Objective To investigate the effects of MEK1 specific inhibitor PD98059 on oxaliplatin-treated colorectal cancer cells and the potential mechanism. Methods Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay after transfecting MEK1 active plasmid into LoVo cells. LoVo cells were treated with oxaliplatin or PD98059, and the proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. PUMA expression and ERK activity were determined by Western blot. Apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 dye after PUMA expression was suppressed. Results Increasing activity of ERK enhanced the proliferation of LoVo cells. The activity of ERK was suppressed by oxaliplatin. PD98059 and oxaliplatin decreased the proliferation rate of LoVo cells synergistically. PUMA expression increased after PD98059 and oxaliplatin treatment. The suppression of PUMA expression by stably transfecting PUMA anti-sense vector decreased apoptosis induced by oxaliplatin and PD98059. Conclusion PD98059 enhances the effects of oxaliplatin on colorectal cancer cells mediated by PUMA expression.

Astragalus polysaccharide has been widely used in food and medicinal industry owing to its health-promoting properties. In order to characterize better the relationship among molecular weight, structure-activity and activities, a simple method was used different concentration of ethanol including 30% (PW30), 50% (PW50), 70% (PW70), 75% (PW75), 80% (PW80) and 90% (PW90) to precipitate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight. As a result, PW90 showed smooth surface and the strongest antioxidant activity among these six fractions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, graded ethanol precipitation was a simple method to separate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight with different antioxidant activity fractions.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin (MT) in depression rats model induced by chronic stress, so as to explore the biological mechanism of EA for depression.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 8 cases in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with normal diet for 21 days without any treatment. In the model and EA group, rat model was established by chronic unpredictable stress combined with solitarily feeding method, and rats in the EA group was treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (GV 29) 1 h before stress stimulation everyday, 2 Hz in frequency and intensity was favorable with the head of rat slightly shivering. The needles were retained for 20 min, once a day for totally 21 days. After EA treatment, open-field experiment was adopted to observe the behavioral improvement; the rats temperatures were monitored at six time points (2:00, 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00) and orbital blood sampling was collected. The level of serum MT was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The circadian rhythm changes of temperature and serum MT in each group were compared.

RESULTSThe numbers of horizontal movement and vertical movement in the model group were obviously lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05), while those in the EA group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.01). The circadian rhythm of temperature and MT disappeared in the model group, which was improved into normal level after EA treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture has regulation effects on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin in depression rat model induced by chronic stress.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND:With the deepening of bone tissue engineering research and bone metabolism understanding, it is a hotspot to analyze the blood supply and nutritional status of tissue-engineered bone.
OBJECTIVE:To compare different methods for evaluating smal vascular network distribution around the knee joint in rats in order to provide a guideline for the study of microvascular network in tissue-engineered bone.
METHODS:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with six rats in each group. Three commonly methods were used to evaluate the smal vascular network around the knee joint in rats:immunohistochemistry analysis, angiography analysis, and CT scans and reconstruction analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The microstructure of vascular network could be observed by immunohistochemistry, but the spatial distribution of vessels could not be evaluated. The spatial distribution of vessels could be showed by angiography and CT scans. However, some of micro vessels were showed unclearly by CT scans. The number of blood vessels detected by immunohistochemistry was (26.50±3.02) vessels, significantly higher than those detected by angiography and CT scans that were (14.12±1.47) and (9.00±1.79) vessels, respectively. Combination of immunohistochemistry and angiography can evaluate the microvascular network at microscopic and macroscopic levels, which can provide the whole information of the vascular network.

OBJECTIVETo analyze hepatotoxicity of Polygonum multiflorum and clinical character- istics of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 158 patients treated at 302 Military Hospital between January 2009 and January 2014. All of them had used Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations before the onset of DILI, and their clinical characteristics and prognoses were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 158 DILI patients who used Polygonum multiflorum or its preparations, 92 (58.2%) combined with Western medicine or Chinese herbal preparations without Polygonum multiflorum; 66 patients (41.8%) used Polygonum mult florum and its preparations alone. In 66 DILI patients induced by Polygonum multiflorum or its preparations alone, 51 cases (77.3%) were induced by Polygonum multiflorum compounds and 22.7% by single Po- lygonum multiflorum; 4 cases (6.1%) were caused by crude Polygonum multiflorum and 62 (93.9%) by processed Polygonum multiflorum and its preparations. Clinical injury patterns were hepatocellular 92.4% (61 cases), cholestatic 1.5% (1 case), and mixed 6.1% (4 cases). Pathological examination was per- formed by liver biopsy in 32 cases (48.15%), manifested as hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, fibroplasia, Kupffer cells with pigment granule, and a large number of eosinophil infiltration, were ob- served. Four patients were developed into liver failure, 4 into cirrhosis, and 1 died.

CONCLUSIONPolygo- num multiflorum and its preparations could induce DILI, but clinical diagnosis of Polygonum multiflorum induced hepatotoxicity should be cautious.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Cholestasis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Fallopia multiflora ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Failure ; Plant Preparations ; adverse effects ; Polygonum ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods Forty-nine cTnI-negative patients with coronary artery disease who were documented by angiography [31 cases with ACS,18 cases with stable angina (SAP)], and 28 healthy persons were selected as controls. PAPP-A and hs-CRP were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Circulating PAPP-A and ha-CRP levels were significandy higher in patients with ACS than those in patients with SAP and controls (P < 0.05). PAPP-A threshold value of 2.79 μg/ml identified patients who had ACS with a sensitivity of 81.0% and a specificity of 84.6%. PAPP-A levels were correlated with hs-CRP levels in patients with ACS (r = 0.418, P < 0.01). Conclusion PAPP-A is a strong candidate marker of ACS, especially to eTnl-negative patients.

Objective To understand the current situation of knowledge on healthy life style among researchers.Data on the knowledge of healthy life style including healthy behavior,general status on health,physical activity and the use of sports facilities were gathered.In 2006,same questionnaire was used to compare with the previous data.Results The percentage of overall knowledge on health among permanent percentage of people who were aware of knowledge on"no-smoking"."intake less salt","maintaining healthy diet program"and"insisting on exercise"were 72.97%,93.11%,86.58% and 87.25% respectively in 2006,higher than 67.38%,89.74%,82.12% and 82.78% during the baseline(P＜0.01)study in the previous years.The percentage of correct answer about the healthy life style as diet and prevention of common diseases was higher among the permanent residents than those of temporary residents in 2006(P＜0.05).The sources of health-related knowledge were mainly from media,newspapers and through health education programs carried out in the community.Conclusion The Beijing municipal government and the community residential committees attached great importance to providing knowledge on

BACKGROUNDThe role of the cerebral venous system (CVS) in intracranial pressure (ICP) regulation remains largely unclear. In the present study, the interaction between ICP and the cerebral venous system and its possible mechanism were investigated with respect to the biological characteristics of the cerebral venous system and its hemodynamic response under increased ICP.

METHODSWe created intracranial hypertension animal model, measured and calculated the venous flow velocity and diameter of the outflow terminal of the CVS with color ultrasonic system and recorded the vascular morphology by 3-dimensional anatomical microscopy. Patients who suffered from raised ICP underwent MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination to show the length in the vertical direction of the wall of the bridging vein representing the diameter value. Pathological autopsy was performed from bodies of patients who had died from non-cerebral causes to observe the juncture part between the venous sinuses and tributary vertical brain veins.

RESULTSUnder increased ICP conditions, venous drainage through the outlet cuff segment, a unique structure between the bridge vein and sinus, was obstructed and in turn venous blood became congested. Therefore, the increased blood volume worsened the pre-existing ICP according to the well-accepted theory regarding volume-pressure relationship. This phenomenon was described as concurrent "venogenic intracranial hypertension", which is characterized by intracranial venous blood stasis responsive to and together with the original increased ICP.

CONCLUSIONSThe existence of this special pathophysiological process is prevalent, rather than rare, in various intracranial disorders. This finding would definitely provide new insight into the area of cerebral venous system research.

Adult ; Cerebral Veins ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intracranial Pressure ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular and epidemic characteristics of rifampin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) resistance of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in Sichuan.

METHODSGenoType reg; MTBDRplus Assay GTplus was used to examine 68 clinical isolates of MTB and 105 clinical specimens for mutations in rpoB, katG and inhA genes related to RFP and INH resistance.

RESULTSOf the 151 valid tests obtained, 44 (29.14%) and 26 (17.22%) showed drug resistance and multidrug resistance, respectively. Resistance to RFP and INH was found in 21.85% (33/151) and 24.50% (37/151) of the samples, respectively. The most prevalent mutations were rpoB S531L, katG S315T1 and inhA C-15T. The multidrug resistance rate in the sputum specimens was significantly higher than that in the non-respiratory samples (19.35% vs 7.41%).

CONCLUSIONDrug-resistant, especially multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is highly prevalent in Sichuan. The multidrug-resistant bacteria most frequently show rpoB S531L combined with katG S315T1 mutations, suggesting the necessity of developing rapid clinical identification methods for drug-resistant MTB to control the spread of the resistant strains.

DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; pharmacology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Rifampin ; pharmacology ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; diagnosis ; microbiology

The gene expression of Osiris is coincident with the timing of chitin deposition. Osiris gene may be involved in the developmental regulation of insect cuticle. The objective of this study is to generate the gene-edited flies with Osiris24 by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing system to understand the traits of Osiris24 mutant flies and the expression pattern of Osiris24. Two sgRNA targeted sequences were designed according to the sequence of exon 1 of Osiris24 and inserted into pCFD4 vector backbone. A donor vector with Gal4 protein sequence was constructed. Above two plasmids were mixed and injected into nosCas9 fly embryos to generate GO generation. The results showed that 92.8% GO flies have Gal4 protein insert in genome. Homozygous mutants of Osiris24 were lethal at the embryonic stage or first-instar stage, and no visible phenotype was observed in heterozygous mutants. Osiris24 is expressed throughout larval and pupal stages. At the larval stage, Osiris24 is mainly expressed in the integument, foregut and hind-gut, while Osiris24 is expressed in the integument and wings at the pupal stage. These results indicated that Osiris24 plays an important role in the development of Drosophila. This study provides a research model for in-depth exploration of Osiris gene function.