Balance between inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus

To investigate the cytokine profile in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and central nervous system infection, we measured interferon-g (IFN-g), interleukin-1b (IL-1b), IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-17 levels in serum and CSF from 50 SLE patients and 38 matched controls. In patients with active compared to quiescent disease, serum levels were higher for IL-1b (P = 0.042) and IL-17 (P = 0.041) but we found no significant correlation between IL-1b and IL-17 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (r = 0.055, r = 0.219, respectively). IL-10 level in active patients was lower compared to that in quiescent controls (P = 0.032). When comparing specific disease manifestations, IL-1b levels in patients with fever (P = 0.035) and IL-6 (P = 0.048) and IL-8 (P = 0.048) levels in those showing nervous system involvement were higher than in controls. Based on MRI results, we found that only increased cerebral ischemia was associated with increased IFN-g levels (P = 0.009). In neuropsychiatric lupus erythematous patients, CSF levels of IL-6 (P = 0.002), IL-8 (P = 0.009), and IL-17 (P = 0.034) were significantly higher when compared with control patients. IL-10:IL-1b ratio in patients with moderate and quiescent disease was higher than in patients with disease activity (P = 0.000). Pro-inflammatory adaptive cytokines were elevated during disease flare, while regulatory mediators were elevated during periods of stable disease. Alterations in the balance between inflammatory and regulatory mediators may be targets for novel immunotherapeutic agents for managing autoimmune diseases.

[Airway metal stents removal by rigid bronchoscopy]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the techniques and related complication management of airway metal stents removal with rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia.

METHODS

We reviewed 20 patients who had received rigid bronchoscopic stents removal under general anesthesia from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2015. The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. The indications for stents removal and potential difficulties encountered, the relationship between techniques and related complications of stents removal were discussed and analyzed, and our experiences were summarized.

RESULTS

The indications for airway metal stents removal included stent migration, fracture, and granulation related in-stent restenosis. Nineteen airway metal stents were removed from 20 patients, which included 9 covered metal stents, 6 without fragmentation and 3 with fragmentation. The average duration of stenting before removal was (7.4±6.9)months (5 days-24 months). Of the 11 uncovered metal stents, which had stayed in the airway for (10.2±7.0) months (20 days-24 months), 10 were removed successfully and 1 failed. Three of them were removed intact and 7 fragmented. Complications were as follows: airway bleeding requiring management (n=11), airway collapse (n=6), re-obstruction requiring temporary stent placement (n=5), postoperative tracheal intubation (n=1), mucosal tear with tracheoesophageal fistula (n=1), airway firing (n=1), airway obstruction, and death as a result of attempted stent removal (n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Airway metal stent removal is a high-risk operation. Indications for stents removal should be evaluated thoroughly and all the advantages and disadvantages should be evaluated. Once stent removal is decided, the type of the metal stent, the position of the stent implanted, the duration of stenting, and the extent of the stent embedded in granulation tissue should be carefully considered to assess the difficulty of the procedure. Dissection of the stent from the airway wall before extracting it can reduce complications such as airway bleeding, mucosal tear and airway obstruction. At the same time, a standby stent is needed to deal with possible airway collapse after stent removal. Removal of metal airway stents should only be performed by a proficient and experienced interventional pulmonology team to ensure successful operation and to improve patient safety.

Positive expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor is associated with a positive hormone receptor status in ovarian cancer

Summary

PURPOSE

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all gynecologic malignancies, due in part to the diagnosis at an advanced stage caused by the deficiency of specific marks and symptoms, by the absence of reliable tests for screening, and by early detection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known to be involved in the development and promotion of diverse examples of solid tumors including ovarian cancer. IGF-I levels in local tissue are subject to both endocrine and paracrine/autocrine regulation.

RESULTS

Most patients will react initially to treatment, but almost 70% of them will have a recurrence. Consequently, new therapeutic modalities are urgently required to overcome chemoresistance observed in ovarian cancer patients. IGF-1R expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in tissue microarray blocks constructed from 1,200 ovarian cancer samples collected from three medical institutions.

CONCLUSION

Evidence accumulates suggesting that the insulin/insulin growth factor (IGF) pathways could play a good therapeutic target in various cancers, including ovarian cancer.

Precision Measurement of the Helium Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays of Rigidities 1.9 GV to 3 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.

Carrier transport in quantum dot quantum well microstructures of the self-assembled CdTe/CdS/ligand core-shell system

The study on the quantum dot quantum well (QDQW) microstructure modified by choosing different ligands containing a sulfhydryl group is of significance because it enables one to regulate photoexcited free charge carriers' (FCCs') transport behaviours in high-quality CdTe/ligand QDs via a self-assembled way. The photoelectron characteristics of ligand-capped CdTe nanoparticles were probed by a combination of surface photovoltaic (SPV) and photoacoustic technologies, supplemented by a computer simulation method of the CASTEP module. The experiment reveals that the D-value ΔEWi obtained by the associated two parameters of the SPV spectroscopy was closely related to the quantum confinement energy in the self-assembled CdTe/CdS/ligand core-shell system. In the paper the D-value was termed the depth of QWs, which were buried in the space charge regions located in the graded-band-gap and on either side of the shell-CdS. Obvious resonance quantum tunnelling may occur in the energy band structure with deep QWs on using certain ligands, resulting in an extended diffusion length of the FCCs on illumination of the photon energy hν ≥ Eg, core-CdTe, and in a strong SPV response at a specific wavelength region. In addition, the carrier-longitudinal optical phonon interaction is the reciprocal of the carriers' lifetime. The d-frontier orbital in the graded-band-gap plays an important role in both the microstructure and the resonance quantum tunnelling of the QDQW system according to the CASTEP calculations.

Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precise measurement of the proton flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1 GV to 1.8 TV is presented based on 300 million events. Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the proton flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. We present the detailed variation with rigidity of the flux spectral index for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at high rigidities.

Phosphorus and nitrogen leaching before and after tillage and urea application

Leaching of nutrients through agricultural soils is a priority water quality concern on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This study evaluated the effect of tillage and urea application on leaching of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from soils of the Delmarva Peninsula that had previously been under no-till management. Intact soil columns (30 cm wide × 50 cm deep) were irrigated for 6 wk to establish a baseline of leaching response. After 2 wk of drying, a subset of soil columns was subjected to simulated tillage (0-20 cm) in an attempt to curtail leaching of surface nutrients, especially P. Urea (145 kg N ha) was then broadcast on all soils (tilled and untilled), and the columns were irrigated for another 8 wk. Comparison of leachate recoveries representing rapid and slow flows confirmed the potential to manipulate flow fractions with tillage, albeit with mixed results across soils. Leachate trends in the finer-textured soil suggest that tillage impeded macropore flow and forced greater matrix flow. Despite significant vertical stratification of soil P that suggested tillage could prevent leaching of P via macropores from the surface to the subsoil, tillage had no significant impact on P leaching losses. Relatively high levels of soil P below 20 cm may have served as the source of P enrichment in leachate waters. However, tillage did lower losses of applied urea in leachate from two of the three soils, partially confirming the study's premise that tillage would destroy macropore pathways transmitting surface constituents to the subsoil.

Precision Measurement of the (e^{+}+e^{-}) Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from 0.5 GeV to 1 TeV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present a measurement of the cosmic ray (e^{+}+e^{-}) flux in the range 0.5 GeV to 1 TeV based on the analysis of 10.6 million (e^{+}+e^{-}) events collected by AMS. The statistics and the resolution of AMS provide a precision measurement of the flux. The flux is smooth and reveals new and distinct information. Above 30.2 GeV, the flux can be described by a single power law with a spectral index γ=-3.170±0.008(stat+syst)±0.008(energy scale).

Electron and positron fluxes in primary cosmic rays measured with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux in the range 0.5 to 700 GeV and the positron flux in the range 0.5 to 500 GeV are presented. The electron flux and the positron flux each require a description beyond a single power-law spectrum. Both the electron flux and the positron flux change their behavior at ∼30  GeV but the fluxes are significantly different in their magnitude and energy dependence. Between 20 and 200 GeV the positron spectral index is significantly harder than the electron spectral index. The determination of the differing behavior of the spectral indices versus energy is a new observation and provides important information on the origins of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons.

High statistics measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-500 GeV with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

A precision measurement by AMS of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 500 GeV based on 10.9 million positron and electron events is presented. This measurement extends the energy range of our previous observation and increases its precision. The new results show, for the first time, that above ∼200  GeV the positron fraction no longer exhibits an increase with energy.

Diaphragm valves reduce gastroesophageal reflux following cardiomyotomy for patients with achalasia

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a novel surgical method on cardia sphincter function and complication rates after Heller's cardiomyotomy for patients with achalasia.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients (19 males, mean age 34.0 +/- 10.5 years, range, 12-58) were included in this study. A spindle diaphragm valve was used in the surgery to rebuild the cardiac sphincter function. The efficacy of the surgery was determined by clinical assessment of symptoms and lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) measurements. Barium meal examination was also used to evaluate the efficacy.

RESULTS

The mean LESP before surgery was 41.3 +/- 11.6 mmHg. It was reduced to 16.8 +/- 3.7 mmHg and 17.5 +/- 2.5 mmHg 3 and 12 months after surgery (P < 0.01). All patients were free of symptoms such as swallow difficulties or acid reflux during the follow up. However, barium swallow examination showed that 1 patient had mild reflux after the surgery. Clinical symptom scores on swallow difficulties/obstruction was reduced from 2.5 +/- 0.65 before surgery to 0.06 +/- 0.24 12 months after the surgery (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

A spindle diaphragm valve used with Heller's cardiomyotomy was associated with a very low incidence of post-surgical complications, such as gastroesophageal reflux. This technique may be used in treating all patients with achalasia.

Moxifloxacin monotherapy for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin monotherapy for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections. PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to retrieve randomised controlled trials (RCTs) compared moxifloxacin monotherapy with other antibiotics in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections from January 1999 to July 2011. A meta-analysis of all included randomised controlled trials was performed. Four randomised controlled trials including a total of 2444 patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections were included for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the moxifloxacin was associated with similar clinical cure rate (four RCTs, 1934 patients, OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.04, p = 0.09), bacteriological success rates (four RCTs, 1484 patients, OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.59, 1.05, p = 0.11) and mortality (four RCTs, 2227 patients, OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.45, 1.83, p = 0.79) compared with the control group. The overall incidence of adverse events of moxifloxacin was significantly higher than that in the control group (three RCTs, 1367 patients, OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.63, p = 0.008), although the incidence of drug-related adverse events (three RCTs, 1601 patients, OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.85, p = 0.63) and serious adverse events (three RCTs, 1815 patients, OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.59, 2.60, p = 0.58) were similar between the compared treatment groups. Moxifloxacin is an effective and relatively safe option for the treatment of patients with intra-abdominal infections. Moxifloxacin monotherapy has similar efficacy to combination therapy.

fMRI measurement of brain activities to major and minor chords and cadence sequences

Brain activities to major and minor chords and to major and minor cadence sequences were measured by sparse scanning fMRI. Areas activated by major and minor chords and cadence sequences were examined. Some of them are known to be related to emotion, motivation, arousal or reward. In general, minor chords activated larger areas of brain regions than major chords. Some activated areas have not been especially associated with emotion or music processing. Cadence results are somewhat ambiguous probably due to the control sequence used. Also individual differences were considerable in both experiments.

Sevoflurane protects against acute kidney injury in a small-size liver transplantation model

BACKGROUND

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) patients run the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) and subsequent chronic kidney disease, affecting morbidity and mortality. Sevoflurane has anti-inflammation properties, and renal ischemia/reperfusion under sevoflurane anesthesia resulted in drastic improvements in renal function. Extrahepatic metabolism of sevoflurane has been reported in patients undergoing liver transplantation, and might lead to nephrotoxicity. However, whether sevoflurane anesthesia is safe with regard to renal function in small-size liver transplantation needs further investigation. As neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is an early predictive biomarker of AKI, we looked at the renal effects of sevoflurane in a rat liver transplantation model using small-for-size grafts to investigate the changes of NGAL level and kidney histology.

METHODS

Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups after 50% size liver transplantation. Rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate or with sevoflurane and subjected to liver transplantation. Twelve rats in each group were used for the survival study and 6 rats were used for the hemodynamic study. Six rats in each group were sacrificed 2 or 24 h after reperfusion. We harvested kidneys and serum for further analysis, including histological and functional parameters; TNF-α, IL-6 and NGAL immunoassay; expressions of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity; and NF-κB in renal tissues.

RESULTS

Rats in the sevoflurane group had significantly lower Scr 24 h after reperfusion compared with those in the chloral hydrate group. Rats in the sevoflurane group demonstrated significantly reduced NGAL concentrations compared with rats in the chloral hydrate group 2 h after reperfusion. Epithelial necrosis in the chloral hydrate group (3.2 ± 0.8) was greater than that in the sevoflurane group (1.5 ± 1.1; p < 0.05). Sevoflurane anesthesia resulted in significantly lower plasma TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations and reduced MPO concentrations 2 h after reperfusion (p < 0.05). NF-κB protein levels 2 h after reperfusion increased by at least 110% in the chloral hydrate group relative to the sevoflurane group 2 h after reperfusion (p < 0.05). However, the urine inorganic fluoride concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.001) 2 h after reperfusion in the sevoflurane group (6.1 ± 1.5 μmol·l⁻¹) compared with the chloral hydrate group.

CONCLUSIONS

Sevoflurane anesthesia can attenuate renal injury and modulate inflammatory cascades in small-size liver transplantation using rat models.

Genetic basis of 17 traits and viscosity parameters characterizing the eating and cooking quality of rice grain

A recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between Zhenshan 97 and Delong 208 was used to analyze the genetic basis of the cooking and eating quality of rice as reflected by 17 traits (or parameters). These traits include amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC), alkali spreading value (ASV), cooked rice elongation (CRE), and 13 parameters from the viscosity profile. All the traits, except peak paste viscosity (PKV), time needed from gelatinization to peak (BAtime), and CRE, can be divided into two classes according to their interrelationship. The first class consists of AC, GC, and most of the paste viscosity parameters that form a major determinant of eating quality. The second class includes ASV, pasting temperature (Atemp) and pasting time (Atime), which characterize cooking process. We identified 26 QTL (quantitative trait locus or loci) in 2 years; nine QTL clusters emerged. The two major clusters, which correspond to the Wx and Alk loci, control the traits in the first and second classes, respectively. Some QTL are co-located for the traits belonging to the same class and also for the traits to a different class. The Wx locus also affects on ASV while the Alk locus also makes minor contributions to GC and some paste viscosity parameters. The QTL clusters on other chromosomes are similar to the Wx locus or Alk locus, although the variations they explained are relatively minor. QTL for CRE and PKV are dispersed and independent of the Wx locus. Low paste viscosity corresponds to low AC and soft gel, which represents good eating quality for most Chinese consumers; high ASV and low Atemp, together with reduced time to gelatinization and PKV, indicate preferred cooking quality. The genetic basis of Atemp, Atime, BAtime, peak temperature, peak time, paste viscosity at 95 degrees C, and final paste viscosity is newly examined to reveal a complete and dynamic viscosity profile.

The heterocyclic ring fission and dehydroxylation of catechins and related compounds by Eubacterium sp. strain SDG-2, a human intestinal bacterium

A human intestinal bacterium, Eubacterium (E.) sp. strain SDG-2, was tested for its ability to metabolize various (3R)- and (3S)-flavan-3-ols and their 3-O-gallates. This bacterium cleaved the C-ring of (3R)- and (3S)-flavan-3-ols to give 1,3-diphenylpropan-2-ol derivatives, but not their 3-O-gallates. Furthermore, E. sp. strain SDG-2 had the ability of p-dehydroxylation in the B-ring of (3R)-flavan-3-ols, such as (-)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-gallocatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin, but not of (3S)-flavan-3-ols, such as (+)-catechin and (+)-epicatechin.

Cytotoxic mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins from leaves of Annona montana

Further studies on leaves of Annona montana led to isolation of one iso-acetogenin, montanacin G, three pairs of acetogenins, montanacin H-J and 34-epi-montanacin H-J, together with four known acetogenins, gigantetrocins A and B, annonacin and cis-annonacin. Montanacin G belongs to the iso-acetogenin group with a terminal 2,4-trans-ketolactone unit. Montanacin H-J and 34-epi-montanacin H-J contain the rare gamma-hydroxy-gamma-methyl-gamma-lactone moiety. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds, together with previously reported acetogenins, montanacins B and C, were examined against Meth-A and LLC tumor cell lines in vitro.

Three diterpene glucosides and a diphenylamine derivative from Pieris formosa

Three new diterpenoids, pierisformosides G-I (1-3) and a diphenylamine derivative 4 have been isolated from the ethanol extract of Pieris formosa leaves, compound 1 being a new type seco-ring-A kaurane diterpene glucoside. Their structures were elucidated with the aid of NMR spectroscopy including two-dimensional-NMR techniques.

[Determination of trace nickel in coal gangue by catalytic fading spectrophotometry]

In KH2PO4-Na2B4O7 (pH = 6.3) buffered solution the trace Ni(II) can strongly catalyze the fading reaction of carmine. Time and temperature can influence the reaction, and the reaction stops at the low temperature. Based on this study, a catalysis spectrophotometric method for determining trace Ni(II) is developed. The results show that the detection limits of the method is 2.5 x 10(-11) g.mL-1 for Ni(II) and Beer's law is obeyed for Ni(II) in the range of 0-1.2 micrograms.50 mL-1. Combined with solvent extraction spearation, the method has been applied to the determination of trace Ni in coal gangue with satisfactory results.

Human intestinal bacteria capable of transforming secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to mammalian lignans, enterodiol and enterolactone

Seven metabolites were isolated after anaerobic incubation of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (1) with a human fecal suspension. They were identified as (-)-secoisolariciresinol (2), 3-demethyl-(-)-secoisolariciresinol (3), 2-(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol (4), didemethylsecoisolariciresinol (5), 2(3-hydroxybenzyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol (6), enterodiol (7) and enterolactone (8). Furthermore, two bacterial strains, Peptostreptococcus sp. SDG-1 and Eubacterium sp. SDG-2, responsible for the transformation of 1 to a mammalian lignan 7, were isolated from a human fecal suspension. The former transformed 2 to 3 and 5, as well as 4 to 6, and the latter transformed 5 to 6 and 7.

Nutrient intake of adult women in Jilin Province, China, with special reference to urban-rural differences in nutrition in the Chinese continent

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to investigate possible urban-rural differences in food intakes in Jilin province and in continental China as a whole, and to examine possible implications for nutritional status of urban and rural populations.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Communities.

SUBJECTS

In total, 499 adult women in six urban sites and four rural sites, 10 sites in total, including two sites in Jilin province.

METHODS

A pair of surveys were conducted in September, 1999, in the provincial capital of Changchun and a farming village in Dehui county, both in Jilin province, in northeast China. Each of 50 adult women per survey site provided a 24 h duplicate food sample and a blood sample, and had an interview on health history including anthropometry and blood pressure measurement. Nutrient intakes were estimated from the food duplicates, using national food composition tables. Results from the two sites were supplemented with data from eight sites where surveys had been conducted following the same protocol, and the pooled material were subjected to analyses for possible urban-rural differences.

RESULTS

The Jilin participants consumed daily, on average, about 1600 kcal energy, 44 g protein, and 60 g lipid with a lipid energy ratio (i.e. the ratio of lipid over total nutrients in terms of energy) of 33%. When nutrient intakes were compared between the urban (i.e. Changchun) and rural (Dehui) groups, urban women consumed more energy, protein (especially animal protein) and lipid than rural women. Similar examination of data from six urban and four rural sites, including the present two, showed that adult women in urban areas eat more animal protein and animal fat than their counterparts in villages, and suggested that the observation on urban rural difference in Jilin province can be extrapolated to a nationwide scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Urban rural differences in nutrient intakes still persist in 1999 not only in Jilin but in other provinces, typically in the terms of intakes of animal-based foods.

Hepatitis B and C virus infection among adult women in Jilin Province, China: an urban-rural comparison in prevalence of infection markers

Twin seroepidemiological surveys on prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV, respectively) infection were conducted on 100 adult women in total, 50 each in the provincial capital of Changchun and in a farming village in the vicinity in Jilin Province, northeast China. Positivity to three markers on HBV (ie HBsAg+, anti-HBs+, and anti-HBc+) was examined by RIA methods, and to one on HCV (anti-HCV+) by EIA. The results were evaluated in combination with two foregoing studies in Shandong and Shaanxi Provinces, and with special reference to possible urban-rural differences in prevalence. The prevalence of HBsAg+ cases was rather low (ie 9% when two groups were combined), but that of anti-HBs+ and anti-HBc+ cases was high, being 50% and 45%, respectively. Thus, the rate of HBV+ cases was 62%. The rate for HCV+ cases was 3%. The comparison of the prevalence between the city group and the village group showed that the rates for anti-HBs+ and HBV+ were significantly or marginally higher in the former group than in the latter, respectively. The HCV+ prevalence rate for the city group (4%) also tended to be higher than the corresponding rates for the village group (2%), although the difference was statistically insignificant. When evaluated together with the observation in Shandong and Shaanxi Provinces, it appears possible to generalize that the HBV infection prevalence is not higher and probably lower in rural areas than in urban areas, and that such may also be the case for the HCV infection prevalence.

Diterpenoids from the fruits of Rhododendron molle

Four new diterpenoids, rhodomolleins XV (1), XVI (2), XVII (3), and XVIII (4), together with three known diterpenoids, kalmanol and rhodojaponins III and VI, were isolated from the dried ripe fruits of Rhododendron molle. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation.

Four mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins, montanacins B-E, from Annona montana

Four novel mono-tetrahydrofuran (THF) acetogenins, montanacins B-E (1-4), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Annona montana. The structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic methods and their absolute stereochemistries were determined by the advanced Mosher ester method. Montancins D (3) and E (4) bear a non-adjacent tetrahydropyran (THP) ring along with a THF ring and are the most unusual type of acetogenins discovered so far.