(1S*,2R*,4aS*,6aS*,6bR*,10S*,12aR*,14aS*)-10-Hydr­oxy-1,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hepta­methyl­perhydro­picene-4a,14a-carbolactone

The title compound, C30H48O3, was extracted from the plant Dracocephalum rupestre Hance. The mol­ecule contains five fused cyclo­hexane rings and one five-membered lactone ring. Inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups link the mol­ecules into chains along [010]. The absolute structure has not been determined

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the expressions of Cox-2 and GST-Pi in rats with hepatocellular carcinoma risk

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive cancers worldwide, and the pathogenesis is very complicated at present. There is rare effective therapeutic measure, and the novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required to improve clinical outcome. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) is reported to be with an anti-cancer activity. Objectives: This study was performed to explore the effect of EGb on expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST-Pi) in the pathogenesis of HCC risk. Methods: 120 Wistar rats were divided into three groups at random: normal control group (control group), HCC risk group without treatment (HCC risk group), HCC risk group treated with EGb (EGb group); n=40, respectively. The HCC risk in rat was induced by aflatoxin B1 injection. At the end of 13-week, 33-week, 53-week and 73-week, 10 rats in each group were killed and the relevant samples were collected. Results: The mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 and GST-Pi were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical analysis and western-blot. When compared with those in control group in 73-week, the mRNA and protein expressions of GST-Pi in EGb group were weakened than those in HCC risk group in 73-week. However, the mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 in HCC risk group were increased than that of control group, and there was no statistical difference for mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 between HCC risk group and EGb group. Conclusion: EGb can regulate the expression of GST-Pi, but it can’t take an effect on the Cox-2 expression in the liver of HCC risk rats.Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb); Cox-2; GST-PiAfrican Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

Effect modification of environmental factors on influenza-associated mortality: a time-series study in two Chinese cities

Background: Environmental factors have been associated with transmission and survival of influenza viruses but no studies have ever explored the role of environmental factors on severity of influenza infection.Methods: We applied a Poisson regression model to the mortality data of two Chinese metropolitan cities located within the subtropical zone, to calculate the influenza associated excess mortality risks during the periods with different levels of temperature and humidity.Results: The results showed that high absolute humidity (measured by vapor pressure) was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiorespiratory deaths, but not with increased risks of pneumonia and influenza deaths. The association between absolute humidity and mortality risks was found consistent among the two cities. An increasing pattern of influenza associated mortality risks was also found across the strata of low to high relative humidity, but the results were less consistent for temperature.Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for people with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases to take extra caution against influenza during hot and humid days in the subtropics and tropics. © 2011 Yang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

1-(3,4-Dihydroxy­phen­yl)-2-(4-hydroxy­phen­yl)ethanone

The title compound, C14H12O4, is a deoxy­benzoin derivative in which the dihedral between the carbonyl group and the catechol unit is 5.99 (3)°. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 60.26 (13)°. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds connect mol­ecules, forming a two-dimensional network. In addition, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π contacts further stabilize the crystal structure

Case Report Pancreatic metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

Abstract: In this article we give a case report on a PTC patient with pancreatic metastasis. In this case, the patient was admitted to our hospital for recurrence of PTC and occupying pancreatic lesions. We considered that the pancreatic neoplasm may be pancreatic metastasis of PTC but there is no previous experience about therapeutic approaches to this type of metastases. After some discussion the distant metastasis within the pancreas was successfully removed by a laparotomy and postoperative histology confirmed the diagnosis. After that surgery, the patient recovered well and then received total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection for recurrent thyroid cancer. After recovery he was discharged from hospital without further treatment. Eventually, he died of acute myocardial infarction in January 2010. To conclude, it is widely believed that the surgical operation should be chosen more positively in the management of those patients without multiple organ metastases. Thus on one hand it can serve to make a definite diagnosis, and on the other hand it can help the body get rid of the bulk of the tumor burden to prolong survival time of the patients