Adult ; Axilla ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelioid Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To observe the influencing factors of recurrence and metastasis for postoperative breast cancer high-risk population, and TCM regimen of syndrome differentiation and treatment was used to validate its significance for the prevention of recurrence and metastasis. Methods The influencing factors of recurrence and metastasis of 178 postoperative breast cancer high-risk cases with positive hormone receptor were studied. The recurrence and metastasis, disease-free survival and accumulative points of TCM symptoms of integrated group (with TCM syndrome differentiation and endocrine therapy) and western medicine group (with endocrine therapy) were compared. Results Lymph node metastasis, cancer staging and TCM therapy had influence on the disease-free survival rate of postoperative breast cancer high-risk patients. TCM therapy was the independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. 3-year recurrence and metastasis rate was lower in integrated group than that in western medicine group, with statistical difference (P=0.03). The total accumulative points of TCM symptoms in both two groups decreased after treated for 3 and 6 months, integrated group showed greater significance. TCM therapy was better for the treatment of irritability, hot flash and perspiration, good for spontaneous perspiration and insomnia, but poor in dry mouth, bitter taste in mouth and fatigue. Conclusion Lymph node metastasis, cancer staging and TCM therapy are main influencing factors for recurrence and metastasis. TCM therapy with regimen of syndrome differentiation and treatment can reduce 3-year recurrence and metastasis rate, improve TCM symptoms, especially is significant for the improvement of irritability, hot flash and perspiration.

To investigate plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-BNP) levels and to assess their clinical significance in elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction. Methods Plasma NT-BNP level were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 34 symptomatic patients (Group 1), 34 asymptomatic patients (Group 2) with isolated diastolic dysfunction, and in 16elderly healthy subjects (control group, Group 3), serving controls. Colored Doppler echocardiography was performed to evaluate the patients' cardiac structures and functions. Results The plasma NT-BNP level in Group 1 was significantly higher than those in Group 2 and Group 3 and increased with the severity of heart failure. There was no significant difference of plasma NT-BNP levels between Group 2 and Group 3 (p＞0.05). A NT-BNP value of 102.75 pg/mL showed a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 87.5%, and an accuracy of 88.1% for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction. Patients with restrictive filling pattern on echocardiography had higher NTBNP levels than those of impaired relaxation pattern (1961.2±304.9 versus 460. 1±92.7pg/mL, p＜0.001). Conclusion The elevation of plasma NT-BNP level in elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction correlates with the severity of their diastolic abnormalities.The level of plasma NT-BNP has an important clinical value in the diagnosis of elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Gland ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Parotid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

To study the effect of sodium aescinate in inducing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of sodium aescinate on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes were observed under inverted microscope. DAPI nuclear staining was used to detect the changes in cell nucleus. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Changes in apoptosis-related proteins (PARP, cleaved caspase-8 and pro-caspase-3), cell survival-associated signal molecules (AKT and ERK) and their common upstream kinase SRC was detected by Western blotting. The result showed that after different concentrations of sodium aescinate were used to treat breast cancer MCF-7 cells, they inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced cell apoptosis (typical morphological changes in nucleus, significant increase in cell apoptosis rate). The expressions of cleaved PARP and caspase-8 increased, while the expression of pro-caspase-3 decreased, which further verified sodium aescinate's effect in inducing cell apoptosis. Sodium aescinate significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of cell survival-related signal molecules (AKT, ERK) and down-regulate the activation of their common up-stream kinase SRC. The findings indicated that sodium aescinate can block signals transiting to downstream molecules AKT, ERK, inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7 cell apoptosis and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of SRC.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; src-Family Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Thirteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Crepis crocea by column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis as tectorone I (1), 8β- (2-methyl- 2-hydroxy-3-oxobutanoyloxy) -glucozaluzanin C (2), tectoroside (3), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (4), cosmosiin (5), esculetin (6), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (7), trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (8), Caffeic acid (9), methyl p-hydroxyphenyllactate (10), ethylp- hydroxyphenyllactate (11), cis-3,4-dihydroxy-β-ionion (12). All the compounds, except for compounds 4 and 9, were isolated from this plant for the first time, and tectorone I (1) is a new natural product.
Crepis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure

Objective:This work aims to investigate diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibition of cell migration and invasion in human colon cancer SW480 cells through the Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway. Methods:The potential of cell migration and invasion was examined by scratch healing assay and transwell membrane assay. The expression of Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results:After the SW480 cells were treated with 40 and 50 mg·L-1 of DADS for 24 h, the number of transmembrane cells through the Matrigel obviously decreased by 57.12%and 64.59%, respectively (P<0.05). After cell treatment for 48 h, the cell migration rates were 23.23%and 12.87%, which were significantly lower compared with the control group (75.86%;P<0.05). After the cells were treated with 45 mg·L-1 of DADS for 24 and 48 h, the expression of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, and destrin mRNA respectively decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the expression of cofilin1 mRNA (P>0.05). After the treatment with 45 mg·L-1 of DADS for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, the expression of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, and Destrin proteins respectively decreased in a time-dependent manner compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the expression of the cofilin1 protein (P>0.05). Moreover, the expression of p-LIMK1 and p-cofilin1 notably decreased in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). Conclusion:DADS inhibits cell migration and invasion, which is related to the down-regulation of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, p-LIMK1, p-cofilin1, and destrin through the Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway.

Objective To investigate the significance of changes in expression of co-stimulatory molecules on T lymphocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection.Methods In a casecontrol study,a total of 82 CHB cases including 50 male cases and 32 female cases (the mean age was 42.32 ±3.74) were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University from October 2012 to November 2013,together with 30 cases health control (15 male cases and 15 female cases,and the mean age was 42.32 ± 3.74).Patients were divided into three groups:40 cases of non-treated,30 cases of effective-treated and 12 cases of ineffective-treated with anti-viral drugs and immune-related therapy.The expression levels of CD28,CTLA-4,PD-1,Tim-3 on T cells subset from peripheral blood were determined by Flow Cytometry.Serum load of HBV DNA was detected by Real-time PCR and the serology markers such as HBeAg and ALT were detected by conventional methods The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analysis groups comparison.Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to two sample comparison.Spearman's rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation.Results The expression levels of CD28,CTLA-4 and PD-1 on CD4 in health control group was the highest compared to ineffectivetreated group [404.65 (331.65-536.09) vs 277.15 (249.90-344.25) (H=29.81,P＜0.001);32.89 (29.69-39.69) vs 19.26 (11.90-20.56) (H =43.13,P ＜0.001),respectively].The expression level of PD-1 on CD8 in pre-treated group was the highest,while expression level in health control group was the lowest [15.47 (12.50-17.78) vs 3.05 (1.41-3.97) (H=56.60,P＜0.001)].Similarly,the expression level of Tim-3 on CD4 in ineffective-treated group was the highest,while Tim expression on CD4 in health control group was the lowest [199.62 (55.61-239.45) vs 70.62 (53.88-112.32) (H =41.03,P ＜ 0.001)].The expression level of Tim-3 on CD8 in pre-treated group was the highest,while it was the lowest in health control group [82.50 (78.69-84.58) vs 3.07 (1.56-6.87) (H=74.84,P ＜0.001)].Compared to the group with low viral load,the expression level of PD-1 on CD8 both in the pre-treated group with high viral load and the post-treated group was significantly increased [17.87 (13.38-20.94) (U=25.00,P＜0.001); 16.95 (5.39-18.27) (U=63.50,P＜0.001),respectively].Importantly,in the post-treated group,the PD-1 expression on CD4 T (r =0.689,P ＜0.001) and on CD8 T (r =0.751,P ＜ 0.001) was also positively correlated with ALT.Conclusions The abnormal expression of these co-stimulatory molecules may be present in the antiviral treatment process of CHB.It may provide new clues for the reasonable treatment of CHB.

Objective To study the mechanism of pregnancy immune tolerance induced by adoptive transferring of FasL gene-modified dendritic cells(DC). Methods The mouse models of spontaneous abortion(CBA/J ? DBA/2) and normal pregnancy(CBA/J ? BALB/c) were established.Five different experimental groups were included: mice of normal pregnancy(CBA/J?BALB/c)(n=17),served as control group;mice of spontaneous abortion without treatment(CBA/J?DBA/2)(n=37),mice injected with DC culture medium(DCCM)(n=25);mice immunized with empty plasmid pcDNA3.1-DC(n=6);and mice immunized with pcDNA3.1-FasL-DC(n=5).Embryo resorption rates of pregnant mice in each groups were observed.Annexin V-FITC was used to detect the apoptosis of T cells.Immunohistochemical staining(SABC) was used to detect the expression of FasL in decidual membranes of pregnant mice. ResultsThe embryo resorption rate of mice immunized with FasL-DC was decreased significantly as compared with that of mice of spontaneous abortion without treatment,DCCM group and immunized with pcDNA3.1-DC(P0.05). Conclusion The decreased apoptosis rate of peripheral T cells and the reduced expression of FasL in decidual membranes may be an important mechanism for the pathogenesis of abortion.Adoptive transfer of FasL gene-modified DC may induce pregnancy immune tolerance by increasing FasL expression of maternal-fetal interface and decreasing embryo resorption rate.

Objective: To examine the alteration of pathologic structure and endogenous hydrogen sulfide pathway in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow. Methods: Sixteen SD rats were randomly divided into shunting group and control group. An 11 week aortocaval shunting was produced in rats of shunting group, and pulmonary artery mean pressure (mPAP) was evaluated using right cardiac catheterization. The ratios of right ventricular mass to body weight (RV/BW) and right ventricular mass to left ventricular plus septal mass[RV/(LV+S)] were also detected. Pulmonary vascular micro and ultra structures were examined. Meanwhile the concentration of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) was measured by spectrophotography. The gene expression of cystathionine ? lyase (CSE)was detected by in situ hybridization, and the activity of CSE in lung tissues was measured by H 2S production according to chemical analysis. Results: After 11 weeks of aortocaval shunting, pulmonary artery mean pressure was significantly increased. Muscularization of small pulmonary vessels and relative medial thickness of pulmonary arteries were obviously increased in shunting rats compared with controls. Ultrastructure of intrapulmonary arteries changed obviously in shunting rats. Meanwhile, plasma H 2S concentration was decreased and the activity of CSE (according to H 2S production) in lung tissues decreased in shunting rats. CSEmRNA expression by pulmonary arteries was significantly suppressed. Conclusion: Pulmonary vascular structural remodeling is the important pathologic basis for pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow. The down regula tion of endogenous H 2S pathway might play an im portant role in the development of high pulmonary blood flow induced pulmonary hypertension.