Chemical Comparison of White Ginseng before and after Extrusion by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography Quadrupole-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS) was used to compare the composition of ginsenosides in white ginseng (WG) and extruded white ginseng (EWG). A total of 45 saponins, including original neutral ginsenosides, malonyl-ginsenosides, and chemical transformation of ginsenosides, were successfully identified in both WG and EWG. Multivariate statistical analyses including supervised orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used to analyze components of white ginseng before and after extrusion. As a result, three ginsenosides (malonyl (M)-Rb1, M-Rb2, and M-Rc) were found to be increased in WG, while three ginsenosides (Rb2, Rc, and Rg1) were elevated in EWG. In the OPLS-DA S-plot, the different compositions of ginsenoside that were distinguished between WG and EWG were screened out. Experimental results indicate that the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS is a useful tool to characterize variations of ginsenosides in WG and EWG.

Molecular diversity of trimethoxyphenyl-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as novel colchicine site tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

Structurally diverse trimethoxyphenyl-1,2,3-triazole hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three cancer cell lines (PC3, MGC803 and HepG2). Among them, trimethoxyphenyl-1,2,3-triazole containing the coumarin fragement 19c displayed better antiproliferative activity results with IC50 values from 0.13 µM to 1.74 µM than anticancer drug colchicine. Compound 19c could inhibit MGC803 cell growth and colony formation, induce G2/M phase arrest by down expression of CDK1, and promote apoptosis by regulating DR5 and Bcl-2 family. Moreover, 19c strongly inhibited tubulin polymerization by interacting with the colchicine site.

Comparison decompression by duraplasty or cerebellar tonsillectomy for Chiari malformation-I complicated with syringomyelia.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to assess the two surgical procedures of posterior fossa decompression (PDF) in treating Chiari malformation type I (CM-1) complicated by syringomyelia (SM), and to evaluate the postoperative complications, surgical effects and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 115 adult CM-I patients undergoing surgical treatment from November 2013 to November 2016 in a single comprehensive hospital. These patients underwent the surgical procedure of either posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD) or posterior fossa decompression combined with the resection of tonsils (PFDRT) by five experienced neurosurgeon in a single center. The clinical outcomes of these two surgical procedures were evaluated through comparing the clinical data before and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients, including 35 men and 80 women with the mean age of 43.4 ± 10.1 years (range, 16-60 years), were enrolled in the current study. 37 out of the 115 patients underwent PFDD, while the remaining 78 received PFDRT according to the surgical assessment. The operation time in PFDRT group (159.3 ± 40.0 min) was higher than that in PFDD group (134.1 ± 30.8 min) (P < 0.05). Besides, 20 cases in PFDRT group (20/78) developed postoperative dizziness and headache, and such incidence was higher than that in PFDD group (3/37) (P < 0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, a total of 69 patients (88.4%) in PFDRT group had alleviated symptoms, while 31 (83.8%) patients in PFDD group had improved symptoms. Altogether, the SM cavity was reduced in 54 patients (69.2%) in PFDRT group and 29 (78.4%) in PFDD group, respectively, after the operation. No statistical differences in symptom improvement and cavity reduction rate could be witnessed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that both PFDRT and PFDD can achieve comparable short-term clinical outcomes for adult CM-I patients. Surgical treatment is considered to be a reliable choice for the treatment of adult CM-I patients. Typically, PFDRT may lead to a higher risk of aseptic inflammatory complication. The precise surgical procedure should be selected based on detailed conditions of patients.

Effects of cornstarch on the gel properties of black bean protein isolate.

The effects of common starch (CS) and high amylopectin starch (HAS) from corn on the properties of heat induced black bean protein isolate (BBPI) gels prepared by heating at 95°C for 30 min were investigated by using dynamic oscillatory rheometer, texture analyzer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with BBPI alone, the presence of cornstarch (1-4%, wt/vol) could improve storage modulus (G') and textural properties of BBPI (10%, wt/vol) gels. The mixed system of BBPI and 4% (wt/vol) HAS exhibited the highest G' and formed the gel faster and more easily, which resulted in firmer and more elastic gel than BBPI-CS at all starch concentrations. It was possible that HAS had lower pasting temperature and higher viscosity than CS, which was beneficial to the formation of BBPI gel network and strengthened the stability of network structure. Moreover, it might also be related to the synergistic effect between protein and starch. The CS and HAS existed in the BBPI gel network could bind water, leading to the increase in the water-holding capacity (WHC) of mixed gels, especially 4% (wt/vol) HAS, which was related to homogeneous and compact microstructure with small pores.

Overexpression of CLEC18B Associates With the Proliferation, Migration, and Prognosis of Glioblastoma.

C-type lectin domain family 18 member B (CLEC18B), encoding a superfamily of CLEC, has been found to be expressed in some of cancer cells, which possibly indicates it associated with cancer. However, the defined functional characterizations of CLEC18B in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression still remain unclear. To this end, clinical relevance of CLEC18B expression with GBM patients' prognosis was analyzed both in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset of 174 tissues and 40 GBM tumor tissues collected from our hospital by using the Kaplan-Meier survival and the Cox proportional hazard model. The role of CLEC18B in GBM was determined by loss-of-function assay using small interfering RNA approach in vitro. Functional and signaling analyses were also performed to understand how CLEC18B facilitated the aggressiveness of GBM at molecular and cellular levels using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, wound-healing, transwell, and Western blot analyses. Results from our analyses showed that CLEC18B was markedly elevated in both GBM tissues and cells, and exhibited strong inverse correlation with overall survival in GBM patients. Moreover, CLEC18B was identified as an independent predictor of patient survival. Functionally, knockdown of CLEC18B inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of GBM cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that silencing of CLEC18B resulted in downregulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activity. Collectively, our findings provide clinical, molecular, and cellular evidence of CLEC18B as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GBM.

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on physicochemical characteristics and rheological properties of soy protein/sugar Maillard reaction products.

Maillard reaction products (MRPs) of soybean protein isolate (SPI) and sugars (glucose and maltose) were prepared by heating in the aqueous dispersion at 95 °C for 15 min with ultrasonic pretreatment (ultrasonic power of 200 W) for 20 min. Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on physicochemical characteristics and rheological properties of SPI/sugar MRPs was investigated. SPI/sugar MRPs prepared with ultrasonic pretreatment had higher degree of glycation (DG), lower browning and less compact tertiary conformation than that with non-ultrasonic pretreatment. Surface hydrophobicity (H0), particle size and rheological properties were measured by fluorescence spectrophotometry, laser particle size analysis and dynamic oscillatory rheometry, respectively. Glycation reduced H0 and particle size as well as weaken the gel network formed by the acidification of GDL. However, ultrasound increased H0 and decreased particle size. This is desirable for the formation of acid-induced gel structure. The ultrasonic pretreatments reduced/eliminate the weakening effect of glycation on the gel network of SPI/sugar MRPs, and even improved the gel properties.

Clinical and radiographic assessment of cementless acetabular revision with morsellised allografts.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of cementless acetabular revision with deep frozen morsellised allografts. Sixty-one patients (65 hips) underwent acetabular revision using cementless components and deep frozen morsellised allografts. Fifty-seven hips (53 patients) were reviewed at a mean of 105.1 months (range 72-180 months) after revision. The study group included 29 males and 24 females with a mean age of 46.4 years. One cup underwent further revision for aseptic loosening and two were defined as radiographic failures. The mean time for allograft incorporation was 12.5 months (range 6-24 months) after index surgery. The mean Harris hip score of the patients improved from 61.1 points preoperatively to 91.6 points postoperatively. Linear and cavitary osteolysis was observed in two and 12 hips, respectively. The acetabular revision using cementless components with deep frozen morsellized allografts provides favourable clinical and radiographic results, although the initial disease and age may adversely affect the outcomes.

[Effects of acupuncture on ET mRNA expressions in different brain regions of the rat of experimental cerebral bleeding].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of cerebro-cardiac syndrome. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a cerebral bleeding group, an acupuncture group and an acupuncture control group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Shuigou" (GV 26), "Renying" (ST 19), and the acupuncture control group with acupuncture at "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Danzhong" (CV 17). The tissue in situ hybridization technique was used to detect dynamic changes of endothelin (ET) mRNA expression in both the central cardiovascular special regulative area and the myocardium, and imaging quantitative analysis on the positive response materials was carried out. RESULTS: The experimental cerebral bleeding could rapidly induce abnormal expression of ET gene in the cerebral bleeding surrounding area, hypothalamus, brain stem, hippocampus and myocardium. Up-regulation of FT mRNA expression could be found at 6 h of cerebral bleeding, and it reached to the peak at 24 h, and slightly reduced at 72 h, still being higher than the normal level. At the same time, ET expression in the myocardium increased. Acupuncture could block the increase of FT gene expression induced by cerebral bleeding. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture exerts protective action on injuries of neurons and myocardium induced by cerebral bleeding via blocking the increase of FT gene expression induced by cerebral bleeding.