To compare the characteristics of absorption and pharmacokinetic behavior of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) with ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), bile excretion of both Rg1 and Rb1 were studied after i.v. and i.g. of PNS solution. Plasma protein binding ratios were studied using equilibrium dialysis method, and referred to pharmacokinetic parameters. It shows that (61.48 +/- 18.30)% dose of Rg1 and (3.94 +/- 1.49)% dose of Rb1 were separately excreted into bile 10 hours after i.v. administration (PNS 50 mg x mL(-1)), and (0.91 +/- 0.51)% dose of Rg1 and (0.055 +/- 0.02)% dose of Rb1 were excreted into bile 12 hours after i.g. administration (PNS 1 500 mg x mL(-1)). Plasma protein binding degrees of Rg1 and Rb1 were 6.56% - 12.74% and 80.1% - 89.69%, respectively. Stomach, intestinal and hepatic throughput efficiency (F(S), F1 and F(H)) for Rg1 were 49.85%, 13.05%, 50.56%, respectively, and 25.82%, 4.18%, 65.77% for Rb1. Therefore, poor intestinal absorption is a primary reason for the low bioavailability of both Rg1 and Rb1. Rg1 possesses relatively high bile excretion and low plasma protein binding rate, in contrast, Rb1 possesses low bile excretion and high plasma protein binding rate. Membrane permeability and elimination rate of Rb1 were lower than that of Rg1, meanwhile, longer MRT and bigger AUC could be found for Rb1.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bile ; secretion ; Biological Availability ; Ginsenosides ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics

Water in oil (W/O) microemulsion formulation was developed to enhance intestinal absorption of ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) of panax notoginseng (PNS). Effects of W/O microemulsions on pharmacokinetics after intraduodenal administration, membrane fluidity and membrane transport of Rb, were studied in rats, liposomes and parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA), respectively. Soybean phospholipids/ethanol (SP/EtOH) was selected as surfactant/cosurfactant, together with PNS 400 mg x mL(-1) solution and various kinds of oils, to prepare 11 W/O microemulsions. Most of the microemulsions can enhance Rb1 intestinal absorption significantly. Besides surfactant/cosurfactant, oil also had an effect on the enhanced absorption and the order of enhancement was as follows: glyceryl laurate approximately = isopropyl myristate > isopropyl palmitate > 2-ethylhexanol palmitate. The effection of absorption enhancement by the long chain glyceride ( > C14) is lower than that by the medium chain glyceride (C8 - C14). Most of W/O microemulsions were found to enhance the membrane fluidity of liposomes to different extents. In PAMPA analysis, efficient permeability coefficient (Pe) of diluted-microemulsion (D-ME) is mostly higher than that of PNS solution, which indicated the components of microemulision can facilitate the membrane permeability of the drug. Meanwhile, linearity correlation between Pe and ratio of relative bioavailability (Fr) was acquired for undiluted microemulison (ME). Therefore, W/O microemulsions can enhance intestinal absorption of Rbr, and this effect may be attiributed to its enhancement on membrane fluidity to a certain degree. PAMPA analysis could be brought into not only the investigation of membrane transport of crude drug, but also conditioned preformulation research (e.g. absorption enhancer etc.).
Animals ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Membrane Fluidity ; Oils ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Permeability ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the structure and functional activity of hTNF alpha.

METHODSFour hTNF alpha mutants were constructed, different binding structures and gene responses related with these mutants were studied by the methods of immunoprecipitation and mRNA differential display.

RESULTSThe specific activities and LD50 of the different hTNF alpha mutants indicated their different bioactivities. It was shown that the hTNF alpha mutants had the relative binding affinities to the wild types. The mRNA differential display assay proved that the hTNF alpha mutants stimulated different gene responses.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the specific anti-tumor activities of hTNF alpha mutants are accomplished by inducing different or same gene response at different quantities after its binding to specific receptor.

Amino Acid Motifs ; Apoptosis ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Mutation ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of micrometastasis detection in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) from patients with early cervical carcinoma.

METHODSThirty patients with early cervical carcinoma were studied to identify SLN intraoperatively using methylene blue. One lymph node was removed randomly from palpable SLN and other pelvic lymph nodes (nSLN) in each patient, so 268 lymph nodes were collected and cut into two halves, one half of the lymph node was used to analyze the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine the presence of micrometastasis, the other half was examined by routine histology with HE staining.

RESULTS67 SLNs were detected in 28 cases (93.3%). Pelvic lymph nodes of 6 cases were confirmed pathological metastasis. The sensitivity of SLN detection was 66.7%, the accuracy rate was 96.4%, and the false negative rate was 16.7%. Among 268 lymph nodes (including 9 lymph nodes with pathological metastasis) detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, 68 lymph nodes were pathological negative but had micrometastasis, accounting for 26.3% (68/259) in pathologically negative lymph nodes. Among 24 patients with pathological negative lymph nodes, 16 cases had micrometastasis, accounting for 66.7% in those patients. Among 16 patients with micrometastasis, SLN of 3 cases were negative, but nSLN were micrometastasis, so the SLN false-negative rate rose to 18.2%. There were no significant relationships between pelvic lymph nodes micrometastasis and perivascular space involvement, deep stromal invasion and tumor grade (all P > 0.05). The micrometastasis rate of nSLN in patients with SLN micrometastasis was 100%, significantly higher than that in the patients with SLN non-micrometastasis (27.3%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSReal-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction is a sensitive method to detect SLN micrometastasis. SLN micrometastasis may be an effective complement to SLN pathology to predict nSLN metastasis. Pelvic lymph nodes micrometastases have no significant relationship with pathological risk factors in cervical cancer and prognosis of patients.

Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis

In this study the effects of red orpiment on NB4 and HL-60 cells were tried to determine. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR to determine the PML mRNA expression, immuno-fluorcscence study, together with the fluorescence stain and morphological observations were used. The results showed that: (1) red orpiment induces apoptosis morphologically in NB4 and HL-60 cells, the morphology of typical apoptosis can be seen in NB4 and HL-60 cells after 12 hours of treatment with red orpiment. Through the Wright's stain, we can see the extensive membrane blebbing, condensation of heterochromatin, and cell fragmentation, apoptotic body appearing. Many dead cells can be found on the second day. (2) in NB4 cells, red orpiment is shown to induce the PML-RARalpha chimera disappearance and to reorganize then to degradation of PML nuclear bodies which also seen in HL-60 cells, indirect immunofluorescence staining of PML with a specific monoclonal antibody was performed in control and treated cells. In NB4 cells, the control was diffusely microspeckled pattern of immunoreactivity. Upon red orpiment treatment, the microspeckled pattern disappeared, PML protein reversed into normal location. and the the size and the brightness of the particles were increased obviously. The normal nuclear distribution of PML protein was seen in untreated HL-60 cells. After treatment with red orpiment, in the nuclei of HL-60 cells, the size and the brightness of the particles were also increased. After two days of treatment with red orpiment, the immunofluorescent particles in cells almost disappeared. (3) the expression of PML mRNA is not changed in red orpiment-treated cells, RT-PCR to determine the PML mRNA expression in NB4 and HL-60 cells treated with red orpiment, the expression results are similar to the controls, that to say, the PML mRNA lever is unaffected. It was concluded that, red orpiment induced PML to play the effects of induce apoptosis in leukemia cells at the translational level and inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cells.

OBJECTIVETo establish a new culture method to induce the differentiation of embryonic pancreatic cells into mature endocrine cells.

METHODSMouse embryos at day 12.5 were used and embryonic pancreata were isolated. The isolated embryonic pancreata were cultured on the filter for 7 days, which floated in the dish containing medium. During culture, the expression of pancreas duodenum homeobox-1 (PDX-1), a pancreatic stem cell marker, was examined at day 1. The expression of neurogenin 3 (Ngn3), a pancreatic progenitor cell marker, was examined at day 3. The expressions of endocrine and exocrine markers, insulin, glucagon, and carboxypeptidase (CPA) were examined at day 7 by immunohistochemistry. The kinetics of pancreatic marker expression during culture was assayed by real-time PCR.

RESULTSMany pancreatic stem cells still existed in embryonic pancreata cultured for 1 day; meanwhile, these pancreatic stem cells proliferated in high rate. A large amount of pancreatic progenitor cells were found in embryonic pancreata cultured for 3 days.Pancreatic stem/progenitor cells differentiated into mature endocrine and exocrine cells in embryonic pancreata after having been cultured for 7 days. Furthermore, the expression pattern of pancreatic marker is consistent with that in vivo.

CONCLUSIONWe successfully established a new culture method, with which embryonic pancreatic cells can efficiently differentiate into mature endocrine cell.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Endocrine Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; cytology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of intervention therapy with Shentao Ruangan pill (SRP) and hydroxycamptothecine (HCPT) in treating 85 patients with middle-advanced large hepatocarcinoma, and to analyze the factors that could affect the prognosis.

METHODSEighty-five patients were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 52) and the control group (n = 33). The treated group was treated by oral taking of SRP combined with local perfusion of HCPT through hepatic artery catheterization, while to the control group, the conventional therapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was conducted for control. The clinical efficacy of treatment in the two groups was evaluated by the change of tumor size, the factors related with prognosis were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model and the analysis of survival conducted by Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS(1) The tumor size reducing rate in the treated group was 19.2% and the tumor size stabilizing rate was 82.7%, while those in the control group was 21.2% and 81.8% respectively, comparison of the criteria between the two groups showed insignificant difference (P > 0.05); (2) The median survival time, 0.5- year, 1- year and 2- year survival rate in the treated group was 326 days, 80.95%, 41.39% and 12.42% respectively, those in the control group was 262 days, 64.29%, 25.00% and 8.33% respectively, comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05); (3) Among the 3 TCM types in patients, the survival time and rates in patients of Gan-excess with Pi-deficiency type was similar to those in patients of Gan-heat with blood stasis type showing insignificant difference (P > 0.05), but as compared with those in patients of Gan-Shen Yin-deficiency type, the difference was significant (P < 0.05) ; (4) Beneficial factor to the prognosis were therapeutic method, that used in the treated group was superior to that used in the control group. The risk factors to the prognosis were TCM type, clinical stage and liver function. Patients of Gan-excess with Pi-deficiency type had the optimal prognosis, those of Gan-heat with blood stasis type the next and of Gan-Shen Yin-deficiency the worst. The later the clinical stage and the worse the Child-Pugh grade of liver function was, the worse the prognosis would be.

CONCLUSION(1) SRP combined with HCPT intervention treatment is superior to the simple TACE treatment in elevating patients' survival rate and time; (2) There are some relations between TCM types and prognosis; (3) Local Chinese drug therapy combined with systemic therapy could be one of the effective measures of non-operational therapy in treating large hepatocarcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enbucrilate ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo construct a method to culture pancreatic progenitor cells in hanging drop and on floating filter,and to examine if pancreatic progenitor cells can differentiate into mature endocrine cells with this method.

METHODSMurine embryos at day 12.5 were isolated and digested into single cells,which were then cultured in hanging drop for 24h and formed spheres.Spheres were cultured on the filter for 6 days,which floated in the dish containing medium.During culture,the expressions of pancreas duodenum homeobox-1(PDX-1)and neurogenin3(Ngn3)were determined.The expressions of endocrine and exocrine markers,insulin,glucagon,and carboxypeptidase(CPA)were determined on day 7 by immunohistochemistry.Insulin secretion of spheres stimulated by glucose was detected by ELISA.The changes of pancreatic marker expressions during culture were monitored by real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).

RESULTSOne day after the culture,there were still a large amount of PDX-1 positive cells in pancreatic spheres,and these cells proliferated.On day 3,high expression of Ngn3 was detected,and the Ngn3-positive cells did not proliferate.On day 7,The expressions of endocrine and exocrine markers in the differentiated pancreatic progenitor cells were detected,which were consistent with that in vivo.Insulin was secreted by spheres upon the stimulation of glucose.

CONCLUSIONIn hanging drop and on floating filter,pancreatic progenitor cells can differentiate into mature endocrine cells.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endocrine Cells ; cytology ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Mice ; Pancreas ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the efficiency of cervical lymph node metastasis dissection and postoperative morbidity after selective three-field lymph node dissection (3FLND) for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and explore the proper selection conditions.

METHODSAccording to the conditions as follows: systemic evaluation, tumor T staging, tumor location, cervical CT and ultrasonography and the number of lymph nodes metastases, 85 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were selected and received 3FLND.

RESULTSIn the same period 45.5% (85/187) of the patients received 3FLND selectively based on the conditions. The rate of the cervical lymph nodes metastasis was 40.0% (34/85). The rate of the cervical positive lymph nodes of the upper, middle and lower thoracic esophageal carcinomas with enlarged lymph nodes suggested by cervical CT and ultrasonography was 68.4% (13/19), 41.7% (20/48) and 16.7% (1/6), respectively. Twelve patients with upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma with enlarged lymph nodes unrevealed by cervical CT and ultrasonography showed no histopathological lymph node metastasis. In the same period 17.1% (32/187) of the patients were selectively not undergone three-field lymph node dissection. The cervical lymph node metastasis rates in patients with upper and middle mediastinal lymph node metastasis were 79.3% (23/29) and 58.6% (17/29), significantly higher than 8.9% (5/56) and 7.1% (4/56) in the patients without upper and middle mediastinal lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). There was no in-hospital mortality in the group. The incidence of pulmonary complications and over-all postoperative morbidity was 24.7% and 42.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSelective 3FLND based on certain conditions can reduce the risk of postoperative morbidity and improve the efficiency of metastatic cervical lymph node dissection in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The thoracic tracheoesophageal groove positve lymph node indicated by CT scans should be one of selective conditions for 3FLND. The upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma should selectively receive 3FLND. The selection standards should be more strict for the lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To construct a bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid for mouse interleukin-12 and to observe its expression in vitro or in vivo.METHODS: The full-length cDNA encoding p35 and p40 was cloned into eukaryotic cells expression vector pcDNA 3.1 respectively. Subsequently,the p35 expression unit was inserted into pcDNA 3.1/p40 to produce the bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid in which the p35 and p40 genes were controlled by their own CMV.The plasmid was expressed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The mIL-12 in the supernatant was detected by ELISA after the pCmIL-12 was transfected into COS-7 cells. The activity of NK cells could be augmented by the supernatant in vitro and also by by intradermal delivery of pCmIL-12 in vivo. CONCLUSION: The plasmid constructed by us can express biologically active mIL-12 in vitro and in vivo.