Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chest Pain ; therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences among acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), dolantin and scopolamine in treatment of acute renal colic, and to verify the clinical effect of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36).

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a scopolamine group and a dolantin group, 80 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at unilateral or bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36). The scopolamine group was treated by intramuscular injection of scopolamine combined with intravenous drip of scopolamine, and the dolantin group was treated by intramuscular injection of dolantin. The clinical therapeutic effects were observed 30 min after drug administration or acupuncture, and the onset time of effect and adverse reactions were compared among the groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 95.0% (76/80) in the acupuncture group had a similar therapeutic effect to 92.5% (74/80) in dolantin group (P>0.05), which were both superior to 76.3% (61/80) in scopolamine group (both P<0.05). The onset time of (13.24 +/- 2.12) min in the acupuncture group was significant earlier than (23.11 +/- 6.22) min in scopolamine group and (22.17 +/- 3.15) min in dolantin group (both P<0.05), and compared with the other two groups, the adverse reactions in the acupuncture group were significant decreased (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) has a good analgesic effect with a low incidence of adverse reactions, which is superior to that of dolantin and scopolamine.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Colic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of phosphorylated Smad2 (P-Smad2) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.

METHODSThe expressions of P-Smad2 and PTEN were detected using Envision immunohistochemical technique in 31 cases of HCC tissues, 25 cases of HCC adjacent liver tissues and 13 cases of non-hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

RESULTSThe positive expression and staining intensity of PTEN in the cytoplasm of HCC cells (64.5%, 4.19+/-3.31) was significantly lower than those of the cells of the cancer adjacent tissues and non-cancerous tissues (96.0%, 7.88+/-0.93; 100%, 7.77+/-0.93). The staining intensity of PTEN in the cytoplasm of Edmondson pathologic grade III HCC cells was lower than those of the Edmondson grade I. The expression of PTEN was negatively correlated with intrahepatic vascular cancer thrombi (r=-0.43) and the expression of PTEN in the nuclei or cytoplasm of liver cells was negatively correlated with the liver disease progressions (r=-0.34). The positive rate and expression intensity of phosphorylated Smad2 in nuclei of HCC cells were the same as those in cancer adjacent and non-tumor liver tissues. The expression was mostly in the nucleus and cytoplasm of Edmondson grade I HCC cells, cancer adjacent liver tissue cells and non-tumor liver tissues, but its expression was only in the nuclei of Edmondson grade II and III HCC cells. The phosphorylated Smad2 expression appeared in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm of liver cells and it was positively correlated with the severity of the tumor pathology (r=0.22). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between PTEN and phosphorylated Smad2 in HCC tissues (r=-0.73).

CONCLUSIONSThe aberrant expressions of PTEN and phosphorylated Smad2 and their interaction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza A virus ; immunology ; Influenza B virus ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVEPatient with myocardial bridging (MB) usually has a benign prognosis, but some MB patients might experience myocardial ischemia, infarction and sudden cardiac death, especially during active physical activities. The purpose of the study was to study the stress-induced blood flow changes of the mural coronary artery in MB patients determined by intracoronary Doppler.

METHODSIn 8 patients with MB, the basic average peak velocity (bAPV), hyperemic average peak velocity (hAPV) of blood flow, coronary flow reverse (CFR) proximal and distal to the mural coronary artery were measured before and during intravenously dobutamine (10 microg kg-1 min-1, then add 10 microg kg-1 min-1 at 3 min interval till 40 microg kg-1 min-1) by intracoronary Doppler.

RESULTSThe baseline mural coronary diameter reduction was (51.7+/-21.4)% and significantly increased to (90.0+/-12.7)% (P<0.01) during dobutamine infusion. bAPV on the segments proximal and distal to the mural coronary artery significantly increased from (19.83+/-5.84) cm/s and (20.75+/-4.91) cm/s to (31.52+/-10.93) cm/s and (30.46+/-9.01) cm/s (all P<0.05 vs. baseline) respectively post dobutamine infusion. CFR measured at proximal and distal to myocardial bridging also significantly decreased from (2.91+/-0.62) and (2.46+/-0.82) to (2.17+/-0.66) and (1.83+/-0.51) (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONStress can significantly increase the compression of intramural coronary artery and reduce CFR on coronary segments both proximal and distal to the MB. Thus, active exercise might induce myocardial ischemia in patients with myocardial bridging.

Blood Flow Velocity ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; physiopathology ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; Dobutamine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatoblastoma ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G) mediated antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV).

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), RT-PCR product was cloned into the EcoR I/Hind III restriction sites of the CMV-driven expression vector fused with a hemagglutinin fusion epitope tag at its carboxyl terminal. Replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV was constructed with full-length HBV of ayw subtype. The mammalian hepatoma cell HepG2 was cotransfected with the replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV and various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA. Levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the media of the transfected cells were determined by ELISA, HBV DNA. RNA from intracellular core particles was examined using Northern and Southern blot analyses. Chicken hepatoma cell LMH was cotransfected with head-to-tail dimer of an EcoR I monomer of DHBV and various amounts of CMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA. DHBV DNA from intracellular core particles was examined using Southern blot analysis.

RESULTSCMV-driven expression vector encoding APOBEC3G-HA and replication competent 1.3 fold over-length HBV were constructed. There was a dose dependent decrease in the levels of intracellular core-associated viral (HBV and DHBV) DNA and extracellular production of HBsAg and HBeAg. Levels of intracellular core-associated viral RNA were also decreased, but the expression of HBcAg remained almost unchanged.

CONCLUSIONAPOBEC3G suppresses HBV and DHBV replication and also suppresses HBsAg and HBeAg expression.

APOBEC-3G Deaminase ; Cytidine Deaminase ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Virus, Duck ; physiology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo detect HPV 58, a common type of human papillomavirus (HPV), clone and express its E7 gene from biopsy specimens of cervical cancer.

METHODSHPV 58 from 58 biopsy tissues of cervical cancer was detected by GP5+/GP6+ PCR followed by template-directed dye-terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization detection (TDI-FP). HPV 58 E7 gene was amplified from one HPV 58-positive sample, and then cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector. The recombinant plasmid, HPV58E7-pGEM-T was confirmed by sequencing. Subsequently, E7 gene was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pRSET-A. The constructed pRSET-58E7 plasmids were transfected into BL21(DE3) cells, and induced to express 58 E7 protein by IPTG.

RESULTSAmong the 58 biopsy tissues of cervical cancer, 10 were HPV 58-positive, accounting for 19.2% of 52 HPV-positive cases. HPV 58 E7 gene was amplified from one HPV 58-positive sample. The constructed plasmids were identified containing HPV58 E7 gene by restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that HPV58 E7 His6 fusion protein of M(r) 16 x 10(3) was expressed by pRSET-58E7 after induction by IPTG. The fusion protein accounted for 30% of total bacterial proteins.

CONCLUSIONHPV 58 is not uncommon in Chinese women with cervical cancer in Shaanxi province. Constructed HPV58 E7 recombinant plasmids can be effectively expressed in E.coli, which may provide a tool in diagnosis and vaccine design for HPV of HPV58-associated tumors.

Adult ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Female ; Genes, Viral ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; complications ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transformation, Genetic ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect on promoter de-methylation, expression of ALDH1a2 gene and cell apoptosis by treated with 5-Aza-dC and TSA in five human bladder cancer cell lines.

METHODSHuman bladder cancer cell lines RT-4, 253J, 5637, BIU-87 and T24 were cultured and treated with 5-Aza-dC and(or) TSA. The expression of the ALDH1a2 gene was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The methylation status of gene promoter was determined by MSP, and the cell cycle profile was established by flow cytometry.

RESULTSALDH1a2 was silenced in five human bladder cancer cell lines. Re-expression of ALDH1a2 was detected after treated with 5-Aza-dC alone or TSA in combination. ALDH1a2 transcript was marked in each cell lines combined with 5-Aza-dC and TSA treatment which showed a synergistic effect on expression of ALDH1a2 transcript. Early apoptotic was the main mode of apoptosis and death of human bladder cancer cell lines induced by 5-Aza-dC and TSA. The percentage of early apoptotic cells was 1.4% in control group and 2.8% in TSA group, however, 20.2% in 5-Aza-dC group and 33.8% in 5-Aza-dC + TSA group, respectively. The groups of TSA, 5-Aza-dC and 5-Aza-dC + TSA were significantly different from control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAberrant methylation of ALDH1a2 gene is the main cause for gene transcriptional inactivation. Re-expression of ALDH1a2 gene and cell apoptosis are detected after either treatment with 5-Aza-dC alone or in combination with TSA.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Azacitidine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Retinal Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 (TSLC1) on human hepatocyte carcinoma cell line HepG2.

METHODSA full length of TSLC1 cDNA was amplified from RNA of normal human liver cells by RT-PCR, and it was cloned into a pCI-neo expression vector and transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The HepG2 cells transfected with this plasmid (experimental group) and those treated with pCI-neo vector (control group) and without any treatment (blank group) were compared. Cell morphology was studied microscopically and cell growth was analyzed with MTT assay. FACSort flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.

RESULTSA stable cell line expressing TSLC1 protein was successfully established. Morphologically, cells of the experimental group were tightly aggregated when compared with those of the control and blank groups. The growth of TSLC1-transfected cells was significantly suppressed in vitro compared with those of the control and blank groups. The amount of G0-G1 cells was 63.66%+/-3.83% (P less than 0.01) in the experimental group, while those of the control and blank groups were 47.45%+/-0.91% and 54.47%+/-0.96% respectively. The amount of S phase cells in the experimental group, 22.90%+/-6.04%, was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of the control group (36.58%+/-0.61%) and the blank group (33.61%+/-2.99%), which suggested a G0-G1 cell cycle arresting. The number of cells in early and late phase apoptosis (17.09%+/-0.20% and 16.11%+/-0.40% respectively) were significantly higher than those of the control and blank groups (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTSLC1 strongly inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro and induces apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that TSLC1 may have a tumor suppressor function in HCC.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cell Proliferation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics