Secondary metabolites of endophyte fungi Xylaria sp. from Coptis chinensis / 中国中药杂志

Two new polyketides, lasobutone A(1) and lasobutone B(2), along with three known compounds, guignardianone C(3), guignardic acid(4), and 4-hydroxy-17R-methylincisterol(5), were isolated from the endophytic fungi Xylaria sp. by silica gel, MCI, and preparative HPLC, which was separated from the Chinese medicinal material Coptis chinensis and cultivated through solid fermentation with rice. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, such as MS, NMR, IR, UV, and ECD. Compounds 2 and 4 showed inhibitory activities against the nitric oxide(NO) production in the LPS-induced macrophage RAW264.7 with IC_(50) values of 58.7 and 42.5 μmol·L~(-1) respectively, while compound 5 exhibited cytotoxic activities against HT-29 with IC_(50) value of 14.3 μmol·L~(-1).

A new polyketide of endophytic fungi Aspergillus sp. ZJ-58 from Coptis chinensis / 中国中药杂志

A new polyketide, coptaspin A(1), along with two known compounds 4-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-6,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylisocoumarin(2), and cytochalasin Z_(12)(3), was isolated from the endophytic fungi Aspergillus sp. ZJ-58, which was isolated from the genuine medicinal plant Coptis chinensis in Chongqing after solid-state fermentation on rice and silica gel, MCI, and HPLC-based separation. Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR, IR, UV, and ECD. The newly isolated compound 1 showed moderate inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages with the IC_(50) value of 58.7 μmol·L~(-1), suggesting its potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Evaluation of neuromuscular activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea using chin surface electromyography of polysomnography / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>It is believed that defects in upper airway neuromuscular control play a role in sleep apnea pathogenesis. Currently, there is no simple and non-invasive method for evaluating neuromuscular activity for the purpose of screening in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study was designed to assess the validity of chin surface electromyography of routine polysomnography in evaluating the neuromuscular activity of obstructive sleep apnea subjects and probe the neuromuscular contribution in the pathogenesis of the condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The chin surface electromyography of routine polysomnography during normal breathing and obstructive apnea were quantified in 36 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The change of chin surface electromyography from normal breathing to obstructive apnea was expressed as the percent compensated electromyography value, where the percent compensated electromyography value = (normal breath surface electromyography - apnea surface electromyography)/normal breath surface electromyography, and the percent compensated electromyography values among subjects were compared. The relationship between sleep apnea related parameters and the percent compensated electromyography value was examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percent compensated electromyography value of the subjects varied from 1% to 90% and had a significant positive correlation with apnea hypopnea index (R(2) = 0.382, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Recording and analyzing chin surface electromyography by routine polysomnography is a valid way of screening the neuromuscular activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The neuromuscular contribution is different among subjects with obstructive sleep apnea.</p>

Advance in chemical constituents and pharmacological activity of Curcuma wenyujin / 中国中药杂志

On the basis of a sysmatic survey on literatures, this essay summarized the studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological activity of Curcuma wenyujin. According to statistics, the reports for chemical constituents of the plant were mainly concentrated between 2007 and 2010. So far, totally 82 compounds were reported, including 57 sesquiterpenoids, 6 diterpenoids, 6 monoterpenes and 10 other components. Particularly, 23 compounds were new. Studies on its pharmacological activity covered antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antithrombotic and antithrombosis. This essay summarized its chemical constituents and pharmacological activity, in order to facilitate its studies, development and utilization.

Value of pulse transit time in detecting respiratory drive / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the accuracy of pulse transit time (PTT) in classification of apnea events, and collect data for clinical application reference.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients included in the research had Polysomnography (PSG), and 10 305 apnea events were recorded. All the events were analyzed by PTT and esophageal pressure (Pes) respectively. The results were analyzed to assess the accuracy of PTT and compare the accuracy of pulse transit time between REM stage and NREM stage, and analyze the correlation between age, body mass index (BMI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and concordance rate in every patient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total concordance rate between PTT and Pes in classification of apnea was 96.7% (9970/10305). The sensitivities of PTT in detecting central, mixed and obstructive apnea were 88.0%, 91.3% and 97.8% respectively and the specificities were 99.8%, 97.8% and 92.8% respectively. The false determinations of apnea events mainly concentrated on the false determinations between the obstructive and mixed apnea. There was no statistical significant between the accuracy of PTT in different sleep stages. There was a negative relationship between the age, BMI, Lowest SaO2, AHI and the concordance rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was good concordance between PTT and Pes in classification of apnea. PTT had very high sensitivity and specificity in detecting all kinds of apnea. This study showed that PTT can detect respiratory drive noninvasively with high accuracy.</p>

