To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Aminoquinolines ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; chemically induced ; Male ; Vitiligo ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the levels of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) in human follicular fluid (FF) and its association with response to ovarian stimulation.

METHODSWestern blotting was performed to determine the levels of BMP-15 in FF obtained from follicle aspirates in 70 patients undergoing IVF treatment. According to the response to ovarian stimulation the patients were divided into poor responder group and normal responder group.

RESULTBMP-15 levels in FF of poor responders were significantly higher than those in normal responders (1.01 +/- 0.34 vs 0.77 +/- 0.24, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIncreased levels of BMP-15 in FF may be associated with poor response to ovarian stimulation.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; administration & dosage ; Follicular Fluid ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction

Objective To analyze the risk of neurological deterioration of patients with cervical spine injury in order to explore nursing strategy.Methods A retrospective survey was done for 362 patients with acute cervical spine injury admitted to our hospital from May 2005 to December 2011,of which five patients with severe neurological deterioration were analyzed in mechanism of injury,clinical manifestations and imaging data.Results Severe cervical fracture dislocation,a history of ankylosing spondylitis or spinal stenosis were high-risk groups of neurological deterioration.Conclusions The nurse should first assess the stability of the cervical spine and nerve function,then provide care in cervical patients such as turning around from the back and so on.According to the results of the assessment,neck brake,choosing suitable neck posture and regular turning can effectively avoid the risk of neurological deterioration.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the academic level and influence of National Journal of Andrology through statistical analysis for the fund sponsored articles.

METHODSUtilizing the information from China Hospital Knowledge Database (CHKD), and adopting bibliometrics methods, we carried on statistical analysis for the fund sponsored articles published on National Journal of Andrology dated from Mar. 2000 to Jun. 2005.

RESULTSNine hundred and fourty-two articles were screened, of which 204 (21.7%) were fund sponsored, and the proportion of the articles supported by various funds, including the funds from national key projects, presented an increasing tendency every year. The authors were distributed among 30 provinces and 6 oversea countries with an average age 37.4 years old, of whom 37.7% got doctor's degree and 38.7% masters degree. The articles involved clinical research were at 28.9%, and basic study and applied study were at 71.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe articles supported by various funds in National Journal of Andrology have taken a high percentage, so the journal achieves a fine academic level and social influence.

Andrology ; statistics & numerical data ; Bibliometrics ; China ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data ; Research Support as Topic

500 pmol/L were greater than those in any group.Conclusion Serum MMP-2 can be involved in left ventricular remodeling of HF,and measuring its concentration is helpful to judge the severity and prognosis of HF.

Objective To investigate the effect of health belief model on the quality of life of patients with chronic prosatitis. Methods Totally, 80 patients with chronic prosatitis were divided into the observation group and the contrast group at random and each group consisted of 40 patients. Patients in the observation group took medication and at the same time they received conventional health education in accordance with the health belief mold while the contrast group only used the routine health education. The quality of life of patients of the two groups were compared before and after the health education. Results Before the health education, the quality of life between groups showed no significance ( P ＞ 0. 05). While after the 3-month health education, the difference of quality of life betweens group was significant. Conclusions The health belief mold education can improve the quality of life of patients with chronic prosatitis.

Objective To analyze the causes of death in patients with heart failure. Methods A total of 133 heart failure patients died during hospitalization in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2008 were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided to two groups : sudden death (group A, n=73, 54.9% ), chronic end-stage pump failure (group B, n=55, 41.4%). The remaining 5 cases died of other causes were excluded from the final analysis. Clinical data (medical history, blood pressure, clinical manifestation, NYHA cardiac function class, left ventricular diameter of diastole, left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular arrhythmias, drug therapy) of group A and B were analyzed. Results There were no significant differences in terms of medical history ( including hypertension and diabetes), blood pressure, heart rate and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia between the two groups. In group A, the NYHA functional class was mostly Ⅱ or Ⅲ grade, and LVEF value was significantly higher than that of group B. The incidence of angina pectoris was significantly higher in group A compared to group B. β-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker use was also significantly higher in group A than in group B, however, the treatment dose was significantly lower and therapy duration was significantly shorter in group A than in group B. There were significantly less patients received statins and anti-platelet aggregation drugs in group A compred to group B. Conclusion In our patient cohort, sudden cardiac death often occurred in heart failure patients with NYHA cardiac function Ⅱ to Ⅲ grade, angina pectoris, probably due to the unstable coronary plaque and less statins and anti-platelet drug use in these patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of arctiin on advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tubular cells and explore the mechanisms underlying this effect.

METHODSHuman proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells) were treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or AOPPs in the presence or absence of arctiin. The expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin, and GRP78 at the protein and mRNA levels in the cells were examined using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry with DCFH-DA as the fluorescent probe.

RESULTSCompared with BSA-treated cells, the cells treated with AOPPs showed decreased expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and overexpression of mesenchymal marker vimentin and endoplasmic reticulum stress marker GRP78 with an increased ROS level. These changes induced by AOPPs were partly inhibited by arctiin.

CONCLUSIONArctiin can ameliorate AOPP-induced EMT in tubular cells by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress response may participate in this process.

Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ; adverse effects ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Furans ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism