MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are a class of small non-protein-coding RNAs, approximately 18 to 25 nt long. MicroRNAs can act as endogenous RNA interference. MicroRNAs can posttranscriptionally regulate the expression of hundreds of their target genes, controlling a wide range of biological functions such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. MicroRNAs can posttranscdptionally regulate the expression of genes by hybridizing to complementary sequences in 3' UTR (3' untranslated region) of target messenger RNA (mRNA), repressing the translation of mRNA or increasing the instability of mRNA. A number of miRNAs are mapped to cancer-associated fragile regions (FRAs) as well as in minimal regions of loss of heterozygosity, minimal regions of amplification, or common breakpoint regions in the genome, suggesting that miRNAs might be involved in tumorigenesis. Many miRNAs are up or down-regulated in cancers as potential oncogene or tumor suppressors. It has been considered that the mutation of a series of oncogene or anti-oncogene gradually causes tumorigenesis. The conventional points of view were changed with the finding of non-protein-coding RNAs. MiRNA as members of non-protein-coding RNAs may play an important role in regulating tumor formation. Recent studies have in-vestigated the relationship of miRNAs with neoplasia, development, treatment and prognosis. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths all over the world. Its etiology is primarily genetic and epigenetic damage caused by tobacco smoke. Systematic analysis of RNA and protein expression levels of thousands of genes has also contributed to defining the molecular net work of lung carcinogenesis. MiRNAs are closely related to lung cancer and play an important part in the diagnosis, therapy, surveillance and prognosis of lung cancer. We reviewed some miRNAs closely associated with lung cancer such as miRNA-126, miRNA-221, miRNA-222, has-mir-221, a polycistronic microRNA cluster miR-17-92, miRNA-128b, has-mir-137, has-mir-182, has-mir-372 and miRNA let-7. We summarized the roles of miRNAs in the genetic susceptibility, invasion or metastasis, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of lung cancer.

Diphosphonates ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Osteonecrosis ; chemically induced

0.05).DBP and DEHP obviously induced a decrease in organ body weight ratios of testis and epididymis and an increase in organ body weights ratios of liver.Obvious decrease in the sperm counts,spermatozoon survival rate and significant increase in the rate of the sperm deformation were observed.There was synergism between DBP and DEHP on the testis,epididymis and liver organ body weight ratio,as well as sperm counts,sperm survival and deformation rates.Pathological examination showed the seminiferous tubules were irregular shape,degenerative atrophy and interstitial substance broadening,and the seminiferous epithelium were degeneration.Epididymis epithelium was damaged and few of mature sperm was seen.Conclusion DBP combined with DEHP can cause obvious toxic effects on reproductive function in male rats.DBP and DEHP mixture can strongly affect the sperm quantity and quality.Also,some toxic effects to epididymis are observed.

Objective To study the combined toxic effects of di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP)and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(DEHP)on sex hormone and lipid peroxidation in male rats.Methods According to 2?2 factorial analysis,thirty-two healthy and clean adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,including a control group(given coin oil) and three experimental groups:DBP(1/20 LD50,1.0 g/kg,dissolved in coin oil),DEHP(1/20 LD50,1.7 g/kg,dissolved in coin oil) and DBP+DEHP(1.0 g/kg + 1.7 g/kg,dissolved in coin oil),8 rats in each group,through gavage,once a day,for 8 consecutive weeks.The spectrophotometric method was used to measure the activity of lipid peroxidation SOD,GSH and GSH-Px level in testis homogenate.The activities of ACP,AKP and ?-GT were assessed in testis homogenate.Radioimmunoassay was used to determine the testosterone,LH and FSH levels in the serum.Results There was synergism between DBP and DEHP on the SOD activity in testicle and testosterone level in serum,and there was antagonism between DBP and DEHP on the ?-GT and ACP activity in testicle,as well as the FSH level in serum.Conclusion DBP combined with DEHP can cause obvious toxic effects on reproductive function in male rats.The change of testosterone biosynthetic enzymes and the levels of T in serum and disordered physiologic balances of hypothalamic-pituitarytestis axis may be key factors contributing to the decrease of testosterone,then the decrease of reproductive function in male rats.

0.05), and the change of kidney tissue morphology of groups C, D, E was little. Conclusion Xiaojiyinzi, chief or adjuvant herbs in Xiaojiyinzi can reduce the nephrotoxicity of caulis aristolochiae manshuriensis.

Objective To investigate the role of prokinetic agent itopride in colonic preparation before colonoscopy examination in patients with constipation.Methods A total of 115 outpatients with history of chronic constipation who requested colonoscopy were collected.According to colonic preparation proposal,patients were divided into three groups.Group A (39 cases) took standard dosage of PEG-E solution six hours before colonoscopy examination.Group B (38 cases) took 150 mg itopride 30 minutes before administration of lavage solution.Group C (38 cases) took itopride 150 mg at 7 am,12 am and 8 pm the day before the examination and on the examination day took the same medicine as that of group B.The blood pressure,heart rate and blood electrolytes were monitored before and after taking medicine in the patients of three groups.Quality of colon cleansing of each group was observed and side effects were also observed.One-way analysis of variance (least significant difference,LSD) test was performed for pairwise comparisons among the three groups.Chi-square test was applied for count data.Results Both group A and group B excluded one patient because of malignant carcinoma with colon stricture under colonoscopy,and 113 patients completed the whole colon examination.There was no significant difference in the baseline patients' data of three groups.The colon cleaning score of group C (7.28±1.11) was higher than those of group A and B (6.55±1.18 and 6.51±1.16,LSD test,both P＜0.05).The frequency of bowel movements defecation of group C (8.31± 1.32) was more than those of group A and group B (7.11± 1.41 and 6.94± 1.51,LSD,test,both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in terms of intestinal bubble scores,blood pressure,heart rate,blood electrolytes the uncomfortable degree of colonic preparation and rate of side effects of the three groups.Conclusion The colonic preparation can be safely and effectively improved by taking high dose of itopride one day before and on the day of colonoscopy examination.

Objective To observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of L-carnitine on the metabolic disorder and cardiac remodeling in alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Methods Experimental animals were divided into three groups: alcohol-fed group(A), an alcohol/L-carnitine fed group(B) and a control group(C). Free fatty acid(FFA) and earnitine were detected in the blood serum at different time. mRNA and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα and PPARγ), retinoic acid receptor retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα), earnitine palmitoyl transferase isoform and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) were observed with RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. Results (1) When group A and B were compared with group C, FFA was increased and carnitine was decreased;mRNA and protein expressions of PPARα, RXRα, CPT-Ⅰ and MCAD were decreased with the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), being more significantly in group A than group B (P < 0.05). (2) mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ had no statistical significance between these three groups at the end of 2 and 4 months(P>0.05), but after 6 months, they were increased in group B and decreased in group A (A vs. C,P<0.01;B vs. C,P<0.05). Conclusion Metabolic disorder and cardiac remodeling occur in the development process of ACM; they are partly prevented by L-carnitine through downregulating mRNA and protein expressions of PPARct, RXRα, CPT-Ⅰ, MCAD and PPARγ.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on human glioma cell line U251 growth, change of gene expression and intracellular calcium content. METHODS: MTT method was used to observe the growth inhibition effect. Cell cycle, positive rate of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), apoptosis associated protein Fas and Bcl-2, and intracellular calcium ion (IECa~ 2+ ) levels were measured by flow cytometry in U251 cells treated with different doses of As_2O_3. Apoptosis was detected with annexin V-FITC+PI dual parameter. RESULTS: As_2O_3 inhibited the growth of U251 cells dramatically. There were obvious dosage-effect and time-effect correlations (P0.05). The cell cycle was arrested in G_2M phase. Apoptosis occurred in U251 cells treated with As_2O_3 by annexin V-FITC+PI dual parameter detection. CONCLUSION: As_2O_3 inhibits the growth of U251 cells in vitro dramatically and induces apoptosis. The mechanism is probably associated with the improvement of Fas expression and IECa~ 2+ levels, decrease in PCNA protein expression and cell cycle arrest.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of pamidronate disodium. METHODS: The determination was performed on C18 column with acetonitrile-0.4% sodium hydroxide solution of EDTA-Na2 (14∶86) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6mL?min-1,the sample size was 10?L and the detection was performed by fluorescence detector with excitation wavelength at 395nm and emission wavelength at 480nm. RESULTS: The linear range of pamidronate disodium was 7.2～16.8?g?mL-1(r=0.999 8,n=9),the recovery rate was 100.11%(RSD=0.7%, n=9). CONCLUSIONS: The established method is simple and accurate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the contents of main chemical components in prescription granules and decoction of Fructus aurantii immaturus. METHODS: 3 batches of cut crude drugs of Fructus aurantii immaturus were selected to prepare the granules and decoction. The assaying of water soluble extractive was conducted according to the specification of China Pharmacopeia. The assaying of hesperidin and synephrine was conducted by HPLC. RESULTS: There was no obvious difference between water soluble extractive of granules and that of decoction, while the contents of hesperidin and synephrine were higher in the prescription granules than in the decoction. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide supporting basis for the labeled amount of prescription granule of Fructus aurantii immaturus.