A quick, accurate and general ultra performance liquid chromatography method for evaluating the quality of enological tannins.

Commercial enological tannins from various origins have been widely used in modern wine making. In order to investigate the diverse quality of tannin products, a quick, accurate and simple UPLC method was developed, which could simultaneously determine 11 principle characteristic components of hydrolysable tannins and condensed tannins. The optimum resolution of the tannins was achieved on a Waters Acquity UPLC-BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) at 280 nm with gradient elution. The method was validated to achieve desired specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability. The developed method was successfully applied to 30 commercial enological tannins from different origins for their quality evaluation. The 30 tannin samples were qualitatively distinguished into hydrolysable, condensed or mixture tannins, and quantificationally classified into four levels of excellent, good, fair and poor products. The method could be used for quick evaluating the quality of enological tannins in practical use.

Oligomer procyanidins (F2) repress HIF-1α expression in human U87 glioma cells by inhibiting the EGFR/ AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is over-expressed in gliomas and has become one of the most compelling tumor targets. In this study, we found that oligomer procyanidins (F2) can suppress the expressions of HIF-1α and its target genes in U87 cells, and also down-regulate the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced formation of tubular structures by human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and the migration and invasion of U87 cells could be inhibited by F2 in a HIF-1 dependent manner. Moreover, in a U87 xenograft tumor model, F2 significantly reduced intra-tumor vessel density and cell proliferation and finally retarded tumor growth, indicating that F2 may be a potential HIF-1 inhibitor and serve as one of candidates for glioma therapy.

A Study of the Morbidity Involved in Whole Rib Harvesting and In Situ Splitting Rib Harvesting Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been several reports that detail the in situ rib splitting harvesting surgical procedure, there are limited published studies evaluating this procedure and the traditional whole rib harvesting approach. In this study, the authors conducted a retrospective controlled study on the complications related to the 2 rib harvesting approaches. METHODS: From March 2012 to May 2014, 24 patients were treated with rib grating, of whom 9 patients received conventional rib harvesting surgery and 15 patients received in situ splitting harvesting surgery. In all patients, a 3-dimensional computed tomography study of the chest was performed 7 days postoperatively. Postoperative complications were assessed and postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale after the first 24, 48, and 72 hours after the surgery. RESULTS: The complication rate for in situ splitting rib harvesting was 6.67% versus 44.44% for patients treated with whole rib grafting surgery. After 48 and 72 hours, the visual analog scale scores in patients treated with in situ splitting rib grafts were significantly lower than the patients treated with traditional surgery. CONCLUSION: The in situ splitting approach for obtaining a rib results in a clinically significant reduction in complications compared with the traditional approach.

Classification of nasolabial folds in Asians and the corresponding surgical approaches: By Shanghai 9th People's Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: One of the earliest signs of aging appears in the nasolabial fold, which is a special anatomical region that requires many factors for comprehensive assessment. Hence, it is inadequate to rely on a single index to facilitate the classification of nasolabial folds. Through clinical observation, we have observed that traditional filling treatments provide little improvement for some patients, which prompted us to seek a more specific and scientific classification standard and assessment system. METHODS: A total of 900 patients who sought facial rejuvenation treatment in Shanghai 9th People's Hospital were invited in this study. We observed the different nasolabial fold traits for different age groups and in different states, and the results were compared with the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS). We summarized the data, presented a classification scheme, and proposed a selection of treatment options. RESULTS: Consideration of the anatomical and histological features of nasolabial folds allowed us to divide nasolabial folds into five types, namely the skin type, fat pad type, muscular type, bone retrusion type, and hybrid type. CONCLUSION: Because different types of nasolabial folds require different treatments, it is crucial to accurately assess and correctly classify the conditions.

Reversed Z-plasty and its variations to release wide-scar contraction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Z-plasty is one of the most widely used techniques in plastic and reconstructive surgery. It is useful especially to release linear-scar contractures, yet difficult to use for wide scars. The aim of this study was to report on a new technique for the effective release of contractures for wide scars using reversed Z-plasty and its variations. METHODS: This report describes a novel technique to release contractures effectively for wide scars using reversed Z-plasty and its variation. The design is a reverse style of conventional Z-plasty. In our case series, the reversed three-flap, four-flap Z-plasty or its variation was chosen depending on the width of the contracted scar. RESULTS: We performed this technique on 28 patients. All wounds healed well and the scar contracture was satisfactorily released. CONCLUSION: This procedure is useful and practical for wide-scar contractures.

Oligomer procyanidins from grape seeds induce a paraptosis-like programmed cell death in human glioblastoma U-87 cells.

CONTEXT: We recently reported that F2, an oligomer procyanidin fraction isolated from grape seeds, triggered an original form of cell death in U-87 human glioblastoma cells with a phenotype resembling morphological characteristics of paraptosis. However, the specific death mode induced by F2 and the mechanism of its action have not been assessed so far. OBJECTIVE: In the present work, we therefore further investigated the death mode of human glioblastoma cells induced by F2 and gained insight into the nature of the signaling pathways activated by F2 in glioblastoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability assay using MTT, (AO/EB) double staining, Western blot analysis, and Ca2+ assay using fura-2. RESULTS: Morphology studies revealed extensive cytoplasmic vacuolization in dying cells and no apoptotic body formation, membrane bleb formation, or nuclear fragmentation, though some was accompanied by MAPK activation and new protein synthesis, and was independent of caspase activation. Moreover, we demonstrated the involvement of calcium mobilization in F2-induced U-87 cell signaling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Altogether we showed that F2 induced a kind of cell death resembling paraptosis in U-87 cells. The current report complements previous studies on the characterization of F2-induced U-87 cell death, enhances our understanding of the action mechanism of F2 on glioma, and helps in the development of novel antitumor therapeutics.

Inhibition of U-87 human glioblastoma cell proliferation and formyl peptide receptor function by oligomer procyanidins (F2) isolated from grape seeds.

Gliomas are the most common and lethal tumor type in the brain. The present study investigated the effect of oligomer procyanidins (F2) (F2, degree of polymerization 2-15), a natural fraction isolated from grape seeds on the biological behavior of glioblastoma cells. We found that F2 significantly inhibited the glioblastoma growth, with little cytotoxicity on normal cells, induced G2/M arrest and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in U-87 cells. It also induced a non-apoptotic cell death phenotype resembling paraptosis in U-87 cells. In addition, it was found for the first time that F2 in non-cytotoxic concentrations selectively inhibited U-87 cell chemotaxis mediated by a G-protein coupled receptor formyl peptide receptor FPR, which is implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Further experiments indicated that F2 inhibited fMLF-induced U-87 cell calcium mobilization and MAP kinases ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Moreover, F2 attenuated the glioblastoma FPR expression, a new molecular target for glioma therapeutics, which has been shown to play important roles in glioma cells chemotaxis, proliferation and angiogenesis in addition to its promotion to tumor progression, but did not affect FPR mRNA expression in U-87 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that F2 may be a promising candidate for the development of novel anti-tumor therapeutics.