PURPOSE: Although androgens are the main steroids controlling the growth of prostate glands, estrogens are also important in the regulation of its growth. Prostate cancer cells, like other cancer cells, maintain high levels of polyamines. In LNCaP cells, apoptosis is induced by mifepristone. During the process of cell death, the regulation of ROS production, caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage were investigated in the presence of estrogen and polyamines to identify their possible roles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cell growth was assessed using the MTT assay, and the intracellular ROS production by the DCFH-DA assay. The p53 protein expression, activation of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage were checked by Western blotting, with specific antibodies to each. RESULTS: The growth and viability of the cells were significantly inhibited, in a dose- and time-dependent manners, by mifepristone (MIF) treatment. The production of ROS were dependent on the MIF dosage. The activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP also increased with the duration of MIF treatment. The expression of p53 protein also increased with increases in the MIF incubation time. E2 severely inhibited the ROS production, caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. However, polyamines only inhibited the ROS production, without influencing the caspase-3 activation or PARP cleavage. CONCLUSION: In LNCaP cells, MIF induces apoptosis through ROS production. The expression of p53 protein, caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage accompanied the process of apoptosis. The apoptotic processes were inhibited by E2, but polyamines only inhibited the ROS production, implying the multifunctional role of E2, in addition to its role as a free radical scavenger.
Androgens ; Antibodies ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Estrogens* ; Mifepristone ; Polyamines* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Steroids

OBJECTIVE: to determine whether ovarian steroids directly regulate FSH release and B subunit synthesis at the pituitary level METHODS: In vitro study. After applying ovarian steroids in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells, we evaluate the amount of relesed FSH and FSH B subunit using dot-blot hybridization. RESULTS: Estradiol alone or GnRH-induced did not modulate FSH release and B ubunit synthesis. Although progesterone alone did not alter FSH release, GnRH-induced FSH release was significantly augmented by the treatment of progesterone. Progesterone alone stimulated FSH B mRNA level. Significant increase in FSH B mRNA level was also observed by the combined treatment of progesterone and GnRH. The effects of progesterone on GnRH-induced FSH release was significantly reduced by the treatment of progesterone antagonist, RU 486. The treatment with progesterone antagonist, RU 486 also abolished progesterone-induced FSH B subunit mRNA biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is, therefore, concluded that estradiol does not seem to be a major regulator for FSH synthesis but progesterone may exert its action at the pituitary level for the synthesis and release of FSH.
Animals ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Mifepristone ; Progesterone ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Steroids

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of acupuncture on embryo implantation and development in the rat with dysfunctional embryo implantation.

METHODSThe pregnant rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an acupuncture group. In the model group and the acupuncture group, the dysfunctional embryo implantation were developed by Mifepristone, and the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture for one consecutive week fro the first day of pregnancy. The pregnant rate, the average embryo implantation number, weight of the uterus, ovary and the size and weight of single embryo were compared among the 3 groups, and optical microscope was used for comparison of the morphological structures of the endometrium and ovary were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSIn the acupuncture group, the pregnant rate, the average embryo implantation number were more significantly increased as compared with the model group (P < 0.01); in the model group, the weight of the uterus and ovary were lighter than those in the control group and the acupuncture group, with poor development of the endometrium in the model group, but development of the endometrium in the acupuncture group was similar to that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can reverse Mifepristone's anti-implantation effect to a certain extent, and promote implantation and development of embryo in the rat.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Mifepristone ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Rats

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Mifepristone ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with mifepristone for ovarian chocolate cyst dysmenorrhea with kidney deficiency and blood stasis. METHODS: Seventy patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The patients in the the control group were treated with oral administration of mifepristone, 10 mg each time, once a day; based on the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with thunder-fire moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Xuehai (SP 10), once every other day. Both the groups were treated for 3 months. The Cox menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) score, the maximum cross-sectional area of ectopic cyst, and the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the severity scores and duration scores of CMSS as well as the serum levels of TGF-β1 were reduced after treatment in the two groups ( CONCLUSION Thunder-fire moxibustion combined with mifepristone could significantly improve dysmenorrhea symptoms, shorten dysmenorrhea time and promote atrophy of ovarian heterotopic cyst in patients with ovarian chocolate cyst dysmenorrhea of kidney deficiency and blood stasis, and the mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17.
Acupuncture Points ; Chocolate ; Cysts ; Dysmenorrhea/drug therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mifepristone ; Moxibustion

It is well known that the murine T helper cell clones are divided by their lymphokine secretory activities. One is the Th-1 cell, producing IL-2 and IFN after stimulation and the other is the Th-2 cell, producing the IL-4 and IL-5. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the lymphokine production in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: There were no effects on the lymphokine secretion by the in vitro treatment of the LPS. The in vivo treatment of the LPS decreases the capability of the production of IL-2 and IFN , whereas it increases the capability of IL-4 production. The altered capacity of the lymphokine production was recovered about 2 weeks after the treatment of the LPS. There were no differences on the lymphokine production between E-coli LPS and salmonella LPS. The capacity of the lymphokine production was the same in the treatment of a non-heated LPS or heated-LPS. The lymphokine production of the mice which were desensitized by the long term treatment of the LPS was not different from the control mice. The in vitro treatment of RU486 can block the alterations of the lymphokine production after the treatment of the LPS. In summary, one can tell that the LPS increases the secretion of the IL-4 through the endogenous secretion of the glucocorticoids.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Glucocorticoids ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Mifepristone ; Salmonella ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The epithelial rupture theory for the polyp formation has been well approved. According to Norlander et al., the polyp formation initiated by multifactorial pathophysiological events (infection/inflammation) appears to be a series of the consecutive events involving the rupture of epithelium, prolapse of lamina propria, epithelial ingrowth, microcavity formation, and finally the polyp formation. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of steroid and steroid receptor blocker at the early stage of the polyp formation in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 20 New Zealand white rabbits, polyps were induced by epithelial damage with ostial occlusion. The mometasone and RU 486, given by the biodegradable film (polylactic acid), were used to investigate the possible effects of steroid and steroid receptor blockers. After one and three weeks, macroscopic polyps were counted postmortem and on histological slides after serial sectioning. RESULT: The polyp formation was significantly increased in the RU 486-treated group, whereas it was reduced in the mometasone-treated group. According to the alpha-actin immunohistochemistry, neovascularization at the margin of the initial polyp in the RU 486-treated group markedly increased compared with the mometasone-treated group. CONCLUSION: Steroid is thought to inhibit the initial polyp formation by reducing neovascularization particularly at the margin of initial polyp.
Actins ; Epithelium ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mifepristone ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps* ; Prolapse ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Steroid* ; Rupture ; Steroids ; Mometasone Furoate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mucus hypersecretion is a hallmark of many respiratory inflammatory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis. While the current therapeutic pharmacological approaches to reducing mucus hypersecretion are limited, clinical studies have suggested that glucocorticoids reduce mucus secretion in patients with airway disease. However, the effect of glucocorticoids on mucus hypersecretion is not clear. Recently, we observed that IL-1beta induces MUC2 gene expression and mucin secretion in a previous experiment. This study was designed to investigate the effects of budesonide on the IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We observed the steady state mRNA level of MUC2/5AC genes using RT-PCR and mucin protein using immunoassay method in cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells. RESULTS: Budesonide attenuated IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC gene expression as well as mucin secretion. The attenuated effect of budesonide was in a dose-dependent pattern. This attenuated effect of budesonide was blocked by glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-486. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that budesonide suppresses the IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion via blockage of glucocorticoid receptor.
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Budesonide* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans* ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mifepristone ; Mucins* ; Mucus ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; RNA, Messenger ; Sinusitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasointestinal peptide (VIP) is an important neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mucus secretion, but the relationship of VIP and mucin genes is not clear. This study was designed to investigate the effect of VIP on MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion in human airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The mRNA levels of MUC2/5AC genes and mucin secretion were determined by RT-PCR and the immunoblot method in cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells. RESULTS: VIP (10-6-10-10 M) induced MUC2/5AC gene expression and mucin secretion in a reverse dose-dependant manner. The maximum expression of mRNA and mucin secretion level of MUC2/5AC was 10-10 M of VIP. Actinomycin D inhibited the VIP-mediated MUC2/5AC gene expression and mucin secretion, but cycloheximide did not. Budesonide attenuated the VIP-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion. RU-486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, restored the inhibitory effect of budesonide. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that VIP regulates MUC2/5AC gene expression and secret mucin by transcriptional regulation, and that budesonide inhibits the VIP-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion through the glucocorticoid receptor.
Budesonide ; Cycloheximide ; Dactinomycin ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Mifepristone ; Mucins ; Mucus ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; RNA, Messenger ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic methods and their effects on patients with cornual pregnancies.
 METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 83 patients, who were diagnosed as cornual pregnancy at Drum Tower Hospital from June 2010 to April 2015. The patients were divided into 5 groups: a laparoscope group, angle resection and uterine repair guided by laparoscope (n=16); a surgery group, operated with angle resection and uterine repair (n=49); an abortion group, guided by ultrasound or laparoscope (n=6); a drug group, treated by methotrexate and mifepristone (n=8) and a pregnancy bursal puncture group (n=4). We compared the general conditions, surgery circumstances and average days in hospital among the laparoscope group, the surgery group, and the abortion group. Moreover, we also investigated the outcomes of the drug group and pregnancy bursal puncture group.
 RESULTS: Compared with the surgery group, the intraoperative blood loss in the laparoscope group and abortion group was less (P<0.05). The length of procedure and average days in hospital between the surgery group and the laparoscope group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The length of procedure in the abortion group was less than that in the laparoscope group or the surgery group (P<0.05). The cure rate was 100%.
 CONCLUSION The therapeutic methods based on patient's condition can improve the curative effect and prognosis in cornual pregnancy, which can keep the integrity of generative organs with less injury. The laparoscope might be a main therapeutic method for cornual pregnancy due to its safety, effectiveness, and minimal invasion.
Abortion, Induced ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Mifepristone ; therapeutic use ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Cornual ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies