OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yijing Recipe (YR) on the apoptosis of testis spermatogenic cells and the protein expression of Bcl-2/Bax in rats with adenine induced infertility.

METHODSTotally 75 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the high dose YR group, the middle dose YR group, and the low dose YR group, 15 in each group. Except those in the blank control group, rats in the rest groups were intragastrically administered with adenine for 10 successive days. From the 11th day, rats in the blank control group and the model group were fed with equal volume of normal saline. Rats in the YR groups were intragastrically administered with YR at different doses (3.38 g/100 g; 1.69 g/100 g; 0.85 g/100 g), once daily for 20 consecutive days. All rats were killed by the end of the experiment and their testes extracted. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the expression of Bcl-2/Bax proteins were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and SABC method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the Bcl-2 protein expression decreased, the Bax protein expression increased, and the apoptosis index increased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the Bcl-2 protein expression increased in the three YR treated groups (P <0.01, P <0.05). The Bax protein expression level decreased in the high and middle dose YR groups (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). The apoptosis index decreased in the middle dose YR group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONYR could inhibit the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells through regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 4 (BMP-2 and BMP-4) in prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and investigate their relationship with clinical stage and Gleason score of tumor.

METHODSForty-eight PCa cases and 5 normal prostatic tissue were analysed for the expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 by Western bolt assay.

RESULTSThe optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor with Gleason score < or =5, 6-8, and > or = 9 were 7547.1 +/- 1964.12, 9657.4 +/- 2010.54, 12467.7 +/- 2496.75 and of BMP-4 expressions were 5174.4 +/- 1400.54, 5940.3 +/- 1587.42, 6332.1 +/- 1647.83, respectively. The optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages were 8003.37 +/- 1889.23, 12385.55 +/- 2506.72 and of BMP4 expressions were 5267.41 +/- 1 464.19, 6543.75 +/- 1668.46, respectively. There were significant differences between tissues with Gleason score < or =5 and > or =9 (P <0.01), and tissues in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages, in expressions of BMP-2 protein. The expression of BMP-2 protein was significantly high in the PCa with bone metastasis compared with that without bone metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 increase with the progression of clinical stage and Gleason score compared with normal prostatic tissue. The expression of BMP-2 protein is significantly upregulated in bone metastasis of PCa, which indicates a poor prognosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the expression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) in human gastric cancer, and to evaluate the correlation of PAK4 protein level with clinical pathologic parameters. Methods Immunohistochemical method was employed for detecting the expression of PAK4 in tissue samples obtained from 95 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. Western blot was also used to measure the expression of PAK4 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa in 40 patients and also in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Results Immunohistochemical staining results showed that positive PAK4 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was 67.4%, and 96.9% of those (62/64) was located in the cytoplasm, while only 3.1% (2/64) was on the cell membrane. Expression of PAK4 was revealed to be significantly and positively correlated with both TNM stage (X2=10. 426, P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (X2= 4.912, P<0.05 ). Western blot showed that PAK4 expression of gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa (t=-5. 978, P<0.01). Expression of PAK4 could also be detected in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Compared with GES-1, expression of PAK4 is higher in MKN45, AGS, N87 and BGC823, but it was lower in MGC803, MKN1 and SGC7901. Conclusion The overexpression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) may be correlated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the expression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) in human gastric cancer, and to evaluate the correlation of PAK4 protein level with clinical pathologic parameters. Methods Immunohistochemical method was employed for detecting the expression of PAK4 in tissue samples obtained from 95 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. Western blot was also used to measure the expression of PAK4 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa in 40 patients and also in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Results Immunohistochemical staining results showed that positive PAK4 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was 67.4%, and 96.9% of those (62/64) was located in the cytoplasm, while only 3.1% (2/64) was on the cell membrane. Expression of PAK4 was revealed to be significantly and positively correlated with both TNM stage (X2=10. 426, P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (X2= 4.912, P<0.05 ). Western blot showed that PAK4 expression of gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa (t=-5. 978, P<0.01). Expression of PAK4 could also be detected in 7 human gastric cancer cell lines. Compared with GES-1, expression of PAK4 is higher in MKN45, AGS, N87 and BGC823, but it was lower in MGC803, MKN1 and SGC7901. Conclusion The overexpression of p21-activated kinase4 (PAK4) may be correlated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Analgesia ; methods ; Animals ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects

Objective To study the MRI manitestation of juvemle acute pure cartilage fracture of the knee joint.Methods The MRI changes of cartilage,subcartilage low signal line and subcartilage bone were analysed retrospectively in 26 juvenile patients with acute pure cartilage fracture confirmed by arthroscopy.Sagittal and coronal MRI scanning were performed in 26 patients.Using fast low angle shot fat saturation T_1-weighted image(FLASH-FS-T_1WI)sequences,spin echo T_1-weighted image(SE-T_1WI)and fast imaging with steady-state precession three dimensional fat saturation T_2-weighted image(FISP-3D-FS- T_2WI)sequences in sagittal plane,SE-T_1WI and multi echo data image combination T_2-weighted imaging (MEDIC or ME-T_2WI)in coronal plane.Using ME-T_2WI sequence,axial plane MRI scanning in 5 patients.Results Twenty-seven sites of 26 patients include 8 patella,7 femoral medial condyle, 11 femoral lateral condyle and 1 tibial plateau.Three types pure cartilage fracture were observed,totally defect of the cartilage in 7 sites(include 3 patella,2 femoral medial condyle,1 femoral lateral condyle and 1 tibial plateau),fissuring fracture in 3 sites(include 2 femoral medial and 1 femoral lateral condyles), superficial defect of the cartilage in 17 sites(include 5 patella,3 femoral medial and 9 femoral lateral condyle).Corpus liberum was found in 21 patients'knee joints by arthroscopy,but only 3 cases by MRI. Bone bruise was detected,and subcartilage low signal lines were normal.Conclusion Using FLASH-FS- T_1WI,SE-T_1WI,FISP-3D-FS-T_2WI and ME-T_2WI sequences,sagittal and coronal MRI scanning in femoral and tibial plateau pure cartilage fractures,and using ME-T_2WI sequence axial scanning in patella r cartilage fractures may show the position,extension and types of the acute pure cartilage fracture of the knee joint. MRI is the hest non-invasive method for studying cartilage fracture.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis on cardiogenic cerebral infarction and noncardiac infarction by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Methods Comparations of NIHSS, mRS and adverse events before and after treatment were made between the cardiogenic group and the noncardiac group. Results No significant differences in the NIHSS and mRS were found between the two groups. The incidence of brain hernia and dermatorrhagia in the cardiogenic group was higher than that in the noncardiac group. Conclusion Rt-PA therapy in cardiogenic cerebral infarction was effective and safe in spite of higher incidence of hemorrhage and brain hernia.

Humans ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Acupuncture Therapy

AIMTo investigate the effects of intragastric administration of thenorphine (Then) on behavioral sensitization to morphine (Mor) in mice.

METHODSLocomotor activity was detected after intragastric administration of thenorphine or co-administration of thenorphine with Mor in mice. Mice were induced to be behaviorally sensitive to Mor, and were given the combination of Mor and thenorphine to observe the effects of thenorphine on the development, transfer and expression of Mor-induced behavioral sensitization.

RESULTSA single intragastric administration of thenorphine (1.25 - 5.0 mg x kg(-1)) dose-dependently inhibited the locomotor activity in mice (P < 0.01) and the effects of thenorphine on locomotor activity developed tolerance after repeated administration. Co-administration of thenorphine effectively inhibited Mor-induced hyperactivity (P < 0.05) and the development, transfer, expression of Mor-induced behavioral sensitization in mice (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThenorphine was shown to suppress the central nervous system and may be effective against the abuse and addiction to opioids.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Buprenorphine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Tolerance ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Morphine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Random Allocation