Objective To evaluate the usefulness of 18F-FLT PET/CT imaging in detecting and staging nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.Methods Thirteen patients with NPC underwent wholebody 18F-FLT PET/CT imaging,one of which underwent whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging one day earlier.SUVmax and SUVmean from 18F-FLT and18F-FDG imaging were obtained using circular ROI in primary and metastasis lesions and were compared with the results of histopathology.The staging results by 18 F-FLT PET was compared with those by CT.Results The SUVmax and SUVmean obtained from 18F-FLT imaging in 22nasopharyngeal sites in 13 patients were 6.04 ±3.61 and 5.09 ±2.89,and the SUVmax and SUVmean in 26 lymphadenopathy were 5.56 ± 3.11 and 4.65 ± 2.79.18 F-FDG SUVmax were higher than 18 F-FLT SUVmax in one primary lesion ( 8.32 vs 4.38 ) and two lymph nodes (3.30 ± 0.07 vs 1.48 ± 0.06) in the patient who underwent the two imagings.Compared with CT staging results,the TNM stage in 3 patients had been changed based on 18 F-FLT PET/CT imaging.Conclusions High radioactivity of primary and second lesions can be detected on 18F-FLT imaging in patients with NPC and 18F-FLT PET/CT imaging may be useful in staging for NPC.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of brucine on secretion of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and proliferation of T lymphocytes in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), and to explore its mechanism. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 10 patients with AA and 10 healthy volunteers were isolated, purified and cultured. T lymphocytes from the patients were divided into 0, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml brucine-treated groups. T lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were used as control group. After being cultured for 72 hours, the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 in the supernatant of cultured T lymphocytes from AA patients were detected by ELISA, and the proliferation of T lymphocytes from AA patients was detected by MTT. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the culture supernatant significantly increased, and IL-4 was significantly decreased. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the culture supernatant of brucine treated groups were lower, and were dependent on the concentration of brucine. However, the levels of IL-4 were found to be not obviously changed. The inhibition rate of T lymphocytes in 100, 200 and 400µg/ml brucine-treated groups were (13.61 ± 4.31)%, (14.28 ± 4.31)% and (15.12 ± 4.56)% respectively, among which the differences were not statistically significant. It is concluded that the brucine can reduce the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ through inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes in AA patients, which provides experimental basis for therapy of AA patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; immunology ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; secretion ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct glypican-3 (GPC3)-green fluorescent protein eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-c3-GPC3, and analyze the effect of GPC3 on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line MHCC-97L.

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-c3-GPC3 was constructed with recombinant DNA technique and transfected into MHCC-97L cells via Lipofectamine 2000. The cells stably expressing GPC3 were screened by flow cytometry and G418. The mRNA expression of GPC3 was detected by RT-QPCR method, and the protein expression by Western blotting and fluorescence microscope. The effect of GPC3 gene on the growth of the cells was examined by MTT assay.

RESULTSRestriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing verified correct construction of the recombinant plasmid. The green fluorescence was detected in the transfected MHCC-97L cells under fluorescence microscope. RT-QPCR and Western blotting both confirmed successful expression of GPC3 in MHCC-97L cells. The growth curve showed a significant acceleration of the proliferation of the transfected MHCC97-Lsol;GPC3 cells as compared with MHCC97-L and MHCC97-L/C3 cells (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully constructed the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFR-c3-GPC3, which allows stable GPC3 expression in MHCC97-L/GPC3 cells. The upregulation of GPC3 expression can stimulate the growth of hepatoma cell line MHCC97-L in vitro.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; Glypicans ; pharmacology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Plasmids ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (LZD) combined calorie restriction on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), the insulin resistance (IR), and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) of IR model rats.

METHODSTotally 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the calorie restriction group, and the TCM + calorie restriction group, 12 in each group. Ordinary forage was given to those in the control group, and high fat diet was fed to those in the rest 3 groups for 12 weeks to establish the IR model. After successful modeling, rats in the control group and the model group were continually fed with the original farage for 4 days. The normal saline at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to them by gastrogavage. The normal saline at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to rats in the calorie restriction group by gastrogavage after 4-day calorie restriction. LZD at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to rats in the TCM +calorie restriction group by gastrogavage after 4-day calorie restriction. The body weight, FPG, serum fasting insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (IRI), and the protein expression of PPAR-y in the omental adipose tissue were compared.

RESULTSAfter 4-day calorie restriction, the body weight obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group and the TCM +calorie restriction group, when compared with the model group (P <0.01). There was no statistical difference between the former two groups (P >0.05). The FINS and IRI obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group (P <0.01, P <0.05). The FPG, FINS, and IRI significantly decreased in the TCM + calorie restriction group (P <0. 05, P <0.01). The protein expression of PPAR-gamma obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group and the TCM + calorie restriction group (P <0.01).The phlegm dampness state was alleviated, with more significant effects shown in the TCM + calorie restriction group.

CONCLUSIONSLZD combined calorie restriction could reduce the body weight, FPG, and IRI of IR rats. Besides, it showed better effects than calorie restriction alone. Its effects in improving IR might be correlated with inhibiting the activities of PPAR-gamma. Meanwhile, it might play a role in inhibiting the differentiation of fat cells.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Caloric Restriction ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo detect the estrogenic activity of genistein and apigenin with ER-positive cell line MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

METHODMTT method was adopted to study the impact of genistein and apigenin on MCF-7 proliferation in vitro. Real-time RT-PCR method was used to detect their impact on ERalpha, ERbeta, PR and PS2 mRNA expression levels.

RESULTGenistein and apigenin promoted the proliferation of MCF-7. Genistein 1 x 10(-10) mol x L(-1) group showed a significant increase in the expression of ERa mRNA levels or a 17. 76 times more than the control group and a 1.75 times more than the E2 group. Apigenin notably promoted the PR mRNA expression or a 4. 57 times more than the control group and a 1.11 times more than the E2 group. Both of them had different effect in promoting ERalpha, ERbeta, PR or PS2 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONBoth genistein and apigenin have a strong estrogen-like effect. Although they have different effect in promoting estrogenic response genes (such as ERa, ERbeta, PR and PS2 mRNA), genistein shows a stronger activity than apigenin. It also suggests that the signaling pathways of phytoestrogens showing estrogen-like effect are not completely identical with estrogen pathways. The B-cycle position of flavonoids is one of the key sites to estrogen-like activity, and isoflavones (cycle B on site 3) show stronger estrogen-like activity than flavones (B-cycle lies in site 2).

Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Presenilin-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop an epiphyseal slide-traction plate in child, which can supply the fracture a sufficient internal fixation, and will not restrain the growth of epiphyses. Animal experiments were carried out with the plates to compare the slide-traction with traditional plate.

METHODSDevelop a slide-traction plate for the configuration of the femur condylus of children. Thirty adolescent goats in the experiment were divided into control group (12 goats) and plate group (18 goats). In plate group, right femurs of goats were fixed with common plates and the left femurs with slide-traction plates. All the goats were given X-ray examination at different time after surgery. And the goats were sacrificed at 3 and 6 month, histological method and electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the development of epiphyseal plate.

RESULTSThe both femurs of the goats in control group have no difference in evidence in length at all time we examined. And the both femurs of the goats fixed with plates have no difference in evidence in length at 1 day after surgery. However, the both femurs of the goats fixed with plates have difference in evidence in length at 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, 6 month after surgery. The increased length of the femurs at I month, 2 month, 3 month, 6 month after surgery was also compared with the length at 1 day after surgery, there was difference in evidence between the right femurs of the control group and the femurs were fixed with common plates, but no difference in evidence between the left femurs of the normal control group and the femurs were fixed with slide-traction plate (P > 0.05). More thicker epiphyseal plate were found in the left femurs than the right femurs of the group fixed with plates at 3 and 6 month after surgery (P < 0.01). In the plate group, safranine O staining showed epiphyseal plates at the left femurs had more fuscous staining than the right femurs at 3 and 6 month after surgery and electron microscopy also found that the cells of the epiphyseal plates of left femurs were more eugenic than the right femurs at 3 and 6 month after surgery.

CONCLUSIONThe epiphyseal slide-traction plate can slide with the growth of epiphyses, which is suitable for fixation of the fracture in this part.

Animals ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Femur ; cytology ; diagnostic imaging ; growth & development ; surgery ; Goats ; Growth Plate ; cytology ; diagnostic imaging ; growth & development ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Radiography ; Traction

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-1 (CysLTR-1) and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-2 (CysLTR-2) in the adenoid tissues from children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and to explore the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of AH.

METHODSSixty children with AH who were treated by adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy were classified into two groups: simple AH and AH plus allergic rhinitis (n=30 each). Twenty children who underwent tonsillectomy due to recurrent purulent tonsillitis were selected as the control group. The expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the excised tonsil and/or adenoid tissues was determined by immunofluorescence histochemical labeling and integrated optical density measurement.

RESULTSThe expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the adenoid and tonsil tissues increased significantly in both the simple AH group and AH plus allergic rhinitis group compared with the control group (P<0.01). The expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the AH plus allergic rhinitis group increased more significantly compared with the simple AH group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 are highly expressed in the adenoid tissues from children with AH, suggesting that leukotrienes are involved in the pathogenesis of AH.

Adenoids ; chemistry ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Receptors, Leukotriene ; analysis ; physiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of insomnia and its influence factor in adults from Bozhou region,and determine the correlation of sleep hygiene with insomnia in adult population.Methods Eight hundred and three subjects were recruited in the study by multi-stage stratified random sampling from people aged 18 years or more than 18 years.Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS)and sleep hygiene practices scale were used to evaluate the insomnia and its related factors.Results One hundred and ninety-two adults(23.9％)were identified as insomnia with dissatisfaction of sleep quality,shortage of sleep time(＜56.5 h/night)and earlier wake-up than expectation as its main manifestations; and the prevalence rate ofinsomnia in females(98/354,27.7 ％)was significantly higher as compared with that in males(94/449,20.9％,P＜0.05); prepared military personnel enjoyed the highest insomnia rate(37/99,37.3％),followed by freelance/temporaries(55/181,30.4％)with significant difference between these 2 groups(P＜0.05).The correlation analysis between the total scores of AIS and problems of sleep hygiene indicated that such factors as prescription of sleep medication,hunger at bed,drinking in purpose of helping sleeping,and worry about insomnia beofore sleep or at daytime were positively related to the total scores ofAIS(P＜0.05); nap or snooze was negatively related to the total scores of AIS(P＜0.05).Conclusion There is a high proportion of insomnia in prepared military personnel and freelance/temporaries from Bozhou region; poor sleep hygiene habits as prescription of sleep medication,hunger at bed,drinking in purpose of helping sleeping,and worry about insomnia beofore sleep or at daytime can induce insomnia.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of polymorphisms of CDT1 and GMNN gene, two important genes participating in DNA replication, with the risk of sporadic breast cancer.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP) and the primer-introduced restriction analysis (PIRA)-PCR assay to genotype the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms in a case-control study of 427 breast cancer cases and 477 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population.

RESULTSNo significant association of the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms with the risk of breast cancer was found (adjusted OR:1.16, 95% CI:0.88-1.54 for CDT1 GA+AA genotypes and adjusted OR:0.90, 95% CI:0.67-1.21 for GMNN CA+AA genotypes). However, in the stratified analyses, a significant association of CDT1 GA+AA genotypes with breast cancer risk among subjects with family history of cancer was found (adjusted OR:2.21, 95% CI:1.20-4.09).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms may not play a major role in the etiology of breast cancer, but CDT1 variant may have a potential role only in genetically susceptible women.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Geminin ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

This study is to investigate the protective effects of the SB203580 against radiation induced mortality and intestinal injury of mice. A total of 67 male C57BL/6 mice (20.0-22.0 g) were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, total body irradiation exposure (IR, 7.2 Gy) only, and IR (7.2 Gy) + SB203580 (15 mg x kg(-1)). 30 days survival rate was observed in the experiment. In intestinal injury experiment, the expression levels of caspase-3, Ki67, p53 and p-p38 were assayed in the mice intestine crypts. The results showed that the 30 days survival rate was 100% (control), 0 (IR) and 40% (IR+ SB203580), separately. Compared to the IR groups, the positive cells of caspase-3, p53 and p-p38 in crypt cells decreased 33.00%, 21.78% and 34.63%, respectively. The rate of positive cells of Ki67 increased 37.96%. Significant difference was found between all of them (P < 0.01). SB203580 potently protected against radiation-induced lethal and intestinal injury in mice, and it may be a potential radio protector.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism