Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of osteoprotegerin on apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) induced by triiodothyronine(T3) with different concentrations.Methods HUVECs were cultured in control group (0 nmol/L T3),low-concentration group (0.1 nmol/L T3),physiologicalconcentration group(1 nmol/L T3),high-concentration group(10 nmol/L T3) with OPG for 48 h.The cell apoptosis was measured by cytometry and Hoechst 33258.The expressions of p-IκKβ,lκKβ,p-TSC2,TSC2,p-S6K,S6K,p-AKT,AKT,Bcl-2,and Bax were analyzed by Western blot.Results (1) After OPG pretreatment and being cultured in control group、low-concentration group and high-concentration group,the HUVEC apoptosis was decreased significantly(P＜0.05) as compared with groups without OPG pretreatment.There was no difference in physiological concentration group before and after intervention of OPG.(2) The expression of p-IκKβ,p-S6K,and Bax in other groups were higher than those in physiological concentration group ; however,the expressions of p-TSC2,p-AKT,and Bcl-2 were lower than those in physiological concentration group(P＜0.05).After OPG pretreatment in control group,low-concentration group,and high-concentration group,the expressions of p-IκKβ,p-S6K,and Bax decreased significantly (P＜0.05)and the expression of p-TSC2,p-AKT,and Bcl-2 increased significantly (P＜ 0.05) ; there were no differences in the expressions of p-IκKβ,p-S6K,p-TSC2,p-AKT,Bcl-2,and Bax in physiological concentration group before and after intervention of OPG.Conclusions Low and high concentrations of T3 increase apoptosis of HUVECs by way of activation of IκKβ/mTOR pathway.Osteoprotegerin is able to protect HUVECs from apoptosis induced by low and high concentration of T3 via the way of inhibiting the IκKβ/mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of rosiglitazone maleate on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice and its mechanism.METHODS: 30 mice were randomly divided into sham operation group(normal saline),model group(normal saline) and rosiglitazone maleate group(rosiglitazone maleate 5 mg?kg-1?d-1).Three groups received relevant drugs for 10 days.Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model was induced in model group and rosiglitazone maleate group by clipping the renal pedicle 40 minutes after the last administration.The renal index,the content of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(Cr),the content of malondialdehyde(MDA),the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in renal tissue were detected.Pathological change of renal tissue was observed by HE stain.RESULTS: Compared with model group,the renal index of the mice in rosiglitazone maleate group reduced(P

Objective To study the relationship between CDC25A (cell division cycle 25A) expression and the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. hTe effect of artesunate (Art) on CDC25A and gastric cancer cells were also investigated.Methods hTe CDC25A protein expression in gastric adenocarcinoma was detected by lfow cytometry assay. SGC-7901 cells were divided into four groups: control group and 30, 60, 120μmol/L Art groups. Cell apoptosis, cell cycle and CDC25A protein expression in SGC-7901 cells were determined by lfow cytometry atfer the treatment of different concentrations of Art (30, 60, 120μmol/L) for 24h, while the same volume of saline was used in the control.Results CDC25A protein expression level in gastric adenocarcinoma (419.69±21.91) was signiifcantly higher than that in normal gastric tissues (316.11±24.23,P<0.01). hTe cell apoptosis rates of 30, 60, 120μmol/L Art groups (5.48%±0.67%, 12.55%±1.17%, 23.43%±2.18%) were significantly higher than that of control group (0.87%±0.14 %,P<0.05), with an Art dose dependent manner. hTe cell proliferation indices of 30, 60, 120μmol/L Art groups (39.18%±0.53%, 35.71%±0.99%, 31.73%±1.02%) were signiifcantly lower than that of control group (44.12%±2.51%,P<0.01). hTe CDC25A protein expression levels of 30, 60, 120μmol/L Art groups (414.80±4.06, 397.86±3.61, 345.68±7.11) were significantly lower than that of control group (433.99±1.56,P<0.01).ConclusionhTe abnormally increased expression level of CDC25A may be involved in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. Art can inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 cells by down-regulating the expression of CDC25A protein.

Objective To explore the effect and its mechism of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) induced by high glucose.Methods (1) The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose(5.5 mmol/L),high glucose(33 mmol/L),high glucose + OPG(0.5,1,and 2 μg/ml)as well as mannitol(5.5 mmol/L glucose+27.5 mmol/L mannitol) for 48 h,respectively.Flow cytometry assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect the cell apoptosis.The expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were measured by western blot analysis.(2) The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose,high glucose,high glucose + OPG (2 μg/ml OPG),high glucose + rapamycin(10 ng/ml rapamycin) as well as high glucose + rapamycin + OPG for 24h,respectively.The expression levels of S6K,p-S6K,4EBP1 and p-4EBP1 protein were measured by western blot analysis.(3)The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose,high glucose,high glucose + OPG(2 μg/ml)for 24 h,respectively.The expression levels of tuberin and p-tuberin protein were measured by western blot analysis.Results (1) Compared with normal glucose group,the apoptosis of HUVECs and the expression level of Bax was dramatically increased,and the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased significantly in high glucose group (P＜0.05).The apoptosis of HUVECs and the expression level of Bax in high glucose + OPG group was significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which was still higher than that in normal glucose group (P＜ 0.05).and the expression of Bcl-2 in high glucose + OPG group was significantly higher than that in high glucose group,which was still lower than that in normal glucose group (P＜0.05).There was no statistically difference between hyperosmolar control group and normal glucose group.(2) Compared with normal glucose group,the expression levels of p-S6K and p-4EBP1 were increased markedly in high glucose group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of p-S6K and p-4EBP1 in high glucose + OPG group were significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which were still higher than that in normal glucose group(P＜0.05).No significant difference was found between high glucose + OPG group and high glucose + rapamycin group.(3) Compared with normal glucose group,the expression level of p-tuberin was increased markedly in high glucose group (P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of p-tuberin in high glucose + OPG group was significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which was still higher than that in normal glucose group (P ＜0.05).Conclusions It suggests that the protective effect and mechanism of OPG on HUVECs cultured with high glucose may be association with tuberin/mTORC1 pathway.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of new criteria for evaluating the radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer by barium meal (BM) combined with CT scans.Methods A total of 189 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer (confirmed by biopsy) from January 2004 to December 2010 were enrolled as subjects.All patients underwent BM and CT scans before and after radiotherapy.The maximal esophageal wall thickness (EWT) and changes in the volumes of regional lymph nodes measured by CT scans were analyzed.New criteria for evaluating the short-term radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer was studied considering the analysis results as well as the BM-based criteria for evaluating short-term radiotherapeutic effect and follow-up results.Results The BM-based evaluation criteria were still useful,but had certain limitations.There were 115 patients who had regional lymph node metastasis as detected by CT scans before radiotherapy,and they were divided into complete remission (CR) group and partial remission (PR) group according to BM results after radiotherapy; the local control rate (LCR) of CR group was significantly higher than that of PR group,but there was no significant difference in survival rate (SR) between the two groups.There were 65 patients who had no regional lymph node metastasis,and they were also divided into CR group and PR group according to BM results after radiotherapy;the LCR and SR of CR group were significantly higher than those of PR group.In summary,the patients who had a CR as evaluated by BM and had the maximal EWT of ≤ 1.20 cm and the volumes of residual lymph nodes of ≤ 1.00 cm3 on CT were defined as CR ; the patients who had a PR as evaluated by BM or had the maximal EWT of ＞ 1.20 cm or those who had a CR evaluated by BM and had the maximal EWT of ≤ 1.20 cm and the volumes of residual lymph nodes of ＞ 1.00 cm3 on CT were defined as PR.The cases evaluated by BM as no remission (NR) or showing metastasis were defined as NR or progressive disease.There were significant differences in LCR and SR between the CR group and PR group determined by the new criteria.Conclusions Simply using BM to evaluate the short-term radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer has certain limitations; instead,the evaluation based on both BM and CT scans is more accurate.

Objective To study the effect and mechanisms of berberine (BBR) on the proliferation of papillary thyroid cancer K1 cells induced by high glucose.Methods K1 cells were cultured under 5.5 mmol/L or 25 mmol/L glucose condition with or without different concentration of BBR (0,10,40 and 80 μmol/L) for 24 hours.The proliferations of K1 cells in each condition were detected by MTT.Western blot was used to measure the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrt2),phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K),protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt).The distribution pattern of Nrf2 in K1 cells was determined using immunofluorescent staining.Results Compared with 5.5 mmol/L condition,the proliferation rate [(126.64 ± 5.41) ％ vs (87.31 ± 3.67) ％],expression levels of PI3K (0.425 ±0.019 vs 0.272 ±0.039),p-Akt/Akt (0.446 ±0.021 vs 0.168 ±0.035) and Nrf2 (0.597 ± 0.014 vs 0.308 ± 0.026),and Nrf2 distribution (93.0％ vs 23.1％) in nuclear of K 1 cells under 25 mmol/L condition were significantly elevated,respectively (all P ＜0.01).Addition of BBR in 25 mmol/L condition dose dependently (10,40,80 μmol/L) lowered the proliferation rate of K1 cells [(111.76 ± 4.10)％,(70.03 ±2.18)％,(32.41 ±3.76)％ vs (126.64 ±5.41)％,all P＜0.05],and suppressed the expression of PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,Nrf2,and Nrf2 nuclear distribution (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions BBR dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of high glucose-induced K1 cells.This effect was associated with the suppression on of PI3K/Akt signaling activation,Nrf2 expression and its nuclear translocation.

Objective To investigate the effect of gastric filling degree on the thickness of advanced gastric carcinoma and the clinical value of the thickness measured by CT.Methods Totally 38 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were enrolled and 21 patients were newly diagnosed,17 patients were reexamination after non surgical treatments.The stomach cavity was filled with oral gas-producing powder.The plain scanning (before filling) and enhanced scanning in venous phase (after filling) were performed.The thickness of the normal gastric wall and gastric carcinoma before and after filling were measured on axial images,and the differences were compared.The patients were measured again one month later by the same investigator,and the consistency between the twice measurements was evaluated.Results Before and after filling,the normal gastric wall thickness of each regions was significantly different (all P＜0.001),and the change was greatest at the region of greater curvature.Carcinoma thickness was similar in newly diagnosed patients (P＜0.05),but significantly different in patients for reexamination (P＜0.05).The twice measurements had a good consistency.Conclusion The thickness of gastric carcinoma can be considered as a baseline measurement indicator in newly diagnosed patients.It is critical to maintaining a similar gastric filling degree during reexamination,which is helpful to evaluate the efficacy of treatment accurately.

Objective To explore the roles of autoantibodies against ?1 adrenoceptor(?1-receptor)and M2 cholinergic receptor(M2-receptor)in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.Methods The epitopes of the second extracellular loop of ?1 receptor and M2 receptor were synthesized and used respectively to detect the sera autoantibodies against ?1 receptor and M2 receptor by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 76 patients with chronic renal insufficiency,60 cases with hypertension and 40 healthy controls.Results In patients with chronic renal insufficiency,the positive rates of the autoantibodies against ?1-receptor and M2-receptor were 56.7% and 38.1% respectively,which were much higher than those of patients with hypertension(18.3% and 11.7%) and higher than those of healthy controls(17.5% and 15.0%)(all P

Objective To explore the role of the autoantibodies against ?_1-adrenergic receptor(?_1-receptor)in the development of hypertension with renal failure.Methods The epitopes of the second extracellular loop of ?_1-receptor were synthesized and used respectively to screen sera autoantibodies from patients with hypertension with renal failure(61 cases),hypertension without renal failure(58 cases) and healthy blood donors(40 cases,control) by ELISA method.Results The positive rates of the autoantibodies ?_1-receptor(69%,42/61) in patients with hypertension with renal failure were higher than those of patients with hypertension without renal failure(19%,11/58) respectively(P

Objective To explore the role of the autoantibodies against ?_1 and ?_1-adrenergic receptor(?_1-receptor)in the development of hypertension with renal failure.Methods The epitopes of the second extracellular loop of ?_1-receptor(197-222) and ?_1-receptor(192-218) were synthesized and used respectively to screen sera autoantibodies in patients with hypertension and renal failure(n=61),hypertension without renal failure(n=60) and healthy blood donors(n=40,control) by ELISA.Results The positive rates of the autoantibodies against ?_1-receptor(62.3%)and ?_1 receptor(50.8%) in patients with hypertension with renal failure were higher than those of patients with hypertension without renal failure(13.3% and10.0%)(P