β-catenin downstream gene expression such as Ccnd1 and c-Myc. MTT was used to detect the proliferation of WB-F344 cells which were treated by SDF-1 + TGF-β1 and those cells exposed to SDF-1 or TGF-β1 only, as well as of the negative control group.

RESULTWB-F344 cells rarely express CXCR4 under conventional circumstance, but this receptor can be up-regulated when the culture medium contain a modest amount of TGF-β1 (the rate of CXCR4 positive cell increased by 39.5%). The bond of SDF-1 to CXCR4 results in the phosphorylation of β-catenin, and its inactivation. SDF-1 alone didn't affect the proliferation of WB-F344 cells (0.512 ± 0.010 vs. 0.513 ± 0.008, t = 0.337, P > 0.05), while TGF-β1 group show a slight decrease of cell population (0.393 ± 0.007,t = 28.001, P < 0.05). But when TGF-β1 combined with SDF-1, the proliferation of WB-F344 was more weakened than TGF-β1 group, and the difference was statistically significant (0.272 ± 0.009,t = 32.204, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTGF-β1 can up-regulate the expression of CXCR4 in hepatic oval cells, and then inhibit the proliferation of hepatic oval cells via inactivating β-catenin in vitro.

Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the current distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype in Southern China and to understand the HCV transmission and to infer its transmitting trend.Methods The HCV gene subtypes of 3 524 specimens from Southern China were detected and analyzed by polyonerase chain reaction (PCR)-fluorescence probe method or sequencing.The regular nested PCR and sequencing were used for the phylogenetic tree analysis when the fluorescence PCR inefficiently identifying virus isolates.Results Among 3 524 specimens,there were 2 922 cases from Guangdong,78 cases from Fujian,152 cases from Hainan and 372 cases from Guangxi.Genotype 1b comprised the majority (1 808/ 3 524,51.3％),followed by genotype 6a (925/3 524,26.2％),2a (298/3 524,8.46％),3a (246/ 3 524,6.98％),3b (200/3 524,5.68％) and 1a (27/3 524,0.77％).In addition,1 case wasgenotype 6e,1 case was genotype 6q,1 case was genotype 6r,3 case were genotype 6w,2 case were genotype 6xa,2 case were genotype 6n,and 1 case was genotype 6 with unclassified subtype.The genotype 1b accounted for the majority in most areas of 21 cities and counties in Guangdong Province,followed by genotype 6a.But in some areas,the major genotype was genotype 6a,followed by 1b.Genotype 4,genotype 5 and genotype 7 were not found in this study.Conclusions In the past two years,genotype 1b and 6a are still the epidemic genotypes in Guangdong,Guangxi and Hainan provinces.However,genotype 6a has replaced 1b as the dominant one in some areas in Guangdong Province.The distributions of HCV genotypes do not change significantly in Guangxi and Fujian provinces.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of several excipients on damp-proof performance of pharmaceutical materials of traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODThe moisture absorption rate and parameters of hydroscopicity were used as the evaluation index of the damp-proof property of the complex Chinese medicine and preparation 1 and 2.

RESULTThe moisture rate of complex Chinese medicine 1 was 62.54%, the critical relative humidity (CRH) was 38%. The moisture rate of complex Chinese medicine 2 was 16.36%, the CRH was 53%. Excipients had different effect on lower the hyproscopic property of complex Chinese medicine 1 and 2. The initial moisture adsorption velocity of excipients of complex Chinese medicine 1 in a ascending order were dextrin < calcium hydrogen phosphate < micro crystalline cellulose < lactose < ethyl cellulose < mannitol < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The moisture adsorption acceleration of excipients in a ascending order were dextrin = calcium hydrogen phosphate = micro crystalline cellulose < mannitol = ethyl cellulose = lactose < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The moisture adsorption rate of excipients in a ascending order were dextrin < lactose < calcium hydrogen phosphate < ethyl cellulose < micro crystalline cellulose < mannitol < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The initial moisture adsorption velocity of excipients of complex Chinese medicine 2 in a ascending order were mannitol < dextrin < calcium hydrogen phosphate < lactose < ethyl cellulose < micro crystalline cellulose < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose . The moisture adsorption acceleration of excipients in a ascending order were mannitol = dextrin = calcium hydrogen phosphate < lactose < ethyl celluloselactose < micro crystalline cellulose < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The moisture adsorption rate of excipients in a ascending order were mannitol < dextrin < calcium hydrogen phosphate < lactose < ethyl cellulose < micro crystalline cellulose < hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

CONCLUSIONThe choosing of damp-proof excipients of preparation based on the property of the complex traditional Chinese medicine. The study provided experimental evidences for the research and development of the pharmaceutical materials of traditional Chinese medicine.

Absorption ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Humidity ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To explore the characteristic of the genetic frequency distribution of human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-DR alleles in children with bronchial asthma in Guangxi area.Methods Eighty-four unrelated asthmatic individuals and 168 healthy people without asthma and atopy living in Nanning region of Guangxi as control group were involved in the study.All asthmatics had their serum total IgE levels measured with Pharmacia UniCAP system,and skin-prick test with 10 kinds of inhalant allergens were taken,and pulmonary function were measured among the asthmatic.HLA oligonucleotide array was used to 21 gene frequencies of HLA-DR.Results The frequencies of HLA-DR B1*070X allele and HLA-DR B1*11XX allele among the asthmatic(2.98% and 13.69%)were significantly higher than those in control group(0.3% and 5.95%)(?2 =6.915,9.478 P

Objective:To evaluate the effect of prior statins use on the in-hospital mortality of adult sepsis patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods:A total of 3 545 sepsis patients with T2DM were retrospectively collected from the Critical Care Medical Information Market (MIMIC Ⅳ) database, with in-hospital mortality rate as the outcome variable. According to whether they have taken statins in the past, they were divided into two groups and propensity score matching was used. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio ( HR) and 95% CI, and the relationship between past statins use and in-hospital mortality in sepsis patients with T2DM was analyzed. Results:A total of 3 545 sepsis patients with T2DM were included between 2008 and 2016. 1 556 patients used statins before admission, and 1 989 patients did not use statins. After propensity score matching, the number of patients who had previously used statins and those who had not used statins were 1 230 and 1 298, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, it was found that previous use of statins was associated with a reduced in-hospital mortality rate ( HR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.61-0.99, P=0.038). Kaplan Meier curves showed that sepsis patients with T2DM who used statins before admission had a lower in-hospital mortality rate (Log rank test: P<0.001). Conclusions:Pre admission use of statins may be associated with a reduced mortality rate in sepsis patients with concomitant T2DM.

OBJECTIVETo analyze and summarize the diseases and syndromes treated by acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSUsing literature researching methods to analyze and summarize the diseases and symptoms treated clinically by acupuncture and moxibustion for observation of therapeutic effects from Chinese Biomedicine Optical Disk Database between 1978-2005, and the frequency-time (number) of reported papers for each disease and syndrome were calculated.

RESULTSThe disease menu of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, 461 kinds in 16 classifications were attained, including 338 diseases of western medicine, 73 symptoms of western medicine and 50 TCM syndromes.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion are an effective therapy with wide indications.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion ; methods

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of mitoxantrone liposome in the treatment of children with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods:The children with high-risk AML who received the mitoxantrone liposome regimen at Wuhan Children's Hospital from January 2022 to February 2023 were collected as the observation group,and the children with high-risk AML who received idarubicin regimen were enrolled as controls,and their clinical data were analyzed.Time to bone marrow recovery,the complete remission rate of bone marrow cytology,the clearance rate of minimal residual disease,and treatment-related adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The patients treated with mitoxantrone liposome showed shorter time to recovery of leukocytes(17 vs 21 day),granulocytes(18 vs 24 day),platelets(17 vs 24 day),and hemoglobin(20 vs 26 day)compared with those treated with idarubicin,there were statistical differences(P＜0.05).The effective rate and MRD turning negative rate in the observation group were 90.9％and 72.7％,respectively,while those in the control group were 94.1％and 76.4％,with no statistical difference(P＞0.05).The overall response rate of the two groups of patients was similar.Conclusion:The efficacy of mitoxantrone liposome is not inferior to that of idarubicin in children with high-risk AML,but mitoxantrone liposome allows a significantly shorter duration of bone marrow suppression and the safety is better.

Salivary analysis can be used to assess the severity of caries. Of the known salivary proteins, a paucity of information exists concerning the role of proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease of the chymotrypsin family, in dental caries. Whole, unstimulated saliva was collected from children with varying degrees of active caries and tested using a Human Protease Array Kit and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significantly decreased concentration of salivary PR3 was noted with increasing severity of dental caries (P<0.01); a positive correlation (r=0.87; P<0.01; Pearson's correlation analysis) was also observed between salivary pH and PR3 concentration. In an antibacterial test, a PR3 concentration of 250 ng·mL⁻¹ or higher significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans UA159 growth after 12 h of incubation (P<0.05). These studies indicate that PR3 is a salivary factor associated with the severity of dental caries, as suggested by the negative relationship between salivary PR3 concentration and the severity of caries as well as the susceptibility of S. mutans to PR3.
Child ; Dental Caries ; enzymology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myeloblastin ; metabolism ; Saliva ; enzymology