Polysaccharides from Cordyceps cicadae Ameliorate Reproductive Impairments in Male Mouse through the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis.

Scope: Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides have received attention due to their potential in treating hyperglycemia and enhancing renal function. The beneficial effect of the purified C. cicadae polysaccharides fraction (CCP-1) on the reproductive impairments and spermatogenesis dysfunction of immunocompromised mice is unavailable and is studied herein.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue alteration in aging process associated with thyroid hormone signaling.

Background: Functional changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) occur earlier in the aging process and play an important role in the occurrence and development of age-related metabolic diseases. The mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear, and the change in adipose tissue with age is poorly understood.

Methods: We used transcriptome sequencing (RNA seq) to screen differentially expressed genes at the mRNA level, and analyzed the functional characteristics of the differential genes through GO and KEGG analysis in human SAT of all ages.

Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a mannan from Helvella leucopus.

A new polysaccharide fraction HLP-1 (2.55 × 10 Da) was obtained from the fruiting bodies of Helvella leucopus. Structural characterization of HLP-1 was elucidated by infrared spectroscopy, monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Congo red assay.

Characterization and immunomodulatory effect of an alkali-extracted galactomannan from Morchella esculenta.

In our continuous exploration for bioactive polysaccharides, a novel polysaccharide FMP-2 was isolated and purified from the fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta by alkali-assisted extraction. FMP-2 had an average molecular weight of 1.09 × 10 Da and contained mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 4.

Anti-inflammatory effect of a polysaccharide fraction from Craterellus cornucopioides in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Immunocytes-involved inflammation is considered to modulate the damage in various diseases. Oxidative stress is initiated by oxidative agents such as LPS and ROS, which are strongly involved in chronic inflammation. Our previous study found that a polysaccharide fraction from Craterellus cornucopioides (CCPP-1) showed good antioxidant activity.

Reduction of 5-fluorouracil-induced toxicity by Sarcodon aspratus polysaccharides in Lewis tumor-bearing mice.

5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) is an effective anticarcinogenic agent, however, continuous use of 5-Fu may cause severe side effects. The goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Sarcodon aspratus polysaccharides (SATP) in alleviating 5-Fu-induced toxicity in Lewis tumor-bearing mice. Lewis tumor-bearing mice were treated with saline, SATP, 5-Fu or 5-Fu + SATP.

Purification, characterization, and bioactivity of two new polysaccharide fractions from Thelephora ganbajun mushroom.

Two new polysaccharide fractions (TZP1-1 and TZP2-1) were obtained from the fruiting bodies of Thelephora ganbajun using DEAE-52 cellulose and Superdex 200 columns chromatography. The physiochemical characterization and biological activities of TZP1-1 and TZP2-1 were investigated. The relative molecular weight of TZP1-1 and TZP2-1 were 2.

Responses of plant productivity and soil nutrient concentrations to different alpine grassland degradation levels.

Although grassland degradation simultaneously affects plant productivity and soil nutrient concentrations, the relationship between plant productivity and soil nutrient concentrations during the process of grassland degradation is not yet well documented. A 4-year survey in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was conducted to simultaneously investigate the relationships between plant productivity and soil nutrient concentrations in an alpine grassland at an overall degradation level and individual degradation levels. Our results showed that the total plant, sedge, and forb biomasses decreased, whereas the grass and legume biomasses first increased and then decreased as the level of alpine grassland degradation increased.

Structural characterization and in vitro hypoglycemic activity of a glucan from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds.

In this research, a polysaccharide fraction (EFSP-1) was obtained from the seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb. by DEAE sepharose FF and Superdex 75 gel chromatography. The average molecular weight (Mw) of EFSP-1 was 8.

Immunomodulatory effect of a polysaccharide fraction on RAW 264.7 macrophages extracted from the wild Lactarius deliciosus.

The mushroom polysaccharides are important substances with variety of functions, especially to the human body's immunomodulation effects. In this work, a polysaccharide fraction (LDP-1) was extracted and purified from the fruiting bodies of a rare wild Lactarius deliciosus. LDP-1 with molecular weight of 9.

Polysaccharide FMP-1 from Morchella esculenta attenuates cellular oxidative damage in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells through PI3K/AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Oxidative stress is considered to involve cell death in severe pulmonary diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Polysaccharide FMP-1 from Morchella esculenta can exert significant antioxidant activity. However, its effects on alveolar epithelial cells remain unperceived.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activities of a novel polysaccharide fraction from the fruiting bodies of Craterellus cornucopioides.

A new polysaccharide fraction (CCPP-1) was obtained from Craterellus cornucopioides. CCPP-1 had an average molecular weight of 9.2 × 10 Da, which was mainly composed of mannose, glucose, xylose, arabinose, fructose in molar ratio of 0.

Structural elucidation of three antioxidative polysaccharides from Tricholoma lobayense.

Tricholoma lobayense is a nutritious mushroom with great health benefits. Three polysaccharides with purity higher than 99% were successfully extracted from Tricholoma lobayense. The molecular weights of TLH-1, TLH-2 and TLH-3 were determined to be 8.

[Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Phosphorus and DO in Yuqiao Reservoir].

The climate indicators and water quality parameters, e.g. total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved oxygen (DO) in a period of 20 years (1992-2011) were analyzed to explore potential impacts of climate change on nutrients and DO.

Development of a lateral-flow assay (LFA) for rapid detection of Soybean mosaic virus.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most common virus in soybean and poses a serious threat to crop production and germplasm recession in many countries worldwide. In this study, a highly practical and rapid lateral-flow assay (LFA) was developed for the detection of SMV. The SMV coat protein (CP) was prokaryotically expressed and purified to immunize mice.

Prognostic value of wait time in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy: a propensity matched analysis.

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of wait time from histological diagnosis to primary treatmen for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Between October 2009 and February 2012, a total of 1672 NPC patients were retrospectively analyzed. A cutoff value of > 4 weeks was used to define prolonged wait time.

Identification of surrogate endpoints in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone.

Background: In the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), the efficacy of additional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is currently being investigated in ongoing trials. Overall survival (OS) is the gold standard endpoint in NPC trials. We performed this analysis to identify surrogate endpoints for OS, which could shorten follow-up duration and speed up assessment of treatment effects.

Prognostic Value and Grading of MRI-Based T Category in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Without Lymph Node Metastasis Undergoing Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

We investigated the prognostic value and gradation of the T category in N0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).A total of 749 patients were retrospectively reviewed, and a total of 181 N0 NPC patients were included in this retrospective study. All patients were restaged according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.

Effect of latent membrane protein 1 expression on overall survival in Epstein-Barr virus-associated cancers: a literature-based meta-analysis.

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is identified as the main transforming oncoprotein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). LMP1 is frequently expressed in a variety of EBV-associated cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin disease (HD), and gastric cancer (GC). However, due to conflicting results, the prognostic value of LMP1 expression on clinical outcomes in EBV-associated cancers remains unclear.

Synthesis, in silico and in vivo blood brain barrier permeability of ginkgolide B cinnamate.

Ginkgolide B, one of the important components of Ginkgo biloba extracts, has been revealed to exhibit great potential in therapy of cerebrovascular diseases. However the lack of permeability greatly limited it from further clinical application. Based on the prediction model for blood brain barrier (BBB) permeation, herein a potential brain-targeting analog ginkgolide B cinnamate (GBC) was successfully synthesized and characterized.

Surrogate endpoints for overall survival in combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy trials in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background And Purpose: We used a literature-based meta-analysis to assess whether failure-free survival (FFS) or progression-free survival (PFS) could be reliable surrogate endpoints for overall survival (OS) in trials of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods And Materials: We identified randomised trials that evaluated combined chemoradiotherapy strategies, and reported FFS or PFS and OS in NPC. We analysed the treatment effects on FFS or PFS, and OS.

Potential surrogate endpoints for overall survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an analysis of a phase III randomized trial.

The gold standard endpoint in trials of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is overall survival (OS). Using data from a phase III randomized trial, we evaluated whether progression-free survival (PFS), failure-free survival (FFS), distant failure-free survival (D-FFS) or locoregional failure-free survival (LR-FFS) could be reliable surrogate endpoints for OS. Between July 2002 and September 2005, 316 eligible patients with stage III-IVB NPC were randomly assigned to receive either radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy.

[Chemical constituents from Solanum coagulans].

Ten compounds, including five steroidal saponins and five flavonol glycosides, were isolated from the whole plant of Solanum coagulans by means of column chromatographies over silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC. Based on analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data, their structures were established as anguiviosides XV (1), smilaxchinoside A (2), methylprotodioscin (3), protodioscin (4), solamargine (5), 3', 4', 5-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), brainoside B (7), camsibriside A (8), kampferol 3-O-(2"-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and quercetin-3-O-(2"-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (10). All the compounds were first isolated from this plant.