Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots tubers of Serratula chinensis. Methods: The chemical constituents were separated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatographies, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by physicochemical properties and spectral data. Results: Sixteen compounds (ecdysteroids) were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of 95% ethanol extract in the root tubers of S. chinensis, and their structures were identified as 20-hydroxyecdysone (1), polypodine B (2), carthamosterone (3), 20-hydroxyecdysone-20, 22-monoacetonide (4), 24-epi-abutasterone (5), polypodine C (6), coronatasterone (7), 20-hydroxyecdysone 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), 20-hydroxyecdysone 25-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), polypodine B 20, 22-acetonide (10), shidasterone (11), 2-O-acetyl-20-hydroxyecdysone (12), 3-O-acetyl-20-hydroxyecdysone (13), 20-hyderoxyecdysone-20, 22-butylidene acetal (14), 24-methylene-shidasterone (15), and ajugasterone D (16). Conclusion: Compounds 2, 4, 5, 7-10, 12, 15, and 16 are isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 5, 7-10, and 16 are found in the plants of genus Serratula L. for the first time.

Objective: To investigate the application effect of balloon dilatation and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy on the clinical treatment of unilateral kidney stones. Methods: Ninety-four patients with unilateral kidney stones who accepted PCNL in the Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June 2017 to July 2019, were retrospectively analyzed and divided into group A and group B. Among them, 68 patients (group A) were subjected to balloon dilatation combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy, while 26 patients (group B) underwent fascia dilatation combined with holmium laser lithotripsy. The clinical effects of two kinds of lithotripsy on the treatment of unilateral kidney stones were compared. Results: The operation time was shorter in group A than that in group B [(107.82±10.87) min vs (115.41±10.68) min, P=0.003]. The increase rate of postoperative white blood cell (WBC) was lower in group A than that in group B (4.41% vs 23.08%, P=0.018). The fever ( ≥ 38.5 ℃ ) rate was lower in group A than that in group B (4.41% vs 23.08%, P=0.018). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin reduction, WBC count, hospital stay, stone-free rate, blood transfusion rate and perforation rate of collection system between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Balloon dilatation combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy in treatment of unilateral renal stones by PCNL can shorten the operation time, and reduce the increase rate of postoperative WBC and fever rate, which is worthy of being promoted in the clinical treatment of patients with unilateral kidney stones.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and the therapeutic mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in alveolar bone and gingiva of experimental periodontitis in animal.

METHODSExperimental periodontitis was produced by silk thread sutures combined with high content sugar diet. For HBO therapy, they were exposed to a pressure of 0.25 MPa (2.5ATA), breathing pure oxygen one session a day for 60 min. The treatment course was 2 weeks. The value of PGE(2) in gingiva and alveolar bone was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

RESULTSThe value of PGE(2) in gingiva of control group was 3.21 ng/g, and that of PGE(2) in alveolar bone was 3.22 ng/g. The contents of PGE(2) in gingiva (13.96 ng/g) and alveolar bone (13.32 ng/g) of periodontitis group increased markedly than control group (P < 0.01). The contents of PGE(2) in gingiva (5.21 ng/g) of HBO group were 62.7% which was lower than that of periodontitis group, and the value of PGE(2) in alveolar bone (4.05 ng/g) were 69.6% lower than that of periodontitis group. The difference of PGE(2) in gingiva or alveolar bone was significant for the HBO group and periodontitis group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe contents of PGE(2) in alveolar bone and gingiva increased markedly when experimental periodontitis has formed. The value of PGE(2) in alveolar bone and gingiva reduce markedly after HBO exposure, and the decreased rate of PGE(2) in alveolar bone is more evident than that of PGE(2) in gingiva after HBO therapy.

Alveolar Process ; metabolism ; Animals ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gingiva ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Periodontitis ; metabolism

iASPP can prompt the cell proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of many cells. There are putative binding sites of transcription factor GATA-2 upstream of iASPP transcription start site. GATA-2 plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and progenitors. This study was aimed to explore the role of GATA-2 protein in iASPP gene transcription. Firstly, the expression of iASPP and GATA-2 protein in some leukemia cell lines was detected by Western blot. Second, The expressive vector of pCMV5-GATA2 and the luciferase reporter vectors containing possible binding sites of GATA-2 were constructed and co-transfected into HEK293 and CV-1 cells. Then the luciferase activity was assayed by luminometer. Also, ChIP assays were performed to further confirm the specific binding of GATA-2 to iASPP promoter. The results showed that GATA-2 was overexpressed in most cell lines with high level of iASPP. GATA-2 exhibited a significant effect on luciferase activity of reporter gene iASPP and in a dose-dependant manner. The relative luciferase activity was up-regulated to about two-fold of the empty vector control when the transfection dose of pCMV5-GATA2 plasmid was increased to 100 ng. While the effect was more significant in CV-1 cells and showed a 6.7-fold increase. The ChIP assay demonstrated the in vivo specific binding of GATA-2 to iASPP. The binding sites of GATA2 were located between nt -361 ∼ -334 in upstream of iASPP gene transcription start site. It is concluded that transcription factor GATA-2 can bind with the cis-regulatory region of the iASPP promoter and up-regulate iASPP expression.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; GATA2 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; K562 Cells ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan.

METHODSA total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality were selected by random unequal ratio stratified cluster sampling method from southern, central and western part of Hainan and investigated with Hainan Epidemiological Asthma Survey Questionnaire of Li Nationality. There were 441 cases of bronchial asthma, and 1296 cases of control that were sampled by random number table method. The logistic regression method was used to analyze risk factors.

RESULTSThe asthma prevalence of Li nationality in Hainan was 3.38%(441/13 050). The main risk factors of asthma were family asthma (OR = 4.323, 95%CI = 3.259 - 5.735), hypersensitiveness (OR = 7.775, 95%CI = 5.686 - 10.632), smoking (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.174 - 1.902), cooking fuels and living environment. Cold air change (OR = 1.604, 95%CI = 1.286 - 2.001) and respirable dust or irritant gas (OR = 2.123, 95%CI = 1.702 - 2.648) were the important incentives.

CONCLUSIONThe main risk factors of asthma among Li nationality were family asthma, hypersensitiveness, smoking, cooking fuels by means of fuel oil, hay or wood, living environment by means of couch grass room and human-livestock mix live, cold air change, respirable dust or irritant gas.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of PTEN (phosphatase and tension homology deletion on chromosome 10, PTEN) and its pseudogene PTENP1 in acute leukemia (AL) and correlation between them, and to explore the role of PTENP1 on the PTEN expression in AL cells.

METHODSPTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression were evaluated in bone marrow (BM) samples from 138 newly diagnosed AL patients and 15 healthy controls by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP lentivirus vectors were constructed. 293T cells were transfected by calcium phosphate precipitation to produce retrovirus. HL-60 cell line was infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-GFP and pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP respectively. The flow cell sorter was used to sort the HL-60 with GFP positively expressed. The mRNA expression of PTEN and PTENP1 was detected by qRT-PCR, the expression of PTEN protein by western blot, and the impact of PTENP13'UTR on the proliferation of HL-60 cells by MTT assay.

RESULTSAML patients showed significantly lower PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression in BM compared to healthy controls. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA were positively correlated (P < 0.05). The 108 cases of PTENP1(+) AML were classified according to the prognostic classification of 2011 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in AML, there was no difference among different subgroups. HL-60 cell line was infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-GFP (control group) and pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP respectively. Compared with the control group, PTENP1 mRNA level of HL-60 infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP increased significantly, and PTEN mRNA level also increased. While the PTEN protein level and the cell growth rate of the PTENP1 3'UTR group didn't change significantly.

CONCLUSIONPTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression level of BM cells from AL patients is significantly lower. There is a positive correlation between expression of PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA. PTENP1 may regulate the expression of PTEN in mRNA level.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Gene Expression ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics ; Pseudogenes ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

BACKGROUNDProstate cancer is one of the most common urogenital tumors in the world with an increasing incidence in China. Androgen deprivation therapy is the major therapeutic option for advanced prostate cancer. However, the role of androgen receptor (AR) in hormone-refractory prostate cancer still remains unclear. This work aimed to investigate the role of AR in an androgen independent prostate cancer cell line by in vitro and in vivo studies.

METHODSThe role of AR in the proliferation and invasion/metastasis ability of PC3-AR9 (a PC3 stable clone expressing human AR driven by natural human AR promoter) were examined with MTT assay, soft agar assay, chamber invasion assay, wound healing assay, and also with orthotopic xenograft mouse model.

RESULTSRestoring androgen receptor in PC3 cells resulted in decreased proliferation and invasion/metastasis ability in MTT, soft agar, chamber invasion and wound healing assay. In the mouse orthotopic xenograft model, PC3-AR9 resulted in smaller primary tumors and metastasis tumors, with a lower proliferation rate and higher apoptosis rate.

CONCLUSIONThe AR might function as a tumor suppressor in PC3 cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Receptors, Androgen ; analysis ; physiology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) treatment and to assess the long-term outcomes, including survival, liver function improvement and virologic response, in patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODSPatients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores more than or equal to 7, who had been treated with either lamivudine or other agents, but who were free of co-infection with other hepatitis virus were enrolled between January 2005 and December 2009. The study participants were subgrouped according to the antiviral drugs received or model for endstage liver disease (MELD) score for comparative analyses.Additionally, the 19 patients who were treated with NA for more than 5 years were investigated for changes in biochemical and virological indices, before and after the antiviral treatment.

RESULTSA total of 166 patients (125 males; 89 e-negative) and 52 untreated healthy patients (as control) were analyzed.The cohort of patients receiving antiviral therapy had significantly better 5-year actuarial survival than the untreated patients (74.1% vs.34.9%, P less than 0.001). For patients with MELD score more than or equal to 18, actuarial survival was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.073).

CONCLUSIONAntiviral therapy significantly increases survival and improves the clinical long-term outcome of patients with HBV-induced decompensated cirrhosis.Antiviral treatment should be initiated at an early stage to maximize benefit in the improvement of clinical status.

Administration, Oral ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; Coinfection ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDProstate stromal cells are known to regulate epithelial growth as well as support and maintain epithelial function. However, how stromal cells regulate epithelial cells and what differences among various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells in prostate cancer progression still remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the different phenotypes of human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells, and their role in tumor promotion.

METHODSThe different phenotypes of the human normal prostatic peripheral zonal primary stromal cells (NPPF), transitional zonal primary stromal cells (NPTF), and prostate cancer associated primary stromal cells (CAF) were examined with growth curves and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) assay. The different effects on prostate cancer cell line C4-2B by NPPF, NPTF, and CAF were examined with MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC assay. The gene expression of different histological/pathological prostate stromal cells was profiled by microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis.

RESULTSThe growth rate of NPPF, NPTF and CAF gradually increased, followed by decreasing apoptosis. In vitro stromal-C4-2B cell line co-culture models, the proliferation and apoptosis of C4-2B cell line were differently affected by human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells. CAF showed the most powerful effect to C4-2B cell line, as opposed to a weakest effect of NPTF. Microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes of CAF and NPPF were less than NPPF and NPTF, or CAF and NPTF. This was consistent with clinical observations that prostate cancer mostly derived from the peripheral zone and does not usually occur in the transitional zone.

CONCLUSIONNPPF, NPTF and CAF possess extremely different biological characteristics and gene expression, which may play an important role in genesis and development of prostate cancer.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cluster Analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured