Terpenoids from a multiple shoot culture of Telekia speciosa

Multiple shoots of Telekia speciosa were cultivated on MS medium containing 4.44 µM BAP and 0.54 µM NAA, solidified with agar. After eight weeks of culture the shoots were harvested and extracted with methanol. From the methanol extract one pseudoguaianolide – 2,3-dihydroaromaticin and three thymol derivatives: 8-hydroxy-9,10-diisobutyryloxythymol, 10-isobutyryloxy-8,9-epoxythymyl isobutyrate and 10-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-8,9-epoxythymyl isobutyrate were isolated as major secondary metabolites. Moreover, the shoots produced megastigmane and monoterpene glucosides, which were isolated for the first time from the species. The content of 2,3-dihydroaromaticin in the shoot culture was similar to that found in the intact plant, whereas yields of the three thymol derivatives were higher from multiple shoots than from the plants grown in the open field

The use of Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (^{90}Y-IT) as a consolidation therapy in high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan ((90)Y-IT) as a consolidation therapy in the management of DLBCL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with primary refractory or high-risk DLBCL (n = 18), ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation, were included in a retrospective study performed at three centers by the Polish Lymphoma Research Group (PLRG). All patients (mean age 61, range 35–82) either didn't achieve a complete response or didn't complete the scheduled therapy due to its complications. Response rates (CR, PR, SD, PD) according to Cheson criteria, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse effects of radioimmunotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS: Consolidation radioimmunotherapy increased the CR rate from 38% (n = 7) to 82% (n = 15). One patient remained in PR, one patient remained in SD, while one patient remained in PD. During a median follow-up of five years, 11 patients (62%) were alive with no recurrence, 4 patients (22%) were alive with relapse while 3 patients (16%) died. There was no statistically significant difference in PFS between those in CR and those in PR before (90)Y-IT. CONCLUSIONS: Radioimmunotherapy is an effective consolidation therapy for high risk/refractory DLBCL patients and worthy of further investigation in prospective trials

Hematopoietic stem cell mobilization with the reversible CXCR4 receptor inhibitor plerixafor (AMD3100)—Polish compassionate use experience

Recent developments in the field of targeted therapy have led to the discovery of a new drug, plerixafor, that is a specific inhibitor of the CXCR4 receptor. Plerixafor acts in concert with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to increase the number of stem cells circulating in the peripheral blood (PB). Therefore, it has been applied in the field of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. We analyzed retrospectively data regarding stem cell mobilization with plerixafor in a cohort of 61 patients suffering from multiple myeloma (N = 23), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (N = 20), or Hodgkin’s lymphoma (N = 18). At least one previous mobilization attempt had failed in 83.6% of these patients, whereas 16.4% were predicted to be poor mobilizers. The median number of CD34+ cells in the PB after the first administration of plerixafor was 22/μL (range of 0–121). In total, 85.2% of the patients proceeded to cell collection, and a median of two (range of 0–4) aphereses were performed. A minimum of 2.0 × 106 CD34+ cells per kilogram of the patient’s body weight (cells/kg b.w.) was collected from 65.6% of patients, and the median number of cells collected was 2.67 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg b.w. (0–8.0). Of the patients, 55.7% had already undergone autologous stem cell transplantation, and the median time to neutrophil and platelet reconstitution was 12 and 14 days, respectively. Cases of late graft failure were not observed. We identified the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and previous radiotherapy as independent factors that contributed to failure of mobilization. The current report demonstrates the satisfactory efficacy of plerixafor plus G-CSF for stem cell mobilization in heavily pre-treated poor or predicted poor mobilizers

Flavonoids from Lactuca quercina and L. tatarica

From aerial parts of Lactuca quercina L. and Lactuca tatarica C. A. Meyer six flavonoids were isolated using different chromatographic techniques. Of these, three compounds, apigenin, luteolin and quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, were found in both species, two compounds, apigenin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside and kaempferol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, originated from the latter, and one compound, luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, from the former

The First Guaian-12-oic Acid Glucopyranosyl Ester and Other Constituents from Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae)

The first guaian-12-oic acid glucopyranosyl ester was isolated from the roots ofPicris rhagadioloides (L.) Desf. (Asteraceae), in addition to five costuslactone-typeguaianolides, four germacranolides and three phenolic compounds. This is the first timethat the known phenolics syringaldehyde and syringaresinol, as well as the knownsesquiterpene lactones glucozaluzanin C, cichorioside C and hypochoeroside A have beendescribed from a Picris species. The compounds were characterized on the basis ofphysicochemical, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric data