Objective To discuss the value of hypotonic-MRCP combined with LAVA dynamic contrast-enhanced scan in diagnosis of duodenal tumor.Methods Five patients with duodenal adenocarcinomas confirmed by pathology were involved in this study.All cases underwent plain MRI and hypotonic-MRCP and LAVA dynamic contrast-enhanced scans.Results 4 of 5 cases were correctly diagnosed with MR imaging.Imaging signs included:the cavum of descending duodenum appeared as asymmetrical stenosis,masses with soft tissue signal intensity connecting the intestinal wall with wide base,the intestinal wall stiff,the intestinal mucosa destruction.The lesions would be slightly-moderately enhanced at LAVA dynamic enhancement scanning.Conclusion Hypotonic-MRCP combined with LAVA dynamic contrast-enhanced scan can display the direct and indirect sign of duodenal tumors,which was effective in identifying the circumscription of the tumor and its extension.

BJECTIVE: To explore the effect of different convergent conditions on accuracy of simulation results from a three dimensional finite element model of the pelvic ring.METHODS: A first-order linear load of 600 was applied on the S_1 vertebral endplate in an established three-dimensional finite element model. The step length was set to 0.1 s. The boundary condition was set as constraint of 6 degrees of freedom in the proximal femur. Static and dynamic explicit convergences with 6 different weight scale factors were calculated retrospectively,and all the simulated results were compared with the experimental results in order to verify the accuracy. RESULTS: The static convergence predicted most accurate with the linear regression coefficient 0.88. With the increase of weight scale factor, the time cost decreased. However, the accuracy of the predicted results decreased. There was statistically difference between the simulation results and experimental results when the weight scale factor achieved 3 000 (P<0.05) and the coefficient of linear regression was lower than 0.8.CONCLUSION: It suggested that as for the complex finite element model, especially when the model contains complex contact conditions, dynamic explicit convergence can be an alternative solution to static convergence if the latter failed. Also proper weight scale factor should be used to decrease the time cost under the condition that the error was in the limited.

Objective To study the effect of oleic acid on the morphology of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and on the secretive function of endothelial cell mediated by insulin or leptin. Methods The cell morphological characteristics were studied by phase microscopic observation. The changes of endothelial cell secretive function were studied by detecting the concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET-1) after endothelial cell was pretreated with oleic acid of different concentrations. Results With the increased concentration of stimulating insulin, the concentration of NO increased and ET-1 decreased gradually in a dose-dependent fashion. The profile of endothelial cell pretreated with oleic acid became darker than before. As the concentration of pretreatment oleic acid increased, the concentration of NO secreted by endothelial cell which was mediated by insulin and leptin gradually decreased in a dose-dependent fashion, but the concentration of ET-1 secreted by endothelial cell mediated by leptin decreased significantly only in the 50～100 ?mol?L -1 of pretreatment oleic acid. Conclusion Oleic acid damages endothelial cell directly and inhibits endothelial cell mediated by insulin and leptin to secrete NO. Oleic acid and insulin can directly inhibit release of ET-1 by cultured endothelial cell.

There is increasing evidence that microcirculation hypoxia plays an important role in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs)are transcriptional factors that serve as master regulators in ischemic and hypoxia injuries.Aims:To investigate the effect of HIF-2αon dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:Mx-Cre/LoxP recombination system was utilized to establish a conditional HIF-2αgene knockout (HIF-2α-/-)mouse model.C57BL/6,HIF-2α+/+and HIF-2α-/-mice were randomly allocated into DSS colitis group and water drinking group,respectively.Experimental colitis was induced by treatment with 4% DSS in drinking water for 7 days,and the disease activity index (DAI)was assessed daily.Mice in each group were sacrificed on day 1,3,5 and 7 in batch;the histopathological changes of colonic tissue were observed, and mRNA expressions of HIF-2αand tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were measured by real-time PCR.Results:During model establishment,expression of HIF-2αmRNA in colonic tissue was elevated in C57BL/6 and HIF-2α+/+DSS colitis groups,and the DAI and colonic inflammatory score were significantly higher than those in C57BL/6 water drinking group (P<0.05 on day 5 and day 7).Compared with HIF-2α+/+DSS colitis group,HIF-2α-/-DSS colitis group had more severe colonic inflammatory injury and the DAI and inflammatory score were further increased (P all<0.05,except the inflammatory score on day 7);expression of TNF-αmRNA in colonic tissue was also increased significantly in HIF-2α-/-DSS colitis group (P<0.05 on day 5 and day 7).Conclusions:HIF-2αmay ameliorate colonic inflammatory injury in mice with DSS colitis via inhibition of TNF-αexpression.

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate in mavalonic acid pathway, which is the first committed step for isoprenoid biosynthesis in plants. However, it still remains unclear whether HGMR gene plays a role in the isoprenoid biosynthesis in Dendrobium officinale, an endangered epiphytic orchid species. In the present study, a HMGR encoding gene, designed as DoHMGR1 (GenBank accession JX272632), was identified from D. officinale using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods, for the first time. The full length cDNA of DoHMGR1 was 2 071 bp in length and encoded a 562-aa protein with a molecular weight of 59.73 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.18. The deduced DoHMGR1 protein, like other HMGR proteins, constituted four conserved domains (63-561, 147-551, 268-383 and 124-541) and two transmembrane motifs (42-64 and 85-107). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that DoHMGR1 had high identity (67%-89%) to a number of HMGR genes from various plants and was closely related to Vanda hybrid cultivar, rice and maize monocots. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoHMGR1 was expressed in the three included organs. The transcripts were the most abundant in the roots with 2.13 fold over that in the leaves, followed by that in the stems with 1.98 fold. Molecular characterization of DoHMGR1 will be useful for further functional elucidation of the gene involving in isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway in D. officinale.
Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; genetics ; Plant Stems ; enzymology ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Emodin is an effective active ingredient extracted from Chinese herbal medicine, which has the function of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and scavenging oxygen free radicals, inhibiting platelet aggregation, improving microcirculation, protecting various organs and tissues as well as a wide range of anti-tumor effect. Primary biliary gallbladder is a common malignant tumor resection rate and lack of effective adjuvant treatment. It has been confirmed that emodin has broad spectrum antitumor effect, whereas, whether it has curative effect in the treatment of gallbladder carcinoma there is no reliable clinical trials confirmed that its resistance to gallbladder carcinoma function needs further experimental research. In this review, we report the research progress of emodin anti-gallbladder carcinoma.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Emodin ; therapeutic use ; Gallbladder ; drug effects ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans

NDV strain ZJ1 strain , a highly virulent NDV strain, has been prevalent among the waterfowls in China mainland in the past years. Multi-basic amino acid sequence distribute in the protease cleavage site of F protein of this strain. Recombinant expressing plasmid pCI-FT, was generated by converting multi-basic amino acid sequence of 112, 115, 117 of the protease cleavage site of F_ 0 protein, to the non-basic amino acid sequence characteristic of avirulent NDV strain. The result from co-expression of mutant or parental F protein with homologous HN protein in COS-1 cells revealed that both mutant and parental F protein had fusion activity. The result from co-expression of mutant or parental F protein with homologous HN protein in CEF cells showed that the cleavage activity of mutant F protein was significantly reduced. The study built a foundation for mutagenesis of amino acid sequence of the protease cleavage site of F_ 0 protein at the full-length cDNA clone level, study on factors contributing to virulence and construction of candidate vaccine strain, and so on.

OBJECTIVETo study the variations of protein concentration in saliva stimulated and its effect on clinical diagnosis.

METHODSThe saliva from 33 normal controls and 73 patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) who were stimulated with acid and not were collected. The concentration of beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2-mG), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), and pH were measured by Radioimmunoassay, Rate Nephelometry and pH Detection Paper, respectively. SPSS 10.0 was used to determine the mean statistical differences among these groups.

RESULTSIn patients with SS, the concentration of beta 2-mG in saliva stimulated with Vc was significantly lower compared with that in saliva not stimulated (P < 0.01); In saliva stimulated with Vc, the concentration of beta 2-mG in patients with SS was higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.05). In normal controls, compared with that in saliva not stimulated, flow rate in saliva stimulated with 3% acetic acid and Vc was significantly higher (P < 0.01) and pH, concentration of beta 2-mG and SIgA were significantly lower (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively); there was a significant difference of flow rate, beta 2-mG, SIgA and pH in saliva between the subjects stimulated with 3% acetic acid and with Vc (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe reason for the decrease of protein concentration in saliva stimulated may be the increase of flow rate caused by the decrease of pH or the decrease of pH itself. Protein detection of saliva stimulated in patients with SS is helpful in diagnosis, but the criterion is different between the saliva stimulated and not stimulated.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; metabolism ; Male ; Saliva ; metabolism ; secretion ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides ; metabolism ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; metabolism

The optimum conditions of baicalin hydrolysis into baicalein by immobilized beta-glucosidase in a two-phase system was studied and the yield was observed. A two-phase system comprising of sodium acetate buffer and chloroform was determined by comparing the solubleness of baicalein in different solvents and partition coefficient of baicalein in related aqueous-organic two-phase system. beta-Glucosidase was immobilized by the crosslinking-embedding method using sodium alginate as the carrier The optimum reaction temperature, pH value, Michaelis constant, the thermal stability and pH stability were assayed. By comparing the yield of baicalin hydrolysis into baicalein by immobilized beta-glucosidase in two-phase system, the optimum reaction conditions were determined-the optimum reaction temperature, pH value and time were 50 degrees C, 5.0 and 10 h, respectively. The yield of baicalein was 85.28%. Compare with one-phase system, two-phase system had an advantage in reaction rate and yield.
Biocatalysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Enzyme Stability ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; beta-Glucosidase ; chemistry

Objective To study the effects of sulodexide on renal NF-κB activation and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) expression in diabetic rats and elucidate the possible mechanism of sulodexide in preventing diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods Wistar rats were fed with high-sucrose-high-fat diet and injected with a low dose of STZ (streptozotocin,35 mg/kg) into abdominal cavity to induce diabetes.DM rats were randomly divided into non-treated group of treatment,blood glucose (BG),triglyceride (TG),cholesterol,serum creatinine (Scr),urea nitrogen (BUN),24 h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured.HE staining was performed in renal tissues for light microscopy examination of mean glomerular volume (MGV).MCP-1 expression was detected by immunohistochemical method.NF-κB activation was determined by Western blot. Results Compared with NC group,DM group and DMS group had significant elevated BG,TG and TC levels (all P＜0.01).There were no significant differences of BG,TG or TC levels between DM group and DMS group.Compared with NC group,DM group and DMS group had significant increased Scr,BUN,UAE levels (all P＜0.01).Scr,BUN,UAE levels were significantly lower in DMS group than those in DM group [(39.1±0.88) μmol/L vs (41.0±2.16) μmol/L,(9.12±1.06) mmol/L vs (9.87±0.19) mmol/L； (19.92±0.96) mg/24 h vs (25.99±0.52)mg/24 h,all P＜0.05].Compared with NC group,the MGV of DM group was significantly increased [(7.47±1.11)×105 μm3 vs (4.22±1.09)×105 μm3,P＜0.01].Compared with DM group,the MGA of DMS group was significantly reduced [(6.64±0.71)×105 μm3 vs (7.47±1.11)×105 μm3,P＜0.05],but was still increased compared with that of NC group (P＜0.01).Compared with NC group,the MCP-1 expression of DM group was significantly higher [(12.17±1.94)/HPF vs (1.19±0.70)/HPF,P＜0.01].MCP-1 expression in DSM group was significantly lower than that of DM group [(9.22± 1.61)/HPF vs (12.17±1.94)/HPF,P＜0.01],but still higher than that of control group (P＜0.01).Compared with NC group,the NF-κB activity was significantly higher in DM group [(0.89±0.07) vs (0.24±0.03),P＜0.01].Compared with DM group,NF-κB activity of DMS group was significantly lower [(0.27±0.01) vs (0.89±0.07),P＜0.01].There was no significant difference of NF-κB activity between DMS group and NC group. Conclusion Sulodexide has protective effects on diabetic nephropathy,and one of the mechanisms may involve the inhibition of NF-κB activation as well as the suppression of MCP-I expression.