Objective To study the clinical significance of the serum angiopoietin-2(Ang-2) in the diagnosis,recurrence,invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.Methods The serum Ang-2 and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 158 patients with gastric cancer (gastric cancer group) and 30 normal controls(control group) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) technique respectively.The serum Ang-2 and CEA levels were also measured 2 weeks after operation in gastric cancer group and reexamined in the recurred gastric cancer patients in 2 years after operation (recurred and metastasis group).The correlation between the serum Ang-2 level and pathologic c haracterization of gastric cancer was evaluated.Results The serum Ang-2 and CEA levels in gastric cancer group [ (331.8 ±64.3),(42.6 ±37.3)μg/L] and recurred and metastasis group [(318.7 ±72.9),(40.5 ±36.7)μg/L] were significantly higher than those in control group [ (187.4 ± 32.7),(4.2 ± 3.1 )μ g/L] (P ＜ 0.01 ),and the serum Ang-2 level 2 weeks after operation [ (211.6 ± 75.1 ) μ g/L ] was significantly decreased to the control group (P ＞ 0.05 ),while the serum CEA level [ (33.4 ± 30.6) μ g/L ] was still significantly higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ).The sensitivity of the serum Ang-2 for diagnosis of gastric cancer was markedly higher than that of the serum CEA (P ＜ 0.01 ).There was correlation between serum Ang-2 and degree of tumor differentiation,TNM pathological staging,lymphatic metastasis,invasion depth and tumor size (p ＜0.01 ),but there was no correlation between serum Ang-2 and tissue classification and location of gastric cancer (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion The serum Ang-2 level is suggested to be a valuable gastric cancer marker and conduce to the diagnosis of gastric cancer,the monitoring of recurrence after operation and evaluation of prognosis.

Objective To explore the roles of clara cell secretory protein(CCSP)and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP)in the pathoge-nesis of bronchial asthma and to evaluate their diagnostic value in asthmatic children.Methods Induced sputum samples were obtained from 31 asthmatic children during chronic persistent period and clinical remission period.According to global initiative for asthma(GINA),the total of 31 cases accepted systemic treatment by inhaling glucocorticoid.The patients included 18 boys and 13 girls aged from 3.7 to 12.0 years,and their average age was 7.6 years.Sputum CCSP concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).And the concentrations of sputum ECP were determined with Pharmacia UniCAP system.Results Asthmatic children had significantly lower CCSP levels in sputum during chronic persistent period compared with clinical remission period(P

Objective To explore roles of total immunoglobulin E(IgE),interleukin-13(IL-13) in asthmatic children,and relation-ship between IgE,IL-13 levels in serum and those in induced sputum.Methods Twenty-six children with asthma who were in chronic persistent period and 20 healthy children were enrolled.Serum and hypertonic saline-induced sputum were obtained in asthmatic children,and serum alone were obtained in control subjects.The levels of IgE were deteced in serum and induced sputum by Pharmacia UniCAP system,and levels of IL-13 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Asthmatic children had significantly higher serum of IgE and IL-13 levels than those of healthy control group(P0.05).There was positive correlation of IL-13 in serum and induced sputum(r=0.432 P

Objective To evaluate the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR)on the monocyte- derived dendritic cells(DC)from chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients and to analyze the expression pro- file and significance of the TLR such as TLR3,TLR4,TLR?,TLR8 and TLRg,which are associat- ed with immune response to viral infection.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) centrifugated by the hydroxyethyl starch(HES)centrifugation were cultured and induced into DC by granulocyte-maerophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF)and interleukin-4(IL-4),and their mor- phology and phenotype were detected by the inverted microscope and flow cytometry respectively. Monocyte-derived DC were obtained from 10 chronically hepatitis B virus(HBV)-infected patients and 15 healthy volunteers.TLR3,TLR4,TLR7,TLRS,TLR9 expression on immature and mature DC were analyzed by FACS Calibur.DC was pulsed with HBcAg on day 3 and 5,then DC maturation and ability to process HBcAg and to stimulate autogeneic T cells were evaluated.Results Monocyte- derived DC developed different TLR expression patterns as they went through different maturation stages.TLR7,TLR8 expressions on immature DC and TLR3,TLR7 expressions on mature DC were lower in CHB than in control(for TLR7,TLR8 expression on immature DC:75.9%,1.0%vs 98.4%,15.4%,P

Objective To investigate the distribution of surfactant protein-C( SP-C) gene single nu-cleotide polymorphisms and to study the association between the SP-C gene polymorphisms and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome( NRDS) in infants. Methods Fifty-one infants with NRDS( NRDS group) and 51 infants without RDS( control group) were selected. PCR gene analysis and polymerase chain reaction were used to establish the genotype and allele frequencies of SP-C exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N),SP-C exon 4 and 5 for the mutation,and then the association between the polymorphisms and NRDS was analyzed. Results SP-C gene mutations were not found in exon 4 and 5. In the Mongol nationality of the Inner Mon-golia region,SP-C exon 4(T138N) genotypes could check out three genotypes:namely AA,AC and CC. The frequencies of allele A and allele C of SP-C exon 4(T138N) were not statistically different between NRDS group and control group(χ2 =0. 454,P=0. 797). In the Mongol nationality,SP-C exon 5(S186N) genotypes could check out three genotypes:namely AA,AG and GG. The frequencies of allele A and allele G of SP-C exon 5(S186N) were not statistically different between NRDS group and control group(χ2 =0. 493,P =0. 782). Conclusion SP-C exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N) gene polymorphism in Inner Mongolia newborns displays no significant correlation with sex,birth weight or gestational age. SP-C gene mutations are not found in exon 4 and 5. SP-C gene exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N) polymorphisms are not found to be associated with NRDS in Mongol nationality of the Inner Mongolia.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

Background It is well known that the diminution of visual acuity appears before notable complications in some high myopic eyes.However,whether the impaired vision is associated with the change of retinal thickness at macula area is still under investigation.Objective This study was to investigate the relationship of macular retinal thickness with the change of visual acuity in high myopic eyes.Methods A consecutive caseobservational study was performed.Two hundred and forty-five eyes of 132 patients with the diopter of-6.00～-20.00 D were enrolled in this study during the January 2011 to January 2012 in Beijing Tongren Eye Center.All of the patients received the measurement of retinal thickness with Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (FDOCT),and the scan mode was MM6.The eyes were divided into the corrected vision ≥0.9 group and the corrected vision ≤0.8 group.In addition,the eyes were assigned to the non-posterior staphyloma group,posterior staphyloma Ⅰ group (macular symmetry) and posterior staphyloma Ⅱ group (macular gradient).The retinal thicknesses in different quadrants at the macular zone were measured and calculated by OCT software.Results The demography was matched in different groups.Corrected visual acuity was significantly increased in the corrected vision ≥ 0.9 group than that in the corrected vision ≤0.8 group (1.02±0.16 vs.0.62±0.08) (t=3.233,P=0.001).Retinal thickness value at fovea was (256.28±13.19) μm in the corrected vision ≥0.9 group,and that in the corrected vision ≤0.8 group was (231.17 ± 10.96) μm,with a significant difference between the two groups (t =2.134,P =0.031).The corrected visual acuity was 1.00±0.27,0.78±0.21 and 0.90±0.13 in the non-posterior staphyloma group,posterior staphyloma Ⅰ group and posterior staphyloma Ⅱ group,respectively,showing significant difference among the three groups (F=15.760,P=0.015),and the corrected visual acuity of the non-posterior staphyloma group and posterior staphyloma Ⅱ group were significantly higher than that of posterior staphyloma Ⅰ group (q =16.131,P =0.006 ; q =-10.831,P=0.008).A significant difference also was seen in the mean retinal thickness among the three groups (F=2.316,P =0.025).The mean retinal thickness in the posterior staphyloma Ⅰ group was (234.21 ± 15.69) μm,which was significantly smaller than (252.25± 15.31) μm of the posterior staphyloma Ⅱ group (q =12.977,P =0.023).There were no significant difference in the retinal thickness at para-fovea area among the three groups (F=0.318,P =0.078).However,significant difference was found at peri-fovea area in different groups (F=1.925,P =0.013).The mean retinal thicknesses at peri-fovea area was (273.26 ± 16.37) μm in the posterior staphyloma Ⅱ group and was significantly smaller than (289.11 ± 19.30) μm of the posterior staphyloma Ⅰ group and (290.33 ± 17.12) μm of the non-posterior staphyloma group (q =-8.305,P =0.023 ; q =-7.011,P =0.012).Conclusions The retinal thickness at fovea is associated with the corrected visual acuity in high myopic eyes.The thinning of retinal thickness at the vertex of posterior staphyloma is one of causes of visual function impairment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of CKJ Recipe (consisting of Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide, amygdaloside, and gypenosides) containing serum on the activation of rat primary hepatic stellate cells (rHSCs) and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSrHSCs were isolated form liver and cultured for four days. Then they were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the CKJ group. rHSCs in the model group and the CKJ group were treated with 2.5 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in serum-free DMEM for 24 h. Serum free DMEM (containing no TGF-beta1) was taken as the control for the normal control group. rHSCs in the CKJ group were treated with 5% CKJ-containing serum for 24 h. rHSCs in the other two groups were treated with 5% blank serum for 24 h.The protein expression level of a smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was determined using high throughput screening (HCS) and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, collagen I (Col-I), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-betaR), TGF-beta1, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-betaR1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-beta R2) were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR1, and TGF-betaR2 significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta R2 significantly decreased in the CKJ group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCKJ containing serum could inhibit the protein expression level of o-SMA, which was probably related with inhibiting TGF-beta1 and its related receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

This study is to investigate the effect of baicalin (BL) against oxidative injury stress of SH-SY5Y cells induced by H2O2 and the possible mechanism. SH-SY5Y cells were pre-incubated with baicalin (25, 50, and 100 micromol x L(-1)) for 12 h prior to exposure to H2O2 (150 micromol x L(-1)) for 24 h. The viability of SH-SY5Y cells was measured by MTT assay. The contents of LDH and NO were determined. The percentage of apoptotic cells was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The content of Caspase-3 was tested by immunofluorescence histochemical method. BL at 50 and 100 micromol x L(-1) separately increased the cell viability and up-regulated SIRT1, reduced the contents of LDH, NO, Caspase-3 and the apoptotic percentage of SH-SY5Y cells. This study results suggest that baicalin could inhibit the H2O2-induced neuronal apoptosis. The further mechanism studies show that baicalin inhibit apoptosis via reducing Caspase-3 expression and up-regulating SIRT1.
Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation