To investigate the effect of Tanreqing injection on immune activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer and healthy persons were separated by the density gradient centrifugation method for subsequent experiments, with those from healthy persons as the positive control. The effect of Tanreqing injection on stimulating the proliferation of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was determined by MTT method. The effect of Tanreqing injection on the lymphocyte secretions of IFN-γ and TNF-α and the subset ratio of lymphocytes cultured separately or with Tanreqing injection of different concentrations were examined by ELISA and flow cytometry (FCM) respectively. In addition, the LDH release assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and natural killer cells (NK). According to the findings, all of immunological indexes of lymphocytes from patients with lung cancer were weaker than that of healthy persons, but with the obvious increases in proliferation activity and IFN-γ and TNF-α secretions of lymphocytes co-cultured with Tanreqing Injection (P < 0.05). Among lymphocyte subsets co-cultured with Tanreqing Injection, CD3+, CD3+ CD4+ and CD3- CD16 + 56+ cell ratios notably increased, whereas CD4+ CD25+ Treg cell ratio obviously decreased (P < 0.05). In the meantime, Tanreqing injection can markedly promote the cytotoxicities of CTL and NK (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Tanreqing injection shows a significant effect in promoting the immune activity of lymphocytes from patients with lung cancer and their anti-tumor immunity.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

The crude toxin was extracted from hypha and culture solution of Phyllosticta commelimecola through three different polarity solvent: benzinum, puncificatum ethyl acetate and chloroform. The result indicated that the toxin secreted by Phyllosticta commelimecola not only was in hypha but also in culture solution and the extracting effect of ethyl acetate was the best. The soybean median and PSK media can be respectively used as solid and liquid culture media to produce toxin and grow mycelium. The optimal cultural conditions for producing toxin were temperature 32℃,cultured period 14d, cultured ways shaking of 150r/min.

The central nervous system tumor is a common tumor seen both in children and adult. It is difficult to remove by surgery, and its mortality rate is high. Early diagnosis and real-time monitoring of this tumor are difficult due to drawbacks of the current laboratory tests (imaging, cell morphology, cytogenetics), such as low sensitivity, low positive rate and difficulty in sampling. The cerebrospinal fluid, which can circulate rapidly between ventricle and spinal cord pool, is fully in contact with the central nervous system, thus containing a great number of metabolic materials from the central nervous system. For this reason, the cerebrospinal fluid is an ideal sample for detecting central nervous system tumors. Compared with the conventional biopsy, the liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid has many advantages, such as less-invasive, sampling successively, reflecting the progression of disease immediately and adjusting the treatment regimen flexibly. This paper will briefly review the molecular targets of liquid biopsy such as DNA, RNA and circulating tumor cells, elaborate the role of novel technologies including next-generation sequencing and digital PCR in the diagnosis and treatment of the central nervous system tumors.(Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 554-558)

BACKGROUNDMost HCC patients with decompensation of liver function lost the chance of surgical and/or interventional treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and outcome of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with poor liver function (Child-Pugh class C), who are not suitable for surgery or hepatic artery chemo-embolization.

METHODSThirteen HCC patients (the number of tumors was 17) with liver function of Child-Pugh C (scores: 10.2 +/- 0.4) were included in the study. Among the patients, 8 were male and 5 were female with the average age of (61.6 +/- 10.9) years old. The average size of HCC was (3.8 +/- 1.0) cm. Two patients were recurrent HCC and 30.8% of the patients had multiple tumors (2 - 3 tumors). All the patients were treated with RFA.

RESULTSThere were 22 RFA sessions (1 - 4 sessions per patient) in all, average ablations per tumor at first session was 3.1. One week after RFA, the liver enzymes elevated in 9 patients (69.2%), in 7 of them, the liver enzyme returned to pre-RFA level in 1 - 3 months. One month after RFA, the Child-Pugh grading was 10.3 +/- 0.8 (Child-Pugh C), while that of pre-RFA was 10.2 +/- 0.4 (Child-Pugh C), with no significant difference. Computer tomography (CT) one month after RFA showed that the tumor necrosis rate was 88.2% (15/17). Five patients had 2 - 4 repeated RFA due to HCC recurrence. During the follow-up of 2- 69 months in this group, survival rate of one year was 53.8%, two years was 30.8%, and three year was 15.4%. The incidence of RFA-related complications was 13.6% (3/22 sessions), including 1 case of GI hemorrhage and 1 sub-capsular hemorrhage of the liver. One patient with HCC over 5 cm who had fever and liver abscess after RFA, and was dead 2 months later due to liver function failure.

CONCLUSIONSMinimal invasive RFA provides possible treatment modality for HCC patients with poor liver function, who are not candidates for surgical and/or interventional therapy. For large HCC, due to the required extended treatment region, special attention should be paid to the possibility of acute liver failure.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the HER-2 status in Chinese advanced gastric cancer patients and explore its correlation with clinical features, treatment response and prognosis.

METHODSA total of 107 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated in our hospital from December 2005 to November 2008 were included in this retrospective analysis. HER-2 status was determined by immunohistochemisty (IHC) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The correlations of HER-2 status with tumor location, pathology, treatment response and prognosis were analyzed and the efficacy of different chemottherapy regimens was compared.

RESULTSThe overall positive rate of HER-2 expression was 14.7% (15/102). The HER-2 status was detected by both methods in 102 patients, and the concordance of the two methods was 66.5%. The tumor site distribution was gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) 28.0%, proximal stomach 19.4%, gastric corpus 16.1%, antrum 26.9% and whole stomach 9.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference of HER-2 status among different tumor sites (P = 0.726), and no significant correlation between HER-2 expression and differentiation (P = 0.110). Among the evaluable 51 patients treated by first-line chemotherapy, the total objective effective rate was 23.5%. The median time-to-progression was 7.47 months, and median overall survival time was 11.07 months. The effective rate was 43.8% in patients who received XP regimen chemotherapy (cisplatin + capecitabine), significantly higher than the 14.3% in patients treated with other regimens (P = 0.033). Their overall survival was 14.17 months and 9.53 months, respectively (P = 0.059). The TTP was 6.63 months in HER-2 positive patients and 7.47 months in HER-2 negative patients, with a non-significant difference (P = 0.510). However, there was a improving tendency in the efficacy and OS, showing a effective rate of 45.5% and 17.5% (P = 0.102) and OS of 14.17 months and 10.63 months, respectively (P = 0.205).

CONCLUSIONSHER-2-positivity rate in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer is similar to those reported in the literature. Along with the increasing use of targeted therapy and targeted agents, the efficacy and survival of gastric cancer patients is improving. HER-2-positive patients may benefit from it.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Disease Progression ; Esophagogastric Junction ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents in the seeds of Nigella glandulifera.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column. They were identified and structurally elucidated by means of physio-chemical constants and spectral analysis.

RESULTNine compounds were identified as nigellamose (I), alpha-hederin (II), 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinpyranosyl]-hederagenin (III), sucrose (IV), stearic acid (V), 1-O-hexadecanolenin (VI), beta-sitosterol (VII), daucosterol (VIII) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (IX).

CONCLUSIONI, II, III, VI, VIII and IX were obtained from the plant for the first time, and I is a new compound.

Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Nigella ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the clinical and mammographic features of plasma cell mastitis.Methods Twenty-five patients(28 lesions)with histologically confirmed plasma cell mastitis, aged from 26 to 70 years(mean age 41 years),were examined with X-ray mammography.The clinical manifestations and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed.Results No case was in lactation.The painful irregular masses,ranged from 1.3 to 8cm in size,were found in 22 patients,while 3 patients with acute episode.Recurrent episodes of breast masses were noted in 4 patients.Based on the mammographic appearances,the plasma cell mastitis were classified as the following four types:inflammation-like type (2/28),ductal ectasia type(3/28),focal infiltration type(10/28)and nodular type(13/28).The valuable radiogyaphic signs:(1)An asymmetrically increased density along the lactiferous duct with a flame-like appearance,inhomogeneous low density tubular structures and scattered stick-shape calcifications.(2) Architectural distortion and oil cysts formation in adjacent area,(3)Subareolar ductal ectasia.Conclusions The clinical and mammographic characteristics of plasma cell mastitis are critical to avoiding unnecessary surgery.Histopathological result is needed for the diagnosis in patients highly suspected of malignancy.

The effect of magnetic Fe3O4 particles on cellulase in the enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull was studied in different adding ways and additive amount. In the process of enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull, the variations of cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and cellulose conversion were evaluated. After the reaction, the analysis of pH and surface tension of hydrolysate were also used to determine the mechanisms of cellulase by the magnetic effect. The results indicated that after adding magnetic Fe3O4, the cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and conversion of cellulose had an increased between the 0.5 g/L and 2.0 g/L cases after 48 h. When the additive amount of magnetic Fe3O4 was 2 g/L, the cellulase activity at 60 h was improved significantly by 25.9%. It was found that the concentration of reducing sugar was increased from 6.950 mg/mL to 8.775 mg/mL with magnetic Fe3O4 1.5 g/L. Simultaneously, compared with the blank, which the conversion of cellulose was 47.932%, the maximum celluloseconversion of samples with adding magnetic Fe3O4 was 60.531%. Besides, the stability of cellulase activity adding in times was better than in one time. After the reaction, the final surface tension of hydrolysate with 1.5 g/L magnetic Fe3O4 was the lowest in comparison with the blank. However, no significant differences were observed in the final pH of the hydrolysate.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the molecular characteristic and evolutionary trends of full-genome sequences of coxsackievirus A2 (CV-A2) and A5 (CV-A5) in Changsha City. Methods　The CV-A2 and CV-A5 strains were isolated and detected from patients with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases. The full-genome sequences of CV-A2 and CV-A5 strains were obtained using NGS sequencing. Homology and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed, and the recombination regions of the strains were examined by SimPlot software. Results　The full-genome sequences of CV-A2 and CV-A5 strains were obtained from routine surveillance cases of HFMD in Changsha in 2019. The CV-A2 strain was named S281/Changsha/CHN/2019 with the full-genome sequence of 7 422 bp long; the CV-A5 strain was named S272/Changsha/CHN/2019 with the full-genome sequence of 7 425 bp long. Homology analysis of the isolates by comparison with the nucleic acid sequences of CV-A2 and other CV-A2 strains in China showed that the non-structural protein region shared lower similarity than that of structural protein region. The CV-A2 showed 79.20% similarity with Fleetwood strain (NC038306), showed the highest similarity 95.60% with MN419014 strain from Hubei Province. The non-structural protein 3C and 3D region shared the lowest similarity with MN419014, 90.51 and 92.06%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 3C and 3D regions were located in the CV-A4 branch. Amino acid mutation sites were found in non-structural protein region, and the amino acid sequence in structural protein region was conserved. SimPlot analysis showed that genetic recombination was found in the 3C and 3D region of CV-A2 strains. The full-genome sequence of CV-A5 showed 80.7% similarity with the Swartz (AY421763) and 97.43% similarity with the strain (MH111030) from Australian. Homology analysis showed that the non-structural protein region shared lower similarity than that of structural protein region, based on full-genome of CV-A5. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that CV-A5 and MH111030 were in the same branch, indicating that CV-A5 strain not from local. The amino acid sequence of CV-A5 strain was conserved. Conclusions　The CV-A2 strain in Changsha City shared genome sequence information with CV-A4, and the CV-A5 strain was imported from abroad. Our findings are expected to understand the molecular and recombination characteristics of CV-A2 and CV-A5, provided the data of evolution and genetic features of the coxsackievirus, and interrupt disease transmission in a timely and effective manner.