Objective To study in vitro the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured myoblasts,and to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind any therapeutic effect of LIPUS.Methods Myoblasts were isolated from the skeletal muscles of mice and cultured in vitro.Treatment and control groups of proliferating and differentiating myoblasts were defined.The treatment groups were exposed to LIPUS at 1.5 MHz and a spatial and temporal average intensity of 30 mW/cm2,for 20 min daily,the proliferation group for 6 consecutive days and the differentiation group for 4 consecutive days.The cell proliferation kinetics of the proliferation group were analyzed using flow cytometry.The expression of myogenic regulation factor MyoD and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the proliferation group,and of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in the differentiation group were examined by immunofluorescent staining.Myoblast fusion indexes were analyzed.Results In the LIPUS treatment groups the proliferating myoblasts had a higher ratio of active cells in the G2 and S phases (19.30％ ±5.14％,37.00％ ±8.72％),compared with the controls (10.33％ ± 1.53％,25.00％ ±4.36％),and the proliferation index increased significantly.The expression of HO-1 was up-regulated,while MyoD staining was unchanged.During the induction of differentiation,the myoblasts of the treatment group fused into smaller myotubes and the myoblast fusion index (18.73％ ± 6.81％) was significantly lower than that of the control group (37.52％ ± 11.23％),while MHC expression did not change markedly.Conclusion LIPUS can promote myoblast proliferation while inhibiting their differentiation,but it does not affect the cells' myogenic properties.HO-1 may be involved in the regulation process.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of Ghrelin and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the serum and the intestinal tissue of sepsis model rats, and to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) on the expression of HMGB1 and Ghrelin.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation (sham), the cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), the CLP + EA at Zusanli (ST36) group (EA), and the CLP + Ghrelin receptor blocking agent + EA group (GHSRA), 12 in each group. A sepsis rat model was prepared by CLP. The incision of the abdominal wall was immediately sutured along the ventral midline for rats in the Sham group. In the EA group EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed 20 min after CLP surgery with the constant voltage (2 - 100 Hz, 2 mA) for 30 min. In the GHSRA group, Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp79, Leu11]-substance P (700 nmol/kg), was administered through intravenous injection immediately after CLP, and 20 min later, EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed in the same way as for rats in the EA group. Blood samples were withdrawn 12 h after CLP. The serum levels of Ghrelin and HMGB1 were detected using ELISA. Ghrelin expressions and the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cell in the jejunum were determined by immunohistochemistry. HMGB1 contents of the jejunum tissue were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the Sham group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased and levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly decreased in the CLP group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CLP group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly decreased, but levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with the EA group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased in the GHSRA group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in levels of Ghrelin between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum level of HMGB1 was negatively correlated with Ghrelin in the Sham group, the CLP group, and the EA group (r = -0. 528, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST36) could inhibit the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum of septic rats, and promote the expression of Ghrelin. The expression of HMGB1 was inhibited by Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, which suggested that the anti-inflammation of EA at Zusanli (ST36) might be associated with Ghrelin.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Ghrelin ; metabolism ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; metabolism

Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Midazolam ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; drug effects

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

By using a cell-based high throughput screening model for the CLA-1 up-regulator, Streptomyces 203909 was found to produce up-regulator of CLA-1. A novel trichostatin analogue was isolated from the rice fermentation of Streptomyces sp. CPCC 203909by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography (CC) over silica gel, flash C18 CC, and reversed-phase HPLC. Its structure was identified as (-)-(R,2E,4Z)-7-[(4'-dimethylamino) phenyl]-4,6-dimethyl-7-oxohepta-2,4-dienoyl-L-glutamine (1) by the spectroscopic and chemical methods, and combination with the CD spectroscopy and Marfey's method. In the prelimi- nary assays, Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney 293 cell line with IC50 value 35.3 [µmol · L(-1).
Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Fermentation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Delayed Graft Function ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Transplantation ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the capability and accuracy of multi-shce spiral computed tomography(MSCT)in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in nonstenotic coronary arteries with reference to the findings of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)in a segment analysis.Methods Both IVUS exams and 16-row MSCT scans were performed on 35 consecutive patients among whom 30 patients had successful MSCT scans.A total of 94 coronary segments without significant coronary stenoses were paired-analyzed both on IVUS and MSCT segment by segment.The plaques were classified as calcified,fibrotic and soft types according to the echogeneity on IVUS.Plaque attenuation on MSCT was measured and expressed by Hounsfield units(HU).Results When referred to IVUS,MSCT had a sensitivity of 82.1%(46/56)and specificity of 89.5% (34/38),respectively in detectiong any plaques.For the detection of calcified plaques,the sensitivity and specificity were 92.1%(35/38)and 96.4%(54/56),respectively.For the detection of mixed and noncalcified plaques,MSCT had sensitivity of 73.2%(30/41)and specificity of 88.7%(47/53).But for the detection of the noncalcified plaque,the sensitivity was 66.7%(12/18). According to the findings On IVUS,the plaques were classified as calcified(n=19),fibrotic(n=19)and soft(n=16).The CT attenuation of calcified plaques was(489?169)HU(196 to 817 HU),fibrotic plaques(69?21)HU(25 to 117 HU)and soft plaques(23?18)HU(-12 to 47 HU).Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference of plaque attenuation among the three groups(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki67) with sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSSamples of pretreatment biopsies and the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy in 32 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were collected, and the expression of Ki67 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. The correlation of Ki67 and VEGF expression with clinicopathological factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of VEGF expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033), depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.007) and TNM stage (P = 0.016), but not with histological type, tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). However, VEGF expression was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with the sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (P = 0.016), and a transient increase of VEGF expression was detected in the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.035). Ki67 labeling index (Ki67-LI) was found to be significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.028), but not with tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). It was also found that tumors with lower Ki67-LI expression were more sensitive to neoadjuvant therapy than that with higher expression of Ki67-LI (P = 0.032). In contrast with VEGF, the Ki67 expression level decreased after neoadjuvant therapy, but no statistical significance was found between pretreatment and posttreatment specimens (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary results of this study demonstrate that the expression of VEGF and Ki67 in pretreatment biopsy of rectal adenocarcinoma may be used as a biomarker to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the blood supply of low density viable area of primary heptocellular carcinoma after transcatheter hepatic artery chemoembolization using lipiodol (LP-TACE), by helical dual-phase CT scanning and three dimensional CT (3DCT).

METHODSThirty-four patients with primary heptocellular carcinoma after LP-TACE were examined by hepatic helical dual-phase CT. 3DCT model of the maximum intensity projection (MIP), surface shaded display (SSD) reconstruction of the hepatic artery and portal vein were simultaneously done in 5 cases.

RESULTSViable tumor areas of 34 cases of primary heptocellular carcinoma after LP-TACE were divided into four types: peripheral, lateral, central and diffused types. Enhanced tumor vessel or tissue in viable tumor area was found during hepatic dual-phase in 17 cases, during hepatic artery-phase only in 8 and hepatic portal vein-phase only in 3. The viable tumor areas were found to have blood supply from the hepatic vein in 2 cases. The viable tumor area unenhanced during hepatic dual-phase was found in 6 cases. In 5 cases, the relation between the viable tumor area and branches of hepatic artery and portal vein was showed by MIP and SSD of hepatic artery and portal vein.

CONCLUSIONHepatic helical dual-phase CT scan with 3DCT is effective in evaluating the blood supply of viable tumor areas and the therapeutic effect of primary heptocellular carcinoma after LP-TACE.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheterization ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

This article focused on a comparative analysis on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of berberine (BER) and jateorhizine(JAT) in Coptidis Rhizoma powder (HL-P) and their monomeric compounds (BER + JAT, BJ) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats to explore the beneficial. effect of HL-P in the treatment of T2D. The T2D rats were treated with HL-P, BER, JAT and BJ, respectively for 63 d. The pharmacokinetic parameters, dynamic changes in blood glucose level and blood lipid values were measured. The results showed that, compared with other corresponding group, t(max), T(½ka) of BER and JAT in HL-P group were reduced, while C(max), AUC(inf), AUC(last), V(L)/F were significantly increased; compared with model group, blood glucose levels were decreased significantly in HL-P group since the 18th day, while those in BER or BJ group were reduced since the 36th day, however, blood glucose levels showed no obvious changes in JAT group; compared with model group, FFA values in all treatment group were decreased significantly. Moreover, TG, HDL and LDL value in HL-P group, LDL value in BER group and HDL value in BJ group were improved significantly. The above results showed that Coptidis Rhizoma powder showed excellent pharmacokinetic characteristics and excellent activity of lowering blood glucose and lipid. It provided a scientific basis for oral application of Coptidis Rhizoma powder in the treatment of T2D.
Animals ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Male ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar