The expressions of estrogen receptor (ER) α,ERβ1,and ERβ2 in thyroid carcinoma,thyroid adenoma,and adjacent normal thyroid tissue were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,and the relationship of expression levels of three ERs and the main clinical pathologic parameters were evaluated.The result showed that ERα mRNA expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) tissues was significantly higher than adjacent normal tissue,while,ERβ2 mRNA expression in PTC tissues was significantly lower than normal tissue ( P＜0.05 ).The positive expression of ERβ1 and ERβ2 in the thyroid carcinoma was related with the histological variant of carcinomas; the ERβ2 expressions were related with the lymph node metastasis and TNM staging of the carcinomas.These results suggest that the decreased ERβ2 expression may induce proliferation and carcinogenesis of thyroid follicular epithelial cells as well as progression of the carcinoma,and is a powerful prognostic indicator.

OBJECTIVETo establish a new method for evaluating quality stability of Shudihuang decoction pieces with near-infrared spectrum.

METHODClustering analysis was used to distinguish different Shudihuang samples. And comparisons between NIR and HPLC fringerprint.

RESULTResults of clustering reflected the similar degree among these samples. Compared with HPLC fingerprint, NIR analytical process fast and convenient with exact results.

CONCLUSIONNIR is a feasible and effective approach to examine the quality stability of Shudihuang decoction pieces with unique virtues.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards

Objective To judge method performance of routine biochemistry parameters on Roche Modular PPI testing system by using westgard's method evaluation decision chart.Methods We assessed imprecision(CV)from internal quality control and inaccuracy(bias)from external quality control evaluation.Combined estimates of imprecision and inaccuracy by plotting imprecision as the x-coordinate and inaccuracy as the y-coordinate to locate an expected operating point of every item on the chart.By comparing this operating point with allowable total errors(TEa),we can decide whether the performance is acceptable or not.Results In the 27 different parameters tested,imprecision and bias of calcium were 0.08 mmol/L and 0.06 mmol/L respectively,its performance was marginal.The imprecision of creatinine,urea,glucose, sodium,chloride and phosphorus were 3.20%,2.13%,1.52%,0.89 mmol/L,1.10% and 1.55%,the bias were 4.79%,0.96%,4.63%,0.80 mmol/L,1.74% and 4.13% respectively,their performance was good.M1 other 20 items were of excellence performance.Conclusions Routine biochemistry parameters on Roche Modular PPI testing system possessed good precision and accuracy,and their performance were acceptable.To judge method performance of biochemistry testing system by using westgard' s method evaluation decision chart was easy to do and suited for clinical laboratory.

Aim To observe the analgesic effect of doxorubicin ( DOX) on chronic sciatic nerve constric-tion injury (CCI) rat model, and analyze the underly-ing mechanism from the ultrastructure of sciatic nerve ganglion and the expressions of some apoptotic pro-teins.Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group ( Sham ) , CCI model group ( Model ) , sham operation+DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group ( Sham+DOX) , CCI mod-el +DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group (Model+DOX).DOX was given by caudal vein injection after model estab-lishment .Sham group and model group were given the same amount of saline . The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were deter-mined by behavioral test .The ultrastructural changes of L4-5 DRG were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy , respectively .The pro-tein expression levels of Bax , Bcl-2 , PKCɑ, PKCδand PKCε in DRG tissues were determined by Western blot.Results The fluorescence of DOX was found in DRG after DOX was given intravenously .In compari-son with sham group , the thermal and mechanical pain thresholds had no obvious changes in sham +DOX group, while the thresholds were decreased obviously seven days after surgery in model group .In comparison with model group , the pain thresholds in model +DOX group increased significantly , which lasted for the en-tire observation time of six days .The ultra-structure of tissues was damaged obviously in both sham +DOX group and model+DOX group.The protein expression of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, while the expressions of PKCδand PKCεdecreased with DOX injection .Conclusions DOX can retrograde and reach the DRG tissues after intravenous administration . The attenuation effect of DOX on neuropathic pain is related to the apoptosis in-duced by the down-regulation of PKCδ and PKCε in DRG cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion and exercise comprehensive scheme intervention for children with short stature of deficience of the kidney essence.

METHODSTwenty four cases of children in 12 to 14 years old were selected, 12 male and 12 female, they were treated with comprehensive therapy of exercise therapy and moxibustion. Running and jumping were selected as main exercise therapy, it became a suitable exercise amount when the heart rate reach to 150 to 170 times per minute, thrice each week, 35 to 45 minutes each time. After exercises they were treated with moxibustion, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Dazhu (BL 11), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Geshu (BL 17) etc. were selected. After treatment for half a year, the changes of the body height, body weight, bone age(BA), growth hormone (GH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe body height and bone age of the boys and girls were significantly higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), the growth of body height was more than 4 cm, the growth of bone age was more than 0.5 years old in half a year; the testosterone of all children was significantly increased (all P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in body weight, GH and E2 compared to those before treatment (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxbustion and exercise comprehensive scheme can effectively improve the children with short stature of deficience of the kidney essence, the mechanism is related to the improving of the testosterone level.

Adolescent ; Body Height ; Child ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of lipid rafts on cell signal transmembrane transduction mediated by c-Met.

METHODSAfter HepG2Cells were treated with MbCD to disrupt the lipid rafts and were treated with artificial recombination hepatocyte growth factor to activate c-Met, the activities of PLCr1/PKC, PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways in HepG2 cells were analyzed using Western blot.

RESULTS(1) After disruption of lipid rafts with MbCD, phosphorylation of PLCr1 decreased by 35% (P = 0.022); the content of PLCr in the cytoplasm increased by 1.75 fold (P = 0.017); PLCr1 conjugated with membrane decreased by 30% (P = 0.037). (2) The content of PKB in the cytosol decreased by 38% (P = 0.028), and the phosphorylation level of PKB conjugated with membrane decreased by 14% (P = 0.041). At the same time, PDK translocation from cytosol to the plasma membrane and its activation were inhibited by treatment with MbCD. (3) Treatment with MbCD had no significant effect on ErK/MAPK, p38/MAPK and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONDisruption of lipid rafts with MbCD inhibits the activation of PLCr1/PKC and PI3K/PKB signaling pathways by HGF/cMet, but has no effect on MAPK signaling pathway.

Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Microdomains ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phospholipase C gamma ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Gastric bypass surgery on the apoptosis of islet β-cells in type 2 nonobese diabetic (NOD) rats and its mechanisms.

METHODSSeventy-two 8-week-old GK rats were randomly divided into four groups:operation group (group O, n = 18), sham operation group (group S, n = 18), diet control group (group F, n = 18) and control group (group C, n = 18). The levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured and compared among the 4 groups before the operation and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks following the operation. The blood samples were collected at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation for the measurement of postprandial blood glucose, and then the rats in batches (6 rats in each group) were decapitated to retrieve the pancreas. The apoptosis of the islet β-cells was detected by using TUNEL assay, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax was measured with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAs for group O, the fasting blood glucose level decreased from (16.2 ± 0.8) mmol/L before the operation to respectively (9.2 ± 0.6) mmol/L and (9.7 ± 0.7) mmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation; postprandial blood glucose decreased from (31.1 ± 1.1) mmol/L before the operation to respectively (13.1 ± 0.7) mmol/L and (12.3 ± 0.7) mmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation. Fasting insulin level increased from (28.0 ± 1.2) mU/L before the operation to respectively (62.8 ± 1.9) mU/L and (61.7 ± 1.4) mU/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation; and at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation postprandial insulin level was (77.4 ± 1.1) mU/L and (77.1 ± 1.0) mU/L. At 2 weeks from the operation, the fasting GLP-1 in group O increased from (10.7 ± 1.0) pmol/L to (13.5 ± 0.8) pmol/L, and respectively to (26.1 ± 0.9) pmol/L and (25.3 ± 1.2) pmol/L at 4 and 8 weeks after the operation. The differences in the above-mentioned items before and after the operation were all significant in group O (P < 0.05), and the differences in the items among group O and the other three groups (P < 0.05) were all significant as well. In group O, the apoptosis rate of pancreatic islet cell decreased to (5.9 ± 0.7)% at 4 weeks from the operation, and (6.3 ± 1.1)% at 8 weeks from the operation (P < 0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 protein in group O was 31.3 ± 1.5, 35.7 ± 1.0 and 35.8 ± 0.8 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks post operation, which was significantly higher in statistics than those of the same time point in the other three groups (P < 0.05). The expression of Bax protein in group O was 13.3 ± 0.9, 10.8 ± 0.9 and 10.9 ± 1.1 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks from the operation, which was significantly lower in statistics than those of the same time point in the other three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGastric bypass surgery can significantly reduce the blood glucose level and promote the secretion of GLP-1, and therefore inhibit the apoptosis of the islet β cells in diabetic rats through the Bcl-2 pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastric Bypass ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; blood ; Insulin ; blood ; Islets of Langerhans ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo estimate the feasibility of 16-multidetector spiral computed tomography (16-MDCT) on detecting coronary plaques in comparison with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

METHODSSixty-eight patients suspected of coronary heart diseases were examined by 16-MDCT, quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and IVUS. Coronary stenosis was defined as lumen diameter reduction (DS) >or= 50%. Hounsfield units (HU) were used to determine different types of plaques: soft plaque (or= 120 HU).

RESULTSCompared to QCA, the sensitivity and the specificity for patients with DS >or= 50% were 91.8% (112/122) and 97.8% (556/568) respectively, the positive and negative predictive value were 90.3% (112/124) and 98.2% (556/566) respectively. In 96 plaques evaluated both by 16-MDCT and IVUS, 20 and 21 soft plaques, 37 and 36 fibrous plaques, 39 and 38 calcified plaques were identified by 16-MDCT and IVUS respectively. HU value of soft (11 +/- 36), fibrous (83 +/- 20), and calcified (292 +/- 80) plaques were significantly different (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNoninvasive 16-MDCT could correctly estimate coronary stenosis and coronary plaques compositions.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the performance of BNII auto-analyzer system in detecting C3 and C4.

METHODSCLSI protocols (EP15-A, EP6-A, EP9-A2) and other relevant literatures were use to or evaluate the precision, accuracy, linearity of C3 and C4 detection by the auto-analyzer system, and the results were compared with the recognized standards.

RESULTSThe relative bias of C3 and C4 was less than one third of the CLIA'88 standard and the precision met the clinical requirement. The results tested by DADE BNII system were not compatible with those by Roche Modular System. C3 showed good linearity in the tests (R2>0.975, P<0.05) with a linearity range of 0.18-5.1 g/L. The linearity of C4 was not available because of lack of high-level samples.

CONCLUSIONThe performances of DADE BNII System basically meet the recognized standards in clinical detection of C3 and C4, but the method comparison needs further validation.

Autoanalysis ; methods ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Complement C4 ; analysis ; Humans ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Proteins ; analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of osteopontin (OPN) expression down-regulated by RNA interference (RNAi) on the invasiveness of hepatocelluar carcinoma cell line HCC-LM3.

METHODSHCC-LM3 cells were transfected with the chemically synthesized small interfering RNA (siRNA) formulated by lipofectamine 2000. Wild type HCC-LM3 and HCC-LM3 cells transfected with non-specific siRNA served as controls. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to quantify the mRNA and OPN protein levels. The malignant phenotypes of transfected HCC-LM3 cells including cellular growth rate, colony formation and Matrigel invasion activities were analyzed.

RESULTSSequence-specific siRNAs targeting OPN suppressed OPN RNA expression by 79% and also decreased OPN protein level by 81% in HCC-LM3 cells. The number of formed colonies and migrating numbers in vitro were decreased in HCC-LM3 cells transfected using sequence-specific siRNAs targeting OPN relative to controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that specific siRNA is able to reduce OPN at both the mRNA and protein levels and significantly diminishes the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection