OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cinnamaldehyde ofloxaein-3-ylhydrazone (FQ)16) on apoptosis of human pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro. METHODS: Human pancreatic carcinoma cell line BxPC-3 was treated with FQ16 at different concentrations. The proliferation inhibition was examined by MTT assay. Morphological examination, TUNEF and agarose gel electrophoresis method were used to detect apoptosis. Western blotting method was used to detect the expression of apoptosis related genes caspase-3 , caspase-9, caspase-8, bcl-2, bax and cytochrome C. RESULTS: The cell proliferation was inhibited by FQ16 in a time- and a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of BxPC-3 cells with different concentrations of FQ16 for 24 h increased the percentage of the apoptotic cells obviously (P < 0.05); the morphology of BxPC-3 showed changes such as nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation and typical ladder DNA in apoptotic cells. FQ16 increased protein expression of bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3, and induced cytosolic accumulation of active caspase-9 and caspase-8, whereas the protein expression of bcl-2 decreased. Western blotting results reveal that FQ16 released mitochondrial cytochrome C into cytosol in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma BxPC-3 cells is one of the key mechanisms of action of cinnamaldehyde olloxacin-3-ylhydrazone, and mitochondrial-dependent pathways are involved in the induction of apoptosis of BxPC-3 cells. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

To establish a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with kidney deficiency syndrome.

Objective To explore the value of wave intensity (WI) parameters in evaluating hemodynamic changes of cardiovascular system before and after 131I therapy in hyperthyroid patients.Methods Forty-seven hyperthyroid patients were enrolled as hyperthyroid group,while 47 healthy volunteers were considered as control group.Both of the hyperthyroid and control group took WI examinations,and WI curves of their right common carotid arteries were recorded.WI parameters of WI curve were automatically measured as followed:value of the first positive peak (W1),value of the second positive peak (W2),area of the negative peak (NA),and the square root of NA (A).Twenty-five patients of the hyperthyroid group received 131I therapy were enrolled as treatment group.All these patients were followed up for 3 months.The repeatability of the WI parameters was evaluated in 10 hyperthyroid patients and 10 normal volunteers selected at random from the investigation.Results W1,W2,A in hyperthyroid group increased compared with those in control group,and independent-samples t test showed very significant difference (P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.000).W1,A decreased after 131I therapy compared with those before treatment,and paired-samples t test showed significant difference (W1:P=0.001;A:P=0.011).A in hyperthyroid group had positive correlation with FT3 (r=0.508,P=0.003);W1 after 131I therapy in treatment group had positive correlation with FT3 and FT4 (r=0.601,P=0.002;r=0.680,P=0.00);W2 after 131I therapy in treatment group had positive correlation with FT3 and FT4 (r=0.549,P=0.005;r=0.570,P=0.004).The repeatability of W1,W2,NA and A were good by consecutive measurement of identical observer.Conclusions WI peak parameters of hyperthyroid patients were higher than those of healthy volunteers,and some sensitive parameters were decreased after 131I therapy,which may provide the basis for assessing the effectiveness of 131I therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the difference in pathogenicity and genotype between two isolates of Veronaeae botryosa with different temperature tolerance. Methods Two strains of Veronaeae botryose were isolated from two patients with phaeohyphomycosis in Jiangsu and Henan province respectively. Of them, the Jiangsu strain could grow well at 37 ℃, but Henan strain could not grow at 36 ℃. Eighty mice were equally classified into immunocompetent and immune-suppressed (induced by cyclophosphamide) groups to be inoculated with the two strains of Veronaeae botryosa respectively. Ten mice remained uninoculated and served as the control. The general condition, growth and organic involvement of mice were observed for 4 weeks followed by the killing of surviving mice. Homogenated tissue samples were obtained from liver, spleen, lung, kidney and brain; then, tissue culture, direct microscopy and pathological examination were performed. Genomie DNA was extracted from tissue samples and subjected to random amplified polymor-phic DNA (RAPD) analysis. PCR was performed to amplify the intemal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA followed by sequencing Results Systemic phaeohyphomycosis was induced in both immunocompetent and immune-suppressed mice by the Jiangsu strain of Veronaeae botryose; the mortality was 30% in immune-competent mice and 65% in immune-suppressed mice with statistical significance between the two groups. In immune-suppressed mice inoculated with the Jiangsu strain, the infection rate was 100% in the lung,signifi-cantly higher than in other organs; on direct microscopy the infection rate reached 64.7% in the liver, and 70.5% on tissue culture. There was no significant difference in the infection rate among these organs in immunocompetent mice inoculated with the Jiangsu strain, with the infection rate being 57.8% in the lung and 42.1% in the liver. Increased infection rate was observed in the lung of immune-suppressed mice com-pared with immunocompetent mice (P < 0.05). No definite infection was seen in immunoeompetent or immune-suppressed mice innoculated with the Henan strain. RAPD analysis and sequencing revealed that there was a base variation (A/G) at position 236 of ITS gene between the two strains. Conclusions The two strains of Veronaeae botryosa have different genotypes. Systemic phaeohyphomycosis can be caused in immunocompetent and immuno-suppressed mice by the Veronaeae botryosa isolate from Jiangsu Province; the mortality was higher in immuno-suppressed mice than in immunocompetent mice. The pathogenicity of Veronaeae botryose is associated with the immune status of hosts. In immuno-suppressed mice, lung is the organ most susceptible to infection by Veronaeae botryosa.

Objective:To explore and analyze the points-selection rules in acupuncture treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) by data mining and statistical method. Methods:Clinical literatures about the treatment of MGH with acupuncture published in the recent 16 years were retrieved from Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD) and established into a database by Excel. The SPSS 20 version software and Clementine 12.0 version software were adopted to analyze the frequency and association rules of points-selection in the treatment of MGH with acupuncture. Results:The top 3 points used most frequently in acupuncture treatment of MGH were Danzhong (CV 17), Taichong (LR 3) and Zusanli (ST 36); points from the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming and Liver Meridian of Foot Jueyin were most commonly used; the commonly selected points were predominantly distributed in thoracic and abdominal regions and lower limbs; emphasis on the combination use of local and distal points; of the specific points, the five Shu-Transmitting points were mostly used; association analysis showed that the associations among Taichong (LR 3), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zusanli (ST 36) were the most significant. Conclusion: The data mining results substantially accord with the general rules of acupuncture-moxibustion theories in traditional Chinese medicine, able to reflect the points-selection principles and features in acupuncture treatment of MGH and provide evidence for the points selection in the treatment of MGH in acupuncture clinic.

· AIM: To investigate whether heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is induced in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in experimental rat glaucoma and whether the induction of HSP27 by intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation can increase serum autoantibody to HSP27 in the model.IOP elevation、Sham and normal groups by SPSS12.0. IOP was raised by electrocoagulating at least 3 episcleral veins and limbal veins on the right eye of each rat in IOP elevation group and its contralateral eye was used as controls. Immunohistochemical staining for HSP27 was performed in RGCs and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and serum immunoreactivity against HSP27 was detected by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in three groups.RNFL of the eyes with IOP elevation, while it was expressed weakly in untreated control eyes. Compared with sham and normal groups, serum autoantibody to HSP27 was slightly high at 1wk (P ＞0.05) and significantly increased at 2, 3, 4 and 8wk (P＜0.05) in IOP elevation group.enhanced expression of the endogenous HSP27 might play an important role in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

AIM: To study the experimental method of inducing the chronic intraocular hypertension in rat eyes.METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into ocular hypertension and Sham control groups. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was raised by electrocoagulating at least 3 episcleral and limbal veins on the right eye of each rat in ocular hypertension group and its contralateral eye was used as control. At 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8wk after the electrocoagulation of the veins, IOP were measured. RESULTS: The treatment of electrocoagulation caused a significant IOP increase of the right eyes over the baseline, over the contralateral eyes, and over the sham control eyes (repeated measures ANOVA, P＜0.001). At 1wk,IOP was (30.12± 5.L8 ) mmHg (1kPa=7.5mmHg), and maintained the high IOP up to 8wk.CONCLUSION: The chronic intraocular hypertension model could be successfully created by electrocoagulating three or more episcleral and limbal veins.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Hongbeiyegen [the root of Alchornea trewioides(Benth.) Muell.-Arg.] on alcohol-induced liver fibrosis (AF) in rats and explore its mechanism.

METHODSIn rats with AF, the serum levels of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were detected along with examination of the changes in serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procolagen type III (PC III), collagen type IV (C IV), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (AST) levels.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, Hongbeiyegen could significantly reduce the levels of TGFbeta1, TIMP-1, HA, LN, PC III, CIV, ALT and AST in rats with AF.

CONCLUSIONHongbeiyegen can relieve and ameliorate liver fibrosis possibly by inhibiting the expression of TGFbeta1 and TIMP-1.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ethanol ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Laminin ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

Objective To explore determinants of functional tricuspid regurgitation with twodimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography,and to provide theoretical basis for surgery treatments.Methods Fifty-six subjects with left-sided valular diseases and tricuspid regurgitation underwent 2D and 3D echocardiography examinations.The tricuspid annulus diameter,the valvular tethering height and right ventricular volume and ejection fraction were measured.Results Based on the degree of tricuspid regurgitation,the patients were grouped into mild regurgitation (group 1) and moderate or more regurgitation (group 2).Comparing the two groups by t test,the tricuspid annulus diameter,the largest distance of tricuspid valvular tethering and the end-diastolic right ventricle volume had significantly enlarged in group 2 ( P ＜0.01 ).And the degrees of tricuspid regurgitation had good correlations with the annulus diameter,the valvular tethering,the right ventricular volume and pulmonary artery systolic pressure.Also,the 3D echocardiography revealed there were some valvular pathologies aggravating regurgitation.Conclusions The degree of functional tricuspid regurgitation is mainly determined by the annulus dilation and pulmonary hypertension.Further more,the 3D echocardiography can give us more details of the valves.