OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constitutes of Acantophora spicifera.

METHODCompounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, and reverse-phase HPLC, as well as recrystallization. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from A. spicifera and their structures were identified as aplysin (1), loloilide (2), (R)-(-)-dehydrovomifoliol (3), uracil (4), thymine (5), 1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl) benzene (6).

CONCLUSIONThe compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time. Compound 6 was firstly obtained from marine organisms.

Chromatography ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Rhodophyta ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Styrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Thymine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Uracil ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of marine alga Chaetomorpha basiretorsa.

METHODCompounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel colum chromatography, reverse phase MPLC, reverse phase HPLC and recrystallization. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including MS, IR, NMR, and X-ray crystalography. Cytotoxicity of the compounds were screened by using standard MTT method.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated from C. basiretorsa and their structures were identified as N-phenyl-2-naphthalenamine( I ), dibutyl phthalate( II ), diisobutyl phthalate( III ), 1-phenyl-ethane-1, 2-diol( IV ), 2-hydrox-gamma-benzaldehyde( V ), diethyleneglycol monobenzoate( VI ), uracil( VII ), thymine( VIII ) and thymidine( IX ).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time, N-phenyl-2-naphthalenamine and diethyleneglycol monobenzoate were first reported from the marine organisms. Compound I and VII showed moderate activity against KB cell(IC50 10.15 microg x mL(-1) for I and 3.79 microg x mL(-1) for VII ) and MCF-7 cell(IC50 3.24 microg x mL(-1) for VII).

1-Naphthylamine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chlorophyta ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Humans ; KB Cells ; drug effects ; Uracil ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo search for chemical constituents with structural diversity from Laurencia tristicha to supply for biological assay.

METHODCompounds were isolated by means of column chromatography over normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, recrystallization and HPLC. Structures were identified by spectroscopic methods including 1D NMR, IR and MS. Cytotoxicities of the purified compounds were evaluated by MTT method.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from L. tristicha. Their structures were elucidated as cholesterol (1), cholesta- 5-en-3beta, 7alpha-diol (2), beta-stigmasterol (3), phytol (4), zeaxanthin (5), 4 -hydroxybenzaldehyde (6), indolyl-3-carbaldehyde (7). In the cytotoxic assay compound 2 was active against human cancer cell lines HCT-8, Bel-7402, BGc-823, A549 and HELA with IC50 values of 1.90, 2.02, 1.99, 6.52 and 1.20 microg x mL(-1), respectively. Compound 4 showed cytotoxicity against HCT-8 and HELA with IC50 value of 3.51 and 2.04 microg x mL(-1), and other compounds were inactive ( IC50 > 10 microg x mL(-1)).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-7 were isolated from L. tristicha for the first time. In additon, compounds 2 and 4 were cytotoxic against several human cancer cell lines.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cholestenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Laurencia ; chemistry ; Phytol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Chaetomorpha basiretorsa and screen for bioactive leading compounds.

METHODCompounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase MPLC and reverse phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including MS, IR and 1D, 2D NMR. Cytotoxicity of the compounds was screened by using standard MTT method. The purified compounds' inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells was also screened by MTT assay.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated from C. basiretorsa and their structures were identified as euphol (I), loloilide (II), 4-cumylphenol (III), zeaxanthin (IV) and lactucaxanthin (V).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time. Compound (III), 4-cumylphenol, was a new nature product. All compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 microg x mL(-1)) in cytotoxicity screening. In inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells test, the cell survival ratio to compound I was (0.32 +/- 0.056)% which indicate its potential anti-atherosclerotic bioactivity.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chlorophyta ; chemistry ; Dogs ; Humans ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Xanthophylls ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Zeaxanthins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of red alga Corallina pilulifera.

METHODCompounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH - 20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase HPLC and recrystallization. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HSQC, HMBC. Cytotoxicity of the compounds was screened by using standard MTT method.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from red alga C. pilulifera, their structures were identified as (E) -phytol epoxide (1), phytenal (2), phytol (3), dehydrovomifoliol (4), loliolide (5), 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-7-megastigmene-9-one (6), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7).

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were obtained from this species for the first time. These compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 microg x mL(-1)) in the MTT assay.

Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Humans ; Phytol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rhodophyta ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the immunological suppressing effect of recombinant adenovirus vector rAD-mTERT promotor-m4-1BBL (rAD-mTERT) on mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1-6 cells in co-culture with T lymphocytes.

METHODSAdding recombinant adenovirus rAD, rAD-CMV-m4-1BBL (rAD-CMV) and rAD-mTERT to Hepa1-6 and L929 cells, respectively, to observe the effect of these adenoviruses on growth and apoptosis of these cells in co-culture with T lymphocytes.

RESULTSAdding adenovirus significantly suppressed the growth and slightly increased apoptosis of the two types of cells (P < 0.05). rAD-mTERT promotor-m4-1BBL showed only pro-apoptotic effect on Hepa1-6 cells. When co-cultured with T lymphocytes, rAD-CMV-m4-1BBL showed promoting effect on apoptosis of the cells. Compared with that of T cells pre-co-culture, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were proliferated, and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was significantly reduced (from 1.27 to 1.08).

CONCLUSIONAdding the recombinant adenoviruses only suppresses the cell growth, but not promotes their apoptosis. In co-culture with T lymphocytes, recombinant adenovirus vector rAD-mTERT promotor-m4-1BBL can targetingly suppress the growth and induce apoptosis of Hepa1-6 cells. The apoptosis is induced through the immunological killing effect of T lymphocytes.

4-1BB Ligand ; genetics ; physiology ; Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Genetic Vectors ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; immunology ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Transfection

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMeningioma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, but there are not many detailed studies on the sex, age, subtypes and locations of large series. This study was a retrospective analysis of the characteristics of meningioma cases consecutively operated on at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010.

METHODSThis study investigated the demographic background of 7084 meningioma cases, and the subtypes and locations of the tumors. Sex and age distributions were analyzed, and the pathological subtypes were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The location of the meningiomas was also categorized.

RESULTSThe female:male ratio of the 7084 cases was 2.34:1. The mean age was 51.4 years (range, 11 months-86 years). The mean age of cases of WHO grade I meningioma was significantly older than that of grade II or III meningiomas (P < 0.001, Fisher's Least Significant Digit test). There was a significantly higher female:male ratio in WHO grade I meningiomas than in grade II or grade III meningiomas (2.57, 1.03 and 0.76, respectively; P < 0.001, χ(2) test). Meningothelial (n = 2061) and fibrous meningiomas (n = 3556) were the most common subtypes, comprising 79.3% of all meningiomas. All meningioma cases were classified into 23 locations in this study, with the cerebral convexity the most common site (38.33%, n = 2722). Cases with uncommon locations such as extra-cranial and sylvian fissure meningiomas were also present in this series.

CONCLUSIONSFemale predominance was found for benign meningiomas, while malignant subtypes showed male predominance. The mean age of patients with WHO grade I meningiomas was older than that of patients with higher-grade tumors. Meningothelial and fibrous meningiomas were the most common subtypes. The cerebral convexity was the most common meningioma location.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningioma ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

Objective To trace and provide HIV-testing among those having contacts with HIV-infected individuals at various levels in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of such investigation as a supplemental strategy for HIV testing and control. Methods Newly reported HIV infections from August throughout October in Dehong prefecture, in 2008 were asked to provide contact information of persons whom they had high risk contacts with. Persons having had risk contacts with HIV-infected cases were hereof interviewed and their blood tested on the sero-status of HIV. Results A total of 335 HIV cases were newly reported during this three-month period. A total of 309 cases of them and 148 HIV infections identified thereafter from their risk contacts were under informed consent, to participate in this study. A total number of 3395 risk contacts were reported, of whom only 20.7% (704/3395) had 'contact information' and 51.3% (361/704) were successfully located and interviewed, including 117 previously confirmed HIV infections and 244 people with unknown HIV status. The majority of them (203 or 83.2% of 244) were then tested for HIV and 56(27.6% of 203) were tested positive for HIV. The proportion of having detailed contact information and the proportion of being traced or followed among reported risk contacts of HIV infections were 68.8% and 68.2% for spouses of HIV patients, respectively, which were much higher than those among commercial sex partners (1.2% and 16.7%), casual sex partners (37.3% and 22.3% ) and peers who sharing needles (34.1% and 56.4% ). Conclusion Newly reported HIV infections reported a large number of risk contacts and new HIV infections were identified among them. It was extremely difficult to trace commercial sex partners or casual sex partners on their HIV infection status. Nevertheless, tracing the risk contacts of newly reported HIV infections seemed to be helpful in identifying new HIV infections and in understanding the nature of transmission towards controlling the HIV epidemics.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of modified lamina osteotomy replantation versus traditional lamina osteotomy replantation in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability.

METHODSThe clinical data of 146 patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability underwent surgical treatment from March 2008 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to osteotomy replantation pattern. There were 77 patients in the traditional group (underwent traditional lamina osteotomy replantation), including 42 males and 35 females with an average age of (49.4±18.5) years;the lesions occurred on L₄,₅ in 46 cases, on L₅5S₁ in 31 cases. There were 69 patients in modified group (underwent modified lamina osteotomy replantation), including 37 males and 32 females with an average age of (49.8±17.9) years;the lesions occurred on L₄,₅ in 40 cases, on L₅S₁ in 29 cases. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complication rate during operation, lamina healing rate, recurrence rate of low back and leg pain were compared between two groups. Visual analogue scales (VAS) and Japanese Orthopadic Association (JOA) scores were used to evaluate the clinical effects.

RESULTSThe operation time and intraoperative blood loss were similar between two group (>0.05). There was significantly different in nerve injury rate(5.80% vs 16.9%) and dural injury rate(1.45% vs 9.09%) between modified group and traditional group(<0.05). The recurrent rate of low back pain of modified group was higher (91.30%, 63/69) than that of traditional group (76.62%, 59/77), and the intervertebral fusion rate of modified group was lower(8.70%, 6/69) than that of traditional group (29.9%, 23/77) at 3 years after operation. Postoperative VAS scores of all patients were significantly decreased at 6 months, 1, 2, 3 years, and JOA scores were obviously increased (<0.05). At 1, 2, 3 years after operation, VAS scores of modified group were significantly lower than that of traditional group(<0.05), and JOA scores of modified group were higher than that of traditional group(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModified lamina osteotomy replantation has better long-term efficacy(in the aspect of recurrent rate of low back pain, intervertebral fusion rate, VAS and JOA score at three years follow-up) in treating lumbar disc herniation with instability.