Chemical constituents of Euphorbia tibetica and their biological activities / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To investigate the chemical constituents and their biological activities of the aerial parts of Euphorbia tibetica.@*METHOD@#Compounds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated through the use of extensive spectroscopic techniques including 2D-NMR, the structures of compounds 5 and 6 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Bioactivities of all the isolated compounds were evaluated by the MTT method on A549 and anti-angiogenesis assay.@*RESULTS@#One new compound, methyl 4-epi-shikimate-3-O-gallate (1), together with twenty-three known constituents (2-24) were isolated from the aerial parts of E. tibetica.@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 is new, and the other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 5-7, 9, 11, 17, 18 and 20 exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of human lung cancer cell A549 and compounds 5, 7, 12, 13, 17 and 19 showed anti-angiogenic effects in a zebrafish model.

Chemical constituents of Euphorbia sikkimensis / 中国中药杂志

Sixteen compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia sikkimensis by means of various chromatographic techniques such as silica gel, Sephades LH-20 and RP-18, and their structures were elucidated as naringenin (1), kaempferol (2), quercetin (3), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (5), quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (6), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-(22E, 24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), stigmast-5-ene-7-one-3beta-ol (8), 3beta-hydroxy4a, 14alpha-dimethyl-5alpha-ergosta-8, 24(28)-dien-7-one(9), beta-sitosterol (10) , 10-cucurbitadienol( 1) , scopoletin(12) , ethyl gallate(13), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (14), 3 betahydroxybenzeneethanol( 15) ,and 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-acetophenone (16) on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. All the compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 1, 4-8, 15 are obtained from Euphorbia species for the first time.

Expression and clinical significance of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the expression and clinical significance of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression and distribution of MACC1 were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in a cohort of hepatitis B virus-related HCC, including 138 in early (A), 96 in intermediate (B) and 120 in advanced stages (C). The association of MACC1 mRNA with disease progression and outcomes was analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The intratumoral expressions of MACC1 mRNA in HCC stage I (0.001 76, range: 0.000 54 - 0.002 47), stage II (0.002 49, range: 0.000 55 - 0.006 78) and stage III (0.008 35, range: 0.006 86 - 0.009 88) were about 3-, 4- and 14-fold higher than that in the normal liver tissue (0.000 59, range: 0.000 57 - 0.000 60), respectively. Intratumoral expression of MACC1 mRNA increased with disease progression from stage I to stage III. HCC clinical staging classification, age, portal vein invasion and tumor differentiation were significantly associated with intratumoral high expression of MACC1 mRNA (All P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that there was an increased MACC1 expression in cytoplasm of HCC cells and positive nuclear staining in some cases. Increased MACC1 mRNA expression could predict poor outcome and recurrence in stage A and B HCC postoperatively. The median tumor-free survival and total survival of patients with high MACC1 mRNA expression were 34.0 and 40 months, respectively, significantly lower than that in those with low expression (48.0 and 48.0 months) (all P < 0.01). Cox analysis showed that Child-Pugh grading and high expression of MACC1 mRNA were independent predictive factors, and high expression of MACC1 was an independent predictive factor affecting the tumor-free survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MACC1 mRNA up-regulation is a feature of disease progression in HCC. MACC1 mRNA expression in the HCC may become an independent predictive factor for recurrence and survival in postoperative HCC patients.</p>

Clinical efficacy and prognostic factors for cryoablation patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>Investigate the clinical efficacy of cryotherapy ablation treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. analyse the predictive factors of cryotherapy ablation treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 190 cases of hepatitis B-related HCC patients with advanced HCC from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital. By using clinical cohort method, they included cryoablation group (147 cases) and control group (43 cases), The median survival time and time to disease progression were compared. Evaluate clinical significance of age, gender, location of portal vein tumor thrombus, HBeAg, tumor histological grade, Child-Pugh classification, end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, advanced liver cancer prediction system (ALCPS) score and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score for predicting the efficacy of cryoablation. Group rates were compared with the x2 test, survival analysis by using Kaplan-Meier method, survival rates were compared by Log-rank analysis; multiple factor survival analysis by using Cox regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Median survival time of cryoablation group and Control group was 7.5 (4.2 to 14.6) months and 3.2 (1.2 to 8.6) months, median TTP was 3.5 (2.5 to 4.5) months and 1.5 (1.0 to 3.5 months), the differences were statistically significant ( P less than 0.05 ). Median OS and TTP of advanced HCC patients who had Well-differentiated tumor, Child-pugh A-class and low score of MELD score, ALCPS score, ECOG PS score were significantly longer than the poorly differentiate, Child-Pugh B-class and the high those scores ( P less than 0.05). ECOG PS ( P less than 0.05, 95% CI 1.074 to 2.143) and ALCPS (P less than 0.05, 95% CI 1.005 to 2.121) were independent predictors for OS of advanced HCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cryoablation treatment can prolong median OS and TTP of advanced HCC; ECOG PS and ALCPS are important predictors for survival time of advanced HCC.</p>

Characteristics of peripheral NK cells in hepatocellular carcinoma patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Functional defects in NK cells have been proposed to be responsible for the impairment of anti-tumor immune responses. However, it remained unclear whether the function of NK cells were impaired in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. To address this issue, we analyzed the frequency and function of peripheral NK cell subsets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>35 HCC patients and 24 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral NK frequency was analyzed using flow cytometry. In addition, the capacity of NK cells to produce IFN gamma and to lyse K562 cells was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In contrast with the healthy controls, the frequency of peripheral NK cells in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was decreased (12.19%+/-10.85% vs 24.01%+/-8.78%, u = 4.01, probability value less than 0.01), while the frequency of CD56(bright)CD16(neg) NK cells was increased (0.62%+/-0.39% vs 0.48%+/-0.28%, u = 1.96, probability value less than 0.05), and the frequency of CD56(dim)CD16(pos) NK cells was significantly decreased (11.59%+/-7.49% vs 22.66%+/-8.84%, u = 3.92, probability value less than 0.01). In addition, peripheral NK cells from HCC patients exhibited decreased capacity to produce IFN gamma (effective cells 13.31%) and to lyse K562 cells (mixed ratio 30:1, 10:1, 1:1, effective cells 16.72%+/-7.33% vs 26.29%+/-12.36%, u = 2.52, P less than 0.05, 8.01%+/-4.40% vs 13.09%+/-5.03%, u = 3.32, probability value less than 0.05, 3.51%+/-2.82% vs 3.42%+/-1.64%, u = 1.56, probability value more than 0.05, respectively) as compared with healthy subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Anti-tumor activity of NK cells in HCC patients was impaired.</p>

Primry research of separation and culture of adult hepatocytes / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the separation and culture method of adult hepatocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The isolated adult hepatocytes were cultivated by RPMI 1640 medium at 37 degrees C in vitro. The characteristics of the growing hepatocytes were observed. Their synthesis of urea was detected. The transformation efficiency and density's change of lidocaine were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hepatocytes were successful separated from adult liver. And they were cultivated in common condition and hollow fiber reactor. The functional capacity of hepatocytes was for lidocaine metabolism and urea excretion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The adult hepatocytes have been successful separated from liver. And they can be cultivated in common condition and hollow fiber reactor. And it could provide a great quantity and high activity of hepatocytes for bioartificial liver.</p>

Efficacy and safety of Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet in patients with chronic hepatitis B complicated with hepatic fibrosis / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical therapeutic effects and safety of Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet (FBRt) in patients with chronic hepatitis B complicated with hepatic fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 420 patients were randomly divided into two groups, FBRt group (300 cases) were treated with Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablets and control group (120 cases) were treated with He Luo Shu Gan capsule, the patients in both groups were treated for 6 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cure rate and total effective rate of FBRt group were significantly higher than those of control group (55.67 percent and 81.67 percent vs. 15.8 percent and 60.00 percent, P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet could alleviate clinical symptoms and hepatic fibrosis. Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet is effective and safe in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B complicated with liver fibrosis.</p>

Mutual interaction between hepatitis B virus antigen and metallothionein / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen and identify the protein interacting with HBV antigen in hepatocytes. Then investigate the biological functions of hepatitis B virus antigen in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and seek effective methods to prevent and treat it.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The yeast two-hybrid system-3 technique was used to construct HBV PreS2, HBeAg, HBcAg, HBxAg bait plasmids. The bait plasmids transformed the yeast AH109 and expressed themselves in it. After being identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, the AH109 yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2 x YPDA medium to form diploid yeast and was then plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for screening. Plasmids of blue colonies were extracted and transformed into Escherichia coli, then analyzed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. To further prove the interaction between HBV antigen and metallothionein, translation was performed by using reticulocyte lysate and coimmunoprecipitation was displayed in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genes coding for HBV antigen binding protein were successfully cloned and metallothionein was found in that protein. The interaction between HBeAg, HBcAg and HBxAg and metallothionein were further proved by coimmunoprecipitation in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The interaction between HBV antigen and metallothionein indicates that metallothionein may participate in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B</p>