Objective To explore the neuroprotective effects of Buchang Naoxintong Capsule on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.Methods Rat model of ischemic reperfusion of cerebral middle artery was established according to Zea Longa's pattern. Rats were randomly divided into pseudo-operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group and Buchang Naoxintong Capsule treated group. The ischemia/reperfusion group and Buchang Naoxintong Capsule treated group were both divided into five subgroups according to reperfusion time or administration time such as 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d and 15 d. Using immunohistochemical staining method and color image analysis, we measured the expression of vessel endothelium growth factor (VEGF) and Laminin in the region of ischemia. Pathological changes were observed with HE staining and transmission electron microscope. Besides that, the content of brain water was assayed.Results Compared with ischemia/reperfusion group, less numbers of shrinkage or swelling neurons were found in Buchang Naoxintong Capsule treated group.The content of brain water, the expression of VEGF were obviously different between Buchang Naoxintong Capsule treated group and the other two groups (all P

Objective To discuss the effect of tetrandrine on endogenous neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation after spinal cord injury in rats. Methods 78 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group(n=36), Tet-treated group(n=36), sham-operated group(n=6). Control group and Tet-treated group were adapted with Allen's combat modeling method. Rats in Tet group were injected Ted with a dosage 22.5 mg/kg in 30 minutes, 24 hours and 48 hours after ASCI, and the same dose of saline was injected into injured group as control .Samples were dissected from the spinal cord injury sites at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks after ASCI, and tested by HE staining for morphology and by immunolfuorescence staining for the expression of BrdU and nestin. Results A little Nestin positive cells and BrdU positive cells were found in control group and Tet-treated group at 1 day after injury. A large number of positive cells were found in both groups at 1 week after injury and reached the peak which lasted for 2 weeks and then decreased gradually. The expression of Nestin positive cells and BrdU positive cells in control group and Tet-treated group were decreased significantly at 4 weeks after injury, but were still more than that in sham operation group. The number of Nestin positive cells and BrdU positive cells in Tet-treated group were more than that in control group at each time point after injury. The expression was higher in Tet-treated group than control group at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks after injury and had no difference at 4 weeks after injury. Conclusions Tetrandrine could increase the number of Nestin positive cells, BrdU positive cells and endogenous neural stem cells though improving the microenvironment, and it is beneficial for the recovery of spinal cord injury in rats.

This study was designed to prove simultaneously blocking both EGFR and COX-2-medi-ated pathways may be an efficient means of inhibiting cancer cell growth in NPC. Method: A combination of tarceva (EGFR-selectivetyrosine kinase inhibitors) with celecoxib(Cox-2 inhibitor) was studied on its effects on cell growth, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and protein expression in CNE-2 cell lines by cell growth assay, flow cy-tometric analysis assay and Western blotting. Result: ①The inhibition rate of cell growth was higher in the group treated with a combination of two agents than that the sum of rates of the two groups treated with only one agent (P<0.05). ②The combination of tarceva with celecoxib significantly induced G_1 arrest(P<0.05) ,but did not in-crease apoptosis rate(P>0.05). ③The group of combination showed less expressions of p-EGFR and COX-2 than any other group. Conclusion Simultaneously blocking EGFR and COX-2 mediated pathways would significantly in-hibit the growth of CNE-2 cell line, increase G_1 arrest and reduce the expression levels of p-EGFR and COX-2.

OBJECTIVETo identify the type of CTGAATCA from -nt.199 to -nt.192 of the cytokeratin 13(CK13) gene 5' flanking region and determine its transcriptional effect on CK13 gene expression.

METHODSThe CAT systems were used to assess the effects of different motifs of CK13 gene 5' flanking region on transcription. The clones of pCAT-enhancer with the total length, -nt.207 to +nt.63 and the same length of -nt.207 to +nt.63, but the T, G of -nt.198, -nt.197 being changed to A, T of the CK13 gene 5' flanking region, were constructed and transferred to HeLa cells with the help of lipofectin. Then work was done to detect the instant CAT expression of different clones and evaluate the effects of CTGAATCA of the 5' flanking region on CK13 gene expression. The type of the cis-element of CTGAATCA was identified with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and competition-EMSA.

RESULTSCTGAATCA in the CK13 gene 5' flanking region is an AP1 cis-element by EMSA and competition-EMSA, it promotes CK13 gene expression.

CONCLUSIONCTGAATCA from -nt.199 to nt.192 of the CK13 gene 5' flanking region is an AP1 reaction element, not a cAMP reaction element. It promotes transcriptional activity of CK13 gene 5' flanking region.

5' Flanking Region ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Binding, Competitive ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Keratins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to prove simultaneously blocking both EGFR and COX-2-mediated pathways may be an efficient means of inhibiting cancer cell growth in NPC. METHOD: A combination of tarceva (EGFR-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors) with celecoxib (Cox-2 inhibitor) was studied on its effects on cell growth, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and protein expression in CNE-2 cell lines by cell growth assay, flow cytometric analysis assay and Western blotting. RESULT: (1) The inhibition rate of cell growth was higher in the group treated with a combination of two agents than that the sum of rates of the two groups treated with only one agent (P < 0.05). (2) The combination of tarceva with celecoxib significantly induced G1 arrest (P < 0.05), but did not increase apoptosis rate (P > 0.05). (3) The group of combination showed less expressions of p-EGFR and COX-2 than any other group. CONCLUSION Simultaneously blocking EGFR and COX-2 mediated pathways would significantly inhibit the growth of CNE-2 cell line, increase G1 arrest and reduce the expression levels of p-EGFR and COX-2.
Apoptosis ; Celecoxib ; Cell Division ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; ErbB Receptors ; metabolism ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Pyrazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, therapeutic efficacy and misdiagnosis status of sphenoid sinus malignant tumor in order to improve the diagnosis rate. METHOD: Analysing and summarizing 18 patients with sphenoid sinus malignant tumor in our department from 1996 to 2005. RESULT: The metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the most of sphenoid sinus malignant tumor,the second is chordocarcinoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, its clinical manifestation was headache (78%), sight alteration (50%), cranial nerve palsy (39%), nose bleed (11%); the clinical diagnosis rate was 56%. CONCLUSION The nasal endoscopy is the convention examination for these patients with sphenoid sinus malignant tumor whose imageology diagnosis is of limitation.
Adult ; Diagnostic Errors ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus ; pathology

Objectives: . Considerable research has been focused on independent predictors of difficult laryngeal exposure (DLE) during suspension laryngoscopy. However, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results and conclusions. Consequently, we performed a meta-analysis of the existing literature with the aim of identifying significant parameters for a standardized preoperative DLE prediction system. Methods: . We systematically retrieved articles from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases up to October 2022. Data from eligible studies were extracted and analyzed using the R programming language. The effect measures included odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous variables and mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs for continuous variables. Results: . The search yielded 1,574 studies, of which 18 (involving a total of 2,263 patients) were included. Pooled analysis demonstrated that patients with DLE during microsurgery tended to be male (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.16–2.57); were older (MD, 5.47 years, 95% CI, 2.44–8.51 years); had a higher body mass index (BMI; MD, 1.19 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.33–2.05 kg/m2); had a greater neck circumference (MD, 2.50 cm; 95% CI, 1.56–3.44 cm); exhibited limited mouth opening (MD, −0.52 cm; 95% CI, −0.88 to −0.15 cm); had limited neck flexibility (MD, −10.05 cm; 95% CI, −14.10 to −6.00 cm); displayed various other anatomical characteristics; and had a high modified Mallampati index (MMI) or test score (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.07–5.48). Conclusion . We conducted a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the factors relevant to DLE. Ultimately, we identified sex, age, BMI, neck circumference, MMI, inter-incisor gap, hyomental distance, thyromental distance, sternomental distance, and flexion-extension angle as factors highly correlated with DLE.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of Survivin mRNA in xenotransplanted nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by paclitaxel combined with radiotherapy. METHOD: Xenotransplanted nasopharyngeal carcinoma was established by CNE-2 cell line, then grouped and treated with paclitaxel, radiotherapy, paclitaxel combined with radiotherapy respectively. Xenotransplanted tumor volume was measured; tumor specimens were confirmed by routine hemotoxylin-eosin staining; apoptosis index was assayed by flow cytometry and Survivin mRNA was detected by one step RT-PCR. RESULT: Xenotransplanted tumor growth was significantly inhibited by paclitaxel combined with radiotherapy and its inhibition rate was 99.3%. Compared to control group, apoptosis index was apparently increased in the other three groups (P<0.05), especially in the combined therapy group (P<0.05). Survivin mRNA expression was obviously decreased in the combined therapy group (P<0.05); whereas there was no difference in its expression among the groups of paclitaxel, radiotherapy, and control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Paclitaxel combined with radiotherapy can induce significant killing effect in xenotransplanted nasopharyngeal carcinoma; paclitaxel can enhance the radiosensitivity of xenotransplanted nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its mechanism may rely on the down-regulation of Survivin expression.
Animals ; Brachytherapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Paclitaxel ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survivin ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the synergistic cytotoxicity of TRAIL and paclitaxel on nasopharyngeal cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2. METHOD: CCK-8 assays the growth inhibition rate of CNE-1 and CNE-2 which was treated with TRAIL or paclitaxel or combination of both. Flow cytometry tests the apoptosis rate of CNE-1 and CNE-2 which was treated with TRAIL or paclitaxel or combination of each other. RESULT: In certain range of time and concentration,TRAIL and paclitaxel inhibited the growth of the cell lines of CNE-1 and CNE-2 in a time-dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). The rate of growth inhibition and apoptosis in TRAIL and paclitaxel combinative group was more significant than that in the TRAIL and paclitaxel singular group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION TRAIL and paclitaxel had a synergistic killing effect on NPC cell lines and showed better affection than singular group, which provides a novel and prospective strategy for NPC chemotherapy.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology

Objective The present study aimed to establish a bone mineral density (BMD) reference database in China and to investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese adults aged 50 years and older using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Method A total of 75321 examineers over 25 years old who underwent health checkups in 7 health check centers between 2008 and 2018 were included. All centers used a GE Lunar-DXA system to measure BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, and total femur. The same European Spine Phantom (ESP) was used for scanning 10 times at every center, a regression equation was generated, and BMD data were cross-calibrated in each center. Peak BMD and standard deviation (SD) were identified according to 5-year age groups, and T scores were calculated based on the peak BMD and SD. Osteoporosis was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. The prevalence of osteoporosis was standardized based on 2010 national census data for the Chinese population. Result The mean BMD values decreased with age, were highest in North China, followed by Northeast China, East China, and Southwest China, respectively, and increased with body mass index. Males aged 20-30 years and females aged 35-40 years had peak BMD values. Peak BMD values of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur were 1.09 g/cm2, 0.97 g/cm2, and 0.97 g/cm2 in males, and 1.11 g/cm2, 0.84 g/cm2, and 0.88 g/cm2 in females, respectively. Among all scanned sites, the prevalence of osteoporosis was highest in the femoral neck in males (4.58％) and in the lumbar spine in females (23.38％). The age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis at any site was 6.46％ in males and 29.13％ in females aged 50 years and older. Based on the 2010 national census data, 10879115 males and 49286542 females currently have osteoporosis. Conclusion Mean BMD values varied according to geographic region, body mass index, age group, and sex in Chinese adults. The age-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis was 6.46％ in males and 29.13％ in females aged 50 years and older.