Use of a disposable circumcision suture device versus conventional circumcision： a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review assessed the safety and efficacy of the disposable circumcision suture device （DCSD） and conventional circumcision （CC） in the treatment of redundant prepuce and phimosis. Two independent reviewers conducted a literature search for randomized controlled trials （RCTs） using the DCSD and CC for the treatment of redundant prepuce or phimosis in China and abroad. Nine RCTs （1898 cases） were included. Compared with the CC group, the DCSD group had a shorter operative time （standardized mean difference [SMD] = -21.44; 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs] [-25.08, -17.79]; P 〈 0.00001）, shorter wound healing time （SMD = -3.66; 95% CI [-5.46, -1.85]; P 〈 0.0001）, less intraoperative blood loss （SMD = -9.64; 95% CI [-11.37, -7.90]; P 〈 0.00001）, better cosmetic penile appearance （odds ratio [OR] =8.77; 95% CI [5.90, 13.02]; P 〈 0.00001）, lower intraoperative pain score, lower 24-h postoperative pain score, lower incidence of infection, less incision edema, and fewer adverse events. There were no differences between the CC and DCSD groups in the incidences of dehiscence, or hematoma. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that the DCSD appears to be safer and more effective than CC. However, additional high-quality RCTs with larger study populations are needed.

Isolation and Identification of Bioactive Constituents from Stem Barks of Illicium difengpi

Objective To isolate and identify bioactive constituents from the stem barks of I//icium difengpi. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, recrystallization, and preparative HPLC techniques. The structures of the compounds were identified on the basis of spectral data including NMR, MS, and IR. Results Two sesquiterpene lactones, majucin （I） and anisatin （2）, two steroids, l^-sitosterol （3） and daucosterol （4）, three carboxylic acids, 2-ethyldecanoic acid （5）, shikimic acid （6）, and 3,4-dihydrobenzoic acid （7）, and a flavonoid, quercetin （8）, were successively isolated from the stem barks of L difengpL Conclusion Apart from compound 3, other seven compounds are reported in this plant for the first time. The results suggested that the current studies on L difengpi is still far from being well known and therefore more studies need to be done for better understanding of this plant.

Chemical Constituents in Extracts from Leaves of Lantana trifolia and Their In Vitro Anti-oxidative Activity

Objective To isolate, purify, and analyze the anti-oxidants trom the leaves of Lantana trifolia. Methods The anti-oxidative activities of the crude extracts from liquid-liquid extraction of L. trifolia leaves were assayed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） method to assess their radical scavenging and reducing abilities. The total flavonoids and phenol contents in the ethyl acetate fraction were determined by colorimetric and Folin-Ciocalteu methods, respectively. Chemical constituents were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction and repeatedly purified using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and HPLC, respectively. The chemical structures isolated were identified by spectral analysis and chemical evidence. Results Ethyl acetate partition from liquid-liquid extraction exhibited the highest anti-oxidative activity with an IC50 value of 4.94 μg/mL, close to that of the standard （vitamin C, VC, 4.23 μg/mL）. The extract was proved to contain total flavonoids and phenol contents with values of （39.0±1.6） and （29.27 ± 1.46） mg/g, respectively. Six compounds were isolated and identified as kaempferol-3,7-dimethyl ether （1）, verbascoside （2）, apigenin （3）, umuhengerin （4）, ladanetin （5）, and scutellarein-7-O-β-D-apiofuranoside （6）. Conclusion The ethyl acetate extract from the leaves of L. trifolia possesses the potent anti-oxidative and free radical scavenging activities which are directly proportional to the concentration of phenolic contents. The anti-oxidative activity of the extract from the leaves of L. trifolia is due to its proton donating ability that converts free radicals to more stable products and terminates chain reactions. Compound 1 is isolated from the plants of Lantana Linn. for the first time. The mechanisms may be related to the therapeutic benefits of the certain traditional claims of wild L. trifolia.