Objective: To investigate the reversal effect of astragaloside IV on multidrug resistance of MDA-MB-231/DOX in breast cancer cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity of astragaloside IV and sensitivity or drug resistance of breast cancer cells to doxorubicin (DOX) before and after treatment were determined by MTT assay. Liposome co-delivery system containing doxorubicin and astragaloside IV (LPs-DOX/AS) was constructed by ethanol injection-ammonium sulfate gradient method. The reversal effect of LPs-DOX/AS on multidrug resistance of breast cancer cells was determined by MTT method. The effect of LPs-DOX/AS on apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Astragaloside IV had no significant cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells in the experimental concentration range. After combined with astragaloside IV, the IC50 values of DOX on MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231/DOX cells decreased (P < 0.05), and the intervention effect on drug-resistant cells was more significant (P < 0.01). Compared with free DOX/AS-IV, the IC50 values of LPs-DOX/AS-IV on both breast cancer cells decreased (P < 0.05), and the effect on drug-resistant strains was more significant (P < 0.01). The apoptosis rate of drug-resistant strains treated with LPs-DOX/AS-IV was also significantly higher than that of free drug group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Astragaloside IV has reversal effect on multidrug resistance of human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 to doxorubicin. The combination of astragaloside IV and doxorubicin and its liposome co-delivery system can effectively reverse or sensitize multidrug resistance in breast cancer.

AIMTo investigate the antiepileptic effect of dizocilpine (MK-801) on amygdala kindling models in rats and the effects of its combination with general antiepileptic drugs.

METHODSTo establish amygdala kindling models in rats and observe the effect of dizocilpine on kindling models and its combination with general antiepileptic drugs (phenobarbital, valproate and nicardipine) at ineffective dose. The influence of dizocilpine on convulsions induced by semicarbazide (SCZ) in mice were also observed.

RESULTSDizocilpine (0.1-0.25 mg.kg-1, i.p.) was shown to dose-dependently inhibit amygdala kindled seizure, shorten the after discharge duration (ADD) and reduce the Racine's stage (P < 0.01). The combination of dizocilpine with phenobarbital, valproate, nicardipine at ineffective dose shortened ADD or reduced Racine's stages (P < 0.01). Dizocilpine (0.1-0.25 mg.kg-1, i.p.) significantly prolonged the latency and reduced the rate of convulsions and death in mice.

CONCLUSIONDizocilpine inhibits the seizure of the amygdala kindling and improve the antiepileptic activity of phenobarbital, valproate and nicardipine, indicating that these combination may provide a new approach for treating epilepsy.

Amygdala ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Electric Stimulation ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Female ; Kindling, Neurologic ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Nicardipine ; pharmacology ; Phenobarbital ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Semicarbazides ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between Chlamydia pneumonia (CP) infection and hypertension as well as the interaction of traditional risk factors and CP infections on hypertension in Chinese Mongolian population.

METHODS1430 inhabitants living in Tongliao city, Inner Mongolia were selected as research subjects, including 488 hypertensives and 942 normotensives. Enzyme-linked immunoassay technique was used to test CP IgG antibody in the blood serum and SPSS 13.0 Microsoft was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of hypertension were significantly different between CP IgG positive and negative groups, However, the trend was attenuated after adjusting age, sex, drinking, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia. The CP infection rate was significant different in diastolic blood pressure groups, which was significantly higher in 80-84 mm Hg than that in the lowest DBP group. The interaction of chronic CP infection and other traditional risk factors were associated with hypertension in Chinese Mongolian ethnic groups. The ranking with significant sequence from high to low were BMI, dyslipidemia, alcohol intake, sex and age.

CONCLUSIONCP infection was not related to hypertension in Chinese Mongolian ethnic groups but the interaction with other traditional risk factors would increase the risk of developing hypertension.

China ; epidemiology ; Chlamydophila Infections ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Male ; Mongolia ; ethnology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of mTOR siRNA on mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells in vitro,and growth and apoptosis in transplanted tumor in nude mice.

METHODSmTOR siRNA was transfected into ESCC cell line EC9706 cells. The expressions of factors of the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. DNA contents and cell apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry, and cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. The effects of mTOR siRNA on the transplanted tumor growth were assessed in nude mice.

RESULTSThe levels of mTOR and p-p70S6K were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while the level of p70S6K was increased (P < 0.05) in the cells transfected with mTOR siRNA, compared with that in untransfected cells and cells transfected with control siRNA. After being interfered by mTOR siRNA, the number of apoptotic cells was increased, cell proliferation became slower and cell cycle was arrested in G(1) phase compared with that in control cells. Also, mTOR siRNA inhibited the growth of transplanted tumor in vivo.

CONCLUSIONSmTOR siRNA can effectively interfere in mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway, induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation and tumor growth, suggesting that mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden

Currently,the quick development of information technology is enriching the traditional teaching.As a new form of teaching resource,a micro-lecture focused on a specific topic is a good combination of information technology and traditional teaching.It not only increases the vividness and visualization of teaching,but also boosts the learning interest of students in the course.What's more,it helps to show an integral time-consuming experiment in 5-10 minutes'micro-vedio,which broadens the contents of the course and offers convenience of self-teaching for students.In this article,we took the example of micro-lecture"Western blot"in the course of immunologic technology to post-graduates in Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to clarify the advantages and the procedures of a typical micro-lecture,and to discuss about it.The experience achieved from the construction of this micro-lecture may offer a new idea of modern information education reform.

HA and M2 genes derived from human highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus (A/Anhui/ 1/2005) isolated from China, were amplified and cloned into the DNA vaccine expression vector pVRC. In order to improve the expression of hemagglutinin, the human codon usage preference was made and the whole length of HA gene of H5NI (A/Anhui/1/2005) influenza virus was synthesized,named HA/YH/K, and inserted to pVRC vector, the expression of HA/YH/K protein in eukaryotic cells was significantly improved according to internal control of actin protein. Furthermore, the M2 and HA/YH/K genes were cloned into bicistronic eukaryotic expressing vector pIRES to yield the recombinant plasmid pIRES-HA/ YH/K-M2/YS/K, which could expressed HA and M2 protein simultaneously by transfection of one plasmid. Western blot and IFA showed that the recombinant pIRES-HA/YH/K-M2/YS/K plasmid was successfully expressed in several mammalian cells (Hela, MDCK and 293FT). The above results may help to identify the function and pathogenic mechanism of HA, M2 genes derived from HPAI H5N1 (Anhui strain) and pave a way for the development of novel bivalent vaccines against human highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and for preparedness for influenza pandemic.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Influenza, Human ; virology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify independent risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese men and to develop a model to predict risk profile of an individual suffering MI.

METHODSStudy sample included 5 137 men aged 45.2 +/- 7.8 years who came from a cohort in Beijing Capital Steel and Iron Company, based on the three surveys on coronary heart disease conducted in 1974, 1979 and 1980, respectively. Demographic data and other risk factors, such as life style, medical history, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol level (TC), etc. were collected according to the same protocol in 1980. All the participants were followed up for MI in an average period of 20.84 years until 2001.

RESULTS(1) There were 122 cases with MI identified during the period of follow-up, with an incidence of MI 117.4 per 100 000 person-years. Age of more than 50, smoking, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) levels, higher TC all were identified as important risk factors of MI. (2) Incidence of MI increased with TC. An increment of 0.52 mmol/L of TC significantly increased relative risk of MI by approximately 40% after adjusted for age, blood pressure and smoking. (3) An increment of 20 mm Hg in SBP or 10 mm Hg in DBP associated with a 40% increase in incidence of MI, adjusting for age, TC and smoking. (4) Smoking was the most risky factors for MI. Smokers had 2.3 times risk of MI, after as compared to non-smokers (or its incidence increased by 137%), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and age, etc. (5) Incidence of MI increased by 20% with increment of five-year of age in those aged over 50 (P < 0.05), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and smoking. And, (6) finally, based on multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses, a model containing several risk factors, such as age, blood pressure, TC and smoking, was developed to predict individual's risk for afflicting MI.

CONCLUSIONSResults of this prospective study showed several established risk factors for MI, including age, blood pressure, TC and smoking all as independent predictors of MI in Chinese men. It is clear and rational that intervention and modification of those traditional risk factors can lead to a decrease in coronary events in Chinese population.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Steel ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for patients with symptomatic enlarged prostate after 11 years of experience.

METHODSThe 3162 evaluable patients treated with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate at our institution between August 2001 and August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Study variables included International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, maximum urinary flow rate, and incidence of complications.

RESULTSHoLEP were performed successfully completed, not patients which occurs as electric cutting syndrome. The operation time was (60.8 ± 18.4) minutes; average resection of prostate quality was (45.4 ± 24.4) g. The hemoglobin reduce though surgery was (1.81 ± 0.93) g/L; percentage of red blood cell change was 1.24% ± 0.43%, and sodium blood drop was (1.14 ± 0.35) mmol/L. Postoperative patients of hospital stay (3.1 ± 1.1) days, average time of indwelling catheter time was (2.3 ± 0.8) days. Patients were followed up for 6-131 months time, an average of 32.4 months. Postoperative patients with international prostate symptom score progressive declined. The quality of life score was 2.2 ± 1.7, and it less than preoperative (5.7 ± 3.3, t = 2.447, P < 0.01). The time of follow-up droped further, and postoperative comparative differences have statistical significance (t = 2.179, 2.228, 2.306 and 2.365, P < 0.05). The maximum urinary flow rate also improved (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications included bladder neck contracture (4 cases), urinary tract infection (107 cases), urethral stricture (11 cases) and urinary incontinence (11 cases). The 11 patients reoperation.

CONCLUSIONSHoLEP treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia could achieve the advantages of open surgery the same effect. It had fewer damage, faster recovery, fewer complications, and is a good treatment option.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome

Central Nervous System Diseases ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of the nuclear status of day 2 preembryos on day 3 embryo quality and implantation potential and to weigh its clinical value in the human in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program.

METHODSEmbryos obtained from 409 fresh conventional IVF-ET/ICSI cycles from July to October 2006 were assessed retrospectively. Day 2 preembryos were classified according to the number of nuclei in each blastomere in 3 groups: grade A with only mononucleated blastomeres, grade B with one or more blastomeres containing no visible nucleus, and grade C with one or more multinucleated blastomeres. Comparisons were made of the rates of arrested embryos and excellent embryos on day 3 as well as of the pregnancy outcome and implantation potential of those in whom cohorts of similar nuclear scoring embryos were transferred.

RESULTSThere were fewer arrested embryos and more excellent embryos on day 3 in grade A than in grade B and C (P < 0.01), and so were there in grade B than in grade C (P < 0.01). Among the 234 cycles in which all the transfer embryos were derived from a similar day 2 nuclear scoring, 51 cycles originated from grade A embryos (group A) and 183 from grade B (group B), with similar clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups, while the implantation rate was higher in group A than in B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDay 2 nuclear scoring can be used to predict the devel- opment and implantation potential of embryos. A combined evaluation of day 2 nuclear scoring and day 3 embryo morphology helps identify the most viable embryos and reduce the number of embryos for transfer.

Adult ; Blastomeres ; Cell Nucleus ; physiology ; Cleavage Stage, Ovum ; Embryo Implantation ; physiology ; Embryo Transfer ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic