AIM: To evaluate the preservation of anterior capsule during vitrectomy and lensectomy.ment (RD) and grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and pars plana lensectomy (PPL) with preservation and polishing of the anterior capsule. Of the 15 eyes, 4 eyes had giant tear, 3 had recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), 2 had diabetic retinopathy. Totally 6 eyes had gas and 9 had silicone oil tamponade. The surgeries were evaluated according to the visual acuity (VA) and the postoperative complications during the follow-up of at least 3 months.in all eyes, improved by 3± 3 lines overall. Eight eyes were implanted posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) successfully at 2-3 months after operation, including 6 having gas and 2 having silicone oil tamponade. No eyes had central anterior capsule opacity, corneal decompensation, puplillary block, retina redetachment or other complications.an intact anterior capsule in eyes with RD and PVR. Preserving the anterior capsule can help preventing intraoperative and postoperative complications of gas or silicone oil, simplify future PCIOL placement, and maintaining a normal iris appearance.

The technique of liquisolid compress is a new technique developed in 1990s, which was considered to be the most promising technique to improve the dissolution of water-insoluble drugs. In this article, tanshinone II(A) and the extracts of the ester-solubility fractions were chosen as the model drugs to evaluate the effects of the liquisolid technique for enhancement of dissolution properties of tanshinone II(A). Several liquisolid tablets (LS) formulations containing different dosage of drugs and various liquid vehicle were pre-pared and for all the formulations, microcrystalline cellulose and silica were chosen as the carrier and coating materials to evaluate their flow properties, such as angle of repose, Carr's compressibility index and Hausner's ratio. The interaction between drug and excipients in prepared LS compacts were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The dissolution curves of tanshinone II(A) from liquisolid compacts were investigated to determine the technique's effect in improving the dissolution of tanshinone II(A) and its impacting factors. According to the results, the dissolution increased with the rise in the dissolution of the liquid-phase solvent. The R-value and drug dosage can significantly affect the drug release, but with less impact on active fractions. This indicated that liquisolid technique is a promising alternative for improvement of dissolution property of water-soluble drugs, and can make a synergistic effect with other ester-soluble constituents and bettern improve the release of tanshinone II(A). Therefore, the technique of liquisolid compress will have a better development prospect in traditional Chinese medicines.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction

Seven compounds were isolated from fermentation extract of cave-derived Metarhizium anisopliae NHC-M3-2 by silica gel, semi-preparative HPLC and other chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS and NMR methods as 2,3-dehydroindigotide G (1), (-)-regiolone (2), naphtho-γ-pyrone (3), indigotide G (4), indigotide B (5) destruxin A (6) and destruxin B (7). Compound 1 is a new glycoside naphthopyranone compound. The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of these compounds was evaluated. The EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ of compound 3 against HBV were 4.5 μmol·L^-1 and 92.3 μmol·L^-1, respectively. This is the first report of the antiviral activity of compound 3.

OBJECTIVEThe B7-H1/PD-1 co-signaling pathway has recently been found to play a pivotal role in the immune evasion of tumor cells from host immune system. The aim of this study was to examine the B7-H1 and PD-1 expression and TILs status in gastric cancer and to elucidate the clinical relevance of B7-H1 and PD-1 to the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry and ANAE histochemical staining were used to investigate the in situ expression of B7-H1 and PD-1 and TILs status in the gastric tissues. RT-PCR was used to explore B7-H1 and PD-1 expression at the transcriptional level. The B7-H1 expression at protein level was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSExpression of B7-H1 and PD-1 was found to be increased in gastric carcinoma, but absent in normal gastric tissue. B7-H1 expression in gastric carcinoma was inversely correlated with TILs infiltration. B7-H1 but not PD-1 expression in tumor tissue was significantly correlated with some clinicopathhological variables including depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONB7-H1 and PD-1 expressions are increased in gastric carcinoma. This signaling pathway may inhibit antitumor immune responses in gastric carcinoma. B7-H1 expression plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of human gastric carcinoma,and might be a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target in the treatment of this disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; B7-H1 Antigen ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology

BACKGROUNDTamsulosin, an alpha-1 receptor antagonist, has been demonstrated effective in promoting distal ureteral stone passage and in reducing pain associated with stone expulsion. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tamsulosin in comparison with nifedipine and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the expulsion rate of distal ureteral stones at different sizes.

METHODSWe assigned 314 patients to three categories: I, the stone with maximal diameter of 4.0 - 5.9 mm; II, 6.0 - 7.9 mm, and III, 8.0 - 9.9 mm. Patients in each category were randomly subdivided into three treatment subgroups: group A (nifedipine group), group B (tamsulosin group), and group C (ESWL group). Stone-free rate and the dose of analgesics were recorded weekly during the 4-week follow-up period.

RESULTSThree hundred and three patients completed the study. The results showed that nifedipine and tamsulosin treatments promoted a small (4 - 8 mm, categories I and II) stone expulsive rate that was comparable with ESWL treatment. Nonetheless, when the stone diameter was 8.0 - 9.9 mm, ESWL showed a greater stone free rate than nifedipine and tamsulosin treatments; no significant difference existed between the latter two therapies. Although the ESWL treatment group required the least analgesics, tamsulosin treatments required less pain medication than nifedipine (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTamsulosin treatment is recommended for patients with the stone diameter smaller than 8 mm because of its feasibility, effectiveness and safety. ESWL is more appropriate than tamsulosin therapy for the patients whose stones are larger than 8 mm.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Adult ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nifedipine ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Calculi ; drug therapy ; therapy

BACKGROUNDPancreatic β cells are susceptible to fatty acid-induced apoptosis. The 17β-estradiol (E2) protects pancreatic β cells from apoptosis, mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (ERα). The mRNA level and promoter activity of leukemia-related protein (LRP) 16 were significantly increased by E2 in ER-α and LRP16 was a co-activator of ER-α. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of LRP16 on fatty acid-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells.

METHODSCells with over-expressing LRP16 were obtained by lipidosome transfection. Insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were examined by radioimmunoassay. Western blotting was applied to detect protein expression. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry. The forkhead boxO1 (FoxO1) subcellular localization was determined by immunocytochemical analysis.

RESULTSMIN6-LRP16 cells with overexpression of LRP16 were successfully established, and protein expression of LRP16 was 2.29-fold of that of control cells (MIN6-3.1, P < 0.05). Insulin content and GSIS in MIN6-LRP16 were substantially increased compared with those in control cells. When cells were stimulated with glucose, increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and serine-threonine kinase (Akt) were observed in MIN6-LRP16. When cells were under palmitate pressure, the TUNEL-positive rate in MIN6-LRP16 was (17.0 ± 0.5)%, while it in MIN6-3.1 was (22.0 ± 0.4)%. In palmitate-treated cells, attenuated Akt phosphorylation was observed, but the attenuation in Akt activity was partially restored in MIN6-LRP16 cells. Meanwhile, nuclear localization of FoxO1 in MIN6-LRP16 was apparently reduced compared with that in control cells.

CONCLUSIONSLRP16 regulated insulin content and GSIS in MIN6 cells by ERK1/2 and Akt activated way. Meanwhile, LRP16 overexpression protected MIN6 cells from fatty acid-induced apoptosis by partially restoring Akt phosphorylation and inhibiting FoxO1 nuclear redistribution. Therefore, LRP16 played important roles not only in insulin content and GSIS but also in the antilipotoxic effect mediated by Akt/FoxO1 signaling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fatty Acids ; pharmacology ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics

Background Pancreatic β cells are susceptible to fatty acid-induced apoptosis.The 17β-estradiol (E2) protects pancreatic β cells from apoptosis,mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (Erα).The mRNA level and promoter activity of leukemia-related protein (LRP) 16 were significantly increased by E2 in ER-α and LRP16 was a co-activator of ER-α.The aim of the study was to assess the effects of LRP16 on fatty acid-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells.Methods Cells with over-expressing LRP16 were obtained by lipidosome transfection.Insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were examined by radioimmunoassay.Western blotting was applied to detect protein expression.Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)and flow cytometry.The forkhead boxO1 (FoxO1) subcellular localization was determined by immunocytochemical analysis.Results MIN6-LRP16 cells with overexpression of LRP16 were successfully established,and protein expression of LRP16 was 2.29-fold of that of control cells (MIN6-3.1,P＜0.05).Insulin content and GSIS in MIN6-LRP16 were substantially increased compared with those in control cells.When cells were stimulated with glucose,increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and serine-threonine kinase (Akt) were observed in MIN6-LRP16.When cells were under palmitate pressure,the TUNEL-positive rate in MIN6-LRP16 was (17.0±0.5)％,while it in MIN6-3.1 was (22.0±0.4)％.In palmitate-treated cells,attenuated Akt phosphorylation was observed,but the attenuation in Akt activity was partially restored in MIN6-LRP16 cells.Meanwhile,nuclear localization of FoxO1 in MIN6-LRP16 was apparently reduced compared with that in control cells.Conclusions LRP16 regulated insulin content and GSIS in MIN6 cells by ERK1/2 and Akt activated way.Meanwhile,LRP16 overexpression protected MIN6 cells from fatty acid-induced apoptosis by partially restoring Akt phosphorylation and inhibiting FoxO1 nuclear redistribution.Therefore,LRP16 played important roles not only in insulin content and GSIS but also in the antilipotoxic effect mediated by Akt/FoxO1 signaling.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphism and primary trigeminal neuralgia.

METHODSBy polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), ER gene polymorphism was analyzed in 20 trigeminal neuralgia (TR) patients and 20 control individuals, and the distribution of ER genotype was compared in TR group and control group.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in XbaI or PvuII polymorphism or XbaI with PvuII polymorphisms together between TR group and control group (P > 0.05). The genotypic distribution of Xx or PpXx in TR group was higher than control group, and it was contary to xx, ppxx or Ppxx in TR group and control group.

CONCLUSIONXbaI or PvuII polymorphism may be related to TR. Women with PpXx genotype may be a dangerous factor to primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenesis of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) in post-liver transplant patients and the possible therapeutic mechanisms of sirolimus.

METHODSThe clinic data of 32 post-liver transplant patients with ITBLs from May 2004 to December 2010 was analyzed. There were including 25 male and 7 female patients with a median age of 46 years (ranging from 19 to 61 years). Patients were divided into those who received sirolimus (sirolimus group) and those who did not (control group). The expression of IL-2, FoxP3, and IL-10 in the portal area, liver function indexes, and bile duct injury score were assessed pre-ITBL, when ITBLs were identified, and after 6 months of sirolimus treatment.

RESULTSCompared with pre-ITBL optical density (OD) values, there was a significantly increase in IL-2 OD(0.138 ± 0.050 in control group and 0.141 ± 0.052 in sirolimus group), but not FoxP3 and IL-10 OD in both groups at the time ITBLs were diagnosed. After 6 months of treatment, the IL-2, FoxP3, and IL-10 OD values in the control group were not different from those when ITBLs were diagnosed. There was a significant reduction in post-therapy IL-2 OD(0.107 ± 0.043, t = 2.087, P = 0.044), and a significant elevation in FoxP3(0.213 ± 0.039) and IL-10 OD(0.187 ± 0.048) in sirolimus group as compared with those when ITBLs were diagnosed(t = -3.822 and -4.350, both P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in serum levels of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and ALP at the time ITBLs were diagnosed compared with pre-ITBL levels in both groups. After 6 months of treatment, the above indexes had not changed in the control group, but significantly improved in the sirolimus group, and the bile duct injury score in the sirolimus group had significantly decreased(4.4 ± 2.4, Z = -2.568, P = 0.010). The 1-year and 3-year graft survival rates in the control group were 6/13 and 5/13, respectively, and 17/19 and 13/19, respectively, in the sirolimus group (χ(2) = 7.166, P = 0.007; χ(2) = 5.398, P = 0.020, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSSirolimus can downregulate IL-2 expression and upregulate FoxP3 and IL-10 expression, thereby stimulating FoxP3+ Treg cells, suppressing immunopathological damage, and promoting epithelial repair in bile ducts.

Adult ; Bile Duct Diseases ; drug therapy ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; diet therapy ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

The extraction of functional components from radix of Arnebia euchroma was optimized using orthogonal design based on the extraction yields of shikonin, and hydroxyl-naphthoquinone pigments. The data processing was carried out with the multiple guidelines grading method for optimizing the extraction condition. Compared with the traditional method (refluxing and ultrasonic extraction), the flash extraction method was more efficient The optimal conditions were as follows: 95% ethanol extract 3 times with 90 s for each. Under these conditions, the extraction yields of shikonin, and hydroxyl-naphthoquinone pigments were 93.16%, 93.89%, respectively, and the dry extract rate was 5.16%. In conclusion, the result showed that the flash extraction technology was appropriate, stable and feasible.
Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Naphthoquinones ; chemistry ; Pigments, Biological ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry