OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of NF-κB on cardiomyopathy induced by doxorubicin(Dox) in rats and the effect of melatonin(MT). METHODS Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group; Dox model group; Dox+MT group. The content of nitric oxide (NO) and the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cardiac tissues were examined by spectrophotography method; the activity of NF-κB in myocardial cell was observed by immunohistochemistry method; the apoptosis information of myocardial cell was detected by TUNEL method. RESULTS There was significant difference in activity of NF-κB between normal control and the Dox model group. MT could inhibit the activation of NF-κB(P＜0.05). There was significant difference in the content of NO and the activity of iNOS between normal control and Dox model group, MT could decrease content of NO and the activity of iNOS(P＜0.05); apoptotic rate in Dox model group was significantly increased compared with that in normal control group, MT could significantly decrease myocardial cell apoptosis (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION The activation of NF-κB plays an important role in cardiomyopathy induced by Dox, NF-κB seems to increase the activity of iNOS, and then significantly increase the content of NO in cardiac muscle; NF-κB possibly enhances myocardial cell apoptosis in cardiomyopathy induced by Dox. MT may inhibit the activation of NF-κB, and prevent excessive oxidative stress and suppress myocardial cell apoptosis, MT has protective effect against cardiomyopathy induced by Dox.

Objective To investigate the expression of low molecular mass polypeptide-2 (LMP2)and protein phosphatase 1A (PPM1A) in gestational trophoblastic disease and elucidate their predictive value in malignant transformation of hydatidiform mole. Methods The expressions of LMP2 and PPM1A protein in 196 complete hydatidiform moles (in which 28 cases with malignant transformation) , 7 invasive moles, 5 choriocarcinomas and 20 normal chorionic villus were detected with the method of En Vision immunohistochemistry. Their clinicopathologic data were retrospectively analyzed. Results LMP2 and PPM1A protein expressed in cytotrophocytes, syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast. The level of LMP2 expression in deteriorative hydatidiform mole was significantly higher than that in non-deteriorative hydatidiform mole or normal chorionic villus (6. 79 ±2. 38, 5.26 ±2.63 and 3. 10 ±1.65, all P <0. 01),while there were no difference compared with gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (6. 42 ±2. 68, P=0. 113).The level of PPM1A expression was highest in normal chorionic villus, and decreased gradually in hydatidiform mole (non-deteriorative and deteriorative) and gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (6. 30 ±2. 98, 4. 93 ± 2. 50, 4. 43 ± 2. 04 and 3. 33 ± 2. 06, all P < 0. 01); the level of PPM1A expression in deteriorative hydatidiform mole was significantly lower than that in non-deteriorative hydatidiform mole (P=0.001). The expression of LMP2 protein was correlated to theca lutein ovarian cyst, the expression of PPM1A protein was related with uterine size (P < 0. 05) . While, there was no correlation between the expressions of the two proteins (P >0. 05). Conclusions High expression of LMP2 and low expression of PPM1A might play an important role in the motility and invasiveness of trophohlast cells and malignant transformation of hydatidiform mole. Testing the expression of LMP2 and PPM1A in hydatidiform mole tissues of initial uterine evacuation might be have some reference significance in judging outcomes of hydatidiform mole.

Objective To assess the high risk factors associated with the positive margin of conization in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods From January 2000 to February 2008, 1699 consecutive patients with CIN undergoing conization was reviewed retrospectively in order to analyze the relationship between the positive margin of conization with clinical prognostic factors,such as patients age, disease grade, size of lesion, the procedure of excision and menopause. X<'2> tests was used to compare the different frequencies of factors in groups of positive and negative margin conization, then seven factors with positive margin were processed into unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results The rate of the positive margin in 1699 patients was 14.01% (238/1699). The mean age of patients with positive margins was (39±9 ) years old, while patients with negative margins was ( 39±8 ) years old, which didn't reach statistical difference(P>0.05). The rate of the positive margin was 8.63% in cold knife cone (CKC) and 18.66% in loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which showed significant difference( P<0.01 ). Among 1699 patients, 90 patients were with CIN Ⅰ ,339 patients were with CIN Ⅱ ,1113 patients were with CIN Ⅲ [ including 972 with severe dysplasia and 141 with cancer in situ(CIS) ],87 patients were with cervical cancer stage Ⅰ al, 70 patients were with stage Ⅰ a2 or advanced stages. The rate of positive margin was 1.11% ( 1/90), 3.83% ( 13/339), 10.70% (104/972), 26.24% (37/141),35. 63% (31/87) and 74.29% (52/70),respectively. There was statistic difference among them, except CIN Ⅰ and CIN Ⅱ . When combined CIN Ⅰ with CIN Ⅱ , then compared with CIN Ⅲ, cervical cancer withⅠ al and Ⅰ a2, it also showed statistical difference (P<0.05 ) . The rate of positive margin in postmenopausal women was 21.54% (28/130), which was significantly higher than 13.38% (210/1569)in premenopausal women (P=0.010 ). The logistic regression analysis showed that the procedure of excision, grade of disease, size of lesion, surface of cervix, and menopause were high risk factors associated with the positive margin, the risk ratio were 5.147, 3.048, 1.271, 1.905 and 1.860, respectively.Conclusions High grade, the extent of CIN disease, LEEP and postmenopausal age are high-risk factors associated with positive margin in patients treated by conization. It should be warranted in those patients when designing conization treatment.

BACKGROUND: Secretion of various neurotrophic factors by Schwann cells plays important roles in neural regeneration. However, the secretion capability is affected by many factors. To seek a feasible method for promoting nerve growth factor secretion by Schwann cells is a key of regeneraion following neurologic defect.OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of methylprednisolone(solu-medrol) on the secreted function of Schwann cells of cultured rats.METHODS: Schwann cells were isolated and cultured by enzyme digestion method. Cell growth was observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope. Following passage, purity of some Schwann cells was identified using S-100 protein immunity. Other Schwann cells were regulated using cell counting plate into 1×10~9/L, and incubated in a 6-well culture plate (15 wells) for further incubation. Following 4 days of culture, different concentrations of solu-medrol (10~(-3), 10~(-4), 10~(-6), 10~(-8) mol/L) were administrated to the cell, while blank control group (1 well) was given no drug. 24, 48 and 72 hours after administration, reverse trancription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used in the detection of the levels of nerve growth factor mRNA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Number of primarily cultured cells was significantly increased at day 7, and 80% cells were confluent. Subcultured cells were spindle-shaped, with 2 thin long processes, showing positive fluorescence staining. Fibroblasts were round or flat, showing negative reaction of fluorescence staining. Reserve transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that nerve growth factor number at 72 hours affected by 10~(-8) mol/L radiosone was increased compared with the blank control group and other concentrations and other time points (P < 0.05). Number of nerve growth factor was reduced following treatment of 10~(-3) mol/L radiosone compared with the blank control group and other concentrations (P < 0.05). These results suggested that high concentration of solu-medrol prohibits secreted function of Schwann's cells, but long time and low dosage solu-medrol promotes secreted function of Schwann's cells.

Objective To analyze the association of serum CA125 level at the different phases with recurrence and survival, for providing simple and efficient methods about predicting recurrence and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.Methods The clinical-pathological data from 151 patients were collected, who were histologically confirmed as primary ovarian cancer between Jan 2002 and Dec 2005.All the patients were followed up.The relationship between serum CA125 level at different phases and clinical-pathological data were analyzed, including prognostic associated factors, 2-year or 5-year recurrent rate, 5-year survival rate, progression-free survival times, and overall survival times.Results Serum CA125 level at pre-surgery and the end of 3-course chemotherapy were associated with most of the clinical-pathological parameters,included stage, pathological grade, amount of ascites, residual tumor size, type of recurrence, 2-year and 5-year recurrent rate, and 5-year survival rate ( all P ＜ 0.05 ).Progression-free survival and overall survival times were shorter in the patients with higher CA125 level at pre-surgery or abnormal CA125 level at the end of 3-course chemotherapy (P ＜0.01 ).There was no relationship between the ratio of CA125 level at pre- and post-surgery and recurrence or prognosis ( all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Serum CA125 level at pre-surgery and the end of 3-course chemotherapy can be used for predicting the recurrence and prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture on the behavior of APP/PS1 transgenic mice of different age, and to explore the optimal intervention time of electroacupuncture in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice of 4 months, 6 months and 9 months old, 20 in each age group, were randomized into a model group and an electroacupuncture group, and ten C57BL/6 wild-type mice were taken as a control group; after 6-week electroacupuncture treatment, the Morris water maze was adopted for spatial memory and behavioral test, and the changes of behavior in each group were observed.Result Of the 5-month-old mice, there were no significant between-group differences (P>0.05), while the time factor (day) produced a statistical significance (P<0.01); of the 7-month-old mice, there were significant differences considering the different groups, time factor and interaction (P<0.01); of the 10-month-old mice, there were significant differences considering the different groups, time factor and interaction (P<0.05). The spatial probe test showed that there were significant between-group differences in comparing the platform crossings and swimming distance in platform quadrant in each age group (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve the learning and memory of APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice, the age of 6-7 months old is possibly the optimal intervention time of electroacupuncture for AD, but there still requires further mechanism studies.

OBJECTIVETo detect expression of p-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), and glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi), and to evaluate its clinical significance in neuroblastoma (NB).

METHODSSP immunohistochemical technique was used to investigate expression of P-gp, MRP, and GST-pi in 70 cases of NB.

RESULTSThe frequency of expression of P-gp, MRP, and GST-pi was 61.4%, 38.6%, and 51.4%, respectively. The coexpression rate of P-gp and MRP, P-gp and GST-pi, MRP and GST-pi, P-gp, MRP and GST-pi was 32.9%, 35.7%, 27.1%, and 24.3%, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between P-gp and MRP expression (P = 0.001), and between MRP and GST-pi expression (P = 0.012), but no correlation was found between P-gp and GST-pi expression. The expression of P-gp and MRP was higher in tumors from patients over 1 year old compared with those less than 1 year old at diagnosis (P = 0.01, 0.018, respectively). MRP expression was higher in tumors from the metastatic than the non metastatic groups (P = 0.015). All tested proteins showed significant relationship to the differentiation of the tumor (P = 0.006, 0.000, 0.019, respectively), but no correlation was found to the stage of NB or sex of the patients. MRP expression was significantly related to the reduction of both median survival time and the two-year cumulative survival (P = 0.02). In contrast, P-gp and GST-pi expression had no correlation with survival.

CONCLUSIONSThe intrinsic multidrug resistance of NB involves the combined effects of P-gp, MRP, and GST-pi. MRP expression may be an important parameter in predicting the prognosis of patients with NB.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; mortality ; Survival Rate