Progress on the Chemical Constituents Derived from Glucosinolates in Maca(Lepidium meyenii)

Maca(Lepidium meyenii Walp.),a famous food supplement,has drawn an unprecedented international interest over the last two decades.It was assumed that glucosinolates,macamides,macaenes,and alkaloids are the main bioactive components of Maca before.Recently,a series of novel thiohydantoins which generally exhibit a variety of activities have been isolated from Maca.This review focuses on the progress on the main bioactive components of Maca and their biosynthetic pathway,which indicates that macamides,thiohydantoins,and some alkaloids may originate from glucosinolates.Interestingly,thiohydantoins from Maca are the first type of thiohydantoin derivatives to be found from a natural source and may contribute to some significant effects of Maca.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of membranoproliferative-like Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to defi ne the clinical manifestations, pathological features and prognosis of children with membranoproliferative-like Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), representing International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) grade VI. Methods: Among 245 patients with HSPN treated in our hospital between 2008 and 2010, nine patients (3.7%) were diagnosed with HSPN of ISKDC grade VI (males=5, females=4, age: 9.5±2.03 years, mean±SD). The clinical features, laboratory and pathologicalfi ndings, treatment and outcome of the 9 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of the 9 patients, 7 (78%) presented with hematuria and nephrotic syndrome, and were treated with steroids (oral prednisone or intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy) and immunosuppressants (oral tripterygium glycosides or intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy). One (11%) patient had hematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria (>50 mg/kg per 24 hours) and was treated with oral prednisone and tripterygium glycosides. Another (11%) patient presented with hematuria and moderate proteinuria (25-50 mg/kg per 24 hours) and was treated with oral tripterygium glycoside only. Histopathological examination showed diffuse glomerular mesangial and endocapillary proliferation, mesangial interposition, double-contour formation, podocyte hypertrophy, shedding, and cytoplasmic absorption droplets. The percentages of glomeruli with small cellular crescents varied from 4%-25% in 6 of 9 patients. Follow-up for 2 to 4 years showed excellent recovery in all patients. Conclusions: The main clinical feature of ISKDC grade VI HSPN in children is a nephrotic syndrome with hematuria. The excellent prognosis of the disease was probably related to early diagnosis and treatment with steroids and/or immunosuppressants, and mild degree of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage.

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F is efficacious in the treatment of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children

Our retrospective study was aimed to define the clinical manifestations,pathological features and prognosis of children with grade VI HSPN,our results also showed that tripterygium glycosides(T glycosides)alone or combined with glucocorticoid had nephroprotective effects on grade VI HSPN in children.