Objective To investigate the effects of octreotide on the apoptosis of human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and expression of Bcl-2/Bax in HSCs,and to reveal the mechanism underlying octreotide against hepatic fibrosis. Methods HSCs lines (HSC-LX2) were incubated with different concentrations of octreotide for 24 and 48 hours. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Fitc-tunel fluorescence staining. Bcl-2 and Bax protein exoression in HSC-LX2 was detected by immunocytochemistry. Meanwhile, Bcl-2 protein of HSC-LX2 were detected by Western blot assay. Results Octreotide could promote the apoptosis of HSC-LX2, and the apoptosis rate was significantly increased with the concentration of octreotide(P < 0.05). The HSC-LX2 were incubated with the same concentration of octreotide for 24 and 48 hours, the cell apoptosis rate of 48-hour octreotide treatment was significantly higher than that of 24-hour octreotide treatment (P < 0.05). The immunocytochemistry result indicated that octreotide could significantly decrease Bcl-2 expression and increase Bax expression in HSC-LX2 (P<0.05); Western blot assay showed that octreotide could also significantly inhibit Bcl-2 expression in HSC-LX2 (P<0.05). Conclusions Octreotide could induce the apoptosis of HSCs in a dose-and time-dependent manner, the mechanism of octreotide inducing HSCs apoptosis might be associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in HSC.

To investigate the chemical compounds from the twigs of Euonymus alatus, nine compounds were isolated and identified as(+)-delta(2,11)-enaminousnic acid(1), 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(2), acetyl 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(3), camaldulenic acid(4), betulinic acid(5), 6beta-hydroxy-stigmast-4-en-3-one(6), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone(7), ethyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate(8), 4,4'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl(9). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2-4 and 7-9 were obtained from the Euonymus genus for the first time. In vitro study showed that compounds 2 and 3 showed significant anti-tumor activities to BEL-7402 and HCT-8 at the concentration of 10 mg x L(-1). The inhibition rate of compound 2 was 61.78% and 68.29%, whereas the inhibition rate of compound 3 had reached to 70.91% and 84.07%.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Euonymus ; chemistry ; Humans

Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; Stroke ; etiology

To investigate the chemical compounds from aerial part of Rehmannia glutinosa, six compounds were isolated and deter- mined by extensive spectroscopic analysis as(+)-(7S, 8S, 8'S)-9-O-[β-D-glucopyranoyl] asarininone(1), 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid(2),7,3'-dihydroxyl-5'-methoxyisoflavone (3), aeginetic acid (4), corchorifattty acid B (5), pinellic acid (6). Among them, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2, 3 and 5 were obtained from the Rehmannia genus for the first time. In vitro study showed that none of the six compounds exhibited obvious activities to BEL-7402 and HCT-8 at the concentration of 10 mg x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of color doppler flow image (CDFI) and three-dimension color power angiography(3D-CPA) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 62 pathologically confirmed thyroid nodules of 30 patients were analyzed. All the patients underwent ultrasound examination and operation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between January, 2008 and May, 2009. Both CDFI and 3D-CPA were performed before the operation. All the nodules were divided into three groups including nodular goiters, thyroid adenomas and thyroid cancers according to the pathological results. The hemodynamic features and the vascular morphology characteristics of nodules in different groups were compared. Results 3D-CPA showed that blood vessels of nodular goiters commonly distributed surrounding the mass and the inner vessels were thin and regular, thyroid adenomas were bulb-shaped and netted structure, and malignant thyroid nodules displayed distorted and irregular distributed vessels. Peak systolic velocity (PSV)of the three groups were (39.43±11.17a), (46.39±12.98) and (65.17±9.23)cm/s, respectively. Resistance index(RI) of the three groups were (0.32±0.08), (0.41±0.06) and (0.69±0.07)cm/s, respectively. Both PSV and RI in malignant thyroid nodules were higher than in nodular goiters and in thyroid adenomas and the difference were statistical significant (all P < 0.05). The blood flow grade of malignant nodules was also higher in malignant nodules than in other two groups(χ2 = 17.11, 12.79, 23.05, 15.41, P< 0.01). Conclusions CDFI and 3D-CPA could visually demonstrate the characteristic and distribution of the inner and outer blood vessels, display the vessels structures, and they are benefit the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of neferine on Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions and protein secretion of hepatic stellate cells.

METHODThe hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6 was cultured in vitro, and then randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) group and PDGF + neferine (2, 6, 10 micromol x L(-1)) groups. All of the groups were cultured for 48 h, and their cells were collected to extract mRNA and detect Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions with RT-PCR. Their cell supernatants were also collected to determine the protein content of three factors with ELISA.

RESULTCompared with the control group, PDGF could remarkably increase the Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 expressions and protein secretion of hepatic stellate cells. Compared with the PDGF group, PDGF + neferine (6, 10 micromol x L(-1)) groups showed a notable decrease in the Collagen-I and mRNA expression and protein secretion along with the increase in the concentration, whereas the PDGF + neferine (2 micromol x L(-1)) group showed no significant change in the Collagen-I and mRNA expression and protein secretion. Compared with the PDGF group, three PDGF + neferine groups showed no notable change in MMP-2 expression and protein secretion.

CONCLUSIONNeferine can inhibit the Collagen-I, TIMP-1 and mRNA protein expression and protein secretion of PDGF-induced HSCs along with the increase in the concentration, but with not remarkable effect on the MMP-2 expression and secretion.

Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; genetics ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression status of CXCR7 in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines.

METHODSThe expression status of CXCR7 was detected in 35 primary gastric cancer tissues and matched adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The correlation of CXCR7 expression with the clinicopathological parameters and risk factors of gastric cancer was analyzed. The expression of CXCR7 in gastric cell lines (HGC-27, MGC-803, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28) was also detected by immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe expression of CXCR7 was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues (P<0.01). CXCR7 expression was not correlated with age, gender, smoking history, Helicobacter pylori infection, tumor location or the pathological type, but showed a higher expression level in patients with a alcohol-drinking history than in those without (P<0.05). CXCR7 was expressed with variable intensities in the 5 gastric cancer cell lines without correlation with the degrees of cell differentiation; its expression was the highest in SGC-7901 cells, a moderately differentiated human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line.

CONCLUSIONSCXCR7 is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues with variable intensities in 5 gastric cancer cell lines, suggesting its important role in gastric cancer progression.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Progression ; Helicobacter Infections ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Receptors, CXCR ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEBotanical characters of germplasm resources of Dioscorea were observed and compared, which could to offer reference for its genetic improvement, germplasm resource identification and classification.

METHODBased on field cultivation, twenty-four morphological traits of ninety-four Dioscorea germplasm resources were observed or determined. And the morphological differences among germplasm resources were compared by principal component analysis and cluster analysis.

RESULTThere were ample morphological diversity in the twenty-four traits, in especially in leaf size and tuber characters of the ninety-four Dioscorea germplasm resources. The first seven principal components which accounted for 80. 957% of total variance were extracted from the principal component analysis. The ninety-four germplasm resources could be divided into four clusters, which belonging to Dioscorea opposite, D. persimili, D. fordii and D. alata respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere were large morphological variation among germplasm resources on Dioscorea. Identification of germplasm resources of Dioscorea should focus on leaf size and tuber characters.

China ; Cluster Analysis ; Dioscorea ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Geography ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; genetics ; growth & development ; Principal Component Analysis

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Atrazine ; analysis ; immunology ; Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Herbicides ; analysis ; immunology ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience in microsurgical removal of craniopharyngioma using combined transorbital-subfrontal and temporal craniotomy.

METHODSEighteen patients with craniopharyngioma varied from 3.1 cm to 6.2 cm in diameter. The tumor was located in the suprasellar region in 7 patients, extended to the third ventricle in 6, and down to the intrasellar from the suprasellar region in 4, and in the third ventricle in 1. Complete or partial cystic tumor was seen in 13 patients, and solid tumor in 5, and calcified tumor in 12. All the patients were operated on via combined transorbital subfrontal and temporal approach. The tumor was dissected in the spaces I, II and IV with great attention to the preservation of the perforating arteries from the carotid, posterior communication and anterior choroidal arteries to the structure of the hypothalamus. The solid portion of the tumor was removed by piecemeal.

RESULTSThe tumor was totally removed in 14 patients and subtotally in 4. Postoperation, follow-up for 8 to 41 months showed no change in 3 residual tumors and one lost to follow-up. All patients Postoperative Karnofsky scales showed 80 - 90, in 12 patients, 60 - 70 in 5 patients, and 50 in 1.

CONCLUSIONSCombined transorbital-subfrontal and temporal approach can provide an excellent exposure to the sellar region, craniopharyngioma and its surrounding structures. This approach ensures less cerebral retraction for easy access to craniopharyngioma, including other large neoplasm of the middle cranial base with ventricle or posterior cranial base extension. Microsurgical techniques play an important role in removing tumor and preserving hypothalamic function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; surgery ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult