Bioassay of ansamitocin by Trichoderma plate / 药学学报

This paper describes a bioassay method for the determination of ansamitocin titers. A fungal strain sensitive to ansamitocin was classified to the genus Trichoderma based on phylogenetic analysis of its ITS sequence, and designated as Trichoderma CPCC 400749. PDA plates of Trichoderma CPCC 400749 were prepared to assay ansamitocin titers of Actinosynnema pretiosum ATCC 31565. The titers were consistent with those determined by HPLC. The bioassay method may have the potential use in high-throughput screening for Actinosynnema pretiosum mutants with improved ansamitocin titers.

Post-translational Modifications of PML in Regulating the Functions of Nuclear Bodies --Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Abstract　　The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene encoded PML protein as a tumor suppressor protein, plays important roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers including acute promyelocytic leukemia. Recent studies have indicated that there are a variety of post-translational modifications of the PML protein, such as SUMOylation, ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and acetylation in cells. These modifications of the PML protein can directly affect the formation of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), repair DNA damage, and modulate cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the abnormal modifications of PML not only result in the occurrence of hematopoietic tumors, but also are closely related to the drug-resistance of cancer. Therefore, investigating the post-translational modifications of PML is significant to uncover the mechanism of formation and functions of PML-NBs, thus contributing to the prevention and treatment of related hematopoietic tumors. In this review, the characteristics of the post-translational modifications of PML protein and the relationship between these modifications and functions of PML-NBs are summarized so as to provide the potential targets for the treatment of related cancers.

Identification of 3-demethylchuangxinmycin from Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056 / 药学学报

Chuangxinmycin (CM) from Actinoplanes tsinanensis was an antibiotic discovered by Chinese scientists about 40 years ago. It contains a new heterocyclic system of indole fused with dihydrothiopyran, whose biosynthetic mechanism remains unclear. CM is used as an oral medicine in the treatment of bacterial infections in China. The simple structure makes CM as an attractive candidate of structure modification for improvement of antibacterial activity. Recently, we analyzed the secondary metabolites of Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056, a CM producing strain, as a natural CM analogue. We discovered the first natural CM analogue 3-demethylchuangxinmycin (DCM) as a new natural product. Compared to CM, DCM exhibited a much weaker activity in the inhibition of the bacterial strains tested. The finding provides valuable information for the structure-activity relationship in the biosynthesis of CM.

Identification of 3-demethylchuangxinmycin from Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056 / 药学学报

Chuangxinmycin (CM) from Actinoplanes tsinanensis was an antibiotic discovered by Chinese scientists about 40 years ago. It contains a new heterocyclic system of indole fused with dihydrothiopyran, whose biosynthetic mechanism remains unclear. CM is used as an oral medicine in the treatment of bacterial infections in China. The simple structure makes CM as an attractive candidate of structure modification for improvement of antibacterial activity. Recently, we analyzed the secondary metabolites of Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056, a CM producing strain, as a natural CM analogue. We discovered the first natural CM analogue 3-demethylchuangxinmycin (DCM) as a new natural product. Compared to CM, DCM exhibited a much weaker activity in the inhibition of the bacterial strains tested. The finding provides valuable information for the structure-activity relationship in the biosynthesis of CM.

Establishment of two-dimensional electrophoresis system of caudal gland / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective separation system of 2-DE for the proteome of caudal gland, and provide foundation for revealing the mechanisms of histological development and pharmacological activities.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The total proteins of caudal gland were extracted by TCA/acetone precipitation, phenol extraction/methanol-ammonium acetate precipitation and trizol-base method respectively and separated by immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips prior to SDS-PAGE. Loading protein sample size and isoelectric focusing conditions were optimized. The gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, scanned and then analyzed using PDQuest 8.0 analysis software.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The total proteins of caudal gland extracted by trizol-base method were the highest quality and could meet the needs of 2-DE. With 300 microg of proteins loaded on 7 cm pH 3-10 IPG strip followed by isoelectric focusing program II ,a satisfying 2-DE profiles were obtained. The total number of disticted protein spots was 209 with the optimized system.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A well-resolved 2-DE patterns of caudal gland were obtained by this optimized system. This method could be applied to prepare other similar tissue sample and 2-DE studies.</p>

Relationship of osteolytic biochemical indicators of bone metabolism with the therapeutic effect in breast cancer patients with bone metastases / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to access the relationship of osteolytic bone metabolic markers such as serum type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (sICTP), N-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (uNTx), urinary pyridinoline (uPyd) with the therapeutic effect in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>120 patients with breast cancer were included in this study. The levels of sICTP, uNTx and uPYD were measured by ELISA assay. The differences were compared between patients with and without bone metastasis. The patients with bone metastasis were treated and followed up as clinically indicated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of all above mentioned biomarkers in patients with bone metastasis were significantly higher than that in patients without bone metastasis (P < 0.01). A significant correlation was found between each two markers (r > 0.5, P < 0.01). The biomarkers were examined again in 45 patients with bone metastasis after treatment to evaluate the treatment response. The median follow-up was 10 months. Based on clinical evaluation criteria, 25 patients were responders and 20 were non-responders. For responders, after 3 months treatment, the levels of the three bone markers were significantly reduced (P = 0.025, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). But for non-responders, with progression of bone lesions, the levels of the three markers were significantly raised (P = 0.011, P = 0.002, P = 0.002). By means of multiple logistic regression with stepwise selection, the uPyd and uNTx activities were closely correlated with treatment response (OR = 17.0, P = 0.019; OR = 16.7, P = 0.015), however, the sICTP did not show any correlation with treatment response P = 0.841).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of sICTP, uNTx and uPyd may be used as indicators in assessment of the effect of antiresorptive treatment and evaluation of prognosis in breast cancer patient with bone metastases.</p>

Docetaxel and capecitabine combination chemotherapy for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and capecitabine combination chemotherapy (DC regimen) for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer were treated with a docetaxel and capecitabine combination regimen. All patients received oral administration of capecitabine at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) twice daily, within 30 min after meal on D1 to D14, and intravenous infusion of docetaxel at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) on D1. The regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 126 cycles of DC regimen were administered in the 32 cases, with a median of 4 cycles. The overall response rate was 46.9%. Among the 32 patients, there were complete response in 1, partial response in 14, stable disease in 11 and progressive disease in 6 cases. The median time to progression (TTP) was 5.6 months. The one-year survival rate was 56.3%. The effective cases in different metastatic organs were: 8 cases in the lung, 6 cases in the liver, 3 cases in the soft tissue and 3 cases in the lymph nodes. The common adverse reactions were myelosuppression, hand-foot syndrome, nausea and vomiting. Neutropenia was observed in 84.4% of the patients. Two patients developed degree IV myelosuppression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel plus capecitabine is well-tolerated and effective for anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer.</p>

Extraction of sex hormone from antler velvet with supercritical CO2 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the method of extraction of sex hormone from antler velvet with supercritical CO2.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract sex hormone from antler velvet and radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to analyze the extracts. The chemical compositions in extracts were identified by GC-MS, TLC and HPLC, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The experimental results indicated that the extraction yield was 1.56% when 85% ethanol was used as co-solvent at temperature of 65 degrees C and extraction pressure of 30 MPa. Estradiol and progesterone in the extracts were 3.07, 776.18 ng x g(-1) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is feasible to extract hormone from antler velvet with supercritical CO2.</p>

Preparation of liposomes containing extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii and evaluation of its stability / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The liposomes containing extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii were prepared and the possibility of entrapment of complex chemicals by liposomes were studied.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The liposomes containing extracts of T. wilfordii were prepared by thin-film dispersion method, the effect of process parameters and composition of materials on the entrapment efficiency of the main components were studied. The stability of the liposomes dispersion was also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The liposomes made by thin-film dispersion method were mostly small unilamellar vesicles and their particle size was 30 nm to approximately 50 nm. The optimum entrapment efficiency of tripterine and the total alkaloids were respectively 98.10% and 88.63% but the liposomes dispersion was unstable when kept at 4 degrees C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The complex chemicals can be entrapped by the liposomes, but its stability need to be improved furtherly.</p>

Study on chromatographic fingerprint of extractive from Tripterygium wilfordii with supercritical carbon dioxide / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the chromatographic fingerprint of supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Tripterygium wilfordii.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>HPLC method was applied for quality assessment of T. Wilfordii, HPLC analysis was performed on Kromasil C18 (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile-1% per thousand H3PO4, as mobile phase in gradient mode. The samples were detected at UV of 267 nm with column temperature of 35 degrees C, analytic time was 80 min; Flow-rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The chromatographic fingerprint of ten batches of samples was determined, for establishing the chromatographic fingerprint of T. Wilfordii.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Indicating 27 peaks in common, identified 21 peaks with chemical reference and HPLC-MS, and the HPLC fingerprint was established.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is steady and accurate with a good repeatability and can be used as a quality control method for T. Wilfordii.</p>

Serological investigation on close contacts to patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in an SARS outbreak / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection among close contacts to SARS patients and the level of sera IgG antibody in SARS cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Specific IgG antibody against SARS-CoV in serum samples from contacts to patients, five months before an SARS outbreak in Beijing. Neutralized test, ELISA and immunity adherence test were studied. Samples were collected after clinical onset of patients or close contacts to patients, for 22 - 24 weeks. 19 close contacts and 13 cases were included in the study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In close contacts, all tests were negative on three methods. All SARS cases were positive except one by immunity adherence test. The neutralized antibody levels were from 1:16 to 1:203, with medium level of 1:43.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>According to our survey, there was no latent infection among close contacts. IgG antibody in sera continued to be at higher levels among SARS cases 22 - 24 weeks after onset.</p>