OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to investigate the effects of irradiation on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells.

METHODSMC3T3-E1 cells were irradiated 24 h after initial seeding. Gamma-radiation was administered at 0, 4, and 8 Gy as single doses by using a 60Co source. Cell proliferation was assessed at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-irradiation by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte-trazolium bromide assay. The collagen secretion of the cells was measured through sirius red staining at day 12 post-irradiation. The expressions of osteogenesis-related genes were assessed through real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction at day 16 post-irradiation. The matrix mineralization caused by cells was evaluated through alizarin red staining at day 28 post-irradiation.

RESULTSThe cells exposed to 4 Gy or 8 Gy demonstrated significantly lower proliferation rates compared with the non-irradiated group. Doses of 4 Gy or more significantly inhibited the expressions of osteogenesis-related genes (Osterix and osteocalcin). Collagen secretion and cell mineralization were significantly reduced by the 8 Gy dose.

CONCLUSION60Co gamma-rays dose-dependently suppress the proliferation, collagen secretion, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, radiation seems to dose-dependently inhibit the expressions of osteogenesis-related genes of the cells.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of SAA by detecting their expression levels in patients with lung cancer and the analysis of the relativity of SAA for early diagnosis.Methods There are 243 cases specimens obtained from lung cancer patients who were newly diagnosed and without any treatment in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from April 2014 to June 2015.The 243 lung cancer individuals were 147 male, and 96 female, their ages ranged from 29 to 85 years, with an average age of 63 years.The distribution of pathological type was as follows:95 patients were adenocarcinoma, 102 patients were squamous carcinoma, and 46 patients were small cell carcinoma.The distribution of TNM staging systems was as follows: 59 patients in stage 1and stage 2, 54 patients in stage 3, and 130 patients in stage 4.While 179 cases physical examination as the control.There were 94 individuals male, and 85 individuals female.Their ages ranged from 26 to 86 years, with an average age of 61 years.By using latex enhanced immune turbidimetric method, serum SAA concentrations in patients with lung cancer and healthy controls were checked on the Hitachi-7600 automated chemistry analyzer ( Hitachi ).The comparisons of all analyses values between healthy controls and lung cancer were estimated by two independent samples nonparametric tests ( Mann-Whitney U).The association between SAA and lung cancer prognostic factors such as age, smoking status and metastasis, was evaluated by spearman correlation and multivariate analysis.Results The median and interquartile spacing of SAA concentration was 42.36 mg/L (9.35, 74.22) in lung cancer patients.While 24 mg/L ( 3.25, 21.45 ).The median level of SAA in lung cancer patients (42.36 mg/L) were significantly higher than in healthy controls (11.24 mg/L), and difference reached statistically significant (Z=-2.403,P=0.006).Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in SAA concentrations among the different pathological types(Z=-1.013, P=0.339), ages (Z=0.578, P=0.458) and gender(Z=0.726, P=0.246) of lung cancer patients.While the level of SAA in has smoking status (Z=-2.282, P=0.013) and distant metastasis (Z=-2.138, P=0.017) of lung cancer was higher.By drawing ROC curve, the cut off value of SAA in distinguishing lung cancer with healthy control was 14.48 mg/L.Meanwhile, the AUC was 0.811, the accuracy is 89.12% and the sensitivity was 88.73%.Serum concentration was positively related with smoking status ( r =0.331, P =0.018 ) and distant metastasis ( r =0.372, P=0.015 ) by Spearman correlation analysis .Conclusion Serum SAA concentrations may contribute to the auxiliary diagnosis of lung cancer, evaluate the clinical stage and distant metastases of lung cancer.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cochlea ; blood supply ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes of the occlusal contact characteristics in adolescent patients during 12 months after active orthodontic treatment.

METHODSTwenty adolescent patients with Hawley retainers after active orthodontic treatment were divided into none occlusal interference group and occlusal interference group. The occlusion of the patients was examined with T-Scan II system directly after the appliance removal (T1) and after an average retention period of 12 months (T2). The changes of occlusal contact characteristics were observed.

RESULTSThe disclusion time during protrusion, left and right lateral movements reduced significantly. The average disclusion time decreased [from (1.07 ± 0.87), (0.91 ± 0.47), (0.76 ± 0.43) s to (0.43 ± 0.25), (0.67 ± 0.41), (0.50 ± 0.27) s] significantly (P < 0.05). The occlusal interference disappeared in 4 patients and 1 patient with occlusal interference showed masticatory muscle symptom. The dynamic occlusion [from (1.25 ± 1.11), (0.84 ± 0.15), (0.52 ± 0.49) s to (0.35 ± 0.15), (0.36 ± 0.15), (0.33 ± 0.11) s] improved significantly (P < 0.05) in none occlusal interference group after retention and no statistical differences were found in the occlusal interference group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe overall dynamic occlusion improved after retention in patients with retainers. The presence of occlusal interference affected the self-improvement process and increased the chance of the disorders of stomatognathic system, such as mandibular abnormal movements. Therefore, functional occlusion evaluation and final detailing were needed before appliance removal.

Adolescent ; Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Orthodontic Retainers

Objective Color doppler ultrasonography of chronic Keshan disease (CKD) was evaluated to provide evidences for clinic diagnosis of the disease. Methods From September to Novermber 2009, according to "Diagnostic criteria of Keshan disease" (GB 17021-1997), 64 cases of CKD were randomly sampled from five Keshan diseased districts in Shandong province, Zoucheng, Sishui, Yishui, Wulian, Jvxian, and Pingyi as patient group. Thirty four healthy volunteers being checked up by Shandong Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Research were put in control group. All the subjects were examined with Color doppler ultrasonography. The indexes of cardiac structure, left ventricular (LV) systolic function and LV diastolic function were measured.Results Left atrial internal diameter, LV end-diastolic internal diameter, LV end-systolic internal diameter, right ventricular diameter, aorta diameter, right atrial transverse diameter, right atrial long diameter and left ventricle mass of the patient group[(35.38 ± 6.89), (61.57 ± 8.61), (45.39 ± 10.29), (17.22 ± 3.79), (28.69 ± 2.81),(38.00 ± 6.05), (42.68 ± 8.65)mm, (283.22 ± 103.12)g] were higher than that of control group[(26.70 ± 3.27),(45.41 ± 4.93), (26.91 ± 4.35), (13.76 ± 2.27), (24.09 ± 2.89), (31.50 ± 3.32), (35.82 ± 3.14) mm, (156.03 ±39.86)g, t = 6.93, 10.09, 9.98, 4.87, 7.64, 5.81, 4.46, 6.90, all P＜ 0.05]. The LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening of the left ventricular of the patient group[(49.25 ± 14.33)%, (26.11 ± 9.17)%] were lower than that of control group[(73.88 ± 4.04)%, (42.88 ± 3.62)%, t = - 9.79, - 10.22, all P＜ 0.05]. Diffuse hypokinetic motion of the left ventricle reduced in 95% (61/64) of CKD patients, and 5% (3/64) of CKD patients had segmental LV dyskinesia. Seventy five per sent(48/64) of the patients accompanied with mitral regurgitation, and 39% (26/64) of these cases accompanied with tricuspid regurgitation. Meaningful Mitral or tricuspid regurgitation was not found out in control group. Conclusions The CKD patients' bore of atrio-ventricular cavity and LV mass are enlarged, and their motion of ventricle is reduced or partly reduced. They have poor heart function. Mitral regurgitation are more than tricuspid regurgitation. Color doppler Ultrasonography is important in diagnosis of chronic Keshan discase.

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.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate bi-directional modulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine on immunol cells.

METHODTwo different active portions were isolated from Kudzuvine Root(Radix puerariae), one being the ethanol extraction and another the water extraction. Different concentration of these two different portions was studied by using PMA stimulated lymphocyte or eosinophil initiated chemiluminescence system.

RESULTWater extraction of Kudzuvine Root could enhance chemiluminescence concentration dependently whereas enthanol extraction of Kudzuvine Root inhibited the chemiluminescence significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe bi-directional regulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine can be found in the same herb, because of its efficacy of different active compounds.

Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Water

OBJECTIVETo analysis the changes of two chemical constituents, namely 2, 3-dihydro-3, 5- dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP) and 5-hydryoxymethyl-furfural (5-HMF) produced in Radix Polygoni Multiflori after processing, with processing time, and to determine the contents of 5-HMF in samples of Radix Polygoni Multiflori and Radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata.

METHODAn HPLC method was applied with a Zobax SB-C18 (3.9 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) column by a elution using methanol-water (10: 90) as the mobile phase. The detection was set at UV 280 nm.

RESULTThe contents of DDMP were increasing with the processing time until 24 hour, followed by a decrease until 60 hour process. The contents of 5-HMF were increasing gradually throughout the 60 hour steaming process. The contents of 5-HMF in 11 samples of Radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata were from 0.013% to 0.101%, and only one in 4 samples of Radix Polygoni Multiflori containing trace amount of 5-HMF.

CONCLUSIONThe chemical components in Radix Polygoni Multiflori were changed during the processing procedures. Therefore, the processing of Radix Polygoni Multiflori should be controlled and standardized.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Polygonaceae ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of angiotensin II and angiotensin1-7 on alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA)-induced Ca(2+)-independent pathways mediated by Rho kinase2 in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

METHODSHSC-T6 cells were treated with 10 micromol/L of AngII, Ang1-7, AngII +Ang1-7, and Ang1-7+A779. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Rho kinase2 (Rock2) in Ca(2+)-independent pathways, and alpha-SMA protein expression was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of Rock2 increased significantly in the cells after AngII treatment (P<0.01), but decreased following Ang1-7 treatment. Ang1-7 treatment significantly reduced alpha-SMA level in AngII-induced cells (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAng1-7 can inhibit AngII-induced activation of Rock2 and reduce alpha-SMA expression in HSCs.

Actins ; metabolism ; Angiotensin I ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; rho-Associated Kinases ; genetics

Different methods of processing Radix Polygoni Multiflori and the change of chemical components including emodin, physcion, 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside, and tannin were investigated. The dried roots of polygoni were processed in different ways, such as, steamed with black bean sauce, steamed with water, stewed with black bean sauce, and stewed with black bean sauce at high pressure, for h and 36 h, respectively. The process stewing with black bean sauce was also investigated for 12, 24, 36 h, and 48 h, respectively. The results indicated that 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside and total free anthraquinones varied in different processes. In the process of black bean sauce stewing, the content of 2,3,5,4'-stilbene glucoside decreased with processing time, reached 17% of original at 48 h. The content of tannin and combined and free anthraquinones also decreased with processing time. It was concluded, therefore, that the processing of Radix Polygoni Multiflori should be standardized to avoid significant variation of chemical contents.
Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Stilbenes ; analysis ; Tannins ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards