Cancer cachexia’s metabolic signature in a murine model confirms a distinct entity

Despite recent consensus definitions, lack of specific biomarkers remains a hurdle towards a more accurate and efficient diagnosis of cancer cachexia, distinguishing cachexia as a separate entity from other wasting syndromes. In a previous pilot study, we have shown that cancer-cachectic mice have a unique metabolic fingerprint with distinct glucose and lipid alterations compared to healthy controls. Further metabolomics studies were carried out to investigate differences in metabolic profiles of cancer-cachectic mice to tumor-bearing non-cachectic mice, calorie-restricted mice, and surgically treated cancer-cachectic mice. CD2F1 mice were divided into: (1) Cachexia Group received cachexia-inducing C26 undifferentiated colon carcinoma cells; (2) Tumor-Burden Group received, non-cachectic, P388 lymphoma cells; (3) Caloric-Restriction Group, remaining cancer-free, but subjected to caloric-restriction; (4) Surgery Group, similar to Cachexia Group, but tumors resected mid-experiment; and (5) Control Group aged intact. Baseline, mid-experiment and final serum samples were collected for ¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis. After data reduction, unsupervised principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures analyses demonstrate that the unique metabolic fingerprint is independent of tumor-burden and distinct from profiles of caloric-restriction and aging. Hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and reduced branched-chain amino acids distinguish cachexia from other groups. Furthermore, the profile of surgically treated mice differs from that of cachectic mice, reverting to a profile more congruent with healthy controls indicating cachexia is amenable to correction where surgical cure is possible. That metabolomic analysis of murine serum is able to differentiate cachexia from tumor-burden and caloric-restriction warrants similar translational investigations in patients to explore cancer cachexia’s unique biomarkers.     

Block of P2X7 receptors could partly reverse the delayed neuronal death in area CA1 of the hippocampus after transient global cerebral ischemia

Transient global ischemia (which closely resembles clinical situations such as cardiac arrest, near drowning or severe systemic hypotension during surgical procedures), often induces delayed neuronal death in the brain, especially in the hippocampal CA1 region. The mechanism of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is not fully understood. In this study, we have shown that the P2X7 receptor antagonist, BBG, reduced delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region after I/R injury; P2X7 receptor expression levels increased before delayed neuronal death after I/R injury; inhibition of the P2X7 receptor reduced I/R-induced microglial microvesicle-like components, IL-1β expression, P38 phosphorylation, and glial activation in hippocampal CA1 region after I/R injury. These results indicate that antagonism of the P2X7 receptor and signaling pathways of microglial MV shedding, such as src-protein tyrosine kinase, P38 MAP kinase and A-SMase, might be a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment of transient global cerebral I/R injury.     

HIF-1α和VEGF—c在胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义研究

目的：探讨HIF-1α和VEGF—c在胃癌组织中的表达情况及临床病理意义。方法：选取2010年12月至2012年12月期间就诊于我院肿瘤外科需进行手术切除的胃癌标本及其配对的癌旁组织各73例进行研究分析,采用免疫组化SP（streptavidin perotridase）对胃癌组织以及癌旁组织中HIF-1α和VEGF-c的表达情况进行检测。结果：①HIF-1α和VEGF-c在癌旁组织几乎不表达,而在胃癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为83．56％、78．08％,显著高于癌旁组织,经分析,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;②HIF—hx和VEGF-c的阳性表达和浸润深度、淋巴结转移以及临床分期密切相关,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;③HIF-1α和VEGF-c在胃癌组织中的表达存在一定的相关性（r=0．654,P〈0．05）。结论：HIF．hx和VEGF-c的阳性表达可以作为胃癌侵袭转移的重要判定指标,这对于本病的临床治疗具有一定的指导性意义。     

左炔诺酮宫内缓释系统联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效分析

目的：探讨左炔诺酮宫内缓释系统（LNG-IUS）联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效及安全性。方法：将94例子宫腺肌病患者随机分为观察组（47例）和对照组（47例）,观察组放置LNG-IUS,同时服用米非司酮,每月1次,疗程为6个月。对照组仅放置LNG-IUS。观察两组疗程结束后、放置LNG-IUS后1、3、5年的临床疗效及不良反应。结果：疗程结束后,观察组和对照组总有效率分别为91.5%,87.2%,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;随访期间,观察组的月经期、月经量、月经间期出血时间、不规则阴道流血或点滴出血的发生率均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;观察组和对照组不良反应的发生率分别为21.3%和25.5%,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论：LNG-IUS联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效确切,可有效减少不规则阴道出血。     

Phenylpropanoid constituents from the seeds of Lithocarpus pachylepis

Five phenylpropanoids including one new compound balanophonin A (1), one new natural compound balanophonin B (2) were isolated from the seeds of Lithocarpus pachylepis for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, CD, 1D and 2D NMR). All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7.     

Tangshenosides from Codonopsis lanceolata roots

A new symmetrical phenylpropanoid glycoside, tangshenoside VIII (1), together with six known tangshenosides (2–7) were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis lanceolata (Campanulaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data, including two-dimensional NMR analyses. Tangshenosides have chemotaxonomic significance.     

Triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’

Phytochemical investigation on the root of Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’ resulted in the isolation and identification of two new polyhydroxyoleanene saponins, named eryngioside M and eryngioside N, together with 15 known triterpenoid saponins eryngiosides A-L, 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol, saniculasaponin III, and saniculasaponin II. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Eryngioside M and saniculasaponin II showed week cytotoxicity against human non-small cell lung tumor cells (A549) with GI₅₀ values of 37.5 ± 1.59 μM and 35.5 ± 1.11 μM, respectively.     

Two new rocaglamide derivatives from twigs of Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina

Phytochemical investigation of Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina led to the isolation of two new rocaglamide derivatives and three known ones. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated as 8b-methoxy-desmethylrocaglamide (1) and 3′-hydroxy-8b-methoxy-rocaglamide (2) by spectroscopic techniques (IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparing with published data. All the five compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against K562 cell line by MTT method. The results indicated that the OH at 8b position was a decisive group for cytotoxic activity.