Objective To investigate the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) and its depressant effect on small cell lung cancer(SCLC)cells(H446) in patients with paraneoplastic neurological syndrome(PNS).Methods PBMC of 7 patients with PNS and 6 patients with SCLC were cultured with interleukin(IL)-2 in vitro,then cultured separately or mixed with H446 respectively.The proliferation index(PI,the ratio of cellular score which had proliferated and that had not proliferated) of H446,PBMC,CD4+,CD8+ T cell and the ratio of CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+ were analyzed with flow cytometry and compared with normal control group.Results Compared with cultured separately,the PI of H446,PBMC,CD4+,CD8+T cell in PBMC of PNS and SCLC groups cultured with H446 were not significantly different.Stimulated by IL-2,the ratio of CD4+ T cell in PNS patients [(76.54 ? 3.96)%]was higher than that in normal control group[(51.75 ? 17.3)%](P

Objective NAC therapy was used to observe the effect of TNF-?,hs-CRP,PaO2,PaCO2and lung function in patients with COPD,so as to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Methods 65 patients with COPD were recruited and the patients were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups:control group (n=31) and experimental group (n=34). Patients in the two groups received the conventional treatment of COPD in unchanged dosage for the duration of the study except stopping using antibotic drug after infection was resolved. NAC tablets were taken orally at a dose of 600mg once a day in experimental group. After 8 weeks treatment,we appraised lung function and the plasma level of TNF-?,hs-CRP,PaO2 and PaCO2. Results Compared with normal controls,the plasma levels of TNF-? and hs-CRP increased significantly. The higher level of those ,the higher lung function class was in 65 COPD patients,and there was significant effect(P

Objective · To globally study the influence of arsenite to the various biological pathways of Escherichia coli as a model organism.Methods · The protein-arsenite interactions was globally studied based on a proteome microarray constructed by 4256 affinity-purified Escherichia coli proteins. The functions of interacting proteins and their network were then analyzed by bioinformatics. Results · 91 proteins that remarkably interact with arsenic were successfully identified. Bioinformatics analysis found that most of the proteins possess catalytic activityand are involved in various biosynthesis and cellular metabolism pathways. The interactions of arsenic with proteins encoded by malY, cfa and hypF genes were further validated by Western blotting, which proves the results of proteome microarray reliable. Conclusion · Arsenite interacts with a variety of enzymes ofEscherichia coli and can greatly affect its biological metabolism.

Objective To investigate the effect of the aqueous extracts from Dioscorea nipponica Makino (AEDN) against the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice acute liver injury by regulating TLR4/MyD88 signal pathway.Methods 60 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, low, medium and high dose AEDN groups according to radom number table with 10 mice in each group. Mice in low, medium and high dose AEDN groups were adiminstrated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg AEDN, in control and model groups were adiminstrated with solvent once a day for 7 consecutive days. Two hours after the last administration, mice were intraperitoneal injected with with 0.3% CCl4 olive oil solution to induce acute liver injury model, except for the mice in control group. Twenty-four hours after injection, the expressions of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB in liver tissue were evaluated by Western blot, mRNA levels were evaluated by PCR, and the AST and ALT levels in serum were also detected.Results Compared with model group, the serum AST (98.00 ± 17.75 U/L, 57.49 ± 9.66 U/L, 39.60 ± 9.49 U/Lvs. 113.40 ± 9.71 U/L) and ALT levels (76.00 ± 14.73 U/L, 50.70 ± 9.35 U/L, 35.25 ± 9.93 U/Lvs. 95.42 ± 11.64 U/L) were significantly decreased in low, medium and high dose AEDN groups (P<0.01); MyD88 (0.67 ± 0.21vs. 1.74 ± 0.42), NF-κB p65 (0.51 ± 0.09vs. 1.76 ± 0.31) and TLR4 (0.97 ± 0.25vs. 2.99 ± 0.72) levels were down-regulated in high dose AEDN group (P<0.01); the mRNA levels of IL-6 (2.22 ± 0.25, 1.76 ± 0.31vs. 5.20 ± 0.60), IL-1β (1.96 ± 0.35, 1.47 ± 0.23vs. 7.37 ± 0.99)、TNF-α (2.06 ± 0.25, 1.34 ± 0.33vs. 2.98 ± 0.50) in medium and high dose AEDN groups significantly decresed (P<0.01).Conclusions The AEDN has protective effect against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice via adjusting TLR4/MyD88 signal pathway.

Objective To observe the effects of blood nourishing and wind expel formulae on learning and memory capabilities of rats with tic disorders. Methods Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition peritoneal injection was used to establish the rat model of tic disorders. The successful test subjects were categorized into 5 different groups, namely the model group, the Chinese medicine groups (low dosage, medium dosage and high dosage) and the western medicine group. The test groups were each given gastric perfusion of the related medicine, whereas the control and model groups were each given equal amounts of saline solution continuously for 8 weeks. Open field test and water maze test were carried out in the 1st, 4th and 8th weeks to evalute the learning and memory capabilities. Results In comparison with the control group, the model group showed obvious increase in movement across grid and decrease in vertical locomotion. Statistical significance was obtained showing an increase in vertical locomotion in the treatment groups compared with the model group. In the Chinese medicine groups, the medium and high dosage groups exhibited shorter escape latency and increased exploratory behavior (P<0.05) in the 4th and 8th weeks. Conclusion Among the blood nourishing and wind expel formula, the medium and high dosage showed ameliorating effects on the memory and learning capabilities of rats with tic disorders.

Objective To explore the clinical value of 256-slice CT whole hepatic perfusion imaging in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Twenty-three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent whole hepatic perfusion with the JOG technique one week before TACE.The scanning data of cancer and liver tissues were analyzed using the perfusion software.The cancer tissue perfusion was repeated 4 to 6 weeks after treatment and was compared with that before treatment.Results (1) Before TACE,the HCC lesions were shown on the hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) map as homogeneous hyper-perfusion lesions in 8 patients and as inhomogeneous hyper-perfusion lesions in 15 patients.The HAP and hepatic arterial perfusion index (HAPI) values of the tumor were higher than those of the liver tissues,while the hepatic portal perfusion (HPP) values of the tumor was lower than that of the liver tissues.The differences were all significant (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Mter TACE,the tumors were totally filled with lipiodol in 3 patients,partially filled with lipiodol in 13 patients,and sparsely filled with lipiodol in the remaining 3 patients.There was no blood perfusion in the lipiodol-filled areas and in the cancer necrotic tissues,but in the sparsely or partially lipiodol-filled areas blood perfusion could still be seen.21 patients received another session of TACE 6 to 8 weeks later.The results between the hepatic arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and the CT perfusion were 100％ matching.The HAP and HAPI values of the tumor decreased when compared with before treatment,and the difference was significant (both P ＜0.05).The HPP values decreased slightly with no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05),while higher HAP and HPI and lower HPP were observed in the active cancer tissues when compared with the liver tissues after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 256-slice MSCT whole liver perfusion imaging can quantitatively reflect abnormal perfusion of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and postoperative active tissues,and has important guiding significance in the preoperative evaluation,and the postoperative follow up of patients treated with TACE.

Objective To analyze the methylation status and protein expression of Ras association domain family- 1A (RASSF1A) in endometriosis (EMS). Methods The ectopic and corresponding eutopic endometrium tissues were collected from 45 women with EMS and normal endometrium tissues of 20 women without EMS. The methylation status of RASSF1A was examined by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the level of RASSF1A in endometrium tissues. Results The RASSF1A protein expression rate in ectopic endometrium, eutopic endometrium, and normal endometrium was 37.78%(17/45), 60.00%(27/45) and 85.00%(17/20), and there was significant difference (χ2 = 13.136, P = 0.001). The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A was 55.56%(25/45), 33.33%(15/45) and 0 in ectopic endometrium , eutopic endometrium, and normal endometrium, and there was significant difference (χ2 =18.770, P = 0.000). The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A had no significant differnce throughout the menstrual cycle in ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium: 66.67%(14/21) vs. 45.83%(11/24), 38.10%(8/21) vs. 29.17%(7/24), P>0.05. In ectopic endometrium, the frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF1A inⅢ-Ⅲstage was significantly higher than that in Ⅰ-Ⅱstage (χ2=5.940, P=0.015). In ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium, the RASSF1A protein expression had negative correlation with aberrant methylation of RASSF1A (r =- 0.594、- 0.577, P<0.01). Conclusions Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A through aberrant promoter methylation may be strongly correlated with the formation and progression of EMS, and assessment of RASSF1A methylation status in eutopic endometrium may be a potentially useful biomarker to enhance the early detection of EMS.

Objective To investigate the radiosensitization effect of antihelminthic niclosamide on human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and the potential mechanism related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods Four methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was used to measure the effect of niclosamide on cell viability at different concentrations and 50％ inhibitory concentration(IC50)value was calculated.MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into 4 groups:untreated control,niclosamide treatment alone group,radiation alone group and niclosamide plus radiation treatment group.The cells with or without 1.0 and 1.5 μmol/L niclosamide pre-treatment were irradiated with 137Cs γ-rays at doses of 0,2,4 and 6 Gy.Cell survival was assayed with the colony formation method,radiation-induced γH2AX foci was analyzed with immunofluorescence,cell cycle progression was assayed with flow cytometry,and the changes of phospho-and non-phospho-β-catenin and Cyclin D1 protein expressions were measured with Western blot.Results Niclosamde obviously inhibited the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dosedependent manner with a IC50 value of 13.63 μmol/L.Pretreatment of cells with 1.0 and 1.5 μmol/L niclosamide evidently enhanced the radiosensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells to γ-rays,and the values of SER were 1.37 and 1.62,respectively.Niclosamide pretreatment significantly increased radiation-induced γH2AX foci formation(t =3.91,P ＜0.05),diminished the radiation-induced G2/M arrest(t =8.05,P ＜0.01),and inhibited radiation-induced expressions of phospho-β-catenin (S675),non-phospho-β-catenin and Cyclin D1 proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells.Conclusions Niclosamide significantly can enhance the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells to γ-ray irradiation through inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,which results in the inhibition of DNA DSBs repair and the reduction of radiation-induced G2/M arrest.Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may serve as an ideal molecular target for radiosensitization of triplenegative breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) induced by high-LET α-particle irradiation and their relationship with chromatin structure in the G0 lymphocytes of human peripheral blood,in order to provide the experimental basis for the judgement and dose evaluation of internal α-particle radiation.Methods Peripheral whole blood were collected from four healthy adults and lymphocytes were separated.A monocellular layer of human lymphocytes attached in Mylar film were irradiated with 0 and 0.5 Gy of α-particles and the lymphocytes suspensions were irradiated with 0 and 0.5 Gy of γ-rays.The formations of γH2AX foci as a surrogate marker of DSB and Rad51 foci as a marker of homologous recombination (HR) repair and their spatial localization in chromatin structure were measured by immunofluorescence staining technique at 10 min-48 h post-irradiation.Results Linear-γH2AX foci tracks were observe at 10 min-2 h post-irradiation in lymphocytes exposed to α-particle irradiation(t =11.12,14.40,16.56,P ＜ 0.05),and almost completely disppeared at 6 h postirradiation.The frequencies of γH2AX foci peaked at 30 min after α-particle irradiation (t =51.72,P ＜0.05) and then decreased rapidly during 6 h post-irradiation (t =29.83,P ＜ 0.05).The average number of foci remained only about 16％ at 24-48 h post-irradiation.Moreover,27％ of γH2AX foci located at DAPI-bright heterochromatin region at 10 min after α-particle radiation,suggesting that the efficacy of DSB repair may be decreased.In contrast,at 10 min-48 h after γ-ray irradiation,no linear γH2AX foci track was observed and the γH2AX foci diffused randomly in nucleus and predominantly located in DAPI-weak euchromatin region.The numbers of formative and residual γH2AX foci after γ-ray irradiation were significantly less than those after α-particle radiation.During 30 min-2 h after α-particle and γ-ray irradiation,the frequencies of Rad51 foci slightly but not significantly increased in comparison with background level,and the frequencies of co-localization of Rad51 foci and γH2AX foci were only 3％-8％.Conclusions The formation of linear γH2AX foci tracks induced by high-LET α-particle irradiation in Go human lymphocyte could be used as biological indicator to estimate whether a person has been exposed to internal α-particle radiation.Prolonged persistence of residual γH2AX foci may be applicable for biological dosimetry.

The field of gene therapy has been increasingly studied in the last four decades, and its clinical application has become a reality in the last 15 years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an important component of complementary and alternative medicine, has evolved over thousands of years with its own unique system of theories, diagnostics and therapies. TCM is well-known for its various roles in preventing and treating infectious and chronic diseases, and its usage in other modern clinical practice. However, whether TCM can be applied alongside gene therapy is a topic that has not been systematically examined. Here we provide an overview of TCM theories in relation to gene therapy. We believe that TCM theories are congruent with some principles of gene therapy. TCM-derived drugs may also act as gene therapy vehicles, therapeutic genes, synergistic therapeutic treatments, and as co-administrated drugs to reduce side effects. We also discuss in this review some possible approaches to combine TCM and gene therapy.