Search

Two new monoterpene esters, illigerates H and I (1 and 2), and six known compounds actinodaphine (3), bulbocupnine (4), stephanine (5), hypserpanine B (6), betulinic acid (7) and gallic acid (8) were obtained from the root of Illigera paviflora Dunn. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of some isolated compounds were assessed. Two monoterpenes 1 and 2 exhibited weak in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 64.5 ± 5.3 and 79.2 ± 7.5 μM) while compounds 3–6 showed inhibition of α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranged from 87.17 to 118.74 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The standard treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare malignant nasal vault neoplasm, is not established.Methods: We retrospectively assessed the clinicopathological features, prognostic factors and treatment methods for 187 patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated in China between 1981 and 2015. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests.Results: Twenty-three (12.3%), 48 (25.7%) and 113 (60.4%) patients had Kadish stage A, B and C esthesioneuroblastoma; 3 (1.6%) had unknown stage. Overall, 117 (62.6%) patients received surgery and combined radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy; 35 (18.7%) received radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy; 32 (17.1%) received surgery alone; and 3 (1.6%) received palliative treatment. Three-year OS and DFS for the entire cohort were 66.7% and 57.5%, respectively. Three-year OS for stage A, B and C were 91.3%, 91.2% and 49.5% (P < 0.0001). Three-year OS was 16.7% and 66.7% for patients with and without distant metastasis (P < 0.0001). Surgery and combined radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy led to better OS and DFS than other treatment modes (both P < 0.0001). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed distant metastasis (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.162, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.145, 4.082, P = 0.017) and not receiving a combined modality treatment (HR = 2.391, 95% CI = 1.356, 4.218, P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for poor OS and DFS.Conclusions: This study indicates surgery and combined radiotherapy may currently be the optimal treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allophycocyanin B (AP-B) is one of the two terminal emitters in phycobilisomes, the unique light-harvesting complexes of cyanobacteria and red algae. Its low excitation-energy level and the correspondingly redshifted absorption and fluorescence emission play an important role in funnelling excitation energy from the hundreds of chromophores of the extramembraneous phycobilisome to the reaction centres within the photosynthetic membrane. In the absence of crystal structures of these low-abundance terminal emitters, the molecular basis for the extreme redshift and directional energy transfer is largely unknown. Here, the crystal structure of trimeric AP-B [(ApcD/ApcB)3] from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 at 1.75 Å resolution is reported. In the crystal lattice, eight trimers of AP-B form a porous, spherical, 48-subunit assembly of 193 Å in diameter with an internal cavity of 1.1 × 106 Å3. While the overall structure of trimeric AP-B is similar to those reported for many other phycobiliprotein trimers, the chromophore pocket of the α-subunit, ApcD, has more bulky residues that tightly pack the phycocyanobilin (PCB). Ring D of the chromophores is further stabilized by close interactions with ApcB from the adjacent monomer. The combined contributions from both subunits render the conjugated rings B, C and D of the PCB in ApcD almost perfectly coplanar. Together with mutagenesis data, it is proposed that the enhanced planarity effectively extends the conjugation system of PCB and leads to the redshifted absorption (λmax = 669 nm) and fluorescence emission (679 nm) of the ApcD chromophore in AP-B, thereby enabling highly efficient energy transfer from the phycobilisome core to the reaction centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To analyze the status of 5-year-old children's oral caries in Shanghai from 2008 to 2011, and to provide information to evaluate oral health status and improve service level. METHODS: By using equal-sized randomly sampling method, this survey was carried out on the caries status of randomly selected 950 children aged 5 years in Shanghai respectively in 2008 and 2009, and 900 children respectively in 2010 and 2011. The data of prevalence of dental caries, dmft, caries filling constituent ratio and SiC index were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 software package by means of independent-samples t test, one way ANOVA and Chi-square test. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2011, the prevalence of deciduous tooth caries among 5-year-old children was 63.47%, 64.00%, 64.89% and 64.44%, respectively. The mean dmft score was 2.96, 2.99, 3.23 and 3.09, respectively. The caries filling ratio was 10.93%, 12.76%, 16.96% and 20.63%, respectively. The SiC index was 7.10, 7.20, 7.74 and 7.37, respectively. The prevalence of caries and mean dmft showed no significant difference in four years (P>0.05), and the caries filling constituent ratio was remarkably increased (P<0.01). The SiC index was two times higher than dmft. Each year the prevalence of deciduous tooth caries and mean dmft in urban areas were lower than in suburban areas (P<0.01), but the children came from urban areas showed significant higher filling rate than those from suburban areas (P<0.01). Deciduous tooth caries were concentrated in one-third of children. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of deciduous tooth caries and dmft of 5-year-old children in Shanghai changed little, and the caries filling constituent ratio has increased year by year. To promote children' s oral health further, we still need to take more active preventive measures for high caries risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the pathogenesis of periodontitis by bioinformatics analysis., Methods: GEO2R was used to screen DEGs in GSE10334 and GSE16134. Then, the overlapped DEGs were used for further analysis. g:Profiler was used to perform Gene Ontology analysis and pathway analysis for upregulated and downregulated DEGs. The STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, which was further visua-lized and analyzed by Cytoscape software. Hub genes and key modules were identified by cytoHubba and MCODE plug-ins, respectively. Finally, transcription factors were predicted via iRegulon plug-in., Results: A total of 196 DEGs were identified, including 139 upregulated and 57 downregulated DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in immune-related pathways including immune system, viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and chemokine receptors bind chemokines. On the contrary, the downregulated DEGs were mainly related to the formation of the cornified envelope and keratinization. The identified hub genes in the PPI network were CXCL8, CXCL1, CXCR4, SEL, CD19, and IKZF1. The top three modules were involved in chemokine response, B cell receptor signaling pathway, and interleukin response, respectively. iRegulon analysis revealed that IRF4 scored the highest., Conclusions: The pathogenesis of periodontitis was closely associated with the expression levels of the identified hub genes including CXCL8, CXCL1, CXCR4, SELL, CD19, and IKZF1. IRF4, the predicted transcription factor, might serve as a dominant upstream regulator.

