OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of total flavonoids of propolis (TFP) on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure and its possible mechanism in rats.

METHODSSix male SD rats were randomly selected as normal control group, the remaining rats were made as chronic heart failure (CHF) model by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin. The rats in the successful model were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): CHF group, total flavonoids of propolis low dose group (LD group), total flavonoids of propolis middle dose group (MD group), total flavonoids of propolis high dose group (HD group), digoxin group (DIG group). After six week treatment, cardiac function indexes of rats were recorded by signal acquisition system; brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) content in plasma were detected; Myocardial morphological changes and collagen fiber hyperplasia by HE and Masson staining were observed; Myocardial apoptosis was detected with TUNEL method and protein connexin 43(P-Cx43) expression was detected by Western blot method.

RESULTSCompared with NC group, left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and maximal rise/fall velocity of left ventriculad pressure (± dP/dt(max)) absolute value in CHF group were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) while left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased significantly (P < 0.01); Contents of plasma BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 in the CHF group were significantly improved (P < 0.01). Compared with CHF group, LVSP, ± dP/dt(max) absolute value in MD and HD groups were increased (P < 0.05), and LVEDP was significantly lowered (P < 0.01); LVEDP in LD group was significantly lowered (P < 0.01), changes in LVSP and ± dp/dt(max) absolue value were not obvious (P > 0.05). BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 contents in MD and HD groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), but those plasma indicator changes were not obvious in LD group (P > 0.05). Western blot showed that P-Cx43 expression in CHF group was significantly higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01) and that in all TFP treatment groups it was decreased compared with CHF group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), among which pairwise comparisons also showed differences (P < 0.05), myocardial apoptosis index (%)(22.62 ± 3.39) in CHF group was higher than that in NC group( 1.12 ± 0.24) (P < 0.01); compared with CHF group, the apoptosis index of myocardial cells (%) in LD,MD and HD groups, (15.79 + 2.8), (9.28 + 2.1) and (4.73 + 1.14) respectively, were significantly lower than those in the CHF group( P < 0.01). The expression level of P-Cx43 positively correlated with the apoptotic index (r = 0. 861, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTotal flavonaids of propolis have inhibitory effect on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure induced by adriamycin in rats, and the mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of Cx43 expression, especially the regulatory phosphorylation status.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chronic Disease ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Phosphorylation ; Propolis ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Aim To investigate the age-related changes of TrkB mRNA in hippocampal formation of aged rats,and the effects of ginsenosides(GS),and provide reliable experimental evidence for anti-aging.Methods 24 Wistar female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Young,aged and GS group(fed with GS from 17 to 27 months).In situ hybridization(ISH) method was applied into qualifying and quantitating the TrkB mRNA expression in hippocampal formation.Results TrkB mRNA expression in aged CA3,CA1 and dentate gyrus decreased by 24.2%,13.4% and 50.6%(P

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical efficacy of Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and conventional titanium plate with cage internal fixation for the treatment of single segmental cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODSFrom August 2011 to March 2014, clinical data of 139 patients with single cervical disc herniation treated with anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion with internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to its operation method. There were 63 patients in group A which performed anterior discectomy and interbody fusion with Zero-profile;76 patients in group B which performed anterior cervical discectomy and cage plate internal fixation. JOA score and Odom functional rating between two groups were compared before and after operation. Videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS) were used to evaluate thickness of prevertebral soft tissue. Bazaz dysphagia score were used to assess incidence of dysphagia. Postoperative AP X-ray and CT of cervical vertebra at 12 months were applied for evaluating bone graft fusion. Postoperative MRI was applied for evaluating the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration. Blood loss,operative time, preoperative and postoperative JOA score, Odom functional rating and VFSS score, Bazaz score, fusion rate between vertebral bodies and incidence of adjacent segment degeneration were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistical meaning between two groups in JOA score, Odom functional rating before and after operation (P > 0.05); and no significant meaning in VFSS score between two groups before operation (P > 0.05); There were no significant difference in operative time and blood loss. There was statistical meaning in VFSS, Bazaz dysphagia score at 2 days, and 6 months after operation (P < 0.05). All patients obtained bone union at 1 year after operation, and no obvious meaning in fusion rate (P > 0.05). Eight patients (12.7%) in group A occurred adjacent segment degeneration and 19 patients (25%) in group B occurred adjacent segment degeneration, and there was significant meaning between two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth of Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and conventional cage internal fixation for the treatment of single segmental cervical intervertebral disc herniation could obtain satisfied clinical results. While Zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has advantages of lower incidence of adjacent segment degeneration, and its mid and long term following-up results still further observation.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To assess the inlfuence of depth on liver stiffness measurement with real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) and determine the optimal depth for SWE in liver. Methods SWE of liver was performed on 89 healthy volunteers between May 2012 and November 2012. The depths of each liver were varied from 0 cm to 7 cm (from the liver capsule) in 1 cm increment and there were 8 depth groups in total. Then the elastic modulus of liver in each depth group were measured three times by SWE. The body mass index (BMI) and the distance from body surface to liver capsule were documented. The success rates and the mean elastic modulus of each group were calculated. Results The success rates of 0-7 cm were 0, 98.9%(88/89), 98.9%(88/89), 98.9%(88/89), 71.9%(64/89), 24.7%(22/89), 3.4%(3/89) and 0, respectively. The success rates were highest in 1 cm, 2 cm and 3 cm groups but signiifcant decreased with the increasement of depths in 4 cm, 5 cm and 6 cm groups ( 3 cm vs 4 cm, χ2=25.94, P<0.001; 4 cm vs 5 cm, χ2=39.68, P<0.001;5 cm vs 6 cm,χ2=16.79, P<0.001). The mean elastic modulus of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm groups were (4.77±0.99), (4.68±0.99), (4.76±0.95), (5.19±1.10) and (5.41±0.95) kPa, respectively. The mean elastic modulus of 4 cm and 5 cm groups were signiifcant higher than those of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm groups (4 cm vs 1 cm, t=-2.85, P=0.005;4 cm vs 2 cm, t=-3.49, P=0.001;4 cm vs 3 cm, t=-2.76, P=0.006;5 cm vs 1 cm, t=-3.13, P=0.002;5 cm vs 2 cm, t=-3.66, P=0.000;5 cm vs 3 cm, t=-3.05, P=0.003). In the group of 4 cm, the BMI and the distance from body surface to liver capsule of the volunteers performed successfully and unsuccessfully were (20.70±2.87), (22.07±2.42) kg/m2 and (1.45±0.25 ), (1.60±0.29) cm, respectively. In the group of 5 cm, the BMI and the distance from body surface to liver capsule of the volunteers performed successfully and unsuccessfully were (19.82±2.76), (21.49±2.72) kg/m2 and (1.35±0.21), (1.54±0.26) cm respectively. The BMI had no signiifcant difference between the successful and unsuccessful groups (t=-2.83, P=0.108 for 4 cm;t=0.77, P=0.709 for 5 cm), but the distance from body surface to liver capsule was signiifcantly different (t=26.51, P=0.012 for 4 cm;t=79.57, P=0.004 for 5 cm). Conclusions The success rates and elastic modulus were different at different depths. SWE should be performed at the depths of 1-3 cm from the liver capsule.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the differential protein expression of left-sided colon cancer and right-sided colon cancer.

METHODSTissue samples of left-sided colon cancer (n=7) and right-sided colon cancer (n=7) were collected. Tissue protein was abstracted and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to examine the gel images. Peptide mass fingerprintings (PMF) was acquired by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and the proteins were identified by data searching with bioinformatics. Immunohistochemical SP method was used for the detection of glucose regulated protein 78 kD (GRP78) and heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) in left-sided colon cancer (n=50) and right-sided colon cancer (n=50) tissues.

RESULTSSixteen differentiating protein spots were identified. Compared with right-sided colon cancer, 10 proteins including GRP78 up-regulated and 6 proteins including HSP20 down-regulated in left-sided colon cancer. Immunohistochemical detection showed that in left and right sided colon cancer, the positive expression rate of GRP78 was 78% (39/50) and 56% (28/50) and the positive expression rate of HSP20 was 34% (17/50) and 72% (36/50), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). The positive rate of GRP78 was associated with tumor differentiation, infiltration layer, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis, and liver metastasis, while the positive rate of HSP20 was associated with tumor gross morphology, TNM staging, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are differentially expressed proteins between left-sided colon cancer and right-sided colon cancer, especially for GRP78 and HSP20, which may be the cause leading to the biological differences between left-sided and right-sided colon cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of zero-profile implant for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single cervical disc herniation.

METHODSFrom August 2011 to June 2012,30 patients with single cervical disc herniation were treated with ACDF using zero-profile implant in one motion segment. There were 18 males and 12 females with a mean age of 55.3 years old (ranged, 36 to 68). Incidence of dysphagia, height of intervertebral space and condition of bone fusion were observed after operation. Spinal nerves function and clinical results were assessed according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Odom criteria.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 15.9 months. The mean intraoperative blood loss was (85.3 +/- 14.2) ml (70 to 120 ml) and operative time was (90.0 +/- 12.8) min (70 to 120 ml). Preoperative, postoperative at 3 months and 1 year, JOA score was 8.72 +/- 2.36 (5.0 to 13.0), 14.72 +/- 1.66 (11.5 to 17.0) and 15.65 +/- 1.03 (13.5 to 17.0), respectively. One year after operation, according Odom criteria to assess, 22 cases got excellent results, 7 good, 1 fair. All dysphagiaes vanished completely at 3 months after operation. The lost height of intervertebral space was (0.34 +/- 0.13) mm (0.1 to 0.6 mm) and (0.39 +/- 0.15) mm (0.2 to 0.7 mm) at 3, 12 months after operation, respectively. All patients obtained bone fusion at 1 year after operation.

CONCLUSIONThe zero-profile implant is a valid alternative to anterior cervical plate in treating single cervical disc herniation with ACDF, it has advantages of convenient procedure, satisfactory effect, lower incidence of postoperative dysphagia, reliable stability and less implant-related complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Safety ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss the feasibility and safety of different approaches for CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy and subsequent iodine-125 seed interstitial implantation for pancreatic cancer.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out on the complete data of 35 patients with pancreatic cancer who have received CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy with or without subsequent iodine-125 seed interstitial implantation. There were 9 lesions located in the head of pancreas, 20 located in the body, and 6 in the tail. The maximum diameter of the lesions varied from 12 mm to 60 mm (mean 37.1 mm). The patients were treated with a needle in diameter of 16-21G. Operations were undertaken via anterior, posterior and lateral approaches.

RESULTSThirty-five patients underwent 43 times of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsies. Thirty-one cases were pathologically diagnosed as cancer, 2 cases inflammatory lesions, and 2 were suspected tumors (one of which was finally diagnosed as cancer, while another was pancreatic pseudocyst). The ratio of correct diagnosis was 94.3%. Fourteen patients were treated subsequently with CT-guided iodine-125 seed interstitial implantation therapy, with a total of 65 times of needle puncture. The operations were performed via direct approach to the tumor in 18 cases, transhepatic approach in 2 cases, transgastric approach in 4 cases, transintestinal approach in 10 cases, and through mesenteric vessels in one case. Incidence of complications in the biopsy group was 2.32% (1/43), and in the implantation group was 6.15% (4/65), with a statistically non-significant difference (P = 0.600) between the two groups. Incidence of complications in the group using 16-18G needle was 4.65% (4/86), while in the group using 20-21G needle was 4.55% (1/22), also with a non-significant difference (P = 0.064). The accuracy rate of needle biopsy in this study was 94.28% (33/35).

CONCLUSIONCT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy and subsequent iodine-125 seed interstitial implantation are both feasible and safe for pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Brachytherapy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiography, Interventional ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDTo study the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6/E7 and TPA (12-O-tetradecanog-1-phorbol-13-acetate) on malignant transformation of human embryo oral tissue.

METHODSRecombinant plasmid with HPV 16 E6/E7 was constructed and transfected into human embryo oral tissue. The oral tissue with HPV 16 E6/E7 gene or without the gene was inoculated into the hypophloeodal of right shoulder in scid mice, respectively. The study was conducted in four groups: the first group was the oral tissue transfected plasmid with HPV 16 E6/E7 plus TPA, which were inoculated into 8 scid mice; the second group was only oral tissue transfected with plasmid with HPV 16 E6/E7 into 6 scid mice; the third group was normal oral tissue plus TPA inoculated into 6 scid mice, and the final group was only normal oral tissue inoculated into 5 scid mice. Three days after inoculation, TPA was injected at the left shoulder of the mice once a week. Twelve weeks after inoculation, tumor was found in 7 scid mice from the first group. HPV 16 E6/E7 gene in tumor tissues was analyzed by PCR.

RESULTSThe rate of tumor formation was 7/8 in the first group; no tumor was found in the other groups. Pathological diagnosis of the tumor was fibrohistiocytoma. HPV 16 E6/E7 gene was detected by PCR in tumor tissues.

CONCLUSIONWith the cooperating action of TPA, human oral tissue containing HPV 16 E6/E7 gene could cause malignant transformation in scid mice.

Animals ; Carcinogens ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus Infections ; pathology ; virology ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells in a novel mouse severe aplastic anemia (SAA) model induced by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) combined with busulphan (BU), and to demonstrate the rationality of the model in immunology level.

METHODSThe BALB/c female mice SAA model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection with IFN-γ and intragastric administration with BU (combined group), with BU group, IFN-γ group and normal group as controls. After collecting the mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and spleen of mice in each group, the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) Treg cells and Th17 cells in the mononuclear cells were detected by flow cytometry(FCM), and to analyze the changes.

RESULTSThe percentage of the Treg cells in PB and spleen was (3.19 ± 0.76)% and (4.77 ± 1.05)% respectively in combined group, being significantly lower than in other three groups (all P < 0.01). The percentage of the Th17 cells in PB and spleen was (2.07 ± 0.12)% and (3.18 ± 0.46)% respectively in combined group, being significantly higher than that in other three groups (P < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSLower Treg cells and higher Th17 cells was found in the novel mouse SAA model induced by IFN-γ combined with BU, which demonstrates that this SAA model may be more close to the human immune-mediated marrow failure.

Anemia, Aplastic ; immunology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVETo explore the apoptosis and its mechanisms of spleen CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) mouse model induced by interferon (IFN-γ) in combination with busulphan (BU).

METHODSThe BALB/c female mice SAA model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with IFN-γ and intragastric administration with BU (combined group, n=16), with BU group (n=16), IFN-γ group (n=16) and normal group (n=16) as controls. Spleen Treg cells were purified by using of immunomagnetic beads. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. AKt and TGF-β expression was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSApoptosis of spleen Treg cells in combined group [(33.21±0.65)%] was significantly higher than that in BU group [(21.58±0.64)%], IFN-γ group [(17.62±1.05)%], and control[(27.38±1.89)%] (P<0.05). A significantly lower expression of AKt and TGF-β protein was also seen in combined group (0.30±0.05 and 0.17±0.05), as compared to the other three groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONExcessive apoptosis of Treg cells was found in SAA mouse model, which may be a cause of Treg cells decrease in patients with AA. The down-regulated expression of AKt and TGF-β could play a role in increased apoptosis of Treg cells. Our data may provide a new treatment strategy in AA.

Anemia, Aplastic ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology