Objective To study COX-2 expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma in order to explore the relationship between the immunohistochemical staining and biological behavior of bladder cancer. Methods The expression of COX-2,Ki-67,and VEGF was examined in 50 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and 10 normal bladder mucosa by means of immunohistochemical technique.Results The expression of COX-2 in BTCCs was higher than that in normal bladder mucosa.The positive rate of COX-2 was 80% in BTCCs while it was not detected in normal bladder mucosa.COX-2 was highly positively related to the grade,stage and prognosis of tumors.The expression of COX-2 in poorly differentiated,invasive or re- curring BTCCs was higher than that in well differentiated superficial or nonrecurring ones.But there was not significant difference between the solitary tumour and multiple ones.There were positive correlation both be- tween COX-2 and Ki-67 and between COX-2 and VEGF.Conclusion The high expression of COX-2 may benefit increase in bladder cancer cell proliferative activity.VEGF expression in COX-2 positive tumor was significantly higher than that in COX-2 negative tumor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Pesticides ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Sampling Studies ; Young Adult

A LC-MS method was established for the determination of the protein binding rates of oleanolic acid in human plasma and serum albumin. The equilibrium dialysis combined with LC-MS to determine the total concentration in plasma and free drug concentration of oleanolic acid was carried out. The human plasma protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 79.6%, 81.9% and 63.3%, respectively. The human serum albumin protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 53.5%, 56.6% and 47.7%, respectively. The method is shown to be simple, accurate, sensitive and specific for the determination of biological samples. The protein binding rates in human plasma and serum albumin were of high strength.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oleanolic Acid ; blood ; Protein Binding ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism

A rapid, sensitive and simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of clevidipine butyrate and its primary metabolite clevidipine acid in dog blood. After one-step protein precipitation with methanol, the chromatographic separation was carried out on an Ecosil C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of methanol and 5 mmol · L(-1) ammonium formate. A chromatographic total run time of 13.0 min was achieved. The quantitation analysis was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) at the specific ion transitions of m/z 454.1 [M-H]- --> m/z 234.1 for clevidipine butyrate, m/z 354.0 [M-H]- --> m/z 208.0 for clevidipine acid and m/z 256.1 [M-H]- --> m/z 227.1 for elofesalamide (internal standard, IS) in the negative ion mode with electrospray ionization (ESI) source. The linear calibration curves for clevidipine butyrate and clevidipine acid were obtained in the concentration ranges of 0.5-100 ng · mL and 1-200 ng · mL(-1), separately. The lower limit of quantification of clevidipine butyrate and clevidipine acid were 0.5 ng · mL(-1) and 1 ng · mL(-1). The intra and inter-assay precisions were all below 12.9%, the accuracies were all in standard ranges. Stability testing indicated that clevidipine butyrate and clevidipine acid in dog blood with the addition of denaturant methanol was stable under various processing and/or handling conditions. The validated method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of clevidipine butyrate injection to 8 healthy Beagle dogs following intravenous infusion at a flow rate of 5 mg · h(-1) for 0.5 h.
Animals ; Butyrates ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Calibration ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dogs ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Pyridines ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide (TD-34) treated Caco-2 cell membrane was observed, and we discussed the relationship between membrane structure and insulin transmembrane permeability. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to observe living cell membrane in air condition and tapping mode. Results showed that the surface of Caco-2 cell membrane treated with TD-34 lost its smoothness and nearly doubled its roughness. Apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) of insulin in Caco-2 cell monolayers increased 2.5 times. In conclusion, AFM can be used to observe microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide treated cell membrane and cationic cyclopeptide enhanced insulin delivery across Caco-2 cell membrane by increasing membrane fluidity.
Caco-2 Cells ; Cations ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Peptides, Cyclic ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore methods and clinical effects of composite external fixtor in treating adult patients with unstable middle 1/3 of clavicular fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to March 2011,36 patients with unstable middle 1/3 of clavicular fractures were treated with composite external fixtor. There were 24 males and 12 females, aged from 18 to 55 years old with an average of 43 years old. Twenty cases on the left side and 16 cases on the right side. Time from injury to operation was 2 to 6 days (averaged 3.5 days). According to Robinson classification, there were 7 cases with type 2A2, 18 cases with type 2B1, and 11 cases with type 2B2. No vessels and nerve damage occurred before opreation. The clinical effects were evaluated according to Neer scoring.

RESULTSAll cases were followed up from 6 to 12 months with an average of 8 months. The mean Neer score was 88.3 +/- 6.2, which included pain 31.6 +/- 3.2, functional score 25.7 +/- 2.2, range of motion score 21.1 +/- 1.7, and anatomy score 8.8 +/- 0.8. There were 22 cases in excellent, good in 13, fair in 1. Two cases occurred pin tract infection.

CONCLUSIONComposite external fixtor is an optional method in treating unstable middle 1/3 of clavicular fracture, and can obtain a good clinical effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Nails ; Clavicle ; injuries ; surgery ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

AIM: To investigate the effect of Z,E-butylidedephthalide (Bdph) on laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat model and choroid blood flow in rabbits'eyes.METHODS: Male Brown Norway rats were treated with Nd:YAG laser to break Bruch's membrane. Thirty mg/kg and 15 mg/kg Bdph were given daily through intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks after laser treatment. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and choroidal flat mount were used to measure the development of CNV. Female New Zealand white rabbits' eyes were instilled with 10g/L Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution,and ocular blood flow was measured with colored microsphere technique. RESULTS: The intensity of fluorescein leakage, indicating the ocular lesion, decreased significantly in group Bdph 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg, as compared to the control at P＜0.01.The area of neovascularization checked by FA in both groups of Bdph, at 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg decreased significantly compared to the control group at P＜0.05. On the choroid flat mount, the areas of CNV were also smaller in both Bdph groups than in control group. One percent Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution instilled into rabbits' eyes could improve the choroid blood flow at 30 and 60 minutes after drug instillation (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Z,E-butylidedephthalide could inhibit the development of CNV in the rat eyes and increase the choroid blood flow in the rabbit eyes. These results suggest that Z,E-butylidedephthalide may be a good agent for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).

Nitrobenzene is one of the toxic compounds. Much work had focused on biodegradation of it sofar. Two main pathways for nitrobenzene biodegradation, oxidative and partial reductive pathways, were reviewed in this article. The mechanism of these pathways including involved enzymes and genes was introduce in details. Comparative analysis of the pathways would provide basis for the development and application of biodegradation technology for nitrobenzene and other organic pollutants.

Objective To evaluate the impact of three to four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the survival of patients with N2-N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods The clinical data of 915 patients with T1-4N2-3M0 NPC from 2007 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 179 patients treated with 3-4 cycles of NACT (NACT≥3 group) were matched with 358 patients treated with 2 cycles of NACT (NACT=2 group) and 179 patients treated without NACT (NACT =0 group,concurrent chemoradiotherapy group) for age,N stage,pathological subtype,and NACT regimen.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS),disease-free survival (DFS),recurrence-free survival (RFS),and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates,the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis,and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results For the NACT≥ 3,NACT =2,and NACT =0 groups,the 5-year OS rates were 89.4％,81.6％,and 73.7％,respectively (P=O.000),the 5-year DFS rates were 83.2％,69.8％,and 64.2％,respectively (P=O.000),the 5-year RFS rates were 86.0％,76.0％,and 69.3％,respectively (P=0.001),and the 5-year DMFS rates were 86.6％,76.0％,and 68.3％,respectively (P=0.000).Three to four cycles of NACT was an independent protective factor for OS,DFS,RFS,and DMFS in patients with N2-N3 NPC.Conclusion Three to four cycles of NACT can significantly improve the survival of patients with N2-N3 NPC.

OBJECTIVE Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is an official plant that grows in arid or semi-arid areas.Our early work demonstrated that Cistanche extracts protect against sperm damage in mice under bisphenol A induced reproductive damage. Echinacoside (ECH)is one of the major active components. The present study investigated the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of ECH against oligoasthenospermia in rat and identified the interaction between ECH and AR. METH-ODS The distribution of ECH was assayed by HPLC,the quantity and quality of sperm was evaluated and hormone levels were determined by radioimmunosorbent assay. The levels of androgen receptor (AR)and key steroidogenic-related genes were reduced as determined by Western blotting and qPCR analysis.The interaction between ECH and AR were evaluated by fluorescence localization assay,indi-rect ELISA and molecular docking. RESULTS ECH significantly increased the quantity of sperm and secretions of luteinizing hormone and testosterone.ECH was distributed to the hypothalamus but not in the testes.ECH combined with hypothalamic AR in the pocket of Met-894 and Val-713 to inhibit transfer of AR from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the hypothalamus.While negative feedback of sex hormone regula-tion was inhibited, positive feedback was stimulated to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone subsequently enhancing the quantity of sperm. C. militaris significantly alleviated the BPA-induced reproductive damage by increasing testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and glutathione (GSH); as well as by reducing serum malondialdehyde (MDA). C. militaris not only obviously enhanced the levels of serum LH and T, but it also improved the sperm count and motility compared to the BPA-treated group.CONCLUSION C.militaris and ECH protect the BPA induced reproductive damage.ECH blocks AR activity in the hypothalamus to increase the quantity of sperm and protect against oligoasthenospermia in rats.