OBJECTIVE To explore the role of gecko crude peptides (GCPs) in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and lymphangiogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and human lymphaticendothelial cells (HLECs) in vitro. METHODS The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate the anti- proliferative effect of GCPs and siRNA-VEGF-C on HepG2 cells, Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry were performed to analyze cycle and apoptosis. The migration and invasion ability of cells were assayed by transwell chamber experiment and wound-healing assay. The protein and mRNA expressions of vascular endo?thelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) were detected by q-PCR, immunofluorescence, Western blot. The protein expressions of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERKI/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38-mitogen activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK), serine/threonine kinase (Akt) and phosphatidylinositol- 3- kinase (PI3K) were detected by western blot. The anti-lymphangiogenesis effect of GCPs on the HLECs was analyzed using an in vitro tube-formation assay. The protein and mRNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) were detected by q-PCR, Western blot. RESULTS GCPs and siRNA-VEGF-C inhibited HepG2 proliferation, invasion and migration, and the most obvious inhibitory effect was both synergistic effects. Thus, GCPs suppressed HLECs proliferation, migration and tube-like structure formationin a dose- dependent manner, and had inhibitory effect of tumor- induced lymphangiogenesis in vitro. Additionally, we found that GCPs and siRNA- VEGF- C decreased the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF-C, CXCR4, phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-P38, phospho-JNK and PI3K in HepG2 cells. Moreover, GCPs had a dose-dependent depressive effecton the expressions of VEGFR- 3, SDF- 1 in HLECs. CONCLUSION The low expression of VEGF- C mediated by siRNA-VEGF-C and GCPs inhibit tumor proliferation, invasion and migrationby suppressing the MAPK signaling pathway through reduced levels of VEGF-C, and GCPs inhibit tumor lymphangiogenesis by suppressing the CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling pathway through suppressed VEGF-C/VEGFR-3.

?AIM:To evaluate the objective visual quality of patients who underwent corneal cross-linking for the keratoconus using double-pass analysis system.? METHODS: Advanced keratoconus patients who underwent UV - riboflavin corneal cross - linking from January to July 2015 were included. The outcomes of their objective scattering index ( OSI ) , predicted visual acuity ( VA ) , the cut - off frequency of modulation transfer function ( MTF cut- off ) , the Strehl ratio ( SR ) were compared before and 6mo after corneal cross-linking.?RESULTS: A total of 13 patients ( 16 eyes ) were included. There was no statistically significant difference between pre- and 6mo postoperative data in uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, refractions and mean value of Sim-k (P>0. 05). Non-invasive average tear film break up time ( NIAvg-BUT ) detected by the Sirius system decreased after corneal cross-linking ( P<0. 05 ) . Using double - pass analysis system, no statistically significant change was found in MTF cut off, Strehl Ratio, OSI before and after treatment(P>0. 05). Tear Film Analysis Mean OSI increased at 6mo postoperatively (P<0. 05).? CONCLUSION: The subjective visual quality isn’t effected by corneal cross-linking. The tear stabilities of patients are influenced by these operations at 6mo postoperatively. More observations on long-term effect are needed to be taken in the future.

The clinical data of 30 patients with vesical calculus of 1.5 cm to 4 cm in diameter,who underwent combination of transurethral pneumatic and ultrasonic cystolithotripsy,were retrospectively analyzed.During the procedure the resectoscopic sheath was inserted into bladder through urethra,then the nephroscope was placed through the sheath.When the stone was located,the ultrasonic and pneumatic devices were used for lithotripsy and the fragments were cleared out.The procedures lasted from 10 to 25 min,all operations were successful.Transurethral resection of prostates (TURP) was performed simultaneously in 28 patients.No serious bleeding,bladder injury or transurethral resection syndrome occurred.One patient with simultaneous TURP developed bladder neck contracture one month after surgery and was later cured by endoresection.No residual chip or stone recurrence was detected.This procedure appears to be safe and highly efficient with low rate of urethrostenosis and is suitable for simotaneous prostate surgery.

Objective To summarize our experience in hepatic artery reconstruction in adult-to-adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).Methods A retrospective analysis was made for 17 cases undergoing LDLT in our center from May 2007 to Oct 2008.Results All the 17 right lobe graft of the liver was supplied by single right hepatic artery and the mean diameter of right hepatic artery was 3.1 mm.The hepatic artery for segment 4 was mainly originated from left hepatic artery(12/17,70.1%).The recipient right or left hepatic artery was used in 14 cases of reconstruction,proper hepatic artery was used in 2 cases,and gastroduodenal artery was used in one case.Anastomosis was performed with interrupted 8-0 prolene and 12-16 stitches were made on the posterior wall first and then the anterior wall to avoid turning over the vessel.The mean anastomosis time was(51±26) minutes and all hepatic arteries were patent immediately after anastomosis.Hepatic arterial complications including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT)did not occur after LDLT.Conclusions Detailed evaluation and careful protection of the hepatic artery of segment 4 are the key to successful reconstruction of hepatic artery in LDLT.Anastomosis was performed without flipping the artery wall helped to reduce the difficulty of operation remarkably and with a good result.

Objective To analyze and evaluate the characteristics of cerebral sparganosis on MRI. Methods MRI appearances of 15 cases of cerebral sparganosis proven by pathology or serological test were retrospectively studied.Results A total of 21 lesions were found,some of them were single and some were multiple but asymmetrical.8 lesions were found in parietal lobe,6 in frontal lobe,2 in temporal lobe,2 in oceipital lobe,1 in basal ganglia,1 in cerebellar hemisphere and 1 in pons.The lesions carried slightly hypointense on T_1-weighted images and moderate hyperintense on T_2-weighted images.Most lesions showed pefilesional brain parenchyma edema.Enhanced MRI was performed in 10 cases,and all of them demonstrated abnormal enhancement such as peripheral ring-type,tortuous beaded shape or serpiginons tubular shape enhancement.Follow-up MR images in 6 eases were analyzed,and the location and shape of the lesions changed in 2 of them.Conclusion There are some specific MRI findings on cerebral sparganosis.Enhanced MRI and follow-up examination are important for the diagnosis of cerebral sparganosis.

This article reviewed pharmacological study development of Punica granatum L. both at home and abroad in recent years. P. granatum has a long medical usage history. Different parts of P. granatum have wide applications in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other ethnic medicine. Its main chemical compositions were tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and organic acids. It has obvious pharmacological activities. In recent years, the pharmacological research progress on P. granatum in terms of antibacterial, antiviral, hypoglycemic, antitumor, adjusting blood lipids, antioxidant, and immunoregulation has rapid development. The scientific collection and analysis on effects and new pharmacological research results of P. granatum are hoped to provide references for the study, clinical application, development and utilization of P. granatum and its products.

WRKY transcription factors are novel transcriptional regulatory factors, which play an important role in regulating plant development, metabolism and other physiological processes. In this study, a new Dendrobium officinale WRKY transcription factor, designated as DoWRKY1 was cloned by using RT-PCR and RACE (GenBank Accession No. KF953910). Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that, the full-length cDNA of DoWRKY1 was 1,704 bp. And DoWRKY1 contained a 1,629 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoding a peptide of 542 amino acid residues. The putative DoWRKY1 protein contained two conserved WRKY domains and it belonged to the group I WRKY family protein. Yeast one-hybrid experiment showed that DoWRKY1 had transcriptional activation ability in yeast, and it could activate the expression of downstream report genes (His3 and Ade2). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR experiment showed that DoWRKY1 expressed in roots, stems, leaves and protocorm-like bodies. Real-time qRT-PCR proved that DoWRKY1 could be induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and chitosan (Chitosan), and the expression level of this gene can reach the expression peak at 2 h and 1 h, respectively. These results are useful for further determination of the regulation function of this gene in secondary metabolism of D. officinale.
Cloning, Molecular ; Dendrobium ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

A fast and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of prodrug of paclitaxel (Pro-PTX) and paclitaxel (PTX) in rat plasma was developed. The plasma samples were subjected to protein precipitation with acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid), and then separated by LC with an Ultimate AQ-C18 column (50 mm × 3.0 mm, 3 μm) and acetonitrile-1 mmol·L^-1 ammonium formate (containing 0.1% formic acid) as the mobile phase. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning mode was used to detect the ion responses m/z 983.4→415.2 (Pro-PTX), m/z 854.4→286.1 (PTX) and m/z 808.3→527.2 (Docetaxel, internal standard) by using a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization source and positive ion mode. The method validation results show that the linear ranges of Pro-PTX and PTX in plasma were 2.00-500 ng·mL^-1 (r > 0.99) and 4.00-1 000 ng·mL^-1 (r > 0.99), the lower limit of quantification was 2.00 ng·mL^-1 and 4.00 ng·mL^-1, respectively; the quality control samples with low, medium and high concentrations of Pro-PTX and PTX were within the batch, the relative standard deviation (RSD) between batches were all less than 9%; the relative deviation (RE) was within the range of ± 9%; In the stability test, both Pro-PTX and PTX in plasma were stable under various storage conditions. The method was sensitive, specific, and reproducible, and was suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of Pro-PTX in rats. Animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Laboratory Animal Management and Animal Welfare, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No.: 00003552).

Objective To investigate insulin resistance and the effect of physical training on it in the pa- tients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods One hundred and twenty NYHAⅡ-ⅢCHF patients were ran- domly divided into a training group( n = 65 ) and a routine therapy group (n = 55 ). Another 35 healthy subjects were recruited as control group. All the patients were treated with routine anti-CHF drugs, and the training group patients had received physical training twice a day in addition. The HOMA-IR, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) , left ventricu- lar ejection fraction (LEVF), left ventricular fractional shortening( LVFS), 6-minute walking distance, heart rate and mean blood pressure were compared between the training and routine therapy groups before and after physical ex- ercise in both groups, and a comparison was made between the patients and the controls before the intervention with regard to HOMA-IR and ISI. Results Comparing with control group, ISI was reduced while the HOMA-IR in- creased (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of prostatic malignant mesenchymal tumors (PMMT).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data about 20 cases of PMMT and reviewed the literature relevant to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease.

RESULTSBased on the results of pathology and immunohistochemistry, the 20 PMMT cases included leiomyosarcoma (n = 7), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 5), prostatic stromal sarcoma (n = 3), chondrosarcoma (n = 1), and undifferentiated PMMT (n = 4). Twelve of the patients were treated by radical prostatectomy (3 concurrently by sigmoid colostomy and 1 by cystostomy), 2 by pelvic tumor resection following arterial embolization, 1 by total pelvic exenteration, 1 by colostomy with pelvic lymph node biopsy, and 4 by conservative therapy because of metastasis to the lung, pelvis and bone. Of the 20 patients, 9 died of systemic metastasis within 3 months after treatment, 3 died at 6, 7, and 14 months, respectively, 3 survived with tumor for 5, 11, and 12 months, respectively, 2 survived without tumor for 12 and 24 months so far, all subjected to periodic chemotherapy postoperatively, and 3 lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPMMT is a tumor of high malignancy and rapid progression, for which transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy remains the main diagnostic method. The clinical stage of the tumor is an important factor influencing its prognosis and the survival rate of the patients can be improved by early diagnosis and combined therapy dominated by radical prostatectomy.

Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies