[Histiocyte-rich rhabdomyoblastic tumor: a clinicopathological and molecular genetic analysis].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic characteristics, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of histiocyte-rich rhabdomyoblastic tumor (HRRMT). Methods: The clinical data of two cases of HRRMT diagnosed in Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated People's Hospital from 2020 to 2021 were collected. Histopathology and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were used to assess morphological changes; the genetic changes were analyzed with next-generation sequencing. The relevant literature was reviewed. Results: Both cases showed well-defined solid nodules and soft masses. Microscopically, the tumors had a fibrous pseudocapsule with lymphocytic aggregation, and locally invaded the surrounding skeletal muscle tissue, and the tumor cells were fusiform to epithelioid with an intensive foamy histiocytic infiltrate. No necrosis or mitosis was observed. Immunophenotyping showed the tumor cells were positive for desmin, either one or both skeletal muscle markers (myogenin or MyoD1), and negative for h-caldesmon, ALK and SMA. The Ki-67 index was<5%. Using next-generation sequencing, one case was found to harbour KRAS (G12D) and MSH3 (Q470*) mutations. Conclusions: HRRMT is a newly described skeletal muscle tumor with uncertain malignant potential. Its diagnosis and differential diagnosis depend on morphologic and IHC staining. No specific molecular genetics changes have been identified so far.

Observation of three-component fermions in the topological semimetal molybdenum phosphide.

In quantum field theory, Lorentz invariance leads to three types of fermion-Dirac, Weyl and Majorana. Although the existence of Weyl and Majorana fermions as elementary particles in high-energy physics is debated, all three types of fermion have been proposed to exist as low-energy, long-wavelength quasiparticle excitations in condensed-matter systems. The existence of Dirac and Weyl fermions in condensed-matter systems has been confirmed experimentally, and that of Majorana fermions is supported by various experiments. However, in condensed-matter systems, fermions in crystals are constrained by the symmetries of the 230 crystal space groups rather than by Lorentz invariance, giving rise to the possibility of finding other types of fermionic excitation that have no counterparts in high-energy physics. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to demonstrate the existence of a triply degenerate point in the electronic structure of crystalline molybdenum phosphide. Quasiparticle excitations near a triply degenerate point are three-component fermions, beyond the conventional Dirac-Weyl-Majorana classification, which attributes Dirac and Weyl fermions to four- and two-fold degenerate points, respectively. We also observe pairs of Weyl points in the bulk electronic structure of the crystal that coexist with the three-component fermions. This material thus represents a platform for studying the interplay between different types of fermions. Our experimental discovery opens up a way of exploring the new physics of unconventional fermions in condensed-matter systems.

Protective effect of thymoquinone on cholestatic rats with liver injury.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of thymoquinone treatment on cholestatic rats with liver injury. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups: normal control, bile duct ligation model control, low-dose thymoquinone (25 mg/kg), and high-dose thymoquinone (50 mg/kg). Thymoquinone gavage was administered continuously 3 days before bile duct ligation, and saline, at the same volume, was administered to the control group. The rats were sacrificed after 2 weeks of treatment, and the liver tissues were obtained and frozen. The contents of hydroxyproline (HP), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the homogenate of the liver tissues were determined to evaluate the changes in hepatic tissue pathology by fibrosis scoring. The HP and MDA levels were significantly lower and the SOD and GPx levels were significantly higher in the thymoquinone-treatment group than the corresponding levels in the model control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent. The hepatic necrosis areas and hepatic fibrosis scores of the thymoquinone-treatment groups were significantly lower than those of the model group (P < 0.05). Thymoquinone increased the antioxidative capacity of liver and reduced the oxidative stress damage to the liver. Thymoquinone can be used as a liver protectant in patients with cholestasis.

Reversal of multidrug resistance in human breast cancer cells by Curcuma wenyujin and Chrysanthemum indicum.

The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) is a big challenge to cancer chemotherapy. Plant-derived agents have great potential to prevent onset or delay progression of the carcinogenic process, and enhance the efficacy of mainstream antitumor agents. In this study, fractionated extracts of Curcuma wenyujin and Chrysanthemum indicum were tested for their potential to modulate the MDR phenotype and function of P-gp in MCF-7/ADR and A549/Taxol cells in vitro. Fractions C. wenyujin C10, E10 from Curcuma wenyujin, and C. indicum E10 from Chrysanthemum indicum, exhibited significant effects in sensitization of these resistant cancer cells at non-toxic concentration to doxorubicin and docetaxel by MTT method. They also increased the intracellular doxorubicin accumulation and retention in MCF-7/ADR cells. In mechanism study, an increase of Rh123 accumulation and a decrease of Rh123 efflux were observed in MCF-7/ADR cells treated with these fractions, indicating a blockage of the activity of P-gp. Furthermore, C. wenyujin C10 had the ability to down-regulate the expression of P-gp. All these fractions could enhance the apoptosis induced by doxorubicin in MCF-7/ADR cells, and restore the effect of docetaxel on the induction of G2/M arrest in A549/Taxol cells. C. wenyujin C10 and E10 also owned the ability to induce S phase arrest. These results showed the therapeutic value of the three fractions as potential MDR-reversing agents and warranted further investigations.

Potential antidepressant properties of Radix Polygalae (Yuan Zhi).

Radix Polygalae ("Yuan Zhi", the roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., YZ) is an important herb used in traditional Chinese medicine to mediate depression. The present study was designed to verify the antidepressant effects of the standardized YZ ethanol extract (YZE) and its four fractions YZ-30, YZ-50, YZ-70 and YZ-90 on the tail suspension (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). Furthermore, the standardization of the fractions obtained from the separation procedures was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fingerprint. The YZ-50 fraction (Oligosaccharide esters--enriched, oral (200 mg/kg) showed a significant anti-immobility like effects. The data of YZ-50 on the corticosterone-induced injure of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell indicated that YZ-50 may have biological effects on neuroprotection. Proliferation of cell lines was assessed by dimethylthiazoldiphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays. It was found that YZ-50 and its two bioactive compounds, 3,6'-di-o-sinapoyl-sucrose (DISS) and tenuifoliside A(TEA) showed protection activities in SY5Y cells from the lesion. By using bioassay-screening methods, our results indicate that the presence of oligosaccharide esters such as DISS and TEA in this herb may be responsible for the cytoprotective activity effects.

Delavayol, a novel sesquiterpene from Incarvillea delavayi Bureau et Franchet.

To investigate the chemical constituents from Incarvillea delavayi Bureau et Franchet, a new sesquiterpene, named delavayol, together with three known ones, was isolated by column chromatography. Spectroscopic and chemical evidence revealed the structures to be 8beta,9beta-dihydroxy-1(10)-eremophiliene-11,12-diol (1), oleanolic acid (2), myrianthic acid (3), and sitoindoside I (4). Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from the genus Incarvillea for the first time.

Simultaneous determination of nine saponins from Panax notoginseng using HPLC and pressurized liquid extraction.

A HPLC and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine saponins, including notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3 and Rd in Panax notoginseng. The analysis was performed on C18 column with water-acetonitrile gradient elution and the investigated saponins were authenticated by comparing retention time and mass spectra with their reference compounds. Several methods including PLE, ultrasonication, soxhlet extraction and immersion were used for sample preparation and their extraction efficiency was compared. The results showed that PLE has the highest extraction efficiency and repeatability, which would be valuable on standardization of sample preparation for quality control of Chinese medicines. The developed HPLC and PLE is an effective approach for simultaneously quantitative determination of sapoinins in P. notoginseng, which could be used for quality control of P. notoginseng and its preparations.

Stachyose extract from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. to lower plasma glucose in normal and diabetic rats by oral administration.

The hypoglycemic effects of water extract and stachyose extract (Part III) from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. were investigated in this paper by oral administration to normal, glucose- and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results showed that Part III had the effect of lowering fasted plasma glucose level and partially preventing hyperglycemia induced by glucose (2.5 g x kg(-1), i.p.) and adrenaline (300 microg x kg(-1), i.p.), respectively, but no obvious dose-dependent effect was found when it was administered at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg x kg(-1) for 6 days, i.g. In alloxan-induced diabetic rats, Part III (200 mg x kg(-1) for 15 days, i.g.) gave a significant decrease in blood glucose level. The results suggested that Part III, which is mainly composed of stachyose from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., had a significant hypoglycemic effect in glucose- and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Two new compounds from Peucedanum decursivum.

Two new compounds, decuroside VI (1) and decursidate (2), were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum decursivum. Their structures were elucidated as 6'-O-crotonyl-nodakenin and 2-[4'-hydroxyphenyl]-glycol mono trans-ferulate on the basis of spectral analyses and chemical methods.

[Studies on chemical constituents from the herb of Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Peucedanum decursivum commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. METHOD: Compounds were separated by solvent extraction and column chromatography with silica gel and structures were elucidated by chemical evidence and spectral analysis. RESULT: Seven compounds were identified as imperatorin, deltoin, columbianadin, beta-sitosterol, scopoletin, (+)-trans-decursidinol and daucosterol. CONCLUSION: All the compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

[Chemical constituents of Peucedanum decursivum].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Peucedanum decursivum. METHODS: Various column chromatographies with silica gel and HPLC were employed for the isolation and purification. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on basis of spectral analyses and chemical methods. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. 1 is 3'(S)-hydroxy-4' (R)-angeloyloxy-3',4'-dihydroxanthyletin, named Decursitin D; 2 is 3'(S)-acetoxy-4'(R)-hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroxanthyletin, named decurstin F; the others are 3'(S)-acetoxy-4'(R)-angeloyloxy-3', 4'-dihydroxanthyletin (3), Pd-C-IV (4), Pd-C-II (5), (+)-3'S-decursinol (6) and (+)-trans-decursidinol (7). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, while compounds 6 and 7 were isolated from Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constituents of roots of Euphorbia pekinensis].

Nine compounds were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., a traditional Chinese medicine. By combination of chemical methods and spectral analyses, the structures of the compounds were identified as lanosterol (I), octadecanyl-3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzeneacrylate (II), beta-sitosterol (III), 7-hydroxycoumarin (IV), 2, 2'-dimethoxy-3, 3'-dihydroxy-5, 5'-oxygen-6, 6'-biphenylformic anhydride (V), d-pinoresinol (VI), quercetin (VII), 3, 4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (VIII) and 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (IX). II and V are new compounds which have not been reported in the literature. The other compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. VI is a lignan which was first isolated from the plants of genus of Euphorbia.

[The isolation and identification of qianhucoumarin B and qianhucoumarin C from Peucedanum praeruptorum].

Five compounds were isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Qianhu, roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum. Their structures were identified as 3'-angeloyloxykhellactone (IX), qianhucoumarin B (X), qianhucoumarin C (XI), Pd-III (XIII) and peucedanocoumarin III (XV). Among them, X and XI are new compounds, their absolute configurations were elucidated by chemical correlation with khellactones, as 3'(S)-acetoxy-4'(S)-hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroseselin(X) and 3'(S)-hydroxy-4'(S)-acetoxy-3',4'-dihydroseselin (XI). Compound IX was isolated from plants for the first time.

[Isolation and structure elucidation of qianhucoumarin A].

Seven compounds were isolated from the traditional Chinese Medicine Qianhu, roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Their structures were identified as psoralen (II), 5-methoxypsoralen (III), 8-methoxypsoralen (IV), pteryxin (V), peucedanocoumarin II (VI), beta-sitosterol (VII) and qianhucoumarin A (VIII) by physico-chemical constants and spectral analyses (UV, IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, EIMS). VIII is a new compound with the structure of 3'(R)-hydroxy-4'(R)-tigloyloxy-3',4'-dihydroseslin. Its absolute configurations were determined by chemical correlation with known compounds. II, III, IV and VII were first isolated from this plant.