Three new sesquilignans, 1–3, a new sesquiterpenoid, 4, and three known compounds were isolated from the stem barks of Illicium simonsii. The structures of new compounds (1–4) were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. A biosynthetic pathway was proposed for simonsienols A-C (1–3). Anti-AChE activity and anti-BuChE activity were evaluated for all compounds except for α-cadinol ethyl ether (4). As a result, isodunnianol (7) exhibited anti-AChE activity with an IC50 value of 13.0 µM.
BACKGROUND The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter region, its impact on RUNX3 gene expression, and Th1/Th2 imbalance are unknown in bronchiolitis. This study aimed to explore the predictors of bronchiolitis developing into asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter was assessed using Illumina HiSeq platform method. The relative RUNX3 mRNA levels in PBMCs were measured by qRT-PCR. Serum IL-4 and IFN-γ concentrations were measured by ELISA. RESULTS A series of sites with significantly higher levels of methylation as compared to their corresponding controls were identified, including 24 sites in group Ba vs. group Cn, 13 sites in group Ba vs. group Ca, 7 sites in group Ba vs. group Bn, 16 sites in group Bn vs. group Cn, 11 sites in group Ca vs. group Cn, and 23 sites in group B vs. group C; P<0.05. The relative mRNA levels in group Ba were significantly lower than those in groups Cn, Ca, Bn; P<0.05. The serum IL-4 concentrations in group Ba were significantly higher than those in group Cn; P<0.05. The serum IFN-γ concentrations in group Ba were significantly lower than those in groups Cn, Ca, Bn; P<0.05. Correlation analysis showed that differentially methylated RUNX3 promoter region sites were significantly negatively correlated with levels of relative RUNX3 mRNA and IFN-γ, and were significantly positively correlated with IL-4 levels. CONCLUSIONS The methylation status of RUNX3 promoter region plays a role in Th1/Th2 imbalance by silencing RUNX3 gene expression, which can serve as predictive marker for the development of bronchiolitis into asthma.
The roots and rhizomes of Cimicifuga yunnanensis Hsiao are commonly used as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic remedies and detoxification agents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although C. yunnanensis has been considered as supplementary medicine for several disorders, the antitumor effect of this herb and its key components has not been explored.The rhizomes of C. yunnanensis were isolated by chromatographic techniques. Structures of isolated compounds were identified based on spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. The in vitro anticancer activities of purified components were also performed by MTT experiments. The in vivo anticancer activities were examined by subcutaneous tumor model or a breast cancer liver metastasis model.In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize the effective antitumor components from the rhizomes of C. yunnanensis. By bioassay-guided fractionation techniques and chemical characterization, 12 cycloartane triterpenes and four chromones were isolated, among them, 11 compounds were identified in this genus at first. The identified two compounds showed dramatic inhibitory activities against breast cancer cells: compound 4 (23-epi-26-deoxyactein) and compound 13 (cimigenol). Then, we examined the antitumor effect of these two selective candidate chemicals on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells in vivo and found that they could reduce tumor growth in subcutaneous tumor model or breast cancer liver metastasis model.These results suggested that the selective compounds isolated from C. yunnanensis Hsiao could be the promising new agents for TNBC treatment.
<i>Background:</i> Although the pure-tone average (PTA) remains the standard assessment of hearing status, its results are questionable in the difficult-to-test geriatric population. In this study, we assessed the relationship between the 4-frequency PTA, speech reception threshold (SRT) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold in the aged. We developed an equation as a tool to predict the actual PTA. <i>Methods:</i> Forty-six subjects more than 60 years of age were consecutively enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent hearing threshold evaluation by means of PTA, SRT and ABR testing on both ears. Using simple linear and multiple regressions, the correlation and multiple regression models between PTA, SRT and ABR thresholds were calculated. <i>Results:</i> The Pearson correlation coefficient between pure-tone thresholds (PTTs) and SRT was highest at 0.5–2 kHz (r = 0.948). The Pearson correlation coefficient between PTTs and ABR thresholds was highest at 2–4 kHz (r = 0.690). The resultant multiple regression model to predict actual PTA was: PTA = 3.274 + 0.774 (SRT) + 0.245 (ABR). <i>Conclusions:</i> In this study, we delineated the relationship between the PTA, SRT and ABR threshold, and established an equation to predict the actual PTA from the SRT and ABR threshold in difficult-to-test patients, allowing accurate assessment of the hearing threshold in geriatric populations.
The Ginkgo biloba is one of ancient trees that exists from billions of years ago, its leaf and nut are used as herbs and foods in China, while so far its pollen does not have any application except pollination. In order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba pollen, and rapidly screen its antioxidative components, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, total flavonoid, total phenol, and proanthocyanidin of Ginkgo biloba pollen were determined and compared with those of Ginkgo biloba leaf and nut, and the off-line DPPH-HPLC-PAD and HPLC-ESI-MS2 were applied for screening and identifying the antioxidant flavonoids in Ginkgo biloba pollen. The results showed that the DPPH scavenging ability of Ginkgo biloba pollen was much higher than Ginkgo biloba nut, but lower than Ginkgo biloba leaf, while the total content of flavonoid in Ginkgo biloba pollen was approximately 4.37 times higher than in Ginkgo biloba leaf. Further studies found that the major flavonol aglycone in Ginkgo biloba pollen was kaempferol, which accounted for 96.71% of the total aglycones (includes quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin), and the main flavonoid components in Ginkgo biloba pollen were flavonoid glycosides. Finally, ten antioxidant peaks were screened and identified to be flavonoids (including kaempferol and nine flavonoid glycosides), so flavonoids were likely to be the main antioxidant components in GP, and among them, three novel kaempferol glycosides (peaks 1, 2, and 3) were found in Ginkgo biloba pollen for the first time, which had never been found in Ginkgo biloba.
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