Abstract: Our previous work revealed berberine can significantly enhance the susceptibility of fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans, which suggested that berberine has synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. Preliminary SAR of berberine needs to be studied for the possibility of investigating its target and SAR, improving its drug-likeness, and exploring new scaffold. In this work, 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives and N-benzyl isoquinoline analogues were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and MS. Their synergetic activity with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans was evaluated in vitro. The 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives 1a-1e exhibited comparable activity to berberine, which suggested that the introduction of functional groups to C-13 can maintain its activity. The N-benzyl isoquinolines, which were designed as analogues of berberine with its D ring opened, exhibited lower activity than berberine. However, compound 2b, 2c, and 4b showed moderate activity, which indicated that berberine may be deconstructed to new scaffold with synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. The results of our research may be helpful to the SAR studies on its other biological activities.
Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Drug Synergism ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Isoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Glioma,especially glioblastoma,is one of the most common malignancies in the central nervous system.Traditional surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not significantly change the survival time of gliomas.Invasive growth,high heterogeneity and existence of glioma stem cell are the main causes of tumor recurrence.In addition,various immune cells and cytokines secreted by them in tumor microenvironment,as well as their activation status,are the key factors affecting tumor progress and effecacy of various immunotherapy.Interleukin (IL)-33 is a member of IL-1 gene family,and in recent years,it has been confirmed that IL-33 is highly expressed in some brain tumors,and IL-33 is the main coordinator of microenvironment regulation in brain tumors.In this paper,we will introduce the immunosuppressive state of brain tumors and their microenvironment and the limitation of tumor growth and immunotherapy,and recent advance that cytokine regulate and intervene the microenvironment of glioma to adapt tumor-lytic virus-immunotherapy.

Objective:To explore the value of echocardiography for diagnosing infectious endocarditis (IE).Methods:A total of 487 patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) infection treated in our hospital from 2013-01 to 2015-06 were enrolled.Based on symptoms,blood culture and echocardiography,9 patients with suspected IE were further examined by 18F-FDG PET-CT to confirm their diagnosis and classification.Definitive therapy was conducted and the patients were followed-up for 1 year to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography on CIED induced IE.Results:3 patients were preliminarily diagnosed for bacteremia since no vegetation was found by echocardiography,while IE was finally diagnosed by PET-CT.2 patients were preliminarily diagnosed for IE by echocardiography presented valvular vegetation,while PET-CT showed no evidence of vegetation;then one of them was diagnosed as bacteremia by positive blood culture and another was diagnosed as non-infection.4 patients were preliminarily diagnosed for IE by echocardiography indicated existing vegetation after CIED lead extraction,while PET-CT demonstrated no infection sign in heart chamber and the finally diagnosed was as "non-infectious fibrous residual tissue".According to final diagnosis,definitive therapies were performed to specific patients with at least 1 year follow-up study,no one had new and recurrent infection.Conclusion:Echocardiography had deficiency for diagnosing vegetation in heart chamber especially in suspicious IE patients after CIED lead extraction.It is necessary to make accurate diagnosis with other method for guiding appropriate therapy.

BACKGROUNDPolymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN), one of the most important inflammatory cells, functions throughout the initiation, progression and resolution of inflammation. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between PMN apoptosis and the lung injury after chest impact trauma.

METHODSPMNs were purified from rabbits subjected to the chest impact trauma and their apoptosis, necrosis, survival and respiratory burst were detected by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, lactate dehydrogenase and (LDH) [Ca2+]i were measured.

RESULTSThe delayed apoptosis of PMNs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was observed from 2 hours to 12 hours after trauma, and viable cells increased. Respiratory burst of PMNs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was increased significantly from 2 hours with the peak at 8 hours. Meanwhile, lactate dehydrogenase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was higher than that in control (P < 0.05) from 4 hours to 24 hours, and intracellular free Ca2+ in PMN was increased temporarily.

CONCLUSIONSRetention of PMN in tissues and the abnormality in apoptotic pathway inevitably generate persistent activation of PMN and excessive release of toxic substances, resulting in tissue injury. The temporary increase of intracellular free Ca2+ may be responsible for the delayed apoptosis of PMN.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Lung Injury ; Neutrophils ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Respiratory Burst ; physiology ; Thoracic Injuries ; complications

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable method for obtaining large quantity of highly purified immature dendritic cells (imDCs) in vitro, and identify the morphology, function and surface markers of the cells.

METHODSCD117(+) hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were isolated and purified from the bone marrow of healthy C57 mice by magnetic affinity cell sorting. After cell expansion by treatment with stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3), the HSCs were induced for directional differentiation into imDCs by treatment with GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-10. The imDCs obtained were identified by morphological and functional observation under inverted microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, followed by detection of the expressions of the surface markers using flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter 3, 5 and 7 days of culture in the presence of SCF+IL-3, the cells were expanded by 10.34-/+1.43, 22.65-/+2.71 and 54.39-/+3.08 folds, respectively. The HSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into imDCs with phagocytotic activity. The dendrites of the imDCs were short small, and appearing spinous. The expressions of surface markers were detected from the cells showing the phenotype of CD11c(+), I-A/I-E(low), CD40(-), CD80(-), CD86(-).

CONCLUSIONThe method described allows steadily acquisition of large quanty of highly purified imDCs and of their effective identification in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit

Anti-H antibody belongs to IgM type cold antibody, which often induces the unconformity of positive and reverse typing and leads to the difficulty in clinical blood typing. Anti-H antibody was found during identification of the counter blood group in 3 cases. The antibody was found to be active at 37 degrees C, room temperature and 4 degrees C when determined by blood group serology, and was finally analyzed to be IgM. It is suggested that not to give erythrocytes of O group unreasoningly to blood recipient of AB group during emergent moment, but instead, to give same type of blood. If there was no same type of blood during urgent events, O type erythrocytes could be employed after being matched by saline centrifuging with host side coincidence and screened by incomplete method. In this case, anti-H antibody leading to adverse-reaction in blood transfusion should be prevented.
ABO Blood-Group System ; immunology ; Adult ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Female ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEThis study examines the impacts of an improved electrode placement on the electrocardiogram (ECG) results in order to determine a better electrode placement for ECG monitoring in children.

METHODSECG was recorded using the traditional electrode placement and the modified electrode placement (with shortened electrode distance) respectively in 50 pediatric patients. The amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave on ECG by the two measurements were compared. Furthermore, the impacts of different body positions on the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave were studied after applying the modified electrode placement.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave on ECG by the traditional electrode placement and the modified electrode placement (P>0.05). When modified electrode placement was utilized, the body position change did not lead to significant changes in the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA satisfactory ECG can be obtained with the modified electrode placement independent of patient's body position, suggesting that the modified electrode placement can be used instead of the traditional placement in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; instrumentation ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Patient Positioning

BACKGROUND: Amniotic membrane has a unique structure that can block the penetration of certain substances, to ensure normal nutrition supply for the surrounded tissues, and is also characterized by anti-adhesion, good tissue compatibility, mild inflammatory reaction, few fibers and biodegradability. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of fresh amniotic membrane and acellular amniotic membrane to prevent adhesion and promote tendon healing during the repair of tendon sheath defects. METHODS: Sixty healthy male leghorn chickens were selected, and the model of tendon injury and tendon sheath defects was established at the third toes. The animal models were then randomly divided into three groups and underwent repair with fresh amniotic membrane (group A), acellular amniotic membrane (group B), and no treatment in control group (group C), respectively. Histological observation and biomechanical analysis of the third toes were performed after repair. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Histological observation. Congestive edema and inflammatory response were found in all animals at 2 weeks after repair, but mildest in the group A and severest in the group C. These inflammatory responses gradually alleviated over time in the three groups. At 12 weeks after repair, the new tendon sheath formed in all the animals, which was more mature than that at 4 weeks after repair. The synovial cells on the surface of the tendon sheath were arrayed tidily with dense structure in the groups A and B, but in the group C, the synovial cells were distributed disorderly with loose structure and prominent fibrous tissues. (2) Biomechanical analysis. Tendon sliding distance in the groups A and B was significantly larger than that in the group C at 4, 8, 12 weeks after repair (P < 0.05), but there were no significant difference in the distance between the groups A and B (P > 0.05). At 4 and 8 weeks after repair, the maximum tensile strength was largest in the group A, sequentially followed by group B and group C (P < 0.05), but there were no significant difference among the three groups at 12 weeks after repair (P > 0.05). To conclude, both fresh amniotic membrane and acellular amniotic membrane can promote tendon healing and prevent the adhesion of tendon through tendon sheath reconstruction, but the fresh amniotic membrane is preferred to promote early tendon healing compared with acellular amniotic membrane.

Objective To study the correlation between the changes of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) level and psychological statuses in patients with cerebral concussion.Methods Forty patients with cerebral concussion,admitted to our hospital from January 2012 to December 2012,were chosen in our study as experimental group,and other 40 healthy controls performed physical examination in our Physical Examination Center at the same period were chosen.The serum NSE level in the two groups was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) scale was performed in 40 patients at different times after injury,and these data were compared with those from the national norm; the correlation between the changes of serum NSE level and SCL-90 scores was analyzed.Results The serum NSE level in the experimental group 1 d after the injury was obviously higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05); 3 and 7 d after the injury,the serum NSE level in the experimental group was close to normal level,which showed no significant differece as compared with that in the control group (P＞0.05).The SCL-90 scores in the experiemtal group 1,3 and 7 d after injury was signficantly higher than that of the national norm (P＜0.05).Positive corelation was noted between serum NSE level and SCL-90 scores 1 and 3 d after injury (r=0.498,P=0.001; r=0.418,P=0.007);however,negative corelation was noted btween the two 7 d after injury (r=0.213,P=0.186).Conclusion Different corelation can be noted between serum NSE level and SCL-90 scores at different time points;combined application of serum NSE level and SCL-90 scores can promote the diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain concussion.

Objective To study the in vitro killing effect of novel small molecule inhibitors, ribosomal S6 kinase1 (RSK1) inhibitor (BI-D1870) and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor (BI2536), combined with recombinant attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus VSVΔM51 on various glioma cells. Methods (1) In vitro cultured GL261, CT2A and HS68 cells were divided into control group, rapamycin group, BI-D1870 group, BI-2536 group, VSVΔM51 group, rapamycin +VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group, and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group; pretreatments with 100 nmol/L rapamycin, 10 μmol/L BI-D1870, and 100 nmol/L BI-2536 for 2 h were given to the cells from the above groups, respectively, and then, they were infected with VSVΔM51 virus at 0.1 mutiplicity of infection (MOI); at 72 h after treatments, the cell survival rate was determined by Alarma Blue method; VSV△M51 virus was infected at 10 MOI one h after pretreatment with the above drugs, apoptosis of GL261 cells was detected by cleaved caspase-3 staining 24 h after that; the expression of apoptotic protein polyadp-ribosomal polymerase (PARP) was detected by Western blotting; Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining was used to detect the cell apoptosis. (2) GL261 and CT2A cells were divided into VSVΔM51 group, rapamycin+VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group, and BI2536+ VSVΔM51 group; VSV△M51 virus was infected at 0.1 MOI one h after pretreatment with the above drugs,; 48 h after treatments, fluorescence microscope was used to detect the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP); IVIS200 in vivo imaging system was used to detect the changes of cell virus luciferase in the 4 groups. (3) Fifteen CT2A intracranial implanted glioma model mice were divided into VSVΔM51 group, BID-1870+VSVΔM51 group and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group according to random number table method (n=5); mice in the latter two groups were intraperitoneally injected with BI-1870 (100 mg/kg) or intravenously injected with BI-2536 (20 mg/kg); 24 h after that, mice in the three groups were intravenously injected with virus VSVΔM51; virus luciferase was detected by IVIS200 in vivo imaging system 24 and 72 h after treatments; the grouping and treatments of GL261 intracranial glioma model mice were the same as above, the expression of virus GFP was observed under fluorescence microscope 48 h after treatments, and virus titers of these mice were detected by virus plaque assay. Results (1) As compared with the control group, rapamycin group, BI-D1870 group, BI-2536 group, and VSVΔM51 group, the rapamycin+VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group, and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group had significantly lower cell survival rate (P<0. 05); cleaved Caspase-3 staining showed no cell apoptosis in the control group, a small amount of apoptotic corpuscles in the rapamycin group, BI-D1870 group, BI-2536 group, and VSVΔM51 group, but obvious increased amount of apoptotic corpuscles in the rapamycin+VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group, and BI2536+ VSVΔM51 group; Western blotting indicated that GL261 and CT2A cells from the control group, rapamycin group, BI-D1870 group, BI-2536 group, and VSVΔM51 group had lower cleaved PARP expression level than those from the rapamycin+VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group, and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group. The results of Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining were consistent with those of cleaved Caspase-3 staining. (2) As compared with VSVΔM51 group and rapamycin+VSVΔM51 group, BI-D1870+VSVΔM51 group and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group had significantly increased GFP expression and statistically higher intensity of virus luciferase (P<0.05). (3) CT2A cells in the VSVΔM51 group, BID-1870+VSVΔM51 group and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group had increased intensity of virus luciferase successively, with significant differences (P<0.05); GL261 cells in the VSVΔM51 group, BID-1870+VSVΔM51 group and BI2536+VSVΔM51 group had increased virus titers successively, with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion Both small molecule inhibitors promote the replication of VSVΔM51 virus and enhance the killing effect on glioma cells, and its synergistic effect is obviously better than rapamycin.