Objective To observe the expression of STEAP4 gene(a novel obesity-related gene) during the period of human preadipocyte differentiation and to explore the relationship between the STEAP4 gene expression and adipocytes differentiation,adipogenesis.Methods Human preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into the matured adipocytes in vitro.Adipocytes morphology and lipid accumulation were observed during this process.Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various time points (preadipocyte,Day 0,Day 4,Day 6,Day 8,Day 11,Day 14,and Day 17) and the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression was measured by fluorescent real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polyme-rase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The level of STEAP4 mRNA expression remained high in preadipocytes.In the presence of differentiation medium (Day 4),there was a transient upregulation in the expression of STEAP4 gene.After that,with the human preadipocytes being differentiated into matured adipocytes,the expression of STEAP4 mRNA was downregulated and reached the lowest level in fully differentiated adipocytes.There was a significant difference between any 2 detected phases in the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression (Pa

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Dioscornin Tablet (DT) containing serum on nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-kappaB) p65, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expressions in rats' synovial cell strain 364 (RSC-364) induced by interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms for DT to inhibit angiogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSIn this experiment, the vehicle control group, the cell model group, the DT containing serum group, and the positive control group (Tripterygium containing serum) were set up. The DT containing serum and the Tripterygium containing serum were prepared. The RA cell model was established by IL-17 combined TNF-alpha induced injury in RSC-364. The RA cells were intervened by DT containing serum and Tripterygium containing serum respectively. The DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB p65 was detected using TransAM NF-kappaB p65. The expression of STAT3 was observed using Western blot. The VEGF mRNA expressions were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the vehicle control group, the NF-kappaB p65 activity, the expressions of STAT3 and VEGF mRNA increased significantly in RSC-364 induced by IL-17 +TNF-alpha (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the NF-kappaB p65 activity, the expressions of STAT3 and VEGF mRNA decreased significantly in the DT containing serum group and the positive control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDT inhibited the VEGF mRNA expression through inhibiting the NF-kappaB p65 activity and the STAT3 protein expression in the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activating transcription factor pathway, thus inhibiting the angiogenesis of RA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-17 ; adverse effects ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; adverse effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the primary prevention role of Wuling Capsule (WC) on poststroke depression (PSD) patients.

METHODSAcute stroke patients were recruited and randomized into 2 groups by stratification, 55 in each group. All patients received same routine treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Patients in the experimental group additionally took WC (0.33 g each pill), 3 pills per day, three times per day; while those in the control group additionally took placebos, 3 pills per day, three times per day. Two weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. The diagnosis of PSD was performed once every other week. Those in accordance with PSD diagnosis discontinued any drug therapy. Those not in accordance with PSD diagnosis continued the drug therapy for 1-12 therapeutic course(s) (in total of 6 months). If they were still not in accordance with PSD diagnosis, then they discontinued the drug therapy. The morbidity of PSD, the average time of depression occurrence, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) score, and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3-, and 6-month morbidity of PSD was 8%, 16%, and 34% in the experimental group, while they were 19.6%, 29.4%, and 54.9% in the control group. The occurrence rate was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Besides, there was statistical difference in the 6-month occurrence rate between the two groups (chi2 = 4.465, P < 0.05). The average time of PSD occurrence was longer in the experimental group than in the control group (14.96 +/- 8.31 weeks vs. 9.36 +/- 6.06 weeks; t=6.762, P < 0.05). The HAMD score at the PSD occurrence was 11.96 +/- 2.14 in the experimental group, lower than that of the control group (14.57 +/- 4.24), showing statistical difference (t=5.641, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWC was superior to the placebos in lowering the incidence of PSD, delaying the occurrence time of PSD, attenuating the depression degree of PSD, and had certain preventive effect on the incidence of PSD.

Aged ; Capsules ; Depression ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Primary Prevention ; Stroke ; complications

Developing AIDS education course in college and university is urgent and important,especially for medical college students on account of the characteristic of their specialty.This paper is on the basis of practice and consideration for AIDS education course among medical college students.

Objective To approach the clinical presentation,treatment and diagnosis of primary seminal vesicle carcinoma.Methods The records of 4 patients who diagnosed seminal vesicle carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed,including the symptoms signs and examination results as well as operation program,postoperative therapy.Considered to the literature reports.Bilateral seminal vesicles,bladder, prostate and rectum were totally removed in one case.Seminal vosiculectomy and partial cystoprostotectomy were performed in 2 cases,and the another one,bilateral lower ureterectomy and ileum substitute bladder was be done.Results Followed up for 3 months to 5 years,and no recurrence had been observed so far, one died of colon cancer after 2 years.Conclusions Early symptoms of primary seminal vesicle carcinoma are unobvious,so that early diagnosis of seminal vesicle carcinoma is difficult and the misdiagnosis is so usually.Thus,accurate recognition is important for early diagnosis.Radical surgery appears to offer the best chance and different approaches can be selected according to tumor stage and invasive condition of the circumambient organ.Comprehensive treatment like hormonal therapy,along with the 5-fluorouracil,paclitaxel,and oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimen appears to be effective against adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism against the growth of human gastric carcinoma cell line HS-746T by the combination of the survivin antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) and P53 gene and its mechanism.

METHODSGastric carcinoma cell line HS-746T was treated by P53 gene and survivin antisense oligonucleotide was designed. There were four regimen groups treated by different agents:ASODN alone, P53 gene alone and the combination of ASODN and P53 gene, blank control. Cell proliferative ability and cell growth were determined by cells counting and MTT. The expression of survivin mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Cell apoptotic index was detected by TUNEL.

RESULTSASODN alone, P53 alone and the combination of ASODN and P53 could inhibit not only the growth of gastric carcinoma cell, but also down-regulate the survivin mRNA and protein expression. The inhibitory effect was stronger, and the apoptosis index was higher in the combined transfection group than those in the other two single transfection groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of survivin ASODN and P53 gene is more efficient to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis than that of agent alone.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

This study examined the effect of Notch-1 signaling on malignant behaviors of breast cancer cells by regulating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). BCSCs were enriched by using serum-free medium and knocked out of Notch-1 by using a lentiviral vector. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the Notch-1 expression levels in breast cancer cell lines and BCSCs, and flow cytometry to detect the proportion of BCSCs in BCSC spheres. The BCSC self-renewal, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity were examined by the tumor microsphere-forming assay and transwell assay and after xenotransplantation. The results showed that the Notch-1 silencing reduced the number of BCSC spheres, the proportion of BCSCs, and the number of cells penetrating through the transwell membrane. It also decreased the size of tumors that were implanted in the nude mice. These results suggest that Notch-1 signaling is intimately linked to the behaviors of BCSCs. Blocking Notch-1 signaling can inhibit the malignant behaviors of BCSCs, which may provide a promising therapeutical approach for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVEHuman STEAP4, a novel obesity-related gene, is associated with insulin sensitivity regulation in human adipocytes. This study aimed to explore the regulative role of TNFalpha on STEAP4 gene in matured human adipocytes.

METHODSHuman preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into matured adipocytes in vitro. Fully differentiated adipocytes (Day 17) were treated with different concentrations of TNFalpha (0, 5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) for 24 hrs. Total RNA and protein were extracted from the adipocytes. Levels of STEAP4 mRNA and protein expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSDifferent concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) of TNFalpha treatment for 24 hrs resulted in a significant increase in the STEAP4 mRNA expression of human matured adipocytes.The maximal effect was seen in the 50 ng/mL of TNFalpha treatment group. In parallel, STEAP4 protein synthesis in matured adipocytes increased in response to TNFalpha treatment of different concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50 ng/mL) for 24 hrs. The maximal up-regulated effect was seen in the 25 ng/mL of TNFalpha treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSTNFalpha can up-regulate STEAP4 mRNA expression in human matured adipocytes.

Adipocytes ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Leukemia is a type of malignant tumors of hematopoietic system with the abnormal increased immature leukemia cells showing metastasis and invasion ability. Liver is one of the main targets of the leukemia cells spread to, where they may continue to proliferate and differentiate and cause liver function damage, even liver failure. Our previous studies showed that Angelica polysscharides (APS), the main effective components in Angelica sinensis of Chinese traditional medicine, was able to inhibit the proliferation and induced differentiation of the leukemia cells, however, its effect on the liver during the treatment remains elucidated. In the present study, the human leukemia NOD/SCID mouse model were established by implantation human leukemia K562 cells line, then the leukemia mouse were treated with APS, Ara-c or APS + Ara-c respectively by peritoneal injection for 14 days, to explore the effect and mechanism of the chemicals on the mouse liver. Compared to the human leukemia NOD/SCID mouse model group with the treatments of APS, Ara-c and APS + Ara-c, We found that severe liver damage and pathological changes of the liver were able to alleviate: First, the number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood was significantly lower and with less transplanted K562 leukemia cells; Second, liver function damage was alleviated as liver function tests showed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBiL) were significantly reduced, while the albumin (Alb) was notably increased; Third, liver antioxidant ability was improved as the activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased, and the contents of GSH and malonaldehyde (MDA) were decreased significantly in the liver; Fourth, the inflammation of the liver was relieved as the level of IL-1beta and IL-6, the inflammatory cytokines, were decreased significantly in the liver. Fifth, liver index was increased as the pathological observation showed that leukemia cells with diffused infiltration into the liver lobules were significantly reduced and with a remarkable increase of apoptotic positive cell rate by TUNEL test. Furthermore, the APS + Ara-c combined administration showed an even more significant positive effect. In conclusion, the APS, Ara-c therapy reduced the accumulation of leukemia cells within the liver, reduced the liver function damage and levels of inflammatory factors, improved antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue and thus alleviate the pathological changes of the liver. Moreover, the APS + Ara-c combination therapy may have an additive effect.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage

Animals ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycine ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar