Secondary metabolites from the dandelion-derived endophytic fungus Epicoccum sorghinum 1-2 / 药学学报

The secondary metabolites from the dandelion-derived Epicoccum sorghinum 1-2 were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their structures were identified by comprehensive NMR and MS methods. Their antibacterial activities were determined by filter paper method. Finally, seven compounds were isolated and identified from the fermentation product of E. sorghinum 1-2, including (4R*,5R*,6S*)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6'-methylsalicyloxy)-2-methoxymethyl-2-cyclohexen-l-one (1), (4R*,5R*,6S*)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6′-methylsalicyloxy)-2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (2), (4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6'-methylsalicyloxy)-2-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (3), (-)-gabosine E (4), theobroxide (5), 3-chlorogentisyl alcohol (6), and 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (7), of which 1-5 are epoxydons, and 6 and 7 are phenolics. Compounds 1 and 2 are new structures reported for the first time. Compound 6 showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Etiology survey on virus of acute respiratory infection in Guangzhou from 2006 to 2009 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathogens of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in Guangzhou from 2006 to 2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1554 cases of ARI patients in Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from September 2006 to September 2009, were recruited in the survey. The sample of throat and pharyngeal swab were collected from each patient.11 types of virus including influenza A (FluA), influenza B (FluB), adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus type 1, type 2, type 3 (HPIV1, HPIV2, HPIV3), human metapneumovirus (MPV) and human coronavirus (HCoV) type 229E, type OC43 were detected by Fluorescence Quota PCR method. The epidemic feature and clinical characteristic of each virus were then analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Virus were found in 1024 samples in total, accounting for 65.9% (1024/1554). RSV was the most common virus, which was found in 261 samples (16.8%); and followed by HRV as 13.9% (216/1554), FluA as 11.6% (181/1554), MPV as 6.5% (101/1554), FluB as 6.4% (99/1554), HPIV as 4.9% (76/1554), ADV as 3.5% (55/1554) and HCoV as 2.3% (35/1554). HPIV and HCoV shared a similar infection ratio among different age groups. The infection ratio of FluA and FluB was highest among 15-24 years old group, accounting for 16.5% (29/176) and 7.4% (13/176) respectively. MPV, RSV and HRV were the main pathogens caused infection among children under 4 years old, accounting for 9.7% (49/503), 21.7% (109/503) and 18.9% (95/503). The infection ratio of ADV was 6.0% (19/318), which was the most common pathogen among 5-14 years old patients. The incidence rate of HPIV and HRV showed no obvious seasonal features; while the prevalence of FluA, FluB, RSV, ADV, MPV and HCoV changed significantly in different seasons.22.2% (227/1024) ARI patients co-infected other respiratory virus.90.1% (163/181) FluA patients, 88.9% (88/99) FluB patients and 92.7% (51/55) ADV patients had high fever symptoms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RSV was the main pathogen of ARI, and the new-found virus MPV was also another crucial pathogen. Some pathogens' incidence rate were related to the season and patient's age. Co-infections of other respiratory virus were also detected in parts of ARI patients.</p>

Research progress of zebrafish used in drug metabolism / 药学学报

Zebrafish is widely used as a model organism in the process of drug discovery. It expresses drug metabolizing enzymes like cytochrome P450 (CYP450), uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and nuclear receptors like pregnane X receptor (PXR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), etc. This article summarized the profiles of main drug metabolizing enzymes and nuclear receptors, and reviewed the advances on xenobiotics metabolism in zebrafish.

Molecular epidemiological characteristics of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in Guangdong from 2005 to 2008 / 病毒学报

To study the molecular epidemiological characteristics of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in Guangdong, we collected fecal and anal swabs specimens from 24 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis from 2005 to 2008 to detect norovirus. Specimens were detected by RT-PCR and then sequenced. The descriptive data were also collected. According to our research, 19 of 24 outbreaks of gastroenteritis were positive for norovirus. The occurrence time was from October to next February mainly. The strains in 2005 belonged to G II-3 genotype and all outbreaks occurred in kindergarten and school. But from autumn of 2006, the outbreaks were all caused by G II-4/2006b variant and occurred in universities and community. The number of outbreaks in 2007 increased greatly and covered all over province. The nucleotide sequences of Guangdong strains in some sites showed high regional identity. Our results showed that with the shift of genotype from G II-3 to G II-4, occurrence of norovirus outbreaks increased greatly. The outbreaks of norovirus caused by G II-4/2006b variant spreaded widely and the involved population covered children and adult, indicating the strong invasiveness of this variant.

Investigation of human metapneumovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections in Guangzhou areas / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out the status of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in children under 14 years old with acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in Guangzhou, analyze the epidemiology and clinical characteristics among the hMPV-infected children, and provide some basis for research of hMPV.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 521 throat and pharyngeal swabs were collected among the children with acute respiratory tract infections in outpatient departments and those admitted to the wards from September 2006 to August 2008. Then total nucleic acid was extracted from respiratory specimens. The 213 nucleosides of nucleoprotein gene were detected by RT-PCR and 16 strong positive samples were picked to compare with the sequence of hMPV in GenBank after the sequence of the amplification products were determined. Then applied statistical analysis to the data of the collected patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 521 samples were detected by RT-PCR, and confirmed that N gene was positive in 39 samples with a detection rate of 7.49%, and the peak time was in October and April. The 16 amplification products were compared by using the analysis of gene sequence. The nucleocapsid protein (N) gene similarity to BJ1897 of Beijing was up to 99%, and to AY550156 of Thailand was up to 97%, genotype B was the most common genotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There existed hMPV infection in children acute respiratory system diseases in Guangzhou areas, in which the children under the age of 6 years were accounted for the main group, however there was no difference in gender. The main symptoms of the patients with hMPV infection were high fever and cough symptom of catarrh. Co-infections other than respiratory virus with hMPV were detected as 41.03% of positive samples.</p>

Characteristics, evolution and variation of M genes of human avian H5N1 strains in Guangdong / 病毒学报

In order to reveal variation and evolution of M genes of human avian H5N1 influenza strains, the M genes of human avian H5N1 strains in Guangdong were sequenced and the M genes of global strains were searched out from Internet. They were analyzed by DNAStar 5. 0 and their revolutionary speeds were studied by means of combining the epidemiological data. It was found that M1 genes of 53 H5N1 strains and M2 genes of 51 strains during 1997-2006 were homologously classified into two groups: the strains from Hong Kong during 1997 (G I) were one group and the strains from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China mainland, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Egypt during 2003-2006 (G II ) were the another group. There were 20 substitutions of amino acids in M1 gene of all strains (7.94%, 20/252), where there were 9 amino acids in strains during 2003-2006 differing from the strains in 1997, meanwhile there were 22 substitutions of amino acids in M2 gene of all strains (22.7%, 22/97), where there were 4 amino acids in strains during 2003-2006 differing from the strains in 1997. In the synonymous variation, Ks values in M1 were 26.8 x 10(-6)-42.6 x 10(-6) Nt/d, and Ka values 4.39 x 10(-6)-6.98 x 10(-6) Nt/d, where there was more rapid speed of synonymous substitution than that of replacement, which showed that there existed less human immunological pressure and negative selective pressure by biological test. Ks values in M2 were 13.1 x 10(-6)-23.4 x 10(-6) Nt/ d, and Ka values 9.1 x 10(-6)-16.2 x 10(-6) Nt/d; where the ratios of Ks to Ka was 1.0-1.6 times as there was the neutral selective pressure in TL-676-05 strain. There was an amino acid substitution of S224, N in M1 gene of strains during 2003-2006 and an increas in a glycoprotein domain NSS224-226. The secondary structure of M2 protein varied as the substitution of C50 F of eight strains from Indonesia in 2005. The strains G I did not reemerge after Hong Kong human avian H5N1 influenza event. An increase of a glycoprotein domain NSS224-226 in M1 protein during 2003-2006 might be related with virus pathogenicity. Human avian H5N1 influenza M gene evolved frequently in nature, which might have an impact on its capacity of human-to-human transmission.

Foot hyalohyphomycosis caused by Fusarium subglutinans:a case report / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To report a case of foot hyalohyphomycosis due to Fusarium subglutinans. Methods Medical history was collected and physical examination performed for this patient.Biopsy samples were obtained from the inner side of right ankle of this patient and subjected to pathological examination. Discharge was collected from the lesions for direct microscopic examination and culture.Results A 72-year-old woman presented with an ulcer on the right foot for 3 years.Physical examination disclosed an ulcer,measuring 3 cm x 1.5 cm,with a moist surface and obvious tenderness,at the inner side of the right ankle.Proliferation of dusky-red granulomatous tissue was observed at the base of the ulcer.Pathological examination revealed necrotic granulomatous tissue and slender,septate and hyaline hypha-like structure in the superficial dermis with scattered infiltration of inflammatory cells.PAS staining showed sausage-like hypha and scattered orbicular-ovate spores.Microscopic examination of lesional discharge exhibited septate, branching and hyaline hypha.The isolated fungus was identified as Fusarium subglutinans by culture,and appeared to be highly sensitive to terbinafine,nystatin and amphotericin B.The lesion completely healed after 2 months of treatment with oral terbinafine (0.25 g,twice a day).Conclusions This is a case of foot hyalohyphomycosis due to Fusarium subglutinans,and terbinafine is effective for this condition.

Bugu capsules prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in SLE patients / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by Bugu capsules.Methods Sixty-six patients with SLE were randomly divided into A and B groups:34 patients in Group A were treated by glucocorticoid and Bugu capsules,and 32 patients in Group B by glucocorticoid alone.All patients were measured for bone mineral density (BMD) in Wards triangle,and for related biochemical parameters such as serum calcium, phosphonium,alkaline phosphatase,parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) before and after the treatment.As the control group,thirty healthy subjects were measured for the above parameters.Results There was significant difference in the serum level of IL-6,calcium and PTH between the Group B and con- trol group (P＜0.01).The occurrence rate of osteoporosis or bone loss in group A was significant lower than that in group B [2/34 (5.88%) vs 9/32 (28.13%),P=0.0364].Conclusion Bugu capsules can prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in SLE patients,possibly by restoring the balance among serum IL-6,calcium and PTH.