Cancer, a group of various diseases involving unregulated cell growth, still imposes a global threat to public health. Ginseng plants, which contains a wide variety of saponins, known as ginsenosides, is an age-old remedy for human ailments, including cancer.This review sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the cancer chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic activity of ginsenosides and their metabolites with particular focus on the modulation of cell signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation and the metastasis of cancer cells.The review could enhance the understanding of the anticancer mechanisms of ginsenosides, provide directions for clinical practice and give more information for developing novel an-ticancer agents with high efficiency, low toxicity and weak resistance.

Objective To explore effect of probiotics on improving the feeding intolerance in very low birth weight infants(VLBWI). Methods Sixty cases of VLBWI were randomly divided into two groups, 30 infants as therapy group,another 30 infants as control group.All infants in two groups were given aggressive intravenous nutrition and enteral feeding with preterm formulars. At the same time, probiotics were administered combined with preterm formulars to infants in therapy group. Milk amount, gastric residual, initial time of enteral feeding, time required for full enteral feeding and body weight on day 21 after birth were all recorded.Results Rate of no gastric residual increased significantly in therapy group compared with that of control group(t=6.24 P

Objective To investigate the effect of different doses valsartan on atherosclerosis in rabbits. Methods 53 white rabbits were randomly divided into control group,cholesterol group,and valsartan group of high-,middle-,and low-dose.The positive expression of pro-oncogene c-myc and c-fos mRNA was studied with in situ reverse transcription-PCR)ISRT-PCR).The histoppathological changes of aorta were observed.Results)1) Positive expression rate of pro-oncogene c-myc and c-fos mRNA was significantly higher in cholesterol than that in the qontrol group.The rate of positive expression was remarkably lower in the high-dose valsartan group than that in the cholesterol group)P

Iridoid glycosides were the main active ingredient of Rehmannia glutinosa, of which catalpol has the highest content. This work will provide theoretical basis for metabolic study and cultivation of iridoids on the basis of the dynamic accumulation of catalpol and total iridoids in the growth of R. glutinosa. The samples of rehmannia 85-5 were gathered in the same filed from July to October. The contents of catalpol and total iridoid glycosides were measured by HPLC and specteophotometric, respectively. The results showed that youngest leaves had the higher content of catalpol and total iridoid glyosides than that of the other two leaf ages in the same growth stage from July to September, while their content of catalpol and total iridoid glycosides were all decreased as the growth of leaves of R. glutinosa. The content of catalpol didn't differ significantly from July to September, whereas it has significantly increased in October in the three leaf stage. In the same stage, the wider the root diameter is, the higher content of the effective components are. In August and September, the total iridoid glycosides have the fastest accumulation. The content of catalpol was increased as the accumulation of total iridoid glycosides.
Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Rehmannia ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Water ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion at different intervals on persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods: A total of 90 patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups named A, B and C by randomized block method. Patients in all three groups received the same treatment of acupuncture and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at the same acupoints, while the treatment frequency was different. Patients in group A received the treatment once a week, group B twice a week and group C three times a week, and all the treatment lasted for 4 weeks. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS), total ocular symptom score (TOSS) and Sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) were evaluated before and after treatment. The self-rating score of symptoms was evaluated during treatment and 2 weeks after treatment. Results: The total effective rate was 80.0% in group A, 93.3% in group B, and 100.0% in group C. The total effective rate in group A was statistically different from that in group B and group C (both P＜0.05), but there was no significant inter-group difference in total effective rate between group B and group C (P＞0.05). After treatment, scores of TNSS, TOSS and SNOT-20 in all three groups dropped significantly, and statistically different from those before treatment (all P＜0.05); between-group comparison showed group B and group C decreased more obvious than group A (all P＜0.05). In self-rating score of symptoms, there were no inter-group statistically significant differences in the first 3-week treatment (all P＞0.05); after 4-week treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C, and showed statistical significant (both P＜0.05); at 2 weeks after treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C based on an everyday record, showing statistical significance (both P＜0.05). At the 11th day after treatment, the score in group B was higher than that in group C (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences between group B and group C at other time points (all P＞0.05). Conclusion: All three protocols are effective for allergic rhinitis. With the increase of treatment frequency, the therapeutic efficacy with a treatment frequency of twice a week and three times a week is superior to that of once a week. Frequency of three times a week has a better long-term effect than once and twice a week, together with the least fluctuation of symptoms.

