OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on angiogenesis in chicken embryos and its mechanism of action.

METHODSChorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model was established successfully in 86 chicken embryos. They were divided into 4 groups after fenestration: the three SSd treated groups (A, B and C) treated with high (20 microg/mL, n = 16), middle (10 microg/mL, n = 19) and low (5 microg/mL, n = 25) dose of SSd respectively, and the control group treated with 0.01 mol/L PBS (n = 26). The drug or reagent was administered by grafting 20 microL onto the surface of CAM. After incubation for 3 days, the vessel growth was recorded by digital photography; inflammatory cells were counted under light microscope with HE staining, and the positive rate of angiogenesis reaction was calculated by Leica image analyzer.

RESULTSOn the 6th day of the embryonic age, vessels in the chicken embryo CAM showed a radial growing in spok-wheel pattern around the gelatin sponges with lateral axis running through it. Whereas after 3 days of SSd treatment, the angiogenesis reduced significantly with vague microvessels around the sponge, and vascular truncation and absence revealed. Microscopic examinations showed that the number of microvessels and infiltrated inflammatory cells in the sponge and peripheral CAM mesenchyme in the SSd groups were less than those in the control group, especially on vessels of medium and small size (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), but was insignificant on great vessels (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed no correlation between the number of the great vessels in CAM and the infiltrated inflammatory degrees (r = 0.117, P > 0.05), but the increase of small vessels in CAM was positively correlated with that of inflammatory cells (r = 0.971, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSSd could inhibit the physiological angiogenesis of chicken embryoe, especially for the medium and small vessels, while there was no significant effect on great vessels (P > 0.05). Its mechanism of action may be related to its inhibition on leukocyte migration and activation.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of estrogen against metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells and explore the molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of estrogen on the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells was evaluated with wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Western blotting was used for investigating the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, AKT and p-AKT in the cells treated with estrogen.

RESULTSEstrogen treatment significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogen significantly down-regulated the protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and lowered the phosphorylation level of AKT.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-metastatic effect of estrogen involves inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MHCC97H cells probably by regulating AKT signal pathway.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking therapy for treatment of stroke.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty-six cases were randomly divided into a non-acupoint sticking group (control group, n=122) and an acupoint sticking group (n=124). The control group was treated with routine ward treatment of stroke (acupuncture combined with routine western medicine). The acupoint sticking group was treated with basis ward treatment of stroke (similar to the control group), and acupoint sticking therapy was applicated on Shenque (CV 8). The scores of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) and WHOQOL-100BREF were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic effects and the cysteine of patients were tested before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in scores comparison of SS-QOL and WHOQOL-100BREF before and after treatment in both groups (both P < 0.001); there was no significant difference after treatment between two groups (P > 0.05); there was a significant difference in thinking items of SS-QOL after treatment between two groups (P < 0.05), the acupoint sticking group was superior to that of control group; SS-QOL score of patients with abnormal cysteine of acupoint sticking group was superior to that of the control group after treatment, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint sticking therapy can improve the thinking ability of stroke patients, and improve the life quality of high cysteine stroke patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; psychology ; therapy ; Thinking