OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method to determine plumbagin in Plumbago zeylanica, and to investigate contents of plumbagin in different parts of. P. zeylanica.

METHODThe analysis was carried out at 30 degrees C on a Kromasil C18, column eluted with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol-water (65: 35). The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1), the detector wavelength was 213 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curve was linear within the concentration ranges of 0.020 8-0. 104 microg (r = 0. 9999). The average recovery was 98.7%. The contents in the root, stem and leaf were 0.394 5%, 0.050 8%, 0.031 4% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, accurate, replicate and suitable for the determination of plumbagin in P. zeylanica.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Naphthoquinones ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Plumbaginaceae ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

To provide theoretical basis for breeding good variety of Dendrobium denneanum, agronomic and qualitative characters of 4 different lines and relationships among them were studied. The stem length, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, length/ width ratio and leaf area were measured. The single fresh and dry stem was weighed and drying rate was calculated. The contents of polysaccharides and total alkaloids were determined by sulfuric acid-phenol colorimetry and acid-dye colorimetry, respectively. The correlations between characters were analyzed. The results showed that differences in major agronomic characters between four lines were significant. The plant types of dq-1 and dq-2 were higher, dq-3 was medium and dq-4 was lower. The fresh weigh of stem and content of polysaccharides were the highest in dq-2, 7.81 g and 14.33%. While the highest content of total alkaloids and was 0. 486% in dq-3. There were significant correlations between agronomic characters, but these characters had low or non correlations with qualitative characters such as polysaccharides and total alkaloids. It was shown that the content of polysaccharides and total alkaloids were significantly different among 4 lines of D. denneanum, which could be selected for different uses.
Agriculture ; Dendrobium ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

Background:BK polyomavirus (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is an important cause of dysfunction and failure of renal transplants.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of morning urine specific gravity (MUSG) in diagnosing BKPyVAN in kidney transplant recipients.Methods:A total of 87 patients,including 27 with BKPyVAN,22 with isolated BKPyV viruria,18 with T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR),and 20 with stable graft function,were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from March 2015 to February 2017.MUSG at biopsy and during a follow-up period of 24 months after biopsy was collected and analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the ability of MUSG to discriminate BKPyVAN.Results:At biopsy,the MUSG of BKPyVAN group (1.008 ± 0.003) was significantly lower than that of isolated BK viruria group (1.013 ± 0.004,P ＜ 0.001),TCMR group (1.011 ± 0.003,P =0.027),and control group (1.014 ± 0.006,P ＜ 0.001).There was no significant difference in MUSG among the isolated BK viruria group,TCMR group,and control group (P =0.253).In BKPyVAN group,the timing and trend of MUSG elevate were consistent with the timing and trend of the decline of viral load in urine and plasma,reaching a statistical difference at 3 months after treatment (1.012 ± 0.003,P ＜ 0.001) compared with values at diagnosis.ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of MUSG for diagnosis of BKPyVAN was 1.009,with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.803 (95％ confidence interval [CI]:0.721-0.937).For differentiating BKPyVAN and TCMR,the optimal MUSG cut-off value was 1.010,with an AUC of 0.811 (95％ CI:0.687-0.934).Condusion:Combined detection of MUSG and BKPyV viruria is valuable for predicting BKPyVAN and distinguishing BKPyVAN from TCMR in renal transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Linzhou, the high prevalence area of Henan province.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 52 cases of primary SCC of esophagus.

RESULTSGains in part or in whole of chromosome 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, 20q and losses of 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p, 8p were detected frequently in SCC (> 20%). Gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q were all significantly correlated with pathologic staging (P < 0.05). Gains of 8q, loss of 4p were linked to nodal metastasis (P < 0.05). Gains of 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter were associated with distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese observations suggest that 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, and 20q may contain SCC-related oncogenes; 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p and 8p may contain SCC-related tumor suppressor genes. It is likely that gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q are the genetic aberrations critical for the development of esophageal carcinoma, whereas gains of 8q, 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter are considered later events associated with tumor progression and are thought to confer metastatic potential to esophageal carcinoma. Furthermore, nodal and distant organ metastases involve different genes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in transcatheter closure of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) combined with secoundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: Fourteen patients (3 males and 11 females) who had ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD were diagnosed by TTE or transesophageal echocardiography. The ASA projected to the right atrium in all patients. The width of basilar part was 13 approximately 24 (18.5+/-3.9) mm, and the vertical extent was 7 approximately 11(9.7+/-1.8) mm. Ten patients combined with single hole ASD and 4 patients with multiple hole ASD. Blood shifting from the left atrium to the right atrium was displayed in color Doppler in all patients. All patients were treated by transcatheter closure under the guiding of X fluoroscopy and TTE, and examined with TTE during the follow-up. RESULTS: Transcatheter closure was successfully performed by 14 occluders in all patients. No residual shunt was detected immediately by TTE after the procedure in all patients. During the 6 approximately 12 month follow-up, no residual shunt or occluder shifting was found, the dimensions of the heart became normal in 11 patients (79%) and were significantly decreased in 4. CONCLUSION Transcatheter closure is feasible in patients with ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD, and extra attention must be paid to the specialty. TTE is very important in case selection before transcatheter closure, and it may be used to monitor and guide the procedure during transcatheter closure.
Adult ; Atrial Septum ; Balloon Occlusion ; methods ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; complications ; therapy ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Young Adult

The study was aimed to investigate the incidences and risk factors of acute and chronic graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD) and to clarify their effects on relapse and survival of recipients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The clinical data of 100 cases of allo-HSCT were retrospectively analyzed. The incidences and risk factors of aGVHD and cGVHD, relapse and survival were studied. The results showed that 31 cases developed aGVHD of II - IV grade (34.4%) and 14 cases developed aGVHD of III - IV grade (17.7%). HLA matched or mismatched did not show significant difference in the development of aGVHD of II - IV grade (p > 0.05). Previous occurrence of aGVHD was the risk factor for cGVHD (HR = 2.303, p = 0.088). The female was a favorable factor for cGVHD (HR = 0.401, p = 0.055). The relapse rate was lower in patients who developed cGVHD. The development of aGVHD of II - IV grade was the risk factor for overall survival (p < 0.05). The mortality of patients with aGVHD of III - IV grade and mortality of patients with aGVHD of 0 - I grade were 81.0% and 35.7% respectively, there was very significant difference between them (p = 0.000). In conclusion, till now GVHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect can not be separated. The positive effect of GVL could be counteracted by GVHD-related mortality. It is necessary to prevent and control the development of severe aGVHD. The development of local cGVHD may be beneficial to the long-term disease-free survival of patients after allo-HSCT.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; mortality ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

This paper aimed to study the chemical constituents from the root bark of Schisandra sphenanthera. Silica, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC were used to separate and purify the 80% ethanol extract of S. sphenanthera. Eleven compounds were identified by ~1H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, ESI-MS, etc., which were 2-[2-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3-methoxyphenyl]-propane-1,3-diol(1), threo-7-methoxyguaiacylglycerol(2),4-O-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethyl)-dihydroconiferylalcohol(3), morusin(4), sanggenol A(5), sanggenon I(6), sanggenon N(7), leachianone G(8),(+)-catechin(9), epicatechin(10), and 7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone(11). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-9 were isolated from S. sphenanthera for the first time. Compounds 2-11 were subjected to cell viability assay, and the results revealed that compounds 4 and 5 had potential cytotoxicity, and compound 4 also had potential antiviral activity.
Schisandra ; Plant Bark ; Antiviral Agents ; Biological Assay ; Catechin ; Phenols

Many phytochemicals show promise in cancer prevention and treatment, but their low aqueous solubility, poor stability, unfavorable bioavailability, and low target specificity make administering them at therapeutic doses unrealistic. This is particularly true for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and genistein. There is an increasing interest in developing novel delivery strategies for these natural products. Liposomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles are biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles. Those nanoparticles can increase the stability and solubility of phytochemicals, exhibit a sustained release property, enhance their absorption and bioavailability, protect them from premature enzymatic degradation or metabolism, prolong their circulation time, improve their target specificity to cancer cells or tumors via passive or targeted delivery, lower toxicity or side-effects to normal cells or tissues through preventing them from prematurely interacting with the biological environment, and enhance anti-cancer activities. Nanotechnology opens a door for developing phytochemical-loaded nanoparticles for prevention and treatment of cancer.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Carriers ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Nanoparticles ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Phytochemicals ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Diabetes is a metabolic disease mainly characterized by hyperglycemia due to inadequate insulin secretion. And persistent hyperglycemia can cause chronic damage or dysfunction of eyes， kidneys， heart， blood vessels and nerves. Polysaccharides are high molecular carbohydrates polymerized by glycosidic bonds from more than 10 monosaccharide molecules of the same or different types. They have the advantages of wide sources， high safety and low toxic and so on. As one of the important effective components of traditional Chinese medicine， polysaccharides have biological activities such as immune regulation， anti-oxidation， anti-tumor， lowering blood sugar and so on. The structure is directly related to biological activities， and the advanced structure of polysaccharides is based on the primary structure. Exploring the primary structure of polysaccharides is the key task of lowering blood sugar and improving diabetic complications. This paper summarizes the monosaccharide composition of the primary structure of Chinese medicine polysaccharides， and the mechanism of Chinese medicine polysaccharides improving diabetes is emphasized by increasing the secretion and release of insulin， increasing the islet β cell number， upregulating insulin receptor level， improving glucose and lipid metabolism， inhibiting inflammatory response， improving oxidative stress and regulating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， mitogen activated protein kinase， cyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP）/protein kinase A（PKA） and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase（AMPK） signaling pathways. At the same time， we also summarized the prevention and treatment of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in diabetic nephropathy， diabetic cardiomyopathy， diabetic ophthalmopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy， in order to provide a theoretical basis for new drug development and clinical application of Chinese medicine polysaccharides in the intervention of diabetes and its complications.