To explore the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of estrogen and especially observe the effect of estradiol on the content of cholesterol in J774a.1 mouse mononuclear/macrophage-derived foam cells which were incubated with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). J774a.1 mouse mononuclear/macrophages were incubated with ox-LDL or with both ox-LDL and estradiol (1, 0.1 or 0.01 micromol x L(-1)). Oil red O staining was used to observe the formation of foam cells, and cholesterol oxidase fluorometric was used to determine the content of cellular cholesterol content. Western blotting and RTFQ-PCR were used to observe the expressions of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-B I ) in J774a.1 foam cells. Compared with the control cells, J774a.1 mouse mononuclear/macrophage-derived foam cells showed significantly increased contents of total cholesterol and cholesterol ester (P < 0.001) and decreased SR-B I mRNA expression (P < 0.01). Estradiol treatment significantly lowered the contents of total cholesterol and cholesterol ester (P < 0.05), and increased SR-B I protein and mRNA expression (P < 0.01) in the foam cells in a dose-dependent manner. Estradiol can inhibit the formation of mononuclear/macrophage-derived foam cells by decreasing the contents of total cholesterol and cholesterol ester and up-regulating the expression of SR-B I in the foam cells.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Cholesterol Esters ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Scavenger Receptors, Class B ; metabolism

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; complications ; pathology ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; etiology ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; Humans ; Male

Notopterygium incisum is the important medicinal materials of the Tibetan-Qiang medical system in China, also one of the rare and endangered medicinal materials in the Plateau areas in the meantime. Taking the planting of in Sichuan province as an example, research on the N. incisum in Sichuan utilize remote sensing and GIS techniques, bind growth environment factor, including height factor, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, forest information, were chosen according to habitat conditions. And combine field measurement to verify. The results indicate that N. incisum resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in the alpine valley and the northwest of the plateau, which suitability distribution areas of 4145 km2 approximately and accounting for 2% of the total area. Suitability areas accounting for more than 2% of the respective total area in Heishui county, Lixian county, Xiaojin county, Kangding county, ect. According to the field investigation and the related document information record, drawn that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of N. incisum resources. It's feasible to divide the suitability distribution area of N. incisum using RS and GIS, which will provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive investigation of the distribution as well as its rational exploitation and protection.
Apiaceae ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Geographic Information Systems ; Telemetry

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between circulating tumor cells(CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) and the physiopathological characteristics of esophageal neoplasms.MethodsUsing negative selection system,we depleted red blood cells(RBCs) in red blood cell lysis buffer,depleted white blood cells (WBCs) with Miltenyi magnetic beads and enriched the rare cells from ESCC patients'peripheral blood.Immunofluorence staining (IF) was adopted to identify CTCs.ResultsCirculating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was closely related to cell differentiation grade,the invasion of primary cancer,lymph node status,P-TNM stages,and was rarely related to the sex,age or the location of tumor.ConclusionThe results suggest that circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may express the development of esophageal cancer and may be served as a tumor marker to evaluate the biological behavior of esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUNDPost-operative adjuvant chemotherapy in non-small cell lung can- cer (NSCLC) has been a highlight around the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy on the survival of patients with NSCLC after complete resection.

METHODSFrom June 2000 to December 2003, 64 patients with stage IB-IIIA NSCLC were divided into the chemotherapy group, who accepted adjuvant chemotherapy with navelbine+cisplatin (NP) or taxol+carboplatin (TP), and the observation group, who did not accept adjuvant chemotherapy after operation. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year survival rate (SR), median survival time (MST) and disease-free time (DFT) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year cumulated SR in the chemotherapy group was 93.9%, 84.6%, 71.4% and 58.4%, and 93.6%, 83.1%, 63.5% and 43.1% in the observation group respectively. There were statistically significant differences in both the 3- and 4-year survival between the two groups (P < 0.05). The MST was 52 months in the chemotherapy group and 47 months in the observation group respectively (P < 0.05), and the DFT was 19 months and 16 months respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cisplatin- or carboplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy can improve the survival of NSCLC patients after complete resection.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of transcription regulation of the liver-selective genes responsible for cell communication.

METHODSTissue-selective Affymetrix probe sets (3919 probes in total) were clustered by functional categories. Liver-selective cell communication (LSCC) genes were selected for further analysis. The 500-bp upstream sequences of all the LSCC genes were extracted for predicting the transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) of known transcription factors (TFs) using 3 programs; literature mining was then performed for these LSCC genes and TFs, and the transcription regulatory network were constructed.

RESULTSThe binding sites of 50 and 72 transcription factors were predicted from the upstream sequences of 23 LSCC genes by two programs respectively. Among them, 18 transcription factors were found in common. The top 10 TFBS sequences were basically consistent to the predicted TFs. Literature mining indicated that LSCC genes and TFs were closely related to such terms as albumin, diabetes, glucose, lipid, metabolism, and JNK, in addition to those associated with hepatic tissue and TFs. These observations suggested that LSCC genes and TFs were involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, binding and transport, coagulation signal cascades, inflammatory response, etc. PPP2R1B, which was out of the network, showed a partial functional similarity to DUSP10 in the network.

CONCLUSIONSLSCC genes and the predicted TFs may be involved in the regulation of many important functions of the liver, which are integrated into a sophisticated transcription regulatory network. JUN may be the key target for regulation, and PPP2R1B is presumed to participate in the regulation of JUN.

Binding Sites ; genetics ; Cell Communication ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic efficacy of Longqingpian combined with Levofloxacin on Type IIIA prostatitis.

METHODSEighty patients with Type IIIA prostatitis were equally randomized into a Longqingpian group and a Puleanpian group, both treated for 12 weeks. The former were given Longqingpian (once 6 tablets, twice a day) combined with Levofloxacin (once 0.2 g, twice a day) during the first 4 weeks, followed by Longqingpian alone (once 6 tablets, twice a day) for 8 weeks. The latter received Puleanpian (once 4 tablets, 3 times a day) combined with Levofloxacin (once 0.2 g, twice a day) in the initial 4 weeks, followed by Puleanpian alone (once 4 tablets, 3 times a day) for 8 weeks. Before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the treatment, all the patients were evaluated by The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and EPS examination.

RESULTSAfter 4-week, 8-week and 12-week treatment, total score of NIH-CPSI, and the score of pain, voiding symptoms and the quality of life dropped significantly in both groups compared with pre-treatment (P < 0.05 or 0.01), so did the leukocyte count in EPS (P < 0.05). Compared with the 4-week treatment, total score of NIH-CPSI, and the score of pain, voiding symptoms and the quality of life were shown to be significantly different (P < 0.05) in the Longqingpian group from the 8-week and 12-week treatment, except the leukocyte count in EPS. However, there was no significant difference between the 8-week and 12-week treatment in any of the indexes (P > 0.05). Longqingpian effected significant differences in the above indexes (P < 0.05), while Puleanpian did not after the treatment (P > 0.05). And the lecithin Amato body analysis revealed no significant changes in EPS after the treatment in either group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLongqingpian combined with Levofloxacin is highly effective for Type IIIA prostatitis, by relieving pain and voiding symptoms, decreasing the leukocyte count in EPS and improving the life quality of the patients.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Levofloxacin ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ofloxacin ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive function of male rats with asthenospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN).

METHODSForty male SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into Groups A (control: 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose solution), B (medium-dose ORN: 400 mg/kg/d), C (medium-dose ORN + LC: ORN 400 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d), D (high-dose ORN: 800 mg/kg/d), and E (high-dose ORN + LC: ORN 800 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d). All the rats were treated via gastric gavage for 20 days consecutively, and then killed for the detection of sperm motility and the sperm count of the cauda epididymis.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count in Groups B and D (P < 0.05), while Group C showed a significant increase in both the parameters as compared with B (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference from A (P > 0.05). Group E exhibited no obvious improvement in sperm motility and sperm count, with no difference from D (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONL-carnitine can improve the sperm motility and sperm count of the male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia.

Animals ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Ornidazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish the specific 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer regions pattern in different bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequences analysis.

METHODSA pair of primers were selected from highly conserved sequences adjacent to the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. Bacterial DNA of sixty-one strains of standard bacteria and corresponding clinical isolates representative of 20 genera and 27 species was amplified by PCR, and further studied by RFLP, DNA cloning and sequences analysis. Meanwhile, all specimens were examined by bacterial culturing and PCR-RFLP analysis.

RESULTSThe 27 different standard strains showed one, two, three or more than three bands. The sensitivity of PCR reached 2.5 colony-forming unit (CFU), and there was no cross reaction to the human, fungal or viral genomic DNAs. Fifteen species could be distinguished immediately by PCR, while another 10 species were further identified by Hinf I or Alu I digestion. Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) and Enterococcus durans (Ed) could not be differentiated from each other by Alu I or Hinf I digestion. The spacer sequences of the Kp and Ed were 908 bp and 909 bp, respectively, and they differed only at the site of the 779th nucleotide. The former was G, and the latter was A. The 760 - 790 bp sequence of Kp was as follows: CGACTGCACCGCCTCCTAC / GGCCGCGTATTC. The 760 - 790 bp sequence of Ed was as follows: CGACTGCAC CGCCTCCTAC / AGCCGCGTATTC. Only one enzyme XmaIII, could discriminate the two. The cleaving site of XmaIII is C downward arrow GGCCG. Kp DNA was cleaved into 778 bp and 130 bp fragments, while E. durans was not. Of 42 specimens with suspected septicemia, 15 were positive (35.7%) on blood culture, and 27 on PCR (64.29%). The positive rate of PCR was significantly higher than that of blood culture (P < 0.01). Of the six CSF specimens, one was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se) on culture as well as by PCR, while two specimens which were negative on cultures were positive by PCR and were diagnosed as Se according to its DNA pattern. One specimen was culture-positive for Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) but was negative by PCR. The other two specimens were negative by both PCR and culture. Fifteen blood samples from healthy children were negative by both blood culture and PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe method of detecting bacterial 16S-23S rRNA spacer regions using PCR-RFLP techniques was specific, sensitive, rapid and accurate in detecting pathogens in clinical bacterial infections.

Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUNDDocetaxel (DOC) therapy is well tolerated and shows high response rates in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). There are many reports on the effect of rapamycin (RPM) on the treatment of carcinogenesis. The goal of this study was to test whether RPM could enhance the susceptibility of both androgen-dependent and -independent prostate carcinoma cells to DOC.

METHODSProstate cancer (PC) cell lines (LNCap, PC3 and AILNCap) were cultured and treated with RPM and DOC alone or in combination. The effects of therapeutic agents on cells were determined by the WST-1 assay. Apoptosis induction was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis. The apopcyto caspase colorimetric assay kit was applied to measure the activities of caspases 3 and 9. The antitumor effects of RPM and DOC against PC cells were also assessed in nude mice using four randomized groups: control, RPM, DOC and combination drug therapy by measuring tumor size. All the animals tolerated both RPM and DOC without significant weight loss.

RESULTSRPM and DOC caused dosage-dependent growth suppression of PC cells. RPM could increase the susceptibility of PC cells to DOC significantly, and combined treatment with RPM and DOC caused synergistic growth suppression in all examined PC cell lines by isobolographic analysis. Both RPM and DOC significantly induced apoptosis in a dosage-dependent manner. RPM (10 nmol/L), DOC (1 nmol/L), and combined treatment induced apoptosis rate were 8%, 17% and 38%, respectively (the control was 2%). RPM could promote the apoptosis induced by DOC in PC cell lines. Both RPM and DOC significantly increased the caspase activity in a dosage-dependent manner. The relative activities of caspase 9 in control, RPM, DOC and RPM + DOC groups were 0.22 +/- 0.02, 0.36 +/- 0.06, 0.47 +/- 0.05 and 0.84 +/- 0.08, respectively. The relative activities of caspase 3 were 0.21 +/- 0.02, 0.24 +/- 0.05, 0.42 +/- 0.06 and 0.81 +/- 0.09, respectively. Either RPM or DOC alone significantly inhibited the growth of PC cells in nude mice compared to the control. The combination of RPM and DOC produced a significant reduction in tumor volume when compared to RPM or DOC alone. After 5-week treatment, the tumor sizes of LNCap in control, RPM, DOC and RPM + DOC groups were (570 +/- 56) mm(3), (412 +/- 41) mm(3), (425 +/- 46) mm(3) and (221 +/- 26) mm(3), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRPM could significantly increase the susceptibility of both androgen-dependent and -independent PC cells to DOC; the synergy of RPM and DOC was demonstrated. RPM enhanced the DOC-induced upregulation of caspase activity, resulting in an increasing number of cells in sub-G1 phases. The synergy of the combined treatment might be observed in both androgen-dependent and -independent PC cell lines.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays