OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antiproliferative activity of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(2-hydroxy-4, 6-dimethoxy-3-((ethyl(methyl) amino) methyl) phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (DMF) against human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect of DMF on PC3 cells was measured by MTT assay. Induction of apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis. Changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) were detected by JC-1 staining. The levels of apoptosis related proteins were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSDMF exhibited high efficiency on cell growth inhibition in PC3 cells with an IC50 value of (9.5 +/- 0.2)micromol/L. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that DMF could induce apoptosis in PC3 cells. A significant decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in PC3 cells treated with DMF, which was in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results of Western blot indicated that DMF induced the activation of caspase-3, increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of phosphate-p38.

CONCLUSIONDMF is a potential compound against PC3 cells and the mitochondrial pathway might be involved in DMF-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chlorobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Growth Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

To investigate the induction of apoptosis of mouse colonic adenocarcinoma CT26 cells by recombinant Clostridium difficile toxin B (rTcdB), CT26 cells were exposed to different concentrations of rTcd B. Inhibition of cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. The activation of Caspase 3 was measured by colorimetric method. Cell morphological analysis and flow cytometry were performed to confirm cell apoptosis. rTcd B inhibited the proliferation of CT26 cells in a timeand dose-dependent manner. Caspase 3 activity in CT26 cells was elevated remarkably after rTcd B exposure for 6 h, 12 h, 18 h or 24 h, as compared with the control group. Morphological changes were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The exposure of rTcd B to CT26 cells induced a timeand dose-dependent apoptotic cell death as determined by flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that recombinant Clostridium difficile toxin B induced apoptosis of CT26 cells.

BACKGROUND: Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key to the maintenance of immunologic homeostasis and tolerance, little is known about Treg-mediated immunosuppression in the stage of sepsis. This article aimed to review the current literature on the role of Tregs in the pathophysiology of septic response, attempting to investigate the role of Tregs in immune dysfunction during sepsis. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted in January 2014 using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed. Articles on the role of Tregs in immune dysfunction during sepsis were identified. RESULTS: The identified articles indicated that Treg levels can be used for the assessment of the course of sepsis. The inhibition of Treg activity can promote the recovery of immune function. CONCLUSION: Since the mechanism of Tregs is complex during the sepsis, more studies are needed.

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of pterin acid (PTA) against ricin and recombinant ricin A chain protein. Methods Luciferase protein synthesis inhibition assay in a cell-free system and in vitro cytotoxicity experiments were performed to assess the biological activity of ricin and rRTA treated with PTA.Results The result showed that PTA could significantly inhibit the activity of ricin and rRTA in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion PTA might be used as a small molecular probe to develop an evaluating system for ricin/RTA small molecular inhibitor in vitro. The cell-free system adopted in the current study could also serve as a necessary basis for screening some novel small molecular compounds against ricin and RTA in the future.

AIMTo study the effects and mechanism of naloxone on the febrile response in IL-1beta-induced fever rats.

METHODSThe fever model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of IL-1beta in rats. The effect of naloxone on the body temperature of feverrats was observed. The contents of cAMP in hypothalamus and AVP in VSA were detected.

RESULTSNaloxone alleviated IL-1beta-induced fever and the contents of cAMP in hypothalamus and AVP in VSA were correspondingly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNaloxone could inhibit IL-1beta-induced fever in rats, and the mechanism might be due to inhibiting synthesis of cAMP in hypothalamus and promoting release of AVP in VSA.

Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Fever ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Naloxone ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Septum of Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of minor exophthalmos by enlargement of orbital volume through conjunctive approach.

METHODSThrough the conjunctive approach medial to the eye ball, the dissection was performed subperiosteally to expose the ethmoid bone at the medial orbital wall. The exposure bone was 2.5-3.0 cm in length and 2.0-2.5 cm in width. Then the ethmoid bone was fractured to enlarge the orbital volume. From June 2006 to April 2008, 3 cases were treated.

RESULTSThe patients recovered in a short time with no visible skin scar. The technique was mini-invasive, and didn't affect the function of eyeball.

CONCLUSIONIt is easy and effective way to correct the minor exophthalmos by enlargement of orbital volume through conjunctive approach.

Adult ; Conjunctiva ; surgery ; Exophthalmos ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Orbit ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the detection methods for cognitive dysfunction of the major depression in Elderly and analyze their clinical significance.Methods Using matched-pairs study,42 patients with seniie de- pressive disorders(experimental group)and 42 normal aged people(control group)were examined with auditory e- voked potential P300(event related potential,ERP-P300)and SECF,respectively.Results It was found that the scores with registration,span,recall,classification and total score of the subjects in the experimental group were sig- nificantly lower than those in the control group(P

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of miR-146b-5p in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and its relationship with risk assessment.

METHODS62 cases of nodal DLBCL with follow-up data were collected from Shanxi Cancer Hospital, and were studied by using immunohistochemical EnVision method for CD3, CD10, CD20, Bcl-6 and MUM1. The DLBCLs were classified into germinal center B cell-like (GCB) and non-germinal center B cell-like (non-GCB) subtypes according to Hans'algorithm. Agilent Human miRNA Microarray 16.0 was used to select the miRNAs on paraffin-embedded tissues of 24 DLBCL cases. A TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was performed on 62 nodal DLBCL cases to validate the expression levels of miR-146b-5p.11 cases with reactive lymph node were elected as control.

RESULTSIn 62 cases of DLBCL, 35.5% of cases were GCB and 64.5% non-GCB subtypes, the expression of miR-146b-5p in GCB was 3.2 times as much as non-GCB subtypes (P = 0.006). The expression of miR-146b-5p was up-regulated in DLBCL, and expression level of miR-146b-5p was 5.4 times as much as reactivated lymph node. In 62 cases of DLBCL, 43.5% cases were recurrence-free and 56.5% recurrence. The expression of miR-146b-5p was remarkably up-regulated in recurrence-free group compared with recurrence group (P = 0.004). Moreover, high expression levels of miR-146b-5p in DLBCL were found to be associated with longer relapse-free survival (P = 0.005), but not for overall survival. Multivariate COX proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that low expression of miR-146b-5p (P = 0.004) and IPI ≥ 3(P = 0.011) were independent poor prognostic factors in 62 cases of DLBCL.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of miR-146b-5p was up-regulated in recurrence-free group, and its higher expression levels in DLBCL were associated with improved relapse-free survival. Our results suggested that miR-146b-5p might be one of markers for risk assessment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Germinal Center ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Assessment ; Young Adult

AIM AND METHODSTo observe the effect of myocardial mitochondrial L-arginine (L-Arg)/nitric oxide (NO) system on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport by using purified rat mitochondria and incubation of them in vitro.

RESULTSCompared with control group, incubation of mitochondria with L-Arg (10(-4) mol/L, NO substrate) or sodium nitroprusside (5 x 10(-7) mol/L, the donor of exogenous NO, SNP) increased significantly mitochondrial NO2- (66% and 89%, P < 0.01), respectively, and decreased the Ca2+ content (40% and 54%, P < 0.01). After L-Arg or SNP treatment, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake were decreased by 67% and 85%, respectively (P < 0.01), vs control. The rate of mitochondrial Ca2+ release decreased by 11% and 8%, respectively (P < 0.01). When L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) was incubated with mitochondria and the L-Arg together, it inhibited the effects of L-Arg, NO2 on the mitochondrial NO2 formation, Ca2+ content descending, and decrease of Ca2+ uptake and release.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that myocardial mitochondrial L-Arg /NO systems take part in the regulation of cardiomyocytes Ca2+ transportation.

Animals ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the infection status and pathogenic features of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) among children with acute respiratory tract infection in Hangzhou.

METHODSA total of 372 children less than 14 years old with acute respiratory tract infections were recruited as subjects from the pediatric clinic or intensive care unit (ICU) of 3 hospitals in Hangzhou during November 2009 to January 2010, and November 2010 to January 2011. A total of 372 specimens were collected, including 351 respiratory swab, 9 nasopharyngeal aspirate material, 8 endotracheal aspirate material and 4 sputum. The total nucleic acid was then extracted from the specimens, and the nucleoprotein (N) gene of hMPV was amplified by RT-PCR, whose positive products were sequenced and analyzed. Africa green monkey kidney cells (Vero-E6) were applied to culture hMPV among the positive samples; meanwhile fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to test other respiratory virus infection.

RESULTSOut of 372 patients, 42 (11.2%) were positive for N gene of hMPV. The positive rate of hMPV among boys was 11.5% (26/226), and correspondingly 10.9% (16/146) among girls. The difference showed no statistical significance (χ(2) = 0.026, P > 0.05). The youngest patient was only 2 month-old and the eldest patient was 14 years old. The median of the patients' age was 24 months. Fifteen positive samples amplified by RT-PCR were sequenced, and all turned out to be subtype B1; whose similarity to GD165 found in Guangdong was 98.1% - 99.5% and similarity to BJ1897 in Beijing was 87.8% - 89.2%. The co-infection rate between hMPV and other respiratory virus was 45.2% (19/42); most of which was between hMPV and respiratory syncytial virus, whose rate at 26.1% (11/42).

CONCLUSIONhMPV was the single genotype relevant with the acute respiratory tract infection disease among children in Hangzhou district; however, the co-infection with other respiratory virus did exist.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology