Previous studies have revealed Twist,a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor,plays an important role in breast cancer metastasis.To clarify the molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer metastasis,Twist was silenced by RNAi in highly metastatic 4T1 cells.Then microarray chips were used to investigate the gene-expression pattern of the Twist-knockdown 4T1 cells and the normal 4T1 cells.The results indicated that silencing of Twist significantly suppressesed lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in vivo.Direct comparison of gene-expression profiles showed that 167 genes in Twist-knockdown cells differed dramatically in expression levels from those in control cells.Among the 167 genes,26 well-known tumor-associated genes,including 15 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes were found.These genes appear to be regulated by Twist during breast tumorigenesis.The findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which Twist is involved in tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND:Absorbable bio-glass injection composed by bio-glass and calcium phosphate bone cement can be tightly combined with bone tissue by a strong chemical bond to improve the stability of the bone-implant interface.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of absorbable bio-glass injection to support the vertebral body of osteoporosis mice and its mechanism of osteogenic induction.
METHODS:Osteoporosis models were prepared in 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing bilateral ovariectomy. After modeling, model rats were randomly divided into three groups, and given polymethylmethacrylate, injectable calcium phosphate bone cement and absorbable bio-glass injection into L3-5 vertebral bone defects, respectively. L3-5 segments were removed at 12 weeks after implantation to detect the biomechanical and degradation properties, levels of calcium and phosphate, alkaline phosphatase activity, bone mineral density, levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and transforming growth factor β, as wel as histological observation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the absorbable bio-glass injection group, the degradation properties, compressive strength, surface hydroxyapatite deposition amount and bone mineral density were significantly higher than those in the other two groups(P< 0.05); trabecular bone relative volume, thickness and number were significant higher than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05); serum levels of calcium, alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and transforming growth factor β were significantly higher than those in the other two groups(P < 0.05); but the level of serum phosphate was lower than that in the other two groups(P < 0.05). These results show that the absorbable bio-glass injection can enhance the support for the osteoporotic vertebral body and induce osteogenesis, probably by increasing bone morphogenetic protein 2 and transforming growth factor β levels.

This study aimed at evaluating the quality of precise powder decoction pieces (PPDP) of E.Folium (EF) compared with the traditional commercial slices by chemical fingerprint methods and DNA molecular identification technology.Different specifications of PPDP were prepared,and their dry extract contents were in contrast with that of commercial slices.The slices of EF were identified using ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences.Three batches of commercial slices were collected,and the content uniformity,fingerprint and similarity evaluation before and after the mixing and pulverization were detected by HPLC-DAD and DNA sequence alignment.It was found that the paste rate of PPDP was slightly higher than that of the traditional commercial slices.The dissolution of chlorogenic acid of PPDP was higher than that of the traditional commercial slices.RSD of inter-assay dissolutions of chlorogenic acid of commercial slices was 15.56％,which was reduced to 6.82％ after mixing and preparing into PPDP.The fingerprints showed that the similarity of the PPDP of EF was elevated with the inceases of 10 marketed common peaks.The PPDP of EF was accurately identified by ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences.In conclusion,compared with traditional commercial slices of EF,the PPDP apparently improved the dissolution rate and the quality uniformity,demonstrated that the boiled powder of CRP achieved obvious clinic advantages.

Objective To summarize our experience in prevention and treatment of stricture after esopageal burns in the past thirty years.Methods There were 168 cases in this series.Of them,158 cases underwent surgical management in this study.Modified intraluminal stenting was used in 34 cases, colon interposition without resection of strictured esophagus in 77 cases,gastric transposion with resection of the stricture in 27,repair of cervical stricture with platysma myocutaneous flap in 22,and miscellane- ous operation in 12.Eleven cases experienced operation twice or more at our department.Results Twenty-nine cases recovered after treatment with intraluminal stenting,and 5 re-experienced stricture after stent removal.One of the 5 cases with failed stent responded to bougienage,and the remaining 4 cases re- quired esophageal reconstruction later.Of the 77 colon interpositions,5 cases died postoperatively,and complications of cervical anastomotic fistula occurred in 14 cases,anastomotic stenosis in 4,and abdomi- nal incision dehiscence in 2 cases.In the 27 cases with gastric transpositions,postoperative complications of anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 cases and empyema in 1 patient.There was a cervical leak in 3 ca- ses of the 22 cases treated with the repair of cervical esopageal or anastomotic stricture with a platysma myocutaneous flap.In the 12 cases treated with miscellaneous operation,one died of intestinal obstruc- tion.All the survivors had regular diet after discharge.Conclusions Intraluminal stenting can prevent the formation of caustic esophageal stricture.The location of the cicatricial esophagus dictates whether to perform concomitant esophagectomy during esophageal reconstruction.Platysma myocutaneous flap repair is an excellent method for the treatment of severe cervical esophageal or anastomotic stricture.

Anal Canal/surgery* ; Anorectal Malformations ; Constriction ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Rectal Prolapse

BACKGROUNDElevation of intraocular pressure is usually associated with primary open angle glaucoma and caused by increased outflow resistance. A two-color fluorescent tracer technique was developed to investigate the hydrodynamics of aqueous humor outflow with changing intraocular pressure within the same eye, to better understand the relationship between outflow facility and effective filtration area.

METHODSEighteen enucleated bovine eyes were first perfused at 30 mmHg with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline containing 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose. After a stable baseline facility, red fluorescent microspheres (0.5 microm, 0.002% v/v) were exchanged and perfused. Eyes in the one-color control group (n = 6) were immediately perfused with fixative. In the experimental group (n = 6), eyes were perfused with green tracer after intraocular pressure reduced to 7 mmHg, while in the two-color control group (n = 6), eyes were perfused with green tracer with intraocular pressure remaining at 30 mmHg. All 12 eyes were then perfusion-fixed. Outflow facility was continuously recorded in all eyes. Confocal images were taken along the inner wall of the aqueous plexus and the percent of the effective filtration length (PEFL; length of inner wall exhibiting tracer labeling/total length of inner wall) was measured. The relationships between outflow facility and PEFL were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in baseline facilities (microl x min(-1) x mmHg(-1)) among the three groups (the experimental group: 0.93 +/- 0.12; the two-color control group: 0.90 +/- 0.19; the one-color control group: 0.98 +/- 0.13). In the experimental group, the outflow facility was significantly higher at 7 mmHg (4.29 +/- 1.01) than that at 30 mmHg (1.90 +/- 0.67, P < 0.001), which corresponded to a significant increase in the PEFL at 7 mmHg (54.70 +/- 8.42) from that at 30 mmHg ((11.76 +/- 4.56)%, P < 0.001). The PEFL labeled by red fluorescent microspheres in the experimental group ((11.76 +/- 4.56)%) showed no significant difference from that of the one-color control group ((13.39 +/- 2.19)%, P = 0.473) or the two-color control group ((11.49 +/- 4.95)%, P = 0.930). The PEFL labeled by green fluorescent microspheres in the experimental group ((54.70 +/- 8.42)%) was significantly higher than that of the two color control group ((37.34 +/- 8.17)%, P = 0.010). A positive correlation was found between outflow facility and PEFL (r = 0.897, R(2) = 0.804) in the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONSChanges in aqueous humor outflow patterns before and after a change in intraocular pressure can be successfully distinguished within the same eye using our newly developed two-color tracer perfusion technique. The PEFL showed positive correlation with the outflow facility.

Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; physiology ; Cattle ; Intraocular Pressure ; Luminescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microspheres ; Perfusion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of urinary monocyte chemottractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), and to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of triptolide (TL) in treating DN.

METHODSThirty-five patients in the treated group were treated with TL plus benazepril and thirty two patients in the control group were treated with benazepril alone for six months. The change of urinary MCP-1 was measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSLevel of urinary MCP-1 in DN patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.01), but it could be significantly decreased after TL treatment, showing significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetermination of urinary MCP-1 level is beneficial to know the degree of kidney inflammation in DN patients. TL can inhibit inflammatory reaction to decrease the level of urinary MCP-1, and thus improve the renal function.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; urine ; Diterpenes ; therapeutic use ; Epoxy Compounds ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenanthrenes ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies

Toad venom is the Bufo bufo gargarizans or B. melanostictus after the ears of the gland secretion, used in the treatment of various cancers in recent years. Research shows that the main anti-tumor components in bufadienolide. Bufadienolide have free type structure and conjunct type structure. To identify and clarify the difference between bufogenin and bufotoxin contained in Bufonis Venenum, which was from B. bufo gargarizans, an UPLC-TQ-MS method has been established. UPLC-TQ-MS method was used to identify and quantify the major bufadienolides in Bufonis Venenum. UPLC-TQ-MS assay with positive ion mode was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C, (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) with the mobile phase consisting of 0. 1% aqueous formic and acidacetonitrile in gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL · min⁻¹ and the column temperature was set at 35 °C. By comparing their retention time and high resolution mass data of Bufonis Venenum extracts, 37 effective components were primarily identified by MS/MS analysis in positive ion mode. Twenty-six of them were free-type bufadienolides (bufogenin), 11 of them were conjugated bufadienolides. There were significant differences in the main composition between fresh and processed Bufonis Venenum. The study found that the chemical composition of toad venom through great changes after processing, conjunct type content is much less, free type content as well change.
Amphibian Venoms ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bufonidae ; classification ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Molecular Structure ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for analyzing the content of total polyphenols in leaves of Jatropha curcas. L.

METHODSGallic acid was used as reference substance, the content of total polyphenols was analyzed Folin-Ciocalteu chromatometry.

RESULTSThere was a good linearity for gallic acid in the range of 0.002-0.010 g.L(-1). The content of total polyphenols in the leaves of Jatropha curcas. L was approximately 6.74% with RSD 0.75%. The sample solution was stable during 10-90 min with RSD 0.28%. The precision RSD was 0.23% and the average recovery 99.85% (n=5).

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, fast and reproducible.

Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; isolation & purification

In July 1997, a strain (GB30) of virus was isolated from 60 samples of brain tissues of Murina aurata (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) co llec ted in Gengma county, Yunnan province, China. Isolation of virus was negative fr om 4 samples of brain tissues of Rousettus leschenaulti (Chiroptera: Pteropo did ae) collected in Gengma. GB30 virus strain could regularly cause illness and dea th in suckling mice, produced evident CPE in BHK21 cells. It agglutinated red b lood cells of dove at pH5.75～7.4. This virus has been identified serologically by hemagglutination inhibition and immunofluorescent tests using Japanese enceph alitis (JE), dengue (DEN) type 1,2,3,4, and chikungunya (CHIK) viruses monoclona l antibodies, and JE and sindbis (SIN) viruses immune sera. It showed specific r eaction to JE virus only and no reaction with DEN 1～4, CHIK and SIN viruses. Th erefore it can be identified as JE virus. This is the first report on the isolat ion of JE virus from Murina aurata. The results showed that bats are conside red as the reservoir and amplifier host of JE virus transmission in nature.