Objective:To investigate the effect of simvastatin on expression of pluripotent markers Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Methods:Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunofluo-rescent staining, flow cytometry, and Western blot were used to detect the expression of pluripotency markers Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells treated with different doses of simvastatin. Results:qRT-PCR revealed the more signifi-cant inhibition of gene expressions of Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells when subjected to high doses of simvastatin (10, 50, and 100 μmol/L) compared with the control group (P<0.05). By contrast, no significant difference was observed be-tween the expressions of low-dose simvastatin treatment (1 μmol/L) and control (P>0.05). The inhibitory effect of simvastatin on the gene expressions of Oct3/4 and Nanog was more significantly apparent at 50 and 100 μmol/L dosages than at 10 μmol/L (P<0.05). By contrast, no significant difference in the inhibitory expression of Sox-2 was observed among the three high-dose treatments (P>0.05). Between the two higher-dose treatments (50 and 100 μmol/L), no significant difference in the inhibitory expressions of Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in MCF-7 cells was found. Meanwhile, in the 10 μmol/L simvastatin treatment, immunoflurescent staining showed a marked reduction in the protein expression of all three pluripotent markers in MCF-7 cells, and flow cytometry demonstrated a decrease of Oct3/4-, Nanog-, and Sox-2-positive cells (P<0.05). Western blot further revealed that the protein expression of Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in MCF-7 cells was significantly declined by the same simvastatin dose (P<0.05). Conclusion: Simvastatin can inhibit the expression of pluripotent markers Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, proving the anti-cancer properties of simvastatin.

BACKGROUND: Allergic airway inflammation (AAI) is the pathological basis of pathogenesis of asthma. Manghua decoction, from Zhang Zhongjing's "On cold damage", is the basic recipe for treating asthma, its addminus recipe is widely used in clinic now.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mahuang decoction on allergic airway inflammation in asthmatic mouse.DESIGN: Randomized controlled observation SETTING: Staff Room of Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong University of Pharmacy.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in the Animal Laboratory of Guangdong College of Pharmacy and Laboratory of Pathology, Guangdong University of Pharmacy from March 2003 to February 2004. Totally 36 mice were recruited.METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into normal control group, asthma group and treatment group, with 12 in each one. The mice in the control group were given intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mL of normal saline on day 1,7,14 and 21 separately. From 28th day, the mice were given intragastric administration of normal saline of 0.5 mL for 60 minutes followed by water spray(only normal saline ) for 30 minutes , for consecutive 7 days.The mice in the asthma group were given intraperitoneal injection of normal saline of 0.2 mL containing egg albumin (10 μg) and aluminium hydroxide (20 mg) on day 1, 7, 14 and 21 separately. From 28th day, the mice were given intragastric administration of normal saline of 0.5 mL for 60 minutes followed by water spray (normal saline containing egg albumin of 50 g/L) for 30 minutes, for consecutive 7 days. Sensitization and stimulati on of the mice in the treatment group were the same as that in the asthma group. Intragastric administration of mahuang decoction of 0.5 mL was performed 60 minutes before spray. The procedure was conducted for consecutive 7 days. The pathologic change and the lung tissues expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) of the mice in each group were analyzed with hamatoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of airway infiltration cells and lung tissue IFN-γand IL-4 of the mice in each group RESULTS: Totally 36 mice entered the stage of result analysis with no loss in the midway. ① Inflammation of the mice relieved obviously in the treatment group than in the asthma group, and the number of the inflammatory cells in or around bronchi of the mice was significantly less in the treatment group than in the asthma group . ② The number of IL-4 and IFN-γ was significantly increased in the asthma group than in the normal control group, among which , the number of IL-4 was more significant, and the ratio of IFN-γ / IL-4 was decreased. However, the number of IL-4 on the treatment group was significantly decreased, and that of IFN-γ was remarkably increased , and the ratio of IFN-γ / IL-4 was significantly increased as compared with that in the asthma group.CONCLUSION: Asthmatic mice might exist the disequilibrium of Th1/Th2 subgroup. Mahuang decoction can improve the inflammation of bronchus,regulate the ratio of Th1/Th2, which might be one of the mechanism for treatment of asthma.

Objective To evaluate the correlation of chemosensitivity of cancer cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes to 8 chemotherapy agents in vitro,which was helpful to guide clinical chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer. Methods The chemosensitivity of the peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor cells to 8 clinical routine che-motherapeutic agents was tested in 40 cases of lung cancer by using MTT method. SPSS 10. 0 was used to analyze the above indicators. Results There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of 8 clinical routine chemotherapeutic agents between peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor cells of patients with lung cancer(P > 0. 05) ,which was posi-tive correlated to chemotherapeutic drugs between peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor cells. Conclusion The chemosensitive test of the peripheral blood lymphocytes with MTT method in vitro was valuable for reference of selec-ting anticancer drugs in clinic for patients with lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the serum of soluble CD40 ligand(sCD40L) in coronary heart disease and its relationship with serum lipid levels and the extent of coronary stenosis,whether upregulation of CD40L system is related to stability of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with acute coronary syndrome.Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the level of sCD40L in 64 patients with coronary heart disease(18 with acute myocardial infarction,19 with unstable angina pectoris and the other 27 with stable angina pectoris) and 20 matched healthy controls.Coronary stenosis of 29 patients were assessed by angiographic coronary stenosis morphology.Results sCD40L level was significantly higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS)((19.8?3.0)、(19.6?4.3)ng/mL in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris group,respectively)than that of those with stable coronary heart disease and that of controls((8.3?3.2)ng/mL and(2.6?1.9)ng/mL,respectively P

AIM: The bacteriostatic effects of Shenning suppository in the treatment of vaginitis were investigated in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)against ten clinical pathogens isolates was determined by tube dilution method,minimal bactericide concentration(MBC) was measured by the agar dilution method.The model of vaginitis from Candida albicans in the rabbit was investigated. RESULTS: Shenning suppository could inhibit and/or destroy Staphylococcus aureus,Candida albicans,ect in virto.It also improved the pathological change in the model of vaginitis from Candida albicans in the rabbit. CONCLUSION: Shenning Suppository could treat bacterial and mycotic vaginitis

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of serum brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)in chron-ic cor pulmonale of different period.Methods According to the inclusion criteria,we recruited 216 cases from heart and respiratory medicine(including outpatients and inpatients)of Qingyuan People 's Hosptial from April 2013 to December 2014.All the cases were divided into healthy control group(group A,n =48),cor pulmonale heart function compensatory period group(group B,n =43),cor pulmonale right heart failure group(group C,n =45),the simple left heart failure group(D group,n =40)and the whole heart failure group(group E,n =40).The serum BNP value,pul-monary function,echocardiography were detected.We compared the differences amomg them with correlation analysis, and drew the ROC curves to obtain the best cutoff point.Results The BNP value was higher in group C(495.44 ± 219.90)ng/L than group B[(182.44 ±69.71)ng/L,P <0.001],while the value was higher in group D(882.57 ± 288.56)ng/L and E(891.78 ±256.45)ng/L than group C(P <0.001).In cor pulmonale groups,BNP was positive-ly correlated with RV,RVOT,and PASP,negatively correlated with FEV1 ,and not correlated with LVEF %.In group D and E,BNP was negatively correlated with LVEF %.The best cutoff point of BNP was 285.3ng/L between cor pul-monale heart function compensatory period group(group B)and cor pulmonale right heart failure group(group C). The best cutoff point of BNP was 764.2ng/L between cor pulmonale right heart failure group(group C)and the whole heart failure group(group E).Conclusion There is certain correlation between serum BNP level and the progress of chronic cor pulmonale.Dynamic monitoring of serum BNP level in the judgement of treating cor pulmonale is of certain reference significance.

Objective To observe the complications and mortality of hyponatremia in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods The patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were selected and divided into non -hyponatremia group(252 cases)and hyponatremia group(65 cases).The differences in the general status,serum ions,blood gas,APACHE Ⅱ score,complications dur-ing the hospitalization,using of ventilator and mortality between the two groups were compared,and drew the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,to acquire higher serum sodium cut -off values.Results In the hyponatremia group,the body weight was (68.3 ±14.4)kg,BMI was (25.5 ±4.9)kg/m2 ,those in the non -hyponatremia group were (74.9 ±15.9)kg and (28.2 ±5.3)kg/m2 respectively,there were statistically significant differences(t =2.009,8.494,all P <0.05).The incidence rate of pneumonia in the hyponatremia group was 23.1%,which was higher than 13.1% in the non -hyponatremia group(χ2 =4.007,P =0.045).The hospital days of the hyponatremia group was (13.1 ±8.9)d,which was longer than (7.8 ±4.9)d of the non -hyponatremia group(t =15.638,P =0.000).The invasive ventilation days of the hyponatremia group was (1.1 ±0.4)d,which was longer than (0.9 ± 0.1)d of the non -hyponatremia group(t =2.885,P =0.004).The non invasive ventilation days of the hyponatremia group was (3.1 ±0.8)d,which was longer than (0.8 ±0.3)d of the non -hyponatremia group (t =2.984,P =0.003).The hospital mortality rate of the hyponatremia group was 12.3%,which was higher than 3.1% of the non -hyponatremia group(χ2 =7.189,P =0.007).The 90 -day mortality rate of the hyponatremia group was 29.2%, which was higher than 15.1% of the non -hyponatremia group(χ2 =7.017,P =0.008).When the serum sodium cut-off value was 128.8mmol/L by drawing ROC curve,the mortality rate in patients with lower than this value was 26.3%,while the mortality rate in patients with higher than the value was 3.7%.Conclusion Hyponatremia is related with the severity and prognosis of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.It is most important to prevent and correct hyponatremia at early disease stage.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of H-FABP、cTnI and CK-MB for early detection of acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods 20 New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups:surgery group(MI group,n=12) and sham surgery group(control group,n=8).MI group was opened the chests and the anterior descending branches of the left coronary arteries(LAD) were ligated;in sham surgery group the sutures were passed under the LADs without ligation.Blood sampled before surgery and 1,2,3,4,6,8,10 and 24 h after surgery.H-FABP,cTnI and CK-MB were measured by ELISA respectively at the same time.Results The plasma concentrations of H-FABP 1 hour after surgery showed statistical difference between MI group and sham surgery group(P

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; physiology ; Rats

Objective To investigate the clinical outcomes derived from Ningmitai combined with tamsulosin to prevent double-J stent syndrome after laser lithotripsy with ureteroscope. Methods 117 patients underwent laser lithotripsy with ureteroscope and then placed a double-J stent for draining were collected from January 2010 to January 2013. Patients with double-J stent placement were divided into four groups determined by dosage regimen. Tamsulosin group (30 cases) was treated with tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily) lonely, Ningmitai group (29 cases) was treated with Ningmitai (1.52 g, trice time a day) lonely, tamsulosin combined Ningmitai group (30 cases) was treated with tamsulosin and Ningmitai at the same time, operation control group (28 cases) was neither tamsulosin nor Ningmitai. The catheter was removed on the 3rd day post-lithotripsy and then remained double-J stent for 1 month. The scores of urinary tract, pain and the incidence of gross hematuria were assessed. Results The significant differences in the improvement of symptom score (χ2=22.038, P=0.000), pain score (χ2=9.876, P=0.020) and hematuria (χ2=8.000, P=0.046) were found among tamsulosin group, Ningmitai group, and tamsulosin combined Ningmitai group. The number of patients with symptomless, slight symptom in tamsulosin combined Ningmitai group were higher than those of tamsulosin group, Ningmitai group, operation control group (symptomeless:14 vs. 6, 3 and 2 cases;slight symptom:13 vs. 9, 5, 4 cases). The number of patients with>Ⅱpain score (7 vs. 9, 14, 17 cases) and incidence of hematuriag [26.6%(8/30) vs. 56.7%(17/30), 58.6% (17/29), 53.6% (15/28)] were lower in tamsulosin combined Ningmitai group than those of tamsulosin group, Ningmitai group, operation control group. The drug combination of Ningmitai with tamsulosin had the synergism to relived symptom and pain, and showed the more obviousthan lonely use. Conclusion The drug combination of Ningmitai with tamsulosin can be used in clinic for prophylactic purpose to prevent double-J syndrome.