Eighty-five endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the roots、stems and leaves of Polygala tenuifolia Willd, among which, fifty-two from natural plants and thirty-three from cultivated ones. Sev-enty-six strains were classified as twenty-three fungal genera. The inhibitory activity screening to fourteen microbe were conducted research. The results showed that some endophytic fungi had remarkble inhibitory activities to Bacillus subtilis, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Fusarium kyrushuense and they were all belonged to Fusarium, Alternaria, Aphanocladium respectively. All of the endophytic fungi isolated from Polygala tenuifolia showed no inhibitory activities to Staphyloccocus aureus, Salmonel-lae enteritis, Bibrio parahemolyticus.

Objective The study of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1p36 was performed to locate the deletion areas probably harboring tumor suppressor genes in invasive ductal breast carcinoma not otherwise specified (IDC NOS).Methods Eighty paired breast cancer/normal tissue DNA samples were examined for LOH on chromosome lp36 using eight polymorphic microsatellite (MS) loci.The PCR products were electrophoresed on 8％ denatured polyacrylamide gel and stained using silver staining.Finally,the data were analysed and compared with the clinicopathological parameters using statistical analysis.Results In 80 IDC NOS,LOH was identified in 45 cases (56.3 ％) at least in one MS locus.MS locus D1S1310 showed the highest rate of LOH [35.7％ (25/70)].Conclusion Chromosome 1p36 might be the highly deleted region.The results of this study indicate that the chromosomal regions 1p36.23-33 might contain tumor suppressor genes associated with human breast carcinomas.

The new generation cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor could reduce the gastrointestinal side effect of NSAID drugs, but eventually increase the cardiovascular risk, because its selective inhibition of COX-2 induces the imbalance between PGI2 and TXA2 and the reduction of vasodilatory NO. Under pathological conditions, active oxygen species (O2-*2, etc) were used to induce endo- thelial dysfunction, activate NF-κB to induce expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, increase ET-1, TXA2 with vasoconstrictor effect, reduce PGI2 and NO with vasodilatory effect, generate further oxidative damage together with NO, and reduce the bioavailability of NO. NO-NSAIDs and NO-Coxibs drugs raised the level of NO by introducing NO-donor (ONO2). NSAIDs drugs enhanced the anti-inflammatory activity of COX-2 and reduced gastrointestinal side effects by inhibiting selectively COX-2. If antioxidant structures with active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines were introduced to improve the antioxidant activity of NSAIDs, they could scavenge the active oxygen species to protect the normal function of vascular endothelia and enhance the bioavailability of NO, which is conducive to enhance the cardiovascular safety of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

ObjectiveTo explore the role of β-catenin in the proinvasive consequences of hypoxia in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsWe established in vitro and in vivo hypoxic models using the highly metastatic MHCC97 and the stable red fluorescent protein-expressing MHCC97-R cells.The role of β-catenin in hypoxia-mediated aggressiveness was investigated by β-catenin knockdown.ResultsHypoxia caused a pronounced arrest of proliferation in MHCC97 cells,suppressed tumor growth in MHCC97-R xenografts,but promoted in vitro invasiveness and in vivo metastasis.β-Catenin-silencing by short hairpin significantly inhibited the enhanced invasiveness of MHCC97 cells due to hypoxia,reduced the increase in distant metastasis by hepatic arterial ligation,but failed to further restrain cell proliferation.Conclusionβ-Catenin in HCC cells plays an essential role in the hypoxia-induced metastatic potential.A reduction of βcatenin expression inhibited the proinvasive consequences of hypoxia in HCC.

Objective To study the role of preoperative CA19-9 level in predicting resectability of pancreatic cancer.Methods Preoperative CA19-9 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay.The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cut-off point.The clinical value of the level of CA19-9 as a predictive marker of resectability was evaluated by the area under curve.Results The preoperative CA19-9 levels in the resectahle group was (313.6±515.5) kU/L,which was significantly lower than (852.1± 865.1)kU/L in the unresectable group (P＜0.001).The cut-off point of CA19-9 for predicting pancreatic cancer resectability was 312.1 kU/L,which had a sensitivity of 56.6％ and a specificity of 73.3％.The area under curve was 0.67.Conclusions The preoperative CA19-9 level may be used to predict resectability of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To evaluate the theraputic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein.Methods One hundred and six patients of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein under treament of TACE were observed before and after the procedure.Results After TACE tumor size reduced＞50% in 23 patients,＜50% in 25, no significant change in 44.The size of tumor enlarged in 12.The disappearance of portal vein tumor thrombosis accessed in 14,with reduction in 39,and no significant change in 51.Two patients died within one week.Conclusion TACE provides good therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein.

Objective To analyze the ultrasonic features of thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) and the causes of misdiagnosis. Methods The ultrasonic features including shape, margin, echogenecity, microcalcification, vascularity and lymphadenopathy were analyzed retrospectively in 26 pathologically-proven TMC patients. Results In 26 cases, 11 cases were diagnosed correctly before operation (11/26, 42.31%), 12 cases were misdiagnosed (12/26, 46.15%) as adenoma or benign nodule, and 3 cases were missed diagnosed (3/26, 11.54%). Among the 23 cases detected on ultrasound, 21 cases were solid and hypoechoic (21/23, 91.30%);19 cases were ill-defined (19/23, 82.61%);12 cases were taller than wide in shape (12/23, 52.17%); 14 cases had microcalcification (14/23, 60.87%); 7 cases showed central or peripheral blood flow signals (7/23,30.43%) with arterial resistance index>0.70 in 3 lesions and<0.70 in 4 lesions. Conclusions Several ultrasonographic features are helpful in identiifcation of TMC, including hypo/iso-echogenecity, ill-deifned margin, taller-than-wide shape, microcalciifcation, arterial signals with high resistance index, and abnormal lymphadenopathy. Moreover, for cases with multiple lesions, to the potential co-existence of benign and malignant lesions should be considered.

Objective To evaluate the role of Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2-STAT3) signaling pathway in sevoflurane postconditioning-induced inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)in rats.Methods Sixty pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=15 each) using a random number table:I/R group,sevoflurane postconditioning group (group SP),AG-490 group (group AG) and sevoflurane postconditioning plus AG-490 group (group SP+AG).Myocardial I/R was induced by 30 min ligation of the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group SP,2.8％ sevoflurane was inhaled for 15 min starting from 2 min before reperfusion.JAK2 inhibitor AG-490 3 mg/kg was intravenously injected at 10 min before reperfusion in group AG.In group SP+AG,AG-490 3 mg/kg was intravenously injected at 10 min before reperfusion,and 2.8％ sevoflurane was inhaled for 15 min starting from 2 min before reperfusion.At 15 min of reperfusion,5 rats were sacrificed and myocardial specimens were obtained for determination of the expression of JAK2,phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2),STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3)in myocardial tissues by Western blot.The ratios of p-JAK2 to JAK2 expression (p-JAK2/JAK2) and pSTAT3 to STAT3 expression (p-STAT3/STAT3) were calculated.Five rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion for measurement of myocardial infarct size.The left 5 rats were selected and sacrificed,myocardial specimens were obtained,and the opening of mPTP was detected by a calcein-cobalt quenching method.Results Compared with group I/R,the myocardial infarct size and mPTP opening were significantly decreased,and JAK2/p-JAK2 and STAT3/p-STAT3 were increased in group SP (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in SP+AG and AG groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group SP,the myocardial infarct size was significantly enlarged,the extent of mnPTP opening was aggravated,and JAK2/p-JAK2 and STAT3/p-STAT3 were decreased in SP+AG and AG groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which sevoflurane postconditioning inhibits the opening of mPTP during myocardial I/R is related to activation of JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway in rats.

OBJECTIVE:To establish HPLC fingerprint for the leaves of Camptotheca acuminante in Guizhou.METHODS:HPLC method was performed.The determination was performed on Gemini-NX C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.2％ phosphoric acid (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The detection wavelength was set at 370 ran,and the column temperature maintained at 30 2.The sample size was 10 μtL.Using sorbitol as a reference,HPLC fingerprints of 14 batches of the leaves of C.acuminante were determined.The chromatographic fingerprint was analyzed with Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM (2004 A) in terms of common peak indentification,similarity evaluation and cluster analysis.RESULTS:There were 10 common peaks in HPLC fingerprints for 14 batches of the leaves of C.acuminate.And the similarity of 13 batches of the leaves of C.acuminate was greater than 0.90,and that of another one was less than 0.90.The leaves of C.acuminate were classified into 3 groups.CONCLUSIONS:The established fingerprint can provide reference for identification and quality evaluation of the leaves of C.acuminate.