OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of non-ionic polyacrylamide(model:NPAM 1400)alone or combined with nanoscale silica gel (nSiO2) on the stability of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion. METHODS:UV-spectrophotometer was used to determine absorbance of diluent at 500 nm before and after lipo-emulsion centrifugation. Using the preparation without stable excipient as blank,stability coefficient (KE) and it ratio (KE/KE blank) were calculated. Effects of different concentrations (200-600 mg/L) of non-ionic polyacrylamide on the stability of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion were evaluated. The optimal concentration of non-ionic polyacrylamide alone was determined primarily,and then the effects of it combined with different concentrations of hydrophilic nSiO2 (0.2％, 0.3％, 0.4％) or hydrophobic (0.2％, 0.3％, 0.5％) on the stability of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion were investigated. RESULTS:When adding non-ionic polyacrylamide alone,KE of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion mixed with 300 mg/L non-ionic polyacrylamide was the lowest,KE/KE blank was 0.22;when combined,KE of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion mixed with 300 mg/L non-ionic polyacrylamide and 0.2％ hydrophobic nSiO2 was the lowest,KE/KE blank was 0.27. CONCLUSIONS:Non-ionic polyacrylamide alone or combined with nSiO2 all can promote the stability of Glycyrrhetinic acid lipo-emulsion,among which 300 mg/L non-ionic polyacrylamide alone is the best.

Carotid Artery Diseases ; surgery ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Prosthesis Failure ; Stents ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hepatitis B virus X gene and p53 on hepatocellular growth.

METHODSTwo kinds of plasmids containing sense and antisense human wild p53 gene respectively were constructed. SMMU-7721 cells were transfected with HBx, sense-wtp53 antisense-wtp53 separately or cotransfected with either HBx and sense-wtp53 or HBx and antisense-wtp53. Flow cytometry was adopted to measure the apoptosis rates and the effects of HBx on cell cycle progression. The activity of p21(Waf1) promoter-luciferase construct was detected. Growth curves for SMMU-7721 stably transfected with pcDNA3 and pcDNA3HBx were analyzed.

RESULTSAfter doxorubicin administration, HBx was noticed able to initiate apoptosis of the liver cells. The apoptosis rate was 5.32% in the pcDNA3 transfected and 12.66% in the pcDNA3HBx transfected groups respectively. HBx could also abrogate p53-mediated apoptosis. The apoptosis rate in groups transfected with pcDNA3, pcDNA3wtp53 and pcDNA3HBx + pcDNA3wtp53 was 5.32%, 11.72% and 4.67% respectively. In compared with the normal group, the number of cells in transiently HBx-expressed group and HBx-transfected group decreased 4.79% and 10.25% respectively. HBx inhibited the activity of p21(Waf1) promoter-luciferase constructed (P < 0.05) and promoted cell growth. The growth rate of HBx expression cells was faster.

CONCLUSIONUnder DNA damage, HBx reduced expression of p21(Waf1) by repressing the activity of p53 protein, followed by disturbing the regulation of G(0)-G(1) cell cycle checkpoint, and promoted the growth rate of hepatoma cells.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, p53 ; Hepatitis B Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Trans-Activators ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of actinoside E in rat plasma. The analytes were extracted by ethyl acetate and an analogue of actinoside F was used as the internal standard. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (50: 50, V/V) containing 0.1% formic acid was delivered at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min(-1) to a Zorbax SB-C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm). The detection was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the negative multiple reaction monitoring mode with a chromatograph run time of 3.0 min. Calibration curves of actinoside E were linear in the range of 0.5-2 500 ng·mL(-1). In this range, intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 1.7% to 7.5% and 2.0% to 8.9%, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 95.7% to 108.6%, and extraction recovery from 83.2% to 85.5%. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of actinoside E in rats after intravenous (5 mg·kg(-1)) and oral (100 mg·kg(-1)) administration, and the results showed that actinoside E was poorly absorbed with an absolute bioavailability being approximately 0.27%.
Actinidia ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glycosides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Kaempferols ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Prostate cancer is one of the major problems of men's health. It has more obvious cancer heterogeneity, affecting the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis monitoring when comparing with other cancer. Thus, cancer related biomarkers are urgently needed to guide biopsy, treatment selection and follow-up. In the aspect of diagnosis, though the emerging of prostate specific antigen can raise the rate of diagnosis to some extent, it brings more unnecessary biopsies because of its low specificity. Cancer related long non-coding RNAs, single nucleotide polymorphism and fusion genes are proved to increase the diagnostic efficiency through high-throughput sequencing techniques. In the aspect of molecular classification, traditional Gleason score can discriminate different risk level of the cancer, but it is limited by the technicians. It is reported that copy number variations from DNA level and small RNAs, long non-coding RNAs from RNA level are related with the progress of cancer, indicating the potential role in cancer molecular classification. Although we are still on the way of the initial stage in exploring prostate cancer biomarkers, more useful and promising biomarkers will be found by high-throughput sequencing and molecular biotechniques.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Biopsy ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Asthma ; Bibliometrics ; Humans ; Periodicals as Topic ; Research ; trends

OBJECTIVETo clarify the outcome of surgical reconstruction for renal artery in Takayasu arteritis-induced renal artery stenosis (TARAS).

METHODSA retrospective chart review was conducted on 33 consecutive patients with TARAS, who underwent aortorenal bypass (ARB) with autologous saphenous vein graft. There were 9 male and 24 female patients, with a mean age of (25 ± 11) years. The effects on blood pressure and renal function were analyzed. Primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates were determined. The effects of various factors on primary patency rate were analyzed. All patients showed hypertension. The mean blood pressure was (175 ± 26)/(100 ± 19) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). The mean antihypertensive dosage was (2.1 ± 0.6) defined daily dose (DDD). Seventeen patients showed intractable hypertension. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was (78 ± 5) ml/min. One patient was dialysis-dependent, and 3 patients were combined with congestive heart failure.

RESULTSARB was performed for the 39 renal arteries, including 27 unilateral and 6 bilateral bypasses. Postoperative morbidity was 15.2%. All patients survived. During follow-up of mean (56 ± 18) months, two graft occlusions and four graft restenoses occurred. All graft restenoses were eliminated successfully with percutaneous angioplasty, but one patient experienced restenosis again six months later. At 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, primary patency was 92%, 89%, and 79%, respectively, primary assisted patency was 95%, 95%, and 91%, respectively, and secondary patency was 95%, 95%, and 91%, respectively. ARB resulted in a decrease in mean blood pressure to 139/85 mmHg (one month post-ARB, P = 0.000) and 136/80 mmHg (last follow-up, P = 0.000), and a reduction in mean antihypertensive dosage to 1.4 DDD (one month post-ARB, P = 0.084) and 0.6 DDD (last follow-up, P = 0.000). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate increased to 82 ml/min (P = 0.458) one month post-ARB, and 91 ml/min (P = 0.044) at last follow-up, respectively. The dialysis-dependent patient no longer required hemodialysis, and left ventricular dysfunction resolved in all of the three patients.

CONCLUSIONARB using the autologous saphenous vein graft is safe, effective and durable for treating TARAS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aorta ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery ; surgery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Saphenous Vein ; transplantation ; Takayasu Arteritis ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo study the interaction of hepatitis virus B (HBV) and tumor suppressor p53.

METHODSPlasmid pCMVp53 was transfected or cotransfected with pCMVHBVa (wild type HBV) or PCMVHBVb (mutant type HBV) into the hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 by lipofectamine. Apoptosis cells were labeled by annexin V-FITC and confirmed by flow cytometry. Reporter plasmids PG13-CAT or p21-luc were cotransfected respectively in each group to indicate transactivation activity of p53 and it's effect on p21 promoter. Western blot was performed to observe p53 expression in each group.

RESULTSThe group transfected by pCMVp53 alone exhibit higher luciferase activity and higher apoptosis rate, otherwise, p53 expression, enzyme activity of PG13-CAT or p21- luc and cell apoptosis rate were much higher in the group cotransfected by pCMVp53 and pCMVHBVa, but not in the other cotransfected group; HBV replication was enhanced in p53 cotransfected group.

CONCLUSIONp53 expression and effects could be enhanced by HBV and p53 had positive regulation effect on HBV replication.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) on hepatoma cell growth through p14(ARF)-dependent and p14(ARF)-independent pathways.

METHODSHBx and p14(ARF) were transfected either separately or in combination into HepG2 cells containing wt-p53 but not expressing p14(ARF). The cells were divided into 4 groups, namely pcDNA3 (control), pcDNA3HBx, pcDNA3p14(ARF), and pcDNA3HBx + pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups. Flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis rates and cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells in different groups. The expression of p14(ARF), MDM2, p53, and p21(WAF1) proteins were investigated by detecting the activity of p21(WAF1) promoter-luciferase and using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells in pcDNA3HBx and pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (14.11%, 13.72% vs 10.66%). Compared with the control group, pcDNA3HBx and pcDNA3p14(ARF) groups also showed significantly higher cell percentages arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase (63.62%, 61.75% vs 57.42%), luciferase activity of p21 promoter (1.25-/+0.05, 1.09-/+0.06 vs 0.77-/+0.03) and expressions of p53 and p21(WAF1). The cell apoptosis rate, percentage of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase and expression level of p14(ARF) were even higher in pcDNA3HBx+pcDNA3p14(ARF) group (18.61%, 66.74%, and 3.53-/+0.43, respectively) than in either p14(ARF) or HBx group.

CONCLUSIONHBx induces p53 expression through p14(ARF)-dependent and independent pathways to activate p21(WAF1) promoter, leading to G(0)/G(1) arrest and apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) on endovascular exclusion (EVE) and its results.

METHODSFrom March 1997 to June 2007, 429 AAA patients were treated with endovascular stent-graft exclusion. According to the maximal diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the patients were divided into two groups: group A (diameter < 55 mm, n = 274) and group B (diameter > or = 55 mm, n = 155). The diameter of AAA, involvement of iliac artery, length, diameter and distortion of aneurismal neck in the two groups were recorded and compared retrospectively.

RESULTSPatients in group B were significantly older than group A (73.7 vs 71.1 years, P < 0.05). More patients in group B was complicated with coronary artery disease than those in group A (P < 0.05). The mean diameter of AAA in group A was (46.6 +/- 6.8) mm, and (66.8 +/- 11.2) mm in group B (P < 0.05). Proximal aneurysmal necks were shorter, wider and more tortuous in group B than those in group A (P < 0.05). Extraperitoneal approach, embolism of inner iliac artery and reconstruction of another inner iliac artery and stretch technique were more applied in group B. There were more endoleak during operation in group B and more stent-grafts were used. There was significant difference in morbidity rate between the two groups, while no statistic difference in mortality. And in group B, there were a high rate of endoleak and secondary intervention post operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe diameter of AAA affects EVE and its results. In small aneurysms, EVE carries better outcome than in big aneurysms.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome