To investigate the expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in acute leukemia, as well as the relationship of their expression with prognosis in acute leukemia, expressions of PTTG and b-FGF in acute leukemia (AL) specimens were detected by immunocytochemical technique. The results showed that the expressions of PTTG and b-FGF in AL group were higher than that in the control group significantly (P < 0.01). In AL group, after chemotherapy, the expression of PTTG and b-FGF in de novo patients group was higher than in the complete remission patient group significantly (P < 0.01). The expressions of PTTG and b-FGF showed positive correlation (r = 0.61, P < 0.01). It is concluded that Up-regulation of PTTG and b-FGF expression may be involved in the progression of acute leukemia and correlated closely with therapeutic effect. Associated detection of PTTG and b-FGF may help to judge the malignancy degree and prognosis of acute leukemia.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Child ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Prognosis ; Securin

The research aimed to evaluate the intestinal absorption of alkaloids extracted by decoction and alcohol extraction proces- ses from Rhizoma Coptidis-Rheum rhabarum herbal pair via everted gut sacs. Berberine, palmatine, coptisine and epiberberine were the main alkaloids in this herbal pair and taken as the standard indexes in the quantitative analysis with multi-components by single marker (QAMS) method, in order to calculate absorption rate constant (Ka) and evaluate intestinal absorption characteristics of these four alkaloids extracted by different extraction methods in different intestinal segments in rats. The results showed that the four alkaloids extracted by two different processes in high, medium and low doses had linear absorption properties in the small intestine segment, which conformed to zero-order absorption rate, intestinal segment than 0.99. The absorption rate constant (Ka) of decoction group was higher than that of alcohol extraction group.
Alkaloids ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo cultivate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the serum of overfatigue rats with the intervention of Tongxinluo superfine powder (TXLSP). By examining the variation of the activity of JNK/c-Jun/HO-1 pathway, the possible mechanisms of vascular endothelial dysfunction under overfatigue conditions and the intervening effect of TXLSP were explored.

METHODSThe HUVECs were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the SP600125 (a specific antagonist of JNK) group, the TXLSP group and the TXLSP + SP600125 group. The content of carboyhemoglobin (COHb) and the leak rate of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in different groups were measured. The mRNA and protein expression of JNK, c-Jun, HO-1 and the phosphorylation level of c-Jun (P-c-Jun) were detected using Western blot and PCR methods.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the COHb level in supernatant was increased significantly in the model group, and the expression of HO-1, JNK, c-Jun mRNA and corresponding proteins and P-c-Jun were also increased remarkably. The increases in these parameters were significantly decreased by SP600125. TXLSP showed remarkable up-regulation on the expression of JNK, c-Jun, P-c-Jun and HO-1 mRNA and their protein expression. Compared with the SP600125 group, the expressions of JNK, c-Jun, P-c-Jun and HO-1 mRNA and its protein in the TXLSP+SP600125 group were significantly increased at different time points (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe vascular endothelial dysfunction under overfatigue conditions is related to the activity of the JNK/c-Jun/HO-1 pathway. One of the mechanisms of TXLSP in improving the vascular endothelial function is to adjust the activity of the JNK/c-Jun/HO-1 pathway at gene and protein levels.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; genetics ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fatigue ; blood ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Particle Size ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serum ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Tongxinluo Supermicro Powder on the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), inter-cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in aorta of rabbits fed with high-lipid diet.

METHODSHealthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 each): control group, model group, atorvastatin group (3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) per gavage), and Tongxinluo group (0.31 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) per gavage). At the end of 6 weeks, the expression of NF-kappaB, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were observed by immunochemistry methods, Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTThe nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in aortic endothelial cells and the gene expressions of NF-kappaB, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 at protein and mRNA levels of the model group was significantly increased compared that in the control group (all P < 0.05), these effects could be significantly attenuated by atorvastatin and Tongxinluo Supermicro Powder (P < 0.01 vs. model group).

CONCLUSIONSSimilar as atorvastatin, Tongxinluo Supermicro Powder could relieve the process of atherosclerosis by decreasing the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and reducing the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 in this model.

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of IgM to recombinant antigen E2 of HEV envelope protein in the diagnosis of acute sporadic hepatitis E.

METHODSanti-E2 IgM was detected in sera samples from 176 cases of acute sporadic hepatitis E and 191 cases of acute non A-E hepatitis by ELISA and was compared with HEV IgM detected by some domestic and Genelabs (GL) kits. HEV RNA was also detected in sera positive for anti-E2 IgM. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with the detection of anti-E2 IgM and HEV RNA.

RESULTSAnti-E2 IgM was found in 68.75% of the serum samples from the 176 patients of acute hepatitis E and the positive rate of HEV IgM detection by domestic kits was 56.25% (chi2 IgM = 6.49, P < 0.05). There were 37 (19.37%) anti-E2 IgM positive cases in those 191 sera of the acute non A-E hepatitis, out of which 11 cases were also detected as positive by the GL kit. Of the 158 anti-E2 IgM positive sera, HEV RNA was found in 81 (51.27%), among which 57.02% was positive in acute hepatitis E and 32.43% in acute non A-E hepatitis. No HEV RNA was found in the anti-E2 IgM negative sera from the cases of acute hepatitis E. By logistic regression analysis, no variance relative to the detection of anti-E2 IgM was found with the time interval from onset to hospitalization, age, levels of bilirubin, ALT and AST of the serum. Only the level of serum ALT was found being significantly associated with the detection of HEV RNA (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS(1) anti-E2 IgM is a sensitive and specific serological maker for diagnosing an acute infection of HEV. (2) HEV is still the pathogen of some cases diagnosed clinically as non-A-E hepatitis. (3) Persistent HEV viremia is possibly an important factor influencing the severity of acute hepatitis E.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hepatitis E ; diagnosis ; Hepatitis E virus ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) was first reported in 1966. Although mutation of TRPS1 gene is considered to be responsible for the syndromes in 2000, investigation of bone metabolism and changes of serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 level in this kind of patients is rare. Here, we report a patient with TRPS I (MIM 190350) presenting a novel mutation (1096insA) and abnormal changes of severe osteoporosis as well as low serum IGF-I level.
Adolescent ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Langer-Giedion Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Osteoporosis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of vascular endothelial functions and general neuro-endocrine-immunity (NEI) network under the state of qi-deficiency syndrome induced by excessive idleness and to approach their internal relevance and illuminate initially the pathophysiological mechanism of vascular lesion induced by excessive idleness.

METHODSA total of 100 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the qi-deficiency syndrome model group, 50 rats in each group. The qi-deficiency syndrome model was established by feeding the animals with hyper-alimentation diet in combination with restricting movement for 10 weeks. Changes of common chemical signal molecules related to NEI and vascular endothelial functions were measured by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, their internal relevance was analyzed by the method of canonical correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe vascular endothelial structure and function were obviously injured in the model group. Compared with the control group, the chemical signal molecules, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), corticosterone (CORT), triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), angiotensin II (Ang II), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in peripheral blood of the model group (n=43) were changed significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Canonical correlation analysis showed that vascular endothelial dysfunction was correlated to the changes of these signal molecules in the NEI network.

CONCLUSIONSComfort-based lifestyle induced not only vascular endothelial dysfunction but also an imbalance of the NEI network. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalanced NEI network interacted with each other, and an imbalance of the NEI network may be the pathophysiologic basis for the genesis and development of vascular endothelial dysfunction, even diseases of the blood vessel.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; ultrastructure ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Immune System ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiology ; Male ; Neuroimmunomodulation ; physiology ; Neurosecretory Systems ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sedentary Lifestyle ; Syndrome ; Yin Deficiency ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVES(1) To evaluate the prevalence, phenotypes and suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) among the in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor-infiltration lymphocytes (TILs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and patients with chronic hepatitis B. (2) To investigate the correlation between the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and clinical characteristics of HCC patients.

METHODSPBMCs and TILs in 18 HCC patients, 10 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 15 healthy donors were evaluated for the phenotypes of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and the proportion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs as a percentage of the total CD4+ cells, by flow cytometric analysis with three or four color staining. The relationship between the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and tumor TNM stages was analyzed. The CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD4+CD25- T cells were isolated from PBMC of HCC patients and donors. The suppressive function of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was analyzed.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD4+CD25+ Tregs of the HCC patients (6.38% +/- 6.30%) and CHB patients (4.29% +/- 1.82%) were significantly higher than those of the healthy donors (1.58% +/- 0.55%, P less than 0.01). Among the TILs, the percentage of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was higher (t = 4.39, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the prevalence of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in early and advanced stage HCCs (stage II vs. III, P less than 0.05; stage II vs. IV P < 0.01). The proliferative capacity of CD4+CD25- T cells was inhibited by the presence of CD4+CD25+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner where the level of suppression was correlated to the ratio of the two-cell populations.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the increase in frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs might play a role in the suppression of the immune response against HCC, which may contribute to the HCC cells that escaped from immunological surveillance.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDTo study the difference between the mutant types and the wild type of HBsAg on the binding efficiency with antibodies in order to find some methods to detect the mutants.

METHODSThe recombinant wild type of HBsAg and the mutants including 145 R, 133 T, 126 S, 141 E, 126 S+133 T, 126 S+133 T+145 R and 126 S+133 T+141 E were cloned, respectively. Then the expression vector containing the wild or mutant gene was transfected into COS7 cells, and the recombinant proteins were expressed. The proteins were detected with the routine HBsAg kits.

RESULTSThe binding efficiency with monoclonal antibodies of HBsAg expressed by 126 S was higher than that of the wild type, while the results of 145 R, 141 E, 126 S+133 T+145 R and 126 S+133 T+141 E were lower than that of the wild, and 133 T was similar to the wild. But most of the mutants had the same reactivity with the polyclonal antibody.

CONCLUSIONSThe effect of mutations on antibody binding differs depending on the amino acid involved and on the location within the "a" loop. So it is necessary to use polyclonal antibody or to find new kits to detect the mutants of HBsAg.

Binding Sites, Antibody ; Epitopes ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

AIMTo observe the effect of homocysteine (HCY) on the function of endothelium cell, and to discuss the possible mechanisms that Tongxinluo super powder affected.

METHODSHealthy male Wistar rats were divided into randomly the control group, the model group, the Tongxinluo group. The effect of Ach on isolated rat thoracic aorta in vitro was examined, the microcirculation was observed by microcirculation meter, the activity of SOD and GSH-PX and content of NO, MDA, ET, Ang II, TXA2, PGI2 was detected.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the effect of Ach on isolated rat thoracic aorta in vitro weakened markablely (P < 0.01), the format and percentage that capillary dilated declined significantly (P < 0.05), after treatment with Tongxinluo powder, the effect of Ach on isolated rat thoracic aorta in vitro was improved obviously (p < 0.01), and the format and percentage that capillary dilated were increased compared with model group; comparing with the control group, the level of Ang II and ET, TXA2 in plasm increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the content of PGI2 depressed manifestly (P < 0.05), at the same time, both content of NO and activity of SOD, (GSH-PX declined obviously (P < 0.001, P < 0.05). After treatment with Tongxinluo powder, the level of ET, AngII and TXA2 reduced significantly in different degree (P < 0.01), while the content of PGI2 appeared stepping up notably (P < 0.01), and both activity of SOD and NO level increased obviously (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION(1) The high homocystein might cause the contracted and dilated function decreased, it might get involved in endothelium disfunction as a result of the massive free radicals production and diastolic-contract factors balance disorder induced by high homocystein. (2) Tongxinluo powder could improve the function of endothelium-dependment dilation induced by high homocystein, that associated with inhibitting the excessive production of free radicals, and improved function of endothelium.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Homocysteine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Male ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar