Objective To determinate the effects of sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate(STS)on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and explore the relative effects of STS on mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction system in rats with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through constricting the thoracic aorta.Methods The models of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were established in vivo,and the thoracic aorta was partially tied between the right innominate and the left common carotid arteries.The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups(n=8/group)as follows:①sham,②transverse aortic constriction(TAC),③TAC+low-dose Tan(TAC+LT)(5 mg/kg),④TAC+middle-dose Tan(TAC+MT)(10 mg/kg),⑤TAC+high-dose Tan(TAC+HT)(20 mg/kg),and ⑥ TAC+Val(10 mg/kg).After treatment for 8 weeks,echocardiography was performed to observe the changes in hypertrophy and heart function,and heart samples were cut into transverse sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin(H&E).The MAPKs protein expression in the cardiomyocytes was detected by Western blot.Results The heart weight index(HWI),left ventricular mass index(LVMI)and cross-sectional diameter of cardiomyocytes(CD),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVWT),and interventricular septal thickness(IVS)were significantly increased in TAC group as compared with sham group.The relative parameters in STS groups and Val group were reduced as compared with those in TAC group.Western blot analysis revealed the p-ERK and p-p38 expression was significantly decreased in TAC group as compared with sham group(P＜0.01).The p-ERK expression was significantly decreased in STS groups and Val group as compared with TAC group(P＜0.05).The TAC+HT group,TAC+MT group and Val group had significantly higher p-p38 expression than TAC group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tanshinone ⅡA could regulate the expression of protein in MAPK pathway to exert its inhibitory effects on hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes.

Objective To investigate the effects of acupoint therapy on inflammatory factors and its clini-cal efficacy in relieving bronchial asthma. Methods Selected patients with bronchial asthma which was in remis-sion were randomly divided into a treatment group that was treated with acupoint therapy and a control group that was given Seretide. Each group had 30 cases. The treatment period was 4 weeks. Both groups were evaluated in terms of Asthma Control Test ( ACT) scores and the serum content of interleukin-5 ( IL-5) and interleukin-10 ( IL-10) before and at one month ( short-term) , as well as three months after the end of the treatment ( long-term) . The asthma control situation ( fully controlled, partially controlled or uncontrolled) was evaluated. Results Before treatment the average ACT scores of the two groups were not significantly different. After the treatment both the short-term and long-term average ACT scores of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the con-trol group. The total effectiveness rate of asthma control in the treatment group in the short term ( 93%) was signifi-cantly higher than that in the control group ( 70%) . After the treatment the IL-5 and IL-10 levels in the treatment group were improved to a significantly greater extent than those in the control group. Conclusion Acupoint thera-py can reduce airway inflammation, control bronchial asthma symptoms and show good clinical efficacy, probably by regulating IL-5 and IL-10 levels.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative prolonged mechanical ventilation in neonates and young infants with complicated congenital heart disease. Methods A retrospective analysis of 150 children (80 males and 70 females, aged ≤ 6 months, RACHS-1 grade ≥ 3) with complex congenital heart disease who were admitted to Children's Heart Surgery Department of Anzhen Hospital from January 2016 to December 2017 was conducted. These data were collected: the demographic data, history of cardicvascular-related diseases, type of surgery, preoperative complications, CPB, CPB time, deep hypothermia, blood gas index, delayed chest closure (DCC), pacemaker; minimum oxygenation index in the first 24 h after operation, maximum vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), failed extubation and postoperative complications. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of prolonged mechanical ventilation within neonates and young infants after complicated congenital heart surgery. Results Forty-two patients (28％) required PMV with mechanical ventilation ≥ 72 h. Univariate analysis showed age, weight, RACHS-1 grade, previous history of cyanosis, history of pneumonia, emergency surgery, preoperative mechanical ventilation, preoperative EF, deep hypothermia, CPB time＞ 132 min, intraoperative minmum pH value, intraoperative maximum blood glucose and lactic acid concentrations, DCC, application of pacemakers, maximum VIS within 24 h after surgery, minimal OI and postoperative complications may be the risk factors of prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation in neonates and young infants with complicated congenital heart disease (P ＜ 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the CPB time＞132 min (OR = 11.04, 95％ CI 2.07-58.96, P = 0.005), intraoperative maximum lactate (OR = 1.53, 95％ CI 1.07-2.20, P = 0.021) and failed extubation (OR = 17.28, 95％ CI 2.46-121.20, P = 0.004) were independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation in neonates and young infauts with complicated congenital heart disease. Conclusion CPB time＞132 min, intraoperative maximum lactic acid concentration and failure of extubation can be used as predictors of prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation in neonates and young infants with complicated congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on tumor metastasis in mouse model bearing melanoma xenograft.

METHODSMice bearing murine melanoma B16-F10 cell xenograft were randomized for sham-HIFU or HIFU exposure when the tumors grew to a maximum diameter of 7-10 mm, and the tumor size was measured every 3 days. The cumulative survival rate of the mice and tumor metastasis rate were calculated, and the circulating melanoma cells were detected using qRT-PCR. At 14 days after HIFU treatment, B16-F10 cells were retransplanted via the tail vein and the pulmonary metastatic nodules were counted.

RESULTSThe median survival time of the mice was 19.00 days (95% CI 17.14-20.86 days) in the sham group and 26.00 days (95%CI 24.76-27.25 days) in HIFU group. The cumulative survival rate in the HIFU group was significantly higher than that in sham-HIFU group (P<0.01), and the tumor size was significantly smaller in HIFU group at 20, 23, and 26 days after HIFU treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-HIFU group, HIFU group had significantly lower levels of MAGE-A3, MART1 and PAX3 at 7 days after HIFU (P<0.05) with still lower MAGE-A3 level at 14 days (P<0.05). HIFU group showed a significantly smaller number of pulmonary metastatic nodules following tumor cell retransplantation than in sham-HIFU group (P<0.01) with a metastasis inhibition rate of 42.4%.

CONCLUSIONHIFU treatment can inhibit tumor metastasis in melanoma-bearing mice possibly by reducing tumor cell detachment from the primary tumor site and suppressing colonization of the circulating melanoma cells.

Animals ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation ; Melanoma, Experimental ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Survival Rate

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a set of non-coding small RNA molecules that play a critical role in regulation of protein coding genes in cells. MiRNAs have been extensively studied as novel biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and new drugs in various human diseases. Breast cancer is a one of the leading tumor types significantly affecting women health worldwide. Over the past decade, a number of natural agents, such as paclitaxel and curcumin, have been applied for treatment and prevention of breast cancer due to their relatively low toxicity. However, the mechanisms of action have not been completely understood. Investigation on miRNAs is able to potentially provide a novel insight into better understanding the anticancer activities of these natural products. Given that a single miRNA can target multiple genes, theoretically, those genes involved in a certain phenotype can be clustered with one or a few miRNAs. Therefore, pleiotropic activities of natural agents should be interpreted by interactions between selected miRNAs and their targets. In this review, we summarize the latest publications related to the alterations of miRNAs by two natural agents (paclitaxel and curcumin) that are currently used in intervention of breast cancer, and conclude that the mechanism involving the regulation of miRNA expression is one of the keys to understand pleiotropic activities of natural agents.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Biological Products ; administration & dosage ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo examine the association between the genotype (LL, LS and SS) of serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism(5-HTTLPR) and clinicopathological factors, and to investigate the effect of 5-HTTLPR on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSData of peripheral blood samples of 161 colorectal cancer patients at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from October 2009 to January 2014 were collected retrospectively. The genotyping of 5-HTTLPR was determined by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Coincidence Chi-square test was used to examine the 5-HTTLPR genotype with Hardy-Weinberg law. Chi-square test and Cox multifactor model were used to analyze the association of 5-HTTLPR genotype with clinicopathology and prognosis. All the patients were informed and agreed to participate in the study. This study was approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee (2015056).

RESULTSOf 161 colorectal cancer patients, 89 were male and 72 were female; the median age was 64 (25-85) years; 86 (53.5%) cases were colon cancer and 75 (46.5%) were rectal cancer. Genotype was LL in 12 cases, LS in 59 cases and SS in 90 cases, which complied with the law of Hardy-Weinberg genetic balance (χ²=0.288, P=0.592). Univariate analysis showed that 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism was only associated with lymph node metastasis [lymph node metastasis rate: LL and LS genotype 21.1% (15/71);SS genotype 40.0% (36/90), χ²= 6.532, P=0.011]. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates of whole patients were 71% and 63% respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the SS genotype was an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival of colorectal cancer patients(HR=1.933, 95%CI:1.090-3.428, P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONAmong genotypes of 5-HTTLPR gene, colorectal cancer patients with SS genotype have higher risk of lymph node metastasis and poorer prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics