Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry study of the flavonoids of the roots of Astragalus mongholicus and A. membranaceus

High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been applied to analyze the flavonoids of Huangqi, the roots of Astragalus mongholicus and A. membranaceus. Eight flavonoids were identified as calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside-6"-O-malonate (2), ononin, (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-bet a-D-glucoside, calycosin, (3R)-7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, formononetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside-6"-O-malonate and formononetin by direct comparison with the isolated standards from Huangqi. The existence of (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan, (3R)-7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavan, astrapterocarpanglucoside-6'-O-malonate and astraisoflavanglucoside-6'-O-malonate was detected. This is the first report of flavonoid glycoside malonates in these two Astragalus species, and malonate 2 is a structurally completely identified new compound.

On-line identification of phytochemical constituents in botanical extracts by combined high-performance liquid chromatographic-diode array detection-mass spectrometric techniques

It is necessary to determine all of the phytochemical constituents of botanical extracts in order to ensure the reliability and repeatability of pharmacological and clinical research, to understand their bioactivities and possible side effects of active compounds and to enhance product quality control. HPLC chromatographic fingerprints can be applied for this kind of documentation. Combined HPLC-diode array detection-MS techniques can provide on-line UV and MS information for each peak in a chromatogram. In most cases, direct identification of the peaks is possible, based on comparison with published data or with standard compounds. This review will primarily focus on electrospray and thermospray ionization MS and their applications for the qualitative analyses of phenolic compounds, saponins, alkaloids and other classes of natural products in botanical extracts. Twenty-one of the most commonly used herbal examples, their phytochemical analyses and characteristics of their mass spectra are described.

LC-ESI-MS study of the flavonoid glycoside malonates of red clover (Trifolium pratense)

High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was applied to the analysis of the flavonoids and their glycoside malonates of the flowers and leaves of red clover (Trifolium pratense). Through LC-MS comparative studies on the plant extracts and their malonate-free extracts, approximately 20 flavonoid glycoside malonates were detected in the flower extract. Eight were identified as genistin 6' '-O-malonate (39), formononetin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside 6' '-O-malonate (40), biochanin A 7-O-beta-D-glucoside 6' '-O-malonate (41), trifoside 6' '-O-malonate (42), irilone 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside 6' '-O-malonate (43), pratensein 7-O-beta-D-glucoside 6' '-O-malonate (44), isoquercitrin 6' '-O-malonate (45), and 3-methylquercetin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside 6' '-O-malonate (46). About 15 other flavonoids and clovamides were proved to be present in this extract. The study also found that the flowers contained flavones as the major flavonoids, whereas the leaves had isoflavones as the major flavonoids. This is the first detection of the six malonates (39 and 42-46) in the extracts of red clover, and among them, 42, 43, and 46 are new compounds.

Electrospray high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in phytochemical analysis of kava (Piper methysticum) extract

HPLC coupled with electrospray (ES) MS was used to study a chloroform extract from kava roots ( PIPER METHYSTICUM). A total of thirteen kavalactones and flavokavains were identified. Seven major kavalactones, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kavain, 7,8-dihydrokavain, 5,6-dehydrokavain, 5,6-dehydromethysticin and yangonin, were easily recognized in the extract by their [M + H] (+) or [M + Na] (+) ions, UV spectra, and retention times, compared with those of standard compounds. Six minor constituents were isolated as our own reference compounds. These constituents were identified by their [M + H] (+) or [M + Na] (+) ions, UV spectra and NMR data as 11 -hydroxy-12-methoxydihydrokavain, 7,8-dihydro-5-hydroxy-kavain, 11,12-dimethoxydihydrokavain, and flavokavains A, B and C. HPLC-ES-MS appears to be a suitable technique for identification of kavalactones and kavachalcones in the kava extract. The method also provides direct guidance for identification of other trace constituents from kava extracts.

A silver staining procedure for nucleic acids in polyacrylamide gels without fixation and pretreatment

Silver staining of nucleic acid has been widely used in molecular marker analysis such as simple sequence repeat (SSR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP). Many alternatives to silver staining methods have been described, but these methods are not efficient or cost-effective. Here we report a silver staining method that requires less than 10min for one gel and can save chemicals as well. It has a detection limit of approximately 5.6pg of DNA/mm(2) in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels and 12.8pg/mm(2) in denaturing polyacrylamide gels.

Long non-coding RNA PICART1 suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in lung cancer cells by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling

Lung cancer remains the most common cause of tumor-related death worldwide. Recent studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the development of various cancers, including lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect and the molecular basis of lncRNA PICART1 on lung cancer. We first assessed the PICART1 expression in lung cancer in vitro and vivo by qRT-PCR. Then the expression of PICART1 in SPC-A-1 and NCI-H1975 cell lines was inhibited and overexpressed by transient transfections. Thereafter, cell viability, cell cycle, migration and apoptosis were respectively measured by MTT, Transwell and flow cytometry assay. Furthermore, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were mainly performed to assess the expression levels of apoptosis- and migration-related proteins and JAK2/STAT3 pathway proteins. Tumor formation was measured by xenograft tumor model assay in vivo. PICART1 expression was down-regulated in human lung cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of PICART1 increased cell viability of lung cancer cell lines. However, PICART1 overexpression inhibited cell cycle progression and promoted apoptosis in SPC-A-1 and NCI-H1975 cell lines. PICART1 overexpression also inhibited migration, as evidenced by up-regulation of E-cadherin, and down-regulation of Twist1, MMP2 and MMP9. Furthermore, we found PICART1 inhibition may regulate cell apoptosis and migration through activating JAK2/STAT3 pathway. In vivo experiments revealed that PICART1 knockdown significantly promoted tumor formation. This study demonstrates that PICART1 overexpression represents an anti-growth and anti-metastasis role in lung cancer cells. Additionally, PICART1 acts as a tumor suppressor may be via regulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Peritoneal metastasis of third ventricular atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor after VP shunt implantation for unexplained hydrocephalus

BACKGROUND

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS) is a highly malignant neoplasm seen frequently in infancy and early childhood. This report presents a 9-year-old girl of primary third ventricular AT/RT with peritoneal metastasis after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt catheter implantation for hydrocephalus before the identification of the CNS tumor.

METHODS

The data of clinical course, laboratory and imaging studies were obtained and carefully reviewed. Serial imaging studies including enhanced CT and MRI were performed at the first admission, during which the patient was diagnosed with a non-malignant communicating hydrocephalus. Secondary radiological studies were carried out 5 months after VP shunt, during which the patient demonstrated worsening clinical signs of intracranial hypertension. An imaging study identified a tumor in the third ventricle.

RESULTS

The patient was treated by a surgical resection, showing the specimen was pathologically consistent with AT/RT 5 months after VP shunt. Systematic chemotherapy and radiotherapy were prescribed for the patient. After 6 months, PET/CT revealed peritoneal metastasis but negative findings in the CNS. The parents of the patient refused further intervention, and she died one month later.

CONCLUSION

VP shunt in a patient with AT/RT may cause distant seeding of the tumor in unrelated areas of the body, even after intensive multimodality treatment. Further studies on shunt related metastases are needed.

CircRNA ZNF609 promotes angiogenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by regulating miR-145/STMN1 axis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common type of human malignant tumor in the head and neck, and tumor angiogenesis is essential for its development. Here, we showed that the circRNA ZNF609/microRNA (miR)-145/Stathmin 1 (STMN1) axis regulated angiogenesis in NPC.Circ-ZNF609, miR-145, and STMN1 expression in NPC cells and NPC samples were examined using qRT-PCR. The protein levels of STMN1, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 were evaluated using western blotting. VEGF level was determined by ELISA. The proliferation of NPC cells and HUVECs was examined using a CCK-8 assay. Transwell assays and wound-healing assays were applied to assess the migration of NPC cells and HUVECs, respectively. Angiogenesis of HUVECs was evaluated by an angiogenesis assay. In addition, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assays were employed to verify the binding relationship between circ-ZNF609 and miR-145 as well as between miR-145 and STMN1. Here, we showed that circ-ZNF609 and STMN1 expression was increased, while miR-145 expression was decreased in NPC cells and NPC samples. Circ-ZNF609 may negatively regulate miR-145 expression by acting as a ceRNA. Silencing circ-ZNF609 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in NPC, while knockdown of miR-145 reversed these effects. In addition, we found that STMN1 was the downstream target of miR-145. MiR-145 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in NPC, which was abolished by STMN1 overexpression. Our data suggested that circ-ZNF609 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in NPC by upregulating the expression of STMN1 by sponging miR-145 in NPC.

Use of Neonatal Lung Ultrasound for the Early Detection of Pneumothorax

OBJECTIVE

Pneumothorax (PTX) can be diagnosed using lung ultrasonography (LUS) in adult patients, but there are only a few reports of LUS in PTX diagnosis in neonates. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy for PTX.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective review study performed in our neonatal intensive care unit (level III) between June 2015 and June 2018. All eligible patients underwent an LUS scan before undergoing a chest X-ray (CXR), which was considered the reference standard. When a diagnosis of PTX was inconsistent between LUS and CXR, a chest computed tomography (CT) scan or chest drain was considered the gold standard.

RESULTS

Among 86 infants included in the study, 30 (34.9%) were diagnosed with PTX. In these 30 infants, 35 PTXs were detected by bedside LUS (five bilateral PTXs). Moreover, 11 infants with 14 PTXs were diagnosed only by LUS and were missed by CXR. Out of these 11 infants, 7 underwent a CT scan, whereas the remaining 4 underwent thoracentesis that confirmed PTX diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

In neonates with PTX, LUS was more sensitive and specific for the early detection of PTX compared with CXR.