BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) can relieve myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Because adrenomedulin(Adm) and CGRP share certain structural homology, it is assumed that Adm might have protective effect on myocardium.OBJECTIVE: To investigate Adm' s inhibitory effect on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in ischemia-reperfusion rats and its protective effect on myocardial ischemia.DESIGN: A randomized paired design using ischemia-reperfusion model of SD rats.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Animal Center of Xianning Medical College from December 2003 to May 2004. Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were selected.METHODS: The hearts of the rats were removed to make into ischemia-reperfusion model and then randomized to control group, Adm1-50(1× 10-9) mol/L group, Adm1-50(1 × 10-8) mol/L group and Adm1-50(1 × 10-7) mol/L group. After the hearts underwent ischemia for 60 minutes, the hearts in control group were reperfused with oxygenation Kerbs-Henseleit bicarbonate(KHB) for 60 minutes while those in the other three groups had reperfusion with oxygenation KHB and Adm1-50( 1 × 10-9),(1 × 10-8), and(1 × 10-7) mol/L, respectively, for 15 minutes and KHB perfusion for another 45 minutes. The liquid flowing from the coronary artery was collected, and the content of creatine kinase isoenzyme was detected. Myocardium in the left ventricle was collected for RNA extraction, and the expression of VCAM-1m RNA was determined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression of myocardial VCAM-1mRNA in control group and groups of different concentrations of Adm1-50.RESULTS: After electrophoresis, each group was found to have an obvious amplified band at 194bp, which was GADPH mRNA amplified segment, and the expression of GADPH mRNA in each group was the same. VCAM-1 mRNA amplified segment with strong brightness and clear border was found at 334bp in control group and Adml-50 (1 × 10-9) mol/L group. The brightness of VCAM-1 mRNA amplified band decreased significantly in Adm1-50(1 × 10-8) mol/L group whereas slight brightness and obscure amplified band was found in Adm1-50(1 × 10-7) mol/L group. The gray value of amplified VCAM-1mRNA and GAPDH mRNA in Adm1-50(1 × 10-8)group and(1 × 10-7) mol/L group was 0.6 ±0.31 and 0.5 ±0.36, respectively, which was obviously lower than that in control group( 1.2 ± 0. 52) ( P＜ 0. 05).CONCLUSION: Adm1-50 may inhibit the expression of myocardial VCAM-1mRNA in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in a dose-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the hepato-protective mechanism of thymoquinone (TQ) onthe development of acetaminophen (APAP)- induced liver injury. METHODS In vivo, male kunming mice were injected with a single dose of 300 mg·kg-1 APAP. Some mice were pretreated with TQ (5 or 20 mg·kg-1) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 300 mg·kg-1) 2 h before APAP injection. Mice were euthanized at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h after APAP treatment. In vitro, human Chang liver cells were incubated with 3.125, 6.25 or 12.5 μmol·L-1 TQ, 10 μmol·L-1 SP600125 and 500 μmol·L-1 AICAR in the presence of APAP for 24 h. Cell viability were analyzed by MTT assay, protein expressions were assessed by Western blot. RESULTS TQ pretreatment significantly reduced serum aminotransferase and increased hepatic gluta?thione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities, while significantly inhibited interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels. TQ significantly inhibited c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and P38 phosphorylation induced by APAP. Moreover, TQ inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling activation and activated AMPK phosphorylation induced by APAP. In addition, TQ inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation on APAP-induced liver injury. In vitro, APAP enhanced JNK phosphorylation and attenuated AMPK phosphorylation in Chang liver cells, and these effects were blocked by pretreatment with TQ, SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and AICAR (AMPK activator). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that TQ may actively prevent APAP-induced liver injury, and this effect may be mediated by JNK and AMPK signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway between hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS Normal human Chang liver cells and human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells were treated with SRT1720 (10 μmol·L-1) and AICAR (500 μmol·L-1) prior to ethanol (50 mmol·L-1) for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability was analyzed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. SIRT1, AMPK and p-AMPK mRNA levels for 24 h and 48 h were analyzed by RT-PCR, SIRT1, AMPK and p-AMPK protein expressions in the supernatant at 24 and 48 h was detected by Western blot. RESULTS SRT1720 and AICAR effectively decreased LX-2 cell viabilities and exhibited scarcely little toxicity in human Chang liver cells. SRT1720 and AICAR attenuated collagen-I, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels, activated liver kinase B-1 (LKB1) and AMPK phosphorylation in ethanol treated LX-2 cells. Meanwhile, SRT1720 and AICAR enhanced SIRT1 expression mediated by ethanol both in Chang liver cells and LX-2 cells. Furthermore, SRT1720 and AICAR suppressed the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) to regulate fatty acid synthesis. CONCLUSION SIRT1 agonist and AMPK agonist blocked the crosstalk between hepatocytes and HSCs via SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway to modulate hepatocytes accumulation of lipid and HSCs activation.

Data were collected in different successional stages using a simultaneous sampling method and analyzed through quantitative classification method. Three large groups and 12 classes were made to represent the community patterns of three succession stages and 12 succession communities. The succession series of plant community in the study area was as follows: saline bare land-->community Suaeda salsa-->community Tamarix chinensis-->grassland. Succession degree and succession process of 12 succession communities were calculated. Most of these communities were in the lower succession stage, however, community Phragmites communis+Glycine soja and community Imperata cylindrica+G. soja were close to the succession stage of grassland climax. Five species diversity indices were used to study the changes in species richness, species evenness and diversity during succession of community. Heterogeneity index and richness index increased gradually during the community succession process, but species evenness tended to decrease with succession development. The relation between succession and environment was studied by ordination technique, and the results showed that the soil salt content was an important factor to halarch succession of the modern Yellow River Delta. It affected community structure, species composition and succession process.
Animals ; China ; Ecosystem ; Plant Development ; Plants ; classification ; Rivers

OBJECTIVE: To study the morphological characteristics of femurs of adult human and 11 kinds of adult animals from cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and to establish an effective species identification method among various species. METHODS: The 4 cm mid-diaphyseal segment of the femur from adult human (older than 20 years old) at autopsy was obtained. Addi-tionally, the 4 cm ones from 11 kinds of adult animals were obtained. After decalcification, all femurs were made into slices, and then were observed by optical microscope. The 25 indexes were selected and analyzed by step discriminant analysis according to differences between human and mammal, human and poultry, and human and 11 kinds of animals. RESULTS: The histological structure of bone mineral density of middle part of femur had obvious characteristics among the species. And the morphology and number of osteon showed the trend of obvious biological evolution. There were 11 indexes with significant differences between human and 11 kinds of animals to establish some mathematical models to discriminate all species. The correct discrimination rate was 96.3% between human and mammal. The correct discrimination rate was up to 100% between human and poultry, and was 89.4% among human, mammal and poultry. CONCLUSION The mathematical models have good correct discrimination rate among human and the other animals, which could be applied in the practical species identification cases.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Cats ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dogs ; Femur/ultrastructure* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Haversian System/ultrastructure* ; Horses ; Humans ; Sheep ; Species Specificity ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo sum up causes and the prevention of complications after using the radio frequency ablation (RFA) to treat of primary and secondary liver cancers.

METHODSThe clinical courses of 735 patients, undergoing percutaneous RFA treatment for a total of 1780 times were reviewed. The causes of the complications occurring after the RFA treatment, and their prevention and treatment were evaluated.

RESULTSEleven complications after RFA treatment were found. Postoperative fever, sweating, and local pain were common. Serious complications, such as gut perforation, intraabdominal hemorrhage, and cardiovascular accident were found in 4 patients, and the mortality was 75%.

CONCLUSIONSThe RFA treatment is an effective method for the treatment of primary and secondary liver tumor. Careful selection of patients, appropriate preoperative preparations, proper operative procedures, and suitable postoperative care are the key points in preventing the complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; secondary ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of X-ray exposure on the release of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-p75 (sTNFR-p75) in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the levels of sTNFR-p75 in the supernatants of HepG2 cells before and after X-ray exposure. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope(TEM), and the morphological changes of the cells were examined under optical microscope and transmission electron microscope(TEM).

RESULTSX-ray exposure of the cells resulted in a strong increase of cell apoptosis (P<0.05) and sTNFR-p75 production in the cells as compared with the those before the exposure (P<0.01). Optical microscopy revealed apoptotic changes of HepG2 cell after the exposure, shown as cell shrinkage, spherical cell morphology, cytoplasmic and nuclear condensation. Apoptotic bodies were detected by TEM.

CONCLUSIONX-ray exposure induces HepG2 cells apoptosis by inhibiting the release of sTNFR-p75 into the supernatant.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; secretion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; secretion ; Microscopy ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; secretion ; Solubility ; X-Rays

To explore the mechanisms of suppression growth and induction apoptosis of curcumin on human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226, the suppressive effect of curcumin on RPMI8226 was examined by MTT assay; the induction apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of curcumin on RPMI8226 were determined by flow cytometry (FCM); the changes of survivin, Bcl-2, Bax mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that curcumin obviously suppressed the proliferation of RPMI8226 in both time- and dose-dependent manners, and the IC(50) were 12.15 micromol/L, 4.9 micromol/L for 24 and 48 hours respectively. FCM indicated that the apoptosis ratio rose from 10.6% of untreated cells up to 36.9% of treated cells (p < 0.05), and curcumin arrested cell cycle of RPMI8226 at G(2)/M phase. RT-PCR showed that RPMI8226 cells expressed survivin, Bcl-2 strongly and Bax slightly; while RPMI8226 cells were treated with curcumin 10 micromol/L for 24 hours, the expressions of survivin, Bcl-2 mRNA were apparently down-regulated, and the expression of Bax mRNA was markedly up-regulated. It is concluded that curcumin can suppress the proliferation of human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226, and induce their apoptosis. The mechanism of antitumous effect of curcumin may be related to down-regulation of survivin, Bcl-2 mRNA and up-regulation of Bax mRNA.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

Simplified dose calculation model with high computation efficiency is often used to generate the dose matrices for beamlets in the inverse planning of the intensity modulate radiation therapy. It is likely that this simplification could degrade the quality of the final treatment plans. This paper is aimed at testing the influence of such simplification in dose calculations of beamlets and accordingly proposing methods to avoid severe degradation of the plans. Two simulation instances were adopted. The primary dose calculation model without involvment of scattering effect was used to generate the dose matrices of beamlets. The differential convolution superposition dose calculation model that well accounts for scattering effect was used to calculate the final dose distributions for given intensity profiles. It is found that the simplification in dose matrices of beamlets degrades the dose levels in the edge area of the targets, however, the degradation could be diminished or even avoided by adding a suitable margin around the targets or by using the multiple-shifted-beamlet-matrices (MSBM) method that was proposed in our previous paper.
Humans ; Radiometry ; methods ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Scattering, Radiation

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin in combination with bortezomib on the proliferation and apoptosis of human MM cell line H929 in vitro, and to explore its mechanisms. MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effects of curcumin and bortezomib either alone or combined at different concentrations on H929 cells, and flow cytometry was employed to assay the apoptosis rate. In addition, RT-PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of gene BCL-2, BAX, cyclin D1. Immunofluorescence technique was performed to study the location changes of NF-κB P65 in different groups. The results showed that both curcumin and bortezomib inhibited the proliferation of MM cell line H929 in dose-dependent manner, and combination of these two drugs displayed synergistical effect. A much higher apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry in combinative groups than that in single or control group. And RT-PCR showed, as compared with curcumin or bortezomib group, there was mRNA expression decrease of BCL-2, cyclin D1 but increase of BAX in combined group. The expression of NF-κB P65 in nucleus was downregulated in either the curcumin or bortezomib group, however, distribution of NF-κB P65 in cytoplasm was observed in combined group. It is concluded that the combination of curcumin and bortezomib is much more effective for the inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of H929 cell line, which may function by inhibiting the transcription of NF-κB and apoptosis-related genes.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Boronic Acids ; pharmacology ; Bortezomib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism