Background and purpose:The occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely correlated with the immune function in the human body.The patients with malignant tumors have shown a disorder of immune function,especially in terms of loss of cellular immune function.The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible auxiliary effect of sipulin in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC).methods: Ninety-three patients were randomly divided into two groups:sipulin group:sipulin plus docetaxel+cisplatin;control group:only administered docetaxel+cisplatin.The leukocyte,haemoglobin and platelet,toxicity of digestive tract,body weight,Karnofsky status and efficacy of those patients were evaluated before and after therapy,respectively.Results: Overall response rates were 46.67% and 30.23%(P=0.023)in sipulin group and control group,respectively.The median survival time was 10.1months versus 8.3 months(P=0.035)in sipulin group and control group,respectively.The 1-year survival rate for sipulin group and control group was 52.9% versus 39.4%(P=0.038),respectively.The clinical efficacy and the frequence of leukocyte reduction were better in sipulin group than in control group,the quality of life and clinical symptom of the patients in sipulin group were improved more significantly than those in control group (P

Background Eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)function as the critical lipid mediators involved in several biological events in human body and play important role in suppressing the genesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.Many ocular diseases were proved to be associated with neovascularization.Objecfive The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of EPA on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) indueed by VEGF. Methods HUVEC strain was cultured and passaged,and difierent concentrations of EPA were added to the medium with and without VEGF.The cultured cells were identified by antiofactor Ⅷ polyclonal antibody.The suppressing role of different concentrations of EPA on the proliferation of VEGF-induced or-uninduced HUVEC was assessed by MTT method.The influence of difierent concentrations of EPA on the cellular cycle of VEGF-induced HUVEC was assayed using flow eytometry.The expression of Flk-1,a receptor of VEGF,in the HUVEC Was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Cultured HUVEC showed the ftlsiform in shape and presented with the cobblestone-like arrangement with the positive response for Ⅷ factor-related antigen.Various concentrations of EPA showed obviously inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced or-unindueed HUVEC at a dose-dependent manner (F=23.072.P=0.000).The inhibitory ability of EPA on VEGF-induced HUVEC was stronger than VEGF-uninduced HUVEC(F=41.417,P=0.000).In 24,48 and 72 hours,the action of EPA on the proliferation of HUVEC was gradually enhanced with the prolong of time(F=1.495,P=0.236).Cell cycle analysis indicated that EPA arrested VEGF-induced HUVEC in G0/G1 phase.The ratio of HUVEC in G0/G1 phase in EPA group was(75.83±1.56)%,and that in control groups was(68.62±1.44)%,showing a significant difference between them(t=-5.88,P=0.00),and no apoptosis of HUVEC was found in both groups.Flk-1 was strongly expressed in the cellular nucleus and cytoplasm in control group.However,the positive expressing intensity of Flk-1 in the HUVEC weakened,and the positive cell number was evidently less in EPA group. Conclusion EPA can inhibit the proliferation of VEGF induced HUVEC through arresting the synthesis of DNA of HUVEC and downregulate the expression of Flk-1 in HUVEC.These results suggest that EPA might exert an antiangiogenic effect.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) on inhibiting angiogenesis.

METHODSThe H22 hepatoma tumor model was established by subcutaneously implanting H22 hepatoma cells into mice. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the control group, the high dose PESV group, the low dose PESV group, and the 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) group, 10 mice in each group. The intervention was lasted for 14 days. The growth curve of the tumor volume was drawn and the inhibition rate calculated. Pathological changes of the tumors were observed by HE staining. The microvessel density (MVD) was detected using SP method. The protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13K), phosphoprotein kinase B (P-Akt), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 )alpha, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSThe tumor inhibitory rate was 64.8%, 43.7%, and 32.4% in the 5-Fu group, the high dose PESV group, and the low dose PESV group. Compared with the control group, the protein expression of PI3K, P-Akt, HIF-1alpha, and VEGF-A were obviously inhibited by PESV and 5-Fu (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). The MVD also decreased in the high and low dose PESV groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPESV could inhibit the angiogenesis of H22 hepatoma. The mechanisms might be associated with suppressing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt, HIF-1 alpha, and VEGF-A.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVETo preliminary study the long term therapeutic effects of repeat the whole lung lavage (RWLL) in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSA total of 60 patients with silicosis in the same stone mine were randomly and equally divided into repeat the whole lung Lavage (RWLL) group and whole lung Lavage (WLL) group based on silicosis staging, age and working age of dust exposure. Comparative analysis was performed to evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy and safety of RWLL. The cell count and SiO2 content were measured in twice right lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of the RWLL group.

RESULTSFour years after treatment, the cough and asthma improvement rates of the RWLL group were 68.4% and 75.0% higher than those (52.4%and 57.9%) of the WLL group (P > 0.05). Six years after treatment, the asthma improvement rate (70.0%) of the RWLL group was significantly higher than that (36.8%) of the WLL group (P < 0.05). The RWLL group showed slight decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) after treatment (P > 0.05), while the WLL group showed significant decrease in FVC and FEV1.0 in the six years after treatment (P<0.05). Four and Six years after treatment, the RWLL group had higher no change rate and lower progression rate and significant progression rate than the WLL group in terms of chest X-ray (P>0.05). In the RWLL group,the first time the right lung BALF test showed a number of cells 6.71×10(7)∼2.14×10(9)/L, average 4.50×10(8)/L, pulmonary alveoli macrophages (PAM) ratio of 0.873∼0.980, average 0.954 and SiO2 content of 18∼104.7 mg, average 93.7 mg; the second test showed a number of cells 5.71×10(6)∼1.30×10(9)/L, average 9.12×10(7)/L; PAM ratio 0.710∼0.926, average 0.870 and SiO2 content of 6∼90.2 mg, average 46.2 mg. The RWLL group happened hemoptysis, chest pain one case in perioperative period, the incidence of 6.7%. The RWLL group complicated by left pneumothorax, pulmonary infection one case and the WLL group complicated by one case of lung cancer in a year of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONRWLL is reasonable and safe treatment which could help to further improve the long-term effects of WLL for silicosis.

Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Humans ; Male ; Silicosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe enhanced effects of polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) combined Rapamycin on autophagy of H22 hepatoma cells in mice and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe H22 hepatocarcinoma cell suspension was subcutaneously inoculated into 40 Kunming mice. Then tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the control group,the high dose PESV group, the low dose PESV group, and the combination group (high dose PESV + Rapamycin), 10 in each group. Mice in high and dose PESV groups were administered with 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg PESV respectively by gastrogavage. Mice in the combination group were administered with 2 mg/kg rapamycin and 20 mg/kg PESV by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 14 successive days. The tumor volume was measured once every other day, the tumor growth curve was drawn, and then the tumor inhibitory rate calculated. Pathological changes of the tumor tissue were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of mammal target of rapamycin (mTOR), UNC-51-like kinase-1 (ULK1), microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 (MAPILC3A), and Beclin1 were detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSThe growth of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor was inhibited in high and low dose PESV groups and the combination group (P < 0.05). And there was statistical difference in tumor weight and tumor volume between the combination group and high and low dose PESV groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in tumor weight or tumor volume between the high dose PESV group and the low dose PESV group (P > 0.05). lmmunohistochemical assay showed that the protein expression of mTOR was higher, but protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, Beclin1 were lower in the control group than in the rest 3 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the high dose PESV group, protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1 were obviously lower (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPESV combined Rapamycin might inhibit the development of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor in mice possibly through inhibiting the activity of mTOR, enhancing expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Peptides ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Topotecan ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficiency of the disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD) in the surgical treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 249 outpatients with phimosis or redundant prepuce to be treated with DCSD (n = 129) and by conventional circumcision (CC, n = 120), respectively. Then we compared the safety and efficiency of the two strategies.

RESULTSComparisons between DCSD and CC showed that the operation time was (4.02 +/- 0.69) vs (30.8 +/- 4.05) min, blood loss was (1.07 +/- 1.29) vs (8.72 +/- 2.15) ml, intraoperative pain score was 0.81 +/- 0.81 vs 2.42 +/- 1.15, 24-hour postoperative pain score was 1.84 +/- 1.02 vs 4.99 +/- 1.36, postoperative complication rate was 13. 95% (18/129) vs 9.17% (11/120), wound healing time was (13.99 +/- 9.06) vs (17.48 +/- 3.49) d, satisfaction with the penile appearance was 98.4% (127/129) vs 95% (109/120), and treatment cost was (2215.62 +/- 17.67) vs (576.47 + 15.58) Y RMB. DCSD exhibited obvious superiority over CC for shorter operation time, less blood loss, milder intraoperative pain, sooner wound healing, and better penile appearance, but it also had a higher rate of postoperative complications (P > 0.05) and involved more treatment cost than the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe disposable circumcision suture device affords ideal clinical effects and therefore deserves clinical popularization.

Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; Disposable Equipment ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Surgical Staplers ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe anti-fatigue effect and mechanisms of pre-electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats undergoing acute treadmill running.

METHODSFifty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: a quiet group (group Q, n = 10), a model group (group M, n = 20) and an EA preconditioning group (group EAP, n = 20). After adaptation for undergoing treadmill running, all the rats in group M and group EAP were trained on acute treadmill running. Besides, EA with continuous waves, 2 Hz in frequency and 2 mA in intensity was applied at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 min, which was applied once daily for continuous 6 days before treadmill running for the rats in Group EAP. Plasma lactate contents were measured immediately and 3 hours after treadmill running, respectively. Changes of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) contents obtained immediately and 3 hours after treadmill running, respectively, in hypothalamus and striatum, were detected and compared, and DA/5-HT ratios were calculated.

RESULTSCompared with group Q, the levels of blood lactate and hypothalamic 5-HT tented to increase in rats of group M, and the contents of hypothalamic DA increased significantly (P < 0.01), while the contents of striatal DA and 5-HT in group M decreased significantly (both P < 0.01) at 3 h after treadmill running. Immediately after treadmill running, the contents of DA and 5-HT increased significantly in hypothalamus (both P < 0.01), but decreased significantly in striatum (both P < 0.01) in group EAP, compared with those in group M. Moreover, EA pretreatment markedly decreased the levels of blood lactate (P < 0.05) and hypothalamic 5-HT (P < 0.01), and obviously elevated the ratio of DA/5-HT in the hypothalamus (P < 0.01) at 3 h after treadmill running.

CONCLUSIONPreventive EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can accelerate recovery from fatigue, which may be related to its reducing accumulation of blood lactate, elevating DA/ 5-HT ratio in the hypothalamus of the rats undergoing treadmill running.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effects of glycyrrhiza decoction on migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and gastrointestinal hormone in small intestine in rats.

METHODSWe observed MMC cycle,phase Ill duration,fast wave numbers of phase III of MMC in one minute, fast wave numbers of one cluster in phase III of MMC of small intestine of glycyrrhiza group and control group rats with electrophysiology method, and immunohistochemistry to examine relative content of serotonin (5-HT), substance p(SP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in small intestinal chromophil (EC) and myenteric nerve plexus in small intestine of control group and glycyrrhiza group rats.

RESULTSCompared glycyrrhiza group with control group,we found that glycyrrhiza was able to decrease fast wave numbers in one minute and fast wave numbers in one cluster in phase III of MMC of small intestine (P < 0.05), and evidently extend small intestinal cycle of MMC (P < 0.05), it also shortened the phase III III duration (P < 0.05) or made the phase III of MMC absent. Compared glycyrrhiza group with control group it was indicated that content of 5-HT in small intestinal mucous membrane and myenteric nerve plexus was evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and content of SP in myenteric nerve plexus of small intestine of rats was evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and content of VIP in small intestine of rats was evidently increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGlycyrrhiza is able to inhibit small intestinal motility, this inhibition is related with the amount of 5-HT, SP, VIP secreted by small intestinal mucous membrane of rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromyography ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Glycyrrhiza ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; analysis ; Substance P ; analysis ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cell adhesion molecules and Their significance in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for E-cadherin was performed on 64 cases of IMPC and 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

RESULTSE-cadherin was mainly expressed on the cell membrane of tumor cells. The expression of E-cadherin in IMPC (85.9%, 55/64) was significantly higher than that in IDC (43.9%, 25/57). E-cadherin expressed in the intercellular contact surface of IMPC cells. In contrast, it was weakly positive/not expressed on the outer membranous surface of the tumor clusters in IMPC. The rate of lymph node metastasis in IMPC (85.9%, 55/64) was significantly higher than that in IDC (52.6%, 30/57), the rate of alpha-catenin and beta-catenin coexpression in IMPC (45.1%, 26/51) with lymph node metastasis and E-cadherin normal expression was also significantly higher than that in IDC (15.4%, 2/13).

CONCLUSIONWeak cell adhesion molecule expression on the outer surface of IMPC cell clusters, in contrast to strong cohesion in intercellular contact surface, may help to explain the high metastatic potential of this type of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; secondary ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; alpha Catenin ; beta Catenin