Objective To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of berberine in human cervical cancer Hela cell line in vitro. Methods Cell growth rate was determined with MTT assay. TUNEL was used to examine cell apoptos rate. The expression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by immunocytochemistry method. Results Berberine induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells in time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Berberine could down-regulated the Bcl-2 protein expression of Hela cells,but had no significant influence in the expression of COX-2 protein. Conclusion Berberine can inhibit Hela cell growth of cervical carcinoma and induce apoptosis in vitro. Down-regulation of the Bcl-2 protein expression may be involved in berberine-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells.

Objective To study the effect of nifedipi ne ,an endothelin antagonist,in acute renal function impairment caused by ESWL. Methods 60 cases of renal stone underwent anaesthesia-free ESWL were radomely assigned into 2 groups,the nifedipine group and the control (n=30 each).In the former group,nifedipine was given 3 days before ESWL.Plas ma endothelin,urinary ? 2-microglobulin,and urinary Tamm-Horsfall protein we re assessed to evaluate the renal function. Results In t he controls,it was a significant increase of plasma endothelin and urinary ? 2-MG(P

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the advantage of Gukangling Decoction (GKLD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with technetium [(99)Tc] methylene diphosphonate injection ((99)Tc-MDP) in treating osteoporosis in rabbits. METHODS: A rabbit model of osteoporosis was established by intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (DX). Fifty-six rabbits were divided into 8 groups: Group A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Rabbits in groups A and B were intramuscularly injected normal saline as normal control, groups C and D were untreated groups, rabbits in group E were treated by (99)-MDP, rabbits in group F were treated by aminodiphosphate, rabbits in group G were treated by GKLD, and rabbits in group H were treated by (99)-MDP and GKLD. Rabbits in groups A and C were executed to demonstrate the establishment of the rabbit model of osteoporosis at the 8th week of experiment. Rabbits in the other six groups were executed after 16-week experiment (8-week treatment), and then bone structure and cell shape were observed by electron microscope, X-ray, CT and emission computed tomography (ECT). Bone density, biomechanical parameters, the levels of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and bone Gla protein (BGP) were measured too. RESULTS: After 8-week of intramuscular injection of DX, the bone trabecula in group A were regular and showed normal configuration, while the bone trabecula in group C were sparse, ruptured and showed damaged form. The bone density and biomechanical parameters in group A were higher than those in group C, indicating that the rabbit model of osteoporosis was established successfully. At the 9th week of experiment, the results of cell pathology in group D showed that the bone trabeculas were sparse, ruptured, defected or had hollow section, but the bone trabeculas in group B were regular and dense. The bone trabeculas in groups H and E were restored, and were thicker than those in group D. The bone quality in groups H and E was better than group D significantly, the bone quality in group F was better than group G, and the bone quality in group G was better than group D slightly. CONCLUSION: GKLD combined with (99)-MDP had superiority in treating osteoporosis of rabbits as compared with the respective single therapy.

Objective To study the calculational method for the radiotherapy facilities of the medical linear accelerator' s useful beam towars its maze.Methods The shielding calculation was made under the relevant national standards for a radiotherapy treatment room and compared with the test results.Results The dose rates at the maze entrance as calculated and measured were 89 and 86 μSv/h inside the maze door,as well as 5.7 and 6.2 μSv/h outside the maze door,respectively.The calculated results were consistent with measured results.Conclusions By comparison of calculated results with measured results,the accuracy of the theoretical calculation method could be verified.

Objective To test the efficacy of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation plus rehabilitation training in improving swallowing function after stroke. MethodsEighty dysphagic stroke patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 40.Patients in the experimental group received low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation plus 2 courses of rehabilitation training.Control group patients received the same protocol,but the electrical stimulation was not over acupoints.Their swallowing function was assessed using the Kubota water drinking test.ResultsAfter treatment,both groups showed significantly lower Kubota scores compared with pre-treatment.Prepost test difference was 1.25 ± 0.78 in the experimental group and 0.70 ± 0.72 in the control group,a significant difference.The total recovery rate in the experimental group was 87.5％.In the control group it was 55％.The improvement in swallowing function was significantly better in the experimental group.Conclusion Both groups showed a significant improvement in swallowing function,but low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation increased the effectiveness of the rehabilitation training.

Objective To evaluate the T lymphocyte functions in elderly patients following major orthopedic operation. Methods From May 1998 to Feb 1999, 39 elderly patients (65 95 years old) hospitalized for orthopedic operation were studied. The patients' peripheral blood samples in the experimental group were obtained on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 postoperation, respectively. At the same days, blood samples were taken from 15 elder patients without trauma and operation (65 80 years old) within 6 months as controls. T lymphocyte subpopulations were differentiated by means of quantitative assay with autocounting method of FCM. Results CD3 T cell count was significantly decreased on day 1(54 4?11 3)% and day 14(58 5?12 6)%, compared with controls (63 9?8 3)% ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of microRNA-218 (miR-218) and its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSForty-six pairs of fresh surgical specimens of HCC and adjacent tissues were examined for miR-218 expression using qRT-PCR. A miR-218 mimic was transfected into HepG2 cells, and the cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the potential targets of miR-218 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe expressions of miR-218 in HCC tissues were significantly down-regulated compared to those in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Down-regulation of miR-218 was found to correlate significantly with the tumor size (>5 cm) and an advanced TNM stage (III+IV) (P<0.05). Ectopic expression of miR-218 in HepG2 cells resulted in suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced cell apoptosis as well as the down-regulation of Bmi-1 and CDK6 mRNA and protein expressions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe low-expression of miR-218 is correlated with malignant clinicopathological characteristics of HCC, and miR-218 may inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis by down-regulating Bmi-1 and CDK6 in HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 ; metabolism ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; metabolism

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; drug therapy ; Rituximab

Objective: To investigate the effect of 1q21 amplification (1q) on the therapeutic response and prognosis of bortezomib(Btz) in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: A total of 180 newly diagnosed MM were included for analyses of clinical characteristics, cytogenetics, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), retrospectively. Gene expression profiling (GEP) was analyzed using publicly available R2 platform. Results: ① In 180 patients, 1q was found in 51.1% cases. Of them, 174 patients had complete follow-up data, including 88 cases with 1q and 86 without 1q (non-1q). ②Incidence of 1q was positively associated with percentage of IGH rearrangement (72.2%, P=0.017) and 1p deletion (1p) (27.8%, P=0.040). ③ The median PFS was 15.0 and 20.3 months for the 1q group and non-1q group, and the median OS was 29.4 and 44.0 months, respectively. Both PFS and OS of 1q group was significantly shorter than those of the non-1q group (P=0.029 and 0.038, respectively). Multivariate analysis further revealed that 1q was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR=1.910, 95% CI 1.105-3.303, P=0.020) and OS (HR=2.353, 95% CI 1.090-5.078, P=0.029). ④ In 91 evaluable cases with 1q, very good partial remission (VGPR) rate was higher after treatment with Btz than those without Btz (62.1% vs 40.0%, P=0.032). Of note, the patients with 1q who received auto-HSCT after induction with Btz had significantly longer PFS than those without auto-HSCT (19 months vs 13 months, P=0.048). ⑤GEP analysis revealed that 1q21 amplification predominantly up-regulated expression of >50% genes within 1q21 region, and also altered expression of 28% genes in chromosome 1 and 10% genes in whole genome, particularly related to DNA repair and cell cycle. Conclusions 1q is an independent adverse prognostic factor in patients with newly diagnosed MM. It is often associated with 1p deletion and IGH rearrangement. Patients with 1q respond well to Btz-based regimen, but they fail to gain long-term benefit from this treatment itself. However, auto-HSCT following Btz induction might improve survival of patients with 1q, suggesting a potential strategy to treat this high-risk subset of MM. GEP analysis warrants further attention in understanding the mechanisms underlying the high-risk of 1q.

Computed tomography (CT) examination may expose patients to a high radiation dose. The reduction of radiation dose in pediatric CT examinations is becoming increasingly important. The diagnostic reference level (DRL) is a practical tool that can achieve optimization of protection and reduce radiation dose in pediatric CT examinations. This article provides a brief summary of the concept, development methods, current situations by country, and issues related to the DRL in pediatric CT examinations, aiming to provide a references for radiation protection optimization in pediatric CT examinations in China.