OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the simultaneous determination of anticancer activity components of flavonoids from Hedyotis diffusa,i.e. quercetin,kaempferol. METHODS:HPLC was applied to determine the contents and performed on Alltima C18(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column. Mobile phase consisted of methanol(A)-0.5% glacial acetic acid,(gradient elution). The detection wavelength was aet at 350 nm. RESULTS:The linear range of quercetin was 0.006 2～0.244 0 ?g(r=0.999 8)and that of kaempferol 0.007 8～0.310 6 ?g(r=0.999 9). The average recovery of quercetin was 101.84%(RSD=1.79%,n=6) and that of kaempferol 99.04%(RSD=2.90%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate and reproducible for the quality control of H. diffusa.

Objective To study relationships between myocardial injury and the levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods A retrospectively analysis was conducted. 170 ACS patients [including 110 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 60 cases of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS)] with ischemic chest pain or chest discomfort onset within the prior 12 hours admitted to the cardiology department of Tianjin Union Medicine Center from January 2014 to July 2016 were enrolled. Thirty-six healthy cases were enrolled as control during the same time. The levels of serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 on 1, 3 and 7 days after admission and myocardial function indicators were analyzed. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and readmission rate were analyzed after 1 year follow-up. The correlation between serum complement levels and myocardial function indicators was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results ① The levels of serum C3, C4 and C5b-9 on the first day in NSTE-ACS group and STEMI group were significantly higher than control group [C3 (g/L): 1.04±0.33, 1.26±0.35 vs. 0.39±0.21, C4 (g/L): 0.31±0.14, 0.33±0.10 vs. 0.19±0.07, C5b-9 (g/L): 575.46±197.26, 659.26±160.77 vs. 501.40±141.51, all P < 0.05]. There were no changes of serum C3, C4 in NSTE-ACS group, but C5b-9 decreased after a peak (g/L: 700.63±218.42) at 3 days. Serum complements in STEMI group reached peak on the third day [C3 (g/L): 1.37±0.33, C4 (g/L): 0.42±0.12, C5b-9 (g/L): 754.72±136.22]. The levels of serum C4 and C5b-9 in STEMI group were higher than NSTE-ACS group on the third and seventh day. ② The levels of troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), solution intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) scores and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) numbers in STEMI group were significantly higher than those in the NSTE-ACS group, which were as opposite as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, there were no significant differences in levels of serum N-terminal pro-brain nitric peptide (NT-proBNP), Fibrinogen (Fib), readmission rate and incidence of MACE between STEMI and NSTE-ACS groups. ③ According to GRACE, patients with ACS were divided into low risk group (≤ 108 scores, 26 cases), intermediate risk group (109-140 scores, 61 cases) and highest group (> 140 scores, 83 cases). TnT and sICAM-1 in intermediate risk group were significantly increased as compared with low risk group. Levels of TnT, sICAM-1, C3, C4 and C5b-9 in the highest group were significantly higher than the low and intermediate risk groups, however the lowest LVEF was found in the highest group. ④ It was shown by Pearson correlation analyses that levels of serum C3, C4, C5b-9 were positively correlated with TnT (r value was 0.481, 0.367, 0.292, respectively, all P <0.01), sICAM-1 (r value was 0.298, 0.249, 0.365, respectively, all P < 0.01), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r value was -0.384, -0.260, -0.200, respectively, all P < 0.01). In addition sICAM-1 positively correlated with TnT (r = 0.536, P = 0.000), but negatively correlated with LVEF (r = -0.341, P = 0.001). Conclusions Serum complements activation was found in the acute phase of ACS patients. Serum complement C3, C4 and C5b-9 are involved in the process of myocardial injury, and may reflect severity of myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions and action mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75NTR in the oncogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSUsing immunohistochemistry, we detected the expressions of TrkA and p75NTR in 62 PCa and 35 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples, and conducted statistical analysis on the basis of clinical data.

RESULTSIndependent-samples t-test showed that, along with poorer tissue differentiation or higher clinical stage of PCa, the expression of TrkA was significantly up-regulated, that of p75NTR remarkably down-regulated, and the expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR markedly increased. The TrkA/p75NTR ratio was 0.32 in the BPH, 0.52 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 6, 1.65 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score of 7, 5.75 in the PCa tissue with Gleason score ≥ 8, 0.89 in the clinical stage of pT2, 1.5 in pT3 a, 3.75 in pT3b, and 7.00 in pTxN1.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormally increased expression ratio of TrkA to p75NTR might be one of the essential features of malignant transformation of prostate cells. A higher TrkA/p75NTR expression ratio may be associated with a lower tissue differentiation, a higher clinical stage or Gleason score, and therefore a poorer prognosis.

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptor, trkA ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and possible impact mechanism of salidroside on cognitive ability of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats induced by amyloid beta peptide (Abeta1-40).

METHODAbeta1-40 was injected into bilateral hippocampus to create the AD model. Afterwards, different doses of salidroside (25, 50, 75 mg x kg(-1)) were orally administered for 21 days. Rats' learning and memory abilities were detected by Morris water maze testing system. The levels of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) protein in hippocampus were also detected by different methods.

RESULTThe place navigation test showed longer escape latency, low frequency of platform quadrant crossing per unit time, damage in learning capacity, significant decrease in SOD acivity in hippocampus, notable increase in MDA content, NF-kappaB, iNOS and RAGE protein expressions in rats. Salidroside (50, 75 mg x kg(-1)) significantly alleviated the impairments of learning and memory ability. The activity of SOD increased in salidroside (50 droside group compared with that of the Alzheimer's disease group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSalidroside may treat Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting the oxidative stress.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the in vitro anti-proliferation effect of a histone deacetylase inhibitor,chidamide,on a cutaneous malignant melanoma cell line,A375.Methods Cultured A375 cells were treated with different concentrations of chidamide(5,10,50,100,500 μmol/L)and aichostatin A (TSA)(0.1,0.25,0.5,1.0 μmol/L),respectively,for various durations(24,48,72,96,120 hours).Subsequently,cell proliferation,apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by MTT assay,annexin Vfluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining,and DNA ploid analysis,respectively.Results The proliferation of A375 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by chidamide of 5-500μmol/L and TSA of 0.1-1 μmol/L,and in a time-dependent manner from 0 to 120 hours after the beginning of trealment with ehidamide of 5-500μmol/L and TSA of 0.25-1μmol/L.The 48-hour 50% growth inhibition concentration(IC50)of ehidamide and TSA on A375 cells was about 250 μmol/L and 0.7μmol/L,respectively.After 48-hour treatment,the apoptosis mte was 80.27%±3.06%,79.53%±5.70%,83.13%±6.90%in A375 cells treated with chidamide of 62.5,125,250 μmol/L,respectively,16.27%±2.46%,28.83%±2.55%,83.40%±8.65%in those treated with TSA of 0.175,0.35,0.7 μmol/L,respectively,10.43%±0.96%in ontreated cells;a statistical increase was noticed in chidamide-treated cells and TSA-treated cells vs.untreated cells(all P＜0.001).A positive correlation was observed between the apoptosis rate and concentrations of TSA(r=0.955,P=0.000).Cell cycle analysis indicated that treatment with chidamide induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase,with the cell proportion in G0/G1 phase being 76.30%±6.06%,82.79%±0.74%,88.91%±5.29%in A375 cells treated with chidamide of 62.5,125,250μmol/L,respectively,versus 38.73%±3.36%in untreated cells.While after 48-hour treatment with TSA of 0.35 and 0.7 μmol/L,the proportion of cells in G2/M phases was 25.15%±2.71%and 58.71%±3.45%,respectively,compared to 15.73%±0.23%in untreated cells(P＜0.01).Conclusion Chidamide and TSA could induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis,as well as inhibit the growth of A375 ceils in vitro.

Objective To explore the activation and function of Janus protein-tyrosine kinase (JAK)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1) signal transduction pathway in kidney,lung and brain of MRL/lpr mice.Methods MRL/lpr mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied at the age of 12 weeks up.Non-SLE MRL/lpr mice were used as controls.We used phosphospecific antibodies to detect STAT1 activation in kidney,lung and brain by immunohistochemistry and Western blots.Gene expression of the STAT induced feedback inhibitors of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1) was investigated by SYBR green I real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Phosphorylation of STAT1 protein was markedly activated in these three organs,although renal and pulmonary STAT1 activation were much more evidently activated.SOCS-1 gene expression increased in all three organs,while renal SOCS-1 gene expres- sion increased less than lung and brain.Conclusion The activation of JAK/STATI signal transduction path- way may be pathogenic in the organ involvement and progression of SLE.The pathogenesis of lupus nephritis may also be associated with the down-regulation of SOCS-1 feedback inhibition.

AIMTo investigate the protective effects of ginkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning against acute hypoxia injury in mice.

METHODSOrdinary pressure acute hypoxia model in mice was adopted to observe the ethology, the duration of the death and the degree of brain edema. Meanwhile the expression of RTP801 mRNA and erythropoietin (EPO) were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSGinkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning could both prolong the survival time of hypoxia under ordinary pressure,and significantly decreased the degree of brain edema. Besides ginkgolide B and hypoxic preconditioning could both up-regulate the expression of RTP801mRNA and EPO.

CONCLUSIONGinkgolide B has the similar effect to hypoxic preconditioning against acute hypoxia. Both of these protective effects may be associated with the up-regulation of the expression of RTP801 mRNA and EPO.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Female ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

This study was purposed to investigate the dynamic change of clonal proliferation of T cell receptor V subfamilies in peripheral blood of patients received allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and to analyze the relationship between T cell clonal proliferative changes and GVHD. The peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 70 cases (17 GVHD patients) undergoing allo-PBCST patients were detected for CDR3 (complementarity determining region 3 repertoire analysis of T cell receptor Vbetagene) using reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The products were further analyzed by genescan to identify T cell clonality. The results showed that the patients of HSCT generally passed through a transformation from monoclone to polyclone. At day 60 - 90 after HSCT, half of the cases were monoclonal and the remainders were polyclonal. After 120 days, most of patients without GVHD transferred into polyclones, however, patients with GVHD remained monoclonal after one year because of immunosuppressive agents and GVHD itself. The peripheral blood of GVHD patients mainly expressed monoclone/biclone at the time of target organ damage conspicuously, after medication intervention, partial monoclone or bioclone expressed TCR Vbeta subfamilies were diverted to polyclonal expression. It is concluded that the T cells present clonal proliferation and T cell receptors are prone to be used when patients are in earlier period of transplantation or with GVHD especially. The expression of TCR Vbeta subfamilies can return to normal polycloning along with the recovery of hematopoiesis and immunity in patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; Young Adult

To investigate the molecular mechanism of hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-mediated anti-hepatic fibrosis by evaluting its effects on expression of tumor growth factor-beta 1 (TGFb1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and collagen I (Col I) in hepatic satellite cells (HSCs). Cultured HSCs were treated with different concentrations of HCPT: low-dose group, 0.25 mg/L; middle-dose group, 0.5 mg/L; high-dose group, 0.75 mg/L; and control group, 0 mg/L. Cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT assay. The mRNA expressions of TGFb1, a-SMA and Col I were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of TGFb1 and a-SMA were detected by Western blot. The content of Col I in the cultured HSCs' supernatant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The MTT absorbance values of the low-dose group (0.631+/-0.074), middle-dose group (0.469+/- 0.012) and high-dose group (0.204+/- 0.001) were significantly lower than that of the control group (0.793+/-0.098; F = 82.86, P less than 0.01). Compared with the control group, the HCPT-treated groups showed significantly down-regulated gene expressions of TGFb1 (control: 0.716+/-0.064 vs. low: 0.611+/-0.040, middle: 0.510+/-0.014, high: 0.403+/-0.026), a-SMA (control: 0.696+/-0.075 vs. low: 0.579+/-0.037, middle: 0.470+/-0.024, high: 0.299+/-0.017), and Col I (control: 1.019+/-0.056 vs. low: 0.835+/-0.022, middle: 0.696+/-0.055, high: 0.322+/-0.104) (all, P less than 0.01). Meanwhile, HCPT-treated HSCs showed significantly reduced protein expressions of TGFb1 (control: 0.872+/-0.053 vs. low: 0.654+/-0.047, middle: 0.545+/-0.042, high: 0.436+/-0.039) and a-SMA (control: 0.858+/-0.050 vs. low: 0.620+/-0.045, middle: 0.525+/-0.042, high: 0.434+/-0.052) (all, P less than 0.01). The Col I levels secreted by HSCs were significantly lower in the HCPT-treated groups (low: 168.367+/-16.453 ng/ml; middle: 141.284+/-11.731 ng/ml; high: 132.910+/-10.048 ng/ml) than in the control group (188.733 +/-18.299 ng/ml) (all, P less than 0.01). The mechanism of HCPT-mediated anti-hepatic fibrosis may involve down-regulation of TGFb1 expression to inhibit HSC proliferation and activation, as well as reduction of Col I synthesis and secretion.
Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of purine nucleotide on the expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotrophic hormone (LH) and the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells in the pituitary gland of heroin-addicted and -withdrawal rats.

METHODSNinety-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (ip saline for 14 d), a nucleotide group (ip AMP and GMP for 10 d), a heroin group (ip heroin for 10 d), a heroin + nucleotide group (ip AMP and GMP + heroin for 10 d), a 3 d withdrawal group (ip heroin for 10 d and killed at 14 d), a 9 d withdrawal group (ip heroin for 10 d and killed at 20 d), a 3 d nucleotide group (ip nucleotide for 3 d after 10 d heroin administration and killed at 14 d), and a 9 d nucleotide group (ip nucleotide for 9 d after 10 d heroin administration and killed at 20 d). Changes in the mRNA expressions of FSH and LH in the pituitary gland of the rats were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and alterations in the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells were observed under the microscope.

RESULTSThe expression of FSH mRNA was significantly increased in the nucleotide, heroin + nucleotide, 3 d nucleotide and 9 d nucleotide groups (0.099 +/- 0.018, 0.177 +/- 0.046, 0.151 +/- 0.030 and 0.184 +/- 0.028) as compared with the control group (0.045 +/- 0.009) (P < 0.01); and so was that of LH mRNA in the heroin + nucleotide, 3 d nucleotide and 9 d nucleotide groups (0.950 +/- 0.169, 0.990 +/- 0.171 and 0.960 +/- 0.147) in comparison with the control group (0.700 +/- 0.099) (P < 0.01). In the heroin group, the nuclei of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells exhibited morphological abnormality, unclear membrane, slightly pyknotic matrix, marginal and agglutinated heterochromatin, dilated rough endoplasmic reticula, swollen mitochondria, broken and vacuolated cristae in the cytoplasm, obviously decreased number of secretory granules, and myelin bodies in some cells. However, the heroin + nucleotide group showed no significant changes in the ultrastructures of somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONShort-term use of heroin does not obviously affect the expressions of FSH and LH mRNA in the pituitary gland of rats, while heroin + nucleotide, or nucleotide following heroin withdrawal can enhance their expressions significantly. Heroin damages the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells in the pituitary gland of male rats, and purine nucleotide can diminish or inhibit this damage.

Animals ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Heroin ; adverse effects ; Heroin Dependence ; genetics ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Purine Nucleotides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; genetics ; metabolism