OBJECTIVETo investigate the curative effect and safety of auxiliary treatment with Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) on patients with chronic severe hepatitis (CSH).

METHODSSixty patients, with the diagnosis in accordance with the diagnostic criterion of CSH, were assigned to the treated group and the control group, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with comprehensive therapy including symptomatic supportive treatment, anti-infective therapy and artificial liver plasmapheresis etc., while those in the treated group were orally taken SZRD additionally. Patients' condition of sleeping and changes of total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin activity (PTA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were observed before and after treatment, and the adverse reactions were observed as well.

RESULTSThe sleeping status were significantly improved in the treated group after treatment, and the serum levels of TBIL, TNF-alpha and IL-1 were significantly decreased. The improvement rate was 66.7% (20/30) and significantly higher than that (40.0%, 12/30) in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSZRD can significantly improve the sleeping status of CSH patients, alleviate the hepato-cellular injury by inflammatory cytokines and without obvious adverse reaction.

Adult ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1 ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor effect of adenovirus-mediated Bcl-XL shRNA on colon cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSA recombinant Bcl-xl adenovirus was constructed, amplified, and purified. The effect on mRNA expression of Bcl-XL was assessed by RT-PCR, and the effect on apoptosis-induction of colon cancer(Lovo cell line) in vitro was assessed by MTT assay and cell clonogenic assay.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of Bcl-XL in Lovo cells. Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA suppressed the proliferation of Lovo cells in a dose-dependent as well as a time-dependent manner compared with Ad/GFP (P<0.05). Treatment with Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA dramatically suppressed the colony formation of Lovo cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA showed no effect on normal human fibroblast.

CONCLUSIONAd/Bcl-XL shRNA exhibits cytotoxic effect on Lovo cells and may have the potential value in the treatment of colon cancer.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Suanzao nacute hepatic failure in mice.

METHODAcute liver failure was induced in male Kunming strain mice by enterocoelia injecting the animals with D-Gal-N and LPS. The mice in treatment groups were given corresponding drug 2 h before administration of D-Ga1-N and LPS, and the mice in control group were given the same dose of distilled water. The 24 h survival rate, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were compared. Serum the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 and the levels of SOD, MDA, GR, GSH, NO and NOS in the liver were determined.

RESULTTreatment with suanzaoren decoction could increase the survival rate and improve the liver histological feather. Suanzaoren decoction inhibited the serum the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-alpha and IL-1, and reduced the levels of MDA, NO and NOS and increased the levels of GR and SOD in the liver.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with Suanzaoren decoction can suppress the D-Gal-N/LPS-induced acute hepatic failure. It may be the mechanism that Suanzaoren decocotion regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines and free radicals.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Galactosamine ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVERadioresistant cells in esophageal cancer is one of the important reasons for the local failure of radiotherapy. In recent years, some researchers used gene chip technology to screen the differentially expressed genes between parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells. But there were some problems in these studies, for example comparing cells at only one time interval, and genetic background not matching. In this study, we selected 3 different pairs of parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells, and compared the gene expression profiles by cDNA microarray at 3 time intervals to identify and analyze the differentially expressed genes between parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells.

METHODSWe compared the gene expression profiles between parental cells (TE13, Seg-1, Kyse170) and radioresistant cells (TE13R, Seg-1R, Kyse170R) before, and at 8 h and 24 h after irradiation with a cDNA microarray consisting of 48 000 genes (Human Genome). We identified differentially expressed genes by Pathway and GO analyses, and verified the differentially expressed genes LEF1 and CTNNB1 by RT-PCR.

RESULTSA total of 460, 451, and 397 differentially expressed genes were found before, and at 8 h and 24 h after irradiation. After Pathway and GO analyses, 14 differentially expressed genes, participating in cell growth, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, gene repair and signal transmission, were selected to further research. LEF1 and CTNNB1 were verified by RT-PCR, and the results were consistent with those of cDNA microarray.

CONCLUSIONSThe WNT signal pathway may be an important pathway participating in the formation of radioresistance of esophageal cancer cells. LEF1 and CTNNB1 may be the important genes causing the esophageal cancer cell radioresistance.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; radiation effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Radiation Tolerance ; Transcriptome ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; radiation effects ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the adhesiveness and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells.

METHODSWe determined the effect of IFN-gamma on the adhesiveness of prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 by treating the plate with fibronectin and laminin, on the invasiveness of prostate cancer cells into the artificial basal membrane consisting of Matrigel and fibronectin using the Transwell chamber, and on the expression of annexin-2 in these cells by Western blot.

RESULTSThe adhesion rates of prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 were 21% and 23% in the IFN-gamma treatment group, significantly lower than 46% and 40% in the untreated group (P < 0.05). The invasiveness of the cells was markedly decreased in the former as compared with the latter (P < 0.05). IFN-gamma significantly inhibited the expression of annexin-2 in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIFN-gamma can decrease the adhesiveness and invasiveness of the prostate cancer cell line by down-regulating the expression of annexin-2.

Annexin A2 ; biosynthesis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVEThe increasing number of aged patients with severe ascending aorta atherosclerosis who are undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) present high risk for ascending aortic cannulation, cross-clamping or partial occluding and proximal anastomosis. We reviewed the surgical experience in 22 patients of CABG with ascending aorta atherosclerosis and tried to find the way to minimize the complications.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with severe atherosclerotic and calcified ascending aorta underwent CABG in our hospital. Thirteen of them received CABG on beating heart. Nine patients had their CABG with extracorporeal circulation. With deep hypothermia, we reduced the flow rate and intermittently arrested the circulation for the proximal anastomosis on ascending aorta in 5 patients with neither cross-clamping nor partial occluding. The sequential grafts and "Y" type anastomosis between reversed saphenous venous grafts were employed.

RESULTSTwenty of the patients survived after surgery. One died of inhalation pneumonia in two weeks after surgery. Another died of right hemothorax in ten days after surgery. The complications include: pneumonia 4 patients (18%), angina 2 patients (9%), ventricular fibrillation 1 patients (5%), post-CABG myocardium infarction 1 case (5%) and hemothorax 1 case (5%). There is no neurologic complications or aortic dissection after CABG.

CONCLUSIONCABG on beating heart with pedicel arterial grafts is the best approach to performing the surgery without touching the diseased ascending aorta. Ventricular fibrillation under mild hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass and left ventricular suction were employed for quiet and bloodless field while distal anastomosis had no cross-clamping the ascending aorta. Also deep hypothermia and intermittently circulatory arrest offer quiet and bloodless field for the proximal anastomosis on ascending aorta without cross-clamping or partial-occluding. Distal sequential anastomosis and proximal "Y" type anastomosis are the effective approach to minimizing the proximal anastomosis on the ascending aorta.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Diseases ; complications ; surgery ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; surgery ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

This study was purposed to constructe the three-plasmid system of the lentiviral vector carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene and to investigate the expression of GFP in T lymphocytes of the mouse. The polypurine tract (PPT) element, ubiquinone promoter (PUB) and GFP were ligated to plasmid pLO134 using subcloning technology to construct plasmid pTK153. Human kidney 293T cells were co-transfected with the three-plasmid system containing packaging plasmid DeltaNRF, plasmid pTK153 and envelope plasmid VSV-G by using calcium phosphate DNA precipation and the expression of GFP was observed under fluorescence microscope after 12 hours. The viral particles were collected after transfection 72 hours, were frozen at -80 degrees C and were used to infect mouse T lymphocytes at multiplicity of infection (m.o.i.) of 3. The expression of GFP in mouse T lymphocytes was observed by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The results showed that the transfection efficacy was 63.04 +/- 7.24% in 293T cells analysed by FACS and the viral titer was (3.09 +/- 0.61) x 10(6) U/ml. The expression of GFP was also evident in mouse T lymphocytes and the transduction efficacy was (37.98 +/- 6.26)%. It is concluded that the three-plasmid system of lentiviral vector containing GFP gene is successfully constructed and the transduction efficacy is high in mouse T lymphocytes.
Animals ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Transduction, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo find a group of the highest proportion of HCMV antibody negative among the voluntary blood donors in Beijing, and to establish a database for the special clinical blood needs.

METHODSThe blood samples were collected from 2518 eligible donors who were randomly selected according to the national compulsory blood screening programs, the HCMV-IgG antibody were detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to blood donors of different sex, age, educational degree, born area, the results of detection were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate of eligible blood donors in Beijing was 10.68% (269/2518). According to the different sex, the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate was 11.84% (210/1774) for men, and was 7.93% (59/744) for women. In comparsion with different ages, the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate of 18-25 years old men was 13.51% (181/1340), the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate of 26-30 year old men was 8.68% (62/714), the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate of 31-35 year old men was 5.60% (26/464). Along with the age growth, the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate gradually decreased. In comparison with different born area, the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate was the highest in area of Beijing and Tianjin (18.59%, 50/269). In comparison with different educational levels, the HCMV-IgG antibody negative rate was the highest in men who have achieved bachelor or above (13.52%, 86/636).

CONCLUSIONThe HCMV antibody screening in the Beijing voluntary blood donors needs to select the 18-25 year old male population whose educational level have achieved bachelor or above. The organization or establishment of this group can provide a base for HCMV antibody screening strategy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Beijing ; Blood Donors ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of transfecting DHFR (human double-mutant dihydrofolate reductase) gene into mouse bone marrow cells and the effect of resistance to high dose MTX chemotherapy.

METHODSAfter DHFR gene was transfected into mouse bone marrow cells with retroviral vector, the cells were treated with methotrexate (MTX) and then CFU-GM (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit) assay was performed. Peripheral blood leucocytes and platelets, body weight and survival rate were observed. After treatment with high dose MTX, the expression of drug resistance gene was checked by RT-PCR in the transfected bone marrow cells.

RESULTSSFG-F/S-NeoR gene-transfected mice bone marrow cells yielded drug-resistance colonies to MTX (donor mice: 15.8%, recipient mice: 18.0%, control: 0) The peripheral blood leucocytes and platelets, body weight recovered gradually and the survival rate was 83.3% at the 40th day, while 0 in controls in gene transfected mice after large dose MTX treatment. RT-PCR of transgenic mouse marrow cells showed the band of F/S gene (400 bp).

CONCLUSIONDHFR gene can not only be integrated and expressed in bone marrow cells but also improve their drug-resistence to MTX.

Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Erythrocyte Count ; Genetic Vectors ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mutation ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Survival Analysis ; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection