OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of four traditional Chinese medicines distributed along lung meridian, namely Ephedrae Hebra, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix and Mori Cortex, on TLR2 and NF-κB expressions in mice with lung heat syndrome, in order to study the intervention effect of the four traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) on the lung heat syndrome.

METHODOne hundred KM mice were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Ephedrae Hebra group, the Zingiberis Rhizoma group, the Scutellariae Radix group and the Mori Cortex group (20, 10 g x kg(-1)), nasally dripped with streptococcus pneumoniae to establish the mouse lung heat syndrome model, and then administered with different TCMs. The expressions of TLR2, NF-κB p65 proteins in lung tissues were analyzed by the immunohistochemical method. The expressions of TLR2, NF-κB p65 mRNA were measured by real time PCR.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 proteins in lung tissues in the model group were higher (P < 0.01), and the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in lung tissues were up-regulated (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, the Zingiberis Rhizoma low dose group and the Scutellariae Radix high dose group showed decreased expression of TLR2 protein (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, the Zingiberis Rhizoma low dose group, Scutellariae Radix high and low dose groups and Mori Cortex high and low dose groups showed reduced expression of NF-κB p65 protein (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Ephedrae Hebra high and low dose groups, Zingiberis Rhizoma high and low dose groups, Scutellariae Radix high dose group and Mori Cortex high dose group showed down-regulated expression of TLR2 mRNA (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEphedrae Hebra, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix and Mori Cortex can induce the TLR2/NF-κB inflammatory signal pathways by down-regulating the expressions of TLR2 and NF-κB p65 in protein and mRNA, so as to alleviate the lung tissue injury in mice with lung heat syndrome.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Meridians ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Syndrome ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate ( EGCG ) against oxidative stress induced by high glucose in human lens epithelium ( HLE) cells.? METHODS: The HLE cell oxidative damage model induced by high concentration glucose was established, and was intervented with different concentrations of EGCG. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, cell morphology was investigated by convert microscope, cells apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry with Hoechst-PI staining. Moreover, the levels of super oxide dismutase ( SOD) , glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in supernatant were also tested after different treatment either with high concentration glucose or with different concentrations of EGCG.?RESULTS: MTT results showed that HLE cells activity increased to 50. 33%± 3. 52% and 63. 33%± 4. 63% after treated with 10 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L EGCG respectively, the difference was statistically significant compared with oxidative injury group(32. 67%±3. 10%)(P<0. 05 ); HLE cells maintained better morphology intervented with EGCG under high glucose conditions, the number of apoptotic cells reduced, SOD and GSH-Px level within HLE cells increased and MDA levels decreased.?CONCLUSION:EGCG plays its strong antioxidant effect by increasing SOD, GSH-Px content and decreasing MDA content in cells, therefore provides a reliable experimental basis for the search for effective prevention and treatment of cataract drug.

Objective To investigate the correlation between vitamin A and surfactant protein (SP)-B, SP-C in human body,and to explore the effects on lung development and pulmonary function of neonates. Methods We collected the blood samples of 170 pregnant women and umbilical cord serum of their neonatal babies. The levels of vitamin A in pregnant women and their neonatal babies,and the levels of SP-B and SP-C in neonatal umbilical cord serum were detected by ELISA. We conducted a follow-up by standard telephone questionnaire,which we concerned was the number of respiratory tract infection within six months,in order to assess the neonatal pulmonary functions. Results (1) There was a positive correlation between the vitamin A levels in neonatal umbilical cord blood and in the blood of pregnant women(r=0. 866,P<0. 05). (2) There was a positive correlation between the vitamin A levels in neonatal umbilical cord blood and the levels of SP-B,SP-C in the blood(r=0. 817,P<0. 05). (3)In the follow-up of 170 cases of infants within six months,three cases with pneumonia hospitalized more than once,but no respiratory distress syndrome hap-pened. Conclusion Vitamin A can be used as an important biological marker to evaluate the neonatal pul-monary maturity. If we detect the vitamin A levels of pregnant women,increase the intake of vitamin A,we can improve the content of SP-B,SP-C,improve the development of neonatal lung function in growth.

0.05).Conclusions The serum concentrations of cortisol,GH,IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP3 in children suffered from asthma have no obvious change before and after 24 months long-term inhaled corticosteroids.The height changes before and after therapy have no significant difference between observation group and control group with same age and gender.

By using immunohistochemistry LSAB method and imaging analysis technique, the expression of α1-antitrypsinase (α1-AT) in 41 cases of bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC) was quantitatively detected to explore the relationship between αl-AT expression in BAC tissues and clinical pathology. The results showed that the total positive rate for αl-AT expression was 85.4%. The positive rate for αl-AT expression in alveolar BAC was 100%, with the immunity reactive staining intensity being significantly higher than in papillary BAC, mucinous BAC or sclerosing BAC (P＜0.05). The positive rate in papillary BAC was 93.3%, with the intensity higher mucinous BAC or sclerosing BAC (P＜0.01); The positive rate in both mucinous BAC and sclerosing BAC was 66.7% (P＞0.05); The expression intensity in lymph node metastatic group was obviously lower than that in the group without metastasis (P＜0.01); The patients with mucinous BAC were diagnosed at a younger age than those with other histologic types of BAC (P＜0.05). It was suggested that BAC cells could also produce αl-AT. Detection of α1-AT could be used as a new method to diagnose BAC and might play a role in assessing BAC metastasis.

By using immunohistochemistry LSAB method and imaging analysis technique, the expression of α1-antitrypsinase (α1-AT) in 41 cases of bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC) was quantitatively detected to explore the relationship between αl-AT expression in BAC tissues and clinical pathology. The results showed that the total positive rate for αl-AT expression was 85.4%. The positive rate for αl-AT expression in alveolar BAC was 100%, with the immunity reactive staining intensity being significantly higher than in papillary BAC, mucinous BAC or sclerosing BAC (P＜0.05). The positive rate in papillary BAC was 93.3%, with the intensity higher mucinous BAC or sclerosing BAC (P＜0.01); The positive rate in both mucinous BAC and sclerosing BAC was 66.7% (P＞0.05); The expression intensity in lymph node metastatic group was obviously lower than that in the group without metastasis (P＜0.01); The patients with mucinous BAC were diagnosed at a younger age than those with other histologic types of BAC (P＜0.05). It was suggested that BAC cells could also produce αl-AT. Detection of α1-AT could be used as a new method to diagnose BAC and might play a role in assessing BAC metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate osteopontin (OPN) expression in plasma and tissue of patients with layngeal squamous cell carcinoma and analyze its role in invasion, metastasis, and clinical significance in laryngeal quamous cell carcinoma. METHOD: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect expression of OPN in plasma and tissue of 60 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 20 cases of adjacent normal laryngeal tissue and 20 cases of plasma from healthy subjects. RESULT: The expression of plasma OPN was closely correlated with clinical stage and cervical lymphatic metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.05), but no significant correlation with the tumor location, pathological grade, gender and age (P > 0.05). The expression of OPN increased in plasma during cancer development: laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (38.089 ± 9.225) ng/ml, healthy subjects (18.563 ± 9.308) ng/ml. There was a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). The expression of OPN in tissue was closely correlated with clinical stage (P < 0.05), pathological grade (P < 0.05) and cervical lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium and carcinoma. The expression of OPN increased in tissue during cancer development: laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (56.67%), adjacent normal laryngeal tissue (15.00%). There was a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). Elevated expression of plasma OPN is positively correlated with the expression of OPN in tissue in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients (r = 0. 871, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION OPN plays an important role in the infiltration, metastasis and carcinogenesis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Combination of serum OPN, tissue OPN detection can be used as diagnostic and surveillance indicators for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma infiltration and metastasis.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Larynx ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neck ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Objective: To develop a new method for the determination of Jujubaside A in Semen Ziziphi Spinosae. Method: A RP-HPLC method was set up, using Hypersil-18 column, acetonitrile∶water(30∶70) as　mobile phase with a flow rate of　0.8　ml.min-1. Result: The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.076～0.456　mg.The average recovery was 93.5%.Conclusion:The method is appropriate for the determination of Jujubaside A.

OBJECTIVETo study the treatment strategy and prognosis and its affected factors of lung squamous cancer according retrospective analysis.

METHODSClinic data of 450 lung squamous cancer inpatient cases who were performed complete resection from January 2004 to January 2007, was retrospectively reviewed. There were 363 male and 87 female patients, aged from 31 to 82 years, with a mean of 60.5 years and a median of 62 years.

RESULTSThe overall 5-year survival rate was 52.4%. Cox Regression suggested that preoperative N status (χ(2) = 18.969, P = 0.000), N stage (χ(2) = 44.069, P = 0.000) and TNM stage (χ(2) = 63.025, P = 0.000) are independent factors affecting the prognosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy affects the prognosis of stage II-IIIA lung squamous cancer (5-year survival rate: 48.9% vs. 37.7%, χ(2) = 3.946, P = 0.047). Studying the combined therapy of stage IIIA, the chemoradiotherapy group achieved the best survival (48.8%), then single chemotherapy group (35.9%) and no treatment group (28.5%), and the single radiotherapy group achieved the poorest survival rate (11.1%), and there were statistically significant differences among them (χ(2) = 8.397, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONSThe 5-year survival rate of lung squamous cancer has significantly increased through promoting the standard of operation, especially increasing the standard of lymph node dissection. Adjuvant chemotherapy is benefit for stage II-IIIA patients and combined chemoradiotherapy is the best choice for stage IIIA patients. If preoperative examination suggests mediastinal lymph node's enlargement and fusion, the operation should not be performed.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; mortality ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; therapy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2)-siRNA on the inflammatory response of rat cardiomyocytes (H9C2) induced by septic serum and to investigate the possible role of UCP2 in the development of septic cardiomyopathy.

METHODSSerum samples were separately collected from normal rats and septic rats. Cultured rat cardiac cells (H9C2) were randomly divided into blank control, normal serum, 10% septic serum, UCP2-siRNA+10% septic serum and negative siRNA+10% septic serum groups. Stimulation with 10% septic serum was performed for 12 hours in relevant groups. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) was measured by RT-PCR. The expression of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSThe expression levels of p-p38 and NF-κB in the UCP2-siRNA+10% septic serum group were significantly higher than in the 10% septic serum group (P<0.05). The UCP2-siRNA+10% septic serum group had a significantly higher TNF-α mRNA expression than the 10% septic serum group (P<0.01), but IL-1β mRNA expression showed no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSUCP2 plays a regulatory role in the activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB and the expression of downstream inflammatory mediators in H9C2 cells stimulated with septic serum.

Animals ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Ion Channels ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; blood ; complications ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; Uncoupling Protein 2 ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism