BACKGROUND: It is difficult to culture human dental pulp cells in vitro. Studies regarding effects of growth factors on proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp cells cultured in vitro have been reported. However, little is known about the Chinese herb rhizoma drynariae decoction on dental pulp cells cultured in vitro.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of different concentrations of rhizoma drynariae decoction on the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cells cultured in vitro.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A controlled observation was performed at the Scientific Resaarch Center, Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University between March 2006 and May 2007.MATERIALS: Human dental pulp cells were sourced from the patients who acquired orthotherapy through pulling out impacted wisdom tooth at the Department of Stomatology, Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University. Written informed content of sample collection was obtained from all patients. Rhizoma drynariae (place of production: Yunnan Province in China) was provided by the Dispensary of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University.METHODS: Human dental pulp cells were cultured in vitro using method of tissue piece. The effective ingredients of rhizoma drynariae were extracted by alcohol deposition. 1 mL of physic liquor contained 1 g crude drug and diluted into 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/L culture medium utilizing fetal bovine serum. Subsequently, the prepared culture medium was used to culture human dental pulp cells in vitro. Cells that were cultured using culture medium without rhizoma drynariae decoction were used as controls.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Primary culture and source identification of human dental pulp cells. ②Effects of different concentrations of rhizoma drynariae decoction on proliferation of human dental pulp cells by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. ③ Effects of different concentrations of rhizoma drynariae decoction on fibronectin expression in human dental pulp cells by immunohistochemistry. ④ Effects of rhizoma drynariae decoction on ultrastructure of human dental pulp cells utilizing scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.RESULTS: Primarily cultured human dental pulp cells displayed polygon- and shuttle-shaped appearance. Different concentrations of rhizoma drynariae decoctions, in particular 100 mg/L, exhibited proliferation-promoting effects on proliferation of human dental pulp cells, and could induce dental pulp cell synthesis and secrete fibronectin. Electron microscopy results revealed that following treatment of rhizoma drynariae decoctions, human dental pulp cells were found with abundant ridges on their surface, surround by extracellular matrix, cytoplasm full of abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and dissociative ribosome, as well as evenly dispersed nuclear euchromatin, and occasionally seen heterochromatin.CONCLUSION: 100 mg/L rhizoma drynadae decoction apparently promotes the proliferation of human dental pulp cells cultured in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Progressive body mass losses and physical strength decrease are common complications of malignant tumors, and they are important factors that affect the quality of life of the patients.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the curative effect of a Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules combined with antitumor drugs in the treatment of malignant tumors and its effect on the quality of life.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING:Clinical Tumor College of Peking University.PARTICIPANT: Totally 61 patients with malignant pulmonary carcinoma,breast or intestinal carcinoma hospitalized in the Wards of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Beijing Cancer Hospital from June 1999 to March 2002 were recruited.METHODS: Altogether 61 cases of malignant tumor were randomized into the treatment group (treated with Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy)(n=34) and the control group (treated with only chemotherapy was used)(n=27). The difference in curative effect, survival period with tumor and the quality of life of the two groups were observed. The comparison of the curative effects of the two groups was performed according to Clinical Curative Effect Criteria for Solid Tumors stipulated by World Health Organization: completely response, partly response, stable disease, and progressive disease. X-ray examination was performed on the patients before the therapy and two courses of treatment after the therapy to evaluate the curative effect. Physical strength grading was made according to the evaluation criteria of Eastern Oneology Cooperative Group of the United States. The two groups were graded before and after the treatment. The group with decreased grade after the treatment was considered to be improving, but the group with increased grade after the treatment was considered to be worsening.symptom before and after therapyparison of the curative effect of the two groups: The cure rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (partial response rate,stability rate and progression rate of the two groups was 36% ,7% ;52%,survival with tumors: The mean period of survival with tumors of the treatment group was longer than that of the control group until March 2002ing: Physical strength grading status was better after the therapy in the treatment group than that in the control group [ In the treatment group, 9cases (26%)were ameliorated, 25 (74%)appeared stable , none was aggravated; in the control group, 1 case (4%) was ameliorated, 25(93%) appeared of qi-deficiency symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine before and after the treatment between the two groups. Symptoms such as sweating and qi deficiency manifested as disclination to talk, listlessness, debility, etc. were significantly reduced in the treatment group (The numbers of cases before and after the treatment were 20, 9; 17,9; 20,13 respectively). In the control group, the cases either were stable or showed an increase in symptoms (There were 13, 13; 14, 17; 18, 20 respectively before and after treatment).CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, in the treatment of malignant tumors, Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy not only enhanced curative effect, but also improved the quality of life and prolonged the period of survival with tumors.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of heterogeneous phosphatase and tensinhomologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) on cell cycles,proliferation,invasion,tumorigenicity,metastasis and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)proteins in human pancreas cancer cell line ( ASPC-1 ).MethodsASPC-1 cells was transfected with plasmid pE-PTEN containing PTEN,and empty plasmid pE-PTEN transfection was used as control,then ASPC-1-pE-PTEN (A-pE-P) cell and ASPC-1-pE (A-pE) cell was obtained.The expression of PTEN mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. PTEN,VEGF and EGFR proteins were measured by cell immunohistochemical method.Clone formation assay was used to observe the numbers of clone.Transwell was used to test the invasion ability of cells.The growths of tumor were detected by nude mice subcutaneous injection of cancer cells in vivo.Results Compared with ASPC-1,the expressions of PTEN mRNA of A-pE-P increased by 179.3％,and the expressions of PTEN protein were also significantly increased.The expressions of VEGF protein were significantly decreased.The expressions of EGFR protein were not significantly changed.Number of G2/M phase cells was significantly increased from (26.81 ± 1.03)％ to (31.5 ± 1.76)％ (P ＜0.05).The numbers of clone was decreased by 28％ (P ＜0.05).The number of penetrating cells was decreased[(46.3 ±6.6) vs (63.8 ±7.5) per high power field,P ＜0.05].The tumor volumes were significantly reduced [(142.4 ±30.9) vs (202.7 ±43.6) mm3,P ＜0.05].The tumor inhibitory rate was 42.4％.The distant metastases were significantly reduced [(2.0 ±0.7) vs (5.0 ± 1.3),P ＜0.01 ].Conclusions Heterogeneous PTEN can not only inhibit the proliferation,invasion and metantasis of ASPC-1 cells,arrest the cell growth at G2/M phase,but also decrease the expressions of VEGF.

Objective To correlate the expression levels of interferon inducible genes (IFIGs) with disease activity and clinical features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patiems,.Methods Peripheral blood cells obtained from 67 SLE patients and 23 healthy donors (HDs) were subjected to real-time PCR to measure the transcriptional levels of five IFIGs (OAS-1,Mx-1,Ly6e,IFIT1 and IFIT4).Interferon scores were calculated and were compared between various groups of SLE patients as well as between patients and controls;ISRE lucife:rase reporter gene activity was measured in 17 of 67 patients and correlated with interferon score.Results Interferon scores were strongly correlated with ISRIE reporter gene aetivity,which represented for the type Ⅰ interferon activity in serum.The expression.levels of IFIGs and jinterferon scores were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with HDs (P＜0.0001).Interferon scores were correlated positively with SLEDAI-2K(P=0.0006) and negatively with C3 levels(P=0.0162).Interferon scores were also significantly elevated in SLE patients with a positive anti-Sm or anti-RNP autoantibodies.Clonclusion The interferon score may be regarded as a good indicator for serum type I interferon activity in SLE and serves as a new hiomarker for disease activity in SLE patients.

Objective To correlate the chemokine score with disease activity,organ damages and clinical features in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Methods Peripheral blood cells obtained from 60 SLE patients,20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 23 healthy donors (HDs) were subjected to real-time PCR to measure the transcriptional levels of seven chemokines (RANTES,MCP-1,CCL19,MIG,IP-10,CXCL11,and IL-8).Chemokine scores were calculated and were compared between various groups of SLE patients as well as between patients and controls.Results Chemokine scores were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with RA patients and HDs (P=0.0112 and P=0.0019,respectively).Chemokine scores were correlated positively with SLEDAI (P=0.0061) and negatively with C3 levels (P=0.003).Compared to patients without lupus nephritis (LN),chemokine scores were elevated in SLE patients with active LN,especially when their daily prednisone dosage was less than 30 mg (P=0.0418 and P=0.002,respectively).Chemokine scores were also associated with cumulative organ damage (SLICC damage index [SDI]＞0) and positive anti-Sm and anti-RNP autoantibodies.Conclusion The chemokine score may serve as a new biomarker for disease activity and organ damage in SLE patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of PTEN and KAI1 double gene transfection on proliferation,metastasis in AsPC1 pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxic condition.MethodsRecombinant vectors that over expressing PTEN and KAI1 protein which was established previously were double transfected into hypoxic AsPC1 cells.Western blot was performed to measure the expression level of PTEN and KAI1.Then,cell proliferation was detected by MTT,and colony forming assay were used to test the ability of tumor cells forming colonies,and transwell assay was used to evaluate metastatic function.ResultsAfter double gene trnsfection,both PTEN and KAI1 protein expression was significantly up-regulated,which was 2.05 and 1.5 1 folds higher than that of empty vector group; and cell proliferation of hypoxic AsPC1 cells was suppressed significantly (0.5 vs 0.8,P =0.00031 ),number of colony formation was significantly decreased [ (41.67 ± 5.03) vs (86.00 ± 7.81 ),P =0.017) ] ; the capacity of metastasis was significantly decreased (0.68 ± 0.05 vs 1.23 ± 0.03,P =0.0025 ).ConclusionsDouble gene transfection of PTEN and KAI1 could inhibit proliferation and metastatic activity of hypoxic AsPC1 cells,which might indicate that combined gene therapy may play a role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of emergency nursing pathway in emergency treatment of patients with questionable sources. Methods A clinical nursing pathway for the treatment for patients with questionable sources was formulated. From February to December 2014, 78 patients with questionable sources treated by clinical nursing pathway were selected as the observation group. From January to November 2013, 75 patients with questionable sources treated by routine nursing care methods were selected as the control group. Differences were compared in duration of staying in the emergency department, nursing complication and fees paid rate between the two groups. Results For the average duration of staying in the emergency department, the observation group was lower than that in the control group [19.35%(9.08) vs. 19.90%(25.20), P< 0.05)]. For the nursing complication rate, the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group [1.28%(1/78) vs.10.67%(8/75), P<0.05]. For the fees paid rate, the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [64.10%(50/78) vs. 33.33%(25/75), P<0.01]. Conclusions By the emergency nursing pathway, emergent patients with questionable sources will be treated with satisfactory result in the shortest time.

Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical characteristic of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS).Methods The clinical data of four cases treated since 2001 and 30 BRBNS cases reported by domestic literature were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical manifestation,family history,endoscopy and imageology examination,site of lesions,treatment and follow up were analyzed.Results The male to female ratio was 1.8∶1 and median age was 19.5 years.A total of 33 cases (97.1％) presented with gastrointestinal bleeding,median age of gastrointestinal bleeding detected was 9.0 years.Among the 33 cases,anemiawas found as the primary symptom in nine cases (27.3％),and one case complicated with intussusception and intestinal necrosis accompanied with abdominal pain.Two cases have family history.Gastroscopy (85.3 ％) and colonoscopy(73.5 ％) were mainly examinations for detection.Lesions mainly involved skin (100.0％) and digestive tract (97.1％),and the locations of the lesion in digestive tract was stomach (64.7％),small intestine (64.7％),colon (58.8％),esophagus (29.4％).Treatment methods included symptomatic treatment,endoscopic therapy and surgery.Banding ligation and polypectomy resection were common endoscopic therapies.Gastrointestinal bleeding did not recur in six cases with endoscopic therapy and four cases receiving surgery during short-term follow up.Conclusions BRBNS lesions mainly involve skin and digestive tract,mostly complicated with gastrointestinal bleeding.For gastrointestinal bleeding,so far endoscopic therapy and surgery are the effective therapies.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms and effects of Sorafenib on cytotoxic sensitivity of allo-reactive natural killer(Allo-NK) cells against human multi-drug resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2/DDP cells which expressing highly ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2(ABCG2)(abbr.as ABCG2HighCNE2/DDP cells).Methods ABCG2HighCNE2/DDP and Allo-NK cells were isolated by magnetic bead technique.The target cells were divided into 3 groups: a) treated group(ABCG2HighCNE2/DDP cells incubated with 10 ng/ml sorafenib for 4h);b) untreated group(conventionally cultured ABCG2HighCNE2/DDP cells);and c) control group(conventionally cultured K562 cells).Expression rates of ABCG2 in treated and untreated groups,and of five NKG2D-ligands(MICA,MICB,ULBP1,ULBP2,ULBP3) were evaluated by flow cytometry.The cytotoxic effects of NK cells against different groups of target cells were detected with LDH releasing assay.Results Expression rate of ABCG2 in isolated CNE2/DDP cells was 91.40%?2.32%.The purity of sorted CD3-CD16+CD56+ Allo-NK cells was 90% and higher.The expression rates of NKG2D-ligands(MICA,MICB,ULBP1,ULBP2 and ULBP3) in untreated group were 2.92%?0.33%,4.27%?0.33%,5.80%?0.62%,11.10%?3.15% and 7.75%?1.14%,respectively,which were remarkablely higher than that in treated group(10.38%?1.23%,10.68%?1.26%,11.62%?1.22%,43.24%?4.42% and 11.91%?0.88%,respectively,P

Objective To measure the level of interleukin-15(IL-15) in serum and its expression in lung tissues,and analyze the correlations between IL-15 and IL-4,IFN-?,eosinophil(Eos),and explore the effect of IL-15 on bronchial asthma.Methods Thirty femal BALB/C mice were randomly divided into three group(n=10),group A(asthma model),group B(corticosteroid treatment) and group C(normal control).All mice were killed 24 h after final OVA challenge.Blood were obtained for measurement of serum IgE,IL-4,IFN-? and IL-15 levels by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay(ELISA).Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BLAF) was collected for Eos count.The left lungs were isolated for pathological examination.The lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE).The expressions of IL-15 in lung tissues were measured by immunohistochemical SP method.Results ①The mouse asthma model appeared ethological changes specific to asthma,the Eos count in BALF was increased,and IgE and IL-4 levels in serum were also increased compared with control group(P