Objective To investigate the CT imaging features of metastatic hepatic adenocarcinomas from the digestive tract by using multi-detector-row helical CT (MDCT) with pathological correlation. Methods CT and clinical data of 36 patients with pathologically proven metastatic hepatic adenocarcinomas from the digestive tract were retrospectively reviewed. The primary tumors included 10 cases of gastric cancer, 1 duodenal cancer, 18 colo- nic carcinoma, 7 rectal cancer. All patients underwent MDCT plain scan and contrast-enhanced dual-phase scanning of upper or whole abdomen. The appearances of hepatic metastatic lesions on MDCT images at various enhancement phases were carefully observed. Results On plain CT scan 32 cases (88.9%) presented multiple nodules of low density at different sizes, 3 cases (8.3%) showed a single low-density nodule, and 1 case presented with a cystic mass. On contrast-enhanced scan, 4 cases (11.1%) showed faintly enhanced rim around the nodules on arterial phase; on portal venous phase 29 cases (80.6%) presented slight ring-like enhancement at the periphery of the nodule while the nodule core was markedly hypodense with intermediate soft tissue density area in between, giving rise to the typical appearance of “bull’s-eye” sign. Three cases (8.3%) showed no enhancement on either phase images. Conclusion The ring-like enhancement and the appearance of “bull’s-eye” on portal venous phase was characteristic CT features of metastatic hepatic adenocarcinoma from digestive tract.

This study was aimed to acquire the dynamic changes of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside of honeysuckle at different collecting periods in order to decide the best harvesting time of honeysuckle in Donghai County, Jiangsu Province. The content determination method used in the detection of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside of honeysuckle was from the 2010 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The skills of HPLC fingerprint characteristic features, and the yield of pressed flowers were combined in the evaluation of honeysuckle at the three-green period, two-white pe-riod, great-white period, silver-flower period and the golden-flower period. The results showed that the content of honeysuckle at different blossoming stages had obvious changes in content of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside, as well as the pressed flower quality and yield of the flower. It was concluded that the optimal harvest time of honey-suckle was for the two-white period and the great-white period, which was consistent with the real origin.

OBJECTIVETo investigate performance of a biotinylated imaging probe 3a for targeted imaging of breast cancer cells.

METHODSUltraviolet absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum were employed to analyze the spectral characteristics of 3a. The fluorescence spectrums of 3a treated with different concentrations of glutathione (GSH) were obtained to determine the sensibility of 3a to GSH. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cellular uptake of 3a by MCF-7 cells, MDA-MB-231 cells and Hs 578Bst cells in the presence or absence of biotin, and the imaging performance of 3a in the 3 cell lines was assessed under an inverted fluorescent microscope. The toxicity of 3a to the cells was evaluated using MTT method.

RESULTS3a showed the strongest absorption peak at 510 nm, and its fluorescence emission signal was the strongest at 544 nm. As the concentration of GSH increased (0-6 mmol/L), 3a exhibited an increasing fluorescence signal at 544 nm. The cellular uptake of 3a was markedly higher in MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells than in Hs 578Bst cells. The imaging studies showed that 3a had a good breast cancer cell-targeting property and produced clear images under fluorescent microscope. MTT assay demonstrated no obvious toxicity of 3a in Hs 578Bst cells even at the concentration of 20 µmol/L, but MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to 2-20 µmol/L 3a showed a lowered cell viability.

CONCLUSION3a is capable of targeted imaging of breast cancer cells mediated by biotin. 3a at the concentration of 2-20 µmol/L has minimal cytotoxicity to normal breast cells but can lower the viability of breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of wild type p16 gene on the proliferation and metabolism of human keloid fibroblasts.

METHODSEukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-p16 was constructed and imported into KFb by gene transfection mediated by liposome. And the positive clones were screened by G418. The transfected and untransfected KFbs were stained by Immunocytochemical method. The expression of p16 protein was observed. The changes of the proliferation and DNA synthesis of KFb before and after transfection were observed and compared by drafting cell growth curve and by (3)H-TdR incorporation method.

RESULTSThe recombinant vector pcDNA3-p16 was successfully constructed and identified by enzyme digestion. The positive clones were identified by G418 selection for 10 days from transfected KFb and with p16 protein expression. The growth rate of transfected KFb slowed down obviously and its DNA synthesis decreased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with those of normal KFb.

CONCLUSIONp16 gene might inhibit the growth and DNA synthesis of KFb.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Genes, p16 ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of dutasteride inhibiting fertility by studying its effects on the expressions of the epididymal epithelial junction proteins Claudin1 and β-catenin in rats.

METHODSSixteen 3-month-old SD male rats were equally divided into an experimental and a negative control group to be treated intragastrically with dutasteride at 40 mg/kg per day and the same dose of solvent, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Then, the sperm motility and morphology of the rats were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) measured by ELISA, changes in the tight junction of epididymal cells observed under the transmission electron microscope, the protein and gene expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the conception rate of the mated female rats calculated.

RESULTSDutasteride significantly suppressed the serum DHT level, sperm motility, and fertility of the rats (P <0.05). Interspaces between epididymal epithelial cell tight junctions were observed, the volume of epididymal fluid obviously increased, and the expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin gene and protein remarkably downregulated in the experimental rats (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDutasteride can significantly inhibit the fertility of male rats by reducing the serum DHT level, suppressing Claudin1 and β-catenin expressions, and damaging epididymal epithelial cell junctions.

Animals ; Azasteroids ; pharmacology ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Dihydrotestosterone ; blood ; Dutasteride ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urological Agents ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

To develop a GFP transgenic cell model under the transcriptional control of TK promoter adjacent to which ARE enhancer was inserted. Synthetic oligonucleotide ARE motif was annealed and purified then inserted into pTK-GFP to construct the vector of pARE-TK-GFP. The TK and ARE-TK fragments were amplified by PCR and cloned into pEGFP-N1 to reconstruct eukaryotic expression vectors of pTK-GFP/Neo and pARE-TK-GFP/Neo. They were transfected into HepG2 cells and clones resistant G418 were isolated. PDTC and Lentinan were used to induce the cell levels of GFP and the fluorescence was measured using a fluorescence plate reader. The results showed that the induced level of GFP is significantly increased and have dose-dependeny in a certain range. This findings indicated that such a cell model offered a potential platform for preliminary screening of all kinds of natural or synthetic chemopreventive agents.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gentamicins ; pharmacology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lentinan ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotides ; genetics ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Objective To analyze the developments and frontiers of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) research in order to make possible breakthroughs in subsequent studies.Methods Information visualization software Citespace V was applied to draw the mapping knowledge domain based on the database of SLE literature in Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science from 1975 to 2016.In this way,it was possible to analyze the basis of knowledge,network relationships between countries or regions,hot spots and courses frontier evolution in the recent 40 years.Results Totally 39 847 articles of literature were collected.The USA,UK,Spain,Italy and Australia were known as the leading countries in the study of SLE.The relationships between SLE and other autoimmune diseases,autoantibody detection and significance,anticardiolipin antibody expression,gene expression,classification criteria,disease activity were hot spots of SLE.Depression of SLE patients,management of SLE and differentiation of SLE were eye-catching research frontiers in recent years.Conclusion The mapping knowledge domain can display the main hot spots in research of SLE,show the frontier spheres and evolution course of related branches of learning,reveal the potential information in complex giant data networks,and guide future studies.

Mitochondria play a central role in various apoptotic pathways within cells, changes of mitochondrial permeability transition(MPT) is the key point, which is mainly regulated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP). So far, the structural model of mPTP, the way of mPTP participating in apoptosis and the regulatory nodes are still unclear. Our aim is to summarize mechanism of mitochondria mediate apoptosis, currently recognized structural model of mPTP, the pathological changes of all components of mPTP during apoptosis and the possible damage mechanisms underneath. mPTP is closely related to apoptosis, inhibit the opening of mPTP will reduce apoptosis. Therefore, interventions acting on inhibitomg mPTP opening can be helpful to prevent and treat diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect and security of lymphoplasmapheresis (LPE) for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). METHODS: Sixty-six GBS patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the therapy group (33 patients) were treated with LPE in addition to the medical treatment; the control group (33 patients) only accepted the medical treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated with the initial recovery time of myodynamia and the myodynamia score difference, and the side effect of the therapy group was observed. RESULTS: The therapy group were treated with LPE for 48 times,1.5 times per person. The average initial recovery time was quicker in the therapy group compared with that in the control group [(6.45+/-3.01) vs (8.36+/-3.83) days]. The difference of limb myodynamia score between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the therapy group was more than that in the control group. The improved number in the therapy group was more than that in the control group, but the ineffective number in the therapy group was not as many as that in the control group. The total effective rate in the therapy group was higher than that in the control group (51.5% vs 27.7%); the average hospital day in the therapy group was shorter than that in the control group [(19.42+/-7.25) vs (24.00+/-8.64) days]; and the difference had statistical significance(P<0.05). The average myodynamia score after the first LPE increased, but the difference had no statistical significance (P>0.05). After the second and the third LPE, the average myodynamia score continued to rise, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence rate of side effects in the therapy group was 12.5%. Urticaria and hypotension were the major side effects, but they were light and could be relieved by symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION The therapeutic effect of LPE is definite, and the side effect is scarce. LPE is safe and effective, and it is worth of generalization and applying in clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; therapy ; Humans ; Leukapheresis ; Male ; Plasmapheresis ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the psychological health status and its influencing factors of nasopharyngeal tumor inpatients so as to discuss effective nursing care interventions.Methods Sixty-four nasopharyngeal tumor inpatients from affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shantou University Medical College between January 2010 and March 2012 were investigated with the self-rating depression scale (SDS),self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-designed influencing factors scale.Results The SDS and SAS scores of nasopharyngeal tumor inpatients were (47.63 ± 13.08) and (40.38 ± 8.47),respectively,and the difference between the study and domestic norm was statistically significant (t =17.250,6.180; P ＜ 0.01).And the influencing factors of negative emotion in nasopharyngeal cancer patients mainly were worrying about hospitalization expenses,family responsibility,lowered self-care ability,side-effects of treatment,pain,and the worrying about therapeutic effect and prognosis.Conclusions The psychological health status of nasopharyngeal tumor inpatients is really poor,which may influence the compliance and effect of treatment,and directly impact the recovery of patients.Besides,the regular anti-tumor treatment,purposeful nursing care should be given to patients so as to promote the recovery of body and mentality.