Objective To compare the MRI features of hepatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET G1,G2) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC G3),as well as to improve the accuracy in hierarchical diagnosis.Methods Twenty patients with histopathologically proven NET and nineteen patients with histopathologically proven NEC were retrospectively analyzed.The morphological and MR signal features were compared.Results The morphological features of vascular invasion (P ＜ 0.05) and lymphadenectasis or necrosis (P ＜ 0.05),as well as the MR signal features on portal phase (P ＜ 0.05) and delayed phase (P ＜0.05) were different between the NET group and the NEC group;contrast to noise ratios (CNR) were also different between the two groups (x2 =5.14,P ＜ 0.05),CNR of the NEC group on both arterial phase (Z =121.75,P ＜ 0.05) and portal phase (Z =139.31,P ＜ 0.05) were significantly lower than the NET group;ROC analysis of CNR demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.729 (P ＜ 0.05) on portal phase,when the optimal cut-off value of-61.38 was used,a sensitivity of 90.0％ and a specificity of 63.2％ can be achieved.Conclusions MRI plays an important role in the hierarchical diagnosis of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.The signs of vascular invasion,lymphadenectasis or necrosis as well as the MR signal features during dynamic enhanced scanning are of great value in differentiating NETs from NECs.

OBJECTIVETo explore efficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of Jiedu Quyu Zishen Recipe (JQZR) in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying its effect on Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) signal pathway of murine macrophage cells after JQZR stimulated CpG oligodeoxynucletide (CpG ODN).

METHODSMurine macrophage cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank serum group, the CpG ODN stimulus group, the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group, the CpG ODN + medicated serum group. Murine macrophage cells were collected after 24-h intervention. The expression of TLR9, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), NF-KB, IFN-α mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR. The expression of TLR9 and NF-κB protein were analyzed by Western blot. Changes of the NF-KB transcriptional activity were assayed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTSmRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were enhanced, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the blank serum group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, the protein expression of NF-κB and the NF-κB transcriptional activities decreased in the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group with statistical difference (P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were decreased in CpG ODN+ medicated serum group with statistical difference (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONEfficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of JQZR in treatment of SLE might be realized through regulating TLR9 signal pathways.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; NF-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy of hot-tonifying needling in treating stomachache due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach.Method Forty patients with stomachache due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach were divided into a treatment group and a control group by using random number table method according to registration order, 20 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by twisting tonifying method, while the treatment group was intervened by hot tonifying needling method. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was observed before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The VAS scores were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); there was a significant difference in comparing the VAS score between the two groups after the treatment (P<0.05); the difference in the change of VAS score between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.0％ in the treatment group, versus 60.0％ in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and there were significant differences in comparing the clinical efficacy and relapse rate between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Hot-tonifying needling is effective in treating stomachache due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach, with less adverse effects and lower relapse rate.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of adenovirus-mediated interleukin-24 (AdVIL-24) in conjunction with ionizing radiation on the growth of CNE-2Z human NPC cells in vitro and in vivo and underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe CNE-2Z cells were transfected with AdVIL-24 alone or combined with radiotherapy. The transfection efficacy of AdVIL-24 in CNE-2Z cells was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell growth was assessed by MTT assay, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry through double staining of cells with propidium iodide (PI) and the expressions of P21, P27, cyclin E, CDK2, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected with semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Anti-tumor effect of AdVIL-24 was observed using CNE-2Z human nasopharyngeal carcinoma transplanted tumor in athymic nude mouse model. The volume and weight of the xenografted tumors were measured and the expressions of P21, P27, cyclin E, CDK2, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, CD34 and VEGF and the microvessel density in xenografted tumors were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis.

RESULTSAdVIL-24 plus radiotherapy induced cell growth inhibition (P < 0.05, Q3d, 4d = 0.916, 1.050) , cell cycle G1 phase arrest(50.37%, P < 0.05, Q = 1.042) and apoptosis (48.82%, P < 0.05, Q = 1.042) , substantial up regulations of P21, P27, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 and down regulations of cyclin E and CDK2 (P < 0.05, QP21 = 0.959, QP27 = 0.956, Qcyclin E = 1.078, QCDK2 = 1.046, QBax/Bcl-2 = 0.995) in vitro. In the xenografted tumors, AdVIL-24 plus radiotherapy induced cell growth inhibition (P < 0.05, Qvolume14 = 1.053, Qweight = 1.004) , apoptosis (P < 0.05, Q = 0.974) , substantial upregulation of P21, P27, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 and downregulation of cyclin E and CDK2 (P < 0.05; QP21 = 0.920, QP27 = 0.937, QcyclinE = 1.060, QCDK2 = 1.019, QBax/Bcl-2 = 0.982, Qcleaved-Caspase-3 = 0.927) , decreased the tumor vessel CD34 expression and microvessel density. AdVIL-24 potentially blocked the radiation-induced enhancement of VEGF.

CONCLUSIONAdVIL-24 gene therapy combined with radiotherapy may be a novel and effective treatment strategy for human NPC.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Transfection

To study enhancing effect of IL-3 gene transfected bone marrow stromal cell which can be induced by doxycycline (Dox) to express IL-3 cytokine on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell, retrovirus vector system contained mIL-3 cDNA was established and bone marrow stromal cell line was transfected, and obtained QXMSC1Tet-on-IL-3, in which expression level of IL-3 can be modulated by Dox. The activities of IL-3 were measured under different Dox concentrations. The numbers of hematopoietic progenitors (CFU-GM, CFU-E, CFU-GEMM and LTC-IC) were measured and the capacity of QXMSC1Tet-on-IL-3 sustaining hematopoietic progenitor cell growth was evaluated. The results showed that IL-3 gene transfected stromal cell line QXMSC1-Tet-on + IL-3 expressed high concentration of IL-3 in vitro under control of Dox. The supernatant of QXMSC1-Tet-on + IL-3 was able to increase the number of CFU-GM, CFU-E and CFU-GEMM. The total numbers of nucleated cells and long-term cultured colonies increased in LTC-IC assay. It is concluded that in the culture of QXMSC1-Tet-on + IL-3 cells, Dox actually enhanced IL-3 expression, and thus augmented the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Interleukin-3 ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stromal Cells ; Transfection

Objective To study the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) on development of alveolar epithelial cell Ⅱ (AECⅡ) and expression of pulmonary surfactant protein B(SP-B) in premature rats.Methods Wistar rats at 19 days gestation were paunched to get embryo and primary AECⅡculture.The rats were divided into 4 groups ,VEGF-165 group,Dexamethasone group,VEGF and Dexamethason group,control group. AECⅡ and SP-B expression were measured by immunology histochemistry.Results SP-B had positive expression in VEGF group, Dexamethason group, VEGF and Dexamethason group. SP-B had negative expression in control group.Conclusion VEGF-165 can increase SP-B positive expression and secret of AECⅡ.VEGF promotes lung maturity.

The biological!activities i.e. antineoplastic activities and antiviral activity of the two novel kinds of interferons: hIFN-?1 and hIFN-? were studied and compared. First the fusion expression vector: pcDNA3.1A-hIFN-?1-His and pcDNA3.1A-hIFN-?-His by PCR was constructed,then the two kinds of plasmids were transfected into WI-38 (human embryonic lung cells) with liposome. And cytopathic effect (CPE) suppression test was used to study and compare the antiviral activities of rhIFN-?1-His and rhIFN-?-His, meanwhile MTT assay was used to detect their antineoplastic activities.It was found that, antiproliferative activity and MxA protein induction shown by rhIFN-?1-His is more powerful than of rhIFN-?-His. The antiviral molecular mechanisms of both hIFN-?1 and hIFN-? are related to MxA.The foundation for further study on the bioactivities and mechanism of action of hIFN-?1 and hIFN-? was established.

The known members of inhibitor of growth (ING) gene family are considered as candidate tumor suppressor genes. ING4, a novel member of ING family, is recently reported to regulate brain tumour angiogenesis through transcriptional repression of NF-?B-responsive genes, induce G2/M arrest by the increased p21 expression in a p53-dependent manner, suppress the loss of contact inhibition and represses activation of the hypoxia inducible factor, which plays an important role in the progression of tumorigenesis. However, seldom studies about ING4 inducing tumor cells apoptosis were reported.The C6 cells (mouse glioma cells) were infected respectively with the blank adenovirus carrying GFP (Ad) and the recombinated Ad-hING4-His, then RT-PCR assay was used to detect the transcriptions of hING4, as well Western-blotting assay was ued to detect the expressions of hING4. The effects of hING4 expression upon C6 cells were observed, and the growth curve was drawed and tumor control rates were calculated. The C6 cells, which were affected by blank Ad and Ad-hING4-His, were respectively observed by LSCM (laser scan confocal microscope) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), detected by flow cytometry; and the genomic DNA of both groups were extracted and electrophoresised in agarose gel to examinate the DNA fragments. The results showed hING4 can significantly inhibit the growth of C6 cells by promoting the cell’s apoptosis, which probably is the first one to prove this property of ING4.The experimental and theoretical foundation for gene therapy for gliomas with ING4 in the future was established.

Objective To study the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)on production of pulmonary surfactants.Method Fetal rat lungs were obtained at 19-day gestation.Primary culture of typeⅡalveolar epithelial cells(AECⅡ)was performed using IgG panning technique.The rats was divided into groups: VEGF,Dexamethasone,VEGF plus Dexamethasone and a control.Total phospholipids,phosphatidylcholine (PC),phosphatidyl glycerol(PG)and sphingornyelin(SM)were determined.Results expressed as mean?SEM. Comparison between groups were made with LSD-t test and one -way ANOVA.Result VEGF,Dexamethasone and VEGF plus Dexamethasone groups showed increased amount of total phospholipids and its compositions on the first day of culture.Conclusions VEGF-165 promotes the production and secretion of pulmonary surfactant. VEGF and Dexamethason may go through different mechanism for enhancement of synthesis of pulmonary surfactant,thereby improve biological function of AECⅡ.

Glucocorticoids/urine* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Marathon Running ; Saliva/chemistry* ; alpha-Amylases/analysis*