Antitumor effects of different Ganoderma lucidum spore powder in cell- and zebrafish-based bioassays.

OBJECTIVE: Ganoderma lucidum spore (GLS) is gaining recognition as a medicinal part of G. lucidum and has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties, such as antitumor activity. In this work, wall-broken GLS powder (BGLSP) and wall-removed GLS powder (RGLSP), two kinds of GLS powder with different manufacturing techniques, were compared in terms of contents of active constituents and in vivo and in vitro antitumor effects. METHODS: The ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry method was used to determine the contents of polysaccharides and total triterpenoids in BGLSP and RGLSP. Seventeen individual triterpenoids were further quantified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker. The antitumor effects of BGLSP and RGLSP were evaluated using in vitro cell viability assay against human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901, lung carcinoma A549 and lymphoma Ramos and further validated by in vivo zebrafish xenograft models with transplanted SGC-7901, A549 and Ramos. RESULTS: The results showed that the contents of polysaccharides, total triterpenoids and individual triterpenoids of RGLSP were significantly higher than those of BGLSP. Although both BGLSP and RGLSP inhibited the three tumor cell lines in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, the inhibitory effects of RGLSP were much better than those of BGLSP. In the in vivo zebrafish assay, RGLSP exhibited more potent inhibitory activities against tumors transplanted into the zebrafish compared with BGLSP, and the inhibition rates of RGLSP reached approximately 78%, 31% and 83% on SGC-7901, A549 and Ramos, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the antitumor effects of GLS were positively correlated with the contents of the polysaccharides and triterpenoids and demonstrated that the wall-removing manufacturing technique could significantly improve the levels of active constituents, and thereby enhance the antitumor activity.

A retrospective study of laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for primary hyperaldosteronism caused by unilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluated the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA) caused by unilateral adrenal hyperplasia (UAH). METHODS: One hundred and sixty-four patients who underwent laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for UAH from January 2004 to December 2011 were entered in this retrospective analysis. Patients demographics, perioperative parameters, and follow-up results were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: All 164 cases suffered hypertension with biochemical evidence of hyperaldosteronism prior to operation. Hypokalemia was observed in 52/164 (37.14%) patients. UAH was proved by multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT). All operations were completed successfully without any conversions or complications. Postoperative pathology confirmed that 164 cases were cortical nodular hyperplasia, of which 4 cases coexist with medullary hyperplasia and 7 with micro-adenoma. At the median follow-up of 48 months, hypertension was cured in 88 (53.7%) patients, improved in 71 (43.3%) patients, and refractory in 5 (3.05%) patients. Hypokalemia and hyperaldosteronism were cured in all patients except re-elevation of blood pressure and plasma aldosterone in two patients 1 month after adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: As an underestimated subtype of PA, UAH is accepted gradually. Laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy is nowadays the preferred approach to treat patients with PA caused by UAH. When adrenal venous sampling is not allowed, high-resolution MSCT is a reliable test for lateralization of aldosterone hypersecretion in carefully selected patients and 97% had either cure or improvement in blood pressure control.

Laparoscopic treatment of a massive fibroepithelial polyp accompanied by ureteral intussusception.

Ureteral fibroepithelial polyp accompanied by intussusception is a rare occurrence. Currently, most ureteral polyps could be removed readily by ureteroscopy. Nevertheless, endoscopic resection can be difficult in patient with a large polyp, especially accompanied by an intussusception. We described our experience and laparoscopic technique for treatment of a symptomatic 63-year-old woman who presented with a pedunculated, 9-cm-long, left lower ureteral, fibroepithelial polyp accompanied by a 2-cm-long intussusception.