Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Multicenter Studies as Topic

Background and Objective Keshan disease is clinically characterized as a dilated eardiomyopathy. We analyze the prevalence trend during last decade of hypertension and Keshan-disease in Yangzhuang village which was a Keshan-disease epidemic area.Method The survey including medical history,blood pressure and ECG were carried out every two years during the follow up 13 years.Results During follow up period,the total detection rate(hypertension:13.4 % vs Keshan-disease:10.7 %,?~2=8.555,P=0.002)and the accumulative rate of hypertension were higher than those of Keshan-disease,which was on the contrary to that before 1993,when increasing rate of Keshan-disease was higher than hypertension.Furthermore,the accumulative increasing rate of hypertension was 240.0%,which was higher than the national average level during corresponding period with no significant differences between female and male.Conclusion The detection rate of hypertension in Keshan disease epidemic area was higher than the average rate nation-wide.Whether the hypertension prevalence was re- lated to Keshan-disease needs further investigation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huatuo Zaizao extractum (HTZZ) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) neurogenesis in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and its mechanism.

METHODTotally 55 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham operation group, the MCAO model group and HTZZ high, middle and low dose groups (5, 2.5, 1.25 g x kg(-1)), with 11 rats in each group, and orally administered with drugs. The focal cerebral ischemia model was established by performing a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion (once a day). The neurogenesis and expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were detected by the immunofluorescent staining. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

RESULTMCAO (90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion resulted in the significant increase in the number of penumbra cortex newborn neurons (BrdU(+) -NeuN(+)), which was accompanied by the growth of ERK and CREB phosphorylation and VEGF and BDNF levels. HTZZ could promote the generation of newborn neurons (BrdU(+)-NeuN(+)) and the ERK and CREB phosphorylation and increase VEGF and BDNF levels at the ischemic side.

CONCLUSIONHTZZ could promote the neurogenesis, which may be the interventional targets of effective traditional Chinese medicine Huatuo Zaizao extractum in promoting the self-repair function of the cerebral ischemic areas.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

The progress in the studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological activity of the genus Pfaffia is summarized in recent 20 years. These plants contain various chemical constituents and have broad bioactivities such as sthenic, anti-tumor, analgesic and anti-inflammatory and should be further investigated.
Amaranthaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Steroids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

In order to find the cardiotonic constituents of lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., the investigation was carried out. Silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, medium-pressure MCI and reverse phase ODS column chromatography were used to separate the 90% EtOH extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. The structures of the isolated compounds have been identified by chemical properties and spectroscopic analyses. Ten compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as benzoic acid-5-hydroxy-2-benzoyl-amino methyl ester (1), honokiol (2), pinoresinol (3), salicylic acid (4), p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (5), songorine (6), karakoline (7), mesaconitine (8), hypaconitine (9) and 14-benzoylhypaconitine (10), separetely. Compound 1 is a new compound and its structure has been established by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR and X-Ray. Compound 2-5 are isolated from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. for the first time.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Cardiotonic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

AIM:To investigate the effects of chronic hypoxia on the aggressiveness of MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line , and the underlying mechanisms .METHODS: MCF-7 cells were cultured under hypoxia ( 1% O2 , 5%CO2 and 94%N2 ) or control (95%O2 and 5%CO2 ) condition.The viability, proliferation, and invasion and migration abilities of the MCF-7 cells were determined by MTT assay , CCK-8 assay, cell counting, and cell invasion and migration assays.Anchorage-independent growth and the alteration of cellular polarization of the MCF-7 cells were tested by soft agar colony formation assay and Matrigel-3D culture assay, respectively.The effects of chronic hypoxia on the growth and metas-tasis of MCF-7 cells in vivo were investigated by xenograft in nude mice .The morphological changes of the MCF-7 cells were observed under an inverted microscope .Hypoxia-induced alterations in the levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 ( HIF-1 ) and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3β( p-GSK-3β) as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT) mol-ecules, such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP)-3 and MMP-9, were determined by Western blot .RESULTS:Chronic hypoxia significantly increased the viability , proliferation , and invasion and migration abilities of MCF-7 cells in vitro, enhanced the anchorage-independent growth , facilitated cellular polarization alteration in Matrigel-3D culture, and promoted cancer metastasis in vivo.Hypoxia up-regulated HIF-1, activated GSK-3β, down-regu-lated E-cadherin and increased the protein levels of N-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-3 and MMP-9.CONCLUSION:Chronic hypoxia enhances the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells probably through EMT .

Objective To describe and analyze the characteristics and trend of liver cancer,through data gathered from the Cancer Registry System,in China.Methods Annual registration data on cancer incidents and deaths of 2003-2007,from 32 cancer registries were employed.Crude rates of incidence and mortality,and age-standardized rates by the China population (ASRc) and the world population (ASRw) were calculated.Incidence and mortality rates by age,gender,and by area (urban or rural) were analyzed,and comparison was made internationally,based upon data from the GLOBOCAN 2008.Results The total person-years of 2003-2007 observed from the 32 cancer registries were 255 430 909,in which 197 651 428 from the urban areas,and 57 779 481 from the rural areas.A total of 68 146 incident cases with liver cancer were reported,which accounted for 10.03％(ranked second) of all the registered cases with cancers,with the average annual incidence as 26.68per 100 000 (39.42 in males,13.63 in females).ASRc and ASRw were 13.29 per 100 000 and 17.45per 100 000,respectively.Sex ratios for incidence and mortality were 2.89:1 and 2.72:1,respectively.Incidence rates were 23.91 per 100 000 in urban areas,and 36.15 per 100 000 in rural areas.For mortality rates,they were 22.39 per 100 000 m urban areas and 34.05 per 100 000 in rural areas,respectively.Relative greater differences could be seen amongst these registries.The incidence rates were 10.15-33.85 per 100 000 in the urban areas,and 11.83-78.59 per 100 000 in the rural areas.For mortality rates,they were 13.99-28.45 per 100 000 in urban areas,and 11.02-71.99 per 100 000 in rural areas.According to data from the 184 cancer registries through GLOBOCAN 2008,liver cancer incidence in China was ranked the 5th in males,and 6th in females while mortality was ranked 2nd in males,and 5th in females.Conclusion Liver cancer had been the second most leading malignancy,following lung cancer,with annual incidents and death cases around 360 000 and 350 000,respectively and the figures seemed to be increasing.Nationwide monitoring and research programs on liver cancer should be emphasized.

BACKGROUNDExpression of murine calcium-activated chloride channel family member 3 (mCLCA3) has been reported to be increased in the airway epithelium of asthmatic mice challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). However, its role in asthmatic airway inflammation under no OVA exposure has not yet been clarified.

METHODSmCLCA3 plasmids were transfected into the airways of normal BALB/c mice. mCLCA3 expression and airway inflammation in mouse lung tissue were evaluated. Cell differentials and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed. The expression of mCLCA3 protein and mucus protein mucin-5 subtype AC (MUC5AC) were analyzed by Western blotting. The mRNA levels of mCLCA3, MUC5AC and interleukin-13 (IL-13) were determined quantitatively.

RESULTSmCLCA3 expression was not detected in the control group while strong immunoreactivity was detected in the OVA and mCLCA3 plasmid groups, and was strictly localized to the airway epithelium. The numbers of inflammatory cells in lung tissue and BALF were increased in both mCLCA3 plasmid and OVA groups. The protein and mRNA levels of mCLCA3 and MUC5AC in the lung tissue were significantly increased in the mCLCA3 plasmid and OVA groups compared to the control group. The level of IL-13, but not IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, CCL2, CCL5 or CCL11, was significantly increased compared with control group in BALF in the mCLCA3 plasmid and OVA groups. The level of IL-13 in the BALF in the mCLCA3 plasmid group was much higher than that in the OVA group (P < 0.05). The level of mCLCA3 mRNA in lung tissue was positively correlated with the levels of MUC5AC mRNA in lung tissue, IL-13 mRNA in lung tissue, the number of eosinophils in BALF, and the content of IL-13 protein in BALF. The level of IL-13 mRNA in lung tissue was positively correlated with the number of eosinophils in BALF and the level of MUC5AC mRNA in lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that increased expression of a single-gene, mCLCA3, could simulate an asthma attack, and its mechanism may involve mCLCA3 overexpression up-regulating IL-13 expression.

Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Chloride Channels ; Female ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mucin 5AC ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovalbumin ; pharmacology

Alveolar epithelial type II (AT II) cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells (fibroblasts). Progenitor cells are believed to possess capability of multi-potent transdifferentiation, which is closely related to the niche, suggesting the importance of establishment of a lung progenitor cell niche model. We hypothesized that pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A (SPA) suicide gene system would cause AT II cell to kill itself through apoptosis and leave its niche. In vitro, the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors-SPA-thymidine kinase (rAAV-SPA-TK) system was established to get targeted apoptotic AT II cells. The apoptosis of AT II cells was detected by using MTT. The results showed that cloned SPA gene promoter had specific transcriptional activity in SPA high expression cells, and SPA high expression cells (H441) transfected with TK gene had higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV) than SPA low expression cells (A549). In vivo, increased apoptosis of AT II cells induced by GCV in rAAV-SPA-TK system was observed by TUNEL. Finally, the successful packaging and application of rAAV-SPA-TK system provide experimental basis to get specific lung progenitor cell (AT II) niche in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the cytotoxicity and mechanism of 23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside isolated from C. dahurica on HepG2 cells and to find the leading compound for new drug development.

METHODMTT, AO/EB staining observation, flow cytometry and western blot methods were used to study the cytotoxicity, morphological changes, cell cycle distribution and protein expression profile of 23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside on HepG2 cells.

RESULT23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells with IC50 at 16 micromol x L(-1), and could also induce apoptosis and G2-M cell cycle arrest. Further study demonstrated that the compound could cleavage PARP, regulate protein expression of bcl-2 family and decrease the expression of cdc 2 and cyclin B.

CONCLUSION23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside exerts its cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells via apoptosis and G2-M arrest. In addition, caspases family activation, regulation of protein expression of bcl-2 family and down regulation of cdc 2 and cyclin B were involved in apoptosis and G2-M arrest induced by it.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Cyclin B ; metabolism ; Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism