OBJECTIVETo investigate the TLR4 signaling in multiple myeloma cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODSTLR4 gene transcription and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and PE flow cytometry staining; the cells proliferation were detected by MTT assay; doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of cells was detected by AnnexinV-PI double staining flow cytometry.

RESULTTLR4 gene transcription and protein expression was detected in the myeloma cell lines. Under the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation, MM1-s cells TLR4 positive proliferation significantly increased (P<0.05), but not found in U266 cells TLR4 negative; MM1-s cells showed the resistance to doxorubisin-induced apoptosis, but LPS did not protect doxorubicin-induced U266 cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONTLR4 signaling may play an important role both in multiple myeloma proliferation and survival.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the growth inhibition effect of Brucea javanica Fruit Oil Emulsion (BJFOE) on human ovarian caner SKOV3 cells and the transplanted tumor of SKOV3 nude mice.

METHODSGrowth inhibition effects of different concentrations BJFOE alone or its combination with cisplatin on human ovarian cancer cell SKOV3 were measured using MTT method. The orthotopic transplantation tumor model of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell lines was established in nude mice. Totally 32 ovarian cancer nude mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank control group (Group A), the BJFOE group (Group B), the BJFOE combined Cisplatin group (Group C), and the Cisplatin control group (Group D), 8 in each group. Mice in Group A were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline (0.2 mL/ 20 g), once per two days. Mice in Group B were intraperitoneally injected with BJFOE (0.2 mL/20 g), once per two days. Mice in Group C were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin (3 mg/kg) 0.2 mL on the first day, and intraperitoneally injected with BJFOE on the second day. Mice in Group D were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin (3 mg/kg) 0.2 mL, once per two days. All mice were injected for six times, and sacrificed 48 h after the last injection. The lesion formation of the abdominal tumor tissue was observed. Tumor specimens were obtained to perform HE staining. Expression levels of MRP-1/CD9 and integrinα-5 were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSThe inhibition of BJFOE was time-dose depend- ently correlated with its inhibition effect of SKOV3 cells. The inhibition effect of BJFOE in combination of cisplatin was significantly superior to that of using any of the two drugs alone. Western blot results showed expression levels of MRP-1/CD9 and integrinα-5 were up-regulated in Group B and Group D with statistical difference (P < 0.05). But they were down-regulated in Group C with statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntraperitoneal injecting BJFOE was feasible and effective for treating ovarian cancer. BJFOE also could inhibit the invasion and migration of tumor cells targeting at MRP-1/CD9 and integrinα-5. But its specific anti-tumor mechanism was not clearly probed.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Brucea ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) complicated with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods:Data of patients with AIS who visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2015 to June 2020 and underwent polysomnography monitoring (PSG) in the sleep center were collected retrospectively. Patients were divided into OSAHS group and AIS only group. Demographic information of patients, general clinical data, hematological indicators of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers, PSG parameters and neurological function scores were collected, including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on discharge. We compared the differences between the two groups. In addition, OSAHS group were divided into good prognosis and poor prognosis subgroups according to mRS score. The differences between the two subgroups were compared.Results:A total of 112 AIS patients combined with OSAHS and 89 AIS only patients were included. The proportion of non-rapid eye movement stages 1+2 [(N1+N2) %], arousal index, the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), percentage of total sleep time with oxygen saturation<90% (TS90) in the OSAHS group were higher than those in the AIS only group, while N3%, lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation (LSaO 2) were lower (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the distribution of cerebral apoplexy lesions (cortex, subcortical, brainstem, cerebellum) between the two groups, but the proportion of patients with multifocal cerebral apoplexy in the OSAHS group was higher ( P=0.032). There was no statistical difference in NIHSS score on admission between the two groups, but the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) score ( P=0.004) and mRS score on discharge ( P=0.010) of the OSAHS group were significantly higher than those in the AIS only group. There were 74 patients in the good prognosis group and 38 in the poor prognosis group. The analysis showed that the NIHSS and NLR scores of the poor prognosis group were higher than the good prognosis group, admission NIHSS score was a risk factor for poor prognosis, all P<0.01. Conclusions:AIS patients complicated with OSAHS are characterized by disordered sleep structure, more severe nocturnal hypoxia, higher risk of developing multiple lesions, poor neurological function recovery at discharge, and high inflammatory index of NLR. Among them, patients with poor prognosis have poorer sleep efficiency, and high admission NIHSS score is a risk factor for poor prognosis.

Based on the outpatient interview and literature review,the initial framework of the outpatient experience of human caring scale was formed with 9 dimensions of outpatient process.The research aim was to improve the scale by Delphi method.Sixteen experts in medical management,human caring or medical education were invited to evaluate the importance of the dimensions and items of the scale and provided some expertise via filling out the Delphi consultation questionnaires twice in the consulting round.In the first round,the recovery rate showing the experts' positivity was 80％;the coefficient of reliability (Cr) ascertaining the authority of the evaluation was 0.92;the mean and full mark ratios responding the concentration of the evaluation were 2.88-4.94 and 6.25％-93.75％ respectively;the coefficients of variation (CV) and the Kendall's W determining the concordance of the evaluation were 5.06％-52.15％ and 0.21-0.24 respectively.In the second round,the recovery rate was 93.75％;the Cr was 0.93;the mean was 3.93-4.93;the full mark ratios were 26.67％-93.33％;the Kendall's W was 0.14-0.31,the CV was 5.25％-23.61％.Via the two-round Delphi study,the scale that included 10 dimensions and 61 items has been improved.Ten dimensions are pre-hospital medical service,guidance,registration,waiting,diagnosis & treatment,paying,inspection & assay,medicine receiving,therapy/injection/transfusion and global evaluation.It was concluded that Chinese scholars have paid high attention to human caring and outpatient experience.The experts have given high agreements about the dimensions which were established with Chinese outpatient process.The dimensions are different from the similar researches about outpatient experience study.In the future,it is necessary to survey the outpatients to test the construct validity,internal consistency reliability and others of the scale to improve the scale.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of concentration, intestinal section and borneol on the intestinal absorption of salvianolic acids. The experiment not only studied the intestinal absorption properties of three concentrations of rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B and salvianolic acid A at duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but also of salvianolic acids compatible with borneol at different concentrations using single-pass intestinal perfusion model in rat with phenol red as the marker. The results showed that salvianolic acids was stable under weak-acid condition and affected by metabolism enzyme; The Peff and Ka significantly different among three concentrations of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B, whose intestinal absorption were saturated in high concentration, suggesting that the transport mechanisms of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B were similar to active transport or facilitated diffusion; However, there was inconspicuousness in the Peff and Ka of salvianolic acid A at different concentrations, whose absorption was not saturated in high concentration, indicating that the transport mechanisms of salvianolic acid A was passive diffusion; The Peff and Ka in the ileum obviously higher than those in the duodenum and jejunum, namely the ileum was the best absorption section; When concentration of borneol increased, the enhancing effect of intestinal absorption of salvianolic acids increased, but significantly decreased when borneol increased to some degree. The enhancing effect of medium borneol concentration was the optimum. This implied that borneol can enhance the intestinal absorption of salvianolic acids, and the capacity of enhancing effect was influenced by the concentration of borneol.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Bornanes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Caffeic Acids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Cinnamates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Depsides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Lactates ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Perfusion ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on the treatment outcomes of ulcerative colitis, and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSAccording to the table of random number, 60 ulcerative colitis patients in our hospital were enrolled prospectively and divided into 3 groups: Golden Bifid group, Changmei group, combination group (Golden+ Changmei). Patients in Golden Bifid group received Golden Bifid 2.0 g, bid, those in Changmei group received Changmei 1.0 g, tid, and those in combination group received the above two drugs for 24 months. The clinical symptom score, colon mucosa inflammation score and endoscopic grade score were calculated and compared. IL-10 in mucosa and serum was determined by immunohistochemistry and double-antibody sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSIn combined group after 24 months of treatment, clinical symptom score (12.5±2.1 vs. 2.3±0.8, P=0.016), endoscopic classification score (3.02±0.17 vs. 0.25±0.13, P=0.032), inflammatory reaction score (2.63±0.19 vs. 0.77±0.16, P=0.028) were significantly higher than those before treatment. While the scores differences of before and after treatment in Gold Bifid group and Changmei group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). IL-10 in serum [(17.4±2.2) ng/L vs. (12.8±2.2) ng/L, P=0.015] and colon mucosa [85% (17/20) vs. 55% (11/20), P=0.026] in combination group were significantly higher than those before treatment. The differences in IL-10 expression level before and after treatment were not statistically significant in the Gold Bifid group and Changmei group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONGolden Bifid combined with Changmei as microbial ecological agents has a positive efficacy on mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, which may be associated with the up-regulation of IL-10 expression.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the influence on the tumor after percutaneous intra-tumor injection of ~(32)P-GMS in liver cancer as well as its suitable dose.Methods 24 New Zealand rabbits were used to establish the animal model of VX-2 liver cancer,and divided into A,B,C and D groups with individually 37,74,111 and 148 MBq of ~(32)P-GMS being injected,respectively;and then pathological changes of tumor were observed by light and electron microscope respectively.Result The dose of ~(32)P-GMS was obviously correlated with the radioactivity damage of tumor cells.In the A and B groups,the tumor cells were not observed to disappear completely after injection of ~(32)P-GMS,but in C group,tumor cells were almost completely disappeared and surrounded by a lot of connective tissue.Although the tumor cells were found to disappear completely in D group,normal liver tissues were also involved.Conclusion Percutaneous intra-tumor injection of ~(32)P-GMS with suitable dose that may induce the tumor tissue to be maximally damaged and may also provide some significances to prevent the tumor metastasis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the sensitivity and accuracy of CT and HRCT in early detection of coal-worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) associated micronodules, nodule coalescence and emphysema from coal miners with and without radiographic CWP evidence.

METHODContinuously Thorax-Vol. CT scanning and High resolution CT scanning were performed on 113 coal miners with or without radiographic CWP evidence and 37 health controls by the use of Multi Spiral Computed Tomography (MSCT). The CT and HRCT images were evaluated for lung parenchyma opacity profusion category, nodule coalescence, emphysema index and mean lung attenuation, and then compared with that on radiographs.

RESULTGood agreement for CWP associated opacity profusion grading was achieved between radiographs and CT scans (Kappa = 0.771). The sensitivity of CT and HRCT were 98.70% for CWP diagnosis when compared with radiographs. 8 (22.22%) cases out of 36 radiographic CWP negative coal miners were categorized as grade 1 opacity profusion in consistent with CWP on CT and HRCT scans, and 26 (35.62%) cases out of 73 radiographic grade 1-2 CWP patients were detected to have at least grade 3 nodular profusion on CT and HRCT scans. Among 113 coal miners, 36 (31.86%) were recognized as emphysema positive on CT; whereas only 7 (6.19%) on radiographs. According to CT opacity profusion grading, mean lung attenuation in coal miners with grade 1-2 opacity profusion classification was significantly increased than that in health control, CWP negative coal miner and grade 4 opacity profusion groups (F1 = -45.73, F2 = -23.00 and F3 = 52.72, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT and HRCT acquired from MSCT showed high sensitive and accurate for the early detection of micronodules, nodule coalescence and emphysema in coal miners. It could be used as semi-quantitative and quantitative method in early diagnosis of CWP and its complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Anthracosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Case-Control Studies ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in patients with esophageal carcinoma after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy and circular stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis via retrosternal route or three-incision open surgery.

METHODSA total of 63 patients with middle-upper esophageal carcinoma who underwent radical surgical resection from January 2009 to October 2010 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-three patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery and 30 three-incision open surgery. The EORTC questionnaire QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18 were used to evaluate the QOL.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the clinical data between the two groups except for anastomosis method(P>0.05). In the endoscopy group, there was one patient developed anastomotic leakage(3.0%, 1/33), 1 postoperative wound infection in the neck (3.0%, 1/33), and 1 anastomotic stricture(3.0%, 1/33). In the open group, 8 patients had anastomotic leakage (26.7%, 8/30), 2 had anastomotic stricture (6.7%, 2/30), 1 had wound infection in the neck (3.3%, 1/30), and 6 had pulmonary infection (20.0%, 6/30). All the complications were managed by conservative treatment. The two groups differed in dysphagia, food intake, pain, obstruction, dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, financial condition, physical function, role function, emotional function, cognitive function, social function and global health level and were more favorable in the endoscopy group(P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in the other dimensions.

CONCLUSIONSThe postoperative complication rate is low after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy. Stapled anastomosis is associated with lower rate of anastomotic leak. QOL is better in patients following thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy as compared to those following three-incision open surgery.

Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Esophagus ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Stomach ; surgery ; Thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVEAnalyze the relationship between the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and CD105 micro vessel density (MVD) and their value in evaluating biologic behavior and prognosis in laryngeal cancer.

METHODSNinety-one cases of laryngeal cancer were analyzed about their clinical and pathology data. In tumor tissue the expression of HIF-1alpha and EGFR was detected by immunohistochemistry and MVD was marked by CD105.

RESULTSThe expression of HIF-1alpha was correlated with size, TNM stage, T stage, lymph node metastasis and histological grade (all P<0.05). The expression of EGFR was correlated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, histological grade and relapse (all P<0.05). MVD was correlated with type, TNM stage, T stage, lymph node metastasis, metastasis and histological grade (all P<0.05). The expression of HIF-1alpha and EGFR was correlated with MVD (F value was 7.644 and 5.197 respectively, P value was 0.001 and 0.025 respectively). The correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha and EGFR was significant statistically (r= 0.238, P=0.007). The survival rate of patients of 3 years and 5 years were 56.1% and 44.2% respectively. Survival analysis by Log Rank showed that prognosis of laryngeal cancer patients was correlated with type, TNM stage and the expression of both HIF-1alpha and EGFR. While Cox multiple factors analysis demonstrated that TNM stage and expression of EGFR were independent prognostic factor of laryngeal cancer (P value was 0.049 and 0.041 respectively, RR was 1.300 and 2.417 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHIF-1alpha and EGFR are key molecular event during development and progression of laryngeal cancer, which act in regulating tumor angiogenesis as well, and show intimate relationship with biological behavior and prognosis of laryngeal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies