Dosage Forms ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Nanotechnology

Purpose To investigate the value of 3.0T MR T1ρquantitative analysis in early detection of disc degeneration. Materials and Methods Conventional T2WI and T1ρwere collected in 35 healthy volunteers (male 16, female 19) on 3.0T MRI, and the classification of disc nucleus was performed by Pfirrmann classification. T1ρvalue of nucleus pulposus was measured and analyzed for the relationship among Pfirrmann classification, segmental and gender. Results There was a significant negative correlation between T1ρvalue and Pfirrmann grade (r=-0.542, P<0.001). T1ρvalue in L5/S1 segment (94.80±26.60) ms was significantly lower than that in L2/L3 (117.18±25.64) ms and L3/L4 (115.52±28.53) ms (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference among other segments (P>0.05);there was no gender differences among the T1ρvalue of each segment (t=0.006, 0.042, 0.797, 1.022, 0.038, P>0.05). Conclusion T1ρ value is closely related to the degree of disc degeneration, and T1ρimaging can be used as an objective, sensitive and effective tool for early detection of disc degeneration.

Objective To investigate the expression changes of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-kB) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)in rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)and the effect of pretreatment of pioglitazone,a specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor?(PPAR?),)ligand, on the development of SAP.Methods Fifty-four SD rats were divided into sham operation group(C), SAP group(A)and pioglitazone pretreatment group(Ⅰ).The SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate(0.1 ml/100 g)into the biliopancreatic duct.The rats inⅠgroup were intraperi- toneally injected with pioglitazone(2 mg/100 g)two hours before operation.The rats were sacrificed at 3,6 and 12 hrs,the blood,ascites and pancreatic tissues were collected(6 rats once for each group). The expressions of NF-kB and ICAM-1 in pancreatic tissues were measured by immunochemistry,mean- while the serum amylase,the amount of ascitic,pancreatic wet/dry ratio were measured.The pathologi- cal changes of pancreatic tissues were observed by immunochemistry staining with hematoxylin and eosin and the score of the tissues were evaluated.Results Pretreatment with pioglitazone could significantly attenuated the severity of SAP,including reduction of amylase and ascites,and the mass and pathological scores of the pancreatic tissue were decreased after 6 hrs of medication.The expression of ICAM-1 and NF-kB activity were inhibited.Conclusions Above findings demonstrate that pioglitazone can attenuate the severity of SAP by inhibition of ICAM-1 expression and NF-kB activation.The beneficial effects of pioglitazone might be due to its anti-inflammatory activities.The pioglitazone can be used as a new drug in treatment of SAP.

Emodin is one of the main active ingredient of Rheum palmatum, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and other effects. In recent years, it arouse concern since it has a significant anti-tumor effect with low toxicity. In this paper we mainly report the anti-cancer effects of emodin according to the studies of the past five years, including four parts such as inhibit tumor growth, inhibit migration and invasion, enhance the efficacy of combination therapy, increase chemosensitivity and attenuated side effects. We hope that our work may provide a reference for further study.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the imaging manifestation of immature teratoma.Methods Imaging features of 9 cases of immature teratoma.confirmed pathologically were retrospective analysed.Results All 9 cases were male,age ranging from 1 to 38 years,mean age 1 9.5 years,AFP increased varying degrees in six cases .(1)3 cases (mean age 25.5 years)located in the anterior mediastinum which CT characteristics included the following features:lesions were projecting to one side,with irregular shape,obvi-ous necrosis,mild enhancement,wrap or oppression the blood vessels,one case with superior vena cava and head arm vein tumor em-boli and mediastinal lymph node metastasis.(2)6 cases (mean age 9.5 years)located in the pineal region and tricorn region,which MR finding were as following :cystic or solid placeholders,tow cases with small calcification or fat,solid part and the capsule wall enhancement significantly,4 cases with nodular enhancement.Conclusion Immature teratoma tends to occur in the middle struc-ture,and appears in children and young adults frequently,necrosis and cystic changes are seen commonly.CT and MR are of high val-ue in diagnosing immature teratoma.

AIM To observed the effect of procyanidins on DNA damage induced by carcinogen or hydroxyl radical (OH?),and inhibitory effect on topoisomerase. METHODS Using labeled TdR uptake assay and single cell gel electrophonesis. Topoisomerase was extracted from B16F10 cell lines, used agarose gel electrophoresis assay. RESULTS It was showed that hydroxyl radical (OH?) or different doses of MNNG can induce severe DNA damage of L 929 cell lines. Procyanidins can alleviate the damage induced by MNNG or OH?. It shows certain dose dependent effect relationship . But there is no significant inhibitory against Topo Ⅱ activity by procyanidins even at a dose of 50 ?mol?L -1 . CONCLUSION Procyanidins from grapes seeds can protect DNA damage,but not inhibit topoisomerase activity. This is one of cancer chemoprevention mechanism of Procyanidins.

Objective To investigate MR imaging features of femoral marrow in treated ?-thalassemia major.Methods MR imaging of the proximal femoral marrow was performed in 35 cases of ?-thalassemia major and 45 age-and sex-matched normal children as control.Coronal images of femoral marrow with the techniques of spin echo and fast field echo(FFE)were obtained.On T_1-weighted imaging the red and yellow femoral marrow were judged and marrow distribution was classified into five groups.The hemosiderosis of marrow was judged on the basis of signal intensity of marrow on FFE imaging.The marrow distribution classification and the hemosiderosis on MR imaging were correlated with clinical features.Results On FFE,marrow hemosiderosis occurred in 15 patients with a marked hypo-intensity signal and was related to the age(P=0.032).On T_1-weighted imaging,the femoral marrow in 35 patients was classified as groupⅢand IV,while the marrow distribution was groupⅠorⅡin all normal children,there was statistically significant difference(P

Objective To investigate the ability of T2 mapping in early detection of the change of cartilage collagen by quantitative analysis.Methods 20 porcine patellae were randomly assigned into 4 groups,3 treated groups and 1 control group.The samples of 3 treated groups were respectively immersed in PBS with 100 mg/100 mL,1 50 mg/100 mL and 200 mg/100 mL typeⅡ collagenase for 4 h,whereas control group samples in PBS for 4 h.T2 relaxation times of superficial,deep and full layers of cartilage and mean densi-ty after Van Gieson stain were measured.The correlation of T2 relaxation times and mean density were statistically analyzed.Results Gross pathology showed all articular cartilages maintained intact after treatment.T2 relaxation times of superficial and full layers and mean density increased significantly in any treated group in comparison with control group(P <0.05).Significant differences in T2 relaxation times of superficial layers and mean density were found between any two treated groups,whereas no difference of T2 re-laxation time of full layers was found between 100 mg/100 mL and 1 50 mg/100 mL treated groups(P >0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a close correlation(r=-0.837)between T2 relaxation times of full layers and mean density.Conclusion T2 map-ping can adequately detect the change of cartilage collagen in the early stage of osteoarthritis,and shows a good clinical application prospect.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; Phloretin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Herba Epimedii Brevicornus (HEB) and prepared Radix Rehmannia (RR), the representative Chinese herbs for warming yang and nourishing yin on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in GR down-regulated rats.

METHODSThe GR down-regulated model was established by subcutaneous injection of hydrocortisone. Seventy-two SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups: the normal group; the model group (MG) ; the HEB group, and the RR group. And every group was subdivided to 3 batches depending on the time points (the 3rd, 7th and 14th day after modeling) of observation, with 6 rats in each batch. Changes in blood level of corticosterone (GS), as well as protein expression and binding power of GR in splenic lymphocytes at corresponding time points of the batches were determined by RIA and flow cytometry.

RESULTSNo significantly difference was found in blood GS levels of the model group at all the time points, as compared with that of the normal group (P > 0.05), while that in the RR group was significantly lowered at the 14th day, and showed significant difference from that in the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expression and binding power in the model rats were lower than those in normal ones (all P < 0.01), but they were significantly higher on the 7th and 14th day in the RR group (P < 0.01), and on the 14th day in the HEB group higher than those in the model group, respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth HEB and RR, in dosage-form of water decoction, could up-regulate the protein expression and binding power of GR in GR down-regulated model rats, but different in acting time.

Animals ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Hydrocortisone ; pharmacology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Spleen ; cytology