Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Oxides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Quercetin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on the STAT3 pathway and its downstream target genes of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft, and to explore its mechanism for treating HCC.

METHODSThe subcutaneous xenograft model was established using HepG2 cells. When the subcutaneous transplanted tumor was formed, naked mice were randomly divided into two groups, the BBP group and the control group. Mice in the BBP group were administered with BBP by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks, while mice in the control group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks. The body weight and the tumor volume were measured once per week. By the end of medication, the tumor weight was weighed and the tumor inhibition ratio calculated. The apoptosis of the tumor tissue was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/eukemina-2 (Bcl-2), cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK4), cyclinD1 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of signal transducers and transcription activators 3 (p-STAT3), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1 were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSBBP could inhibit the tumor volume and tumor weight, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Results of TUNEL showed that BBP could significantly induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells. Results of RT-PCR showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and down-regulate mRNA expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1. Immunohistochemical results showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and inhibit the protein expression of p-STAT3, PCNA, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1.

CONCLUSIONBBP could induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells and inhibit their proliferation by regulating STAT3 pathway.

Animals ; Bile ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Ursidae ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between emergency and non-emergency operation for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Method A retrospective analysis of 184 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University College of Medicine, admitted from Dec 2008 to Sep 2009, was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of operation to be done earlier. The patients were divided into 2groups according to the time of surgery. In the early operation group ( n = 102), the patients were operated on within 3 days of rupture of aneurysms, and in the delayed operation group ( n = 82), the patients were operated on after 3 days. The comparison in the rate of rebleeding before surgery, rate of complete occlusion of the ruptured aneurysm and rate of major complications such as cerebral infarction and hydrocephalus between two groups was made. The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) scores of these patients were also evaluated by 6- 12 months follow-up after operation. Results Preoperative re-bleeding happened in 2 patients of the early operation group and in 7 patients of the delayed operation group. The rates were significantly different ( P ＜ 0.05). The complete occlusion rate in the early operation group was 91.2 % ( 93/102 ), while was 80.5 % ( 66/82 ) in the delayed operation group (P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in post-operative cerebral infarction rate, post-operative hydrocephalus rate or GOS scores on follow-up between two groups. Conchusions Early operation can significantly reduce the re-bleeding before surgery, reducing the risk of death and disability. In early operation, the continuous lumbar drainage by cannulation and other methods can be used to reduce intracranial pressure, significantly increasing the rate of complete occlusion, and promoting rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic therapy for early postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage.

METHODSFourteen patients experienced an episode of early postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage and were treated endoscopically from January 2005 to June 2010. The clinical data was analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSFourteen patients(9 males and 5 females, median age 57.5 years, range 26-74 years) were diagnosed with postoperative hemorrhage between 6 hours to 14 days after surgery. The blood loss ranged from 500 to 1500 ml. Sclerosing agent injection, electrocoagulation, and hemoclips were attempted to control the bleeding. Endoscopic approach to control early postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage was successful in all the patients. No recurrent bleeding was observed during the follow-up. No complications associated with endoscopic therapy.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic approach for the management of early postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage is feasible with high success rate and associated with no complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Stomas ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDGlaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) is the most common procedure performed in the treatment of glaucoma. Although antiscarring agents help prevent postsurgical scarring and improve glaucoma surgical outcomes, they may be associated with an increased incidence of severe and potentially blinding complications. Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PDLLA/GA) is a bioresorbable polymer, which can be prepared with a large range of physical, mechanical, and biological properties and has been widely used in medicine, including as an absorbable suture and a drug carrier and especially as a scaffold in tissue engineering. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PDLLA/GA on scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS).

METHODSForty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into two groups randomly and GFS was performed on the right eye of each. PDLLA/GA membranes were put under the sclera flap for evaluation. GFS with no membrane inserted served as control. Clinical evaluations of intraocular pressure (IOP) and the presence of a filtration bleb were performed at intervals (3 days, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 20, and 24 weeks) postoperatively. At each time point, three eyes per group were excised to observe histological changes such as inflammation and scar formation and the expression of collagen type IV, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe lower IOP level and an effective bleb were maintained for a long time after GFS in the PDLLA/GA group. The histological analysis showed less inflammation and scar formation, weaker expression of collagen type IV and PCNA, more intense MMP-9 and TIMP-1, slightly elevated ratio of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, and a smaller increase in CTGF mRNA postoperatively in the PDLLA/GA group but less than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPDLLA/GA membranes may be promising for preventing fibrosis after GFS.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; therapeutic use ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Lactic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Polyglycolic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits

To investigate the relationship between serum retinol-binding protein 4(RBP4) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese Han pregnant women.195 (23-42 years) pregnant women were recruited (July 2005 to December 2007) from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetric in Ruijin Hospital during their visiting for routine prenatal examination.99 subjects belonged to GDM group,and 96 belonged to the group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).65 non-pregnant healthy women served as control.Serum RBP4 was measured using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Pregnant women had higher level of serum RBP4 than that of non-pregnant control.The concentration of serum RBP4 was significantly increased in GDM group as compared with NGT group[(43.04±1.85 vs 33.84±2.17) rag/L,P<0.01].Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that triglycerides and homeostasis assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were independent variables of RBP4 (r2 =0.165) in pregnant women.The results suggest that serum RBP4 level is significantly increased in pregnant women.Women with GDM had even higher RBP4 level than that of normal pregnant women,and RBP4 levele was positively correlated with triglycerides and HOMA-IR.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether there could be proliferative cells in the cochlea of the newborn rat or not and what kinds of cells should be differentiated from the proliferative cells while to study the effect of the growth factors on the proliferative cells and the ultrastructure of the proliferative cells.

METHODSThe Corti's organ were dissected from the cochlea of newborn SD rats and cultured. The proliferative condition of cells was tested by infusing the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into the culture medium. And the variety of the spheres and differentiated cells were identified by immunohistochemistry. Corti's organ from forty-eight surface preparations was randomly divided into 4 groups: control group; epidermal growth factor (EGF) group; basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) group and EGF + bFGF group, with each group including 12 Corti's organ, and then the number of cell spheres of each Corti's organ was counted. The data was statistically analysed with ANOVE. Finally, the proliferative cells were observed under scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS(1) The cell spheres can be observed in the cell culture of the Corti's organ. In present experiment, 90.1% of cells in spheres were labeled by BrdU, while nestin of spheres, the marker of hair cells--myosin 7A, espin, and phalloidin of the differentiated cells were positive. The marker of neuron-microfilament-M was also positive, and some differentiated cells were labeled by myosin 7A and BrdU, espin and BrdU, NF-M and BrdU at the same time. (2) The average number (x +/- s) of spheres from single Corti's organ was: 45.3 +/- 23.00 in control group, 86.2 +/- 34.1 in EGF group, 96.5 +/- 33.6 in bFGF group and 131.2 +/- 47.00 in EGF + bFGF group. There were significant differences between other groups respectively (P < 0.05) but there was no significant differences between EGF group and bFGF group (P > 0.05). (3) Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that cells of the spheres were round and had the same size and many short and thin microvilli on the surface of these cells. The cytoplasm were rich of organellae such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, and cytoskeleton such as microfilament, microtube, et al. Tight junction, desmosomes and gap junctions between two adjacent cells were seen.

CONCLUSIONSThe proliferative cells are observed in the cochlea of the newborn rats and proliferative cells could differentiated into hair cells with bundles-like structure and neuron. Both EGF and bFGF possess the promoting effects for proliferation on the proliferative cells while the proliferative cells have characters of earlier immature cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qingchang Huashi Recipe (QHR) on the activation and expressions of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and contents of interleukin-8 (IL-8), thus exploring its possible mechanisms for treating ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODSThe HT-29 cells were induced to inflammation model by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). HT-29 cells were divided into 6 groups, i.e., the vehicle control group, the model control group, the sulfasalazine (SASP) group, the high dose QHR group, the middle dose QHR group, the low dose QHR group. Effects on the cell growth were detected by MTT. The chemoattractant of macrophages was observed using Transwell. The expressions of NF-kappaB and TLR4 protein were detected using immune cell fluorescence method. The content of IL-8 was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe growth of cells were not inhibited in each group. Statistical difference existed in each dose QHR group in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages, reducing activation of NF-kappaB, lowing expressions of TLR4 protein, and decreasing the secretion of IL-8, when compared with the model control group (P < 0.05). No statistical difference existed in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages between the high dose QHR group and the vehicle control group (P > 0.05). But its inhibition on NF-kappaB activation was higher in the high dose QHR group than in the SASP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHR could obviously attenuate the inflammatory reaction of HT-29 cells, inhibit the chemoattractant of macrophages, reduce the activation of NF-kappaB, lower expressions of TLR-4, and attenuate the secretion of IL-8, which might be one of its mechanisms for treating UC.

Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization ; economics ; methods ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; economics ; methods ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Septal Occluder Device ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of a novel metastasis-inducing protein human anterior gradient-2 (AGR2) in breast cancer and its clinical and prognostic significance.

METHODSAGR2 expression was assessed in 160 cases of breast cancer and 20 cases of benign breast diseases by immunohistochemistry using tissue chip technology. In addition the expression of ERa, PR and c-erbB-2 in breast cancer was also evaluated. Follow-up information of 5-year duration was available in 127 patients with breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis and COX regression model were used to analyze the correlation between AGR2 expression and the follow-up clinical data.

RESULTSThe expression of AGR2 was significantly higher in breast cancers than that in benign diseases (68.3% vs. 25.0% , P < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between AGR2 expression and the histological grade of breast cancer (P <0.05) , whereas positive correlations was found between the expression of AGR2 and ERalpha (P <0.05), and between the expression of AGR2 and PR (P <0.01). In the subgroup of ERalpha-positive breast cancer, Logistic regression model demonstrated AGR2 and TNM stage were important factors affecting lymph node metastasis (both P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that a positive expression of AGR2 was associated with poor overall survival and relapse-free survival (both P <0.01). Moreover, COX regression model confirmed the expression of AGR2 as an independent prognostic factor among patients with ERa-positive breast cancer (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of AGR2 may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer. The metastasis-inducing capability of AGR2 may be partly regulated through the ER pathway. Therefore, AGR2 may be a useful molecular marker for prognostication for patient with hormone-responsive breast cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; analysis ; BRCA2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis ; metabolism