Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Objective To investigate ultrasonographic features of primary and metastatic ovarian yolk sac tumors.Methods Ultrasonographic features of 19 primary lesions and 33 metastatic lesions in 35 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Primary tumors were sized (14.6±3.6)cm in maximum diameter,manifesting as cysti-solid masses.Solid components of primary tumors were mainly hypoechoic or isoechoic(16/19)with rich blood supplies.Thirty-three metastatic lesions were located in pelvoceliac cavity(26/33) and liver parenchyma(7/33),sized (9.4±4.5)cm,(9.2±4.9)cm and (5.6±1.6)cm in maximum diameter respectively.Metastatic lesions in pelvoceliac lesions mainly demonstrated as hypoechoic masses(21/26), however lesions in the liver were mainly hyperechoic(5/7).Anechoic regions could be found in 9/26 of the pelvoceliac lesions.Blood supply was found less rich in metastatic masses than that in primary ones.Elevated serum level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was observed in all patients; ranging from 217 to 211 682 μg/L.Conclusions Primary and metastatic lesions of ovarian yolk sac tumor have obvious ultrasonographic characteristics.Combined with serum AFP level,the accuracy of diagnosis could be improved.

Objective To study the effect of Thy-1.1 stem cell transplantation on endothelial hyperplasia and restenosis.Methods Thirty 4-6 weeks male SD rats were sacrificed to obtain the Thy-1.1 stem cells.Carotid artery were injured by ballon in sixty female SD rat's were randomized to receive stem cell transplantation(5?10~6 Thy-1.1,n=30)or saline approach(n=30).About 5?10~6 Thy-1.1 stem cells were injected into the injured arter- y after carotid artery injury;while the control rats underwent carotid artery injury and was injected the same amount of saline.The animals were sacrificed,3,7,14,21 and 28 days after balloon denudation.The samples of carotid artery were harvested for pathological examination,RT-PCR and in situ hyhridzation(ISH)were used to detect the transplanted cells in the injured artery.Results The intimal thickness was thinner in stem cell transplantation group(I/M,Stem cell transplantation group:2.06?0.28 vs control group 2.42?0.19,P

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is a world-wide used herbicide and also a type of common poison for suicide and accidental poisoning. Numerous studies have proved that the concentration of serum PQ plays an important role in prognosis. Spectrophotometry, including common spectrophotometry and second-derivative spectrophotometry, is commonly used for PQ detection in primary hospitals. So far, lack of systematic research on the reliability of the method and the correlation between clinical features of patients with PQ poisoning and the test results has restricted the clinical use of spectrophotometry. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and value of spectrophotometry in detecting the concentration of serum PQ. METHODS: The wavelengths for detecting the concentration of serum PQ by common and second-derivative spectrophotometry were determined. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was applied to detect the concentration of serum PQ. The linear range and precision for detection of PQ concentration by this method were confirmed. The concentration of serum PQ shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry and HPLC were compared in 8 patients with PQ poisoning. Altogether 21 patients with acute poisoning 4 hours after PQ ingestion treated in the period of October 2008 to September 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into higher and lower than 1.8 μg/mL groups based on their concentrations of serum PQ measured by second-derivative spectrophotometry on admission. The severity of clinical manifestations between the two groups were analyzed with Student's t test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The absorption peak of 257 nm could not be found when common spectrophotometry was used to detect the PQ concentration in serum. The calibration curve in the 0.4–8.0 μg/mL range for PQ concentration shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry obeyed Beer's law with r=0.996. The average recovery rates of PQ were within a range of 95.0％ to 99.5％, relative standard deviation (RSD) was within 1.35％ to 5.41％ (n=6), and the lower detection limit was 0.05 μg/mL. The PQ concentrations in serum of 8 patients with PQ poisoning shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry were consistent with the quantitative determinations by HPLC (r=0.995, P<0.0001). The survival rate was 22.2％ in patients whose PQ concentration in serum was more than 1.8 μg/mL, and the incidences of acidosis, oliguria and pneumomediastinum in these patients were 55.6％, 55.6％and 77.8％, respectively. These clinical manifestations were different significantly from those of the patients whose PQ concentration in serum was less than 1.8 μg/mL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For common spectrophotometry, the wavelength at 257 nm was not suitable for detecting serum PQ as no absorbance was shown. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was reliable for detecting serum paraquat concentration. Serum PQ concentration detected by second-derivative spectrophotometry could be used to predict the severity of clinical manifestations of patients with PQ poisoning, and PQ content higher than 1.8 μg/mL 4 hours after ingestion could be an important predictive factor for poor prognosis.

AIM:To explore the depression-like behavior and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS)/hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels of amygdala in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rats and to study the effect of exogenous H2S on PTSD rats.METHODS:Single prolonged stress paradigm was adopted to prepare PTSD animal model.Forced swimming test and sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the depression-like behavior.The content of CBS/H2S in amygdala tissue was measured by Western blot and methylene blue method.In vivo extracellular single unit recordings was used to examine the frequency of spontaneous discharges of amygdala neurons.RESULTS:The immobility time in forced swimming test of PTSD group increased and sucrose preference in sucrose preference test of PTSD group decreased compare with normal group (P<0.01).CBS/H2S level in amygdala tissue of PTSD group decreased compared with normal group (P<0.01).The immobility time of the rats in forced swimming test of NaHS+PTSD group decreased and the sucrose prefe-rence in sucrose preference test of NaHS+PTSD group increased compare with PTSD group (P<0.01).L-cysteine increased the frequency of spontaneous discharges of amygdala neurons (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Depression-like behavior is aggravated in PTSD model rats owing to the inhibition of CBS/H2S content in amygdala tissue.The mechanism of behavior-improving effect of H2S on PTSD model rats is possibly related to excitating amygdala neurons and increasing the frequency of spontaneous discharges.

BacKground:Acetic acid spray combined with narrow-band imaging ( NBI ) endoscopy can improve the earIy diagnosis of coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions. Aims:To assess the vaIue of acetic acid spray combined with NBI in diagnosis of earIy coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions. Methods:A totaI of 236 coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions in 180 patients detected by screening endoscopy from Nov. 2011 to JuIy 2013 were enroIIed in this study. Acetic acid spray combined with NBI( combination group),singIe NBI,and indigo carmine staining were used to observe pit pattern,bIood capiIIary forms of the Iesion and mucosa whitening time,and vaIues of the three methods in diagnosis of earIy coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions were evaIuated. Results:Image cIarity of pit pattern in combination group was significantIy improved than that in NBI group and indigo carmine group(χ2 =15. 113,P=0. 000;χ2 =6. 128,P=0. 013);image cIarity of bIood capiIIary forms in combination group was significantIy improved than that in NBI group(χ2 =7. 384,P =0. 007). The overaII coincidence rates of diagnosis in combination group,NBI group, indigo carmine group were 91. 9%,89. 0%,86. 9%,respectiveIy. The diagnosis rate of pit pattern in combination group was significantIy higher than that in NBI group(χ2 =4. 490,P=0. 034),but no significant difference in bIood capiIIary forms was found between combination group and NBI group. The sensitivity of type Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ pit pattern,type Ⅱ,ⅢbIood capiIIary forms,mucosa whitening time <30 seconds for diagnosis of coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions in combination group were 94. 0%,92. 8%,92. 2%,respectiveIy,the specificity were 87. 4%,88. 1%,88. 0%, respectiveIy,and the accuracy were 91. 5%,91. 1%,90. 7%,respectiveIy. The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of type ⅤN or highIy irreguIar ⅤI pit pattern,type ⅢB bIood capiIIary forms and mucosa whitening time 0-5 seconds for predicting invasive carcinoma in combination group were aII quite weII. Conclusions:Acetic acid spray combined with NBI can cIearIy show the pit pattern and bIood capiIIary forms of earIy coIorectaI cancer and precancerous Iesions,and is fairIy consistent with the pathoIogicaI diagnosis. It is heIpfuI for diagnosing the nature of Iesion and depth of invasion.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) and the first-phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β cell under different glucose tolerance statuses. Methods Fifty-six patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM group), 52 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT group), and 42 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT group) underwent intravenous glucose tolerance test. Fasting serum SFRP4 and interleukin ( IL)-1β were assayed by ELISA. Acute insulin response ( AIR), the area under the curve of the first-phase (0-10 min) insulin secretion (AUC), glucose disposition index(GDI), homeostasis model assessment for β cell function index(HOMA-β), and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) were calculated. Results (1) The levels of SFRP4 and IL-1β in T2DM group and IGT group were significantly higher than that in NGT group [(184. 38 ± 61. 34 or 141. 64 ± 40. 46 or 95. 46 ± 20. 13)ng/ ml, P<0. 01]. AIR, AUC, and GDI in T2DM group and IGT group were significantly lower than those in NGT group(P<0. 01), and these results were more significantly reduced in T2DM group compared with those in IGT group. (2) SFRP4 was negatively correlated with AIR, AUC, GDI, HOMA-β (P<0. 01), and positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose after glucose loading, HbA1C , IL-1β, and high sensitive C-reactive protein(P<0. 01). (3) Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that AUC, HOMA-IR, and serum IL-1β level were independently associated with SFRP4. Conclusion The concentration of serum SFRP4 is closely correlated with the glycolipid metabolic disorder, the first-phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and chronic low-grade inflammation. SFRP4 may be involved in the mechanism of β cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVETo provide a theoretical basis for the further development of new drugs, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and the liver function in mice of anthocyanin from Ligustrum vicaryi were investigated.

METHODSThe 240 experimental mice were splitted equally for 6 kinds of experiments and 40 rats in each kind of experiment were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): normal saline control group (NS); aspirin control group (Asp); high-concentration anthocyanin group (HA); medium-concentration anthocyanin group (MA); low-concentratior anthocyanin group (LA). The analgesia effect of anthocyanin at different concentration was detenmined by hot-plate test and acetic acid writhin test, and the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanin was performed by ear edema, ahdomen capillary permeability and cotton granuloma. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in blood serum were determined, and the activities of SOD, T-AOC and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver were measured, while the histological changes of liver tissue were observed.

RESULTSThe pain threshold of mice was enhanced and the times of twist body wa decreased by medium-concentration and high-concentration anthocyanin. The activity of SOD was increased and the conentrs of NO and PGE were reduced in blood serum. High-concentration anthocyanin inhibited the ear swelling , the increase of celiac capillary permeability and th granuloma hyperplasia, and increased the activities of SOD and T-AOC while decreased the content of PGE2. The activities of SOD, T-AOC. GSH-PX were increased in liver, but the morphology of liver tissues in each group had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONAnthocyanin Ligustrum vicaryi has definite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is related to increasing the antioxidant capacity and decreasing th contents of NO and PGE2, and has not obvious damage to liver in the range of experimental concentration.

Analgesics ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anthocyanins ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Edema ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Xianxiong decoction on the mice with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.

METHODEighty female ICR mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: model group, Xianxiong decoction group, Daxianxiong decoction group, Xianxiong decoction group without Kansui Radix group, Xianxiong decoction group without Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Kansui Radix group, normal group and control group. Animals of each group, except normal group, were undertaken intraperitoneal injection and intranasal inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 1, 2, 3 to establish acute lung injury (ALI) model. 30 min after modeling, 0.2 mL corresponding drugs were administrated to each mice, dexam ethasone and normal saline were given to the mice of control group and normal group respectively. White blood cell in blood, neutrophil percentage of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant, the ratio of wet and dry lung tissue ( W/D), histopathological changes of lung tissue were estimated. Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into normal, model, control, high, middle and low dose Xianxiong decoction groups and were modeled in the same way. ELISA was applied to detect the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF, PCR for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha mRNA in lung tissue, and Western blot for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. Half of 20 ICR mice were administrated with Xianxiong decoction of its maximum tolerant normal saline.

RESULTCompared with model group, the number of WBC in blood of Xianxiong decoction group mice decreased (P < 0.01), percentage of neutrophils in both blood and BALF decreased as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); it also significantly reduced the ratio of W/D (P < 0.01); and found the alveolar wall, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating improved, compared with model group. Xianxiong decoction reduced the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05); its high and low dose groups only found TNF-alpha level declined. Five mice died 24 h after administration of Xianxiong decoction which indicated its toxicity when other influential factors were considered.

CONCLUSIONXianxiong decoction is effective on the ALI mice induced by LPS, but it is of toxicity at 3 g x mL(-1).

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of total flavonoids of propolis (TFP) on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure and its possible mechanism in rats.

METHODSSix male SD rats were randomly selected as normal control group, the remaining rats were made as chronic heart failure (CHF) model by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin. The rats in the successful model were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): CHF group, total flavonoids of propolis low dose group (LD group), total flavonoids of propolis middle dose group (MD group), total flavonoids of propolis high dose group (HD group), digoxin group (DIG group). After six week treatment, cardiac function indexes of rats were recorded by signal acquisition system; brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) content in plasma were detected; Myocardial morphological changes and collagen fiber hyperplasia by HE and Masson staining were observed; Myocardial apoptosis was detected with TUNEL method and protein connexin 43(P-Cx43) expression was detected by Western blot method.

RESULTSCompared with NC group, left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and maximal rise/fall velocity of left ventriculad pressure (± dP/dt(max)) absolute value in CHF group were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) while left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased significantly (P < 0.01); Contents of plasma BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 in the CHF group were significantly improved (P < 0.01). Compared with CHF group, LVSP, ± dP/dt(max) absolute value in MD and HD groups were increased (P < 0.05), and LVEDP was significantly lowered (P < 0.01); LVEDP in LD group was significantly lowered (P < 0.01), changes in LVSP and ± dp/dt(max) absolue value were not obvious (P > 0.05). BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 contents in MD and HD groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), but those plasma indicator changes were not obvious in LD group (P > 0.05). Western blot showed that P-Cx43 expression in CHF group was significantly higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01) and that in all TFP treatment groups it was decreased compared with CHF group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), among which pairwise comparisons also showed differences (P < 0.05), myocardial apoptosis index (%)(22.62 ± 3.39) in CHF group was higher than that in NC group( 1.12 ± 0.24) (P < 0.01); compared with CHF group, the apoptosis index of myocardial cells (%) in LD,MD and HD groups, (15.79 + 2.8), (9.28 + 2.1) and (4.73 + 1.14) respectively, were significantly lower than those in the CHF group( P < 0.01). The expression level of P-Cx43 positively correlated with the apoptotic index (r = 0. 861, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTotal flavonaids of propolis have inhibitory effect on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure induced by adriamycin in rats, and the mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of Cx43 expression, especially the regulatory phosphorylation status.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chronic Disease ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Phosphorylation ; Propolis ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood