Forearm ; innervation ; Ganglion Cysts ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; surgery ; Tendons ; surgery ; Ulnar Nerve ; surgery

Humanin(HN,its analogue [Gly14]-Humanin,HNG)was originally identified as an endogenous peptide that protects neuronal cells from apoptosis induced by various types of Alzheimer's disease-related insults.But the relative low content of this peptide in its natural sources limits its further characterization.An expression vector pET32a/HNG was corstructed and transformed it into E.coli BL21 trxB(DE3).HNG was expressed as a fusion protein in the soluble fraction and was purified by nickel affinity chromatography.Subsequently,the purified fusion protein was cleaved by enterokinase and was further purified by reverse-phase HPLC.A 23 mg recombinant HNG(rHNG)from 1 L bacterial culture was purified.The molecular weight of rHNG determined by ESI-MS was 2876.5 Da which was the expected size for correctly processed peptide.The N-terminal amino acid sequence of rHNG determined by Edman degradation method is identical to the theoretical sequence.Neuroprotective bioassay studies of rHNG exhibited its potential neuroprotective effect comparable to that of the natural HNG peptide.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of two specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors (SCI), rofecoxib and celecoxib, combined with chemotherapeutic drugs 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 on gastric cancer cell line BGC-823, and to evaluate whether specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors can be used as a synergetic agent in chemotherapy.

METHODSThe gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 cells were incubated for 48 hours with rofecoxib and celecoxib, 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 (concentration gradient of 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16:1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml), or in combination, respectively. MTT working solution was added to each culture and calculated the survival rates of gastric cancer cells. Median-effect principle and Professor Jin's evaluation methods were applied to detect the interaction between the specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

RESULTSThe inhibition rates of gastric cancer cells were 42.63% +/- 1.26% and 50.67% +/- 2.35% by treatment with 0.1 micromol/L rofecoxib and 50 micromol/L celecoxib, respectively. The inhibition rates of gastric cancer cells by treatment with 5-Fu, DDP and VP-16 at different concentrations (1 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml) were 39.75% +/- 3.14%, 49.96% +/- 2.08%, 87.93% +/- 3.66%; 48.28% +/- 2.08%, 59.46% +/- 1.69%, 88.23% +/- 4.81%; and 29.23% +/- 3.27%, 49.34% +/- 3.75%, 79.24% +/- 2.44%, respectively. However, the inhibition rates showed a synergetic role while combined the two SCI (0.1 micromol/L rofecoxib and 50 micromol/L celecoxib) with chemotherapeutic agent at different concentrations (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth rofecoxib and celecoxib have an ability to suppress gastric cancer cells in vitro, and the synergetic role becomes evident when rofecoxib and celecoxib are combined with chemotherapeutic agents at different concentrations, which indicate that the two specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors may be used as a chemotherapeutic sensitizer.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Celecoxib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactones ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Sulfones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and reliability on the quantitative evaluation of Colles' fracture by multislice CT (MSCT) multiplanner reconstruction (MPR).

METHODSA total of 36 patients with Colles' fracture from July 2011 to July 2014 were investigated in this study. There were 11 males and 25 females with a mean age of (42.5 ± 5.4) years old (ranged 35 to 72 years). All the patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and MSCT scans on wrist joints within 2 days after trauma. Images were sent to the workstation through picture archiving and conserving system (PACS). One associate chief physician independently and respectively measured the dorsal intercalation depth of distal fracture block, palmar angle and dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse on anteroposterior and lateral X-ray film and MSCT-MPR. The time interval between the two measurements was 2 weeks. All the data between the first and second measurement on X-ray and MPR and the mean value between the X-ray and MPR was examined with paired t-test. The pearson analyzed their correlation.

RESULTSAmong the 35 cases, 35 cases of palmar angle, 21 cases of intercalation depth and 16 cases of dislocation of wrist articular surface collapse could be measured on both X-ray and MPR. For the above parameters, the first measurement results were (12.5 ± 3.6)°, (4.5 ± 2.1) mm, (3.7 ± 1.6) mm and the second measurement results were (4.8 ± 2.2)°, (6.4 ± 3.6) mm, (2.5 ± 1.2) mm on X-ray films respectively. The first measurement results on MPR were (14.5 ± 5.3)°, (4.2 ± 1.2) mm, (5.7 ± 2.3) mm, and the results were (13.2 ± 2.6)°, (4.7 ± 2.2) mm, (4.6 ± 2.1) mm for the second measurement respectively. The three parameters between the first and second measurement on plain film had statistical difference and low correlation (r = 0.681, 0.640, 0.345, P < 0.05). The data between the first and second measurement on MPR showed that the dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse had statistical difference (P < 0.05) and no statistical significance was found for the other two parameters (P > 0.05), with the moderate correlation (r = 0.954, 0.854, 0.642). The three parameters had low or moderate correlation with each other on X-ray (r = 0.454, 0.532, 0.378, P < 0.05), compared with the mean value on MPR.

CONCLUSIONUsing MSCT MPR images may carry on the multiple parameter measurement of Colles fracture, to make quantitative evaluation, and repeated measurement is better reliability.

Adult ; Aged ; Colles' Fracture ; diagnostic imaging ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cellular effects of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) in the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line.

METHODSThe viability of HT-29 cells was determined by MTT assay. A fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis with annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) and JC-1 staining were performed to determine cell apoptosis and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. Activation of caspase 3 was evaluated by a colorimetric assay. The mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSPZH, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, reduced viability and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Moreover, PZH treatment resulted in the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase 3, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

CONCLUSIONPZH inhibits the growth of HT-29 cells by inducing cancer cell apoptosis via regulation of the Bcl-2 family and activation of caspase 3, which may, in part, explain its anticancer activity.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assemble the full-length of human resistin gene in vitro by using oligonucleotides and to construct its eukaryotic expression vector.

METHODSAccording to the gene sequence of resistin (GenBank: AF323081), 10 oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized, followed by a touch down PCR to assemble the full-length gene. The PCR products were cloned into pSecTag2B vector and confirmed by sequencing.

RESULTSThe band of PCR products and gene sequencing showed the insert fragment in pSecTag2B vector was identical to that as designed.

CONCLUSIONThe full-length of human resistin coding sequence was successfully assembled and amplified by touch down PCR, and a resistin-expressing eukaryotic vector was constructed.

Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genes, Synthetic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Resistin ; genetics ; metabolism

Humanin (HN, its analogue [Gly14]-Humanin, HNG) was originally identified as an endogenous peptide that protects neuronal cells from apoptosis induced by various types of Alzheimer's disease-related insults. But the relative low content of this peptide in its natural sources limits its further characterization. An expression vector pET32a/HNG was corstructed and transformed it into E. coli BL21 trxB (DE3). HNG was expressed as a fusion protein in the soluble fraction and was purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Subsequently, the purified fusion protein was cleaved by enterokinase and was further purified by reverse-phase HPLC. A 23 mg recombinant HNG (rHNG) from 1 L bacterial culture was purified. The molecular weight of rHNG determined by ESI-MS was 2876.5 Da which was the expected size for correctly processed peptide. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of rHNG determined by Edman degradation method is identical to the theoretical sequence. Neuroprotective bioassay studies of rHNG exhibited its potential neuroprotective effect comparable to that of the natural HNG peptide.

OBJECTIVEA comparative proteomic approach was used to identify and analyze proteins relevant to metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSProteins extracted from 12 liver tumor tissue specimens (6 with metastases and 6 without) were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Comparative analyses of 2-DE protein patterns between the two groups were done using computerized image analysis. Selected proteins exhibiting statistically significant alternations were identified by mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed to examine the expressions of the candidate proteins.

RESULTS16 proteins including HSP27, S100A11, CK18 were identified using mass spectrometry, which were related to cell mobility, signal transduction, and energy metabolism respectively. Of these, HSP27 was found to be uniquely over-expressed in 2-DE maps of all metastatic HCCs when compared to the non-metastatic HCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting of HCC tissues confirmed this difference while RT-PCR did not.

CONCLUSIONThere are different proteins working together that affect the metastasis of HCCs. The overexpression of HSP27 may serve as a biomarker for early detection and therapeutic targets to the metastatic phenotype of HCC. The role of HSP27 in HCC metastasis warrants further investigation.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemistry ; pathology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proteome ; analysis ; S100 Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impacts of three different surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients.

METHODSThis study included 126 male patients with urethral stricture, 35 treated by substitution urethroplasty (group A), 52 by anastomotic urethroplasty (group B), and 39 by internal urethroplasty (group C). We evaluated the pre- and postoperative erectile function of the patients using IIEF-5 scores by telephone calls and interviews. We also monitored their nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT).

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores in groups A, B and C were 13.5 +/- 4.5, 11.1 +/- 4.8 and 14.5 +/- 4.41 respectively after surgery, all significantly decreased as compared with 17.1 +/- 2.6, 17.1 +/- 3.0 and 17.6 +/- 2.2 preoperatively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll the three surgical approaches can reduce IIEF-5 scores in patients with urethral stricture, but anastomotic urethroplasty may induce a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than the other two approaches.

Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the possibility and efficacy of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation in treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).

METHODS40 male pooches were divided into A, B, C and D groups randomly. Each group has 10 pooches group A and B were made into the model of BPH. Two years later, the pooches in group A and C accepted the operation of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation on both sides. Group B and D only accepted the operation of dissection and relieving its deferent duct. Then continuing to feed the 40 pooches after the operation, they were killed another two years later. After taking out their prostates and calculating their volume and weight, the sections of the prostates were checked by microscope to observe their histology and pathology changes.

RESULTSThere were significant differences of weight and volume as well as the changes of histology and pathology between group A and group C (P < 0.01). It was the same with group B and D (hyperplasia changes).

CONCLUSIONSVasoligation and deferent vein ligation before benign prostatic hyperplasia at pooches grow-up stage can reduce the extent of BPH at old age, and treatment after benign prostatic hyperplasia can make prostatic tissue appear different degrees of atrophy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Ligation ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Vasectomy