Oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis plays a vital role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders;while at present its regulation pathways mainly include the NF-κB pathway;p53 pathway;MAPK path-way;PI3 K/Akt pathway;Nrf2 pathway;as well as other signaling pathways.Research findings suggest that the active components in Chinese materia medica exert significant biological activities in the treatment of oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis.In the present paper;we review the recent research advances on the relative mechanisms of active components in Chinese materia medica against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis;so as to provide some references or clues for the clarification of possible mechanisms of active components in Chinese materia medica and the treatment of related neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective In this study,we aimed at investigating the clinical,laboratory and management characteristics of adolescent-onset SLE patients compared with adult-onset SLE patients.Methods 470 fe- male patients with SLE were divided into two subgroups:adolescent-onset SLE patients and adult-onset SLE patients.The analyzed variables included clinical,laboratory parameters,damage index and outcome charac- teristics.Results In 470 female patients with SLE,there were 98(20.85%)adolescent-onset SLE patients. The following manifestations occurred more frequently in adolescent-onset SLE patients:malar rash,cutaneous vasculitis,proteinuria and abnormal liver function.Adolescent-onset SLE patients had more severe disease features and had significantly higher mean value of SLEDAI.Mortality was higher in adolescent-onset SLE pa- tients than aduh-onset SLE patients.Renal and blood system were the organs that most frequently involved. Conclusion Adolescent-onset SLE patients accounts for roughly 20.85% of all SLE cases.It is necessary to pay more attention to adolescent-onset SLE patients because the management for them is usually more difficult and the prognosis is usually poorer than aduh-onset SLE patients.

OBJECTIVETo identify the correlation of the volume of residual urine (VRU) with the severity of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor contractility in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSA total of 152 patients with clinically diagnosed BPH underwent ultrasonography for measurement of the prostate volume and RVU, free uroflowmetry, and urodynamic examination for the severity of BOO and detrusor contractility. Using the software SPSS20. 0, we analyzed the correlation between the ultrasonographic results and urodynamic parameters and compared the two sample means by the t-test.

RESULTSThe prostate volume was correlated positively with BOO severity (r = 0.432, P < 0.01) and detrusor contractility (r = 0.343 , P < 0.01) while Qmax negatively with BOO severity (r = 0.327, P < 0.01) but not significantly with detrusor contractility (r = 0.123, P > 0.05). VRU showed a significantly negative correlation with detrusor contractility when > 150 ml (r = -0.490, P < 0.01), even more significantly when > 300 ml (r = -0.717, P < 0.01), but exhibited no significant correlation with it when ≤ 150 ml (r = 0.041, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVRU can somehow predict the detrusor function. For patients with VRU > 150 ml, especially for those with VRU > 300 ml, the detrusor function should be evaluated and urodynamic examination is recommended for exact assessment of BOO severity and detrusor contractility.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Hypertonia ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Organ Size ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Urine ; Urodynamics

Objective To describe the distribution of positive lymph nodes of muscle invasive bladder cancer, and explore the relationship between positive nodes and pathological characters. Methods Pathological data from 208 consecutive cases of muscle invasive bladder cancer were collect-ed and reviewed. The correlation of tumor grade, tumor stage and lymph nodes status was analyzed. The locations and numbers of positive nodes were recorded and compared according to the specific grade or stage. Results There were 153 cases (73.6%)of G_3 tumor and 55 cases(26.4%) of G_2 tumor and none G_1 (0%)in this cohort. The case number from pT1 to pT4 was 59(28. 4%)、58 (27.8%)、48(23.0%)and 43(20.6%), respectively. The tumor grade was positively correlated with tumor stage in this cohort (r=0. 392, P=0. 000). 153 cases had been taken lymph node dissection. There was more node positive cases in pT_3 and pT_4 than that in T_1 (P=0. 001 ,P=0. 000), as well as pT_4 compared with pT_2 (P= 0. 012). The data showed that most of the positive nodes were located within the pelvic region. There was only 1 case and 1 node positive for G_1/G_2 tumor with 24.84% of node positive cases for G_3. The positive nodes involved from pelvic to proximal artery while the stage increased. Conclusions There is less chance for low grade (G_1/G_2) bladder cancer to be node posi-tive compared with G_3 ones. It is necessary to take a extensive lymphadenectomy for the patients with stage more than T_2.

In the study, the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix degradation were observed in a type of human alveolar epithelial cell, A549 cells, stimulated by TGF-beta1. Firstly, MTT method was applied to evaluation of cellular proliferation and found that PNS from 12.5 mg x L(-1) to 200 mg x L(-1) dosage could not inhibit significantly cellular proliferation. Then, cells were divided into five groups, normal group, TGF-beta1 group, TGF-beta1 + 50 mg x L(-1) PNS group, TGF-beta1 + 100 mg x L(-1) PNS group and TGF-beta1 + 200 mg x L(-1) PNS group. Normal cells were not stimulatec by TGF-beta1; TGF-beta1 cells were only stimulated by TGF-beta1 and the other cells were stimulated by TGF-beta1 with different doses of PNS, respectively. After stimulation, cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cellular roundness was applied to quantitative evaluation of morphological change. Immunocytochemistry was applied to examine E-cadherion, a-SMA and FN proteins expression in the cells. Enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay was applied to MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels. The results showed that EMT of A549 cells was induced by TGF-beta1, showing significant change of roundness, E-cadherion, alpha-SMA and FN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared to TGF-beta1, PNS significantly inhibited the changes of roundness (P < 0.05), FN and alpha-SMA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and not significantly inhibited the change of E-cadherion. Furthermore, MMP-9 levels were significantly increased by TGFbeta1 stimulation (P < 0.05), without significant change of TIMP-1. Compared with TGF-beta1, PNS could significantly increase MMP-9 level (P < 0.05) and decrease TIMP-1 levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In conclusion, PNS could inhibit alveolar epithelial cell EMT induced by TGF-beta1, with increase of extracellular matrix degradation ability, which showed anti-fibrosis of lung ability.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of testicular appendages, observe their morphology, and analyze their histopathological origins.

METHODSWe observed 67 testes in 54 patients (15 children and 39 adults) undergoing scrotal surgery, investigated the incidence of testicular appendages, and identified their histopathological origins. We used the Chi-square test to compare the findings from the children and adult patients, with P < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTSThe detection rates of the appendix testis, appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aberrans inferior were 80.6% (54/67), 23.9% (16/67), 1.5% (1/67), 3.0% (2/67), and 1.5% (1/67), respectively. The incidence of testicular appendages was higher in children than in adults (93.3% vs 80.8%), but with no statistically significant difference (Chi2 = 1.339, P > 0.05), and that of the appendix testis and epididymis with pedicles was significantly higher in the former than in the latter (82.4% vs 54.7%, chi2 = 4.149, P < 0.05). Pathological examination showed that the appendix testis originated from the paramesonephric duct, while the appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aberrans inferior from the mesonephric duct.

CONCLUSIONTesticular appendages consist of five embryonic remnants, including appendix testis, appendix epididymis, paradidymis, vas aberrans superior, and vas aber- rans inferior. The appendix testis originates from the paramesonephric duct, and the other four from the mesonephric duct. The clinical implication of these testicular appendages is their tendency to torsion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Testis ; pathology ; Young Adult

·AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of visual perception training combined with total nutrition meal sequential therapy in the treatment of myopic amblyopia.·METHODS:Totally 73 children ( 135 eyes ) with myopic amblyopia were divided into control group ( 36 cases, 67 eyes) and treatment group (37 cases, 68 eyes) according to random number table. The control group were treated with traditional spectaculars and grating covering combined with fine eyesight training;the treatment group were treated with visual perception training combined with total nutrient meal sequential therapy. The visual acuity, diopter and average diopter of two groups were compared before and after treatment at 3, 6mo and 1a. The curative effect of two groups of children was compared after 1a treatment. And the adverse reactions were recorded in two groups during the treatment period. The recurrence rate of amblyopia in 1a follow-up was compared between two groups.·RESULTS: The difference of visual acuity between two groups was not significant at 3mo (P>0. 05). The visual acuity of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 6mo and 1a (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in diopter between the two groups after 3, 6mo and 1a (P>0. 05), but the average annual refractive changes in the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the control group ( P<0. 05). The basic cure rate and total effective rate of the treatment group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0. 05). There were no severe adverse reactions occurred between two groups during the treatment period. The recurrence rate of amblyopia in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05) after 1a follow-up.· CONCLUSION: Visual perception training combined with total nutrition meal sequential therapy in the treatment of myopic amblyopia in preschool children can significantly improve patients' visual acuity, reduce the average annual diopter changes, improve the therapeutic effect, reduce the recurrence rate of amblyopia.

OBJECTIVETo explore the specific and sensitive biomarkers for gastric cancer detection, a surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization protein chip mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to generate protein profiles of serum in gastric cancer at a high-risk area.

METHODSA total of 36 gastric cancer cases and 46 subjects with superficial gastritis were selected from Linqu county, Shandong province, a high-risk area of gastric cancer. Serum samples were collected and Q10 protein chips were used to detect the serum proteomic patterns, and the sensitivity and specificity were assessed.

RESULTSFor the comparison of the gastric cancer group (26 out of 36 gastric cancer cases) versus superficial gastritis group (37 out of 46 subjects), the 6 most discriminating peaks (m/z 8587, 6945, 8243, 3899, 7035, and 9943) were identified by the ProteinChip Data Analysis System (ZUCIPDAS). The sensitivity and specificity of this pattern were 88.5% and 97.3%, respectively. A total of 19 subjects (10 gastric cancer cases and 9 superficial gastritis subjects) was selected to test the accuracy of this pattern by using blind method, and the sensitivity and specificity were 80.0% and 88.9% ,respectively.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that SELDI profiling of serum might be a potential for gastric cancer detection and screening in high-risk population.

Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Mapping ; Protein Array Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVEStudy blood vessel injury and gene expression indicating vascular endothelial cell apoptosis induced by mannitol with and without administration of anti-oxidative vitamins.

METHODSHealthy rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Mannitol was injected into the vein of the rabbit ear in each animal. Pre-treatment prior to mannitol injection was performed with normal saline (group B), vitamin C (group C) and vitamin E (group D). Blood vessel injury was assessed under electron and light microscopy. In a second experiment, cell culture specimen of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with mannitol. Pre-treatment was done with normal saline (sample B), vitamin C (sample C) and vitamin E (sample D). Total RNA was extracted with the original single step procedure, followed by hybridisation and analysis of gene expression.

RESULTSIn the animal experiment, serious blood vessel injury was seen in group A and group B. Group D showed light injury only, and normal tissue without pathological changes was seen in group C. Of all 330 apoptosis-related genes analysed in human cell culture specimen, no significant difference was seen after pre-treatment with normal saline, compared with the gene chip without pre-treatment. On the gene chip pre-treated with vitamin C, 45 apoptosis genes were down-regulated and 34 anti-apoptosis genes were up-regulated. Pre-treatment with vitamin E resulted in the down-regulation of 3 apoptosis genes.

CONCLUSIONVitamin C can protect vascular endothelial cells from mannitol-induced injury.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Mannitol ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Rabbits ; Vitamins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of T-cell vaccination in murine experimental autoimmune hepatitis (EAH).

METHODSTo induce the EAH model, the syngeneic S-100 antigen emulsified in complete Freud's adjuvant was injected intraperitoneally to C57Bl/6 at day 1 and day 7. For T-cell vaccination, splenocytes were removed from animal 2 weeks after induction of EAH and from control animals, and activated in vitro by mitogen stimulation with Concanavalin A (Con A), then inactivated by mitomycin and injected at 5 10(7) cells per animal as T-cell vaccination at 14 and 7 days before first induction of EAH.

RESULTSThe histological grade and serum ALT level of the mice who received T-cell vaccination were decrease significantly, compared with that of model group (1.44+/-0.88 vs. 2.33+/-0.87, t=2.24, P<0.05; 63.0U/L+/-23.4U/L vs. 115.0U/L1+/-39.6U/L, t=2.37, P<0.01, respectively); there was no significant change in mice who received irrelevant T-cell vaccination.

CONCLUSIONT-cell vaccination with T cells from EAH animals, but not with irrelevant T cells, was able to protect animals from EAH.

Animals ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Vaccination