To study the effects of Xifeng Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with carbamazepine on spontaneous epileptic seizure induced by lithium and pilocarpine in rats and the expression level of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1).

Ear Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Radiation Injuries

Objective To explore the prognostic value of blood aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index(APRI)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after radical surgical resection. Methods A retro-spective cohort study was conducted to analyze 228 patients with HCC who underwent radical surgical resection. Patients were divided into low APRI group(APRI<1.62)and high APRI group(APRI≥1.62). Patients′clinical and demographic data and overall survival(OS)were statistically analyzed and multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors. Results APRI was closely related to preoperative serum ALT level,PLT level,the positivity of HBsAg,liver cirrhosis and portal vein tumor thrombus. OS of patients in low APRI group was signifi-cantly better when compared to those with an elevated APRI(P<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that preop-erative APRI,maximum size of tumor,number of tumor nodules,portal vein tumor thrombus,TNM and differenti-ation of tumors were independent prognostic factors for HCC(P<0.05). Conclusions Preoperative APRI≥1.62 is an independent prognostic factor of OS for patients with HCC after radical surgical resection.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of arsenic trioxide(ATO) plus vitamin K2(VK2) on proliferation of HL-60 cells from acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line and explore the possible mechanism.Methods ①HL-60 cells were exposed to ATO(0.0,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 μmol/L),VK2(0.0,2.5,5.0,10.0,20.0μmol/L),or both of different concentrations (0.5 μmol/L ATO + 2.5 μmol/L VK2,1.0 μmol/L ATO + 5.0μmol/L VK2,2.0 μmol/L ATO + 10.0 μmol/L VK2,4.0 μmol/L ATO + 20.0 μmol/L VK2) for 24,48 or 72 h,respectively.The method of CCK-8 was used to assess the proliferation of HL-60 cells and the half inhibitory concentration(IC50) of ATO or VK2 was calculated,respectively.②Combination index (CI) was used to evaluate the combinative effect of the two treatments:CI ＜ 1,=1 or ＞ 1 indicated synergistic,additive,or antagonistic effect,respectively.③After HL-60 cells were treated with 1.0 μmol/L ATO or 5.0 μmol/L VK2 individually or simultaneously for 48 h,Annnexin V/PI staining was performed to identify the apoptosis rate of each group.Untreated cells were used as control group.Results ①ATO or VK2 alone inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a concentration and time dependent manner.The IC50 of ATO or VK2 at time of 24,48,72 h were (22.86 ± 2.44),(6.66 ± 0.34),(4.14 ± 0.41) and (18.40 ± 1.12),(13.48 ± 0.73),(8.95 ± 0.40) μmol/L,respectively; ②The combination of ATO and VK2 illustrated a synergistic effect with CI ＜ 1.③No statistical difference was found among control group [(4.38 ± 0.56)％],1.0 μmol/L ATO group [(5.76 ± 1.63)％] and 5.0 μmol/L VK2 group [(6.38 ± 1.42)％] in the apoptosis rate(all P ＞ 0.05).However,the apoptosis rate of combined group did rise to (44.18 ± 8.42)％,with a significant improvement to that of VK2 or ATO group alone (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The combination of VK2 and ATO exhibits an enhanced synergistical inhibitive effect on proliferation of HL-60 cells,and apoptosis may be involved in this synergy in part.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of 3 month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice after six-month intervention with curcumin, in order to discuss the neuroprotective effect of curcumin.

METHODAPPswe/PS1dE9dtg mice were randomly divided into the model group, the Rosiglitazone group (10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and curcumin high (400 mg x kg9-1) x d(-1)), medium (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and low (100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) dosage groups, with C57/BL6J mice of the same age and the same background in the normal control group. After 6 months, the immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and the Western blot method were used to observe the changes in positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area, their distribution and protein expressions.

RESULTBoth of the immunohistochemical staining and the Western blot method showed more positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area and higher protein expressions in the model group than the normal group (P < 0.01). IHC showed a lower result in the Rosiglitazone group than the model group (P < 0.05), while Western blot showed a much lower result (P < 0.01). The number of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs positive cells and the protein expressions decreased in the curcumin high group, the medium group showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01), and the low dose group also showed reductions in the protein expressions of Aβ40 and Aβ42.

CONCLUSIONThe six-month intervention with curcumin can significantly reduce the expressions of hippocampal Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice. Whether curcumin can impact Aβ cascade reaction by down-regulating expressions of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs and show the neuroprotective effect needs further studies.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage

Objective:This work aims determine the expression of the neurotensin (NTS) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subgrouping using immunohistochemical staining (IHC) as well as to evaluate the correlation between the activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC and inflammatory response in microenvironment and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer and in the prognosis of patients. Methods:Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissue were collected from 64 cases of HCC patients. The expression levels of NTS protein and multiple inflammation and EMT-related proteins, including IL-8, VEGF, MMP9, CD68, E-Cadherin,β-Catenin, and Vimentin, were examined in 64 cases of paraffin-embedded HCC tissues using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. The clinical outcome and overall survival (OS) among 64 cases of HCC patients were compared. Results:We found that the frequency of NTS-expressing tissues among all HCC samples was 17.19%(11/64). Significantly increased IL-8 protein was confirmed in 90.91%of NTS+HCC samples and was positively correlated with the levels of NTS protein in cancer tissues (P=0.036), which implied the dysfunctional activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC. The levels of VEGF and MMP9 were significantly correlated with the co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in HCC. Evident features of EMT, including decreased membrane expression of E-Cadherin and increased accumulation of cytoplasmicβ-Catemin and Vimentin, were found in NTS+IL-8+samples. The co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in cancer was significantly correlated with the clinical outcomes of patients, as the mortality rate of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients is 2.5-fold higher than that of others after surgery (P=0.022).Accordingly, the OS of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients significantly decreased (24.65±4.45 m vs. 75.79±16.32 m, P=0.013), and these patients are at a higher risk of death at an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 3.457. Conclusion:The NTS/IL-8 pathway is dysfunctionally activated in a subgroup of HCC samples. Highly expressed NTS is associated with increased inflammatory response in microenvironment, enhanced EMT in cancer, and worse prognosis in HCC patients.

Objective To explore the impact of broad antigen HLA-Bw4 on disease progression in HIV-1 infected subjects. Methods Three hundred and forty subjects chronically infected with HIV-1 and 69 HIV-1 negative subjects were recruited and HLA-B alleles were typed with sequence-based high resolution typing assay. HLA-Bw genotypes of these HIV-1 infected subjects were determined and their association with CD4+ T cell counts and viral loads were analyzed. Results Sixty-five HLA-B alleles were detected in HIV-1 positive subjects. Subjects with Bw4 (Bw4 homozygotes and Bw4Bw6 heterozygotes ) had higher CD4+ T cell counts ( P = 0. 004 ) and lower plasma viral load ( P = 0.003 ) than subjects without Bw4 ( Bw6 homozygotes). When compared with HIV-1 postive subjects with CD4+ T cell counts above 500 celis/μl, those with CD4+ T cell counts below 500 cells/μl were observed with decreased percentage of Bw4Bw6 heterozygote ( P =0.0002) and increased percentage of Bw6 homozygotes ( P < 0. 0001 ). There is no significant difference in CD4+ T cell counts between Bw4 homozygotes and Bw4Bw6 heterozygote, but lower viral loads were observed in Bw4Bw6 heterozygotes( P = 0. 037 ). Conclusion HLA-Bw4 can confer pretective effects on H1V-1 infected subjects by maintaining higher CD4+ T cell counts and lower viral load, the mechanism behind this effect need further exploration.

To establish an HPLC mehod for the analysis of pharmacokinetics of salvianolic acid B in rats. METHODS: The biological samples were extracted with acetic ether. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: Hypersil ODS column (200 mm×4.6 mm, 5μm) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water(with Ammoniom Acetate 0.25 mol/L) was set at 328 nm. RESULTS: Salvianolic acid B was injected intravenously at doses of 1.6, 3.2, 6.4 mg/kg. The terminal elimination half-life(t1/2) of α phase and β phase was (3.1±0.1) min and (31.5±3.2) min. The extents of excrement,urine and biliary excretion of salvianolic acid B were 1.43%±0.90%, 0.77%±1.01% and 8.82%±4.11%. The tissue concentration of salvianolic acid B was as followed in order: Cheart>Cliver>Clung>Cintestine>Ckidney>Cspleen>Cstomach. The plasma protein binding rate of salvianolic acid B in human plasma and in rat was similar(89.2%±1.8%,92.5%±1.5%). CONCLUSION: The method is accurate, stable and reliable, and can be used for the investigation of salvianolic acid B in pharmacokinetics research. Salvianolic acid B eliminates fast and it shows a high plasma protein binding rate, the mainly excretion way of salvianolic acid B is from biliary.

Objective Using Morris water maze test to evaluate the effects of guanosine and curcumin on cognitive function of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice .Methods 3-month old APPswe/PS1dE9 dtg mice were randomly di-vided into model group , donepezil HCL group , guanosine group , curcumin group , curcumin and guanosine group ( n=12), with age-matched Wild C57BL/6J mice of the same genetic background as normal control group .Medication was giv-en once a day for 1 month.Using Morris water maze to test the spatial learning and memory ability of mice .Results Guanosine and curcumin could improve spatial learning and memory disorders of AD mice , particularly in the group of cur-cumin.Conclusion Guanosine and curcumin improve the cognitive ability of APPswe /PS1dE9 double transgenic mice with early cognitive impairment .

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of parametric imaging of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) on recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.Methods CEUS images of 41 recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation was analyzed by Sonoliver CAP software.The color code image,curve image and quantitative parameter of DVP of each recurrence lesion was recorded,then typed and analyzed statistically.Results The DVP patterns were classified into 3 types,they were washed out types,non-washed out types and negative types.The washed out types,non-washed out types and negative types on color code image and curve image of DVP were 70.73％ (29/41),24.39％ (10/41),4.88％ (2/41) and 63.41％(26/41),34.15％ (14/41) and 2.44％ (1/41) respectively.The maximum intensity,rise time,time to peak of the recurrence lesion and the surrounding liver parenchyma were (149.98± 65.29) ％,(12.32 ± 5.83)s,(13.01 ±6.07)s and (100±0.00)％,(26.10± 10.81)s,(29.69± 11.60)s respectively,and showed statistical differences (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The difference of blood perfusion between the recurrence lesion and the surrounding liver parenchyma can be displayed by DVP's dynamic,direct and quantitative imaging,which can be used to provide valuable information about the detection of intrahepatic lesion of recurrence after liver transplantation.