Oncomodulin (OM) is known by us progressively as a Calcium binding protein.Recently, OM has been found that it is secreted by inflammatory cells (neutrophilic granulocyte), and a signal which can promote cell growth between innate immunity and neurons, and a key to regenerate the damaged optical nerves by activating inflammation.The function of promoting the regeneration progress of axons has become a hot issue in recent years.This article summarized the mechanism of OM and the relationship between inflammation-induced OM and optic nerve regeneration research and progress were reviewed.

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the expression of glutathione s-transferase π ( GST-π ) and its clinical significance in human primary transitional cell carcinoma(TCCs) of bladder. Methods： A total of 107 human primary bladder TCCs of the previously untreated patients were analyzed for expression of GST-π and P-glycoprotein (Pgp) by SP immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results： The GST-π positive staining were divided into three groups： single cytoplastic staining, single nuclear staining, both cytoplastic and nuclear staining. GST-π were present in 72.9％ generally, GST-π cytoplastic staining (single cytoplastic, both cytoplastic and nuclear staining) were found in 58.9％ of the samples, 46.7％ of them were positive nuclear staining (single nuclear, both cytoplastic and nuclear staining). GST-π general positive staining and cytoplastic positive staining were significantly correlated with grade, stage and recurrence after post-operative intravesical chemotherapy. Both of them were also strongly related to the expression of Pgp. While GST-π nuclear positive staining was related to stage but not with grade and recurrence. Conclusions： Overexpression of GST-π can be used as a predictive marker of post-operative intravesical chemotherapy in TCCs. Furthermore increased cytoplastic staining is a better predictor of drug resistance while increased nuclear staining might be associated with progression in TCCs.

In order to establish the quality classification criteria of Paeonia suffruticosa seeds, thirty-one batches of P. suffruticosa seeds from different provenances were selected. The seed rooting rate, seed germination rate, seed purity, seed viability, 1,000-seed weight and moisture content were determined and analyzed through SPSS 20.0 software. Seed rooting rate, seed germination rate and seed purity were selected as the main index for classification, while 1,000-seed weight, seed viability and moisture content could be used as important references. The seed quality grading of P. suffruticosa was set as three grades. The seed quality of each grade should meet following requirements: For the first grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 80%, seed germination rate ≥ 80%, seed purity ≥ 90%, seed viability ≥ 80%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 250 g, moisture content, ≤ 10. For the second grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 50%, seed germination rate ≥ 60%, seed purity ≥ 70%, seed viability ≥ 75%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 225 g, moisture content ≤ 10. For the third grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 20%, seed germination rate ≥ 45%, seed purity ≥ 60%, seed viability ≥ 45%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 205 g, moisture content ≤ 10. The quality classification criteria of P. suffruticosa seeds have been initially established.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Germination ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Seeds ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

In order to optimize the testing methods for Paeonia suffruticosa seed quality, and provide basis for establishing seed testing rules and seed quality standard of P. suffruticosa. The seed quality of P. suffruticosa from different producing areas was measured based on the related seed testing regulations. The seed testing methods for quality items of P. suffruticosa was established preliminarily. The samples weight of P. suffruticosa was at least 7 000 g for purity analysis and was at least 700 g for test. The phenotypic observation and size measurement were used for authenticity testing. The 1 000-seed weight was determined by 100-seed method, and the water content was carried out by low temperature drying method (10 hours). After soaking in distilled water for 24 h, the seeds was treated with different temperature stratifications of day and night (25 degrees C/20 degrees C, day/night) in the dark for 60 d. After soaking in the liquor of GA3 300 mg x L(-1) for 24 h, the P. suffruticos seeds were cultured in wet sand at 15 degrees C for 12-60 days for germination testing. Seed viability was tested by TlC method.
Germination ; Light ; Paeonia ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; physiology ; Temperature

Objective To investigate the effect of Intedeukin-18 (IL-18) on Th1/Th2 balance and its antitumor mechanism in C57BL/6 mice Lewis lung cancer model. Methods 24 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three equal groups: group A(IL-18 injec-tion group, n = 8), group B (Lewis lung cancer model, n = 8) and group C (normal control group, n = 8). The Lewis lung cancer cells were cultured and implanted subcutaneously into the group A and group B. IL-18 and NS were given to group A and B respectively by intrap-eritoneal injection on the 7th day (once every day, 7 times altogether), but group C was not given any treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the Th1/Th2 cytokines. Health status in all the animals was evaluated; the volume and weight ofsubcutaneous tumors were measured. Results The concentration of IFN-γ in group A and C were significantly higher than those in group B (P <0.05), and the concentration of IL-4 in group A and C were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between group A and C (P>0.05). The tumor growth inhibitory rate was 75%. Conclusion IL-18 can effectively induced IFN-γ and inhibit IL-4 production, regulate Th1/Th2 balance in the C57BL/6 mice Lewis lung cancer model, and elicit the antitu-mor immunity of the host, which could obviously inhibit the growth of tumor cells and decelerate the proliferation of tumor cells.

During oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT),endothelium-dependent vasodilation(EDD)at different time points in impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)group was lower than that in normal control group.EDD at 60 and 120 min in IGT + vitamin C group was higher than that in IGT group(all P＜0.05).There was a negative relationship between blood glucose level and EDD during OGTT in IGT patients.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) aims at sustaining the spinal cord compression and restoring the stability of the cervical vertebrae at most.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characters of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion and expansive open-door laminoplasty for MCSM.METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with MCSM were divided into two groups, and treated with anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (group A) or posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (group B). All the patients were followed up for 12 months, and the range of motion of cervical vertebrae, cervical curvature index were observed,as well as the Visual Analogue Scale and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were condueted. Moreover, the operation time, blood loss and adverse reactions were recorded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The loss of range of motion of the cervical vertebrae in the group B was significantly less than that in the group A (P < 0.05). (2) The cervical curvature index in the group A was significantly improved (P < 0.05), but the index had no significant change in the group B. (3) The axial systems were significantly improved in both groups, especially in the group A (P < 0.05). (4) The neurological function was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05), which showed no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). (5) The intraoperative blood loss in the group B was significantly more than that in the group A (P < 0.05). (6) The incidence of hoarseness and dysphagia in the group A was 19％. The incidence of wound infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and C5 nerve root palsy in the group B was 9％. (7) These results suggest that during choosing an appropriate method for MCSM,surgeons' skills and patients' situation should be considered.

Objective To evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) using ultrasound radio-frequency data(RF-data) technology.Methods Twenty-seven PIH women(mean brachial blood pressure:108 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)were included and thirty age- and gestational week-matched normal pregnant women served as controls.Carotid IMT and stiffness were evaluated using quality IMT(QIMT) and quantitative artery stiffness(QAS)techniques with color Doppler.Results Carotid IMT and elasticity parameters,including pulse wave velocity,pressure at T1,arterial augmented pressure(AP) and arterial augmented pressure index(AIx) were significantly higher in PIH group than in the normal group[IMT:(466.84±118.50)μm vs (386.58±125.79)μm;PWV:(7.09±1.97)m/s vs (5.95±1.11) m/s;PT1:(127.50±14.29) mm Hg vs (105.89±11.02)mm Hg;AP:(5.14±3.39) mm Hg vs (1.98±2.19)mm Hg;AIx:(7.58±8.73)% vs (-4.79±7.92)%)], and there were significant differences(t=2.660,2.660,3.460,3.460,3.460,all P＜0.01).Conclusions PIH women have significantly increased carotid IMT and decreased elasticity compared with normal pregnant women.Radio-frequency technique could reliably reflect the changes of the carotid arterial structure and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

AIM: To investigate the expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 in retinoblastoma (RB) and normal retinal tissues and their clinicopathological significance and interrelationship.METHODS: Envision immunohistochemistry stainings of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 were performed in 30 enucleated eyeballs with retinoblastoma and 15 specimens of normal retina tissue, which had been routinely imbedded with paraffin.RESULTS: Positive rate of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression was higher in RB tissue than in normal control (P<0.01), while TIMP2 expression was lower in RB than in normal retinal tissue (P<0.01). Samples from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅰ, differentiated type, and life span≥2 years had lower positive rate in expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 than those from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅲ, undifferentiated type, and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while samples from RB cases of differentiated type, optic nerve unaffected, and life span≥2 years had markedly higher positive rate in expression of TIMP2 than those from RB cases of undifferentiated type, optic nerve involved and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In RB tissues, EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expressions were highly consistent (P<0.05), whereas TIMP2 expression is highly inconsistent with EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression levels (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression level of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 may be an important marker of RB progression, invasion and prognosis. There exist internally mutual regulation relations among them.

Folate receptor (FR) is over-expressed in a variety of human cancers and it is seldom expressed or found in normal tissues. Therefore, folate receptor-mediated antitumor drugs can be targeted specially to the FR-positive tumor cells. This strategy improves the selectivity of drugs which may destroy the normal tissues in traditional chemotherapeutics. This review provides the delivery mechanism of FR-mediated antitumor drugs and highlights the novel folate-drug conjugates and their activities.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored ; Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism