Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Failure

Matrine is a traditional Chinese medicine extraction which can inhibit the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of tumor cells. Cell signal transduction affects the tumor biological behavior and growth condition. Except for the widely research of MAPK, JAK-STAT, NF-κB signal transduction pathways, the latest signaling pathways about matrine are Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and mTOR signaling pathway. These pathways are mainly activated by the phosphorylated key proteins to alleviate inflammatory reaction and inhibit the growth of tumor cells and tumor biological behaviors. The research of matrine by cell signaling pathways can provide molecular targeted therapy with theoretical basis. The relationship among different signaling pathways related to the anti-tumor effect of matrine is worth studying deeply in the future.

Objective To observe the efficacy of finasteride and M-receptor antagonist (tolterodine tartrate release tablet) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with overactive bladder (OAB).Methods 40 patients with BPH and OAB were treated with finasteride (5 mg,Qd) and tolterodine tartrate release tablet (4 mg,Qd) for 6 months.The clinical effects were evaluated by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS),Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS),urgency rating scale,maximum flow rate,voiding volume,prostate volume before and after treatment.Results Compared with before treatment,the IPSS,OABSS,urgency rating scale,maximum flow rate,voiding volume,prostate volume were improved [(11.8±1.4) vs.(19.2±2.1),(4.6±2.6) vs.(9.3±1.8),(1.2±1.9) times/week vs.(4.7±1.0) times/week,(14.5±2.7) ml/s vs.(10.2±2.2) ml/s,(25.2±2.6) ml vs.(34.6±3.2) m1,(46.2±2.2) ml vs.(57.6±1.3) ml,all P＜0.05] after treatment.No urinary retention and other adverse reactions were found.Conclusions Finasteride combined with M-receptor antagonist (tolterodine tartrate release tablet) is an effective and safe therapeutic method for patients with BPH and OAB.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat Stress Disorders ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM: To investigate the protective mechanism of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) on apoptosis of hippocampus neuronal cells in type 1 diabetic encephalopathic rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague-Dauley rats were divided into 3 groups: control group, diabetic group and EGB-treated group. Streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally to the animals in later two groups to induce diabetes. The rats in EGB-treated group were injected intraperitoneally with EGB, and the same volume of normal saline was injected to the rats in other groups. At the end of the 12th week, the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats in each group were examined by Morris water maze test. Blood glucose and serum insulin concentration were measured. The neuron densities in hippocampus were measured by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 were assayed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to control group, the level of blood glucose (P<0.01), the protein expression of Bax (P<0.01) and caspase-3 (P<0.01) in hippocampus neuronal cells, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 (P<0.01) and the escape latency (P<0.01) in diabetic group, were significantly increased, while the serum insulin concentration (P<0.01), the neuronal density (P<0.05) in CA1,CA2 hippocampal regions and the platform searching score (P<0.01) were significantly deceased. After treated with EGB, the serum insulin concentration (P<0.05), the neuronal density (P<0.05) in CA1,CA2 hippocampal regions and the platform searching score (P<0.01) were significantly increased, while the level of blood glucose (P<0.01), the protein expression of Bax (P<0.05), caspase-3 (P<0.05) in hippocampus neuronal cells, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 (P<0.01) and the escape latency (P<0.05) were significantly deceased than those in diabetic group. The protein expression of Bcl-2 in hippocampus neuronal cells did not alter in any experimental rats. CONCLUSION: EGB improves the spatial learning and memory capacity in diabetic rats by decreasing the expression of Bax, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and down-regulating caspase-3 to reduce neurocyte apoptosis and increase the neuron density in CA1, CA2 hippocampal regions, suggesting that effective regulation of neuron apoptosis associated genes may be one of the mechanisms for EGB to treat diabetic encephalopathy.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and class Ⅲβ-tubulin protein expression in tumor tissue for the efficacy of taxol and cisplatin combined chemotherapy (TP) in stage Ⅲβ/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients. Methods A total of 92 stage Ⅲβ/Ⅳ NSCLC patients were recruited with 87 patients evaluated. Bronchoscopy or lung puncture tumor biopsy samples were obtained with BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin protein expression examined immunohistochemically before chemotherapy. The patients were randomly assigned to be received 4 to 6 cycles of TP chemotherapy regiments and followed up until death or lost. Response rate (RR) , overall survival (OS) and time to tumor progression (TTP) were assessed. Results Among the 87 evaluated patients, the positive expression rates of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin were 57. 5% (50/87) and 48. 3%(42/87) respectively. There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics among patients with different positive expression rate. According to different expression of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin, the patients were divided into four groups: group A (low expression of both BRCA1 and class 1 p-tubulin) ,group B (high expression of both BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin) , group C (high expression of only BRCA1) and group D (high expression of only class Ⅲβ-tubulin). The RR was higher in group A than other three groups (60. 7% , 34. 8% , 9/19 and 6/17 respectively). The OS and TTP were longer in group A than other three groups [OS: (539. 4 ± 17. 6) days, (267. 2 ± 20. 5) days, (325. 6 ± 24. 1) days and (283.7±26.2) days respectively ; TTP: (256. 9 ± 28. 4) days, (143.8±17.6) days, (179. 3 ± 19. 8)days and (152. 6 ±23. 5) days respectively]. There were no significant differences among the other three groups. Conclusions The expression level of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin in tumor tissue is probably a predictor for the efficacy of TP chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. TP chemotherapy is more suitable for the NSCLC patients with lower expression of both BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin. Our study may provide a new sight for tailored chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Objective: To investigate the effects of mouse recombinant Periostin on the attachment and proliferation of PDL cells on root surfaces. Methods: Normal (N) and periodontitis (P) root slices were treated with Periostin (Pe) and fibronectin (FN), respectively. Untreated root slices (Co) served as negative controls. PDL cells were seeded on the root slices, the attachment in 24h and the proliferation in 72h of the cells were determined with cell counting. The morphology of the cells was observed under SEM. Results: After 24h cultured, the cells on each mm3 on the root slices of PeN, FNN, CoN, PeP, FNP and CoP were 498. 00?31. 75, 513. 04?27. 52, 432. 88?20. 57, 336. 51 ? 27. 66, 348. 44?30. 23 and 237. 87?32. 54 respectively ; after 72h those were 683. 33? 28. 05, 774. 62?42. 25. 603. 21 ? 19. 76, 510. 52? 28. 31, 579. 19 ? 31. 58 and 445. 92?26. 30 respectively. Conclusion: Periostin can promote the attachment and proliferation of PDL cells on both diseased and healthy root surfaces.

Objective To determine the content of paeoniflorin with different medicinal parts in Radix Paeoniae Alba and offer a reference for collection and processing. Methods The content of paeoniflorin was measured by HPLC method. Combining air drying with weight relief condition, the content of paeoniflorin was calculated in fresh Radix Paeoniae Alba. Results There was the highest content of paeoniflorin in Radix Paeoniae Alba in 24～48 hours after collection, and the another increasing of the content was founded 120 hours after collection. Conclusion Radix Paeoniae Alba should be processed in 48 hours after collection.

Aim To investigate the effects of an angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker,candesartan, on aorta oxidative stress-LOX-1 pathway in salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).Methods 12-week-old salt-loaded SHRSP were treated with candesartan(1.0 mg?kg-1?d-1)or a diuretic, trichlormethiazide(TCM,1.6 mg?kg-1?d-1) or no treatment(n=6) in each for 2 weeks. Age-matched salt-loaded WKY rats were served as control(n=6).Systolic blood pressure(SBP)was measured weekly throughout the 2-week period by means of the tail-cuff method.Thoracic aortas were extracted and 24 h urine was collected.NAD(P)H oxidase subunits(p22 phox, p47 phox and gp91 phox)mRNA expression in aorta were assayed by real-time PCR. LOX-1 and type Ⅳ collogen mRNA expression were examined by RT-PCR. gp91 phox and LOX-1 protein expression in aorta were assayed by immunohistochemistry.Urinary albumin excretion was examined by ELISA.Results At the end of the 2nd week, SBP was significantly higher in salt-loaded SHRSP than that in salt-loaded WKY rats. Treatment with candesartan and TCM significantly decreased SBP in salt-loaded SHRSP at similar levels.NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (p47 phox and gp91 phox)and LOX-1 mRNA expression in aorta were markedly higher in salt-loaded SHRSP than those in salt-loaded WKY rats.Candesartan and TCM had the effect of reducing the systolic blood pressure at similar levels. Candesartan significantly down-regulated aorta p22 phox, gp91 phox,LOX-1 and type Ⅳ collogen mRNA expression and decreased urine albumin excretion in salt-loaded SHRSP(P

Aim To investigate the effects of bone morphogenic protein(BMP)-7 on the expression of extracelluar matrix components(ColⅠand FN)in human renal proximal tubular cells(HK-2)induced by transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1),and to explore the inhibition of BMP-7 on renal interstitial fibrosis.Methods HK-2 cells were treated with TGF-?1,BMP-7,or a combination of both for 48 h.The expression of FN was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression of FN and ColⅠ?1.Results Indirect immunofluorescence staining showed that FN staining in 3 ?g?L-1 TGF-?1 group was considerably stronger than that in control group.By an addition of 200 ?g?L-1 BMP-7,the expression of FN was significantly inhibited.RT-PCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein expression of FN and ColⅠ?1 were up-regulated by TGF-?1 after 48 hours significantly(P