OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tangke Decoction (TD) on the expression of TGF-beta1/Smad4 of rats with early diabetes and to explore the effect and mechanism of TD against the renal injury induced by diabetes.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n = 12), the model group (n = 10), the Chinese herbs prevented group (n =10), the Chinese herbs treated group (n = 10), and the Western medicine control group (n = 10). TD (18 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the Chinese herbs prevented group immediately after successful modeling for 12 weeks, once daily. At the 4th week of successful modeling, rats in the rest 4 groups were administered by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group. Benazepril suspension (1 mg/kg) was administered by gastrogavage to rats in the Western medicine control group for 8 weeks, once daily. TD (18 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the Chinese herbs treated group for 8 weeks, once daily. The body weight, kidney weight, index of kidney weight, fasting blood sugar, 24 h urinary albumin excretion rate were examined after experiment. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed by HE staining, Masson staining, and electron microscope. The expression of renal transforming growth factor-beta1, (TGF-beta1) and Smad4 were detected using immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the body weight of rats decreased significantly; the kidney weight, index of kidney weight, blood sugar, 24 h urinary protein excretion, the urinary albumin excretion rate,TGF-beta1 and Smad4 expression increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the aforesaid indices were improved in each treatment group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Western medicine control group, the kidney weight, index of kidney weight, blood sugar, 24 h urinary protein excretion, and the urinary albumin excretion rate were obviously improved in the Chinese herbs prevented group (P < 0.01). The renal pathological changes were most obvious in the model group significantly, but they were improved in all treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONTD could obviously improve the symptoms of diabetes and down-regulate the expression of renal TGF-beta1 and Smad4 of early diabetic nephropathy rats, which suggested that TD had certain preventive effect on early diabetic nephropathy.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo examine the prognosis of preretinal hemorrhage following vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

METHODSClinical data of 76 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with vitrectomy and silicone oil infusion tamponade in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from October 2006 to September 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Intraoperative bleeding,postoperative preretinal bleeding,blood reabsorption time, and preretinal fibrosis were assessed.

RESULTSAll preretinal hemorrhage developed within 1 week after surgery, blood was distributed in thin and scattered patterns (32 cases), thick and localized patterns (25 cases) or thick and scattered patterns (19 cases). The preretinal hemorrhage was ceased in 1 day after operation in 35 cases, in 2 days after operation in 18 cases, in two weeks after operation in 23 case. Recurrent hemorrhage occurred within 1 week after operation in 15 cases. Thin blood was largely reabsorbed in about two weeks, and thick blood was largely reabsorbed in about five weeks. Fibrosis tissue was resulted in 15 cases(34.1%) with thick blood.

CONCLUSIONMost of preretinal hemorrhage occurs within 1 week after surgery and is reabsorpted with 5 weeks in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy undergoing vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. The major complication of preretinal bleeding is the formation of preretinal fibrosis.

Diabetic Retinopathy ; surgery ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicone Oils ; therapeutic use ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; epidemiology

A strain KX6,producing thermotolerant endoglucanase,was isolated from compost. The morpholo-gical identification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed it belongs to Streptomyces xylophagus. The production and characterization of endoglucanase from Streptomyces xylophagus KX6 was studied. Maximum endoglucanase yield of 0.538 IU/ml was achieved with medium pH8.0,containing CMC2Na 1.0% as carbon resource,soybean meal 1% as nitrogen resource,2% inoculating volume,30% 250 ml triangle flask bulk for medium volume at 40℃ 200r/min shaker for 48h. The endoglucanase exhibited optimum catalytic activity at pH7.0 and 50℃. The enzyme was stable at 50℃,and able to retain 60% of the full activity,when it was incubated at 60℃ for 1h.The enzyme was stable at pH6.0~7.0. All these findings suggest that the enzyme is a thermotolerant neutral endoglucanase.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of intravesical instillation of antifibrinolytic agents with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on preventing recurrence of superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) after surgical management.

METHODSA total of 326 cases of superficial BTCC undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) or partial cystectomy were divided into 5 groups. Then the different dosage BCG with or without antifibrinolytic agents was regular instilled into bladders (once a week, then once a month after 6 times). Group A including 66 cases received intravesical instillation of 100-120 mg BCG plus 100 mg para-aminomethyl benzoic acid (PAMBA). Group B including 64 cases: instillation of 50-60 mg BCG plus 100 mg PAMBA; Group C including 65 cases: 100-120 mg BCG plus 2.0 g epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA); Group D including 64 cases: 50-60 mg BCG plus 2.0 g EACA; Group E (control group) including 67 cases: 100-120 mg BCG. All the cases had been followed up for 4 to 69 months (mean, 28.5 months). Not only was cystoscopy performed every 3 months, but also biopsy was carried out to identify recurrence when necessary. Side effect was recorded after instillation.

RESULTSThe rate of tumor recurrence of Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D was 12%, 10%, 9%, 9% respectively, which was significantly lower than that of Group E (30%) (chi(2) = 5.699, 6.818, 7.380, 7.867, P = 0.017, 0.009, 0.007, 0.005). And there was no significant difference of tumor recurrence rate between Group A and Group B or between Group C and Group D (Group A and Group C: high dosage BCG plus antifibrinolytic agents, while Group B and Group D: low dosage BCG plus antifibrinolytic agents) (P > 0.05). But the side effects developing in Group B and Group D after BCG instillation were less than those in Group A and Group C.

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of BCG on prevention the recurrence of superficial BTCC can be enhanced when combined with antifibrinolytic agents. Even if the dosage of BCG was reduced by half, the efficacy didn't changed. A new approach of low dosage BCG plus antifibrinolytic agents is recommended in the prophylaxis of recurrence of bladder cancer.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Administration, Intravesical ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aminocaproic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Antifibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; BCG Vaccine ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; para-Aminobenzoates

Adenosarcoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mixed Tumor, Mullerian ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Uterine Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of uterine mullerian adenosarcoma.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 9 cases of uterine mullerian adenosarcoma in PUMC hospital from January 2003 to February 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 6 uterine endometrial adenosarcomas and 3 cervical adenosarcomas. The main clinical manifestations were abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Physical examination showed cervical/vaginal mass, enlarged uterus or pelvic mass. The adenosarcoma was characterized by benign or atypical-appearing neoplastic glands within a sarcomatous stroma. This stroma could appear as periglandular cuffs or intraglandular polypoid projections of increased cellular structure. The primary diagnostic rate was 66.7% and the most common clinical stage was stage I (7/9). All patients received surgical treatment and seven had postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy. Conservation of unilateral ovary or bilateral ovaries was performed in 5 cases. Three patients underwent local excision, which resulted in the preservation of reproductive function. During the follow-up, 2 cases of uterine endometrial adenosarcoma recurred. One patient of clinical stage III containing sarcomatous overgrowth died from recurrence 13 months after surgery. The other one recurred 2 years after local excision of the tumor in the uterine cavity and she remained healthy since hysterectomy.

CONCLUSIONUterine mullerian adenosarcoma is a rare tumor without specific clinical symptoms and signs. The diagnosis depends on pathomorphologic examination. The tumors show low malignant potential and the vast majority are at early stage. Surgical excision is the main treatment strategy with a good prognosis in the early stage disease with complete removal of tumors. The prognosis is poor in advanced adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth. Due to the relatively high rate of recurrence, long-term follow-up is recommended.

Adenosarcoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Ifosfamide ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) in regulating radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cell lines.

METHODSWe analyzed Sp1 expression in 6 different cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa, HeLa, Caski, Me180, Ms751, and C33a) using Western blotting and real-time PCR. Clonogenic survival assay and curve fitting were used to assess the changes in radiosensitivity of Me180 cells transfected with lentivirus-mediated shRNA vector targeting sp1 and HeLa cells transfected with sp1 over-expression vector.

RESULTSIn the 6 cell lines tested, the cellular expression levels of Sp1 decreased gradually in the order of Me180, Caski, C33a, SiHa, Ms751, and HeLa. SP1 knockdown with lentivirus-mediated shRNA significantly lowered the survival rate of Me180 cells following radiation exposure (P<0.05), and obviously lowered the values of SF2, D0 and Dq but significantly increased α/β of the cells. Compared with the cells transfected with the mock vector, HeLa cells with sp1 over-expression showed a significantly increased survival following radiation exposure (P<0.05) with obviously increased values of SF2, D0 and Dq but significantly lowered α/β.

CONCLUSIONSilencing Sp1 can increase the radiosensitivity while Sp1 overexpression enhances the radioresistance of cervical cancer cell lines, suggesting an important role of Sp1 in radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUNDAlthough thrombolytic therapy with rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common treatment strategy for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), scant data are available on its efficacy relative to primary PCI, and comparison was therefore the aim of this study.

METHODSThis multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel trial was conducted in 12 hospitals on patients (age < or = 70 years) with STEMI who presented within 12 hours of symptom onset (mean interval > 3 hours). Patients were randomized to three groups: primary PCI group (n = 101); recombinant staphylokinase (r-Sak) group (n = 104); and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) group (n = 106). For all patients allocated to the thrombolytic therapy arm, coronary angiography was performed at 90 minutes after drug therapy to confirm infarct-related artery (IRA) patency; rescue PCI was performed in cases with TIMI flow grade < or = 2. Bare-metal stent implantation was planned for all patients.

RESULTSAfter randomization it required an average of 113.4 minutes to start thrombolytic therapy (door-to-needle time) and 141.2 minutes to perform first balloon inflation in the IRA (door to balloon time). Rates of IRA patency (TIMI flow grade 2 or 3) and TIMI flow grade 3 were significantly lower in the thrombolysis group at 90 minutes after drug therapy than in the primary PCI group at the end of the procedure (70.5% vs. 98.0%, P < 0.0001, and 53.0% vs. 85.9%, P < 0.0001, respectively). Rescue PCI with stenting was performed in 117 patients (55.7%) in the thrombolytic therapy arm. Rates of patency and TIMI flow grade 3 were still significantly lower in the rescue PCI than in the primary PCI group (88.9% vs. 97.9%, P = 0.0222, and 68.4% vs. 85.0%, P = 0.0190, respectively). At 30 days post-therapy, mortality rate was significantly higher in the thrombolysis combined with rescue PCI group than in primary PCI group (7.1% vs. 0, P = 0.0034). Rates of death/MI and bleeding complications were significantly higher in the thrombolysis with rescue PCI group than in the primary PCI group (10.0% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.0380, and 28.10% vs. 8.91%, P = 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThrombolytic therapy with rescue PCI was associated with significantly lower rates of coronary patency and TIMI flow grade 3, but with significantly higher rates of mortality, death/MI and hemorrhagic complications at 30 days, as compared with primary PCI in this group of Chinese STEMI patients with late presentation and delayed treatments.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a sandwich ELISA method for detecting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in sera of population and the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFull length and two truncated human VEGF cDNA sequences were amplified from a commercial plasmid pBLAST49-hVEGF by PCR and inserted into the prokaryotic-expression plasmid pET-32a or pGEX-2T. Various VEGF proteins were expressed and purified from E. coli in His-Trx or GST fusion forms. The specific VEGF antibodies were elicited in experimental rabbits and mice by immunization of the full length VEGF fusion protein His-Trx-VEGF1-165. After purification of antibodies with chromatograph of Protein G, a sandwich ELISA technique was established. Serum VEGF levels were evaluated in 229 adults and 291 HCC patients.

RESULTSSDS-PAGE displayed that the molecular weights of the expressed full length (His-Trx-VEGF1-165), N-terminal (His-Trx-VEGF1-100) and C-terminal (GST-VEGF100-165) human VEGF fusion proteins were about 38KD, 31KD, and 33KD, respectively. Western blots confirmed that the prepared antisera were able to recognize both prokaryoticly and eukaryoticly expressed recombinant VEGF proteins. Assays of serially diluted His-Trx-VEGF1-100 by the established sandwich ELISA method showed that the linear range of the standard curve was 0.625-320 ng/mL, with the squared correlation coefficient R2 = 0.991. Screening of a serum panel containing 291 serum samples of HCC patients and 229 health adults revealed that the average VEGF level in HCC patients was higher than that in healthy controls, with a statically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONThe established sandwich ELISA reflects the level of serum VEGF and provide scientific basis for screening metastasis and recurrence of HCC using serum VEGF as an index.

Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; DNA Primers ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood