The Role of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 Axis in Tumorigenesis, Malignant Progression and Lymphatic Metastasis of Penile Cancer.

Background: To uncover the potential significance of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 axis in penile cancer, our study was the pioneer in exploring the altered expression processes of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 axis in tumorigenesis, malignant progression and lymphatic metastasis of penile cancer. Methods: In current study, the comprehensive analysis of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 axis in penile cancer was analyzed via multiple analysis approaches based on GSE196978 data, single-cell data (6 cancer samples) and bulk RNA data (7 cancer samples and 7 metastasis lymph nodes). Results: Our study observed an altered molecular expression of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 axis during three different stages of penile cancer, from tumorigenesis to malignant progression to lymphatic metastasis. STAT4 was an important dominant molecule in penile cancer, which mediated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by driving the apoptosis of cytotoxic T cell and was also a valuable biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment response. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the complexity of JAK-STAT-SOCS1 axis and the predominant role of STAT4 in penile cancer, which can mediate tumorigenesis, malignant progression, and lymphatic metastasis. This insight provided valuable information for developing precise treatment strategies for patients with penile cancer.

Construction of Mn-decorated zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 nanostructure as superior oxidase-like mimic for colorimetric detection of glucose and choline.

A Mn decorated zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 (ZIF-90) nanozyme (Mn/ZIF-90) was constructed through an effective and rapid post-synthetic strategy for the first time. The Mn in Mn/ZIF-90 exists in mixed valence states, which is doped to the ZIF-90 through the formation of Mn-O bond. The Zn-N coordination structure of ZIF-90 may change the electronic arrangement of oxygen atoms in the free carbonyl groups (-CHO), allowing the coordination of Mn with O. The prepared Mn/ZIF-90 possesses outstanding oxidase-like activity and remarkable stability. Besides, the catalytic activity of Mn/ZIF-90 can be inhibited in the presence of H2O2. Therefore, using the Mn/ZIF-90-triggered chromogenic reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as an amplifier, a versatile enzyme cascade-based colorimetric method for the detection of glucose and choline with good sensitivity and selectivity was developed. The linear ranges for glucose and choline are 6.25-500 µM and 5-1000 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the developed method was applied in the detection of glucose and choline in rabbit plasma samples, and the recoveries are 89.5-107.3 % and 96.0-109.3 %, respectively. In short, the simple and efficient post-synthetic doping method may provide a new thought for the rational designs of enzyme mimics with improved catalytic performance. Moreover, the colorimetric method based on the excellent catalytic activity of Mn/ZIF-90 may be extended to detect other H2O2-generating or consuming molecules and evaluate the activity of bio-enzymes that can catalyze the generation of glucose or choline.

A Novel Molecularly Imprinted Sensor Based on CuO Nanoparticles with Peroxidase-like Activity for the Selective Determination of Astragaloside-IV.

In this work, dopamine (DA) was polymerized on the surface of CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) to form a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP@PDA/CuO NPs) for the colorimetric detection of astragaloside-IV (AS-IV). The synthesis process of MIP is simple and easy to operate, without adding other monomers or initiators. CuO NPs has high peroxidase (POD)-like activity that can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to generate oxidized TMB (OxTMB) in the presence of H2O2, having a maximum ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption peak at 652 nm. The AS-IV can specifically bind to the surface imprinted cavities and prevent the entry of TMB and H2O2, which will lead to the inhibition of the catalytic reaction. Therefore, a new approach based on the POD-like activity of MIP@PDA/CuO NPs for AS-IV detection was developed with a linear range from 0.000341 to 1.024 mg/mL. The LOD and LOQ are 0.000991 and 0.000341 mg/mL, respectively. The developed method can accurately determine AS-IV in Huangqi Granules and different batches of Ganweikang Tablets, which are similar to the results measured by HPLC-ELSD and meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) for the amount of AS-IV in Huangqi Granules. The combination of MIP with CuO NPs not only endows the detection of AS-IV with high selectivity and reliability, but also expands the application of nanozymes in the detection of small-molecule compounds that have weak UV absorption, and do not have reducibility or oxidation properties.

Tris-Copper Nanozyme as a Novel Laccase Mimic for the Detection and Degradation of Phenolic Compounds.

Phenolic compounds are one of the main organic pollutants in the environment that can seriously affect ecosystems, even at very low concentrations. Due to the resistance of phenolic compounds to microorganisms, conventional biological treatment methods face challenges in effectively addressing this pollution problem. In this study, a novel laccase mimic (Tris-Cu nanozyme) is prepared using a simple and rapid synthesis strategy based on the coordination of copper ions and amino groups in Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris). It is found that the Tris-Cu nanozyme exhibits good catalytic activity against a variety of phenolic compounds, the Km, Vmax and Kcat are determined to be 0.18 mM, 15.62 µM·min-1 and 1.57 × 107 min-1 using 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) as the substrate, respectively. Then, based on the laccase-like activity of the Tris-Cu nanozyme, a novel colorimetric method for 2,4-DP (the limit of detection (LOD) = 2.4 µM, S/N = 3) detection in the range of 10-400 µM was established, and its accuracy was verified by analyzing tap and lake water samples. In addition, the Tris-Cu nanozyme shows excellent removal abilities for six phenolic compounds in experiments. The removal percentages for 2,4-DP, 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), phenol, resorcinol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DOP), and bisphenol A (BPA) are 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 87%, and 81% at 1 h, respectively. In the simulated effluent, the Tris-Cu nanozyme maintains its efficient catalytic activity towards 2,4-DP, with a degradation percentage of 76.36% at 7 min and a reaction rate constant (k0) of 0.2304 min-1. Therefore, this metal-organic complex shows promise for applications in the monitoring and degrading of environmental pollutants.

Adenine phosphate-Cu nanozyme with multienzyme mimicking activity for efficient degrading phenolic compounds and detection of hydrogen peroxide, epinephrine and glutathione.

BACKGROUND: With the development of nanotechnology, various nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity (nanozymes) have been reported. Due to their superior properties, nanozymes have shown important application potential in the fields of bioanalysis, disease detection, and environmental remediation. However, only a few nanomaterials with multi-enzyme mimicry activity have been reported. In this study, a novel multienzyme mimic was synthesized through a simple and rapid preparation protocol by coordinating copper ions with N3, N6 (amino), N7, and N9 on adenine phosphate. RESULTS: The prepared adenine phosphate-Cu complex exhibits significant peroxidase, laccase, and oxidase mimicking activities. The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) and the maximal velocity (Vmax) values of the peroxidase, laccase, and oxidase mimicking activities of AP-Cu nanozyme are 0.052 mM, 0.14 mM, and 2.49 mM; and 0.552 µM min-1, 6.70 µM min-1, and 2.24 µM min-1, respectively. Then, based on its laccase mimicking activity, the nanozyme was applied in the degradation of phenolic compounds. The calculated kinetic constant for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol is 0.468 min-1 and the degradation efficiency of 2,4-dichlorophenol (0.1 mM) reaches 96.14% at 7 min. Finally, based on the multienzyme mimicking activity of adenine phosphate-Cu nanozyme, simple colorimetric sensing methods with high sensitivity and good selectivity were developed for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, epinephrine, and glutathione in the ranges of 20.0-200.0 µM (R2 = 0.9951), 5.0-100.0 µM (R2 = 0.9970), and 5.0-200.0 µM (R2 = 0.9924) with the limits of quantitation of 20.0 µM, 5.0 µM, and 5.0 µM, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: In short, the synthesis of nanozymes with multi-enzyme mimicry activity through coordination between copper ions and small molecule mimicry enzymes provides new ideas for the design and research of multi-enzyme mimics.

Rapid and sensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase and glucose oxidase activity through fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode analysis based on CuO NPs@ZIF-8 mediated enzyme-cascade reactions.

The combined application of nanozymes and natural enzymes has received widespread attention in recent years. In this work, a simple and efficient method was used to synthesize a composite material of CuO nanoparticle-modified zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (CuO NPs@ZIF-8) with multiple enzyme activities (glucose oxidase-like and hydrolase-like activities) to detect the activity of natural enzymes through fluorescence and colorimetric (UV-vis) dual-mode detection. The hydrolase- and oxidase-like activities of CuO NPs@ZIF-8 show an acceptable affinity with l-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate trisodium (AAP) and o-phenylenediamine (OPD). Using the developed sensor, highly sensitive detection of natural enzymes glucose oxidase (GOX) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was achieved through both fluorescent and colorimetric analyses with a wide linear range (fluorescence for GOX: 0.86-1.23 × 105 mU mL-1, UV-vis for GOX: 0.081-1.62 × 105 mU mL-1; fluorescence for ALP: 0.042-1.20 × 104 mU mL-1, UV-vis for ALP: 0.0046-1.23 × 104 mU mL-1) and low LOQs (fluorescence for GOX: 0.86 mU mL-1, UV-vis for GOX: 0.081 mU mL-1; fluorescence for ALP: 0.042 mU mL-1, UV-vis for ALP: 0.0046 mU mL-1). Compared to the other fluorescent and colorimetric sensors, this sensor has better catalytic activity due to the addition of GOX and ALP, which can amplify the detection signal and improve the sensitivity. This is the first time that composite material CuO NPs@ZIF-8 with "tandem enzyme" activity was synthesized and applied in the detection of enzyme activity. Additionally, the proposed fluorescent and UV-vis platforms exhibit the capability to detect GOX and ALP in serum samples with satisfactory recovery, indicating potential application prospects in biochemical analysis.

Ultra-High Adsorption Capacity of Core-Shell-Derived Magnetic Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-67 as Adsorbent for Selective Extraction of Theophylline.

A core-shell-derived structural magnetic zeolite imidazolate framework-67 (Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67) nanocomposite was fabricated through a single-step coating of zeolite imidazolate framework-67 on glutaric anhydride-functionalized Fe3O4 nanosphere for the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of theophylline (TP). The Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67 nanocomposite was characterized through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The material has a high specific surface area and good magnetism, which maintains the regular dodecahedron structure of ZIF-67 without being destroyed by the addition of Fe3O4-COOH nanospheres. The Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67 can rapidly adsorb TP mainly through the strong coordination interaction between undercoordinated Co2+ on ZIF-67 and -NH from imidazole of TP. The adsorption and desorption conditions, such as the amount of adsorbent, adsorption time, pH value, and elution solvent, were optimized. The kinetics of TP adsorption on Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67 was found to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. The Langmuir model fits the adsorption data well and the maximum adsorption capacity is 1764 mg/g. Finally, the developed MSPE-HPLC method was applied in the enrichment and analysis of TP in four tea samples and rabbit plasma. TP was not detected in oolong tea and rabbit plasma, and its contents in jasmine tea, black tea, and green tea are 5.80, 4.31, and 1.53 µg/g, respectively. The recoveries of spiked samples are between 74.41% and 86.07% with RSD in the range of 0.81-3.83%. The adsorption performance of Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67 nanocomposite was nearly unchanged after being stored at room temperature for at least 80 days and two consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. The results demonstrate that Fe3O4-COOH@ZIF-67 nanocomposite is a promising magnetic adsorbent for the preconcentration of TP in complex samples.

A quantitative method for polysaccharides based on endo-enzymatic released specific oligosaccharides: A case of Lentinus edodes.

Polysaccharides exhibit multiple pharmacological activities, which are closely related to their structural characteristics. Therefore, quantitative quality control of polysaccharides based on chemical properties is of importance for their applications. However, polysaccharides are mixed macromolecular compounds that are difficult to separate, and the lack of standards made direct quantification more difficult. In this study, we proposed a new quantitative method based on the released specific oligosaccharides for polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes (shiitake) and other related fungi. Specific oligosaccharides were firstly released from polysaccharides using 1,3-ß-glucanase, then derivatized with 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB), which further separated by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and quantitatively determined by UPLC coupled with fluorescence detector (FLR). Laminaritriose was used as the universal standard for quantification of all the oligosaccharides. This method was validated according to linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, precision, accuracy, repeatability and stability. In addition, the four specific oligosaccharides released from polysaccharides in L. edodes were qualitatively analyzed by extracted ion chromatogram (EIC) from UPLC-MS profiles, which were identified to be disaccharide, trisaccharide and tetrasccharide. The proposed strategy not only realized the quantitative analysis of polysaccharides by UPLC-FLR, but also could achieve the qualitative distinction of different polysaccharides.

Ganoderma spore powder contains little triterpenoids.

BACKGROUND: Ganoderma spore is a minuscule germ cell ejected from Ganoderma gills during its growth maturity period, it has been considered with high exploitable potential in health-care products manufacture. METHODS: After testing sporoderm-broken rate, the triterpenoids in 12 batches of broken and unbroken Ganoderma spore powder (GSP) samples were compared with Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body (GL) by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and further verified by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS); meanwhile, the dissolution of triterpenoids after bionic extraction was also investigated by HPTLC. RESULTS: The sporoderm-broken rate of all the broken GSP samples was over 85%. The relative peak area of triterpenoids in GSP samples were lower than 50% of that in fruiting body, and the dissolution of triterpenoids in artificial gastrointestinal fluid was lower than in methanol. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that there were little triterpenoids in GSP. Triterpenoids in GSP also seldom be dissolved in artificial gastrointestinal fluid.

Comparison of volatile compounds in different parts of fresh Amomum villosum Lour. from different geographical areas using cryogenic grinding combined HS-SPME-GC-MS.

BACKGROUND: The essential oil is one of the main active ingredients of Amomum villosum Lour. However, volatile compounds are easily lost during the drying, storage and even sample preparation procedure. Therefore, using fresh samples can obtain more accurately data for qualitative and comparative analysis. METHODS: In this study, the volatile compounds in different parts of fresh A. villosum from different origins were systemic analyzed and compared by using cryogenic grinding combined HS-SPME-GC-MS for the first time. GC-MS analyses were performed on a 6890 Series GC instrument coupled to a 5973 N mass spectrometer. The volatile compounds were extracted by the SPME fiber (100 µm PDMS). Analytes separation was achieved on a HP-5MS capillary column. The oven temperature was initially programmed at 70 °C, then raised 4 °C/min to reach 125 °C and then programmed at 0.5 °C/min to 133 °C, then at 6 °C/min to 170 °C and finally, at 20 °C/min to 280 °C held for 2 min. The temperatures of the injection port, ion source and transfer line were set at 250 °C, 230 °C and 280 °C, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-eight main compounds were identified in different parts of fresh A. villosum. The most abundant components in fresh fruit samples were camphor (3.91%), bornyl acetate (10.53%), caryophyllene (8.70%), ß-bisabolene (11.50%), (E)-nerolidol (14.82%) and cubenol (10.04%). This is quite different with that of dried samples analyzed in our previous work. As different parts of the same plant, many common components with biological activities were detected in fruit and other parts. In principle components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), four parts of A. villosum were divided into different groups clearly. Additionally, fruit and root samples also could be divided into two subgroups (HCA) in accordance with their regions. CONCLUSION: The developed method was successfully used for qualitative and comparative analysis of volatile compounds in fresh A. villosum samples. Additionally, using fresh samples can obtain much more information which is helpful for their performance in the fields of functional foods, agriculture and biomedical industry. Furthermore, our research is helpful for comprehensive utilization and quality control of A. villosum.

Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whether Saccharomyces boulardii (S boulardii) as an adjuvant therapy are beneficial to H pylori eradication remains controversial. The aim of the study was to update and determine the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy on H pylori eradication rates and adverse effects. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science to collect all randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for H pylori eradication from inception to February 2019. Quality of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Trial sequential analysis was performed to control the risk of type I and type II errors. RESULTS: Eighteen trials with 3592 patients were eligible for meta-analysis. Compared with standard eradication regimen, the S boulardii supplementation could significantly improve eradication rates [risk ratio (RR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.05-1.13; moderate quality evidence] and reduce the incidence of total side effects (RR = 0.47, 95%CI:0.36-0.61; low quality evidence), as well as some gastrointestinal adverse effects, especially diarrhea (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.23-0.47; low quality evidence) and constipation (RR = 0.37, 95%CI:0.23-0.57; moderate quality evidence). In addition, the need for discontinuation rate in S boulardii supplementation group was significantly lower than in the control group (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.16-0.69, P = .003; moderate quality evidence). The TSA results for overall eradication rates and total side effects indicated that the effects were conclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis shows that S boulardii supplementation on standard eradication therapy significantly increased H pylori eradication rates and reduced the incidence of total side effects and some gastrointestinal adverse effects during eradication therapy.

Exercise interventions for ankylosing spondylitis: a protocol for a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a universal chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease which predominantly results in chronic back pain and stiffness. However, some patients suffering from AS do not react well to pharmacological interventions. Exercise intervention has been employed for the treatment of AS and works as a complementary part of the management of AS. However, the effect of different types of exercise interventions remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative efficacy of different types of exercise interventions for individuals with AS using a Bayesian network meta-analysis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials that compare different types of exercise interventions for individuals with AS. PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library will be searched up to February 2019. The primary outcomes are functional capacity, pain and disease activity. The risk of bias for individual studies will be evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. A Bayesian network meta-analysis will be performed to compare the efficacy of different types of exercise interventions. The quality of evidence will be assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval and patient consent are not required as this study is a meta-analysis based on published studies. The results of this network meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019123099.

Isolation, Structural Elucidation, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Triterpenoid Lactones and Their Relevant Biogenetic Constituents from Ganoderma resinaceum.

Ganoderma resinaceum has been used as an ethnomedicine for lowering blood sugar. To clarify the bioactive chemical constituents contributing to lower blood sugar, chemical investigation on the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma resinaceum was conducted by chromatographic techniques, and led to the isolation of 14 compounds. Their structures were elucidated as triterpenoid lactones (1⁻4 and 8) and ganoderma acids (5⁻7 and 9⁻14) based on the analysis of extensive spectroscopy (mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV)) and comparison with literature data. Compounds 3, 5, 6, and 9⁻14 were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 1⁻7 are new compounds. Compounds 1⁻4 and 8 were characteristic of an oxaspirolactone moiety, consisting of a five-membered ether ring, a five-membered lactone ring, and a characteristic C-23 spiro carbon. It is rare for natural products that such an oxaspirolactone moiety occurred in the lanostane-type triterpenoids. Compounds 5⁻7 and 9⁻14 may be important intermediates of the biosynthetic pathways of 1⁻4 and 8. Compounds 1 and 2 showed more potent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase compared with the positive control drug acarbose with IC50 value of 0.75 ± 0.018 mM and 1.64 ± 0.022 mM, respectively.

Lanostane triterpenes from the mushroom Ganoderma resinaceum and their inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase.

Eighteen previously undescribed lanostane triterpenes and thirty known analogues were obtained from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma resinaceum. Resinacein C was isolated from a natural source for the first time. The structures of all the above compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparisons of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, in an in vitro assay, Resinacein C, ganoderic acid Y, lucialdehyde C, 7-oxo-ganoderic acid Z3, 7-oxo-ganoderic acid Z, and lucidadiol showed strong inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase compared with the positive control drug acarbose. The structure-activity relationships of ganoderma triterpenes on α-glucosidase inhibition showed that the C-24/C-25 double bond is necessary for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Moreover, the carboxylic acid group at C-26 and the hydroxy group at C-15 play important roles in enhancing inhibitory effects of these triterpenes.

Chemical characterization and immunomodulatory activity of acetylated polysaccharides from Dendrobium devonianum.

The chain conformation, chemical characters and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide from Dendrobium devonianum (DDP) were investigated. Results showed that molecular weights, polydispersity index, radius of gyrations of DDP were 3.99×105 Da1.27, 74.1nm, respectively. By applying the polymer solution theory, the exponent (v) values of z1/2=kMwv was calculated as 0.38, which revealed that DDP existed as a globular shape in aqueous solution, and further confirmed by AFM analysis. Furthermore, the main monosaccharide compositions were Man and Glc with the ratio of 29.61:1.00. Indeed, the main glycosidic linkages were ß-1,4-Manp, and substituted with acetyl groups at O-2 and O-3 position. Notably, DDP could promote the immune functions of macrophages including NO release and phagocytosis. Thus, DDP could be explored as a natural immune-stimulating agent in the health and functional food area as well as pharmaceutical industries.

Evaluation on quality consistency of Ganoderma lucidum dietary supplements collected in the United States.

Ganoderma lucidum is a well-known medicinal mushroom. At present, numerous G. lucidum products have emerged in the form of dietary supplements in the United States due to its various benefits. However, the quality consistency of these products based on their label ingredients has seldom been evaluated due to the lack of a suitable toolkit. In this study, 19 batches of products of G. lucidum (Red Reishi, Reishi), herbal/mushroom supplements purchased in the United States, were evaluated based on their bioactive components including triterpenes and polysaccharides by using chromatographic methods and saccharide mapping. The results showed that the measured ingredients of only 5 tested samples (26.3%) were in accordance with their labels, which suggested the quality consistency of G. lucidum dietary supplements in the U.S. market was poor, which should be carefully investigated.

Nortriterpenoids from the Fruiting Bodies of the Mushroom Ganoderma resinaceum.

Ganoderma resinaceum is usually used as ethnomedicine for immune-regulation, hyperglycemia, and liver disease. To date, only a few chemical constituents have been reported from G. resinaceum. In this study, fifteen nortriterpenoids including six new nortriterpenoids (1-6) and nine known analogs (7-15), were separated and purified from the fruiting bodies of G. resinaceum. New compounds were identified as lucidone I (1), lucidone J (2), lucidone K (3), lucidone I (4), ganosineniol B (5), and ganosineniol C (6), based on analysis of extensive spectroscopic data (high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV)). The known compounds were assigned as lucidone A (7), lucidone B (8), lucidone H (9), lucidone E (10), lucidone F (11), lucidone D (12), lucidone C (13), ganoderense F (14), and ganosineniol A (15), by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. Compounds 3, 4, and 7-13 were examined for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and display no significant activity, but the finding may support that the side chain of ganoderma triterpenoids played an important role in α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

A new nortriterpenoid and an ergostane-type steroid from the fruiting bodies of the fungus Ganoderma resinaceum.

One new expoxy nortriterpenoid (1) and one new ergostane-type steroid (2), together with seven known steroids (3-9), were obtained from the fruiting bodies of the fungus Ganoderma resinaceum. The new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data (MS, NMR, IR, and UV) and the known compounds were identified by comparing spectroscopic data with those reported in literature.

Which is best for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: balloon kyphoplasty, percutaneous vertebroplasty or non-surgical treatment? A study protocol for a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) commonly cause both acute and chronic back pain, substantial spinal deformity, functional disability and decreased quality of life and increase the risk of future vertebral fractures and mortality. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), balloon kyphoplasty (BK) and non-surgical treatment (NST) are mostly used for the treatment of OVCFs. However, which treatment is preferred is unknown. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the literature and ascertain the relative efficacy and safety of BK, PVP and NST for patients with OVCFs using a Bayesian network meta-analysis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will comprehensively search PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, to include randomided controlled trials that compare BK, PVP or NST for treating OVCFs. The risk of bias for individual studies will be assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be performed to compare the efficacy and safety of BK, PVP and NST. The quality of evidence will be evaluated by GRADE. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval and patient consent are not required since this study is a meta-analysis based on published studies. The results of this network meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016039452; Pre-results.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of specific polysaccharides in Dendrobium huoshanense by using saccharide mapping and chromatographic methods.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of specific polysaccharides from ten batches of Dendrobium huoshanense were performed using high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering and refractive index detector (HPSEC-MALLS-RID), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and saccharide mapping based on polysaccharides analysis by using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Results showed that molecular weights, the radius of gyrations, and contents of specific polysaccharides in D. huoshanense were ranging from 1.16×10(5) to 2.17×10(5)Da, 38.8 to 52.1nm, and 9.9% to 19.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the main monosaccharide compositions were Man and Glc. Indeed, the main glycosidic linkages were ß-1,4-Manp and ß-1,4-Glcp, and substituted with acetyl groups at O-2 and O-3 of 1,4-linked Manp. Moreover, results showed that PACE and HPTLC fingerprints of partial acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates of specific polysaccharides were similar, which are helpful to better understand the specific polysaccharides in D. huoshanense and beneficial to improve their quality control. These approaches could also be routinely used for quality control of polysaccharides in other medicinal plants.