Triterpene glycosides from the roots of Astragalus flavescens

Six new triterpene saponins, 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (1), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (2), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (3), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (4), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (5), and 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-21-epi-kudzusapogenol A (6), were isolated from the roots of Astragalus flavescens, together with the known trajanoside B, azukisaponin V, and astragalosides IV, VII, and VIII. Their structures were established mainly by 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry.     

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive principles from a folk remedy, Rhododendron ponticum L. leaves

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Rhododendron ponticum L. (Ericaceae) is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and to alleviate rheumatic pain and against toothache in Turkish traditional medicine.     

Altered in vitro immune response to hypoxia-treated normal peritoneal fibroblasts

Hypoxia treatment of normal peritoneal fibroblasts results in alterations that are characteristic for fibroblasts obtained from postoperative peritoneal adhesion tissue. In this study, we have shown that hypoxia treatment enhances normal peritoneal fibroblast elimination by lymphokine-activated killer cells to the level of adhesion tissue fibroblasts, suggesting a pivotal role of hypoxia in the adhesion development.     

Activity of adenosine deaminase in mothers who have conceived a fetus with central nervous system malformations

OBJECTIVE: To establish the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in women who had been pregnant with a child suffering from central nervous system (CNS) anomaly. METHODS: The study group comprised 68 women who had been pregnant with an affected child, and 68 controls matched for age, gestational age and body mass index. Maternal venous blood was collected for measurement of ADA levels. We defined the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver-operating characteristic curve for ADA. RESULTS: Plasma ADA activity was significantly higher in the study group (12.3 U/L, range 1.7-33.3) compared to the median value of 3.3 U/L (range 1.1-34.4) in normal pregnancies (P<0.05). The cut-off point of ADA >5.9 U/L was associated with the highest combination of specificity (58.8%) and sensitivity (86.8%). CONCLUSION: ADA activity in women who have conceived a fetus with CNS malformations was significantly higher than that in normal pregnant women.     

心理创伤后应激障碍自评量表的编制和信度效度研究

目的　编制心理创伤后应激障碍自评量表 (PTSD— SS)并对其信度和效度进行检验。方法　以 DSM— 和CCMD— — R中 PTSD诊断标准为理论依据 ,应用心理测量和统计分析技术 ,筛选条目 ,并进行信度和效度检验。测度对象为遭受特大暴雨灾害和龙卷风袭击后的 136 5名青少年学生。结果　 PTSD— SS包括 2 4个条目 ,内部一致性系数 (Cronbach-α)为 0 .92 0 7,分半信度系数为 0 .95 39,再测信度系数为 0 .86 77。主成份因子分析揭示 PTSD— SS可概括为 3个因子 ,即重现 /回避症状、心理障碍 /功能受损和情感麻木 /紧张敏感。PTSD— SS与 SAS、SDS和 YSR评分呈显著正相关关系 ,相关系数分别为 0 .2 0 6 4、0 .35 36和 0 .2 0 6 2。结论　 PTSD— SS有较好的信度和效度 ,是一种理想的心理创伤后应激障碍评定工具     

Low Complement C1q/TNF-related Protein-13 Levels are Associated with Childhood Obesity But not Binge Eating Disorder

Objective:C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related proteins (CTRPs) are recently described members of the adipokine family. CTRP-13, a new member of this family, has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and had an anorexigenic effect on food intake in experimental studies. The aim was to investigate serum CTRP-13 levels in children with obesity, and its relationship with other adipokines, metabolic parameters, or binge eating disorder (BED).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted with 105 pubertal children attending a single center. Clinical (metabolic syndrome, BED) and biochemical (glucose, insulin, lipids, leptin, adiponectin, CTRP-13 levels) parameters were assessed.Results:Sixty children with obesity [24 males (40%); median age 14.7 (13.0-16.4) years] and 45 healthy controls [15 males (33.3%); median age 15.2 (14.1-16.5) years] were included. Serum adiponectin and CTRP-13 levels were significantly lower in children with obesity than controls (7.1 vs 20.1 μg/mL, p<0.001; 64.7 vs 103.8 ng/mL, p<0.001, respectively). CTRP-13 levels correlated negatively with body mass index (Spearman rho=-0.230, p=0.018) and positively with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (Spearman rho=0.218, p=0.026). There was no significant difference in serum CTRP-13 concentrations in terms of the presence of metabolic syndrome or BED.Conclusion:Childhood obesity seems to be causing dysregulation in adipokine production and function, including the down-regulation of CTRP-13. The positive correlation between CTRP-13 and HDL-C levels suggested a possible effect of this adipokine on lipid metabolism. Thus CTRP-13 may be a novel biomarker for dyslipidemia in childhood obesity.     

Comparison of glomerular filtration rate measurements with the two plasma sample and single plasma sample, gamma camera Gates, creatinine clearance, and prediction equation methods in potential kidney donors with normal renal function

OBJECTIVE: To compare measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by single plasma sample methods (SPSMs), gamma camera Gates, 24-h endogenous creatinine clearance, and prediction equations (Cockcroft-Gault and modification of renal disease (MDRD)) with the two plasma sample method (TPSM) considered as the reference in potential kidney donors with normal renal function. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen subjects (50 male, 65 female; mean age 41.9+/-12.2 years) with normal renal function were prospectively included in this study. GFR was calculated by TPSM (120-min and 240-min samples) and SPSM (180-min sample). RESULTS: While there was strong statistically significant correlation between the TPSM and all SPSMs, low correlation was found in Gates, creatinine clearance, Cockcroft-Gault and MDRD. In all SPSMs, 95% limits of agreements were consistent with each other and within clinically acceptable limits. The lowest bias, median absolute difference, mean percentage error, and the best precision were found for Christensen and Groth's method as modified by Watson (CGmW). CONCLUSIONS: Among the SPSMs, CGmW can reflect GFR more accurately than the other methods. Neither the gamma camera Gates method nor the creatinine clearance method nor the prediction equations (Cockcroft-Gault and MDRD) could calculate GFR accurately. All these techniques could result in mistakes in the management of potential kidney donors.