To study the chemical constituents of Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching, various chromatographic techniques were used to isolate and purify the constituents. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data and physical-chemical properties. Two compounds were isolated from the n-BuOH soluble fraction of an acetone-H2O (4:1) extract of A. penangiana and were identified as 4'-hydroxy pneumatopterin B (I) and 6"-O-acetyl triphyllin A (II). Compounds I and II are new compounds.
Ferns ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on inflammatory lung injury and phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein (ERK1/2) in a rat model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

METHODSThirty-six adult male SD rats were randomized into 3 groups (n=12) to receive a 4-h standard ventilation (group C, with tidal volume of 8 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 90/min), high-tidal volume ventilation (group H, with tidal volume of 20 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 50 /min), and high-tidal volume ventilation plus 0.5 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) dexmedetomidine infusion (group D), with the maintenance of a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 0 cmH(2)O. After mechanical ventilation the rats were sacrificed to collect the lung lavage liquid and lung tissue to examine the pulmonary inflammatory changes and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression as well as the expressions of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2.

RESULTSGroups H and D showed obvious lung injury and significant elevations of the total protein, WBC, MPO, TNF-α, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation as compared with those of group C. The rats in group D showed milder lung pathologies with significantly lower levels of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and TNF-α compared with those in group H.

CONCLUSIONDexmedetomidine can significantly attenuate VILI, decrease the production of the inflammatory molecules, and inhibit the activation of ERK1/2, demonstrating a protective effect against VILI.

Animals ; Dexmedetomidine ; therapeutic use ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of morphine and pethidine on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells and investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp.

METHODSThe mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line (b.END3) was subjected to pre-incubation with NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC (5 micromol/L) for 1 h followed by stimulation with morphine (1 microg/ml) or pethidine (1 microg/ml) for 24 h. The bEnd.3 cells were then collected for Western blotting for P-gp expression.

RESULTSA 24-h morphine stimulation induced an up-expression of P-gp in bEnd.3 cells by almost 200%. Pethidine in similar conditions did not affect P-gp expression in the cells. PDTC, the specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB, inhibited morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp in the cells.

CONCLUSIONMorphine can induce up-expression of endogenous P-gp in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells. NF-kappaB signaling pathway is involved in the morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain ; blood supply ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Meperidine ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal injection of monoclonal antibody in the treatment of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods Together 33 patients (33 eyes) with exudative AMD from February 2010 to May 2015 selected in this study were treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab,followed by examination of the best corrected visual acuity before and after surgery by international standard logarithmic visual acuity chart.The differences in ophthalmic artery (OA),central retinal artery (CRA) and ciliary artery hemodynamic parameters before and after operation were compared,and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was used to measure and calculate the changes in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) fluorescein leakage area before and after operation.Results The best corrected visual acuity was significantly improved 1 week after operation when compared with preoperative data [(0.29 ± 0.18) vs.(0.16 ± 0.15)],with significant difference (P =0.002).And 7 days after operation,the area of CNV fluorescein leakage was less than that of postoperative data [(8.48 ± 6.13)mm2 vs.(11.39 ± 6.12)mm2],and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.029).However,there was no difference in OA,CRA,the peak systolic velocity (PSV),end diastolic blood flow velocity (EDV)and resistance index (RI),pulsatility index (PI) in the treatment eyes between before operation and 1,4 weeks after operation (all P ＞ 0.05).Conelusion Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in the treatment of exudative AMD is safe and effective and can effectively improve the visual acuity and alleviate CNV leakage,without adveme effects on patients' hemodynamics.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of microRNA-155 (miR-155) expression with clinicopathological features of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and explore the value of miR-155 in prognostic assessment of PTC.

METHODSWe collected 86 pairs of fresh PTC and adjacent tissues to examine the expression of miR-155 using fluorescent quantitative PCR. miR-155 expressions in the tissues were analyzed in relation to the clinicopathological features of the patients.

RESULTSCompared with the paired adjacent tissues, 69.8% (60/86) of the PTC tissues showed up-regulated miR-155 expression by 2.63∓2.73 folds. Up-regulated miR-155 expressions were associated with a larger tumor size (1.66∓0.96 vs 1.19∓0.52 cm, P=0.021), a higher likeliness of extrathyroid invasion (56.7% vs 23.1%, P=0.004), a higher rate of lymph node metastasis (70% vs 46.2%, P=0.036), a more advanced TNM stage, and a higher rate of III-IV stage of the tumor (20% vs 0%, P=0.014). The expression level of miR-155 in PTC tissues was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (r=0.531, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONPTC patients with miR-155 over-expression tend to have a greater tumor size, a greater likeliness of extrathyroid involvement, a higher rate of cervical lymph node metastasis and a more advanced TNM stage. The high expression of miR-155 in the tumor may indicate a poor prognosis of PTC patients.

Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neck ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept method on acute paraquat poisoning.

METHODS136 patients with acute paraquat poisoning were divided into the normal therapy group and the intensive therapy group randomly. Methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and Etanercept were used in the intensive therapy group. Methylprednisolone 500 mg was given intravenously per day for continuous three days followed by 200 mg intravenous per day. Then methylprednisolone was decreased gradually 14 d or 21 d later according to the patient's condition. Cyclophosphamide 600 mg was given intravenously twice weekly for 2 weeks and Etanercept 25 mg was given hypodermic injection twice weekly for 3 weeks. Curative effect evaluation was done at 7, 14, 21 d and 12 weeks after therapy.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the intensive therapy group was obviously higher than that of the normal therapy group (P<0.01) on 7, 4, 21 d and 12 weeks. The cure rate of the intensive group were 94.6% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 75.0% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 12.5% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively, while the cure rate of the normal group were 16.7% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 8.3% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 0% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively. The total cure rate of the intensive therapy group (78.3%) 12 weeks later was higher than that of the normal group (11.9%).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept intensive therapy has the curative effect on acute paraquat poisoning.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety among three different entry points of needle knife, including tenderness point, intervertebral foramen point and articular process node, for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A total of 105 patients with LDH were randomly divided into a tenderness point group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ), an intervertebral foramen point group (35 cases) and an articular process node group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the three groups, the needle knife was given at positive tenderness points of lumbosacral and hip, the external point of intervertebral foramen and the node of vertebral joint process respectively, once a week for a total of 4 times. The scores of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks into treatment, and 3 months follow-up after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and safety was observed. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the JOA scores in each group were increased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05); 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up, the JOA scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were higher than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, except for ODI score 2 weeks into treatment in the intervertebral foramen point group, the ODI and VAS scores in each group were decreased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05), and the ODI scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). In 2 weeks into treatment, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05); in 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group were lower than the other two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the clinical efficacy of each group was similar (P>0.05); during the follow-up, the total effective rate in the tenderness point group was higher than that in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse events in each group. CONCLUSION The three different entry points of needle knife all could improve the symptoms of patients with LDH. The comprehensive effect of improving the subjective symptoms, lumbar function, pain degree and long-term curative effect is better in the tenderness point group.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome