Lanostane-type triterpenoids from Ganoderma applanatum and their inhibitory activities on NO production in LPS-induced BV-2 cells

Five previously undescribed lanostane-type triterpenoids, including two triterpenoids with a rearranged side chain (applanoic acids E and F), one C21 nortriterpenoid (16,17-dehydroapplanone E), as well as two highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids (methyl applaniate B and applanoic acid G), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography and ECD data. Applanoic acid E, 16,17-dehydroapplanone E, and methyl applaniate B showed inhibitory effects on the release of NO by LPS-induced BV-2 cells.

The expression changes and correlation analysis of high mobility group box-1 and tissue factor in the serum of rats with sepsis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression changes of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) and tissue factor (TF) and their correlation in the serum of sepsis rat models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

30 rats were divided into the sham-operated group, 15 rats were in the control group. The cecal ligation and puncture method was used to make the animal model with abdominal infection induced by sepsis. There were 15 rats in the sepsis group among which they were divided into 3 subgroups at different time points after modeling (after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours). Cardiac function indicators of the rats in each subgroup were monitored, including heart rate (HR), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the changes of the expression levels of HMGB-1 and TF in the serum of the rats after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between HMGB-1 and TF.

RESULTS

HR and LVEDP of the rats in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those of the rats in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.050). LVDP of the rats in the sepsis group was markedly lower than that of the rats in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.050). The expressions of HMGB-1 and TF of the rats in the subgroups of the sepsis group were higher than those of the rats in the control group after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours; the expression levels of HMGB-1 and TF of the rats with sepsis increased with time. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.050). When the expressions of HMGB-1 and TF of the rats in the sepsis group were compared with each other within the group the differences were significantly different (p<0.050). The expressions of HMGB-1 and TF in the subgroups at the 24th hour were significantly higher than those at the 6th hour. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.050). The differences of the expression of TF of the rats in the control group were not statistically significant (p>0.050). There was a significant positive correlation between HMGB-1 and TF of the rats in the sepsis group (r=0.772, p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The expression levels of HMGB-1 and TF of the rats with sepsis gradually increased with time, and the level of HMGB-1 was positively correlated with the level of TF.

[Expression of PAI-2 mRNA in peripheral blood leucocytes and regulation by sGC activator in pulmonary hypertension]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mRNA expression level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) in peripheral blood leucocytes and regulation by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator in pulmonary hypertension.

METHODS

The human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells were treated with sGC activator Cinaciguat. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PAI-2 were detected with Real-time PCR and Western blot. The fresh blood samples of 8 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (collected at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2014 to March 2015), 16 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) (collected at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2014 to March 2015), 24 age- and gender- matched healthy controls (collected at Beijing Hospital in March 2015) were treated with Cinaciguat for 8 hours. Then RNA of peripheral leukocytes was extracted and performed with reverse transcription and Real-time PCR to detect the mRNA level of PAI-2, which was compared between healthy controls and patients with pulmonary hypertension, before and after the treatment of Cinaciguat. At last, the correlation of PAI-2 mRNA level and the clinic severity of pulmonary hypertension were identified.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression levels of PAI-2 were promoted by Cinaciguat in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. The baseline mRNA level of PAI-2 in peripheral leukocytes was significantly lower in PAH patients compared to the healthy controls (0.201±0.152, 0.660±0.440, P=0.021). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression level of PAI-2 between the CTEPH patients and controls (0.428±0.364, 0.769±0.682, P=0.152). After Cinaciguat treatment, the mRNA expression levels of PAI-2 were up-regulated in PAH patients and CTEPH patients (1.352±1.127, 1.203±1.008), there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression level of PAI-2 among the PAH patients, CTEPH patients and controls (P=0.130, P=0.534). The baseline mRNA level of PAI-2 was negative correlated with echocardiography-estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) (r=-0.744, P=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

The mRNA expression level of PAI-2 is significantly down-regulated in peripheral blood leucocytes and up-regulated by sGC activator in pulmonary hypertension. PAI-2 could be used as potential biomarker of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH.

[Association between OR2T3 gene and pulmonary arterial hypertension]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the pathogenic genes of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and validate the association between OR2T3 gene and PAH.

METHODS

Whole exome sequencing was performed in four patients and one healthy person as control in two pulmonary arterial hypertension pedigree; patient-specific variations were screened by bioinformatics methods and comparison between groups. To further analyze the association between these variations and PAH, Sanger sequencing was used to analyze the genotype of patient-specific variations of 30 patients with idiopathic PAH, 90 healthy people and 30 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

RESULTS

The preliminary findings of whole exome sequencing were 57 variations may be associated with PAH; Among them, there were 6 AG heterozygotes due to OR2T3rs148748995 in the 30 idiopathic PAH patients, while no G allele carrier was found in other healthy people of two pulmonary arterial hypertension pedigree (AⅠ-1, AⅡ-3, BⅡ-1) and 90 normal control, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The variation also didn't exist in 30 chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients.

CONCLUSION

OR2T3 gene may be the pathogenic gene of PAH and OR2T3rs148748995 could have a role in the development of PAH.

A new labdane diterpenoid glycoside from Nervilia fordii

To study the chemical constituents of Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr., various chromatographic methods were used, including D101 macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS and preparative HPLC chromatographic techniques. A new labdane diterpenoid glycoside named as nervilifordoside A was isolated from 60% EtOH extract of Nerviliafordii. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated as 12, 17-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methoxy-labdan-13-en-16, 15-olide 3-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-beta-glucopyranoside on the basis of HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as chemical methods.

Microvascular autologous submandibular gland transfer in severe cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca

The objective is to evaluate the technique of microvascular autologous submandibular gland transfer for the treatment of severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. From August 1999 to April 2002, 38 patients with severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca were treated by autologous submandibular gland transfer to the temporal region of the skull. The related vessels were anastomosed to the superficial temporal artery and vein. When the vein was too small, venous bridging was applied. Prior to cutting off the gland, the facial artery was preserved and infused with heparin in normal saline after the gland had been freed to allow inspection of the blood oozing from the three veins. This would be helpful in the selection of a relevant vein for anastomosis. Wharton's duct was transplanted to the upper lateral conjunctiva fornix, and the gland was left denervated. Postoperative scintigraphy with Tc99m pertechnetate, follow-up studies, and management of complications were performed. The transplantations were successful in 33 cases, their symptoms of xerophthalmia disappeared. The discomfort resulting from bright light and wind was also relieved. These patients could stop applying artificial tears. In five patients the transplanted glands did not survive. Epiphora occurred in eight cases. They were successfully treated by reducing the size of the graft. Obliteration of Wharton's duct took place in two cases and was treated by the reconstruction of the duct or duct orifice. Microvascular autologous submandibular gland transfer is a lasting and effective solution for severe cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

National epidemiological survey of blindness and low vision in China

According to the National Sample Survey of Blindness and Low Vision, the prevalence of blindness in China was 0.43%, resulting chiefly from cataract (41.06%), corneal diseases (15.38%), trachoma (10.87%), and glaucoma (8.80%); and the prevalence of low vision in China was 0.58%, of which the main causes were cataract (49.83%), ametropia/amblyopia (14.98%), trachoma (9.55%), corneal diseases (8.48%), chorioretinal diseases (6.27%), etc. Among children under 14 years of age, the leading cause of blindness and low vision was heredity (48.46%). Among elderly of 60 years and over, the leading cause of blindness and low vision was cataract (73.13%).