Objective:To explore the effect of costunolide on sensitivity of chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562/ADR to doxorubicin and its mechanism.Methods:K562/ADR cells in the logarithmic phase were used, and the cells were treated with different concentrations of costunolide, doxorubicin or costunolide combined with doxorubicin for 72 h. The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method, the cell proliferation rate was calculated, and the half inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of the two drugs was obtained. The cells were treated with 10 μmol/L costunolide, 10 μmol/L doxorubicin or costunolide combined with doxorubicin for 48 h, the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression level of p38-MAPK pathway related proteins was detected by Western blot. Results:The cell proliferation rate in the costunolide combined with doxorubicin group was lower than that in the corresponding concentration of the two drugs alone groups, and the differences were statistically significant both ( P < 0.05). The IC 50 of doxorubicin for K562/ADR cells was (13.50±0.86) μmol/L, and costunolide was (7.30±0.55) μmol/L ( t = 7.044, P = 0.002). The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of K562/ADR cells in the 10 μmol/L costunolide combined with 10 μmol/L doxorubicin group was higher than that of the blank control group, costunolide alone group and doxorubicin alone group, and the differences were statistically significant [(19.68±3.21)% vs. (2.96±0.87)%, (9.34±2.89)%, (9.18±2.13)%, all P<0.01]. Compared with the 10 μmol/L costunolide alone group and the 10 μmol/L doxorubicin alone group, the expression of the apoptosis inhibitor protein bcl-2 in the two-drug combination group was down-regulated, and the expressions of bad, p-p38, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP proteins were up-regulated. Conclusion:Costunolide can enhance the inhibitory effect of doxorubicin on the proliferation of K562/ADR cells and promote doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, which may reverse the drug resistance of K562/ADR cells by regulating the p38-MAPK pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on the brain against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the possible mechanism. Methods One hundred and eighty SD rats weighing 275-325 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 60 each): Ⅰ gham operation group; Ⅱ I/R group and Ⅲ FDP group. Global cerebral I/R was produced by 4-vessel technique. Bilateral vertebral arteries were coagulated and bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 min and then released for reperfusion. In sham operation the four vessels were exposed but not occluded. In FDP group FDP 1.5 mg?kg-1 was given Ⅳ when reperfusion was started, while in sham-operation group and I/R group normal saline (NS) 1.5 ml?kg-1 was given Ⅳ instead of FDP. The animals were killed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of reperfusion ( n = 5 each) for determination of cerebral SOD activity and MDA contents, the number of apoptotic neurons (TUNEL) and expression of P38 and Ref-1 in the brain (immuno-histochemical method) .Results The MDA content was significantly higher whereas the SOD activity and P38 and Ref-1 expression were significantly lower at all time points in I/R group than in sham operation group ( P

Objective: To develop a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) method for the simultaneous determination of six triterpene acid (euscaphic acid, tormentic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid) contents in the effective fraction of Eriobotryae Folium. Methods: Ursolic acid was used as the internal reference substance, and the relative correlation factors (RCF) of euscaphic acid, tormentic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, and oleanolic acid were determined by HPLC-ELSD with good reproducibility. The contents of the five components were calculated according to the RCF, respectively. The contents of these six triterpene acids in 15 batches of effective fraction were determined by the external standard method. The rationality, feasibility, and repeatability of the QAMS method were verified by comparing the results obtained from the two different methods. Results: For the six triterpene acids, there was no significant difference between the quantitative results with the two different methods in the 15 batches. Conclusion: The method established in this research is accurate and feasible that it just needs to assay single-marker (ursolic acid) for the determination of six triterpene acids in the effective fraction of Eriobotryae Folium simultaneously. Therefore, this method could provide a new reference for the quality assess of multi components in Chinese materia medica.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a most common inherited renal disease, about 50% with a family history, although the exact etiology not yet clear. To date, ADPKD, a multisystem disorder without effective preventive and therapeutic means, has been shown to be detrimental to human health. Recent studies show that severe oligoasthenozoospermia, necrospermia, immotile sperm, azoospermia, epididymal cyst, seminal vesicle cyst, and ejaculatory duct cyst found in male ADPKD patients may lead to male infertility, though the specific mechanisms remain unknown. Structural anomaly of spermatozoa, defect of polycystin, mutation of PKD genes, and micro-deletion of the AZF gene could be the reasons for the higher incidence of abnormal semen quality in male ADPKD patients. Assisted reproductive techniques can increase the chances of pregnancy, whereas the health of the offspring should be taken into consideration. This article presents an overview of reproductive issues concerning infertile male ADPKD patients from the perspective of the morbidity, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnosis, and management of the disease.
Cysts ; pathology ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

Adult ; Calculi ; complications ; Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; injuries ; Nasal Septum ; injuries ; Palate, Hard ; injuries

Sepsis is a complex systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by invasion of a varie-ty of pathogenic bacteria. The disease spectrum includes sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ failure. Mitochondria are referred to as “power plants”, providing energy for viscera to maintain normal func-tion. Immune disorders,the activation and release of a series of inflammatory factors,anomalies of intracellular signal transmission and oxidative stress in sepsis can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent research suggests that mitochondrial autophagy also plays a certain role in mitochondrial dysfunction. This article reviews the mechanism of mitochondrial functional damage during the pathogenesis of sepsis.

[Objective]To explore the feasibility and effect of modified minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screws osteosynthesis for the treatment of thoraco-lumbar vertebra compression fracture.[Method]Twelve cases of thoraco-lumbar fracture without neural impairment were enrolled who did not need laminotomy decompression from June 2005 to June 2007.With the help of C-arm image intensifier,the pedicle screws were inserted through four small longitudinal incisions(1-1.5 cm)and modified surgical instruments.Perioperative parameter,postoperative imaging index,visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)were compared with the treatment of conventional open pedicle screws osteosynthesis in other 18 cases.[Result]All cases were followed up from 8 to 25 months(mean 13.2 months).The operation time and length of stay in minimal invasive group were significantly shorter than that in conventional group,the amount of operative bleeding and drainage of postoperation decreased obviously(P

[Objective]To explore the clinical value of discography followed by computed tomography for the treatment of multi-level lumbar disc degeneration. [Methods]Twenty-eight cases were enrolled from January 2005 to January 2008.There were 12 males and 16 females with average age of 38.2 years,ranging from 30 to 56 years.The level of degenerated disc included L3、4 and L4、5(9 cases),L4、5 and L5S1(15 cases),L3、4,L4、5 and L5S1(4 cases).The level of discography included L2、3(10 cases),L3、4(28 cases),L4、5(28 cases),and L5S1(26 cases) with a total of 92 discs.The painful discs(or responsible discs) were screened according to diagnostic criteria of provocative discography and treated with interbody fusion.[Results]Thirty-two responsible discs were screened in total of 92 discs.ODI scores between pre and post operation were significantly different(P

0.05). Incision size,operating time,blood loss,hospital stay,medical device expenses,postoperative VAS and ODI,clinical outcomes,fusion rates,and complication rates were studied and tested with independent sample t test and x2 test.[Results]The mean follow-up was 19.1 months (range,12~25 months) in group A and 24.6 months (range,9~36 months) in group B.There were statistically significant differences in the incision size,operating time,blood loss,hospital stay and medical device expenses (P0.05).[Conclusion]Unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with unilateral pedicle screw fixation has the advantages of small incision,little bleeding,no destruction of the contralateral structure,short operating time or hospital stay,low medical device expenses and good recovery.But the operation indications must be strictly defined.

Objective To observe the clinical outcome of maintenance hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C viruses(HCV)infection.Methods A retrospective investigation about hepatitis C viruses infection was performed in our hemodialysis centre on December 31,2007.The clinical data including demography,serum transaminase,bilirubin,albumin,anti-HCV antibody,HCV RNA,infection-control procedures associated hemodialysis and ultrasound of the liver was analyzed.Results The prevalent rate of HCV infection in our hemodialysis centre was 20.2%(20/99),The mean age of maintenance hemodialysis patients with HCV infection was(63.3?10.9)years old,the duration on dialysis was(79.9?38.7)months,and the duration of positive serum anti-HCV was(32.6?22.6)months(the longest duration was 103.5 months).16 patients(80%)had blood transfusion history in the patients with HCV infection.Only four cases had viremia of HCV,the serum HCV RNA became negative in one of them spontaneously and in another one after interferon therapy for half a year,the other two of them have viremia now.Most of patients found their serum transaminase elevated transiently and mildly.The age and duration on dialysis of the patients with positive serum anti-HCV were significantly longer than those of patients with negative serum anti-HCV.After strict infection-control procedures were carried out,the new onset cases of HCV infection was significantly decreased(1.2% vs 5.3%,P