Objective:To investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract ( SR ) on GL261 glioma in rats and immune system.Methods:The 40 rats were divided into 4 groups randomly,one was the control group without tumor( the blank group) ( n=10) ,the other 30 rats were given subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells and then divided into 3 groups:the tumor-bearing group( n=10) ,low dose SR group( n=10) ,and high dose SR group( n=10).After 1 week fed,the rats of SR groups were given the saw palmetto extract,low dose group 50 mg/kg once a day every other day and 300 mg/kg of high dose group every other day.The tumor-bearing groups received the same dose of distilled water.After 4 weeks fed, we measured the tumor weight and the inhibition rate was calculated.The tumor cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.The activity of splenic macrophages was detected by macrophage phagocytosis of chicken erythrocytes and CD4+lymphocytes by flow cytometry.Results:①The SR groups compared with tumor group, the tumor weight was significantly reduced(F=62.678,P=0.000).The tumor inhibition rate was significantly higher in high dose group.②The apoptosis of tumor cells in tumor-bearing group was significantly less than SR groups and the apoptosis was significantly increased after treatment with SR ,especially in high dose SR group(F=1.287,P=0.000).③Compared with the blank group,the macrophage activity decreased remarkablely.SR enhanced the macrophage activity obviously, positively related to doses of SR ( F=141.205,P=0.000;F=126.903,P=0.000).④In the tumor-bearing group,the CD4+lymphocyte count decreased significantly.After SR treatment,the CD4+lymphocyte increased and were positively related to the dose of SR.Conclusion: Saw palmetto extract can strengthen the immune system.

Objective To discuss the value of MR T2 mapping in the research of the biomechanics and function of cartilage of knee joint.Methods Knees of 20 healthy adults before and after jogging and 19 osteoarthritis patients were examined with sagittal 8-echo SE sequence.The T2 value of cartilage was selected and calculated.The T2 values in the superficial and deep cartilage of femoral and tibial joint before and after jogging were compared,so did between the osteoarthritis patients and healthy adults.The source images were sent to the workstation to get T2 mappings.The T2 value of cartilage between before and after jogging was compared with paired-samples t test.The T2 value between superficial and deep cartilage before jogging was compared with independent-samples t test,so did between the osteoarthritis patients and healthy adults.Results The T2 values in the superficial and the deep tibial cartilage were(48.8±6.3)ms,(44.3±5.7)ms before jogging and(43.4±5.0)ms,(40.3±6.1)ms after jogging.The T2 values were significantly different between before and after jogging(t=6.004 and t=5.037,P＜0.05).There was a significant difference between superficial and deep tibial cartilage before jogging(t=3.148,P＜0.01).The T2 Values in the superficial and deep femoral cartilage were(52.1±5.7)ms,(47.7±5.3)ms before jogging and(47.2±4.5)ms,(43.6±4.1)ms after jogging.The T2 values were significantly different between before and after jogging(t=6.169 and t=5.957,P＜0.05).There was a significant difference between superficial and deep femoral cartilage before jogging(t=3.384,P＜0.01).The T2 mapping showed those changes.The mean T2 value in the tibial cartilage of osteoarthritis patients was(56.0±9.1)ms and was higher than that of healthy adults.There was a significent difference between osteoarthritis patients and healthy adults(t=-3.446,P＜0.01).Conclusion T2 mapping can be used in the research of biomechanics and function of cartilage and has a prelimilary value in the diagnosis of cartilage degeneration.

Objective To investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract (SR) on GL261 glioma in rats and immune system.Methods The 40 rats were divided into 4 groups randomly,one was the control group without tumor (n =10),the other 30 rats were given subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells and then divided into 3 groups:tumor-bearing group (n =10),low dose SR group (n =10),and high dose SR group (n =10).After 1 weeks feeded,the rats of SR groups were given the saw palmetto extract,low dose group 50 mg/kg once a day every other day and 300 mg/kg of high dose group every other day.The tumor-bearing groups received the same dose of distilled water.After 4 weeks feeding,we measured the tumor weight and the inhibition rate was calculated.The tumor cell apoptosis was detected by TdT mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining.The splenic T lymphocyte proliferation was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTF).Results (1) The SR groups compared to tumor group,the tumor weight was significantly reduced (F =62.678,P =0.000).The tumor inhibition rate was significantly higher in high dose group.(2) The apoptosis of tumor cells in tumor-bearing group was significantly less than SR groups and the apoptosis was significantly increased after treatment with SR,especially in high dose SR group (F =1.287E3,P =0.000).(3) Compared to SR groups and control group,T lymphocyte proliferation of tumor-bearing group reduced obviously.After treated with SR,T lymphocyte proliferation significantly increased and was higher in high-dose group (F =103.565,P =0.000).Conclusions Saw palmetto extract can activate T lymphocytes and induce apoptosis to tumor cells.Its function was related to SR concentration.