Generation, degradation mechanism, and toxicity evaluation of pigmented compounds in Leucosceptrum canum nectar

Leucosceptrum canum nectar (LCN) emerges as a novel food resource, distinguished by its unique dark brown hue. This study delves into the composition and toxicity assessment of novel pigments within LCN. Through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and chemical synthesis, seventeen 2,5-di-(N-(-)-prolyl)-para-benzoquinone (DPBQ) analogs in LCN were identified. These compounds are synthesized in LCN via the Michael addition reaction, utilizing p-benzoquinone (BQ), derived from phenol metabolism, and amino acids as substrates in an alkaline environment (pH = 8.47 ± 0.06) facilitated by dissolved ammonia and the presence of alkaloids. Analytical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA), and volcano plot analysis, were employed to investigate DPBQ analog degradation within the nectar and honey's unique environments. Toxicity assays revealed that DPBQ analogs exhibited no toxicity, displaying a significant difference in toxicity compared to the precursor compound BQ at concentrations exceeding 25 μM.

Identification of New Diterpenoids from the Pulp of Coffea arabica and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibition Activity

Six new (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8) and seven known (4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13) diterpenoids have been identified in the pulp of Coffea arabica. The structures of new diterpenoids were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, and ROESY), HRESIMS, IR, DP4+, electronic circular dichroism, and X-ray crystallography analysis. Compound 1 is ent-labdane-type diterpenoid, whereas compounds (2-13) are ent-kaurane diterpenoids. The result of α-glucosidase inhibitory assay demonstrated that compounds (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10) have moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 55.23 ± 0.84, 74.02 ± 0.89, 66.46 ± 1.05, 49.70 ± 1.02, and 76.34 ± 0.46 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control (acarbose, 51.62 ± 0.21 μM). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis has been conducted to investigate the interaction between the compounds and the receptors of α-glucosidase to interpret their mechanism of activity. This study is the first investigation that successfully discovered the presence of diterpenoids within the coffee pulp.

Transcriptome Analysis of Salvia miltiorrhiza under Drought Stress

Phenolic acids are one of the major secondary metabolites accumulated in Salvia miltiorrhiza with various pharmacological activities. Moderate drought stress can promote the accumulation of phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza, while the mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we performed transcriptome sequencing of S. miltiorrhiza under drought treatment. A total of 47,169 unigenes were successfully annotated in at least one of the six major databases. Key enzyme genes involved in the phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway, including SmPAL, SmC4H, Sm4CL, SmTAT, SmHPPR, SmRAS and SmCYP98A14, were induced. Unigenes annotated as laccase correlated with SmRAS and SmCYP98A14 were analyzed, and seven candidates that may be involved in the key step of SalB biosynthesis by RA were obtained. A total of 15 transcription factors significantly up-regulated at 2 h and 4 h potentially regulating phenolic acid biosynthesis were screened out. TRINITY_DN14213_c0_g1 (AP2/ERF) significantly transactivated the expression of SmC4H and SmRAS, suggesting its role in the regulation of phenolic acid biosynthesis. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of differential expression genes showed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly higher. The ABA-dependent pathway is essential for resistance to drought and phenolic acid accumulation. Expression patterns in drought and ABA databases showed that four PYLs respond to both drought and ABA, and three potential SnRK2 family members were annotated and analyzed. The present study presented a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of S. miltiorrhiza affected by drought, which provides a rich source for understanding the molecular mechanism facing abiotic stress in S. miltiorrhiza.

Machine learning-assisted structure annotation of natural products based on MS and NMR data

Covering: up to March 2023Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a popular tool for analyzing the structures of natural products (NPs). This review presents a summary of the recent advancements in ML-assisted mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data analysis to establish the chemical structures of NPs. First, ML-based MS/MS analyses that rely on library matching are discussed, which involves the utilization of ML algorithms to calculate similarity, predict the MS/MS fragments, and form molecular fingerprint. Then, ML assisted MS/MS structural annotation without library matching is reviewed. Furthermore, the cases of ML algorithms in assisting structural studies of NPs based on NMR are discussed from four perspectives: NMR prediction, functional group identification, structural categorization and quantum chemical calculation. Finally, the review concludes with a discussion of the challenges and the trends associated with the structural establishment of NPs based on ML algorithms.

Evaluation of QSAR models for predicting mutagenicity: outcome of the Second Ames/QSAR international challenge project

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models are powerful in silico tools for predicting the mutagenicity of unstable compounds, impurities and metabolites that are difficult to examine using the Ames test. Ideally, Ames/QSAR models for regulatory use should demonstrate high sensitivity, low false-negative rate and wide coverage of chemical space. To promote superior model development, the Division of Genetics and Mutagenesis, National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan (DGM/NIHS), conducted the Second Ames/QSAR International Challenge Project (2020-2022) as a successor to the First Project (2014-2017), with 21 teams from 11 countries participating. The DGM/NIHS provided a curated training dataset of approximately 12,000 chemicals and a trial dataset of approximately 1,600 chemicals, and each participating team predicted the Ames mutagenicity of each trial chemical using various Ames/QSAR models. The DGM/NIHS then provided the Ames test results for trial chemicals to assist in model improvement. Although overall model performance on the Second Project was not superior to that on the First, models from the eight teams participating in both projects achieved higher sensitivity than models from teams participating in only the Second Project. Thus, these evaluations have facilitated the development of QSAR models.

Discovery of ACE Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Green Coffee Using In Silico and In Vitro Methods

Inhibition of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is an important means of treating hypertension since it plays an important regulatory function in the renin-angiotensin system. The aim of this study was to investigate the ACE inhibitory effect of bioactive peptides from green coffee beans using in silico and in vitro methods. Alcalase and thermolysin were employed to hydrolyze protein extract from coffee beans. Bioactive peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS analysis coupled with database searching. The potential bioactivities of peptides were predicted by in silico screening, among which five novel peptides may have ACE inhibitory activity. In vitro assay was carried out to determine the ACE inhibitory degree. Two peptides (IIPNEVY, ITPPVMLPP) were obtained with IC50 values of 57.54 and 40.37 μM, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that two inhibitors bound to the receptor protein on similar sites near the S1 active pocket of ACE to form stable enzyme-peptide complexes through molecular docking, and the Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that IIPNEVY was a noncompetitive inhibitor, and ITPPVMLPP was suggested to be a mixed-type inhibitor. Our study demonstrated that two peptides isolated from coffee have potential applications as antihypertensive agents.

NMR-tracking for 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenes from Cimicifuga acerina

Twelve undescribed 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenoids, 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N, as well as five previously reported analogs were isolated by NMR-tracking methods from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga acerina (Sieb. et Zucc.) Tanaka. Among them, 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N were the first 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenoids featuring acetal or hemiacetal structures at C-15. The chemical structures of 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N were determined based on comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical method, and comparison with the previous literature data. After that, all these compounds were evaluated for their lipid-lowering effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes.15,16-seco-cimiterpene D was found to exhibit a comparable reducing lipid effect at the concentration of 50 μM, with an inhibition rate at 35.96%.

Identification and screening of novel diterpenoids from roasted arabica coffee in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes

Previous studies have shown that coffee has a role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, the active compounds and pharmacological mechanism(s) are still unclear. Here, four new coffee diterpenoids (1-4) were identified from roasted arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) beans, and together with 31 known coffee diterpenoids (5-35), their bioactivities in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes were evaluated. Based on their structures and correlated bioactivities, we proposed that the α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone moiety and hydroxyl group at C-3 are required for the bioactivity. Furthermore, the pharmacological approaches revealed that the active new diterpenoid, dehydrocaffarolide B, inhibited the Akt/mTOR/GSK3β pathway and arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase of the mitotic clonal expansion process during the adipocyte differentiation and maturation, eventually resulting in the blunting of lipid accumulation in the adipocytes. Collectively, our findings identified four new diterpenoids of arabica coffee and elucidated a mechanism of an active lactone-type diterpenoid in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes.

Comparative studies of fermented coffee fruits post-treatments on chemical and sensory properties of roasted beans in Yunnan, China

In this study, medium roasted coffee with four different fermented coffee fruits post-treatments (dry, wet, semi-dry and hot air dry) was used as the material. Chemical profile and sensorial analysis were used to comprehensively analyze the effects of post-treatments on coffee flavor characteristics from multiple dimensions. A total of 31 water-soluble chemical components and 39 volatile compounds were identified in roasted coffee, and distinct post-treatments based on chemical orientation make coffee highly differentiated. In addition, the principal component analysis (PCA) of the chemical composition integrated data set showed that the first two principal components could explain 54.9% of the sample variability. All four post-treatments can be classified as "specialty coffees" according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol, with various organoleptic characteristics and flavor attributes. As a result, the fermented coffee fruits post-treatment method further determines the quality characteristics of coffee, thus meeting the needs of different niche markets.

Integrating Metabolomics and Proteomics Technologies Provides Insights into the Flavor Precursor Changes at Different Maturity Stages of Arabica Coffee Cherries

The metabolic modulation of major flavor precursors during coffee cherry ripening is critical for the characteristic coffee flavor formation. However, the formation mechanism of flavor precursors during coffee cherry ripening remains unknown. In the present study, a colorimeter was employed to distinguish different maturity stages of coffee cherry based on the coffee cherry skin colors, and proteomics and metabolomics profiles were integrated to comprehensively investigate the flavor precursor dynamics involved in Arabica coffee cherry ripening. The data obtained in the present study provide an integral view of the critical pathways involved in flavor precursor changes during coffee cherry ripening. Moreover, the contributions of critical events in regulating the development of flavor precursors during the four ripening stages of coffee cherries, including the biosynthesis and metabolism pathways of organic acids, amino acids, flavonoids, and sugars, are discussed. Overall, a total of 456 difference express metabolites were selected, and they were identified as being concentrated in the four maturity stages of coffee cherries; furthermore, 76 crucial enzymes from the biosynthesis and metabolism of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, and flavonoids contributed to flavor precursor formation. Among these enzymes, 45 difference express proteins that could regulate 40 primary amino acids and organic acids flavor precursors were confirmed. This confirmation indicates that the metabolic pathways of amino acids and organic acids played a significant role in the flavor formation of Arabica coffee cherries during ripening. These results provide new insights into the protease modulation of flavor precursor changes in Arabica coffee cherry ripening.

Ganoapplins A and B with an unprecedented 6/6/6/5/6-fused pentacyclic skeleton from Ganoderma inhibit Tau pathology through activating autophagy

Ganoapplins A and B (1 and 2) with a 6/6/6/5/6-fused pentacyclic skeleton containing an aromatic E ring, were obtained from Ganoderma applanatum. Their structures were established through extensive spectroscopic analyses, quantum chemical calculations, including calculated chemical shifts with DP4 + analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 and 2 was proposed. Furthermore, their roles in activating autophagy were investigated and the cellular assays showed that 1 and 2 can inhibit tau pathology by inducing autophagy, suggesting their potential against Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Anaerobic germination of green coffee beans: A novel strategy to improve the quality of commercial Arabica coffee

This study aimed to improve the brewing quality of commercial Arabica coffee through anaerobic germination. Changes in important compounds and cupping scores of germination roasting coffee with different germination degrees were investigated by ¹H NMR, HS-SPME-GC-MS and sensory analysis. Statistical analysis of multivariate analysis results indicated that 6 water-soluble chemical components and 8 volatile chemical components have the potential to be markers of germinated roasting coffee. In addition, germination significantly reduced caffeine content and acrylamide formation in roasted coffee. Sensory analysis according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) cupping protocol demonstrated that anaerobic germination modified flavor attributes, improved the quality, and increased sensory scores. Furthermore, anaerobic sprouting increased fruity descriptors, but over-sprouting did not improve overall attributes while producing both fermentative and vegetable descriptors. Therefore, suitable anaerobic germination of green coffee beans can be used as a new strategy to improve the flavor of commercial Arabica coffee.

Mining of the CULLIN E3 ubiquitin ligase genes in the whole genome of Salvia miltiorrhiza

CULLIN (CUL) proteins are E3 ubiquitin ligases that are involved in a wide variety of biological processes as well as in response to stress in plants. In Salvia miltiorrhiza, CUL genes have not been characterized and its role in plant development, stress response and secondary metabolite synthesis have not been studied. In this study, genome-wide analyses were performed to identify and to predict the structure and function of CUL of S. miltiorrhiza. Eight CUL genes were identified from the genome of S. miltiorrhiza. The CUL genes were clustered into four subgroups according to phylogenetic relationships. The CUL domain was highly conserved across the family of CUL genes. Analysis of cis-acting elements suggested that CUL genes might play important roles in a variety of biological processes, including abscission reaction acid (ABA) processing. To investigate this hypothesis, we treated hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza with ABA. The expression of CUL genes varied obviously after ABA treatment. Co-expression network results indicated that three CUL genes might be involved in the biosynthesis of phenolic acid or tanshinone. In summary, the mining of the CUL genes in the whole genome of S. miltiorrhiza contribute novel information to the understanding of the CUL genes and its functional roles in plant secondary metabolites, growth and development.

[Clinical outcomes of transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach assisted with submental mini-incision for early thyroid papillary carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) assisted with submental mini-incision in early thyroid papillary carcinoma. Methods: A total of 63 patients with early papillary thyroid carcinoma (cT1N0M0) were included who underwent TOETVA from December 2019 to May 2021 in Department of Thyroid Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University. There were 4 males and 59 females, aged from 17 to 46 years old. Of those 36 patients received traditional TOETVA as control and 27 patients accepted modified TOETVA assisted with submental mini-incision. The clinical outcomes of patients in two groups were compared. Chi-square test and t test were used in statistical analyses. Results: Compared to control group, modified TOETVA group had the less mean operation time [(146.63±38.62) minutes vs. (167.78±36.71) minutes, t=-2.21, P=0.031], the shorter time required for returning to normal diet after operation [(2.11±0.89) days vs. (2.72±1.16) days, t=-2.28, P=0.026], and the lower probability of mandibular numbness (0 vs. 16.67%, χ²=4.97, P=0.026). There was no significant difference between two groups in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, number of central lymph nodes dissection, and postoperative complications such as gas embolism, postoperative bleeding, postoperative infection, skin burns, subcutaneous effusion and so on(all P>0.05). After 6 months of operation, the thyroid ultrasound of the patients in two groups showed no recurrence, and the patients were satisfied with their surgical incision appearances. Conclusion: Both the modified and traditional TOETVA show similar efficacies for treatments of early thyroid papillary carcinoma, but the modified TOETVA can reduce the operation time and improve the quality of life.

Particle trapped at the isotropic-nematic liquid crystal interface: Elastocapillary phenomena and drag forces

We present numerical simulations of a particle trapped at the isotropic-nematic liquid crystal (Iso-N) interface. We use our recent model, based on a phase-field approach [see Qiu et al., Phys. Rev. E 103, 022706 (2021)10.1103/PhysRevE.103.022706], to couple the capillary forces acting on the interface with the elastic stresses in the nematic phase along with topological defects. A range of floating configurations are first investigated as a function of the contact angle and various anchoring conditions at the fluid interface. The results show that the response of the system is driven by the existence of an anchoring conflict at the contact line. Substantial particle displacements and/or interfacial deformations may occur in this case even for moderate anchoring strengths. These findings highlight the coupling between elastic and capillary forces. In a second part, we compute drag forces exerted on a particle that moves along the Iso-N interface for several contact angles and a moderate Ericksen number. Because of the coupling between the velocity and order parameter fields, topological defects are swept downstream of the particle by the flow and sometimes escape from the particle or merge with the interface. We also find linear force-velocity laws, with drag forces at the Iso-N interface being slightly greater than their isotropic counterparts due to director distortions. We discuss these results in light of past studies on the behavior of particles being dragged in the bulk of a liquid crystal matrix.

Review on factors affecting coffee volatiles: from seed to cup

The objective of this review is to evaluate the influence of six factors on coffee volatiles. At present, the poor aroma from robusta or low-quality arabica coffee can be significantly improved by advanced technology, and this subject will continue to be further studied. On the other hand, inoculating various starter cultures in green coffee beans has become a popular research direction for promoting coffee aroma and flavor. Several surveys have indicated that shade and altitude can affect the content of coffee aroma precursors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which remain to be fully elucidated. The emergence of the new roasting process has greatly enriched the aroma composition of coffee. Cold-brew coffee is one of the most popular trends in coffee extraction currently, and its influence on coffee aroma is worthy of in-depth and detailed study. Omics technology will be one of the most important means to analyze coffee aroma components and their quality formation mechanism. A better understanding of the effect of each parameter on VOCs would assist coffee researchers and producers in the optimal selection of post-harvest parameters that favor the continuous production of flavorful and top-class coffee beans and beverages. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

((±)-Spiroganoapplanin A, a complex polycyclic meroterpenoid dimer from Ganoderma applanatum displaying the potential against Alzheimer’s disease

A pair of meroterpenoid dimers, (±)-spiroganoapplanain A (1) represents a new subtype of Ganoderma meroterpenoid dimers with a 6/5/5/6/5/6 hexacyclic system were isolated from Ganoderma applanatum. Their structures were determined...

Discovery of novel coffee diterpenoids with inhibitions on Cav3.1 low voltage-gated Ca2+ channel

Seven new (1-4, 6-8) diterpenoids with rare skeletons and seven known ones (9, 12, 17, 18 and 23-25) were isolated from roasted beans of Coffea arabica L. Together with previously obtained diterpenoids, a total of 26 molecules (1-25, 4a) were evaluated their activities on Cav3.1 low voltage-gated Ca2+ channel. Compounds 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17, 19 and 24 exhibited noticeable Cav3.1 inhibitions (41.2%-96.1%) at 10 μM. The IC50 values of 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17 and 24 are 2.9, 2.3, 0.68, 14.8, 11.6, 6.1 and 6.8 μM, respectively. The ring moiety at C-18 and C-19, and esterification of OH-17 with long-chain fatty acids seem important for their activities. Further studies indicated that 1 and cafestol may act on different binding sits with the Cav3.1 blocker Z944, which is in clinical trial. Significantly, the present study initially shows that coffee diterpenoids are potential natural resources for Cav3.1 inhibitors.

Clinical progress and advanced research of red blood cells based drug delivery system

Red blood cells (RBCs) are biocompatible carriers that can be employed to deliver different bioactive substances. In the past few decades, many strategies have been developed to encapsulate or attach drugs to RBCs. Osmotic-based encapsulation methods have been industrialized recently, and some encapsulated RBC formulations have reached the clinical stage for treating tumors and neurological diseases. Inspired by the intrinsic properties of intact RBCs, some advanced delivery strategies have also been proposed. These delivery systems combine RBCs with other novel systems to further exploit and expand the application of RBCs. This review summarizes the clinical progress of drugs encapsulated into intact RBCs, focusing on the loading and clinical trials. It also introduces the latest advanced research based on developing prospects and limitations of intact RBCs drug delivery system (DDS), hoping to provide a reference for related research fields and further application potential of intact RBCs based drug delivery system.

Chemical ingredients characterization basing on 1H NMR and SHS-GC/MS in twelve cultivars of Coffea arabica roasted beans

This work aimed to study the composition differences of roasted beans between 12 coffee cultivars (Catimor 7963, HIBRIDO DE TIMOR, Ruiru 11, Castillo, DTARI 296, DTARI 366, DTARI 392, DTARI 585, SL28, SL34, Catuai-Amarelo and Catuai-Vermelho) from Bourbon-Typica group and Introgressed group under subtropical humid monsoon climate. The water-soluble compounds of roasted coffee beans were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), and the aroma components were analyzed by static headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SHS-GC/MS). In total, 20 water soluble compounds and 43 volatile compounds were identified. Both water-soluble and volatile compounds are rich in acidic substances, and the content varied depending on the cultivars. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) clustered 12 coffee cultivars into four groups. The four different chemically defined clusters of Arabica cultivars produced by chemical differences cannot reflect the traditional grouping based on introgressed, and it is one-sided to judge coffee quality based on lineage. These results give further insight into the quality characteristics of different coffee cultivars, which is of great significance for guiding the adjustment of cultivars' structure and the breeding of new cultivars.

Label-free cell phenotypic study of opioid receptors and discovery of novel mu opioid ligands from natural products

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) is mainly a drug target for analgesia. Opioid-like agonists such as morphine have been clinically used for analgesia but have potential adverse effects. MOR antagonists have been demonstrated to alleviate these side effects. Plants (Carthamus tinctorius L, Cynanchum otophyllum C. K. Schneid., Coffea arabica L., Prinsepia utilis Royle and Lepidium meyenii Walp.) and Ganoderma fungi (Ganoderma hainanense J. D. Zhao, Ganoderma capense (Lloyd) Teng, Ganoderma cochlear (Blume et Nees) Bres., Ganoderma resinaceum Boud and Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.) are traditional medicines with beneficial effects on immunoregulation, analgesia and the nervous system, but whether MORs are engaged in their effects remains unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aimed to identify MOR ligands among compounds isolated from the above-mentioned 10 species, and to investigate selectivity against four opioid receptor subtypes. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship and off-target effects, we could provide a new direction for the future development of MOR drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four opioid receptor subtype models, including MOR, delta (DOR), kappa (KOR) and nop (NOR), were established with a label-free phenotypic dynamic mass redistribution assay to systematically profile the pharmacological properties of known ligands. Then, 82 natural compounds derived from the 10 species were screened against MOR to identify new ligands. The selectivity of the new ligands was characterized against the four subtypes, and off-target effects were also investigated on eight G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

RESULTS

The pharmacological properties of known ligands on transfected HEK293T-MOR, HEK293-DOR, HEK293-KOR and HEK293-NOR cell lines were characterized. Seven compounds purified from Ganoderma cochlear (Blume et Nees) Bres. and Carthamus tinctorius L were MOR antagonists with micromolar potency. Among them, compound 35 showed the strongest antagonistic activity on MOR with an IC₅₀ value of 10.0 ± 3.0 μM. To a certain extent, these seven new antagonists, exhibited antagonistic activity on the other opioid receptor subtypes, and they had almost no effect on other GPCRs, including CB1, CB2, M2 and beta2AR. Additionally, a compound from Lepidium meyenii Walp. displayed MOR agonistic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The established screening models opened new avenues for the discovery and evaluation of opioid receptor ligand selectivity. Together, the novel MOR antagonists and agonists will enrich the inventory of MOR ligands and benefit related therapies.

Particle rotation speeds up capillary interactions

We use dynamic numerical simulations to investigate the role of particle rotation in pairwise capillary interactions of particles trapped at a fluid interface. The fluid interface is modeled with a phase-field method which is coupled to the Navier-Stokes equations to solve for the flow dynamics. Numerical solutions are found using a finite element scheme in a bounded two-dimensional geometry. The interfacial deformations are caused by the buoyant weight of the particles, which are allowed to both translate and rotate due to the capillary and viscous forces and torques at play. The results show that the capillary attraction is faster between freely rotating particles than if particle rotation is inhibited, and the higher the viscosity mismatch, the greater the effect. To explain this result, we analyze the drag force exerted on the particles and find that the translational drag force on a rotating particle is always less than its non-rotating counterpart due to attenuated velocity gradients in the vicinity of the particle. We also find that the influence of interfacial deformations on particle rotation is minute.

Applanmerotic acids A and B, two meroterpenoid dimers with an unprecedented polycyclic skeleton from Ganoderma applanatum that inhibit formyl peptide receptor 2

Applanmerotic acids A and B (1 and 2) with a polycyclic skeleton isolated from Ganoderma applantum showed anti-inflammatory activity via inhibiting the activation of FPR2.

MicroRNA-424-5p inhibits the development of non-small cell LCa by binding to ITGB1

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of microRNA-424-5p on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and to investigate its influence on the expression of ITGB1 and potential regulatory mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the level of microRNA-424-5p in 44 paired NSCLC tissues and adjacent tissues. The relation between microRNA-424-5p expression and NSCLC clinical indicators was analyzed. Subsequently, microRNA-424-5p mimics and inhibitors were transfected into NSCLC cells to construct microRNA-424-5p overexpression or knockdown models, respectively. QRT-PCR was used to further verify the transfection efficiency. A series of experiments, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effect of microRNA-424-5p on the biological function of NSCLC A549 and H358 cells. Finally, the potential association between microRNA-424-5p and its downstream gene ITGB1 was explored through luciferase reporter gene assay and cell recovery experiment.

RESULTS

QRT-PCR results showed that microRNA-424-5p level was significantly lower in NSCLC tissues than that of adjacent normal tissues. Compared with patients with high expression of microRNA-424-5p, the pathological stage of those with low expression of microRNA-424-5p was significantly higher. In vitro experiments showed that microRNA-424-5p overexpression remarkably decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis, which were further validated in microRNA-424-5p inhibitor group. Subsequently, ITGB1 expression was found significantly up-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. Meanwhile, ITGB1 expression was negatively correlated with microRNA-424-5p level. In addition, a recovery experiment indicated that overexpression of ITGB1 could counteract the effect of microRNA-424-5p mimics on the proliferation and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. All these findings revealed that microRNA-424-5p and ITGB1 affected the malignant progression of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNA-424-5p was closely correlated with the pathological stage and poor prognosis of NSCLC, thereby inhibiting the occurrence and development of NSCLC.

Small RNA sequencing reveals miRNAs important for hypoxic adaptation in the Tibetan chicken

1. The Tibetan chicken, which is an indigenous breed living on the Tibetan Plateau, exhibits hypoxic adaptations to its high-altitude environment. However, the molecular mechanism behind this hypoxic adaptation is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs involved in hypoxic adaptation through high-throughput RNA sequencing. 2. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes in chicken embryonic heart tissues and fibroblasts. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the relationship between miRNAs and target genes. 3. The study identified 37 differentially expressed miRNAs in Tibetan chicken embryonic heart tissues, including 20 up- and 17 down-regulated miRNAs, compared to those found in lowland chickens. Differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes, such as cell cycle arrest, toll-like receptor signalling pathways, and I-kappa B kinase/NF-kappa B signalling. The data showed that gga-miR-34 c-5p was significantly upregulated in Tibetan chicken tissues and hypoxic fibroblasts, while EHHADH, a target gene of gga-miR-34 c-5p, was downregulated. Moreover, gga-miR-34 c-5p dramatically decreased the luciferase activity of the wild EHHADH, whereas no effect on the mutational EHHADH was found. 4. This study identified miRNA expression profiles in the Tibetan chicken and suggested that miR-34 c-5p acts as a novel miRNA associated with hypoxic adaptation. This facilitates the understanding of molecular mechanisms that underlie long-term exposure to hypoxia.

Effects of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice

BACKGROUND

The ethanolic extract of Actaea racemosa L. (Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt.) has recently been reported to ameliorate obesity-related insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver in rodents. However, it remains unclear which A. racemosa components are responsible for these beneficial effects.

PURPOSE

We aimed to examine the anti-obesity potential of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein (DA), which is contained in the ethanolic extracts of A. racemosa.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

To evaluate the effects of DA on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice, in vitro and in vivo tests were performed. For in vitro assessment, we used Oil red O staining that showed lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. For in vivo tests, male 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed with low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with 10 mg/kg/d luteolin (LU; positive control drug), HFD with 1 mg/kg/d DA, and HFD with 5 mg/kg/d DA for 12 weeks, respectively. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed at week 17. The lipid deposition of adipose tissue and liver was visualized by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Real-time PCR showed mRNA levels of genes involved in adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis. AMPK signaling and SIRT1-FOXO1 pathway were assessed by real-time PCR and western blot.

RESULTS

10 μM DA and 20 μM LU treatments inhibited 3T3-L1 adipogenesis through down-regulating the expression of C/ebpα, C/ebpβ, and Pparγ, which are the critical adipogenic transcription factors. The in vivo results showed that 5 mg/kg/d DA and 10 mg/kg/d LU significantly lowered body weight gain, fat mass, and liver weight in HFD-fed mice. Meanwhile, DA and LU also reduced insulin resistance and serum lipoprotein levels in HFD-fed mice. Mechanistic studies showed that DA and LU promoted adipocyte lipolysis in mice through activating the AMPK signaling and SIRT1-FOXO1 pathway.

CONCLUSION

The in vitro results indicate that 10 μM DA suppresses adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The in vivo treatment with 5 mg/kg/d DA ameliorates diet-induced obesity in mice, suggesting that DA is a promising natural compound for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

FRI0259 THE CLINICAL VALUE OF GDF-15 IN ASSESSING MYOCARDIAL INVOLVEMENT OF IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHY

Background:

Cardiac involvement is a serious complication of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). Early diagnosis and intervention can improve prognosis. At present, myocardial biopsy is the gold standard for its diagnosis, but it is not commonly used because of its invasiveness. Biomarkers can be invoked as a non-invasive and convenient choice. The traditional markers of myocardial injury, as troponin and creatine kinase are lack specificity in inflammatory myopathy, so the novel biomarkers are getting attention.GDF-15 can predict the risk of cardiovascular disease and the prognosis of coronary atherosclerosis, heart failure and other diseases.

Objectives:

This article was intended to investigate the diagnostic value of GDF-15 for myocardial involvement in inflammatory myopathy.

Methods:

This retrospective study included 54 patients with inflammatory myopathy from May 2018 to October 2019.Of these,30 patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance examination due to increased myocardial markers, excluding 1 case of severe lung infection. 33 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),16 normal patients were used as the control group.The concentration of GDF-15 in the serum of all groups of patients was measured by ELISA.

Results:

1. There were significantly differences in GDF-15 levels in patients with inflammatory myopathy, systemic lupus erythematosus and normal subjects (H =39.870, P <0.001).2. 29 patients with cardiac magnetic resonance on the basis of the delayed enhancement (LGE) and ECV results were divided into two groups in which 19 patients with myocardial injury group and 10 patients without myocardial injury. The best cut-off value was calculated by ROC curve,and comparing GDF-15 and CKMB with the optimum cut-off values in predicting cardiac involvement in IIM.GDF-15 levels were statistically significant between the myocardial injury group (1765.868±1068.549 pg/ml) and the group without myocardial injury(689.967±458.12 pg/ml)(p =0.0011).At the same time, the creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB)(158.583±119.389 U/L vs 57.96±52.673 U/L, p =0.005) was statistically different between the two groups.3.GDF-15≥1005.3650pg/ml (AUC =0.853,95% CI 0.694-1.000) predicted myocardial involvement in inflammatory diseases with a sensitivity of 0.765 and specificity of 0.900.The AUC of the ROC curve for the joint detection of GDF-15 and CKMB was 0.888,95% CI0.757-1.000,with the predicted probability cut-off value in 0.3895, the sensitivity 0.941 and the specificity 0.800.The combined detection of the two increased the sensitivity of myocardial damage detection in IIM patients. 5. After adjusted for age, renal function, the risk of myocardial injury in IIM patients increased by an average of 0.3% per unit of GDF-15(OR =1.003,95% CI 1.000–1.005).

Conclusion:

GDF-15 can predict myocardial injury in patients with inflammatory myopathy which have high specificity.The prediction sensitivity can be improved by combining with the traditional myocardial enzyme CKMB.More further studies are needed to confirm the specific mechanism of GDF-15 for myocardial involvement to assess the prognosis of such patients and guide further treatment.

References:

[1]Sultan SM, Ioannou Y, Moss K, Isenberg DA. Outcome in patients with idiopathic inflflammatory myositis: morbidity and mortality. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2002;41:22–6.

[2]Lundberg IE, de Visser M, Werth VP. Classification of myositis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2018 May;14(5):269-278.

[3]Zhang L, Wang GC, Ma L, Zu N (2012) Cardiac involvement in adult polymyositis or dermatomyositis: a systematic review. Clin Cardiol 35(11):686–691.

[4]Chen F,Peng Y,Chen M. Diagnostic approach to cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.A strategy combining cardiac troponin I but not T assay with other methods[J].Int Heart J,2018;59:256-262

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Osteoporosis drugs for prevention of clinical fracture in white postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis of survival data

By Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis stratified by prevalent vertebral fracture (PVF), we conclude that different effective drugs should be used to prevent fragility fractures according to postmenopausal women with or without PVF and that there are two drugs (i.e., parathyroid hormone (1-84) and abaloparatide) less tolerated than placebo.

INTRODUCTION

No studies have compared various osteoporosis drugs in postmenopausal women (PMW) either with or without prevalent vertebral fracture (PVF). We aimed to compare them in the two different subgroups.

METHODS

We searched different databases to select relevant studies. We performed Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis to synthesize hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for clinical fracture stratified by PVF and to synthesize risk ratio (RR) for tolerability and vertebral fracture.

RESULTS

We included 33 trials involving 79,144 PMW. In the PVF ≥ 50% subgroup, teriparatide (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28-0.57), romosozumab (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29-0.75), risedronate (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.79), zoledronate (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.96), and alendronate (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.47-0.97) reduced clinical fracture risk. In the other subgroup, abaloparatide (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.33-0.92), romosozumab (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95), and denosumab (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.85) reduced clinical fracture risk. Five drugs reduced vertebral fracture risk in the PVF ≥ 50% subgroup whereas seven did in the other subgroup. All drugs did not increase withdrawal risk except for parathyroid hormone (1-84) (PTH) (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6) and abaloparatide (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.3).

CONCLUSION

Different effective drugs should be used to prevent fragility fractures according to PMW with or without PVF, and romosozumab is the only one which can reduce clinical and vertebral fractures in both of the two populations. PTH and abaloparatide are less tolerated than placebo whereas the eight other drugs assessed in the study have the same tolerability as placebo.

A Ganoderma-Derived Compound Exerts Inhibitory Effect Through Formyl Peptide Receptor 2

Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) widely expressed in neutrophils and other phagocytes. FPRs play important roles in host defense, inflammation, and the pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Because of these functions, FPRs are potential targets for anti-inflammatory therapies. In order to search for potentially novel anti-inflammatory agents, we examined Ganoderma (Lingzhi), a Chinese medicinal herbs known for its anti-inflammatory effects, and found that compound 18 (C18) derived from Ganoderma cochlear could limit the inflammatory response through FPR-related signaling pathways. Further studies showed that C18 could bind to FPR2 and induce conformation change of the receptor that differed from the conformational change induced by the pan-agonist, WKYMVm. C18 inhibited at the receptor level and blocked WKYMVm signaling through FPR2, resulting in reduced superoxide production and compromised cell chemotaxis. These results identified for the first time that a Ganoderma-derived component with inhibitory effects that acts through a G protein-coupled receptor FPR2. Considering its less than optimal IC₅₀ value, further optimization of C18 would be necessary for future applications.

NMR-based Structural Classification, Identification, and Quantification of Triterpenoids from Edible Mushroom Ganoderma resinaceum

Ganoderma mushrooms have been widely used as functional food in China, Japan, and Korea. Ganoderma triterpenoids are deemed to be the main functional constituents. The structures of Ganoderma triterpenoids are complex but quite similar, which makes their analyses markedly limited. In this study, we developed a general 2D NMR method to differentiate Ganoderma triterpenoids, which classifies them into six types (A-F). Then, by the NMR-based isolation of A-F type triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of G. resinaceum, four new compounds (1-4) and eight known compounds (5-12) were obtained. Moreover, combined with spiking experiments in 1D and 2D NMR spectra, compounds 5, 7, and 8, which belong to triterpenoids of A and B types, were identified. At the end, to achieve a more extensive application for this NMR method, a qNMR method for the absolute quantification of 5, 7, and 8 in the gross triterpenoids from G. resinaceum was set up. The results showed that this NMR method is reliable for the NMR-guided isolation and quantification of triterpenoids in G. resinaceum.

Drag force on a particle straddling a fluid interface: Influence of interfacial deformations

We numerically investigate the influence of interfacial deformations on the drag force exerted on a particle straddling a fluid interface. We perform finite element simulations of the two-phase flow system in a bounded two-dimensional geometry. The fluid interface is modeled with a phase-field method which is coupled to the Navier-Stokes equations to solve for the flow dynamics. The interfacial deformations are caused by the buoyant weight of the particle, which results in curved menisci. We compute drag coefficients as a function of the three-phase contact angle, the viscosity ratio of the two fluids, and the particle density. Our results show that, for some parameter values, large drag forces are not necessarily correlated with large interfacial distortions and that a lower drag may actually be achieved with non-flat interfaces rather than with unperturbed ones.

Identification of novel phytocannabinoids from Ganoderma by label-free dynamic mass redistribution assay

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Located throughout the body, cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are therapeutic targets for obesity/metabolic diseases, neurological/mental disorders, and immune modulation. Phytocannabinoids are greatly important for the development of new medicines with high efficacy and/or minor side effects. Plants and fungi are used in traditional medicine for beneficial effects to mental and immune system. The current research studied five fungi from the genus Ganoderma and five plants: Ganoderma hainanense J.D. Zhao, L.W. Hsu & X.Q. Zhang; Ganoderma capense (Lloyd) Teng, Zhong Guo De Zhen Jun; Ganoderma cochlear (Blume & T. Nees) Bres., Hedwigia; Ganoderma resinaceum Boud.; Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.; Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae); Cynanchum otophyllum C. K. Schneid. (Asclepiadaceae); Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae); Prinsepia utilis Royle (Rosaceae); Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae). They show immunoregulation, promotion of longevity and maintenance of vitality, stimulant effects on the central nervous system, hormone balance and other beneficial effects. However, it remains unclear whether cannabinoid receptors are involved in these effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aimed to identify components working on CB1 and CB2 from the above plants and fungi, as novel phytocannabinoids, and to investigate mechanisms of how these compounds affected the cells. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship, we could identify the core structure for future development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-two natural compounds were screened on stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, CHO-CB1 and CHO-CB2, with application of a label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) technology that measured cellular responses to compounds. CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2 were agonist probe molecules, and SR141716A and SR144528 were antagonist probes. Pertussis toxin, cholera toxin, LY294002 and U73122 were signaling pathway inhibitors. The DMR data were acquired by Epic Imager software (Corning, NY), processed by Imager Beta 3.7 (Corning), and analyzed by GraphPad Prism 6 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA).

RESULTS

Transfected CHO-CB1 and CHO-CB2 cell lines were established and characterized. Seven compounds induced responses/activities in the cells. Among the seven compounds, four were purified from two Ganoderma species with potencies between 20 and 35 μM. Three antagonists: Kfb68 antagonized both receptors with a better desensitizing effect on CB2 to WIN55,212-2 over CP55,940. Kga1 and Kfb28 were antagonists selective to CB1 and CB2, respectively. Kfb77 was a special agonist and it stimulated CB1 in a mechanism different from that of CP55,940. Another three active compounds, derived from the Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae), were also identified but their effects were mediated through mechanisms much related to the signaling transduction pathways, especially through the stimulatory G_s protein.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified four natural cannabinoids that exhibited structural and functional diversities. Our work confirms the presence of active ingredients in the Ganoderma species to CB1 and CB2, and this finding establishes connections between the fungi and the cannabinoid receptors, which will serve as a starting point to connect their beneficial effects to the endocannabinoid system. This research will also enrich the inventory of cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids from fungi. Yet due to some limitations, further structure-activity relationship studies and mechanism investigation are warranted in future.

C28 steroids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma resinaceum with potential anti-inflammatory activity

Eight undescribed ergostane-type steroids, (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β,5α-diol- 6,5-olide, (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β,5β,6β-triol, (22E,24R)-6β-methoxy ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β,5α,14β-triol, (22E,24R)-9α,15α-dihydroxyergosta-4,6,8 (14),22-tetraen-3-one, (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8,22-trien-3β,11α-dihydroxyl-7-one, (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,7,22-trien-3β,9α,14β-trihydroxyl-6-one, (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22- dien-3β,9α,14β-trihydroxyl-6-one, and (22E,24R)-6β-methoxyergosta-7,22-dien-3β, 5α,9α,14β-tetraol, and twenty-one known analogues were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma resinaceum Boud. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystal diffraction, as well as empirical pyridine-induced deshielding effects. Furthermore, selected compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on macrophage activation using an inhibition of nitric oxide production assay. Finally, (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8,22- trien-3β,11α-dihydroxyl-7-one, (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,7,22-trien-3β,9α,14β-tri hydroxyl-6-one, (22E,24R)-6β-methoxyergosta-7,22-dien-3β,5α,9α,14β-tetraol, (22E,24R)-ergosta-6,9,22-trien-3β,5α,8α-triol,ergost-6,22-dien-3β,5α,8α-triol, 5α,6α-epoxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8,22-diene-3β,7α-diol, 5α,6α-epoxy-(22E,24R)- ergosta-8(14),22-diene-3β,7α-diol, 5α,6α-epoxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-diene-3β, 7β-diol, and 22E-7α-methoxy-5α,6α-epoxyergosta-8(14),22-dien-3β-ol showed inhibitory effects on NO production with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.24 ± 0.02 to 35.19 ± 0.41 μM compared with L-NMMA (IC₅₀ 49.86 ± 2.13 μM), indicating that they have potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Three new C23 steroids from the leaves and stems of Nicandra physaloides

Nicandra physaloides is a medicinal and edible plant and has been used as traditionally herbal medicine to treat various diseases in folk. Its characteristic withanolides, a kind of ergostane-type steroids, are reported to display plentiful biological activities that many explain the effect of N. physaloides to some extent. Thus, to further find bioactive steroids, the stems and leaves of N. physaloides were investigated and three new C23 steroids, nic-physatones I-J (1-2), and nic-physatone S (3), together with a known C25 steroid, nic 17 (4), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D NMR and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, and ROESY), UV and MS analyses. Compounds 1-3 possess a rare C23 steroid skeleton. Among them, compound 3 represented the first example of a C23 steroid featuring a benzene ring (D ring). The isolated compounds showed no cytotoxic activity.

Mesenchymal Sufu Regulates Development of Mandibular Molars via Shh Signaling

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in dental epithelium regulates tooth morphogenesis by epithelial-mesenchymal signaling transduction. However, the action of Shh signaling regulation in this process is not well understood. Here we find that mesenchymal Suppressor of Fused (Sufu), a major negative regulator of Shh signaling, plays an important role in modulating the tooth germ morphogenesis during the bud-to-cap stage transition. Deletion of Sufu in dental mesenchyme by Dermo1-Cre mice leads to delayed development of mandibular molar into cap stage with defect of primary enamel knot (EK) formation. We show the disruption of cell proliferation and programmed cell death in dental epithelium and mesenchyme in Sufu mutants. Epithelial-specific adhesion molecule E-cadherin is evidently reduced in the bilateral basal cells of tooth germ at E14.5. The cells in the presumptive EK, predominantly expressing P-cadherin, appear stratified but fail to condense. Moreover, the transcripts of primary EK marker genes, including Shh, Fgf4, and p21, are significantly decreased compared to controls. In contrast, we find that deficiency of Sufu results in elevation of Shh signaling in mesenchyme, indicated by the significant upregulation of Gli1 and Ptch1. Meanwhile, the expression of Bmp4 and Fgf3, the critical factors of mesenchymal-epithelial induction, is significantly inhibited in dental mesenchyme. Furthermore, the expression of Runx2 experiences a transient decrease at the bud stage. Taken together, these data suggest that mesenchymal Sufu is necessary for tuning the Shh signaling, which may act as an upstream modulator of Bmp4 and Fgf3 to coordinate the interplay between the dental mesenchyme and epithelium of tooth germ.

[Retrospective study of diagnosis and treatment of renal oncocytoma]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the experience of diagnosis and surgical treatment of renal oncocytoma, and to evaluate the surgical results based on follow-up results, in order to find the best strategy.

METHODS

In the study, 21 cases with renal oncocytoma from December 2003 to April 2016 in Peking University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 4 males, and 17 females, with 10 cases on the right side and 11 cases on the left side. Their age was between 15 to 80 years (average: 58 years). Ultrasound or CT examination after admission was conducted. Ultrasound examination showed solid nodules. CT manifestations were solid masses with enhancement, and the tumor size was between 1.5 cm to 6.5 cm (average: 3.3 cm). Of the 21 cases, 9 were located in the middle of kidney, 7 were located in the upper pole, and 5 were located in the lower pole. After preoperative examination, according to the size and location of the tumor, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy or laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed, respectively.

RESULTS

All the operations were successful, in which 17 cases underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (including 3 cases which were converted to open surgery), and 4 cases underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. The operation time ranged from 75 to 274 min (mean: 144 min), and the blood loss ranged from 10 to 1 000 mL (mean: 115 mL). The postoperative hospital stay time ranged from 6 to 13 d (average: 8.2 d). The pathological results were all renal oncocytoma. In the study, 17 cases were followed up while 4 cases were lost to follow-up. The follow-up time ranged from 12 to 175 months (mean: 44 months). One case died in 20 months after operation with unknown reason, and there were no recurrence or metastasis in the other 16 cases.

CONCLUSION

Renal oncocytoma is a benign tumor with good prognosis. Enhanced CT is an effective diagnostic method in assistant examination, but it is difficult to differentiate clear cell carcinoma only from the naked eye. It is worthwhile to measure CT value at different stages of the tumor by picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and to compare with CT value of adjacent kidney tissue may improve the diagnostic efficiency of CT. Laparoscopic surgery is an effective treatment for renal oncocytoma. We recommend laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for the patients with renal oncocytoma as the best choice if conditions permit.

Toonamicrocarpavarin, a new tirucallane-type triterpenoid from Toona Ciliata

Toonamicrocarpavarin (1), a new tirucallane-type triterpenoid, along with eight known ones, piscidinol A (2), toonaciliatavarin E (3), toonayunnanin A (4), 7-acetyneotrichilenone (5), hispidol A (6), odoratone (7), phellochin (8), toonaciliatavarin D (9), were isolated from T. ciliata. Their structures were identified on the basis of ESIMS, HREIMS and 1 D/2D NMR analysis. The cytotoxic activity of the new compound was also evaluated. All compounds were obtained from T. ciliata for the first time, which plays an important role in chemotaxonomy of the plant T. ciliata.