This study was aimed to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of diosgenin in mice. A total of 80 mice were divided into 4 groups, which were 0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 mg·kg-1 by the random number table. Intragastric administration was given once a day for 90 days in the assessment of subchronic toxicity of diosgenin among mice. The observed indexes contained body weight, fur color, diet, feces, and etc. The detected indexes contained blood routine analysis, blood biochemistry and pathological examination. The results showed that compared with the control group, the body weights of mice in the male medication group were slight reduced. There were no significant hematologic and pathologic abnormalities. It was concluded that the subchronic toxicity of diosgenin with no observed adverse effect dose level was more than 400 mg·kg-1. The oral administration was relatively safe.

Objective To probe the CT findings of menisci in degenerative osteoarthrosis of knees joint.Methods CT features of meniscus damage in 151 cases with degenerative osteoarthrosis of knees joint collected randomly from 2003~2005 were retrospectively analysed.Results CT features included:abnormal outline of meniscus or its edge to be coarse in 16 cases(10.5%),local hypodense in the meniscus in 107 cases(70.8%),gap sign in 9 cases(5.9%) and vacuum sign in 19 cases(12.5%).Conclusion CT scan is of benefit for evaluating the meniscus damage in degenerative osteoarthrosis of knees joint,which can be used to plan the mode of treatment.

0.05). (4) The result of detoxincation in- vivo was not as good as that of antiserum.

AIM: To investigate the effect of 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5, 8a-diphenyl-1,2, 3, 7, 8, 8a-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a] pyridine (TIP-6) on cell proliferation in human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and human normal hepatocyte cell line L02. METHODS: Typan blue assay was used to check the effect of TIP-6 on cell proliferation. The changes of cell morphology were observed by the phase contrast microscope. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to check cell cycle. Autophagy and autophagic cell death were detected after acridine orange (AO) staining under fluorescent microscopy. Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/7-AAD, DAPI staining and DNA ladder. NF-κB expression was detected with cellular immunochemistry. RESULTS: Cell proliferation inhibiting effect was appeared when treated with TIP6 from 60 μmol/L to 200 μmol/L, which was correlated with treated concentrations and time. The proliferation rates were just 12.10% and 18.75% (vs control) under 200 μmol/L 72 h in HepG2 and L02 respectively. Vacuolization were found more and more frequently with the increasing of TIP-6 concentrations and treated time prolonged. FCM results indicated that cells were blocked in G2/M phase, and more sensitive were found in HepG2 than L02. AO staining results indicated that the phenomenon of autophagy and autophagic cell death were occurred and appeared more potent with more TIP-6 and longer time treated. No apoptosis markers were found with Annexin V/7-AAD and DAPI staining, and no DNA ladders were found either, these indicated that TIP6 didnt induce apoptosis in these cells. NF-κB was found increased after treated with TIP-6, and the autophagic vacuole became more and more with the increasing of NF-κB protein, but the proliferation rates decreased at the same time. CONCLUSION: TIP-6 inhibited cell proliferation and induced autophagy and autophagic cell death in HepG2 and L02 cells. NF-κB activation may be involved in these effects.

Aim To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract(EGB)on tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?)in TNBS-induced colitis in rats and its mechanisms.Methods Colitis in rats was induced by colonic administration with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS).Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups,10 in each:normal group,model group,5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA group)and Ginkgo biloba extract group(EGB group).The levels of nitric oxide(NO),and glutathion peroxide(GSH-Px)were measured by biochemical methods.The expressions of TNF-? and nuclear factor kappaBp65(NF-?Bp65)in the colon tissues of colitis rats were detected by means of immunohistochemistry.The expressions of induce nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in the colon tissues of colitis rats were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The effects of EGB on colonic inflammation and macroscopic and histological damage were evaluated as well.Results Compared with the model group,treatment with EGB for 4 weeks significantly reduced colon macroscopic and histological damage,elevated the activities of GSH-Px and reduced the contents of NO,inhibited the protein expressions of TNF-? andNF-?Bp65,and decreased the mRNA levels of iNOS in the colon tissues of experimental colitis.Conclusions The probable mechanisms of EGB was that it ameliorated inflammatory injury in TNBS-induced colitis in rats by its reduction of TNF-?,NF-?Bp65 and iNOS levels.Then EGB could curb the inflammatory cascade effects of inflammatory mediators to protect ulcerative colitis.

Objective To report the experience on the ureteroscopic treatment of ureteral fibro-epithlial polyp by Holmium:YAG laser resection.Methods Of five cases,the polyp was located in the upper 1 third of the ureter in 2 cases,and in middle 1 third or ureter in 2 cases,in lower 1 third of ureter in 1 case.The length of the polyps ranged from 3 to 16 cm.Three patients presented with flank pain,4 with hematuria and 1 with hydronephrosis.Five patients underwent rigid ureteroscopic treat-ment.TUR was performed in the 2 polyp cases with prolapsing from the ureteral orifice.A Holmium:YAG laser was used to resect ureteral polyps.At the end of the procedure,a 7 F double-J ureteral stent was placed and indwelling for 6- 8 weeks.Results All operations were successfully done.The pathologic diagnosis were fibroepithelial polyp.Histologically,the polyps were composed of a central fibrovascular core surrounded by hyperplastic benign urothelium.The stroma of polyp consis-ted of fibrous connective tissue with minimal cellular infiltration,and occasional epithelial cell nests were seen.The average length of hospital stay was 3 d (range 2 to 5).The mean follow-up was 24 months (range 3 to 51),and all patients remained no recurrence.One patient developed a ureteral stricture 3 months after the treatment,and relieved by endoscopic incision by Holmium:YAG laser.Conclusion Endoscopic management of ureteral fibroepithelial polyps could be a treatment modality with minimal morbidity and good treatment results.

STIM1 is recognized as an ER Ca2+ sensor of calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel that is constructed by membrane protein Orai1, However, this regulatory system may also be regulated by other proteins. Reticulocalbin 2 (RCN2) was purified and identified from STIM1-Orai1 complex. Confocal microscopy revealed that RCN2 co-localized with STIM1 in ER before and after Ca2+ store depletion. Single cell [Ca2+]I measurements of RCN2 EF hands mutant showed slight influence on SOC electrophysiological characters. Furthermore, a novel collar form aggregation of RCN2 surrounding STIM1 clusters suggested that RCN2 potentially plays a role of structure maintenance in STIM1 clustering.

Objective:To elucidate the possible role of galanin in the development of experimental depression in rats. Methods:Openfield was performed to test the behavior of rats. The changes of the galanin level in different brain areas were determined by RIA. The effect of fluoxetine hydrochloride on galanin level were observed by intraperitoneal injection. Results:Compared to control group, the crossing times and rearing times decreased significantly in depressed rats, galanin level decreased remarkably in plasma, hypothalamus, hippocampus, forebrain, parietal lobe and temporal cortex of depressed rats. Intraperitoneal injection of fluoxetine hydrochloride obviously improved the depressed behavior in rats, increased the galanin level in the hippocampus and forebrain of depressed rats. Conclusion:Hippocampus and forebrain may be involved in the development of experimental depression and in the antidepressive effects of fluoxetine hydrochloride.

Objective To study the early response and acute/subacute adverse effects after particle radiation therapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck.Methods Between May 2015 and March 2016,a total of 8 patients with ACC of the head and neck were treated using proton and/or carbon-ion radiation therapy.Three patients had early stage and 5 had locally advanced disease.Five patients had an R2 and three achieved an R1 resection.Results Seven patients received intensitymodulated proton therapy (IMPT) followed by intensity-modulated carbon-ion therapy (IMCT) boost.One patient received IMPT only.Among the five patients who had an R2 resection,2/3 patients had partial response (PR)/stable disease (SD) at the end of radiation,0/3 achieved PR/complete response (CR) at 1-month follow-up,and 1/2 achieved PR/CR at 3-months' follow-up after the completion of radiation,respectively.Two patients experienced Grade Ⅲ mucositis during radiation therapy.No patient experienced moderate or severe skin reactions.At the time of this analysis,all patients are alive and no patient had disease progression or recurrence.Conclusions The short-term outcomes indicated that particle therapy is safe and potentially efficacious in the management of head and neck ACC.However,longer follow up is needed to assess late toxicities and long-term efficacy.

Objective To clarify the association between rs1050450 polymorphism in Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) and the risk of cardi-ovascular diseases (CVD) by performing a meta-analysis of published studies. There is growing evidence from different study types for an association of the GPx-1 polymorphism and cardiovascular outcomes, but observational studies have so far shown inconsistent results. Me-thods Relevant publications were searched through PubMed, Embase database databases and the Cochrane Library. We used odds ratios (ORs) with 95%confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of association under the best genetic model. Both Q statistic and the I2 were used to check heterogeneity. Meta-regression analysis was performed to explore heterogeneity source. Sensitivity analysis, cumulative me-ta-analysis analysis and publication bias were used to test the reliability of the results. Results Data were available from two cohort studies and 8 case-control studies involving 1,430 cases and 3,767 controls. The pooled ORs for overall CVD risk was 1.36 with 95%CI:1.08-1.70 under a co-dominant model, and that for East Asian subgroup was 1.84 (95%CI:1.39-2.43). Substantial heterogeneity for ORs were de-tected among all the included studies, mainly caused by ethnic differences between East Asian and non-East Asian populations. Although Egger’s regression test suggested no statistical significant publication bias, Begg’s funnel plot exhibited obvious asymmetry. The statistical significance disappeared after adjusting for potential publication bias in the overall studies. However, no substantial publication bias was found in the East Asian subgroup. Conclusions GPx-1 gene Pro198Leu and Pro197Leu polymorphisms considerably increased the risk of CVD in the East Asian population. Large-scale investigations are needed to confirm the results in different ethnicities.