Stathmin is a novel member of microtubule-destabilizing proteins that play a critical role in the regulation of the dynamic equilibrium of microtubules during different phases of the cell cycle.The overexpression of stathmin was found in different type of cancer.Inhibition of stathmin expression in malignant cells may interfere with their orderly progression through the cell cycle.Overexpression of stathmin can affect the action of antimicrotuble drugs by markedly decreasing binding of paclitaxel,and increasing binding of Vinca alkaloids.In addition,stathmin provides an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy.It may be possible to combine adenovirus-mediated anti-stathmin ribozyme therapy with a chemotherapeutic agent such as taxol to obtain a more potent antiproliferative and antitumor effect.

The tumor microenvironment is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumor. Hypoxia is considered to be one of the most important factors in tumor microenvironment.Formation of hypoxic microenvironment can be found in most of malignant tumors,which can inhibit the anti-tumor immune response. Recent studies have indicated that immunosuppressive cells,tumor stem cells and circulating tumor cells in hypoxic tumor microenvironment can mediate immune suppression and immune tolerance,and then promote development of tumor.The new immune therapy will focus on normalizing tumor vasculature,reconstructing the tumor microenvironment,avoiding immune suppression and averting tumor immune tolerance.

Objective To investigate the role of NFIC on the stimulation effects of cAMP-induced differentiation of stem cells from the apical papilla ( SCAPs) in vitro. Methods SCAPs isolated from dental papilla of human imma-ture third molars were cultured by enzyme digestion. SCAPs were transfected with lentivirus that overexpressed NF-IC gene ( ov-NFIC) or an empty vector ( LV-empty) and co-treatment with Forskolin. Mineralized nodule formation of each group was measured by alizarin red staining. Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to test the expressions of RUNX2,ALP,OCN mRNA. Results Forskolin increased the ex-pression of Runx2, ALP, OCN mRNA as well as matrix mineralization in SCAPs, and the stimulation effects of For-skolin were enhanced by overexpressing NFIC gene. Conclusion The results indicate that NFIC can promote cAMP-induced differentiation of SCAPs.

Adolescent ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effect of zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy in patients with cancer and bone metastases. Methods 60 patients with cancer and skeletal me-tastases were devided randomly into tow groups, 30 patients received zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy, 30 patients only received chemotherapy. Cheotherapeutic program of tow groups were same. Results Response rate of bone pain relief was 83. 3% in zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapeutic group and 56.7% in chemotherapy alone group. Response rate of skeletal metastases was 53. 3% in zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy group and 20. 0% in chemotherapy alone group. Response rate of movement capacity improvement was 73. 3% in zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapeutic group and 30. 0% in chemotherapy alone group. The therapeutic effect of zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy group was better than that of chemotherapy alone group( P

Objective To observe the changes of femur biomechanical properties in fluorosis rats. Methods Fifty Wistar rats of thirty-day old, weighing 90-100 g, were randomly divided according to body mass into fluorosis and control group of 25 each. Fluorosis group drank tap water containing 100 mg/L of fluoride, the control group drank tap water. The rats were observed of dental growing status and killed after feeding 6 months. Their femurs underwent tensile strength, impact, shear, bending experiments. Results The deteetable rate of dental fluorosis was significantly higher in fluorosis group[92%(23/25)] than control group[0(0/25),X2=38.97, P<0.01]. Biomeehanical data in fluorosis group(225.67±11.81,1.94±0.15,76.62±6.10,39.96.3±3.90) were lower than those of the control group(244.70±13.38,2.39±0.19,87.72±7.05,45.75±3.75) in experiments of tensile strength (MPa), impact toughness (J/mm2), shear and bending strength (MPa). The difference was statistically significant(t=3.372,5.879,3.756 and 3383, respectively, P<0.01) between the two groups. Conclusion Fluorides affected bone metabolism in rats, femur biomechanieal properties ehanged in fluorosis rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between pure-tone average (PTA), the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the auditory pathway, cognitive cortex and auditory cortex in presbycusis. METHOD: Twenty-five elderly subjects with presbycusis were participated in the study. PTA, speech discrimination abilities were evaluated in each subject. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was applied to access the FA of the IC, the superior frontal gyrus and the Heschl's gyrus. Compare the difference between two sides of the values of FA in the three areas. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of PTA and FA of the inferior colliculus (IC), the superior frontal gyrus and the Heschl's gyrus on speech discrimination abilities. RESULT: There were no significant differences between the left and right side of the inferior colliculus (P > 0.05). Higher FA values were recorded at the left side of the Heschl's gyrus and the superior frontal gyrus (P < 0.05). Both PTA and the FA of the superior frontal gyrus have a negative association with speech discrimination abilities (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while the FA of the Heschl's gyrus has a positive association with speech discrimination abilities (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that the speech discrimination abilities of the elderly is not only related to the peripheral auditory function, but also to the central auditory and cognitive function.
Aged ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Cortex ; physiopathology ; Auditory Pathways ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Inferior Colliculi ; physiopathology ; Presbycusis ; diagnosis ; Speech Perception

OBJECTIVETo observe protective effects of Schisandra extract (SE) on embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene (Bap).

METHODSPregnant rat model was prepared using periodic screening cage method. Totally 50 female pregnant SD rats were divided into five groups by randomized block design according to the weight, i.e., the BaP model group, the low dose SE group, the middle dose SE group, the high dose SE group, the normal control group, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the BaP model group were administered with BaP at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in low, middle, and high dose SE groups were administered by gastrogavage with BaP (at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg) plus SE at a daily dose of 40, 200, and 1 000 mg/kg, respectively. Equal volume of olive oil was administered to rats in the normal control group by gastrogavage. All medication was performed for 8 successive days. Changes of rat body weight in each period were observed. The uterus embryonic total quality and ovary quality were measured, and organ index calculated. The number of corpus luteum, the number of embryo implantation, and the number of absorbed embryo were statistically calculated respectively. The implantation rate and the absorbed embryos rate were calculated. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin β (β-HCG) and progesterone (PROG) were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the weight of 9-day pregnant rats, the number of embryo implantation, the uterus embryonic total index, ovary index, serum levels of β-HCG and PROG all decreased in the Bap model group with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Bap model group, body weight, the uterus embryonic total index, and the PROG level increased in 3 dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Ovary index and serum β-HCG increased in middle and high dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The number of implantation obviously increased in the high dose SE groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSE could reduce the embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Uterus ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) short hair RNA (shRNA) delivered by lentiviral vectors (pGLV) on cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI) in aldosterone overload rats and to explore the mechanism.Methods Aldosterone overload rat myocardial infarction model was obtained by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.The pGLV-shRNA was constructed,sequenced and injected into rats via tail vein.Rats were divided into 3 groups:pGLV-shRNA group (n=6),pGLV-shRNA-NC group (n=6,contained a nonsense shRNA) and the sham-operation group (n=6).Cardiac function was measured by cardiac ultrasound.Apoptosis was assessed by transferase (TdT)-mediated biotin-16-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL).The p38 MAPK mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR.The protein expressions of p38 MAPK and caspase-3 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,cardiac systolic function was reduced and myocardial apoptosis index was significantly increased [(31.26 ± 4.45) ％ vs.(15.20 ± 2.18) ％,P ＜ 0.01] in pGLV-shRNA-NC group.The mRNA and protien expressions of p38MAPK and caspase 3 protein expression were significantly increased in pGLV-shRNA-NC group (all P＜0.01).Compared with pGLV-shRNA-NC group,cardiac function was improved,myocardial cell apoptosis index was reduced [(22.35±3.59)％ vs.(31.26±4.45)％,P＜0.05],and the mRNA and protien expressions of p38MAPK and caspase 3 protein expression were decreased in pGLV-shRNA group (all P＜0.05).Conclusions Cardiac dysfunction is associated with p38MAPK-mediated myocardial apoptosis in aldosterone overload MI rats.pGLV-shRNA may inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve postMI cardiac function.

Objective To detect the Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (TrFoxp3+),Th17,TrFoxp3+/Th17 and related cell factors level in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients,and to explore the relationships about TrFoxp3+,Th17 with occurrence and development of lung cancer and whether there are imbalance of TrFoxp3+/Th17.Methods The proportions of TrFoxp3+,Th17 cells and the level of related cell factors such as TGF-β,IL-17,IL-23 were determined respectively by flow cytometry and ELISA in peripheral blood of 18 healthy people and 26 patients with NSCLC.Results The proportions of TrFoxp3+,Th17 and TrFoxp3+/Th17 in peripheral blood with NSCLC were higher than healthy controls(P ＜0.05).The proportion of Th17 cells from NSCLC patients was positively correlated with that of TrFoxp3+(r =0.81,P＜0.05).Comparing TrFoxp3+/Th17 among different TNM stages in NSCLC patients:TrFoxp3+/Th17 of in Ⅳ stage was obvious higher than that of in Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage,Ⅲ stage(P＜0.05).The level of TGF-β,IL-17,IL-23 was higher in NSCLC patients than that in healthy controls,the ratio of TGF-β in the advanced stage group/healthy controls was higher in the early and middle group/healthy controls (P＜0.05).Conclusion TrFoxp3+,Th17 and TrFoxp3+/Th17 in NSCLC patients were higher than healthy people,moreover TrFoxp3+/Th17 in advanced stage increased significantly.The results may imply that there are certain relationships between the imbalance of TrFoxp3+/Th17 and immunosuppression and occurrence and development of NSCLC as well as the regulation of their cytokines.