Objective To investigate the potential relationship between initial 131Ⅰ uptake by lung metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and treatment outcomes. Methods From 1997 to 2009, 41 patients with DTC lung metastases were treated in the authors' department. 131Ⅰ whole body scan (WBS), serum Tg levels and other imaging results were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects. Complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was considered to be effective. The x2 test and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 11.5 software package. Results 131 Ⅰ treatment was effective in 63% (26/41) patients with DTC lung metastases, CR in 8 patients and PR in 18 patients. In other 37% ( 15/41 ) patients, 131Ⅰ treatment was ineffective, including one case died of distant metastases. Patients with initial presence of 131Ⅰ lung uptake had higher effective rate than those with 131Ⅰ lung uptake during the second or later 131Ⅰ treatment (76% (22/29)vs33% (4/12),x2 =4.911, P=0.027). Also, significantly higher effective rate was found in patients with lung metastases alone than those with extra-pulmonary metastases (75% (24/32) vs 22% (2/9), x2 = 6. 312, P =0.012). However, the effective rate in patients with diffuse metastases was not significantly different from that in patients with focal metastases (67% (12/18)vs 61% ( 14/23), x2 =0. 146, P=0.702). The positive rate of initial 131Ⅰ uptake by lung metastases was higher in patients with total thyroidectomy than those with partial thyroidectomy (83% (24/29) vs 42% (5/12) ). Those positive rates in patients with papilary DTC and patients with follicular DTC were 72% (23/32) and 6/9, respectively. The surgical mode was correlated with the initial 131Ⅰ uptake by lung metastases (r = 0.411, P ＜ 0.05), but no correlation was found between the histological type and the initial 131Ⅰ uptake by lung metastases ( r = 0. 047, P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion Initial uptake of 131 Ⅰ by lung metastases alone is a favorable prognostic factor for DTC patients treated by131Ⅰ, and total thyroidectomy may be beneficial for initial 131Ⅰ uptake by lung metastases.

This study is to investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Uygur medicine bugloss (BTF) on rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and to explore the mechanisms by which it acts. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in rats was occluded for 30 min followed by 4 h reperfusion. Meanwhile, BTF dissolved in saline was administered intraperitoneally at dosage of 10, 30 and 50 mg x kg(-1). Electrocardiograph, infarction index, serum myocardial enzymes and heart function were determined to evaluate the effect of BTF. Some other observations were carried out to explore whether inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis is involved in the mechanisms underlying BTF. Our results showed that in ischemia/reperfusion injured rats BTF could dose-dependently reduce myocardial infarction index and myocardial enzyme leakage, and enhance heart function, indicating that it possesses significant cardio protection. ELISA analysis showed that BTF could decrease the content of myocardial inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Western-blotting confirmed that BTF could increase the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reduce the expression of proapoptosis protein Bax. Further more, the phosphorylation level of PI3K and Akt was upregulated by BTF treatment. BTF can protect rat against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Anti-inflammation and inhibition of apoptosis through upregulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway may contribute to the protective effect of BTF.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart ; Interleukin-6 ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Myocardium ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Protective Agents ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

OBJECTIVETo study effects of soy extract on lipid metabolims in ovariectomized rats.

METHOD90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: control group, sham group, model group, estrogen group, soy isoflavone group of high dose, soy isoflavone group of low dose, soy extract of high dose, soy extract of low dose, and soy polysaccharde group, 10 rats in each group. Except fer of control and sham groups, the test rats were ovariectomized. One week after operation, the rats were treated with different drugs. Six weeks after operation, the rats were killed, with serum and liver taken, and serumglycerol(sGT), cholesterol(sGC), LDL, HDL and liver homogenate hGT, hGC, measured.

RESULTThe level of sGC, LDL in ovariectmized rats increased significantly, compared with that in control and sham groups. In liver both the level of hGT and hGC were higher than that in liver from control and sham groups. Administration of estrogen or soy extract or soy isoflavone could attenuate these in ovariectomized rats, but soy polysacchardes did not have any effects.

CONCLUSIONOvariectomized rats have an imbalance of lipid metabolism, the level of hGT and hGC were increased, and administration of estrogen, soy extracts or soy isoflavone could decrease these changes induced by ovariectomizing.

Animals ; Cholesterol ; blood ; metabolism ; Estriol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Female ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Quinestrol ; analogs & derivatives ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor- I (IGF- I) on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

METHODSThe hPDLCs were cultured from periodontium of human teeth by the outgrowth method. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D culture system. Samples were set to four groups: Negative control group, positive control group (3D group, IGF-I group), and experimental group (3D with IGF- I group). Proliferation was tested with methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), and ALP activity was assayed by spectrophotometer at 1, 3, 5, 7 d respectively.

RESULTSCompared with that of negative control group, cell proliferation increased significantly in 3D with IGF-I group since 3 d (P < 0.05). Besides, the cell proliferation of 3D with IGF-I group was significantly higher than that of 3D group (P < 0.05). ALP activity of 3D with IGF- I group was significantly higher than that of negative control group, and 3D group at 3, 5, 7 d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIGF-I significantly promotes the proliferation and ALP activity of hPDLCs under 3D culture system.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Periodontal Ligament ; Somatomedins

Objective: To investigate the expression of IL-38 and MIP-2 in lung tissue of rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin, and to explore the significance of IL-38 and MIP-2 in pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods: 45 Wistar rats were randomly divided into saline control group ( group N), bleomycin group ( group B) and dexamethasone group ( group D) according to the random and control principle. On the 7 th, 14 th, and 28 th day, 5 rats were killed in each group. The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin ( HE) staining in lung tissue. The expression of IL-38 and HYP in lung tissue of rats was measured by enzyme linked immunoassay ( ELISA) and the expression of MIP-2 in lung tissue of rats was measured by RT-PCR method. Results: (1) HE staining showed that the lung tissue from group B and group D developed from normal to inflammatory changes to pulmonary fibrosis. (2) The expression of IL-38 in group B and D decreased gradually, and the decrease was most obvious at 28 th day, which was lower than that in group N ( P＜0. 05), and the expression of IL-38 in group B was lower than that in D group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P＜0. 05). (3) The expression of MIP-2 and HYP increased gradually in group B and D, which were higher than those in group N, and the difference was statistically significant ( P＜0. 05). The MIP-2 and HYP expressions in group B were higher than those of group D in the same period, and the difference was statistically significant ( P＜0. 05). Conclusion: IL-38 and MIP-2 play an important role in the occurrence and development of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. The application of dexamethasone can improve the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. The effect may be related to the up-regulation of IL-38 and the downregulation of MIP-2.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of compound Biejia Ruangan Prescription (CBRP) on extracelluar matrix in bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis rats.

METHOD54 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (9 rats in each group). Rats in the model control group, positive medicine group, and high, moderate and low CBRP groups were injected with bleomycin A5 by trachea, and rats in sham-model control group with same volume normal saline. 29 days after the injection, CBRP solution of different dosages (1.4 g x kg(-1), 0.7 g x kg(-1), 0.35 g x kg(-1)) was respectively given to rats in the high, moderate and low CBRP group by gavage, while equal volume of normal saline was given to those in the sham-model control group and model control group, and an equal volume of prednisone (0.56 mg x kg(-1)) was given to those in positive medicine control group. On the 80th day, the levels of III-collagen, IV-collagen, laminin and hyaluronic acid in the serum were determined, the determination of hydroxyproline in lung homogenates was analyzed, and the right lung was incised to make pathological sections which were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) and Masson staining for pathological diagnosis.

RESULTCBRP could decrease the levels of III-collagen, IV-collagen, laminin and hyaluronic acid in the serum.

CONCLUSIONCBRP may play its therapeutic role by leveling down the content of extracellular matrix in rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by Bleomycin A5.

Animals ; Bleomycin ; analogs & derivatives ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Laminin ; blood ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of erythrocyte theology in rabbits with acute renal failure (ARF).

METHODSThirty-eight healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), model group (establishing ARF model via intramuscular injection 1% HgCl2, and divided into 12 h, 24 h, 48 h subgroups, all n = 10), the arterial blood sample was taken out through carotid artery at corresponding times after anesthetization with urethane, for detecting the indices of renal function and erythrocyte rheology.

RESULTSThe levels of urea and creatinine in plasma of model rabbits at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were higher than those of control group, and there was a rise trend along with the time extension. The erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 12 h of model group was higher, the electrophoresis rate and migration rate of erythrocytes were lower compared with those of control group; the erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 24 h of model group was lower and the electrophoresis rate and migration rate were higher compared with those of model group at 12 h; and there were no statistical differences in erythrocytes electrophoresis indices between model group at 48 h and other groups. Meanwhile, there was a rise trend in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), K value of equation and emendation along with the time extension of ARF, but these indices only at 48 h of model group was lower significantly than that of control group. There were no statistical differences in aggregation index and deformability index of erythrocytes among groups.

CONCLUSIONDuring the process of ARF, the erythrocytes electrophoresis time lengthen and electrophoresis rate and migration rate decrease at early stage, and these indices gradually return to normal; the indices of ESR increase gradually.

Acute Kidney Injury ; blood ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; physiology ; Hemorheology ; Rabbits

Glucosamine, a naturally occurring amino monosaccharide, has been reported to play a role in the regulation of apoptosis more than half century. However the effect of glucosamine on tumor cells and the involved molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated. Glucosamine enters the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) downstream of the rate-limiting step catalyzed by the GFAT (glutamine:fluctose-6-phosphate amidotransferase), providing UDP-GlcNAc substrates for O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) protein modification. Considering that O-GlcNAc modification of proteasome subunits inhibits its activity, we examined whether glucosamine induces growth inhibition via affecting proteasomal activity. In the present study, we found glucosamine inhibited proteasomal activity and the proliferation of ALVA41 prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of proteasomal activity results in the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, followed by induction of apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that glucosamine downregulated proteasome activator PA28gamma and overexpression of PA28gamma rescued the proteasomal activity and growth inhibition mediated by glucosamine. We further demonstrated that inhibition of O-GlcNAc abrogated PA28gamma suppression induced by glucosamine. These findings suggest that glucosamine may inhibit growth of ALVA41 cancer cells through downregulation of PA28gamma and inhibition of proteasomal activity via O-GlcNAc modification.
Acetylglucosamine/chemistry/metabolism ; Alloxan/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Autoantigens/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucosamine/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*enzymology ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Ubiquitinated Proteins/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of personality-related health risk factors on suicidal ideation among medical students.

METHODS1204 medical students at first grade were selected in Beijing, using random cluster sampling method. Data were obtained through health risk behaviors questionnaire, personality diagnostic questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4) and were analyzed by logistic regression method.

RESULTSThere were 12 risk factors selected from single factor analysis, including physical fight, physical abuse, physically forced to have sexual intercourse, sexual risk behaviors, tobacco and alcohol use behaviors, loneliness, bad mood, insomnia, feeling hopeless, higher PDQ-4 score and internet abuse behaviors. Data from Unconditional logistic regression showed that the main risk factors of suicide ideation were insomnia (OR = 4.98), physical abuse (OR = 4.43), sexual risk behaviors (OR = 2.63), bad mood (OR = 2.32), feeling hopeless (OR = 1.98), higher PDQ-4 score (OR = 1.09) in male students; while fighting (OR = 7.10), loneliness (OR = 4.42), physically forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 4.19), internet abuse behaviors( OR = 1.39) in female students.

CONCLUSIONSuicidal ideation was associated with various factors, with significant gender difference.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Suicide ; psychology ; Young Adult

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main causes leading to the failure in cancer treatment. Differential proteins between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line EC9706 and its cisdiamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)-resistant subline EC9706/CDDP revealed by quantitative analysis may provide deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms of MDR implicated in ESCC. EC9706/CDDP was generated by exposure of its parental sensitive EC9706 to a step-wise increase of CDDP concentration during EC9706 cultivation. The stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) was used to label EC9706 and EC9706/CDDP with heavy and light medium, separately. Mixed peptides derived from EC9706 and EC9706/CDDP were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and subsequently subjected to bioinformatics analysis to identify differential proteins between EC9706 and EC9706/CDDP. Compared to parental EC9706, EC9706/CDDP manifested phenotypes of slow proliferation, cell pleomorphology, atypia and increased resistant-index 3.23. Seventy-four differential proteins identified in the present study belongs to various families with multiple functions, such as cytoskeleton (20%), energy metabolism (11%), transcription regulation and DNA repair (11%), redox homeostasis (9.5%), protein biosynthesis and mRNA processing (12%), ribosome constituent (8.1%), molecular chaperone (8.1%), immunity/inflammation (5.4%), intracellular transport (5.4%) and nucleosome assembly (2.7%), which indicated that development of MDR is a complicated process involving dysregulation of multiple molecules and pathways. The data is of great value for in-depth elucidation of molecular mechanisms of the MDR implicated in ESCC and may represent potential molecular targets for future therapeutic development.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Isotope Labeling ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Thioredoxins ; metabolism