Lovastatin derivative dehydrolovastatin ameliorates ulcerative colitis in mice by suppressing NF-κB and inflammatory cytokine expression.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with intestinal immune imbalance and inflammatory response. Because dehydrolovastatin (DLVT), a derivative of lovastatin, has been recently shown to inhibit inflammation and relieve immune arthritis induced by chemical stimuli, we studied its effect and possible mechanism on UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium. The BALB/c mice were classified into six groups: normal control group, model group, DLVT high dose group, DLVT low dose group, salazosulfapyridine (SASP) group and lovastatin (LVT) group. The disease activity indices of UC and pathological changes were investigated. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in colon tissue and inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and TNF-α in the serum were analyzed by ELISA, while the expression of NF-κB p65 protein in colon tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. DLVT relieved the disease activity indices and pathological damage of the UC mice. Furthermore, DLVT significantly decreased MPO activity and improved the imbalance of inflammatory cytokines through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB p65. Meanwhile, the positive drug of SASP has a similar effect to DLVT, but the effect of DLVT in both decreasing IL-17, TNF-α, and increasing IL-10 was significantly stronger than that of SASP. These results suggest that DLVT may ameliorates the symptoms of UC.

Three New Supramolecular Coordination Polymers Based on 1H-pyrazolo[3-b]pyridin-3-amine and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate Derivatives.

Three new supramolecular coordination polymers, namely [Zn(1,3-BDC)(HL)]n (Polymer 1), [Zn3(1,3,5-BTC)2(HL)2(H2O)2]n (Polymer 2), and [Zn9(5-SO3-1,3-BDC)2(L)8(OH)4]n (Polymer 3), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions, based on 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-amine (HL) along with 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (1,3-BDC) and its derivatives, such as 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (1,3,5-BTC) and 5-sulfo-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (5-SO3-1,3-BDC). Polymers 1-3 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Polymer 1 exhibited a two-dimensional (2D) 4-connected sql net. The neighboring 2D nets were further linked into a 3D supramolecular network by hydrogen-bonding interactions. Polymer 2 displayed a 3D (4, 4, 4)-connected network, which was further stabilized by R 2 2 (14) and S(9) hydrogen-bonding rings along with π-π interactions. The 2D sheet structure of Polymer 3 was constructed by novel quasi-linear nonanuclear Zn(II) units, which further extended into a 3D supramolecular structure by hydrogen-bonding interactions. The solid-state photoluminescence properties of Polymers 1-3 were also investigated.

Anti-inflammatory polyphenol constituents derived from Cissus pteroclada Hayata.

A new bergenin derivative, bergenin-11-O-α-d-galactopyranoside (compound 1), together with seven known polyphenolic compounds, were isolated from the stem of Cissus pteroclada Hayata. The structures of the 8 compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Moreover, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of compounds (1-8) in LPS-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were also investigated. Our results revealed that compound 1 inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 and the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1ß, iNOS and COX-2.

A phase II study of Endostatin in combination with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endostatin inhibits the pro-angiogenic action of basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in different human cancers. This study assessed the efficacy of endostatin combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Nineteen patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-l, and adequate organ function were treated with 60-66 Gy thoracic radiation therapy over 30-33 fractions concurrent with weekly 7.5 mg/m(2) endostatin for 14 days, 50 mg/m(2) paclitaxel, and 2 mg/mL/min carboplatin over 30 min. Patients were then treated with 7.5 mg/m(2) endostatin for 14 days, 150 mg/m(2) paclitaxel, and 5 mg/mL/min carboplatin every 3 weeks for 2 cycles as the consolidation treatment. The objective response rate was recorded according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, and the toxicity was evaluated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria. RESULTS: Six patients were unable to complete the consolidation treatment (4 pulmonary toxicity, 1 tracheoesophageal fistulae, and 1 progressive disease). Seventeen patients were included for data analysis. Specifically, one (5.9%) patient had a complete response and 12 (70.6%) had a partial response, whereas two patients had stable disease and the other two had disease progression. The overall response rate was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51%-97%). The median progression-free survival was 10 months (95% CI, 7.6-12.3 months), and the median overall survival was 14 months (95% CI, 10.7-17.2 months). Early 10 patients who completed the treatment regimen showed that four patients experienced grade III pulmonary toxicity a few months after chemoradiotherapy, leading to the early closure of the trial according to the study design. CONCLUSIONS: The result of concurrent endostatin treatment with chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced unresectable NSCLC did not meet the goal per study design with unacceptable toxicity. The real impact of endostatin as the first-line treatment combined with chemoradiotherapy on the survival of NSCLC patients remains to be determined. (NCT 01158144).

Treatment of high-risk gastric cancer postoperatively using intensity-modulated radiotherapy: a single-institution experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and acute toxicity of our early experience with treating postoperatively non-metastatic gastric cancer with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review was performed on 47 consecutive patients with gastric cancer and treated with postoperatively adjuvant IMRT at Department of radiation oncology, Zhejiang cancer hospital, China, between January 2007 and August 2009. One patient who did not complete his radiation course was excluded, leaving 46 patients for analyses. The median radiation dose delivered was 4500cGy using 180cGy fractions. Concurrent chemotherapy administered were 5-fluorouracil (n=36), capecitabine (n=9) and none (n=1). RESULTS: The median follow-up time was fifteen months (range 6-28 months). 1-year OS and 2-year OS were 98.0% and 80.0%, assessed by Kaplan-Meier methods. Of the six patients who died, five (83.3%) developed a distant metastases. The overall survival time by tumor size was significantly different (>6cm vs. =6cm, p<0.05). There was no significant survival difference between 5-fluorouracil group and capecitabine group (p=0.80). CONCLUSIONS: The data support the use of IMRT in the adjuvant treatment in high risk gastric cancer postoperatively. Acute toxicity is tolerable. Capecitabine with concurrent IMRT was as effective and tolerable as 5-FU/IMRT. Distant metastasis was the main reason of treatment failure that must be addressed in future trials.

Clinical research on nourishing yin and unblocking meridians recipe combined with opioid analgesics in cancer pain management.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic effects of Nourishing yin and Unblocking meridians Receipe (NUR) combined with opioid analgesics in managing cancer pain. METHODS: All the patients enrolled were differentiated as of yin deficiency and meridian blocked syndrome type of TCM. Forty-one of them in the treated group were treated with NUR combined with opioid analgesics, while 43 of them in the control group were given opioid analgesics alone with successive 14 days as one treatment course for both groups. RESULTS: The indexes of the treated group were superior to those in the control group as to the degree of pain-relieving, the therapeutic effect of analgesia, the occurrence frequency of cancer pain every day and its duration each time, the analgesic initial time, and the quality of life. CONCLUSION: NUR combined with opioid analgesics in cancer pain management was more effective than opioid analgesics alone.