OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of taurine (Tau) on the proliferation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and study whether the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process and the possible molecular mechanism.

METHODThe primary culture was performed for PASMCs in rats. The second to fifth generations were adopted for the experiment. The Tau concentration was 80 mmol x L(-1). The concentration of ERK1/2 blocker (PD98059) was 50 micromol x L(-1). The drug administration time was 24 h. The effect of Tau on the PASMC proliferation was detected by MTT assay, immunofluorescence staining method and western blot under different conditions. The PASMCs were growing were divided into four groups: the normoxia group, the normoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia group and the hypoxia + Tau group. The Western blot was adopted to detect whether the ERK1/2 signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process. Subsequently, the PASMCs were divided into five groups: the normoxia group, the hypoxia group, the hypoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group and the hypoxia + PD98059 group.

RESULTHypoxia could induce the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia and hypoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) among PASMCs. Tau could reverse the expression up-regulation of hypoxia-induced proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (P < 0.01) and Cyclin A (Cyclin A) (P < 0. 05). Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of phosphoryl extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2). Hypoxia could up-regulate the p-ERK1/2 expression (P < 0.01). Tau could reverse the up-regulation of the hypoxia-induced p-ERK1/2 expression(P < 0.01). Both PD98059 and Tau could inhibit the up-regulated expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2. According to the comparison between the single addition of Tau and PD98059 under conditions of hypoxia, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group showed more significant down-regulation in the expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2.

CONCLUSIONTau could inhibit the hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation, and may regulate it through ERK1/2 pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Taurine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effectiveness of Sanmiao Powder (SP) combined fibrinogenase for injection in treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis (ADVT) of lower limbs.

METHODSEighty patients with ADVT were randomly assigned to two groups according to the disease course (within 7 days or 7-28 days), 40 in each group. Every time phase was also divided into two groups, i. e., one group treated with fibrinogenase for injection alone (Group A and C) and another group treated with fibrinogenase for injection + SP administration (Group B and D) , 20 in each group. The clinical effectiveness was observed after 2-week treatment.

RESULTSThe fibrinogenase for injection + SP administration showed better effects in alleviating the swelling of limbs, relieving pain, and lowering fibrinogen. Better effects were obtained in the group with the disease course less than 7 days.

CONCLUSIONBetter effect on ADVT was obtained by integrative medicine.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Metalloendopeptidases ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Venous Thrombosis ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the role of human estrogen receptor-related receptor(ERR) ?,a submember of orphan receptors,in the tumorigenesis of endometrial cancer.Methods Plasmid of pSG-ERR? was transfected into endometrial cancer cell lines HEC-1A,HEC-1B,and Ishikawa.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of ERR? in endometrial cancer cell.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cellular growth.Results Expressions of the ERR? were significantly increased in the endometrial cancer cells transfected with pSG-ERR? plasmid; expression of the ERR? mRNA in HEC-1A cell was 9644.4 copies/ng,HEC-1B:9835.3 copies/ng,and Ishikawa:8008.6 copies/ng(P

OBJECTIVETo extract tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) from MKN-45 gastric cancer which is similar to "muddy phlegm" in Chinese medicine and observe influences of MKN-45 tumor interstitial fluid (MKN-45 TIF) intervention on metastasis of gastric cancer and on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain containing receptor (KDR), epithelial-cadherin (E-cad), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and telomerase genes and proteins in primary tumor tissue.

METHODSAn MKN-45 tumor-bearing model was established in 50 nude mice. The modeled animals were equally randomized to 5 groups: the simple tumor-bearing group (model group), the normal saline (NS) via tail vein injection (i.v.) group (NS i.v. group), MKN-45 TIF i.v. group (TIF i.v. group), NS intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group (NS i.p. group), and MKN-45 TIF i.p. group (TIF i.p. group). The TIF and NS intervention groups received injection (i.p. or i.v.) of MKN-45 TIF or NS twice a week, 0.2 mL at a time. After 8 weeks, the primary tumors were removed, weighed and HE stained to observe tumor metastasis. The primary tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR to detect expressions of VEGF, KDR, E-cad, COX-2, ICAM-1, and telomerase genes and proteins in different groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in tumor weight between TIF intervention groups and the model and NS intervention groups. Tumor metastasis was observed in all 5 groups, but the tumor metastasis rate in TIF intervention groups was significantly higher than those in the model and NS intervention groups. The gene and protein expressions of gastric cancer-related factors VEGF, KDR, COX-2, ICAM-1 and telomerase were unregulated while the gene and protein expressions of E-cad were downregulated in TIF intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONSTIF promotes tumor growth, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. These findings provide preliminary experimental clues for verifying the hypothesis of "tumor-phlegm microenvironment".

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Fluid ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

This study is to screen 23 blank O/W type microemulsion (ME) samples, that is 15 samples from our laboratory, and 8 samples from literature; compare the conductivity-water content curve (CWCC) method and visual method in determining the critical water content during O/W type MEs' formation, to analyze the deficiency and the feasibility of visual method and to exploxe scientific meanings of CWCC method in judging the critical water content of O/W type MEs during formation. The results show that there is a significant difference between the theoretical feasible CWCC method and visual method in determining the critical water content (P<0.001), and the results judged by conductivity is higher than that by eye-based water content. Therefore, this article firmly confirmed the shortcomings of visual method and suggested that the eye-base "critical water content" may falls into continuous ME stage during O/W MEs' formation. Further more, the CWCC method has theoretical feasibility and scientific meanings in determining the critical water content of O/W type MEs during formation.
Electric Conductivity ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of 64-multidetector-row CT (64MDCT) perfusion imaging with microvessel density(MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in colorectal carcinoma.

METHODS64MDCT perfusion imaging was performed in 33 patients with pathologically verified colorectal carcinoma. Time-density curves (TDC) were created from the region of interest (ROI) drawn over the tumor, target artery and vein by 64MDCT with perfusion functional software. The individual perfusion maps generated were for blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability-surface area product (PS). MVD and VEGF expression of surgical specimens were examined by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD34, anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody. MVD and VEGF were compared among the different types of TDC in colorectal carcinoma. The correlation of CT perfusion parameters with MVD and VEGF was also examined.

RESULTSTDC of colorectal carcinoma was divided into five types according to their shapes. MVD in the colorectal carcinoma was 22.61+/-9.01. VEGF staining was found in 25 of 29 tumors (86.2%). The score of VEGF expression was 4.15+/-1.09. No significant differences of MVD and VEGF expression among TDC types were found (F=2.59, 1.11, P>0.05). There were also no correlations of MVD and VEGF expression with any dynamic CT parameters (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION64MDCT perfusion imaging, MVD and VEGF may reflect angiogenic activity, but no significant correlations are found among them.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and influence of vagus nerve preservation in radical operation for proximal gastric cancer.

METHODSThirty-two patients with early or T2 cardia cancer from May 2007 to May 2009 were enrolled and randomized into two groups, i.e. vagus nerve preservation group(n=16) and control group(n=16). Two groups were compared with regard to operative time, anastomotic fistula, digestive discomforts, body weight, survival rate, findings on gastroscope and abdominal ultrasonography.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time (2.8 vs. 2.5 h), postoperative complications rate (25.0% vs. 31.3%). No recurrence or mortality was observed after one-year follow-up. However, patients who underwent vagus nerve preservation had less postprandial discomforts(3 vs. 12 cases), bile reflux(3 vs. 10 cases), atrophic gastritis(1 vs. 9 cases), gallstones(1 vs. 8 cases), body mass index, and diarrhea(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor patients with early gastric cancer, preservation of the vagus nerve during radical gastrectomy results in less complications and does not compromise patient survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Vagus Nerve ; surgery

Objective To observe the effects of penetrance,different time of onset and mutation sites on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study.A total of 88 patients with LHON and 1492 relatives of the maternal relatives (gene carriers) who received treatment in People's Liberation Army General Hospital from 2015 to 2017 were included in the study.Among the 1492 family members,there were 694 males and 798 females.Peripheral venous blood was extracted from all subjects for mitochondrial DNA testing,and penetrance was calculated.A total of 117 patients underwent BCVA and SD-OCT examinations,including 82 patients and 35 gene carriers.The BCVA examination was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart,which was converted into logMAR visual acuity.The thickness of RNFL,ganglion cell complex (GCC) and inner limiting membrane (ILM)-RPE were measured with OCT instrument.The mean follow-up was 50.02± 86.27 months.The disease course was divided into 6 stages including ≤3 months,4-6 months,7-12 months and ＞ 12 months.The thickness of RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE in patients with different time of onset and mutation sites were comparatively analyzed by covariance analysis.Categorical variables were expressed as a percentage,and the x2 test was used for comparison among multiple groups.Results Among the 1492 family members,285 were diagnosed with LHON and highly suspected clinical manifestations (19.10％),including 190 males (21.98％) and 95 females (11.90％).The total penetrance rates of 11778,14484 and rare mutation sites were 19.84％ (228/1149),20.50％ (33/161),and 13.19％ (24/182) respectively;male penetrance rates were 28.87％ (153/530),27.28％ (20/72),and 18.48％ (17/92) and female penetrance rates were 12.12％ (75/619),14.61％ (13/89) and 7.78％ (7/90).There was no significant difference in total (x2=4.732),male (x2=4.263) and female (x2=4.263) penetrance between different mutation sites (P=0.094,0.110,0.349).Compared with non-pathogenic carriers,the thickness of the RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE were all different in the four stages (≤3months,4-6 months,7-12 months and ＞12 months).The thickness ofRNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE decreased with the time of onset (P=0.000).There were significant differences in the thickness of each of the GCC and ILM-RPE layers in the macular area of LHON patients with different mutation sites (P＜ 0.05).Among them,the site 11778 and 3460 had the most severe damage in all quadrants of macular GCC and ILM-RPE layer,followed by 14484 site,and the rare site had the least damage in all quadrants.Conclusions The penetrance of LHON patients is 19.10％.With the extension of the onset time (within 1 year),the RNFL layer of the optic disc and all quadrants of the macular GCC and ILM-RPE layer gradually thinned.Compared with 11778 and rare site,14484 site,and the rare site had the lighter damage on the thickness of RNFL,GCC and ILM-RPE.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive achilles tendon lengthening and system rehabilitation for the treatment of contracture of achilles tendon.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2010, 27 patients (31 feet) with contracture of achilles tendon were treated with minimally invasive achilles tendon lengthening and system rehabilitation. There were 11 males and 16 females with an average age of 35.5 years (ranged 3 to 65 years). Right foot was in 13 cases, left foot was in 10 cases, both feet were in 4 cases. Course of disease was from 1 to 5 years with an average of 2.3 years. The cause of contracture included postoperative complication of tibia fractures treated with intramedullary nailing in 7 feet, sequelae of lower leg compartment syndrome in 11 feet, congenital talipes equinovarus in 13 feet (both feet in 4). Before operation, all the patients walked with limping, plantar flexion anomaly was from 15 degrees to 50 degrees with an average of 35.5 degrees. The strength of quadriceps muscle of thigh was grade V in 27 feet, grade IV in 4 feet, the strength of musculus triceps surae was grade V in 24 feet, grade IV in 7 feet.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed-up for 6-24 months with an average of 11.3 months. According to standard of Arner-Lindholm to evaluate function of ankle joint, 29 feet obtained excellent results and 2 feet good. No infection, re-rupture or re-contracture was found.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive achilles tendon lengthening and system rehabilitation in treating contracture of achilles tendon has advantage such as simple operation, less complication, lower recurrence rate, which is favourable for thoroughly rehabilitation of patients. But, the case in which the strength of quadriceps muscle of thigh or musculus triceps surae still less than grade III after preoperative rehabilitation care should not choose the method.

Achilles Tendon ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Lengthening ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Contracture ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the relationship between Modic change and disc height together with lumbar hyperosteogeny and study the role of Modic change in lumbar degeneration.

METHODSThe imaging data of 150 elderly patients with chronic low back pain were analysed retrospectively. All patients underwent MRI and lumbar lateral X-ray examination. The lumbar disc from L1-L2 to L5-S1 were selected for this study, including 750 discs, vertebral and endplate close to disc in 150 patients. The incidence rate of lumbar endplate Modic change, disc height and the degree of vertebral bone hyperplasia were recorded. The ratio of disc height/lumbar intervertebral disc height < 50% was defined as disc collapse. The patients were divided into 4 groups in the basis of imaging changes. Group A1:disc collapse without severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group A2: disc collapse with severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group B1: Neither disc collapse nor severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group B2: severe lumbar hyperosteogeny without disc collapse. The incidence rates of Modic change were compared between the 4 groups by χ(2) test. Finally, the influence of disc height and vertebral bone hyperplasia on the incidence rate of Modic change was analysed.

RESULTSFour groups of patients observed a total of 750 discs. The number of intervertebral discs in the group A1 was 208, the incidence rate was 54.3%. The number of intervertebral discs in the group A2 was 135, the incidence rate of group A2 was 34.8%. The number of intervertebral discs in the B1 group was 225, the incidence rate of group B1 was 16.9%. The number of intervertebral discs in the B2 group was 182, the incidence rate of group B2 was 29.7%. There was significant difference of lumbar endplate Modic change incidence rate among the 4 groups(χ(2) = 69.565, P < 0.05). The results of post hoc test showed that the incidence rate of Modic change in group A1 was higher than group A2, B1 and B2 (χ(2) = 12.524, 66.701 and 24.102, P < 0.00714). There was significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group A2 and B1(χ(2) = 15.032, P < 0.00714), but there was no significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group A2 and B2 (χ(2) = 0.945, P > 0.00714) . There was significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group B2 and group B1 (χ(2) = 9.395, P < 0.00714).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence rate of Modic change with disc collapse but without severe lumbar hyperosteogeny is high in elderly patients with chronic low back pain. There is no significant difference of Modic change incidence between patients with both disc collapse and severe lumbar hyperosteogeny and patients with severe lumbar hyperosteogeny but without disc collapse.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; pathology ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; pathology ; Low Back Pain ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies