To study the mechanisms of total flavonoid from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (TFGR) and its ingredient isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on their regulation of M2 phenotype polarization of macrophages. IL-4 (60 μg x L(-1)) induced RAW264.7 cells for 6 h to establish the M2 macrophage model. TFGR and ISL restrained breast cancer cells migration with the aid of M2 macrophages in vitro. TFGR and ISL inhibited gene and protein expression of Arg-1, up-regulated gene of HO-1 and protein expression of iNOS, enhanced the expression of microRNA 155 and its target gene SHIP1, meanwhile down-regulated.the phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT6. So TFGR and ISL were the bioactive fraction and ingredient in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to reverse M2 phenotype macrophages polarization. TFGR and ISL inhibited the promotion of M2 macrophages to breast cancer cells migration in vitro, STAT signal pathways and miR155 were partly involved.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Polarity ; drug effects ; Chalcones ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the value of MR perfusion imaging in early detection of findings following arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma Methods Twenty eight consecutive patients with pathologically-confirmed HCC were evaluated. All patients underwent MR perfusion imaging at pre-TACE and 3 to 10 days after TACE. The negative enhancement integral (NEI) ,the time to peak(TTP) ,the maximum slope of decrease (MSD) , the signal enhance ratio (SER) were acquired from MRI software FuncTool 2. 5.36a Version. Statistical analysis using SPSS 14, least significant difference test (t test) were utilized. Results The time intensive curve of tumor was observed to descend rapidly to reach the peak at pre-TACE studies, whereas it descended slowly to reach the peak on post TACE studies. The Value of TTP and SER prior to TACE were(51.2 ± 10. 3) s, 60. 6 ± 36. 3 respectively, and post TACE (43.7 ± 12. 0)s, 41.2 ±27. 5 respectively. The values of TTP and SER post TACE were lower than those prior to TACE (P ＜ 0. 05). The value of NEI prior to TACE was 108.7 ± 58.9, and after TACE 149. 6 ±80. 1 and there was statistically significant difference (P ＜0. 05). The Value of MSD post TACE were lower than those prior to TACE, but there was no statistical significance (P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusion PWI is a very sensitive imaging technique that can be used to monitor early dynamic changes of HCC following TACE.

Biomarkers ; urine ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cystatin C ; Cystatins ; urine ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; pathology ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins ; urine ; alpha-Macroglobulins ; urine

Objective To observe the change of MR perfusion value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A total of 22 patients with HCC underwent MR perfusion weighted imaging (MR PWI) before TACE and 3-10 days after TACE. The mean time to enhance (MTE), negative enhancement integral (NEI), time to peak (TTP) and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) before and after TACE were acquired and compared. Results The time intension curve (TIC) of HCC region was observed to descend rapidly before TACE, while descended slowly after TACE. The value of MTE and TTP after TACE were lower than those before TACE (P<0.05), and the value of NEI after TACE was higher than that before TACE (P<0.05). The value of MSD after TACE were lower than that before TACE, but no statistical significance was found (P>0.05). Conclusion MR PWI is a very sensitive imaging technique that be used to monitor blood flow changes of HCC before and after TACE and evaluate efficacy of TACE.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of S100B protein in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis judgement of craniocerebral injury.

METHODSIn this study, we reviewed the domestic and foreign research reports about the relationship between S100B protein and craniocerebral injury.

RESULTSThe concentration of S100B protein had a different increase based on the degree of injury in early stage after craniocerebral injury, and the increasing degree of S100B protein showed a positive correlation with the grading of pathogenetic condition and prognosis of craniocerebral injury.

CONCLUSIONSS100B protein may be taken as a specific index of early diagnosis, grading of pathogenetic condition, and prognosis judgement after craniocerebral injury. To grasp and regulate the mechanism of neurotoxicity and to elucidate the therapeutic effect of S100B protein will be a research direction in clinical treatment of craniocerebral injury.

Craniocerebral Trauma ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Nerve Growth Factors ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Prognosis ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; S100 Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid

ObjectiveTo look into the distribution of “iodine suitable” region in iodine-deficient areas in Shandong province and to provide a scientific basis for guiding the redesignate of iodine-deficient areas and launch scientific supply of iodine.Methods One to 3 copies of water source samples were collected in 105 existing iodine-deficient counties by village.Water iodine content was detected by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.The areas with water iodine content below 10 μg/L was defined as iodine-deficient areas and among 10 - 150 μg/L were “iodine suitable areas” and greater than 150 μg/L were high iodine areas.Results The research was carried out in 14 cities,105 counties,and 1337 towns.We collected 65 716 water samples.Sample recovery efficiency reached 99.8％.The median of water iodine was 5.57 μg/L.In the 1337 towns surveyed,there were 82.05％(1097/1337) of the township with water iodine median ＜ 10 μg/L,17.43％(233/1337) between 10 - 150 μg/L,and 0.52％(7/1337) ＞ 150 μg/L.Conclusions In Shandong province,the water “iodine suitable” regions are distributed scattered with considerable proportion.In iodine-deficient areas,there are areas with high water iodine,and iodine-deficient regions should be redrawn.Emphasis should be put on iodine nutritional status of residents in “high iodine and iodine suitable” regions,and iodine supplementation should be carries out scientifically.

Objective To investigate the effects of Jianpi Qingchang Decoction combined with Calcitriol on the expressions of IL-17 and IFN-γ in colitis in rats with ulcerative colitis; To discuss the mechanism of action. Methods Experimental rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, Mesalazine group, Calcitriol group, Jianpi Qingchang Decoction+Calcitriol group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, other groups were given TNBs for modeling. The administration began on the 3rd day after modeling. All rats were weighed and sacrificed on the 11th day after administration. The disease activity index (DAI) were calculated and the colon histopathological (HPS) were evaluated under microscope. The mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-17 in colonic mucosa were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the control group, the DAI and HPS of the model group increased significantly (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, the DAI and HPS of administration groups were reduced significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-17 in Mesalazine group and Jianpi Qingchang Decoction+Calcitriol group decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Jianpi Qingchang Decoction combined with Calcitriol can down-regulate IL-17 expression, decrease the activity of immune cells, reduce the secretion of inflammatory cells, and lessen the damage of colonic mucosa by regulating Th17 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in conjunction with MR subtraction in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors at 3 Tesla. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with breast tumors enrolled in this study, including 45 malignant lesions and 33 benign lesions verified by histopathology. Dynamic MR contrast enhanced imaging was done by T1 high resolution isotropic volume excitation sequence. MR subtraction was used to retrospectively analyze the MR dynamic image. A dynamic phase subtraction (DPS) map is a map image with pixel-by-pixel subtraction of an early-phase image from a delayed maximum enhancement phase image obtained in a dynamic study. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated with or without subtraction in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors. RESULTS: The sensitivity of benign breast masses increased from 0.879 to 0.939, and the specificity increased from 0.818 to 0.909 with reference to the DPS map. There was statistical difference between with or without DPS (Z=2.023, P=0.043). The sensitivity of breast malignant masses increased from 0.889 to 0.933, and the specificity increased from 0.867 to 0.911 with reference to the DPS map, with statistical difference between with or without DPS map (Z=2.294, P=0.021). The pattern of TIC changed from continuous to a plateau in 8 patients, from a plateau to washout in 10, and from continuous to washout in 5. No changes were observed in the other 55 patients. CONCLUSION MR Subtraction is a simple and useful technique to identify breast lesions. It helps to accurately set the location of the ROI TIC and improve the detection rate of benign and malignant breast tumors.
Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To look into the current distribution of iodine deficiency area in Shandong province and to guide the re-defined iodine deficiency area and to supplement iodine scientifically. Methods In 2008, 100 iodine deficiency counties(cities, districts), designated in Shandong province's "to supplement iodized salt to eliminate the hazard of iodine deficiency management regulations", were selected in the study. One to three samples were collected from water source which was used by the majority of local residents in the 100 iodine deficiency places and iodine concentration was tested by As3+-Ce4+ catalyzing spectrophotometry. Results A total of 65 716 water samples were collected. Sample recovery efficiency reached 99.8%(65 572/65 716). The median water iodine was 5.57 μg/L, with 82.05%( 1097/1337 ) of the township(town) met criteria for the classification of iodine deficiency areas(water iodine ＜ 10 μg/L), 17.43%(233/1337) of the township (town) water iodine moderate(water iodine 10 - 150 μg/L), and 0.52%(7/1337)of the township(town) should be defined high iodine areas(water iodine ＞ 150 - 300 μg/L). Conclusions The iodine deficiency areas should be redefined because water iodine concentrations of iodine deficiency areas have changed. We suggest that the smallest place to supply salt with different range of iodine content is set to the township(town).