Aim To investigate the effect of asiatic acid on apoptosis and autophagy in human glioblastoma T98G cells. Methods MTT colorimetry was employed to assay the cellular proliferating activity. The fluores-cence microscope and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect the morphological changes. The cell ap-optosis and autophagy were analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin-V/7-AAD and MDC staining respective-ly. The expressions of associated proteins were detected by Western blot to analyze the mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy. Results MTT assay showed that the growth of T 9 8 G cells was inhibited by asiatic acid ( IC50 =46. 3 μmol · L-1 ) . Annexin V/7-AAD stai-ning and Western blot revealed that asiatic acid in-duced apoptosis in T98 G cells by reducing the expres-sion of Akt, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increasing the expression of Caspase-3. MDC staining and Western blot showed that the per-centage of MDC-positive cells was decreased and the expressions of Beclin-1 , LC3-II and Atgs were inhibi-ted by asiatic acid treatment. 5 μmol·L-1 chloroquine was used to up-regulate the expressions of LC3-Ⅱand Beclin-1 . Asiatic acid-inhibited autophagy was blocked and the total apoptotic rate was reduced remarkably. Conclusion Asiatic acid suppresses T98 G cells pro-liferation by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell au-tophagy, and the very role of inhibiting autophagy could promote apoptosis to a certain extent.

Objective To observe the effects of eye acupuncture and body acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) expression in the cerebral cortex of rats after ischemia-reperfusion injury,in order to investigate the differences in therapeutic function between eye acupuncture and body acupuncture against acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Method 48 Rats established by suture method were randomly divided into control group,sham operation group,model group,eye-acupuncture in point area group,eye-acupuncture outside point area group and body acupuncture group. After reperfusion 24 h,the neurophysical behaviours were accessed by ZeaLonga neurophysical impairment marks;the levels of plasma TNF-αwere determined by ELISA method;the expression of ischemic cerebral cortex TNF-αmRNA was measured by RT-PCR method;the expression of ischemic cerebral cortex TNF-αprotein was detected by western blot. Results After reperfusion 24 h,compared with control group,neurologic impairment marks of eye-acupuncture therapy in point area group and body acupuncture group both decreased obviously (P<0.01),however there were no significant differences between the eye-acupuncture in point area group and body acupuncture group;the levels of plasma TNF-αin rat cerebral cortex after the eye acupuncture therapy and body acupuncture therapy were obviously decreased (P<0.01),however there were no significant differences between the eye-acupuncture in point area group and body acupuncture group; the expressions of TNF-α mRNA and protein in rat cerebral cortex after the eye acupuncture therapy and body acupuncture therapy were also obviously down-regulated (P<0.01),however there were no significant differences between the eye-acupuncture in point area group and body acupuncture group.Conclusion The eye and body acupuncture therapy show the same effects on treating cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The mechanisms of these two therapies may be related to up regulating TNF-αexpression in rat cerebral cortex with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND:Significant increasing of intercel ular adhesion molecule 1 expression can promote the occurrence of inflammatory response and increase brain tissue injury.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of eye acupuncture point and non-point therapy on intercel ular adhesion molecule 1 expression in rat hippocampus of acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model.
METHODS:Forty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into normal group, sham-operation group, model group, eye acupuncture point group and eye acupuncture non-point group. Rats in the model group, eye acupuncture point group and eye acupuncture non-point group were used to establish the acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model with suture method, the suture was deep for 1.8-2.2 cm. In the eye acupuncture point group, the acupuncture points of hepatic region, upper energizer area, lower energizer area and kidney area were selected when cerebral ischemia-reperfusion occurred immediately and 30 minutes before drawing materials, then horizontal needling the acupuncture points around the orbit for 20 minutes. In the eye acupuncture non-point group, the puncture site was selected at 3 mm away from eye acupuncture non-point area, and then needled the puncture site with the same method in the eye acupuncture point group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After eye acupuncture point therapy, the neurological deficit scores were decreased, and the intercel ular adhesion molecule 1 expression in rat hippocampus was significantly decreased (P<0.01). After eye acupuncture non-point therapy, there were no significant changes in neurological deficit scores and the expression of intercel ular adhesion molecule 1 protein and mRNA in rat hippocampus. The results indicate that eye acupuncture can significantly improve the rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the mechanism may relate with reducing the intercel ular adhesion molecule 1 expression in rat hippocampus.

Objective To investigate the changes of C- reactive protein( CRP ) and homocysteine ( Hcy)in the type 2 diabetes with depression,and its clinical significance and potential mechanism. Methods One hundred and twenty-four cases with type 2 diabetes were divided into the depression group(63 cases)and non-depression group( 61 cases ) according to the Self-Rating Depression Scale and verified by Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The information including age,sex,education degree,body mass index,course of disease and the number of complications were recorded. The levels of CRP,Hcy,fasting plasma glucose( FPG ),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)and blood lipid were measured. The depression group was divided into mild,medium and heavy group to compared the changes of Hcy and CRP. Results The levels of Hcy,HbA1c and the number of complications in depression group were 11. 5( 8. 6,15. 6 )μmol/L,( 10. 13 ± 2. 17 )%,and 2( 1,3 ) respectively,higher than that of non-depression group(8. 6(7. 4,11. 2)μmol/L,(9. 33 ± 2. 20)%,1(0,2)), while the education degree of depression group((9. 75 ± 3. 36)years)was lower than that of non-depression group((11. 56 ± 3. 73)years),and the differences were significant( t/Z = -3. 537,0. 952,-2. 339,0. 228 respectively;P ﹤0. 05). The levels of Hcy in mild,medium and heavy depression group were(8. 75(7. 45, 10. 45)μmol/L,12. 2(8. 90,14. 40)μmol/L,19. 50(14. 33,28. 03)μmol/L respectively and the difference was significant(F =25. 963,P =0. 000). No significance difference was found in terms of CRP level(2. 35 (1. 10,4. 92)mg/L,3. 25(1. 11,5. 68)mg/L,2. 32(1. 27,5. 41)mg/L;F=0. 194,P=0. 907). There was significant correlation between depression scores and Hcy( r=0. 615,P=0. 000). Conclusion Type 2 diabetes with depression is associated with the level of blood glucose,education degree and the course of disease. Hcy,not CRP is an independent risk factor of type 2 diabetes with depression.

A new hasubanan alkaloid, hernsubanine E (1), as well as two known compounds p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2) and (-)-syringaresinol (3) have been isolated from the whole plants of Stephania hernandifolia by various column chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analyses. Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from the genus of Stephania for the first time.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Stephania ; chemistry

Objective To determine the clinical features,neurophysiological characteristics and cervical magnetic resonance imaging of sensory neumnopathy,and to describe the pathology of skin nerve, sural nerve and spinal dorsal columns.Methods Two patients who died from sensory neuron disease (SND)after infection of digestive tract were discussed including clinical features and ancillary tests which included neurophysiology and pathology of peripheral nerve and spinal dorsal columns.Associated documents are reviewed.Results Early ataxia,widespread sensory symptoms and global loss of deep tendon reflex were the distinctive signs of SND,which was characterized by non-length-dependent abnormalities of sensory nerve action potentials,a hallmark of ganglionopathies.The second patient showed normal cervical magnetic resonance imaging possibly because of short course of disease,while diffuse hyperintensity in the spinal posterior columns of SND was reported.Demyelination of spinal posterior columns and loss of mostly large diameter nerve fibers without regeneration clusters were the main pathological features.Conclusions The distinctive clinical features and neurophysiological characteristics of SND indicate that peripheral sensory nerve fibers are widely damaged.Pathology of spinal posterior columns confirm that central sensory pathway are impaired which allow the localization of the pathologic site to the dorsal root ganglion neurons.Cervical spinal MRI of SND are possibly normal at early phase.

BACKGROUNDProgrammed cell death 5 (PDCD5) is a novel apoptotic regulatory gene that promotes apoptosis in various tumor cells. Studies have shown that PDCD5 accelerates the apoptosis of synoviocytes in vitro, implying a potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This study examined the expression of PDCD5 in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients, its effect on the expression of inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and the assessment of disease activity in RA.

METHODSPDCD5 and IL-17 levels in serum and synovial fluid from 18 patients with RA and 22 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Concentrations of serum PDCD5 in 40 healthy people were also detected as controls. As disease activity indices, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and X-ray grading scale were also evaluated.

RESULTSSerum and synovial fluid PDCD5 levels in RA patients were significantly higher than those in OA and healthy controls. Serum PDCD5 level was inversely correlated to CRP and ESR, and was significantly higher in the RF negative group than in the positive group. PDCD5 level was also negatively correlated with IL-17 levels both in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients. However, differences in synovial fluid PDCD5 level from RA patients at different Larsen stages were not detectable.

CONCLUSIONSPDCD5 affects RA pathogenesis. Insufficient apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and inflammatory cells in RA could increase the expression of PDCD5 protein. As PDCD5 levels correlated negatively with disease activity indices and IL-17 level, PDCD5 could become a target in the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

Aged ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; etiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Synovial Fluid ; chemistry

Objective To study the viremia formation in guinea-pigs infected with wild type and attenuated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Methods Guniea pigs were inoculated intraperitoneally with different wild JEV strains and the attenuated vaccine strain and its parent virulent strain. Viremia was detected on different days following virus inoculation. Results All the guinea-pigs inoculated with the wild JEV strains induced different levels of viremia ( 1.00-3.40 lg pfu) on the 1 st and 3rd day post inoculation.Using a virus titer of 104 pfu for inoculation, the animals inoculated with the SA14 parent strain induced relatively high viremia (1024-10 3.4 pfu), however no viremia coulds be detected on any tested days.Conclusion The degree of viremia in guinea pigs can be used as a new method to evaluate the attenuation of JEV.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dosimetric advantages of postmastectomy electron-beam chest-wall irradiation after left mastectomy in patients with breast cancer.

METHODSElectron-beam chest-wall irradiation and tangential field irradiation were planned using Pinnacle7.4f planning systems for 42 patients with left breast cancer after mastectomy. The total prescribed dose for both plans was 5000 cGy/25 fractions. The dose volume histogram was used to compare the dosimetry of the clinical target volume (CTV) and the organs at risk such as the heart and ipsilateral lung.

RESULTSThe maximum dose (Dmax) of the CTV of electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans was significantly higher than that of tangential field irradiation plans (5562±61 vs 5402±82 cGy, t=6.10, P<0.05). The CTV of the electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans showed better heterogeneity than that of the tangential field irradiation plans, with heterogeneity index of 1.18±0.03 and 1.13±0.18, respectively (t=6.50, P<0.05). Electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans had also a better conformal index of the CTV than tangential field irradiation plans (0.77±0.17 vs 0.57±0.17, t=3.49, P<0.05). The V40 of the ipsilateral lung, the maximum dose of the heart, V30 and V40 of the heart in the electron beam chest-wall irradiation plans were smaller than those of the tangential field irradiation plans [(5.86±3.68)% vs (8.73±3.26)%, t=-2.27, P<0.05; 4839±388 cGy vs 5095±176 cGy, t=-2.32, P<0.05; (2.58±1.50)% vs (7.20±2.62)%, t=-4.70, P<0.05; (1.74±1.23)% vs (4.20±2.51)%, t=-3.50, P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONCompared with the tangential field irradiation plans, electron-beam chest-wall irradiation has better coverage index of the CTV and can decrease the high-dose volume of the normal tissue, but shows a poorer habituation index of the CTV.

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Thoracic Wall ; radiation effects

Objective To observe the improving effect in joint function of moderate skeletal fluorosis treated by traditional Chinese medication(main ingredient was Strychnine).MethodsFrom December 2007 to July 2009,120 moderate skeletal fluorosis patients met the inclusion criteria were divided into the treatment group(60 cases)and the control group(60 cases)in the skeletal fluorosis hospital of Xinzhou,the treatment group was given basic treatment and traditional Chinese medication,the control group wa8 given basic treatment and placebo.The treatment lasted 12 weeks,follow up 24 weeks.Before treatment,after treatment 4 weeks,8 weeks,12 weeks,36 weeks,a third party evaluate comprehensive function of both upper and lower limb and joint dysfunction.Results The main effect of both drugs was statistically significance in the scores of the upper forearm in the finger by touching the posterior contralateral ear, upper arm touched by the finger back in the opposite corner subscapularis function, lower limb function and single-joint dysfunction(F values were 4.08,14.32,35.81,13.02, all P<0.05), the main effect of time also was significant (F values were 82.63,72.82,277.33,328.16, all P<0.05),①the upper forearm in the finger by touching the posterior contralateral ear functions:At the time of 8,12 weeks,scores of the treatment group were lower than those of before treatment and control group (all P<0.05);At the time of 36 weeks,scores of the treatment group were lower than that 12 weeks(all P<0.05);At the time of 8,12,36 weeks, scores of the control group were lower than those of before treatment(all P < 0.05);②upper arm function, namely fingers touching the opposite corner subscapularis:At the time of 4,8,12 weeks, scores of the treatment group were lower than those of before treatment(all P<0.05); At the time of 36 weeks, scores of the treatment group were lower than that 12 weeks(all P<0.05); At the time of 8,12,36 weeks, scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05);③Lower extremity functions: At the time of 8,12 weeks,scores of the treatment group were lower than those of before treatment and control group (all P<0.05);At the time of 36 weeks, scores of the treatment group were lower than that 12 weeks(all P<0.05) ; At the time of 8,12,36 weeks, scores of the control group were lower than those of before treatment (all P<0.05);④single joint functions:At the time of 4,8,12 weeks,scores of the treatment group were lower than those of before treatment(all P<0.05); At the time of 36 weeks,scores of the treatment group were lower than that 12 weeks(all P<0.05) ; At the time of 8,12,36 weeks, scores of the control group were lower than those of before treatment(all P<0.05);At the time of 4,8,12,36 weeks, scores of the treatment group were lower than those of control group(all P<0.05);⑤At the end of treatment and follow-up,the improvement rate in joint functions in the treatment group were 88.33% (53/60),93.33% (56/60); the control group were 28.07%(16/57),40.35%(23/57), (Fisher test, P<0.01,X2=56.21, P<0.01). ConclusionTraditional Chinese medication(its main ingredient is Strychnine), an effective drug for improving joint dysfunction in patients suffering from moderate skeletal fluorosis, is simple and effective.