For the establishment of chemical library of protoberberines provided for the bio-activity screening, the target compounds were synthesized by thermal degradation and nucleophilic substitution reactions with the bio-active alkaloid, palmatine (1), as the raw material, and their structures were identified and conformed by 1H-NMR and MS spectra. Among them, 13 compounds were new.
Berberine Alkaloids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions and action mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75NTR in the oncogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSUsing immunohistochemistry, we detected the expressions of TrkA and p75NTR in 62 PCa and 35 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples, and conducted statistical analysis on the basis of clinical data.

RESULTSIndependent-samples t-test showed that, along with poorer tissue differentiation or higher clinical stage of PCa, the expression of TrkA was significantly up-regulated, that of p75NTR remarkably down-regulated, and the expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR markedly increased. The TrkA/p75NTR ratio was 0.32 in the BPH, 0.52 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 6, 1.65 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 7, 5.75 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score ≥ 8, 0.89 in the clinical stage of pT2, 1.5 in pT3 a, 3.75 in pT3b, and 7.00 in pTxN1.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormally increased expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR might be one of the essential features of malignant transformation of prostate cells. A higher TrkA/p75NTR expression ratio may be associated with a lower tissue differentiation, a higher clinical stage or Gleason score, and therefore a poorer prognosis.

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptor, trkA ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage (tuina) for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Six English and Chinese databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), Cochrane Library and PubMed databases, were independently searched to identify appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying therapeutic massage for KOA compared to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone. The main outcome measures were total effectiveness and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score. Results: A total of 8 RCTs were included and they were of average quality. The results showed that therapeutic massage was more effective than NSAIDs comparing total effectiveness [risk ratio (RR)=1.14, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.21), P<0.0001]; compared with NSAIDs, therapeutic massage produced more significant improvements in pain [mean difference (MD)=-2.06, 95％CI (-2.75, -1.36), P<0.00001], stiffness intensity [MD=-0.90, 95％CI (-1.05, -0.75), P<0.00001] and joint function [MD=-12.48, 95％CI (-13.91, -11.05), P<0.00001]. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage was more effective than oral NSAIDs in treating KOA. In relieving pain and stiffness and improving the function of knee joint, therapeutic massage was superior to NSAIDs.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics of synchronous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter.

METHODSThe clinical data of two cases of synchronous SCC of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. In case 1, a 68-year-old man with hematuria for a month, imaging modalities revealed a right renal pelvis tumor and a right distal ureter tumor. The patient underwent nephroureterectomy and excision of the bladder cuff. Case 2, a 60-year-old man with the complaint of lower abdominal pain and left flank pain for a month, was diagnosed as left distal ureteral stone in another hospital. Ureterolithotomy was performed and a ureteral tumor was found at the lower site of the stone intraoperatively. The pathological report demonstrated SCC, and the patient was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. We found a left renal mass invading the left hemicolon during surgery, and nephroureterectomy was performed with a bladder cuff excision, left hemicolon resection, and also complete lymph node dissection. Neither of patients received adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

RESULTSModerately differentiated SCC was reported in both of renal pelvis and ureter in case 1 and the tumor invaded the subepithelial connective tissue in the renal pelvis and superficial muscle in the ureter. In case 2, moderately differentiated SCC of the left renal pelvis with colon metastasis and poorly differentiated SCC of the ureter was reported with two retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. The two patients died from tumor recurrence and metastasis 5 and 6 months after the surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSynchronous SCC of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter are rare and has high likeliness of early recurrence and metastasis, often with poor prognosis.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Kidney Pelvis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and feasibility of glans-preserving surgery in the treatment of superficial penile cancer (SPCa).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 cases of SPCa treated by glans-preserving surgery in our hospital from January of 2003 to March of 2010.

RESULTSThe study included 21 SPCa patients aged 36 to 57 (mean 46) years, with superficial lesions involving the glans penis, coronary sulcus or shaft skin. The tumors were staged and graded TaG1 in 6 cases, TaG2 in 5, TisG1 in 2, TisG2 in 4, T1G1 in 3, and T1G2 in 1. All the patients underwent glans-preserving surgery to preserve the normal appearance and functional integrity of the glans penis, and all returned to normal sexual activity 1 month after operation, with good sexual function and sexual satisfaction. Postoperative follow-up lasted 2 to 7 (mean 5) years, and 2 cases of recurrence in situ found at 6 and 9 months, respectively, which were successfully managed by a second glans-preserving surgery.

CONCLUSIONGlans-preserving surgery is an effective method for superficial penile cancer. With proper selection of the patients, this procedure is technically safe, maximally preserves the penile appearance, and least affects the patients' sexual satisfaction.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Neoplasms ; surgery ; Penis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Primary central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNS-GCTs) in children and adolescents have unique clinical features and methods of treatment compared with those in adults. There is little information about Chinese children and adolescents with CNS-GCTs. Therefore, in this study we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and treatment outcome of Chinese children and adolescents with primary CNS-GCTs. Between January 2002 and December 2012, 57 untreated patients from a single institution were enrolled. They were diagnosed with CNS-GCTs after pathologic or clinical assessment. Of the 57 patients, 41 were males and 16 were females, with a median age of 12.8 years (range, 2.7 to 18.0 years) at diagnosis; 43 (75.4%) had non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) and 14 (24.6%) had germinomas; 44 (77.2%) had localized disease and 13 (22.8%) had extensive lesions. Fifty-three patients completed the prescribed treatment, of which 18 underwent monotherapy of surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, and 35 underwent multimodality therapies that included radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy or surgery combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. PEB (cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin) protocol was the major chemotherapy regimen. The median follow-up time was 32.3 months (range, 1.2 to 139 months). Fourteen patients died of relapse or disease progression. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival rates for all patients were 72.2% and 73.8%, respectively. The 3-year EFS was 92.9% for germinomas and 64.8% for NGGCTs (P = 0.064). The 3-year EFS rates for patients with NGGCTs who underwent monotherapy and multimodality therapies were 50.6% and 73.5%, respectively (P = 0.042). Our results indicate that multimodality therapies including chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were better treatment option for children and adolescents with CNS-GCTs.
Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Disease-Free Survival ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the anatomy of Dracaena cochinchinensis systematically, and find out the distribution and detect the constituents of its resin, in order to provide substantial foundation for the formation mechanism of its red resin.

METHODThe microscopic structures of D. cochinchinensis were systematically observed by using color micrographics, including stem with and without resin, roots, barks and leaves. The HPLC fingerprints of the stem with and without resin were compared.

RESULTCharacteristics of the tangentical longitudinal section of stem with resin and surface view of leaves were elucidated. Besides xylem vessels and fibers of the stem, it was found that the red resin also exists in the cortex parenchyma cells of the stem and the medulla and xylem of the root. According to the HPLC fingerprint analysis result of the stems with and without resin, a number of flavones and stilbenoids were detected in the stem in which resin appeared after it wounded.

CONCLUSIONNo secretory tissue to secrete resin was found in D. cochinchinensis, further study is needed to elucidate the formation mechanism of its resin.

Dracaena ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect the levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) and explore the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODSPolysomnography was performed in 80 patients with OSAS and 20 control subjects matched for age and body mass index. The patients with OSAS were divided into mild OSAS group (n=22), moderate OSAS group (n=23) and severe OSAS group (n=35) according to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Serum amyloid A levels were measured in all the subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for correlation analysis.

RESULTSSerum amyloid A levels in mild OSAS group (1.66-/+0.73 microg/ml), moderate OSAS group (2.72-/+1.12 microg/ml) and severe OSAS group (4.08-/+1.85 microg/ml) were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.66-/+0.59 microg/ml) (P<0.05). SAA levels also differed significantly between the 3 OSAS groups (P<0.01), increasing with the severity of OSAS. Correlation analysis indicated that SAA level was positively correlated to AHI (r=0.649, P<0.01) and TSaO(2)<90% (r=0.491, P<0.01), but inversely yo miniSaO(2) (r=-0.499, P<0.01). After 3 months of nCPAP therapy, SAA levels were significantly decreased in the 20 patients with severe OSAS (4.13-/+2.27 microg/ml vs 5.14-/+2.30 microg/ml, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAA levels are elevated in OSAS patients in close correlation to the severity of OSAS, which may contribute to the vulnerability of the patients to cardiovascular diseases. nCPAP therapy help reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases in OSAS patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; metabolism ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction by laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive laparoscopic pyeloplasty in 102 patients between September 2001 and December 2007 was performed. The ureterpelvic junction was dissected and the obstruction portion was excised. Anastomosis was then performed through the ureter and the renal pelvis walls with a stent. Results The mean operating time was 120 min and the average blood loss was 80ml. No major complication occurred intraoperative. The drainage was removed in 3-10 days. The average hospital stay was 8.5 days. The stent was kept for 30-60 days. IVU and B ultrasound examination revealed that the hydronephrosis alleviated during the follow-up and no anastomosis stricture occurred. Conclusions Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty could provide lower morbidity, shorter hospital stay, and faster convalescence. It could be an effective treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.