Chemical constituents of Illicium burmanicum / 中国中药杂志

Chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract of Illicium burmanicum were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods,including Silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, C18 reverse-phased silica gel, Preparative TLC and Preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectral analysis including NMR and MS data. Fourteen compounds were separated from I. burmanicum and their structures were identified as 7S,8R-erythro-4,7,9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan (1), 7R,8R-threo-4,7, 9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3 '-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan(2) ,polystachyol(3), (-) -massoniresinol(4), angustanoic acid F (5), trans-sobrerol(6), (3S,6R) -6,7-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydrolinalool (7), (3S, 6S) -6,7-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydrolinalool (8), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-allyl-phenol (9), 3,5-dihydroxy4-hydroxy benzaldehyde (10), 3-hydroxy4-methoxybenzaldehyde (11), methyl vanillate (12), shikimic acid ethylester (13) and beta-sitosrerol (14). Except compound 14, the rest thirteen compounds were separated from this plant for the first time.

An experimental study of preventing and treating acute radioactive enteritis with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

OBJECTIVE@#To test the curative effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells on rat acute radioactive enteritis and thus to provide clinical therapeutic basis for radiation sickness.@*METHODS@#Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated in vitro and the model of acute radioactive enteritis of rats was established. Then, the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the rats via tail vein. Visual and histopathological changes of the experimental rats were observed.@*RESULTS@#After the injection, the rats in the prevention group and treatment group had remarkably better survival status than those in the control group. The histological observations revealed that the former also had better intestinal mucosa structure, more regenerative cells and stronger proliferation activity than the latter.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells have a definite therapeutic effect on acute radioactive enteritis in rats.

Keratin 17 mutation in pachyonychia congenita type 2 in a Chinese Han family / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the keratin 17 gene (KRT17) mutation in a pedigree with pachyonychia congenita type 2 (PC-II).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from the blood samples of the patients, unaffected members of the pedigree, and 100 unrelated healthy controls. PCR was performed to amplify the hot spots in KRT17 gene. PCR products were directly sequenced to detect mutation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A heterozygous 296T-->C mutation was found in all the affected members of this family, which resulted in the substitution of leucine by proline in codon 99 (L99P) in the 1A domain of the KRT17, but not in the healthy individuals from the family and the 100 unrelated controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutation of KRT17 may play a major role in the pathogenesis of this pedigree with pachyonychia congenita type 2.</p>

Mutation analysis of KRT10 gene in a patient with bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the gene mutation in one sporadic case of bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (BCIE), and to explore the relationship between the genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA was extracted from the blood samples of the patient with BCIE, unaffected members of the pedigree, and 50 unrelated healthy controls. PCR was used to amplify the hot spot fragment of keratin 1 (KRT1) and keratin 10 (KRT10) gene. The PCR products were directly sequenced to detect the mutations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A heterozygous 467G>A mutation was found in the patient, resulting in the substitution of arginine (R) by histidine (H) in codon 156 (R156H) in the 1A domain of the KRT10 protein but not in the healthy individuals from the family and the 50 unrelated individuals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutation of 467G>A in exon 1 of KRT10 gene identified may play a major role in the pathogenic mechanism of this case of BCIE.</p>

A comparative study on the prevalence of osteoarthritis in middle and old-aged people from the urban and the rural area in Heilongjiang province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of osteoarthritis in inhabitants aged 40 years old and above from urban and rural areas in Heilongjiang province. Methods Through multistage stratified cluster random sampling methods, residents aged 40 years and above were selected. All subjects were given a standardized questionnaire and were conducted a radiographic examination on hands, knees, neck spine and lumbar spine after informed consent. All statistics were performed by SPSS13.0. Results A total of 1196 residents were surveyed, which including 573 males and 623 female subjects. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in cervical spine, lumbar spine, knee and hand for men were 26.00%, 31.20%, 11.87%, 15.53%, respectively and that were 34.80%, 30.20%, 20.06%, 27.93% for women respectively. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increased with aging both in men and women. Prevalence in 60-70 age group achieved the peak. The prevalence rates became relatively low among those over the 70 years old than expected. The most common sites of osteoarthritis were knees and hands (16.10%), followed by cervical and lumbar spine (12.40%).Conclusion The prevalence of osteoarthritis was generally high in middle and old-aged people in Heilongjiang province.

Studies on chemical constituents from roots of Mirabilis jalapa / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-HIV constituents from the root of Mirabilis jalapa.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH - 20, MCI-gel CHP-20P and RP-18. The structure were identified by means of NMR and MS analyses (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as astragaloside II (1), astragaloside II (2), astragaloside IV (3), astragaloside VI (4), flazin (5), 4'-hydroxy-2, 3-dihydroflavone 7-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), gingerglycolipid A (7), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzaldehyd (8), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (9), beta-sitosterol (10) and daucosterol (11).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-9 were obtained from this genus for the first time.</p>

Precision-fit surface hemiarthroplasty of the hip for the treatment of the femoral head osteonecrosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the outcome of precision-fit surface hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 41 patients (48 hip joints) with femoral head osteonecrosis were reviewed. Of them, 30 were male and 11 were female, average age was 37 years old (ranging from 29 - 49). Thirty-five patients were at Ficat stage III and 13 at Ficat stage IV, their acetabula were relatively normal. The 41 patients (48 hip joints) underwent precision-fit surface hemiarthroplasties.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean duration of follow-up was 5.2 years. The average UCLA hip score at follow-up was improved significantly from 3.1 to 9.1 points for pain, 4.4 to 9.2 points for walking, and 5.5 to 7.1 points for activity (P = 0.001). The satisfaction rate was 88.6% for 35 at Ficat stage III, 69.2% for 13 at stage IV (P = 0.25). Eight hips failed; the UCLA hip score was not improved significantly; the postoperative X-ray examination showed that 7 femoral prostheses were implanted in a varus orientation (the angle between the femoral prosthesis stem and the anatomic axis of the femoral shaft was lower than angle of 130 degrees). Five-year survival rate was 83.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Precision-fit surface hemiarthroplasty of the hip has the satisfactory result in treatment of the femoral head osteonecrosis on the basis of observing strictly operative indications and improving operative technique.</p>

Fluctuation of circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer by real-time fluorescent quantitative-PCR approach before and after radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The failure to reduce the mortality of patients with solid tumours is mainly a result of the early dissemination of cancer cells to secondary site, which is usually missed by conventional diagnostic procedures used for tumour staging. The possibility to use easily accessible body fluids as a source for circulating tumour cells (CTCs) detection enables longitudinal observations of the disease. In the study, we evaluated the CTCs in lung cancer following locoregional radiation therapy. METHODS: Samples of 5 ml peripheral blood was taken from each lung cancer patients (n=15) both before and after the radiotherapy course. Meanwhile tumour size was determined by chest X-ray or computed tomography. Using cytokeratin 19(CK19) as marker, the blood samples were subjected to real time RT-PCR assay. All patients with lung cancer were treated with primary definitive and mediastinal radiotherapy. RESULTS: Compare to that of pre-treatment, the value of CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood after therapy decreased dramatically (5.0932+/-1.0628 vs. 4.2493+/-0.8323, t=3.192, P=0.007). The change of CK19 mRNA level before and after radiotherapy was closely related to the type (NSCLC vs. SCLC, 0.5389+/-0.9030 vs. 1.6826+/-0.9467, t=2.1465, P=0.051). Meanwhile, there appeared to be a close link between the grade (Well/Mod vs. Poor) and the change of CK19 mRNA (0.5024 vs. 1.5271, t=2.017, P=0.065). The change of CK19 mRNA level was related to variation of tumour burden during radiotherapy (r=0.0575, P=0.025). Of the 15 cases studied, 12 cases were positive before radiotherapy (12/15, 80%). The positive rate was 53% (8/15) after radiotherapy, meaning that four patients converted into negative after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The disseminated circulating cancer cells can be affected by radiotherapy; meanwhile further more systemic adjuvant treatment should be conducted. Due to concordance between molecular response and radiological remission, assessment of the therapeutic response might be possible by serial quantitative of CTCs.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopy for adrenal tumor:report of 24 cases / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopy for adrenal tumor and report the experience with this procedure for adrenal surgery.Methods From June 2003 to March 2007,we performed 24 laparoscopic tumorectomy via the retroperitoneal approach.Results All procedures were successful. The average operative time was 1.7 hours(ranging from 1 to 3.5 hours).All patients had no need of transfusion and no complication.All patients recovered.The average hospital stay was 4.5 days(ranging from 3 to 8 days).Patholog- ic diagnosis:10 cases of nonfunctional adenoma,6 cases of primary aldosteronism,4 cases of adrenal cyst,2 cases of pheochromocytoma,2 cases of Cushing's adenoma.Conclusions Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for adrenal oc- cupying lesion had such advantages as minimal invasive,safe and effective,early recovery and shorter stay in hospital. It should be the flint choice of treatment for adrenal occupying lesion.

Isolation and identification of SARS-coronavirus in nasal and throat swabs collected from clinically diagnosed SARS patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify SARS-coronavirus in nasal and throat swabs collected from clinically diagnosed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nasal and throat swab specimens were inoculated onto well of 24-well plate containing confluent monolayers of Vero and MRC-5 cells. Isolates were identified with serology, electron microscopy and genome sequence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and fifty-eight nasal and throat swabs specimens from 79 SARS patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between April and May, 2003 were cultured for SARS-coronavirus. Cytopathic effect (CPE) was found in three nasal swab specimens inoculated in Vero cells. Acute and convalescent phase serum specimens collected from SARS patients were found with seroconversions and/or a fourfold or greater rises in indirect fluorescence antibodies (IgG and IgM) titers when the 3 isolates (infected Vero cells) were used as antigen. Coronavirus was observed in the culture supernatant by negative-stain electron microscopy. Genome sequence confirmed the isolates were SARS-coronavirus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The 3 isolates from nasal and throat swabs samples collected from 79 clinically diagnosed SARS patients were SARS coronavirus.</p>

Studies on chemical constituents from the root of Polygonatum kingianum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-HIV constituents from the root of Polygonatum kingianum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI-gel CHP-20P and their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic evidence including IR, MS and NMR data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>13 compounds were isolated, of which nine compounds were identified as liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, 4', 7-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone, (6aR, 11aR)-10-hydroxy-3, 9-dimethoxypterocarpan, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde, salicylic acid, n-butyl-beta-D-fructopyranoside, n-butyl-beta-D-fructofuranoside, n-butyl-alpha-D-fructofuranoside.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-6 were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>