Objective To observe the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin(rh-EPO) on immune function of cyclophosphamide-treated mice.Methods Six-week-old mice were randomly divided into 4 groups.Cyclophosphamide plus normal saline group(CTX(+NS));cyclophosphamide plus lower and higher dosage rh-EPO group(CTX+LDrh-EPO and CTX+HD rh-EPO);normal saline control group(NS).The changes of Hb,WBC,red blood cell immune function((C_3b)-R%),T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness optical density index A(A score),IL-2,TNF-? of 4 groups were observed.Results The CTX + NS group showed lower levels on Hb,WBC,C_(3b)-R%,A score,IL-2 and TNF-? compared with NS normal control group(P0.05).There were positive correlation between C_(3b)-R% and Ascore,C_(3b)-R% and IL-2.Conclusions 1.Cyclophosphamide treated mice have lower Hb,WBC,C_(3b)-R%,A,IL-2 and TNF-? secretion.2.rh-EPO administration have improvements with Hb,RBC immune function,T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness and IL2 production.

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of curcumin in inducing the apoptosis of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231.

METHODCurcumin of different concentrations at 0, 10 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 micromol x L(-1) were used to intervene breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 for 24 hours. MTT was used to observe its effect on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The flow cytometry was used to detect its effect on the cell apoptosis. The real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot was used to assess the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

RESULTCurcumin could inhibit the proliferative ability of breast cancer cells by inducing them in a concentration-dependent manner. Curcumin could significantly increase the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Female ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to explore the possibility of Xihuangwan (XHW)'s application in assistant therapy in patients with breast cancer, short- and long-term clinical efficacy were assessed in this study. Eighty and four patients with advanced breast cancer were selected in this study. They were divided into control group and treatment group randomly and evenly. All patients received surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy regimen composed of PTX + EPI + CTX (TEC regimen). Treatment group received additional assistant treatment of XHW. Short-term clinical efficacy was assessed by KPS, lesion stabilizing rate and side effects in 3-month follow-up study. Long-term clinical efficacy was assessed by overall survival (OS) and free-progression survival (FPS). KPS increased significantly after treatment in all patients (P < 0.05), more significantly in treatment group than in control group after treatment (P < 0.05); lesion stabilizing rate in treatment group increased significantly in treatment group than in control group (92.86% vs. 85.71%, P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between control group and treatment group in occurrence of side effects. Compared with control group, OS and FPS increased significantly in treatment group. Data in this study showed that XHW was suitable in treatment of advanced breast cancer due to its satisfactory short-term and long-term therapeutic effects.
Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Aim To apply simple combined models to screen small molecule BDNF-like compounds for potential pharmacotherapy of central nerve degenerative diseases.Methods BDNF-like bioactivities were dentified with effects against apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal in turn in cultured human SH-SY5y cells,rat NIH3T3/trkB cells vs NIH3T3 cells,using MTT technique.Results More than 400 compounds were tested by using these methods.11 of them presented protective effects on apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal in SH-SY5y cells.2 of them also provided selective protection against apoptosis induced in NIH3T3/trkB cells versus in NIH3T3 cells,which were identified as BDNF-like compounds.Further study showed that these 2 compounds could withstand SH-SY5y cell injuries induced by 6-OHDA.Conclusion All the above studies provide a useful series of simple models for BDNF-like drug screen and some compound candidates for further study of neuroprotection.

No abstract available.
Doxycycline ; Humans ; Penicillin G Benzathine ; Syphilis

No abstract available.
Cystoscopy* ; Hematuria*

No abstract available.
Cystoscopy* ; Hematuria*

Objective To understand the morbidity of human brucellosis in Wulanchabu City of Inner Mongolia in order to provide a basis for development of prevention and control measures.Methods According to the requirements in Baseline Survey Programme of Human Brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regionbetween November and December in 2010,stratified cluster sampling method was used to selected three townships according to the conditions of brucellosis(mild,moderate and serious) in 11 flags(cities,counties,districts) of the city.Three villages were extracted from each township.There were at least 200 persons aged 10 and older were investigated in every township.At least 600 people were investigated in every flag(city,county,district).Respondents were investigated about their awareness rate of basic knowledge about brucellosis,risk factors and common sense of prevention and treatment of the disease by using health education questionnaire.Based on the principle of informed consent,we collected respondents venous blood for preliminary screening using Hu red tablets.Brucellosis was confirmed with standard tube agglutination test and positive result was confirmed if 1:100 antibody concentration was two + or more.Prevalence,false negative rate as well as different age,gender,occupational incidence was calculated based on the network reported results of brucellosis in 33 townships of Wulanchabu in 2010.Results We distributed 6998 questionnaires and 6763 questionnaires were effective.The witting rate of basic knowledge about brucellosis was 57.99％(15 687/27 052); the witting rate of risk factors about brucellosis was 44.33％ (29 978/67 630); the witting rate for prevention and control of brucellosis was 41.66％(28 176/67 630),and total witting rate was 45.49％(73 841/162 312).The morbidity of brucellosis in Wulanchabu City was 91.39/10 000 (785/85 894) in 2010.Five hundred and ninety-one were serologically positive and the infection rate was 8.48％ (591/69 972).Nine hundred and three cases of patients were diagnosed with brucellosis and the prevalence rate of brucellosis was 105.13/10 000 (903/85 894).Missing report 377 cases,and the false negative rate was 48.03％ (377/785) in 2010.Men infection rate was 71.07％(420/3755) and women infection rate was 28.93％(171/3217).The infection rate[97.63％(577/591)] of people aged 31 and older was significantly higher than that [2.37％(14/591)] of the people aged 30 and younger.Infection rate of people engaged in aquaculture was 8.61％ (582/669).The infection rate of people working in livestock processing industry was 2.91％ (2/103).The infection rate of people working in animal by-product circulation was 2.85％ (2/70).The Infection rate of people working in other industries was 4.59％(5/109).Conclusions In Wulanchabu City,the morbidity of brucellosis and missing report rate are both high.The infection rate of people engaged in aquaculture is high and man morbidity is high.The awareness rate about prevention and treatment knowledge of brucellosis is low.We should carry out health education to inhabitants in endemic areas to improve their self-protection awareness and reduce the incidence of brucellosis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(Multiple-PCR) in identification of Brucella strains.Methods Six standard Brucella strains (Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella suis,Brucella canis,Brucella ovis,Brucella neotomae) were used as positive controls and Escherichia coli O∶157 and Yersinia enterocolitica O∶9 were used as negative controls.A total of 29 Brucella strains were tested.Brucella strains were amplified by BCSP31-PCR and the species of Brucella with positive results were identified with Multiple-PCR method.Results The results of all 29 amplified Brucella strains were positive with BCSP31-PCR.The identified results of all Brucella strains were positive with Multiple-PCR,including 20 strains of Brucella melitensis,5 isolates of Brucella suis,3 strains of Brucella abortus and 1 strain of Brucella canis.Conclusion Multiple-PCR method is a rapid,specific,simple and low risk method for identification of Brucella species.

Objective To report the development of clinical symptoms in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia(adPEO).Methods Electromyologram and muscle biopsy were performed in the proband and 4 family members with the disease.Results The proband was a 57 year-old woman,who developed bilateral ptosis after the age of 30,external ophthalmoplegia after the age of 35 years old,weakness of extremities at the age of 37 years old and bulb palsy with palmus at the age of 47 years old.In the family there were 20 male and female members from five generations.All of them complained about bilateral ptosis between 26—33 years old,external ophthalmoplegia(12/15)and weakness of all extremities(14/15)between 35—45,facial and masticatory weakness(9/9)as well as dysphagia(8/9)between 44—60,accompanied with heart lesions(4/7)after 50 years old.Some patients died due to cardiac impairment.Electromyologram showed myopathic abnormalities in the examined patients. The main myopathological changes were ragged red fibers,cytochrome c oxidase negative fibers and ragged blue fibers in succinate dehydrogenase staining.Conclusions The adPEO started from extra-ocular muscles to limbs,finally facial and bulbar muscles.Heart lesions were presented in late stage and lead to death in some members.The developing process of symptoms suggested that we should pay more attention to cardiac manifestations in this disease.