OBJECTIVETo study the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on U937 cell growth and its mechanism.

METHODSCell cycle was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), expressions of cell cycle associated protein and the p27 related protein were detected by Western blot. The binding of P27 and Skp2 was detected by immunoprecipitation.

RESULTSFCM displayed that ATRA could inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells. At 72 h on 1 micromol/L ATRA treatment, 72% of the cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase. Western blot displayed that ATRA could decrease the expression of cyclin A, up-regulate the expression of p21 and p27, and down-regulate the expression of p27 related proteins Skp2. p27 could bind with Skp2 in U937 cells as detected by immunoprecipitation.

CONCLUSIONATRA may arrest the proliferation of U937 cells through the reduction of Skp2 expression, and finally the induction of the accumulation of p27.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Humans ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

Objective: To observe the activation of microglia and the changing rule of inflammatory cytokine as IL-6, IL-10 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in experimental rabbits after spinal cord ischemia reperfusion (SCIR) injury in order to provide theoretical basis for post-conditioning time. Methods: Rabbit SCIR injury model was established by thoracic aorta balloon occlusion. 54 New Zealand male adult white rabbits were divided into 9 groups: Sham group (the animals received balloon implantation without occlusion), SCIR-0h group (reperfusion was conducted at 0 hour of spinal cord ischemia), SCIR-1h, -2h, -3h, -8h, -24h,-48h and -72h groups. n=6 in each group. The number of normal and apoptosis neurons, the levels of Iba-1, IL-6, IL-10 and NF-κB in spinal tissue were examined and compared among different groups respectively. Results: The number of normal neuron was decreasing with the extended reperfusion time, TUNEL-positive neuron began to increasing in SCIR-8h group and the peak was reached in SCIR-24h group. The expression of Iba-1 began to elevating in SCIR-2h group and the peak was obtained in SCIR-8h group; NF-κB began to rising in SCIR-3h group and the peak was observed in SCIR-8h group; both IL-6 and IL-10 arrived the peak in SCIR-24h group. The expressions of NF-κB, IL-6 and IL-10 were positively related to Iba-1 level. Conclusion: Microglia activation had dynamic changes in experimental SCIR rabbits and the expression levels of NF-κB, IL-6 and IL-10 were positively to microglia activation; post-conditioning time at front and back to microglia activation may reduce neuron injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Radiography ; Remission, Spontaneous

Aged ; Echinocandins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic ; pathology ; Lipopeptides ; Male ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Uremia ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo present a batch of data of transected pancreatic neck injuries and to sum up the experience in surgical interventions for the injuries.

METHODSWe analysed 13 patients with a transected injury to the pancreatic neck from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2000. External drainage was performed in all patients. Pancreatoduodenectomy was conducted in 2 patients with a transected injury to the pancreatic neck associated with duodenal ruptures, and TPN was administered immediately after operation. Proximal closure of the transected margin and distal pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in 4 patients. Proximal closure of the transected margin and distal pancreaticojejunostomy plus splenectomy was performed in 7 patients associated with contusion of pancreatic body or tail plus spleen rupture.

RESULTS12 patients healed and one patient died of anesthetic accident during the course of restoration of the dislocation of his right hip joint. Complications occurred in 7 patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe operation should be performed according to the degree of the injuries and associated duodenal injuries. Routine drainage and nutrient support should be recommended.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Support ; Pancreas ; injuries ; surgery

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of multikinase inhibitor sorafenib on the proliferation and apoptosis of U937 cells and its possible mechanism. U937 cells were treated with different concentrations of sorafenib for 48 hours. Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8; cell apoptosis and cell ratio in cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining and PI staining respectively; expressions of GSK-3β, β-catenin and cyclin-D1 were assayed by Western blot. The results showed that the proliferation of U937 cells was inhibited by sorafenib in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Sorafenib induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle G(1)/G(0) arrest. Compared with results of Western blot before treatment, expression of inactivated GSK-3β, β-catenin and Cyclin-D1 down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with sorafenib, this same changes were observed after up-regulation of inactivated GSK-3β by LiCl (p < 0.05). It is concluded that sorafenib inhibits the proliferation of U937 cells and induces cell apoptosis through reducing negative regulation of WNT signal pathway on inactivated GSK-3β and down-regulating β-catenin and cyclin-D1 level, which result in U937 cell cycle G(1)/G(0) arrest.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzenesulfonates ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Niacinamide ; analogs & derivatives ; Phenylurea Compounds ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effects of astilbin on the expressions of TNF alpha and IL-10 during liver warm ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSC57BL/ 6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): sham-operated group (Sham), model control group(I/R), low dosage of astilbin treatment group (10 mg/kg) and high dosage of astilbin (40 mg/kg) treatment group. The treatment group mice were intraperitoneally injected with 10 or 40 mg/kg astilbin 24 hours and one hour before Ischemia, the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion model were thus established. After jn90 of min ischemia and 6 h reperfusion of the partial hepatic lobe, the expressions of TNF alpha and IL-10 in liver tissues collected from the experimental groups were detected by Western blot and semiquantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of TNF alpha protein in liver tissues gradually decreased in treatment groups (low and high dosages of astilbin treatment groups) as compared to the I/R model control group. Similar results were observed in the mRNA expressions of these genes as determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR (P less than 0.05 for low dosage group; P less than 0.01 for high dosage group). Compared with the I/R model control group, the expression of IL-10 was increased in both treatment groups (low dosage group P less than 0.05; large dosage group P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with astilbin decreases TNF alpha expression but induces IL-10 expression in liver during warm ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Flavonols ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Warm Ischemia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of four hepatocellular cancer antigen (HCA) gene mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThe expression of HCA90, HCA519, HCA520, HCA587 mRNA was detected using RT-PCR in HCC tissues and the corresponding adjacent non-HCC tissues from 46 HCC patients, cirrhosis tissues from 10 samples and normal liver tissues from 10 samples. The relationship between positive expression rate of HCA gene and clinical and lab data was evaluated.

RESULTSOf 46 HCC tissues, HCA90, HCA519, HCA520 and HCA587 mRNA were detectable in 65.2%, 76.1%, 45.7% and 32.6%, respectively. At least one HCA gene mRNA was positive in 82.6% of HCC tissues. Only weak expression of HCA519 could be detectable in 6.5% of the corresponding adjacent non-HCC tissues. None of 10 samples of cirrhosis and normal liver tissues expressed any HCA gene mRNA. No correlation was found between the expression of HCA and clinical date such as age, sex, tumor size, tumor differentiation, serum alpha-fetoprotein level and hepatitis B virus infection or hepatitis C virus infection (P > 0.05). However, in some patients with normal serum alpha-fetoprotein (< 25 ng/L), specific expression of HCA genes was observed.

CONCLUSIONHCA gene mRNA is expressed with a high percentage and specificity in hepatocellular carcinomas and their products are new potential promising targets for immunotherapy of HCC.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo measure lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene level in foods commonly consumed in Beijing, and compare the content difference between raw and cooked food.

METHODSForty-six commonly consumed foods of 8 classes were collected in Haidian district of Beijing from September to October in 2009. A high performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the content of lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene in both raw and cooked samples.

RESULTSLutein was abundant in cucurbitaceous and solanaceous, allium and nuts, especially in Chinese chive (18 226.9 µg/100 g) and pumpkin (13 265.2 µg/100 g). Major sources of zeaxanthin included round pumpkin, green garlic shoot, corn and eggs, whose level of zeaxanthin were 444.6, 283.5, 279.7, 118.6 - 377.9 µg/100 g, respectively. Zeaxanthin level of those cooked foods changed to 483.9, 239.3, 279.1, 149.5 - 594.7 µg/100 g, respectively. The zeaxanthin level of cooked Chinese chive reached 1081.2 µg/100 g, while we did not detect any zeaxanthin in raw Chinese chive. β-carotene was present in a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. Carrot (17 234.3 µg/100 g) was a good source of β-carotene, while its level in cooked carrot was 17 013.5 µg/100 g.

CONCLUSIONConsuming the proper kinds of foods and changing the method of food processing were beneficial to increase the intake of lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene.

China ; Cooking ; Food ; Food Analysis ; Lutein ; analysis ; Xanthophylls ; analysis ; Zeaxanthins ; beta Carotene ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of epidural anesthesia on the long-term prognosis of patients after selective colorectal cancer resection surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study and approved by local institution review board. Patients who underwent selective colorectal cancer resection surgery from August 2011 to December 2012 in Peking University First Hospital were enrolled. The patients were divided into general anesthesia (GA) group and combined epidural-general anesthesia (EGA) group according to anesthesia type. Primary outcome was patient's long-term survival status. Secondary outcome included the overall incidence of in-hospital complications and length of postoperative in-hospital stay. Propensity score was used to match cases between the two groups based on the probability of receiving EGA. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared by Log-rank test between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between epidural anesthesia and other variables with long-term survival status. RESULTS: A total of 264 patients were entered into final analysis, including 166 cases in GA group and 98 cases in EGA group. Mean age of the patients was (63.3±12.1) years and mean survival time was 47.2 (95%CI 45.7-48.7) months. Before the propensity score match, the mortality in EGA group was 16.9% (28/166) and 9.2% (9/98) in GA group. But comparison between the two groups had no statistical significance (P=0.091). After the propensity score match, 87 paired cases were matched and analyzed. The risk of long-term mortality in EGA group was lower than that of GA group by Kaplan-Meier analysis (5.7% vs.16.1%, HR=0.344, 95%CI 0.124-0.955, P=0.041). Mean survival time of EGA group was longer than that of GA group (50.3 months vs. 42.9 months, P=0.032). Multivariate Cox regression ana-lysis showed that EGA, in comparison with GA, was related with lower risk of long-term mortality (HR=0.326, 95%CI 0.117-0.909, P=0.032). Age (HR=1.042, 95%CI 1.001-1.085, P=0.046) and preoperative lymph node metastasis (HR=2.924, 95%CI 1.162-7.356, P=0.023) were also related with increased risk of long-term mortality. CONCLUSION Present study found that perioperative use of epidural anesthesia and analgesia was associated with improvement of the patient's long-term survival. Well-designed studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies