In this study, araucarene diterpenes, characterized by a pimarene skeleton with a variably oxidized side chain at C-13, were investigated. A total of 16 araucarene diterpenoids and their derivatives were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara, including 11 previously unreported compounds: dammaradione (1), dammarones D-G (2, 5, 14, 15), dammaric acids B-F (8-12), and dammarol (16). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) and one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), while their absolute configurations were determined through the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method and Snatzke's method. The hypoglycemic activity of all isolated compounds was evaluated using a transgenic zebrafish model, and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted. Araucarone (3) and dammaric acid C (9), serving as representative compounds, demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects on zebrafish. The primary mechanism involves the promotion of pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake. Specifically, these compounds enhance the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine precursor cells (PEP cells) into β cells in zebrafish.
Zebrafish ; Animals ; Diterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Regeneration/drug effects*

Objective To investigate the situation and influencing factors of preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) among dust-exposed workers in a wooden furniture manufacturing enterprise. Methods A total of 562 dust-exposed workers from a wooden furniture enterprise in Guangdong Province were selected as the study subjects using the convenience sampling method. The result of health-status questionnaire and occupational medical examinations among the participants were studied, and the influencing factors of PRISm were studied using the binary logistic regression analysis method. Results The detection rate of PRISm was 22.1% (124/562) among the study subjects. Binary logistic regression result showed that male workers had a higher risk of PRISm than female workers (P<0.01). Current smokers had a higher risk of PRISm than non-smokers (P<0.05). Workers with longer duration of exposure to occupational hazards had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.05), those with higher grade of small-airway dysfunction had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.01). In terms of body mass index, overweight or obese workers showed a higher detection rate of PRISm than those with normal weight (P<0.01). Greater amount of smoking pack per year had a higher risk of PRISm (P<0.01). Conclusion Dust-exposed workers in the wooden furniture manufacturing industry show a relatively high detection rate of PRISm. Male, current smoker, longer duration of exposure to occupational hazards, small airway dysfunction, overweight or obese, and smoking pack per year are influencing factors of PRISm among the dust-exposed workers in the wooden furniture manufacturing industry.

Calcitonin-negative medullary thyroid carcinoma(CNMTC)is a rare subtype of medullary thyroid carcinoma,characterized by normal serum calcitonin levels,which often leads to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.The pathogenesis of CNMTC remains unclear and may involve impaired secretion mechanisms or assay-related false negatives.Diagnostic approaches include ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology,serum CEA and ProGRP measurements,and RET gene testing.Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment,while neoadjuvant therapy may be considered in selected cases.This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of CNMTC,aiming to provide clinical guidance for better management of this challenging condition.

Objective:To investigate the clinical predictive value of Ki67 proliferation index combined with preoperative serum Ctn for postoperative biochemical cure of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from Dec. 2008 to Dec. 2024 from 90 patients with surgically confirmed MTC at China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. The optimal cut-off value for preoperative Ctn prediction of biochemical cure (171.18pg/mL) was determined by the ROC curve; the Ki67 proliferation index cut-off value was adopted from the international MTC grading system standard (5%). Patients were divided into three groups based on the above cutoff values: double-low group (Ki67 <5% and Ctn <171.18pg/mL, n=23), single-high group (Ki67 ≥5% and Ctn <171.18pg/mL or Ki67 <5% and Ctn ≥171.18pg/mL, n=49), and double-high group (Ki67 ≥5% and Ctn ≥171.18pg/mL, n=18). The Kaplan-Meier method (Log-Rank and Trend test) was used to compare the differences in biochemical cure rates between groups, and the Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the risk factors affecting biochemical cure. Results:The correlation between preoperative Ctn and Ki67 proliferation index was not significant. The three groups differed significantly in gender, tumor distribution, tumor size, vascular invasion, N stage, TNM stage, and biochemical cure ( P<0.05), with the double-high group being significantly associated with larger tumors, later N stage and TNM stage, and lower biochemical cure ( P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the biochemical cure rate in the double-high, single-high, and double-low groups showed a stepwise improvement.Cox univariate analysis showed that tumor size, N stage, TNM stage, preoperative Ctn, and Ki67 combined with Ctn were risk factors for failure to biochemically cure; multivariate analysis confirmed that the double-high group was an independent risk factor ( P<0.05). In the single-high group, the biochemical cure rate of patients in the low Ki67-high Ctn group was lower than that of the high Ki67-low Ctn group and more malignant. Ki67 had less effect on biochemical cure and disease-free survival at the low Ctn level, and Ki67 was an independent risk factor for failure to biochemically cure at the high Ctn level ( P=0.023) and was significantly associated with disease-free survival ( P=0.004) . Conclusions:Serum Ctn is more sensitive than Ki67 index in predicting biochemical cure after MTC, and the correlation between the two was weak. Ki67 proliferation index alone has limited prognostic value, but combines with preoperative Ctn significantly optimize the prognostic assessment of patients.The role of Ki67 index varied at different Ctn levels.

Calcitonin-negative medullary thyroid carcinoma(CNMTC)is a rare subtype of medullary thyroid carcinoma,characterized by normal serum calcitonin levels,which often leads to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.The pathogenesis of CNMTC remains unclear and may involve impaired secretion mechanisms or assay-related false negatives.Diagnostic approaches include ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology,serum CEA and ProGRP measurements,and RET gene testing.Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment,while neoadjuvant therapy may be considered in selected cases.This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of CNMTC,aiming to provide clinical guidance for better management of this challenging condition.

Objective:To investigate the clinical predictive value of Ki67 proliferation index combined with preoperative serum Ctn for postoperative biochemical cure of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from Dec. 2008 to Dec. 2024 from 90 patients with surgically confirmed MTC at China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. The optimal cut-off value for preoperative Ctn prediction of biochemical cure (171.18pg/mL) was determined by the ROC curve; the Ki67 proliferation index cut-off value was adopted from the international MTC grading system standard (5%). Patients were divided into three groups based on the above cutoff values: double-low group (Ki67 <5% and Ctn <171.18pg/mL, n=23), single-high group (Ki67 ≥5% and Ctn <171.18pg/mL or Ki67 <5% and Ctn ≥171.18pg/mL, n=49), and double-high group (Ki67 ≥5% and Ctn ≥171.18pg/mL, n=18). The Kaplan-Meier method (Log-Rank and Trend test) was used to compare the differences in biochemical cure rates between groups, and the Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the risk factors affecting biochemical cure. Results:The correlation between preoperative Ctn and Ki67 proliferation index was not significant. The three groups differed significantly in gender, tumor distribution, tumor size, vascular invasion, N stage, TNM stage, and biochemical cure ( P<0.05), with the double-high group being significantly associated with larger tumors, later N stage and TNM stage, and lower biochemical cure ( P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the biochemical cure rate in the double-high, single-high, and double-low groups showed a stepwise improvement.Cox univariate analysis showed that tumor size, N stage, TNM stage, preoperative Ctn, and Ki67 combined with Ctn were risk factors for failure to biochemically cure; multivariate analysis confirmed that the double-high group was an independent risk factor ( P<0.05). In the single-high group, the biochemical cure rate of patients in the low Ki67-high Ctn group was lower than that of the high Ki67-low Ctn group and more malignant. Ki67 had less effect on biochemical cure and disease-free survival at the low Ctn level, and Ki67 was an independent risk factor for failure to biochemically cure at the high Ctn level ( P=0.023) and was significantly associated with disease-free survival ( P=0.004) . Conclusions:Serum Ctn is more sensitive than Ki67 index in predicting biochemical cure after MTC, and the correlation between the two was weak. Ki67 proliferation index alone has limited prognostic value, but combines with preoperative Ctn significantly optimize the prognostic assessment of patients.The role of Ki67 index varied at different Ctn levels.

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) generally have a bad prognosis and short overall survival after being treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to the histological heterogeneity, strong invasive ability and rapid postoperative recurrence of GBM. The components of GBM cell-derived exosome (GBM-exo) can regulate the proliferation and migration of GBM cell via cytokines, miRNAs, DNA molecules and proteins, promote the angiogenesis via angiogenic proteins and non-coding RNAs, mediate tumor immune evasion by targeting immune checkpoints with regulatory factors, proteins and drugs, and reduce drug resistance of GBM cells through non-coding RNAs. GBM-exo is expected to be an important target for the personalized treatment of GBM and a marker for diagnosis and prognosis of this kind of disease. This review summarizes the preparation methods, biological characteristics, functions and molecular mechanisms of GBM-exo on cell proliferation, angiogenesis, immune evasion and drug resistance of GBM to facilitate developing new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of GBM.
Humans ; Glioblastoma/genetics* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Objective To explore the correlation of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection with frequent relapses of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) in children.Methods 35 patients with relapse of SSNS and acute respiratory tract infection were divided into a observation group (mycoplasma pneumoniae infection) and a control group.The clinical and laboratory data including 24 h urine protein (24 h-Upro),urea nitrogen (Bun),serum creatinine (Scr),albumin (Alb) and cholesterol (Chol) were analyzed before and after treatment.Results The clinical and laboratory indexes were obviously improved after treatment,the difference was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01).24 h-Upro decreased more significantly in the observation group than in the control group after treatment.In the observation group,15 of 18 children achieved the efficacy,9 of whom had complete response and 6 had partial response.In the control group,14 patients achieved the efficacy,6 of whom had complete response and 8 had partial response.Conclusions After treatment,most of the children with frequent relapses of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome induced by cute respiratory infection are relieved.Proteinuria,hypoproteinemia,hyperlipidemia,and renal function were improved in those patients.Therapies with azithromycin achieves a more marked efficacy.

Objective To observe the change of serum smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC) level in the patients with aortic dissection (AD),and evaluate the effect of smMHC in the early diagnosis and prognosis of AD.Methods Forty-two patients with AD were selected as AD group,30 healthy subjects were selected as control group.Blood samples were collected at four time periods (within 3 h of onset,6 h,12 h,24 h),and serum smMHC level were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Serum smMHC level of AD group,which collected (within 3 h of onset,6 h,12 h) were significantly higher than that of control group [(88.6 ±21.7),(59.4 ± 18.7),(41.3 ± 10.7) ng/L vs.(17.2 ± 8.3) ng/L,P ＜ 0.01].There was no significant difference between the serum smMHC level of AD group and control group at 24 h after onset [(18.9 ±9.5) ng/L vs.(17.2 ±8.3) ng/L,P ＞ 0.05].Serum smMHC level of Stanford A type group (25 cases) was higher than that of Stanford B type group (17 cases) within 3 h of onset [(95.4 ± 17.8) ng/L vs.(78.5 ± 18.3) ng/L,P＜0.01],and there was no significant difference bewteen the two groups which collected at 6,12 h and 24 h after onset (P ＞ 0.05).Preoperative serum smMHC level was significantly higher than that after intracavitary isolation operation [(58.6 ± 15.9) ng/L vs.(30.1 ± 12.5) ng/L,P ＜ 0.01].Serum smMHC level decreased rapidly after the operation,and there was no significant difference between the two grougs when 12 h after operation [(18.7 ± 8.9) ng/L vs.(17.2 ± 8.3) ng/L,P ＞ 0.05].The serum smMHC level of the deaths (7 cases),which collected within 3 h of onset,6 h,12 h,was significantly higher than that of the survivors (35 cases) [(101.2 ± 20.7) ng/L vs.(86.1 ± 18.9) ng/L,(65.2 ± 16.7) ng/L vs.(58.2 ± 14.2) ng/L,(50.4 ± 10.8) ng/L vs.(39.5 ± 8.3) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05],and there was no significant difference at 24 h after onset (P ＞ 0.05).Detecting serum smMHC level within 3 h of onset,the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.913,with 51.7 ng/L as a diagnostic critical value,sensitivity and specificity respectively was 88.1％ (37/42) and 96.7％ (29/30).When detecting at 6 h after onset,the area under the curve was 0.865,with 38.5 ng/L as a diagnostic critical value,sensitivity and specificity respectively was 90.4％(38/42) and 90.0％ (27/30).Conclusions The level of serum smMHC in patients with AD increase rapidly after onset,and detecting serum smMHC level within 6 h of onset have important clinical significance in early diagnosis and prognosis of AD.