Hovendulcisic acid A-D: four novel ceanothane-type triterpenoids from stems with anticancer properties.

Sixteen ceanothane-type triterpenoids, including four new compounds-hovendulcisic acids A-D (-) -were purified from the stems of Thunb. The structures of - were confirmed by comprehensive means including ECD and quantum chemical calculations. Putative biosynthetic pathways of - were proposed, and , , and exhibited antitumor activity on A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Rational construction and evaluation of a dual-functional near-infrared fluorescent probe for the imaging of Amyloid-β and mitochondrial viscosity.

Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, incurable, chronic neurodegenerative disease. Diagnosis in its early and even preclinical stages will be beneficial for its prevention and treatment. In the accepted pathological theory, abnormal accumulation of Aβ protein and abnormal mitochondrial function, including changes in mitochondrial viscosity, is closely related to Alzheimer's disease.

The Effect of Chinese Medicine Compound in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis on the Level of Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate the current evidence whether Chinese medicine compound (CMC) can reduce the serum levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP). We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), and Wanfang data. We then performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the CMC therapy methods.

Keap1 Cystenine 151 as a Potential Target for Artemisitene-Induced Nrf2 Activation.

Artemisitene (ATT) activates the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) by increasing its stabilization and reducing ubiquitination. The cysteine (Cys) residues of the cytosolic Nrf2 repressor Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1) function as redox sensors and may be crucial in activating Nrf2. To determine whether ATT-induced Nrf2 activation is dependent on the modification of Keap1 and to elucidate the underlying mechanism, we transfected cell lines with six different Keap1 mutant constructs, each with a Cys (-77, -151, -257, -273, -288, and -297) to Ser substitution.

Tanshinol suppresses cardiac allograft rejection in a murine model.

Background: Achieving long-term cardiac allograft survival without continuous immunosuppression is highly desired in organ transplantation. Studies have shown that Salvia miltiorrhiza, an herb also known as danshen, improves microcirculation and is highly effective in treating coronary heart disease. Our objective is to determine whether tanshinol, an ingredient of danshen, improves cardiac allograft survival.

Artemisitene activates the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response and protects against bleomycin-induced lung injury.

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a crucial regulator of the cellular antioxidant response and xenobiotic metabolism. Activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway has been demonstrated to confer protection against environmental insults and prevent disease or inhibit the progression of diseases related to oxidative stress. In an attempt to identify novel improved Nrf2 inducers for systemic protection against tissue damage by environmental insults, we identified artemisitene as a novel Nrf2 activator using antioxidant responsive element luciferase assay in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Dendritic fibromyxolipoma in the latissimus dorsi: a case report and review of the literature.

Dendritic fibromyxolipoma is an uncommon benign soft tissue tumor. Here, we report a case in a 53-year-old man presenting a painless mass located deep in the latissimus dorsi of the right back. Microscopically, the tumor was mainly consisted of small spindle and stellate cells, abundant myxoid stroma, collagen bundles and mature adipose tissue.

Giant abdominal leiomyoma of male: a case report and literature reviews.

Abdominal leiomyomas are extremely rare intraabdominal tumors, especially in male patient. Here, we report a case of a 22 years-old male with a huge abdominal leiomyoma. The patient presented with a chief complaint of abdominal distension for three months, no others significant symptom were found.

Complete remission of two patients with recurrent and wide spread extramammary Paget disease obtained from 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy and imiquimod combination treatment.

Background: Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm affecting apocrine gland-bearing skin which usually occurs in the anogenital area of patients older than 50 years. However, as EMPD in old men develops in penoscrotal area and sometimes asymptomatic, in situ or dermal invasion is usually widely spread before a confirmed diagnosis was made. Skin graft is needed after surgery.

Phenylaminopropyl-functionalized stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography of alkaloids and aromatic acids.

A multi-functional open-tubular (OT) column covalently modified with [3-(phenylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane (PPTMS) via a single-step silanization reaction has been developed, and employed for alkaloids and aromatic acids analytes by CEC. Both anodic and cathodic EOF could be gained in the PPTMS-bonded column, and anodic EOF was exhibited when the pH of running buffer was less than 8.0.

Successful photodynamic therapy with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid for five cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of PDT in patients with CIN and high-risk HPV infection.

Methods: Five patients diagnosed CIN 2 or CIN 3 with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection were included.