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Diseases caused by plant pathogens such as viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas cause huge economic losses of agricultural production and limit the safe movement of plant materials across borders. The use of pathogen‐free planting materials provides a strategy for efficient management of these diseases and facilitates the global exchange of genetic resources. Shoot tip cryotherapy is a novel biotechnology method that uses cryogenic procedures to eradicate plant pathogens from the diseased plants. Combining thermotherapy or chemotherapy with shoot tip cryotherapy has further enhanced pathogen eradication efficiency. This review provides updated and comprehensive information on shoot tip cryotherapy and the combination of thermotherapy or chemotherapy with shoot tip cryotherapy for pathogen eradication. Prospects are proposed for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have been widely applied in multiple tumours, but the expected efficacy was not observed in DLBCL. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore superior HDACis and optimise a relative combinational therapeutic strategy. Methods: The antitumour effects of the drug were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and apoptosis analysis. Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐Seq) was used to analyse the intratumoural heterogeneity of DLBCL cells. Whole‐exome sequencing and RNA sequencing were performed to analyse the genetic and transcriptional features. Western blotting, qRT–PCR, protein array, immunohistochemistry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were applied to explore the involved pathways. The antitumour effects of the compounds were assessed using subcutaneous xenograft tumour models. Results: LAQ824 was screened and confirmed to kill DLBCL cells effectively. Using scRNA‐Seq, we characterised the heterogeneity of DLBCL cells under different drug pressures, and c‐Fos was identified as a critical factor in the survival of residual tumour cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that combinatorial treatment with LAQ824 and a c‐Fos inhibitor more potently inhibited tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: Altogether, we found an HDACi, LAQ824, with high efficacy in DLBCL and provided a promising HDACi‐based combination therapy strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant virus eradication is a prerequisite for the use of virus‐free propagules for sustainable crop production. In contrast, virus preservation is required for all types of applied and basic research of viruses. Shoot tip cryopreservation can act as a double‐edged strategy, facilitating either virus eradication or virus preservation in cryoderived plants. Here, we tested the efficacies of shoot tip cryopreservation for virus eradication and preservation in shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum). In vitro stock shallot shoots infected with onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) and shallot latent virus were thermotreated for 0, 2, and 4 weeks at a constant temperature of 36℃ before shoot tip cryopreservation. Results showed that viruses were preserved in recovered shoots when thermotherapy was not applied. Although thermotherapy lowered the regrowth levels of cryotreated shoot tips, the efficiency of virus eradication increased from 5% to 54%. Immunolocalization of OYDV and histological observation of cryotreated shoot tips showed the high frequency of virus preservation was due to the viral invasion of cells close to the apical meristem and the high proportion of cells surviving. Four weeks of thermotherapy drastically decreased the distribution of OYDV, as well as the percentage of surviving cells within the shoot tips, thereby promoting virus eradication. Virus‐free plants obtained from combining thermotherapy with cryotherapy showed significantly improved vegetative growth and bulb production. The present study reports how thermotherapy can act as a trigger to facilitate either the safe preservation of Allium viruses or the production of virus‐free shallot plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Regulating macrophage-hepatocyte crosstalk through P2X7 receptors has led to new pharmacological strategies to reverse alcoholic hepatosteatosis. We investigated how tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (2354glu), isolated from Polygonum multiflorum, modulates macrophage-hepatocyte crosstalk during alcoholic hepatosteatosis.Experimental Approach: A model of alcoholic hepatosteatosis was established by giving ethanol intragastrically to C57BL/6 mice. HepG2 cells were incubated in conditioned medium from LPS+ATP-activated THP-1 human macrophages with silenced or overexpressed P2X7 receptors. THP-1 macrophages or mouse peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with 2354glu for 1 hr prior to LPS+ATP stimulation. Western blots, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were used, along with over-expression and silencing of P2X7 receptors.Key Results: Knockdown or overexpression of P2X7 receptors in THP-1 macrophages affected release of mature IL-1β and, subsequently, modulated lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells via the LKB-AMPK pathway. 2354glu ameliorated alcoholic hepatosteatosis in mice by regulating LKB1-AMPK-SREBP1 pathway and its target genes. Suppression of P2X7 receptor activation by 2354glu inhibited IL-1β release and reduced macrophage and neutrophil infiltration. In macrophages stimulated with LPS+ATP, expression of P2X7 receptors, caspase-1 and NF-κB, release of IL-1β, calcium influx and PI uptake were reduced by 2354glu. SIRT1-LKB1-AMPK-SREBP1 axis-mediated lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells was reduced when they were cultured with conditioned media from LPS+ATP-activated THP-1 macrophages pretreated with 2354glu.Conclusion and Implications: Modulation of P2X7 receptors in macrophages regulated lipid accumulation in hepatocytes during alcoholic hepatosteatosis. 2354glu might be a promising candidate that targets P2X7 receptors in macrophages interacting with hepatocytes during alcoholic hepatosteatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study described a combining thermotherapy with meristem culture for improved eradication of onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) and shallot latent virus (SLV) from co‐infected in vitro‐cultured shallot shoots. In vitro‐cultured shoots infected with OYDV and SLV were thermo‐treated at a constant temperature of 36°C for 0, 2 and 4 weeks, and then meristems (0.5 mm) containing 1–2 leaf primordia were excised and cultured for shoot regrowth. Meristem culture without thermotherapy produced much higher levels of survival (100%) and shoot regrowth (55%) than those (62% survival and 32% shoot regrowth) produced by the procedure combining 4 weeks of thermotherapy with meristem culture. However, much higher virus‐free frequencies (70% for OYSV, 80% for SLV and 50% for both viruses) were obtained in the latter than those (10% for OYSV, 15% for SLV and 10% for both viruses) obtained in the former. Histological and subcellular studies showed that thermotherapy imposed stress or damage to the cells of meristems, thus resulting in reduced meristem survival and shoot regrowth. Studies on virus location revealed considerable alternations of virus distribution patterns in the thermo‐treated meristems. The results of histological and subcellular studies and analysis of virus distribution pattern added valuable experimental data in the combining thermotherapy with meristem culture for virus eradication. These data provided explanations as to why combining thermotherapy with meristem culture improved the eradication of OYDV and SLV from the virus‐infected in vitro shallot shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: PAX6 is a transcription factor involved in embryonic development of many organs, including the eyes and the pancreas. Mutations of PAX6 gene is the main cause of a rare disease, congenital aniridia (CA). This case–control study aims to investigate the effects of PAX6 mutations on glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in families with CA. Methods: In all, 21 families with CA were screened by Sanger sequencing. Patients with PAX6 mutations and CA (cases) and age‐matched healthy family members (controls) were enrolled. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to detect diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Insulin and proinsulin secretion were evaluated. Results: Among 21 CA families, heterozygous PAX6 mutations were detected in five families. Among cases (n = 10) from the five families, two were diagnosed with newly identified diabetes and another two were diagnosed with IGT. Among controls (n = 12), two had IGT. The levels of haemoglobin A1c were 36 ± 4 mmol/mol (5.57 ± 0.46%) and 32 ± 5 mmol/L (5.21 ± 0.54%) in the cases and the controls, respectively (p = 0.049). More importantly, levels of proinsulin in the cases were significantly higher than that of the controls, despite similar levels of total insulin. The areas under the curve of proinsulin in the cases (6425 ± 4390) were significantly higher than that of the controls (3709 ± 1769) (p = 0.032). Conclusion: PAX6 may participate in the production of proinsulin to insulin and heterozygous PAX6 mutations may be associated with glucose metabolism in CA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is an economically important fruit crop in the world. China is the largest producer of kiwifruit in terms of both acreage and yield. In this study, a novel virus, tentatively named Actinidia virus C (AcVC), was discovered in Actinidia deliciosa 'Xuxiang' grown in commercial kiwifruit fields in the Shaanxi province, a major kiwifruit‐growing region in China. Sequencing of the complete genome showed that AcVC has 7,668 nucleotides (not including the poly‐(A) sequence). Complete genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis showed that AcVC is most closely related to AcVA and then to AcVB. AcVC shares 69.2% nucleotide identity with AcVA (GenBank accession number JN427014). Based on these data, Actinidia virus C is assigned as a new tentative member of the genus Vitivirus in the family Betaflexiviridae. AcVC was found to infect A. deliciosa and A. chinesis, the two major cultivated kiwifruits. Infection frequency of AcVC varied with the kiwifruit‐growing regions and cultivars in the Shaanxi province of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) mutational status has been an important prognostic factor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) for decades. Patients with unmutated IGHV (≥98% identity to the germline sequence) have inferior prognosis and tend to carry unfavorable genetic markers compared to those with mutated IGHV (<98% identity to the germline sequence). However, 98% as the cutoff for IGHV mutational status is a mathematical choice and remains controversial. We have previously reported distinct IGHV repertoire features between Chinese and western CLL populations. Here, we retrospectively studied 595 Chinese CLL patients to determine the best cutoff value for IGHV in Chinese CLL population. Using 1% as the interval for IGHV identity, we divided the studied cohort into seven subgroups from 95% to 100%. Briefer time to first treatment (TTFT) and overall survival (OS) were observed in cases with ≥98% compared to those with <98%, while the differences were obscure within subgroups ≥98% (98%‐98.99%, 99%‐99.99%, and 100%) and <98% (<94.99%, 95%‐95.99%, 96%‐96.99%, and 97%‐97.99%). Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent prognostic value of 98% being the cutoff for IGHV identity in terms of both TTFT and OS. All the prognostic factors, including del(17p13), del(11q22.3), TP53 mutation, MYD88 mutation, NOTCH1 mutation, SF3B1 mutation, CD38, ZAP‐70, Binet staging, gender, and β2‐microglobulin, were significantly different in distribution between group <98% and group ≥98%, but not among subgroups 98%‐98.99%, 99%‐99.99%, and 100%. In conclusion, 98% is the optimal cutoff of IGHV identity for the prognosis evaluation of Chinese CLL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a droplet‐vitrification cryotherapy method for the eradication of grapevine leafroll‐associated virus‐3 (GLRaV‐3) from diseased in vitro shoots of Vitis plants. The procedure involved pre‐culture of 1.0‐mm shoot tips containing five to six leaf primordia (LPs) for 3 days with a pre‐culture medium containing 0.3 M sucrose, 0.16 mM glutathione and 0.14 mM ascorbic acid, treatment of the pre‐cultured shoot tips for 20 min at room temperature with a loading solution composed of 2 M glycerol and 0.4 M sucrose and exposure to plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2), prior to freezing in liquid nitrogen of dehydrated shoot tips contained in 2.5‐μL PVS2 droplets on aluminium foil strips. Virus localisation showed GLRaV‐3 was not present in apical dome (AD) and LPs 1–4, but it was detected in the basal shoot tip region, approximately 0.5 mm from the AD, as well as in LP 5 and more mature tissues. Histological observations identify that only freezing in liquid nitrogen results in the death of all cells in areas of shoot tips harbouring virus, whereas PVS2 treatment does not. Thus, freezing in liquid nitrogen is a necessary step that eradicates GLRaV‐3. This cryotherapy procedure produced shoot regrowth levels that ranged from 43% to 59%, and all plants recovered after cryotherapy were free of GLRaV‐3 in two wine, one table and one rootstock cultivars. Thus, this procedure can be considered to be efficient and wildly applicable for eradication of GLRaV‐3 from Vitis spp. A shoot tip cryotherapy was described for efficient eradication of grapevine leafroll‐associated virus‐3. Mechanism for eradication of GLRaV‐3 by shoot tip cryotherapy was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The proto‐oncogene NOTCH1 is frequently mutated in around 10% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This study analyzed NOTCH1 mutation status of 317 Chinese patients with CLL by Sanger sequencing. The frequencies of NOTCH1 mutation in the PEST (proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S), threonine (T)‐rich protein sequence) domain and the 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) were 8.2% and 0.9%, with the most frequent mutation being c.7541_7542delCT and c.*371A>G, respectively. Clinical and biological associations were determined including NOTCH1 mutations with advanced stage (Binet stage, P = 0.010), unmutated immunoglobulin heavy‐chain variable region (IGHV) gene (P < 0.001) and trisomy 12 (+12) (P = 0.014). NOTCH1‐mutated patients had lower CD20 expression intensity than NOTCH1‐unmutated patients (P = 0.029). In addition, NOTCH1‐mutated patients had shorter overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002) and treatment‐free survival (TFS) (P = 0.002) than NOTCH1‐unmutated patients, especially for patients with NOTCH1 c.7541_7542delCT and/or c.*371A>G mutations. Patients with both mutated NOTCH1 and unmutated IGHV had shorter OS (P < 0.001) and TFS (P < 0.001) than those with unmutated NOTCH1 or mutated IGHV. These data provide a comprehensive view of the clinical relevance and prognostic impact of NOTCH1 mutations on Chinese patients with CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (B-CLPDs) is significantly lower in China than that in western countries. There have been studies involving small cohorts with conflicting results regarding the spectrum of B-CLPDs in China, and the types and immunophenotyping of B-CLPDs in China remain largely unexplored. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 653 cases of B-CLPDs seen in our centre from 2011 to 2015. Four-colour flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of each immunological marker, and the diagnostic values of the immunological markers were also investigated. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was the most common type of B-CLPD, which was consistent with that in west countries. However, the proportions of CLL (55.9%), follicular lymphoma (2.6%), and hairy cell leukaemia (0.2%) were lower, while the proportion of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/WaldenstrÖm macroglobulinaemia (5.4%) was higher in China, as compared with western countries. With respect to immunophenotypic characteristics, CD23 (31.7%) was more frequently expressed in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in our cohort than that in western countries. Immunophenotyping was useful in differentiating MCL from CLL or B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/WaldenstrÖm macroglobulinaemia from splenic marginal zone lymphoma. CD200 was of better diagnostic performance (accuracy: 94.6%) in differentiating CLL from MCL compared with CD23 (accuracy: 93.3%). Some cases of B-CPLDs, however, had no definite diagnoses, which were diagnosed as CD5+ B-CPLDs unclassified (7.7%) and CD5- B-CPLDs unclassified (15.8%). This is the largest study that systematically explores the spectrum and immunophenotyping of B-CLPDs in Asia, confirming that spectrum of B-CLPDs in China was different from that in western countries. The immunophenotypic features of B-CLPDs were similar between China and western countries, although a few disparities exist. Cases with no definite diagnoses warrant further studies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amifostine is a cytoprotective drug that was initially used to control and treat nuclear radiation injury and is currently used to provide organ protection in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Clinical studies have also found that amifostine has some efficacy in the treatment of cytopenia caused by conditions such as myelodysplastic syndrome and immune thrombocytopenia, both of which involve megakaryocyte maturation defects. We hypothesized that amifostine induced the differentiation of megakaryocytes and investigated this by exposing the human Dami megakaryocyte leukemia cell line to amifostine (1 mmol/L). After 12 days of amifostine exposure, optical microscopy showed that the proportion of Dami cells with diameters >20 μm had increased to 24.63%. Transmission electron microscopy identified the development of a platelet demarcation membrane system, while flow cytometry detected increased CD41a expression and decreased CD33 expression on the Dami cell surface. Ploidy analysis found that the number of polyploid cells with >4N DNA content increased to 27.96%. We did not detect any elevation in the mRNA or protein levels of megakaryocytic differentiation-associated transcription factors GATA-binding factor 1 ( GATA-1) and nuclear factor, erythroid 2 ( NF-E2), but nuclear import assay revealed an increased nuclear translocation of these proteins. These findings indicate that amifostine induced the differentiation of Dami cells into mature megakaryocytes via a mechanism involving increased nuclear translocation of the transcription factors, NF-E2 and GATA-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of controllable multicomponent self-assembly through reversible supramolecular interactions is a challenging goal, and is an important strategy for the fabrication of switchable nanomaterials. Herein we show that the self-assembly of TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) functionalized with methyl viologen can be controlled both by light irradiation and chemical reduction through cucurbitfSJuril-enhanced radical cation dimerization interactions. Moreover, the controlled assembly and disassembly of this system are accompanied by switchable photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 NPs, which shows potential application as a novel smart and recyclable photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of controllable multicomponent self-assembly through reversible supramolecular interactions is a challenging goal, and is an important strategy for the fabrication of switchable nanomaterials. Herein we show that the self-assembly of TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) functionalized with methyl viologen can be controlled both by light irradiation and chemical reduction through cucurbit[8]uril-enhanced radical cation dimerization interactions. Moreover, the controlled assembly and disassembly of this system are accompanied by switchable photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 NPs, which shows potential application as a novel smart and recyclable photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid method based on pressurized liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection was firstly developed for the quantitative analysis of two bioactive triterpenoids (acankoreoside A and acankoreagenin) in the leaves of Schefflera octophylla and Schefflera actinophylla. The analysis was performed on an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq column (4.6 × 50 mm, 3.5 μm) with gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. Calibration curves of two analytes showed good linearity ( R2 > 0.9990) within the tested ranges. This novel method is simple, rapid and accurate, and the results of quantification showed that contents of each investigated compound is significant high in natural S. octophylla (6.36-14.83%), which indicated that natural S. octophylla as potential medicinal resource. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering analysis based on the typical peaks of acankoreoside A and acankoreagenin from the 17 tested samples showed that natural and cultured Schefflera species were in different clusters, which could provide a means of discriminating between Schefflera species from different origins. Thus, acankoreoside A and acankoreagnin could be selected markers for quality control of S. octophylla and S. actinophylla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bis-branched [3]rotaxane, with two [2]rotaxane arms separated by an oligo( para-phenylenevinylene) (OPV) fluorophore, was designed and investigated. Each [2]rotaxane arm employed a difluoroboradiaza- s-indacene (BODIPY) dye-functionalized dibenzo[24]crown-8 macrocycle interlocked onto a dibenzylammonium in the rod part. The chemical structure of the [3]rotaxane was confirmed and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution ESI mass spectrometry. The photophysical properties of [3]rotaxane and its reference systems were investigated through UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. An efficient energy-transfer process in [3]rotaxane occurred from the OPV donor to the BODIPY acceptor because of the large overlap between the absorption spectrum of the BODIPY moiety and the emission spectrum of the OPV fluorophore; this shows the important potential of this system for designing functional molecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with diode array detection method was developed for the determination of dencichine in Panax notoginseng and related species. The analysis was performed on an Eprogen Synchropak WAX column (4.6 × 250 mm, 6 μm) with 50 mM NaH2PO4 aqueous solution isocratic elution. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, stability, and accuracy. It was found that the calibration curve for dencichine showed good linearity ( R2 = 0.9999) within the test range. The LOD and LOQ were 0.77 and 3.06 ng, respectively. The RSD for intra- and interday repeatability was 0.2 and 0.5%, respectively. The test solution of dencichine is stable at least for three days at room temperature and for seven days at 4°C. The mean recovery of dencichine was 102.0%. The established method was successfully applied to determine dencichine in the raw root of P. nogoginseng, P. ginseng, and P. quinquefolium as well as the steamed root of P. notoginseng. Compared with previous reports, this method is sensitive, selective, and accurate, which is helpful to evaluate the quality of P. notoginseng and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T(15;17) is the most common chromosomal aberration in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), leading to the formation of PML-RARα fusion gene. In a small subset of patients with APL, the RARα gene is fused with different partners. Here, we report a rare APL case with STAT5B-RARα fusion transcript. Cytomorphologic and immunophenotypic analyses showed typical features of APL. However, cytogenetic analysis showed normal karyotype, and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed PML-RARα negative. Quantitative RT-PCR also showed PML-RARα negative but STAT5B-RARα positive and sequencing analysis confirmed the result. Molecular markers including FLT3, NPM1, c-Kit and C/EBPα mutation were all negative. To our knowledge, this is the first APL patient with STAT5B-RARα in Chinese population and the fifth patient around the world according to published paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction - Aconites, with aconite alkaloids as the major therapeutic and toxic components, are used for the treatment of analgesic, antirheumatic and neurological symptoms. Quantification of the aconite alkaloids is important for the quality control of aconite-containing drugs. Objective - To establish a validated capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the simultaneous determination of six major alkaloids, namely aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine, in crude and processed aconite roots. Methodology - The CZE method was optimised and validated using a stability-indicating method. The optimised running buffer was a mixture of 200 m m Tris, 150 m m perchloric acid and 40% 1,4-dioxane (pH 7.8) with the capillary thermostated at 25°C. Results - Using the optimised method, six aconite alkaloids were well separated. The established method showed good precision, accuracy and recovery. Contents of these alkaloids in crude and processed aconites were determined and it was observed that the levels of individual alkaloids varied between samples. Conclusion - The developed CZE method was reliable for the quality control of aconites contained in herbal medicines. The method could also be used as an approach for toxicological studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential anti-tumor activity of gamboges, a herbal medicine derived from Garcinia hanburyi, has increasingly gained the interest of scientist worldwide. The major components of gamboges are cytotoxic caged xanthones. In the present study, an improved HPLC method was developed to simultaneously quantify 12 caged xanthones, including three pairs of epimers and four pairs of trans- cis isomers, i.e. forbesione, isomorellic acid, morellic acid, R-30-hydroxygambogic acid, S-30-hydroxygambogic acid, isogambogenic acid, gambogenic acid, gambogellic acid, R-isogambogic acid, S-isogambogic acid, R-gambogic acid and S-gambogic acid. This method was validated to be sensitive, precise and accurate with limits of detection of 0.03-0.08 µg/mL, overall intra-day and inter-day variations less than 7.9% and overall recovery over 93.2%. The correlation coefficients ( r2) of the calibration curves were higher than 0.995 for all analytes. The newly established method was successfully applied to reveal the difference in the chemical profiles and contents of these analytes in gamboges from different origins. It can be concluded that this method was not only an effective quality control method to ensure the safety and efficacy consistency of gamboges, but also a useful tool for screening and determining more potent cytotoxic xanthones with potential anticancer activity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known as a population of multi-potential cells able to proliferate and differentiate into multiple mesodermal tissues including bone, cartilage, muscle, ligament, tendon, fat and stroma. In this study human MSCs were successfully isolated from the umbilical cords. The research characteristics of these cells, e.g., morphologic appearance, surface antigens, growth curve, cytogenetic features, cell cycle, differentiation potential and gene expression were investigated. After 2weeks of incubation, fibroblast-like cells appeared to be dominant. During the second passage the cells presented a homogeneous population of spindle fibroblast-like cells. After more than 4months (approximately 26 passages), the cells continued to retain their characteristics. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CD29, CD44, CD95, CD105 and HLA-I were expressed on the cell surface, but there was no expression of hematopoietic lineage markers, such as CD34, CD38, CD71 and HLA-DR. Chromosomal analysis showed the cells kept a normal karyotype. The cell cycle at the third passage showed the percentage of G0/G1, G2/M and S phase were 88.86%, 5.69% and 5.45%, respectively. The assays in vitro demonstrated the cells exhibited multi-potential differentiation into osteogenic and adipogenic cells. Both BMI-1 and nucleostemin genes, expressed in adult MSCs from bone marrow, were also expressed in umbilical cord MSCs. Here we show that umbilical cords may be a novel alternative source of human MSCs for experimental and clinical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Review: 291 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]