Objective:To explore the effect of costunolide on sensitivity of chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562/ADR to doxorubicin and its mechanism.Methods:K562/ADR cells in the logarithmic phase were used, and the cells were treated with different concentrations of costunolide, doxorubicin or costunolide combined with doxorubicin for 72 h. The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method, the cell proliferation rate was calculated, and the half inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of the two drugs was obtained. The cells were treated with 10 μmol/L costunolide, 10 μmol/L doxorubicin or costunolide combined with doxorubicin for 48 h, the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression level of p38-MAPK pathway related proteins was detected by Western blot. Results:The cell proliferation rate in the costunolide combined with doxorubicin group was lower than that in the corresponding concentration of the two drugs alone groups, and the differences were statistically significant both ( P < 0.05). The IC 50 of doxorubicin for K562/ADR cells was (13.50±0.86) μmol/L, and costunolide was (7.30±0.55) μmol/L ( t = 7.044, P = 0.002). The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of K562/ADR cells in the 10 μmol/L costunolide combined with 10 μmol/L doxorubicin group was higher than that of the blank control group, costunolide alone group and doxorubicin alone group, and the differences were statistically significant [(19.68±3.21)% vs. (2.96±0.87)%, (9.34±2.89)%, (9.18±2.13)%, all P<0.01]. Compared with the 10 μmol/L costunolide alone group and the 10 μmol/L doxorubicin alone group, the expression of the apoptosis inhibitor protein bcl-2 in the two-drug combination group was down-regulated, and the expressions of bad, p-p38, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP proteins were up-regulated. Conclusion:Costunolide can enhance the inhibitory effect of doxorubicin on the proliferation of K562/ADR cells and promote doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, which may reverse the drug resistance of K562/ADR cells by regulating the p38-MAPK pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on the brain against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the possible mechanism. Methods One hundred and eighty SD rats weighing 275-325 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 60 each): Ⅰ gham operation group; Ⅱ I/R group and Ⅲ FDP group. Global cerebral I/R was produced by 4-vessel technique. Bilateral vertebral arteries were coagulated and bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 min and then released for reperfusion. In sham operation the four vessels were exposed but not occluded. In FDP group FDP 1.5 mg?kg-1 was given Ⅳ when reperfusion was started, while in sham-operation group and I/R group normal saline (NS) 1.5 ml?kg-1 was given Ⅳ instead of FDP. The animals were killed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of reperfusion ( n = 5 each) for determination of cerebral SOD activity and MDA contents, the number of apoptotic neurons (TUNEL) and expression of P38 and Ref-1 in the brain (immuno-histochemical method) .Results The MDA content was significantly higher whereas the SOD activity and P38 and Ref-1 expression were significantly lower at all time points in I/R group than in sham operation group ( P

Objective: To develop a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) method for the simultaneous determination of six triterpene acid (euscaphic acid, tormentic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid) contents in the effective fraction of Eriobotryae Folium. Methods: Ursolic acid was used as the internal reference substance, and the relative correlation factors (RCF) of euscaphic acid, tormentic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, and oleanolic acid were determined by HPLC-ELSD with good reproducibility. The contents of the five components were calculated according to the RCF, respectively. The contents of these six triterpene acids in 15 batches of effective fraction were determined by the external standard method. The rationality, feasibility, and repeatability of the QAMS method were verified by comparing the results obtained from the two different methods. Results: For the six triterpene acids, there was no significant difference between the quantitative results with the two different methods in the 15 batches. Conclusion: The method established in this research is accurate and feasible that it just needs to assay single-marker (ursolic acid) for the determination of six triterpene acids in the effective fraction of Eriobotryae Folium simultaneously. Therefore, this method could provide a new reference for the quality assess of multi components in Chinese materia medica.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a most common inherited renal disease, about 50% with a family history, although the exact etiology not yet clear. To date, ADPKD, a multisystem disorder without effective preventive and therapeutic means, has been shown to be detrimental to human health. Recent studies show that severe oligoasthenozoospermia, necrospermia, immotile sperm, azoospermia, epididymal cyst, seminal vesicle cyst, and ejaculatory duct cyst found in male ADPKD patients may lead to male infertility, though the specific mechanisms remain unknown. Structural anomaly of spermatozoa, defect of polycystin, mutation of PKD genes, and micro-deletion of the AZF gene could be the reasons for the higher incidence of abnormal semen quality in male ADPKD patients. Assisted reproductive techniques can increase the chances of pregnancy, whereas the health of the offspring should be taken into consideration. This article presents an overview of reproductive issues concerning infertile male ADPKD patients from the perspective of the morbidity, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnosis, and management of the disease.
Cysts ; pathology ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

Objective To investigate the changes of cognitive function after major non-cardiac surgery and the relationship between the postoperative cognitive dysfunction(POCD)and the intraoperative cerebral oxygen metabolism in the elderly.Methods Sixty-four patients(49 male,12 female)aged 65-85 yr undergoing elective major non-cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study.A battery of four neuropsycbological tests was administered 2-3 days before and 7 days after surgery by an experienced psychometrician.A postoperative deficit in any test was defined as a cognitive decline by more than or equal to the preoperative standard deviation of that test in all patients.As long aft any patient showed cognitive decline in two or more tests.this situation was defined as POCD.Blood samples were taken from radial artery and internal jugIIlar vein simultaneously for blood gas analysis immediately (T1) and 2 h (T2) after induction of anesthesia,and just before leaving postanesthesia care unit (T3).The ratio of cerebral blood flow to cerebral oxygen metabolic rate(CBF.CMR02)was calculated.Results Sixty-one patients completed postoperative neuropsychological tests and 10 cases(16.4%)had POCD.Logistic regression analysis showed that the abnormality of CBF/CMR02 during operation was associated with the occurrence of POCD.Conclusion The occurrence of POCD after major non-cardiac surgery is related to the abnormality of cerebral oxygen metabolism during operation.

Sepsis is a complex systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by invasion of a varie-ty of pathogenic bacteria. The disease spectrum includes sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ failure. Mitochondria are referred to as “power plants”, providing energy for viscera to maintain normal func-tion. Immune disorders,the activation and release of a series of inflammatory factors,anomalies of intracellular signal transmission and oxidative stress in sepsis can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent research suggests that mitochondrial autophagy also plays a certain role in mitochondrial dysfunction. This article reviews the mechanism of mitochondrial functional damage during the pathogenesis of sepsis.

Objective To study the protective effects of propofol against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat brains.Methods Modified Longa modle of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was used. 200 healthy male SD rats, weighing 200-300g were anesthetized with intraperitoneal(I.P.) ketamine and propofol. When righting reflx was abolished, external carotid artery was exposed. A nylon thread with rounded end was inserted cranially until anterior cerebral artery was reached. After 3h ischemia nylon thread was withdrawn for reperfusion which lasted 3h. Bloos samples were obtained from orbit. Skull was opened and brain removed. In control group carotid artery was exposed but nylon thread was not inserted cranially. The animals were divided into four groups: (1)ischemia-reperfusion model group: normal saline 10 ml was administered I.P.,(2)operation control group: normal saline was given I.P.at the end of operation,(3)nimodipine group: nimodipine 1 mg?kg -1 was administered I.P. 10 min before ischemia,(4) propofol group: propofol 110 mg?kg -1 was given I.P. 10 min before ischemia. Brain infarction area, cerebral water content, serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and creatine kinase(CK) levels,brain SOD activity and MDA and Ca 2+ levels were measured. Ultrastracture of brain tissue was examined by electron microscopy.Results Propofol 110 mg?kg -1 reduced mortality after brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. Infarction area of brain was significantly smaller in propofol and nimodipine groups than that in group 1. Propofol significantly inhibited the increases in serum LDH and CK levels induced by ischemia/reperfusion, increased SOD activity and decreased MDA content and Ca 2+ level in brain tissue. There was less brain tissue damage in propofol group.Conclusions Propofol 110 mg?kg -1 has protective effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Objective To understand how resistance and whether its compensatory hyperinsulinemia will influence the ovulatory function and sex hormone level,especially in the testosterone level and blood lipid level and to observe the effects of metformin on the polycystic ovary syndrome with pseudoacanthosis nigricans and the insulin resistance.Methods The method of the research is to carry out a three-month tretment for 30 patients who were suffering from the polycystic ovary syndrome with the pseudoacanthosis nigricans and the insulin resistance.During the treatment much attention was drawn to the following aspects of the patients.Such as the body mass index,the waist hip ratio,the fasting blood glucose,the fasting insulin,two hours after postcibal blood glucose and postcibal insulin,the insulin sensitive index,the change of blood lipid and sex hormone level,and the skin lesion change.Results After the treatment,all the indexes fell except that the insulin sensitive index rose.There was significancely difference(P

Objective To observe the clinical outcome of maintenance hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C viruses(HCV)infection.Methods A retrospective investigation about hepatitis C viruses infection was performed in our hemodialysis centre on December 31,2007.The clinical data including demography,serum transaminase,bilirubin,albumin,anti-HCV antibody,HCV RNA,infection-control procedures associated hemodialysis and ultrasound of the liver was analyzed.Results The prevalent rate of HCV infection in our hemodialysis centre was 20.2%(20/99),The mean age of maintenance hemodialysis patients with HCV infection was(63.3?10.9)years old,the duration on dialysis was(79.9?38.7)months,and the duration of positive serum anti-HCV was(32.6?22.6)months(the longest duration was 103.5 months).16 patients(80%)had blood transfusion history in the patients with HCV infection.Only four cases had viremia of HCV,the serum HCV RNA became negative in one of them spontaneously and in another one after interferon therapy for half a year,the other two of them have viremia now.Most of patients found their serum transaminase elevated transiently and mildly.The age and duration on dialysis of the patients with positive serum anti-HCV were significantly longer than those of patients with negative serum anti-HCV.After strict infection-control procedures were carried out,the new onset cases of HCV infection was significantly decreased(1.2% vs 5.3%,P

Objective To investigate the relationship between blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in patients with differents ages and sex.Methods Blood pressure and clinical electrocardiogram findings were statistically analyzed in 1 268 patients ≥60 years old and 1 276