Objective To study the anti-tumor effects of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNF-α generadiotherapy on mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma, and to explore the mechanism involved. Methods 240 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma were randomly divided into four groups, including control group,irradiation group, liposome group, and liposome combined irradiation group. The plasmids packed by liposome were injected locally into the tumors of the mice, and the tumors of liposome combined irradiation group were irradiated with 10 Gy γ-rays 24 h later. The expression levels of TNF-α and endostatin in mouse serum were measured by ELISA. Then the tumor growth rates at different time were observed. Tumor angiogenesis density were estimated on frozen sections stained with CD31 by using the Chalkley counting method to vessel hot-spots. The tumor inhibition rates were also calculated. Results Radiation induced the expression of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNFα. The endostatin and TNF-α were expressed steadily for about 4 weeks. The highest levels of expression of the endostatin and TNF-α were (52. 64 ±4. 19)and( 12. 01 ±0. 87 ) ng/ml at 2 week. The expression levels of TNF-α and endostatin were higher in combined therapy group than those in other groups( F = 29. 726,P ＜ 0.05 ). Compared with the control group, the density of tumor angiogenesis were depressed [ (4.7 ± 0. 8 ) vs ( 10.0 ± 1. 2)/field, t = 14. 063, P ＜ 0.05 ] and tumor growth were significantly inhibited compared to the control group and irradiation group [ (5907. 2 ±78.6), (4653.4±32.8) and (763.5 ± 12.3) mm3, F= 16.415,P ＜0.05)]. Conclusions The expression of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNFα could be induced by irradiation in dose- and time-dependent manner. The effect of antitumor and angiogenesis inhibition may be more significant than irradition.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hiccup ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Young Adult

Humans ; Lipodystrophy ; congenital

AIMTo observe protective effects and involved mechanism of ginsenoside Rb3 on hypoxic/ischemic brain injury, using cultured hippocampal neurons, rat hippocampal slices and intact animals.

METHODS(1) Mice were tightly closed in glasses of 150 ml, and then survival time of them was observed. (2) During simulated ischemia and after reoxygenation, changes of orthodromic population spikes (OPS) in the area CA1 of hippocampal slice were investigated. (3) By using histochemistry, the expressions of NOS in CA1 area of rat hippocampus after hypoxic exposure were observed. (4) Using LDH detection, tests of total NOS, iNOS and cNOS activity, the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb3 were investigated on cultured hippocampal neurons treated with hypoxia.

RESULTS(1) Given ginsenoside Rb3 (10 mmol/L), mice survived significantly longer than that of control group. (2) The occurrence of HIP (hypoxic injury potentials) decreased after administration of ginsenosides Rb3 (60 micromol/L) in many slices, while the recovery rate and amplitude of OPS after reoxygenation were significantly higher than those of the control group. (3) In CA1 area of rat hippocampus, NOS-positive neurons increased at the end of 24 h hypoxia and further 24 h reoxygenation, while the number of NOS-positive neurons decreased after treatment with ginsenoside Rb3. (4) The LDH leakage rate of cultured rat hippocampal neurons increased at the end of hypoxia, while it decreased after treatment with Rb3. Moreover the total NOS, especially iNOS activity of these neurons also decreased.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rb3 has a significant protective effect on hypoxic-ischemic injury of neurons, and this involves the stabilization of the cell membrane, the inhibition of the expression and activity of NOS, especially iNOS activity.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the different analgesic effects of acupuncture by selecting points along and not along the meridian in treating migraine, analyze the necessity of selecting points along the meridian in the treatment of migraine with acupuncture, and to provide evidence for the acupuncture treatment for migraine.Method Sixty-nine migraine patients were selected as the study subjects and randomized into Shaoyang meridian group, Yangming meridian group and a non-meridian point group by adopting a complete randomized design, 23 cases in each group, to respectively receive acupuncture at the Yuan-primary point of Foot Shaoyang Meridian Qiuxu (GB40), the Yuan-primary point of Foot Yangming Meridian Chongyang (ST42), and a non-meridian point at the midpoint between Qiuxu and Chongyang. Of the three groups, only Shaoyang meridian group selected point along the meridian. The improvements of pain intensity in the three groups were compared, and the pain intensity was measured by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Nonparametric test was used to analyze whether there were significant differences in comparing the improvements of pain in the three groups.Result According to the statistical analyses, the pain intensities were improved significantly in each group (P<0.001), while there were no significant between-group differences in comparing the improvement of pain intensity (P>0.05).Conclusion In the treatment of migraine with acupuncture, selecting points along the meridian and not along the meridian (including non-meridian point) produces equivalent analgesic effect.

BACKGROUNDValproic acid (VPA) improves early survival and organ function in a highly lethal poly-trauma and hemorrhagic shock model or other severe insults. We assessed whether VPA could improve organ function in a rat model of septic shock and illustrated the possible mechanisms.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group, VPA group, LPS group, and LPS + VPA group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to replicate the experimental model of septic shock. Rats were treated with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Six hours after LPS injection, blood was sampled for gas analysis, measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Lung, liver and kidney were collected for histopathological assessment. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-a in pulmonary tissue were measured. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung was also evaluated by Western blotting.

RESULTSLPS resulted in a significant decrease in PaO2, which was increased by VPA administration followed LPS injection. In addition, LPS also induced an increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, these increases were attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. The lungs, liver and kidneys from the LPS group were significantly damaged compared with the control group. However, the damage was attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. Myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pulmonary tissue increased significantly in the LPS group compared with the control group. These increases were significantly inhibited in the LPS + VPA group. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung tissue in the LPS group was inhibited compared with the control. However, the level of acetylation of histone H3 in the LPS + VPA group was markedly elevated in contrast to the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with VPA can attenuate multiple organ damage caused by LPS induced septic shock. Our data also suggest that the beneficial effects are in part due to the decrease in inflammatory cytokines and restoration of normal acetylation homeostasis.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the current staffing of nurses and need of hospital nursing human resources in China.Methods Data were collected from 181 secondary and tertiary hospitals and 9774 nurses in mainland China by questionnaires.Results The average doctor-nurse ratio was 1 ∶ 1.39 in tertiary hospitals and 1 ∶ 1.31 in secondary hospitals.The doctor-nurse ratios in 164 hospitals (97.6％) and the proportion of nurses in health care staff in 105 hospitals (61.8％) had not reached the standard set by the Ministry of Health of China.62.3％ nurses held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.The constituent ratio of nurses held secondary diploma decreased,while the ratio of nurses held advanced diploma and bachelor degree increased in the last 5 years from 2003 to 2007.Sixty percent of newly employed nurses were contract nurses in 2003.The proportion increased to 78％ in 2007,and in some regions it accounted for more than 90％ of new nurses.The needs and constituent ratio of nurses with.secondary diploma and advanced diploma would decrease while nurses with bachelor degree and master degree would increase in the next 5 years (from 2009 to 2013).Conclusions The nursing shortage is still severe in China,and nursing staff mainly held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.Most of new nurses were employed as conwact nurses.The need of hospitals for nurses has increased,especially for nurses with higher educational level such as bachelor degree and master degree,while the need for secondary diploma hold ers have decreased.The need for advanced diploma holders has increased in the last 5 years and would decrease in the next 5 years,but they would still be the majority of employed nurses.The authors suggested that the staffing of nursing manpower,the work environments and career development of contract nurses should be improved,and the initial nursing education should be upgraded to meet the needs of hospitals.

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutations of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene in mucopolysaccharidosis type II patients.

METHODSPCR-SSCP analysis was applied to detect the common mutations in the exons 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 in IDS-gene of the patient. DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP were applied to analyze the mutation detected by PCR-SSCP.

RESULTSA new mutation(1253G-->T) of exon 7 of the IDS gene was found by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing in the patient, The PCR-restriction enzyme digestion showed that enzyme digestion location appeared in the patient and his mother, which verified the results of sequencing analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation of patient with MPSII could be detected effectively and quickly by the applications of PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction enzyme digestion analysis, and the new mutation thus detected is necessary for the prenatal diagnosis of the pedigree.

Child ; Humans ; Iduronate Sulfatase ; genetics ; Male ; Mucopolysaccharidosis II ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of low dose pituitrin in children with septic shock.

METHODSA total of 48 pediatric cases with septic shock, in whom 6 hours, conventional treatment could not reverse shock from January 2008 to December 2010, were selected for this study. The patients were divided into two groups randomly (completely random design) (control group 24, remedial group 24). The conventional treatment included antibiotics/fluid resuscitation/correcting acid-base imbalance, glucocorticoid, organ (heart/lung) support, dopamine 1 - 15 µg/(kg·min) and norepinephrine 0.5 - 2 µg/(kg·min) pumped in continuously in the control group. In initial 6 hours the same treatment was given to the remedial group, while low dose pituitrin (0.01 - 0.03 U/min) was pumped additionally during the rest of time. The therapeutic effect on correcting shock was evaluated in both groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 76.2% in the remedial group and 40.0% in the control group; the mortality was 33.3% and 60% respectively. The difference between both groups was significant (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONLow dose pituitrin could improve the clinical effect significantly in children with septic shock in whom 6 hours conventional treatment failed to correct shock, shorten the total periods of treatment, and decrease mortality.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; therapeutic use ; Pituitary Hormones, Posterior ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the antileukemic activity of L-asparaginase through determining the changes of 4 kinds of amino acids (Asn, Aspa, Glu and Gln) in cell culture medium.

METHODSFollowing L-Asp treatment with designed concentrations and duration, the IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 8 kinds of common leukemia cell lines (U937, HL-60, Jurkat, NB4, THP-1, Namalwa, Karpass299, K562) were determined by CCK-8 assay. The changes of the 4 kinds of amino acids mentioned above were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTSThe asparagines in cell culture medium were rapidly exhausted when treated with 0.01 U/mL L-Asp for 4 hrs or 1 U/mL L-Asp for 5 minutes. There were significant differences in the sensitivities to L-Asp of different leukemia cell lines. The sensitivities to L-Asp of various cell lines were dose-dependent. Low concentration of L-Asp resulted in a low IC50 and the IC50 increased following the L-Asp concentration increased.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent leukemia cell lines have different sensitivities to L-Asp, suggesting that exhaustion of asparagines around leukemia cells could not reflect the treatment efficacy of L-Asp. L-Asp antileukemic activity is dose-dependent, which suggests the importance of high-dose L-Asp on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Asparaginase ; pharmacology ; Asparagine ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy