Characterization and identification of major flavonoids of bamboo leaf extract by HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS.

Bamboo leaf extract (BLE) is a pale brown powder extracted from bamboo leaves, and it is listed in the Chinese Standard GB-2760 as a legal and safe food additive. The present study aims to identify and characterize the major flavonoids in BLE. The identification of major flavonoids was carried out using ultra performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). A total of 31 flavonoid compounds were identified and tentatively characterized base on reference standards and MS dissociation mechanisms. HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS can serve as an important analytical platform to identification structure of bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF).

Correlation between the incidence of inguinal hernia and risk factors after radical prostatic cancer surgery: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of recurrent hernia after radical resection of prostate cancer is high, so this article discusses the incidence and risk factors of inguinal hernia after radical resection of prostate cancer. METHODS: This case control study was conducted in The First People's Hospital of Huzhou clinical data of 251 cases underwent radical resection of prostate cancer in this hospital from March 2019 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the occurrence of inguinal hernia, the subjects were divided into study group and control group, and the clinical data of each group were statistically analyzed, Multivariate Logistic analysis was performed to find independent influencing factors for predicting the occurrence of inguinal hernia. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn according to the occurrence and time of inguinal hernia. RESULTS: The overall incidence of inguinal hernia after prostate cancer surgery was 14.7% (37/251), and the mean time was 8.58 ± 4.12 months. The average time of inguinal hernia in patients who received lymph node dissection was 7.61 ± 4.05 (month), and that in patients who did not receive lymph node dissection was 9.16 ± 4.15 (month), and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of inguinal hernia with age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, PSA, previous abdominal operations and operative approach (P > 0.05), but there were statistically significant differences with surgical method and pelvic lymph node dissection (P < 0.05). The incidence of pelvic lymph node dissection in the inguinal hernia group was 24.3% (14/57), which was significantly higher than that in the control group 11.8% (23/194). Logistic regression analysis showed that pelvic lymph node dissection was a risk factor for inguinal hernia after prostate cancer surgery (OR = 0.413, 95%Cl: 0.196-0.869, P = 0.02). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the rate of inguinal hernia in the group receiving pelvic lymph node dissection was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pelvic lymph node dissection is a risk factor for inguinal hernia after radical resection of prostate cancer.

Dihydrophenanthro[b]furan derivatives from the tubers of Bletilla striata.

Two pairs of new dihydrophenanthro[b]furan enantiomers blephebibnols G-H (1-2), one new dihydrophenanthro[b]furan derivative blephebibnol I (3), along with four known analogues (4-7), were isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata. Their structures including the absolute configurations were determined by the combination of spectroscopic data analysis, ECD and NMR calculations. Compounds 1a, 1b, and 2b showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 4.11 to 14.65 µM. Further mechanistic study revealed that 1a suppressed the phosphorylation of p65 subunit to regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, some compounds displayed selective cytotoxic activities against HCT-116, HepG2, A549, or HGC27 cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.1 to 8.23 µM.

Optimizing surgical outcomes for elderly gallstone patients with a high body mass index using enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation of elderly patients with a high body mass index (BMI) after cholecystectomy carries risks and requires the adoption of effective perioperative management strategies. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is a comprehensive treatment approach that facilitates early patient recovery and reduces postoperative complications. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of traditional perioperative management methods with the ERAS protocol in elderly patients with gallbladder stones and a high BMI. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined data from 198 elderly patients with a high BMI who underwent cholecystectomy at the Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital from August 2019 to August 2022. Among them, 99 patients were managed using the traditional perioperative care approach (non-ERAS protocol), while the remaining 99 patients were managed using the ERAS protocol. Relevant indicator data were collected for patients preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively, and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The comparison results between the two groups of patients in terms of age, sex, BMI, underlying diseases, surgical type, and preoperative hospital stay showed no statistically significant differences. However, the ERAS group had a significantly shorter preoperative fasting time than the non-ERAS group (4.0 ± 0.9 h vs 7.6 ± 0.9 h). Regarding intraoperative indicators, there were no significant differences between the two groups of patients. However, in terms of postoperative recovery, the ERAS protocol group exhibited significant advantages over the non-ERAS group, including a shorter hospital stay, lower postoperative pain scores and postoperative hunger scores, and higher satisfaction levels. The readmission rate was lower in the ERAS protocol group than in the non-ERAS group (3.0% vs 8.1%), although the difference was not significant. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative nausea and vomiting severity, postoperative abdominal distention at 24 h, and daily life ability scores. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that the ERAS protocol confers significant advantages in postoperative outcomes following cholecystectomy, including reduced readmission rates, decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting, alleviated abdominal distension, and enhanced functional capacity. While the protocol may not exhibit significant improvement in early postoperative symptoms, it does exhibit advantages in long-term postoperative symptoms and recovery. These findings underscore the importance of implementing the ERAS protocol in the postoperative management of cholecystectomy patients, as it contributes to improving patients' recovery and quality of life while reducing health care resource utilization.

[Application of a modified vascular blocking technique in intrafascial nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of a modified vascular blocking technique in intrafascial nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (INLRP). METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical data on 13 cases of INLRP completed via a modified vascular blocking technique between July 2021 and August 2022. The patients ranged in age from 64 to 73 (68.8 ± 3.15) years, with elevated PSA of 4.71－16.12 (9.71 ± 3.50) µg/L preoperatively. Prostate cancer was confirmed in all the cases by ultrasound-guided perineal prostate needle biopsy, with Gleason 6 in 7 cases and Gleason 7 in 6 cases. MRI revealed no preoperative tumor breakthrough in the prostatic capsule or pelvic lymph node metastasis. All the patients received INLRP with a modified superficial suture dorsal vein complex (DVC) combined with lateral prostatic pedicle vascular blocking. RESULTS: Prostatic capsule rupture occurred in 1 case during the operation, with positive resection margin indicated by rapid intraoperative frozen biopsy, so the lateral fascia resection was modified. No positive resection margin was found in any of the cases in postoperative pathological examinations. Urinary continence was restored in 8 cases immediately after surgery and in the other 5 within 2 weeks after catheter removal. At 1 month after surgery, all the patients were medicated with low-dose tadalafil (5 mg qd), and IIEF-5 scores of >15 were achieved in 4 cases (31%) at 1 month and in another 8 (62%) at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: INLRP via modified vascular blocking showed the advantages of desirable intraoperative bleeding control and postoperative tumor control, restoration of urinary continence and relatively satisfactory recovery of erectile function. However, due to the small sample size, short follow-up time and lack of control, our findings need to be further verified by more clinical studies.

Phenolic glycosides and indole alkaloids isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Six undescribed compounds, including three phenolic glycosides (1-3) and three indole alkaloids (4-6), together with ten known alkaloids (7-16) and three known phenolic glycosides (17-19), were isolated from 70% EtOH aqueous extracts of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis Osbeck. The structures were elucidated by NMR, HRESIMS and X-ray diffraction spectroscopies. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated, and twelve compounds showed significant inhibitory activity against TNF-α with an inhibition ratio from 47.87% to 94.70% at a dose of 10 µM. Compound 7 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against TNF-α and IL-6 with IC50 values of 3.99 µM and 2.24 µM, respectively. Compound 8 displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity against mouse ear edema induced by croton oil. A mechanistic study suggested that compounds 7 and 8 decreased the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce the secretion of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Higher dietary acid load is associated with hyperuricemia in Chinese adults: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore the association between dietary acid load and hyperuricemia in Chinese adults. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. Adult participants with hyperuricemia were recruited as the cases and those without hyperuricemia were as the controls. Food consumption was evaluated by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary acid load was assessed by potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP). Dietary acid load was divided into four levels: the first quartile (Q1), the second quartile (Q2), the third quartile (Q3) and the fourth quartile (Q4). Logistic regression model was applied for exploring the association between dietary acid load (PRAL and NEAP) and hyperuricemia. Odds ratio (OR) and its correspondence confidence interval (CI) were computed. RESULTS: A total of 290 participants were eligible in this study, in which there were 143 individuals in case group and 147 in control group. A higher level of PRAL was found to be associated with odds of hyperuricemia. ORs of hyperuricemia for Q2, Q3 and Q4 of PRAL were 2.74 (95%CI: 1.94 ~ 3.88, p-value: 0.004), 2.90 (95%CI: 2.05 ~ 4.10, p-value: 0.002) and 3.14 (95%CI: 2.22 ~ 4.45, p-value: 0.001), respectively. There was a positive association between elevated NEAP and hyperuricemia. OR of hyperuricemia for Q2 was not material significance (OR:1.54, 95%CI: 0.93 ~ 2.53, p-value: 0.210), however, ORs of hyperuricemia for Q3 (OR: 2.40, 95%CI: 1.70 ~ 3.38, p-value: 0.011) and Q4 (OR: 3.27, 95%CI: 2.31 ~ 4.62, p-value: 0.001) were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Higher level of dietary acid load was found to be associated with hyperuricemia in Chinese adults, indicative of advocation of a well-balanced diet in this population.

Expression and prognostic value of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) in bladder urothelial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression intensity of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) in bladder urothelial carcinoma and its predictive value for the recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of 194 specimens who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2016 and completed follow-up. The expression intensity of CA-IX and the clinical data of the patients were analyzed, and the subjects were divided into positive group and negative group according to the expression intensity of CA-IX. The age, gender, T stage, degree of differentiation, tumor number, tumor diameter, recurrence of each group was analyzed. Logistic univariate and multivariate analysis was used successively to find independent influencing factors for predicting the recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after resection. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn according to the relationship between CA-IX expression intensity and postoperative recurrence. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of CA-IX in bladder urothelial carcinomas were 68.1% (132/194). The positive expression of CA-IX had no statistical significance with age, gender and tumor diameter (P > 0.05), while the positive expression of CA-IX had statistical significance with tumor T stage, tumor differentiation, tumor number and recurrence (P < 0.05); Logistic regression analysis showed that clinical T stage, tumor differentiation, tumor number, and CA-IX expression intensities were independent risk factors for predicting recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after resection (P < 0.05); There were 59 cases of recurrence in the positive expression of CA-IX group, with a recurrence rate of 44.69% (59/132), and 17 cases of recurrence in the negative expression group, with a recurrence rate of 27.41% (17/62). The mean recurrence time of CA-IX positive group was 29.93 ± 9.86 (months), and the mean recurrence time of CA-IX negative group was 34.02 ± 12.44 (months). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the recurrence rate and recurrence time of patients with positive expression of CA-IX in bladder urothelial carcinomas were significantly higher than those of patients with negative expression of CA-IX. CONCLUSION: CA-IX is highly expressed in bladder urothelial carcinoma, is a good tumor marker, and can be used as a good indicator for predicting the recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after transurethral resection of bladder tumor.

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Learning and Memory Impairment via PI3K/Akt Pathway in an Amyloid ß 25-35-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model.

The main characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the progressive decline of learning and memory ability. Electroacupuncture (EA) may improve AD-related learning and memory ability. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects and the molecular mechanism of EA on learning and memory in an amyloid ß 25-35 (Aß 25-35) induced AD mouse model. The AD model was established by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of Aß 25-35 oligomers. AD mice were electroacupunctured with wisdom three-needle combined with Baihui (GV20) five times per week for three consecutive weeks. The Morris water maze (MWM) and Y maze tests were applied to evaluate spatial learning and memory ability. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to measure mitochondria and autophagy of hippocampal neurons, and western blot was applied to observe molecular changes in the mice hippocampus. The results suggested that EA treatment significantly alleviated learning and memory impairment related to AD, reduced mitochondria damage, improved autophagy, increased mitochondrial protein 2 (Mfn2), Beclin 1, and LC3B, and decreased the expressions of fission protein 1 (Fis1) level. Furthermore, EA further upregulated the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the ratio of p-Akt/Akt in the hippocampus of AD mice. This study demonstrates that EA treatment attenuates cognitive deficits, modulates mitochondrial fusion and fission, and enhances autophagy via the PI3K/Akt pathway in a mouse AD model.

Pyrolysis behaviors of anaerobic digestion residues in a fixed-bed reactor with rapid infrared heating.

Fast pyrolysis via rapid infrared heating may significantly enhance the heat transfer and suppress the secondary reaction of the volatiles. The effects of various pyrolysis temperatures on pyrolysis behaviors of anaerobic digestion residues (ADR) were studied in this research utilizing a fixed-bed reactor equipped with rapid infrared heating (IH), as well as to compare the pyrolysis products produced by rapid infrared heating (IH) to those produced by conventional electric heating (EH). Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis revealed that pyrolysis of ADR occurred in three decomposition stages. The results of pyrolysis experiments showed that increasing temperature first raised the bio-oil yield for IH and EH, peaking at 500-600 °C, but thereafter decreased the yield. In contrast to the findings achieved with EH, infrared heating (IH) presented a greater overall bio-oil yield but a lower gas yield. The bio-oil produced by IH increased from 8.35 wt.% at 400 °C to 12.56 wt.% at 500 °C before dropping to 11.22 wt.% at 700 °C. Gaseous products produced by IH have a higher heating value than those generated by EH. Nitrogenous compounds, ketones, and phenols make up the majority of the bio-oil. In the IH bio-oil, nitrogen compounds rose with increasing temperature, while those varied slightly in the EH bio-oil. The phenols content in IH bio-oil was much more than that of EH, exhibiting values of 8.63% and 2.95%, respectively. The findings of the FTIR spectra of biochar indicated that as the temperature increased, the chains of aliphatic side professedly reduced and the structure of biochar became considerably ordered for both heating techniques. The Raman spectra of IH biochar showed that the ratio of AG/AD rose progressively from 0.17 to 0.20 as pyrolysis temperature rose from 500 to 700 °C.

Two new phenylpropanoid glycosidic compounds from the pseudobulbs of Pleione bulbocodioides and their hepatoprotective activity.

Two new phenylpropanoid glycosidic compounds (a pair of epimers), named pleionosides K (1) and L (2), were isolated from the pseudobulbs of Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated by a combination of MS, NMR data, chemical methods and the comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Their possible biosynthetic pathway was discussed in the text. Furthermore, the two compounds exhibited moderate hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced HepG2 cell damage in in vitro assays, with cell survival rates of 25.83% and 28.82% at 10 µM, respectively, and antioxidant effect against H2O2-induced toxicity in human SK-N-SH cell, with increasing viability at 10 µM of 24.9% and 34.6%, respectively.

The association between conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound appearances and pathological features in small breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between ultrasound appearances and pathological features in small breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 186 small breast cancers in 186 patients were analyzed in this retrospective study from January 2015 to December 2019 according to pathological results. Forty-seven cases of axillary lymph node metastasis were found. All patients underwent radical axillary surgery following conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations. The association between ultrasound appearances and pathological features was analyzed using univariate distributions and multivariate analysis. Then, a logistic regression model was established using the pathological diagnosis of lymph node metastasis and biochemical indicators as the dependent variable and the ultrasound appearances as independent variables. RESULTS: In small breast cancer, risk factors of axillary lymph node metastasis were crab claw-like enhancement on CEUS and abnormal axillary lymph nodes on US. The logistic regression model was established as follows: (axillary lymph node metastasis) = 1.100×(crab claw-like enhancement of CEUS) + 2.749×(abnormal axillary lymph nodes of US) -5.790. In addition, irregular shape on CEUS and posterior echo attenuation on US were risk factors for both positive estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression, whereas calcification on US was a risk factor for positive Her-2 expression. A specific relationship could be found using the following logistic models: (positive ER expression) = 1.367×(irregular shape of CEUS) + 1.441×(posterior echo attenuation of US) -5.668; (positive PR expression) = 1.265×(irregular shape of CEUS) + 1.136×(posterior echo attenuation of US) -4.320; (positive Her-2 expression) = 1.658×(calcification of US) -0.896. CONCLUSION: Logistic models were established to provide significant value for the prediction of pre-operative lymph node metastasis and positive biochemical indicators, which may guide clinical treatment.

Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory phenylethanoidglycosides from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa.

Neuroinflammation is emerging as a crucial reason of major neurodegenerative diseases in recent years. Increasingly evidences have supported that bioactive natural products from traditional Chinese medicines have efficiency for neuroinflammation. Forsythia suspensa, a typical medicinal herb, showed potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties in previous pharmacological studies. In our research to obtain neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory natural products, three unprecedented C6-C7'/C6-C16' linked phenylethanoidglycoside dimers (1-3), three new phenylethanoidglycosides (4-6), and six known compounds (7-12) were isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic data and comparison to the literature data. All isolated compounds were evaluated their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1 and 10 exhibited significant neuroprotective activities with the cell viability values of 75.24 ± 8.05% and 93.65 ± 10.17%, respectively, for the serum-deprivation and rotenone induced pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell injury. Meanwhile, compound 1 exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activity against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in LPS induced RAW264.7 cells with the IC50 value of 1.30 µM. This study revealed that the bioactive phenylethanoidglycosides may attenuate neuroinflammation through their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities.

New triterpenoid saponins from the leaves of Ilex chinensis and their hepatoprotective activity.

Seven new triterpenoid saponins, including five ursane-type saponins, ilexchinenosides R-V (1-5), and two oleanane-type saponins, ilexchinenosides W-X (6-7), with four known triterpenoid saponins (8-11) were isolated from the leaves of Ilex chinensis. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data. Their sugar moieties were determined by HPLC analysis compared with standards after hydrolysis and derivatization. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10 exhibited potential hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced HepG2 cell injury in vitro.

LMO2 upregulation due to AR deactivation in cancer-associated fibroblasts induces non-cell-autonomous growth of prostate cancer after androgen deprivation.

The androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in prostate fibroblasts in addition to normal prostate epithelial cells and prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Moreover, AR activation in fibroblasts dramatically influences prostate cancer (PCa) cell behavior. Androgen deprivation leads to deregulation of AR downstream target genes in both fibroblasts and PCa cells. Here, we identified LIM domain only 2 (LMO2) as an AR target gene in prostate fibroblasts using ChIP-seq and revealed that LMO2 can be repressed directly by AR through binding to androgen response elements (AREs), which results in LMO2 overexpression after AR deactivation due to normal prostate fibroblasts to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) transformation or androgen deprivation therapy. Next, we investigated the mechanisms of LMO2 overexpression in fibroblasts and the role of this event in non-cell-autonomous promotion of PCa cells growth in the androgen-independent manner through paracrine release of IL-11 and FGF-9. Collectively, our data suggest that AR deactivation deregulates LMO2 expression in prostate fibroblasts, which induces castration resistance in PCa cells non-cell-autonomously through IL-11 and FGF-9.

Phenanthrene, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene and bibenzyl enantiomers from Bletilla striata with their antineuroinflammatory and cytotoxic activities.

Thirteen undescribed phenanthrene and bibenzyl derivatives, named blestanols A-M, including one pair of biphenanthrene enantiomers, two bis 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene ethers, five pairs of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene/bibenzyl atropisomers, one racemic 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene/bibenzyl dimer, one 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenebibenzyl ether, two pairs of bibenzyl derivatives, and one stilbene, together with 12 known analogues were isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata. The structures were elucidated via spectroscopic data analysis. 15 compounds were purified to yield enantiomers (a, b) via chiral-phase HPLC, and their configurations were determined by optical rotation values and the comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) curves. Blestanols K-L possessed a cycloheptene moiety, which is rarely observed in bibenzyl derivatives. A putative biosynthetic pathway for the identified components is deduced. Among these compounds, 14 compounds showed inhibition of NO production, with IC50 values ranging from 5.0 to 19.0 µM. Eight compounds displayed selective cytotoxic activities against HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, A549 or U251 cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 1.4 to 8.3 µM. In addition, their structure-activity relationships are discussed briefly.

Sesquiterpenoids, phenolic and lignan glycosides from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis hexapetala Pall. and their bioactivities.

Approximately 17 compounds were isolated from a 60% EtOH aqueous extract of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis hexapetala Pall., including three new guaianolide sesquiterpenoids with 5/7/5-fused rings and 3S-configuration (1-3), five new prenylated tetra-substituted phenolic glycosides (4-8) with 6/6-fused 9H-benzopyran skeleton (5) and 6/7-fused 7,10-dihydro-benzoxepin skeleton (6-8), one new isoferulyl glucoside (9), two new furofuran lignan diglucosides (10-11), and six known compounds. The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated via spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses in combination with a modified Mosher's method. The possible biosynthetic relationships of prenylated tetra-substituted phenols were postulated. In the in vitro assays, compound 16 exhibited moderate TNF-α secretion inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 3.419 µM. Compounds 14-16 displayed potent PTP1B enzymatic inhibitory activities with inhibition ratios of 48.30-86.00%. And compound 16 showed significant PTP1B enzymatic inhibition with IC50 value of 4.623 µM.

Qualitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of small, TR3-5 benign and malignant thyroid nodules measuring ≤1 cm.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of small, solid, TR3-5 benign and malignant thyroid nodules (≤1 cm). METHODS: From January 2016 to March 2018, 185 thyroid nodules from 154 patients who underwent contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and fine-needle aspiration or thyroidectomy in Shanghai General Hospital were included. The χ2 test was used to compare the CEUS characteristics of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and the CEUS features of malignant nodules assigned scores. The total score of the CEUS features and the scores of the above nodules were evaluated according to the latest 2017 version of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). The diagnostic performance of the two were compared based on the receiver operating characteristic curves generated for benign and malignant thyroid nodules. RESULTS: The degree, enhancement patterns, boundary, shape, and homogeneity of enhancement in thyroid small solid nodules were significantly different (p＜0.05). No significant differences were seen between benign and malignant thyroid nodules regarding completeness of enhancement and size of enhanced lesions (p＞0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the TI-RADS classification TR5 in diagnosis of malignant nodules were 90.10%, 55.95%, 74.59%, 72.22%, and 82.46%, respectively (area under the curve [AUC]=0.738; 95% confidence interval[CI], 0.663-0.813). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the total score of CEUS qualitative analysis indicators were 86.13%, 89.29%, 87.57%, 90.63%, and 84.27% respectively (AUC = 0.916; 95% CI, 0.871-0.961). CONCLUSION: CEUS qualitative analysis is superior to TI-RADS in evaluating the diagnostic performance of small, solid thyroid nodules. Qualitative analysis of CEUS has a significantly higher specificity for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules than TI-RADS. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The 2017 version of TI-RADS has recently suggested the malignant stratification of thyroid nodules by ultrasound. In this paper we applied this system and CEUS to evaluate 185 nodules and compare the results with pathological findings to access the diagnostic performance.

Hepatoprotective lignans and triterpenoids from the roots of Kadsura longipedunculata.

Two new tetrahydrobenzocyclooctabenzofuranone lignans (1-2), a new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan (3) and three new schiartane-type triterpenoids (4-6), together with six known compounds (7-12), were isolated from the roots of Kadsura longipedunculata. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analysis. The absolute configurations of these compounds were determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Compound 12 exhibited moderate hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells with cell survival rates of 53.04%.