[Efficacy observation and compliance analysis of pollen allergen drops in seasonal allergic rhinitis].

To study the efficacy and compliance analysis of pollen allergen drops in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The method of single-center controlled was used to analyze the dates' results. From July 2021 to September 2021, 80 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were referred to the clinic of otorhinolaryngology in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University.40 patients received sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT group), and the other 40 patients received symptomatic drug treatment as the control group. The total rhinoconjunctivitis symptom score (TRSS), the visual analogue scale(VAS), total medication score (TMS) and combined scores of medication and rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms (CSMRS) of the patient before the start of the treatment and after the first year of the treatment were compared to assess the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy of Artemisia pollen. Follow the shedding during the study, the safety of the drug and the causes for compliance analysis were analyzed and recorded. The results of comparison with TRSS, VAS, TMS and CSMRS in two groups in the period of pretherapy were as follows: TRSS(12.393±3.023, 12.450±3.029, t=-0.077, P=0.939), VAS(8.357±1.026, 8.400±0.982, t=-0.173, P=0.862), TMS(3.214±0.568, 3.175±0.501, t=0.301, P=0.764), CSMRS (5.286±0.680, 5.253±0.677, t=0.199, P=0.843), there was no significant difference (P>0.05); lower observed symptom scores were got in the post-treatment pollen peak SLIT group compared to the control group, TRSS(3.964±1.551, 7.750±2.169, t=-7.918, P<0.05), VAS(2.893±0.956, 5.175±1.481, t=-8.286, P<0.05), TMS (1.821±0.863, 3.175±0.501, t=-8.163, P<0.05), CSMRS (2.489±0.921, 4.468±0.601, t=-10.723, P<0.05), and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (P<0.05); the SLIT group significantly reduced all symptom scores at the first peak compared to the starting, TRSS(12.393±3.023, 3.964±1.551, t=20.576, P<0.05), VAS (8.357±1.026, 2.893±0.956, t=30.070, P<0.05), TMS (3.214±0.568, 1.821±0.863, t=7.151, P<0.05), CSMRS(5.286±0.680, 2.489±0.921, t=14.533, P<0.05) and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions occured during medication in the SLIT group. A total of 12 cases were shed in the SLIT group, so the compliance rate was 70%. The four reasons were that patients considered the course was long (4 cases, 33%); the drugs were expensive (3 cases, 25%); patients were busy with their work and life (3 cases, 25%); patients were affected by the outbreak (2 cases, 17%). In summary, Artemisia pollen sublingual drops may improve the symptoms of the patients who got allergic rhinitis caused by Artemisia pollen after the treatment for one year. However, due to the lack of sufficient understanding of immunotherapy or the difficulty in adhering to standardized medication, the compliance with sublingual immunotherapy is still poor, the compliance with sublingual immunotherapy needs to be further improved through patient education.

Effects of essential oil/palygorskite composite on performance, egg quality, plasma biochemistry, oxidation status, immune response and intestinal morphology of laying hens.

The current study aimed to assess the effects of different levels of essential oil/palygorskite composite (EO-PGS) supplementation on performance, egg quality, oxidative status, immunity and intestinal morphology of laying hens. A total of 480 laying hens aged 65 wk were randomly assigned into 4 groups (6 replicates of 20 hens each). Hens were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control diet), 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 g/kg EO-PGS for 56 d. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA. Results showed that birds fed with diet supplemented with EO-PGS had increased the egg production (P < 0.05) more than birds fed with control diet. The yolk index and shell thickness were increased in 0.75 and 1.0 g/kg EO-PGS groups at d56 (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma biochemical parameters among all groups. Compared with the control group, supplementation of EO-PGS increased the immunoglobulin-G and interleukin-2 levels in plasma (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity in plasma and liver, the plasma catalase concentration, the activity of total superoxide dismutase in the liver and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the spleen were increased in the EO-PGS groups (P < 0.05). The concentration of malondialdehyde in the liver was decreased with the increasing level of EO-PGS (P < 0.05). The crypt depth of ileum and duodenum of birds fed with EO-PGS supplemented diet had a tendency to decrease (0.05

Structural determination of arginine-linked cisplatin complexes via IRMPD action spectroscopy: arginine binds to platinum via NO- binding mode.

Cisplatin, (NH3)2PtCl2, has been known as a successful metal-based anticancer drug for more than half a century. Its analogue, Argplatin, arginine-linked cisplatin, (Arg)PtCl2, is being investigated because it exhibits reactivity towards DNA and RNA that differs from that of cisplatin. In order to understand the basis for its altered reactivity, the deprotonated and sodium cationized forms of Argplatin, [(Arg-H)PtCl2]- and [(Arg)PtCl2 + Na]+, are examined by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) action spectroscopy in the IR fingerprint and hydrogen-stretching regions. Complementary electronic structure calculations are performed using density functional theory approaches to characterize the stable structures of these complexes and to predict their infrared spectra. Comparison of the theoretical IR spectra predicted for various stable conformations of these Argplatin complexes to their measured IRMPD spectra enables determination of the binding mode(s) of Arg to the Pt metal center to be identified. Arginine is found to bind to Pt in a bidentate fashion to the backbone amino nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen atoms in both the [(Arg-H)PtCl2]- and [(Arg)PtCl2 + Na]+ complexes, the NO- binding mode. The neutral side chain of Arg also interacts with the Pt center to achieve additional stabilization in the [(Arg-H)PtCl2]- complex. In contrast, Na+ binds to both chlorido ligands in the [(Arg)PtCl2 + Na]+ complex and the protonated side chain of Arg is stabilized via hydrogen-bonding interactions with the carboxylate moiety. These findings are consistent with condensed-phase results, indicating that the NO- binding mode of arginine to Pt is preserved in the electrospray ionization process even under variable pH and ionic strength.

Specific PCR-based detection of Phomopsis heveicola the cause of leaf blight of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) in China.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is currently grown in many tropical and subtropical areas countries and is a major traded commodity for the developing world. Coffee leaf blight, caused by Phomopsis heveicola, is one of the most important fungal diseases dangerous to coffee crops in China. This study aimed to develop a PCR-based diagnostic method for detecting P. heveicola in planta. Specific primers (CPHF/CPHR) were designed based on sequence data of region of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS4) of P. heveicola. The efficiency and specificity of CPHF/CPHR were established by PCR analysis of DNA from P. heveicola strains isolated from China and fungal isolates of other genera. A single amplification product of 318 bp was detected from DNA P. heveicola isolates. No amplification product was observed with any of the other fungal isolates tested. The specific primers designed and employed in PCR detected P. heveicola up to 3 pg from DNA isolated. This is the first report on the development of a species-specific PCR assay for identification and detection of P. heveicola. Thus, the PCR-based assay developed was very specific, rapid and sensitive tool for the detection of pathogen P. heveicola.

The effects and combinational effects of Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite on the intestinal health status in laying hens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects and combinational effects of Bacillus subtilis (BS) and montmorillonite (MMT) on laying performance, gut mucosal oxidation status, and intestinal immunological and physical barrier functions of laying hens. Three hundred sixty laying hens (29-week-old) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 6) for 10 wk as follows: (1) basal diet; (2) the basal diet plus 5 × 108 cfu BS/kg; (3) the basal diet plus 0.5 g MMT/kg; and (4) the basal diet plus 5 × 108 cfu BS/kg and 0.5 g MMT/kg. Dietary supplementation with BS increased egg production and egg mass, the activities of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase in the intestinal mucosa, and villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the jejunum (P < 0.05) but downregulated the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in the duodenum and jejunum, interleukin 1 beta in the duodenum, and nuclear factor kappa B P65 (NF-κB P65) and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MMT increased egg production and egg mass, the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A in the duodenum, and the occludin mRNA expression level in the jejunum (P < 0.05) but reduced feed conversion ratio, malondialdehyde concentration in the duodenum and jejunum, and the mRNA expression level of MyD88 in the jejunum (P < 0.05). In addition, there was an interaction effect between BS and MMT supplementation on the CAT activity and the MyD88 mRNA expression level in the duodenum and the mRNA expression level of occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary BS and MMT and their combination may improve the intestinal health status of laying hens, which may contribute to the increase in hens' laying performance.

Chinese herbal medicine combined with tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a tough problem in medicine. This article aims to provide the latest evidence for the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with tadalafil in treatment of erectile dysfunction. METHODS: All randomized controlled trials that Chinese herbal medicine combined with tadalafil for erectile dysfunction were included in databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Weip Database, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The quality of the included articles was evaluated using Cochrane Reviewer's Handbook 5.3, and meta-analysis was performed using Stata 13.1. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies including 451 cases in the treatment group and 452 cases in the control group were obtained. Compared with tadalafil alone, meta-analysis suggests there were statistically significant differences in International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), effective rate, Sexual Encounter Profile questions 2 and 3 (SEP-Q2, SEP-Q3) between traditional Chinese medicine combined with tadalafil, and no statistically significant differences in side effects between the two groups. All included studies were tested for publication bias, and the results indicated that there was no significant bias. Two of the articles mentioned the scheme that traditional Chinese medicine combined with low-dose tadalafil for erectile dysfunction by down stairs. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese medicine combined with tadalafil has significant efficacy in the treatment of ED with no increase in side effects. The specific implementing regulations and effect of de-escalation therapy still need more long-term, multicenter, randomized, and double-blind clinical trials.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields: promising treatment for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (OP) is considered to be a well-defined disease which results in high morbidity and mortality. In patients diagnosed with OP, low bone mass and fragile bone strength have been demonstrated to significantly increase risk of fragility fractures. To date, various anabolic and antiresorptive therapies have been applied to maintain healthy bone mass and strength. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are employed to treat patients suffering from delayed fracture healing and nonunions. Although PEMFs stimulate osteoblastogenesis, suppress osteoclastogenesis, and influence the activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and osteocytes, ultimately leading to retention of bone mass and strength. However, whether PEMFs could be taken into clinical use to treat OP is still unknown. Furthermore, the deeper signaling pathways underlying the way in which PEMFs influence OP remain unclear.

Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemoradiation for stage II-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a single institution experience.

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in China and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most prevalent histologic type. Many clinical trials have explored the value of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation therapy in potentially resectable ESCC; however, these studies have produced conflicting results. This retrospective study was performed to investigate whether patients with resectable stage II/III ESCC should receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in addition to surgery. A review of stage II/III thoracic ESCC patients who underwent esophagectomy and either neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation was performed. Chemotherapy regimen consisted of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 divided into 3 days and fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5. The patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy were treated with one cycle of chemotherapy concurrently with radiotherapy (40 Gy in 20 fractions, 5 days/week), and those receiving adjuvant therapy were treated with two cycles of chemotherapy concurrently with radiotherapy (46-50 Gy in 23-25 fractions, 5 days/week). A total of 122 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 49 underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and 73 underwent adjuvant chemoradiation. Median follow up was 36.5 months. The median survival times and 3, 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for the neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups were 39.3 versus 31.5 months, and 53.0%, 45.7% versus 42.9%, 29.7%, respectively (P = 0.091). For the patients with stage III ESCC, the median survival times and 5-year OS rates for the neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups were 39.3 versus 21.3 months, and 43.4% versus 21.0%, respectively (P = 0.021). Among lymph node-positive patients, the median survival times and 5-year OS rates for the neoadjuvant and adjuvant groups were 55.6 versus 23.7 months, and 43.0% versus 25.7%, respectively (P = 0.085). The incidence of perioperative and postoperative complications was comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). For patients with resectable stage II/III ESCC, neoadjuvant chemoradiation does not increase postoperative complications and is associated with a trend toward better OS when compared to adjuvant chemoradiation.

Characterization of porcine GAS6 cDNA gene and its expression analysis in weaned piglets.

The growth arrest-specific 6 gene (GAS6) is a member of the family of plasma vitamin K-dependent proteins, which are able to bind to phospholipids using an N-terminal gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain. A recent report has demonstrated that the GAS6 gene can promote fat deposition and is associated with an increased number of fat cells in mice. In order to investigate whether GAS6 expression is associated with meat quality in pigs, a 2382-bp cDNA sequence of the porcine GAS6 gene (GenBank accession No. KC526197) was first obtained using rapid amplification of cDNA ends from porcine longissimus dorsi tissue. One A/G single nucleotide polymorphism anchored in exon 12 was genotyped using the marker PCR-RFLP-BglI, and the G allele was dominant in the pig breeds tested. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the porcine GAS6 gene was expressed in all tissues examined in weaned male Shaziling (SZL) and Yorkshire (YS) weanling piglets, and mRNA expression of GAS6 in the longissimus dorsi tissue of SZL piglets was significantly higher than that in YS piglets (P < 0.05). The GAS6 protein was likely to be a membrane protein and was detected in longissimus dorsi tissue from SZL and YS piglets using immunohistochemistry, with an abundant protein expression index (P > 0.05). The results imply that the GAS6 gene can be considered a potential candidate for meat quality trait selection and fat deposition in pigs.

Effects of the consumption of rice from non-KBD areas and selenium supplementation on the prevention and treatment of paediatric Kaschin-Beck disease: an epidemiological intervention trial in the Qinghai Province.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the aetiological hypothesis of Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD), different interventions were adopted, and the preventive and therapeutic effects of interventions was observed and evaluated in this trial. DESIGN: A total of 358 children from seven villages of Qinghai Province in China were examined, and 280 children aged 6-11 years old were eligible for the trial. The children were divided into three groups that received either no intervention (n = 64), 150 kg/person of rice from non-KBD areas (n = 103) or 7 kg/family of selenium-iodine salt (n = 113) for 12 months. Data were collected and used to calculate the proportion of patients with X-ray lesions, the proportion of new patients and the metaphyseal repair rate. All indicators were analysed with Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. The registration number of this trial is ChiCTR-PNRC-12002309 (http://www.chictr.org). RESULTS: After interventions, the proportion of patients with X-ray lesions increased dramatically in the control group and decreased significantly in two intervention groups; significant differences were seen between the control group and two intervention groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, significant differences were observed in the proportions of new patients and the metaphyseal repair rates between the control group and two intervention groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the proportion of new patients was lowest and the metaphyseal repair rate was highest in group B. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of eating rice from non-KBD areas and selenium supplementation on the prevention and treatment of paediatric KBD were notable, the consumption of rice might be the most effective and safest intervention and should be encouraged.

Nodeless superconducting gap in A(x)Fe2Se2 (A=K,Cs) revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

Pairing symmetry is a fundamental property that characterizes a superconductor. For the iron-based high-temperature superconductors, an s(±)-wave pairing symmetry has received increasing experimental and theoretical support. More specifically, the superconducting order parameter is an isotropic s-wave type around a particular Fermi surface, but it has opposite signs between the hole Fermi surfaces at the zone centre and the electron Fermi surfaces at the zone corners. Here we report the low-energy electronic structure of the newly discovered superconductors, A(x)Fe(2)Se(2) (A=K,Cs) with a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of about 30 K. We found A(x)Fe(2)Se(2) (A=K,Cs) is the most heavily electron-doped among all iron-based superconductors. Large electron Fermi surfaces are observed around the zone corners, with an almost isotropic superconducting gap of ~10.3 meV, whereas there is no hole Fermi surface near the zone centre, which demonstrates that interband scattering or Fermi surface nesting is not a necessary ingredient for the unconventional superconductivity in iron-based superconductors. Thus, the sign change in the s(±) pairing symmetry driven by the interband scattering as suggested in many weak coupling theories becomes conceptually irrelevant in describing the superconducting state here. A more conventional s-wave pairing is probably a better description.

Lichen planus pemphigoides associated with Chinese herbs.

We report a 62-year-old Chinese woman with a 2-year history of lichen planus presenting with extensive violaceous maculopapules and plaques 1 week after taking an oral preparation of Chinese herbs. The patient developed vesiculobullous skin lesions 7 weeks later. Histopathological examination showed subepidermal blisters and adjacent bandlike lymphocytic infiltration. Direct immunofluorescence revealed linear deposits of IgG and C3 along the basement membrane zone. Indirect immunofluorescence showed IgG antibody deposition along the epidermal side of salt-split human skin. Circulating anti-bullous pemphigoid 180 antibodies were detected by ELISA. Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) was diagnosed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of LPP associated with oral Chinese herbs.

Triterpenoids from Cimicifugae rhizoma, a novel class of inhibitors on bone resorption and ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing research suggested that Cimicifugae rhizoma might be protective against osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of three cycloartane-type triterpenoids isolated from Cimicifugae rhizoma, cimicidol-3-O-beta-D-xyloside (1), cimicidanol-3-O-beta-D-xyloside (2) and acetylacteol-3-O-beta-d-xyloside (3) on bone resorption in vitro and bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. METHODS: The activities of the tested compounds on bone resorption were evaluated using three assays, neonatal mouse parietal bone organ culture, osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) formation and pit formation. The effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and uterine weight were examined using OVX mice. Using LC-MS/MS method, the serum concentrations of the triterpenoids were measured in mice serum collected at 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 12h following its oral administration. RESULTS: All of the tested compounds exerted the inhibitory effects on bone resorption in bone organ culture, suppressed both of the formation and the resorbing activity of OCLs. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed among those compounds. In vivo studies revealed that compounds 1-3 and the mixture of compounds 1-3 prevented the bone loss in OVX mice without affecting uterine weight, and each compound was detected in the mice serum after single oral administration. CONCLUSIONS: The triterpenoids exerted the inhibitory effects on osteoclastic bone resorption through the suppression of both OCLs formation and the resorbing activity of OCLs, and also showed a significant protective effect on BMD in OVX mice. The present results might provide a new pharmacological potential for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Effect of a lipopolysaccharide from E. coli on the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes in vitro.

Studies previously conducted in our laboratory have shown that an extract from the leaves of Chromo-laena odorata is mitogenic for human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. However, lipopolysaccharides, sometimes present in plant extracts, can also play a role in cell growth and might have been responsible for or contributed to the mitogenic activity observed. The present study aimed to investigate whether a lipopolysaccharide would have any effect on the proliferation of human fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Cells were seeded in 96-well plates and concentrations from 0.0 to 5.0 microg/mL of lipopolysaccharide in basal or growth medium were added. Cell growth was determined over a period of 10 days using a colorimetric assay. Lipopolysaccharide at concentrations between 0.05 microg/mL and 0.5 microg/mL in the growth medium significantly stimulated fibroblast proliferation after incubation for more than 6 days. In basal medium, more than 8 days of incubation was needed for significant stimulation of growth. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of keratinocytes was evident at 0.5 microg/mL by day 3 in basal medium and by day 5 in growth medium. Although the lipopolysaccharide did stimulate cell growth it did so only at higher concentrations than were present in our plant extracts and to a lesser degree.

Cytolytic peptides induce biphasic permeability changes in mammalian cell membranes.

The cytolytic peptides melittin and gramicidin S are naturally occurring agents that provide a comparative model for studies of complement, immunotoxin and cell-mediated membrane permeability. Most attempts to characterize cytolytic peptides have used model membrane systems including phospholipid vesicles or erythrocytes. Membrane vesicles permit the use of self-quenching concentrations of fluorescent permeability markers, while erythrocytes release measurable hemoglobin. Attempts at measuring early membrane permeability changes in nucleated mammalian cells have been limited. To measure the kinetics of mammalian cell membrane permeability changes induced by cytolytic peptides, we developed a 96-well fluorescence cytolysis assay using the cytoplasmic fluorescent dye calcein as the membrane permeability marker. To facilitate rapid assessment of membrane permeability, trypan blue was added to the assay solution to quench (a) released fluorescence and (b) retained intracellular fluorescence. Trypan blue also provided a complementary visual assessment of cell viability. Using this assay, a detailed kinetic analysis demonstrated permeability of the cell membranes within seconds of exposure to the cytolytic peptides. The rapid permeabilization of the cell membranes was confirmed by flow cytometry using the calcium indicator dye fluo-3. The assay also demonstrated a second slower phase of marker release over the next several hours. The fluorescence cytolysis assay was able to reliably detect the biphasic permeability changes associated with the melittin and gramicidin S peptides suggesting the potential utility of this assay in the assessment of other cytolytic agents.

[Genetic effects of mineral elements of Fe, Zn, Mn and P in black pericarp rice grains].

Complete diallel crosses with seven varieties of black pericarp rice were conducted in one year to analyze the genetic effects on main mineral elements of Fe, Zn, Mn and P contents in kernels of parents and their F1S and F2S, using the full genetic model including triploid endosperm, cytoplasmic and maternal effects on quantitative traits of seeds in cereal crops. The results indicated that the contents of all the four mineral elements were controlled by seed direct genetic effects, maternal genetic effects as well as by cytoplasmic effects. The seed direct genetic effects were more important than the maternal genetic effects for Fe, Zn, Mn contents, and seed direct additive effects constituted a major part of their genetic effects, whereas seed direct additive, maternal additive and dominant effects formed the main part in the inheritance of P content. The heritabilities of seed direct effects of the 4 mineral element contents were all highly significant. The estimate values of narrow heritabilites of seed direct genetic effects were high for Fe, Zn and Mn contents, while those of seed and maternal effects were intermediate for P content. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the single plant selection and single grain selection based on the seed mineral element contents of hybrid offspring.

[A probe in good agricultural practice for traditional Chinese drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To provide some scientific reference for the good agricultural practice (GAP) for traditional Chinese drugs (TCDs). METHOD: Based on an integrated analysis of the factors bearing on the output and quality of TCD along with a study on the possible pollution sources of TCDs, some initial idea concerning the research and scope of GAP has been outlined. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: GAP for TCDs should be designed to incorporate large-scale production bases, standardization of drug varieties, optimization of planting techniques, rationalization of harvesting and processing, establishment of famous brands for quality TCDs, pollution-free production and circulation, efficient coordination of production, supply and marketing, etc.

A new furofuran mono-lactone from Forsythia suspensa.

A new furofuran mono-lactone, named forsythenin, was isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa, together with the known compounds, ocotillone, ocotillol monoacetate, (6'-O-palmitoyl)-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside and palmitic acid. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and X-ray crystallography.

Effects of antitumor compounds isolated from Pteris semipinnata L on DNA topoisomerases and cell cycle of HL-60 cells.

AIM: To study the effect of the antitumor compounds 5F, 6F, and A from Pteris semipinnata L on the activities of DNA topoisomerases and cell cycle of HL-60 cells, and the synergism of compound 6F in combination with genistein in vitro. METHODS: DNA topoisomerases were isolated from HL-60 cell lines, and supercoiled pBR322 DNA was used as substrate to determine the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and II. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Cytotoxicity assay was tested by MTT method. RESULTS: Compounds 5F, 6F, and A inhibited the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and II. After exposure of the cells to compound 6F, an increase in cells in the S and G2/M phases and a decrease in cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle were observed. At low concentrations (57.8 and 115.6 nmol.L-1), compound 6F enhanced the cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line in combination with genistein, q values were > 1.15. The enhancement times of 57.8 and 115.6 nmol.L-1 of 6F by genistein were 2.60 and 4.65, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds 5F, 6F, and A inhibited the activities of DNA topoisomerases of HL-60 cells. Compound 6F increased the number of cells in S and G2/M phases, decreased the population of G0/G1 phase cells, and enhanced the cytotoxicity of genistein, which had synergism with 6F in antitumor action.