Objective To evaluate the anti-tumor activity of interferon ? with different structures including pegylated interferon ?-1b (PEG IFN ?-1b), pegylated interferon ?-2b (PEG IFN ?-2b) and natural interferon ? (IFN ?) in male BALB/C nude mice with human renal adencarcinoma (ACHN) tumor. Methods Athymic BALB/C nude mice were received a subcutaneous injection of ACHN cells (2?106/0.2ml) on the rear flank. After four weeks, the size of tumor reached a mean volume of 50-100 mm3, and the interferon was administrated. The mice with tumor were divided into four groups, and were administrated with placebo (0.2ml/mouse thrice weekly), IFN ?-1b (50?g/mouse thrice weekly), PEG IFN ?-1b (150?g/mouse once weekly) and PEG IFN?-2b (150?g/mouse once every week), respectively, for five weeks. The tumor volumes were measured weekly prior to treatments until the end of the fifth week. All mice in each group were sacrificed to measure the weight of the residual tumor. The anti-tumor activity of IFN ? in vivo was evaluated by studying their ability to reduce the volume and weight of tumor. Results IFN ? may significantly reduce the volume and weight of ACHN tumor in mice. The average tumor weight was 0.422g in placebo group, while 0.263g, 0.235g and 0.219g in the groups treated with PEG IFN ?-1b, IFN ?-1b and PEG IFN ?-2b, respectively. No significant difference was found among the three groups treated with IFN ?. Moreover, the volume of tumor in three groups treated with IFN ? was significant reduced than that in placebo group. Conclusion IFN ? with different structures have showed the similar ability of ACHN tumor suppression at the dosage of 150?g per week.

Animals ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the status and requirement of knowledge of reproduction and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/sexually transmited disease (STD) in pregnant adolescents with abortion in order to conduct proper interventions. Methods Two hundred and ninety-one unmarried pregnant adolescents below 22 years old with abortion completed questionnaires which involved the information on individual social-demographics characteristics, knowledge of reproduction, AIDS/STD and sex-related beliefs, attitudes and partners. Results Among these 291 adolescents, 37.7% experienced first sexual intercourse before 19 years old, 69.1% performed well in the knowledge of reproduction, and 62.6% and 43.5% did well in the knowledge of AIDS and the knowledge of the other STD, respectively. The rate of implementation of contraception was far less than that of awarenesss of contraception(P<0.05). These pregnant adolescents were not enthusiastic for seeking reproductive knowledge, and 45.0% would like to acquire the knowledge from professionals. Conclusion The knowledge of reproduction and AIDS/STD in the pregnant adolescents is not adequate, and they fail to carry out the proper behaviors of contraception. More education should be conducted on AIDS/STD prevention and contraception among pregnant adolescents.

A new kind of curcin (curcin 2), induced by several kinds of stresses from Jatropha curcas leaves, under the control of the 35S CaMV (cauliflower mosaic virus) promoter, was introduced into tobacco genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. Curcin 2 protein was only detected in the transgenic tobacco plants transformed with the cur2p fragment (coding premature curcin 2 protein), but not in the plants transformed with cur2m fragment (coding mature curcin 2 protein). The transgenic lines expressing curcin 2 showed increased tolerance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

Hedgehog signaling pathway is a conserved and important signaling pathway involved in proliferation and differentiation of many types of cells. Latest studies have found that Hedgehog signaling pathway may induce MSCs osteoblast differentiation by increasing the expression of the Runx2 and Osx and inhibit MSCs differentiate to adipocyte. Hedgehog signaling pathway may also promote osteoblast proliferation by regulating cyclin. This review summarizes the mechanism that Hedgehog signaling pathway regulates osteoblast differentiation and proliferation,and concludes that Hedgehog signaling pathway can regulate bone metabolism. It might provide new ideas for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Cell Differentiation ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; physiology ; Hedgehog Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Sp7 Transcription Factor ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology

Objective To investigate the relationship between the level of serum uric acid(SUA) and carotid atherosclerosis in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods A collection of 579 male T2DM patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis were grouped based on quartiles of SUA. Age, SUA, smokers, duration, body mass index(BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr), and HbA1C were determined in all subjects. The plaques in carotid arteries and intima-media thickness(IMT) were measured with high-resolution ultrasound. Results BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, TG, and Cr showed a gradual increase, while HDL-C and HbA1C showed a gradual decrease according to the higher SUA quartiles in male T2DM(P＜0.05). Nevertheless, the detectable rates of smokers, duration, age, TC, LDL-C, and BUN had no relationships with the SUA quartiles(P＞0.05). The detectable rate of carotid atherosclerosis and the thickness of carotid plaque were positively associated with the levels of SUA in male patients with T2DM(P＜0.05). However, intima-media thickness of carotid arteries did not illustrate the correlation with the levels of SUA in male T2DM patients(P＞0.05). Age, HbA1C, and SUA were independent factors of carotid atherosclerosis in these patients by logistic regression(P＜0.05). Conclusion The levels of SUA seems to be associated with the occurrence and development of carotid atherosclerosis in male patients with T2DM.

OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to test if Paridis Rhizoma total saponins (PRTS) could induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell MKN-45.

METHODBased on the previous researches, PRTS was set by different concentrations to treat human gastric cancer cell for 12 h (5, 10, 20 mg x L(-1)). Fluorescent staining methods were adopted to observe apoptotic morphological changes of MKN-45. The apoptosis rates were analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were measured by ELISA. The protein levels of Fas and FasL were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTUnder a fluorescence microscope, MKN-45 treated by PRTS was seen typical apoptotic morphological features. PRTS significantly increased the rate of apoptosis. Compared with the control group, there exsited significant differences in apoptosis rate of PRTS concentration of 20 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.01); besides, the enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were promoted obviously after the effect of PRTS on MKN-45 cells for 12 h (P < 0.01). The protein levels of Fas and FasL in the MKN-45 were upgraded significantly.

CONCLUSIONPRTS can induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell MKN-45 , which is concerned with caspase-3 and caspase-8 and upgraded Fas and FasL.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study clinical effects of the over-articular external fixator combined with limited internal fixation for the treatment of Pilon fractures caused by high energy.

METHODSFrom September 2003 to April 2011, 36 patients with Pilon fractures caused by high energy were treated with the over-articular external fixator combined with limited internal fixator. There were 25 males and 11 females, ranging in age from 16 to 72 years old,with an average of 38 years old. The diagnoses of all patients were determined by conventional X-ray examination or three-dimensional spiral CT examination. The AOFAS scoring criteria was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects. The patients with comminuted fractures were treated with screw or Kirschner wire fixation without uncovering periost so as to enhance stability between fracture end and bone blocks,followed by the fixation with over-articular external fixators.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 4 to 27 months, with an average of 13 months. Thirty-two patients got wound healing at the first stage. And the bone union duration ranged from 2 to 6 months, with a mean of 3 months. According to the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot subjective scoring standard, 13 patients got an excellent result, 20 good and 3 fair, with an score of 88.2 +/- 3.6. Twelve patients had infections at pinhole, 5 patients had pinhole pain. One patient had the fixator broken induced by over loading, who was cured after treatment. There were no complications such as nerve or vascular injuries, or osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSIONThe over-articular external fixation combined with limited internal fixation for the treatment of Pilon fractures caused by high energy is an ideal method, which has such advantages as reliable fixation, simple operation, coincidence with principles of biomechanical fixation, and benefit for fracture healing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Ankle Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between left atrial volume index (LAVI) and severity of coronary lesions in patients with stable angina pectoris, so as to provide information for the evaluation of the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and MethodsAccording to the results of coronary angiography, 279 patients with stable angina pectoris and 92 healthy people were as control group, all subjects were divided into four groups: control group (n=92), single-vessel CAD group (n=116), double-vessel CAD group (n=93) and triple-vessel group (n=70). Each group was compared in the aspects of demographic characteristics, history of illness, liver and kidney functions and parameter's difference in echocardiogram; the correlation between LAVI and Gensini score was analyzed; and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the predictive value of LAVI in severity of coronary lesions.ResultsCompared with the control group, the double-vessel and triple-vessel CAD groups had significantly larger left atrial diameter (P<0.05). In triple-vessel CAD group, the left atrial diameter was significantly larger than that in the single-vessel CAD group (P<0.05), and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly larger than that in the control group and in the single-vessel CAD group (P<0.05), and the E/Em and LVMI were significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05). The LAVI was higher in patients with CAD compared with those in the control group and the LAVI in the triple-vessel CAD group was significantly higher than that in single-vessel CAD group and double-vessel CAD group (P<0.05); the LAVI was correlated positively with Gensini score (r=0.499,P<0.01). LAVI had certain value in predicting triple-vessel CAD (AUC=0.782,P<0.01). The results of multi-factor Logistic regression analysis showed that male patients with hypertension, mitral reflux, and multi-vessel CAD were more likely to had high LAVI.Conclusion The worsening LV diastolic function is associated with the increasing severity of coronary artery lesions, and LAVI may have predictive value for severity of CAD.

Ergosterol is the important component of the fungal membrane, and having stable structure. This makes it a suitable indicator for growth of fungi. In the paper, isolation and determination techniques of ergosterol as the indicator of the fungal biomass were reviewed. The methods of extracting ergosterol include traditional saponification and refluxing, rapid physical disruption, rapid ultrasonication, supercritical fluid extraction and so on. The ergosterol determination methods are high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography, et al. The application of these techniques was also introduced. Finally, the paper prospected the feasibility of applying the ergosterol as the indicator of fungal biomass in composting.