Objective To study the effects of scutellarin on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in BV2 cells, so as to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarin. Methods The experiment was divided into 5 groups, namely, a normal control group, a model control group (stimulated by LPS), and three Scutellarin treatment groups (0.1, 1, and 100 μg/ml). NF-κB activity was examined by Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay. BV2 cells were treated with LPS; expressions of TNF-α and IL-β mRNA and protein were examined by real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis, respectively. Results Scutellarin treatment greatly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation in pNF-κB 293 cells. The treatment also noticeably inhibited LPS-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-β in BV-2 cells. Conclusion Scutellarin has anti-inflammatory effect, which maybe related to the inhibition of NF-κB-mediated pathway and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

Objectives To evaluate the impact of virtual hepatectomy and computer-assisted risk analysis on surgical planning and intraoperative strategy for major hepatectomy.Methods Twentytwo consecutive patients (17 males and 5 females) were admitted to the hospital from January to December in 2010 for complicated major hepatectomy.CT scanning was performed with 64-MSCT.All the data of imaging were transferred to the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system (IntrasenseR,France).The following steps were undertaken by a radiologist and a surgeon majoring in liver surgery: step 1,image analysis and 3-D reconstruction; step 2,virtual resection and liver volumetry; step 3,computer-assisted risk analysis for hepatic dysfunction,followed by adjustment of the operative planning.Results The three-dimensional reconstruction models of the liver by the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system were visualized.The ideal simulation effect was achieved comparing the virtual imaging with the actual operation.Of the 22 patients who underwent complicated major hepatectomy,complete tumor removal (R0 resection) was achieved in 20 patients.There were 2 patients who received a R1 resection as microscopic tumor cells were found at the cutting margin of the right portal vein and bile duct.No patient died during the hospital stay.After computer-assisted risk analysis,the operative planning and surgical strategies were changed in 6 patients.Conclusions The application of the hepatic three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual hepatectomy using the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system provided important preoperative data for good preoperative planning and intraoperative strategy in complex hepatectomy.

Objective To explore the influence of fluorine on mRNA and protein expression of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its receptor of rat osteoblasts.Methods Osteoblasts were isolated from rat bone by enzyme digestion.Different fluorine concentration [0 (control),10-7,10-6,10-5,10-4,10-3 mol/L] was add to the second generation osteoblasts.The IGF-1 in the culture medium was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at different fluorine concentration and different time (24,48 h).The expression of IGF-1 receptor was measured by the method of fluorescent quantitation PCR and the expression of protein IGF-1 receptor was measured by Western blotting.Results ①With increased dose of fluoride exposure,IGF-1 concentration in the osteoblastic culture medium increased first and then decreased at 24,48 h,respectively.Compared to the control group [(38.83 ± 3.48)ng/L],IGF-1 concentration of the 24 h 10-6 mol/L group[(65.45 ± 4.84)ng/L] was higher,and the difference was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The same result was also shown in the 48 h 10-5 mol/L group [(59.14 ± 1.53)ng/L] to its corresponding control group [(33.79 ± 1.84)ng/L,P ＜ 0.05].②The mRNA expression of IGF-1 receptor of the 24,48 h 10-5 mol/L groups (0.0055 ± 0.0004,0.0262 ± 0.0040) was significantly higher than their corresponding control groups (0.0022 ± 0.0001,0.0073 ± 0.0008,all P ＜ 0.05).③With increased dose of fluoride exposure,the protein expression of IGF-1 receptor increased first and then decreased ;the expression of 24 h 10-5 mol/L group (1.39 ± 0.16) was compared with the corresponding control group (0.86 ±0.12),and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) ; the expression of 48 h every fluorine group was also compared with the corresponding control group,and the difference was not statistically significant(all P＞ 0.05).Conclusions Fluorine can affect the mRNA and protein expression of osteoblastic IGF-1 and its receptor.It indicates that IGFS signal transduction pathways play an important role in fluorine regulation of bone metabolism.

Professional assessment in Chinese Higher Education has made great progress in three stages: the sporadic practice, trial and promotion. The authors present several comments on the characteristics and the professional assessment standards of clinical pharmacy in China, and focus on the scientific system of professional assessment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of morphology assessment of sperm from fresh semen in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSWe analyzed the morphology of the sperm from fresh or optimized semen samples and, based on the sperm morphology of the raw semen, allocated 908 IVF cycles due to the pure tubal factor to different groups: morphologically normal sperm (MNS) ≤ 4%, > 4% - ≤ 15%, and > 15% in Trial 1 and MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, > 2% - ≤ 3%, and > 3%-- ≤ 4% in Trial 2. We compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, -blastocyst formation, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSThe total fertilization rate was significantly lower in the MNS ≤ 4% than in the MNS > 4% - ≤ 15% and >15% groups (74.40% vs 78.61% and 80.03%, P < 0.01). Compared with the MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, and > 2% - ≤ 3% groups, the MNS > 3% - ≤ 4% group showed remarkably increased rates of 2PN normal fertilization (77.23%, 78.97% and 78.99% vs 85.47%, P < 0.01), cleavage (95.71%, 96.01% and 97.27% vs 98.73%, P < 0.05), and blastocyst formation (53.85%, 49.01% and 49.55% vs 63.41%, P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation, early abortion, live birth, or malformation at birth among different groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMNS ≤ 4% affected the total rate of fertilization while MNS ≤ 3% reduced the rate of normal fertilization in IVF. However, even MNS ≤ 1% did not result in fertilization disorder or failure. Therefore, teratozoospermia alone was not an indicator of ICSI and sperm mor- phology assessment had no obvious value for predicting the rates of embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, and live birth in IVF.

Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

This study is to establish an HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for simultaneous determination of 5 flavones and saponins in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae including neo-mangiferin, mangiferin, timosaponin B II, timosaponin B III and timosaponin A III. Samples were analyzed on a Merck Purospher STAR column(4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile( A) and 0. 1% formic acid (B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The column temperature was set at 40 °C. The DAD detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The ELSD conditions were as follows: the nebulizing gas flow rate was 2.0 L · min(-1) and temperature of drift tube was 105 °C. The volume was 10 μL. The five compounds were well separated with good linear correlations. The mean recoveries were between 102.0%-104.0%. This method was quick and reliable which provides a foundation for quality control of R. Anemarrhenae.
Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer with a very poor prognosis.In order to guide better clinical management of ICC patients,the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) cancer staging manual (7th edition) have established a unique TNM staging scheme for separating ICC from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for the first time,and reflected a difference between risk factor of ICC and HCC.This TNM staging system for ICC has been most recently updated by the AJCC cancer staging manual (8th edition),in which T staging has been redefined without gross features,and lymph node metastasis (N1) in N staging has been grouped as stage Ⅲ B,but not stage Ⅳ as required by the 7th edition of AJCC cancer staging manual.In addition,region lymphatic and distant metastases have been clearly redefined by the AJCC cancer staging manual (8th edition) that also requires recovering at least 6 lymph nodes for the N staging scheme.The apparent advantages of the AJCC cancer staging manual (8th edition) for ICC pathologic staging may better stratify the prognosis of ICC patients and provide an improved guidance in clinical practice.

Objective To analyze the death and disease burden of injury in Guangxi from 2014 to 2016, so as to provide scientific basis for making policy strategies on injury prevention. Methods Datas from the Death Monitoring Network in Guangxi from 2014 to 2016 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Chi square were used to describe the mortalities. The potential years of life lost (YPLL) and average years of potential life lost(AYPLL) were assessed. Results A total of 29 288 deaths were reported in Guangxi. The mortality rate was 42.77/100 000. The overall mortality rate decreased over the past three years. Traffic accident, accidental fall, drowning, suicide and sequela, accidental poisoning were the top five causes of injury deaths. The leading cause of injury death in the 0 to 14 age group was drowning, traffic accident in the 15 to 64 age group and accidental fall in the 65 years old and above group. The AYPLL was 29.11 years and, which was higher in male than in female and there was no significant difference between urban and rural. Suicide and sequela had become the biggest average disease burden. Conclusions The average mortality rate decreased in Guangxi from 2014 to 2016. It is necessary to take effective measures to prevent and control injury.

Sulfur fumigation, which is traditional method for preservation, pest control, insecticide and sterilization, has long been widely used in processing and storage and played a positive role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). As some businesses sided pursuit of profit, abused and repeated use of sulfur fumigation, have resulted in a large number of harmful residues, such as sulf dioxide (SO2) and harmful heavy metals, which brings a significant impact and danger on human health. This article summarizes the sulfur species and the sulfur fumigation methods and analyzes the harmful substances in TCM after sulfur fumigation, to provide a reference of the choice of species for the sulfur, the optimization of sulfur fumigation process and the standardized processing of TCM after sulfur fumigation.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; Fumigation ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Safety ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods