An investigation of vitamin D nutritional status in children after outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019. / æ–°åž‹å† çŠ¶ç— æ¯’è‚ºç‚Žç–«æƒ åŽå„¿ç«¥ç»´ç”Ÿç´ Dè¥å »çŠ¶å†µè°ƒæŸ¥.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate vitamin D nutritional status in children after outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the effect of strict epidemic prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 epidemic on vitamin D nutritional status in children. METHODS: A total of 7 460 children who underwent routine physical examinations from February to August, 2020 and had normal results were retrospectively enrolled as the observation group, and 10 102 children who underwent routine physical examinations from February to August, 2019 (no epidemic of COVID-19) and had normal results were enrolled as the control group. The serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] was compared between the two groups. The children in the observation and control groups who underwent physical examinations in March and April were selected as the epidemic prevention subgroup (n=1 710) and non-epidemic subgroup (n=2 877) respectively. The subjects were divided into five age groups (infancy, early childhood, preschool, school age and adolescence), and serum 25(OH)D levels of children of all ages were compared between the epidemic prevention and non-epidemic subgroups. RESULTS: The observation group had a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the control group in March and April (P<0.001). The epidemic prevention subgroup had a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the non-epidemic subgroup in all age groups (P<0.001). The vitamin D sufficiency rate in early childhood, preschool, school and adolescent children from the epidemic prevention subgroup was lower than the non-epidemic subgroup (P<0.001), with a reduction of 10.71%, 18.76%, 59.63% and 56.29% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Strict prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 epidemic may lead to a significant reduction in vitamin D level in children, especially school-aged and adolescent children. It is recommended to timely monitor vitamin D level in children, take vitamin D supplements, and increase the time of outdoor sunshine as far as possible under the premise of adherence to epidemic prevention regulations.

Structure characterization of polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola and their neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress in slow transit constipation mice.

Oxidative stress-induced enteric neuropathy is an important factor in slow transit constipation (STC). Cistanche deserticola crude polysaccharides (CDCP) are natural antioxidants with various biological activities. We prepared CDCP through water-extract and alcohol-precipitation methods. The structural characteristics of CDCP were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and methylation analysis. The results showed that CDCP was primarily composed of (1 â†’ 4)-linked glucans with minor amounts of pectic polysaccharides. Different doses of CDCP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were administered to loperamide-induced STC mice to explore the therapeutic effects of CDCP. Compared with the untreated group, CDCP treatment significantly improved constipation symptoms, relevant gut-regulating peptides levels, colonic pathological damage, and colonic myenteric nerons injury. CDCP enhanced the antioxidant capacity by decreasing Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increasing Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) content. CDCP significantly reduced oxidative stress-induced injury by preserving mitochondrial function in the colonic myenteric plexus. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of CDCP might be associated with the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. Thus, our findings first revealed the potential of CDCP to protect the colonic myenteric plexus against oxidative stress-induced damage in STC, establishing CDCP as promising candidates for natural medicine in the clinical management of STC.

Analysis of compounds that interfere with herpes simplex virus-host receptor interactions using surface plasmon resonance.

The entry of herpes simplex virus into host cells involves a complex series of events that require concerted inputs from multiple HSV glycoproteins. Among these glycoproteins, the gD protein of HSV-1 and HSV-2 plays an important role for host receptor binding and membrane fusion. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of different sulfated saccharides to interfere with gD-host receptor (HVEM) interactions using our recently reported molecular assay (Gopinath, S. C. B.; Hayashi, K.; Kumar, P. K. R. J. Virol. 2012, 86, 6732-6744). Initially, we tested the ability of heparan sulfate to interfere with the HVEM-HSV-1 gD interaction and found that heparan sulfate is able to interfere efficiently, with an apparent EC50 of 2.1 µM. In addition, we tested different synthetic sulfated polysaccharides and natural sulfated polysaccharides from an edible alga, Sargassum horneri , after fractionation into different sizes and sulfate and uronic acid contents. Six polysaccharides isolated from S. horneri were found to efficiently interfere with the HVEM-gD interaction. Three others caused moderate interference, and five caused weak interference. These results were confirmed with plaque assays, and good agreement was found with the results of the SPR assay for the identification of compounds that interfere with HVEM-HSV-1 gD binding. These studies suggest that our molecular assay based on surface plasmon resonance is not only useful for the analysis of viral-host protein interactions but is also applicable for the routine screening of compounds to identify those that interfere with the first step of viral entry, thus facilitating the rapid development of novel antiviral compounds that target HSV.

An interesting two-phase solvent system and its use in preparative isolation of aconitines from aconite roots by counter-current chromatography.

Two-phase solvent system plays crucial role in successful separation of organic compounds using counter-current chromatography (CCC). An interesting two-phase solvent system, composed of chloroform/ethyl acetate/methanol/water, is reported here, in which both phases contain sufficient organic solvents to balance their dissolving capacities. Adjusting the solvent system to get satisfactory partition coefficients (K values) for target compounds becomes relatively simple. This solvent system succeeded in sample preparation of aconitine (8.07 mg, 93.69%), hypaconitine (7.74 mg, 93.17%), mesaconitine (1.95 mg, 94.52%) from raw aconite roots (102.24 mg, crude extract), benzoylmesaconine (34.79 mg, 98.67%) from processed aconite roots (400.01 mg, crude extract), and yunaconitine (253.59 mg, 98.65%) from a crude extract of Aconitum forrestii (326.69 mg, crude extract).

[The tendency of prevalence of hypertension in two countries in Gansu province from 1990 to 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To study the variation tendency of hypertension in two rural areas in Gansu, and provide epidemiological evidence to evaluate the hypertension of rural residents. METHODS: Using equidistant random sampling method and cross-sectional sentinel monitoring, two remote natural villages, Yangzhuang and Xiangming, at Yellow river and Yangtze river valley were selected as hypertension monitoring site. From 1990 to 2012, clinical examination to the resident above 18 years old was carried out continuously for 23 years, 11 164 cases were included. RESULTS: Hypertension prevalence of tested cases increased with years, Yangzhuang monitoring site increased from 6.9% (16/232) in 1990 to 36.7% (216/597) in 2012 with an increase of 29.8%, and Xiangming monitoring site increased from 3.4% (16/474) in 1995 to 20.6% (120/582) in 2011 with an increase of 17.2%. Total prevalence of Yangzhuang (24.1%, 1505/6240) was significantly higher than Xiangming (11.4%, 578/4924) (χ(2) = 277.9, P < 0.01). Total hypertension prevalence of 18 - 35 years old group was 9.9% (292/2944) in Yangzhuang and 4.2% (63/1495) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 43.7, P < 0.01). Total hypertension prevalence of above 35 years old group was 36.8% (1213/3296) in Yangzhuang and 14.1% (515/3429) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 417.7, P < 0.01). The growth rates of hypertension prevalence in 18 - 35 years old group of both areas (Yangzhuang: 823.5%, Xiangming: 614.3%) were higher than 35 years old group (Yangzhuang:310.5%, Xiangming: 368.0%), but the hypertension prevalence of above 35 years old group was higher than 18 - 35 years old group. Hypertension prevalence of male was 25.4% (761/2992) in Yangzhuang and 11.7% (238/2047) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 145.8, P < 0.01), hypertension prevalence of female was 22.7% (738/3248) in Yangzhuang and 11.2% (340/2877)in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 125.1, P < 0.01). While the difference between male and female had no statistical significance in both areas. CONCLUSION: Hypertension of the two monitoring points was in high epidemic trend, but with different epidemic trend. From different region and environment research to discuss the cause of hypertension can provide scientific evidence for prevention and control.

Impacts of sulfur fumigation on the chemistry and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides in ginseng.

Ginseng is widely regarded as a panacea in Oriental medicine mainly due to its immunomodulatory activity. We previously found that sulfur fumigation, a commonly used pesticidal and anti-bacterial processing practice, weakened the immunomodulatory activity of ginseng. However, if and how sulfur fumigation affects the polysaccharides in ginseng, the crucial components contributing to the immunomodulatory function, remain unknown. Here we report that polysaccharides extracted from sulfur-fumigated ginseng (SGP) presented different chemical properties with polysaccharides extracted with non-fumigated ginseng (NGP), particularly increased water extraction yield and decreased branching degree. SGP had weaker immunomodulatory activity than NGP in immunocompromised mice, as evidenced by less improved immunophenotypes involving body weight, immune organ indexes, white blood cells, lymphocyte cell populations and inflammation. The different immunomodulatory activities were accompanied by changes in the interaction between the polysaccharides and gut microbiota, in which SGP stimulated the growth of different bacteria but produced less SCFAs as compared to NGP. Fecal microbiota transplantation experiment suggested that gut microbiota played a central role in causing the weakened immunomodulatory activity in vivo. This study provides definite evidence that sulfur fumigation affects the chemistry and bioactivity of ginseng polysaccharides, thereby contributing to understanding how sulfur fumigation weakens the immunomodulatory activity of ginseng.

Structure, immunostimulatory activity, and the effect of ameliorating airway inflammation of polysaccharides from Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu.

Purified acid polysaccharides PSAP-1 and PSAP-2 with apparent molecular weights of 64.6 and 38.9 kDa, respectively, were isolated from Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu. through combined techniques of ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Both polysaccharides were composed of predominant amounts of GalA and small amounts of Ara, Rha, and Gal. They are deduced to be native pectin-type polysaccharides containing the HG backbone consisting of α-1,4-GalAp and methyl-esterified α-1,4-GalAp residues by IR, GC-MS and NMR spectra analyses. The immunoregulatory activity test showed that PSAP-1 and PSAP-2 could increase the cell viability and the release of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α on the RAW264.7 macrophage. It indicated that PSAP-1 and PSAP-2 could increase macrophage-mediated immunostimulatory activity. The airway inflammation test of antiasthmatic mice showed that PSAP-1 could decrease the contents of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 and the number of inflammatory cells in BALF and improve the pathological changes in lung tissue. PSAP-1 could also decrease the amount of mucus secreted by goblet cells and the expression levels of NF-κB p65, IκBα, IKK, ERK, JNK, P38, and Muc5ac mRNA and increase the expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA in lung tissues. This suggested that PSAP-1 may resist airway inflammation in mice. PSAP-1 and PSAP-2 had potential clinical application value.

[Effects of reducing chemical fertilizers combined with organic fertilizers on soil microbial community in litchi orchards]. / å‡æ–½åŒ–è‚¥é æ–½æœ‰æœºè‚¥å¯¹è”æžå›­åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©åŒºç³»çš„å½±å“.

Organic fertilizer application can replace a part of chemical fertilizer (CF) to improve the quality and efficiency of litchi production. To further explore the soil microbiological mechanism, with 19-year-old 'Feizixiao' litchi trees as the research objects, we examined the effects of two consecutive years of reduced CF applications (average 21.5% of total nutrients) combined with sheep manure (OF) and bio-organic fertilizers (BIO) on soil microbial diversity, community composition and differential microorganisms. The results showed that reducing the application of chemical fertilizers and combining it with the application of sheep manure and bio-organic fertilizer for two consecutive years could significantly improve yield and quality. The average increase of yield in the two years was 23.1% and 39.0%, respectively. Soil organic matter content and pH increased significantly in response to the combination treatments. Compared to that in the chemical fertilizer treatment, the contents of soil available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc displayed an increasing trend in the combination treatments. The application of organic fertilizer increased the diversity of bacteria and fungi in rhizosphere soil, but not in non-rhizosphere soil. Both treatments significantly changed soil microbial community structure, increased eutrophic bacterial groups such as Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Bacillus phylum, and reduced anatrophic bacterial groups such as Acidobacteria and Chloroflexus. Compared with CF, the relative abundances of MND1 under OF and TK10, Gemmatimonas, Pseudolabrys, Trichoderma and Botryotrichum under BIO were significantly increased, which was positively correlated with yield. In conclusion, reducing CF and applying organic ferti-lizer for two consecutive years could effectively improve soil pH and nutrient availability, increase rhizosphere microbial richness and diversity, change soil microbial community structure, and shape microbial communities being more conducive to yield and quality improvement.

Impact of Sulfur Fumigation on Ginger: Chemical and Biological Evidence.

We previously found that sulfur fumigation, a commonly used controversial method for the post-harvest handling of ginger, induces the generation of a compound in ginger, which was speculated to be a sulfur-containing derivative of 6-shogaol based on its mass data. However, the chemical and biological properties of the compound remain unknown. As a follow-up study, here we report the chemical structure, systemic exposure, and anticancer activity of the compound. Chromatographic separation, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, and chemical synthesis structurally elucidated the compound as 6-gingesulfonic acid. Pharmacokinetics in rats found that 6-gingesulfonic acid was more slowly absorbed and eliminated, with more prototypes existing in the blood than 6-shogaol. Metabolism profiling indicated that the two compounds produced qualitatively and quantitatively different metabolites. It was further found that 6-gingesulfonic acid exerted significantly weaker antiproliferative activity on tumor cells than 6-shogaol. The data provide chemical and biological evidence that sulfur fumigation may impair the healthcare functions of ginger.

Quantitative changes in monosaccharides of Keemun black tea and qualitative analysis of theaflavins-glucose adducts during processing.

Monosaccharides of Keemun black tea were quantitatively determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (PMP) pre-column derivatization. The methodology of developed analytical method was established with good linearity, recovery, repeatability and precision. The quantitative results showed that D-mannose, D-glucuronic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose were detected in Keemun black tea samples. D-glucose was the predominant monosaccharide in black tea, and its concentration was continuously increased from fresh tea leaves to fermentation, but after drying its concentration was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, theaflavins' concentrations were obviously decreased after drying. When theaflavins were heated with D-glucose, the loss of theaflavins was increased. Correspondingly, theaflavins also prevented the caramelization of D-glucose and restored the loss of D-glucose during heating. Through the liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry some theaflavins glucose adducts were identified.

Characterization of structures and antiviral effects of polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L.

Three polysaccharides including a neutral polysaccharide (RN), an acidic polysaccharide (RA) and a pectic polysaccharide (RP) were isolated from aerial part of Portulaca oleracea L. and evaluated for their anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and anti-influenza A virus (IFV-A). RN was found to consist of glucose (Glc), mannose (Man) and arabinose (Ara) with small amounts of galactose (Gal), and identified to be an arabinoglucomannan. RA was mainly composed of Gal and Ara with a small proportion of glucuronic acid (GlcA). It was characterized as a type II arabinogalactan (AGII), which consisted of a 1,3-, 1,6- and 1,3,6-linked galactopyranosyl (Galp) and non-reducing terminal and 1,5-linked arabinofuranosyl (Araf) residues. RP was deduced to be a pectin, which consisted of a predominant amount of galacturonic acid (GalA) with small amounts of Gal, rhamnose (Rha) and Ara. The GalA residues were found to be highly methyl-esterified and partially acetylated. Results of antiviral tests showed that only RP had anti-HSV-2 activity. Furthermore, its anti-HSV-2 target was elucidated to be the step of virus penetration into host cells. No marked virucidal activity of RP was observed.

[Study on the dynamic variation of active components in Geranium carolinianum from different collection time].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of the active components, gallic acid and ellagic acid in Geranium carolinianum from different collection time and to define the best collection time for this herb. METHODS: The contents of gallic acid and ellagic acid in each samples of Geranium carolinianum were determined by HPLC. The HPLC method was performed on a Diamonsil C, 8 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-0.1% H3PO4 as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, the detection wavelength was 274 nm and the column temperature was 25 degrees C. RESULTS: The calibration curve of gallic acid and ellagic acid were linear in the range of 0.075-5.00 microg (r = 0.9995) and 0.05-2.00 microg (r = 0.9995), respectively. The average recovery of gallic acid and ellagic acid were 99.88% (RSD = 1.19%) and 99.08% (RSD = 2.81%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The content of gallic acid and ellagic acid in Geranium carolinianum both began to increase in flowering stage and increased to the maximum value in immature-fruit stage.

Isolation, purification, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and their immunostimulatory activity in RAW264.7 cells.

Three water-soluble polysaccharides (AMAP-1, AMAP-2 and AMAP-3) were isolated and purified from Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma by using the combination of ion-exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. The structures of the polysaccharides were characterized by chemical derivatization, HPGC, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR techniques. Structural analyses show that the three polysaccharides are pectin-type macromolecules consisting of homogalacturonan (HG) and rhamnogalacturonan type I (RG-I) regions in different ratios. Immunostimulatory assay highlighted that the RG-I-rich AMAP-1 and AMAP-2 with high molecular weights can stimulate RAW264.7 macrophages to release nitric oxide, but HG-rich AMAP-3 with a low molecular weight cannot. This finding suggests that the immune activity may be related to the side chains of the RG-I region, which provides a certain theoretical guidance for further exploring the structure-activity relationship. Meanwhile, AMAP-1 and AMAP-2, especially AMAP-2, from Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma show potential as immune adjuvants.

Structural characterization and antiviral activity of two fucoidans from the brown algae Sargassum henslowianum.

Purified fucoidans SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 with apparent molecular weights of 6.55 × 105 and 5.89 × 105, respectively, were isolated from Sargassum henslowianum by ion-exchange and gel-filtration column chromatography. They are both composed of fucose and galactose at a ratio of around 3:1 and 31.9% sulfate. The backbone of two fucoidans consists of α-(1→3)-linked L-Fucp residues which are mainly sulfated on the C-2 and C-4 positions. Side chains composed of terminally linked α-L-Fucp and α-D-Galp residues, and (1→2)-, (1→6)-, and (1→2,6)-linked ß-D-Galp residues attach mainly at O-4 position of backbone residues. Antiviral test showed that the IC50 values of SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 against HSV-1 were estimated to be 0.89 and 0.82 µg/mL by plaque reduction assay, respectively, whereas both as low as 0.48 µg/mL against HSV-2. The antiviral mechanism of the fucoidans might be at least through blocking HSV-2 virion adsorption to host cells. These results suggest that the fucoidans have potential clinical applications.

Structural characterization of three polysaccharides from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula and their immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages.

Three polysaccharides were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. They were named RCNP, RCAP-1, and RCAP-2, and had apparent molecular weights of 1.14 × 104, 5.09 × 104, and 2.58 × 105, respectively. Their structures were characterized by HPGPC, chemical derivative analysis, GC-MS and NMR analyses. Results showed that RCNP contained arabinan and arabinogalactan regions. The arabinan region had a main chain comprising (1 → 5)-linked Araf residues, and the side chains branched at the O-3 position by the single Araf residues. The arabinogalactan region comprised alternating (1 → 4)-, (1 → 6)- or (1 → 3)-linked Galp along with small amounts of branches mainly at the O-3 position of the (1 → 6)-linked Galp or O-6 position of the (1 → 3)-linked Galp residues by terminally linked Araf residues. RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 were highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharides with long homogalacturonan regions interrupted by a short rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region. The side chains of the RG-I region consisted of (1 → 2)-linked Rha residues attached to the position O-4 of rhamnose. Their degrees of methyl-esterification were approximately 60.6% and 68.1%, respectively. Bioactivity tests showed that RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 exerted a significant immunostimulatory effect based on NO production from RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that these two pectin-type polysaccharides were potential immunostimulation agents.

Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. and its function to modify myeloid derived suppressor cells.

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria) is a natural plant with many health benefits, such as clearing heat and toxic materials. In this study, we investigate the effect of a polysaccharide from C. tinctoria, aiming at improving the tumor microenvironment, which is associated with non-resolving inflammation. Through combining ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography, a polysaccharide named CTAP-3 is purified from the crude polysaccharides of C. tinctoria. The structure of CTAP-3 is characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR. Results reveal that CTAP-3 consists of predominant amounts (87.2%) of galacturonic acid (GalA) residues, small amounts of arabinose (Ara) and rhamnose (Rham), and trace amounts of galactose (Gal). CTAP-3 is deduced to be native pectin-type polysaccharide containing a homo-galacturanan backbone consisting of α-(1 → 4)-linked GalAp and methyl-esterified α-(1 → 4)-linked GalAp residues in the ratio of 4:1. When myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are treated by CTAP-3, its suppressive effect on T cell proliferation is impaired. This result indicates that CTAP-3 is a candidate drug for improving the tumor microenvironment.

Structural characterization of polysaccharides from Saposhnikovia divaricata and their antagonistic effects against the immunosuppression by the culture supernatants of melanoma cells on RAW264.7 macrophages.

Two purified native polysaccharides, namely, SDNP-1 and SDNP-2 with apparent molecular weight of 67.9×103 and 5.2×103, separately, were isolated from the water extract of Saposhnikovia divaricata by combined ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. The structures of these polysaccharides were characterized by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analysis, GC-MS, FT-IR spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. Results showed that SDNP-1 and SDNP-2 were composed of arabinose and galactose with molar ratio of approximately 1:1. The polysaccharides were deduced to be AGII-type arabinogalactans with distinct molecular weights and backbone chains. The backbone chain of SDNP-2 mainly consisted of (1→3)-linked and (1→6)-linked Galp residues with an approximate molar ratio of 1:3. Approximately half of the (1→6)-linked Galp residues were substituted at O-3, and small amounts of (1→6)-linked Galp were substituted at O-3 and O-4 by branches that mainly consisted of terminal and (1→5)-linked Araf residues. Bioactivity tests showed that SDNP-2 exhibited significant antagonistic effect against immunosuppression as shown by the cell viability of the culture supernatants of melanoma cells on RAW264.7 macrophages. However, SDNP-1 showed no effect. Thus, molecular weight and backbone chain may be the key factors for the antagonistic effects against immunosuppression.

Structural characterization of a pectin-type polysaccharide from Curcuma kwangsiensis and its effects on reversing MDSC-mediated T cell suppression.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in tumor-bearing hosts and play a major role in tumor-induced immunosuppression. The potent modulatory effects of polysaccharides on the innate and adaptive immune system stimulate antitumor responses. In this study, a polysaccharide with an apparent molecular weight of 14.0 kD was isolated from Curcuma kwangsiensis and designated as CKAP-2. The polysaccharide was characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR. Results revealed that CKAP-2 is a highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharide. It is predominantly composed of a homogalacturonan region and small amounts of type-I rhamonogalacturonan regions. Its degree of methyl-esterification is approximately 62.4%. The effect of CKAP-2 on MDSC-medicated immunosuppression was primarily tested. CKAP-2 recovered the MSC2-supressed proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. This finding suggested that CKAP-2 can reverse MDSC-mediated T-cell suppression and that CKAP-2 can be potentially applied in antitumor therapy.

Structural Characterization and Immunostimulatory Activity of Polysaccharides from Brassica rapa L. .

Two neutral polysaccharides (BRNP-1, 6.9 kDa; BRNP-2, 4.8 kDa) were purified from the common edible plant Brassica rapa L. via the combined techniques of ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that BRNP-1 and BRNP-2 were composed of glucosyl residues. Methylation and 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses revealed that both BRNP-1 and BRNP-2 contained a backbone chain that was composed of α-D-(1 → 4)-linked Glcp residues and side chains that were composed of terminally linked Glcp residues attached at the O-6 position of backbone-glycosyl residues. BRNP-1 and BRNP-2, however, differed in branch degree and molecular weight. Bioassay results showed that treatment with the higher dosage (400 µg/mL) of BRNP-1 and BRNP-2 stimulated the proliferation, NO release, and cytokine secretion (IL-6 and TNF-α) of RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that BRNP-1 and BRNP-2 may enhance macrophage-mediated immune responses.

Epidemiological features of lung giant cell carcinoma and therapy for patients with EGFR mutations based on case reports and the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the standard first line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with sensitive EGFR mutations. Among NSCLC, giant cell carcinoma of the lung (GCCL) is a rare pathological subtype with poor prognosis, with no confirmed evidence about its epidemiological features or therapeutic efficiency of EGFR-TKIs. We present two advanced GCCLs with sensitive EGFR mutations, also collected the cases of GCCL from our hospital and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to perform the survival analyses. Both two cases of advanced GCCL with sensitive EGFR mutations benefited from EGFR-TKIs. Twelve GCCLs were recorded in our hospital from May 2006 to July 2015. GCCL is associated with males (83.3%) and smoking status (63.6%). The EGFR mutation rate was 40.0%. In SEER database, the total number of GCCLs was 184, 0.11% for all NSCLCs. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 5-year overall survival of GCCL patients was significantly lower than that of non-GCC NSCLC (16% and 19%; P<0.001), and it was confirmed in multivariate analysis. Further survival analyses indicated that male were more susceptible to GCCL and GCCL was prone to metastasize. Only age and M stage were independent prognostic factors for GCCL in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, GCCL was an unfavorable prognostic factor and associated with males and metastasis. GCCL patients with sensitive EGFR mutations may also benefit from EGFR-TKI, we therefore recommend the evaluation of EGFR in the treatment of advanced GCCL.