Chemical constituents from Bletilla striata and their anti-tumor activities / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents from Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f and study their antitumor activities and effect on progression of cell cycle. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods including silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and so on. Their structures were identified by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. The antiproliferative effects of the compounds were evaluated using MTT test, and compound 1 was tested for the effect on the cell cycle of A549 cells. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated from Bletilla striata and identified as 3β-hydroxyoleane-12-en-28-oic acid 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside(1), 2-hydroxysuccinic acid(2), 4-hydroxybenzylamine(3), palmitic acid(4), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid(5). Compound 1 showed antiproliferative activity against the cancer cells and could induce G0/G1 phase arrest effectively after 24 h treatment. CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-4 are isolated from Bletilla striata for the first time. Compound 1 shows potent inhibitory effect and might produce their action through inducing cell cycle arrest.

A comparative study of laparoscopic-assisted and open distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety, feasibility and the long-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and follow-up data of 46 cases after LAG from June 2008 to December 2009 were analyzed, and compared with 85 cases after conventional open gastrectomy (OG) for advanced gastric cancer at the same period at our hospital. The surgical safety, postoperative recovery, complications, radical degree, survival rate were compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>As compared with OG group, operation time was longer in LATG group ((274 ± 78) min vs. ( 217 ± 41) min, t = 4.635, P = 0.000). Estimated blood loss in the LAG group ((254 ± 112) ml) was significantly less than in the OG group (t = 3.942, P = 0.000). Time to ambulation ((63 ± 16) hours), first flatus ((77 ± 20) hours), resumed liquid diet ((88 ± 15) hours), duration of analgesic medication ((53 ± 20) hours) and postoperative hospital stay ((11.1 ± 4.6) days) were significantly shorter in the LAG group (t = 5.549, 6.508, 9.436, 9.464 and 2.980 respectively, all P < 0.01). The distance of the proximal and distal resection margin were (5.7 ± 1.4) cm and (3.9 ± 1.5) cm in LAG group, (5.8 ± 1.1) cm and (4.7 ± 1.5) cm in OG group respectively, but the difference was not significant. The number of lymph node dissections was also similar, (30.5 ± 10.4) in LAG group and (32.6 ± 12.3) in OG group (t = 0.960, P = 0.339). The incidence of postoperative complications and mortality rate in LAG group (8.7% and 0 respectively) were also lower than in the OG group, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The mean follow-up was 31.0 months (range 6-48 months), and the cumulative survival of the 2 groups was similar (χ(2) = 1.594, P = 0.207).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer is not significantly different with open surgery in surgical safety, radical degree, and survival rate. It is less traumatic and of fewer complications.</p>

Research progresses of plant polysaccharides on cell adhesion / 药学学报

Cell adhesion mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) constitutes essential life phenomenon. In inflammation, immunity, infection, thrombosis, tumor metastasis and wound healing, cell adhesion comes into being the basic physiological and pathological process. Intervening with cell adhesion has been the important therapeutic and prophylactic strategies for diseases. Accumulated evidence has indicated that plant polysaccharides especially those exacted from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs displayed various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-infection, immunomodulation, cardiovascular protective effects and so on. In this paper, the research progress of plant polysaccharides on cell adhesion is reviewed.

LiCl suppresses tumor growth and inhibits DNA replication in prostate cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effects of LiCl on prostate cancer growth and to explore the underlying mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Effects of LiCl on cell growth in vitro and in vivo were determined by cell counting and xenografts of prostate cancer cells. Alterations in cell proliferation and the expression of DNA replication-related protein were determined by MTT assay, BrdU incorporation and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to PBS control group, the number of prostate cancer cells (PC-3) were lower treated with 10 mmol/L LiCl, the number was 1.9×10(5), 4.8×10(5) and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The inhibition rate of cellular proliferation were 50%, 95% and 98%, respectively, in LiCl group, NaCl and KCl control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The A-Value of BrdU incorporation was 1.5, 1.3 treated with 10 mmol/L, 30 mmol/L LiCl, while the A-value of BrdU incorporation was 4 in PBS control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). On the protein level, LiCl downregulates expression of cdc 6, cyclins A and cyclins E, and cdc 25C, and upregulates expression of the CDK inhibitor p21(CIP1). The mean volume and weight of xenograft tumor were 50 mm(3) and 296 mg after LiCl intraperitoneal injection, But PBS control group were 180 mm(3) and 957 mg, the difference was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LiCl disrupts DNA replication and suppresses tumor growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.</p>

Gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas with a micropapillary pattern: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas with a micropapillary pattern differentiation (GAMPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-three cases of GAMPD arising in gastrointestinal tract were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical study for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein-3 (IMP3) and E-cadherin was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amongst the 73 cases studied, the micropapillary pattern accounted for 5% to 70% of the tumor component. It was often seen in a background of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. As compared with conventional adenocarcinoma, nodal metastasis was more frequently observed and the TNM tumor stage was statistically higher in GAMPD. The occurrence of micropapillary component in metastatic lymph nodes positively correlated with the proportion of micropapillary pattern in primary lesions. EMA staining on the stroma-facing surface of tumor micropapillae was demonstrated in 52.1% (38/73) of the cases. As compared with EMA-negative GAMPD, EMA-positive GAMPD was more in the stomach (P = 0.018), and with more metastatic lymph nodes (6.6 ± 5.8 vs 3.8 ± 4.7, P = 0.029). The rate of IMP3 expression in EMA-positive GAMPD was 86.8%(33/38), which was higher than that in conventional adenocarcinoma. In contrast, the rate of E-cadherin expression in GAMPD was lower than that in conventional adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GAMPD is a distinctive variant of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and different from conventional adenocarcinoma in tumor morphology, immunophenotype and biologic behavior. It carries an aggressive clinical course and poor prognostic outcome. Immunohistochemical study for EMA, IMP3 and E-cadherin would be helpful in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of GAMPD.</p>

Expression of BRG1 and BRM proteins in prostatic cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of BRG1 and BRM, the catalytic subunits expressed by SWI/SNF, in benign and malignant prostatic tissues and to correlate the BRG1/BRM expression with the development and progression of prostatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression levels of the BRG1 and BRM proteins in benign and malignant prostatic tissues were studied using semi-quantitative immunohisto-chemistry. The results correlated with various clinical and pathologic parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average immuno-reactive score for BRG1 expression in prostatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign prostatic tissues (57+/-9.8 and 19+/-4.1, respectively, P = 0.000 17). The difference was more obvious in the high-grade cancer. On the other hand, BRM expression exhibited a heterogeneous pattern. The average immuno-reactive score for BRM expression was lower in cancer tissues than in benign tissues (112+/-17 and 151+/-19, respectively, P = 0.0047). BRG1 and BRM demonstrated a reciprocal expression pattern in benign and malignant tissues. The average immuno-reactive score for BRG1 expression was higher in the cancer cases with a larger tumor volume than in the cases with a smaller tumor volume (P = 0.0112).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of BRG1 and BRM correlates with the development of prostatic cancer. Increased BRG1 expression may have certain implications in tumor progression.</p>