The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum dried with two different methods(air drying and heating) on inflammation in acute lung injury(ALI) mice in vivo and in vitro. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was sprayed into the airway of wild type C57BL/6J male mice to establish the model, and the drug was injected into the tail vein 24 h after modeling. Lung function, lung tissue wet/dry weight(W/D) ratio, the total protein concentration, interleukin 6(IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and pathological changes of the lung tissue were used to evaluate the effects of different gypenosides on ALI mice. The results showed that total gypenosides(YGGPs) and the gypenosides substituted with one or two glycosyl(GPs_(1-2)) in the air-dried sample improved the lung function, significantly lowered the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF, and alleviated the lung inflammation of ALI mice. Moreover, GPs_(1-2) had a more significant effect on inhibiting NO release in RAW264.7 cells. This study showed that different drying methods affected the anti-inflammatory activity of G. pentaphyllum, and the rare saponins in the air-dried sample without heating had better anti-inflammatory activity.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Gynostemma ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lung ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology*

AIM: To investigate the chemical and bioactive constituents from the stems and leaves of Micromelum integerrimum. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC. Their structures were mainly elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Their cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities were tested by the SRB and turbidimetric methods, respectively. RESULTS: Two new phenylpropanoids and two known coumarins were obtained, and their structures were identified as microintegerrin A (1), microintegerrin B (2), scopoletin (3), and scopolin (4). All of the compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, and BGC-823) and for antimicrobial activity against the fungus Candida albicans and the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSION Two new phenylpropanoids 1 and 2 were isolated and identified from the stems and leaves of M. intgerrimum. None of the compounds showed cytotoxic or antimicrobial activity at the tested concentration of 20 μg·mL(-1).
Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Stems ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Scopoletin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

Objective To characterize genotypic resistance within HBV RT region in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatment.Methods Serum samples of 229 CHB patients with NA treatment were obtained.Full-length HBV RT sequences were amplified,sequenced and analyzed,on the following NA resistant (NAr) mutations belonging to different NAr pathways.Results Among 229 HBV isolates,14.41％ (33/229) and 85.59％ (196/229) were genotype B and C,respectively;and the patients with HBV genotype C may be more susceptible to develope resistant mutations than patients with HBV genotype B (x2 =2.95,P ＜ 0.05).NAr mutations were detected in 63 CHB patients.Mutations were not found at rtI169,rtT184,rtA194 or rtS202.RtM204 mutations were detected at the highest frequency among 63 mutants (40/63,63.49％) and found to display 11 combination mutation patterns,in which rtM204I were associated with rtL80I/V and rtL180M,and rtM204V were associated with rtL180M,respectively.Conclusions There are complicated mutation patterns in the HBV RT region for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) treatment.RtM204V/I mutation was the highest.

Objective To observe the effect of sirolimus-based immunosuppression administered on heart transplant recipients with chronic renal dysfunction.Methods From June 2004 to December 2008,standard calcineurin inhibitors( CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimen was changed to reduced-dose CNI plus sirolimus due to CNI-related chronic renal dysfunction in 20 out of 138 cardiac transplant recipients at Fuwai Hospital. The standard immunosuppressive regimen included steroid, CNI (cyclosporine or tacrolimus),and mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. Sirolimus was started at 0.75 - 1.50 mg/d with titration to achieve levels of 5 -15 μg/L,and CNI dose was reduced gradually to 1/2 -2/3 of the baseline level.Patients were followed for changes in renal function,lipid level and clinical side effects related to immunosuppressive therapy.Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) was performed routinely at 3 weeks,3,6 and 12 months after transplantation.EMB was also performed at 3 months after regimen change within 1 year post-transplantation or when rejections were suspected in patients beyond 1 year post-transplantation.Echocardiography was performed for monitoring purpose.Results The mean follow-up after regimen change was (7.9 ±6.3) months.Final sirolimus dose was (0.89 ± 0.22) mg/d and blood drug level was (7.6 ±3.8 ) μg/L.Cyclosporine dose was reduced from ( 191.7 ± 60.0) mg/d to ( 123.6 ± 34.8 ) mg/d,with blood drug concentation reduced from ( 175.5 ± 58.0) μg/L to ( 111.9 ± 56.0) μg/L in 18 patients ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Tacrolimus average dose was reduced from 4.25 mg/d to 3.00 mg/d,with blood drug concentation reduced from 13.5 μg/L to 10.5 μg/L in 2 patients.Serum creatinine level fell from ( 160.4 ± 25.5 ) μmol/L to ( 134.4 ± 26.8 ) μmol/L ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and urea nitrogen fell from ( 13.8 ± 4.7 ) μmol/L to ( 10.4±3.0 )μmol/L(P ＜0.01 )at one month after regimen change.Twenty two EMBs were performed in 11 patients within 1 year post-transplant,there were 4 episodes of acute rejecte ( ISHLT grade 2).Twenty patients are all alive and cardiac function was normal.The most common side effect was hyperlipidemia,and triglycerides,total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly increased at 1 month post regimen change(P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ).Leukocyte,hemoglobin and platelet as well as liver function remained unchanged at 1 month post regimen change ( all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Our results show that change from CNI-based immunosuppressive regimen to reduced-dose CNI plus sirolimus is an effective and safe approach for the management of patients with CNI-related chronic renal dysfunction,leading to an improvement in renal function without compromise in anti-rejection efficacy and with tolerable side effects.

OBJECTIVETo analyze possible difference in bronchial asthma between ethnic and geographic groups and explore its correlates among Uygur and Han adults in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six clinically diagnosed asthmatic patients at Turpan Prefecture Hospital, Xinjiang, 86 of Uygur and 80 of Han ethnic, and 166 1:1 matched controls from ophthalmological outpatient department at the same hospital were recruited into the study. Interview with questionnaire was conducted and serum levels of eosinophilic cation protein (S-ECP), total IgE (T-IgE) and specific IgE (S-IgE) were measured for all of the participants to study related factors for asthma with univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTSBronchial infection (OR(U) = 5.111, 95%CI: 1.203 - 21.710; OR(H) = 2.498, 95%CI: 1.471 - 5.069), family history of asthma (OR(U) = 3.078, 95%CI: 1.812 - 5.188; OR(H) = 2.711, 95%CI: 1.010 - 6.176), personal allergy history (OR(U) = 2.083, 95%CI: 1.043 - 4.162; OR(H) = 3.998, 95%CI: 1.739 - 9.198), weather change (OR(U) = 2.218, 95%CI: 1.199 - 3.778; OR(H) = 1.733, 95%CI: 1.004 - 2.994) and positive S-IgE (OR(U) = 1.592, 95%CI: 1.018 - 2.491; OR(H) = 3.858, 95%CI: 2.246 - 8.507) correlated with asthma in patients of both Uygur and Han ethnic. Percentage of asthma attack induced by respiratory infection [59.30% (51/86)] and weather change [36.05% (31/86)] in Uygur patients was significantly higher than that in Han ethnic [42.50% (34/80) and 21.25% (17/80), respectively], but percentage of those with personal allergy history [48.75% (39/80)] and positive S-IgE [52.50% (42/80)] in Han ethnic was significantly higher than that in Uygur [32.56% (28/86) and 30.23% (26/86), respectively]. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma of both Uygur and Han ethnic [(S-ECP(U) = 7.95 +/- 3.98) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (11.21 +/- 4.74) microg/L, T- IgE(U) = (72.23 +/- 45.92) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (108.81 +/- 64.07) kU/L, respectively]were significantly higher than those in controls of the same ethnic [S- ECP(U) = (1.94 +/- 1.16) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (2.07 +/- 1.63) microg/L, T-IgE(U) = (46.19 +/- 32.47) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (50.97 +/- 38.51) kU/L; t values were 8.96, 10.52, 2.81, 4.97, P < 0.01], higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur (t values were 3.01, 2.68, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBronchial infection, family asthma history, personal allergy history, weather change and positive S-IgE all were important correlates of asthma in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma increased during its attacks, higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur. Genetic and environmental factors may be involved in occurrence and development of asthma.

Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Causality ; China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Environmental Exposure ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pedigree ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To investigate the chemical constituents of the leaves of Adinandra nitida, several column chromatography methods were used to isolate the chemical constituents of this plant. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Six compounds were isolated and identified as 2alpha, 3alpha, 19alpha-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), arjunetin (2), sericoside (3), glucosyl tormentate (4), nigaichigoside F1 (5) and arjunglucoside I (6), separately. Compound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 2 -6 were isolated from A. nitida for the first time.
Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Theaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of the root barks of Periploca sepium.

METHODColumn chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the chemical constituents. NMR and MS methods were employed for their structural elucidation.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as isovanillin (1), vanillin (2), 4-methoxysalicylic acid (3), (24R)-9, 19-cycloart-25-ene-3beta, 24-diol (4), (24S)-9, 19-cycloart-25-ene-3beta, 24-diol (5), cycloeucalenol (6), beta-amyrin acetate (7) and alpha-amyrin (8).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-6 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Periploca ; chemistry ; Phytosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from flowers of Sesamum indicum.

METHODColumn chromatography with silica gel, C18 and Sephadex LH -20 as packing materials was used to separate the chemical constituents, and the structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

RESULTSix flavones were isolated and elucidated as apigenin (1), ladanetin (2), ladanetin-6-O-beta-D-glucoside (3), apigenin-7-O-glucuronic acid (4), pedalitin (5), and pedalitin-6-O-glucoside (6).

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesamum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo discuss the early diagnostic methods and therapeutic principles of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy objectively.

METHODSUsing neuro-imaging examinations combined with case history and clinical symptoms to make the early diagnosis of 96 case with aneurysmal SAH, and Guglielmi detachable microcoil (GDC) was utilized for early intracapsular embolization in the ruptured aneurysms. Efficient symptomatic treatment was done early after operation.

RESULTSAll of 96 cases were early diagnosed and successfully embolized; Among them, the aneurysmal lumen was 100% occluded in 83 cases, 95% in 8 cases, 90% in 5 cases. There were 3 cases complicating with aneurysms rupture during operation, 5 cases with cerebral vasospasm. One case was affected by microcoil terminal escape after operation, 3 recurrent cases were all cured with secondary GDC embolization. There were 9 complications associated with embolization techniques and 13 cases (13.5%) occurring permanent sequelae associated with SAH. According to the Glasgow prognosis score, 77 patients got grade I, 7 grade II, 6 grade III, 3 grade IV, and 3 grade V. The mortality rate was 3.1%.

CONCLUSIONSTo make early etiological diagnosis of the SAH patients, using GDC to embolize the aneurysms, and earlier efficient symptomatic treatment are important methods to improve the curative rate and reduce the mortality rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Angiography ; methods ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Lygodium japonicum.

METHODColumn chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of this plant and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as tilianin (I), kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (II), kaempferol (III), p-coumaric acid (IV), hexadecanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxy-propyl ester (V), daucosterol (VI), beta-sitosterol (VII, and 1-hentriacontanol (VIII) respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds I, II, V, VI, VII, VIII were isolated from L. japonicum for the first time, compounds I, II, V were isolated from genus Lygodium for the first time.

Ferns ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry