Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Parathyroid Glands

Over-expression of Fas ligand (FasL) on tumor cell surface can induce the apoptosis of specific activated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) via the Fas/FasL pathway, leading to the formation of a site of immune privilege surrounding the tumor mass for escaping immune surveillance and promoting tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. The blocking effect of miR-21 on FasL-mediated apoptosis in breast cancers was investigated in this study. The expression levels of miR-21 and FasL in human breast carcinoma cell lines were detected by using RT-PCR and Western blotting. FasL as a target gene of miR-21 was identified by Luciferase assay. The apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphocytes induced by MCF-7 cells was determined by flow cytometry. It was found that in four human breast cancer cell lines, FasL expression level in MCF-7 cells was the highest, while miR-21 was down-regulated the most notably. After miR-21 expression in MCF-7 cells was up-regulated, FasL was identified as a target gene of miR-21. When the effector/target (E/T) ratio of MCF-7 cells and Jurkat cells was 10:1, 5:1 and 1:1, the inhibitory rate of apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphocytes induced by MCF-7 cells was 95.81%, 93.16% and 91.94%, respectively. It is suggested that in breast cancers miR-21 expression is negatively associated with FasL expression, and FasL is a target gene of miR-21. miR-21 targeting and regulating FasL-mediated apoptosis will bring us the possibility of a new tumor immunotherapy via breaking tumor immune privilege.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of matrine on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in colon cancer HT-29 cell line at the level of gene and protein.

METHODSLevels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, and its synthesized product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) of colon cancer HT-29 cell line were detected by RT-PCR, Western-blot, ELISA respectively before and after treatment of matrine in different concentrations.

RESULTSMatrine had inhibitory effect on the mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, and synthesis of PGE2 in colon cancer HT-29 cell line, but had no effect on COX-1. When HT-29 cell line was treated with 2.0 mg/ml of matrine, the inhibitory rate on COX-2 mRNA expression were 100% at 6 hrs and 9 hrs after treatment; the inhibitory rate on PGE2 synthesis was 63.8 % at 9 hrs after treatment; and that on COX-2 protein expression was 48% and 100% 12 hrs and 24 hrs after treatment, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMatrine has selective inhibitory effect on gene transcription, protein expression and functional activity of COX-2 in HT-29 cell line, which is time-dependent and concentration-dependent within certain range of concentration and acting time.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; biosynthesis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Quinolizines ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription, Genetic

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and possible gene mutation sites of Chinese patients in order to improve the clinician's understanding of CHARGE syndrome. Methods Clinical data were collected and blood samples were obtained from the proband of CHARGE syndrome and their relatives. The peripheral blood DNA was extracted and sequenced by PCR amplification. Mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results For the first proband, a heterozygous mutation was detected in the intron 10 of CHD7 gene. His parents and brother did not have mutation. For the second proband, total repeat sequence in exon 7 of CHD7 gene was detected. His father carried the same mutation and his mother did not have mutation. Conclusion For the patients who are diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome based on the clinical manifestations, genetic mutation detection should be proceeded. It is useful for studying possible genetic pathogenesis and enhancing the awareness of clinicians.

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism

To explore the effect and mechanism of Guhong injection against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, the model group, the nimodipine group, and high, medium and low-dose Guhong injection groups, with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery embolization (MCAO) model was established to observe neurological deficit symptoms, infarct volume, SOD activity, MDA content, GSH-Px and CAT activity in rats, as well as the contents of t-PA, PAI, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α in serum. The results showed that Guhong injection could obviously promote the recovery of neurological deficit symptoms, narrow the brain infarct volume in rats after surgery, significantlyincrease the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT and decrease the content of MDA. Meanwhile, it also could obviously increase the contents of t-PA and 6-keto-PGF1α and decrease the contents of PAI and TXB2 in serum, indicating that Guhong injection have better antioxidant and antithrombus effects, as well as a significant protective effect against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Injections ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease (CAD), are major causes of death in industrialized countries. Elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) have been associated with an increased risk of CAD. Increased plasma levels of chemokine, characterized by their ability to induce migration and activation of leukocytes, may contribute to the pathogenesis of CAD. This study was designed to investigate the changes of plasma Hcy, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and oxidative stress markers in acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODSA total of 149 subjects were divided into four groups: 50 patients with unstable angina, 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 20 coronary restenosis patients after percutaneous coronary intervention and 49 healthy control subjects. Plasma levels of Hcy, MCP-1, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were measured.

RESULTSPlasma levels of Hcy and MCP-1 showed significant increases in unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and restenosis patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were significantly increased in unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma superoxide dismutase levels were significantly reduced in acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHcy might act as an atherogenic factor through promoting chemokine, reactive oxygen species and oxidized low density lipoprotein production and thereby convert a stable plaque into an unstable potentially occlusive lesion.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; metabolism ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of folic acid on homocysteine (Hcy)-induced chemokine secretion and NADPH oxidase activity in human monocytes.

METHODSHuman monocytes from healthy volunteers were incubated with Hcy (100 micromol/L) with or without folic acid (5 micromol/L) for 24 h; MCP-1 and IL-8 were assessed by ELISA. DCFH-DA was added to monitor intracellular ROS production on confocal microscopy. A cytochrome c reduction assay was used to measure NADPH oxidase activity.

RESULTSThe Hcy-induced secretion of MCP-1 and IL-8 was significantly reduced by folic acid [(1.88 +/- 0.51) ng/ml vs. (4.36 +/- 0.72) ng/ml vs. (2.40 +/- 0.60) ng/ml and (4.9 +/- 1.9) ng/ml vs. (12.7 +/- 1.5) ng/ml vs. (7.2 +/- 1.9) ng/ml, all P < 0.05]. The Hcy-induced production of ROS was also significantly attenuated by folic acid. Moreover, the Hcy-induced NADPH oxidase activity increase was significantly inhibited by cotreatment with folic acid.

CONCLUSIONFolic acid may attenuate oxidative stress induced by Hcy by reducing NADPH oxidase activity in monocytes.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokines ; secretion ; Folic Acid ; pharmacology ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; secretion ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Receptors, CCR2 ; metabolism

Objective To observe effects of the restriction band in brain interventional therapy for the purpose of improving nuring quality and decreasing postoperative morbidity.Methods 125 patients who underwent brain interventional therapy from Jan to Dec 2010 were allocated and randomized to two groups in a double-blind manner were provided with the use of the restriction band plus immobilized hemostasia and those in the control group were only provided with immobilized hemostasis.24h later the incidence of insomnia subcutaneous hematoma and local pressure sores of the patients in the 2 groups were observed and compared.Results 13 cases in intervention group were insomnia(21.7％)and 28 cases in control group(43.1％),and the difference was significant(x2 =32.23,P ＜ 0.05).1 case(1.67％)has subcutaneous hematoma in intervention group and 4 cases(6.15％)in control group,and the difference was significant(x2 =4.21,P＜0.05).Conclusions The use of the restriction band is able to improve nursing quality and reduce postoperative morbidity in patients who receive brain interventional therapy.It is an effective nursing quality and could reduce postoperative morbidity in patients who receive brain interventional therapy.It is an effective nursing measure and worthy of spreading clinically.