A New Xanthone Glycoside from the Endolichenic Fungus Sporormiella irregularis.

A new xanthone glycoside, sporormielloside (1), was isolated from an EtOAc extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Sporormiella irregularis (No. 71-11-4-1), along with two known xanthones (2, 3). Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis (IR, MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR), a chemical method, and a comparison of NMR data with closely related compounds previously reported. According to the structures of isolated compounds, their plausible biosynthetic pathway was deduced.

Antitumor Effects and Mechanism of Novel Emodin Rhamnoside Derivatives against Human Cancer Cells In Vitro.

A series of novel anthracene L-rhamnopyranosides compounds were designed and synthesized and their anti-proliferative activities on cancer cell lines were investigated. We found that one derivative S-8 (EM-d-Rha) strongly inhibited cell proliferation of a panel of different human cancer cell lines including A549, HepG2, OVCAR-3, HeLa and K562 and SGC-790 cell lines, and displayed IC50 values in low micro-molar ranges, which are ten folds more effective than emodin. In addition, we found EM-d-Rha (3-(2",3"-Di-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-2',3'-di-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-emodin) substantially induced cellular apoptosis of HepG2 and OVCAR-3 cells in the early growth stage. Furthermore, EM-d-Rha led to the decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and up-regulated the express of cells apoptosis factors in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The results indicated the EM-d-Rha may inhibit the growth and proliferation of HepG2 cells through the pathway of apoptosis induction, and the possible molecular mechanism may due to the activation of intrinsic apoptotic signal pathway.

[Effects of airborne fine particulate matter on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function].

OBJECTIVE: to explore effects of airborne fine particulate matter exposure on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. METHODS: one hundred and seven field traffic policemen were recruited as airborne fine particulate matter high-exposure group and one hundred and one male residents as common exposure group. The individual sampler was used to measure fine particulate matter exposure levels of the two groups. To obtain personal information, especially respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, etc. a questionnaire survey was used. The pulmonary ventilation function was detected: forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), the first 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), FVC/FEV1.0% and peak flow values (PEF), and the difference of fine particulate matter exposure level and respiratory function of the two groups was compared. RESULTS: 24 h individual average fine particulate matter exposure concentration of traffic police and residents were respectively (115.4 ± 46.17) microg/m(3) and (74.94 ± 40.09) microg/m(3), the traffic police PM2.5 exposure levels were significantly higher than the residents. In the incidence of respiratory symptoms, compared with high-exposure group and common exposure group, coughing, expectoration, throat unwell, asthma, short of breath and nose discomfort, traffic police group was higher than residents group (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of lung ventilation function indexes, such as FVC and FEV1.0 was 25.23% and 12.15% respectively in high-exposure group, 11.88% and 2.97% in common exposure group, there was no statistical difference between two groups. Besides, the abnormal rate of FVC and FEV1.0, showed rising trend in high-exposure group with seniority. CONCLUSION: long-term higher levels of airborne fine particulate matter exposure, may impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function.

[Epidemiological study on traffic accident in Shanghai from 2000 to 2002].

OBJECTIVE: Data on traffic accident from year 2000 to 2002 were collected and testified. Epidemiological study was carried out to find the main risk factors of traffic accident. METHODS: The spatial distribution was conducted by means of Geographic Information System (GIS) and were marked on Shanghai digitalized map with different layers by different colors. RESULTS: Results showed that during 2000, 2001 and 2002, 69,669 , 68,894, and 47,088 traffic accident episodes occurred in Shanghai, resulting in 1747, 1724, 1557 deaths respectively with direct economic lost: 2.1, 2.4, 3.0 billion RMB. The main risk factors causing traffic accident deaths would include drinking alcohol before driving, fatigue and speeding. The leading causes of death were head injury and complex injury of body. GIS showed that there was a homocentric circle with more traffic accidents in downtown city, but more deaths in the urban city. Disease burden caused by traffic accident was very heavy. CONCLUSION: In Shanghai, traffic accident has great impact on social and economic issues thus should be controlled effectively. Focus should be layed on control of traffic accident in downtown area and to decrease the number of deaths related to traffic accident in the urban area.