Comparative study on the gene expression of corticosterone metabolic enzymes in embryonic tissues between Tibetan and broiler chickens.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are an essential mediator hormone that can regulate animal growth, behavior, the phenotype of offspring, and so on, while GCs in poultry are predominantly corticosterones. The biological activity of GCs is mainly regulated by the intracellular metabolic enzymes, including 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 1 (11ß-HSD1), 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 2 (11ß-HSD2), and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD). To investigate the embryonic mechanisms of phenotypic differences between breeds, we compared the expression of corticosterone metabolic enzyme genes in the yolk-sac membrane and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). We described the tissue distribution and ontogenic patterns of corticosterone metabolic enzymes during embryonic incubation between Tibetan and broiler chickens. Forty fertilized eggs from Tibetan and broiler chickens were incubated under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, respectively. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to examine the expression of 11ß-HSD1/2, and 20-HSD mRNA in embryonic tissues. The results showed that the expression levels of yolk-sac membrane mRNA of 11ß-HSD2 and 20-HSD in Tibetan chickens on E14 (embryonic day of 14) were significantly lower than those of broiler chickens (P < 0.05), and these genes expression of CAM in Tibetan chickens were higher than those of broiler chickens (P < 0.05). In addition, the three genes in the yolk-sac membrane and CAM were followed by a down-regulation on E18 (embryonic day of 18). The 11ß-HSD1 and 11ß-HSD2 genes followed a similar tissue-specific pattern: the expression level was more abundantly in the liver, kidney, and intestine, with relatively lower abundance in the hypothalamus and muscle, and the expression level of 20-HSD genes in all tissues tested was higher. In the liver, 20-HSD of both Tibetan and broiler chickens showed different ontogeny development patterns, and hepatic mRNA expression of 20-HSD in broiler chickens was significantly higher than that of Tibetan chickens of the same age from E14 to E18 (P < 0.05). This study preliminarily revealed the expression levels of cortisol metabolic genes in different tissues during the development process of Tibetan and broiler chicken embryos. It provided essential information for in-depth research of the internal mechanism of maternal GCs programming on offspring.

A new acylated iridoid and other chemical constituents from Valeriana jatamansi and their biological activities.

A new acylated iridoid, valejatadoid H (1), along with fourteen known compounds, were obtained from the n-BuOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi, and their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods. Among them, compounds 8, 11 and 13 exhibited potent inhibition on NO production, with IC50 values of 4.21, 6.08 and 20.36 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 14 and 15 showed anti-influenza virus activities, among which compound 14 exhibited significant effect with an IC50 value of 0.99 µM.

Triterpenoids, steroids and other constituents from Euphorbia kansui and their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.

Six undescribed triterpenoids (euphokanols A-F), two undescribed C21-steroidal glycosides (euphokanosides A and B), together with fifty-four known compounds were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansui. Their structures were demonstrated by extensive spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS), and the absolute configuration of euphokanol A was elucidated based on electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Among them, euphokanol A was a tetracyclic triterpenoid with a 5,10-epoxy moiety and concurrent rearrangement of Me-19(10 â†’ 9) and Me-30 (14 â†’ 8), while euphokanols B and C were rare 19(10 â†’ 9) abeo-tirucallane-type triterpenoids with Δ5(10) double bonds and 7,8-epoxy moieties. In addition, ten C21-steroidal glycosides were isolated from Euphorbia plants for the first time. Moreover, cynotophylloside B, caudatin, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-diene-3ß-ol, 6ß,7ß-epoxy-3ß,4ß,5ß-trihydroxyl-20-deoxyingenol, 13-hydroxyingenol-3-(2,3- dimethylbutanoate)-13-dodecanoate, ingenol, 3-O-benzoyl-13-O-dodecanoateingenol, 3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol, 20-O-acetylingenol and 20- deoxyingenol exhibited significant inhibition on NO production with IC50 values of 9.10, 17.38, 1.71, 0.55, 0.57, 12.22, 0.56, 0.30, 11.21 and 2.98 µM, respectively. Furthermore, wilfoside KIN, cynsaccatol L, kanesulone A, and 3ß,7ß,15ß-triacetyloxy-5α-benzoyloxy-2α,8α-dihydroxyjatropha-6(17),11E-diene-9, 14-dione showed cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line, with IC50 values of 12.55, 12.61, 18.24 and 18.26 µM, respectively. 13-Hydroxyingenol-3-(2,3-dimethylbutanoate)-13- dodecanoate exhibited anti-proliferation activity on MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of 17.12 µM. Specifically, euphol selectively inhibited the growth of human glioma stem cells (GSC-3# and GSC-12#), with IC50 values of 8.89 and 13.00 µM, respectively.

Structurally diversified ent-kaurane and abietane diterpenoids from the stems of Tripterygium wilfordii and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Four undescribed ent-kaurane diterpenoids, wilkaunoids A - D (1-4), and three undescribed abietane diterpenoids, wilabinoids A - C (13-15), along with thirteen known ones (5-12 and 16-20), were isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, electroniccirculardichroism calculation, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were a pair of C-19 epimers of ent-kaurane diterpenoids, featuring a rare 19,20-epoxy-19,20-dimethoxy-kaurane fragment. Compound 3 possessed a rare naturally occurring 1,3-dioxacyclohexane moiety. Compounds 13 and 15 represented the first example of abietane diterpenoids with an isovalerate substitution from the genus of Tripterygium. The possible biosynthetic pathways of 1-3 were postulated. The effect of 1-20 on nitric oxide production was examined in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Abietane diterpenoid quinones 7-13 (IC50: 1.9-10.2 µM) exhibited the significant activity to inhibit nitric oxide production versus positive control (NG-monomethyl-l-arginine acetate salt, IC50 = 24.9 µM). The structure activity relationship of 7-13 in inhibiting nitric oxide production was then discussed. The most potent 7 and 8 were found to significantly suppress the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins, showing a good anti-inflammatory potential. The findings provided some valuable insights for the discovery and structural modification of abietane diterpenoids towards anti-inflammatory lead compounds.

Quinolizidine alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.

Forty-three quinolizidine alkaloids (1-43), including twelve new matrine-type ones, sophalodes A-L (1-7, 17, 19 and 28-30), were isolated from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides. Structurally, compounds 1-4 were the first examples of C-11 oxidized matrine-type alkaloids from Sophora plants. The structures and absolute configurations of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques, X-ray diffraction analysis, and quantum chemical calculation. In addition, the NMR data and absolute configuration of compound 18 was reported for the first time. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibition on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages, among them, compounds 29, 38 and 42 exhibited the most significant activity with IC50 values of 29.19, 25.86 and 33.30 µM, respectively. Further research about new compound 29 showed that it also suppressed the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2, which revealed its anti-inflammatory potential. Moreover, additional research showed that compound 16 exhibited marginal cytotoxicity against HeLa cell lines, with an IC50 value of 24.27 µM.

Matrine-Type Alkaloids from the Seeds of Sophora alopecuroides and Their Potential Anti-inflammatory Activities.

Three new matrine-type alkaloids, 8ß-hydroxyoxysophoridine (1), 9ß-hydroxysophoridine (2), 9ß-hydroxyisosophocarpine (3), together with one known analog, 11,12-dehydromatrine (4), were isolated from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides L. The structures of new compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques including the experimental and calculated ECD data. The anti-inflammatory activities of all the isolates on NO production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide were evaluated. Among them, 8ß-hydroxyoxysophoridine (1) showed a significant inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 18.26 µM.

Characteristics and outcome of impacted button batteries among young children less than 7 years of age in China: a retrospective analysis of 116 cases.

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of button batteries occurs in about ten persons per one million persons each year, with most of them children, and one in every 1000 battery ingestions leads to serious injuries. This study aimed to describe the clinical features and outcome of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries in children spanning a decade from January, 2006 to December, 2016 at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of children who sought treatment for inhaled or ingested button batteries at our hospital during the study period. Data on gender, age, time from ingestion to treatment, site of impaction, imaging findings, and outcomes were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 116 pediatric cases of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries. Their mean age was 26 months. The time from ingestion or inhalation of button batteries to treatment was 0.5 hours to 2 weeks. Ninety-seven (83.6%) button batteries were located in the nasal cavity, 13 (11.2%) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including 6 in the esophagus, and 7 in the stomach and lower GI tract, and 6 (5.2%) in the auditory tract. Twenty-one (21.6%) children with nasal button batteries had preoperative septal perforations and one (1.0%) had postoperative septal perforation. One child with esophageal button battery developed esophageal stricture and one died of sudden cardiac arrest perioperatively. One child had auditory damages in the right tympanic membrane and ossicles. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation or ingestion may occur in the nasal cavities, the esophagus and GI tract and the auditory tract. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are required for a satisfactory outcome and ingested or inhaled button batteries require different treatment protocols.

Increased urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in workers exposed to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in a waste plastic recycling site in China.

BACKGROUND: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer used in industrial and diverse consumer products. Animal studies indicate DEHP caused developmental, reproductive, and hepatic toxicities. However, human studies of the potential effects of DEHP are limited. METHODS: The exposed site with a history of over 20 years of waste plastic recycling was located in Hunan Province, China. The reference site without known DEHP pollution source was about 50 km far away from the exposed site. In this study, 181 workers working in plastic waste recycling and 160 gender-age matched farmers were recruited. DEHP concentrations in water and cultivated soil samples, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and micronuclei frequency in human capillary blood lymphocytes were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean levels of DEHP were greater in environment at the recycling site than at reference site (industry wastewater for the exposed: 42.43 µg/l; well water: 14.20 vs. 0.79 µg/l, pond water: 135.68 vs. 0.37 µg/l, cultivated soil: 13.07 vs. 0.81 mg/kg, p < 0.05 for all). The workers had higher median levels of MDA (3.80 vs. 3.14 nmol/ml) and urinary 8-OHdG (340.37 vs. 268.18 µmol/mol creatinine) and decreased SOD activities (112.15 vs. 123.82 U/ml) than the reference group (p < 0.01 for all). Multivariate analysis revealed that the history of working in waste plastic recycling was an independent risk factor for the increased urinary 8-OHdG levels in the male workers (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The occupational DEHP exposure might contribute to oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage in the male workers.

Modified technique to prevent complications related to stoma and ileoureteral anastomosis in patients undergoing ileal conduit diversion.

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a modified technique for preventing complications related to stoma and ileoureteral anastomosis in patients undergoing ileal conduit diversion. METHODS: A urinary stoma was created intracorporeally and was pulled out to the abdominal wall through a retroperitoneal tunnel. The ileal conduit was fixed by nonabsorbable sutures that incorporated all abdominal wall fascia and the bowel seromuscular layer. The terminal ureter was spatulated and anastomosed to the conduit in an end-to-side fashion by a continuous lock-stitch suture after stoma maturation and conduit fixation. A 24F multiorifice catheter was introduced into the ileal conduit as a stent, but a ureteral stent was not used. The peritoneum underlying the stoma was preserved intact, and the ureters and the conduit were completely extraperitonealized. A urine collection device was attached to the matured stoma immediately after surgery. RESULTS: The modified technique was used in 56 consecutive patients who underwent ileal conduit diversions. The median operative time was 327 minutes. No early complications, such as urine or intestinal leakage, occurred. Two patients, however, developed ileus. The median follow-up was 36 months. Forty-five patients survived disease-free, whereas 11 died during the follow-up. There were no stoma-related complications or stenosis at the ileoureteral anastomotic site. No metabolic complications were observed and renal function was normal in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Complications related to stoma and ileoureteral anastomosis in patients undergoing ileal conduit diversion can be prevented using our modified technique. However, further clinical investigation is required to confirm the advantage and long-term effects of our modified technique.

[Recombinant hPR gene yeast for assessing in drinking water].

A bioassay method using recombinant human progesterone receptor (hPR) gene yeast to evaluate the environmental endocrine disrupter effects was introduced. This method was used to determine the inhibition of hPR activity in pollutants emitted from a water works in the south China. The result showed that the recombinant gene yeast had steroid specificity and dose-respond curve for progesterone with EC50 value of 0.5 nmol/L; The estrogenic chemicals pentachlorophenol and p-nonylphenol inhibited the activity of hPR in the yeast which had IC50 values of 2.4 micromol/L and 3.7 micromol/L, respectively. The results indicate that the recombinant progesterone gene yeast assay technique is an efficient and rapid method for screening and quantitatively analyzing the endocrine disrupters which can be the inhibitor of hPR activity. Combined with the solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, the yeast assay showed an obvious inhibition of hPR activity for water works sample and the inhibition rates were more than 58 %. Therefore, it is reliable to use the recombinant hPR gene yeast for assessing the environmental endocrine disrupters.

[Variation of estrogenic effects during water treatment processes in a drinking water work in South China].

The variation of estrogenic effects during water treatment processes in a drinking water work in South China was investigated. Water samples were collected from the source water and the different treatment processes. Crude extracts were obtained by solid phase extraction (SPE) using HLB columns and three fractionated extracts were obtained by elution using organic reagents with different polarity. Recombinant gene yeast assay was used to evaluate the endocrine disrupters effects of all the samples. The combination of the recombinant gene yeast assay and the sample fractionation technique was effective to evaluate the estrogenic effects for water samples. All the crude samples showed positive results in the yeast assay and the highest effect was occurred in the source water sample, in which the effects were mainly attributed to the none-polar fraction and the estradiol equivalent concentration was 0.25 pmol/L. 83% estrogenic effects were reduced effectively by the treatment processes.

Racial differences in the anatomical distribution of colorectal cancer: a study of differences between American and Chinese patients.

AIM: To compare the racial differences of anatomical distribution of colorectal cancer (CRC) and determine the association of age, gender and time with anatomical distribution between patients from America (white) and China (oriental). METHODS: Data was collected from 690 consecutive patients in Cleveland Clinic Florida, U.S.A. and 870 consecutive patients in Nan Fang Hospital affiliated to the First Military Medical University, China over the past 11 years from 1990 to 2000. All patients had colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed by histology and underwent surgery. RESULTS: The anatomical subsite distribution of tumor, age and gender were significantly different between white and oriental patients. Lesions in the proximal colon (P<0.001) were found in 36.3 % of white vs 26.0 % of oriental patients and cancers located in the distal colon and rectum in 63.7 % of white and 74 % of oriental patients (P<0.001). There was a trend towards the redistribution from distal colon and rectum to proximal colon in white males over time, especially in older patients (>80 years). No significant change of anatomical distribution occurred in white women and Oriental patients. The mean age at diagnosis was 69.0 years in white patients and 48.3 years in Oriental patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study comparing the anatomical distribution of colorectal cancers in whites and Chinese patients. White Americans have a higher risk of proximal CRC and this risk increased with time. The proportion of white males with CRC also increased with time. Chinese patients were more likely to have distal CRC and developed the disease at a significantly earlier age than white patients. These findings have enhanced our understanding of the disease process of colorectal cancer in these two races.