Celastrol is a type of quinone methyl triterpene isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii, with pharmacological activities, like anti-inflammatory, immunosuppression and anti-tumor. This study focused on the effects of celastrol on adhesion, migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. The migration inhibition of lung cancer cells induced by celastrol was detected by the scratch test. The invasion inhibition of lung cancer cells induced by celastrol was measured by the transwell experiment. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the effect of different concentrations of celastrol in integrin family and Akt signaling pathway in lung cancer cells. The results showed that celastrol inhibited adhesion, migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and expressions of integrins β3, β4, αv and phosphorylated Akt, GSK-3β, c-Raf, PDK1 in Akt signal pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the study implies that Celastrol could inhibit the metastasis of lung cancer cells by suppressing Akt signaling pathway and expression of integrins.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Integrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

AIM: To investigate the effects of nitric oxide(NO) and caspase-3 on dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. METHODS: Flow cytometric assay was used to quantify the apoptotic cells. The morphological of apoptotic cells was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Nitrite was quantified by Griess reaction. Inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) mRNA was identified by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Caspase-3 activity was determined by fluorescent spectrofluorometer. RESULTS: Dopamine induced PC12 cells apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner (0.15-0.60 mmol/L), with positive TUNEL staining. During the development of apoptosis, the expression of iNOS mRNA and the levels of NO increased markedly, so did caspase-3 activity(P

In order to clarify material basis of effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription, blood-heat and blood-stasis rat model induced by dry yeast was established. The changes of rectal temperature, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were used to evaluate the cooling-blood and activating-blood effects of liangxue tongyu prescription and its parts. Compared with the model group, the extract from liangxue tongyu prescription, its volatile oil and n-butanol part could significantly reduce rectal temperature (P<0.01), and also reduce blood viscosity and plasma viscosity to various degrees (P<0.01 or P<0.05). So volatile oil and n-butanol part were primarily identified as effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription. By using GC-MS with normalization method of area to analyze volatile oil of liangxue tongyu prescription, 70 compounds were identified, accounting for about 92.54%, mainly as β-asarone, paeonol, α-asarone and shyobunone. 42 compounds such as peony glycosides, tannins, and iridoid glycosides were identified by HPLC-MS techniques and standard comparison. The study determined the effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription and clarified the chemical composition providing the foundation for further studies on material basis of liangxue tongyu prescription.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tannins ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of rotational atherectomy (RA) with drug-eluting stents (DES) by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for elderly patients with heavily calcified lesions. Methods Thirteen patients aged above 70 years with heavily calcified coronary artery having underwent the treatment of RA and DES by IVUS were enrolled. The levels of troponin T, creatine kinase isozyme-MB and creatinine were detected before and after operation.The levels of minimus lumen diameter, diameter stenosis rate, effective area of the lumen before and after operation were compared. The immediate success rate was evaluated and the follow-up results were recorded. Results Thirteen patients in accordance with angiography and IVUS examination were confirmed as severe calcification. The levels of troponin T, creatine kinase isozyme-MB and creatinine detected before and after operation had no significantly differences (P>0.05). The levels of minimus lumen diameter, diameter stenosis rate and effective area of the lumen before and after operation had significant differences:(2.06 ± 0.38) mm vs. (3.98 ± 0.76) mm, (73.26 ± 7.02)%vs. (17.00 ± 3.34)%, (4.53 ± 1.50) mm2 vs. (12.54 ± 6.19) mm2, P<0.01. The rate of left anterior descending artery, circumflex artery and right coronary artery calcification was 10/13, 0 and 1/13. All patients′operation was successful. Followed up for (14.6 ± 3.4) months, no patients had angina and myocardial infarction, or required target vessel revascularization. Conclusions RA with DES by IVUS can be safely used in elderly patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease, and can improve the success rate of intervention operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSForty-one medical care workers (aged 23 - 55 years, with a average of 32 years; men/women = 8/32) who were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with SARS during March and April, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThirteen of all the patients were physicians and the rest were nurses. The disease was mainly transmitted through air droplet in a short distance, and overwork induced tiredness was involved in disease stimulation. Seventy-three percent of the patients presented fever as their first symptom. Ten patients complained inertia and myalgia. One patient showed no clinical symptoms, and bilateral infiltrates was found in his chest X-ray. Among the 41 cases, 6 (15%) were diagnosed as severe type. At the first week, the counts of white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocyte and platelets were (4.4 +/- 1.5) x 10(9)/L, 0.22 +/- 0.12 and (143 +/- 37) x 10(9)/L, which were significantly lower when compared with those at the 2nd to 4th week. Abnormal liver function was found in 27 cases (mostly with elevated serum ALT), with 70% occurred at the 3rd or 4th week. In terms of CT, 30 patients (73%) showed pathological changes in lungs, and bilateral lung involvement was found in 35.59%. Of 36 cases treated with steroids, 86% received middle or low dosage (80 - 240 mg/d). Artificial ventilation was used for twenty-seven patients, and air pipe mechanical ventilation was used for 1 case. Mortality in this study was 5%.

CONCLUSIONSInertia and myalgia may be the earlier symptoms of health care workers with SARS include, which are parallel to CT manifestations. There is no objective index for the assessment of the severity of the disease at early stage. The medicine associated toxicities may be the main reason of liver lesions. damages. Middle or low dosage of steroid was reasonable to be used as early as possible.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Nurses ; Physicians ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; therapy ; transmission

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of neonatal peripheral blood smear spherical erythrocyte count in the diagnosis of ABO-HDN.Methods 165 cases clinically diagnosed with ABO-HDN in Zhongshan Boai Hospital from 2009 to 2015 were listed as the experimental group by retrospective analysis,68 cases of non-ABO-HDN were listed as control group.Besides,relevant clinical data and experimental examination were investigated,and the results of their hemolysis test were analysed.Results Peripheral blood smear spherical erythrocyte count were positive in 110 cases of 165 patients with ABO-HDN,the positive rate of spherical erythrocytes was 66.7 ％ (x2 =58.069,P＜ 0.05).The spherical erythrocyte positive rates were 68.8 ％,60.5 ％ and 66.7 ％ in patients aged ≤2d,3 ～4d,≥5d respectively.The diagnostic sensitivity of spherical erythrocytes to ABO-HDN was 66.7 ％,the specificity was 88.2 ％,the positive predictive value was 93.2 ％,and negative predictive value was 52.2 ％.When spherical erythrocyte count positive point was set as ≥5 ％ spherical erythrocytes,the diagnostic sensitivity of spherical erythrocytes to ABO-HDN was 66.7％ and the specificity was 88.2％.If the positive point was set as ≥10％ spherical erythrocytes,the sensitivity of ABO-HDN decreases to 9.3％,and the specificity reaches 98.5 ％.In ABO-HDN group,the levels of nucleated red blood cell,RDW and Ret were higher,along with the lower level of hemoglobin compared with non-ABO-HDN group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion The peripheral blood smear spherical erythrocyte count had a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ABOHDN.Combined with jaundice,anemia and RDW,peripheral blood smear spherical erythrocyte count can provide guidance for the early diagnosis,prevention and treatment of ABO-HDN.

Programmed death-1 ligand-1(PD-L1) is a recently identified member of the B7 family molecules and is shown to mediate the inhibition of immune responses. This study was purposed to enhance the weak immunological function of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from the patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) by blockade of the expression of PD-L1. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) of CML patients were induced into DCs in the presence of cytokine cocktail of rhGM-CSF, rhIL-4 and TNF-alpha. The phenotypes of DCs were detected by flow cytometry, mixed lymphocyte reaction was analyzed by MTT assay and IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-10 in the cell culture supernatant were detected by ELISA. The results showed that the expression of PD-L1 on CML-DCs was upregulated with the maturation of CML-DCs. PD-L1-blockaded DCs could enhance T lymphocyte proliferation, increase the secretion of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and inhibit the production of IL-10. Taken together, PD-L1-blockaded DCs originated from CML cells had more potent immunostimulatory capability. It is concluded that PD-L1 blockaded can enhance the function of CML-DCs. This approach presents new possibilities for achieving anti-tumor immunity by DC-based vaccination.
Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; B7-H1 Antigen ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; immunology ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEContinuous spike-and-wave during slow wave sleep (CSWS) syndrome is one of the presentations of electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES). The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of CSWS syndrome in children.

METHODSBetween 2007 and 2009, a total of 778 nocturnal long-term or 24-hr video-EEG records were included. The EEG, clinical and neuroimaging characteristics were studied in children who met standard criteria for CSWS.

RESULTSNine children met standard criteria for CSWS in video-EEGs. Their ages ranged 6 to 13 years. Their EEGs were characterized by continuous spike-and-wave (SW) discharges during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, accounting for 85%-100% of the period of NREM sleep. Clinically, these children had various types of epileptic seizures and exhibited different degrees of neuropsychiatric impairments, language dysfunction, and/or behavioral disturbances. Neuroimaging abnormalities were found in 6 cases, including atelencephalia or atrophy, gray matter heterotopia and leucomalacia.

CONCLUSIONSThis study indicates the characteristics of CSWS syndrome in clinical manifestations, EEG and neuroimaging examinations. This will be helpful in understanding CSWS syndrome.

Adolescent ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Sleep ; physiology ; Status Epilepticus ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Syndrome

Estrogen plays an important role in the regulation of male reproduction. Through binding with the estrogen receptor (ER), estrogen produces genomic and non-genomic effects. Estrogen receptors include ERalpha and ERbeta which distribute in the male reproductive system including the testis, epididymis, prostate and penis. The spermatogenesis is impaired in mice with ERalpha gene knockout; however, it remains normal in mice with ERbeta gene knockout. This phenomenon suggests that the two subtypes of ER play different roles in spermatogenesis. Moreover, ERalpha or ERbeta may also act as a substitute of another.
Animals ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; metabolism ; Genitalia, Male ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine whether transforming growth factor betal (TGF-beta1)/Smad signaling pathway mediates p53-dependent apoptosis in hepatoma cell lines.

METHODSThree human hepatic carcinoma cell lines, HepG2, Huh-7, and Hep3B, were used in this study. TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis in hepatic carcinoma cell lines was analyzed using TUNEL assay. For identifying the mechanism of apoptosis induced by TGF-beta1, cell lines were transfected with a TGF-beta1-inducible luciferase reportor plasmid containing Smad4 binding elements. After transfection, cells were treated with TGF-beta1, then assayed for luciferase activity.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate of HepG2 cell lines (48.51% +/- 8.21%) was significantly higher than control (12.72% +/- 2.18%, P <0.05). But TGF-beta1 was not able to induce apoptosis of Huh-7 and Hep3B cell lines. The relative luciferase activity of TGF-beta1-treated HepG2 cell lines (4.38) was significantly higher than control (1.00, P < 0.05). But the relative luciferase activity of TGF-beta1-treated Huh-7 and Hep3B cell lines less increased compared with control.

CONCLUSIONSHepG2 cells seem to be highly susceptible to TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis compared with Hep3B and Huh-7 cell lines. Smad4 is a central mediator of TGF-beta1 signaling transdution pathway. TGF-beta1/Smad signaling pathway might mediate p53-dependent apoptosis in hepatoma cell lines.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, Reporter ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology