In order to clarify the chemical constituents of Cistanche deserticola cultured in Tarim desert, a systematically phytochemical investigation was carried out. The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography, such as silica gel, Sephadex LH- 20, MCI gel, ODS and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were determined on the basis of MS, NMR spectroscopic analysis and/or comparison with literature data. Eleven lignans were isolated from the 85% ethanol extract of the stems of C. deserticola cultured in Tarim desert. Their structures were identified as (+)-syringaresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (+)-isoeucommin A (2), eucommin A (3), (+)-pinoresinol monomethylether β-D-glucoside (4), lariciresinol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), lariciresinol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), conicaoside (7), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol γ'-O-β-D-glucoside (9), citrusin A (10), and alaschanioside A (11). Compounds 1, 3-7, 10 and 11 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 2, 8 and 9 were obtained from this species for the first time.
Cistanche ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

Objective:To investigate the impact of aging on the correlation between the intestinal microorganism Akkermansia and obesity, and to analyze the features of the correlation in the elderly population. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.A total of 6896 cases were collected from the Guangdong intestinal microbiome in 2018, aged 18-94 years old, including 3806 females, 1641 cases with abdominal obesity(23.7%)and 707 cases with systemic obesity(10.3%). The 16S rRNA sequencing data were from individuals of Cantonese descent.The abundance of Akkermansia was calculated after data cleaning, clustering and annotation.The type of abdominal obesity or systemic obesity was diagnosed based on the standards of the Working Group on Obesity in China(2002). According to the five quintiles of the abundance of Akkermansia, subjects were divided into Q1~Q5(Q1-Q4: n=1379, Q5: n=1380). Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between Akkermansia and obesity after adjusting for common confoundors such as gender.Subjects were subgrouped into two types of age groups: the <65 group(n=5467)and the ≥65 group(n=1519); the <70 group(n=6136)and the ≥70 group(n=850). Age windows were used to analyze changes in characteristics of this relationship with increasing age. Results:There were significant differences in age and gender among different Akkermansia groups( t/ χ2=3.51, -5.03, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for two main confounding factors, age and gender, the risk of systemic obesity and abdominal obesity gradually decreased from Q2 to Q5 group, compared with Q1 group( P<0.001). The correlation between Akkermansia and obesity decreased with age.The protective effect of Akkermansia on obesity was weaker in the ≥65 and ≥70 groups, respectively, than in the <65 and <70 groups. Conclusions:Akkermansia is a protective factor for obesity, but the protective effect is affected by aging and weakened in the elderly.

In order to clarify the chemical constituents of Cistanche deserticola cultured in Tarim desert, a systematically phytochemical investigation was carried out. The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography, over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI gel, ODS and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were determined on the basis of MS, NMR spectroscopic data analysis, physicochemical properties and/or comparison with literature data Seventeen compounds were isolated from the 85% ethanol extract of the stems of C. deserticola cultured in Tarim desert. Their structures were identified as salsaside B (1), syringin (2), demethyl syrinyin (3), coniferin (4), (2E,6E)-3,7-dimethyl-8-hydroxyoctadien-1-O-beta-D-glucoside (5), (+)-syringaresinol (6), 2S,3S, 4S-trihydroxypentanoic acid (7), panaxytriol (8), beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (9), androsin (10), 3-methyl-but-2-en-1-yl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), benzyl-glucopyranoside (12), 4-hydroxybenzyl-beta-D-glucoside (13), nicotinamide (14), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (15), 4-hydroxy-benzeneethanol (16), and galactitol (17). Compounds 3, 6-13 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 1, 4 and 5 were obtained from this species for the first time.
Cistanche ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Desert Climate ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of iron on the growth, physiology and photosynthesis of cyanobacteria.

METHODSA gradient of iron concentrations was employed to investigate the growth, photo-pigments (chlorophyll A and phycocyanin), and cell chemical contents (C, N, P) of Microcystis aeruginosa in response to different iron additions.

RESULTSThe specific growth rate during the exponential growth phase, as well as the cell chlorophyll A and the phycocyanin content, was limited by iron below 12.3 tmol Fe x L(-1). The growth was inhibited when the iron concentration was at 24.6 micromol Fe x L(-1). The cell chlorophyll A and the phycocyanin content were saturated when the iron concentration was above 12.3 micromol Fe x L(-1) and declined slightly at 24.6 micromol Fe x L(-1). At a low iron concentration (about 6.15 micromol Fe x L(-1) and less), the cell nitrogen and carbohydrate content were iron limited, and the variation of the cell phosphorus content was similar to that of the nitrogen and carbohydrate, with a transition point of 12.3 micromol Fe x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe variation of cynobacteria growth is synchronous with that of the photo-pigments or the cell chemical content, and there exist relationships among photosynthesis, growth and internal chemical content, which could be useful for the growth estimation from the cell characteristics.

Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Microcystis ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of bone marrow derived Thy-1+ beta2M- cells (BDTCs) into liver cells in allyl alcohol (AA) induced liver injury micro-environment.

METHODSBDTCs of male F344 rats were isolated by two-step magnetic separation system (MACS) technique, and infused intraportally into female recipients after labeling with PKH26. Thirty recipients were divided randomly into 3 groups: (1) AA-injured liver + BDTCs infusion, (2) normal liver + BDTCs infusion and (3) AA-injured liver + NS infusion (control). Blood biochemical examination, fluorescence labeled cellular localization, Y-chromosome sry gene in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were carried out to evaluate BDTCs distribution, differentiation and proliferation in recipients's livers after different intervals.

RESULTSFluoromicroscopy and in situ hybridization suggested that BDTCs of donors were interspersed in pieces and cords among the necro-periportals induced by AA; immunohistochemistry indicated that those implanted cells expressed OV-6, AFP, CK19 and albumin successively, while positive cells were hardly seen in the normal liver + BDTCs infusion group. Compared with the controls, the blood biochemical restitution was more rapid in group (1), (9.8 d +/- 3.1 d vs. 13.7 d +/- 4.2 d).

CONCLUSIONThe injury micro-environment induced by AA facilitates BDTCs integration with hepatic cell plates and differentiation into mature liver cells. BDTCs differentiation into liver cells might accelerate endogenous liver cell regeneration and reparation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Propanols ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

Objective Subjects failed to filter the reasons were summarized through the analysis of phase Ⅰ clinical trial process.Methods The reasons for the screening failure were summarized and the possible influencing factors were discussed by analyzing the screening process in a clinical trial of cardiovascular drugs that involved 106 cases of healthy adults.Results Compliance,physical examination,laboratory tests and special examinations may be related to the screening failure,among which laboratory test failure was the leading cause (39.76％) followed by Holter electrocardiogram (28.89％),while echocardiography and compliance factors respectively accounted for 10.0％ and 10.38％.Conclusion The screening success rate can be improved by developing a suitable range of laboratory normalization and depth of knowledge.

This study was purposed to investigate the role of NK-alloreactivity and donor-inhibiting or activating KIR gene in predicting prognosis under unmanipulated allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation. A modified polymerase chain reaction sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) method was used to typing KIR and HLA genotype of donors and recipients. The relationship between donor activating or inhibitory KIR and recipient HLA genotypes on event free survival (EFS), cumulative incidence of malignant relapse and transplant-related mortality (TRM) were investigated retrospectively in 67 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The results showed that no effect of 'KIR/HLA mismatched' was detected on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and relapse. The EFS of KIR/HLA mismatched group was lower, especially KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 mismatched group (44.8% vs 69.2%, P = 0.043). However, EFS was better for the presence of donor-activating KIR2DS2 (81.3% vs 52.6%, P = 0.052), and the relapse rate was significantly lower for the presence of this genotype (7.7% vs 34.2%, P = 0.05). EFS was worse in patients homozygous for group 1 HLA-C (C1) when donor carries the activating KIR2DS1 (KIR2DS1 positive/HLA-C2-negative group, P = 0.028), and the incidence of aGVHD in this group was significantly higher than that in any other groups (P = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, advanced disease stage, more than two donor-activating KIR, donor KIR2DS2-negative genotype were associated with an reduced disease-free survival (HR = 3.34, 2.19, 3.18;and P = 0.005, 0.053, 0.066). Donor KIR2DS2-negative genotype were also associated with an increased risk of relapse (HR = 6.72, 9.43; and P = 0.019, 0.047). And donor KIR2DS1 positive/recipient HLA-C2 negative group was the only risk factor of TRM (HR = 3.27, 95% CI 1.78 - 9.06, P = 0.023). It is concluded that missing ligand for the donor inhibitory KIR has weak effect on the outcome of unmanipulated HSCT. The activating KIR play an important role in the EFS, relapse and TRM after HSCT. Donor KIR2DS1-positive/recipient HLA-C2-negative group and donor KIR2DS1 gene negative predict poor prognosis. Analysis of KIR genotype and its ligand is important for the selection of best donor and prognostic evaluation in unmanipulated allogeneic HSCT.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Female ; Genotype ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo monitor blood cells EBV-DNA copies by quantitative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polymerase chain reaction after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to evaluate its implication.

METHODSEBV-DNA copies of peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMNCs) were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR once a week since conditioning regimen from fifty one patients received HSCT. Correlation between development of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) and EBV-DNA copies and influence factors of EBV reactivation were analyzed.

RESULTSThe cumulative incidence of EBV viremia was 58.8%. EBV reactivation occurred (39.6 +/- 23.5) days after HSCT, later than that of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (25.0 +/- 15.1) days (P < 0.01). HLA mismatch (P < 0.01), use of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (P < 0.01), age less than twenty (P < 0.001) were factors for EBV reactivation, (93.3% vs 48.1%, 92.3% vs 18.7%, and 100% vs 53.1%, respectively). EBV related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-PTLD) occurred only in 4 out of 30 (13.3%) EBV reactivation patients, whose EBV DNA load maintained over 10(6) copies/ml for at least two weeks (4 out of 13 cases). The median survival time of EBV-PTLD patients was 19.5 (11 - 75) days.

CONCLUSIONSEBV reactivation occurs frequently after HSCT, especially in those received HLA mismatch grafts, used antithymocyte globulin or aged under twenty. Patients with EBV loads over 10(6) copies/ml, especially lasting over two weeks, appear to have an increased risk for PTLD, and pre-emptive therapy may be of clinical useful.

DNA, Viral ; blood ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders

OBJECTIVEThis study was aimed to investigate whether incorporation of rituximab into high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT)could improve the survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and evaluate the safety of this regimen.

METHODSTwenty-five patients (age, 17 - 61 yrs) with DLBCL were treated with a sequential chemotherapy for remission induction, intensive chemotherapy for mobilization of stem cells, and high-dose chemotherapy followed by auto-PBSCT. Among 25 patients, 22 cases were at IV Ann Arbor stage, 60% cases with B symptom, and 10 cases with intermediate-high risk and 2 cases with high risk when evaluated by International Prognostic Index (IPI). The high-dose chemotherapy included BEAM regimen for 21 patients, and TBI conditioning regimen for 4 patients. Each patient received infusion of rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) for 2 times, each at peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and peripheral stem cell infusion.

RESULTS20 patients achieved complete remission (CR) before transplantation. After high-dose chemotherapy and auto-PBSCT, 92% patients achieved CR. At a median follow-up of 45 months, the estimated 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 78.9% and 75.9%, respectively, for all patients; while those were 87.4% and 82.4% for patients achieved CR before auto-PBSCT. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression revealed that failure to achieving CR before auto-PBSCT was an independent prognostic factor affecting OS, while factor affecting PFS was IPI scores. Rituximab was generally well tolerated with few side-effects.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that the addition of rituximab to high-dose chemotherapy followed by auto-PBSCT was effective and safe for patients with DLBCL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rituximab ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PGI-NHL). The pathological data of 101 PGI-NHL patients admitted in our hospital in the past 15 years were analyzed retrospectively. The results showed that 101 patients with PGI-NHL accounted for 14.49% of NHL in the same period, there were 64 males, 37 females, the range of ages was from 18 to 87 years old, median age was 61 years old; in disease distribution, the stomach PGI-NHL accounted for 58.42%, intestine PGI-NHL accounted for 39.60%, multiple GI involvements (MGI) accounted for 1.98%; in pathological type, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounted for 66.34%, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma accounted for 17.82%, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounted for 3.96%, enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) accounted for 7.92%, extra-nodal nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma accounted for 1.98%, follicular lymphoma (FL) accounted for 0.99%, small lymphocyte lymphoma (SLL) accounted for 0.99%. Eighty-nine out of 101 patients were followed up (49 cases live, 40 cases dead), data of the 12 patients were lost; the median survival time was 29 months (1 - 173). The three-year OS and five-year OS were 58.4% and 52.6% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the factors affecting OS included sex (P = 0.004), lesion site (P = 0.002), tumor size (P = 0.011), clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P = 0.003), IPI score (P = 0.000), pathological cell phenotype (P = 0.001), and pathological type (P = 0.006), their differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, IPI score, pathological type were independent prognostic risk factors affecting OS. It is concluded that clinical Lugano staging for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, IPI score and pathological type are independent risk factors affecting OS.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult