Objective: The current study was designed to examine whether Sijunzi decoction could induce apoptosis in human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice. Methods: A human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901 was grafted into 30 nude mice. The animals in two experimental groups received either Sijunzi decoction for 40 days or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for 6 days beginning 2 days after grafting. The control animals received saline according to an identical schedule. The animals were sacrified 41 days after grafting. The therapeutic effect was determined by measuring of tumor size and tumor weight. Apoptotic indices were examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate fluorescence nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometry analysis. Morphological changes were observed by electron microscopy. Results: Comparing with controls, tumor growth was significantly inhibited by Sijunzi decoction ( 34.33％ ， P<0.05) or 5 FU( 50.00％ ， P< 0.05) . Apoptotic index(AI) was significantly higher(16.24％ ± 3.21％ as determined by TUNEL and 11.38％ ± 6.46％ by FACScan) in Sijunzi decoction treatment group than that in the control group (TUNEL:2.63％ ± 1.03％ ,P< 0.01; FACScan:7.15％ ± 1.32％ ,P< 0.05); while there was no significant increase of AI in 5 FU treatment group. Cell shrinkage, nuclear chromatin condensation, formation of membrane blebs and apoptotic bodies were frequently observed on tumor sections in Sijunzi decoction group, while only few apoptotic cells/bodies and necrotic cells were found in the 5-FU treatment group, and in control group cancer cells were in proliferation. Conclusions: The data demonstrated enhanced apoptosis in human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice after treatment with Sijunzi decoction, suggesting that Sijunzi decoction may be a potential anticancer agent for gastric cancer treatment.

The effect of magnetic Fe3O4 particles on cellulase in the enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull was studied in different adding ways and additive amount. In the process of enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull, the variations of cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and cellulose conversion were evaluated. After the reaction, the analysis of pH and surface tension of hydrolysate were also used to determine the mechanisms of cellulase by the magnetic effect. The results indicated that after adding magnetic Fe3O4, the cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and conversion of cellulose had an increased between the 0.5 g/L and 2.0 g/L cases after 48 h. When the additive amount of magnetic Fe3O4 was 2 g/L, the cellulase activity at 60 h was improved significantly by 25.9%. It was found that the concentration of reducing sugar was increased from 6.950 mg/mL to 8.775 mg/mL with magnetic Fe3O4 1.5 g/L. Simultaneously, compared with the blank, which the conversion of cellulose was 47.932%, the maximum celluloseconversion of samples with adding magnetic Fe3O4 was 60.531%. Besides, the stability of cellulase activity adding in times was better than in one time. After the reaction, the final surface tension of hydrolysate with 1.5 g/L magnetic Fe3O4 was the lowest in comparison with the blank. However, no significant differences were observed in the final pH of the hydrolysate.

Objective To assess the association between air temperature and emergency room visits among patients covered by medical care program from ' third-grade' hospitals in Shanghai.Methods Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze time series,and AR(P) was used to deal with auto correlation of time series.After controlling factors as both medium-term and long-term trends,day of the week,vocation,typical pneumonia and pollutants,the association between air temperature and emergency room visits in virtue of quadratic curve and differential coefficient principle were estimated.Results When air temperature was below 14.71℃,the increase of 95% confidence interval to relative risk in corresponding emergency room visits along with 1℃ increase of air temperature,was less than 1.However,when air temperature was above 19.59℃,the relative risk' s 95% confidence interval was greater than 1.When air temperature varied at the range of 14.71℃-19.59℃,the 95% confidence interval of the relative risk would include 1.Hence,air temperature range between 14.71℃-19.59℃,was called the optimum temperature range.Conclusion Our findings indicated that the current air temperature had an acute impact on the number of emergency room visits among patients covered by medical care program visiting those third grade hospitals in Shanghai.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the ability of triple helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) modified with manganese porphyrin to combine with and cleave HBV DNA fractions.

METHODSTFO were modified with manganese porphyrin and acridines, and then reacted with the (32)P labeled HBV DNA fragments at 37 degrees C in vitro (pH 7.4). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting tests were used to show the affinity and specificity of TFO to bind to target sequences. The ability of TFO to cleave HBV DNA fragments was tested by cleavage experiments.

RESULTSTFO modified with manganese porphyrin and acridine could bind to the target sequence in a sequence-dependent manner, with a Kd value of 3.5 x 10(-7) mol/L and a relative affinity of 0.008. In the presence of potassium monopersulfate (KHSO(5)), TFO modified with manganese porphyrin and acridine could cleave the target sequence where the triplex DNA was formed.

CONCLUSIONIn the presence of KHSO(5), TFO modified with manganese porphyrin and acridine could bind and cleave the target HBV-DNA in a sequence-dependent manner.

DNA ; drug effects ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Manganese ; pharmacology ; Metalloporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Potassium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Sulfates ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of AP-1 and Ets binding site adjacent to matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter on activation of MMP-9 transcription of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells transfected with EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), and to ascertain if cross-talk between c-Jun and Ets1 is involved in LMP1-regulating expression of MMP-9.

METHODSSite-directed mutagenesis technique was used to establish a series of mutants, including MMP-9-CAT-Ets(-540)mt, MMP-9-CAT-AP-1(-533)mt and MMP-9-CAT-AP-1(-533)/Ets(-540)mt. After the mutants were transfected into LMP1-expressing NPC HNE2 cells regulated by Tet-on system (pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2), CAT activity of these mutants were assayed with induction of LMP1. With blockade of c-Jun or Ets1 antisense oligonucleotides, the activity of MMP-9 induced by LMP1 was assayed with gelatin zymography.

RESULTSThe CAT activity of MMP-9-Ets(-540)mt-CAT, MMP-9-AP-1(-533)mt-CAT, MMP-9-AP-1(-533)/Ets(-540) mt-CAT decreased significantly compared to MMP-9-CAT wt. After blockade with c-Jun or Ets1 antisense oligonucleotides, activity of MMP-9 induced by LMP1 decreased significantly, especially with combined blockade of c-Jun and Ets1.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that transcription factor AP-1 and Ets play an crucial role in activation of MMP-9 transcription induced by LMP1, and cross-talk between c-Jun/Ets1 is involved in expression of MMP-9 mediated by LMP1.

Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; virology ; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Glucagon ; blood ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Octreotide ; therapeutic use ; Somatostatin ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of using fluid warming and forced-air warming system on patient core temperature, blood loss, blood transfusion, extubation time, and postoperative shivering.

METHODSForty ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists' Physical Status) I-II patients, aged 21-69 years, scheduled for elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, were enrolled in the study. The patients were premedicated with intramuscular dolantin 50 mg and atropine 0.5 mg. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 1 mg, fentanyl 50-100 microg and propofol 1.5-2.0 mg/kg. Tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 1mg and succinylcholine 1.5-2.0 mg/kg. The patients were mechanically ventilated and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane 1.5-2.0%, 50% N2O in oxygen and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl (total dose 5-6 microg/kg). Vecuronium was used for muscle relaxation during maintenance of anesthesia. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (n = 20) and warming group (n = 20). In both groups, the patients were covered with surgery blanket. In the warming group, patients were additionally warmed with fluid warming device and forced-air warming system during the operation. The core temperature was recorded every 20 minutes during the operation, as well as the blood loss, blood transfusion, extubation time and postoperative shivering.

RESULTSThe core temperature at the end of the surgery was (36.4 +/- 0.4) degrees C in the warming group and (35.3 +/- 0.5) degrees C in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (t = 7.547, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference of blood loss and blood transfusion between two groups. The extubation time was significantly shorter in the warming group [(18 +/- 6) vs (26 +/- 10) min, t = -3.364, P = 0.002]. 6 patients shivered postoperatively in the control group and none in the warming group (chi2 = 7.059, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONFluid warming system and forced-air warming system can effectively maintain normothermia during the surgery and then help to reduce the extubation time and postoperative shivering.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Body Temperature ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; prevention & control ; Intraoperative Care ; methods ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Shivering ; physiology

Objective To investigate the protective effect of modified Qianjin Weijing Decoction(MQJWJD)on TNF-α and NF-κB in rats with lung injury induced by particulate matter; To discuss relevant mechanism of action. Methods A tracheal drip 15 mg/kg fine particles of saline solution was used to establish modeling, every other day, three times. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and MQJWJD high-dose and low-dose groups, with eight rats in each group. Medication groups were given relevant medicine for gavage. The level of TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured by ELISA. The expression of NF-κB protein in lung tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. The histopathology of the lung injury was observed by light microscope. Results Compared with normal group, the level of TNF-α and the expression of NF-κB protein in the model group were higher than those in the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the level of TNF-α and the expression of NF-κB protein in MQJWJD low-dose and high-dose groups were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological observation showed that, compared with normal group, model group showed intratracheal, alveolar and interstitial bacteria within a large number of fine particles calm, alveolar and pulmonary interstitial visible large amounts of phagocytic fine particles of macrophages and accompanied by more neutrophils and lymphocyte infiltration; Lung tissue pathological changes were significantly lighter in MQJWJD high-dose and low-dose groups than the model group. MQJWJD high-dose group showed mild inflammation, alveolar and pulmonary interstitial visible phagocytic fine particles of macrophages, a small amount of neutrophils and lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusion MQJWJD can reduce the pulmonary injury in rats induced by particulate matter and has protective effects on the rat model through decreasing the levels of TNF-α and the expressions of NF-κB protein in injured lung tissues.

Objective To assess efficacy and safety of oral brivudine 125 mg once daily versus 4 times daily in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods A five-centre,randomized,double-blind,parallel- controlled study was performed on 226 patients with herpes zoster.Oral brivudine 125 mg was given once daily to 112 patients,and four times daily to 114 patients,both for 7 days.All patients were followed up for 3 weeks after the end of treatment.Results The time to the last formation of new vesicles was 3.88 days for the once daily group,and 3.79 days for the 4 times daily group,without significant differences between the two groups.There was also no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the time to total resolution of vesicles,time to first crusts,time to full crusting,time to first loss of crusts,time to full loss of crusts,time to first relief of pain,and time to complete relief of pain.Postherpetic neuralgia occurred in 34.5% of patients in the once daily group,and 30.4% of patients in the 4 times daily group.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 5.4% and 9.6%,in the once daily group and 4 times daily group, respectively.Conclusions Brivudine 125 mg once daily is equally effective,more convenient and safe in comparison with brivudine 125 mg 4 times daily for the treatment of herpes zoster.