Combination of transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Investigate the response of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients to combination of transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty two patients with OSAHS, age ranged from 27 to 54, mean value (x +/- s) 39.1 +/- 7.8, male, body mass index (BMI) ranged from 22.9 to 36. 7 kg/m2, mean value (29.0 +/- 3.6) kg/m2, preoperative apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) was 11.7/h to 113.7/h, mean value (61.8 +/- 21.9)/h, the lowest blood oxygen saturation was 0.10 to 0.85, mean value 0.64 +/- 0. 13. With preoperative endoscopic technique, bony nasopharynx cavity narrowing were present, 14 patients had concomitant tonge-base obstruction. Cephalometric result, SNA ranged from 72.9 degrees to 87.0 degrees, mean value (80.7 +/- 4.1) degrees; SNB 69.50 to 85.0 degrees, mean value (76.8 +/- 4.5) degrees; PAS 0.5 cm to 2.1 cm, mean value (1.2 +/- 0.5) cm; MP-H: ranged from 1.2 cm to 3.5 cm, mean value (2.2 +/- 0.7) cm; PNS ranged from 2.4 cm to 3.5 cm, mean value (2.8 +/- 0.4) cm. All the patients had H-UPPP and concomitant transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty. Fourteen patients with tonge-base obstruction had chin advancement. Results Six months after the operations, the patients were evaluated the response to the operations using Epworth sleep scale, OSAHS filtration questionnaire scale and polysomnography (PSG). There were 27 patients with the decrease percent of AHI reaching or more than 25% and 22 patients with the decrease percent of AHI reaching or more than 50% including 8 patients with AHI less than 5. The other 5 patients were ineffective. After operation, the Epworth sleep scale decreased from (9.2 +/- 4.5) to (4.7 +/- 2. 8) and OSAHS filtration questionnaire scale decreased form (56.0 +/- 15.3) to (17.5 +/- 11.5). Both of the differences were obvious (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty and H-UPPP can improve the efficacity and in some patients with pure retropalatal airway narrowing, the cure rate can be improved.</p>

Preoperative overnight airway pressure measurement for predicting the outcome of revised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The distribution of upper airway obstruction sites can be identified quantitatively and dynamically with continuous airway pressure measurements in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) patients. Its value as a clinical predictor for the outcome of revised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was evaluated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The upper airway obstruction sites (transpalatal level, tongue base or hypolarynx level) were determined preoperatively with overnight upper airway pressure monitoring and concurrent polysomnography (PSG). Of one's total amount of obstructive events, the proportion of apnea/hypopnea events located at Transpalatal level was quantified as contribution of transpalatal obstruction. Of all OSAHS patients, 26 males and 1 female underwent revised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (2 had same stage transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty) and had follow-up PSG 6. 33 +/- 0.84 months after surgery. The relationship of transpalatal obstruction proportion, age, tonsil size and body mass index (BMI) and the reduction in apnoea hypopnea index (AHI) was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AHI (times/hr) of 27 subjects decreased from 63.9 +/- 20.7 to 28.4 +/- 25.4. The response rate was 51.9% (defined as AHI reduction over 50%). Correlation between the transpalatal obstruction proportion and the AHI reduction percentage was significant (r = 0.609), so was the degree of the tonsil size (r = 0.511). The proportion of tongue base level obstruction showed a negative correlation for the AHI reduction. Patients with oropharynx obstruction percentage > or = 70% had a success rate of 90% and all patients with oropharynx obstruction percentage <60% responded poorly to the operation. The regression model showed distribution of obstructive sites, along with tonsil size and other PSG parameters could predict 66.7% of the postoperative AHI of transpalatal level surgery (F = 6.701, P = 0.001) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Contribution of transpalatal level obstruction has significant predictive value to the outcome of transpalatal level surgery in OSAHS patients.</p>

Sites of obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea patients and their influencing factors: an overnight study / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand how sleep stage and position influence the mechanisms for pharyngeal collapse in different levels of upper airway (UA), overnight state-related changes and postural variation in obstructive sites in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients were studied.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty four OSAHS patients underwent overnight upper airway pressure monitoring during polysomnography. The lower limits of the UA obstruction were determined and their relationship with sleep stage, position, age, body mass index and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 54 patients had oropharynx (14 837 of the 23 172 analyzed events) and tongue base obstruction (5605/23,172), 2532 events were located at the oropharynx with extension to tongue base. Twenty nine patients has hypopharynx obstruction (105/23 172). Of the total amount of apnea hypopnea, the portions of obstruction located at tongue base level increased (t = 8.790, P = 0.000) in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep while those located at oropharynx decreased (t = -6.846, P = 0.000). Indexes of the apnea hypopnea caused by tongue base obstruction raised (t = 6.189, P = 0.000). Although the overall AHI in supine position was higher than in lateral position (t = 4.000, P = 0.000), increases in indexes of both the apnea hypopnea caused by tongue base (supine, 17.1 +/- 13.8 vs. lateral, 13.9 +/- 14.6) and oropharynx obstruction (44.3 +/- 20.3 vs. 37.2 +/- 25.9) were without significance (P > 0.05). Distribution of obstructive site varied little with different position (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Upper airway obstruction involves more than one specific site of the upper airway and the oropharynx is the most common collapse site. Obstructive sites are likely to extend to lower levels during REM sleep. Sleep position has little effect on the distribution of obstructive site.</p>