Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resorcinols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

The chemical investigation on Ganoderma philippii led to the isolation of sixteen compounds by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. On the basis of spectroscopic data analyses, their structures were elucidated as 2, 5-dihydroxyacetophenone (1), methyl gentisate (2), (S) -dimethyl malate (3), muurola-4, 10 (14) -dien-11beta-ol (4), dihydroepicubenol (5), 5-hydroxymethylfuran carboxaldehyde (6), ergosta-7, 22E-dien-3beta-ol (7), ergosta-7, 22E-dien-3-one (8), ergosta-7, 22E-diene-2beta, 3alpha, 9alpha-triol (9), 6/beta-methoxyergo-sta-7, 22E-dien-3beta, 5alpha-diol (10), ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22E-tetraen-3-one (11), ergosta4, 6, 8-(14), 22E-etetraen-3beta-ol (12), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-ergosta-6, 22E-dien-3beta-ol (13), 7alpha-methoxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxyergosta-8-(14), 22E-dien-3beta-ol (14), ergosta-8, 22E-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta, 7alpha-tetraol (15), and ergosta-5, 23-dien-3beta-ol, acetate (16). All the compounds were obtained from this fungus for the first time, and compounds 4 and 5 were isolated from the Ganoderma genus for the first time.
Ganoderma ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the flavonoid constituents of the Rhododendron anthopogonoides systematically.

METHODThe chemical components were isolated by sephadex LH-20, polyamide and silica gel column chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physic-chemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as: Quercetin (I), isorhamnetin (II), hyperoside (III), cacticin (IV), hirsutine (V), kaemferol-3-beta-D-galactoside (VI) myricetin-3-beta-D-Xyloside (VII), (6''-O-(4-Hydroxybenzoyl) hyperoside (VIII).

CONCLUSIONCompounds II, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII were obtained from this plant for the first time. Compounds VII and VIII were separated from the Ericaceae plant for the first time.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; Rhododendron ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the incidence of abnormal thyroid function of newborns and maternal hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drug therapy.

METHODThe clinical data of 35 neonates born to mothers with hyperthyroidism from 1983 to 2003 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the maternal thyroid function and the antithyroid drugs taken during pregnancy, subjects were divided into different groups.

RESULTSThe proportion of abnormal thyroid function in newborn was 48.6% (17/35). The prevalences of primary hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinemia, and central hypothyroidism were 29.4%, 29.4%, 35.3%, and 5.9%, respectively. The incidence of abnormal thyroid function of neonates whose mothers did not take the antithyroid drugs (ATDs) until the third trimester of pregnancy was significantly higher than those without and with ATDs during the first or second trimester (P < 0.01). The incidence of abnormal thyroid function significantly increased in premature neonates, neonates whose mothers with modest or heavy pregnant hypertension, or neonates whose core serum thyroid-stimulating hormone or serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies levels were abnormal.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of abnormal thyroid function of infants whose hyperthyroid mothers did not take ATDs until the third trimester of pregnancy may be increased. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnant women are essential for the prevention of neonatal thyroid functional abnormality.

Adult ; Antithyroid Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; complications ; drug therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; congenital ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEA reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap was presented to explore a new method for reconstructing the defects of the distal nose by microsurgical techniques.

METHODSA reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap had been used on fifteen patients with nasal defects, including thirteen patients with alar defects and two patients with nasal tip defects. The reversed superficial temporal vessels of the flap were anastomosed with the recipient facial vessels. The size of the flap was 2.5 cm x 2. 0 cm - 4.0 cm x 2.5 cm, the length of the vascular pedicle was 5 - 8 cm, average 6.5 cm

RESULTSThe flap survived uneventfully in all fifteen patients.

RESULTSdemonstrated satisfactory symmetry between the reconstructed ala and the contralateral side as well as an excellent tip projection. The donor-site defect was minimal.

CONCLUSIONSThe reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap offers an adequate length of vascular pedicle of the flap, it delivers a good solution to the problem of the vascular pedicle shortage of the proximal superficial artery auricular flap. This technique may become the top choice in the microvascular auricular transfer.

Adult ; Ear, External ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; surgery ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Rhinoplasty ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Temporal Arteries ; surgery ; Tissue Transplantation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis effects of polysaccharides extracts from Hedyotis diffusa (PEHD) on multiple myeloma (MM) cell line RPMI 8226 cells in vitro, so as to provide experimental theory for the clinical application in the treatment of MM.

METHODSMTT assay was used to examine the effects of PEHD on cell growth. The apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry with AnnexinⅤ/PI staining. Hoechst staining was used to observe the morphological changes of RPMI 8226 cell apoptosis. The expression levels of caspase-3,-8,-9, PARP, nucleoprotein NF-κB protein and other channel protein were assayed by Western blotting method.

RESULTSThe growth of RPMI 8226 cells were suppressed after treatment with PEHD, the highest inhibition rate reached to 92.3%, the results in the doses from 1 to 4 mg/ml showed a dose-and-time-dependent manner. The proportion of apoptotic cells in 1, 2 and 3 mg/ml PEHD treatment groups for 24 h were 22.52%, 62.31% and 69.94%, respectively, and significantly higher than that of control 8.93%. After treated with PEHD, apoptotic body appeared in RPMI 8226 cells nucleus and the number of apoptotic body increased in a dose-dependent manner. With the increasing of PEHD concentration, the expression of caspase-8,-9,-3 and PARP protein increased. The expression of Mcl-1, Bcl-xl, Bid and Bim protein decreased gradually, but the expression of Bax, Bak and Bad protein increased, and the expression of p-AKT protein (60 kDa) and NF-κB obviously decreased.

CONCLUSIONPEHD could inhibited the growth of RPMI 8226 cells and displayed a dose-and-time-dependent manner, its mechanism may involve cell apoptosis induction, which was associated with the activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 protein and the down-regulation of p-AKT and NF-κB protein expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Hedyotis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and endothelial dysfunction.

METHODSOne hundred and ten type 2 diabetic patients without angiopathy were selected randomly, and PCR technique was used to determine their ACE genotypes. High resolution ultrasonography was performed to measure the changes in brachial artery diameter at rest, after reactive hyperemia (with increased flow producing an endothelium-dependent dilation) and after sublingual glyceryltrinitrate (GNT, an endothelium-independent dilator). Meanwhile, 50 healthy individuals were selected randomly as controls.

RESULTSIn type 2 diabetes mellitus and control groups, the percentages for flow-mediated arterial dilation in patients with DD genotypes were 3.38% and 3.67% respectively, which were significantly lower than those in patients with II genotypes (4.12% and 4.68% respectively, P<0.05). The baseline blood vessel size, baseline blood flow and GNT induced dilation in both groups showed no significant differences among ACE genotypes (P>0.05). By multiple stepwise regression analysis, reduced flow-mediated arterial dilation was associated with age, baseline vessel size, low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), Lp(a), D allele, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postparandial blood glucose (PPBG), HbA1c, duration of diabetes in type 2 diabetic patients (P<0.0005).

CONCLUSIONACE DD genotype is related to endothelium-dependent arterial dilation in the early stage of type 2 diabetes mellitus and in healthy individuals.

Adult ; Aged ; Brachial Artery ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and cytogenetic features of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) associated with del(20q).

METHODSThe cytogenetic profiles, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and transformation in course of disease were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Of 29 MDS patients with del(20q), eleven (37.9%) had normal karyotype in addition to del(20q) aberration. Among them, nine patients were categorized into refractory anemia(RA)/RA with ringed sideroblasts(RAS) group and two into RA with excess Hasts(RAEB)/RAEB in transformation(RAEB-T) group. The breakpoint in 20q11 was commonly seen in patients with RA/RAS(63.2%), while del(20q12) was predominant in patients with RAEB/RAEB-T(accounting for 70% in all RAEB/RAEB-T patients). It was observed that RAEB/RAEB-T patients had higher frequencies of extra chromosomal aberrations(50%) and complex karyotype(30%) than did the RA/RAS patients (26.3%, 5.3% respectively); (2) Almost all patients revealed prominent pancytopenia, dyserythropoiesis and dysgranulopoiesis and 58.6% patients showed dysmegakaryopoiesis; positive periodic acid schiff staining of nucleated erythrocytes or reduction of neutrophils were found in 62.5% of patients; 81.8% of patients expressed lymphoid antigens; (3) Two cases transformed to acute myeloid leukemia.

CONCLUSIONDel(20q) may be an early and primary cytogenetic event in the development of hematologic malignancies. Pancytopenia and dysplasia of bone marrow cells are prominent in patients with MDS associated with del(20q); lymphoid antigen expression is a common occurrence; more additional chromosomal abnormalities and complex karyotypes appear when the disease becomes worse.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To observe the effect of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)on the apoptosis of rat peritoneal mesothelium cells(PMCs)induced by high glucose peritoneal dialysis fluid(PDF),and to explore its possible molecular mechanism.Methods The primary BMSCs and PMCs were extracted and identified.Apoptosis of PMCs was induced by high glucose PDF.Cell supernatant from BMSCs after 24 h of culture was collected as the conditioned medium(BMSCs-CM).PMCs were co-cultured with BMSCs by conditioned media or Transwell chambers.PMCs were randomly divided into the control group,the PDF group and the PDF+BMSCs-CM group.The viability of PMCs was measured by CCK-8 in each group.The depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 method.TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),Cleaved cysteine aspartase-3(Cleaved Caspase-3)and pathway related protein serine/threonine protein kinase(Raf),mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MEK),extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase(ERK)and their phosphorylated proteins in each group.Results Compared with the control group,the proliferative activity and mitochondrial membrane potential of PMCs were decreased in the PDF group,while the apoptosis rate and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2,Cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3,p-Raf/Raf,p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the PDF group,the proliferative activity and mitochondrial membrane potential of PMCs were increased in the PDF+BMSCs-CM group,while the apoptosis rate and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2,Cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3,p-Raf/Raf,p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK were decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion BMSCs can reduce the apoptosis of PMCs induced by high glucose PDF,and its mechanism maybe related to inhibiting the activation of Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.