AimTo investigate the inhibitory effect of ERK signaling pathway inhibitor UO126 on breast cancer cell proliferation and explore its specific regulatory mechanism. Methods Cultured human breast cancer cell MCF-7, MDA-MB231, the cell were divided into different groups and intervened. MTT was used to measure the cell proliferation; Flow cytometry was employed to test cell cycle and cell apoptosis; Western blot was applied to test p-ERK/ERK, cyclin D1, survivin and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. Results The results of MTT showed that the inhibitory rate of MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells increased significantly after U0126 intervention for 24 h and 48 h(P < 0.01). Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells treated with U0126 for 24 h. The proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase was significantly higher than that in control group, and the proportion of cells in S and G2 phase decreased(P < 0.05). The apoptotic rate in intervention group was significantly higher than that in non-intervention group, and the difference was significant(P < 0.01); U0126 treatment of human breast cancer cells could block ERK phosphorylation, increase cyclin D1 protein expression, inhibit survivin and up-regulate cleaved caspase3 expression, which were significantly different from control group(P < 0.05). Conclusions U0126 blocks ERK signaling pathway in MCF-7, MDA-MB231, down-regulates the cyclin D1, and blocks cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, then it inhibits the expression of survivin and increases cleaved caspase-3, promotes cell apoptosis, and inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7, MDA-MB231.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of abnormal Tbx3 expression in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

METHODThe total RNA of 4 breast cancer cell lines and 5 normal breast samples was extracted by routine Trizol method. After reverse transcription of the total RNA into cDNA, Tbx3 mRNA expression was detected in these samples by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the differences in Tbx3 protein expression between 60 breast cancer samples and 34 normal breast tissue samples.

RESULTSCompared to normal breast tissue samples, the breast cancer cell lines showed markedly increased Tbx3 mRNA expression. The results of immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant upregulation of Tbx3 protein expression in the 60 breast cancer tissues in comparison with the normal breast tissues, as was consistent with Tbx3 mRNA expressions in these tissue samples.

CONCLUSIONSThe mRNA and protein expressions of Tbx3 are markedly upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissue samples, suggesting that Tbx3 may serve as one of the malignant biomarkers in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Breast ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; Walking ; physiology ; Weight-Bearing ; physiology

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Azo Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Nitrates ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Piperazines ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of TBX3 gene in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

METHODSThe total RNA of 51 fresh breast cancer tissues and the corresponding adjacent tissues were extracted and reverse transcribed into cDNA to detect the expression of TBX3 mRNA by real-time PCR. The correlation between TBX3 mRNA expression and the clinicopathologic parameters in relation to breast cancer metastasis was analyzed.

RESULTCompared to that in the adjacent tissues, the expression of TBX3 mRNA was markedly increased in breast cancer tissues. TBX3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in metastatic breast cancer than in non-metastatic tumors.

CONCLUSIONIncreased expression of TBX3 mRNA suggests the involvement of TBX3 in the pathogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of the micro-inflammation in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and the effect of combined therapy with hypha cordyceps and ginkgo leaf tablet for its prevention and treatment.

METHODSSixty-five patients undergoing long-term maintenance hemodialysis were randomly assigned to the treated group (33 patients) and the control group (32 patients). Patients in both groups underwent hemodialysis regularly, meanwhile, 3 capsules of Jinshuibao (each capsule containing hypha cordyceps 0.33 g) and 1 tablet of ginkgo leaf tablet (0.23 g/tablet) were additiolally given to the patients in the treated group orally, 3 times per day, and 3 months as 1 treatment course. Their serum inflammatory factors, such as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), which could reveal the state of microinflammation, were determined before and after treatment. And the same index was also determined in 30 healthy persons allocated in a normal control group.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the serum levels of hs-CRP (4.94 +/- 2.21 mg/L), IL-6 (0.472 +/- 0.220 microg/L) and TNF-alpha (1.748 +/- 0.724 microg/L) in the treated group were higher before treatment, these indexes decreased markedly after treatment (3.28 +/- 1.28 mg/L, 0.379 +/- 0.163 microg/L, and 1.330 +/- 0.458 microg/L, respectively, all P < 0.01), but without significant change in the control group.

CONCLUSIONMicro-inflammation reaction exists popularly in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, and the combined therapy with hypha cordyceps and ginkgo leaf tablet could effectively improve this kind of micro-inflammation reaction.

Adult ; Aged ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyphae ; chemistry ; Inflammation ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Tablets

Anti-Müllerian tube hormone(AMH), also known as Müllerian inhibitory substances, is a member of the transformation system. In males, AMH is secreted by immature Sertoli cell which promotes the degradation of male fetal Müllerian tubes,and participates in testicular development and spermatogenesis.AMH can regulate gona-dotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), pituitary secretes follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH),testicular stromal cells secrete testosterone(T) and inhibin B causes male reproductive endocrine related diseases through HPG axis.

The response rules of pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were studied to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of GERD. Seventy-six cases of GERD were included into an observation group while 30 healthy volunteers were recruited into a control group. A mechanical measurement device of pressing pain that could measure the pain threshold was adapted to observe the pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in GERD patients and healthy volunteers. The test area is from spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra to that of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T1 -T12), including acupoints and non-acupoints on the Governor Vessel. As a result, in the observation group the pain threshold of T5-T7 spinous process clearance, which was the location of Shendao (GV 11), Lingtai (GV 10) and Zhiyang (GV 9), was lower than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). This result indicated that there was significant pressing pain in T5-T7 spinous process clearance in patients with GERD, which could be taken as an important auxiliary diagnosis and a new thinking method in the treatment of GERD with acupuncture.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Pressure ; Sensation ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ginsenoside-Rg3 on lung metastasis of ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) gene-transfected mouse B16 melanoma.

METHODSC57BL/6 mice were iv injected with parental or RI-transfected B16 melanoma cells. Lung metastasis was assessed by the number of surface tumor nodules. Mice were divided into 6 groups. Group I, II and III of mice were given parental, mock-transfected and RI-transfected B16 melanoma cells, respectively while in group IV, V and VI, Rg3 (1.5 mg/kg, iv q.o.d. x 10) was given to mice bearing parental, mock-transfected and RI-transfected B16 melanoma, respectively. Micovessel density (MVD) of the lung metastatic tumor was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of factor VIII-R expression.

RESULTSThe number of tumor nodules was significantly decreased in mice injected with RI-transfected B16 melanoma (Gp III, compared to Gp I and II). Rg3 treatment per se could also decrease the number of lung tumor nodules but to a lesser extent (Gp IV and V compared to Gp III). However, Rg3 synergized with RI transfection resulting in most significant inhibition of lung metastasis (Gp VI). Mice in Gp I and II died within 26 days of the experiment, whereas all the mice in Gp VI were alive during the observation period of one and one half month. MVD was significantly decreased in the lung tumor nodules in mice injected with RI-transfected B16 melanoma. It was further decreased when additional Rg3 was given (Gp VI).

CONCLUSIONTransfection of ribonuclease inhibitor gene significantly reduces the metastatic potential of B16 melanoma. Ginsenoside-Rg3 has a synergistic effect.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Male ; Melanoma, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Panax ; chemistry ; Placental Hormones ; genetics ; Transfection