OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD44v6 in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

METHODSThe expression of VEGF and CD44v6 in 35 cases I approximately II stages, 27 cases III approximately IV stages and 50 cases with the metastasis of lymph nodes, 12 cases without metastasis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tissues were studied by SP immunohistochemistry staining, and the 3 years survival rates were calculated in 42 cases patients.

RESULTSThe positive rates of VEGF and CD44v6 in NSCLC were 73% and 69%, respectively. They were both higher than those of matched normal lung tissues, P < 0.01. The expression of VEGF and CD44v6 were related to clinical stages and metastasis of lymph nodes significantly. The expression rates of the two markers in NSCLC with the metastasis of lymph nodes were higher than those without metastasis, chi(2) = 7.146 and 5.376 respectively, and those of III approximately IV stages were higher than those of I approximately II Stages, chi(2) = 6.392 and 12.152 respectively. Survival rates of three years were lower to those patients with positive expression of the two makers than those with negative expression. In a multivariate analysis, besides TNM stages and metastasis of lymph nodes, the positive expression of CD44v6 and the positive expression of VEGF were also the independent prognostic factors to affect the Survival time.

CONCLUSIONThe VEGF and CD44v6 protein may act as one of important indexes to indicate the process of infiltration and metastasis in NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; secondary ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

To explore the method of explants directly induced bud and establish the tissue culture system of mutiple shoot by means of direct organogenesis, core bud and daughter bulbs (the top of bud stem expanded to form daughter bulb) of T. edulis were used as explants and treated with thidiazuron (TDZ) and 1-naphthlcetic acid (NAA). The results showed that the optimal medium for bud inducted form core bud and daughter bulb were MS + TDZ 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 4.0 mg x L(-1) and MS +TDZ 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 2.0 mg x L(-1) respectively, both of them had a bud induction rate of 72.92%, 79.22%. The optimal medium for cluster buds multiplication was MS + TDZ 0.2 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.2 mg x L(-1), and proliferation coefficient was 2.23. After proliferation, cluster buds rooting occurred on MS medium with IBA 1.0 mg x L(-1) and the rooting rate was 52.6%, three to five seedlings in each plant. Using core bud and daughter bulb of T. edulis, the optimum medium for adventitious bud directly inducted from daughter bulb, core bud and cluster bud multiplication were screened out and the tissue culture system of multiple shoot by means of direct organogenesis was established.
Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; pharmacology ; Phenylurea Compounds ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Shoots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Thiadiazoles ; pharmacology ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Tulipa ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effect of administration of MPA with/without TU on serum sexual hormones and spermatogenesis of male rats.

METHODSTwenty rats had been classified into four groups. Each group received injection of saline(group A) or MPA(37.5 or 75 mg/kg) (group B or group C, respectively) or MPA (75 mg/kg) + TU (25 mg/kg) (group D) every month during three months. Data from serum sexual hormones (FSH, LH, T), sperm counting and motility had been collected and analysed.

RESULTSSpermatogenesis of rats undergoing administration of MPA with or without TU had been suppressed. Serum FSH and LH of group B, C, D declined, and so did serum T of group D. Testis of rats of group D atrophied and sperm counting of group D decreased remarkably compared with group B and C. But there was no statistics difference of the sexual hormone level among group B, C and D.

CONCLUSIONSAdministration of MPA alone could suppress the levels of FSH and LH and block the spermatogenesis of male rats. MPA combined with TU could offer stronger suppression on spermatogenesis. Mechanism of the suppression on spermatogenesis of MPA + TU is not only limited in the feed-back of gonadotropin, but there maybe exist a direct suppression on testis.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drug Interactions ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Male ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; pharmacology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether 5alpha-reductase inhibitor and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) play a role in spermatogenesis in male rats.

METHODSThirty-two male rats were divided into 4 groups (Groups C, T, F and FT). Group C received plant oil injection and oral starch perfusion, Group T testosterone undecanoate (TU, 20 mg/kg) injection and oral starch perfusion, Group F plant oil injection and oral Finasteride perfusion, and Group FT TU (20 mg/kg) injection and oral Finasteride perfusion. Data on serum T and DHT, sperm count, sperm mobility and reproductive function were collected and analysed.

RESULTS(1) 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Finasteride and TU reduced the weight of the testis and epididymis in the experiment groups compared with the negative control (Group C), but TU increased the weight of the prostate while Finasteride decreased it compared with the positive control (Group T). TU combined with Finasteride could counteract the effect of the weight increase of the prostate, but not that of the testis. (2) Finasteride, or Finasteride combined with TU, reduced the DHT but increased the testosterone level in comparison with the control group. (3) Both Finasteride and TU could inhibit epididymal sperm count and reproductive function compared with the control, but the effect was less significant in Group FT than in Group F.

CONCLUSIONHigh dosages of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Finasteride, can suppress male reproductive function, but the inhibiting effect could be counteracted by administration of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor along with TU.

Animals ; Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Dihydrotestosterone ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Finasteride ; pharmacology ; Male ; Organ Size ; Prostate ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Bone Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Cyst ; etiology ; surgery ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo identify the role of 5alpha-reductase in the spermatogenesis of male rats by studying the effect of two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, Epristeride and Finasteride, on the spermatogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSChanges in the weight of the testis, serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels, epididymal sperm count, and reproductive function were observed and analyzed after the two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors were administered to male SD rats orally.

RESULTSThe experiment showed that in comparison with control animals, both the two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors: 1. suppressed the development of the prostate and reduced the weight of the testis in the experimental groups (P < 0.05); 2. decreased the serum level of dihydrotestosterone and enhanced testosterone; 3. inhibited epididymal sperm count and productive function.

CONCLUSIONHigh dosages of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Epristeride, can suppress the development of the prostate and reduce the weight of the testis, decrease dihydrotestosterone, and inhibit spermatogenesis and productive function in male rats.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; Androstadienes ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Finasteride ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Ileal Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Parenteral Nutrition

OBJECTIVEShen Yan Ling Tablet is an innovative compound of traditional Chinese medicine, scientifically prepared with Tripterygium wilfordii, Radix Astragali, and others, with precise efficacy on renal diseases and reduced adverse effects of Tripterygium wilfordii. Based on the Guiding Principles for New Drug Toxicity Research Before Clinical Application, we investigated the long-term toxicity of Shen Yan Ling Tablet and its effect on the reproductive function in rats.

METHODSAccording to the clinical therapeutic dose and the results of the acute toxicity test of Shen Yan Ling Tablet, we equally divided 80 rats (males and females half-and-half) into a low-dose (1.25 g/kg body wt), a medium-dose (2.50 g/kg body wt), a high-dose (5.00 g/kg body wt) and a control group. After a 3-month medication, we conducted standardized long-term toxicity tests and observed the effects of Shen Yan Ling on the serum sexual hormones and epididymal sperm count.

RESULTSAfter 3 months of treatment with Shen Yan Ling, no death occurred, the general status remained unchanged, and the parameters of blood cytology and biochemistry fluctuated within the normal range, without any significant changes (P > 0.05). Some blood parameters, RBC, WBC, HGB, AST and TBIL, showed statistic changes (P < 0.05), but with no clinical significance. There were no significant differences in the mass coefficients of the main organs between the medication and control groups. The high-dose group exhibited slight hepatic and pulmonary pathological changes and significantly reduced sperm counts in the epididymis, but no significant changes in serum sexual hormones (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThree-month medication of Shen Yan Ling at 1.25 - 5.00 g/kg produced no significant accumulated toxicity on rats, but it had a negative effect on their reproductive function at a higher dose of > or = 5.00 g/kg.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Nephritis ; drug therapy ; Organ Size ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Tripterygium

Myxoid adrenocortical neoplasms are rare. Surgical resection of the mass is the first-line therapy. Here we reported a total of four patients, aged 44–66 years, diagnosed with myxoid adrenocortical tumor. The clinical characteristics and immunohistochemical features of the tumor are discussed in the current literature.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of in vivo tracking of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rats after cerebral ischemia, and to analyze the influence of stem cell therapy on the volume of cerebral infarction.

METHODSThe samples of rat bone marrow were collected. BMSCs separated by density gradient centrifugation were cultivated and harvested until the third passage. BMSCs were labeled with SPIO, which was mixed with poly-L-lysine. The labeling efficiency was evaluated by Prussian blue staining. Transient middle cerebral arterial occlusion (MCAO) was performed successfully in 18 adult Sprague-Dawley rats that scored from 6 to 12 by the modified neurological severity test. The 18 rats were then randomly divided into group A, B, and C, with 6 rats in each group and Group C was regarded as control group. BMSCs were injected into the contralateral cortex of ischemia in group A, ipsilateral corpora striata in group B, while D-Hank's solution was injected into ipsilateral corpora striata (group C) 24 hours after MCAO. MRI was performed 1 day after MCAO, 1 day and 14 days after transplantation. The volume of infarcted brain tissue was measured and analyzed. Prussian blue staining of brain tissues was performed to identify the migration of BMSCs.

RESULTSThe labeling efficiency of BMSCs with SPIO was 96%. The transplanted BMSCs migrated to the ischemic hemisphere along the corpus callosum and to the border of the infarction, which was confirmed by MRI and Prussian blue staining. The changes of infarction volume were not significantly different among these three groups.

CONCLUSIONSMRI is feasible for in vivo tracking of BMSCs labeled with SPIO in rats. The stem cell therapy may not be able to affect the volume of cerebral infarction.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dextrans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Feasibility Studies ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Stroke ; pathology ; surgery