Objective To evaluate the effects of celecoxib on tumor growth,COX-2 and survivin expressions and angiogenesis in nude mice. Methods Xenograft animal model was established by injecting human colon cancer HT-29 cells into the BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously. Fifty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups 16 d after injection:control group,celecoxib group(receiving 25,50,75,100 mg?kg-1?d-1 for 35 d). Tumor volumes were measured every week. The expression level of COX-2,survivin and the microvessel density (MVD) of the xenograft tumor tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry,and mRNA level of VEGF by RT-PCR. Results Celecoxib at dose of 25,50,75 and 100 mg?kg-1?d-1 inhibited the tumor volume by 34.94%,39.20%,53.50%,59.20% respectively,and showed more effective in suppressing the tumor growth than the control group(P

A bacterial strain DN25, effective on cyanide-degradation, was isolated from contaminated soil and identified as Alcaligenes sp. on the basis of phenotype analysis and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It showed great tolerance to the cyanide, which can grow in the medium containing 500mg CN -/L. The suitable condition for the cell growth and boitransformation was pH8.0 and 30oC and the transformation rate for 500mg CN - /L could achieve 99% in 10 h. It has also been found that the screened strain had the ability of K 4Fe(CN) 6 transformation with 96% of transformation rate at 12 h for the concentration of 500 mg CN /L.

Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Mental Disorders ; complications ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the inflammatory cascade mechanism through Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) pathway after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and to study molecular mechanisms of Guanmaitong (GMT) Tablet for protecting brain damage.

METHODSWe used bolt-line method to block/release the middle cerebral artery, causing cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model. GMT Tablet was given by gastrogavage. Rats were then divided into the high dose GMT group (1200 mg/kg), the middle dose GMT group (600 mg/kg), the low dose GMT group (300 mg/kg), the positive control group (Tanakan, 20 mg/kg). Their right brain tissues were fixed in 10% neutral formalin. TLR2 expressions were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The total protein was extracted from right brain tissues by ultrasonica- tion. Expression levels of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK), p38-mitogen activated protein kinases (p-ERK), phospho-p38-mitogen activated protein kinases [p-p38-MAPKs(p-p38)] were assessed by Western blot. Abdominal aortic blood was withdrawn. IL-6 and IL-1β levels were detected by ELISA in brain tissues and serum.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-oepration group, expression levels of TLR2, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38 protein were up-regulated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and contents of IL-6 and IL-1β in brain tissues and serum were increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Expression levels of TLR2, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38 were down-regulated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and contents of IL-6 and IL-1β were reduced in brain tissues and serum in middle and high dose GMT groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTLR2 pathway was involved in cerebral I/R injury. GMT protected neurons by down-regulating protein expressions of TLR2, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38 and contents of IL-1β and IL-6.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; Tablets ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the roles of Huoxueruanjian compound on liver fibrogenesis and its molecular mechanism, this paper has investigated the Influence of blood serum with such traditional Chinese medicine compound on the expression of Smad3, Smad7 and procollagen alpha2(I) gene in hepatic stellate cell (HSC).

METHODSHSC-T6 was deal with different Concentration of blood serum medicine with Heluoshugan which was made by routine way. Then expression change of Smad3, Smad7 and procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA among each groups were observed by RT-PCR. Furthermore, the expression change of Smad3 protein were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSExpression of Smad3 and procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA as well as Smad3 protein had been downregulated after treating with blood serum medicine of Heluoshugan (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). The expression of procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA changed at the same tendency as those of Smad3. The role of blood serum medicine was significant difference between different concentration, P<0.05. And the expression of procollagen alpha2(I) mRNA changed in concentration-dependent manner. Blood serum medicine has no effects on the Smad7 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-fibrosis roles of HuoXueruanjian Compound maybe influence the function of TGF-beta and Smad by nonspecific action, thereby inhibit the transcription of procollegan alpha2(I) mRNA and decrease the production of ECM. As regards Smad3, it may be facilitating the development of liver fibrosis when its expression increases. Otherwise, it manifest with anti-fibrosis role.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Smad3 Protein ; Smad7 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of auricular acupoint (AA) in the treatment of analgesia during perioperative period in total hip arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to August 2010, 60 patients with late osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated by total hip arthroplasty and randomly divided into auricular acupuncture (AA) group and control group, 30 patients in each group. There were 11 males and 19 females in the AA group,with an average age of (60.93 +/- 5.90) years; the patients were treated with auricular acupuncture on the point of Shenmen, Subcortex, Kidney and hip joint for four times a week. There were 12 males and 18 females in control group, with an average age of (59.87 +/- 6.21) years; while the patients without auricular acupuncture. VAS score was used to evaluat the degree of pain; Harris score was used to evaluat the function of hip joint. All patients received patient controlled analgesia pump (PCA) for 48 hours after surgery (400 ml liquids were in PCA pump, including 800 mg tramadol and 0.8 mg fentanyl). The dosage of liquids and adverse reaction of PCA pump in different time were recorded.

RESULTSThe VAS score on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th day separately was (3.61 +/- 0.29), (3.59 +/- 0.30), (2.97 +/- 0.26), (2.29 +/- 0.45), and lower than control group, which separately was (4.19 +/- 0.28), (4.00 +/- 0.31), (3.15 +/- 0.29), (2.83 +/- 0.31). The dosage of PCA in AA group separately was (72.27 +/- 8.06), (60.40 +/- 8.16), (44.13 +/- 4.75), (40.40 +/- 3.69), and less than control group, which was (86.27 +/- 8.51), (73.87 +/- 8.32), (54.53 +/- 5.20), (44.67 +/- 6.31) on the time of 0-12, 12-24, 24-36 h and 36-48 h after surgery. During the using of PCA, nausea and vomiting occurred in 5 cases, less than control group (21 cases). Harris score in AA group (78.90 +/- 5.14) was higher than control group (73.37 +/- 5.99) 2 weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONAuricular acupuncture can reduce postoperative pain, reduce the usage of analgesic and complications, such as nausea and vomiting, improve the function of hip joint after operation.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Perioperative Period

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of Livin, an apoptosis inhibitor gene, in prostate cancer, and to investigate its clinical and pathological implications.

METHODSThe expressions of Livin were detected in 62 cases of neoplastic prostate tissues and 10 cases of normal prostate tissues by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (SP method).

RESULTSThe Livin gene was highly expressed in neoplastic prostate tissues, but not in normal ones. Positive expression of Livin proteins was observed in 37 of the 62 (59.7%) tumor samples and accounted for 28.6%, 60.0% and 83.3% in the high, middle and low differentiation prostatic carcinoma groups respectively, with significant difference between the high and low groups. Livin positivity was also significantly correlated with tumor stages, increasing with tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONLivin may play an essential role in prostate carcinogenesis and serve as a marker for the prognosis of prostate cancer.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Aged ; Disease Progression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of caffeine citrate on myelin basic protein (MBP) expression in the cerebral white matter of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and the related mechanism.

METHODSForty-eight seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: sham operation (n=16), HIBD (n=16) and HIBD+caffeine citrate (n=16). The rats in the HIBD and HIBD+caffeine citrate groups were subjected to left common carotid artery ligation, and then were exposed to 80 mL/L oxygen and 920 mL/L nitrogen for 2 hours to induce HIBD. The rats in the sham operation group were only subjected to a sham operation, without the left common carotid artery ligation or hypoxia exposure. Caffeine citrate (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally before hypoxia ischemia (HI) and immediately, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after HI. The other two groups were injected intraperitoneally with an equal volume of normal saline at the corresponding time points. On postnatal day 12, the expression of MBP in the left subcortical white matter was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of adenosine A1 receptor mRNA and A2a receptor mRNA in the left brain were detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of MBP in the left subcortical white matter in the HIBD group was lower than in the sham operation group (P<0.05). The MBP expression in the HIBD+caffeine citrate group was significantly higher than in the HIBD group, but was still lower than the sham operation group (P<0.05). Real-time PCR showed that the adenosine A1 receptor mRNA expression was significantly higher in the HIBD group than in the sham operation group, and it was significantly lower in the HIBD+caffeine citrate group than in the HIBD group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCaffeine citrate can improve brain white matter damage following HIBD in neonatal rats and the protection mechanism might be related with the down-regulation of adenosine A1 receptor expression.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; Citrates ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Myelin Basic Protein ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Adenosine A1 ; genetics ; Receptor, Adenosine A2A ; genetics ; White Matter ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of surface antigen and function of rituximab on dendritic cells derived from patients with Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) to further understand the effective mechanism of immunotherapy.

METHODSThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from remission patients with ITP before and after low-dose rituximab infusion, and the PMNCs were stimulated for 5 days by rhGM-CSF and rhlL-4 in 5% CO2 air at 37°C incubator. Then all of DCs were cultured with TNF-α for 48 hours. The morphology of DCs was monitored under inverted microscope daily, and the surface antigens of the DCs were analysed by flow cytometry, meanwhile the levels of IL-12p70 and TGF-β1 in supernatants were detected by ELISA, mix lymphocyte reaction was performed by MTT assay.

RESULTS(1) Rituximab-treated-DCs showed no obvious tree-like protruding compared with untreated-DCs. The former cells were small and most of nucleus were centric. (2) The expressions of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83 and CD86 on rituximab-treated-DCs \[56.37 ± 3.95)%, (36.41 ± 2.82)%, (30.45 ± 4.61)% and (41.98 ± 4.17)%, respectively\] were significantly lower than those untreated-DCs \[(73.71 ± 7.61)%, (55.14 ± 7.30)%, (80.91 ± 7.09)% and (59.03 ± 3.43)%, respectively\](all P < 0.05), the concentration of IL-12p70 was significantly lower, \[(66.87 ± 4.29)% vs (50.17 ± 14.52)%\], while that of TGF-β1 \[(9.70 ± 0.31)%\] higher than the untreated-DCs \[(2.70 ± 0.36)%\] (P < 0.05). (3) The abilities to activate T cells proliferation of rituximab-treated-DCs reduced compared with untreated-DCs.

CONCLUSIONThe surface antigen of ITP-DCs and the concentration of IL-12p70 reduced after the low-dose rituximab infusion. The abilities to activate T cells proliferation reduced while the concentration of TGF-β1 increased. Rituximab may achieve its therapeutic effect on ITP by downregulating the immunoreactivity of DCs.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Rituximab ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism