The growth and invasion of ectopic endometrium in endometriosis depends on hormone which will work in combination with its receptors.This review introduces the construction,function,gene,subtypes of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and their expressions in eutopic and ectopic endometrium,and explores their significance in the genesis,development,treatment and prognosis of endometriosis.

Background and purpose: Ursolic acid is widely present in spica prunellae, hedyotis diffusa and other heat antidotes. The growth of a variety of tumor cells can be inhibited and induced apoptosis by ursolic acid.This study was aimed to investigate the effect and possible mechanisms of UA on inducing apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma BGC823 cells. Methods: The MTT assay was used to detect the antiproliferative effect of UA on BGC823 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis of BGC823 cells. The expression level of bcl-2 and bax gene was investigated by real time-polymerase chain reaction (real time-PCR). Results: UA inhibited the proliferation of BGC823 cells in a dose and time-dependent way. After treatment by UA for 24. 48 and 72 h, the IC_(50) of BGC823 was 36.88, 34.72, and 32.18 μmol/L, respectively. UA could signifcantly induce apoptosis of BGC823 cells and block cells at G_2/M phase. UA could increase the expression of bax gene and decrease the expression of bcl-2 gene in a dose and time-dependent way. Conclusion: UA could induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of BGC823 cells in a dose and time-dependent way. It could arrest cell cycle of BGC823 cells at G_2/M phase. Its mechanisms might be associated with the up-regulation of bax gene and down-regulation of bcl-2 gene.

Objective The levels of Thl cytokines(IL-10 and IL-13)and Th2 cytokines(INF-? and TNF-?)were determined in the sera of patients with Schistosomiasis japonica in order to find the relationship between cytokines and severe hepatic fibrosis(HF)in schistosomiasis.Methods A total of 358 patients with advanced Schistosomiasis japonica were examined by ultrasound.68 HBsAg negative patients were chosen randomly as experimental control.Among them,39 patients were found to have mild HF and 29 were severe HF.The sera levels of Thl and Th2 cytokines were determined with ELISA.Results Among these 358 patients,83(23.2%)were HBsAg positive.Neither earlier nor severer hepatic fibrosis was noted in the patients who had been simultaneously infected with HBV than those only infected with schistosomiasis. There was a significant difference between mild[ 1.60(1.30-12.14)ng/L]and severe[ 4.20(1.43- 52.07)ng/L]HF patients in the level of IL-10(Z=-3.907,P0.05)was found in level of IFN-?,between severe[3.12(1.38-66.14)ng/L]and mild[5.87(1.33-216.33)ng/ L]HF subjects.Our observation did not reveal any obvious difference of TNF-? between severe[ 2.48(0.79 -19.86)ng/L]and mild[ 2.28(0.67-15.72)ng/L]HF groups.Conclusions Patients infected with advanced shistosomiasis may become more susceptible to HBV.The results of the present investigation showed that a high level production of IL-13 was associated with severe HF.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the optimal immunization dose by observing the immunoprotective effects of different doses of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese strain) signaling protein 14-3-3 (rSj14-3-3).

METHODSSj14-3-3 gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), subcloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET28a, then transformed into E.coli to express by inducing. Purified rSj14-3-3 was prepared through SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electroelution, dialysis, then BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups and immunized in rSj14-3-3 protein followed by challenging infection (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups were immunized in 50 microg, 100 microg and 300 microg antigen, respectively. The 4th, 5th groups were immunized in Freund's adjuvant and normal saline controls). After 6 weeks of challenging infection, the mice were killed and the worm and egg reduction rates were calculated. And the mice sera in different time were taken to examine the specific anti-Sj14-3-3 IgG.

RESULTSrSj14-3-3 protein was expressed successfully. After immunizing and challenging, worm reduction was found to be 28.20% in the 1st group, 43.10% in the 2nd group, 40.00% in the 3rd group, respectively. Number of eggs in liver tissue was reduced by 41.80%, 57.50%, 55.70%, respectively. Compared the results of the tested groups to the controls, the differences were of significance by t-test (worm reduction rate: t = 6.8 in the 1st group, t = 8.7 in the 2nd group, t = 7.3 in the 3rd group, P < 0.01 in all tested groups. Egg reduction rate at the group's number above: t = 11.23, t = 11.54, t = 7.99, P < 0.01 in all tested groups). As compared the results between the tested groups by chi(2), the differences were of significance between the 1st and the 2nd groups (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 8.96, P < 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 15.69, P < 0.05), between the 1st and the 3rd groups, the differences were also of significance (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 6.52, P < 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 12.52, P < 0.05). The difference was not of significance between the 2nd and the 3rd groups (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 1.20, P > 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 0.93, P > 0.05). In all tested groups, total anti-Sj14-3-3 specific IgG rose markedly. IgG(1) and IgG(2a) subtypes were high, but IgG(2b) and IgG(3) were near the background in four subtypes tested.

CONCLUSIONImmunoprotection of rSj14-3-3 should have some relations with immunization dose, and the protection obtained from immunizing mice by using 100 microg antigen was the best.

14-3-3 Proteins ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; immunology ; Antibody Formation ; Antigens, Helminth ; blood ; Female ; Helminth Proteins ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; Schistosoma japonicum ; genetics ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; Vaccination

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the expression level and significance of glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) in normal breast tissue, adenosis, adenoma and breast carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 147 cases of female breast tissue samples, including 92 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, 26 cases of breast fibroadenoma, 24 cases of breast adenosis and 5 cases of normal breast tissues, were collected for quantitative detection of the expression of Glut-1 protein by immunohistochemistry (EnVision method) and Western blot, and its mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn normal breast tissue and benign lesions of the breast, Glut-1 was undetectable or only weakly detectable in cytoplasm of ductal and acinar epithelia. In contrast, the intensity of Glut-1 staining was significantly higher in invasive ductal carcinomas (P = 0.0002) with protein expression predominantly in cellular membrane and lesser in cytoplasm. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of Glut-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in invasive ductal carcinoma than fibroadenoma (P =0.001 for protein; P <0.05 for mRNA) and adenosis (P =0.001 for protein; P < 0.05 for mRNA). There was a significant difference among groups (P = 0.0002 for protein; P = 0.0001 for mRNA).

CONCLUSIONSGlucose transport activity, as indicated by Glut-1 protein and its mRNA expression, significantly increases in breast carcinoma than non-cancerous lesions. The over-expression of Glut-1 in breast carcinoma is tightly coupled with tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, implying that Glut-1 may serve as a new marker in the early diagnosis and prognostication of breast malignancy as well as a new therapeutic target.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucose ; physiology ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Prognosis

Background Corneal neovascularization ( CNV ) is a complication of many ocular surface diseases.It often worsen the pathological course.Effective therapy for CNV is still researching. Objective This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of irradiation on CNV. Methods CNV models were established in 70 right eyes of 70 clean Wistar rats by corneal alkali burning.The models were randomized into β ray 10 Gy once irradiation group( 2 eyes),β ray 7 Gy multiple irradiation group( 17 eyes),β ray 10 Gy multiple irradiation group( 17 eyes),1％ cyclosporin A ( CsA ) eye drops group ( 17 eyes) and model group ( 17 eyes),and 6 matched normal rats were used as normal controls.All treatments started from the first day of the corneal alkali burning.CNV length and area were measured under the slit lamp every day.Corneal samples and homogenate were prepared 3,5,7 days after corneal alkali burning.The expressions of bcl-2,bax,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in rat corneas were detected by immunochemistry,VEGF proteins and VEGF mRNA were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),respectively. Results Corneal ulceration was found in the βray 10 Gy once irradiation group and β ray 10 Gy multiple irradiation group.CNV length and area were much less in the β ray 7 Gy multiple irradiation group and 1％ CsA eye drops group compared with the model group on the seventh day after experiment( length:q=14.40,24.20,P＜0.01 ;area:q=17.80,14.00,P＜0.01 ).Immunochemistry revealed that compared with the model group,expressions of bcl-2 and VEGF proteins were weaker,but the expression of bax protein was stronger in the β ray 7 Gy multiple irradiation group and 1％ CsA eye drops group.RT-PCR showed that the expression of VEGF mRNA in cornea was lower in the β ray 10 Gy multiple irradiation group,β ray 7 Gy multiple irradiation group and 1％ CsA eye drops group in comparison with that in model group,and the results from Western blot showed the same pattern as RT-PCR. Conclusions Low dose irradiation of 90Sr-90Y ophthalmic applicator inhibits CNV formation after alkali burn.The study provide a new understanding of the irradiation for the treatment of CNV.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of Chinese herbal monomers such as baicalin, berberine, and matrine on the androgen receptor (AR) mRNA expression in SZ95 sebocytes in vitro and to explore the possible mechanism of using traditional Chinese medicines to treat acne.

METHODSSZ95 sebocytes were cultured and then treated with berberine, baicalin, matrine, and 13-cis-retinoic acid for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the changes of AR.

RESULTAR mRNA was downregulated by 13-cis-retinoic acid of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L and 1 x 10(-6) mol/L, and by baicalin of 1 x 10(-4) mol/L (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION13-cis-retinoic acid and baicalin may exert antiandrogenitic action by inhibiting AR mRNA expression in human sebocytes.

Androgen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Androgen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Skin ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for real-time recording the oxygen consumption of mice under normobaric hypoxia.

METHODSThe experimental apparatus was made up of animal container, filling water control system, electronic balance, hose, a computer with weight recording software, etc. The working principle was that the oxygen consumed by animal was replaced by water filling which was controlled by the pneumatic and hydraulic actuator. The water was weighted by an electronic balance and the weight signal was recorded into excel file at the same time. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus were detected by a 10 ml syringe. The oxygen consumption characteristics of 6 acute repetitive hypoxia mice and 6 normal mice were observed.

RESULTSThe P value for the paired t test was 1 and the CV value was 4%. The survival time and total oxygen consumption of acute repetitive hypoxia mice were both significantly increased compared to normal mice (P < 0.05), which were (58.8 +/- 6.8) min and (46.0 +/- 8.7) min respectively for the survival time and (85.1 +/- 8.5) ml and (73.6 +/- 5.4) ml respectively for total oxygen consumption.

CONCLUSIONThe hypoxia tolerance of the acute repetitive hypoxia mice can significantly improved by taking more oxygen in the animal cabin. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus are high and it can be used for the determination of oxygen consumption in hypoxia research.

Animals ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; instrumentation ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of the young adult papillary thyroid cancer with bilateral cervical lymph nodes metastases.

METHODSTwenty-four papillary thyroid cancer patients (mean age 16.6 year-old, range 11 to 20 year-old) with bilateral cervical metastases from January 1, 1970 to December 31, 1985 were analyzed.

RESULTSThe proportion of the patients in the contemporary patients of the corresponding period was 34.8% (24/69). All the patients in the group were followed up at least 20 years. The survival rates of the patients at 10 years and 20 years were 100% and 90.9%. The recurrence rates of local tumor and distant tumor (lung metastases) were 20.8% (5/24) and 12.5% (3/24).

CONCLUSIONAfter a radical surgery, the recurrence rate of young adult thyroid papillary cancer patients with bilateral cervical metastases is relatively high and the patients have well prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy