Protective effects of quercetin and hyperoside on renal fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Prevention of renal fibrosis is an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of obstructive nephropathy. The purpose of the present study was to identify whether the combination of two natural plant-derived flavanoids, quercetin and hyperoside (QH), could inhibit renal fibrosis in the model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats. QH mixtures (1:1) were fed to Wistar rats, and UUO ligation was performed on all the rats with the exception of the sham group. Masson's trichrome staining was used for interstitial fibrosis, while immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibronectin (FN). In the QH group, the expression of SMA and FN was significantly lower than that in the untreated UUO group. In addition, QH administration significantly inhibited the SMA and FN expression of mesangial cells induced by interleukin-1ß. Consequently, it was evident that combinational QH therapy prevented UUO-induced renal fibrosis. Based on these findings, the combinatorial intervention of phytomedicine may present an improved treatment strategy for renal fibrotic disease.

Coffee consumption and urologic cancer risk: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES: Controversial results were reported among several epidemiologic studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and urologic cancer risk. We, therefore, conducted this meta-analysis to clarify these associations. METHODS: Electronic databases including Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane library were searched between January 1966 and August 2013 for eligible studies. Pooled relative risk (RR) and its 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated. All P values are two tailed. RESULTS: Thirteen cohorts were eligible for inclusion. As to prostate cancer (PCa), significant reverse association was found among highest versus none/lowest analysis with acceptable heterogeneity (RR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.79-0.95; I(2) 25 %, P value for heterogeneity: 0.221). A pooled RR which assessed advanced PCa was 0.73 (with 95 % CI 0.50-1.07), and a slight stronger reverse association was found in fatal PCa. However, a slight insignificant reverse association, basing on 8 studies with 9 outcomes, was found in dose-response analysis (RR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.93-1.03). For kidney and bladder cancer, insignificant associations were found in both highest versus none/lowest analyses and dose-response analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that coffee consumption may reduce the risk of PCa. No associations were found with both bladder and kidney cancer. Further well-designed large-scaled cohort studies are warranted to provide more definitive conclusions.

Improvement of erectile function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia undergoing transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE: Although transurethral resection of the prostate remains the gold standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate has become a popular alternative. This study investigated the effects of plasmakinetic resection of the prostate on erectile function. METHODS: A total of 400 patients that underwent plasmakinetic resection of the prostate or transurethral resection of the prostate were prospectively enrolled in this study. Of these, 384 patients met the inclusion criteria. One experienced surgeon carried out all the procedures. The International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function-5, maximum flow rate and ultrasound postvoid residual volume were determined, and evaluated preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively. Prostate-specific antigen, age and prostate volume of each patient were recorded. RESULTS: The median International Index of Erectile Function-5 score of plasmakinetic resection of the prostate patients significantly increased from 8.0 (interquartile range 7.0-9.0) preoperatively to 21.0 (19.0-22.0) at 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). The score of plasmakinetic resection of the prostate patients was significantly higher than that of the transurethral resection of the prostate group (P < 0.05); however, the International Prostate Symptom Score of the plasmakinetic resection of the prostate group was not significantly different from that of the transurethral resection of the prostate group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A significant improvement in erectile function can be observed at 12 months in patients undergoing plasmakinetic resection of the prostate. Despite these encouraging findings, the effects of plasma kinetic resection of the prostate on erectile function remain to be further studied.

A comparative study of thulium laser resection of the prostate and bipolar transurethral plasmakinetic prostatectomy for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Thulium laser is a new generation of surgical laser. It is a minimally invasive technology with several advantages, including rapid vaporization and minimal tissue damage and bleeding. However, details regarding the safety and efficacy of thulium laser in treating BPH remains unknown. We performed a comparative study in 100 patients with BPH of the safety and efficacy of thulium laser resection of the prostate (TMLRP, n = 50) and bipolar transurethral plasmakinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP, n = 50). We found that the efficacy and indications were the same in TMLRP and TUPKP. In TUPKP, the morbidity of urethrostenosis was low, and was nearly bloodless in surgery and had higher safety. Nevertheless, TUPKP is more suitable for patients with larger prostate volume. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and short-term efficacy of thulium laser resection of the prostate (TMLRP) and bipolar transurethral plasmakinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP) for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with BPH were randomly divided into two groups, treated with either TMLRP (50, group 1) or TUPKP (50, group 2). There was no significant difference in preoperative variables such as age, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) between the two groups. The perioperative parameters and therapeutic effects were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the following parameters between the two groups (TMLRP vs TUPKP [mean ± SD]): operation duration, 61.2 ± 24.2 vs 30.14 ± 15.9 min; catheterization time, 1.8 ± 0.4 vs 3.2 ± 0.6 d; postoperative hospital stay, 3.3 ± 0.8 vs 4.1 ± 1.3 d. The volume of blood loss and postoperative bladder irrigation were significantly lower in TMLRP group than in the TUPKP group. At 1 month after the operation, there were four cases of urethral stricture in the TUPKP group. At 3 months after the operation, IPSS, quality of life (QoL), Qmax and PVR were significantly improved, with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: TMLRP is superior to TUPKP in terms of safety, blood loss, recovery time and complication rate, and is as efficacious as TUPKP for treating BPH. Operation duration was significantly longer in the TMLRP group than in the TUPKP group.

[Ri plasmid transformation of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and effects of some factors on growth of hairy roots].

OBJECTIVE: To study the induction of hairy roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and effect of some physical as well as chemical factors on the growth of hairy roots. METHOD: Hypocotyls and cotyledons of G. uralensis were infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes LBA9402 and A. rhizogenes R1601, respectively. RESULT: Hairy roots were induced by two strains of A. rhizogenes, and LBA9402 showed astronger infective ability. The frequency of transformation of hypocotyls was higher than that of cotyledons. Among the different media tested, WP medium yielded the fastest growth rate of hairy roots. Light inhibited the growth of hairy roots. The total amout of 5 flavonoids in hairy roots was 1.5 times as much as that in the callus, among them licochalcone content was 15.5 times as that of callus. CONCLUSION: The in vitro culture system of the hairy roots established laid a foundation for mass production of flavonoids by hairy root culture.

[Studies on chemical constituents of hairy root of Cassia obtusifolia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in hairy roots of Cassia obtusifolia. METHOD: The hairy roots of C. obtusifolia were induced with Agrobacterium rhizogenes LBA9402 from cotyledons and cultured in MSO liquid medium. The compounds were isolated by silica gel, polyamide and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and the structures were elucidated by employing chemical and spectral methods RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of 95% EtOH extract of the transformed roots of C. obtusifolia. They are betulinic acid, chrysophanol, physcion, stigmasterol, 1-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone, 8-O-methylchrysophanol, 1-O-methylchrysophanol and aloe-emodin, and aloe-emodin was isolated from the hairy roots of C. obtusifolia for the first time. CONCLUSION: The hairy roots of C. obtusifolia have the ability to synthesize the similar chemical constituents as the original plants.

[Effects of carbon source and nitrogen source on callus growth and flavonoid content in Glycyrrhiza uralensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of carbon source and nitrogen source on callus growth, and flavonoid content in Glycyrrhiza uralensis. METHOD: Induction and culture of callus were conducted in the media of different concentrations of sucrose, and fructose and ratio of NH4+/NO3- ,and flavonoid content was measured by HPLC. RESULT: The results showed that fructose was superior to sucrose for callus growth and flavonoid formation, and the optimum concentration was 2%. The flavonoids content was 2 times higher than that of sucrose as carbon sources. In the range of 2% -6% of fructose concentration, the flavonoid content was decreased along with the concentration of fructose, but the licochalcone was increased 5-fold. The highest flavonoid content of 151.47 microg x g(-1) was obtained when the ratio of NH4+/NO3- in the medium was 1/2. NH; inhibited the callus growth and flavonoid formation of G. uralensis. CONCLUSION: Fructose as carbon source was superior to sucrose for callus growth and flavonoid formation, and NO3- was favorable to the callus growth and flavonoids accumulation.

Biotransformation of 4(20),11-taxadienes by cell suspension cultures of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Platycodon grandiflorum cell suspension cultures were employed to biotransform the taxane diterpenoids 2alpha,5alpha,10beta,14beta-tetraacetoxy-4(20),11-taxadiene (1) and 9alpha-hydroxy-2alpha,5alpha,10beta,14beta-tetraacetoxy-4(20),11-taxadiene (2). One product, 10beta-hydroxy-2alpha,5alpha,14beta-triacetoxy-4(20),11-taxadiene (3) was obtained from 1 and two products, 9alpha,10beta-dihydroxy-2alpha,5alpha,14beta-triacetoxy-4(20),11-taxadiene (4) and 10beta-hydroxy-2alpha,5alpha,9alpha,14beta-tetraacetoxy-4(20),11-taxadiene (5) were obtained from 2 incubated with Platycodon cultured cells respectively, among which 5 is characterized as a new taxoid compound. The effects of the addition stage for 1 and 2 on the biotransformation were investigated and the results revealed that: (1) the optimal addition stage for 1 was in the early logarithmic phase (6th day) of the cell growth period, in which 78% of 1 was converted and the yield for 3 reached 75%; (2) the optimal addition stage for 2 was on the mid-logarithmic phase (12th day) of the cell growth period, in which 25.3% of 2 was converted and the yields for 4 and 5 reached 18.9 and 14.5%, respectively.

Callus cultures of Annona squamosa for the production of annonaceous acetogenins.

Callus cultures of Annona squamosa were induced using different explants including petals, seed contents (megagametophyte and embryo) and fruits (mesocarp). Growth of the calli induced from the explants was found to be influenced by the type, concentration and ratio of auxin vs. cytokinin. The content of squamocin (67.8 microg g(-1) dry weight) in calli cultured on Gamborg B-5 medium containing 5.0 mg l(-1) naphthalene acetic acid and 4.0 mg l(-1) zeatin was nearly seven times higher than that in intact fruits.

[Determination of lignan glycosides in Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis by RP-HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To control the quality of Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis the contents of lignans in these plants from different provinces were detected. METHOD: HPLC was adopted using Hypersil-18 column (0.4 cm x 25 cm), methanol: acetonitrile: water (30:5:65) as mobile phase. RESULT: The calibration curves of D1(gaultherinA), D2[(-)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol-2 alpha-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside)], D4[(+)-lyoniresinol-2 alpha-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside)] were linear in the range of 0.10-0.40 microgram, 0.03-0.13 microgram, 0.02-0.09 microgram, respectively. The average recovery of D1 was 98.9% and RSD was 2.6%. CONCLUSION: Comparing the samples from Jinxiou(158.2 mg.100 g)-1 and Kumming(154.8 mg.100 g)-1, that of Guiyang showed the highest content of LD(208.8 mg.100 g)-1. The content of LD in the tender above-ground part was 1.3 times higher than that in the wilt.

[Photosynthetic pigment contents of different germplasm of Rehmannia glutinosa and the relationship between pigments and leaf color].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the germplasm of Rehmannia glutinosa on the basis of photosynthetic pigment contents (PPC). METHOD: 20 cultivars were planted on the same condition. On Oct. 23 and Sept. 25, 3 leaves per cultivar were collected on different plants, and 80 mg mesophyll was collected among upper lateral veins and was ground in 96% alcohol, and the supernatant was subjected to measure on a spectrophotometer (Angilent 8453). RESULT: The PPCs among cultivars were significantly different at a P < or = 0.01 level. The results of the measurements were similar. Chlolophyll a was the most abundant pigment, but varied to a great extent among different cultivars. 20 cultivars were divided into 9 homogeneous groups according to the contents of chlorophyll a by Duncan's multiple range test at P < or = 0.05. In addition, the content of chlorophyll a was closely related to leaf color. The cultivars with higher chlolophyll a had deep green leaves, and those with lower had yellow green or pale green leaves. CONCLUSION: PPC was an inherent character and an important index for the germplasm evaluation of R. glutinosa.