Four new pregnane glycosides from Gymnema latifolium and their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities.

Four new pregnane glycosides, gymlatifosides A - D (1 - 4) and one known pregnane glycoside, verticilloside J (5) were isolated from the leaves of Gymnema latifolium Wall. ex Wight. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and in comparison with the reported data. All these compounds were tested for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities. Compound 5 exhibited the most anti α-glucosidase activity with inhibitory percentage of 37.8 ± 1.5% at the concentration of 200 µM. Compounds 1-4 showed moderate anti α-glucosidase activity with inhibitory percentage ranging from 7.0 to 30.1%. In addition, all compounds 1-5 showed moderate/weak anti α-amylase activity in the investigated test.

Topical Review: Molecular reaction and solvation visualized by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering: Structure, dynamics, and their solvent dependence.

Time-resolved X-ray solution scattering is sensitive to global molecular structure and can track the dynamics of chemical reactions. In this article, we review our recent studies on triiodide ion (I3 (-)) and molecular iodine (I2) in solution. For I3 (-), we elucidated the excitation wavelength-dependent photochemistry and the solvent-dependent ground-state structure. For I2, by combining time-slicing scheme and deconvolution data analysis, we mapped out the progression of geminate recombination and the associated structural change in the solvent cage. With the aid of X-ray free electron lasers, even clearer observation of ultrafast chemical events will be made possible in the near future.

E-cadherin expression in early gastric carcinoma and correlation with lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal expression of E-cadherin plays an important role in the differentiation and progression of gastric carcinoma. However, the relationship between molecular changes in E-cadherin and metastasis in early gastric carcinoma (EGC) is poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty cases of EGC with or without lymph node metastasis (30 node-positive cases and 30 node-negative cases) were investigated to evaluate hypermethylation status using bisulfate-MSP and immunohistochemistry using antibody against E-cadherin. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (45.0%) of 60 primary EGCs exhibited methylation in the CpG island of E-cadherin. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with patient age, tumor size, Lauren classification, differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, two factors were independent, statistically significant parameters associated with lymph node metastasis: abnormal expression of E-cadherin (risk ratio, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.917-7.457; P < 0.05) and lymphatic invasion (risk ratio, 8.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.612-40.766; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that methylation of E-cadherin is a frequent, early event in gastric carcinoma progression, and is correlated significantly with downregulated E-cadherin expression. Inactivation of E-cadherin might be involved in metastasis in EGC and play an important role in microscopic differentiation.