Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and to explore the mechanism of pathogenesis in COPD.Methods A total of 40 patients undergoing lung resections for pulmonary tumor were selected.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to COPD diagnostic criteria:the control group [patients without COPD,13 males,7 females,with an average age of (61.7±8.8) years] and the COPD group [patients with COPD,15 males,5 females,with an average age of (60.5 ± 9.4) years].Peripheral lung tissues from tumor lesions were detected in this study.The qualitative and quantitative expressions of NF-κB were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot,respectively.TGF-β31 mRNA level was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The levels of TGF β1 mRNA and NF-κB protein and the NF-κB nucleus positive rate were significantly higher in the COPDgroup than in the control group [(0.42±0.11) vs.(0.34±0.13),(0.24±0.08) vs.(0.12±0.04),57.9％ vs.26.7％,respectively,all P＜0.05].The TGF-β31 mRNA level was positively correlated with the NF-κB protein expression in the 2 groups (r=0.497,0.618,both P＜0.01).The ratio of 1 second forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity (FEV1/ FVC) was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression (r=-0.624,r=-0.659,both P ＜0.01) in the COPD group.Conclusions The expression levels of NF-κB and TGF-β1 are significantly increased in patients with COPD,and there is a positive correlation between TGF-β1mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression.NF-κB may participate in regulating TGF-β1 mRNA expression and in contributing to the airway remodeling,thereby in effecting pulmonary function.

Objective To investigate the effect of acute blood glucose on the level of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),interleukin-6 (IL-6),and the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB).Methods The Wistar rats were infused intermittently or consistently with 50％ glucose solution.The level of GSH-Px was investigated with colorimetry.The level of IL-6 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of NF-κB was investigated with immunohistochemisty.Results The level of GSH-Px in aorta homogenate in the acute blood glucose fluctuation group [(6.26 ± 0.38) nmol/mgprot] was evidently lower than that of consistently high blood glucose group [(8.98 ± 0.56) nmol/mgprot] and the control group [(10.02 ±1.10)nmol/mgprot] (P ＜0.05).The level of IL-6 [(20.56 ±3.78)pg/ ml] and the expression of NF-κB in the aorta in the acute blood glucose fluctuation group [(16.35 ±2.45) pg/ml] were evidently higher than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Acute glucose fluctuations induced the enhancing of oxidative stress and expression of inflammatory cytokines in the aorta,which leads to start NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the proliferation of air?way smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (CEBPα) and calreticulin. Meth?ods (1) The ASMCs were stimulated with different concentrations of CSE for twenty-four hours. According to the concentra?tions of CSE,the cells were divided into control group, 2.5%CSE group, 5%CSE group and 10%CSE group. The prolifera?tion of ASMCs was measured by MTT colrimetric method. The CEBPαmRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. Western bloting as?say was performed to detect the levels of CRT and CEBPαprotein. (2) In 10%CSE group, transfection of the siRNA respec?tively for negative control or calreticulin was performed in accordance with instructions. The cell proliferation and the expres?sion of calreticulin and CEBPαwere compared in negative control siRNA group and calreticulin siRNA group. Results (1) With the increasing of the concentrations of CSE, the protein expression of CEBPαdecreased gradually (P<0.05), while the proliferation of ASMCs and the protein expression of calreticulin increased (P<0.05), but the expression of CEBPαmRNA in ASMCs showed no significant difference in groups with different concentrations of CSE (P>0.05). (2) Under the 10%CSE, the expression of CEBPαwas significantly higher in CRT siRNA group than that in negative control group (P<0.05),but the cell proliferation and CRT were significantly lower in the calreticulin siRNA group than those in negative control siRNA group (P<0.05). Conclusion The CSE exposure contributes to the expression of calreticulin protein,and then inhibits the translation of CEBPαmRNA,thus promotes the proliferation of ASMCs.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of Ziyin Xiehuo Recipe (ZYXHR) for nourishing yin and lowering fire and Yishen Tianjing Recipe (YSTJR) for nourishing kidney and replenishing essence on regulating the gonadotrophic and somatotrophic functions of hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and to reveal the mechanisms of ZYXHR and YSTJR in modulating the course of pubertal development of children with precocious puberty. METHODS: The pubertal rats were fed with ZYXHR or YSTJR for 30 days, and the parameters of rats were monitored as the followings: The content of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the frequency and amplitude of GnRH impulse releasing, the releasing amounts of aminoacid neurotransmitters, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) and beta-endorphin (beta-END) in the gonadotrophic area of the hypothalamus were detected with neurobiological methods (push-pull perfusion, homogenate, incubation of brain slices, and immunohistochemical staining). The levels of gene and protein expressions of GnRH, growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SS) in hypothalamus, and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) in adenohypophysis as well as insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in metaphysis were determined with real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The ZYXHR could reduce the activity of GnRH neurons in hypothalamus through inhibiting the release of central exciting aminoacid neurotransmitters, whereas promoting the release of central inhibiting aminoacid neurotransmitters, NPY and beta-END in gonadotrophic area of hypothalamus. The expression levels of GnRH, FSH and LH mRNAs were down-regulated while the expression level of SS mRNA in hypothalamus was up-regulated in the ZYXHR-treated group. The GH mRNA in hypophysis and the IGF-I mRNA in metaphysis were both down-regulated by ZYXHR. The YSTJR could promote the activity of GnRH neurons in hypothalamus through inhibiting the release of NPY in gonadotrophic area of hypothalamus, up-regulating the expression levels of GnRH, FSH, LH and GH mRNAs in hypophysis, and IGF-I mRNA in metaphysis, while down-regulating the expression level of SS mRNA in hypothalamus. CONCLUSION: The ZYXHR and YSTJR could both regulate the gonadotrophic and somatotrophic functions of hypothalamic-pituitary axis through modulating the neuroendocrine regulation and the gene expressions of GnRH and SS in hypothalamus, GH, FSH and LH in hypophysis, and IGF-I in metaphysis. These may be the chief mechanisms of ZYXHR and YSTJR in modulating the course of pubertal development and ameliorating the skeletal development in children with precocious puberty.

Objective: To study the antitumor effects of transmembrane TNF-? and secretory TNF-? in vivo. Methods: Three types of TNF-? cDNA plasmids (wild type TNF-?; transmembrane TNF-? mutant; secretory TNF-? mutant) were directly injected into tumor-tearing mice. Results: The three types of TNF-? could be expressed by tumor cells and all of them could inhibit evidently the rate of tumor growth. The tumor regression after treatment with transmembrane TNF-? mutant at the early stage was more significant than that with the other two types of TNF-?( P

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis.

METHODSUsing routine pathology and immunohistochemistry, we observed the surgically obtained samples from 2 cases of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis, analyzed their pathological features and clinical presentations, and reviewed the related literature.

RESULTSThe 2 patients were both adult males. The tumors typically manifested as painless swelling in the epididymis, with occasionally dull pain and tenesmus in 1 of the cases. Pathologically, the lesions exhibited three morphological features, i. e., dilated ducts and small cysts surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, adenoid papillary hyperplasia into the cysts embraced by fibrovascular stroma, and acidophil substance present in the cysts. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumors were strongly positive for CK8/18, CK7, and EMA, but negative for CK20, CEA, MC, Calretenin, P53, P63, SMA, VHL, and CD10, with the positive rate of Ki-67 <1%. Follow-up visits revealed good prognosis in both cases.

CONCLUSIONPapillary cystadenoma of the epididymis is a rare benign tumor in the male urogenital system, which may be accompanied by the VHL syndrome. Surgery is the first choice for its treatment.

Adult ; Cystadenoma, Papillary ; chemistry ; pathology ; Epididymis ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; chemistry ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of blocking the JAK/STAT signal pathway on the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis rats.MethodsFifty rat models of collageninduced arthritis,which had arthritis index more than 2 were divided into the model group,the low dosage of AG490 group,the medium dosage of AG490 group and high dosage of AG490 group.Inaddition,6 rats were treated as normal control group.Normal saline,AG490 1,5,10 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 were given by intraperitoneal injection.Then the volume claws and pathologic scores of the rat models were recorded and the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue were compared.The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and LSD-t or Tamhane's T2 test.ResultsThe arthritis of the CIA models progressed fast,the volume of the claws and the pathological score of them were significantly higher than those of the control group.At the same time,no Caspase-3 positive express could be detected in the control group,whilethe model group had slightly increased expression.After different dosages of AG490 were applied,the swollen of joints was significantly improved compared with the model group.The histopathological score of the medium AG490 dosage of group and high dosage group(2.7±0.8,1.8+0.9) were remarkably decreased than those of the model group(4.3+1.2),the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01).In addition,the Caspase-3 expression in the low,medium and high AG490 dosage group ( 1.90±0.15,3.13±0.33,3.56+0.34) was significantly higher than that of the model group(1.48±0.18)(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ).ConclusionBlocking JAK/STAT signal pathway can increase the activity of Caspase-3,reduce the excessive proliferation of synovial tissue,and improve arthritis symptoms.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Xiaotan Sanjie Recipe (XTSJD) and its mechanism on vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice.

METHODSThe tumor-bearing mice model was established by subcutaneous inoculating with xenografts of human gastric cancer into the right armpit of 30 BALB/c nude mice. After modeling, the tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the normal saline group, the XTSJD group, and the doxycycline hyclate (DH) group, 10 in each. And the mice were administered with corresponding medicine by gastrogavage for 4 weeks. Then all mice were killed by cervical dislocation. The tumor mass were weighed and the tumor inhibition rate calculated. The amount of VM in tumor was counted. Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9 were tested using immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSTumor weight in the XTSJD group and the OH group decreased significantly when compared with the NS group (P<0.01). The amount of VM in the XTSJD group (24.50+/-3.03) and the OH group (14.70+/-1.34) was significantly less than that in the NS group (33.10+/-2.64) (P<0.01). The positive expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the XTSJD group and the OH group was significantly lower than that in the NS group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONXTSJD could inhibit the formation of VM in xenografted tumor of nude mice. The mechanism might be correlated with the down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of psoriasis arthropathy (PA) and to explore the effect of treatment by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation and integrative medicine.

METHODSThe initiating characteristics, clinical manifestations, related laboratory and X-ray data as well as the therapeutic efficacy of syndrome dependent TCM and integrative medicine on 47 PA patients were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the 47 patients, 38 (80.6%) had the skin lesion revealed earlier to joint symptoms, the average time between the appearance of skin lesion and joint symptoms was 9.2 years; joint X-ray abnormality was found in 32 cases (68.1%); and psoriasis nail involvement was found in 33 cases (70.2%). Seventeen patients were treated with TCM alone and obtained satisfactory results, while the other 30 patients, were treated by integrative medicine with the dosage of medicine reduced immediately after symptoms were relieved, and finally cured or improved.

CONCLUSIONTCM and integrative medicine are effective in treating PA, with lesser side effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult