Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; physiology ; Beclin-1 ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

As an important part of Chinese medicinal materials, uncommon-territorial herbs are also the most complex parts in the herbal medicine markets. Through years of investigation on the key markets of Chinese herbal medicine, the meaning of uncommon-territorial herbs, their historical evolution, origin and characteristics were clarified in this paper, and some countermeasures were put forward for its development.
Biological Evolution ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

This study was purposed to investigate the angiogenesis-promoting activities of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) modified by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the underlying mechanisms. The hMSCs were transfected by recombinant adenoviral vector carrying human HGF gene and seeded onto the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Three days later, the number of blood vessels was counted and their angiogenic response was compared with those of hMSCs of same generation, recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and alpha-MEM as control. The expression levels of bFGF, VEGF, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 were evaluated by RT-PCR assay. The results showed that gene-modified hMSCs exhibited greatest activity to promote angiogenesis while the angiogenic response was nearly same between groups treated by hMSCs and bFGF, all of which were significantly higher than that observed in control (p < 0.01). RT-PCR analysis revealed that hMSCs constitutively expressed multiple angiogenesis-associated growth factors and their levels seemed up-regulated by HGF gene transfer. It is concluded that HGF gene-modified hMSCs show a potent angiogenesis-promoting function and may be useful in the treatment of ischemic disorders.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; genetics ; Transfection

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ear, Middle ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Mastoid ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the incidence of hearing disorder and analyse the high-risk factors with hearing injury in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia.Methods The newborns with hyperbilirubinemia who admitted to the department of neonate,were received the distortion product otoacoustic emission(DPOAE)test when they recovered from hyperbilirubinemia;those babies who didn′t pass the first test received screening again in 42 days after birth.Those babies who didn′t pass the second test received auditory brain stem response(ABR)test.Results Fifty-eight(33.2%)newborns didn′t pass the first DPOAE test among 235 newborns with hyperbilirubinemia;11(18.9%)infants didn′t pass the second DPOAE test among 58 infants;5 infants failed to pass the ABR test,the ratio of hea-ring disorder in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia was 2.13%;18(9.9%)newborns didn′t pass the first DPOAE test among 182 normal newborns,and those infants all passed the second DPOAE test.Conclusions Hyperbilirubinemia is high-risk population of hearing disorder.The congenital cytomegalovirus infection,neonatal septicemia and hemolytic disease of newborn are the high risk factors responsible for hearing disorder.All high risk newborns should recieve hearing examination regularly.

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and spectrum of β-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province,and to provide a reference for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in this population.Methods Two thousand three hundred and one blood samples were randomly selected from 9 different areas of Fujian province from May 2008 to December 2010.PCR and reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB) were adopted for detection of the 17 common types of mutation,and the frequency of each genotype of β-thalassemia mutations was calculated.The β-globin gene of unknown positive samples were analyzed directly with DNA sequencing.Results Three hundred and fifty-nine cases were detected with β-thalassemia mutations of the 2301 copy blood samples submitted,and the detection rate was 15.60％ (359/2301).Of the mutated genes,12 different mutations were identified,namely IVS-2-654(C→T),CD41-42(-TCTT),CD17(A→T),-28(A→G),CD27-28(+C),CD26(G→A),CD71-72(+A),IVS-1-1(G→T),CD43(G→T),-29(A→G),initiation codon ATG→AGG and CD36(-C).Mutation frequencies were 46.54％ (175/376),33.24％ (125/376),9.31％ (35/376),5.05％ (19/376),2.13％(8/376),1.33％(5/376),0.80％(3/376),0.27％(1/376),0.27％(1/376),0.27％(1/376),0.53％(2/376),and 0.27％(1/376),respectively.The most common mutations were IVS-2-654 (C→T) and CD41-42 (-TCTT),which accounted for 79.78％(300/376) of total genetic mutations.In addition,a novel β-globin gene mutation CD36 (-C) allele was detected for the first time,the deletion of a nucleotide C at code 36 within exon 2 lead to a frameshift mutation that could result in a premature termination at code 60.Conclusions β-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province are complex with significant genetic heterogeneity.We present for the first time the detection of a new β-thalassemia mutation in the population:CD36(-C),which provides valuable information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in Fujian province.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of protein kinase CK2 gene silencing on the radiosensitization in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSRNA interference (RNAi) technique was used to down-regulate the protein kinase CK2alpha expression in 5-8F cells, and clonogenic assay was employed to observe the changes in the radiosensitivity of the cells. DNA double-strand break was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of gamma-H2AX foci, and the cell apoptosis was examined using Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining flow cytometry.

RESULTSCK2alpha protein was successfully silenced by siRNA. CK2alpha knockdown significantly decreased the clonogenic activity and increased the radiosensitivity of the NPC cells. After a 15-min exposure of the cells to 1 Gy radiation, significant difference occurred in the gamma-H2AX foci between CK2alpha knockdown cells and the control cells (P<0.01). CK2alpha silencing significantly increased the cell apoptosis after the exposure (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSProtein kinase CK2 plays an important role in the radiosensitivity of the NPC cells, and suppression of its expression might be a potential therapeutic approach of cancer.

Animals ; Annexin A5 ; metabolism ; Casein Kinase II ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Histones ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Radiation Tolerance ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo determine the interaction between 2450-MHz microwaves (MW) radiation and mitomycin C (MMC).

METHODSThe synergistic genotoxic effects of low-intensity 2450-MHz microwave and MMC on human lymphocytes were studied using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay (comet assay) and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) test in vitro. The whole blood cells from a male donor and a female donor were either only exposed to 2450-MHz microwaves (5.0 mW/cm2) for 2 h or only exposed to MMC (0.0125 microgram/mL, 0.025 microgram/mL and 0.1 microgram/mL) for 24 h; and the samples were exposed to MMC for 24 h after exposure to MW for 2 h.

RESULTSIn the comet assay, the comet lengths (29.1 microns and 25.9 microns) of MW were not significantly longer than those (26.3 microns and 24.1 microns) of controls (P > 0.05). The comet lengths (57.4 microns, 68.9 microns, 91.4 microns, 150.6 microns, 71.7 microns, 100.1 microns, 145.1 microns) of 4 MMC groups were significantly longer than those of controls (P < 0.01). The comet lengths (59.1 microns, 92.3 microns, 124.5 microns, 182.7 microns and 57.4 microns, 85.5 microns, 137.5 microns, 178.3 microns) of 4 MW plus MMC groups were significantly longer than those of controls too (P < 0.01). The comet lengths of MW plus MMC groups were significantly longer than those of the corresponding MMC doses (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) when the doses of MMC were > or = 0.025 microgram/mL. In the CBMN, the micronucleated cell (MNC) rates of MW were 5@1000 and 6@1000, which showed no difference compared with those (4@1000 and 4@1000) of controls (P > 0.05). The MNC rates of 4 MMC groups were 8@1000, 9@1000, 14@1000, 23@1000 and 8@1000, 8@1000, 16@1000, 30@1000 respectively. When the doses of MMC were > or = 0.05 microgram/mL, MNC rates of MMC were higher than those of controls (P < 0.05). MNC rates of 4 MW plus MMC groups were 12@1000, 13@1000, 20@1000, 32@1000 and 8@1000, 9@1000, 23@1000, 40@1000. When the doses of MMC were > or = 0.05 microgram/mL, MNC rates of MW plus MMC groups were much higher than those of controls (P < 0.01). MNC rates of 4 MW plus MMC groups were not significantly higher than those of the corresponding MMC doses.

CONCLUSIONThe low-intensity 2450-MHz microwave radiation can not induce DNA and chromosome damage, but can increase DNA damage effect induced by MMC in comet assay.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Chromosome Aberrations ; chemically induced ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Micronucleus Tests ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Mitomycin ; adverse effects ; Mutagenicity Tests

OBJECTIVETo observe changes of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with hyperlipidemia of blood stasis syndrome and its correlation with blood stasis syndrome integral, P-selectin, and high sensitive creatine reactive protein (hs-CRP), to investigate the roles of platelet activation and inflammation in the physiopathologic process of blood-stasis type hyperlipidemia, and to explore the pathogenetic mechanism of blood-stasis syndrome (BSS).

METHODSSeventy hyperlipidemia patients were assigned to two groups, 39 in the BSS group and 31 in the non-BSS group. Meanwhile, thirty healthy subjects were grouped as the control. Main physiochemical indices, blood levels of sCD40L, P-selectin, hs-CRP were detected in all. The correlations of the aforesaid indices were analyzed.

RESULTSBSS score in the BSS group was higher than that in the non-BSS group and in the control group. Higher blood levels of P-selectin and sCD40L were shown in the BSS group than in the non-BSS group [(25.13 +/- 5.49) ng/L vs. (21.37 +/- 3.56) ng/L and (2.45 +/- 0.48) ng/L vs. (2.07 +/- 0. 41) ng/L] respectively, and the two indices were higher in hyperlipidemia patients than in healthy persons [(14.91 +/- 2.48) ng/L and (1.63 +/- 0.25) ng/L, P < 0.01]. Correlation analysis showed that in patients with hyperlipidemia, blood level of sCD40L was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level (r = 0.503, P < 0.01), P-selectin (r = 0.897, P < 0.01), and the BSS score (r = 0.603, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe over-expressed sCD40L indicated persistent inflammatory state in patients with hyperlipidemia of BSS. BSS would further accelerate the chronic inflammation process of hyperlipidemia.

Adult ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Inflammation ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and determine the risk factors of survival for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) treated by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA).

METHODSFrom January 1999 to December 2008, 82 patients with recurrent HCC, with the diameter less than 7 cm for solitary tumor, or the largest tumor less than 5 cm for multiple tumors(the number of tumors less than 3), were treated by PRFA. The significance of 12 clinical or pathological variables in the risk factors of overall survival were assessed.

RESULTSThe overall survival 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 75.8%, 43.9% and 34.5% (from the date of PRFA), and 95.1%, 63.2% and 46.6% (from initial hepatectomy), respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that tumor size before initial hepatectomy, recurrence interval from initial hepatectomy, number of recurrent tumors, diameter of largest recurrent tumor, serum glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and serum albumin (ALB) level were significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05, Kaplan-Meier Log-rank test). Multivariate analysis showed recurrence interval from initial hepatectomy, diameter of largest recurrence tumor, serum GGT and ALB level were significant prognostic (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPRFA is effective for recurrent HCC. Recurrence interval from initial hepatectomy, diameter of largest recurrent tumor, serum GGT and ALB level are significant prognostic factors.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors