Pharmacological effects of green tea on the gastrointestinal system

Green tea is rich in polyphenolic compounds, with catechins as its major component. Studies have shown that catechins possess diverse pharmacological properties that include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-arteriosclerotic and anti-bacterial effects. In the gastrointestinal tract, green tea was found to activate intracellular antioxidants, inhibit procarcinogen formation, suppress angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation. Studies on the preventive effect of green tea in esophageal cancer have produced inconsistent results; however, inverse relationships of tea consumption with cancers of the stomach and colon have been widely reported. Green tea is effective to prevent dental caries and reduce cholesterols and lipids absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, thus benefits subjects with cardiovascular disorders. As tea catechins are well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and they interact synergistically in their disease-modifying actions, thus drinking unfractionated green tea is the most simple and beneficial way to prevent gastrointestinal disorders.     

两种给药途径致痫大鼠海马神经元超微结构损伤及caspase-3的表达特征

为了观察两种给药途径致痫大鼠海马神经元超微结构的损伤及caspase-3的表达特征,本研究分别采用海人酸腹膜腔注射(A组)和尾静脉注射(B组)诱发大鼠癫痫持续状态(SE)。分别于SE终止后3、6、24、48和72h取海马,电镜观察神经元超微结构的变化,免疫组化方法检测caspase-3的表达。结果显示:两组大鼠均在SE后3h出现线粒体损伤,细胞核的改变出现于SE后24h。A组致痫的潜伏期为97min±11min,神经元以凋亡为主;B组为48min±13min,神经元以坏死为主。SE后6～24h,两组大鼠海马内caspase-3的表达由胞浆向胞核逐渐移位,且均在SE后6h明显增高,24h达顶峰;A组高表达持续至72h,B组在48h显著降低。上述结果提示,线粒体的损伤出现于SE的早期,且可能是神经元损伤的关键环节;致痫方法不同,神经元的死亡形式也不同;而caspase-3的激活是神经元凋亡和坏死的共同通路。     

Lignin-based composites for high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials

With the rapid development of the global economy, the depletion of fossil fuels and the intensification of environmental pollution, there is an increasingly urgent need for new and green electrochemical energy storage technologies in society. In this thesis, ligninsulfonate/polyaniline nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidation using aniline as the monomer, lignin as the template and dopant, and ammonium persulfate as the oxidant. The results showed that the average diameter of the ligninsulfonate/polyaniline nanocomposite was 85 nm, and the composite electrode exhibited good electron conduction ability and excellent capacitive performance by ligninsulfonate doping. The electrode material showed the best electrochemical performance when the ligninsulfonate addition was 0.1 g. The specific capacitance can reach 553.7 F g⁻¹ under the current density of charge/discharge 1 A g⁻¹, which is higher than that of the pure PANI electrode. The composite electrode material has good multiplicative performance and cycling stability, and the capacitance retention rate can be maintained at 68.01% after 5000 cycles at a charge/discharge current density of 10 A g⁻¹ (three-electrode system), and the capacitance retention rate can be maintained at 54.84% after 5000 cycles at a charge/discharge current density of 5 A g⁻¹ (two-electrode system).

The lignosulfonate/polyaniline nanocomposite electrode material was made by polymerization of aniline with lignosulfonate as dispersant and structure-directing agent. Redox can convert the catechol/quinone groups on lignin, promoted by electron transfer of polyaniline.     

The effect of maximal surgical cytoreduction on sensitivity to platinum-taxane chemotherapy and subsequent survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer

ObjectivesLimited information exist about the frequency of micrometastases, their topographic distribution and prognostic impact in patients with cervical carcinoma (CX).MethodsLymph nodes of patients with surgically treated CX, FIGO IB to IIB, with pelvic lymph node involvement, were re-examined regarding the size of metastatic deposits, their topographic distribution within the pelvis. Lymph node status (pN0 vs. pN1mic = metastasis < 0.2 cm vs. pN1 = metastasis > 0.2 cm) was correlated to recurrence free (RFS) and overall survival (OS).Results31.4% of all patients (281/894) represented pelvic lymph node involvement. 22.2.% of the node positive ones showed micrometastases (pN1mic). Most commonly, obturator and internal nodes were affected by pN1mic, without any side differences. Patients with macrometastases (pN1) and micrometastases (pN1mic) represented significant reduced RFS-rate at 5-years (62% [95% CI: 54.2 to 69.8] for pN1 and 68.9% [95% CI: 55.5 to 82.4] for pN1mic) when compared to patients without metastatic disease (91.4% [95% CI: 89.0 to 93.8]; p < 0.001) The 5-years OS-rate was decreased in patients with metastatic disease (pN0: 86.6% [95% CI: 83.7 to 89.5], pN1mic: 63.8% [95% CI: 50.9 to 76.7], pN1: 48.2% [95% CI: 40.4 to 56.0]; p < 0.0001). These differences persisted in detailed analysis within these subgroups. In multivariate analysis, tumor stage, pelvic lymph node involvement and micrometastases were independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsA remarkable number of patients with CX show micrometastases within pelvic nodes. Micrometastatic disease represents an independent prognostic factor. So, all patients with pelvic lymph node involvement, including micrometastatic deposits, might be candidates for adjuvant treatment.     

Surgical and pathologic outcomes of fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy for FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer

ObjectivesTo describe the surgical and pathologic findings of fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy using a standardized surgical technique, and report the rate of post-trachelectomy adjuvant therapy that results in permanent sterility.MethodsA prospectively maintained database of all patients with FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer admitted to the operating room for planned fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy was analyzed. Sentinel node mapping was performed via cervical injection of Technetium and blue dye.ResultsBetween 6/2005 and 5/2008, 22 consecutive patients with FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer underwent laparotomy for planned fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy. Median age was 33 years (range, 23–43). Histology included 13 (59%) with adenocarcinoma and 9 (41%) with squamous carcinoma. Lymph-vascular invasion was seen in 9 (41%) cases. Only 3 (14%) needed immediate completion radical hysterectomy due to intraoperative findings (2 for positive nodes, 1 for positive endocervical margin). Median number of nodes evaluated was 23 (range, 11–44); and 6 (27%) patients had positive pelvic nodes on final pathology — all received postoperative chemoradiation. Sixteen (73%) patients agreed to participate in sentinel node mapping which yielded a detection rate of 100%, sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 100% and false-negative rate of 17%. Eighteen of 19 (95%) patients who completed trachelectomy had a cerclage placed, and 9/22 (41%) patients had no residual cervical carcinoma on final pathology. Median time in the operating room was 298 min (range, 180–425). Median estimated blood loss was 250 ml (range, 50–700), and median hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3–6). No recurrences were noted at the time of this report.ConclusionsCervical adenocarcinoma and lymph-vascular invasion are common features of patients selected for radical abdominal trachelectomy. The majority of patients can undergo the operation successfully; however, nearly 32% of all selected cases will require hysterectomy or postoperative chemoradiation for oncologic reasons. Sentinel node mapping is useful but until lower false-negative rates are achieved total lymphadenectomy remains the gold standard. Investigating alternative fertility-sparing adjuvant therapy in node positive patients is needed.