This study examined the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human ovarian cancer cell line, CAOV3. The CAOV3 cells were cultured in the RPMI 1640 media and treated with different concentrations of UA (0, 10, 20, 40 mumol/L). The proliferation rate of the CAOV3 cells was determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry. ERK activity was detected by immunoprecipitation and the expressions of p-ERK1/2, MKP-1, Bax and Bcl-2 by Western blotting. The results showed that the proliferation rate was significantly decreased in the cells treated with UA as compared with that in the non-treated cells (P<0.05). The intracellular ERK activity and p-ERK1/2 expression were also reduced in the UA-treated cells, while the MKP-1 expression was elevated. Moreover, the apoptosis was found in the CAOV3 cells exposed to UA; the Bax expression was increased and the Bcl-2 expression decreased. The apoptosis rate in the UA-treated cells was much higher than that in the non-treated cells (P<0.05). It is concluded that UA can inhibit the proliferation of CAOV3 cells by suppressing the ERK activity and the expression of p-ERK1/2. And it can also induce the apoptosis of the CAOV3 cells by up-regulating the Bax expression and down-regulating the Bcl-2 expression.

Objective To investigate the effect of different doses of ketamine on inflammatory cytokines in rabbits with severe burn at early stage and preliminarily approach its regulatory action on early stage of inflammatory reaction due to stress of trauma.Methods Forty healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups in accord with the random number table method: normal control group, scald model group, ketamine analgesia group and ketamine anesthesia group. Before scald, pentobarbital sodium was used for anesthesia, afterwards catheters were inserted into internal jugular vein and internal carotid artery respectively ready for use, and 24 hours later, Ⅲ degree scald at the animal back and buttocks occupying 30% total body surface area (TBSA) was performed as the scald model for all the rabbits except those in normal control group. In ketamine analgesia group, after scald for 0.5 hour, 0.5 mg/kg ketamine intravenous injection was given to the rabbits as the loading dosage and then persistent intravenous pump infusion of 9μg·kg-1·min-1 ketamine was applied for all together 24 hours. In ketamine anesthesia group, after scald for 0.5 hour, 1.5 mg/kg ketamine intravenous injection was given to the rabbits, and then persistent intravenous pump infusion of 45μg·kg-1·min-1 ketamine was applied for 4 hours to maintain systemic anesthesia. In normal control and scald model groups, only intravenous infusion of equal amount of normal saline was given to the rabbits. The amount of intravenous transfusion in each group and the total dosages of ketamine used in ketamine analgesia group and ketamine anesthesia group were recorded. Before scald and 0.5, 6, 12, 24 hours after scald, arterial blood gas analyses were made, and the levels of serum interleukins (IL-1, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined.Results Although the indexes of blood gas analysis were changed in the four groups, they were all in the normal range, showing that the respiratory function was in the normal range and indirectly reflecting that the circulatory function was also in the normal range, thus the effects on cytokines by factors of respiratory and circulatory functions were ruled out. The levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α before scald showed no statistically significant differencesamong the four groups (allP > 0.05). From 0.5 hour after scald, the levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α were markedly higher in model group than those of normal control group [IL-1 (ng/L): 30.27±0.93 vs. 13.79±1.11, IL-6 (ng/L): 47.22±1.49 vs. 46.31±4.12, TNF-α (ng/L): 243.39±20.85 vs. 190.95±14.97, allP < 0.05], and the situation continued until 24 hours after scald; the levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α from 6 hours after scald were significantly decreased in ketamine analgesia and ketamine anesthesia groups compared with those in the model group, and from 12 hours after scald, the degrees of descent in levels of the above indexes in ketamine analgesia group were more obvious than those in ketamine anesthesia group [IL-1 (ng/L): 19.28±2.51 vs. 40.12±10.31, IL-6 (ng/L): 52.10±4.23 vs. 72.20±10.11, TNF-α (ng/L): 246.03±20.74 vs. 313.71±27.34, allP < 0.05].Conclusion The low-dose ketamine analgesia and ketamine anesthesia have certain degree of inhibitory effect on the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines at the early stage in rabbits with severe burn, the effect of long-term low-dose ketamine analgesia being more significant.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of propofol on liver in severely scalded rabbits.Methods Twenty healthy male New Zealand rabbits, aged 3-4 months, weighing 2.3-2.5 kg, were randomly divided into either scald group (group S, n =10) or propofol group (group P, n =10).Thirty percent of the total body surface was shaved chemically with 10％ sodium sulphate and then exposed to 98 ℃ water for 20 s to produce third degree thermal injury at the back and buttocks of anesthetized rats.In group P, propofol was injected at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg at 1 h after scald, followed by an infusion of 4 mg· kg-1 · h 1 for4 h.The equal volume of normal saline was given in groupS.Before scald (T1), at 1 h after scald (T2) , and at 6, 12 and 24 h after administration of propofol or normal saline (T3-5) , blood samples were taken from the internal jugular vein for determination of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity (by lactate dehydrogenase method), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (by MDH), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations (by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay).The rabbits were sacrificed at T5, and their livers were removed and cut into sections which were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined under microscope.Results The serum ALT and AST activities and TNF-α concentrations were significantly higher at T2-5 than at T1.Compared with the values at T2, the serum ALT and AST activities and TNF-α concentrations in group S and serum TNF-α concentrations in group P were significantly increased at T3-5, and no significant change was found in the serum ALT and AST activities at T3-5 in group P.Compared with group S, the serum ALT and AST activities and TNF-α concentrations were significantly decreased at T3 5, and the pathological changes were mitigated in group P.Conclusion Propofol provides protective effect on liver in severely scalded rabbits.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the protein expression of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 in human osteosarcoma tissues and explore their relationships with the clinico-pathological features and risk of osteosarcoma. Methods:Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the protein expression of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 gene in the paraffin specimens of 55 and 20 cases of osteosarcoma and osteochondroma, respectively. SPSS17.0 statistical software was used to explore the relationships among the expressions of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 gene and the biological behavior and prognosis of osteosarcoma. Test criterion:P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The positive expression rates of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 were significantly higher in the osteosarcoma tissues than in the benign osteochondroma tissues, and the differences were significant (P=0.016, P=0.008, and P<0.001, respectively). The mean survival and metastasis time were shorter in the CD133 or Ki-67 positively expressed osteosarcoma patients than in those with CD133 or Ki-67 negatively expressed osteosarcoma. The differences were significant (P<0.05). The expression of CD133 and Ki-67, surgical staging, and distal metastasis were relevant to the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. The expression of CD133 and distal metastasis are the independent risk factors that affect the prognosis of these patients. Conclusion:The positive expressions of CD133 and Ki-67 closely correlated with the occurrence and progression of osteosarcoma, and may be used as an indicator for prognosis of the cancer.

This study examined the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human ovarian cancer cell line,CAOV3. The CAOV3 cells were cultured in the RPMI 1640 media and treated with different concentrations of UA (0,10,20,40 μmol/L). The proliferation rate of the CAOV3 cells was determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry.ERK activity was detected by immunoprecipitation and the expressions of p-ERK1/2,MKP-1,Bax and Bcl-2 by Western blotting. The results showed that the proliferation rate was significantly decreased in the cells treated with UA as compared with that in the non-treated cells (P＜0.05). The intracellular ERK activity and p-ERK1/2 expression were also reduced in the UA-treated cells,while the MKP-1 expression was elevated. Moreover,the apoptosis was found in the CAOV3 cells exposed to UA;the Bax expression was increased and the Bcl-2 expression decreased. The apoptosis rate in the UA-treated ceils was much higher than that in the non-treated cells (P＜0.05). It is concluded that UA can inhibit the proliferation of CAOV3 cells by suppressing the ERK activity and the expression of p-ERK1/2. And it can also induce the apoptosis of the CAOV3 cells by up-regulating the Bax expression and down-regulating the Bcl-2 expression.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and benefit of the upper gastrointestinal cancer screening in Yangzhong city, Jiangsu province, from 2009 to 2015. Methods: From 2009 to 2015, 31 natural villages with high-incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer were selected from Baqiao town, Youfang town and Xinglong sub-district in Yangzhong city. 13 776 residents aged 40 to 69 years old were recruited and screened for upper gastrointestinal cancer by using endoscopic examination and pathological diagnosis. Two economic evaluation methods, cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis, were performed to evaluate the current screening schemes. Results: The mean age of all respondents were (53.60±8.14) years old and the males accounted for 43.64% (6 012). A total of 502 cases of upper gastrointestinal tract lesions were detected, including 100 cases of cancer (62 cases of esophagus, gastric/cardiac early stage cancer, 38 cases of advanced stage cancer), 38 cases of severe esophageal hyperplasia/carcinoma in situ, and 15 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in stomach/cardia, the detection rate was 0.73%, 0.28% and 0.11%, respectively; the early diagnosis rate was 75.16% (115/153). The cost of a precancerous lesion, a case diagnosed at the early stage and a positive case identified through the upper gastrointestinal cancer screening in Yangzhong City was 10 037.17, 30 460.64 and 22 895.25 RMB, respectively. The early detection cost index from 2009 to 2015 was 0.52, 0.56, 0.48, 0.48, 0.21, 0.30, and 0.26, respectively. The effectiveness-cost ratio from 2009 to 2015 was 3.41, 2.77, 2.66, 2.58, 4.99, 3.12, and 3.48, respectively. Conclusions The project of early diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer in Yangzhong city has achieved good results and benefits.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between central obesity and cardiovascular risk factors and their clustering in adults of Jiangsu province.

METHODSMulti-stratified clustering sampling method was used to sample 8 400 residents aged 18 years and over from 14 diseases surveillance units in Jiangsu province from October to December 2010. Information was obtained with face-to-face interview, physical examination and laboratory testing. A total of 8 380 residents finished the study protocol and their data were analyzed. Central obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥ 85 cm in males or ≥ 80 cm in females. Following complex weighting of the samples, level and proportion of cardiovascular risk factors in group with different waist circumference were analyzed.

RESULTSThe prevalence of central obesity among adults in Jiangsu province was 46.2%, the proportion of males and females was 46.4% and 46.1%, respectively (P > 0.05). The prevalence of center obesity varied significantly in residents with different age, area, education and occupation (all P < 0.01). The level of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol was also significantly different in residents with different degree of waist circumference (all P < 0.01). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors increased in proportion to increasing waist circumference (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors was 2.2 (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 2.0-2.4) and 4.7 (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 3.9-5.7); 2.1 (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.7-2.5) and 3.8 (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 3.2-4.5); 2.3 (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.8-2.9) and 4.1 (OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 3.2-5.3); 3.4 (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.9-3.9) and 8.0 (OR = 8.0, 95% CI: 6.2-10.2) fold higher in residents with mild and severe central obesity than residents without central obesity.

CONCLUSIONSThe extent of central obesity positively correlates with the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their clustering in adults of Jiangsu province. Comprehensive interventions on obesity serve as an important tool to reduce the cardiovascular risk in adult Jiangshu residents.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cluster Analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference