To study the effects of Xifeng Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with carbamazepine on spontaneous epileptic seizure induced by lithium and pilocarpine in rats and the expression level of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1).

Objective To explore the prognostic value of blood aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index(APRI)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after radical surgical resection. Methods A retro-spective cohort study was conducted to analyze 228 patients with HCC who underwent radical surgical resection. Patients were divided into low APRI group(APRI<1.62)and high APRI group(APRI≥1.62). Patients′clinical and demographic data and overall survival(OS)were statistically analyzed and multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors. Results APRI was closely related to preoperative serum ALT level,PLT level,the positivity of HBsAg,liver cirrhosis and portal vein tumor thrombus. OS of patients in low APRI group was signifi-cantly better when compared to those with an elevated APRI(P<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that preop-erative APRI,maximum size of tumor,number of tumor nodules,portal vein tumor thrombus,TNM and differenti-ation of tumors were independent prognostic factors for HCC(P<0.05). Conclusions Preoperative APRI≥1.62 is an independent prognostic factor of OS for patients with HCC after radical surgical resection.

Ear Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Radiation Injuries

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of arsenic trioxide(ATO) plus vitamin K2(VK2) on proliferation of HL-60 cells from acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line and explore the possible mechanism.Methods ①HL-60 cells were exposed to ATO(0.0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L),VK2(0.0,2.5,5.0,10.0,20.0μmol/L),or both of different concentrations (0.5 μmol/L ATO + 2.5 μmol/L VK2,1.0 μmol/L ATO + 5.0μmol/L VK2,2.0 μmol/L ATO + 10.0 μmol/L VK2,4.0 μmol/L ATO + 20.0 μmol/L VK2) for 24,48 or 72 h,respectively.The method of CCK-8 was used to assess the proliferation of HL-60 cells and the half inhibitory concentration(IC50) of ATO or VK2 was calculated,respectively.②Combination index (CI) was used to evaluate the combinative effect of the two treatments:CI ＜ 1,=1 or ＞ 1 indicated synergistic,additive,or antagonistic effect,respectively.③After HL-60 cells were treated with 1.0 μmol/L ATO or 5.0 μmol/L VK2 individually or simultaneously for 48 h,Annnexin V/PI staining was performed to identify the apoptosis rate of each group.Untreated cells were used as control group.Results ①ATO or VK2 alone inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a concentration and time dependent manner.The IC50 of ATO or VK2 at time of 24,48,72 h were (22.86 ± 2.44),(6.66 ± 0.34),(4.14 ± 0.41) and (18.40 ± 1.12),(13.48 ± 0.73),(8.95 ± 0.40) μmol/L,respectively; ②The combination of ATO and VK2 illustrated a synergistic effect with CI ＜ 1.③No statistical difference was found among control group [(4.38 ± 0.56)％],1.0 μmol/L ATO group [(5.76 ± 1.63)％] and 5.0 μmol/L VK2 group [(6.38 ± 1.42)％] in the apoptosis rate(all P ＞ 0.05).However,the apoptosis rate of combined group did rise to (44.18 ± 8.42)％,with a significant improvement to that of VK2 or ATO group alone (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The combination of VK2 and ATO exhibits an enhanced synergistical inhibitive effect on proliferation of HL-60 cells,and apoptosis may be involved in this synergy in part.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of 3 month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice after six-month intervention with curcumin, in order to discuss the neuroprotective effect of curcumin.

METHODAPPswe/PS1dE9dtg mice were randomly divided into the model group, the Rosiglitazone group (10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and curcumin high (400 mg x kg9-1) x d(-1)), medium (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and low (100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) dosage groups, with C57/BL6J mice of the same age and the same background in the normal control group. After 6 months, the immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and the Western blot method were used to observe the changes in positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area, their distribution and protein expressions.

RESULTBoth of the immunohistochemical staining and the Western blot method showed more positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area and higher protein expressions in the model group than the normal group (P < 0.01). IHC showed a lower result in the Rosiglitazone group than the model group (P < 0.05), while Western blot showed a much lower result (P < 0.01). The number of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs positive cells and the protein expressions decreased in the curcumin high group, the medium group showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01), and the low dose group also showed reductions in the protein expressions of Aβ40 and Aβ42.

CONCLUSIONThe six-month intervention with curcumin can significantly reduce the expressions of hippocampal Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice. Whether curcumin can impact Aβ cascade reaction by down-regulating expressions of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs and show the neuroprotective effect needs further studies.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage

Objective:This work aims determine the expression of the neurotensin (NTS) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subgrouping using immunohistochemical staining (IHC) as well as to evaluate the correlation between the activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC and inflammatory response in microenvironment and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer and in the prognosis of patients. Methods:Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissue were collected from 64 cases of HCC patients. The expression levels of NTS protein and multiple inflammation and EMT-related proteins, including IL-8, VEGF, MMP9, CD68, E-Cadherin,β-Catenin, and Vimentin, were examined in 64 cases of paraffin-embedded HCC tissues using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. The clinical outcome and overall survival (OS) among 64 cases of HCC patients were compared. Results:We found that the frequency of NTS-expressing tissues among all HCC samples was 17.19%(11/64). Significantly increased IL-8 protein was confirmed in 90.91%of NTS+HCC samples and was positively correlated with the levels of NTS protein in cancer tissues (P=0.036), which implied the dysfunctional activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC. The levels of VEGF and MMP9 were significantly correlated with the co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in HCC. Evident features of EMT, including decreased membrane expression of E-Cadherin and increased accumulation of cytoplasmicβ-Catemin and Vimentin, were found in NTS+IL-8+samples. The co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in cancer was significantly correlated with the clinical outcomes of patients, as the mortality rate of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients is 2.5-fold higher than that of others after surgery (P=0.022).Accordingly, the OS of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients significantly decreased (24.65±4.45 m vs. 75.79±16.32 m, P=0.013), and these patients are at a higher risk of death at an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 3.457. Conclusion:The NTS/IL-8 pathway is dysfunctionally activated in a subgroup of HCC samples. Highly expressed NTS is associated with increased inflammatory response in microenvironment, enhanced EMT in cancer, and worse prognosis in HCC patients.

0.05).ConclusionThe neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy can improve the sphincter-saving rate,probably can improve the resection rate and reduce the recurrence rate for the middle-lower rectal carcinoma.

Objective To determine the difference of macrophage RAW264.7 apoptosis induced by Brucella melitensis virulent strain 16M and attenuated strain M5-90 and elucidate the regulatory role of caspases 3,8 and 9.Methods The best multiplicity of infection (MOI) was determined through kinetic analysis of Brucella melitensis strain 16M and M5-90 induced mouse macrophages apoptosis(bacterium ∶ cell =100 ∶ 1,50 ∶ 1,10 ∶1).The infection model was established using the best MOI =50 ∶ 1.The numbers of in vivo bacteria by colony formation units were calculated after macrophages were infected for different times,including 2,4,8,12,24 and 48 h,and the infected cells were collected.The ratios of apoptosis were detected and the regulation of caspases 3,8 and 9 in apoptosis pathway was elucidated by flow cytometry.Results The numbers of 16M in vivo bacteria were 105.4,104.8,105.8,106.5,108.0 and 109.0,respectively and of M5-90 were 106.1,106.2,106.4,106.3,106.1 and 105.0,respectively.The number of in vivo bacteria of 16M was significantly increased than that of M5-90 after infected for 24 h to 48 h.The ratios of apoptosis induced by 16M after infected for 2,4,8,12,24 and 48 h was (2.67 ± 0.09)％,(13.13 ± 0.30)％,(6.56 ± 0.42)％,(6.49 ± 0.28)％,(16.07 ± 0.86)％ and (24.23 ± 1.67)％,respectively,and by M5-90 was (3.62 ± 0.02)％,(32.01 ± 2.59)％,(17.58 ± 0.44)％,(16.09 ± 0.10)％,(62.53 ± 2.70)％ and (85.53 ± 0.15)％,respectively,and by control group was [(1.90 ± 0.20)％,(1.92 ±0.16)％,(1.99 ± 0.03)％,(2.48 ± 0.11)％,(3.56 ± 0.07)％,(5.26 ± 0.33)％].The differences were statistically between groups in same time.The Brucella melitensis vaccine strain M5-90 was more powerful than virulent strain 16M in respect of inducing macrophage apoptosis after infected for 24 to 48 h.Twenty-four hours after infection,the expression of caspases 3,8 and 9 was (1.47 ± 0.05)％,(1.52 ± 0.02)％ and (2.47 ± 0.12)％,respectively,in control group and the expression was (9.70 ± 0.46)％,(6.08 ± 0.56)％ and (35.08 ± 1.64)％,respectively,after infected for 24 h induced by M5-90.The expression of caspases 3,8 and 9 was significantly higher than that control group (P ＜ 0.01).Twenty-four hours after given caspases 3,8 and 9 inhibitor,apoptosis rate in control group was (66.72 ± 1.28)％,in M5-90 group was (22.58 ± 0.55)％,(53.15 ± 1.85)％ and (29.18 ± 0.23)％,respectively,and compared with control group,apoptosis rate of caspases 3,8 and 9 was significantly lower(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Apoptosis of macrophage can be induced by Brucella melitensis virulent vaccine strain 16M and attenuated strain M5-90.M5-90 is stronger than that of strain 16M.Caspases 3,8 and 9 can regulate macrophage apoptosis after M5-90 infection.

Background and purpose:Ara-C is one of the most effective and common agents in the treatment of acute nonlyphocytic leukemia. Telomerase is a unique complex of ribonucleoprotein. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of cancer. In this study, we investigate the changes of mRNA expression of telomerase subunits in HL-60 cells induced by Ara-c and try to come up with a theory that could help to assess the efficacy of Ara-C. Methods:The combinations of various Ara-C concentration and the incubation time were used to treat HL-60. The ratios of apoptotic cell to necrosis cell were determined by flow cytometry and the expressions of telomerase subunits mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR.Results:① There was no influence on transcription of telomerase subunits gene after HL-60 cells was cultured with 0~0.2ug/ml Ara-C for 12 hours;② 2ug/ml and 10ug/ml of Ara-C could down regulate the expression of hTERT from 0.80+0.07 to 0.50+0.04 and 0.39+0.03, not hTR and hTP1;③ with longer incubation with 10ug/ml of Ara-C, the percentage of apoptosis could be increased. The maximal induction of apoptosis (18.16+4.25%) could be reached at 12hrs treatment of Ara-C, then gradually decreased later on. The rate of necrosis increased with time, the maximal percentage(57.94+12.03%) of necrosis was observed at 48hrs of incubation time with drug. The mRNA level of hTERT gene also decreased along with the cultured time , the lowest value (0.18+0.03) has been documented at 48hrs time point, but not hTR、TP1.Conclusions:① Ara-C could down-regulate the expression of hTERT mRNA in a dose-and time-dependent manner, but not hTR、hTP1;② There might be no relationship between the percentage of apoptosis induced by Ara-C apoptosis and the expression of telomerase hTERT gene mRNA, but a close relationship between necrosis and the expression of hTERT mRNA has been found.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter absolute ethanol injection treatment on varicose veins of lower extremity.Methods twenty-there patients with 25 varicose veins of lower extremity were treated by puncture of great saphenous vein above 1—2 cm of complicated inner ankle,perforating catheter to the point below the 3—4 cm of the conjunction of great saphenous vein and Femoral vein and pressing the conjunction of these two veins.Under the monitor of DSA,inject the absolute ethenal slowly while retrieve the catheter little by little(one limb with varicose veins injected total volume 15—20 ml),in the mean time,using contrast agent to monitor the level of embolism until the formation of total embolism in the all great saphenous veins.Results All the cases were retrospectively followed up with CDFI examination after 3—12 months of the surgery,No blood flow were seen in the 25 embolismic great saphenous vein.Clinical symptom were alleviated obviously after 2—3 weeks of treatment;varicose veins were collapse after 3 to 7 days.Two eases of leg ulceration were healed after 4 to 6 weeks of operation.20 limbs were found mild swelling in the 2 day after the surgery.However,all the cases were disappeared after 1 to 2 weeks;4 treated limbs developed delayed paresthesia in the 3 day after the surgery,and recovered totally in the 2 weeks.No complications of deep vein thrombosis,lung thrombosis etc al,were found after operation.Conclusions Using transcatheter injection of absolute ethanol to treat varicose veins of lower extremity has the advantage of less invasion,more safety and low appearance of complications.The short term efficacy is solid while the long term effect needs further evaluation.