Background Antagonists against vascular endothelial growth factor (VECF) play key roles in treating and preventing neovascular ophthalmopathy. As a novel anti-angiogenic factor, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) might be an antagonist against VEGF in eye. Objective This study was to explore the inhibitory effect of IGFBP-rP1, a novel anti-angiogenic factor, on VEGF-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro. Methods The retina-choroid endothelial cell line ( RF/6A ) was cultured in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Culture cells were divided into control group(free-serum culture group) ,10mg/L VEGF culture group and different concentrations of IGFBP-rP1 (50,100,200 mg/L) +10 mg/L VEGF group. The expression of IGFBP-rP1 in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. The proliferation and migration of RF/6A cells were evaluated using MTS colorimetric assay and the chemotactic motility assay, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of RF/6A cells. Results The immunofluorescence assay RF/6A cells showed the green fluorescence in cytoplasm and red fluorescence in nuclei after cells were exposed to any concentration of IGFBP-rP1 ,but only red fluorescence was seen in nuclei in control cells. After stimulation of 10 mg/L VEGF,the proliferation value (A490) was elevated and the numbers of cell migration were increased in comparison with control group (t = -15. 191, P = 0. 000; t = -21. 274, P = 0. 000 ) , but the cellular apoptosis rate was lower than the control group (t - 10. 228, P = 0. 000 ) . After treated with various concentrations of IGFBP-rP +10% VEGF, the proliferation and migration of RF/6A cells were significantly decreased in comparison with only 10% VEGF group (F = 534. 158,P = 0. 000;F = 2742. 323,P = 0.000,respectively) ,and the inhibitory effects were gradually enhanced with the increase of IGFBP-rP1 levels (P<0. 05). The apoptosis rate of RF/6A cells in 50,100 and 200 mg/L + 10 mg/L VEGF groups increased by ( 1. 26±0. 04)% ,( 1. 50±0. 07)% and ( 1. 93±0. 27)% respectively,showing significant differences among different groups ( F = 274. 273, P = 0. 000). Conclusion IGFBP-rP1 inhibits the proliferation and activity of retina and choroid endothelial cells induced by VEGF at a concentration-independent manner. It appears to be as a novel endogenous inhibitory factor in retinal angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Sedum sarmentosum Bunge Extract (SSBE) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced acute lung injury (ALI) model rats and their excessive inflammatory reactions.

METHODSForty-two healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operated control group (C), the SAP group (SAP), and the SSBE treated group (SSBE), 14 in each group. SAP induced ALl rat model was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg) into the pancreatic duct. SSBE (100 m/kg) was administrated subcutaneously after the establishment of the SAP model. Equal dose of SSBE was injected again 12 h later. Equal volume of normal saline was administrated in the same way for rats in the C group and the SAP group. Rats were sacrificed after successful modeling and samples taken at 12 and 24 h. Pathological changes in the pancreas and the lung tissue were observed under light microscope. The ascites, serum amylase (AMS), wet/dry proportion (W/D) of the lung tissue, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were also measured.

RESULTSAscites and serum AMS activities significantly increased; MPO, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha contents, and W/D ratio also significantly increased in the SAP group, when compared with the C group (P<0.05). Compared with the SAP group, those parameters were all attenuated in the SSBE group at 12 and 24 h (P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological changes in the pancreas and the lung tissue were alleviated in the SSBE group under light microscope. The injury degree ranged between that of the C group and the SAP group.

CONCLUSIONSSBE could relieve the ALl in SAP model rats, which could be achieved through alleviating inflammation responses of SAP rats.

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lung ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sedum ; Taurocholic Acid ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To investigate the accuracy of low-dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography in the step-and-shoot (SAS) mode for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis in comparison with conventional coronary angingraphy (CCA).Methods Prospective multiple-center study, 46 patients[mean age(58±9) years;bedy mass index(BMI) (25±3) kg/m2]underwent both DSCT in the SAS mode and CCA within 14 days.The inclusion criteria for contrast-enhanced CT: (1) heart rate less than 65 times/rain (bpm).(2) regular sinus rhythm, heart rate fluctuations within the range of 6 bpm. (3) holding breath well, breath-hold time is about 12-15 s.The exclusion criteria:(1) allergy to iodinecontaining contrast medium, nephropathy (serum creatinine level 120 μmol/L), heart failure and serious arrhythmias.(2) patients with coronary stents or bypass grafts.(3) heart rate can not be controlled very well (4)the patient could not take nitroglycerin.(5)BMI 30 kg/m2.(6) other heart disease: carcliomyopathy, valvular disease etc.Sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were determined with CCA as standard of reference.The Kappa value between the two modalities and the two observers was calculated.Radiation dose values were measured.Results Mean heart rate during scanning was (61±6)bpm.99.19% (614/619) coronary segments were depicted with a diagnostic image quality. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis were 96.2% (75/78), 88.2% (60/68), 90.4% (75/83), and 95.2% (60/63), respectively.The Kappa value between the two modalities was 0.848 (P=0.000).The mean effective dose of the SAS-CTCA was (2.95± 0.96) rosy(1.26-4.32 mSy).Conclusion In selected patients, DSCT coronary angiography in the SAS mode have good image quality, which allows for the accurate diagnosis of coronary stenosis at a low radiation dose.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the two-tier system for the grading of ovarian serous carcinomas, and to analyze Pax2, p53, Ki-67 protein expression and their prognostic values for low- and high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas.

METHODSA total of 38 cases of low-grade and 100 cases of high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas were selected based on the two-tier grading system. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Pax2, p53 and Ki-67 protein expression in all cases. Correlation of the two-tier system with immunohistochemical results and prognostic parameters were performed.

RESULTS(1) The overall survival, disease-free survival and 5-year survival rates were significantly higher in the low-grade serous carcinoma cases than in the high-grade cases (P < 0.05). (2) Significant differences in protein expressions were found between the low- and high-grade serous carcinomas. The high-grade serous carcinomas had a significantly higher expression level of p53 (55.0% vs 13.2%, P < 0.05) and Ki-67 (42.1% vs 13.7%, P < 0.05), while low-grade carcinomas had a significantly higher expression level of Pax2 (65.8% vs 13.0%, P < 0.05). (3) Pax2 positive cases had a significantly better overall survival and 5-year survival rates than Pax2 negative cases (P < 0.05). The expressions of p53 and Ki-67 were found to have little correlation with overall survival and disease-free survival (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe two-tier system for the grading of ovarian serous carcinomas has a good prognostic value. There are significantly differences in expressions of Pax2, p53 and Ki-67 between low- and high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas. Compared with p53 and Ki-67, Pax2 is likely a better prognostic indicator for ovarian serous carcinoma.

CA-125 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; classification ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Ovary ; pathology ; PAX2 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; Adult ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genes, myc ; HIV ; isolation & purification ; HIV Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETO establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside in Radix Astragali, and to analyse the calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside content of ten samples of Radix Astragali, collected from different regions.

METHODA Polaris C18(250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microns) column was used and a mixture of methanol-water (30:70) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1. The column temperature was 25 degrees C and the UV detection wavelength was 254 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curve was in good linearity over the range of 0.0106-2.12 micrograms with the regression equation Y = 3035. 97 X - 14.85(r = 0.9999). The average recovery was 95.8% (n = 5, RSD = 1.3%).

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, quick, sensitive and reproducible. In all of the samples, the calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside contents differ markedly.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ecosystem ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity

Objective To explore the effect of polyethylene glycol-polyethyleneimine (PEG-PEI) serving as a non-viral vector in delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) into C17.2 neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. Methods Complexes of PEG-PEI and siRNA targeting Nogo receptor were prepared, and their characterizations were estimated by measurements of particle size and zeta potential,and the complex abilities of PEG-PEI/siRNA complexes were observed by gel retardation assay. In addition, with liposome complex system (Lipofectamine 2000/siRNA) as positive control, the transfection efficiency of PEI-PEG/siRNA complexes at different N/P ratios (cationic nitrogen/siRNA phosphate molar ratio) was detected by flow cytometry. Results The siRNA molecules were condensed by PEG-PEI to form nanoseale complexes. As the proportion of N/P ratio enhancing, the surface potential of nanoparticles gradually increased and the particle sizes of PEI-PEG/siRNA complexes showed a decreasing trend. Gel retardation electrophoresis suggested that siRNA could be fully composited with PEG-PEI as a result of the coulombic foree between them. Meanwhile, flow cytometry experiments revealed that the transfection efficiency of PEG-PEI mainly depended on N/P ratios of the nanoparticles,and the highest one was obtained at N/P=15 ([78.72±8.18)]％). Conclusion PEG-PEI might be a prospective candidate for siRNA delivery system, which enjoys its value in NSC gene therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features as well as the differential diagnoses of the solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features.

METHODSClinical and pathological data were collected in four cases of the solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features, and microscopic pathological examination and immunohistochemistry EnVision method were performed. The relevant literature was also reviewed.

RESULTSThe four patients were female, with age ranged from 46 - 65 years old (average 56 years) and the maximum tumor diameter ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Microscopically, the tumors exhibited a predominantly solid architecture with a myxoid or hyalinized stroma. The tumor cells showed moderate to marked nuclear atypia, and a basaloid appearance with scanty cytoplasm and inconspicuous nucleoli, and ≥ 5 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields. Glandular space embedded within tumor islands could be noticed. These spaces were genuine glandular structures and the cells lining these true glandular lumens had more abundant and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Pseudoglandular spaces of cribriform pattern or variable shape were also occasionally seen, and these cysts contained homogenous eosinophilic material. Focal necrosis was found. All cases were negative for ER, PR and HER2. Immunohistochemical staining for CK5/6, CK7 and CK14 was positive in the genuine glandular structures. All cases were positive for CD10, but also positive with varying intensity from weak to strong for vimentin and CD117. Staining for Ki-67 in three patients showed 10% - 50% positive.

CONCLUSIONSThe solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features is a histologically distinctive and also a rare subset of the mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Awareness of its pathological features can help with the diagnosis as well as differential diagnosis. More cases are still needed for accurately assessing the prognosis of this particular tumor.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-14 ; metabolism ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Mastectomy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures containing diverse bioactive cargoes that play a major role in intercellular communication in both physiological and pathological conditions. Currently, the field of EV-based therapy has been rapidly growing, and two main therapeutic uses of EVs can be surmised: (i) exploiting stem cell-derived EVs as therapeutic agents; and (ii) employing EVs as natural therapeutic vectors for drug delivery. This review will discuss the recent advances in EV-based therapy in the treatment of renal disease.
Cell Communication ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Extracellular Vesicles ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases/therapy*

OBJECTIVETo compare the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LN) between laparoscopic resection and conventional open resection for early distal gastric cancer with meta-analysis.

METHODSOriginal articles published from January 2000 to December 2008 were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. According to the criterion, 14 articles were identified which compared the number of retrieved lymph nodes between laparoscopic resection and conventional open resection for early distal gastric cancer. Data were extracted from these trials by 3 reviewers independently and analyzed by Rev Man 5.0 software.

RESULTSA total of 1454 patients with early gastric cancer were enrolled, including 815 patients in the laparoscopic group and 630 patients in the conventional group. The mean number of dissected lymph nodes per patient was 3.26 less in the laparoscopic group as compared to the conventional group (WMD -3.26,95% CI -6.24~-0.27,P=0.03). The differences were not statistically significant in the articles published during 2005-2008 years (WMD -2.84, 95% CI -6.79~1.11, P=0.16), in D(1)(+)alpha/beta lymph node dissection (WMD -2.80, 95% CI -7.57~1.97, P=0.25), and in retrospective non-randomized trials (WMD -2.89, 95% CI -6.48~0.70,P=0.11).

CONCLUSIONWith the improvement in surgical skills, laparoscopic surgery and open surgery do not differ significantly in the number of retrieved lymph nodes for early distal gastric cancer with D(1)(+)alpha/beta lymph node dissection.

Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery