Objective:To investigate the mechanism and effects of autophagy on cisplatin(DDP)-induced apoptosis in human gas-tric cancer cell line SGC7901. Methods:Cell proliferation was determined by an MTT assay after the SGC7901 cells were treated with DDP and/or chloroquine. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Autophagy and related protein expressions were detected by Western blot. Autophagy was quantitatively analyzed by fluorescence microscopy after monodansylcadaverine staining was per-formed. Results:The cells were treated with 5 mg/L of DDP for 24 h, the rate of cell apoptosis was (21.07 ± 2.12)%. Autophagy, char-acterized by an increase in the number of autophagic vesicles and LC3-II protein level, was observed in DDP-treated cells. After autoph-agy was inhibited by chloroquine, the rate of cell apoptosis was increased to (30.16 ± 3.54)%. In addition, caspase-3 and P53 protein levels were increased, but Bcl-2 protein was decreased. Conclusion:Autophagy protected human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 from DDP-induced apoptosis. In addition, the inhibition of autophagy could promote apoptosis. The combined therapy of DDP and chlo-roquine may be a promising therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of previous analgesia of scalp acupuncture.

METHODSSixty cases of radical operation of intestinal cancer were randomly divided into 2 groups: a scalp acupuncture plus epidural analgesia (scalp acupuncture group) and an epidural analgesia group, 30 cases in each group. The scalp acupuncture group received scalp acupuncture from 20 min before operation to the end of the operation, and epidural analgesia at the end of the operation. The epidural analgesia group only received epidural analgesia at the end of the operation. Recovery of VAS scores, BCS scores and gastrointestinal function after operation were investigated to probe into effects of scalp acupuncture on epidural morphine analgesia after operation in the patient of intestinal cancer.

RESULTSThe VAS scores at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h in the scalp acupuncture group were lower than the epidural analgesia group, with significant differences at 6 h and 12 h between the two groups (P < 0.05). BCS scores at the 4 time points in the scalp acupuncture group were lower than the epidural analgesia group with significant differences between the two groups (all P < 0.05). The scalp acupuncture group in recovery of bowel sound, exsufflation from the anus in the scalp acupuncture group was faster than the epidural analgesia group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONScalp acupuncture has a certain previous analgesic effect, reducing discomfort of the patient after operation and promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal functions.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; methods ; Aged ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morphine ; therapeutic use ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Scalp

Background and purpose: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is uncommon, and frequently diagnosed at late stage. Chemotherapy is the main treatment method for advanced SBA. Despite recent progress in SBA therapy, no standard regimen has been established up to now, and new active regimen is expected to improve the outcome of this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efifcacy and safety of S-1/oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced SBA. Methods:In a retrospective study, clinical characteristics and outcomes of 29 patients with advanced SBA were collected and analyzed. Patients received oral S-1 40 mg/m2, twice daily, d1-14, oxaliplatin was administered intravenously 130 mg/m2 on the ifrst day of every cycle, repeated every 3 weeks. Efifcacy and toxicity were evaluated after at least two consecutive cycles. Results:All patients were evaluated for efifcacy and safety. The objective response and disease control rates were 37.9%and 65.5%, respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.4 months (95%CI:3.6-7.2) and 13.2 months (95%CI:6.7-19.7), respectively. In univariate analysis, the following factors were signiifcantly associated with poor outcome:not ifrst line chemotherapy setting, ECOG performance status>1 and sites of metastasis>2 (Log-rank, P<0.05). The treatment related adverse events were mild and manageable. Myelosuppression, gastrointestinal reaction, fatigue, sensory neuropathy and rash were the most common toxicities. Conclusion:This study was the ifrst to report the efifcacy of S-1 combined with oxaliplatin for advanced SBA. S-1/oxaliplatin may be effective and safe for advanced SBA and worthy of further study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Xuebijing injection(XBJI, traditional Chinese medicine), in inhibiting TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta pathway of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats.

METHODSThirty six male SD rats (280 +/- 30) g were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): normal group (N group), balanced perfusion group (BP group), model group (M group), low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group), high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group). By Langendorff isolated heart perfusion device to establish the model of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein; and RT-PCR to determine the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA;To observe microstructure changes of hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial by light microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with M group, the IL-1beta concentration, NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 protein,NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 mRNA of XBJIL group, XBJI(M) group, XBJI(H) group expression decreased in varying degrees,and decreased most obviously all in XBJI(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Myocardical structural damage was serious in M group, and improved after treatment XBJI, the most obvious was the XBJI(M).

CONCLUSIONDifferent dose of XBJI can inhibit TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta signal transduction pathway and reduce several inflammatory reaction after myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, the 4 ml/100 ml of XBJI is the best.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of siRNA silencing the role of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) gene in excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress on lung ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSMouse model of pulmonary ischemia reperfusion injury (PIRI) in situ was established with unilateral lung in vivo. Seventy experimental mice were randomly allocated into seven groups (n = 10): Sham group (Sham group), ischemia reperfusion group (I/R), PBS+ Lipofectamine2000TM transfection reagent group (I/R + PBS+ Lipo group), negative control group (I/R+ SCR group), JNK-siRNA group (I/R + siRNA(JNK1), siRNA(JNK2), siRNA(JNK3)). Mice were euthanized after experimental time out, and left lung tissue was extracted. Wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) and total lung water content (TLW) were tested. Light microscope, alveolar damage quantitative evaluation index (IQA) and electron microscope were observed. The expression levels of JNK and glucose regulatex protein(GRP78) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis of lung tissue was determined by TUNEL.

RESULTSCompared with Sham group, all indicators above of I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and compared with I/R group, those indicators of the three groups all had no notable difference; those indicators were not statistically different between I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group, and compared to the three groups, the above indicators in JNK-siRNA group were lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) except that the expression levels of GRP78 was not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONI/R induces excessive ERS in lung tissue, in which JNK pathway participates in apoptosis, leading to lung tissue injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Lung Injury ; genetics ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study on regulative action of scalp acupuncture on oxidative stress reaction at operation stage.

METHODSFifty two cases selected for radical operation of intestinal cancer were randomly divided into a scalp acupuncture plus general anesthesia (scalp acupuncture group) and a simple general anesthesia group (general anesthesia group), 26 cases in each group. The scalp acupuncture group were treated first with scalp acupuncture for 20 min, followed by general anesthesia, with scalp acupuncture lasted till the end of operation. The general anesthesia group were treated only with simple intratracheal anesthesia. Effects of scalp acupuncture on malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at the operation stage were observed.

RESULTSAfter operation, MDA levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the two groups, but with no difference between the two groups in the different values of MDA before and after treatment (P > 0.05); there was no significant change in SOD before and after treatment in the scalp acupuncture group, and significantly decreased in the general anesthesia group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the different value of SOD before and after the operation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONScalp acupuncture can inhibit the decrease of SOD activity, reducing oxidative stress reaction at operation stage.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Intraoperative Period ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Scalp ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of methylprednisolone pretreatment on pulmonary lung permeability index and the content of the pulmonary surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in a rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

METHODSTwenty-one male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group, reexpansion, and reexpansion+methylprednisolone pretreatment groups. The rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema was established using Sakaos method. A bolus dosage of methylprednisolone (3 mg/kg) in reexpansion+methylprednisolone group group or 2.0 ml/kg normal saline in the other two groups was administered intravenously 20 min before reexpansion pulmonary edema. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and arterial blood samples were collected for measurement of the total protein (TP) and DPPC contents 4 h after reexpansion, and the pulmonary permeability index was calculated.

RESULTSThe pulmonary permeability index in methylprednisolone pretreatment group was significantly lower than that in the reexpansion group (0.007∓0.002 vs 0.177∓0.004, P<0.05). Methylprednisolone pretreatment significantly increased DPPC concentration in the BALF as compared with saline treatment in the reexpansion group (61.815∓28.307 vs 101.955∓24.544 µg/ml, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone pretreatment can increase pulmonary surfactant content and improve pulmonary permeability in the rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; pharmacology ; Permeability ; Pulmonary Edema ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Objective To explore the epidemics of influenza viruses in Guangzhou area from 1998 to 2003. Methods The specimens for viral isolation were taken with swabs from children's throats and the material was inoculated into the MDCK cells and were incubated at 33 ℃ The supernatant of MDCK cells culture was tested with hemagglutination test. Results Influenza viruses were isolated from 264 of 3444 children; total positive rate of influenza virus isolation was 7.6%. The positive rate of influenza viruses was 16.8% in 1998; the prevailing strain of influenza viruses was H3N2. The influenza viruses isolation rate was 7.4% in 1999;the positive rate was 8.4% ; HIN1 occurred in 2000, the positive rate was 3.8%. H3N2 did not occur in 2001; the positive rate was 7.3% ; influenza B viruses was the prevailing strain in 2002; the positive rate was 1.7% in 2003. Influenza B viruses was Yamagata like strain from 1998 to 2001, Victoria like strain from 2002 to 2003. H9N2 avian influenza virus was isolated from a child. Conclusions Influenza was prevalent in Guangzhou in 1998, but not prevalent from 1999 to 2003. Most of influenza B viruses were Yamagata strain. There were cases avian influenza caused by H9N2 in 1999.

There is evidence that 5-7 d after acute seizure episodes induced by kainic acid (KA) the rats develop a long-lasting increase in the susceptibility to seizures followed by spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). The present study was focused on the role of hippocampal mu opioid receptors (MORs) in the susceptibility of rats to seizures with the KA model of epilepsy. The rats received a convulsant dose of KA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were continuously infused with a selective MOR agonist PL017 (2.09, 2.59, 3.29 microg/microl), or a selective MOR antagonist beta-funaltrexamine hydrochloride (beta-FNA, 0.88, 1.10, and 1.35 microg/microl) into ventral hippocampus by means of mini-osmotic pumps. Seven days later, the susceptibility of rats to seizures was checked by a subconvulsant dose of KA (5 mg/kg, i.p.). PL017 infusion shortened the latency and increased the stage of seizures induced by subconvulsant dose of KA in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, infusion of beta-FNA exhibited a dose-dependent effect against seizures challenged by subconvulsant dose of KA. These results indicate that hippocampal MOR may exert a promoting effect on the susceptibility of rats to KA-induced seizures.
Animals ; Disease Susceptibility ; Dynorphins ; pharmacology ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Kainic Acid ; Male ; Naltrexone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; agonists ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

Various cardiovascular diseases may lead to heart failure (HF), however, traditional indexes are affected by too many subjective factors so they cannot reflect HF severity objectively. Half-life period of N terminal pro Btype natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is longer than brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which may benefit HF detection. The present article made a review on research progress for NT-proBNP application in HF.