Inhibition of Sanggenon G Isolated from Morus alba on the Metastasis of Cancer Cell

Objective An organic layer prepared from the cortex of Morus alba (Moraceae) was studied in order to identify the active compounds for heparinase. Methods Bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of sanggenon G. Results The compound showed inhibitory activity with IC50 of 3.7 μmol/L on heparinase in vitro as well as 24 μmol/L in invasion assay using MDA-MB231 cells. Sanggenon G also had the moderate cytotoxicity at SW 620 (colon) and ACHN (kidney) cancer cell lines with IC50 of 10.96 and 13.44 μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion This is the first time that prenylated flavonoid sanggenon G is described as heparinase inhibitor. Besides, this flavonoid would be expected to be a metastasis inhibitor of cancer cells and also a valuable reagent to explore the mechanism of heparinase/heparanase-mediated metastasis.     

The effect of single or multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroid therapy on neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in singleton versus twin pregnancies

Background: Antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) treatment is widely used for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants. However, the efficacy and safety of ACS treatment remains controversial in twin pregnancies.
Aims: To investigate the effect of ACS therapy, single or multiple courses, on the incidence of neonatal RDS in singleton and twin pregnancies.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of 450 singleton and 117 twin pregnancies delivered at 24–34 weeks of gestation due to preterm labour or preterm premature rupture of membranes. The subjects were categorised into four groups according to ACS exposure: 0, 1, 2 and ≥ 3 courses.
Results: Overall, RDS occurred more frequently in twins compared to singletons (41.0% vs 25.3%, P  < 0.001). In singleton pregnancy, the incidence of RDS was significantly lower in the ACS user groups than in the non-user group, with the lowest incidence in the multiple course groups. An increase in the number of courses of ACS was associated with a reduction in the incidence of RDS (odds ratio 0.349, 95% confidence interval 0.226, 0.537, P  < 0.001) independent of confounding variables. In twin pregnancies, however, the incidence of RDS was not significantly different in comparisons among the four groups.
Conclusion: Multiple courses of ACS were associated with a significantly decreased risk of RDS in singleton pregnancies. However, the current standard dose or interval for ACS administration in singleton pregnancy, as either a single or multiple courses, did not reduce RDS in twins.     

糙叶五加茎化学成分研究

目的基于脂多糖(LPS)诱导的巨噬细胞RAW264.7和小胶质细胞BV2为生物活性导向模型研究糙叶五加Acanthopanax henryi茎的化学成分。方法采用硅胶柱色谱、凝胶柱色谱、制备薄层及重结晶等方法进行分离纯化,利用波谱分析结合理化性质鉴定化合物的结构。结果从糙叶五加茎甲醇提取物的醋酸乙酯萃取部位中分离得到18个化合物,分别鉴定为对羟基苯甲酸(1)、反式对羟基肉桂酸(2)、反式咖啡酸甲酯(3)、咖啡酸(4)、反式松柏醛(5)、丁香醛(6)、香草醛(7)、6-甲氧基-7-羟基香豆素(8)、反式芥子醛(9)、十一烷二酸单甲酯(10)、(-)-芝麻素(11)、3-O-咖啡酰奎宁酸(12)、5-O-咖啡酰奎宁酸(13)、1,3-双咖啡酰奎宁酸(14)、1,4-双咖啡酰奎宁酸(15)、1,5-双咖啡酰奎宁酸(16)、豆甾醇(17)、β-谷甾醇(18)。结论化合物10为首次从五加科植物中分离得到;除化合物12、14、17、18外,其他化合物均为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

White matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in late-life depression

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to identify the frequency and severity of white matter lesions on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of major depressive disorders and depression caused by cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), to evaluate the relation with cerebrovascular risk factors, and finally to understand an important cause of late‐life depression. Methods: The MRI films of 32 patients over 50 years of age (15 men and 17 women) with major depressive disorders, 25 patients (17 men and eight women) with depression caused by CVD who had scores over 24 on the mini‐mental state examination, and 25 controls (six men and 19 women) were analyzed for white matter lesions according to the modified Fazekas criteria. The cerebrovascular risk factors including hypertension, arteriosclerosis, obesity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, thyroid function abnormalities, EKG abnormality and stroke were also assessed. Results: (i) The frequency of periventricular lesions or deep white matter lesions were significantly higher in patients with depression caused by CVD and major depressive disorders than in controls; (ii) the intracerebral hyperintensities or classical infarctions were prevalent in the frontal cortex (32.0%) and basal ganglia (40.0%); (iii) among cerebrovascular risk factors, stroke (P < 0.005), hypertension (P < 0.025), EKG abnormality (P < 0.005) and smoking (P < 0.05) were significantly prevalent in the patients with depression caused by CVD and major depressive disorders as compared with controls; and (iv) the severity of white matter lesions was significantly associated with the cerebrovascular risk factors (P < 0.005) in patients over 50 years of age with major depressive disorders. Conclusions: The white matter hyperintensities on brain MRI of patients with major depressive disorders over 50 years of age were significantly associated with cerebrovascular risk factors, which suggested a vascular origin of pathogenesis of late‐life depression.     

Chest radiography: a survey of techniques and exposure levels currently used

In diagnostic radiology, the routine measurement of exposure levels for a reference patient is an important part of an effective quality assurance program. In the United States, chest radiography is the most frequent examination and has the lowest exposure level of all radiologic examinations. We estimated the amount of exposure an average patient received from both manual and automatic exposure-controlled radiographic techniques by using a "patient-equivalent" chest phantom during measurements. A densitometric procedure was used to assess processor performance. The mean exposure from 194 chest systems was 20 mR (5.16 X 10(-5) C/kg); the mean film density, 1.38; and the mean processing speed, 108. It is interesting to note that a wide range of radiographic techniques, processing conditions, and screen-film speeds are currently being used. With the information given in our study, investigators can begin to identify the problems that lead to unusual exposure levels and, perhaps, poor image quality.     

Anatomical variations of the internal iliac veins in the presacral area: Clinical implications during sacral colpopepxy or extended pelvic lymphadenectomy

The purpose of this study was to classify anatomical variations of the internal iliac vein (IIV) in relation to robotic or laparoscopic extended lymphadenectomy. Between March 2011 and July 2012, 60 consecutive patients underwent robotic or laparoscopic extended lymphadenectomy. We retrospectively reviewed surgical video clips and analyzed the pattern of the IIVs in the presacral area. IIV variations were classified into seven types: Type A, normal (n = 39, 65.0%); Type A with a dilated middle sacral vein (n = 5, 8.3%); Type B, left IIV connecting centrally to the left external iliac vein (n = 5, 8.3%); Type C, a separated trunk of the left IIV draining into the left central common iliac vein (CIV; n = 1, 1.7%); Type D, a separated trunk of the right IIV draining into the left central CIV (n = 8, 13.3%); Type E, a separated trunk of the right IIV draining into the right central CIV (n = 0, 0%); and Type F, separated trunks of the bilateral IIV connecting with each other before draining into the left central CIV (n = 2, 3.3%). The prevalence of IIV anomalies was 26.7%; the incidence of separated IIV trunks was 18.3%. To prevent life‐threatening IIV injury during extended lymphadenectomy or sacral colpopexy, the anatomical variations of the IIVs should be known exactly. Clin. Anat. 28:661–664, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.