AIM: To study the effect of breviscapine on the oxidative stress in the liver and kidney in diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (ST Z). Rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group, mo del group treated with breviscapine. 8 weeks after STZ injection, liver lesion w as evaluated using HE, oil red O staining and kideny lesion using PAS staining. Malondiadehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant activities in liver and kidney tissu e were determined by spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: Light microscopy in HE staining showed that liver fatty score was significantly lower in the breviscapine group compared with model ani mals (0.55?0.43 vs 1.54?0.65, P

By means of preparative HPTLC and column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, nine diterpenoids were isolated and purified from the whole plants of Scutellaria strigillosa. Based on the physico-chemical properties and spectral data, their structures were elucidated as: 6-O-acetyl-7-O-nicotinoylscutebarbatine G(1), 6-O-nicotinoyl-7-O-acetylscutebarbatine G(2), 6,7-di-O-nicotinoylscutebarbatine G(3), scutebarbatine K(4), scutebarbatine B(5), 6-O-acetylscutehenanine A(6), 6-O-nicotinoylbarba- tin A(7), 6,7-di-O-acetoxylbarbatin A(8), scutebarbatine F(9). Compound 1 is a new diterpenoid, and compounds 2-9 were isolated from Scutellaria strigillosa for the first time.
Diterpenes ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Bone remodeling is balanced by bone formation and bone resorption as well as by alterations in the quantities and functions of seed cells, leading to either the maintenance or deterioration of bone status. The existing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), known as a family of short non-coding RNAs, are the key post-transcriptional repressors of gene expression, and growing numbers of novel miRNAs have been verified to play vital roles in the regulation of osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and adipogenesis, revealing how they interact with signaling molecules to control these processes. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the roles of miRNAs in regulating bone remodeling as well as novel applications for miRNAs in biomaterials for therapeutic purposes.

Objective To study central obesity among middle-aged and elderly residents of Xinjiang Uygur and Han ethnicities, living in rural and urban areas. Methods Multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling approaches were adopted to collect data from 6 areas in Soutbem, Eastern, Northern Xinjiang and Urumqi city community, from July of 2005 to June of 2007. Results 8284 people were investigated to have found that the crude prevalence rate and the adjusted standardized incidence were 50.11% and 55.40% respectively, on central obesity. The figures were higher than the national level, according to the 2000 census age composition of Xinjiang. The prevalence rate of central obesity was higher in males than in females (P<0.05) higher in residents of Uygur than in Han ethnicities(P<0.05). The prevalent rates of the central obesity hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were higher than those of non-obese ones (P<0.05). Conclusion The standardized prevalence rates of central obesity in residents with Xinjiang Uygur and Hart ethnicities were higher than data from the national statistics. Differences were found in ethnicity, gender and age. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia in people having central obesity were higher than the non-obese ones.

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved process by which components of the cell are degraded in lysosomes, may facilitate survival of cancer cells under stress conditions. 8-Azaguanine (8-AG), an inhibitor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis, shows antineoplastic activity in multiple tumor cells. However, chemoresistance has restricted its development as an anticancer agent, and the mechanism of 8-AG resistance is not fully understood. We report here that 8-AG induces a protective autophagy to eliminate its cytotoxicity, and inhibition of autophagy increases cellular sensitivity of cancer cells to 8-AG treatment. Using HepG2 or SMMC-7721 hepatic cancer cell lines, we found that 8-AG inhibited cell viability and induced intrinsic apoptosis, accompanied by the up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein BimS, one of Bim (also known as BCL-2-like protein 11, BCL2L11) isoforms. Furthermore, 8-AG treatment enhanced the autophagy flux by promoting the dephosphorylation and activation of Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) via Akt/mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) signaling inhibition. Depletion of autophagy-related gene 7 (ATG7) markedly enhanced the level of BimS, and promoted cell death in response to 8-AG. 8-AG in combination with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) or bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1) promoted the 8-AG-induced apoptosis in hepatic cancer cells. Altogether, these findings suggest that autophagy promotes chemoresistance of cancer cells for 8-AG, and blocking autophagy increases cellular sensitivity of cancer cells to 8-AG treatment.

Objective:To investigate the expression of RNF38 in lung cancer,and its correlationship with clinicopathologic feature and prognosis.Methods:Tissue microarray was used to detect the level of RNF38 in 208 lung cancer patients,then its correlationship with clinicopathologic feature and prognosis was analyzed.Results:RNF38 expression was higher in lung cancer tissues compared with the corresponding adjacent normal lung tissues.High level of RNF38 was related significantly to tumor size (P= 0.0002),tumor stage (P= 0.011),lymph node metastasis (P= 0.00004)and histological type (P= 0.030 ).High level of RNF38 indicates low overall survival rate.Single factor analysis showed that RNF38 expression was related to lung cancer patients'prognosis.Conclusions:The high level of RNF38 could be a new marker in predicting the prognosis of lung cancer.

Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) acupoints on learning and memory ability in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R), and the potential mechanisms. Methods A total of 90 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=18) and operation group (n=72). The MCAO/R model was established by suture method in the operation group. Finally, 54 qualified rats of the operation group were randomly divided into ischemia group (n=18), electroacupuncture group (n=18) and non-acupoint group (n=18). The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) for 14 days. The cerebral infarction volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze. The protein expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results There was no significant difference in the cerebral infarction volume among three groups before intervention (F=1.678, P>0.05). Compared with the ischemia group and the non-acupoint group, the cerebral infarction volume signif-icantly reduced (P<0.001);the latency significantly shortened (P<0.001) and the times crossing the platform decreased (P<0.05);the expres-sion of 5-HT1A receptor decreased in the left hippocampus (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group after intervention. There was no signifi-cant difference in all the indices between the non-acupoint group and the ischemia group after intervention (P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacu-puncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) could effectively increase the learning and memory ability of MCAO/R rats, which might relate with inhibiting the expression of 5-HT1A receptor in hippocampus.

Objective To compare the effects between felodipine plus irbesartan and felodipine plus metoprolol regimen on blood pressure and the sexual function in young and middle-aged hypertensive women. Methods In this prospective, randomized, parallelized, controlled and fixed combined therapy trial, 99 female patients(aged 18 to 60)with grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension(BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg and ＜ 179/109 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)were assigned to felodipine 5 mg q.d + irbesartan 150 mg q.d(F + I group, n = 49)and felodipine 5 mg q. d + metoprolol 47.5 mg q. d(F + M group, n = 50)group. Target blood pressure was ＜ 140/90 mm Hg. The female sexual function index(FSFI)questionnaire, levels of serum estradiol and testosterone were assessed. Female sexual dysfunction was defined as a FSFI score of less than 25.5. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. Results The rate of achieving blood pressure goal between 2 groups was similar at the 4th, 8th, 12th and 24th weeks respectively (42.9% vs. 62.0% at 4th week, 89.8% vs. 90.0% at 8th week, 93.9% vs. 94.0% at 12th week,98.0% vs. 96.0% at 24th week, P ＞ 0.05). Compared to baseline, scores for the items related to"desire" and "arousal" were significantly improved(P ＜ 0.05), the level of the serum estradiol was significantly elevated[(50.3 ± 37.4)pg/L vs.(54.4 ± 10.8)pg/L before menopause,(18.4 ± 2.9)pg/L vs.(20.2 ±3.1)pg/L after menopause, P ＜0.05]and the level of the serum testosterone was significantly decreased[(722.8 ± 277.1)ng/L vs.(650.0 ± 156.0)ng/L before menopause,(841.2 ± 279.3)ng/L vs.(761.9 ± 197.8)ng/L after menopause, P ＜ 0.05]in the F + I group, while scores for the items related to" sexual desire" and "lubrication" were statistically reduced(P ＜ 0.01), the concentration of the serum estradiol was significantly reduced[(57.4 ± 9.7)pg/L vs.(51.1 ± 12.1)pg/L before menopause,(19.8±2.3)pg/L vs.(17.8 ± 3.3)pg/L after menopause, P ＜0.01]and the level of the serum testosterone was significantly increased[(775.6 ± 217.8)ng/L vs.(886.0 ± 186.4)ng/L before menopause,(812.5 ± 311.3)ng/L vs.(914.4 ± 300.2)ng/L after menopause, P＜0.01]in the F+M group. FSFI score was negatively correlated with age and systolic blood pressure levels. Conclusion felodipine plus irbesartan or metoprolol for 24 weeks equally reduced blood pressure and the former regimen is superior to the latter on sexual function improvement in this patient cohort.

OBJECTIVETo investigate determinants of long-term survival for carcinoma of ampulla of Vater treated by local resection.

METHODSThe clinical and pathological data of 38 such patients treated by local resection from 1983 to 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. According to UICC staging system, there were T1 30, T2 7 and T3 1. Lymph nodes were involved in 4 during operation which was present in primary lesions larger than 2 cm across. All patients were treated by local resection. At first, external palpation was carried out to ascertain accessibility. Then with the duodenum opened, direct exploration was carried out. On deciding for resection, the common bile duct was probe explored which guided the circumferential ring resection 1 cm, away from the tumor, including all layers of duodenum, ampula and partial bile and terminal pancreatic ducts and the posterial wall of duodenum was completed in steps. Meticulous care was taken not to suture the pancreatic duct and endotheliation was ensured at the mouth of common bile duct and duodenum. The basal tissue was frozen sectioned to ensure negative stumps. The gall bladder of 6 patients was also resected. SPSS 10.0 software was used in data processing, log-rank test used in univariate analysis and Cox equation for multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meirer method for the survival rates.

RESULTSThirty-eight patients received local resection giving an operative mortality of 0% and morbidity of 13.2%. The 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate was 83.5%, 51.4%, and 38.9%, respectively, with a median survival of 3.35 years. Up to now, 13 patients have survived for more than five years and 2 patients beyond ten years. The tumour size, tumour grading, lymph node status and UICC stage were significant prognostic factors in univariate analysis. However, only lymph node status was a statistically independent predictor of prognosis in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONLocal excision is safe giving low morbidity and good survival in carefully selected cases. Preferably it is indicated only in high risk patients with a pT1 and well differentiated ampullary cancer smaller than 1 cm in diameter.

Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Ampulla of Vater ; surgery ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze a large cohort of patients with rectal cancer within a cancer center to determine the prognostic factors by univariate and multivariate analyses.

METHODSA total of 952 patients with rectal cancer were treated surgically during a period of 10 years. R0, R1 and R2 operations were carried out in 741 patients (77.8%), 75 patients (7.9%) and 136 patients (14.3%), respectively. There were more Miles operation (53.5%) than lower abdominal resection (LAR, 33.7%).

RESULTSThe operation mortality was 0.3%, 418 patients were dead within 108 months postoperatively due to recurrence or metastases to liver, lung and bone in 53, 39 and 12 patients. The overall mean survival time for all patients was 73.52 +/- 1.70 months and the overall 3-, 5-and 10-year survival rates were 67.6%, 55.4% and 38.2%. The overall 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates for patients treated by radical operation were 81.4%, 70.3%, 48.8%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimate showed that patient gender, age, radicality of resection, histological type, liver and pulmonary metastasis and TNM stage were the predictors of survival. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant correlation with radicality of operation, histological type, depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic invasion, TNM stage, liver and pulmonary metastasis.

CONCLUSIONFor survival, statistically significant differences among prognostic factors in relation to radicality of resection, lymphatic invasion, TNM stage, depth of tumor invasion, histological type, liver and pulmonary metastasis are found.

Adenocarcinoma ; mortality ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate