AIM:To explore the effects of Gax gene transfection on expressions of c-fos and c-jun mRNA and proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in rat under hypoxia. METHODS: PASMCs were transfected with Gax gene by Ad-Gax. Under normal oxygentention (21% O2) or hypoxia (2.5% O2) for 12 h condition, expressions of Gax mRNA and protein in PASMCs were detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The expressions of c-fos and c-jun mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR. [3H]-TdR incorporation was used to measure the PASMCs proliferation. RESULTS: The Gax overexpression in transfection group was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Under normal oxygentention or hypoxia, the c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels in transfection group were lower than those in the non-transfection group, respectively (P

Objective To investigate the role of substance P (SP) and its neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) in the pathophysiologic process of Crohn′s disease. Methods In 23 surgical patients of Crohn′s disease and 24 healthy controls, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of NK-1R, Western blot analysis was used to determine NK-1R protein expression levels, and immunohistochemistry was used to localize expression of NK-1R. Results Compared with normal gut NK-1R mRNA and NK-1R protein in Crohn′s disease were overexpressed. In Crohn′s disease moderate to strong intestinal NK-1R immunoreactivity was found in the lamina propria mononuclear cells, lymphoid follicles, and the surface and crypt epithelium, lymphoid follicles, submucosal vessels, smooth muscle and myoenteric plexus neurones. Conclusions In cases of Crohn′s disease, overexpression of NK-1R may disturb neuropeptides loop balance, and may be involved in the pathophysiological change in this disease.

AIM: To study the expression and the role of neurokinin-1 receptor(NK-1R) and neurokinin-2 receptor (NK-2R) in distal ileum during acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP).METHODS: 130 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: the rats in ANP group( n=80 ) were induced by the retrograde intraductal infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate. The rats in sham operation control group ( n=50 ) received laparotomy only. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of NK-1R and NK-2R, Western blot was used to investigate expression level of NK-1R.RESULTS: NK-1R and NK-2R mRNA levels were enhanced in the distal ileum of ANP rats compared with controls. Western blot revealed stronger NK-1R immunoreactivity exited in intestinal mucosa in ANP rats. The overexpression of NK-1R was associated with mucosal pathological score( r=0.77,P

AIM: To investigate the expression of neurok inin-2 receptor (NK-2R) in normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis (CP) tissues. The relation of expres sion of NK-2R with pain in CP was also evaluated. METHODS: CP tis sues were ob tained from 18 men and 7 women undergoing pancreatic head resection as a result of CP. Normal human pancreatic tissues were obtained from 20 patients (11 males/ 9 females). Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reacti on was used to determine the mRNA expression of NK-2R, Western blot analysis was used to determine its protein expression level, and immunohistochemistry was us ed to localize expression site of NK-2R protein. NK-2R mRNA level and pain were also analysed whether correlation exists. RESULTS: NK-2R mRNA and p rotein level were enhanced expressed in CP tissue samples compared with normal pancreas. Ove rexpression of NK-2R was related to the intensity ( r=0 59, P

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFOX4 program with docetaxel-oxaliplatin-5-fluorouracil (DOF) program as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage Ⅲ gastric cancer patients.Methods In 86 cases of stage Ⅲ gastric cancer patients,42 received modified FOLFOX4 chemotherapy,44 cases were treated by DOF program.After two cycles of chemotherapy,the treatment effect and adverse reactions were evaluated.Results The total effectiveness in modified FOLFOX4 group and DOF group was 60％ (25/42) and 68％ (30/44) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).Tumor control rate was 83％ (35/42) and 89％ (39/44) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of nausea,vomiting and leukopenia was higher in DOF group than modified FOLFOX4 group (P ＜ 0.05).The D2 lymph node dissection rate between modified FOLFOX4 group and DOF group was 80％ (20/25) and 87％ (26/30) respectively (P ＞ 0.05),the R0 resection rate was 72％ (18/25) and 83％ (25/30) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).In 43 R0 resection patients using FOLFOX4 the median survival time was 38.7 months,1-,3-year survival rate was 90％,and 60％ ; while that in DOF group the median survival time was 39.6 months,1-,3-year survival rate was 95％,and 75％.Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative TNM stage only was an independent risk factor for prognosis.Conclusions TNM stage was the independent risk factor for prognosis of gastric carcinoma patients after radical gastrectomy.

Objective To observe the efficacy of Wuteng Ercao decoction in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effects on the levels of cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).Methods Sixty-five patients with active RA were randomly divided into treatment group (33 cases) and control group (32 cases). Patients in the control group were administered with methotrexate tablets 10 mg, oral taking, once a week;hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets 200 mg, oral taking, twice a day;diclofenac sodium sustained release tablets 75 mg, oral taking, twice a day. Patients in the treatment group were administered with Wuteng Ercao decoction additionally, oral taking, three times a day. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The changes and untoward effects of various clinical and laboratory indicators were observed before and after treatment.Results After treatment, the tender joint count, swollen joint count, patient’s global assessment, and physician’s global assessment were improved (P<0.05), with statistical significance between the two groups (P<0.05). The levels of ESR, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), but those were more significantly in treatment group (P<0.05). There were 2 cases with untoward effects in the treatment group and 1 case in the control group (P>0.05).Conclusion Wuteng Ercao decoction is effective in patients with active RA and it can reduce the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).Methods The clinical-pathological data from 85 GIST cases were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and retrospectively analyzed from June 2009 to December 2013.According to the exclusion criteria,79 cases were enrolled.Preoperative neutrophil and lymphocyte count was collected and NLR was calculated.According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of NLR,GIST patients were divided into low NLR group (NLR ＜ 2.30) and high NLR group (NLR ≥ 2.30).Clinic-pathological features and five year disease free survival (DFS) were compared between the two groups.Results There was a statistical significant difference in tumor size and tumor risk between high NLR group and low NLR group (respectively,x2 =9.517,12.411,all P ＜ 0.05).Univariate analysis showed that the five year disease free survival rate of low NLR and high NLR group were 78％ and 32％ (x2 =18.749,P =0.000).By multivariate analysis a high NLR was identified as an independent risk factor of poorer prognosis for patients with GISTs (RR:3.516,95％CI:1.453-8.506,P=0.005).Conclusion A high preoperative NLR is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of GISTs.

BACKGROUNDApoptosis is closely related to development of lung cancer. It is a strategy of lung cancer therapy to induce apoptosis. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of growth arrest-specific homeobox (Gax) transfection on apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

METHODSA549 cells were transfected with Gax gene by a replication-deficient adenovirus expressing the hemagglutinin-tagged Gax cDNA (Ad-Gax). Apoptosis of A549 cells was observed by transmission electronic microscope and terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive staining. Apoptotic rate of A549 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in A549 cells were detected by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSBefore Ad-Gax transfection, none or few of TUNEL-positive A549 cells were detected. After Ad-Gax transfection, a marked increase in TUNEL-positive staining occurred, especially at 24 h later. The ratio of apoptosis of A549 cellsin non-transfection group and transfection groups at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h were 0.25%, 12.57%, 17.29%, 15.03%, respectively. Compared with non-transfection group, the apoptotic rates of transfection groups increased significantly (Chi-square value was 7.357, 11.126 and 9.943 respectively, P < 0.01). The average optical density (AOD) of Bcl-2 protein in A549 cells in non-transfection group and transfection groups at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h were 2.02±0.07, 1.79±0.02, 1.25±0.51 and 1.21±0.24 respectively. Compared with non-transfection group, AOD of Bcl-2 protein in A549 cells in transfection groups decreased significantly (t value was 6.651, 7.089 and 7.438 respectively, P < 0.01). On the other hand, Bax protein expression in transfection groups increased, the AODs of Bax were 4.49±0.61, 4.24±0.37 and 3.95±0.43, respectively. Compared with non-transfection group (3.12±0.42), AOD of Bax protein in A549 celle in transfection groups increased significantly (t value was 7.469, 7.287 and 6.473 respectively, P < 0.01). In the Ad-Gax transfection groups the lower Bcl-2/Bax ratio was, the higher the apoptotic rate of A549 cells was (r=-0.49, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAd-Gax transfection can induce A549 cells apoptosis. Possible mechanism is that Gax can downregulate Bcl-2 protein expression and upregulate Bax protein expression, and A549 cells apoptosis is related to the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

BACKGROUNDLung cancer is the leading cancer of malignant tumor in China.It is the direction that poeple make efforts to seek gene therapy of lung cancer. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of transfected growth arrest-specific homeobox gene (Gax gene) on the proliferation and expressions of c-fos and c-jun mRNA in A549 cells.

METHODSA549 cells were transfected with Gax gene by adenovirus. Expressions of Gax mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The expressions of c-fos and c-jun mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR. The proliferation inhibition effect of Gax transfection on A549 cells was evaluated by MTT assay.

RESULTSOnly in the A549 cells transfected with Gax gene the Gax expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Compared with that in the control group, c-fos and c-jun mRNA level decreased significantly in Gax-transfected A549 cells (t=7.755, P < 0.01; t= 5.938 , P < 0.01). MTT assay showed that the proliferation inhibition rates of A549 cells transfected by Ad-Gax for 24h, 48h and 72h were (47.35±5.36)%, (54.96±1.78)%, and (65.39±5.11)% respectively. And these proliferation inhibition rates were significantly higher than those in the control group (Chi-Square=7.152, 9.431 and 12.847, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGax gene can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Its molecular mechanism may be through down-regulating the expressions of c-fos and c-jun.

In recent years， plenty of studies have demonstrated that deep brain stimulation （DBS） has potential efficacy for treatment-resistant depression. This paper reviews the worldwide research progress of DBS in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression， in which the DBS treatment mechanism， targets and outcomes are discussed， the limitations of current DBS treatment are summarized， and the development direction of DBS is also forecasted， therefore providing a factual basis for relevant experiments in China.