The apoptosis was observed under a fluoroscope when the tested tumor cells were treated with the supernatant derived from the liquid culture of an actinomyces strain AK 11, which had showed cell toxicity by means of MTT assay, and was further confirmed by the correspondent band of ”DNA ladder” in the agarose gel electrophoresis. In a bioassay employed nude mouse, the pure compound produced by the strain AK 11 showed tumor inhibition in rates of 52.01% and 33.64% corresponding to the dosages of 0.016 ?g?kg -1 and 0.008 ?g?kg -1 ip, respectively. According to the indexes IC 50 of human hepatocarcinoma SMMC7721 and stomach cancer MGC 803 cells, it was estimated that the inhibition effect of the pure compound was slightly stronger than that of Adriamycin. The results showed high antitumor effect of the tested compound from the strain AK 11. When the cells were treated with AK 11, it was found by flow cytometry analysis that cell division was ceased at S phase due to the DNA synthesis block .

Hydronephrosis after spinal cord injury (SCI) may result in renal insufficiency which ranks as the most common late cause of death in SCI patients. SCI may cause vesicourethral dysfunction of nerve regulation, which in turn brings about functional obstruction, high intravesical pressure, increase of the incidence and frequency of detrusor uninhibitory constractions, leading to hydronephrosis. The paramount principle of prevention and treatment of hydronephrosis is keeping low vesical pressure (storage pressure <40 cmH2O, voiding pressure <60 cmH2O). Oral anticholinergics combined with intermittent catheterization are the best choice for the slight hydronephrosis, urinary operations such as botulinum toxin injection into detrusor, transurethral sphincterotomy, ileocystoplasty may be needed for the moderate and severe hydronephrosis.

Objective To explore the liver pathology from live related liver transplatation(LRLT) of Wilson′s disease(WD) in children,and evaluatethe indication of LRLT.Methods The sample of this study,including the donater and patient,came from the LRLT. It was observed with HE,MASSON,Timm′s and Rubeanic staining.Results With HE and MASSON stainning,hepatocyte showed degeneration,fiber hyperplasic and false lobule formed;Timm′s and Rubeanic stainning showed typical black deposit of granules and conglomerations.Liver pathology revealed that liver cirrhosis appeared,and it was diffrentent from Child Pugh.Conclusions It is of great significance that the liver pathology is useful for the treatment of WD.If liver pathology supportes,the indication of LRLT can be measurably broadened.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Breynia fruticosa. Methods: The compounds were isolated by comprehensive column chromatography, and the structures were elucidated by spectral methods. Results: Thirteen compounds were isolated and elucidated, including four triterpenoids, friedelin (1), friedelinol (2), lupenone (3), and glochidiol (4); three steroids, including β-sitosterol (5), stigmastane-3β, 6β-diol (6), and β-sitosterylglucoside-6'-octadecanoate (7); two cerebrosides, including 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3R, 4E, 8Z)-2-[(2-hydroxyoctadecanoyl) amido]-4, 8-octadecadiene-1, 3-diol (8) and 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3S, 4R, 8Z)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxypentacosanoylamino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol (9); and four other compounds, including (-)-epicatchin (10), ε-caprolactone (11), aviculin (12), and vanillin (13). Conclusion: Compounds 3, 4, 6-9, and 11 are isolated from the plant of Breynia J. R. et G. Forst. nom. cons. for the first time, and compound 11 is isolated from the natural product for the first time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of HB-13,a compound derivant from berberine and its prodrug berberine,against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Methods Vero cells were cultured in vitro and infected with HSV.Then,various concentrations of HB-13, berberine,and aciclovir were used to treat these infected cells.The cytopathic effect was observed to deter- mine the antiviral effects and cytotoxicity of HB-13 and berberine.Results For HB-13,berberine and acy- clovir,the half toxicity concentration (TC_(50)) to Vero cells was 31.99,380 and more than 800?g/mL, respectively;the average half inhibitory concentration (IC_(50)) against HSV-1 was 1.328,more than 100,and 0.443?g/mL,respectively,the treatment index (TI) against HSV-1 was 24.09,less than 3.80,and more than 1805.87,respectively;the IC_(50) against HSV-2 was 1.344,more than 100,and 0.679?g/mL,respectively,the TI against HSV-2 was 23.80,less than 3.80 and more than 1178.20,respectively.Conclusion HB-13 possesses marked antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro,while berberine does not.

The aim of this study was to detect the localization and level of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins during in vitro capacitation of guinea pig sperm. Sperm from mature guinea pigs were incubated in modified TALP under 5% CO_2 in air at 37 ℃. The capacitation effect was assessed by chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence were used to analyze the level and localization of tyrosine phosphorylation. The results showed that guinea pig sperm underwent a time-dependent increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation during the in vitro capacitation and the percentage of protein tyrosine phosphorylated sperm increased from 36% to 92% from the beginning of incubation to 7h incubation. Also, there was a shift in the site of phosphotyrosine-specific fluorescence from the head of sperm to both the head and the flagellum of sperm. Moreover, there were three proteins phosphorylated in this experiment. After 0 to 0.5h incubation, the protein of 40kDa was detected by anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody, and the intensity of this protein increased in the following incubation. Then, after 1h incubation, another protein of 80kDa was found and the level of this protein reached the highest point at 3h. Also, in 3h incubation, a protein of 45kDa was detected and the intensity of this protein increased in the following incubation.

Objective To investigate T-bet mRNA expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its relations with allergen specific IgE (SIgE), eosinophile cationic protein (ECP) levels, and allergic symptom in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods The allergen, SIgE, and ECP in serum of patients with AR were detected by Unicap CAP system. Blood samples were taken from 15 healthy controls and 35 house dust mite allergic patients. PBMC was isolated by density gradient centrifugation and one part of them was cultured with mite allergen at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. PBMC was subjected to analysis of T-bet mRNA expression using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The ratio of T-bet to β-actin mRNA levels was 0.418 ± 0. 101 in patients of AR and 0.706 ± 0.091 in healthy controls and the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.01). The expression intensity of T-bet mRNA was not related to varying severity of allergic symptom and ECP levels ( r = - 0.227, - 0.033, P ＞ 0.05). However, there was an inverse correlation between expression intensity of T-bet mRNA and SIgE concentration (r = -0.375, P ＜ 0.05). There was a positive correlation between SIgE and allergic symptom scores ( r = 0.426, P ＜ 0.05). After that PBMC was stimulated by mite allergen, the expression intensity of T-bet mRNA, ECP, and SIgE changed very little ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Down-regulated expression of T-bet mRNA in mite-AR patients is not related to serum ECP and symptom scores but one of important links in the mechanism of imbalance of Th1/Th2 in the occurrence of AR. Specific allergen has no effect on T-bet mRNA, ECP, and SIgE of children and adults with AR in vitro. The level of SIgE objectively and directly indicates the severity of allergic symptom, but T-bet did not. T-bet may be one of indirect factors which affect the level of IgE.

Muscular dystrophies (MD) comprise a heterogeneous group of hereditary myopathic diseases. In this group, myotonic MD is associated with an increased cancer risk. However, the cancer risk in other types of MD is unclear. To address this gap in knowledge, we assessed data obtained from the Taiwan Health Insurance Program database. A total of 1,272 patients with MD diagnosed between 1997 and 2009 were enrolled. They were followed up for cancer during the same period by record linkage with the cancer certification in Taiwan. Age- and sex-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of overall and site-specific cancers were calculated. For congenital and progressive hereditary MD, there were 685 and 505 cases (males: 69.5% and 80.6%), the median ages at diagnosis were 16 and 13 years, and the mean follow-up durations were 7.12 and 5.06 years, respectively. In addition, cancers were developed in 10 patients with congenital MD and 3 patients with progressive hereditary MD. Female MD patients exhibited an increased cancer risk, yielding an SIR of 3.37 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38-8.25] in congenital MD and 2.95 (95% CI = 0.95-9.19) in hereditary progressive MD. Site-specific cancer SIRs were not powered to be significantly different. In conclusion, genetic defects in hereditary MD may increase cancer risks in females and a sex difference should be further investigated.
Aged ; Confidence Intervals ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Taiwan