This study was conducted to investigate the paclitaxel loaded by hydrazone bonds in poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone) micelles (mPEG-PCL-PTX) on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells and its possible mechanisms of anti-tumor activity. The cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay. Flow cytometry were used to analyze the cell cycle. The cell apoptosis was analyzed using Hoechst/P staining. The expression levels of apoptotic genes expression in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The mPEG-PCL-PTX could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and promote the apoptosis. The Bax, caspase-3 protein expression were increased while Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased in A549 cells. Results showed that the polymer containing hydrazone bond is non-toxic in vitro, the mPEG-PCL-PTX micelles can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells. Key words: paclitaxel; micelle; A549 cell; proliferation; cell cycle; apoptosis
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Micelles ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Polyesters ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the change of the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) leve in human detrusor muscle(DM)in bladder outlet obstruction(BOO)due to benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and its implication.Methods Fifty-four patients with BPH were divided into two groups:the obstructive DM stability and instability groups;and 15 men with bladder tumor who underwent operation in the same period were enrolled in the control group.The bFGF mRNA level in DM was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the bFGF protein level was measured by immunohistochemical staining method.Results The bFGF-mRNA expression level of bladder smooth muscle cells was significantly lower in the control group than that in the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(all P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions The expression level of bFGF mRNA in bladder DM is elevated in BOO due to BPH,but there is little or no correlation between the increased expression of bFGF mRNA and detrusor muscle instability.

Objective To evaluate MR imaging findings of uveal metastases.Methods MR imaging findings of 20 cases with uveal metastases comfirmed by pathology or follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.MR imaging was performed in 20 patients,of which postcontrast T1-weighted imaging was performed in 19 patients including dynamic contrast enhancement scanning in four cases.Results Metastatic tumor was found in the iris and ciliary body in two cases,and in choroid in 18 cases.The tumor demonstrated slightly hypointense signal on Tl-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in two cases,isointense signal on T1-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in nine cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in three cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2- weighted imaging in three cases,slighdy hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in two cases,and slightly hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in one case.The tumor appeared as mild thickness of the wall of the globe in eight cases,a crescent mass in three cases,a fusiform mass in seven cases,and a nodule in two cases.Nineteen patients showed moderate or marked enhancement on postcontrast T_1-weighted imaging.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in four patients suggested a rapid enhancement and slow washout pattern.Retinal detachment was observed in 11 patients and abnormal signal intensity within the vitreous body was seen in two cases.Conclusion MRI can display the location,shape, signal characteristics,and enhancement pattern of uveal metastases,contributing to diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA in human detrusor in bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their implication.

METHODSEight cases of bladder cancer and 40 patients with BPH were included in this study. All patients were divided into three groups, a control group, an obstructive detrusor stability group and an obstructive detrusor instability group. NGF mRNA in detrusor from all patients was measured using a RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe RT-PCR study indicated that NGF mRNA was expressed in detrusor of three groups of patients. There were significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01). The expression of NGF mRNA in the obstructive instability group was higher than that in the obstructive stability group and in the control group. The NGF mRNA level in the obstructive stability group was higher than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of NGF mRNA in detrusor was elevated in BOO with BPH. The elevated expression of NGF mRNA might be correlated with detrusor instability (DI) due to BOO.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urinary Bladder ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; metabolism ; Urodynamics ; physiology

AIM To observe the effects of Taxilli Herba from six different hosts (Morus alba L.,Salix babylonica L.,Camellia oleifera Abel.,Castanea mollissima B1.,Liquidambar formosana Hance and Nerium indicum Mill.) on lowering blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).METHODS SHR were randomly divided into 14 groups,captopril positive group (20 mg/kg),model group,and Taxilli Herba groups of 6 different hosts,and each Taxilli Herba group was further divided into high-dose group (5.9 g/kg) and low-dose group (1.48 g/kg);WKY,in addition,was the blank control.And the 20-day consective correspondence medication was applied to the groups,each with eight rats.The caudal arterial systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail-cuff method before the administration,and on the 10th day and 20th day of the administration.Anaesthesia was performed at the blood collection 12 h after the last administration;and thus final serum contents of nitric oxide (NO) and changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity,plasmatic contents of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were determined.RESULTS From the data before and after administration,an SBP drop among all SHR groups was observed on the 10th day of administration,among which the blood pressure lowering effect by high-dose Taxilli Herba from Morus alba L.was very obvious (P ＜ 0.01);remarkable SBP decrease on the 20th day of administration induced by Taxilli Herba from Salix babylonica L,Liquidambarformosana Hance and Camellia oleifera Abel,and high-dose Taxilli Herba from Morus alba L,low-dose Taxilli Herba from Castanea mollissima B1 were detected (P ＜ 0.01).No significant SBP variation was available between the model group and Taxilli Herba groups after10-day administration;all the Taxilli Herba groups exhibited obvious effect in lowering SBP except Taxilli Herba from Nerium indicum Mill,low-dose Taxilli Herba from Morus alba L.and high-dose Taxilli Herba from Castanea mollissimaBl.after 20-day administration,compared to the model group (P ＜ 0.05).Highdose Taxilli Herba from Morus alba L.and Salix babylonica L significantly decreased plasmatic Ang Ⅱ and ET-1 contents of SHR groups in comparison with the model group (P ＜0.01).High-dose Taxilli Herba from Morus alba L.,Salix babylonica L.and Liquidambarformosana Hance significantly increased serum NO release and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION Taxilli Herba from the five different hosts,except Nerium indicum Mill,can lower blood pressure,and there exists an effect difference due to the host variation.

BACKGROUNDThe effectiveness and influence of surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on the survival of patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma are still under debate. The outcomes of clinical trials have not been consistent. This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis of eligible published clinical trials to compare CRT with surgery without adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (non-CRT) for resectable esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSComputerized bibliographic and manual searches were undertaken to identify all eligible literature between 1990 and 2012. PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were our primary sources for published clinical trials. The quality of the methodology and reliability of the data from all of the clinical trials were assessed. All data were extracted by three independent researchers.

RESULTSSeven studies that included a total of 523 patients were selected. It was found that CRT significantly improved survival. The odds ratio (OR) in comparing CRT and non-CRT groups was 1.75 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.17 - 2.60, P = 0.006) for 1-year survival, 2.07 (95%CI: 1.45 - 2.96, P < 0.0001) for 3-year survival, and 2.17 (95%CI: 1.45 - 3.26, P = 0.0002) for 5-year survival. There have been no CRT treatment-related deaths reported in the literature. The incidence of related complications was high in the cases with CRT. Patients treated with CRT had a lower incidence of local-regional cancer recurrence (OR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.31 - 0.76, P = 0.002) and a similar incidence of distant cancer recurrence (OR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.60 - 1.34, P = 0.60).

CONCLUSIONSIt was found that patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma could gain a survival benefit from CRT. However, CRT was associated with a high incidence of related complications.

Carcinoma ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in acute renal failure (ARF) of rabbit.

METHODSThe rabbit model of ARF was established by intramuscular injection of 50% glycerin (12 ml/kg) into the hind legs of 18 New Zealand rabbits. CEUS was performed for both kidneys before injection and 6 hours after the injection. The slope rate of ascending curve (A), the slope rate of descending curve (alpha), area under curve (AUC), derived peak intensity (DPI), and time to peak (TTP) were measured in renal cortex of rabbits using Q-lab software package. Blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) were measured.

RESULTSThe values of A and alpha before the injection of glycerin were (3.07 +/- 1.83) dB/s and (0.19 +/- 0.15)/s, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values after injection [ (2.76 +/- 1.31) dB/s and (0.09 +/- 0.02)/s, respectively] (P < 0.05). The values of AUC and TTP before the injection of glycerin were (137.4 +/- 68.4) dB s and (6.33 +/- 3.71) s, which were significantly lower than the values after injection [(309.5 +/- 88.9) dB s and (8.61 +/- 3.97) s, respectively] (P < 0.01). No significant change of DPI, BUN or SCr was found.

CONCLUSIONSCEUS can precisely display the hemodynamic change of ARF model of rabbit in the early stage, with superior sensitivity than BUN and SCr. It may be a promising imaging method for the early diagnosis of ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Contrast Media ; Creatinine ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVEThe aims of this study were to evaluate whether the presence of -2518A/G polymorphism in the distal regulatory region of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was associated with tuberculosis (TB) in Chongqing Han population and to find whether it has a significant impact on the pediatric patient.

METHODOne hundred children [ < or = 15 years old, mean age (7.3+/-4.6) years, 53 male, 47 female] and one hundred adults [51 male, 49 female, age (44.6+/-13.5) years with TB] and 200 healthy controls of comparable age were screened for genotype by PCR-sequence-specific primer (SSP) method. MCP-1 levels in the sera were detected by ELISA.

RESULT(1) TB patients and controls showed different single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distribution patterns (58%, 36%). MCP-1 alleles -2518G was associated with increased TB susceptibility (P<0.01). (2) The -2518 GG genotypes was associated with increased TB susceptibility (32% in TB patients and 13% in non-TB controls respectively, P<0.01). (3) The odds of developing TB in genotypes GG were higher than those in homozygous AA, and the risk was higher in children than in adult (7.0-fold in children and 5.1-fold in adults, respectively). (4) Cases of homozygous GG had the highest plasma levels of MCP-1, which increased the likelihood of developing TB. Furthermore, higher levels were observed in children than in adults.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that persons bearing the MCP-1 genotype GG produce high concentrations of MCP-1, which increases the risk of active TB infection in Chongqing Han people. These findings are more significant in child patients than in adult patients with TB.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tuberculosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the optimum acupuncture treatment program and the mechanism for treatment of cerebral infarction.

METHODSSixty-three cases were randomly divided into 9 groups. The four factors, times of manipulation, the retaining time of the needle, acupuncture instrument and acupoints,and their corresponding three levels were adopted respectively in treatment of each group. Then nerve function defect score and insulin resistance were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe acupoints, the times of manipulation and the retaining time of the needle have significant effects on nerve function defect and insulin resistance (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the acupuncture instrument has a significant effect on insulin resistance (P < 0.01). The choice of acupoints was the most important factor for acupuncture treatment of cerebral infarction.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture for regulating The Governor Vessel with twice manipulations and retaining the needle for 60 min is optimum treatment program for cerebral infarction. The good regulating effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance is one of the mechanisms of achieving the therapeutic results.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Needles

OBJECTIVETo explore the Notch1 mRNA and protein expression in human breast cancers and normal mammary tissues, and their relationship with the clinical indicators of breast cancers were analyzed.

METHODSNotch1 gene of human breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and normal mammary gland tissues were amplified by RT-PCR, and the expression of Notch1 protein was detected by immunohistochemical Streptavidin-Biotin Complex (SP) stain in 60 IDC, 30 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 60 normal mammary tissues.

RESULTSNotch1 gene of human IDC and normal mammary tissues both could express in a transcription level; the positive rates of Notch1 protein expression in normal mammary tissues and DCIS were 55% and 70%. Respectively, which did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), while the positive rate in IDC was 90%, significantly higher than that of the normal mammary tissues and DCIS (P < 0.05). The high expression of Notch1 protein in IDC correlate significantly with lymph node metastasis, pathological grades and TNM stages.

CONCLUSIONSNotch1 protein was over expressed in breast IDC. A high Notch1 protein expression is considered associating with the evolution and malignant transformation of the breast tumor. The expression of Notch1 gene maybe impact the effect of on the progression of breast cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammary Glands, Human ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism