Objective To investigate the antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) gene transfection mediated by adenovirus into human pancreatic carcinoma cell line Panc-1,and the mechanisms involved in this effect.Methods TRAIL gene was transfected into pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 by an adenovirus vector(Ad-TRAIL).Level of TRAIL mRNA expression was determined using RT-PCR,and TRAIL protein synthesis was evaluated with Western blot.Cell-growth activities were determined by MTT assay.The bystander effect was observed by co-culturing the Panc-1 cells with and without the transfected TRAIL gene at different ratios.Apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells was detected by flow cytometry.Proaspase-8 and procaspase-3 proteins were determined by Western blot.Results The stable overexpression of TRAIL was detected in Panc-1 cells transfected by Ad-TRAIL.Ad-TRAIL significantly inhibited cell viability of Panc-1 cells.Furthermore,co-culture of cancer cells transfected with TRAIL resulted in the nontransfected cell inhibition by bystander effect.Moreover,the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the Ad-TRAIL-treatment group compared to the control groups(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To study the difference of expression of proteins in pancreatic cancer and adjacent fissue.Methods Proteomes of eight pairs of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissue samples and adjacent tissue samples were obtained by high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE).Comprehensive analyses of proteins were focused on total protein spots exhibiting statistical alternations between the two groups.Protein identification was done by peptide mass fingerprinting with tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS).In addition,Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify the expression of certain candidate protein.Results A total of 28 protein spot-features were found to be significantly increased and 17 significantly decreased in tumor tissues.Thirty of these protein spots were identified,which included enzymes,antioxidant proteins,signal transduction proteins,calcium-binding protein,structural proteins,chaperones and others.Western blotting and IHC further validated up-regulated expressions of one candidate protein(annexin II)in tumor tissues.Conclusions The analysis of proteomics with 2-DE on human tissue is a useful method for discovering valuable cancer marker candidates.These differential expressed proteins may serve as biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic targets to pancreatic cancer.

A novel chitosan derivant, N-octyl-N-arginine chitosan (OACS) with a mimetic structure of cell-penetrating peptides was synthesized by introducing hydrophilic arginine groups and hydrophobic octyl groups to the amino-group on chitosan's side chain. Structure of the obtained polymer was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The substitution degree of octyl and arginine groups was calculated through element analysis and spectrophotometric method, separately. The critical micelle concentration of OACS was 0.12 - 0.27 mgmL(-1) tested by fluorescence spectrometry. The solubility test showed OACS could easily dissolve in pH 1 - 12 solutions and self-assemble to form a micelle solution with light blue opalescence. The OACS micelles have a mean size of 158.4 - 224.6 nm, polydisperse index of 0.038 - 0.309 and a zeta potential of +19.16 - +30.80 mV determined by malvern zetasizer. AFM images confirmed free OACS micelle has a regular sphere form with a uniform particle size. MTT test confirmed that OACS was safe in 50 - 1 000 micromol-L(-1). The result of HepG2 cell experiment showed that the cell internalization of OACS micelles enhanced with increased substitution degree of arginine by 40 folds compared to chitosan. Thus, OACS micelles were a promising nano vehicle with permeation enhancement and drug carrier capability.
Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Cell Survival ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Micelles ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polymers ; Solubility ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Objective To study the effects of five different kinds of Chinese medicine materials on dissolution of pills; To evaluate their in vitro - in vivo correlation.Methods Five different types of traditional Chinese medicine materials, such as starch, fiber, protein, grease and polysaccharide materials, were selected by uniform design to the proposed 8 model formulation and preparation of pills, and the cumulative release rate and in vivo plasma concentration of berberine hydrochloride were determined by HPLC. The effects of Chinese medicine materials on the drug release behavior of pills in vitro - in vivo were investigated. And the in vitro - in vivo correlation of the pills was evaluated.Results Starch and fiber materials could promote the release of the pills, and protein and grease materials has a blocking effect on the pills dissolution. Polysaccharide materials have no significant effect on the dissolution of the pills. Pills in vitro - in vivo correlation was significant.Conclusion Chinese medicine materials have the characteristics of medicine-assisted unity, which can control the dissolution and bioavailability of pills by adjusting the proportion of powder in the prescription. And the pills have good correlation in vitro - in vivo.

OBJECTIVEAs our previous comparative proteomics study on high and low metastasis human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell strains revealed that cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was related to higher metastasis potential, we further investigated the relationship between serum CK19 level in HCC patients and their clinico-pathologic characteristics.

METHODSSerum CK19 levels of 101 normal controls and 108 pathology-proven HCC patients were determined using radioimmunoassay, and the their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters were studied.

RESULTSThe upper limit of one-side 98% confidence interval of normal serum CK19 level was 2.3 microg/L. Among 108 HCC patients, 24 (22.2%) had increased serum CK19 level, ranging from 2.4 to 45.5 microg/L. There were 12 patients (11.1%) with increased CK19 level but normal AFP level. The percentage of poor differentiated tumor was higher in CK19 increased cases (37.5%, 9/24) than in CK19 normal cases (20.2%, 17/84). Moreover, the presence of portal vein tumor emboli was significantly higher in CK19 increased cases (25.0%, 6/24) than in CK19 normal cases (6.0%, 5/84). (Chi-square = 7.403, P < 0.01) In addition, the percentage of TNM stage III/IV tumor was significantly higher in CK19 increased patients (54.2%, 13/24) than in CK19 normal cases. (chi-square = 13.300, P < 0.005)

CONCLUSIONSome HCC patients do have increased serum CK19 level, which could be related to portal vein tumor emboli, poor tumor differentiation and advanced tumor stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; genetics ; Proteome ; analysis

In this paper, the advance in DNA molecular markers techniques in recent years was reviewed. The application of DNA markers in conservation of the rare and endangered medicinal plants was explicated, of which included identification of germ-plasm resource, determination of the habitats unite which should be protected in situ, sampling strategies of ex-situ conservation, evaluation of the conservation effects of the rare and endangered medicinal plants, as well as elucidation of their endangered mechanism etc. The information could help drawing up conservation strategies and conservation measures for references.
Conservation of Natural Resources ; Genetic Markers ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on improving insulin resistance of rat from aspects of morphology and function of mitochondrial in quadriceps femoris.

METHODSForty-eight 8-week Wistar rats (female and male in half) were randomly divided into a normal group (16 rats, group A), a model control group (16 rats, group B), a model plus electroacupuncture (EA) group (8 rats, group C) and a model plus sham acupoint EA group (8 rats, group D). Group A was given with basic diet while high-fat diet was applied in the group B, group C and group D for 8 weeks to establish model of insulin resistance. After the model establishment, "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 30) were selected according to acupoint combination of manifestation-root in the group C, while four points in non-meridian area where 1 to 2 mm next to the acupoints used in group C were selected in the group D. The treatment was given 15 min per time with 1 mA of intensity and 2 Hz in frequency, 5 times per week for totally 8 weeks. The transmission electron microscope was adopted to observe mitochondria structure, and chemical colorimetry was used to test the activity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase and phosphomolybdic acid colorimetry was applied to measure the content of ATP.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the body mass was (401.63 +/- 109.81) g in the group B, which was significantly higher than (305.88 +/- 62.72) g in the group A (P < 0.05); morphological structure of mitochondrion was damaged, showing swelling and deformation; the activity of ATP synthase was decreased (P < 0.05) and the content of ATP in tissue of quadriceps femoris was also obviously lowered (P < 0.05). The body mass was (294.13 +/- 53.78) g in the group C, which was significantly lower than that in the group B (P < 0.05); the damaged mitochondrion was restored and merged among each other; the activity of ATP synthase was increased (P < 0.05); the content of ATP in tissue of quadriceps femoris was obviously lifted (P < 0.05). The results in group D were not different from those in group B.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture with manifestation-root acupoint combination could improve the recovery of damaged structure of mitochondrion and promote the merge among each other, which could enhance oxidizing capacity, lower body mass and improve synthetic rate of ATP.

Acupuncture Points ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Mitochondria ; enzymology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism ; Quadriceps Muscle ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To discuss the key points of endovascular therapy for complex subclavian artery occlusive diseases. Methods During the period from January 2012 to December 2013, a total of 92 patients with complex subclavian artery occlusive disease were admitted to Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The features of the lesions, the success rate of endovascular therapy, the use of combined approaches, the relief of symptoms after treatment, etc. were evaluated. Results The complex subclavian artery occlusive diseases could be divided into three types. Type Ⅰ: long segment of the left subclavian artery was occluded; type Ⅱ: ostial stenosis or occlusion of the right subclavian artery; and type Ⅲ: subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion was associated with the ostial disorder of the vertebral artery, or the opening of vertebral artery was affected by the subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion. The technical success rate was 82.6%. Combination use of femoral artery and brachial artery approach was employed in 27.2% of patients, which had improved the technical success rate. After the treatment the symptom improvement rate was 81.6%. Conclusion Upper limb artery approach can improve the re-canalization rate of left subclavian artery with long segment occlusion, and can ensure the accurate positioning of stent at the site of right subclavian artery opening. During the procedure of endovascular intervention for subclavian artery occlusion disease, attention should be paid to the protection of the vertebral artery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of applying Manujet III manual jet ventilation to remove tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies in children. METHOD: Before 2009, 62 patients, using the controlled positive pressure ventilation through the side holes of the rigid bronchoscopy, is signed as group P. Another group J ,from January 2009 to January 2012, 48 cases, utilizing Manujet III device manual jet ventilation. The satisfaction rate at placed in bronchoscopy, intraoperative hypoxia. removal of foreign body situation, operative time, incidence of adverse reactions were recorded and contrasted. RESULT: The difference of satisfaction rate in placing endoscopy between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). But in operative time, intraoperative hypoxia, incidence of adverse reaction rate was statistically significant (P<0.05), J group is better than the group P. CONCLUSION In the tracheobronchial foreign bodies removal, application Manujet III device to manual jet ventilation can reduce the incidence of intraoperative hypoxia, easier to surgical operation.
Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation ; Humans ; Infant ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation ; Male ; Trachea