Apoptosis, a common and evolutionarily conserved property of all metazoan,is an essential part of life. The loss of cellular homeostasis balance is a character of tumor. The mitochondria (the intrinsic pathway) and the death receptors (the extrinsic pathway) are two major signal transduction pathways. With elucidation of the apoptotic molecular mechanism, some key proteins and genes related with apoptosis had been as the molecular targets for anticancer new drugs. There is the fundamental signficance to research further both apoptotic molecular mechanism and tumor therapy. [

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization of Chinese patent drugs gynaecological patients in our hospital from 2004 to 2006 so as to promote rational drug use.METHOD:The Chinese patent drugs gynaecological patients used in our hospital from 2004 to 2006 were subjected to classification statistic and comprehensive analysis in respect of the consumption sum,DDDs and daily average cost.RESULT: Over the 3 years,the consumption sum of most of the Chinese patent drugs increased year on year,and the proportion of the cost of the Chinese patent drugs in the total increased as well.CONCLUSIONS:The use of Chinese patent drugs gynaecological patients in our hospital is basically rational. However,there are still some points remain to be improved.

Objective Applying color Doppler ultrasonic test on the first dorsal metatarsal arteries,to acquire relevant Doppler bloodstream parameters,and in the end,to explore the clinical value of this approach.Methods Applying GE-LOGIQ-400 color Doppler high-frequency ultrasonic test on the first dorsal metatarsal arteries of 100 diabetes patients,contrasting to those of 60 normal persons,observing the origination,trend,smooth of bloodstream,angioplerosis Status,analyzing bloodstream spectrum(including the interior diameter of blood vessel,spectrum status,bloodstream speed,drag index,erc.),and contrasting the resuits.Results The first dorsal metatarsal arteries of diabetes patients have narrower interior diameter,faster bloodstream speed,higher drag index than those of non-diabetes patients.Conclusion The high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography can provide objective clinical evidence on the test of the first dorsal metatarsal arteries diseases.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Chinese medicine Jinan injection(JA) on Lewis lung cancer (LLC) in mice. METHODS: The C 57 BL/6J mice with Lewis lung cancer(LLC) were divided into normal saline(NS), Jinan high dose (JAH), Jinan middle dose (JAM), Jinan low dose (JAL) and cyclophosphamide(CTX) groups. The body weight changes and inhibitory rate of LLC in each group were observed. In addition, flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to detect the anticancer mechanism of Jinan. RESULTS: The body weights were increased significantly in JA-treated groups vs CTX and the resistant rate was 45.79%, 40.90%, 32.48% and 98.96%, respectively. The apoptotic rate was 24.19%, 14.95% and 13.93% in JAH, JAM and JAL, respectively, and the Jinan induced apoptosis of LIC in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION: Jinan injection inhibites the growth of LLC, and the apoptosis induction may be one of mechanisms that Jinan treates LLC in mice.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To investigate the expression and significance of Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) in chronic superficial gastritis.METHODS:The Wistar rats (n=30) were randomly divided into blank group, model group and control group.The Wistar rat model of chronic superficial gastritis was established by in-tragastric administration of 0.02%ammonia and long-term irregular diet.All rats were sacrificed, and gastric tissues were harvested and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.The expression of Lgr5 at mRNA and protein levels was analyzed by re-verse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Lgr5 was mainly expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm.Lgr5 showed high expression in model group compared with blank group and control group.No obvious difference between blank group and control group was observed.CONCLUSION:Persistent in-flammation leads to increased expression of Lgr5.Lgr5 may be a proinflammatory tumor promoting factor.

Objective To measure hepatic blood flow of the normal liver and cirrhotic liver with hepatocellular carcinoma using multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT),and to evaluate the feasibility of the quantitative judgement of classification of liver cirrhosis with CT perfusion imaging.Methods CT dynamic perfusion imaging was performed in 53 subjects,including 32 patients of liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma and 21 patients without liver disease(control subjects).The patients of liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma were divided into three groups by CT morphologic classification :17 were classified as light liver cirrhosis group,8 as moderate group,7 as severe group.The parameters of CT perfusion included blood flow(BF),blood volume(BV),mean transit time(MTT),hepatic arterial fraction(HAF)and impulse residue function to(IRF To).The parameters were analyzed by the CT perfusion 3 software package(GE)with deconvolution method,and the correlation of the CT morphologic classification of liver cirrhosis with Child-Pugh functional classification was further evaluated.100 g-1,(17.81±6.59)ml/100 g,(9.52±3.08)s,0.20±0.08 and(4.38±2.35)s,respectively,while 0.27±0. 09 and (4. 14±2. 16)s, respectively. The mean BF, BV and HAF between normal livers and liver cirrhosis were statistically significant (P＜0. 05), and there were significant statistical differences in BF, BV and HAF among light, moderate and severe liver cirrhosis (P＜0. 05). The CT morphologic classification of liver cirrhosis was correlated positively with Child-Pugh classification (r=0. 935, P=0. 001 ). Conclusions Hepatic perfusion with MSCT can reflect the change of blood flow of cirrhotic liver, and MSCT perfusion can quantitatively evaluate the liver cirrhosis degree of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the effects of Chinese medicine, Jinan injection, on ultrastructure and mitochondria in cultured lung cancer cell lines. METHODS: The cultured lung cancer cell lines PG and PAa were used and divided into 4 groups: control (C), cisplatin (DDP), Jinan (JA) and Jinan in combination with cisplatin (DJ), respectively. The changes of morphology and mitochondria membrane potential, intracellular Ca~(2+) and pH in every group were observed by inverted microscope and electronic microscope as well as by using flow cytometry, staining by rhodamine, Fluo-3 and BCECF, respectively. RESULTS: Degeneration cells showed chromatin condensation and peripheral congregation. In cytoplasm autophage lysosome increased and myelinoid body was seen easily. In mitochondria structure, where the space between the inner and outer membranes of these organelles expanded as the matrix was compressed. The electron-dense or swelled was observed as vacuole degeneration and its matrix showed electron-lucent. Compared to control, mitochondria membrane potential increased in every group after 24 h and 48 h treatment. DDP increased intracellular calcium ion in PG cells, however, in PAa cells, JA and DJ decreased it. Intracellular pH got lower at 24 h and higher at 48 h in PG and PAa cells. There were significance in every group vs control in PG and PAa by statistic t-test (P

Objective: The present study aimed to isolate and characterize a cancer stem cell-like sphere-forming cell subpopula-tion. Methods: By using a spheroid culture stem cell-conditioned medium, we isolated a subgroup of cancer stem-like cells from naso-pharyngeal cancer cell lines. Chemotherapy resistance was analyzed by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, and clone-forming capabili-ty was determined by using softer agar clone formation assay. Finally, we verified the expression of the stemness-specific gene andβ-catenin by using immunocytochemistry staining and RT-PCR. Results: The lower-differentiated nasopharyngeal cancer lines con-tained more sphere-forming cells, whereas sphere-forming cells were not observed in the high differentiated nasopharyngeal cancer line CNE-1. Compared with CNE-2, CNE-2S (sphere-forming cells derived from CNE-2) exhibited higher chemotherapy resistance and clone-forming ability. Interestingly, the stemness genes BMI-1, ABCG2, and ALDH1 exhibited higher expression in CNE-2S than in CNE-2. β-catenin, a vital transcription factor of the WNT pathway related to stem cells, exhibited higher expression in CNE-2s cellular nucleus and plasma than in CNE-2. Conclusion: We isolated a subgroup of stem-like nasopharyngeal cancer sphere-forming cells. This discovery paves the way for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating tumorigenic subpopulations in nasopharyn-geal cancer.

Objective To investgute the effect of lO-Hydrocamptothecin (HCPT) on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats, and to explore the potential value of it in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods After the model of CIA was established ,the rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, CIA model group, MTX treatment group, high dose HCPT treatment group and low dose HCPT treatment group. The synovium was examined with regular HE stain and the apoptosis of synoviocytes was detected with TUNEL All these pathological changes were evaluated. In addition, the change of articular volume was measured,and the serum TNF-α and IL-1β level was also measured at different time point. The results were analyzed by the statistical software SPSS 11.5. Results Comparing to CIA model group, both MTX and HCPT group could improve patients' general condition, alleviate joint swelling, inhibit proliferation of synoviocytes, induce apoptosis of synoviocyte and decrease the plasma level of TNF-α, IL-1β (P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference could be found between the MTX and HCPT group (P>0.05). Conclusion HCPT has the potential value in the treatment of RA.

OBJECTIVETo prepare the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres and composite alginate-chitosan-PLGA microspheres containing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and to evaluate their SOD activities.

METHODSThe SOD-PLGA microspheres were prepared by W/O/W emulsification method, and the composite microspheres were prepared by two steps:alginate-chitosan microcapsules were first prepared by a modified emulsification and ion crosslinking method, and then they were further dispersed in PLGA to form the composite microspheres. The SOD concentration was determined by Coomassie method, its activity was measured by xanthine oxidase system.

RESULTSThe SOD activity was less sensitive to temperature and sensitive to pH, organic solvents, ultrasound and vigorous stir without iced bath. The entrapment efficiencies of SOD in PLGA (50:50) microspheres, PLGA (70:30) microspheres, alginate-chitosan microcapsules, the composite PLGA (50:50) microspheres and the composite PLGA (70:30) microspheres were 36.42%±1.81%, 66.18%±0.05%, 91.08%±1.28%, 87.30%±3.89% and 83.19%±3.48%, respectively. In vitro release tests demonstrated that the SOD activities in 50:50 composite microspheres were higher than that in the PLGA ones at 1 h, 8 h and 1 w.

CONCLUSIONThe composite alginate-chitosan-PLGA microspheres for SOD sustained release can significantly improve the protein entrapment efficiency and maintain its protein activity.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; chemistry