OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tanshinone II A on the expression of epidermal growth facter (EGF) and epidermal growth facter recepter (EGFR) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721.

METHODSThe human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells cultured in vitro was treated with different concentrations of Tanshinone II A. The proliferation of the cells was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptosis of the cells was investigated by flow cytometry and cytochemical staining with Hoechst 33342. The expression of EGF and EGFR was detected by immunocytochemistry method. The levels of EGF in medium were measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTTanshinone II A inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells remarkably in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory rate reached the peak (72.5%) after 0.5 microg/ml Tanshinone II A was used for 48 h, which was significantly higher than that in the controls (P<0.05). FCM analysis showed that when SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 0.5 microg/ml Tanshinone II A, the apoptosis rates for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were (4.06+/-0.27)%, (7.58+/-0.56)% and (5.23+/-0.13)%, respectively which were markedly higher than those in the controls (all P<0.01). SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis with cell shrinkage, nuclear chromatin concentration and fragmentation as well as the formation of apoptotic bodies were observed by cytochemical staining when treated with Tanshinone II A. The immunocytochemistry showed that the expressions of EGF and EGFR were down regulated while the concentration of Tanshinone II A was increasing. The high expression rates for EGF and EGFR were 10%, 20%, respectively, and the gray scale was 181.52+/-1.63, 179.37+/-1.59, which were markedly higher than those in the controls (all P<0.05). The levels of EGF in medium measured by radioimmunoassay were decreased significantly after Tanshinone II A treatment.

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II A can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721, which may be related to the down-regulation of EGF and EGFR protein expression.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the spores germinating process of Cibotium barometz, and understand the growth principle provided for experience for indoor culturing and further research.

METHODThe spores of C. barometz were cultured both in inorganic medium and in the soil from original habitat, and the whole process of spores germination and the development of gametophytic were observed under microscope.

RESULTThe spores germinated about 1-2 weeks after being sowed, and the type of germination belonged to Vittaria-type. The prothallial plates formed in 25 days after being sowed, while hairs developed after the formation of the prothallial plate. The gametophyte formed about 40 days after being sowed. But the type of mature prothalli was cordate. The antheridia formed in 60 days after inoculation, while the archegonia developed in 10 days after the formation of antheridia.

CONCLUSIONSoil based indoor culturing of C. barometz spores is practical and can be used for cultivation of C. barometz.

Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Ferns ; cytology ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; physiology ; Soil ; Spores ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development

Objective: To study the expression and effect of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated protein B (SNRPB) on proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer tissues and cells. Methods: The bioinformatics database starBase v3.0 and GEPIA were used to analyze the expression of SNRPB in liver cancer tissue and normal liver tissue, as well as the survival and prognosis of liver cancer patients. The expression of SNRPB mRNA and protein in liver cancer cell lines were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RNA interference technique (siRNA) was used to determine SNRPB protein expression down-regulation. The proliferation effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells was observed by MTT assay. Transwell invasion and migration assay was used to detect the changes in the metastatic ability of liver cancer cells after SNRPB down-regulation. Western blot was used to detect the changes of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in liver cancer cells after down-regulation of SNRPB expression. Data were compared between two groups and multiple groups using t-test and analysis of variance. Results: The expression of SNRPB was significantly higher in liver cancer tissue than normal liver tissue, and its expression level was correlated with the prognosis of liver cancer patients. Compared with the immortalized hepatocyte LO(2), the expression of SNRPB was significantly increased in the liver cancer cells (P < 0.01). siRNA-SNRPB had significantly inhibited the expression of SNRPB mRNA and protein in liver cancer cells. MTT results showed that the absorbance value was lower in SNRPB knockdown group than negative control group, and the difference at 96 h after transfection was most significant (P < 0.01). Transwell assay results showed that compared with the negative control group, the SNRPB knockdown group (MHCC-97H: 121.27 ± 8.12 vs. 46.38 ± 7.54; Huh7: 126.50 ± 6.98 vs. 41.10 ± 8.01) invasion and migration (MHCC-97H: 125.20 ± 4.77 vs. 43.18 ± 7.32; Huh7: 132.22 ± 8.21 vs. 38.00 ± 6.78) ability was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in liver cancer cells. Western blot showed that the expression level of epithelial phenotype marker E-cadherin was decreased after down-regulation of SNRPB, while the expression levels of mesenchymal phenotype markers N-cadherin and vimentin was increased, suggesting that down-regulation of SNRPB inhibited EMT in liver cancer cells. Conclusion: SNRPB expression is significantly increased in liver cancer tissues and cells, and it is involved in regulating the proliferation, metastasis and EMT of liver cancer cells.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; snRNP Core Proteins

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of a novel disposable ring versus that of the suture device in circumcision for redundant prepuce and phimosis. METHODS: We randomly assigned 470 male patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis to receive circumcision with a novel disposable ring (the DR group, n = 235) or the suture device (the SD group, n = 235) and compared the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, pain scores, wound healing time, and postoperative complications and penile appearance between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: All the operations were completed smoothly. Compared with the SD group, the DR group showed significantly shorter operation time (［7.49 ± 1.84］ vs ［3.83 ± 0.42］ min, P <0. 05), less intraoperative blood loss (［3.34 ± 2.59］ vs ［2.41 ± 1.01］ ml, P <0.05), lower intraoperative pain score (0.57 ± 0.76 vs 0.20 ± 0.47, P <0.05) and 6-hour postoperative pain score (3.42 ± 1.12 vs 0.48 ± 0.94, P <0.05), shorter wound healing time (［12.05 ± 2.80］ vs ［7.79 ± 1.65］ d, P <0.05), lower incidence rates of postoperative glans congestion or edema (36.17% ［85/235］ vs 2.56% ［6/235］, P <0.05), dysuria or strenuous urination (34.04% ［80/235］ vs 2.13% ［5/235］, P <0.05) and bleeding or hematoma (5.11% ［12/235］ vs 1.28% ［3/235］, P <0.05), and higher satisfaction with postoperative penile appearance (90.6% ［213/235］ vs 95.8% ［228/235］, P <0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the SD and DR groups in the pain scores at the sixth night after operation (1.31 ± 0.96 vs 1.34 ± 1.07, P >0.05) or while the staples scraping the underpants or at the ring removal (3.49 ± 1.22 vs 3.36 ± 1.41, P >0.05). No obvious postoperative infection or delayed healing was observed except for 3 cases of wound dehiscence (1 in the DR and 2 in the SD group) and 8 cases of delayed removal of the staples in the SD group. CONCLUSIONS The novel disposable ring, with its advantages of short operation time, less bleeding and pain, good penile appearance, high safety, and simple operation, is obviously superior to the suture device in circumcision and deserves to be applied and popularized clinically. .
Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; Disposable Equipment ; Edema ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Personal Satisfaction ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Postoperative Period ; Suture Techniques ; instrumentation ; Sutures ; Wound Healing

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of a novel disposable circumcision device Ring with that of conventional circumcision in the treatment of redundant prepuce and phimosis. METHODS: Totally, 750 patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis underwent Ring circumcision (group A, n = 450) or conventional circumcision (group B, n = 300). We recorded the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) intraoperative pain scores, postoperative complications, wound healing time, and patients' satisfaction with postoperative penile appearance, followed by comparison of the collected data between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully completed. Group A, as compared with B, showed significantly shorter operation time (［3.78 ± 0.42］ vs ［26.24 ± 3.99］ min, P <0.05), less intraoperative blood loss (［2.39 ± 1.01］ vs ［10.80 ± 3.57］ ml, P <0.05), lower pain scores intraoperatively (0.14 ± 0.36 vs 2.30 ± 1.46, P <0.05), 6 hours postoperatively (0.32 ± 0.78 vs 3.03 ± 1.56, P <0.05) and at the ring removal (3.35 ± 1.42 vs 2.78 ± 1.43, P <0.05), shorter wound healing time (［7.61 ± 1.60］ vs ［8.57 ± 1.37］ d, P <0.05), higher satisfaction with postoperative penile appearance (97.8% ［440/450］ vs 86% ［258/300］, P <0.05), and lower incidence of postoperative bleeding or hematoma (0.89% ［4/450］ vs 3% ［9/300］, P <0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups A and B in the nocturnal pain score before the ring removal (1.45±1.02 vs 1.38 ± 0.92, P >0.05) or the postoperative incidence rate of edema (0.89% ［4/450］ vs 2.33% ［7/300］, P >0.05). There were no significant postoperative infections or delayed incision healing except for 1 case of wound dehiscence in each group. CONCLUSIONS Ring circumcision, with its advantages of shorter operation time, less blood loss and pain, higher safety, and better postoperative penile appearance, is easily accepted by the patients and deserves wide clinical application.
Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; Disposable Equipment ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pain Measurement ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penis ; abnormalities ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Postoperative Period ; Wound Healing

Objective To compare the genetic diversity of imported Plasmodium falciparum by Polyα and TAA87 microsatellite markers in Southeast Asian and African geographical isolates. Methods Ninety-two and 126 filter paper samples from patients infected with P. falciparum from Southeast Asia (Myanmar) and Africa (Ghana) were collected, respectively. Two neutral microsatellite loci, Polyα and TAA87 were amplified by PCR. The length of PCR fragments was detected by capillary electrophoresis. The allele frequency and expected heterozygosity (He) were calculated by Excel 2010 and GenALEx 6.0 software. Results A total of 146 P. falciparum samples were analyzed as single infection samples with a total of 26 alleles in locus Polyα and 12 alleles in locus TAA87. The mean He value of the two loci was 0.86 ± 0.02. Ten alleles in locus Polyα and 8 alleles in locus TAA87 were distributed in Myanmar isolates, with the He values of 0.86 and 0.81 respectively. Fifteen alleles in locus Polyα and 11 in locus TAA87 were detected in Ghana isolates, with the He values of 0.91 and 0.86 respectively. In addition, the haplotype of 174 bp (Polyα) and 113 bp (TAA87) were only detected in Myanmar isolates with more than 17% gene frequency, whereas they were absent in Ghana isolates. Conclusions The two different geographical sources of imported P. falciparum strains have different allele frequencies and haplotypes at the two neutral microsatellite markers, Polyα and TAA87. Therefore, these two microsatellite loci may be considered as the potential molecular marker candidates for identifying P. falciparum strains with different geographical sources.