OBJECTIVE: To explore whether there are beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) binding elements in heart-beneficial recipe (HBR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine), which can ameliorate the cytotoxicity of Abeta. METHODS: The extract of HBR and Abeta(1-40) were co-precipitated, and the Abeta(1-40) in pellets was detected by immunoblotting. Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) was constructed, and Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) affinity elements from the extract of HBR were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The assay of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release from the primary cultured rat cortex neurons was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Abeta(1-42), and the protection effects of the HBR serum and the Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) treated HBR serum. RESULTS: Immunoblotting examination showed Abeta(1-40) could be co-precipitated with components of HBR following co-incubation, and the amount of Abeta(1-40) within pellets decreased when the HBR extract was diluted. Abeta(1-40) affinity elements from the extract of HBR, eluted from Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) by glycine solution (pH=2.5), could be detected by HPLC-fluorescent detector system. The analysis of LDH release showed that exposure of neurons to 5 micromol/L Abeta(1-42) for 48 h caused a significant increase of LDH release in either a serum free or 10% serum contained culture condition (P<0.01). The rat HBR serum was able to suppress Abeta(1-42) induced LDH release (P<0.05), whereas Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) treated HBR serum still maintained the ability to attenuate Abeta(1-42) induced LDH release although the effect was somewhat decreased compared with Affi-gel treated HBR serum. CONCLUSION: There are Abeta affinity components in HBR, which could not increase the Abeta cytotoxicity, but might be able to inhibit the cytotoxicity of Abeta. The results implied that the exploration of Abeta affinity elements from Chinese medicinal recipe which is effective for Alzheimer disease, might be an important direction in Alzheimer disease therapeutic research area.

Objective: To investigate the potential role of me latonin in the adrenal cortex of human embryo. Methods:Specifi c melatonin receptors was localized and characterized in the adrenal cortex of h u man embryo by means of immunohistochemistry. Results: mt1 （Me l1a）and MT2 （Mel1b）subtype of melatonin receptors was principally localize d to cytoplasm in zona glomerulosa， fasciculata and reticularis. Conclu sion: It is possible that mt1 and MT2 subtype of melatonin receptors co-exist in the adrenal cortex of human embryo.

Actins ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangiosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of aurora kinase inhibitor ENMD-2076 on human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines.

METHODSAML THP-1 and Kasumi-1 cells were treated with ENMD-2076 for 24 h and 48 h,respectively. Cell growth was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined using Hoechst staining apoptosis detection kit. Activation of Caspase pathway and expression of apoptosis regulator proteins were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSENMD-2076 significantly induced growth arrest and apoptosis in THP-1 and Kasumi-1 cells. Enhanced apoptosis was observed in ENMD-2076 group evidenced by strong activation of Caspase-9,Caspase-3 and PARP. Furthermore,the ENMD-2076 treatment resulted in down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 expression. Also,up-regulated expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bak,Bad and Bax was detected after ENMD-2076 treatment.

CONCLUSIONENMD-2076 can kill effectively AML cells by inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis,which is associated with activation of Caspase pathway and regulation of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Aurora Kinases ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology

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

OBJECTIVETo study the radiosensitizing effect of resveratrol on hypopharyngeal carcinoma cell line FADU in vitro.

METHODSHypopharyngeal carcinoma cell line FADU was cultured in in vitro DMEM. Its inhibition on cell proliferation was detected using cytotoxicity test (MTT assay). The cell survival curve was drawn using clone formation to obtain sensitive enhancement ratio (SER). Changes of the cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSResults of MTT showed the inhibition of resveratrol on FADU cells increased along with its concentrations (P < 0.05). Results of clone formation indicated the surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF2) was 0.717 ± 0.062 in the irradiation group, and 0.426 ± 0.035 in the resveratrol plus irradiation group (with SER ranged 1.684 ± 0.178) with statistical difference (P = 0.007). Results of FCM showed that after radiation of 4 Gy radiation, cells at G2/M phase arrest increased, but cells at G1 decreased. After radiation of resveratrol for 24 h, cells at G1 decreased, but cells at G2/M phase and S phase arrest increased. When 4 Gy radiation combined resveratrol was used, cells at G2/M phase arrest significantly increased, but cells at G1 significantly decreased. The apoptosis rate was 1.94% ± 1.65% in the control group, 4.56% ± 0.92% in the irradiation group, 2.03% ± 1.46% in the resveratrol group, and 23.11% ± 7.22% in the resveratrol plus irradiation group. There was statistical difference between the resveratrol plus irradiation group and the rest 3 groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONResveratrol could enhance the radiosensitivity of hypopharyngeal carcinoma FADU cells in vitro possibly by inducing cell apoptosis and causing changes in the cell cycle distribution.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Radiation Tolerance ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; therapeutic use ; Stilbenes ; therapeutic use

Objective To analyze laparoscopic lymphadenectomy and the safety of gastrectomy for gastroesophageal junction cancer.Methods From Jan 2011 to Dec 2012 72 gastroesophageal junction cancer patients were enrolled, including 46 patients in laparoscopic group, and 26 in open surgery group.Results There was no significant difference in the numgbers of lymph node dissection between the two groups and nor difference in the number of positive lymph node dissection.Esophagus resection length in open group was (2.0 ± 1.0) cm, while that was (3.0 ± 0.8) cm in laparoscopic group (t =0.471, P ＜ 0.001).5 (19％)patients in open group had positive margins compared to six in laparoscopic group (13％), x2 =0.491, P =0.483.7 patients in the open group underwent thoracoabdominal resection, while in laparoscopic group 3 patients did, x2 =5.781, P =0.016.Laparoscopic splenic hilar lymphnodes dissection harvested more lymph nodes (t =0.260, P =0.011).Laparoscopic gastrectomy used less operation time (t =0.237, P =0.021) experinced less blood loss (t =0.451, P ＜ 0.01) than open group.There was no difference in major complications between the two groups.Conclusions Laparoscopic splenic hilar lymphnodes dissection in gastroesophageal junction cancer surgery is superior to open surgery, with more lymph nodes harvested, longer esophageal cutting distances, lower incidence of thoracoabdominal surgery, shorter operation time, and less blood loss.

Cognitive impairment is a common complication of diabetes. Hippocampus plays an important role in cognitive function. In hyperglycemia, synaptophysin, a crucial synaptic vesicle membrane protein in hippocampus neuron is found to be down-regulated. Recent evidences have shown that angiotensin IV can facilitate memory acquisition and recovery. However, whether it can also improve cognitive functions of diabetic rats with cognitive disorder, and the possible mechanisms are uncertain. Hence, the objectives of this study. Forty fi ve Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control, diabetic group and diabetes with angiotensin IV treatment group. The cognitive functions, mainly learning and memory of the rats were evaluated using Morris water maze task. The synapses ultrastructure, relative mRNA concentrations and protein expression levels of synaptophysin in hippocampus CA1 area were estimated using transmission electron microscope, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively. Our study showed that in the diabetic rats with angiotensin IV treatment, the cognitive impairment as measured by Morris water maze task improved, the ultrastructure of synapses in hippocampus reversed, the relative mRNA concentrations and protein levels of synaptophysin in hippocampus signifi cantly increased, when compared with diabetic rats. We conclude that angiotensin IV plays an important role in improving cognitive function of diabetic rats. The possible mechanisms are up-regulating the expression of synaptophysin and normalizing the ultrastructure of synapses in hippocampus.

Objective To study effects of early non-invasive ventilation (NIV) application in treating elderly patients with acute left ventricular failure induced respiratory failure. Method Totally 32 elderly patients with acute left ventrieular failure induced respiratory failure, admitted from August 1997 to February 2007, received NIV treatment, and were retrospectively studied. There were 22 male and 10 female, aged (81.5?8.6) yearsdd. The changes of rahs, respiration rate, heart rate, arterial blood gas, cardiac function before and after NIV application were compared. According to the application time of NIV, 32 patients were divided into two groups: group A (early NIV application group, n=17) and group B (non-early NIV application group, n= 15). The time to improve the symptoms, the application time of NIV, cure rates, tracheal intubation rates and mortality were compared between the two groups. Results Thirty of the 32 patients survived, cardiac function was improved from New York classⅣtoⅠ～Ⅱ, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure significantly decreased, PaO_2 and SaO_2 significantly increased and PaCO_2 significantly decreased. The tracheal intubation was performed in 4 patients. The time needed to improve the symptoms and the application time of NIV were significantly different between group A and group B (P

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a class of RNA molecules that longer than 200 nucleotides.lncRNA is lack of functional open reading frames and has no protein coding ability.Recently, accumulating evidences indicate that lncRNA plays active roles in tumor carcinogenesis and progression.The aberrant expression of lncRNA is significantly correlated with the growth,metastasis,and therapy-resistance of digestive system tumors.Thus,lncRNA may be served as new targets for the diagnosis,treatment,and progno-sis of patients with digestive system tumors.