Aim To explore the effects of parthenolide (PTL) on apoptosis, invasion and migration of NSCLC cell line H1975 as well as the possible mechanism. Methods MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to measure cell proliferation. Flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining were employed to measure cell apoptosis. Transwell assay was applied to measure cell invasion and migration. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins, invasion and migration-associated proteins and PBK/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins were detected using Western blot. Results MTT assay and colony formation assay results showed that the proliferation of HI975 cells was significantly inhibited with the increase of PTL concentration, and compared with control group, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0. 05). Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining result indicated that PTL induced apoptosis in HI975 cells (P <0. 01). The results of transwell assay demonstrated that PTL significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of HI975 cells (P <0. 01). Western blot analysis revealed that PTL increased the expression of Bax and reduced the expression of Bcl-2, HIF-1 a, MMP-9, Akt and p-Akt (Ser473) in HI975 cells ( P < 0. 05 ), meanwhile, the cleavage of caspase-3 was detected. Conclusions PTL can significantly induce apoptosis and inhibit the invasion and migration of HI975 cells, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is in the guidance of the basic theory of TCM, according to the variety and quality of TCM and using a variety of analytical methods and technology, to establish the objective, overall and multi index comprehensive evaluation system. The TCM fingerprint in one of the strategic subjects for TCM modernization. As more and more technologies have been applied to the fingerprint research of TCM, it is sure to play a much more important role in many aspects, such as the quality control of TCM, the researches of efficient components, and the mechanism in TCM, and so on. The fingerprint technology includes many modern technologies such as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Corydalis yanhusuo is an ancient TCM, and recent years appears many researches about fingerprint of C. yanhusuo. This paper generalizes the research in progresses in research and analytical methods on fingerprint technology of C. yanhusuo, processed products (vinegar), and painkillers, to provide the scientific basis for fingerprint method and quality control of C. yanhusuo.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo provide basis for making the quality standard of medicinal chrysanthemums [Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel.].

METHODThe character of pharmacognosy.

RESULTThe characters of many of chrysanthemums as well as the differences between them have been clarified.

Chrysanthemum ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

Objective:To investigate the effects of estradiol on ~(60)Co?-ray induced apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells of mice,and to discuss the related anti-irradiation mechanism.Methods:KM mice were randomly divided into 3 groups(15 mice/each group):control group(without radiation),pure radiation group and estradiol+radiation group(ER group).The pure radiation group was irradiated by 4.0 Gy?-ray at a dose rate of 1.15Gy/min;the ER group was administered with 0.1 mg estradiol(IM)at 10 days before 4.0 Gy?-ray radiation;and the control group received no special treatment.The apoptotic DNA segments of bone marrow hematopoietic cells were analyzed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis;flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis rate of cells and expression of Fas and Bcl-2 at 4 h,8 h,and 12 h after irradiation.Results:Eight hours after radiation,the apoptotic DNA segments were obviously increased and apoptotic DNA ladder appeared,which was not seen in the other 2 groups.The apoptosis rate of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in ER group was significantly lower than that in the pure radiation group at 4,8,and 12 h after irradiation(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of lipid metabolism and vascular endothelium as well as morphology of heart tissue in rats who were long-time exposed to moxa smoke with different concentrations in order to provide reference for safety assessment of moxa smoke on cardiovascular system.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a low-concentration group, a median-concentration group and a high-concentration group, 42 rats in each one. The rats were exposed to moxa smoke with concentration of 0%, 10%, 40% and 70%, respectively, for 20 min per day. After continuous intervention for six months, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to measure the level of low density lipoprotein-receptor (LDL-r) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in blood serum in each group; the slices of heart tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining method to observe morphology change of heart tissue.

RESULTS(1) After the intervention of moxa smoke, the levels of LDL-r and ICAM-1 in the low-concentration group were not statistically different from those in the control group (both P > 0.05); the level of LDL-r in the median-concentration group was significantly increased, which was statistically different from that in the control group [(3.87 +/- 0.27) mg/mL vs (2.12 +/- 0.13) mg/mL, P < 0.01], however, the content of ICAM-1 was not obviously changed; although the level of LDL-r in the high-concentration group was presented with an escalating trend, it was not statistically different from that in the control group (P > 0.05) while the level of ICAM-1 was obviously increased (P < 0.01). (2) Under the light microscope, the abnormalities of cardiac muscle fibers and myocardial cell in each group were not been observed.

CONCLUSIONThe long-time intervention of low-concentration moxa smoke has no significant effects on lipid metabolism and vascular endothelium of rats, indicating that clinical application of low-concentration moxa smoke is relatively safe. The long-time intervention of moderate-concentration moxa smoke could significantly increase the clearance rate of cholesterol, implying the beneficial regulation of moxa smoke on lipid metabolism. The high-concentration moxa smoke could induce certain damage to vascular endothelium but its mechanism is in need of further research. The pathologic change of heart tissue could not be induced by moxa smoke with any concentration.

Animals ; Heart ; anatomy & histology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Moxibustion ; adverse effects ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, LDL ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; analysis

The chemical constituents of Taxus chinensis var. mairei cell cultures were investigated by chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Thirteen compounds were isolated from the 80% ethanol extract of cultured cells and their structures were elucidated by spectral data and physicochemical properties, which were identified as 2α,4α,7β,9α,10β-pentaacetoxy-14β-hydroxytax-11-ene (1), 2α,4α,7β,9α,10β-pentaacetoxytax-11-ene (2), 1β-deoxybaccatin VI (3), 2α-acetoxytaxusin (4), taxuyunnanine C (5), yunnanxane (6), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-propionyloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (7), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-isobutyryloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (8), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-(2'-methyl)butyryloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (9), 13-dehydroxylbaccatin III (10), 13-dehydroxy-10-deacetylbaccatin III (11), paclitaxel (12) and (13) β-sitosterol. Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 2, 4, 10 and 11 are isolated from the cell culture of Taxus chinensis var. mairei for the first time.
Alkenes ; analysis ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Paclitaxel ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis ; Taxoids ; analysis ; Taxus ; chemistry

Yunnan sudden death syndrome (YSDS) is an abruptly fatal disease of unknown etiology, found mostly in central or northwestern mountain area (with altitude between 1,815 and 2,225 meters) of Yunnan province from June to September every year. It occurs mostly in young female adults, with high incidences in Lisu, Yi and Miao ethnics and high familial aggregation. The clinical manifestation of YSDS is changeful and the pathological characteristic is lack of specificity. The pathogenesis may be attributed to several factors including poor hygiene and lower socioeconomic conditions, lack of Selenium or Chromium, infection of Coxsackie B virus, mushroom consumption and special geological conditions. This article reviews the epidemiologic features, clinical manifestations, pathological features, etiology and hypothesis in order to provide clues for the research of YSDS.
Adult ; China ; Death, Sudden/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prognostic factors of colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis treated by simultaneous colorectal and liver resection.

METHODSThe clinical and follow-up data of 44 colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases who underwent simultaneous colorectal and liver resection from Jan. 1993 to Jan. 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Survival rate was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, and was compared using log-rank test. Prognostic factors were analyzed by multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 86.3%, 40.9% and 25.0%, respectively. The lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion by cancer cells from the primary tumour were found to affect prognosis significantly, while gender, age, tumor location, histopathological types, the number and distribution of liver metastases were not. Multivariate analysis revealed that the lymph node metastasis was the only independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONSimultaneous liver and colorectal resection can be performed and may achieve good outcome in colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases, especially in those without lymph node metastasis.

Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectum ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Objective To study the effect of ulinastatin on no reflow or slow flow in the infarct related artery in patient with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary interventional therapy (PCI).Methods 180 STEMI patients were divided into the control group (n=100) and the ulinastatin treatment group (n=80).The control group received conventional PCI treatment and the treatment group received conventional PCI treatment plus ulinastatin. The level of serum inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-10,superoxide converting enzyme,the infarct related coronary artery reperfusion TIMI flow grade (TFG) and myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG),the results of postoperative cardiac ultrasound examination and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the level of IL-6 was decreased,while the levels of IL-10 and superoxide converting enzyme were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group(P<0.05).The TFG and TMPG of the infarct related vessels were increased significantly in the ulinastatin treatment group. The left ventricular end diastolic diameter[(54.6 ± 5.2 mm vs. (50.4±4.6) mm,P=0.046)]and left ventricular ejection fraction [(58.4±10.2) % vs. (62.2±9.8) % P=0.048] showed statistical difference between the two groups.Compared to the control,the major cardiovascular event rate of the treatment group during hospitalization (1% vs. 5%, P=0.038), after one month (1.2% vs. 3%,P=0.046) and 6 months (3% vs 12%,P=0.018) were all significantly lower .There was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups.Conclusion Ulinastatin may lower the incidence of no flow and slow flow after emergency PCI,improve heart function and the lower the rates of MACE.