Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnosis ; Temporal Bone ; pathology

Toxicity of different processed was evaluated Polygoni Multiflori Radix by determining the hepatotoxic potency for selecting processing technology. Process Polygoni Multiflori Radix using high pressure steamed, Black Bean high pressure steamed, atmospheric steamed for different time. Using normal human hepatocytes (L02) as evaluation model, hepatotoxic potency as index to evaluate hepatotoxic potency of different processed Polygoni Multiflori Radix. Analysis chemical composition of some processed products by UPLC-MS. Hepatotoxic bioassay method cloud evaluate the toxicity of different Polygoni Multiflori Radix samples. Different processing methods can reduce the toxicity of Polygoni Multiflori Radix, high pressure steamed three hours attenuated was better. Different processing methods have different effects on chemical constituents of Polygoni Multiflori Radix. Comparing with crude sample, the contents of gallic acid, 2,3,5,4-tetrahydroxyl diphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside, emodin-8-O-beta glucoside and emodin were decreased in processed products with 3 kinds of different methods. The change trend of 2,3,5,4-tetrahydroxyl diphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside content was similar with hepatotoxic potency. Different processing methods can reduce the toxicity of Polygoni Multiflori Radix. Processing methods and time attenuated obvious impact on toxicity. Recommended further research on the attehuated standard control of Polygoni Multiflori Radix concocted.
Biological Assay ; Cell Line ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Humans ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; toxicity

The dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of the 50% alcohol extracts of Polygonum multiflorum was comparatively investigated on either normal or CCl4-induced chronic liver injury rats, by determining the general condition, serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology, coupled with the factor analysis. The dosages were 10 and 20 g raw materials per kg body weight. Compared with the normal control group, the normal high dose group showed significant increases of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well the frequent incidences of inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic sinus enlargement and fiber stripes formation in histopathological sections. Compared with the model control group, the model low dose group showed significant declines of serum ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.05), as well the alleviation of vacuoles of hepatocytes, but no amelioration of the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia; moreover, the model high dose group showed significant degeneration declines of serum HMGB-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well the evident alleviation of vacuoles degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis degree. The factor analysis showed that the low dosage treatment had almost neither injuring effect on the normal rats nor protective effect on the model rats; while the high dosage treatment showed observable injuring effect on the normal rats, expressed by the significant increases of the factor-1 (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-1β as the main contributors) and factor-2 (TBIL, ALT and TBA as the main contributors) relative to the normal control group. The liver protective effect of the high dosage treatment could be observed with the significant reduction of the factor-1, indicating the effective alleviation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, it could illustrated the phenomenon of symptom-based prescription theory of Polygonum multiflorum on rat livers: the high dosage of the herb had either an injuring effect on normal rats, or a therapeutic effect on the rats with chronic liver injury.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bile Acids and Salts ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have demonstrated that dexamethasone (DEX) interferes with immune responses by targeting key functions of dendritic cells (DCs) at the earliest stage. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are still incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanisms by investigating the roles of DEX on differentiation, maturation & function of murine DCs and the effects of DEX on DCs via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB mediated signal pathway.

METHODSImmature DCs (imDCs) were cultured from murine bone marrow (BM) cells. We added DEX into culture medium at different time. The expression of CD11c, CD86 and I-A(b) (mouse MHC class II molecule) was determined by flow cytometry. We determined the expression of NF-kappaB and its inhibitory protein I-kappaBalpha by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blotting, respectively. The productions of interleukin (IL)-12p70 and IL-10 in cell culture supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSDEX impaired differentiation of DCs from murine bone marrow progenitors, and inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced maturation of DCs. DEX significantly inhibited NF-kappaB expression of normal DCs, the higher the DEX concentration or the longer the DEX treatment time, the more obvious the effect. However, DEX had little effect on LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation, and partially impaired LPS-induced I-kappaBalpha degradation. DEX significantly decreased LPS induced IL-12p70 production by DCs. Interestingly, our results showed a synergistic effect between DEX and LPS on the production of IL-10 by DCs.

CONCLUSIONSDEX inhibits the differentiation and maturation of murine DCs involved in TLR4-I-kappaB-NF-kappaB pathway, and also indirectly impairs Th1 development and interferes with the Th1-Th2 balance through IL-12 and/or IL-10 secretion by DCs.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological impact of pEGFP-shVEGF-shTERT-shBcl-xl expression in human laryngeal squamous carcinomas xenografted in nude mice and the related antitumor mechanism.

METHODSA recombinant plasmid vector containing 3 different short hairpin RNA (shRNA) segments including pEGFP-shVEGF-shTERT-shBcl-xl was constructed and directly injected into the grafted tumors of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mice. The mRNA and protein expressions were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay using a commercial kit. Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was assessed by immunhistochemistry.

RESULTSOn the 14th days after the final treatment, mRNA and protein expression of VEGF, TERT, and Bcl-xl were markedly suppressed. The tumor sizes were significantly smaller than those in the other two group, with an overall tumor inhibition ratio of 91.2%. MVD counts in the pEGFP-shVEGF-shTERT-shBcl-xl treated group were significantly lower than those of the other two groups, along with increased apoptotic cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe data showed that inhibition of VEGF, TERT, Bcl-xl expression by RNAi technique induces cellular apoptosis and suppresses the growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma in vivo. VEGF, TERT and Bcl-xl may be involved in the development of laryngeal cancers. The findings suggest a synergistic tumor therapeutic effect through simultaneous inhibition of the three genes. Multi-target RNA interference may provide a powerful strategy against human laryngeal cancers.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; MicroRNAs ; pharmacology ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-X Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of RNA interference by targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in the larynx cancer cell line, Hep-2.

METHODSThe primary structures of hTERT cDNA were found in GenBank. Then the structure analysis were done according to RNAi strategy which determined the specific base sequences to design shRNA plasmid. Two types of plasmid, pshRNA1 and pshRNA2, involved in fluorescein gene were synthesized based on the specific base sequences. Control pshRNA3, a random sequence, and control pshRNA4, without additional specific sequence were also constructed. Cells were treated daily with pshRNA1-4 or normal culture medium respectively. The pshRNA1-3 was identified by electrophoresis. After administration of pshRNA1-4, fluorescence expression was detected by confocal microscopy, the expression of hTERT of the transfected cells was determined by Western blotting, telomerase activity was measured by TRAP-PCR ELISA, cell viability was determined by MTT assay, morphological changes and apoptosis were examined by inverted microscope and TUNEL respectively.

RESULTSThere was a 400 bp balteum in pshRNA1-3 after cut by SalI, which was identical with the size of the objective gene. Many cells presented green fluorescence after being treated by pshRNA1-4, but there are much more dead green fluorescent cells in the pshRNA1 and pshRNA2 group. hTERT protein and telomerase activity was significantly decreased after treated by pshRNA1 or pshRNA2. It was observed that treatment with pshRNA1 or pshRNA2 in the presence of a valid transfection reagent could reduce cell viability of Hep-2 cells within 96 h (P < 0.01). Under the same culture conditions, cells grew more sparsely and the number of apoptotic cell increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONSshRNA plasmid directed against human telomerase reverse transcriptase can effectively transfect Hep-2 cells. shRNA targeted hTERT gene can significantly inhibit the growth and proliferation of Hep-2 cells, which results in apoptotic cell death. RNA interference may be a promising strategy for the treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To launch systematic research on long-term asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HUA) from hemorheological viewpoint,so as to provide references for clinical treatment of asymptomatic HUA.Methods Twenty rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal control group and model group.The rats were intraperitoneally injected with 250 mg/(kg · d) oxonate for 8 weeks to induce the model of asymptomatic HUA.The blood samples were obtained to measure the serum uric acid,hemorheological parameters,oxidative and anti-oxidative indices.Results The aggregation index,haemolysis rate,serum xanthine oxidase (XOD),plasma fibrinogen and blood viscosity significantly increased,while the orientation index,electrophoresis rate,serum superoxide dismutase (SOD),activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) significantly induced.Conclusions The asymptomatic HUA can lead to more serious oxidative stress,deteriorate the hemorheological parameters of red blood cells in rats,and induce higher blood viscosity and coagulation status.The research findings indicate that asymptomatic HUA should be correctly understood and timely intervened in clinical diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of thyroid occupied lesions with injection of sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles.

METHODSFifty nine cases of conventional ultrasonic diagnosis of thyroid lesions in patients with 73 lesions re-sulfur hexafluoride microbubble ultrasound contrast real-time inspection, the use of CEUS and contrast pulse sequencing (CPS).

RESULTSSeventy-three lesions were satisfied with the dynamic contrast perfusion imaging. Ultrasound contrast prompted the 15 lesions (13 cases) of malignant lesions by postoperative pathology confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma, ultrasound images showed a low or mixed echo, boundary ambiguity, accompanied by Microcalcification foci, blood flow distribution I rank or grade III. Ultrasound prompted 58 lesions (46 cases) of benign lesions, blood flow distribution of grade II or III, the performance of a variety of two-dimensional ultrasound image, showing cystic, solid or liquid-solid mass, border clearance. Contrast with the surrounding thyroid tissue, lesionsor=20 mm papillary thyroid carcinoma, manifested prior to the beginning of the adjacent thyroid substance to enhance and dissection, showing the form of high-enhanced perfusion; thyroid follicular adenoma as early as the beginning of the adjacent thyroid substance to enhance and dissection, mass retained within the contrast agent longer time, showing the form of high-enhanced perfusion; nodular goiter enhanced for thyroid nodules and adjacent synchronization started to pick up in real terms, after the 6 lesions showed nodular contrast slightly earlier than the adjacent thyroid substance started to pick up, 28 lesions with synchronous real beginning of the adjacent thyroid dissection, 11 lesions of nodular dissipated early on (started receding time < or = 25 s) adjacent to thyroid substance.

CONCLUSIONThe real-time CEUS with injecting sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles is valuable in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the thyroid occupied lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbubbles ; Middle Aged ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the bidirectional effect of rhubarb total anthraquinone (TA) and total tannins (TT) on rats' liver.

METHODSOne hundred rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, i.e., the blank group, the model group, the blank + high dose TA group, the blank +low dose TA group, the blank + high dose TT group, the blank + low dose TT group, the model + high dose TA group, the model + low dose TA group, the model +high dose TT group, and the model + low dose TT group, 10 in each group. The carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) was used to prepare the acute liver injury rat model. TA and TT of rhubarb (at 5.40 g crude drugs/kg and 14.69 g crude drugs/kg) were intragastrically administrated to rats in all groups except the blank group and the model group, once daily for 6 successive days.The general state of rats, biochemical indices such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), as well pathological results of rat liver tissues. Finally the protection laws of TA and TT for rats' liver were analyzed using factor analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, all biochemical indices increased in the blank group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). HA also increased in the blank + high dose TA group; AST, ALT, and HA also increased in the blank +high dose TT group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, AST, ALT, ALP, HA, and TGF-beta1 significantly decreased in the model + low dose TA group, the model + high dose TA group, the model + low dose TT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum AST, ALT, and ALP also decreased in the model + high dose TT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Pathological results showed that mild swollen liver cells in the model + high dose TA group. Fatty degeneration and fragmental necrosis around the central veins occurred in the blank + high dose TA group. The pathological injury was inproved in the model +low dose TA group. Two common factors, liver fibrosis and liver cell injury, were extracted by using factor analysis. TA showed stronger improvement of the two common factors than TT.

CONCLUSIONSRhubarb TA and TT showed protective and harmful effects on rats' liver. At an equivalent dosage, TA had better liver protection than TT. High dose TT played a role in liver injury to some extent.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Tannins ; adverse effects ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of selective lumbosacral posterior rhizotomy(SPR) on lower limb spasticity and gross motor function in patients with cerebral palsy. METHODS: From January 2018 to October 2018, 47 patients with cerebral palsy were treated with rehabilitation alone and SPR combined with rehabilitation. According to whether SPR was performed, the patients were divided into group A and group B. Group A was treated with rehabilitation combined with SPR at lumbosacral level, and group B was treated with rehabilitation alone. There were 23 cases in group A, including 15 males and 8 females, with an average age of (7.30±3.25) years old; 24 cases in group B, 13 males and 11 females, with an average age of (7.00±3.09) years old. Forty-seven patients were assessed with modified Ashworth(MAS) and Gross Motor Function Scale(GMFM-88 items) before and after treatment. The changes of MAS and GMFM-88 scores before and after treatment were compared to evaluate the degree of spasm and the improvement of gross motor function in the two groups. RESULTS: All 47 patients were followed up. At 6 months after treatment, the MAS classification of the two groups was significantly improved(<0.05), and the improvement of group A was more obvious than that of group B(<0.05). Six months after treatment, the D, E and total scores of GMFM-88 between two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation(<0.05). The improvement of D and total scores in group A was more obvious than that in group B. There was no significant difference in the improvement of area E between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Selective posterior rhizotomy combined with rehabilitation can significantly improve the spastic state and gross motor function of lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy, and can effectively promote the reconstruction and recovery of motor function of lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Movement ; Muscle Spasticity ; Rhizotomy