Objective:To investigate the potential pro-apoptotic activity of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in human leukemia HL-60 cells,as well as the potential mechanism with focus on mitochondrial pathway.Methods:After treatment with different concentrations of ATO (1 μg/mL,5 μg/mL or 10 μg/mL) for 24 h,apoptotic cell death was detected by flow cytometry,oxidative stress was determined by measuring MDA and GSH levels,the expression of apoptotic factors was detected by western blot,and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined by immunofluorescence staining.Results:ATO at the concentrations of 5 μg/mL or 10 μg/mL induces apoptotic cell death and increases oxidative stress in human leukemia HL-60 cells.ATO significantly increases the expression of pro-apoptotic factors (Bax and Caspase-3),whereas decreases the expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2.Compared with the control group,ATO treatment significantly decreases the MMP level in HL-60 ceils.Conclusions:Arsenic trioxide induces apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial pathway in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Objective To investigate the endoscopic and ultrasonic endoscopic features of colorectal carcinoid and the indications of endoscopic treatment. Methods The clinical data of 22 patients with colorectal carcinoid who had been admitted to our hospital from 2002 to 2007 were collected. The endoscopic and ultrasonic endoscopic features and the relationship between the features and invasion depth of colorectal carcinoid were analyzed. Results Under the endoscope, early carcinoid presented submucosa tumor with 1.5cm in diameter, and yellow or white smooth surface; advanced carcinoid presented submucosa tumor with 0.8-3.0cm in diameter, and yellow or white little nodus or ulcerative surface. The ultrasonic endoscopic feature of the colorectal carcinoid was orbicular-ovate low level echo tumor with punctiform slightly high-level echo and an unsharpness edge. Sixteen mucosal layer-cancers and submucosal layer-cancers were removed by endoscopic mucosal resection, and 10 of them were additional treated by argon plasma coagulation. After a follow-up period of 4-36 months, no recurrence was observed. Conclusions Endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography are effective methods to diagnose colorectal carcinoid and its invasion depth. Endoscopic treatment is a simple, safe and effective means to treat the early colorectal carcinoid tumors.

The phytochemical studies on the leaves of Anisopus mannii led to the isolation of seven compounds by silica gel, ODS, DIAION HP-20, Sephadex LH-20 colunmn chromatographer, their structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic analyses(NMR, HRMS)and the comparisons with the literatures as 3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-ene(1), 1-acetoxy-2-isopropyl-1-tridecene(2), rutin(3), 3, 6′-diferuloylsucrose(4), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-［α-L-rhamnopyra- nosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl］ ester(5), conduritol A(6), hoyacarnoside I(7). Meanwhile, the isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against melanogensis in B16 melanoma cells, as the results, all compounds exhibited melanogenesis-inhibitory activity and compound 5 showed a strongest activity(Melanin content: (27. 4±3. 5)%, Cell Viability: (54. 9±5. 6)% with a concentration of 30 μmol/L)which could be further developed.

Objective To detect the expression of Beclin1 and Bcl2 in invasive pituitary adenomas and to explore the relationship of Beclin1 and Bci2 in invasive pituitary adenomas and the relativity between the 2 genes.Methods 61 specimens were classified into invasive group (32 cases) and non-invasive group (29 cases) according to the comprehensive evaluation of invasive pituitary adenomas.lmmunofluorescence analysis and RT-PCR were adopted respectively to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of Beclinl and Bcl2.The difference and relativity of Beclin1 and Bcl2 expression in invasive group and non-invasive group were analyzed.Results 32 specimens of pituitary adenoma were invasive and 29 were non-invasive.Beclin1 protein and mRNA expressions were lower in the invasive group than in the non-invasive group (P ＜0.01 ).Bcl2 protein and mRNA expressions were higher in the invasive group than in the non-invasive group (P ＜0.01 ).Pearson related analysis showed that Beclin1 mRNA expression was negtively correlated with Bcl2 mRNA expression in the invasive group ( r =-0.42,P =0.028 ).Conclusions Beclinl expression is decreased in invasive pituitary adenomas.The invasiveness of pituitary adenoma is closely related to the high expression of Bcl2 protein and mRNA,and the low expression of Beclin1 protein and mRNA.The inhibition of the autophagy may lead to the enhancement of the invasiveness of pituitary adenomas and that inhibition may come from the interaction of Beclin1 and Bcl2.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indications of the therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with neural network model analysis. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-seven patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine (WM) treated group, 194 cases; and traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CM) treated group, 203 cases. A complete physical examination and 18 common clinical manifestations were prepared before the randomization and after the treatment. The WM therapy included voltaren extended action tablet, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. The CM therapy included Glucosidorum Tripterygii Totorum Tablet and syndrome differentiation treatment. The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) was taken as efficacy evaluation. All data were analyzed on SAS 8.2 statistical package. The relationships between each variable and efficacy were analyzed, and the variables with P<0.2 were included for the data mining analysis with neural network model. All data were classified into training set (75%) and verification set (25%) for further verification on the data-mining model. RESULTS: Eighteen variables in CM and 24 variables in WM were included in the data-mining model. In CM, morning stiffness, swollen joint number, peripheral immunoglobulin M (IgM) level, tenderness joint number, tenderness, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and joint pain were positively related to the efficacy, and disease duration and more urination at night negatively related to the efficacy. In WM, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), weak waist, white fur in tongue, joint pain, joint stiffness and swollen joint were positively related to the efficacy, and yellow fur in tongue, red tongue, white blood negatively related to the efficacy. In the analysis with the neural network model in the patients of verification set, the predictive response rates of 20% patients would be 100% and 90% in the treatment with CM and WM, respectively. CONCLUSION: Neural network model analysis, based on the full clinical trial data with collection of both traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine diagnostic information, shows a good predictive role for the information in the efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlations between clinical symptoms and treatment efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Four hundred and thirteen patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine-treated group with 204 cases and Chinese herbal drug-treated group with 209 cases. Eighteen clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment. The Western medicine therapy included voltaren extended release tablets, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. The Chinese herbal drug therapy included glucosidorum Tripterygii totorum tablets and Yishen Juanbi Tablets combined with treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) was used as efficacy evaluation criteria. RESULTS: In the Chinese herbal drug-treated group, clinical symptoms such as arthralgia and tenderness of joints were positively correlated with the efficacy after 12-week treatment, while frequent urination at night was negatively correlated. In the same group, tenderness of joints and fever were positively correlated with the efficacy after 24-week treatment, while deep-colored and turbid urine was negatively correlated. In the Western medicine-treated group, tenderness of joints and thirst were positively correlated with the efficacy after 12-week treatment, while vertigo was negatively correlated. And in the same group, tenderness of joints was positively correlated with the efficacy after 24-week treatment, while heaviness of limbs was negatively correlated to the efficacy. The statistical results showed that the treatment efficacy was improved when the correlated symptoms were included in the indications. CONCLUSION: The treatment efficacy of RA is correlated with some symptoms, so further studies should proceed on these correlations in order to achieve better treatment outcome.

Type H endothelial cells (CD31 hiEMCN hi), a special subtype of vascular endothelial cells, are distributed mainly in endosteum and long bone metaphysis. They recruit and activate osteoprogenitor cells and promote endochondral ossification through paracrine, thereby promoting osteogenesis. On the contrary, their biological activities can be regulated by osteoclasts and osteoblasts. At the same time, the mutual regulation of type H endothelial cells is also closely related to the process of angiogenesis and osteogenesis. This article reviews the characteristics and cytokine expression profiles and the mediating role in mutual regulation of angiogenesis and osteogenesis of the cells, offering an insight for establishment of a bone regeneration strategy based on the coupling of angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Total phenolic contents, antioxidant, cytotoxic and Epstein-Barr virus early antigen(EBV-EA)inhibitory activities of twenty-six methanol extracts from defatted Vitellaria paradoxa kernel at different sites were investigated. Furthermore, the correlation between total phenolic contents and bioactivities was discussed. The total phenolic contents were determined spectrometrically and antioxidant activities were evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid(ABTS)radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power(FRAP)methods. The cytotoxic activities against human leukemia HL60 cells, lung cancer A549 cells and breast cancer SK-BR-3 cells were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay and the inhibitory effect on EBV-EA was assayed by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Results showed that the total phenolic contents of twenty-six methanol extracts were different(25. 8 - 265. 7 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, some of the extracts had potent antioxidant activities(DPPH: IC50 3. 4 - 54. 9 μg/mL, ABTS: 1. 11- 4. 09 mmol TE/g, FRAP: 1. 24 - 1. 93 mmol TE/g), toxicities against one or more of HL60, A549 and SK-BR-3 cells(IC50 25. 1- 95. 5 μg/mL)and inhibitory effect on EBV-EA(85. 8%- 94. 9% at 100 μg/mL). A significant correlation was observed between total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities(r=0. 750-0. 837, P< 0. 01).

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects and indications of tibial condylar valgus osteotomy (TCVO) in treating varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 32 patients (45 knees) who suffered from varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and underwent TCVO from June 2016 to June 2018. These patients were aged 65.8±8.3 (range from 52 to 79) years, including 12 males (18 knees) and 20 females (27 knees). All enrolled individuals presented obvious expansion of the lateral joint space with joint line convergence angle (JLCA) of 7.19°±2.69°. Based on the full-length standing X-ray imaging of the lower limbs at before and 2 years after surgery, the percentage of mechanical axis (%MA), femorotibial angle (FTA), hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA) and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were measured and analyzed to evaluate the improvements of lower extremity alignments. The medial tibial plateau depression (MTPD), posterior proximal tibial angle (PPTA), JLCA and joint space width (JSW) were measured and analyzed to evaluate the congruency of the knee joint and shape of the tibial plateau based on positive and lateral radiographs of knee joint. In addition, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score were evaluated to assess the clinical effects of TCVO pre-operatively and at 1 year or 2 years after surgery.Results:All patients were followed up for 33.4±7.4 (range from 25 to 40) months. Comparing to the preoperative radiological data, %MA at 2 years after surgery increased from 3.78%± 14.34% to 66.16%±9.90%, FTA from 185.41°±4.45° to 170.81°±2.87°, HKA from 169.69°±1.70° to 181.16°±2.39°, MPTA from 83.03°±3.20° to 90.84°±3.67° all with statistical significance ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference for PPTA between before (89.22°±1.52°) and 2 years (88.97°±1.57°) after surgery ( t=0.638, P=0.526). MTPD improved from -7.81°±3.27° to 5.78°±2.19° ( t=19.218, P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference for PPTA between before (81.63°±3.28°) and 2 years (82.25°± 2.21°) after surgery ( t=0.881, P=0.382). JLCA reduced from 7.19°±2.69° to 0.22°±2.09°. The medial and lateral JSW were corrected from 2.45±0.23 mm and 5.86±0.25 mm to 3.73±0.27 mm and 4.68±0.34 mm ( P<0.05), respectively. Additionally, VAS and WOMAC scores improved from 6.46±2.21 and 52.66±16.69 preoperatively to 2.94±1.72 and 19.31±14.87 at 1 year after surgery, and to 1.39±1.45 and 13.66±15.44 at 2 years after surgery, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Satisfactory early therapeutic outcomes could be achieved by TCVO in varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis with subluxated lateral joint and increased JLCA. TCVO can correct intra-articular varus deformity, adjust mechanical axis and relieve knee joint pain and dysfunction.

The cultivation and production of cucumber are seriously affected by downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Downy mildew damages leaves, stems and inflorescences, and then reduces the yield and quality of cucumber. This review summarized the research advances in cucumber downy mildew, including pathogen detection and defense pathways, regulatory factors, mining of pathogens-resistant candidate genes, proteomic and genomic analysis, and development of QTL remarks. This review may facilitate clarifying the resistance mechanisms of cucumber to downy mildew.
Cucumis sativus/genetics* ; Oomycetes/genetics* ; Peronospora ; Plant Diseases/genetics* ; Proteomics