11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) is a metabolic enzyme of glucocorticoid. Growing evidence suggests that inhibiting over-expression of 11β-HSD1 and reducing partial effects of glucocorticoid could be the strategy to treat type 2 diabetes, as well as metabolic syndrome. Researching and developmenting selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors may become a new direction. As natural products (NPs) have represented a cornerstone of pharmaceutical research, literatures on the development of natural products with selective inhibition against 11β-HSD1 published during the last 10 years were selected, and the inhibitors were classified according to the way how to find them. This paper will provide reference for the further research on the selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors.

Objective To explore the expressions and.significancse of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-18 in serum and tissues of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN) and cervical cancer,and to analyze their relationships with clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis.Methods One hundred and eight patients' tissues and clinical blood samples (68 cases of CIN and 40 cases of squamous cell carcinoma) were enrolled in this study,including 25 with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN Ⅰ),43 with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ),and 40 with invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC);meanwhile,20 cases normal cervical tissues were enrolled.The expressions of IL-10 and IL-18 in cervical tissues and serum of the studied patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction.Meanwhile,second generation hybrid capture was used to detect human papilloma virus(HPV) DNA in cervical smears obtained from the studied patients with the different lesions.The relationships among IL-10 and IL-18 with HPV DNA and clinical prognosis were analyzed.Results The expressions of IL-10 and IL-18 in normal control serum were (212.75 ± 62.09),(187.84 ± 81.03)pg/ml respectively.The expressions of IL-10 in CIN Ⅰ,CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ and SCC serums were (324.71 ±75.87),(397.43 ±68.56),(482.77 ± 104.05) pg/ml,with statistically significant difference (F =17.657,P =0.001).The expressions of IL-18 in CIN Ⅰ,CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ and SCC serums were (305.53 ± 64.08),(392.74 ± 87.38),(499.86 ± 92.04) pg/ml,with statistically significant difference (F =13.309,P =0.003).The relative expressions of IL-10 in normal control,CIN Ⅰ,CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ and SCC tissues were 0.99 ±0.01,3.24 ±0.68,7.32 ±0.99,13.24 ± 1.03,with statistically significant difference (F =21.694,P =0.000).The relative expressions of IL-18 in normal control,CIN Ⅰ,CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ and SCC tissues were 0.98 ± 0.01,2.02 ± 0.84,7.01 ± 1.59,14.38 ± 2.10,with statistically significant difference (F =19.912,P =0.001).The expressions of IL-10 and IL-18 were positively associated with HPV infection (r =0.696,P =0.001;r =0.852,P =0.001).The median survival time of patients with high expressions of IL-10 was 9.74 months,which obviously shorter than those patients with low expressions of IL-10 (24.47 months),with statistically significant difference (x2 =21.363,P =0.001).The median survival time of patients with high expressions of IL-18 was 12.32 months,which obviously shorter than those patients with low expressions of IL-18 (22.88 months),with statistically significant difference (x2 =7.457,P =0.006).Conclusion High expressions of IL-10 and IL-18 are observed in patients with CIN and SCC,which can be used as biomarkers for predicting early cervical lesions.

Objective Toinvestigatetheroleofcontrolledanticoagulationinocclusionofvertebral arteriesforthetreatmentofgiantfusiformaneurysmsofthebasilartrunkinchildren.Methods The clinical data of 3 children with giant fusiform aneurysms of the basilar trunk were analyzed retrospectively. Three children underwent bilateral vertebral artery occlusion with endovascular intervention,and conducted controlled anticoagulation by intravenous infusion of heparin sodium (10-30 U/[kg·h])after procedure. Results Intheprocessofanticoagulation,2patientshadsomeseverebleedingcomplications,including epistaxis,gastrointestinal bleeding,and after transient cessation of anticoagulation,they had severe brainstem ischemic symptoms,including vomiting,hemiplegia,loss of consciousness and respiratory dysfunctions (one recovered after using low-molecular weight heparin and one died),another patient did not have any serious complicationsandwascuredafteradjustingtheanticoagulationstrategy.Conclusion Inthetreatmentof basilar artery trunk giant fusiform aneurysms in children through the bilateral vertebral artery occlusion,the controlled anticoagulation after procedure may reduce the occurrence of brain stem infarction and severe bleeding complications. It may be an important measure for improving the safety and effectiveness of bilateral vertebral artery occlusion.

As Evoked Potentials are much lower in amplitude with respect to the on-going EEC, many trigger-related signals are needed for common averaging technique to enable the extraction of single-trail evoked potentials (EP). How to acquire EP through fewer evocations is an important research project. This paper proposes a cross-talk resistant adaptive noise cancellation method to extract EP. Together with the use of filtering technique and the common averaging technique, the present method needs much less evocations to acquire EP signals. According to the simulating experiment, it needs only several evocations or even only one evocation to get EP signals in good quality.
Algorithms ; Brain ; physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Evoked Potentials ; physiology ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of protein kinase B （Akt） overexpression in the inhibition of human bladder cancer 5637 cell proliferation by erianin and related mechanisms. MethodThe 5637 cells stably over-expressing Akt were induced using the lentivirus vector. The 5637 cells infected with the empty vector were classified into blank group. Then the Akt group， empty vector combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group， and Akt combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group were set up. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and the clone formation of 5637 cells in each group was determined in the clone formation experiment. The cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to assay the protein expression levels of phosphorylated （p）-Akt， Akt， p21. The glycolysis of 5637 cells was determined in glucose uptake and lactate secretion assays. ResultCompared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt partially reversed the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Clone formation assay showed that erianin inhibited the clone formation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）， which was partially reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. As revealed by comparison with the blank group， erianin arrested the bladder cancer 5637 cells in G₁ phase （P<0.05）， which was also reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. Western bolt showed that erianin promoted the expression of p21 but suppressed the expression of p-Akt and Akt （P<0.05）. By contrast， the overexpression of Akt down-regulated the elevated p21 protein expression induced by erianin （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the glucose uptake and lactate secretion of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt weakened the inhibitory effect of erianin against the glycolysis of 5637 cells （P<0.05）. ConclusionErianin is able to inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， promote the expression of p21， and inhibit the expression of p-Akt. Overexpressed Akt reduces the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， suggesting that Akt plays an important role in the inhibition of 5637 cell proliferation by erianin， which has provided a new target for the application of erianin in the treatment of bladder cancer.

AIMTo explore the effect of the ginkgo bioba extract on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in bronchial asthma.

METHODS30 guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10): (1) Normal control group; (2) Asthmatic group; (3) Therapeutic group. Blood carbon monoxide Hb (COHb) percent value, Airway resistance and eosinophilic inflammation of airway wall were observed, the expression of HO-1 in lung tissue were observed by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe expression of HO-1 was mainly located in airway epithelium in these 3 groups, the optical densities were 0.170 +/- 0.020, 0.707 +/- 0.058, 0.397 +/- 0.034, respectively. The asthmatic group showed higher optical densities than that of the normal control group (P < 0.01), and the therapeutic group showed lower optical density than asthmatic group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of HO-1 is inhibited significantly by the treatment of the ginkgo bioba extract, which may be one of the mechanism for treating asthma by ginkgo bioba extract.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba ; Guinea Pigs ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the severity of allergic asthma and the levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and to analyze the potential role of ANP signaling in the pathogenesis of asthma.
 METHODS: We recruited 96 subjects, including 23 healthy volunteers, 25 stable allergic asthmatics, 21 mild allergic asthmatics and 27 moderate allergic asthmatics, from the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University. ANP, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA and protein expressions of natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA), transcription factor T-bet and GATA3 were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot.
 RESULTS: The levels of ANP in serum and the expressions of NPRA mRNA and protein in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from the mild asthma group or the moderate group were elevated compared with those in the stable asthma group or the mild group, respectively (P<0.05). Consistently, expressions of GATA3 and levels of IL-4 showed the same tendency (P<0.05). In addition, levels of ANP in serum were positively correlated with the severity of asthma, whereas negatively correlated with the ratio of T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 (r=-0.85, P<0.05; r=-0.88, P<0.05, respectively).
 CONCLUSION Levels of ANP signaling in serum were significantly increased with the severity of allergic asthma, suggesting a close relation with the pathogenesis of asthma; ANP signaling may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma through inducing the Th2-type immune response.
Asthma ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fetal Proteins ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Signal Transduction ; T-Box Domain Proteins

Objective To provide vessel anatomical materials guidance for endovascular aortic repair,the branches artery of thoracic aortic was studied by CT angiography (CTA).Methods From January 2008 to February 2012,739 adult cases' CTA data were collected,all cases performing thoracic CTA in Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command.We measured the diameter and/or leugth of the ascending aorta,aortic arch and branches artery of aortic arch,and made an analysis.Results The aortic arch includes standard and variant types.Standard type is common,which accounted for 91.1％ of the total number,while variant type accounted for 8.9％.In the standard aortic arch of patients,the diameter of aortic arch above the opening of coronary artery (CA) was (35.7 ±4.3) mm,the diameter of ascending aortic arch at the opening of brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) was (33.6 ±4.2) mm,the diameter of aortic arch between the BCT and the left common carotid artery (LCCA) was (29.4 ± 5.7) mm,the diameter of aortic arch between the LCCA and the left subclavian artery (LSA) was (27.6 ± 4.2) mm,the diameter of descending aortic at the opening of the LSA was (25.4 ± 4.5) mm,the diameter of the head BCT from aortic arch was (12.9 ±0.9) mm,the diameter of the head LCCA from aortic arch was (8.5 ± 0.7) mm,the diameter of the head LSA from aortic arch was (10.4 ± 1.1) mm,the length of aorta between the CA and the BCT was (53.3 ±12.5) mm,the length of aortic between the BCT and the LCCA was (4.7 ± 1.5) mm,the length of aortic between the LCCA and the LSA was (7.9 ± 2.6) mm,the length between the opening of BCT and the right subclavian artery (RSA) was (41.1 ± 8.2) mm,the length between the opening of LSA and the opening of left vertebral artery was (38.5 ±5.7) mm,the angle between the horizontal of BCT and the LCCA and the sagittal plane was (71.2 ± 7.2) °,the angle between the plane of LCCA and the LSA and the plane of sagittal was (31.1 ± 2.9)°.Conclusions The CT data of the thoracic aorta can be used as reference for production of stents and guide releasing the stents in endovascular repair.

Objective To explore the protective effect of rosiglitazone on insulin resistance( IR)induced by high glucose in vascular endothelial cells and its possible mechanism. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells( HUVECs) was divided into 3 groups:the normal control group cultivated in DEME medium with 5. 5 mmol·L-1 glucose;the high glucose group( HG)cultivated in DEME medium with 33 mmol · L-1 glucose for 24 h after the IR model was set up;the rosiglitazone group cultivated in DEME medium with 33 mmol·L-1 glucose and 10 μmol·L-1 of rosiglitazone for 24 h after the IR model was set up. The cell viability,nitric oxide(NO),endothelin-1(ET-1),mitochondrial membrane potential,reactive oxygen species ( ROS),p-IKK and IkBa protein levels were detected. Results Compared with the normal control,the cell viability,the level of NO and the mitochondrial membrane potential were decreased,levels of ET-1 and ROS increased,p-IKK expression was up-regulated,and IκBα expression was down-regulated in HG group(all P〈0. 01). Rosiglitazone reversed these changes in a time-dependent manner(P〈0. 05). Conclusion Rosiglitazone has the protective effect on insulin resistance induced by high glucose in vascular endothelial cells via inhibiting ROS/IKK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo detect the cell-surface-expressed nucleolin and investigate its tumor suppressing effect on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

METHODSTo detect cell-surface-expressed nucleolin in the hepatocellular carcinoma cells by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. To down-regulate the nucleolin expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by RNA interference. The tumor-suppressing effect of cell-surface nucleolin on hepatocellular carcinoma cells was assessed by MTT and transwell chamber assays.

RESULTSNucleolin was expressed in the nuclei, cytoplasm and on the cell surface of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. ShRNA markedly decreased the nucleolin expression level in the cytoplasm and on the cell surface (P < 0.01), but the nuclear nucleolin remained unchanged. After downregulation of cell-surface nucleolin, MTT assays showed that the cell growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in the shRNA interference group was significantly inhibited as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). The transwell chamber assay showed that the mean transmembrane cell number in the shRNA interference group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study show that downregulation of cell-surface nucleolin expression inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cell Movement ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism