microRNAs play a critical role in breast tumorigenesis and progression, in which it might serve as oncogene, tumor suppressor gene, regulators of invasion, apoptosis and therapy resistance. Moreover,there has been a large body of evidences for the involvement of miRNAs in the self-renewal, differentiation and tumor formation of breast cancer stem cells. This review respectively summarizes the relations between microRNAs and breast cancer, breast cancer stem cell as well as the progresses of applying microRNAs to tumor therapy.

Objective To study the effect of balloon dilatation therapy on dysphagia caused by cricopharyn- geal achalasia.Methods Ten cases of dysphagia were diagnosed as cricopharyngeal achalasia by videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS).A 14~* urethral catheter was inserted into the esophagus and an amount of water was injec- ted into the balloon of the urethral catheter to make it turgid.Then the catheter was pulled upwards and passed through the stricture of esophagus to dilatate the cricopbarygeus muscle.Meanwhile,low frequency electrical stimula- tion was used and combined with functional training of the organs related to deglutition and ingestion.The results be- fore and after the treatment were evaluated.Results After 19.7 times of dilatation therapy,the content of water in- jected into the balloon was increased from 2.65?0.91 ml to 8.20?0.92 ml.Cricopharyngeal achalasia was alle- viated significantly(P

To study the effect of plant-derived smoke water on the accumulation of biomass and active substance of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba, seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza were treated with different concentrations of smoke water (1:500, 1: 1 000, 1: 2 000). The fresh weight and dry weight of underground part, the number of split-root, maximum root diameter, average root diameter, average root length, the content of lipophilic components and water-soluble components were measured. Results showed that fresh weight and dry weight of underground part were respectively improved by 98.01%, 44.32% and 85.71%, 28.57% with significant difference by smoke water treatment with concentration of 1: 500 and 1: 1 000. Maximum root diameter and dry weight of underground part were respectively enhanced by 58.44% and 85.71% by smoke water with concentration of 1:500. The content of tanshinone I and tanshinone II(A) were improved by smoke water treatment, however there were no significantly difference on the content of cryptotanshinone and dihydrotan shinone. This study indicates that smoke water treatment could be used to improve the accumulation of biomass and active substance content of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which could provide new ideas for its green cultivating.
Agriculture ; methods ; Biomass ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Smoke ; analysis ; Water ; chemistry ; metabolism

Trichosanthes kirilowii has been widely cultivated as its medicinal use, health care and food value. Drought resistance of seedlings is an important feature in breeding. Seeds of two T. kirilowii strains were used to research the difference of surface ultrastructure characteristic and drought resistance. Scanning electron microscope was used to identify the surface ultrastructure characteristic of seeds and PEG was used to simulate drought stress. The seeds germination rate, MDA content, chlorophyll content and the antioxidant enzymes activity were measured under the drought stress. The results showed that the seed surface colour of KXY-001 was lighter than that of KXY-005. The testa cobwebbing of KXY-001 was more intensive than that of KXY-005. The germination rate of KXY-001 was higher than that of KXY-005 under drought stress. The MDA content was increased and the chlorophyll content was decreased with the increasing of drought degree. The SOD activity of KXY-001 was higher than that of KXY-005, while the activity of POD and CAT was also increased firstly and decreased later. Surface reticulate of seeds and hilar traits can be used as identification points to identify the investigated strains. SOD and POD are activated to resist drought in T. kirilowii seedlings and the drought resistance of KXY-001 is superior than that of KXY-005.
Adaptation, Physiological ; drug effects ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Droughts ; Germination ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Seedlings ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Species Specificity ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Trichosanthes ; classification ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA-HOTAIR in prostate cancer cells and its effects on the growth and metastasis of the cells.

METHODSUsing quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), we determined the relative expression of HOTAIR in the normal human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-I and prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145. We detected the effects of HOTAIR on the cell cycle and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells by RNA interference, flow cytometry, and Transwell mitration assay.

RESULTSThe expressions of HOTAIR in the PC3 and DU145 cells were increased 3.2 and 5.7 times, respectively, as compared with that in the normal RWPE-1 cells. After si-HOTAIR interference, the prostate cancer cells were arrested in the G2 phase and downregulated in the G1 phase. The invasive ability of the prostate cancer cells was evidently inhibited, with the inhibition rates of 32% and 44% of the PC3 cells and 43% and 34% of the DU145 cells for si-HOTAIR1 and si-HOTAIR2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIncRNA HOTAIR is highly expressed in prostate cancer, which is associated with the growth and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. HOTAIR is potentially a novel marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; G1 Phase ; G2 Phase ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated ; metabolism

Objective To explore the differential liver plasma membrane (PM) proteins that may be related to the occurrence,development and reversal process of hepatitis and to understand the pathogenesis of hepatitis and the new drug targets by performing a comparative proteomics research of liver PM between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) transgenic mice and wild-type C57 mice.Methods A 6-month-old HBsAg transgenic mouse model was established.The pathological examination was performed to observe the pathological changes of transgenic mice and wild-type C57 mice.The PM from liver tissue of 6-month-old transgenic mouse and the control mouse were purified through twice sucrose density grade centrifugation combined with second antibody magnetic bead enrichment.The purity of extracted PM was verified by Western blot.Differential proteome expression analysis was performed by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and ImageMaster software analysis.The differentially expressed proteins were lysed by trypsin and identified by liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis.Results The pathological examination results showed that hepatitis was observed in the transgenic mouse group,while no abnormity was found in the controls.The PM was successfully enriched and the mitochondria contamination was reduced by sucrose density grade centrifugation combined with second antibody magnetic bead purification treatment.Thirty differential mice liver PM protein spots were visualized,in which 11 non-redundant proteins were successfully identified by LC-MS/MS in transgenic mouse group,including 9 up regulated protein spots and 2 down-regulated protein spots.These differentially expressed proteins included keratin,cardiac Ca2+ release channel,cytochrome B5,ATP synthase subunit alpha,etc.Conclusions A batch of HBsAg gene expression related differential proteins are identified in mouse liver plasma.These proteins might be new drug targets for anti-HBV treatment.This study will guide further investigation on the mechanism of HBV infection induced hepatitis.

Objective To evaluate the early clinical efficaoy of hybrid procedure for infants less than six months old with ventricular septal defect and coarctation of aorta.Methods From January 2010 to July 2011,20 patients with ventricular septal defect and coarctation of aorta received hybrid procedure in our center.The body weight was (4.5 ± 1.6) kg ( ranged from 1.9 kg to 6.5 kg) and the age was ( 56 ± 45 ) days ( ranged from 18 days to 6 months).The pressure gradient of the coarctation of the aorta ranged from 30 mm Hg to 56 mm Hg,5 patients of them were diagnosed as hypoplasty of aortic arch.The size of the ventricular septal defect ranged from 8 mm to 16 mm.Results The mortality was zero in all the 20 cases during the surgery,and the mobidity was 20％ (4/20).The complications were pneumonia in 2 cases,infective endocarditis in 1 case and pneumothorax in 1 case.The diameter of coarctation of the aorta ranged from 1.5 mm to 3.4 mm,and the size of the balloon ranged from 4 mm to 12 mm.The pressure gradient of the coarctation of the aorta decreased to 0 to 27 mm Hg.The bypass time ranged from 40 minutes to 87 minutes,and the crossclamp time of the aorta ranged from 20 minutes to 41minutes.The atrial septal defects were repaired and the patent ductuses were ligated during the surgery without leaving the sternum open.The total operation time was (4.0 ± 0.7 ) hours ( ranging from 3.0 hours to 5.2 hours).The mean ventilation time was (2.2 ± 1.4) days and mean ICU stay time was (5 ± 3 ) days.All the patients were followed up for ( 10.0 ± 3.6) months without aneurysm in arch and obstruction in airway.The residual obstructive pressurc gradicnt in the aortic arch ranged from 12 mm Hg to 35 mm Hg and 2 patients received reintervention.One patient received re-balloon dilation and the other received surgery.The cardiac function reached NYHA Ⅰ - Ⅱ in all eases.Conclusion The early outcome of the hybrid procedure (balloon dilation of the coartation of the aorta and surgical repair of ventricular septal defect) for infants with ventricular septal defect and coarctation of aorta was satisfying,which could avoid from circulatory arrest.It is a relatively safe procedure which could be the optional method for one-stage surgical repair.

Objective To compare the treatment effects of Qingyi Huoxue decoction and infliximab on acute necrosis pancreatitis ( ANP) complicated with MODS in a rat model. Methods 4.5% sodium taurocholate was injected into the pancreatic duct to induce the ANP complicated with MODS model. The ANP rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, ANP group (ANP), Qingyi Huoxue decoction treatment group ( QG) , infliximab treatment group (IG). Rats in infliximab group received infliximab injection at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight via tail vein 6 h after the ANP induction. The ANP and QG received normal saline and Qingyi Huoxue decoction (20 ml/kg) via gastric lavage 4 h before and 3 h, 9 h after ANP induction. After 24 h, all rats were sacrificed, the serum levels of amylase, total bilirubin, Cr, TNF-α, diamine oxidase ( DAO) , intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and the rate of carbon propelling rate in ileum were measured. The pancreas samples were collected for pathological examination. The pathological score of pancreas was calculated. Results The pathological scores in ANP, QG, IG were 13.8 ±0.8, 6.1 ±0.4, 3.9 ±0.6, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The serum levels of amylase, total bilirubin, Cr, TNF-α were significantly decreased. In ANP, QG, IG the serum levels of DAO were (186.3 ± 10.2 ) , ( 134.6 ± 14.3 ) , ( 149.1 ± 16.3) U/L; the carbon propelling rates in ileum were (53 ±0.1)% , (89 ±0.1)% , (61 ±0.1)% ; the IAPs were (11.8 ±1.5), (4.1±0.8), (5.8 ±1.2) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The DAO and IAP in AG, IG were significantly decreased when compared with that in ANP group, but the carbon propelling rates in ileum was significantly higher than that in ANP group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). In addition, the carbon propelling rates in ileum in QG were higher than that in IG, and IAP and DAO levels were lower than that in IG, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusions The Qingyi Huoxue decoction and infliximab were significantly effective in the treatment of ANP rats complicated with MODS. But the effects of Qinyi Huoxue decoction on promoting gastrointestinal motility, reducing the IAP and improving the intestinal barrier function were better than those of the infliximab.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of two intense pulsed light (IPL) devices for the treatment of facial photoaging.Methods A randomized split-face clinical trial was conducted,and 30 female subjects with facial photoaging were enrolled and randomized to receive treatment with Lumenis One on one half of the face and BBL on the other facial side,once every 3-5 weeks for 5 sessions.Each subject was followed up before the first treatment (the first interview),4 weeks after the third treatment (the second interview),4 weeks after the fifth treatment (the third interview) and 8 weeks after the fifth treatment (the fourth interview).During each follow-up period,global scores for photoaging (GSP) were used to evaluate the photoaging degree on the whole face,a 4-level grading method was applied to evaluate the improvement degree of 5 photoaging signs on each facial side,including wrinkles,skin texture,pigmented spots,telangiectasia and skin tightening,and the visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess pain induced by treatment.After the last treatment,self-assessment on the degree of satisfaction with therapeutic effects was conducted in subjects.Comparisons in the GSP and improvement scores between the two facial sides were conducted by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results A total of 26 subjects completed all the treatments and follow-up.Evaluation of the whole face showed that the GSP significantly decreased from 3.19 ± 0.75 before the first treatment to 2.15 ± 0.83 at 4 weeks after the third treatment (P ＜ 0.01).At 4 and 8 weeks after the fifth treatment,the GSP decreased to 1.85 ± 0.88 and 1.85 ± 0.97 respectively,and no significant difference was observed between the two GSPs (P ＞ 0.01).Evaluation of each facial side showed that improvement scores of skin texture,pigmented spots,telangiectasia and skin tightening on the two facial sides all increased at first and then decreased over the treatment time (Ftime =18.75,10.25,12.83,15.73,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05),and the improvement scores significantly increased at 4 weeks after the fifth treatment compared with those at 4 weeks after the third treatment (all P ＜ 0.017).There were no significant differences in the improvement scores of skin texture,telangiectasia and skin tightening between the third and the fourth interview,but the improvement score of pigmented spots decreased slightly at 8 weeks after the fifth treatment compared with that at 4 weeks after the fifth treatment (P ＜ 0.017).During the whole treatment period,no evident improvement was observed in wrinkles (Ftime =3.17,P ＞ 0.05),and improvement scores of 5 photoaging signs did not differ between the Lumenis One-treated side and BBL-treated side (all P ＞ 0.05).In addition,the VAS pain score was significantly lower in the BBL-treated side than that in the Lumenis One-treated side (4.62 ± 1.54 vs.5.80 ± 1.74,t =2.87,P ＜ 0.05).Most subjects were satisfied with the therapeutic effects (88.46％,23/26).Conclusion Both Lumenis One and BBL can be applied to treat facial photoaging safely and effectively,and improve signs of photoaging such as pigmented spots and skin texture,but the degree of pain on the BBL-treated side is milder than that on the Lumenis One-treated side.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy on children with epilepsy.Methods Forty-one children (26 cases were male,15 cases were female) with epilepsy aged 7 months to 13 years were treated with LEV as monotherapy.These patients were selected from Department of Neurology ,Wuhan Children′s Hospital, from Aug.2007 to Aug.2009.The starting do-sage of LEV was (13.6?4.7) mg?kg-1?d-1,twice daily,and its objective dosage was (25.7?7.5) mg?kg-1?d-1,twice daily.LEV monotherapy was investigated by a self-controlled and open-label research,and the follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years.Results The effective rate was 68.3% (28 cases),with 39.0% (16 cases) achieving seizure freedom in LEV monotherapy of children with epilepsy.Thirteen patients (31.7%) had poor efficacy in reduction of seizures,7 patients (17.1%) discontinued LEV monotherapy due to either an inadequate seizure control or aggravated seizures.Fifteen patients (36.6%) had the therapy-related adverse events in LEV monotherapy,including gastrointestinal dysfunction (5 cases),irritability (5 cases),dizziness (2 cases) and somnolence (2 cases).The adverse effects appeared in 2-4 weeks of early LEV therapy and were spontaneously disappeared in 1 week to 1 month of continuing therapy.Conclusions The LEV monotherapy is effective and safe for the control of partial and generalized seizures in children with epilepsy.LEV appears to be a broad-spectrum,first-line anti-epileptic drug in treatment of children with epilepsy.