Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value and significance of myocardial injury markers in neonates.Methods A retrospective analysis of 838 cases of myocardial injury markers in neonates,the total positive rate of hs -cTnI and the positive rates of hs -cTnI(hypersensitivity cardiac troponin I)in different kinds of neonatal disease were calculated,the levels of abnormalities consistent rate in hs -cTnI and CK -MBmass(creatine kinase MB mass)were compared with hs -cTnI and MYO(Myoglobin).Results The total positive rate of hs -cTnI was 40.33% in the 838 neonates.The highest incidence of myocardial injury was neonatal sepsis (57.14%),followed by neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage (55.56%)and neonatal convulsions (54.55%).The abnormalities consistent rate of hs -cTnI and CK -MBmass was better than hs -cTnI and MYO (85.50% vs 28.11%,χ2 =226.9,P <0.05). Conclusion Neonatal hospitalized children often complicated by myocardial injury;As a biochemical myocardial injury marker,the hs -cTnI detection is important for early detection of myocardial injury,it should be recommend as routine test items;CK -MBmass has better correlation with hs -cTnI than MYO,which can provide guide for doctors to interpret the data of myocardial injury markers.

Objective To introduce the clinical experience and investigate venous drainage of distal- ly-based dorsal digital neurocutaneous flap for finger-pulp reconstruction.Methods From Mar.2004 to Oct.2005,18 patients with traumatic finger-pulp defect (＞2cm) were treated by distally based dorsal ho- modigital neurocutaneous flaps.The flap measured 2 cm?2cm～3cm?4cm with the neuro-veno-adipal ped- icle 1cm wide and 2～3cm long.The pivot points were proximal to the PIP joints.The dorsal digital nerve was neurorrhaphied with the proper digital nerve of the recipient site.The dorsal digital vein was ligated at 1cm distal to the pivot point to prevent venous ingress.No venous anastomosis was performed.Results All the flaps survived but had some degrees of venous congestion and swelling,and 8 flaps developed tension blisters. In 13 flaps with follow-up more than 6 months,protective sensation was restored.Conclusion Dorsal digit- al neurocutaneous flap is simple and effective for finger-pulp reconstruction.Ligating the big superficial vein at the distal base to interrupt venous ingress,and allowing the proximal vein open and venous egress,can reduce flap congestion and swelling.

Objective To observe the effect of the clinical nursing pathway on the acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods Totals of 200 acute cerebral infarction patients were recruited and randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 100 cases each group.Control group received the routine nursing,while observation group received the clinical nursing pathway:the system,dynamic,continuous guidance and nursing care during hospital.Then,the length time of stay,hospitalization expenses,the incidence of complications,patients' satisfaction,the knowledge rates of disease of two groups were observed.Results The length time of stay and hospitalization expenses of observation group were respectively lower than that of the control group [ (25.2 ± 2.1 ) d vs (31.1 ± 3.2 ) d,(4 700 ± 105 ) yuan vs (5 030 ± 143 ) yuan; t =213.14,308.01 ; P ＜ 0.05 ].The incidence of complications,patients' satisfaction,the knowledge rates of disease of observation group were 2％,98.96％,96％ respectively,and that of control group were 9％,95.03％,75％ respectively,and the differences were statistically significant ( x2 =4.71,8.87,17.29,respectively ;P ＜0.05 or P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Applying the clinical nursing pathway in the management of acute cerebral infarction patients can shorten the length time of stay,decrease hospitalization expenses,reduce the incidence of the complications,and improve the knowledge rates of disease of the patients.

Objective To assess the value of real-time intraoperative neuronavigation integrated with ultrasound in the resection of deep-seated brain tumor. Methods Thirty patients with deep-seated brain tumor were treated with microneurosurgery guided with real-time ultrasound integrated with the Brain Lab IGSonic navigation. During the ultrasound based operation, the degree of brain shift and the tumor border was timely observed, and then the tumor was resected totally. Results Guiding with navigation integrated ultrasound, we noticed the brain shift with various degrees happening in 30 patients,and the border of tumor was exposed and the tumor was resected totally without serious complications.Conclusions Intraoperative ultrasound integrated with navigation is a reliable guidance which can accurately re-localize the border of deep-seated brain tumor even when the tumor is shifting, timely delineate the reformatted images from ultrasound and totally resectcd the tumor, thus decrease the surgical time and increase the safety of surgical procedure.

OBJECTIVETo gain insight into the mechanism by which sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY)-related high-mobility-group box 2 (SOX2) involved in carcinogenesis and cancer stem cells (CSCs).

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were mainly published in English from 2000 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "SOX2," "cancer," "tumor" or "CSCs."

STUDY SELECTIONArticles studying the mitochondria-related pathologic mechanism and treatment of glaucoma were selected and reviewed.

RESULTSSOX2, a transcription factor that is the key in maintaining pluripotent properties of stem cells, is a member of SRY-related high-mobility group domain proteins. SOX2 participates in many biological processes, such as modulation of cell proliferation, regulation of cell death signaling, cell apoptosis, and most importantly, tumor formation and development. Although SOX2 has been implicated in the biology of various tumors and CSCs, the findings are highly controversial, and information regarding the underlying mechanism remains limited. Moreover, the mechanism by which SOX2 involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression is rather unclear yet.

CONCLUSIONSHere, we review the important biological functions of SOX2 in different tumors and CSCs, and the function of SOX2 signaling in the pathobiology of neoplasia, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, Survivin signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and so on. Targeting towards SOX2 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy.

Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effects of exercise on JNK phosphorylation, protein and gene expression.

METHODSMale rats were randomly divided into control and trained groups. The trained rats were submitted to 1 h or 1.5 h of exercise daily and had a fragment of their excised gastrocenemius muscle, 24 h or 48 h after the last training session. The train lasted for 7 weeks. The changes in the expressions of JNK and p-JNK were determined by Western blotting. The expression of JNK mRNA was determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSGlucose tolerance test found that blood insulin concentration was decreased with exercise training. Exercise led to a marked increase in p-JNK of trained groups 24 hours after exercise in rats that exercised for 1 hour per day and 24 and 48 hours after the exercise in those that exercised for 1.5 hours per day as compared with controls, and the protein expression of JNK significantly increased 24 and 48 hours after the exercise in rats that exercised for 1.5 hours per day. JNK mRNA was increased by exercise 1.5 h/d, 24 h after the last training session.

CONCLUSIONExercise could increase muscle responsiveness to insulin, improving the total JNK and p-JNK and mRNA expression.

Animals ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Insulin ; physiology ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the effects of exercise on phosphorylated and total ERK1/2, and mRNA of ERK2.

METHODSMale rats were randomly divided into control and trained groups. The trained rats were submitted to 1 h or 1.5 h of exercise daily and had a fragment of their excised gastroenemius muscle, 24 h or 48 h after the last training session. The train lasted for 7 weeks. The changes in the expressions of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by Western blotting.The expression of ERK2 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSExercise led to a marked increase in p-ERK1/2 of trained groups as compared with controls, and increased ERK1/2 protein expression of training 1.5 h/d, 24 h and 48 h after the last training session. ERK2 mRNA was increased by exercise 1 h/d, 24 h and exercise 1.5 h/d, 24 h and 48 h after the last training session. Glucose tolerance test found that blood insulin concentration was decreased with exercise training.

CONCLUSIONEndurance exercise could increase muscle responsiveness to insulin by improving the total ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2, ERK2 mRNA expression.

Animals ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Insulin ; physiology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of lead on levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the cytoplasm of primary cultures of rat astroglial cells and the possible protective effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on lead-induced effects.

METHODSThe primary astroglia cells from 1~6 d old Wistar rats were cultured. The cells pretreated with the MEK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1) inhibitor PD98059 and bFGF, respectively, were exposed to Pb acetate of different concentrations for different times. Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of ERK.

RESULTSmRNA expression for ERK peaked 15 min after initiation of lead exposure (P<0.05) and protein expression of p-ERK peaked at 30 min (P<0.05). ERK mRNA levels and p-ERK protein levels returned to baseline after 60 and 120 min of lead exposure, respectively (P>0.05). The increase in p-ERK levels in lead-treated cells could be inhibited by PD098059. Activation of ERK in the cells by lead was prevented by pretreatment with bFGF. Total ERK protein levels did not change under the same experimental conditions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-level lead exposure resulted in transient activation of ERK through the MEK pathway, which then returned to basal levels in the continued presence of lead. Exogenous bFGF protected ERK signaling components in astroglia from lead poisoning.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Lead ; toxicity ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Endovascular Procedures ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged