Objective To investigate the antitumor effects of total glycoside of Cimicifuga dahurica (TGCD) in vivo and in vitro, and further explore its mechanisms. Methods The anti-tumor activity in vitro was determined by MTT assay and the anti-tumor activity in vivo was evaluated using experimental mouse tumor (S180) model and human tumor (A549) xenografts in nude mice. After treatment, A549 cell apoptosis and morphologic change were evaluated by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry and HE staining. Results Inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of TGCD on A549, HepG2, HL60, Eca-109 and MDA-MB231 cells were 20.3, 27.1, 21.2, 23.4 and 32.7 ?g/mL respectively. Administration of TGCD (100 or 200 mg/kg) inhibited S180 solid tumor development in mice, the inhibition rates were 42.8% and 54.6% respectively. Administration of TGCD (100 or 200 mg/kg) inhibited A549 tumor growth with a T/C (mean value of treated group/mean value of control group) value of 58.1% and 52.2% respectively. In addition, increased percentage of apoptotic cells induced by TGCD in human A549 nude mice xenografts and the histopathological changes including cell shrinkage and condensation of chromosomes were observed. Conclusion TGCD has demonstrated antitumor bioactivity both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to its effects of inducing apoptosis activity.

BACKGROUND:Glycyrrhiza flavonoids can protect muscle tissues against oxidative and inflammatory injuries.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of Glycyrrhiza flavonoids on energy storing and release of adipose tissue by studying expressions of perilipin mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle tissues of rats after exhaustive exercise.
METHODS:Fifty male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were used and equaly randomized into five groups: quiet control, exercise alone (intragastric administration with saline), exercise combined with low-, moderate-, high-dose Glycyrrhiza flavonoids (intragastric administration with Glycyrrhiza flavonoids) groups, respectively. Perilipin mRNA and protein expressions in skeletal muscle tissues containing gastrocnemius muscle and musculi soleus were determined at 6 weeks after exhaustive exercise.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Expression of perilipin mRNA in rat gastrocnemius muscle in quiet control group was significantly decreased compared with exercise alone and al combined intervention groups (P < 0.05 orP < 0.01). Protein expression of perilipin in exercise combined with moderate- or high-dose glycyrrhiza flavonoids group was significantly increased compared with quiet control group (P < 0.05). Expression of perilipin mRNA in rat musculi soleus was significantly decreased compared with exercise combined with moderate-dose glycyrrhiza flavonoids group (P < 0.05). These findings confirm that Glycyrrhiza flavonoids are benefit for improvement of aerobic metabolism capacity of gastrocnemius muscle through regulating lipolysis pathway.

Objective To observe imaging features of uterus duplication combined with mesonephric duct dysplasia related abnormalities.Methods Imaging data of 17 female with uterus duplication and renal dysplasia were retrospectively analyzed.Seven patients underwent CT and 10 patients underwent MR scanning.Results The basic abnormalities in 17 patients were uterus duplication combined with unilateral renal-ureter dysplasia with/without other associated malformation which were further classified as follows:①7 patients presented as basic abnormalities without other associated malformations,include 5 (CT diagnosed 1,MR diagnosed 4) with uterus duplex and unilateral renal-ureter agenesis,2 (CT 1,MR 1) with uterus bifidus and unilateral renal-ureter dysplasia;②2 patients (CT 1,MR 1) presented as basic abnormalities accompanied with ectopic ureter orifice,uterus duplex and unilateral renal dysplasia with ectopic ureter orifice opening in vagina;③5 patients (CT 3,MR 2) of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome presented as uterus duplication,oblique vagina septum as well as unilateral renal-ureter dysplasia,which shown as uterus duplex,oblique vaginal septum with hematocolpos,also unilateral renal-ureter agenesis;④2 patients presented as basic abnormalities accompanied with mesonephric residual cyst,CT showed one with uterus duplex and unilateral renal-ureter agenesis with ipsilateral mesonephric residual cyst,MRI showed as the other one with Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome combined with mesonephric residual cyst opening in vagina;⑤MRI showed 1 patient with basic abnormalities and a nephrogenic adenoma,which demonstrated as uterus duplex combined with left renal-ureter agenesis,and a tumor on the left wall of bladder accompanied with endometriosis.Conclusion Further classification into 5 types from simple to complex based on uterus duplication combined with unilateral renal-ureter dysplasia with/without other associated malformations is helpful to the diagnosis and treatment of these abnormalities.

Objective:To investigate the effect of the transcriptional coactivator Mediator 1 (Med1) on mouse hair regeneration, and to explore potential mechanisms.Methods:Med1 flox/flox C57BL/6J mice were mated with K14-Cre mice, and the mice with epidermis-specific knockout of Med1 gene, namely K14-Cre-expressing Med1 flox/flox mice (knockout group) , were obtained by using the Cre-Loxp system, while Med1 flox/flox mice without K14-Cre expression served as control group. Mice in the two groups (3 mice in each group) were raised together for 8 weeks followed by dorsal hair removal. Hair regeneration was observed for 12 consecutive days after hair removal. After 12 days, all mice in the two groups were sacrificed, their depilated and non-depilated dorsal skin tissues were resected, and total RNA was extracted from the tissues. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of hair keratin genes, vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway-related genes, and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence. Paraffin-embedded sections of depilated and non-depilated mouse skin tissues were prepared, and immunofluorescence staining was conducted to determine the number of stem cells in the hair follicle bulge. Two-independent-sample t test was used for comparisons between two groups. Results:From days 0 to 12 after depilation, hair regeneration was delayed in the depilated skin area in the knockout group compared with the control group. Real-time quantitative PCR showed significantly decreased mRNA relative expression levels of hair keratin genes Ha1 and Krt2-16, vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway-related genes S100a3, Dlx3 and Tubb3, and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence including Lhx2, Sox9 and Nfatc1 in the depilated skin tissues in the knockout group (22.09 ± 12.32, 2.07 ± 0.20, 0.02 ± 0.01, 12.36 ± 2.12, 1.75 ± 0.46, 0.39 ± 0.02, 4.42 ± 0.76, 0.44 ± 0.07, respectively) compared with the control group (70.53 ± 9.46, 7.76 ± 0.49, 0.05 ± 0.01, 26.16 ± 2.96, 2.60 ± 0.14, 0.71 ± 0.09, 11.93 ± 0.42, 0.75 ± 0.04, respectively; t = 5.40, 18.64, 3.89, 6.57, 3.04, 6.10, 15.03, 6.18, respectively, all P < 0.05) . Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of CD34 +K15 + hair follicle stem cells in the hair follicle bulge in both depilated and non-depilated skin tissues was significantly lower in the knockout group than in the control group. Conclusion:Med1 gene knockout may down-regulate the expression of downstream genes of the vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence (Sox9, Nfatc1 and Lhx2) , and reduce the number of hair follicle stem cells, leading to hair follicle differentiation disorder and hair regeneration delay.