Objective: To investigate whether the expression of Apollon (an apoptosis inhibitory gene) silenced by using RNA interference (RNAi) technology in combination with tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) intervention can increase the sensitivity of human myeloid leukemia K562 cells to vincristine (VCR) and daunorubicin (DNR). Methods: Using the best small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting Apollon gene which was screened out in a previous experiment, the eukaryotic expression vector pGPHI-GFP-Neo-Apollon was constructed. Then, the K562 cells were transfected with pGPHI-GFP-Neo-Apollon by LipofectamineTM 2000 and screened out by G418. After Apollon siRNA was transfected stably into K562 cells, the expressions of Apollon mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. The sensitivities to chemotherapeutic agents VCR and DNR after RNAi in combination with TMP intervention were detected by MTT method, and apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Results: pGPHI-GFP-Neo-Apollon vector was constructed successfully and it could express stably in K562 cells, which silenced the expressions of Apollon mRNA and protein effectively. The sensitivity to VCR or DNR increased significantly after RNAi in combination with TMP intervention. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of VCR and DNR were significantly lower than those in the group of TMP intervention alone (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of K562 cells after transfection with Apollon siRNA in combination with TMP intervention was significantly increased comparing with that of the untreated control group and TMP intervention alone group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: RNAi targeting Apollon gene in combination with TMP intervention can obviously increase the sensitivity to VCR or DNR in K562 cells and significantly reduce the dosage of chemotherapeutic agents as well as improve apoptosis induced by chemotherapy. These results suggest that Apollon gene silenced by RNAi in combination with TMP intervention may reverse the drug resistance of leukemia cells. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of nicergoline and aniracetam in treatment of mild and moderate cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction .Methods Infarction were enrolled after 70 cases of mild and moderate cognitive im-pairment patients were randomly divided into nicergoline treatment group (observation group) and aniracetam treatment group(con-trol group) ,all 35 cases .After 12 weeks of treatment were compared before and after treatment mini mental state examination (MMSE) ,activities of daily living scale(ADL) scores and transcranial Doppler(TCD) to improve the situation .Results After 12 weeks ,both groups after treatment compared with treatment MMSE score was significantly higher (P< 0 .05) ,and nicergoline group than aniracetam group(P< 0 .01);ADL score before treatment were significantly reduced (P< 0 .05) ,TCD improvement nicergoline group than aniracetam group (P<0 .01) .Conclusion Nicergoline mild and moderate cognitive dysfunction after cerebral in-farction have significant effects ,and better than aniracetam ,no significant adverse reactions occur for a wide range of clinical applications .

Objective To analyse the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with myopathies that were misdiag-nosed as myasthenia gravis because of external ophthalmoplegia ,widen the thoughts for differential diagnosis of extraocular muscle paralysis .Methods The clinical and pathological features of 11 myopathy cases with ptosis and diplopia admitted to the neurology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between October 2010 and May 2014 were retrospec-tively reviewed and analyzed .Results Among the 11 patients ,6 male and 5 female ,aged 16-66 years old .All had paralysis of ex-traocular muscle manifestations ,including oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy(OPMD) in 3 cases ,oculopharyngeal distal myopa-thy in 2 cases ,chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia(CPEO) in 6 cases .Muscle biopsy showed the characteristic pathologi-cal changes .Statistical analysis showed that the age of onset in OPMD patients was older(P<0 .05) ,creatine kinase level in oculo-pharyngeal distal myopathy patients was higher ,but the difference was not significant (P>0 .05) .Conclusion Certain rare myopa-thy should be considered for patients with external ophthalmoplegia seemingly myasthenia gravis .Muscle biopsy can provide clue for differential diagnosis .

Objective There are two main functions of gastrointestinal tract,digestion and absorption,and barrier function.The latter has an important defensive effect,which keeps the body away from the invading and damaging of bacteria and endotoxin.It maintains the systemic homeostasis.Intestinal dysfunction would happen when body suffers from diseases or harmful stimulations.The more serious intestinal disorders would harm the intestinal protective mechanism,or intestinal barrier function,and bacterial/endotoxin translocation,of intestinal failure(IF) would ensue.This article provides a critical review of the evidence indicating that an increase in bacterial translocation is associated with sepsis,and even the multiple organ failure syndrome in critically ill patients.The in-transit microorganisms play an essential role in the homeostasis of local and systemic immunity.Methods All studies published from 2000 to June 2005 about intestinal permeability,bacterial translocation,and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were located by search of PubMed.Results Clinical and experimental studies investigating the correlation between bacterial translocation and systemic inflammatory response syndrome,associated with the damage of the gut barrier function.To keep the mucosal barrier function intact is one of the main issues in the prevention of bacterial translocation.This could be achieved by the adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrient supplementation to the gut.Enteral nutrition,probiotic can be a good choice.Conclusion With a better understanding of the bacteria-host interactions in health and the alterations induced by critical illness,new therapies that improve the environment of both may lead to better recovery rates in intensive care unit patients.

Objective To explore the mechanism of therapeutic action of needle knife “regulating sinews and treating bones” on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by observing the effect of needle knife intervention on KOA rabbit behaviors, mechanical characteristics of patellar ligament (PL), and expressions of interleukin-4 (IL-4), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and aggrecan in knee cartilages.Methods Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to blank, model, needle knife and electroacupuncture groups, 10 rabbits each. A rabbit model of KOA was made by the modified Videman method of immobilization in extension position. After model making, the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups received needle knife and electroacupuncture treatments, respectively. A behavioral assessment was made using the modified Lequesne MG knee grade evaluation method in every group after model making and treatment. The samples were taken after treatment. PL tension, stress relaxation and creep state were tested using a Bose Electro Force 3300 protracted test machine. Cartilage cell IL-4 expression was examined by ELISA. MMP-3 mRNA and aggrecan mRNA expressions were detected by real-time PCR.Results After model making, there was a statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the model and blank groups (P<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lequesne MG score between the needle knife or electroacupuncture group and the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and between the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the model and blank groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment post-treatment differences in PL maximum stress, maximum displacement, elastic modulus, stress relaxation rate and creep rate between the needle knife and model groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in elastic modulus between the electroacupuncture and model groups (P<0.01). The IL-4 content and aggrecan mRNA expression decreased significantly and MMP-3 mRNA expression increased significantly in the model group after model making and there were statistically significant differences compared with the blank group (P<0.01,P<0.05). After treatment, the IL-4 content increased significantly in the needle knife and electroacupuncture groups compared with the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05) and aggrecan mRNA expression tended to increase in the two groups. The regulation of aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions was better in the needle knife group than in the electroacupuncture groups, but there was no statistically significant difference compared with the model group (P>0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of action of needle knife treatment on KOA may be that it improves ligament mechanical characteristics, regulates intra-articular stress environment, and modulates aggrecan mRNA and MMP-3 mRNA expressions and inhibits cartilage degeneration through IL-4 mechanical signal pathway, to produce the therapeutic effect of “regulating sinews and treating bones”.

Objective Pathogen and antimicrobial susceptibility in children with bacterial meningitis were reviewed.Methods The positive cultures of cerebrospinal fluid samples or blood samples and its antimicrobial susceptibility were analyzed in 401 patients with the clinical diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.Results 401 cases cerebrospinal fluid samples and blood samples submitted to microbiology laboratory, 97 cases (24%) were microscopically and culturally proven to be bacterial meningitis. The most frequent pathogen was staphylococcus aureus (28%), followed by the streptococcus pneumoniae (19%) and escherichia coli (13%). Pediococci as conditioned pathogen, were found in purulent meningitis patients. One of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was simultaneously resistant to both vancomycin and teicoplanin. Three isolates showed simultaneous resistance to imipenem/cilastatin.Conclusions Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant pathogens of pediatric ranks first among pediatric patients of purulent meningitis. Serious drug resistance of isolated pathogenic bacteria and its in antimicrobial susceptibility in the bacterial meningitis should be considered in clinical therapy.

Objective: Using the improved volatile oil extractor to extract the essential oil of Caryophylli Flosand emulsified fragrance water. To research the correlations of the emulsified fragrance water from different condensing temperature and different temperature with the physicochemical parameters under the different temperature of essential oilin Caryophylli Flos;The results help a lot for the optimization of extraction process parameters of essential oil in Caryophylli Flos. Methods: Using surface tension tester, determination of viscometer to measure viscosity, surface tension, interfacial tension under different temperature of essential oil density in Caryophylli Flos, using stability analyzer to determine the emulsified fragrance water stability within 1 h and particle sizeunder different extraction temperature and different collecting temperature. Using multivariate data analysis to research the relationship between the essential physical and chemical parameters with emulsified fragrance water stability.Results: Relativedensity, viscosity, and surface tension reduced as the temperature of essential oil in Caryophylli Flos increased gradually, interfacial tension with increased first and then decreased as temperature increased. Turbiscan Stability Index(TSI) of the volatile oil emulsified fragrance water was negative correlation with the condensation temperature and interfacial tension, and was positive correlation with collecting temperature, density, viscosity, and surface tension. Conclusion: During the extraction process, temperature, interfacial tension, and condensation temperature of volatile oil in Caryophylli Floswere collected with aromatic water, and TSI hascertain relevance. Through controlling the collected temperature, condensation temperature, interfacial tension, and oil/water separation speed of volatile oil emulsified fragrance water have been changed and the guidance to the extraction process has been provided.

Objective: To compare the influences of retrorsine on hepatocytes proliferation in mice and rats after liver injury, so as to investigate the feasibility of using retrorsine for establishment of liver cell transplantation model in mice. Methods: Male mice and rats were pretreated with 2 injections of retrorsine (70 mg/kg for mice and 30 mg/kg for rats) (as retrorsine-treated group, n=30) at 2 weeks interval or saline (as non-treated group, n=30). A single injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 0. 5 mg/kg) was given to all animals 4 weeks after the final injection of retrorsine or saline. At 0(before administration), 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 15 d after CCl4 administration, the animals were sacrificed and their livers were subjected to H-E staining and Ki-67 antibody immunohistochemistry analysis to evaluate the pathological changes and hepatocyte proliferation. Results: The liver in rats treated with retrorsine displayed obvious megalocytosis, small bile duct hyperplasia, and small hepatocyte hyperplasia (forming nodule); no such changes were found in non-treated group. However, the liver in mice treated with retrorsine displayed hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis in the perivenous areas and the same was true to the liver in non-treated mice. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry analysis showed that in rats treated with retrorsine, the positive hepatocytes, mainly found in small hepatocyte nodules, were obviously less than those in control group 3 d after CCl4 administration(P<0.05). Ki-67 positive hepatocytes in mice treated with retrorsine were abundant and almost more than those in control group at all time points, especially 4 d after CCl4 administration(P<0.01), with the same changing tendency in both groups. Conclusion: Retrorsine can obviously inhibit hepatocyte proliferation after liver injury and is suitable for liver cell transplantation in rats, while it is the contrary in mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of 8-alkyl-coptisine on glycometabolism in vitro. Methods: HepG2 cells similar to human hepatic cells were used to test the glucose consumption (GC) in cultural solution in 24 h and MTT assay was used to monitor the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Results: The results indicated that 8-alkyl-coptisine could increase the amounts of GC of HepG2 cells. In glucose concentration (10 mmol/L), 8-hexyl-coptisine was the most significant. 8-Alkyl-coptisine had notable inhibition in proliferation of HepG2 cells. Conclusion: 8-Alkyl-coptisine was successfully synthesized. GC could increase as the length of the aliphatic chain increases firstly and the GC could decrease when the length of the aliphatic chain exceeds six atoms. 8-Hexyl-coptisine is a potential hypoglycemic leading compound.

Objective To investigate the correlation between nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test results and metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods In this prospective study,75 cases were enrolled,including 25 healthy volunteers (group A),25 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients with normal NPT results (group B),and 25 ED patients with abnormal NPT results (group C).At the time of recruitment,all the participants had serum total testosterone higher than 9.9 nmol/L,and were free of MS.At baseline,there was no significant differences in waistline,body mass index,fasting plasma glucose (FPG),mean arterial pressure (MAP),triglyceride,high density lipoprotein (HDL),cholesterol,and serum total testosterone among the three groups (P＞0.05).And there was no significant difference in international index of erectile function 5 score between group B and C.A follow-up survey was conducted three years after baseline to measure the above metabolic indicators and to compare the incidence of MS among the three groups.Results In the three-year follow-up survey,2 participants in group A were lost to follow-up,compared to 3 participants in group B and 5 participants in group C.In the three-year follow-up survey,there was no significant difference in all the indicators between group A and B; between group A and C,significant differences were observed in MAP,FPG,HDL,and cholesterol (P＜0.05); between group B and C,significant differences were observed in MAP and HDL (P＜0.05).In the three-year follow-up survey,2 participants in group A developed MS,compared to 3 MS patients in group B and 7 MS patients in group C.There was a significant difference in the incidence of MS among the three groups (P＜0.05).Conclusions To some extent,NPT reflects and predicts the development and progress of MS.Therefore,NPT can be used as an early indicator of MS.