Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Liposarcoma ; pathology ; Male ; Meningioma ; pathology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the autophagy-associated gene Atg5 with the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, we detected the expression of Atg5 in 50 cases of prostate intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN), 69 cases of prostate cancer (PCa), and 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

RESULTSThe expression level of Atg5 mRNA was significantly higher in PIN (5.270 ± 0.230) and PCa (5.131 ± 0.252) than in the BPH tissue (1.723 ± 0.017) (P <0.01), and so was the positive rate of the Atg5 expression in the patients of the PIN group (94%) and PCa group (88.4%) than in those of the BPH group (6.7%) (P<0.01), but with no statistically significant differences between the PIN and PCa groups (P >0.05). No significant correlation was observed between the expression of Atg5 and the Gleason score of PCa (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe upregulated expression of Atg5 might play a role in the tumorigenesis of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Autophagy ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Up-Regulation

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2(HIPK2)is a member of a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family which localized in the mucleus.It is not only involved in advanced stage embryogenesis,development of nerve tissue,retina and muscular tissue,but also takes part in regulation of tumor signaling transduction,down-modulated expression of oncogene,induced apoptosis of tumor cells,and inhibited angiogeuesis of tumor.The regulation of HIPK2 in tumor signaling transduction pathway is associated with P53 signaling,Wnt/β-catenin pathway and hypoxia.

HIF-1α, a transcriptional activator regulating cells and tissues' response to hypoxia, can induce expression of a variety of factors and facilitate adaptation to hypoxia. Tumor hypoxic microenvironment and expression of HIF-1α is closely related to the occurrence of colorectal cancer, development, invasion, metastasis and prognosis, which becomes a hot spot in colorectal cancer research. To further clarify the process of colorectal cancer and to explore new treatment methods in colorectal cancer, HIF-1α in colorectal cancer studies was briefly reviewed.

Objective To determine the value of vascular indication of sexual excitation response (VISER) in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods Fifty three cases of ED underwent PGE1 intracavernous injection,VISER and color duplex ultrasonography.The comparison of the results was performed. Results Forty three cases were in Porst Grade 3, whose average cavernous pressure and carvenous pressure index were 144.29 mmHg and 1.24,respectively.Of them,42 cases were of normal penile vascular function,the remaining one was of venous ED;10 cases were in Porst Grade 2, whose average cavernous pressure and carvenous pressure index were 87.76 mmHg and 0.81,respectively.There were significant differences in the average cavernous pressure and carvenous pressure index between the two groups ( P

Objective: To investigate the effects of Curcuma Rhizoma before and after being processed with vinegar on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4 composited factors and to discuss their mechanism. Methods: Rat models of hepatic fibrosis were established by sc injection of 40% CCl4 olive solution and ig administration with alcohol and high fat food for seven weeks. The rats were randomly divided into control, model, colchicin (0.2 mg/kg, positive), raw Curcuma Rhizoma (RCR, 0.95 and 1.90 g/kg), and Curcuma Rhizoma after being processed with vinegar (CRV, 0.95 and 1.90 g/kg) groups. The rats in each group were administered with the corresponding drugs once daily for eight weeks. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBiL), hyaluronic acid (HA), and laminin (LN) in serum, liver index, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver tissue were determined. Liver pathology and fibrosis were observed by HE staining and Masson staining. Results: Compared with the control group, there were classic liver cirrhosis pathological changes in model groups, and the levels of serum ALT, AST, TBiL, HA, and LN and the contents of Hyp and MDA were significantly increased. The activity of SOD was significantly decreased. In comparison with the model group, both RCR and CRV could improve the liver function parameters in different degrees. But the effect of CRV was superior to that of RCR, and the high-dose group of CRV had obvious advantages. Conclusion: CRV shows the better prevention and treatment on hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 composited factor in rats.

Objective To evaluate the serum anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH)level in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to explore the association between AMH and anti-ovarian antibody(AOAB).Methods Serum levels of AMH and AOAB were measured with ELISA in 84 female SLE patients and 90 age-matched healthy women.The patients were not treated with steroids or immunosuppressive agents before their blood samples were collected.Clinical and laboratory data of the SLE patients were also analyzed by two independent samples t-test.Results The mean serum AMH level of 84 female SLE patients was (3.2±1.5)ng/ml,which was higher than that of 90 age-matched healthy women[(2.6±1.4)ng/ml,P<0.05].Moreover,the serum AMH level was closely associated with rash,lupus nephritis,and disease activity in the 84 SLE patients.The results showed that the serum AMH levels increased first,then decreased with aging,both in SLE patients and healthy women,but the appearance of peak serum AMH level in SLE patients was delayed.The frequency of AOAB wilts higher than that in healthy women.Interestingly,the mean serum AMH level of the AOAB-positive group[(4.1±1.8)ng/ml]was higher than that of the AOAB-negative group [(2.7±1.1)ng/ml,P<0.01].Conclusion The mean level of serum AMH in female SLE patients is higher than that in age-matched healthy women,and its high level in SLE patients is closely associated with rash,lupus nephritis,disease activity and serum AOAB level.

Huperzine A is a promising drug to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). To date, its biosynthetic pathway is still unknown. Lysine decarboxylase (LDC) has been proposed to catalyze the first-step of the biosynthesis of huperzine A. To identify and characterize LDCs from Huperzia serrata, we isolated two LDC fragments (LDC1 and LDC2) from leaves of H. serrata by RT-PCR and then cloned them into pMD 19-T vector. Sequence analysis showed that LDC1 and LDC2 genes shared 95.3% identity and encoded the protein of 212 and 202 amino acid residues respectively. Thus, we ligated LDC genes into pET-32a(+) to obtain recombinant expressing vectors pET-32a(+)/LDC1 and pET-32a(+)/LDC2 respectively. We further introduced two expression vectors into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and cultured positive colonies of E. coli in liquid LB medium. After inducing for 4 hours with 260 μg/mL IPTG at 30 degrees C, soluble recombinant Trx-LDC1 and Trx-LDC2 were obtained and isolated for purification using a Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. We incubated purified recombinant proteins with L-lysine in the enzyme reaction buffer at 37 degrees C and then derived the reaction products using dansyl chloride. It was found that both Trx-LDC1 and Trx-LDC2 had decarboxylase activity, could convert L-lysine into cadaverine by way of thin layer chromatography assay. Further, bioinformatics analysis indicated that deduced LDC1 and LDC2 had different physicochemical properties, but similar secondary and three-dimensional structures.
Carboxy-Lyases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Huperzia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Lysine ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To optimize the extraction process of Paeoniae radix alba. Methods Extraction rates of paeoniflorin and total glucosides from Paeoniae radix alba and yield of dry extract were served as research indexes. Extraction process was optimized by central composite design-response surface methodology. Results Optimum condition of extraction technology was to extract 2 times with 9-fold of 85.00% ethanol for 100 min each time. Results of the three batches of confirmatory test were accordant with the predicted values. Conclusion The observed and predicted values were close to each other,and the optimum formulation by CCD-RSM was successful. The established model has a reliable predictability. The optimum extraction process is reasonable,stable and feasible.

Objective To investigate the effect of simulated 400 m He-O2 saturation diving on the pulmonary oxidative-antioxidative system in rats.Methods SD rats were exposed to 4.1 MPa He-O2 mixture for 24 h in an animal chamber. Normal air pressure was used in the control group .The histopathology , contents of malondialdehyde ( MDA) , 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG),and glutathione(GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxi-dase( GSH-Px) in pulmonary tissues were determined .Results No difference was found during pathological examination or in MDA, 8-OHdG and SOD activity.GSH and GSH-Px activity were decreased significantly (P<0.05) after hyperbaric exposure.Conclusion Exposure to 4.1 MPa He-O2 for 24 h may promote oxidative stress and reduce antioxidative capacity rather than cause obvious oxidative damage in rat lungs .