Objective To evaluate the expression and significance of differential expression gene Hepsin in the prostate cancer (PC) screened by the cDNA microarray technique.Methods The techniques of semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Hepsin. Specimens of 40 cases of PC, 15 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 6 normal prostate tissues were examined by the immunohistochemical stain.Results Hepsin was more expressed in PC tissue than normal prostate tissue (P=0.026) and was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical test confirmed this and demonstrated that Hepsin did not expressed in normal prostate but expressed in PC and BPH and there was a significant difference in Hepsin expression level between PC and BPH tissues ( P=0.000).Conclusion Hepsin high expressed in PC may be a new molecular marker in early diagnosis of PC and a new target for gene therapy of PC.

Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Epithelioid Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on the oocyte quality in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSTotally 217 PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET were assigned to two groups by random digit table, the EA group (119 cases) and the control group (98 cases). All patients received long program ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Patients in the EA group received EA treatment in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation till the oocyte retrieval day. The position relation of the spindle to the polocyte, the number of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization rate,the cleavage rate,the high quality embryo rate, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, the early abortion rate, the gonadotropins (Gn) dose and time, levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe ratio of oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees to the all oocytes was obviously higher in the EA group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees was positively related to level of E2 on the HCG day and the high quality embryo rate (r = 0.19,P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the high quality embryo rate increased significantly (P < 0.05), the dose and days of Gn decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the EA group. The clinical pregnancy rate was improved by 8.36%.

CONCLUSIONSThe spindle was positively correlated with the oocyte quality. EA could improve the quality of oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate in PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Progesterone

Objective: To investigate the changes of gene expression in CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) under different growth environments. Methods: Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) were cultured in static and stirred systems. After 7 days of culture, CD34+ cells were isolated and total RNA was extracted. Gene expression patterns of CD34+ cells from fresh, static and stirred cultures were compared using differential display (DD). Results: 30 gene fragments displayed differential expression levels based on the conditions of DD. One of differentially expressed genes was identified as RAN, which is a member of oncogene RAS family. This gene may be associated with proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Conclusion: Different growth environments induced differential gene expression patterns of CD34+ HSPCs. These differentially expressed genes would give new insights into optimizing in vitro environments for expanding hematopoietic cells.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathlogical characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ovarian small cell car-cinoma hypercalcemic type ( OSCCHT) associated with acute renal dysfunction. Methods A case of OSCCHT associated with acute renal dysfunction was reported. The clinical and pathologic data, treatment and pathological examinations were analyzed and the related literatures were reviewed. Results A 29-year-olds women was presented to hospital with inappetence and significant weight loss for 2 months. The laboratory examination showed abnormal renal function, and pelvic cavity mass, possibly coming from adnexa of the uterus was seen by radiography. Serum levels showed significantly increased serum calcium with acute renal dysfunction. An emergency opera-tion was performed just after renal function partially recovered by 2 times hemodialysis. During surgery, right ovary tumor with a size of 12 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm was inspected. Microscopically, the tumor cells were arranged in a diffuse solid pattern, mutiple nodules were separated by fibrous tissue. some small folliculars and pseudoglandular cavities with acidophilia secretion within nodules could been ob-served. Tumor cells were medium to large with eosinophilic cytoplasm, round or oval vesicular nucleus, increased karyoplasmic ratio and pathologic mitosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells expressed EMA, CKpan, C-erbB-2 ( +) , CA125 ( focal+) and Ki-67 proliferation index was about 60%, while ER, PR, Syn, CgA, PTH, Inhibin, CD99, AFP, PLAP, CD30 and CD20 were not expressed. Conclusion Ovarian small cell carcinoma hypercalcemic type with acute renal dysfunction is a very rare with a rapidly progressive and highly malignant tumor. The final diagnosis mainly lies on clinical information ( hypercalcaemia) , morphology and immunohistochemistry, combined with electron microscopy and molecular biological detection when necessary.