Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; physiopathology ; Brain Diseases ; blood ; chemically induced ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

This study aimed to explore Semaphrin4D (Sema4D) expression and clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to define the roles and mechanisms of Sema4D in regulating the malignant behaviors of A549 cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA). Firstly, immunohistochemistry revealed that Sema4D was more frequently expressed in NSCLC than in lung benign lesion (P<0.05) and its overexprssion was associated with low differentiation (P<0.05), poor pTNM staging (P<0.05) and occurrence of lymph node (LN) metastasis (P<0.05). Endogenous Sema4D expression was suppressed by Sema4D siRNA in A549 cells overexpressing Sema4D. Protein levels of Sema4D, total Akt and p-Akt were examined by Western blotting. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities were measured by MTT assay and Transwell assay respectively. Results showed that Sema4D siRNA significantly suppressed phosphorylation of AKT in A549 cells, but it did not alter total AKT expression. In addition, efficient down-regulation of SemaD significantly inhibit cell proliferation (P<0.05), migration (P<0.05) and invasion (P<0.05) in A549 cells. These findings suggest that Sema4D might serve as a reliable tool for early prediction of NSCLC poor prognosis. Sema4D could play an important role in promoting tumor proliferation, migration and metastasis in the NSCLC, by influencing the Akt protein phosphorylation. Inhibition of Sema4D may be a useful approach for the treatment of NSCLC.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in lower limb deep vein diameters, blood flow velocity and blood biochemistry in full-term pregnant women for early diagnosis and treatment of prothrombotic state.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight full-term pregnant women at high risk of thrombosis (Group A), 61 healthy full-term pregnant women (Group B), and 42 healthy non-pregnant women (Group C) underwent high-resolution color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) for examining the deep veins of the lower limbs. The hematological indexes such as D-D, PLT, HGB, HCT, TT, APTT, PT, and FbgC were also observed in these 3 groups.

RESULTSCompared to Group B, the women in group A showed significantly increased diameters of the common femoral veins (CFV) and left superficial femoral vein (SFV), HCT and DD, but with significantly decreased peak blood flow in the bilateral popliteal veins (POPV) (P<0.01) and increased left POPV diameter (P=0.034). Compared to those in group C, the diameters of the bilateral CFVs, SFVs, POPV, and posterior tibial veins (PTVs) were significantly increased, but the peak blood flow in the bilateral CFVs and POPVs were significantly reduced in groups A and B; the PLT, HGB, HCT, DD, TT, APTT, PT, and FbgC also showed significant changes in groups A and B (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe full-term pregnant women are at higher risk of prothrombotic state than non-pregnant women, and the full-term pregnant women with the high risk factors for thrombosis are more likely to have prothrombotic state than healthy full-term pregnant women. CDU examination of the lower limb deep veins can be of value in the diagnosis of prothrombotic state.

Adult ; Anthropometry ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Humans ; Leg ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Popliteal Vein ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; physiology ; Ultrasonography

In this paper, we studied the relationship between the prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha))-induced cardiac hypertrophy and calcineurin (CaN) signal transduction pathway in vivo and in vitro. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single i.p. injection with monocrotaline (MCT) (60 mg/kg) and then given orally with celecoxib (20 mg/kg) or vehicle once a day for 14 d before (from d 1 to d 14) or after (from d 15 to d 28) right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) was formed. Body weight (BW), right ventricular weight (RV), left ventricular with septum weight (LV), as well as lung weight were determined. RVH index (RVHI=RV/LV), RV/BW, and lung weight/BW were calculated and histological changes were observed with transmission electron microscope. PGF(2alpha) level, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and CaN mRNA expressions, expression of CaN and its downstream effectors, NFAT(3) and GATA(4) protein were assayed by EIA kit, RT-PCR, and Western blotting, respectively. The cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in primary culture induced by PGF(2alpha) (0.1 micromol/L) was evaluated by measuring the cell diameter, protein content, and ANP mRNA as well as CaN mRNA expressions. It was found that 14 d or 28 d after MCT was given, the RVHI, RV/BW, and lung weight/BW were significantly increased by 47%, 53% and 118%, and by 64%, 94% and 156%, respectively; at the same time PGF(2alpha) levels in RV tissue were increased by 44% and by 51% with increasing RVHI, and elevated expressions of ANP and CaN mRNA, as well as CaN, NFAT(3) and GATA(4) proteins in a positive correlation manner. Furthermore, some histological injuries were found in RV tissue. Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, obviously blunted the elevation of RVHI, RV/BW, and lung weight/BW no matter it was given before or after RVH. In vitro experiments showed that 0.1 micromol/L PGF(2alpha) significantly increased the cardiomyocyte diameter and protein content, and promoted ANP and CaN mRNA expressions, which was blocked by cyclosporin A, a CaN inhibitor. Our results indicate that PGF(2alpha) may be involved in cardiac hypertrophy induced by MCT in rats through CaN signal transduction pathway.
Animals ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoprost ; metabolism ; physiology ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

Animals ; Keratolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Neural Crest ; embryology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; Zebrafish ; Zebrafish Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

The in situ gel systems can form gel in situ after administration to achieve sustained release, thus provides a promising strategy for drug delivery systems. The aim of this study was to design and prepare in situ gel systems for the oral delivery of ibuprofen (IBU-ISG) and study its pharmacokinetics in Beagle dogs. The characteristics of the basic material of gellan gum (Kelcogel, Kel) and sodium alginate (Manugel, M) were studied through investigating the complex viscosity of the Kel or M solution with or without different concentrations of calcium ion or sodium citrate to ascertain the amount range of the excipients. The measurement of complex viscosity of the solution (0. 5% Kel and 1% M) with different concentrations of sodium citrate and calcium ion was carried out to select the suitable proportion of calcium ion and sodium citrate. The formulation of binary IBU-ISG was optimized by monitoring the complex viscosity before gelling in vitro release property. The optimized formulation contains 1.0% sodium alginate, 0.5% gellan gum, 0. 21% sodium citrate and 0.056% calcium chloride. A single oral dose of IBU-ISG and reference formulation (IBU suspension) were given to each of the 6 healthy Beagle dogs, ibuprofen in plasma at different sampling times was determined by RP-HPLC. The pharmacokinetics parameters in 6 Beagle dogs were calculated. The Tmax of IBU-ISG and reference formulation were (1.8 +/- 0.6) and (0.4 +/- 0. 1) h. The Cmax values were (29.2 +/- 7.6) and (37.8 +/- 2.2) microg x mL(-1). The T(1/2) were (2.3 +/- 0.5) and (2.0 +/- 0.9) h, and the AUC(0-t) were (131.0 +/- 38.6) and (117.3 +/- 23.1) microg x mL(-1) x h, respectively. The binary IBU-ISG was successfully prepared.
Administration, Oral ; Alginates ; chemistry ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Calcium Chloride ; chemistry ; Citrates ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dogs ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Excipients ; Female ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Ibuprofen ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; chemistry ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVETo explore detection method on polysomnogram of post-stroke depression and changes in rats.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control group, stroke group, and post-stroke depression (PSD) group. The establishment of PSD model generally adopted the combination of deligation bilateral common carotid artery permanently raising alone and stress exertion. And suturing electrode under the rat scalp for polysomnogram.

RESULTSThe polysomnogram could record the rats movement, electroencephalogram, electromyogram, and eye movement. The rapid eye movement (REM) latency of PSD group, and control group, stroke group were (108.2 +/- 16.1)s, (152.5 +/- 20.5)s, (145.1 +/- 18.7)s respectively. Compared with control, and stroke group, REM latency in PSD group were shortened (P < 0.01). The percentage of REM in PSD group, control group and stroke group were 5.2% +/- 1.2%, 8.3% +/- 1.4%, 7.9% +/- 1.6% respectively. Compared with control, and stroke group, REM latency in PSD group was decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe method of suturing electrode under the rat scalp is suitable for polysomnogram. The polysomnogram could be a successful sign for PSD model.

Animals ; Depressive Disorder ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the amplification of zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) gene on chromosome 20 in ovarian cancer and its clinical significance.

METHODSTwenty-three specimens of ovarian carcinoma (11 cases of early stage and 12 advanced stage), 10 specimens of benign ovarian tumors and 7 normal ovaries were examined for ZNF217 gene amplification on chromosome 20 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

RESULTSZNF217 gene amplification was detected in 12 cases of ovarian cancer (52.17%) and 1 case of benign ovarian tumor, but not in normal ovary. ZNF217 amplification was significantly associated with ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONOncogene ZNF217 is associated with the tumor stage and poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; genetics ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

With the development of molecular pathology,many types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have been identified.The efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different types of EGFR mutations,especially in patients with single rare mutations or complex mutations (co-occurrence of two or more different mutations),has not been fully understood.This study aimed to examine the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patients with different types of EGFR mutations.Clinical data of 809 NSCLC patients who harbored different types of EGFR mutations and treated from January 2012 to October 2016 at Renmin Hospital and Zhongnan Hospital,Wuhan,were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical characteristics of these patients and the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs were analyzed.Among these patients,377 patients had only the EGFR del-19 mutation,362 patients the EGFR L858R mutation in exon 21,33 patients single rare mutations and 37 patients complex mutations.Among these 809 patients,239 patients were treated with EGFR-TKIs.In all the 239 patients,the disease control rate (DCR) was 93.7％ with two patients (0.2％) achieving complete response (CR),the median progression free survival (PFS) was 13.0 months (95％ confidence interval [CI],11.6-14.4 months),and the median overall survival (OS) was 55.0 months (95％ CI,26.3-83.7 months).Subgroup analysis revealed that the DCR in patients harboring single rare or complex mutations of EGFR was significantly lower than in those with del-19 or L858R mutation (P＜0.001).Patients with classic mutations (del-19 and/or L858R mutations) demonstrated longer PFS (P＜0.001) and OS (P=0.017) than those with uncommon mutations (single rare and/or complex mutations).Furthermore,the patients with single rare mutations had shorter median OS than in those with other mutations.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that the type of EGFR mutations was an independent risk factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.308,95％ CI,0.191-0.494,P＜0.001) and OS (HR=0.221,95％ CI,0.101-0.480,P＜0.001).The results suggest that the single rare or complex EGFR mutations confer inferior efficacy of EGFR-TKIs treatment to the classic mutations.The prognosis of the single rare EGFR mutations is depressing.EGFR-TKIs may be not a good choice for NSCLC patients with single rare mutations of EGFR.Further studies in these patients with uncommon mutations (especially for the patients with single rare mutations) are needed to determine a better precision treatment.

Objective To evaluate the effects of diphenylhydantoin sodiumpolybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (DPH-PBCA-NPs) and DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80on rat models of epilepsy, and investigate the advantage of nanoparticle as the drug delivery system.Methods The rat models of acute epilepsy induced by lithium pilocarpine were established and randomly divided into 5 groups: group Ⅰ (performing injection of DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80), group Ⅱ (performing injection of DPH-PBCA-NPs), group Ⅲ (performing injection of diphenylhydantoin sodium), group Ⅳ (performing injection of PBCA-NPs) and group Ⅴ (performing injection of physiological saline). The changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) manifestations of these rats were observed by using video-EEG monitoring; and their behavioral changes were noted too.Results The lithium pilocarpine induced rat models of acute epilepsy were successfully established and their status epilepticus were confirmed by EEG and their behaviors. The effective rate of DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 and DPH-PBCA-NPs was 91.67% and 54.55%, respectively;the effective rate of rats in group Ⅲ was 50%, and the effective rate of rats in group Ⅳ and Ⅴ was 0%;DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 enjoyed a better effect than DPH-PBCA-NPs and DPH (P＜0.05). Conclusion DPH-PBCA-NPs and DPH-PBCA-NPs modified with Tween-80 can be used to improve the behaviors of rats with acute epilepsy and modify the results of EEG of these rats.Nanoparticles as drug delivery system can help the drugs having their effects much quickly and effectively.