Objective To establish a cell model that is close to the HCV replication in vivo and can support long-term HCV replication in vitro.Methods A human liver cell line 7721 was inoculated with serum from a chronic hepatitis C patient for 8 hours.After incubation,the presence of HCV RNA,the expression of HCV antigen and the location of HCV RNA in cells and/or supernatant were detected by RTPCR,immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively.Results It was found that plus-and minus-strand of HCV RNA could be discontinuously detected in both cells and supernatant as late as 66 days after inoculation even if cells had been subcultured for 6 times.HCV NS3、NS5 antigens could be expressed in cells and HCV RNA was mainly located within cytoplasm.Conclusion The above results suggested that 7721 cell line was not only susceptible to HCV but also could support its long-term replication in vitro.This HCV infection model in vitro was proved to be a useful tool for studying the mechanism of HCV infection and replication,as well as evaluating the antiviral compounds and screening the protective antibodies/vaccines.

Objective To explore the effects of nursing intervention on medication compliance of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods 92 patients with AS in the department of rheumatology and immunology of our hospital from January 2005 to December 2006 were randomized into the control group (45 cases) and the observation group (47 cases). The control group was given routine nursing and health education. While the observation group was given comprehensive nursing intervention based upon routine nursing and health education. The knowledge level about AS, medication compliance and relapse rate were compared between the two groups by adopting questionnaires. Results The knowledge level about AS, medication compliance, and relapse rate in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Positive nursing intervention could improve the health knowledge level, ameliorate recognition and attitude and delinquent conduct, strengthen their medication compliance. It could control the process of illness, decrease the relapse rate and disable rate so that it could improve the life quality of patients.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are crucial to cell growth, development, proliferation, and apoptosis in humans. Among IGFBPs, IGFBP2 is recognized as a regulator of insulin-like growth factor (IGF). Besides binding with IGF, IGFBP2 also interacts with extracellular matrix through its specific structure. IGFBP2 promotes the malignant phenotype of tumor by activating several important intracellular signal pathways. IGFBP2 is specifically overexpressed in several malignant tumors, and this overexpression is correlated with patient prognosis. IGFBP2 is regarded as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target. This review briefly summarizes the latest progress of research on the role of IGFBP2 in tumor malignant biological behavior and its clinical application.

Objective To assess the clinical effect of Wuzi-Yanzong pill combined with compound Xuanju capsule for treatment of male infertility oligoasthenozoospermia. Methods 136 cases of infertility with less, weak spermatozoa patients who meet the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups using random number table, 68 cases in each group. The control group was treated with Wuzi-Yanzong Pills and Vitamin E orally, and the study group was treated with compound Xuanju capsules on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The changes of semen quality and male hormone were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical curative effect was evaluated. Results The total effective rate of the study group was 89.7% (61/68), the control group was 73.5% (50/68), there was significant difference between two groups (χ2=5.930, P=0.015). After treatment, in study group, the sperm of a grade and b grade were (68.5% ± 15.5 % vs. 52.5% ± 15.6 %, t=2.607), the sperm of a grade was (35.3% ± 15.3% vs. 26.5% ± 13.4%, t=2.688), sperm motility rate was (73.3% ± 22.5% vs. 56.8% ± 20.5%, t=2.780), sperm density was [(28.7 ± 15.5)×107/ml vs. (20.5 ± 13.2)×107/ml, t=2.612], and the sperm volume was (2.9 ± 1.7 ml vs. 2.2 ± 1.3 ml, t=2.667), higher than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The level of testosterone in study group (816.5 ± 135.6 ng/dl vs. 768.5 ± 118.5 ng/dl, t=2.728). Conclusions Wuzi-Yanzong pills combined with compound Xuanju capsule can effectively improve the quality of spermatozoa for patients with oligospermia, and improve the clinical efficacy.

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this paper was to study the expression of related protein and Twist transcription factor of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue and the correlations of OSCC and oral squamous cell carcino-metastasis. The paper also investigated the clinical significance of expression on OSCC.

METHODSThe labels of epithelium materialization (E-cadherin and cytokeratin), stromal labels (N-cadherin), transcription factor Twist protein, and mRNA expression in 30 OSCC tissues were investigated via immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The paper also conducted contrast analysis with clinicopathology.

RESULTSImmunization result showed that the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin in the OSCC group were more significant than those of the normal group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin in OSCC were significantly lower than those of the normal group (P<0.05). In the moderate- and low-differentiated group of OSCC, the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin were higher than those of the high-differentiated group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin were lower than those in the high-differentiated group (P<0.05). In the lymphatic metastasis group, the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin were higher than those of no-lymphatic metastasis group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin were lower than those of the no-lymphatic metastasis group (P< 0.05). Results of in situ hybridization showed that the expression of Twist mRNA in the moderate- and low-differentiated groups of OSCC, T3, and T4 groups as well as that of the lymphatic metastasis group were higher than those of the high-differentiated, T1 and T2 groups, and no-separate lymphatic metastasis group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpithelium materialization exists in OSCC tissue. Twist can enhance the invasiveness of tumor cell and promote the infiltration and metastasis of OSCC. The combined detection of Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin expressions can effectively predict and estimate OSCC metastasis.

Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; physiology ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Twist-Related Protein 1 ; metabolism

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in males. Endocrine therapy is currently the main treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Although this therapy frequently results in tumor shrinkage, it is not curative, and the majority of patients eventually develop hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Recent studies suggested that prostate cancer stem cells serve a key function in the occurrence, development, and metastasis of prostate cancer. Therefore, targeted therapy of prostate cancer stem cells may be effective for the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer stem cell markers must be identified to facilitate studies on prostate cancer radical treatment schemes, especially the specific markers of this disease. Previous research on prostate cancer stem cell markers mainly focus on CD44 and CD133. Along with in-depth studies, a substantial number of new markers have been found with research development. This review summarizes the widely studied and recently discovered markers found in the field of prostate cancer stem cells.

Background and purpose: PDCD4 may be inhibited by miR-21 to regulate the malignant behaviors of colon cancer such as invasion and migration. This study aimed to explore the function of colon cancer HT-29 cell lines by downregulating miR-21 expression and discuss the mechanisms and relationship between miR-21 and PDCD4 in colon cancer malignant behaviors. Methods:simiR-21 was transfected into colon cancer cell line HT-29 to downregulate the expression of miR-21. Proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected by MTT, flow cytometry and Transwell assay after transfection. PDCD4 expression was detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR. Results:The qRT-PCR analysis result proved that the transfection efifciency was 60%-65%. MTT analysis result showed that the proliferations of HT-29 cells were inhibited after the transfection of miR-21 for 72, 96, 120 h (t=1.276, P<0.05;t=3.276, P<0.01;t=4.523, P<0.01). Comparing with si-negative control and miR-21 groups, lfow cytometry result showed that the apoptosis rate was increased after miR-21 expression downregulated (t=2.132, P<0.05;t=3.524, P<0.05). Transwell assay result showed that migration (t=2.423, P<0.05; t=3.153, P<0.05) and invasion(t=3.245, P<0.05; t=5.236, P<0.05) were inhibited;Western blot result showed that PDCD4 expression was up-regulated at protein level(t=2.342, P<0.05;t=4.215, P<0.05);qRT-PCR result showed that PDCD4 expression was up-regulated at mRNA level(t=2.261, P<0.05; t=3.492, P<0.05). Conclusion: The proliferation, migration and invasion are the inhibited, and apoptosis is attenuated after miR-21 downregulated by simiR-21 transfection, PDCD4 expression is up-regulated. miR-21 may enhance the malignant behavior of cancer cells by downregulating the PDCD4 expression, miR-21 might be a target gene for colon cancer therapy.

Objective To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human lung cancer cells.Methods Lung cancer A549 cells were transfected with NDRG1 overexpressed vector,and then treated with 5 μg/L TGF-β1.The abilities of invasion were detected by Transwell assay.The expressions of NDRG1 mRNA and protein were analyzed by teal-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were examined with Western blot.The expressions of EMT-associated markers E-cadherin and Vimentin,and EMT-associated signaling molecules Snail,AKT and Smad were detected with Western blot.Results We found that TGF-β1 treatment could induce morphological alteration of A549 cells from epithelial morphology to mesenchymal morphology.TGF-β1 significantly increased the migration of A549 cells,and increased the expression of mesenchymal maker vimentin and decreased epithelial marker E-cadherin.More importantly,overexpression of NDRG1 significandy reversed the effects of TGF-β1 on A549 cells.Moreover,NDRG1 significandy decreased the levels of phospho-AKT,and suppressed the expression of EMT-related transcription factor Snail.Conclusions NDRG1 could reverse the effects of TGF-β1 on EMT in A549 cells,by which mechanism is related to reduction of the expressions of phospho-AKT and Snail.

Objective To determine whether kringle 4-5 could inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice induced by argon laser photocoagulation. Methods Fundus laser photocoagulation was performed on C57BL/6J mice to induce CNV. In treatment group, 20 ?g (low dosage group) and 50 ?g (high dosage group) kringle 4-5 were injected retrobulbarly after photocoagulation. In control group, equilibrium liquid was injected retrobulbarly. Choroidal neovascularization was evaluated on the 7th and 14th day after photocoagulation by fundus fluorescein angiography. The mice were killed on the 14th day after photocoagulation, the lesions were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically, and the expression of CD105 was detected. The Expression of VEGF and bFGF was detected by immunohistochemistry on the 4th day after photocoagulation. Results The incidence of CNV was 64.3% in control group, 51.2%(P

The pathogenesis of pancreatic sinistral portal hypertension (PSPH)is quite different from that of cirrhotic portal hypertension, and PSPH is the only curable type of portal hypertension.Gastric variceal bleeding is a less common manifestation of PSPH;however,it probably exacerbates the patient’s condition and leads to critical illness,and inappropriate management would result in death.Therefore,it is necessary to develop the optimal management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in PSPH patients.Splenectomy is considered as a definitive procedure,together with surgical procedures to treat underlying pancreatic diseases.For patients in poor conditions or ineligible for surgery, splenic artery coil embolization is a preferable and effective method to stop bleeding before second-stage operation.The therapeutic decision should be made individually,and the further multi-center study to optimize the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from PSPH is warranted.