Purpose: To analyze the oral health behaviors of disabled children and their parents' oral health knowledge, attitudes in Shanghai city, and to provide information support for designing oral health care programs and making relevant policies., Methods: By using stratified cluster sampling method, a questionnaire was given to 1381 parents of disabled children. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software package., Results: The awareness rate of oral health knowledge among parents of disabled children was 67.21%, and 78.98% of parents had positive attitudes towards oral health. 13.61% of disabled children took sweet snacks before sleep, only 45.98% of disabled children brushed their teeth twice or more daily. 42.65% of disabled children used fluoride toothpaste, and 88.12% never flossed their teeth. The percentage of disabled children who had never visited a dentist was 49.75%., Conclusions: Oral health behaviors of disabled children in Shanghai city need to be improved, and the parents' oral health knowledge level is low. Customized educational programs should be carried out for parents, in order to strengthen oral health education in the suburban areas.

Objective: To investigate the value of five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STS) in clinical evaluation of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., Methods: Fifty-one patients with COPD and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. All the participants underwent 5STS, pulmonary function examination, and 6 min walking test (6MWT) and were evaluated for severity of dyspnea (by mMRC) and BODE index during the tests., Results: All the participants completed 5STS test with a good reproducibility of the time used for 3 sessions of the test (P<0.001). The mean time used by COPD patients for 5STS was significantly longer than that by healthy individuals (12.93±3.11s vs 0.72±0.71 s, P=0.002). The results of 5STS showed a significant negative correlation with those of 6MWT in the case group and control group with correlation coefficients of -0.611 and -0.682, respectively. The results of 5STS were negatively correlated with FEV1%Pre and body mass index (P<0.05) but positively with mMRC and BODE index in COPD patients (P<0.05)., Conclusion: 5STS is a simple and reproducible test to evaluate the patients' exercise capacity and the severity of COPD, and is well correlated with the current methods for clinical evaluation of COPD.

Acutissimanide (1), a new lignin, together with 11 known polyphenols (2-12) were isolated from the bark of the deciduous oak tree, Quercus acutissima Carruth. The structure of compound 1 was determined using multidimensional (1)H and (13)C NMR and mass spectroscopy. The antioxidant properties of compounds 1-12 were investigated using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay with compounds 6-11 displaying significant antioxidant activity (EC50 values of 5.2-23.7 μM). Our findings suggest the extracts of Q. acutissima Carruth are a potential source of natural antioxidant additives for use in the food and other allied industries.

Objective: To explore the effects of rosiglitazone on peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., Methods: From Apr. 2010 to Nov. 2010, 30 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD, 22 males and 8 females, age 54 - 87 (mean 72 ± 9) years and 24 healthy controls, 18 males and 6 females, age 52 - 80 (mean 69 ± 10) years were included. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from venous blood and then cultured. On the basis of the treatment given, the PBMCs of COPD patients were divided into 3 groups: non-treatment group, rosiglitazone treatment group (rosiglitazone group) and rosiglitazone and GW9662 treatment group (combined treatment group). Cells from the healthy controls (control group) did not receive any drug treatment. The mRNA expression of PPAR-γ and NF-κB was measured with real-time PCR. The protein expression and nuclear translocation of PPAR-γ and NF-κB were detected using immunofluorescence with laser scanning confocal microscopy. The TNF-α level in culture supernatant was measured with ELISA. One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test and the Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis., Results: The mRNA and protein levels of PPAR-γ were lower in the non-treatment group (0.52 ± 0.10, 55 ± 11) than those in the control group (1, 85 ± 9), while the levels of NF-κB mRNA and protein were higher in the non-treatment group (1.69 ± 0.07, 145 ± 17) than those in the control group (1, 118 ± 7). The mRNA and protein levels of PPAR-γ in the rosiglitazone group (4.47 ± 0.11, 204 ± 12) were significantly increased compared with the non-treatment group, while the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB (0.33 ± 0.04, 59 ± 14) were remarkably decreased compared with the non-treatment group. The mRNA and protein levels of PPAR-γ (2.25 ± 0.31, 142 ± 23) were significantly decreased in the combined treatment group compared to the rosiglitazone group, but higher compared with the non-treatment group, while the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB (0.64 ± 0.02, 90 ± 10) were increased compared with the rosiglitazone group, but decreased compared to the non-treatment group (F = 29.21 - 567.42, all P < 0.01). The TNF-α level was significantly higher in the non-treatment group (96.2 ± 1.4) µg/L than that in the control group (85.3 ± 1.0) µg/L. The TNF-α level in the rosiglitazone group (63.0 ± 2.5) µg/L was remarkably decreased compared with the non-treatment group, while that in the combined treatment group (83.3 ± 1.9) µg/L was increased compared with the rosiglitazone group, but decreased compared to the non-treatment group (F = 293.72, P < 0.01). The proteins of PPAR-γ and NF-κB were respectively located in cytoplasm and in nucleus in the non-treatment group, meanwhile they were located in both cytoplasm and nucleus in the control group. PPAR-γ protein was translocated from cytoplasm into nucleus and NF-κB protein was translocated from nucleus into cytoplasm in the rosiglitazone group. In the combined treatment group, PPAR-γ protein translocated from nucleus into cytoplasm and NF-κB protein partly translocated from cytoplasm into nucleus. By linear correlation analysis, PPAR-γ protein was negatively correlated with NF-κB protein and TNF-α level (r = -0.935, -0.924, all P < 0.01), while NF-κB protein was positively correlated to TNF-α level (r = 0.846, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The expression and activity of PPAR-γ were decreased in COPD patients. PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone inhibited inflammation in COPD through upregulating the expression and activity of PPAR-γ and inhibition of NF-κB and TNF-α. It suggests that PPAR-γ may play an important role in the inflammation of COPD.

Purpose: To investigate the condition of teeth defect and denture restoration among the middle aged and elder people in Shanghai and to analyse the variation tendency so as to provide relevant policy basis for the government., Methods: Multistage stratification isasteric random sample was used to acquire the teeth defect and denture restoration information among 791 people from 35 to 44 and 788 people from 65 to 74 years old, respectively. SPSS13.0 software package was used for data analysis., Results: The teeth defect rate of the middle aged and elder people in Shanghai was 21.0% and 81.0%, respectively. The mean permanent teeth number was 28.9 and 19.5. The edentulous rate of the elder people was 10.8%. The defect rate was highest in the molar area, and lowest in the canine agra. The denture restoration rate of the middle aged and elder people was 59.6% and 61.7%, respectively. The rate of the removable denture restoration was higher than that of the fixed denture. The rate of full denture, fixed denture and informal fixed bridge restoration in the suburb area was higher than that in the urban area(P<0.01)., Conclusions: The condition of teeth defect and denture restoration among middle aged and elder people in Shanghai is still unsatisfactory even though it has been getting better in the last decade. It is suggested that the government take efforts to lessen the teeth defect by control of caries and periodontal disease, and to improve the restoration level of the middle aged and elder people.

Background & Objective: Recently we found that 20 microg/ml of ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh(2)) can inhibit growth, and induce differentiation of hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. Re-activation of telomerase may play an important role in carcinogenesis, and cellular immortalization. This study was to explore the mechanism of G-Rh(2)-induced differentiation of SMMC-7721 cells by detecting telomerase activity., Methods: After treated with 20 mug/ml of G-Rh(2), telomerase activity in SMMC-7721 cells was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) coupled with enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay(ELISA); mRNA levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and p21 were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); changes of cell cycle, and expression of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E,P16 protein were detected by flow cytometry (FCM)., Results: G-Rh(2) inhibited telomerase activity of SMMC-7721 in a time- dependent manner: the activity decreased from 1.105 to 0.765 (P< 0.01) after 1-day treatment, while from 1.152 to 0.326 (P< 0.01) after treated for 5-day treatment. The mRNA expression of hTERT was significantly reduced by 20 microg/ml of G-Rh(2). Cell cycle assay showed that 20 microg/ml of G-Rh(2) increased the proportion of SMMC-7721 cells in G1 phase, and decreased those in S, and G2/M phases, the increase of G1 phase after 1-day treatment was the most apparent (from 60.85% to 78.53%,P< 0.05). Furthermore,G-Rh(2) weakened the expressions of positive-regulating factors(Cyclin D1,Cyclin E),and increased the expressions of negative-regulating factors (P16 protein, p21 gene) in SMMC- 7721 cells., Conclusions: G-Rh(2) may effectively reduce telomerase activity through affecting transcription level of hTERT,and arresting cell cycle progression. The down- regulation of telomerase activity in SMMC-7721 cells may be closely related to G-Rh(2)-induced differentiation.