OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ursolic acid (UA), apentacyclic triterpene acid, on MCF-7 cell apoptosis, and probable mechanism involved by detecting the expressions of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP) at protein level.

METHODMCF-7 cells were cultured with different concentrations of UA. Growth inhibition of UA on MCF-7 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell cycle and sub-G1 peak were performed by FCM. Morphologic changes of UA-treated cells were observed by light microscope. Apoptotic cells with condensed or fragmented nuclei were visualized by Ho 33258 staining by a fluorescence microscope (EX: U. V.). The protein expression of caspase-3 and PARP was analyzed by immunofluorescence cell staining (SABC-Cy3).

RESULT24 hours after UA treatment, inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth was concentration-dependent. The IC50 value for UA was (22.6 +/- 3.0) micromo x L(-1). Cell cycle anaysis by FCM showed that 50 micromol x L(-1) of UA arrested MCF-7 cell cycle at G0 - G1 phase. Morphological changes of MCF-7 Cells exhibited many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including chromatin clumps and aggregation and DNA fragmentation. UA increased caspase-3 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that UA evokes MCF-7 cell apoptosis is correlation with the up-regulation of caspase-3. Our study indicated that UA might be a potential Chinese medical component for breast neoplasm.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Pharmaceutical preparations, particularly as a "secret recipe" of traditional Chinese medicine in medical institutions, are the product of China's medical and health industry, and they are also an important means of competing of different medical institutions. Although pharmaceutical preparations have advantages and characteristics than institutes for drug and pharmaceutical companies, the quality standards of pharmaceutical preparations in medical institutions has not reached the desired level over the years. As we all know, the quality of pharmaceutical preparations is important to ensure the efficacy, especially under the environment of people pay more sttention on drug safety and effectiveness and contry increase emphasis on the stste of pharmaceutical preparations. In view of this, we will improve the grade, stability, and clinical efficacy of pharmaceutical preparations by the advanced equipment, testing instruments and the process dynamic quality control technology. Finally, we hope we can provide new ideas for the quality control of pharmaceutical preparations.
Drug Compounding ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

Objective To estimate the cancer incidence and mortality in Chongqing in 2014.Methods On basis of the methods and criteria of data quality control made by NCCR,authors compiled and summarized the 2014 tumor registration data reported by 11 registries in Chongqing.The datas which were stratified by area (urban/rural),gender,age and cancer type,incidence and mortality were calculated combined with national population.Results All 11 cancer registries reported 24 506 new cancer cases (14 610 were male and 9 896 were female)in 2014.The crude incidence in Chongqing was 244.66/105 (male was 289.01/105,female was 199.47/105).Sex ratio was 1.45:1.00,male was significantly higher than female.The incidence of lung cancer,colorectum,liver,esophagus,breast,stomach were the top six tumor.The incidence rate of all age groups in 2014 increased with age,the incidence rate increased from 40-44 years old group,and reached the highest incidence rate in the 80-84 years old group.Conclusion The data quality and representativeness in Chongqing tumor registration are gradually improved.Cancer registration as the basis of cancer prevention and control work,play an irreplaceable role.

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, has two generations in southern Zhejiang, China. To determine oogenesis in first-generation females (summer females) and its relations to temperature, females were collected from a rice field in early and mid-July and reared on young rice plants at 28, 31 and 34 degrees C in the laboratory. Percentage of females having oocytes, number of oocytes of different stages (stage-I, from early previtellogenesis to middle vitellogenesis; stage-II, late vitellogenesis; and mature-oocyte stage), and length of ovarioles were determined every 10 d of feeding. At each temperature, oogenesis took place in over 40% of females after 20~40 d of feeding, but only 0.0~3.3 stage-I, 0.0~0.8 stage-II and 0.0~1.1 mature oocytes were observed at each observation date. Temperature had significant effect on number of stage-I oocytes but not on number of stage-II and mature oocytes in early July females; temperature had no significant effect on number of oocytes of either stage in mid-July females. Conclusively, in southern Zhejiang, summer L. oryzophilus females have great potential to become reproductive on rice, but their oogenesis activity is very low, with the overall procedures little affected by temperature.
Animals ; China ; Female ; Oogenesis ; Oryza ; parasitology ; Seasons ; Temperature ; Weevils ; genetics ; pathogenicity

AIMTo explore the mechanism of chronic renal failure (CRF)-related erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSCRF experimental models were established by 5/6 nephrectomy from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Both the rats from the control group (NCRF group, n=6) and the experimental group (CRF group, n=30) were injected with a low dose (80 microg/kg) of apomorphine in the 12th week after resection surgery to measure corresponding penile erections. Western blot method was thereafter conducted to measure the expression of connexin 43 (CX43) in the rat corpus cavernosum in the 12th week after the resection surgery.

RESULTSThere was one death in the NCRF group and five in the CRF group. The penile erection ratio of the CRF group was 28% (7/25), whereas that of the NCRF group was 100% (5/5), which presents a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). In terms of penile erection frequency, the average of the CRF group was 1.0 +/- 0.0, which was significantly different from that of the NCRF group (2.2 +/- 0.8) (P < 0.05). As for the expression of CX43 in the rat corpus cavernosum, a notable difference existed between the CRF group (0.21 +/- 0.07) and the NCRF group (0.53 +/- 0.27) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCRF significantly reduces the erectile function of rats. A close correlation exists between the expression of CX43 in rats' corpus cavernosum and CRF-related ED.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; Male ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penis ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) bm47 gene is found in all sequenced lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs). It is one of the core genes of NPVs. However, the role of bm47 in the biological cycle of NPV remains unknown. In this study, the Red recombination system was used to knock out bm47 from BmNPV to construct bm47-ko-Bacmid in E. coli BW25113 system. Then bm47 gene was introduced back to the viral genome using the Bac-to-Bac system to create the repair virus bm47-re-Bacmid. TCID50 assay and real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to evaluate the effects of bm47 deletion on viral DNA replication, gene transcription, and protein expression. qPCR results showed that bm47 knock-out had no significant effect on viral DNA replication. However, the qPCR results showed that bm47-ko-Bacmid significantly decreased the transcription levels of early gene lef-3, late gene vp39, and very late gene p10 at 48 h and 72 h after viral transfection of BmN cells (P < 0.05). This work will provide a foundation for further studies on the biological function of BmNPV bm47 in viral replication and transcription.
Animals ; Bombyx ; virology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

Objective To observe the effects of Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules on the expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB; To explore its possible mechanism of treatment. Methods SD rats were injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) into the tail vein to induce diabetes mellitus. After the DR model was confirmed by fundus fluorescein angiography, the rats were randomly divided into model group, Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules group and positive medicine group, and normal rats were set as control group. After the last administration, the blood glucose level and retinopathy in rats were measured. The protein and gene expression of HIF-1α and NF-κB in the retina were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively. Results Compared with control group, the blood glucose in the model group was significantly increased; the retinal capillaries increased; the leakage of fluorescein was obvious; the protein and gene expressions of HIF-1α,NF-κB were significantly increased.After administration of Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules,the model rats decreased blood glucose; retinal microvascular volume decreased; fluorescein leakage area was significantly reduced; protein and gene expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB were decreased. Conclusion Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules can effectively inhibit the neovascularization of DR rats and protect the retina, which may be related to the down-regulation of the expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB.

Objective To investigate the latent infection caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) among healthy people in Tianjin and to provide evidence on prevention and control hand-food and mouth diseases (HFMD). Methods 1611 sera specimens were collected from healthy people in Tianjin while EV71 antibody was detected by neutralization test, and then the results were analyzed statistically. Results For determining positivity, the cut-point was set at 1:4. The positive rate was 66.79%( 1076/1611) for EV71 neutralizing antibody. The lowest positive rate was 32.71% in the 0-5 age group while the highest rate was 76.67% in the 16-25 age group. Significant difference was seen in the positive rates among different age groups. The lowest positive rate (59.05%) was seen in the city areas while the highest rate (72.35%) was seen in the surrounding counties. 5.71% of the people being tested showed their neutralizing antibody as ≥1:256. The difference was statistically significant on positive rates among different areas. We constructed logistic regression models with the EV71 neutralizing antibody positive rate as the dependent variable and age, sex, floating population, area etc. as independent variables. There appeared statistical significances in all the independent variables. Conclusion Age seemed a risk factor for recessive infection of EV71, and the neutralizing antibody against EV71 might not be kept permanently. In order to prevent and control the HFMD, more attention should be paid to the areas where more floating population were resided.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B (AMB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during continuous intrathecal administration of AMB for treatment of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis (CNM).

METHODSThe concentration of AMB in the CSF was measured using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) in 3 patients receiving continuous intrathecal infusion of AMB for CNM.

RESULTSAMB concentrations in the CSF of the 3 patients exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AMB against Cryptococcus neoformans. The concentration-time curve showed that AMB concentration in the CSF underwent obvious variations on the first day of intrathecal infusion and after additional AMB doses, but maintained a stable level (0.61-1.21 µg/ml) on the next day.

CONCLUSION[corrected] Continuous intrathecal administration of AMB can enhance the drug concentration in the CSF and maintain a stable and effective drug level for treatment of CNM.

Adolescent ; Amphotericin B ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; metabolism ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Spinal ; methods ; Male ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; drug therapy ; metabolism