OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of component I from agkistrodon acutus venomon (AAVC-I) the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to elucidate the possible anti-angiogenic mechanism of AAVC-I.

METHODSThe effect of AAVC-I on the migration of HUVECs which was cultivated in vitro and treated with AAVC-1 at four concentrations: 0, 20, 40, 80 microg/ml, was observed by methods of scratch wound-healing and Transwell assay. The expression level of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and intercellular cell adhension molecule-I (ICAM-1) were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, the migration ability of HUVECs in each AAVE-I treated group was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression level of the mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1 were decreased.

CONCLUSIONAAVC-I inhibits the migration of endothelial cell, which is acted by down-regulation of the expression content of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1.

Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Crotalid Venoms ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To study the clinicopathological features and biological behavior of inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor.Methods We studied the clinical data,HE sections,immunohistochemical staining,Epstein-Barr virus encoded nuclear RNA(EBER)in situ hybridization and outcome of one patient with inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor of liver,and thirteen patients with inflammatory pseudotumor of liver and spleen treated at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from 2001 to 2010.Results Among the thirteen inflammatory pseudotumors,we diagnosed 1 patient with inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor of spleen and 1 patient with inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor of liver using immuno-histochemical staining and EBER in situ by hybridization.The liver case had pathological morphology consistent with those described in the literatures,but the splenic case had specific histologic features.They were both female,and were alive 2.5 and 6 years after operation.Conclusions Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor should be distinguished from inflammatory pseudotumor.It is a rare tumor seen mainly in liver and spleen.The diagnosis depends on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings.Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell tumor is a low-grade malignant tumor.Surgical excision is the treatment of choice.The two cases provided evidence for its indolent behavior.

Objective To investigate BAALC(brain and acute leukemia cytoplasmic)gene expression in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and its clinical significance. Methods BAALC expression was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RQ-PCR) in 63 de novo AML patients.The association between BAALC expression and therapeutic effect was analyzed.Results The correlation coefficiencies were over 0.99 for standard curves of RQ-PCR method. BAALC expression was detected in 49(78%)AML patients.The peripheral WBC counts,hemoglobin, platelet counts and the bone mahow blast cell percentage at onset in 31 AML patients with high BAALC expression were(26.3?18.1)?10~9/L,(78.3?21.8)g/L,(76.9?64.5)?10~9/L and(61.2?22.3)% and those of 32 AML patients with low BAALC expression were(30.2?21.7)?10~9/L,(81.6?30.9)g/L, (73.9?57.2)?10~9/L,(54.3?16.3)%,respectively.No statistic differences were found between these two groups.The AML patients with normal chromosome karyotypes are more likely to have a high BAALC expression(68%)compared with those with abnormal chromosome karyotypes(23%,?~2=12.093,P= 0.001).AML patients with normal cytogenetics and high BAALC expression shows significant lower CR rate (65%)compared with those with low BAALC expression(84%,?~2=6.573,P=0.013). Conclusion High BAALC expression may define an important risk factor in AML with normal cytogenetics and predicts an adverse prognosis.

Objective To study the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) and/or hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the subdermal vascular network (SVN).Methods SVNs were selected on dorsal skin flaps of 40 Wistar rats.The animals were divided randomly into a control group,a DEX group,a HBO group and a HBO+DEX group.Cranially based,2.5 cm?10 cm dorsal SVN skin flaps were sharply incised and elevated between the dartos and SVN,then sutured to their beds.On the 7th postoperative day,the surviving flap area was measured along with the number of new capillary,the thickness of meat tissue and the number of infiltrated neutrophilie granulocytes in the SVN skin flap.Results The mean surviving flap area for the control group was 7.90 cm~2,for the DEX group it was 10.48 cm~2,for the HBO group 15.53 cm~2,and for the DEX+HBO group it was 15.58 cm~2.The improvement in surviving flap area was highly statistically signifieant compared with the control.The improvement was also statistical- ly significant when the HBO group or HBO+DEX group was compared with the DEX group.However,no statistically significant difference was found between the HBO group and HBO+DEX group.Conclusion In a rat dorsal skin flap model,DEX or HBO improved skin flap viability,but DEX alone is not as efficacious as HBO or as DEX+ HBO.DEX plus HBO showed no additive beneficial effect over HBO alone.

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the occurrence and prognosis of telbivudine (LdT) therapy-associated elevations in creatine kinase (CK) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSForty-nine patients treated with LdT from 2004 to 2010 were evaluated for development of CK elevation. In particular, the occurrences of grade 3/4 CK elevations (7-times the upper limit of normal (ULN)) and muscle damage were assessed over duration of the LdT treatment.

RESULTSThe rate of CK elevation increased with duration of LdT treatment (1 year: 61.2%; 5 years: 95.9%). In addition, the severity of CK elevation showed a trend for increasing with duration of LdT treatment, with grade 1/2 CK elevations increasing from 57.1% at year 1 to 81.6% at year 5 and grade 4 increasing from 4.1% at year 1 to 14.3% at year 5. Grade 3/4 CK elevations were observed in seven patients between LdT treatment weeks 36 and 168, but occurred most frequently between weeks 52 and 104, when the maximum peak value occurred (35.8-times the ULN). LdT treatment was stopped in two patients due to excessive CK elevation and one patient due to myositis. The majority of cases of LdT-associated grade 3/4 CK elevations were self-limiting, transient (decreasing to grades 0 or 2 within 2-3 weeks), and present without myalgia.

CONCLUSIONElevation of CK was not rare in CHB patients treated with LdT, but most cases resolved spontaneously. In general, the severity and persistence of CK elevation was not sufficient to warrant withdrawal of LdT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Creatine Kinase ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of HMGB1 small interference RNA (siRNA) on retinal vascular endothelial cells.Methods siRNA was used to inhibit the expression of HMGB1,followed by the application of CCK8 assay,Hochest33342 staining and flow cytometry to observe the effects of HMGB1 siRNA on retinal vascular endothelial cells in high glucose environment.Meanwhile,the expression of proteins related to apoptosis was detected by Western blot.Results The transfection of HMGB1 siRNA down-regulated the protein expression level of HMGB1 by 73％ in siRNA group compared with normal control (NC) group (P ＜ 0.05),and the protein expression level of HMGB1 in siRNA group was decreased by 75％ compared with scr-siRNA group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between NC group and scrsiRNA group (P ＞ 0.05).The total apoptotic rate of NC group,high-glucose group,scrsiRNA group and siRNA group was (0.40 ± 0.03)％,(49.80 ± 3.50)％,(47.60 ±1.98) ％ and (23.60 ± 2.40) ％ by flow cytometry.Compared with NC group,the apoptotic rates of high-glucose group,scr-siRNA group and siRNA group were increased (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with scr-siRNA group,the apoptotic rate of HRECs in siRNA group was reduced,with significant statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the rate of cell apoptosis between scr-siRNA group and high-glucose group (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the NC group,the protein expression level of cleavedcaspase3 protein in high-glucose group and scr-siRNA group were increased by (233 ±10) ％ and (266 ± 22) ％,respectively (both P ＜ 0.05);compared with scr-siRNA group,the protein expression level of cleaved-caspase 3 in siRNA group was reduced by (43 ±3) ％ (P ＜ 0.05);and there was no significant difference in the protein expression of cleaved-caspase 3 in high-glucose group and scr-siRNA group (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the NC group,the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in high-glucose group and scr-siRNA group was decreased by (32 ± 2) ％ and (29 ± 3) ％,accordingly (both P ＜ 0.05);compared with scr-siRNA group,the protein expression level of Bcl-2 in siRNA group was increased by (42 ± 2) ％ (P ＜ 0.05);and there was no significant difference in the protein expression of Bcl-2 in high-glucose group and scr-siRNA group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion HMGB1 siRNA can reduce the apoptosis of retinal vascular endothelial cells in high glucose environment by inhibiting the activation of cleavedcaspase3 and increasing the expression of Bcl-2.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of the autologous nucleus pulposus on the pain-related behaviors of hind paws in rats.

METHODSThe nucleus pulposus harvested from autologous coccygeal vertebra was applied beside the unilateral L4 and L5 nerve roots without compression. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of both paws were measured in different times after surgery. And hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was applied to observe the changes of nucleus pulposus and nerve roots.

RESULTSMechanical sensitivity of the operated side in paws obviously increased after application of autologous nucleus pulposus beside the lumbar nerve roots without compression. And HE staining showed obviously inflammatory changes in the nucleus pulposus and vacuolation in the nerve roots.

CONCLUSIONSInflammation resulted from nucleus pulposus may contribute to the development of mechanical hyperalgesia. The results suggest that in addition to mechanical compression, inflammation may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of sciatica.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperalgesia ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Radiculopathy ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic expression of calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) in myocardium of diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups including control, diabetic-4 week and diabetic-8 week groups(n = 10). The type 2 diabetes mellitus models were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) after high-fat and high-sugar diet for one month. The cardiac morphology was observed by electron microscope. Western blot analyzed the expression of CaSR, phospholamban (PLN), a calcium handling regulator, and Ca+-ATPase(SERCA) in cardiac tissues.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the expressions of CaSR and SERCA were decreased, while the expression of PLN was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner in diabetic groups. Meanwhile diabetic rats displayed abnormal cardiac structure.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that the CaSR expression of myocardium is reduced in the progression of DCM, and its potential mechanism may be related to the imnaired intracellular calcium homeostasis.

Animals ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing ; metabolism ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Streptozocin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the predictive value of CEA and CA19-9 in tumor progression, prognosis and neoadjuvant chemotherapy of advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 322 patients with advanced gastric cancer(54 cases undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy) from the Affiliated Oncologic Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College were reviewed. Serum CEA and CA19-9 levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, while the expression of CEA and CA19-9 protein in 54 pairs of tumor tissues and matched biopsies neoadjuvant chemotherapy were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression levels of serum CEA and CA19-9 were closely related to tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage(all P<0.05). The 5-year cumulative survival rates of patients with serum CEA-positive and CA19-9-positive were 17.0% and 11.9%, compared with 34.6% and 34.8% of the patients with serum CEA-negative and CA19-9-negative respectively (both P<0.05). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy could down-regulate CEA and CA19-9 expressions in tumor tissues(P<0.05), while there was no significantly difference in serum level(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of serum CEA and CA19-9 are closely associated with tumor progression and prognosis in advanced gastric cancer. However, further study should be done to evaluate their value in selecting patients to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Survival Rate