Biochemical characteristics,metabolism, and antitumor activity of several acetylated hexosamines

We have synthesized several potential inhibitors and/or modifiers of the carbohydrate portion of plasma membrane glycoconjugates. These include fluorinated and actylated analogs of D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, and D-mannosamine. These compounds have been tested to determine their effects on both [¹⁴C] glucosamine and [³H] leucine incorporation into glycoconjugate and on cell growth and viability using P-288 murine lymphoma cells maintained in tissue culture. The most cytotoxic agent tested was 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranose or simply β-pentaacetylglucosamine which prevented cell growth at 10^?4–10^?3 M. β-Pentaacetylglucosamine cytotoxicity was correlated with its high lipid solubility, having an octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.424 as compared with 0.278 for the β-anomer and 0.017 for N-acetylglucosamine. In vitro metabolism studies with [¹⁴C]-and/or [³H]-labeled pentaacetylglucosamine have indicated intracellular de-O-acetylation leading to the biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, followed by the incorporation of this sugar into cellular glycoprotein. Concomitant with the formation of increased amounts of this nucleotide sugar, intracellular UTP and CTP pools fell to one third normal within 3 h after the administration of 1 mM pentaacetylglucosamine. At present it is unclear whether the cytotoxicity of β-pentaacetylglucosamine or other similar agents is due to alterations in nucleotide and nucleotide-sugar pools causing a decrease in energy charge and polynucleotide biosynthesis or is due to a direct effect on membrane glycoconjugate biosynthesis.     

Purification of glycopeptides of human ceruloplasmin and immunoglobulin D by high-pressure liquid chromatography

To facilitate structural studies of glycoproteins, reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods have been developed for preparative isolation of glycopeptides and have been applied to human ceruloplasmin as an example of glycopeptides containing glucosamine (GlcN) and to human immunoglobulin D (IgD) for glycopeptides containing galactosamine (GalN). The use of RP-P columns and of trifluoroacetic acid and heptafluorobutyric acid as counterions was investigated. Various elution systems (both isocratic and programmed gradient) were used with n-propanol to assess the relative hydrophilicity of the peptides. The procedure developed for the GlcN glycopeptides of ceruloplasmin enabled purification of nine major chymotryptic peptides (ranging in size from 15 to 29 residues) and also of many minor peaks. These were characterized by amino acid and endgroup analysis, and the complete sequence of five was determined. These represent three different sites of GlcN attachment in the amino-terminal half of the ceruloplasmin chain. The procedures developed have enabled isolation of glycopeptides from ceruloplasmin having a single GlcN oligosaccharide attached; the latter are valuable for study of the structure and function of the carbohydrate groups. Separation of GalN glycopeptides from IgD was more difficult because of the high content of GalN in the hinge. Purification and sequence analysis was aided by partial removal of sugar by treatment with HF and by other methods. Four (or five) GalN oligosaccharides are attached to serine or threonine residues in the IgD hinge region, and all but one are in close proximity in the repeating sequence Ala-Thr-Thr-Ala-Pro-Ala-Thr-Thr.     

Kinetics of drug-DNA interaction. Dependence of the binding mechanism on structure of the ligand

Kinetic and equilibrium studies of the binding of several phenanthridines and acridines to DNA have been performed to investigate the physical processes underlying the direct ligand transfer mechanism of drug-DNA interaction· Substitution of the 6-phenyl ring of dimidium with a p-carboxyl residue, or complete removal of either the 6-substituent or the 3-amino group, does not prevent the phenanthridine chromophore from transferring directly between binding sites. Loss of the aromatic ring increases association rate constants three- to ninefold and enhances dissociation rates by factors of up to 12; the rates of direct transfer and dissociation from site 1 are the most perturbed. The presence of a phenyl ring stabilizes the site 1 complex and lowers the binding constant to site 2. Introduction of the p-carboxyl group does not affect the equilibrium distribution of bound forms but produces equivalent increases (2·5-fold) in forward and reverse rate constants for binding to site 1 and for the direct transfer step. The 3-amino group greatly stabilizes the site 1 complex. Its removal accelerates all kinetic processes except for the reverse transfer step; the transfer rate is enhanced 25-fold and binding to site 2 is increased 12-fold. The dissociation rate from site 1 rises by a factor of 45 and that from site 2 by a factor of 5·8.10-Methyl-9-aminoacridine binds via the direct transfer pathway with rate and equilibrium constants similar to those of the 3-desamino derivative of ethidium. This compound provides the first fully characterized example of an acridine that utilizes bimolecular transfer. By contrast, rivanol (6,9-diamino-2-ethoxyacridine) interacts with DNA via a two-step sequential mechanism analogous to that seen with proflavine, yet its intrinsic association constant is three times higher. This results from tighter ‘external’ attachment to the helix, together with a decrease in equilibrium constant for the insertion step, which is markedly slower than that of proflavine. There appears to be a simple relation between the apparent enthalpy of binding and the number of extracyclic amino substituents on the intercalating chromophore.We propose that the two bound forms that participate in direct ligand transfer represent molecules intercalated via one or other of the grooves of DNA, and that the transfer pathway corresponds to exchange of drug between the wide groove of one helix and the narrow groove of another. The ability to form strongly bound complexes at the surface of the helix appears to play a major role in determining the mechanism of ligand binding.     

Glucosamine protects against radiation‐induced lung injury via inhibition of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition

Radiotherapy is one of the most important treatments for chest tumours. Although there are plenty of strategies to prevent damage to normal lung tissues, it cannot be avoided with the emergence of radiation‐induced lung injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential radioprotective effects of glucosamine, which exerted anti‐inflammatory activity in joint inflammation. In this study, we found glucosamine relieved inflammatory response and structural damages in lung tissues after radiation via HE staining. Then, we detected the level of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition marker in vitro and in vivo, which we could clearly observe that glucosamine treatment inhibited epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. Besides, we found glucosamine could inhibit apoptosis and promote proliferation of normal lung epithelial cells in vitro caused by radiation. In conclusion, our data showed that glucosamine alleviated radiation‐induced lung injury via inhibiting epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, which indicated glucosamine could be a novel potential radioprotector for radiation‐induced lung injury.     

复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对大鼠无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血的改善作用及其作用机制

摘要 目的：探讨复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对大鼠无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血的改善作用及其作用机制。方法：将40只雌性SD大鼠随机均分成两组（空白组和模型组）,采用给大鼠连续21 d灌胃戊酸雌二醇的方法制备无排卵型功能失调性子宫大鼠模型。模型大鼠制备成功后,按随机法再均分成模型组、阳性组和治疗组,其中阳性组和治疗组分别灌胃给予相应的药物,空白组和模型组灌胃等体积的生理盐水,各组均连续灌胃7 d。计算各组大鼠的子宫系数,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定大鼠血清中雌二醇（estradiol, E₂）和孕酮（progestone,P）水平,采用免疫组化法测定大鼠子宫内膜组织中两个蛋白（matrix metalloproteinases-9,MMP-9和vascular endothelial growth factor ,VEGF）的表达量。结果：模型组大鼠血清中的P水平比空白组显著性减少（P<0.05）,子宫内膜组织中的MMP-9和VEGF表达量比空白组均显著性升高（P<0.05）。给药后,治疗组和阳性组大鼠血清中的P水平均显著高于模型组（P<0.05）,大鼠子宫内膜组织中的MMP-9和VEGF 表达量均显著低于模型组（P<0.05）,治疗组与阳性组之间无显著性差异（P >0.05）。结论：复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血具有明显的改善作用,其机制可能与调控子宫内膜 MMP-9 和VEGF的表达量有关。     

参松养心胶囊对缺血性心力衰竭患者心率变异性的影响

目的：评价参松养心胶囊对缺血性心力衰竭患者心率变异性的影响。方法：选择缺血性心肌病心衰患者40例,在常规抗心衰治疗（利尿剂、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂／血管紧张素受体抑制剂、B受体组滞剂、醛固酮拮抗剂及洋地黄制剂）基础上加服参松养心胶囊1．2g,每日3次,连用8周。以超声心动图和24小时动态心电图分别观察治疗前、治疗后8周患者的心脏功能和心率变异性的变化情况。结果：参松养心胶囊治疗8周后,患者左室射血分数较治疗前显著增加（33．5±5．2％vs42．6±5．7％,P〈0．001）,正常R-R间期标准差（SDNN）和连续5分钟正常R-R间期均值的标准差（SDANN）均显著增加（P〈0．05）,分别为（97．4±40．6vs110．6±29-3msecs）和（80．5±29．4vs98．4±30．6msecs）。结论：常规抗心衰治疗基础上给予参松养心胶囊治疗能够有效改善缺血性心肌病心衰患者心率变异性和心脏功能。     

三种药物联合治疗假丝酵母菌性阴道炎的临床疗效评价

目的:研究克霉唑阴道片、硝夫太尔制霉素阴道软胶囊联合定君生栓治疗复发性假丝酵母菌性阴道炎的临床疗效,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:选取2014年9月到2015年6月我院就诊的复发性假丝酵母菌性阴道炎患者60例,按照随机数字表法将患者分为实验组和对照组,每组30例,实验组给予克霉唑阴道片、硝夫太尔制霉素阴道软胶囊联合定君生栓治疗,对照组给予克霉唑阴道片和定君生栓治疗,治疗前检测所有患者病原菌分布情况,治疗后随访3个月,分析两组临床疗效和不良反应。结果:细菌培养结果共分离出158株假丝酵母菌,其中白色假丝酵母菌最多,占66.46%;实验组总有效率为93.33%,显著高于对照组的76.67%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组不良反应发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:克霉唑阴道片、硝夫太尔制霉素阴道软胶囊联合定君生栓治疗复发性假丝酵母菌性阴道炎具有较好的临床疗效,且无明显不良反应。     

Expression and function of the bHLH genes ALCATRAZ and SPATULA in selected Solanaceae species

The genetic mechanisms underlying fruit development have been identified in Arabidopsis and have been comparatively studied in tomato as a representative of fleshy fruits. However, comparative expression and functional analyses on the bHLH genes downstream the genetic network, ALCATRAZ (ALC) and SPATULA (SPT), which are involved in the formation of the dehiscence zone in Arabidopsis, have not been functionally studied in the Solanaceae. Here, we perform detailed expression and functional studies of ALC/SPT homologs in Nicotiana obtusifolia with capsules, and in Capsicum annuum and Solanum lycopersicum with berries. In Solanaceae, ALC and SPT genes are expressed in leaves, and all floral organs, especially in petal margins, stamens and carpels; however, their expression changes during fruit maturation according to the fruit type. Functional analyses show that downregulation of ALC/SPT genes does not have an effect on gynoecium patterning; however, they have acquired opposite roles in petal expansion and have been co‐opted in leaf pigmentation in Solanaceae. In addition, ALC/SPT genes repress lignification in time and space during fruit development in Solanaceae. Altogether, some roles of ALC and SPT genes are different between Brassicaceae and Solanaceae; while the paralogs have undergone some subfunctionalization in the former they are mostly redundant in the latter.     

金乌骨通胶囊联合塞来昔布胶囊治疗强直性脊柱炎的临床研究

摘要 目的：观察金乌骨通胶囊联合塞来昔布胶囊治疗强直性脊柱炎（AS）的临床疗效。方法：选取天津中医药大学第一附属医院2017年4月~2020年4月期间收治的126例AS患者。采用双色球法（红色、绿色）将患者分为对照组（红色）和研究组（绿色）,各63例。对照组接受塞来昔布胶囊治疗,研究组接受金乌骨通胶囊联合塞来昔布胶囊治疗,两组均治疗3个月。治疗3个月后,观察两组疗效,记录治疗期间不良反应发生率,对比两组治疗前、治疗3个月后的临床症状缓解情况、生存质量及实验室指标变化。结果：研究组的临床总有效率高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗3个月后,研究组巴氏强直性脊柱炎疾病活动指数（BASDAI）、巴氏强直性脊柱炎功能指数（BASFI）评分低于对照组,枕墙距小于对照组,腰椎活动度、胸廓活动度大于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗3个月后,研究组世界卫生组织生存质量简表（WHOQOL-BRIEF）各维度评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗3个月后,研究组血沉（ESR）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、白介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：金乌骨通胶囊联合塞来昔布胶囊治疗AS患者,可促进其临床症状及生存质量改善,降低ESR及炎性因子水平,是一种安全有效的治疗方案。     

Investigation of various factors affecting encapsulation on the In-Cap automatic capsule-filling machine

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence fill weight and weight variability of capsules produced on the In-Cap and to assess any differences in terms of capsule defects between gelatin and HPMC (Quali-V) shells. The In-Cap is an automatic tamping type capsule-filling machine and the low output of ≈3000 capsules/hour makes it ideal for early formulation development and phase I/IIa clinical supplies manufacture. Four commonly used excipients (Avicel PH101, Avicel PH302, A-Tab, and Prosolv HD90) and a poorly flowing drug blend were encapsulated at various pin settings and powder bed heights. The average fill weight and coefficient of weight variation were determined. The percentage of defective capsules formed during encapsulation was calculated. Results of the study showed that pin setting was critical for controlling the fill weight and the weight variation. The order of pin setting with pin 1 (closer to the powder chute) set to a relatively higher position and pin 4 (before ejection) set to a lower position was found to give higher fill weights with relatively lower weight variability. The powder bed height influenced the fill weight for poorly flowing powders. The capsule machine speed did not appear to significantly influence the fill weight. The fill weight and weight variation were found to depend on the flow property of the material. A large percentage of defective capsules was obtained using HPMC shell size #00. Some of the commonly observed defects included split caps and improperly closed filled capsules. In general, appropriate selection of pin settings and bed height can reduce the weight variability seen, especially with poorly flowing high-dose formulations.