Objective To evaluate the value of spectral CT imaging for the differential diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the esophagogastric junction. Methods Forty-five patients with a mass in the esophagogastric junction proved by pathology underwent enhanced scan with spectral CT, including 20 cases of SQCC and 25 cases of ADC. Iodine concentration (IC) , water concentration (WC) , effective atomic number (Eff-Z) and spectral curve slope (λHU) of arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) in the ROI of the mass were measured with gemstone spectral imaging post-processing software. The independent samples t test was used to compare the quantitative parameters above between two groups on the premise of satisfying normal distribution. ROC curves were drawn for the parameters which showed statistical differences and area under the curve (AUC) was used to measure and compare their respective differential diagnostic performance as well as the best threshold value. Results In AP,the average IC, Eff-Z, andλHU of ADC were (1.75±0.40) mg/ml, 8.65±0.22, and 3.33±0.74, respectively. The corresponding parameters of SQCC were (1.40 ± 0.35) mg/ml, 8.50 ± 0.20, and 2.71 ± 0.66, respectively. These parameters of ADC were significantly higher than that of SQCC (t=-2.833,-2.879,-2.678;P<0.05) . In VP, the average IC, Eff-Z, and λHU of ADC were (2.17 ± 0.23) mg/ml, 8.87 ± 0.11, and 4.10 ± 0.44, respectively. The corresponding parameters of SQCC were (1.67 ± 0.20) mg/ml, 8.60 ± 0.11, and 3.19 ± 0.41, respectively. The difference between ADC and SQCC was statistically significant (t=-6.963,-7.218,-6.521;P<0.05). For the average WC, No difference between the two groups in AP and VP was found. ROC curve analysis showed that IC, Eff-Z, andλHU in VP had better differential diagnostic performances than IC, Eff-Z, and λHU in AP, especially Eff-Z in VP. The AUC for it was 0.97. Using 8.72 as a threshold value, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis were 88.9% and 94.7% , respectively. Conclusion Multi-parameters quantitative analysis with spectral CT could be useful in the differential diagnosis of SQCC and ADC of the esophagogastric junction.

Objective:To develop a negative emotion screening scale for inpatients(NESSI) and test its validity and reliability.Methods:Based on our previous studies and the theory model of psychological stress, the original item pool was established through literature review, expert interviews and patient consultation.The first version of NESSI was constructed by Delphi method, then initially tested in 421 inpatients followed by the project analysis and reliability test. After those above, the formal scale was developed and tested in 318 inpatients followed by confirmatory factor analysis and reliability test.Finally, 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), anger state expression scale (SAS) and simplified Chinese version of fear of disease progression scale(FoP-Q-SF) were used to test the criterion validity.Results:After exploratory factor analysis, 17 items were retained in the final scale, which can be categorized into four dimensions: fear of illness, depression, somatization and anger, which could explain 63.49% of the total variation.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the fitting degree of each factor model was good and met the requirements of reference value (χ 2/ df=2.949, RMR=0.044, CFI=0.929, NFI=0.897, IFI=0.930, TLI=0.915, PGFI=0.655, RMSEA=0.078). The Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale was 0.925, and the Cronbach's α coefficient of the four factors ranged from 0.762 to 0.898.The criterion validity showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the scale and the four criterion scales ( r= 0.574-0.805, all P<0.01). Conclusion:The NESSI scale has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a psychological problem screening tool among non-psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression profile and immunofluorescence localization of the major egg antigen p40 of Schistosoma japonicum (Sjp40) during granuloma formation in the liver of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

METHODSNew Zealand white rabbits were infected with S. japonicum cercariae, and the livers were harvested at 29 and 45 days post-infection (dpi). The total RNA of the liver tissues was extracted for expression profiling of Sjp40 by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) with GAPDH of S. japonicum as the endogenous reference gene. The expression of Sjp40 in the liver were detected by Western blotting using anti-Sjp40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 9G7 or anti-Toxoplasma gondii tSAG1 mAb Y3A8 (control) as the primary antibody. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared for observing egg granuloma formation using HE staining and for indirect immunofluorescence assay of Sjp40 location in the trapped eggs and egg granulomas.

RESULTSThe level of Sjp40 mRNA in the eggs trapped in rabbit livers was significantly higher at 45 dpi than that at 29 dpi (P<0.05), and Western blotting confirmed the presence of Sjp40 protein in the rabbit livers at both 29 and 45 dpi. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated localized expression of Sjp40 in the immature eggs in the rabbit liver at 29 dpi, but at 45 dpi fluorescence was detected in clusters of mature eggs containing miracidium and in the surrounding egg granulomas.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcriptional levels of Sjp40 significantly increased with the maturation of eggs trapped in the rabbit livers. Sjp40 protein spread from the eggs to the surrounding egg granuloma at 45 dpi when acute liver granulomatous lesions occur, suggesting that Sjp40 plays a key role in egg granulomas formation in the livers of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Helminth ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Granuloma ; parasitology ; Helminth Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rabbits ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica

ObjectiveTo study the effect of apigenin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human colon cancer CL187 cells and the underlying mechanisms. MethodHuman colorectal cancer CL187 cells were treated with different concentrations of apigenin （0， 30， 45， 60 mg·L^-1） according to the results of the preliminary experiment. The proliferation of CL187 cells was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） and colony formation assays， and the apoptosis was observed via Hoechst 33258 staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of cysteine protease-3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） in the CL187 cells treated with apigenin. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of Caspase-3， Bcl-2， and Bax associated with apoptosis， protein kinase B （Akt） and phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt） in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） pathway， and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 （ERK1/2）， p-ERK1/2， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， p-JNK， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， and p-p38 MAPK protein in MAPK pathway. ResultCompared with the blank group， the apigenin groups had low cell survival rates and high inhibition rates on cell proliferation （P<0.01）. Apigenin decreased the cell clone number and clone formation rate， and increased the inhibition rate on clone formation （P<0.01）. After CL187 cells were treated with different concentrations of apigenin for 48 h， typical apoptosis characteristics such as nuclear pyknosis， chromatin condensation， and enhanced fluorescence reaction were observed. Compared with blank group， 45， 60 mg·L^-1 apigenin treatments down-regulated the mRNA level of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 （P<0.01） and all the apigenin treatments up-regulated those of the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Similarly， apigenin treatments down-regulated the protein level of Bcl-2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and up-regulated those of Caspase-3 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and Bax （P<0.01， 45， 60 mg·L^-1）. The blank group had higher protein level of Akt than the 60 mg·L^-1 apigenin group （P<0.01）， higher protein levels of p-Akt， ERK1/2， and p-ERK1/2 than the 45， 60 mg·L^-1 apigenin groups （P<0.01）， and higher protein levels of JNK and p-JNK than the apigenin groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with blank group， 60 mg·L^-1 apigenin up-regulated the protein level of p38 MAPK （P<0.05）， and all the apigenin groups up-regulated that of p-p38 MAPK （P<0.01）. Furthermore， apigenin lowered the p-Akt/Akt ratio （P<0.05， P<0.01） and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 ratio （P<0.01）， while it increased the p-JNK/JNK ratio （45， 60 mg·L^-1； P<0.05， P<0.01） and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionApigenin can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of CL187 cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and regulating the expression of proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway.

Piperine is a kind of amide alkaloids presenting in Piper nigrum L.，which has the pharmacological action such as protecting cardiovascular system ，regulating glucose and lipid metabolism ，anti-tumor，improving nervous system diseases ， anti-inflammation and so on. This paper summarized the pharmacological action and mechanisms of piperine in recent years and found that piperine ，as the main active ingredient of P. nigrum ，could protect the cardiovascular system by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress ；improve mitochondrial function through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects ，thereby regulate glucose and lipid metabolism ；play an anti-tumor role by mediating the signaling pathways of Wnt/β-catenin，NF-κB/Nrf-2/KeAP-1/HO-1， PI3K/Akt，TGF-β1/Smad2/ERK1/2；improve neurological diseases by inhibiting autophagy ，relieving inflammation ，improving antioxidant，inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and regulating the expression of related proteins in neurons ；play an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB and other signaling pathways and reducing the expression of inflammation-related proteins. However，the mechanism of action of piperine is not perfect ，and most of the studies have been confined to the pharmacological level or a certain signaling pathway and a certain target ，without being able to elucidate the interconnection between the relevant signaling pathway and the specific target from a holistic perspective. In the follow-up ，the specific targets of piperine can be identified and clinical trials can be carried out to provide support for the clinical application of piperine.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Stemona tuberosa alkaloids （STA） on apoptosis and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （JNK/p38 MAPK） signaling pathways in human lung cancer A549 cells. MethodA549 cells were classified into blank group and STA groups （100， 150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L^-1）. Thiazole blue （MTT） assay and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the proliferation of A549 cells. Apoptosis was observed based on Hoechst 33258 staining， flow cytometry， and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax）， and Bcl-2， and the expression of PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， JNK， p-JNK， p38 MAPK， and p-p38 MAPK. ResultCompared with the blank group， STA groups （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L^-1） demonstrated the increase in inhibition rate of cell proliferation （P<0.01） and cell clone inhibition rate， and decrease in cell clone formation rate （P<0.01）. In comparison with the blank group， STA groups showed typical characteristics of apoptosis， such as chromatin condensation and enhanced fluorescence reaction. The apoptosis rate of STA groups was significantly higher than that of the blank group （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L^-1） significantly up-regulated the protein expression of Caspase-3 and Bax （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 protein （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA had no significant influence on the total protein expression of PI3K， Akt， JNK， and p38 MAPK. However， STA （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L^-1） significantly decreased the levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increased the level of p-p38 MAPK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA （200， 250， 300 mg⋅L^-1） significantly raised the level of p-JNK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSTA can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and activating JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.