Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; diagnosis ; Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Background and purpose:Ovarian cancer is associated with a high recurrence and mortality due to the existence of cancer stem cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of casticin (CAS) on the capability of self-renewal in ovarian cancer stem cell like cells (OCSLCs) derived from SKOV3 cell line. Methods:SKOV3 cell line cells were cultured in vitro, and OCSLCs were obtained and amplified through suspended culture with conditioned medium of the stem cells. The phosphorylation level of FoxO3a was analyzed using Western blot. The protein expression of FoxO3a was inhibited by FoxO3a speciifc siRNA transfection, and then the ratio of sphere-formation was detected. Results: Compared with parental cells, OCSLCs over-expressed phosphorylated FoxO3a (pFoxO3a) and had elevated ratio of sphere-formation [(3.1±0.3)% vs (34.8±6.8)%, P<0.05]. CAS significantly inhibited the capability of sphere-formation in OCSLCs and down-regulated the expression level of pFoxO3a. And the transfection of FoxO3a speciifc siRNA suppressed the protein expression of FoxO3a and attenuated the inhibitory effect of CAS on the sphere-formation of OCSLCs. Conclusion: Reduced expression level of pFoxO3a is involved in the effect that CAS inhibits sphere-formation of OCSLCs derived from SKOV3 cell line.

Objective To explore whether Forkhead O transcription factor-3a (FoxO3a) activity affects the capability of sphere-formation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell line.Methods Sphere-forming cells (SFCs) were obtained and amplified through suspended culture with conditioned medium of the stem cells in SKOV3 cell line.After SKOV3 cells were transfected with FoxO3a specific siRNA,the protein expressions of FoxO3a and Bmi1 and the ratio of sphere-formation were compared with Western blot and sphere-forming assay,respectively.Results Compared to parental cells,SFCs from SKOV3 cell line had higher ratio of sphere-formation and over-expressed Bmi1 and pFoxO3a.Transfection of FoxO3a specific siRNA down-regulated the protein expression of FoxO3a and upregulated expression of Bmi1 in SKOV3 cells,and enhanced the capability of sphere-formation.Conclusions Silence of FoxO3a leads to enhanced capability of sphere-formation in SKOV3 cell line.

In order to explore reasonable artificial cultivation pattern of Thesium chinense, the biological characteristics and nutrients change in the process of winter dormancy of T. chinense was studied. The phenological period of T. chinense was observed by using fixed-point notation and the starch grains changes were determined dynamically by PAS-vanadium iron hematoxylin staixjing method. Soluble sugar and starch content were measured by anthrone-sulfuric acid method and amylase activity was determined by DN'S method. The results showed that the normal life cycle of T. chinense was two years. T. chinense was growing by seed in the first year, but growing by the root neck bud in the second year. During the process of dormancy, starch and soluble sugar could mutual transformation in different periods. T. chinense had sufficient carbohydrate to maintain growth and also a lot of small molecules to improve their ability to fight against adversity.
Plant Dormancy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Santalaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Starch ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of low molecular weight heparin calcium (LMWHC) combined Compound Danshen Injection (DI) on nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe preeclampsia.

METHODSTotally 80 nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe pre-eclampsia were randomly assigned to four groups voluntarily, i.e., Group A (22 cases, treated by magnesium sulfate), B (19 cases, treated by magnesium sulfate plus LMWHC), C (21 cases, magnesium sulfate plus DI), D (18 cases, magnesium sulfate plus LMWHC and DI). Umbilical arterial S/D ratios, amniotic fluid index (AFI), prolonged gestational age, placenta weight, neonatal weight, and Apgar score were compared among the four groups.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased in the four groups (P <0. 05). AFI decreased in Group A, while it increased in Group B, C, and D (P<0. 05). Compared with Group A at the same time point, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased, and AFI increased in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05). Prolonged gestational age and neonatal weight were increased in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). Placenta weight were increased in Group B and D (P <0. 05). Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min were improved in Group D (P <0. 05). Compared with Group B and C at the same time point, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased, and AFI increased in Group D (P<0. 05). Compared with Group B, prolonged gestational age and placenta weight were decreased in Group C, but prolonged gestational age and placenta weight were increased in Group D (P <0.05). Compared with Group C, prolonged gestational age, placenta weight, and neonatal weight were increased in Group D (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe pre-eclampsia by LMWHC combined DI could prolong gestational ages, obviously improve prenatal outcomes, with better effect obtained than using any of them alone.

Calcium ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Phenanthrolines ; Pre-Eclampsia ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

The prescription combinations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) focuses on the taste and channel tropism, the Qi movement, as well as the compatibility according to multiple combination principles and medicinal property and flavor combination of several traditional Chinese medicines. With the in-depth study on the prescription compatibility, researchers have realized that the medicinal property theory is the core of TCM combinations. However, there is no definite method for combinations based on medicinal properties. In this paper, the authors put forward an method for designing prescription combinations based on bipartite graph and the greedy algorithm. With the medicinal property combinations of Siweilurong Pills for example, the authors proved this method could provide ideas for quickly choosing herbal medicines for prescription combinations, and discussed the prospect of this method in substituting previous and endangered herbal medicines and banned medicinal materials.
Algorithms ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy

This paper is aimed to microscopic identification of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) using an in situ imaging method. In this study, two kinds of Zingiberaceae seeds, Amomi Rotundus Fructus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, were investigated by synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (IXPCT) imaging method. The results showed that the microstructures of these Zingiberaceae seeds could be clearly obtained from the virtual slices information in different observing angles. It proves that IXPCT is an effective imaging method, which can provide the imaging information for the microscopic identification of the intact TCMs in situ and non-destructively.
Amomum ; cytology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Seeds ; cytology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the effects of Sini decoction on function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with sepsis.Methods A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted.60 septic patients were divided into three groups with the method of random number table,20 cases in the control group,20 in the Chinese herb group,and 20 in corticoid group.All of them received routine treatment.Patients in Chinese herb group were given Sini decoction in addition (decoction of monkshood 15 g,dried ginger 15 g,honey-fried licorice 10 g) 100 mL/d orally or by nasal feeding,while patients in corticoid group were given hydrocortisone 200 mg/d intravenously instead,both for 7 days.Before the treatment,3 days and 14 days after treatment,blood was collected to determine the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol,and the result of ACTH stimulating test was observed.At the same time,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score was recorded,and 3-day shock recovery rate and 28-day death rate were also compared among these groups.Results None of the three groups showed different result in ACTH stimulating test (x2=1.101,P=0.605).ACTH in three groups was gradually decreased.Compared with that before treatment,ACTH in Chinese herb group and corticoid groups began to decrease obviously on day 3 (ng/L:29.90 ± 3.31 vs.33.10 ±.3.31,28.20 ±.2.45 vs.33.30 ± 3.84,both P＜0.01),while in control group declined ACTH appeared later (on day 14) compared with before treatment (ng/L:29.40 ±5.63 vs.33.50 ±4.89,P＜0.05).No obvious difference in ACTH level was showed between the Chinese herb group and the cortical group (both P＞0.05).Cortisol level in both Chinese herb and cortical groups showed a raise-fall biphase trend while there was no change in the control.The cortical levels on day 3 in Chinese herb and cortical groups were much higher than that before treatment (μg/L:343.04 ± 31.20 vs.294.70 ±42.10,331.25 ±42.80 vs.280.36 ± 38.10,both P＜0.01) and that of control group (μg/L:291.61 ± 41.50,both P＜0.01),though no significant statistical difference was observed between two groups (both P＞0.05).APACHE Ⅱ score on day 14 in control,Chinese herb and cortical groups was significantly lower than that before treatment (16.8 ± 5.1 vs.20.1 ± 4.3,13.4 ± 3.2 vs.18.3 ± 3.8,15.1 ± 2.5 vs.19.5 ± 4.0,all P＜0.01),and the score was much lower in Chinese herb group comparing with that of control group (P＜0.05).No statistical difference was observed among control,Chinese herb and cortical groups in lowering 28-day death rate [35.0％ (7/20),25.0％ (5/20),20.0％ (4/20)] and improving 3-day shock recovery rate [40.0％ (8/20),70.0％ (14/20),60.0％ (12/20),all P＞0.05].Conclusions Sini decoction could elevate cortisol while lower ACTH at the early stage of sepsis.Sini decoction could also effectively improve symptoms and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in septic patients without affecting death rate.

[Objective] To investigate the expression of MICA mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma and give a more comprehensive understanding to its immune evasion.[Methods] RT-PCR was used to analyze MICA mRNA in 11 osteosarcoma tissues and 5 osteosarcoma cell lines.MICA expression was examined in 66 paraffin-embedded osteosarcoma tissues and 6 paraffin-embedded normal bone tissues by immunohistochemistry,and MICA protein in 9 fresh osteosarcoma tissues was detected by Western blot too.MICA surface expression was estimated by flow cytometry.[Results] Nine of eleven (81.8%) osteosarcoma specimens and all of the five cell lines consistently expressed MICA mRNA.Up-regulation of MICA expression was found in osteosarcoma (34/66,51.6%),compared with normal bone tissues (0/6,0%).The cell lines Saos-2,MG63,and HOS showed positive surface MICA expression,while the U2OS and OS732 showed very limited expression.[Conclusion] MICA mRNA and protein predominantly expressed on osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines.

The combined application of statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and fibrates that activate PPAR-α can produce a better lipid-lowering effect than the simple application, but with stronger adverse reactions at the same time. In the treatment of hyperlipidemia, the combined administration of TCMs and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in treating hyperlipidemia shows stable efficacy and less adverse reactions, and provides a new option for the combined application of drugs. In this article, the pharmacophore technology was used to search chemical components of TCMs, trace their source herbs, and determine the potential common TCMs that could activate PPAR-α. Because there is no hyperlipidemia-related medication reference in modern TCM classics, to ensure the high safety and efficacy of all selected TCMs, we selected TCMs that are proved to be combined with statins in the World Traditional/Natural Medicine Patent Database, analyzed corresponding drugs in pharmacophore results based on that, and finally obtained common TCMs that can be applied in PPAR-α and combined with statins. Specifically, the pharmacophore model was based on eight receptor-ligand complexes of PPAR-α. The Receptor-Ligand Pharmacophore Generation module in the DS program was used to build the model, optimize with the Screen Library module, and get the best sub-pharmacophore, which consisted of two hydrogen bond acceptor, three hydrophobic groups and 19 excluded volumes, with the identification effectiveness index value N of 2. 82 and the comprehensive evaluation index CAI value of 1. 84. The model was used to screen the TCMD database, hit 5,235 kinds of chemical components and 1 193 natural animals and plants, and finally determine 62 TCMs. Through patent retrieval, we found 38 TCMs; After comparing with the virtual screening results, we finally got seven TCMs.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; metabolism ; Animals ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Molecular ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Technology