Citrinadin C, a new cytotoxic pentacyclic alkaloid from marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum.

A new cytotoxic pentacyclic alkaloid, citrinadin C (1), together with four known compounds (2-5), were isolated from deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum. The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and Mass spectroscopic data, and its absolute configuration was determined by CD spectrum. All the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. Compound 1 showed cytotoxic activities against human liver cancer cell line MHCC97H, with IC50 value of 16.7 µM. Compound 4 displayed significant antibacterial activity against phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris, with MIC value of 25 µM.

Clinical significance of the low expression of FER1L4 in gastric cancer patients.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a new class of regulative non-coding RNA, with a length larger than 200 nucleotides. Recent studies found that there are close relations between disregulative lncRNAs and human tumors. However, the clinical significances are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the lncRNA-Fer-1-like protein 4 (FER1L4) level in gastric cancer tissues and plasma. The FER1L4 level in human tissues and plasma were measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Then, the correlations between the tissue or plasma FER1L4 levels and clinicopathological factors were assessed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed for differentiating GC patients from controls. Compared to matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues, FER1L4 expression levels in 91.80 % (56/61) of gastric cancer tissues are significantly decreased. The low FER1L4 level were associated with tumor size (p < 0.001), histologic grade (p = 0.001), general classification (p < 0.001), depth of invasion (p < 0.001), lymphatic metastasis (p < 0.001), distant metastasis (p = 0.003), TNM stage (p < 0.001), vessel or nerve invasion (p < 0.001 or p = 0.003), and serum CA72-4 (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was up to 0.778 (p < 0.001) and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.2 and 80.3 %, respectively. Also, plasma FER1L4 was detected by qRT-PCR. Our data show that there was no difference of plasma FER1L4 level between healthy person and preoperative gastric cancer patients, with a sharp decline in 63.9 % (53/83) of gastric cancer patients 2 weeks after surgery (p = 0.028). Taken together, FER1L4 might play a crucial role in human gastric cancer and may be a new potential biomarker for clinical prognosis evaluation.

Gasless single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery has received increasing attention recently. This report describes a novel technique for single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: From August 2008 to October 2009, 69 consecutive patients with acute appendicitis underwent gasless single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy under epidural anesthesia at our department. An approximately 1.8-cm-long incision was made at McBurney's point. Once the abdominal wall was entered, an abdominal wall lifting device was employed in the right lower quadrant to lift up the abdominal wall to establish the operating space. Appendectomies were accomplished by use of three techniques: extracorporeally, combined extra- and intracorporeally, and intracorporeally. A drainage tube was inserted in right iliac fossa through the small incision when severe inflammation at the base of appendix or local peritonitis was present at time of operation. RESULTS: Of the 69 patients, 66 underwent successful gasless single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy. In the remaining three patients the procedure was converted to open by extending the length of the incision at McBurney's point. Average operative time was 51 min (range 38-72 min). Abdominal cavity was drained in four patients. Patients resumed mobility within 24 h postoperatively. No complications occurred intraoperatively. Postoperative complication occurred in two patients: localized abscess in one, and wound infection in another; both were treated successfully with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Appendectomy can be safely performed through gasless single-incision laparoscopic surgery. Further study is required to investigate any potential advantage of this method over conventional laparoscopic techniques.