AIM:To explore the protective effects of berberine (Ber) on islet beta cells and related possible mechanisms.METHODS:The injury of INS-1 cells was induced by treatment with alloxan ( Axn) .Berverine was then given at serial concentrations.The cells were divided into control group ( Con) , injury group ( Axn) , low-dose berberine group (LBer), medium-dose berberine group (MBer) and high-dose berberine group (HBer).Flow cytometry was em-ployed to detect the apoptosis.The activation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt and HNF-1α/PDX-1 pathways and the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 were evaluated by Western blotting.The insulin releases under normal or high-glucose stimulation were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Compared with Con group, the apoptotic rate increased significantly in Axn group.Ber-berine treatment reduced the apoptotic rate in LBer group, MBer group and HBer group in a concentration-dependent man-ner.Compared with Con group, the protein levels of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 increased, while PI3K and phosphoryla-tion of Akt decreased significantly in Axn group.However, this effect was reversed by berberine in a concentration-depend-ent manner.Compared with Con group, the activation of HNF-1α/PDX-1 signaling pathway was inhibited in Axn group but recovered by berberine administration.The abilities of releasing insulin under normal or high-glucose stimulation were im-paired in Axn group but recovered by berberine treatment in LBer group, MBer group and HBer group in a concentration-dependent manner.CONCLUSION:Berberine shows protective effects against alloxan-induced damage in beta cells by in-hibiting apoptosis and recovering insulin secretion, thus attenuating the activation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt and HNF-1α/PDX-1 signaling pathways.

Objective To detect estrogen receptor and DNA index in breast cancer by flow cytometry. Methods 32 cases of fresh specimens of breast cancer resected by operation were used in this study. Single cells suspension was prepared from those specimens, and estrogen receptor expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. At the same time, the status of ploid and S phase cell ratio were determined. Results Flow cytometry analysis could measure the expression level of estrogen receptor in the fresh breast cancer specimens, which was more sensitive and needed less volume of tumor tissue compared with immuohistochemical method. The information on the status of ploid and S phase cell ratio were simultaneously obtained. Conclusion The detection of estrogen receptor in breast cancers by flow cytometry was more helpful for evaluating prognosis and selecting treatment.

Since the HLA system is one of the most complex human genetic polym- orphisms,its application in forensic medicine included disputed paternity and criminal identification,have been fairly recognized. The present paper reported the results of our study about the HLA typing in human blood stain,serum and saliva,it was concluded that:(1).The existed strong anti-complementary activity in human blood stain when the amount of complement used in microlym-phocytotoxicity inhibition test(MLIT) was incresed to 10?l,it was found that the results of HLA-All,-B 5 typing in bloodstains were all correct,and the detectable period was at least 90 days; (2).The soluble HLA-A antigens in human serum could reliable detected with MLIT;(3).The soluble HLA-A antigens were also present in the human siliva.

Objective To investigate the effects of sulforaphane (SFN) on the proliferation of prostate cancer DU145 cells and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-lα) expression,and to explore the possibility of SFN in the prevention of prostate cancers.Methods The DU145 cells were treated with different doses and different time of SFN.The cell proliferation viability were measured by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-zy1)-3,3,5-di-phenytetrazo`liumromide (MTT) proliferation and cytotoxicity assay kit.The hypoxia tumor microenvironment was stimulated by pretreating cells with 1％ O2,HIF-lα expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activitity were detected by Western-blot and ELISA,respectively.Results SFN had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human prostate cancer DU145 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The cell proliferation inhibition rate exceeded 50％ in more than 20 μ mol/L SFN-treated groups after 48 hours.SFN could inhibit the expression of HIF-1α induced by 1％ O2 and VEGF activity.10 μmol/L SFN showed inhibitory effect on the expression of HIF-1α after 24 hours.20 μ mol/L SFN showed a significant inhibitory effect on the expression of HIF-1α after 12 hours.And peroxidase had synergistic inhibition on HIF-1α.Conclusions SFN can inhibit the proliferation of DU145 prostate cancer cells and HIF-lα expression.SFN can be used as a potential chemotherapeutic agent against human prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Wenxin granule on the related indexes of senile patients with primary hy-pertension and acute left cardiac failure. METHODS:160 senile patients with primary hypertension and acute left cardiac failure were randomly divided into control group(80 cases)and observation group(80 cases). Control group received 12.5 mg captopril, orally,twice to 3 times a day (if patients had taken plenty of diuretic drugs,in low sodium and/or low blood volume,patients with normal or low blood pressure,the initial dose was 6.25 mg,3 times a day). Observation group additionally given 9 g of Wenxin granule,3 times a day. The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks. SBP,DBP,PP,SDANN,SDNN-Index,RMS-SD,PNN50,improvement of cardiac functions before and after treatment,and incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups were ob-served. RESULTS:After treatment,the SBP,DBP and PP in 2 groups were significantly lower than before,and observation group was lower than control group,SDNN,SDANN,SDNN-Index、RMSSD and PNN 50 were significantly higher than before,and ob-servation group was higher than control group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). And there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Based on conventional treatment,wenxin granule can significantly reduce the bloop pressure of senile patients with primary hypertension and acute left cardiac failure,improve cardiac functions and inhibit autonomic disorders,with good safety.

BACKGROUND: Caspase-3 is well recognized as the key caspase carrying out apoptosis in animal and human brain. To date, a few studies revealed the expression of caspase-3 protein in brains of normal persons and Alzheimer patients but data obtained from rodents exhibited much discrepancy.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different expression patterns of caspase-3in rodent and monkey brain, and the different expression of caspase-3 in different brain regions and during aging in monkeys.DESIGN: Parallel comparison between means of single variable.SETTING: Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Department of Anatomy, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out from August, 2003 to February, 2005 in Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Department of Anatomy, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sprague Dawley rats, ICR mice and senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) with ages ranging from postnatal 2, 12, 24 to 48 weeks(n=5 for each age group of different rodents) were included in the present study. All of these animals were supplied by Laboratory Animal Services Center, the hinese University of Hong Kong. Totally 8 rhesus monkeys aged 4 years (n=4) or 20 years (n=4) were selected from the Laboratory Animal Center in Chinese PLA General Hospital [SCXK-(Beijing)2003-002]. Both ro dents and monkeys were female and were raised under standard conditions without any experimental interventions. METHODS: ①Brain tissue samples were taken freshly from both rodents and monkeys and made into homogenate. The expression of caspase-3 pro tein in brains of both rodents and monkeys was investigated with im munoblot. ② The expression levels in monkey brains were exhibited quantitatively with the same method in three brain regions, such as the frontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellar cortex, for the two age-groups. In vivo distribution patterns of caspase-3-immunoreactive cells were further presented in 3 brain regions of monkeys through immunohistochemistry. MAIN OUTCOME MEATURES: ①Detection of caspase-3 protein with immunoblot in the brain of rodents and monkeys; ② Distribution patterns of caspase-3-immunoreactive cells in 3 brain regions of monkeys. RESULTS: ① Result of detection with immunoblot: The same pattern of caspase-3 protein expression in brain of three kinds of 2-week-old rodents. But the expression was not seen in any other brains of older ages. Caspase 3 was expressed in a relatively high level inboth adult and aged monkey brains, and the amount did not attain to the level in 2-week-old rodents. Caspase-3 Was expressed in the pattern of zymogen (Mr 32 000). The ex pressions of caspase-3 in brains of monkey were not different in ages and brain regions. ②Result of Immunohistochemistry: It was showed that most neurons in the frontal cortex lack detectable caspase-3 immunoreactivity, whereas low to moderate caspase-3 immunostaining be found mainly in pyramidal cells in CA1, CA3 and CA4 subfields of hippocampus. And in the cerebellum, a small number of Purkinje cells were strongly stained in their cytosol and dendrites. Age-related expression pattern of caspase-3 were not found except that in the motor cortex of aged monkeys in which there were a limited number of large pyramidal cells in layer Ⅴ that were strongly stained with caspase-3 antibody.③ Immunoblot procedure revealed that the caspase-3 protein expressed in monkey brains is in the form of zymogen (Mr 32 000) and there is no significant difference in caspase-3 expression level as a function of either brain region or age of animals.CONCLUSION: Unlike rodents in which caspase-3 protein rapidly drops to an undetectable level since animals grow up, the primate expresses caspase-3 constitutively in brain until the late period of lifetime. But there are no significant brain region- or age-related differences in the protein levels in monkey brain.

Objective To investigate the optimal time of termination of pregnancy for patients with hemolysis elevated liver enzymes and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome Methods 57 patients with HELLP syndrome admitted from October 1992 to September 2001 were enrolled According to the length from the time diagnoses confirmed to the time of delivery,patients were divided into 3 groups; group Ⅰ,within 24 hours, group Ⅱ,24 to 48 hours and group Ⅲ,over 48 hours Complications,maternal and perinatal mortality were analyzed retrospectively between different groups Results Maternal and perinatal mortality were 7% and 11% in group Ⅰ, 16% and 21% in group Ⅱ, 64% and 73% in group Ⅲ with significant differences between group Ⅲ and group Ⅰ or group Ⅲ and group Ⅱ ( P

To examine the effect of Gankang Suppository on duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), the serum biochemistry and hepatic histology in an animal model of DHBV infection, a model of DHBV infection was established by infecting 1-day-old Yingtaogu ducklings with DHBV-positive serum. The successful model was confirmed by PCR assay and 48 ducklings infected with DHBV were randomly divided into 3 groups: a Gankang Suppository treatment group, an acyclovir (ACV) group and a DHBV model group (control), with each group having 16 animals. All the animals were given the medicines for 4 weeks in a row. The serum of the animals was taken 14 and 28 days after the medication and 7 days after drug discontinuation. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the copy numbers of DHBV DNA in the serum. ALT and AST were dynamically monitored. The ducklings were sacrificed on the 7th day after the discontinuation of the treatment and livers were harvested and examined for inflammation and degeneration of liver cells by using HE staining. The results showed that on day 14, 28 after the treatment and day 7 after the withdrawal, the logarithmic values (log) of DHBV DNA copy numbers in ducklings of Gankang Suppository treatment group were significantly lower than that before the treatment (P=0.0092, P=0.0070, P=0.0080, respectively). Compared with DHBV model control group, the ALT level was significantly decreased (P=0.0020, P=0.0019, respectively) on day 28 after the treatment and on day 7 after the withdrawal. The AST level was also reduced on day 14 after the treatment (P=0.0298). Compared with the ACV control group, the level of ALT was lower on day 7 after the withdrawal (P=0.0016). Histologically, the hepatocyte swelling, vacuolous degeneration and acidophilic degeneration in Gankang Suppository treatment group were alleviated 7 days after the withdrawal as compared with model control group (P=0.0282, P=0.0084, P=0.0195, respectively). It is concluded that Gankang Suppository can effectively suppress DHBV replication, reduce the levels of serum ALT and AST and improve hepatic histology.

Objective To evaluate the endothelial function in diabetic patients by high resolution sonography. Methods The intima-media thicknesses (IMT) of the bilateral carotid artery, femoral artery and the iliac artery of 22 elderly patients and 142 non-elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 20 elderly and 20 non-elderly healthy persons were measured. The changes of the diameter of brachial artery were determined by measuring the diameter of brachial artery during reactive hyperemia and after sublingual nitroglycerin. Results The increased percentage of the brachial artery diameter under reactive hyperemia was significantly lower in elderly patients with DM (10. 03?6. 39)% than that in the elderly healthy control (15. 87?4. 79)% (P 0. 05). The IMT in elderly patients with early-stage DM incrassated significantly(P

Objective To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone (RSG) on glycemia and ?-cell function in type 2 diabetic patients. Mothods Open-label and self-match trial was carried out. 31 cases of type 2 diabetic patients were divided into RSG monotherapy group (n=13), RSG plus metformin group (n=9), and RSG plus sulphonylureas group. All the patients received treatment for 12 weeks. Weight, body mass index, FBG, FINS, blood pressure, TG, Tch, HDL, LDL, ALT, AST and TBIL were determined before and after therapy. The insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and ?-cell function (HOMA-?) of the patients were evaluated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Results Compared with before treatment, there was a significant improvement in FBG, FINS, HOMA-? and HOMA-IR in all the patients after treatment (FBG 8.89?2.49mmol/L, FINS 17.89?5.78mU/L, HOMA-? 79.75?41.28,HOMA-IR 7.15?3.40 vs FBG 7.27?2.26mmol/L, FINS 14.33?3.82mU/L,HOMA-? 120.84?140.66,HOMA-IR 4.63?1.81, respectively,P