Adrenomedulin is an angiogenesis peptide that was found recently.It plays a critical role as an autocrine/paracrine tumor cell survival factor.Recently,adrenomedulin has been proved that it is overex- pressed in tumor,such as breast cancer.It may have a significant role in tumor progression and differentiation by stimulating mitogenic activities,inhibiting immune response,inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing angiogen- esis.We may realize targeted therapy tumor by intervening adrenomedulin,its receptor,and the signal con- duction pathway.

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple but effective method of laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for Ca2+ oscillations of pancreatic acinar cells in adult mice.

METHODSPancreatic acinar cells from adult Kunming mice were isolated acutely with collagenase, and then loaded with fluo-4-AM, a Ca2+ indicator. A laser scanning confocal microscope armed with 488 nm laser was employed to record the dynamic fluorescent signals in-time and synchronously while acetylcholine (ACh) was added in the pancreatic acinar cells.

RESULTS(1) The classic pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by a certain concentration of ACh (100 nmol/L) successfully and steadily, which could be blocked by atropine completely. (2) Plasmic Ca2+ oscillations from different parts of one acinar cell were usually with different amplitudes and almost the same frequencies. But both of amplitudes and frequencies were different among different cells. (3) The acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by ACh in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONThe laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for adult mouse pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations was established successfully. The features of being easy to use, direct to see lively, high efficiency and good flexibility make it a popular tool for researchers to choose.

Acinar Cells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium ; analysis ; Calcium Signaling ; Cells, Cultured ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal ; methods ; Pancreas ; cytology

AIM:To study the feasibility of recombinant adeno-associated virus(rAAV)as a vector to transfer the green fluorescent protein(GFP)gene as a target gene into rabbit retina.METHODS:Intravitreal injection of rAAV-gfp was performed in either eye for each rabbit with the other eye taken as control.At the 3rd,7th,and 14th day after injection,the eyeballs were removed,and the retinas were flat-mounted on glass slides to inspect the retinal fluorescence,respectively.RESULTS:After intravitreal injection of rAAV-gfp,the presence of fluorescent spots in the cytoplasm of retinal cells indicated that GFP gene was efficiently transferred and expressed in the rabbit retina.CONCLUSION:Recombinant adeno-associated virus is a reliable and simple vector for transferring target gene,e.g.,GFP gene,to the retina.

AIM: To evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration of human retinal pigment epithelial cells ( RPE) when co - cultured with human marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( hMSCs ) in condition of hypoxia and hyperglycemia so as to explore possible mechanisms of diabetes aggravating choroidal neovascularization ( CNV) preliminarily.
METHODS:Both hMSCs and RPE cells were co-cultured in a transwell system. The experiment was divided into four groups: 21% O2 with 5. 56mmol/L glucose ( control group, A ), 21% O2 with 30mmol/L glucose ( hyperglycemia and normoxia group, B ) , 5% O2 with 5.56mmol/L glucose ( normoglycemia and hypoxia group, C ) and 5% O2 with 30mmol/L glucose ( hyperglycemia and hypoxia group, D) . Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the proliferation of RPE cells in each group at 12, 24 and 48h respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to observe apoptosis of RPE cells at 24h. Additionally, we assessed migration
capabilities of RPE via transwell assay under the condition of hyperglycemia and hypoxia by co-culturing of hMSCs.RESULTS:In this co-culturing system, at 12, 24 and 48h, group B (1. 61±0. 41, 1. 80±0. 34;1. 91±0. 35), C (1.34±0. 46, 1. 94±0. 40, 2. 14±0. 41) and D (1. 98±0. 47, 2.26±0.42, 2. 55±0. 40) showed significantly higher proliferation rate than group A (0. 92±0. 45, 1. 27±0. 32, 1.59±0. 41, P<0. 05). The migration capabilities of RPE in group B (149. 5±9. 19), C (140±9. 90) and D (170. 5±7. 78) increased dramatically compared with group A ( 114. 5±7.78, P<0.05) at 24h, whereas there was no significant difference of apoptosis ratio among four groups (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSION:By coexistence with hMSCs, the synergy of hyperglycemia and hypoxia can improve migration and proliferation of RPE cells, and have no effect on apoptosis of RPE cells within short period.

BACKGROUND:Chinese medicine therapy is effective for patients with mild-to-moderate lumbar spinal stenosis and also has a better long-term effect than surgical patients, which can enhance perioperative efficacy and prevent spinal restenosis. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of “Tongmai songjin yigu” massage therapy on lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS:Eighty-four patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were randomly and equaly divided into treatment group and control group. Treatment group were treated with “Tongmai songjin yigu” massage therapy; patients in the control group were treated according to the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of common disease in orthopedics and traumatology promulgated by China Association of Chinese Medicine, once a day, continuous for 2 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment, the visual analog scale score in the treatment group was improved significantly (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores on subjective symptom and daily life between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.05). The effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (P< 0.05). These findings indicate that “Tongmai songjin yigu” massage therapy is better than traditional massage, but clinical large-sample studies are required.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel (Taxotere) (DTX) and oxaliplatin (OXA) for treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODSThirty-six patients with histologically confirmed recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer received chemotherapy with DTX and OXA. DTX at the dose of 75 mg/m(2) was administered on day 1 by intravenous infusion in 60 min, followed by OXA at 100 mg/m(2) given by a 2 h infusion. The chemotherapy cycles were repeated every 21 days, and the patients received at least 2 cycles.

RESULTSAll the patients were available for response evaluation, among whom 3 (8.3%) showed complete responses and 17 (47.2%) showed partial responses, with an overall response rate of 55.6%. The main adverse effects included hematological toxicities and peripheral neuropathy.

CONCLUSIONCombination of DTX and OXA produces good therapeutic effect with tolerable toxicity profile for treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; drug therapy ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; drug therapy ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of Rac subfamily members in the gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and progression.

METHODSThe mRNA expression of Rac1, Rac2 and Rac3 in 12 kinds of gastrointestinal cancer cell lines was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The activities of Rac1 protein in 5 kinds of gastric cancer cell lines were tested by pull-down assay.

RESULTSCompared with the normal gastric mucosa and intestinal epithelial cell line, the mRNA expression of Rac1 and Rac3 was up-regulated in most of gastrointestinal cancer cell lines. The activities of Rac1 protein increased markedly in gastric cancer cell lines.

CONCLUSIONThe increased mRNA expression of Rac1 and Rac3 in gastrointestinal cancer cell lines and the abnormal activation of Rac1 protein in gastric cancer cell lines might be correlated with the carcinogenesis of gastrointestinal cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; rac GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) in alleviating silica-induced lung injury in mice. METHODS: Ten specific pathogen free healthy male C57 BL/6 mice were selected for isolating BMSCs and bone marrow macrophages(BMDMs). Transwell chamber was used, BMDMs were inoculated onto the upper chamber and BMSCs in the lower chamber. We divided them into sequencing control group and silica(SiO_2) exposure group. All cells were pre-stimulated with 50 μg/L mass concentration lipopolysaccharide for 4 hours. In the SiO_(2 ) group, 250 mg/L mass concentration SiO_2 was added to the upper chamber of transwell and cultured for 16 hours. Total RNA was extracted from the BMSCs collected from the lower chamber. HiSeq/MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to detect the BMSCs RNA paired-end sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing data was obtained and bioinformatics analysis was performed. Another 12 specific pathogen free healthy male C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. All mice received one intra-tracheal injection of 20.0 μL(250 g/L mass concentration) of silica dust suspension. After 6 hours, the mice in the control group was given 500.0 μL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution and mice in the experimental group was given 500.0 μL of BMSCs suspension(cell density 1×10~9/L) by tail vein infusion.Mice were sacrificed 12 hours later. The relative mRNA expression of interleukin(IL)-1 Ra, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor stimulating gene 6(TSG-6) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in lung tissues of mice were measured by quantitative real-time PCR(q-PCR). Meanwhile, BMDMs and BMSCs transwell co-culture models were established. The cells were divided into 5 groups: BMSCs group, BMSCs+BMDMs group, BMSCs+BMDMs+ lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group, 50 mg/L SiO_2 group, and 100 mg/L SiO_2 group. After 16 hours of corresponding SiO_2 stimulation, BMSCs of each group were collected and the relative mRNA expression levels of IL-1 Ra, IL-10, TSG-6, and PGE2 in the cells were detected by q-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with sequencing control group, BMSCs co-cultured with SiO_2 had 19 genes up-regulated and 21 genes down-regulated, including 10 genes up-regulated for more than 2.0-fold. The relative mRNA expression of IL-1 Ra, IL-10, PGE2 and TSG-6 in the lung tissue of mice increased in the experimental group than that of the control group(all P<0.05). The relative mRNA expression of TSG-6 increased by 37.5 times higher than that of the control group. Compared with the BMSCs+BMDM+LPS group, the level of TSG-6 mRNA relative expression increased in both the 50 mg/L SiO_2 group and the 100 mg/L SiO_2 group(all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TSG-6 could be the key factor of BMSCs that can attenuate silica-induced lung injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of survivin antisense RNA on apoptosis and chemosensitivity to docetaxel in gastric cancer line SGC7901 cells, and its relation to mdr-1.

METHODSsurvivin antisense eukaryotic vector anti-pcDNA3-svv was transfected into SGC7901 cells by electorporation and positive clone was screened out. survivin protein and mdr-1 mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR. Apoptosis-inducing effect was examined by electron microscopy. Sensitivity to docetaxel was examined by MTT. Expression of mdr-1 and survivin mRNA were detected in the SGC7901 cells after drug-resisitance induction.

RESULTSThe expression of survivin protein of SGC7901 cells after transfection reduced significantly than that of non-transfected cells. MDR indexes of transfection group and non-transfection group were 0.196 +/- 0.013 and 3.126 +/- 0.019, respectively. The IC50 of transfection group to docetaxel was (16.7 +/- 1.98) microg/L and non-transfection group was (55.7 +/- 1. 89) microg/L, with a statistically significant difference. Expression of survivin mRNA in drug-resistant cells decreased along with the decreasing of mdr-1.

CONCLUSIONAntisense surivivin RNA can induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells and increase sensitivity to docetaxel. The reversing mechanism of drug resistance is related with decreasing of mdr-1.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Taxoids ; pharmacology ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine whether patients infected with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) show a differential distribution profile of IL-28B polymorphisms according to the presence of concomitant cryoglobulinemia.

METHODSSixty-two consecutive CHC patients were enrolled in the study between December 2008 and December 2010. All patients received combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (weekly, 180 g, subcutaneous injection) plus ribavirin (daily, 10to15 mg/kg body weight, oral) for 48 weeks, with individualized dosage adjustments according to the patient's clinical situation. Cryoglobulins were detected visibly by separation of cryoprecipitates in patient serum samples. Three IL-28B SNPs (rs8099917, rs12979860, and rs12980275) were detected by sequencing. Response to treatment was assessed by measuring serum levels of HCV RNA by quantitative PCR at baseline (prior to treatment initiation), during treatment (4 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation), end of therapy (48 weeks after treatment initiation), and post-treatment (24 weeks after end of therapy). The significance of between-group differences were assessed by the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSCryoglobulinemia was detected in 43.5% (27/62) of the CHC patients and showed a female bias (59.3% vs. males: 34.3%, P = 0.05). Compared to CHC patients without cryoglobulinemia, the CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia showed significantly higher levels of HCV RNA at baseline (5.64+/-1.20 vs. 6.37+/-0.67, P less than 0.05) but lower frequencies of the IL28B rs8099917 TT genotype (94.3% vs. 63.0%, P = 0.002), rs8099917 T allele (97.1% vs. 81.5%, P = 0.003), and rs12979860 C allele (94.3% vs. 83.3%, P = 0.048). CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia and having the rs8099917 TT, rs12979860 CC, or rs12980275 AA genotype achieved a higher rate of sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONCryoglobulinemia in CHC patients is associated with a differential distribution of IL-28B polymorphisms, and certain polymorphisms may be related to anti-viral treatment response.

Adult ; Alleles ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cryoglobulinemia ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Viral ; blood