OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of beta-elemene combined with aclarubicin on the induction of HL-60 cell apoptosis and its mechanisms in antileukemia therapy.

METHODSHL-60 cells were treated for 20 hours with different dose of aclarubicin (0.05, 0.10, 0.25 microg/ml) or with different concentrations of beta-elemene (10, 20, 40 microg/ml) in the presence or absence of aclarubicin (0.10 microg/m). The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), the productions of PGE2 in culture supernatants was detected by competitive ELISA and the expressions of COX-2 and NF-kappaB activity in HL-60 cells by Western blot.

RESULTSLower concentration of aclarubicin (0.05, 0.10 microg/ml) didn't affect apoptotic rate, and COX-2, NF-kappa B and PGE2 expression on HL-60 cells. Combined treatment of beta-elemene and aclarubicin (0.10 microg/ml) enhanced the apoptotic effect and down-regulated COX-2, NF-kappaB and PGE2 expressions. There was a positive correlation between the effects and beta-elemene concentrations.

CONCLUSIONbeta-elemene enhances aclarubicin-mediated apoptotic effect, down-regulation of COX-2 and their inducing products PGE2 in HL-60 cells by suppressing activitation of NF-kappaB.

Aclarubicin ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of β-elemene combined with aclarubicin on the induction of HL-60 cell apoptosis and its mechanisms in antileukemia therapy.Methods HL-60 cells were treated for 20 hours with different dose of aclarubicin(0.05,0.10,0.25 μg/ml) or with different concentrations of β-elemene (10,20,40 μg/ml) in the presence or absence of aclarubicin (0.10 μg/m).The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),the productions of PGE2 in culture supernatants was detected by competitive ELISA and the expressions of COX-2 and NF-kappaB activitv in HL-60 cells by Western blot.Results Lower concentration of aclarubicin (0.05,0.10 μg/ml) didn't affect apoptotic rate,and COX-2,NF-kappa B and PGE2 expression on HL-60 cells.Combined treatment of β-elemene and aclarubicin (0.10 μg/ml) enhanced the apoptotic effect and down-regulated COX-2,NF-kappaB and PGE2 expressions.There was a positive correlation between the effects and β-elemene concentrations.Conclusion β-elemene enhances aclarubicin-mediated apoptotic effect,down-regulation of COX-2 and their inducing products PGE2 in HL-60 cells by suppressing activitation of NF-kappaB.

OBJECTIVEIn order to improve the irrigation for Panax notginseng growing seedlings, different mulching ways were carried out to investigate the effects of double mulching.

METHODField experiment was applied to study soil moisture, soil temperature and bulk density of different mulching ways while the germination rate and seedlings growth also were investigated.

RESULTCompared with the traditional single mulching with pine leaves or straw, double mulching using plastic film combined with pine leaves or straw could reduce 2/3 volumes of irrigation at the early seedling time Double mulching treatments didn't need to irrigate for 40 days from seeding to germination, and kept soil moisture and temperature steady at whole seedling time about 30% and 9.0-16.6 degrees C, respectively. The steady soil moisture and temperature benefited to resist late spring cold and germinate earlier while kept germination regularly, higher rate and seedlings quality. In contrast, single mulching using pine leaves or straw had poor soil moisture and temperature preserving, needed to irrigate every 12-day, meanwhile dropped the germination and booming time 14 days and 24-26 days, respectively, reduced germination rate about 11.3%-8.7%. However, single pine leaves mulching was better than straw mulching. In addition, though better effects of soil moisture and temperature preserving as well as earlier and higher rate of germination with single plastic films mulching had, some disadvantages had also been observed, such as daily soil temperature changed greatly, seedling bed soil hardened easily, more moss and weeds resulted difficulty in later management.

CONCLUSIONTo the purpose of saving water and labor as well as getting higher germination rate and seedlings quality, double mulching using plastic films combined pine leaves at the early time and single mulching removing plastic films at the later time is suggested to apply in the growing seedlings of P. notoginseng.

Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

To offer the reference and method for salt damage in the cultivation of Marsdenia tenacissima, the seeds of M. tenacissima collected from Maguan city ( Yunnan province) were taken as the test materials to study the effects of different priming materials on improving germination and growth under high-level salt stress condition. Four different treatments, which were GA3, KNO3-KH2PO4, PEG-6000, NaCl, combined with ANOVA were applied to test the performance of germination energy, germination percentage, germination index, MDA, SOD, and CAT. The results showed that the seed germination was obviously inhibited under salt stress and the soaked seeds with different priming materials could alleviate the damage of salt stress. Under these treatments, the activities of SOD, CAT the content of soluble protein significantly increased. While the content of MDA significantly decreased. The maximum index was obtained when treated with 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage increased from 52.67% to 87.33% and the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 219.44 respectively. Comparing with the treatment of 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage of treating with 300 mg x L(-1) GA3 increased from 52.67% to 80.67%, while the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 444.61.
Germination ; drug effects ; physiology ; Marsdenia ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitrates ; pharmacology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Potassium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-21 and PDCD4mRNA in colorectal cancer and their correlation with clinicopathological characteristics,to elucidate relationship between PDCD4and miR-21 in vivo.Methods Expression of RNA (including miR-21and PDCD4mRNA) and PDCD4 protein were detected respectively by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR and SP immunohistochemical staining in 43 cases of colorectal carcinoma and corresponding normal mucous membrane tissue.Results In colorectal carcinoma,expression of miR-21 was higher than that of the control ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and expression of PDCD4mRNA lower than the control ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Expression of miR21 was associated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stages ( Ⅰ + Ⅱ,Ⅲ + Ⅳ ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).On the other hand,no significant differences were observed regarding sex,tumor site,size,local invasion,distant metastases,clinical stages( Ⅰ,Ⅱ ) (P ＞ 0.05 ).Expression of PDCD4mRNA was associated with local invasion,clinical stages ( Ⅰ,Ⅱ ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).While no significant differences were found concerning sex,site,size,lymph node metastasis,distant metastases,clinical stages( Ⅰ + Ⅱ,Ⅲ + Ⅳ ) ( P ＞ 0.05 ).miR21 levels was negatively correlated with PDCD4 expression including nuclear and nuclear and cytoplasmic put together (P ＜ 0.05 ),in contrast to PDCD4mRNA and PDCD4 expression in cytoplasmic ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions ( 1 ) Abnormal expression of PDCD4 mRNA and miR-21 correlate with prognosis in colorectal cancer.(2) miR-21 suppress translation of PDCD4mRNA by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR)of target PDCD4mRNA.

Objective To explore the relationship between pulse wave velocity(PWV)and blood pressure classification and cardiovascular risk factors stratification in patients with essential hypertension. Methods Totally,390 patients with essential hypertension were recruited in the study and their carotid- femoral PWVs were recorded by an automatic pulse wave velocity measurement system.The patients were stratified by their cardiovascular risk factors.PWVs were compared between patients with varied blood pressures or with and without cardiovascular risk factors.Results There was no significant difference in PWV between patients of phase 1 and phase 2 hypertension,[(10.8?1.7)m/s vs.(11.9?1.2)m/s,P =0.398].PWV in patients with more than one risk factor was significantly higher than that in those with hypertension alone,[(10.4?1.4)m/s vs.(11.7?1.4)m/s,P=0.018].Conclusions PWV in hypertensive patients with one or more than one other risk factors was significantly higher than that in those without other risk factors.Cardiovascular risk factor might play a more important role in arterial stiffness.

Objective To explore the methods of maintaining the stability of middle turbinate (MT),reducing the incidence of middle meatus synechia formation and improving the treatment effect of endoscopic sinus surgery.Methods A prospective study was conducted in 54 consecutive patients with chronic sinusitits.The patients were allocated into two groups.During the operation,the most anterior and superior MT attachments to the agger nasi region were preserved,and anterior and posterior ethmoidectomy were performed in group A(27 cases 47 sides).Besides above structures,the most posterior and inferior aspects of the basal lamellae and the horizontal boney strut structures of the basal lamellae were preserved in group B(27 cases 51 sides).Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in age,course and preoperation visual analogue scale(VAS)score.The VAS scores in group A before and 1 year after operation were(6.41±0.25)and(1.70±0.36),the difference was significant(t=10.472,P<0.05).The VAS scores in group B before and 1 year after operation were(6.78 ±0.23)and(0.66 ±0.16),the difference was significant(t:17.195,P<0.05).The Lund-Kennedy scores in group A and group B one year after operation were(1.85±0.47)and(0.67±0.16),the difference was significant (t=2.290,P<0.05).The MT position was described as stable,sligilt drifting laterally and synechia formation.And the incidenee of stable,slight drifting laterally and synechia between MT and the nasal lateral wall in group A and group B was 57.4%,23.4%,19.1% and 88.2%,3.9%,7.8% respectively,the differences were significant(X~2=12.511,P<0.05)Conclusions Conservation of the horizontal bony strut of basal lamellae could better maintain the stability of MT,reduce the incidence of MT drifting laterally and synechia formation,and finally improve the curative effect of endoscopic sinus surgery.