Riccardin D, a macrocyclic bisbibenzy, inhibits human breast cancer growth through the suppression of telomerase activity.

Riccardin D, a liverwort-derived naturally occurring macrocyclic bisbibenzyl, has been found to exert anticancer effects in multiple cancer cell types. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of Riccardin D on human breast cancer. Experiments were performed on human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Use of evidence-based pharmacotherapy for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: a Chinese medicine hospital versus a general hospital.

Objective: To determine differences in adherence to secondary prevention guidelines (pharmacological interventions) among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients between a Chinese medicine (CM) hospital and a general hospital in a Chinese city.

Methods: Medical records of 200 patients consecutively discharged from the CM hospital and the general hospital for CHD were reviewed to determine the proportions of eligible patients who received antiplatelet agents, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and statins at discharge. The effects of patient characteristics and hospital type on the use of these medicines were estimated using logistic regression models.

Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions between 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers and statins: factors determining interaction strength and relevant clinical risk management.

Background: Coadministration of 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (DHP-CCBs) with statins (or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors) is common for patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. To reduce the risk of myopathy, in 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Safety Communication set a new dose limitation for simvastatin, for patients taking simvastatin concomitantly with amlodipine. However, there is no such dose limitation for atorvastatin for patients receiving amlodipine.

Identification of a 5'-deoxyadenosine deaminase in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii and its possible role in recycling the radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme reaction product 5'-deoxyadenosine.

We characterize here the MJ1541 gene product from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, an enzyme that was annotated as a 5'-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.

Astataricusones A-D and astataricusol A, five new anti-HBV shionane-type triterpenes from Aster tataricus L. f.

Five new shionane-type triterpenes, astataricusones A-D (compounds 1-4) and astataricusol A (5), together with one known shionane-type triterpene 6 were obtained from the roots and rhizomes of Aster tataricus L. f. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, mainly NMR and MS data.

Pharmacist care and the management of coronary heart disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Secondary prevention is important for reducing both mortality and morbidity of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Pharmacists can provide medication and also work on disease management for patients with CHD. This review has been carried out to evaluate the role of pharmacist care on mortality, morbidity, and the CHD management.

Combination antibiotic therapy versus monotherapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia: a meta-analysis of retrospective and prospective studies.

The choice of antibiotic monotherapy or combination therapy to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia is controversial. The aim of this review was to compare both types of therapy to determine which delivers the best outcome for P. aeruginosa bacteraemia.

Edaravone protected human brain microvascular endothelial cells from methylglyoxal-induced injury by inhibiting AGEs/RAGE/oxidative stress.

Subjects with diabetes experience an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease and stroke compared with nondiabetic age-matched individuals. Increased formation of reactive physiological dicarbonyl compound methylglyoxal (MGO) seems to be implicated in the development of diabetic vascular complication due to its protein glycation and oxidative stress effect. Edaravone, a novel radical scavenger, has been reported to display the advantageous effects on ischemic stroke both in animals and clinical trials; however, little is known about whether edaravone has protective effects on diabetic cerebrovascular injury.

[Aminoguanidine suppresses methylglyoxal-mediated oxygen-glucose deprivation injury in human brain microvascular endothelial cells].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of aminoguanidine on methylglyoxal-mediated oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in the cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC).

Methods: Cultured HBMEC cells were pretreated with methylglyoxal before oxygen-glucose deprivation injury. Cell vitality was determined by MTT method, cell mortality was assessed by LDH release method, cell apoptosis was examined by Annexin V/PI formation method, and the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were detected by Western-blot.

Hydroxysafflor yellow A protects methylglyoxal-induced injury in the cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Individuals with diabetes have high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) and have advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) which play an important role in vascular complications, such as stroke. Our previous data demonstrated that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a major active chemical component of the safflower yellow pigment, had antiglycation effect on the AGEs formation in vitro. It is not known whether HSYA can protect against MGO-induced injury in cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC).

CYP2C9*3(1075A > C), ABCB1 and SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphisms and gender are determinants of inter-subject variability in pitavastatin pharmacokinetics.

A pharmacokinetics study was conducted in 12 Chinese volunteers following a single dose of 1 mg, 2 mg and 4 mg of pitavastatin calcium in an open-label, randomized, three-period crossover design. Plasma concentrations of pitavastatin acid and pitavastatin lactone were determined by a HPLC method. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ABCB1, ABCG2, SLCO1B1, CYP2C9 and CYP3A5 were determined by TaqMan (MGB) genotyping assay.

Dosing practice of low molecular weight heparins and its efficacy and safety in cardiovascular inpatients: a retrospective study in a Chinese teaching hospital.

Background: Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are safe and effective anticoagulant options for cardiovascular patients when applied as body weight-adjusted doses. However, there are some barriers that make it difficult to implement weight-adjusted doses in clinical practice. Therefore, it is vital to learn the dosing practices of LMWH and its efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

Drug-induced liver injury in hospitalized patients with notably elevated alanine aminotransferase.

Aim: To identify the proportion, causes and the nature of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in patients with notably elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Methods: All the inpatients with ALT levels above 10 times upper limit of normal range (ULN) were retrospectively identified from a computerized clinical laboratory database at our hospital covering a 12-mo period. Relevant clinical information was obtained from medical records.

Riccardin D-26, a synthesized macrocyclic bisbibenzyl compound, inhibits human oral squamous carcinoma cells KB and KB/VCR: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Background: Riccardin D-26, a synthesized macrocyclic bisbibenzyl compound, might possess anti-cancer properties. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Riccardin D-26 as a candidate compound for treatment of cancers with sensitive or drug resistant cells.

Methods: Experiments were performed on human oral squamous carcinoma KB cells and vincristin-selected MDR KB/VCR cells.

Riccardin D-26, a synthesized macrocyclic bisbibenzyl compound, inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma growth through induction of apoptosis in p53-dependent way.

Riccardin D-26 is a synthesized macrocyclic bisbibenzyl compound. We investigated the effect of Riccardin D-26 on human hepatocellular carcinomas. Riccardin D-26 possessed stronger activity against SMMC-7721 cells than human normal liver cells.

Inhibitory effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A on the formation of advanced glycation end products in vitro.

To investigate the inhibitory effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on the protein glycation in vitro. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose assay, BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO) assay, and N-acetylglycyl-lysine methyl ester (G.K.

Modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for type 2 diabetes mellitus in China.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methodology: Forty-five type 2 diabetes mellitus patients underwent modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at WeiFang People's Hospital. Data on patient demographics, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body mass index (BMI), medication use, remission and hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc) were prospectively collected and analyzed.

[Evaluation of adrenocortical function in children with severe and critical enterovirus 71 infection].

Objective: To evaluate the adrenocortical function in children with severe and critical enterovirus 71 infection by using a high-dose (250 µg) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. And to at provide experimental basis for glucocorticoid in the treatment of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD).

Method: This was a prospective multi-center study which was carried out in PICUs of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Kaifeng Children's Hospital and Linyi People's Hospital in Shandong province.

[Progress in the study of some important natural bioactive cyclopeptides].

Natural cyclopeptides are hot spots in chemical and pharmaceutical fields because of the wide spreading bio-resources, complex molecular structures and various bioactivities. Bio-producers of cyclopeptides distribute over almost every kingdom from bacteria to plants and animals. Many cyclopeptides contain non-coded amino acids and non-pepditic bonds.

A new subfamily of agmatinases present in methanogenic Archaea is Fe(II) dependent.

Here we report that the Methanocaldococcus jannaschii enzyme derived from the MJ0309 gene is an Fe(II) dependent agmatinase (SpeB). This is the first report of an iron-dependent agmatinase. We demonstrate that aerobically isolated recombinant enzyme contains two disulfide bonds and only a trace amount of any metal and requires the presence of both dithiothreitol (DTT) and 4 equiv of Fe(II) for maximum activity.

Derivation and validation of a prediction rule for estimating advanced colorectal neoplasm risk in average-risk Chinese.

No prediction rule is currently available for advanced colorectal neoplasms, defined as invasive cancer, an adenoma of 10 mm or more, a villous adenoma, or an adenoma with high-grade dysplasia, in average-risk Chinese. In this study between 2006 and 2008, a total of 7,541 average-risk Chinese persons aged 40 years or older who had complete colonoscopy were included. The derivation and validation cohorts consisted of 5,229 and 2,312 persons, respectively.

Prognostic significance of SOX2 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The significance of SOX2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumor associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), remains unclear. Here, we reported that, in the univariate analysis, SOX2 expression was correlated with a poorer distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). The EBV-VCA/IgA titers in patients with NPC were also associated with a poorer overall survival (OS).

[Study of healing mechanism of acellular dermal matrix in the treatment of anal fistula].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acellular dermal matrix(ADM) in the closure of anal fistula in an experimental porcine model, and to explore its healing mechanism.

Methods: The fistula-in-ano model was created and treated with ADM in the porcine model (n=14). Fistula specimens were obtained at hour 12, 24 and day 3, 7, 14, 28, 60 respectively with 2 pigs in each time point.