To investigate plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-BNP) levels and to assess their clinical significance in elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction. Methods Plasma NT-BNP level were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 34 symptomatic patients (Group 1), 34 asymptomatic patients (Group 2) with isolated diastolic dysfunction, and in 16elderly healthy subjects (control group, Group 3), serving controls. Colored Doppler echocardiography was performed to evaluate the patients' cardiac structures and functions. Results The plasma NT-BNP level in Group 1 was significantly higher than those in Group 2 and Group 3 and increased with the severity of heart failure. There was no significant difference of plasma NT-BNP levels between Group 2 and Group 3 (p＞0.05). A NT-BNP value of 102.75 pg/mL showed a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 87.5%, and an accuracy of 88.1% for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction. Patients with restrictive filling pattern on echocardiography had higher NTBNP levels than those of impaired relaxation pattern (1961.2±304.9 versus 460. 1±92.7pg/mL, p＜0.001). Conclusion The elevation of plasma NT-BNP level in elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction correlates with the severity of their diastolic abnormalities.The level of plasma NT-BNP has an important clinical value in the diagnosis of elderly patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction.

Objective To observe the influencing factors of recurrence and metastasis for postoperative breast cancer high-risk population, and TCM regimen of syndrome differentiation and treatment was used to validate its significance for the prevention of recurrence and metastasis. Methods The influencing factors of recurrence and metastasis of 178 postoperative breast cancer high-risk cases with positive hormone receptor were studied. The recurrence and metastasis, disease-free survival and accumulative points of TCM symptoms of integrated group (with TCM syndrome differentiation and endocrine therapy) and western medicine group (with endocrine therapy) were compared. Results Lymph node metastasis, cancer staging and TCM therapy had influence on the disease-free survival rate of postoperative breast cancer high-risk patients. TCM therapy was the independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. 3-year recurrence and metastasis rate was lower in integrated group than that in western medicine group, with statistical difference (P=0.03). The total accumulative points of TCM symptoms in both two groups decreased after treated for 3 and 6 months, integrated group showed greater significance. TCM therapy was better for the treatment of irritability, hot flash and perspiration, good for spontaneous perspiration and insomnia, but poor in dry mouth, bitter taste in mouth and fatigue. Conclusion Lymph node metastasis, cancer staging and TCM therapy are main influencing factors for recurrence and metastasis. TCM therapy with regimen of syndrome differentiation and treatment can reduce 3-year recurrence and metastasis rate, improve TCM symptoms, especially is significant for the improvement of irritability, hot flash and perspiration.

Adult ; Axilla ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelioid Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Gland ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Parotid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

To study the effect of sodium aescinate in inducing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of sodium aescinate on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes were observed under inverted microscope. DAPI nuclear staining was used to detect the changes in cell nucleus. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Changes in apoptosis-related proteins (PARP, cleaved caspase-8 and pro-caspase-3), cell survival-associated signal molecules (AKT and ERK) and their common upstream kinase SRC was detected by Western blotting. The result showed that after different concentrations of sodium aescinate were used to treat breast cancer MCF-7 cells, they inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced cell apoptosis (typical morphological changes in nucleus, significant increase in cell apoptosis rate). The expressions of cleaved PARP and caspase-8 increased, while the expression of pro-caspase-3 decreased, which further verified sodium aescinate's effect in inducing cell apoptosis. Sodium aescinate significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of cell survival-related signal molecules (AKT, ERK) and down-regulate the activation of their common up-stream kinase SRC. The findings indicated that sodium aescinate can block signals transiting to downstream molecules AKT, ERK, inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7 cell apoptosis and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of SRC.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; src-Family Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:This work aims to investigate diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibition of cell migration and invasion in human colon cancer SW480 cells through the Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway. Methods:The potential of cell migration and invasion was examined by scratch healing assay and transwell membrane assay. The expression of Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results:After the SW480 cells were treated with 40 and 50 mg·L-1 of DADS for 24 h, the number of transmembrane cells through the Matrigel obviously decreased by 57.12%and 64.59%, respectively (P<0.05). After cell treatment for 48 h, the cell migration rates were 23.23%and 12.87%, which were significantly lower compared with the control group (75.86%;P<0.05). After the cells were treated with 45 mg·L-1 of DADS for 24 and 48 h, the expression of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, and destrin mRNA respectively decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the expression of cofilin1 mRNA (P>0.05). After the treatment with 45 mg·L-1 of DADS for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, the expression of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, and Destrin proteins respectively decreased in a time-dependent manner compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the expression of the cofilin1 protein (P>0.05). Moreover, the expression of p-LIMK1 and p-cofilin1 notably decreased in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). Conclusion:DADS inhibits cell migration and invasion, which is related to the down-regulation of Rac1, Rock1, PAK1, LIMK1, p-LIMK1, p-cofilin1, and destrin through the Rac1-ADF/cofilin1 pathway.

This article investigated the applicability of the near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) technology, combined with the least squares support vector machines (LS SVM) used for the quality monitoring of medicated leaven fermentation. First, near infrared spectra of 67 medicated leaven samples were obtained by near infrared spectroscopy system in the wavelength range of 400 2 500 nm, and then the protease and amylase activity were measured by Folin phenol method and DNS method. Thereafter, the LS SVM was employed to calibrate models. The Rc and Rp of protease in near infrared model were 0.975 and 0.938, respectively; The RMSEC and RMSEP were 5.297 and 9.795, respectively. The Rc and Rp of amylase in near infrared model were 0.987 and 0.973, respectively; The RMSEC and RMSEP were 7.215 and 6.864, respectively. This model has good prediction ability and is suitable for quality monitoring in medicated leaven fermentation process. The research achievement could lay a certain foundation for the near infrared spectral analysis technology applied in the field of traditional fermentation processing.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of CD28,cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4),programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim3) on T lymphocytes in chronic HBV-infected patients.Methods A total of 102 chronic HBV-infected patients,including 42 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB),30 patients with hepatitis B-induced liver cirrhosis (LC),and 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University during October 2012 and June 2013.Thirty healthy individuals were also enrolled as controls.Expression of CD28,CTLA-4,PD-1,Tim-3 on T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry,and the differences among groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and LSD-t test.Spearman correlation test was performed to analyze the correlations of the expression of CD28,CTLA-4,PD-1,Tim-3 on T lymphocytes with HBV DNA loads,HBeAg and ALT.Results The expression of CD4 + CD28 +,CD8 + CD28 +,CD4 + CTLA-4 + in chronic HBV-infected patients were lower than those in healthy controls.CD4 + CD28 + expression in HCC group was lower than that in CHB group (t =2.373,P ＜ 0.05) ; CD8 + CD28 + expression in LC and HCC group was lower than that in CHB group (t =4.324 and 4.088,P ＜ 0.01) ; CD8 + PD-1 +,CD4 + Tim-3 + and CD8 + Tim-3 + expressions in CHB group were higher than those in LC,HCC group and healthy controls (t =3.051,3.130,3.121,3.254 and 3.723,P ＜0.01).CD8 + PD-1 + expression was positively correlated with ALT levels and HBV DNA loads (r =0.516 and 0.582,P ＜ 0.01) ; CD8 + Tim-3 + expression was also positively correlated with ALT levels andHBV DNA loads (r =0.578 and 0.556,P ＜0.01); PD-1 and Tim-3 expressions on CD8 T lymphocytes were positively correlated with each other (r =0.578,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The abnormal expression of the molecules on T lymphocytes in chronic HBV-infected patients is closely correlated with immune function disorder and the progression of the disease.

Objective To investigate the significance of changes in expression of co-stimulatory molecules on T lymphocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection.Methods In a casecontrol study,a total of 82 CHB cases including 50 male cases and 32 female cases (the mean age was 42.32 ±3.74) were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University from October 2012 to November 2013,together with 30 cases health control (15 male cases and 15 female cases,and the mean age was 42.32 ± 3.74).Patients were divided into three groups:40 cases of non-treated,30 cases of effective-treated and 12 cases of ineffective-treated with anti-viral drugs and immune-related therapy.The expression levels of CD28,CTLA-4,PD-1,Tim-3 on T cells subset from peripheral blood were determined by Flow Cytometry.Serum load of HBV DNA was detected by Real-time PCR and the serology markers such as HBeAg and ALT were detected by conventional methods The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analysis groups comparison.Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to two sample comparison.Spearman's rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation.Results The expression levels of CD28,CTLA-4 and PD-1 on CD4 in health control group was the highest compared to ineffectivetreated group [404.65 (331.65-536.09) vs 277.15 (249.90-344.25) (H=29.81,P＜0.001);32.89 (29.69-39.69) vs 19.26 (11.90-20.56) (H =43.13,P ＜0.001),respectively].The expression level of PD-1 on CD8 in pre-treated group was the highest,while expression level in health control group was the lowest [15.47 (12.50-17.78) vs 3.05 (1.41-3.97) (H=56.60,P＜0.001)].Similarly,the expression level of Tim-3 on CD4 in ineffective-treated group was the highest,while Tim expression on CD4 in health control group was the lowest [199.62 (55.61-239.45) vs 70.62 (53.88-112.32) (H =41.03,P ＜ 0.001)].The expression level of Tim-3 on CD8 in pre-treated group was the highest,while it was the lowest in health control group [82.50 (78.69-84.58) vs 3.07 (1.56-6.87) (H=74.84,P ＜0.001)].Compared to the group with low viral load,the expression level of PD-1 on CD8 both in the pre-treated group with high viral load and the post-treated group was significantly increased [17.87 (13.38-20.94) (U=25.00,P＜0.001); 16.95 (5.39-18.27) (U=63.50,P＜0.001),respectively].Importantly,in the post-treated group,the PD-1 expression on CD4 T (r =0.689,P ＜0.001) and on CD8 T (r =0.751,P ＜ 0.001) was also positively correlated with ALT.Conclusions The abnormal expression of these co-stimulatory molecules may be present in the antiviral treatment process of CHB.It may provide new clues for the reasonable treatment of CHB.

Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Female ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction