Characterization of the volatile profile and its estrogenic activity in Kadsura coccinea fruit.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The fruit of Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith is an ethnomedicine used to treat abnormal menstruation, menopausal syndrome, and female infertility among the Dong Nationality in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aimed to identify the volatile oil profiles of the K. coccinea fruit and elucidate their estrogenic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peel volatile oil (PeO), pulp volatile oil (PuO), and seed volatile oil (SeO) of K. coccinea were extracted using hydrodistillation and qualitatively analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Estrogenic activity was evaluated in vitro using cell assay and in vivo using immature female rats. Serum 17ß-Estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were detected using ELISA. RESULTS: In total, 46 PeO, 27 PuO, and 42 SeO components representing 89.96%, 90.19%, and 97% of the total composition, respectively, were identified. The compounds with the highest content in PeO, PuO, and SeO were ß-caryophyllene, γ-amorphene, and n-hexadecanoic acid, respectively. PeO induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells with an EC50 of 7.40 µg/mL. Subcutaneous administration of 10 mg/kg PeO significantly increased the weight of the uteri in immature female rats, with no effect on serum E2 and FSH levels. PeO acted as an agonist of ERα and ERß. PuO and SeO showed no estrogenic activity. CONCLUSION: The chemical compositions of PeO, PuO, and SeO of K. coccinea are different. PeO is the main effective fraction for estrogenic activities, providing a new source of phytoestrogen for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia: an analysis of 63 cases by chest CT.

BACKGROUND: In early April 2009, cases of human infection with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus were identified in Mexico. The virus then spread rapidly to other regions of the world. From October 2009, sporadic imported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) were continuously confirmed in Suzhou. The aim of the study was to review the chest CT findings in 63 patients with laboratory-confirmed novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) infection. METHODS: Chest CT examinations were collected from 63 S-OIV infected patients during their hospital stay. Three experienced radiologists inspected images to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize S-OIV induced image changes. CT scores of lesion severity were calculated based on the percentage of affected area to determine severity of infectious lesions. Patients were divided into two groups based on the leukocyte counts. Lesion patterns, local distributions, and quantitative measures were investigated and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Various degrees of bilateral multifocal lesions of ground-glass opacities were found with or without consolidations on the chest CT images. The lesions were both bronchocentric and centrilobular. Patients with elevated leukocyte counts had more extensive lesions, in terms of severity and affected area, than the patients with normal leukocyte counts. The lesion severity scores of patients in the elevated leukocyte group were significantly higher than those of the normal leukocyte group in terms of the entire lung area (P < 0.01), and upper (P < 0.05) and lower (P < 0.01) lobes as well. There were changes in the CT characteristics seen at follow-up as demonstrated by lesions absorption (P < 0.01), especially in the upper lobe of the lung (P < 0.01), but less so in the middle lobe/lingual and lower lobe of the lung (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The most common CT findings in S-OIV infection patients were bilateral multifocal distributed ground-glass opacities and consolidations. The lesions were located dominantly at bronchocentric and centrilobular areas. Lung lesions were more obviously absorbed in upper lobes between two examinations. The observations and analysis from this study provide information that may be useful in image understanding and patient management for future pandemic influenza.