Structural Characterization and Anticomplement Activity of an Acidic Heteropolysaccharide from Lysimachia christinae Hance.

A novel acidic heteropolysaccharide (LCP-90-1) was isolated and purified from a traditional "heat-clearing" Chinese medicine, Lysimachia christinae Hance. LCP-90-1 (Mw, 20.65 kDa) was composed of Man, Rha, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara, with relative molar ratios of 1.00: 3.00: 11.62: 1.31: 1.64: 5.24. The backbone consisted of 1,4-α-D-GlcpA, 1,4-α-D-Glcp, 1,4-ß-L-Rhap, and 1,3,5-α-L-Araf, with three branches of ß-D-Galp-(1 → 4)-ß-L-Rhap-(1→, α-L-Araf-(1→ and α-D-Manp-(1→ attached to the C-5 position of 1,3,5-α-L-Araf. LCP-90-1 exhibited potent anticomplement activity (CH50: 135.01 ± 0.68 µg/mL) in vitro, which was significantly enhanced with increased glucuronic acid (GlcA) content in its degradation production (LCP-90-1-A, CH50: 28.26 ± 0.39 µg/mL). However, both LCP-90-1 and LCP90-1-A were inactivated after reduction or complete acid hydrolysis. These observations indicated the important role of GlcA in LCP-90-1 and associated derivatives with respect to anticomplement activity. Similarly, compared with LCP-90-1, the antioxidant activity of LCP-90-1-A was also enhanced. Thus, polysaccharides with a high content of GlcA might be important and effective substances of L. christinae.

New Phenolic Glycosides and Lignans from the Roots of Lilium dauricum.

Three new phenolic glycosides, carvacrol-2-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1: ), 1-methyl-3-isopropylphenol-4-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2: ), p-methoxythymol-5-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3: ), and a pair of new 8-O-4' neolignan enantiomers (5A: /5B: ), together with 26 known compounds (4, 6:  - 30: ) were isolated from the roots of Lilium dauricum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations of 5A: and 5B: were established by electronic circular dichroism analysis. Nine compounds (1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 17, 25, 29,: and 30: ) exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 73.4 µM to 988.2 µM. Besides, compound 19: displayed strong anticomplementary activity (CH50: 71.6 µM).

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor - 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumors (PHNETs) are rare hepatic tumors. Their diagnosis, which is based on radiological findings, is difficult. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of PHNET in a 79-year-old man with no clinical symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) and 2-Deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) were performed for further evaluation. A hypoattenuating mass with rim-like enhancement in segment 6 of the liver was detected on contrast-enhanced CT imaging. Increased uptake was also observed on 18F-FDG PET/CT. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, which revealed a grade 2 neuroendocrine tumor (NET), confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing PHNET is challenging, and must be distinguished from other liver tumors. Metastatic NETs should be excluded.

COVID-19 patients managed in psychiatric inpatient settings due to first-episode mental disorders in Wuhan, China: clinical characteristics, treatments, outcomes, and our experiences.

Data are scarce regarding the comorbid mental disorders and their management among COVID-19 patients. This study described the clinical characteristics and management of COVID-19 patients treated in psychiatric inpatient settings due to comorbid first-onset mental disorders in Wuhan, China. This electronic medical records-based study included 25 COVID-19 patients with first-onset mental disorders and 55 patients with first-onset mental disorders without COVID-19 (control group). Data collected included ICD-10 diagnoses of mental disorders, psychiatric and respiratory symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. Adjustment disorder (n = 11, 44.0%) and acute and transient psychotic disorders, with associated acute stress (n = 6, 24.0%) were main clinical diagnoses in the COVID-19 group while serious mental illnesses (i.e., schizophrenia, 24.5%) and alcohol use disorders (10.9%) were overrepresented in the control group. On admission, the most common psychiatric symptom in COVID-19 patients was insomnia symptoms (n = 18, 72.0%), followed by aggressive behaviors (n = 16, 64.0%), delusion (n = 10, 40.0%), and severe anxiety (n = 9, 36.0%). In addition to respiratory treatments, 76.0% COVID-19 patients received antipsychotics, 40.0% sedative-hypnotics, and 24.0% mood stabilizers. At the end of inpatient treatment, 4 (16.0%) COVID-19 patients were transferred to other hospitals to continue respiratory treatment after their psychiatric symptoms were controlled while the remaining 21 (84.0%) all recovered. Compared to the control group, COVID-19 group had significantly shorter length of hospital stay (21.2 vs. 37.4 days, P < 0.001). Adjustment disorder and acute and transient psychotic disorders are the main clinical diagnoses of COVID-19 patients managed in psychiatric inpatient settings. The short-term prognosis of these patients is good after conventional psychotropic treatment.

TP53 mutations predict for poor survival in ALK rearrangement lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with crizotinib.

BACKGROUND: Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who harbor anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement are sensitive to an ALK inhibitor (crizotinib), but not all ALK-positive patients benefit equally from crizotinib treatment. We analyze the impact of TP53 mutations on response to crizotinib in patients with ALK rearrangement NSCLC. METHODS: Sixty-six ALK rearrangement NSCLC patients receiving crizotinib were analyzed. 21 cases were detected successfully by the next generation sequencing validation FFPE before crizotinib. TP53 mutations were evaluated in 8 patients in relation to disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: TP53 mutations were observed in 2 (25.00%), 1 (12.50%), 1 (12.50%) and 4 (50.00%) patients in exons 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The majority of patients were male (75.00%, 6/8), less than 65 years old (62.50%, 5/8) and never smokers (75.00%, 6/8). ORR and DCR for crizotinib in the entire case series were 61.90% and 71.43%, respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed in terms of PFS and OS between TP53 gene wild group and mutation group patients (P=0.038, P=0.021, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TP53 mutations reduce responsiveness to crizotinib and worsen prognosis in ALK rearrangement NSCLC patients.

[Characteristics of Sediment Oxygen Demand in a Drinking Water Reservoir].

Depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the hypolimnetic layer during stratification periods and its deleterious effects on water quality have been widely observed. However, it is still difficult to comprehend conceptually the processes of oxygen consumption at the sediment-water interface. The research presented here is, therefore, based on an areal hypolimnetic oxygen demand (AHOD) model to address three key themes related to the sediment oxygen demand (SOD):① the characteristics of sediment and its influences on SOD; ② evaluation of SOD with different turbulence levels overlying the sediment; and ③ the influence of microbial metabolic activity on SOD. Sediment samples were collected at the entrance to and over the basin area of Jinpen Reservoir, and a sediment-water experimental chamber was designed to achieve these goals. The results showed that, under quiescent conditions, the SOD5area(SOD at DO of 5 mg·L-1) were 0.13 g·(m2·d)-1 and 0.36 g·(m2·d)-1 in the arm and basin, respectively. Under dynamic conditions, the slight mixing of the water column near the sediment induced an increase in SOD and resulted in a gradual shift from first-order to zero-order DO uptake. The organic matter content in the reservoir arm and profundal sediment were 44.43 mg·g-1 and 45.12 mg·g-1, respectively. The microbial metabolic activity in the basin was stronger, and the total fluorescence intensity of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the profundal sediments was about 1.5 times that in the reservoir arm. These results suggest that SOD will be higher when microbial metabolic activity is stronger and organic matter content is higher in sediments. The oxygenation aeration techniques should be designed to meet the oxygen demand of the deep reservoir to provide a theoretical basis for improving the oxygenation efficiency.

[Canopy transpiration of Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation and its impact factors in diffe-rent slope locations at the south side of Liupan Mountains, China.] / å ­ç›˜å±±å—ä¾§åŽåŒ—è½å¶æ¾äººå·¥æž—å† å±‚è’¸è ¾åŠå ¶å½±å“å› å­çš„å¡ä½å·®å¼‚.

Based on a continuous field observation in the Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation plots, located at the upper (P1), middle-upper (P2), middle (P3), middle-lower (P4), and lower (P5) positions, in a southeast-facing slope of the Xiangshuihe watershed of Liupan Mountains, China, the stem sap flow was observed with the thermal diffusivity probe method. The soil water potential and meteorological factors were monitored from May to October, 2014. We found significant differences among slope positions in the daily forest transpiration (Tr, mm·d-1), with an order of P2 (0.975)＞P4 (0.876)＞P3 (0.726)＞P1 (0.653)＞P5 (0.628). Tr was significantly positively correlated with the daily maximum temperature (Tmax), daily mean solar radiation (SR), daily mean saturated vapor pressure deficit (VPD), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and daily mean soil water potential (Ψ), but negatively correlated with the daily mean air relative humidity (RH), daily precipitation (P), and daily minimum temperature (Tmin). According to the upper boundary line ana-lysis, significant differences were found in the degree of Tr responding to each single environmental factor among slope positions. The degree of its responses gradually decreased for average daily air temperature (T), RH, VPD, PET and Ψ, whereas increased for the SR and daily average volumetric soil water content (VSM) from the upper position to the lower. Results from regression and partial correlation analysis showed that variation of Tr was mainly controlled by VPD, PET and RH in different slope positions. Tr was also strongly affected by Ψ and T in the upper-slope positions and by SR, Tmin and VSM at the lower-slope positions. Generally, the Tr difference among slope positions was a consequence of joint contributions of soil water and meteorological factors. It is necessary to consider the changes of soil water and meteorological factors in different positions along the slope when examining slope-scale or watershed-scale forest transpiration with sap flow estimated from xylem sap flux density measurements of a particular plot.

Simultaneous VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR testing of ALK status in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer patients and response to crizotinib.

BACKGROUND: ALK rearrangement-advanced NSCLC patients respond to crizotinib. ALK rearrangement is currently determined with RT-PCR. VENTANA IHC is a standard method to identify ALK protein overexpression in NSCLC; however, VENTANA IHC has rarely been used to determine the response to crizotinib in Chinese patients with NSCLC and ALK overexpression. To better clarify the clinical implication of VENTANA IHC to detect ALK rearrangements, we conducted this study to analyze VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR in a large cohort of Chinese patients with NSCLC undergoing screening for ALK rearrangements. METHODS: A total of 1720 patients with NSCLC who had ALK rearrangements detected by VENTANA IHC and/or RT-PCR were included in this analysis. We compared the efficacy and survival of ALK-positive patients detected by VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR. We used NGS to identify patients in whom the two methods were inconsistent. RESULTS: Among 1720 patients, 187 (10.87%) were shown to be ALK-positive by VENTANA IHC and/or RT-PCR, and 66 received crizotinib treatment. We identified 10.27% (172/1674) of patients as ALK-positive by the VENTANA IHC method, and 12.73% (41/322) of patients had ALK rearrangements by the RT-PCR method. Twenty-nine of 276 (10.51%) ALK-positive patients were simultaneously analyzed using VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR. The overall response rates were 65.90% (29/44) by VENTANA IHC and 55.88% (19/34) by RT-PCR. The disease control rates were 86.36% (38/44) by VENTANA IHC and 76.47% (26/34) by RT-PCR. In contrast, the median progression-free survival for VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR was 8.5 and 9.2 months, respectively. The VENTANA IHC and RT-PCR results obtained for 6 of 17 ALK-positive patients were inconsistent based on NGS; specifically, 4 patients had EML4-ALK fusions, 2 patients had non EML4-ALK fusions, 1 patient had a KCL1-ALK fusion, and one patient had a FBXO36-ALK fusion. CONCLUSIONS: VENTANA IHC is a reliable and rapid screening tool used in routine pathologic laboratories for the identification of suitable candidates for ALK-targeted therapy. VENTANA IHC has moderate sensitivity and a slightly higher association with response to therapy with ALK inhibitors, and some VENTANA IHC-positive, but RT-PCR-negative cases may benefit from crizotinib.

Epigallocatechin gallate from green tea exhibits potent anticancer effects in A-549 non-small lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell migration.

PURPOSE: Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is considered as a rich source of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which has been shown to exert impressive pharmacological properties. The anticancer properties of EGCG have been extensively studied however, its anticancer activity has not been explored in lung cancer. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of EGCG against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A-549 and normal human fibroblast FR-2 cells. METHODS: Cell viability was assessed by CCK8 assay, apoptosis by DAPI, annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) and flowcytometery and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. Cell migration capacity was investigated by wound-healing assay and protein expression was examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The results revealed that EGCC could inhibit the proliferation of A-549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited an IC50 of 25 µM against the IC50 of 100 µM against the normal human fibroblasts. Further evaluation revealed that EGCG exerts its anticancer effects via induction of apoptosis, modulation of Bax/blc-2 ratio and by triggering G2/M cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, EGCG could also inhibit the migration of A5-49 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, based on our results, we believe that EGCG could prove to be an important lead molecule for the treatment of lung cancer.

[Elevation of some serum liver enzymes in coke oven workers and the possible relationship with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the dose-response relationship between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the elevation of some serum liver enzymes in coke oven workers. METHODS: Cumulative exposure level of total 16 PAHs (CEL-PAHs) and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) concentrations were assessed, liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined between coke oven workers and non-occupational PAHs exposed workers with negative hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg). RESULTS: The exposure levels of PAHs in coke oven workers were significantly higher than in control group (P < 0.05). Compared with referents, significant elevation of serum ALT can be found in the group of CEL-PAHs minor than 50 microg/(m3 x a) or in the group of urinary 1-OHP concentrations minor than 2.3 micromol/mol creatinine, as well as significant elevation of serum AST in the group of CEL-PAHs minor than 50 microg/(m3 x a) (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the elevation of enzyme level in all four serum liver and the higher prevalence of abnormal serum ALT, AST and GGT level can be found both in the group of CEL-PAHs higher than 200 microg/(m3 x a) and in the group of urinary 1-OHP concentrations higher than 10.0 micromol/mol creatinine (P < 0.05), especially for the elevation of enzyme level in serum GGT (10-fold increase in CEL-PAHs resulted in 1.24-fold increase in serum GGT, as well as 10-fold increase in urinary 1-OHP resulted in 1.19-fold increase) and higher prevalence in serum GGT (logistic analysis: adjusted Odds Ratio: 6.2 - 7.2, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The elevation of some liver enzymes in coke oven workers may be related to their high exposure level of PAHs.