Two new labdane diterpenoids were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the leaves of Callicarpa formosana Rolfe by using silica gel column, MCI column, ODS column and HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, NMR and ECD spectral data. All of them are new compounds, named 13E-6β-hydroxylabda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid (1) and 13E-7α-hydroxylabda-8(17),13-dien-15-oic acid (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for antioxidant activity, and none of them had obvious activity.

Based on the results of previous data mining,the mechanism of high frequency use of Tibetan medicine in the treatment of high altitude polycythemia(HAPC) was analyzed in this study by network pharmacology. The author obtained the high frequency use data on Tibetan medicine Terminalia chebula,Aucklandia lappa,Crocus sativus and Myristica fragrans for the treatment of HAPC by data mining in the previous period. The first five main active ingredients of each high frequency Tibetan medicine were screened out by reviewing comprehensive literature and TCMSP database. The potential targets of each medicine were screened by PharmMapper and Drug Bank database,and then the targets were imported into MAS 3. 0 database to obtain the corresponding path information. The KEGG database was used for path annotation and GO function enrichment analysis. Finally,Cystoscope 3. 4. 0 software was used to construct " compound-target-path" network for four high-frequency Tibetan medicines. Among them,the target points of four herbs related to HAPC were 16(T. chebula),20(A. lappa),20(C. sativus),and 15(M. fragrans). The common target points included BHMT,F2,ADH5,AKR1 C2,GSK3 B,INSR and PDE4 B,involving pathways related to T. chebula(17),A. lappa(17),C. sativus(24) and M. fragrans(14),and the common pathway was metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450. The results showed that high-frequency Tibetan medicine had common pathways and targets in treating HAPC,such as T. chebula,A. lappa,C. sativus and M. fragrans.The medicines could reduce hemoglobin and enhance immunity by mediating cell proliferation and oxidative stress,exerting anti-inflammatory effects and participating in regulating blood vessels,showing therapeutic effects for HAPC. In this study,the multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism of Tibetan medicine in preventing and treating HAPC was analyzed from the information level,providing a useful reference for further study of Tibetan medicine in preventing and treating plateau diseases from the multi-dimensional perspective.
Data Mining ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Polycythemia

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) on p-Akt and caspase-9 expressions in the hippocampus of rats with status epilepticus (SE) and explore the neuroprotective mechanism of rhuEPO.

METHODSAdult male SD rats were randomized into control, PTZ, rHuEPO, LY294002 group, and DMSO groups and treated with normal saline (NS), PTZ, PTZ+rHuEPO, PTZ+LY294002+rHuEPO, and PTZ+DMSO+rHuEPO, respectively. The behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes of the rats were recorded, and the expressions of p-Akt and caspase-9 were detected using immunohistochemistry. The hippocampal expression of caspase-9 mRNA was detected using RT-PCR, and the expressions of Akt and p-Akt proteins were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSThe p-Akt-positive cell and p-Akt protein expression increased significantly while the caspase-9-positive cell and caspase-9 mRNA expression decreased in rHuEPO group as compared with those in PTZ group (P<0.05). LY294002 treatment prior to rHuEPO injection significantly abolished the effects of rHuEPO on caspase-9 and p-Akt immunohistochemical positivity and caspase-9 mRNA and p-Akt protein expressions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of rHuEPO activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in SE rats and increases the expression of p-Akt protein to regulate the expression of caspase-9, a regulatory factor of the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, and therefore provides anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects.

Animals ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; Status Epilepticus ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ability of Fuzhenghuayu capsule to improve markers of liver fibrosis when provided as supplemental therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved complete virological response but unsatisfactory resolution of fibrosis markers with nucleos(t)ide analog (NAs) monotherapy.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-ten patients with CHB-related liver fibrosis who had received NA for more than or equal to 2 years and achieved sustained virological response (SVR) but no improvement in liver fibrosis index were randomly divided into two equal groups: experimental group, continued oral NAs (one tablet, 1 time/day) with simultaneous Fuzhenghuayu capsule (1.5 g, 3 times/day) for 48 weeks; control group, continued oral NAs only for 48 weeks. Serum fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) and IV collagen (IV-C)), liver fibrosis stages, B ultrasonic wave, and liver function were observed before (baseline) and after treatment and compared by statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe baseline levels of fibrosis markers were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, the levels of all of the fibrosis markers were lower in the experimental group (P less than 0.05 vs. control group; HA t = 19.548, LN t = 2.264, PIIIP t = 2.230, and IV-C t = 6.649) and lower than the baseline levels (P less than 0.01; HA t = 12.458, LN t = 7.402, PIIIP t = 4.620, IV-C t = 8.937). The control group also showed a significant reduction in HA and LN levels after treatment (P less than 0.01 vs. baseline; t = 5.202 and 3.444), but PIIIP and IV-C were unaffected. The baseline liver fibrosis stages were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, only the experimental group showed significant improvement in liver fibrosis stages (P less than 0.01). The rates of excellent therapeutic outcome, effectiveness, and non-effectiveness were significantly different between the experimental group (11.3%, 43.4%, and 45.3%) and the control group (1.0%, 22.2%, and 75.6%) (x2 = 9.408, P less than 0.01). Similar trends were observed for improvements in B ultrasonic wave for liver and spleen and in markers of liver function. Finally, neither treatment group experienced adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONFor CHB patients who achieve SVR by antiviral treatment with NAs, but unsatifactory improvement in liver fibrosis indices, administration of supplemental Fuzhenghuayu capsule with continued NAs therapy may represent a safe and effective treatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleotides ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the safety,efficacy and advantages of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.Methods Operation safety,complications,and postoperative recovery of 35 patients aged 70 years and over who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery(LAPA group) were analyzed retrospectively and compared with those of 78 elderly patients performed with conventional open surgery(OPEN group) and 35 patients younger than 65 years performed with laparoscopic colorectal surgery(LAPB group) between December 2002 and December 2003.Results No surgery-related death occurred in LAPA group and LAPB group,but 2 deaths were found in OPEN group because of severe pulmonary infection and anastomotic leakage respectively.There were 33 (42.3%) cases of complications in the OPEN group which were significantly more than those in LAPA and LAPB group (P0.05).Local recurrence rate,metachronous metastases rate and cumulative survival probability at 30 months were similar in the LAPA and OPEN groups.Conclusions Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and beneficial to the patients aged 70 years and over and it could be adopted widely.

Objective To evaluate the operative outcomes of a triple procedure including simultaneous penetration keratoplasty (PKP),extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation,and to investigate the relationship between postoperative corneal refractive power and preoperative lens diopter.Methods This retrospective analysis study involved 15 patients who had undergone a triple procedure surgery in Beijing You'an hospital from April to October 2016.Outcomes including the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),intraocular pressure (IOP),corneal refractive power,axial length,postoperative complications,corneal endothelial cell counts and the survival of corneal graft were determined one year after surgery.Results All corneal grafts were transparent and corneal endothelium were (1974.20 ±472.82) cell · mm-2.The mean postoperative LogMAR visual acuity (0.80 ±0.27) had a significant improvement compared with the mean preoperative LogMAR visual acuity (2.63 ±0.62) (t =13.042,P ＜0.001).There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative IOP (15.27 ± 2.37) mmHg (1 kPa =7.5 mmHg) and postoperative data (14.53 ± 3.04) mmHg (t =0.685,P =0.505),preoperative axial length (23.69 ±2.01) mm and postoperative data (23.62 ±2.12)mm (t =-0.138,P=0.893)and preoperative keratometry (45.01 ± 1.66) D of the control eye and postoperative data (42.56 ± 5.48) D (t =1.202,P =0.260).The postoperative spherical equivalent refractive was (0.40 ±4.65) D,and the target refraction was (0.58 ±0.25)D.Conclusion The triple procedures are safe and effective for the treatment of patients with coexisting corneal pathologies and cataracts.Selection of emmetropia lens diopter may result in the satisfactory postoperative visual acuity.However,unpredictable postoperative corneal curvature changes will still affect the final refractive state.

Objective To evaluate the laparoscopic management in diagnosing and treating small intestinal stromal tumors.MethodsSeventeen patients with small intestinal stromal tumors,who underwent laparoscopic diagnosis and surgical procedures,were retrospectively analyzed with the size of tumor,operative time,blood loss,length of incision,time for passage of flatus,post-operative hospital stay,operative complications and result of follow-up.Results All the 17 patients were diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic partial intestinal resections.The mean diameter of tumors was(3.6?1.3)cm,operative time(62.1?25.7)min,blood loss(17.1?15.2)mL,length of incision(3.4?1.1)cm,time for passage of flatus(2.2?1.2)d and post-operative hospital stay(7.8?2.0)d.As for the complications,one(5.9%)anastomosis bleeding was found and was treated by non-surgical procedure.After follow-up for 2-34 months,no recurrent tumor was found.Conclusion Laparoscopic exploration is useful to diagnose small intestinal stromal tumor accurately,and laparoscopic partial intestinal resection is a safe,effective and less invasive procedure for small intestinal stromal tumors.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of laparoscopic local resection for gastric tumors.Methods Twenty-three patients with gastric tumors who were performed laparoscopic gastric local resection were retrospectively analyzed with the size of tumor,location of tumor,operative time,blood loss during the operation,time for passage of flatus,post-operative hospital stay,operative complications,post-operative pathological findings and result of follow-up.Results Twenty-three patients were successfully performed laparoscopic local resection,including 8 laparoscopic wedge resection(LWR)and 15 intragastric mucosal resections(IGMR),with no conversion to open surgery.The mean size of gastric tumor was(2.8?1.3)cm,the mean operative time was(82.2?35.5)min,the mean blood loss was(26.5?15.3)mL,the length of incision was(3.1?1.1)cm,the time for passage of flatus was(2.1?0.9)d,and the mean post-operative hospital stay was(7.8?2.0)d.Two patients(8.7%)were found with postoperative gastric mucosal blee-ding and were recovered well through non-operative treatment.The median time of follow-up was 12 months(2-45 months),and no recurrent tumor was observed.Conclusion Laparoscopic local resection is a feasible,safe,effective and less invasive procedure for gastric tumors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and significance of caspase-1 in normal and hyperplastic prostate tissues.

METHODSTwenty-eight paraffin-embedded sections, including 21 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 7 normal prostate tissue samples, were investigated immunohistochemically for caspase-1.

RESULTSThe rate of caspase-1 expression in the BPH tissues was 71.4% (15/21 ) while that in the normal prostate tissues was 100%. The expression level of caspase-1 in both epithelial cells and interstitial cells of the hyperplastic prostate tissues was obviously lower than that of the normal prostate tissues (P < 0.01). Within the BPH tissues, the expression level of caspase-1 in the epithelial cells was higher than in the interstitial cells, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of caspase-1 is dramatically reduced in the hyperplastic prostate tissues, which indicates that the decline of caspase-1-dependent apoptosis might be involved in the progress of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 1 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; enzymology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; enzymology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of the laparoscopic salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

METHODSSeven cases with recurrent rectal carcinoma treated by laparoscopic salvage surgery from February 2004 to July 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, four were males and 3 females, and the median age was 60 years (range 37-74). Three cases of recurrence were after conventional anterior resection, 2 after laparoscopic-assist anterior resection, 1 after laparoscopic-assist Parks' procedure, and 1 with pars sacral fistula after per-sacral-local resection for three times. Image examination (CT scanning) was taken preoperatively to evaluate the locally recurrence and exclude the distant metastases. The laparoscopic-assist procedure with or without a hand-assist technique was used in this study.

RESULTSSix cases with the recurrent lesion of central type were treated by salvage surgical procedure as follows: 3 laparoscopic-assist anterior resection, 1 laparoscopic-assist abdominoperineal resection, 1 laparoscopic-assist posterior exenteration, and 1 laparoscopic-assist proctocolectomy with a terminal ileum stoma. All of them were R0 resection confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. The other one with the lesion of combination type was treated with the procedure of laparoscopic-assist sigmoid colostomy. A hand-assist technique was used in 2 cases. The mean operation time, bleeding and hospital day was (211 +/- 13) min, (200 +/- 91) ml, and (15 +/- 10) d, respectively. No conversion and complication occurred.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer is safe and feasible when taken by experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon to the cases with the recurrent lesion of central type.

Adult ; Aged ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Salvage Therapy ; Treatment Outcome