Objective To investigate the curative effect of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and the method of the pretreatment choice on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Methods 13 cases who were undergoing allo-HSCT including 10 HLA-matched, 2 HLA partially matched,and one umbilical cord blood transplanted patients were enrolled in this study. The infusion number of MNC and CD+34 cells is 6.92 (2.65-21.33)×108/kg and 4.47 (1.49-10.22) ×106/kg, respectively. Of the 13 cases,5 adopted TBI, fludarabine(Flud), and cyclophosphamide(Cy) pretreatment, 3 chose BU/Cy pretreatment, and 3 chose TBI and Cy pretreatment, 2 chose Ara-C+BU+Cy+VM26 pretreatment. In order to prevent GVHD, 2cases of HLA partially matched were treated with ATG, cyclosporin A (CsA), MTX and MMF aftertransplantation, while the others were treated with CsA and MTX only. Results 9 out of 13 cases achieved hematopoietic reconstruction completely. 4 died of complications. Conclusion The allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an efficient regimen to cure MDS. The pretreatment should adopt the individuation.

Objective To investigate the MR features of pituitary abscess.Methods The MR features of 14 cases of pituitary abscess proved by surgical pathology and clinical treatments were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pre-contrast MR showed hypointense heterogeneous intensity on T_1 WI in 12 cases and iso-hyperintense on T_1 WI in 2 cases,hyperintense on T_2 WI in all cases.Post-gadolinium MR showed the ring-like enhancement around the uneven edge of abscess and the surrounding enhanced meninges connecting to the focus.The normal pituitary could not be identified in all 14 cases.The MR specific findings include the fluid-fluid level,nodule on the edge and the enhanced patchy shadow.Conclusions The pituitary abscess has specific findings on MR examination,which can be used to combine with clinical symptoms to achieve the diagnosis before operation,so that the cases could be treated with antibiotic without operation.

Objective To study the protective effect of glucocorticoid preconditioning on the myocardial ischemic and reperfused hearts.Methods Totally 18 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model(model),high-dose glucocorticoid given by one time group(high-dose group) and low-dose glucocorticoid given by several times group(low-dose group),with six rabbits in each group.Myocardial ischemia was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.ST segments were recorded by the BL-420 biological signal acquisition system.Plasma malondial dehyde(MDA) was examined before ischemia,at 15 min after ischemia and 30 min after reperfusion;ischemic heart muscles were prepared with cryotomy and stained histochemically.Succinic dehydrogenase activity was observed in the ischemic region.Results There was shorter time of ST-segment recovery in the high-dose group and the low-dose group than that in the model group.Serum level of MDA in the high-dose group was lower than in the low-dose group(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of beta-Elemene on expression of ANG II and RhoA/ROCK signaling in Hepatic Stellate Cells.

METHODIn vitro, HSC-T6 cell line was cultured for 24 hours and treated with several concentration of beta-elemene (5.0, 5.0, 2.5 mg x L(-1)) and Y-27632 (30 micromol x L(-1)) for 4, 12 and 24 h. Secretion of ANG II in the supernatant was detected by Radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of AGT, RhoA, ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 for 4 h, 12 h, 24 h was detected by RT-PCR respectively.

RESULTOn the time point of 4h, the secretion of ANG II in supernatant by 10 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene was 50.970 +/- 8.081 pmol x L(-1), vs the control group (74.500 +/- 10.999) pmol x L(-1), P < 0.05; 5.0 mg x L(-1) and 2.5 mg x L(-) beta-elemene had no inhibitory effect on the secretion of ANG II, P > 0.05. On the time point of 12h, the secretion of ANG II in supernatant by 10 mg x L(-1), 5 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene was 83.727 +/- 6.850 pmol x L(-1), 91.090 +/- 3.226 pmol x L(-1), respectively, lower than the control (104.367 +/- 5.030 pmol x L(-1)), P < 0.01, P < 0.05. On the time point of 24h, compared with the control (116.620 +/- 7.110) pmol x L(-1)), the secretion ofANGII in supernatant by 2.5 mg x L(-1) and 5 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene was (104.133 +/- 3.296) pmol x L(-1), (100.957 +/- 2.581) pmol x L(-1), respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01; but the effect of 10 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene was not obviouse, P > 0.05. Compared with control group, the mRNA expression of AGT by different concentration of beta-elemene were significantly inhibited on different time point (4, 12, 24 h), F value was 30.33, 28.04, 107.19, respectively, P = 0.000. On the time point of 4h, 12 h and 24 h, the RhoAmRNA expression could be inhibited by 2.5, 5.0, 10 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene, (P = 0.000), and there existed no dose dependence. On the time point of 4 h and 24 h, ROCK-1 and ROCK-2mRNA could be inhibited by 2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg x L(-1) beta-elemene, P < 0.01, but on the time point of 12 h, there was no inhibitory effect.

CONCLUSIONBeta-elemene can inhibit the expression of AGTmRNA in HSC and the secretion of ANGII in supernatant. In addition, beta-elemene can inhibit the mRNA expression of RhoA, ROCK-1, ROCK-2mRNA to further regulate the biological effect of ANG II and delay the progress of hepatic fibrosis.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sesquiterpenes ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; rho-Associated Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and gene mutation of cluster of differentiation 9 (CD9) in the pathway of the mineral powder induced malignant transformation in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in Gejiu.

METHODSBEAS-2B cells served as the control group and its malignant transformation cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu were considered as experiment group. The expression of CD9 protein in 20 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 20 bottles of malignant transformation cells was evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA expression of CD9 in 10 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 10 bottles of malignant transformation cells was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene mutation was detected in the products of RT-PCR by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThere was significant difference between the expression of CD9 protein in BEAS-2B cells (100%, 20/20) and that in its malignant transformation cells (35%, 7/20 P < 0.01). The expression of CD9 mRNA in BEAS-2B cells 0.91 +/- 0.09 was significantly higher than that in its malignant transformation cells (0.34 +/- 0.14) (P < 0.01). Two point mutation of CD9 gene was detected in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B by DNA sequencing. The change of G-->T in the base of 231 led to the change of Gln-->His in the amino acids of 40. The change of T-->A in the base of 119 led to the change of Val-->Asp in the amino acids of 3.

CONCLUSIONThe absence or down-regulation of CD9 expression and point mutation in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B may play a considerable role in the pathway of the malignant transformation in the BEAS-2B cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu.

Bronchi ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dust ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mining ; Mutation ; drug effects ; Tetraspanin-29 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo set up animal models of the lung cancer induced by Yunnan tin mineral dusts (no radon) in F344 rats and to explore the process of carcinogenesis and pathologic alterations in various stages of malignant transformation in the animal models.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety F344 rats were randomly divided into Yunnan tin mineral dust group (100 rats), furfural physiological saline group (30 rats), physiological saline group (30 rats) and normal control group (30 rats). The intratracheal instillation with mass fraction of 6% suspension liquid mixture Yunnan tin mineral dusts, volume fraction of 2% furfural physiological saline and physiological saline 0.2 ml was performed in the rates once per week respectively except normal control group. Then the rats were sacrificed in batch periodically after one week. The last rat was exposed to the tin mine dusts for 100 weeks. The morphological process and tumor formation were dynamically observed under LM and TEM. Immunohistochemistry detection of cytokeratin of High MW and low MW was used for tumor classification. Pollak stein was used to evaluate the development of fibrosis of lung in the rats.

RESULTSBronchoalveolar inflammation occurred in the early stage after the intratracheal instillation of Yunnan tin mineral dust was performed in F344 rates. Along with reduction of inflammation, collagen fibrils increased at alveolar interstices. Simple hyperplasia, papillary hyperplasia and metaplasia of the epithelial cells in alveolar and bronchi were observed, followed by atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and squamous dysplasia. Lung cancer was induced in the end. Among the 14 cases of lung cancer, 9 cases were adenocarcinoma, 2 squamous cell carcinoma and 3 mixed carcinoma. No lung cancer occurred in other three control groups. There was a significant difference in the malignancy rate between the experimental group and the three control groups (P < 0.01). The squamous metaplasia and squamous carcinoma were found in alveoli that expressed cytokeratin of High MW. Lung fibrosis was found in 31 cases of in the tin mineral dust group. The greater the mineral dust deposit was, the more serious the alveolar fibrosis was.

CONCLUSIONYunnan tin mineral dusts without radon induce lung cancer in rates. The adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinomas induced in F344 rat lung can occur in the alveoli. The further study on whether type II alveolar epithelial cells are the origin cells of adenocarcinoma and some peripheral squamous lung carcinomas is worthwhile.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dust ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Tin ; adverse effects

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aescinate on inhibition and apoptosis of HL-60 cell line from promyelocytic leukemia. HL-60 cells at logarithm phase were treated with aescinate. Cell survival rate and cell morphology were observed, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/PI-FITC double labeling and DNA electrophoresis. The results showed that HL-60 cells could be inhibited in the presence of 15-120 mg/L of aescinate for 48 hours, survival rates were (92.2+/-0.69)%-(8.2+/-0.96)%, which were significantly lower than that of non-aescinate control (99.4+/-0.31)% (all p<0.01). The apoptosis of cells could be induced by aescinate treatment at dosage of 15-60 mg/L for 24 hours, the Annexin V positive cells accounted for (12.7+/-0.58)%-(65.4+/-1.30)% which were significantly higher than that of non-aescinate control (0.57+/-0.03)% (all p<0.01). The typical DNA ladder of HL-60 cells treated with aescinate was shown on the DNA electrophoresis pattern. It is concluded that aescinate can specifically induce apoptosis of leukemic HL-60 cells, which provides an experimental evidence for treatment of leukemia with aescinate as a supplementary agent to chemotherapy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Phytotherapy

AIMTo elucidate the mechanism of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), the effects of CUMS on serotonin (5-HT), tryptophan, stress hormones and behaviour were investigated in rats.

METHODSDepression was induced by for 8 weeks CUMS and confirmed by behavioral tests, the brain and plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitters were analyzed by HPLC-ECD techniques, the content of plasma corticosterone was evaluated by I125 cortisol radioactivity immunoassay and the serum tryptophan content was measured by HTTACHI L-8800 amino acid analyzer.

RESULTS(1) Rats exposed to a series of mild, unpredictable stressors for 8 weeks displayed the decreased body weight, reduced scores of open-field test and preference of sucrose solution (P < 0.05). (2) Plasma and brain 5-HT contents in rats after exposure to CUMS 8 weeks decreased significantly (P < 0.05). While serum tryptophan content increased at the same time (P < 0.05). (3) Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine in rats were increased after CUMS 8 weeks, but there was no difference between control and CUMS group in plasma corticosterone.

CONCLUSIONThe behavioral changes induced by CUMS for 8 weeks are similar to the features of human depression, which may be related to the disturbances of tryptophan metabolism induced by increased norepinephrine and epinephrine in CUMS rat.

Animals ; Depression ; metabolism ; Epinephrine ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurosecretory Systems ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of expression and subcellular location of nuclear growth-induced protein-B(NGFI-B) in cardiomyocytes of stressed rats and its biological effect and to provide scientific evidences for exploring the mechanism underlying myocardium injury induced by stress.

METHODSThe cell model of stress-induced cardiomyocyte injury were established. Western blot method and confocal microscopy method were used to investigate the subcellular location of NGFI-B in cardiomyocytes under stress. The flow-cytometry was selected to detect the apoptotic rate in cardiomyocytes in vitro. Western blot method was used to determine the content of cytochrome C protein in mitochondria and cytoplasm respectively.

RESULTSStress induced the increase of NGFI-B content in the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes and the translocation of NGFI-B from the nucleus to the mitochondria. The translocation of NGFI-B promoted the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Treatment of stressed cardiomyocytes with leptomycin B, a non-specific blocker of nuclear export, resulted in nuclear retention of NGFI-B and abrogated its ability to induce the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONStress could induce NGFI-B translocation from the nucleus to the mitochondria in cardiomyocytes, which activated the mitochondrial pathway of cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Physiological

AIMTo study the distribution and efficiency of pEGFP-N1 plasmid after its transfection in cardiomyocytes.

METHODSThe neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured. According to the different grow period of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, the distribution and efficiency of pEGFP-N1 plasmid after its transfection in cardiomyocytes were studied.

RESULTSThe efficiency was significantly increased after pEGFP-N1 plasmid transfection in one-day cardiomyocytes. The distribution of EGFP was in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

CONCLUSIONThe efficiency of pEGFP-N1 plasmid after its transfection in cardiomyocytes was related to the grow period of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The distribution of EGFP was in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transfection