New Sesquiterpenenoids from Ainsliaea yunnanensis.

Investigation of the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Ainsliaea yunnanensis led to the isolation of four new dimeric sesquiterpene lactones, ainsliadimer F-I (1-4), together with seven known dimeric sesquiterpene lactones (5-11) and ten sesquiterpenes (12-21). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The relative stereochemistry of ainsliadimer F was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1-21 were tested for the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the 293-NF-κB-luciferase reporter cell line induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Compounds 5, 18, 20 and 21 were further tested for the production of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10 in RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by LPS. Compounds 5, 18, 20 and 21 exhibited significant activity in anti-inflammatory activity assays.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Circulating Tumor Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several techniques have been developed to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but their diagnostic and prognostic value are not yet fully established. A computerized retrieval of literatures was conducted without time restrictions using the electronic database in December 2014. Diagnostic accuracy variables were pooled and analyzed by the Meta-DiSc software. Engauge Digitizer and Stata software were used for pooled survival analysis. Twenty-two retrieved studies were eligible for systematic review, of which 9 conformed for the diagnostic test meta-analysis and 5 for the prognostic analysis. Subgroup analysis showed 24.6% pooled sensitivity and 100% pooled specificity of detections by using positive selection strategy, which moreover presented low heterogeneity. The presence of CTC was significantly associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS, HR 4.62, 95% CI 2.51-8.52). In conclusion, current evidence identifies the CTC detection assay as an extremely specific, but low sensitive test in HNSCC. Also, the presence of CTC indicates a worse DFS.

[Association of vascular endothelial growth factor 936C/T polymorphism and the susceptibility to colorectal adenoma].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)1498 C/T,936 C/T and colorectal adenoma genetic susceptibility. METHODS: A case-control study of 224 colorectal adenomas and 200 controls was conducted and VEGF genotypes were determined based on TaqMan-probe assay. The epidemiological factors were collected through questionnaire. Accordingly, the clinicopathological data of each sample were also investigated. RESULTS: The carriage of 936 CT and CT+TT genotypes had significantly higher risk of colorectal adenoma (CT vs. CC, OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.23-3.25, P=0.006; CT+TT vs. CC, OR=2.04, 95% CI:1.28-3.26, P=0.003). 936-T allele carriage had increased risk of colorectal adenoma (OR=1.91, 95% CI:1.25-2.91, P=0.003). The genotypes of 1498 C/T and the frequency of C/T allele showed no differences between healthy persons and patients (P>0.05). In patients with 936 CT+TT and 936-T allele implied a tendency of villous adenoma category (CT+TT vs. CC, OR=2.54, 95% CI:1.12-5.75, P=0.040; T allele vs. C allele, OR=3.08, 95% CI, 1.64-5.80, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: VEGF 936 C/T polymorphism can influence susceptibility to colorectal adenoma.