s:Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a gene controlled active cell suicide process in order to maintain balance of organisms. Apoptosis is mainly mediated through three signal pathways, including the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and death receptor. As a kind of naphthoquinone compounds and one of the main active ingredients of Lithospermum, shikonin has many biological activities, and its anti-cancer research is recent hot spot. The anti-cancer mechanism of shikonin is closely related with apoptosis and three kinds of signaling pathways. This article reviewed the research progress in apoptosis and signal pathways induced by shikonin.

The effects of Rhynchophylline (Rhy) and Isorhychophyiline (Isorhy), the alkaloids abstracted from the Chinese traditional herb Uncaria rhynchophyllia (Miq) Jackson, on the 45Ca-influx and efflux were investigated in rabbit aorta. Both Rhy and Isorhy (10 ?mol? L-1) inhibited the 45Ca-influx induced by high K+(77. 0 mmol ? L-1), but neither significant-ly influenced the 45Ca-influx and efflux induced by noradrenaline (10 ?mol ? L-1). The results suggest that these alkaloids block the Voltage-dependent calcium channel.

Objective To development a cooling crystallization process that is suitable for industrial preparation of purified dihydromyricetin.Methods Screen design was used to investigate effects of process parameters such as,temperature,concentration ethanol aqueous,quantity of activated charcoal and adsorption time on yield and purity of dihydromyricetin.Purity was verified by high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography.The solubility of dihydromyricetin in water at viable temperature and ethanol proportion was also determined by UV spectrophotometry.The solid form was characterized by thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffractometry.Results When temperature was ＞ 85 ℃,ethanol concentration ＜ 10％,dosage of activated charcoal 0.1％-0.3％,and adsorption time 1-3 min,yield of dihydromyricetin was more than 70％,and the purity greater than 98％.The crystals,prepared by cooling crystallization from water and ethanol aqueous,had the same physical form and crystal habit.Conclusion Cooling crystallization from low concentration of ethanol aqueous gets higher yield and the process is more robust than crystallization from water.

Objective To explore the value of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) in the detection of trisomy 8 in patients with hematologic disorders. Methods Seventy-seven patients were vestigated by directly labeled centrome DNA probes specific for 8 chromosome. The results were compared with that of conventional cytogenetic (CC) analysis. Results The proportion of trisomy 8 of 77 cases of hematologic disorders detected by FISH is higher than by G-banding karyotyping and FISH could offer the result when conventional cytogenetic methods failed to diagnose. Conclusion Interphase FISH is more sensitive in the detection of trisomy 8 than CC, and FISH displays its superiority in the detection of small clone.

Objective To explore the effect of β-element on the oadiosensitivity of transplanted tumor, and its relationship with the expression of survivin. Methods The transplanted mice model was established through the cell suspension inoculation. The mice with transplanted tumor size of 0. 8-1.0 cm3 were randomly divided into 8 groups as blank control, 25, 45 and 100 mg/kg group, irradiation group,25 mg/kg + irradiation group, 45 mg/kg + irradiation group, 100 mg/kg + irradiation group. The tumor size was measured every other day until tumor size was double, and the growth curve was obtained. The average tumor growth inhibition rate of β-element and tumor size were attained at 2,4,6 and 8 d after β-element injection. The expression of survivin was detected with immunohistochemistry. Results The nude mice model was successfully established and the growth curves were obtained according to the tumor size.Between 2 and 8 d after β-elemene injection, the variation tendency of the average tumor growth inhibition rate was consistent with the size in β-elemene treatment groups. The antitumor effect of β-elemene was in a dose-dependent manner. The values of radiosensitivity enhancement factor were 0. 84,1.24,2.04 for 25,45 and 100 mg/kg group, respectively ,and the optimal dose was 45 mg/kg. β-element had little effect on the expression of survivin, and the expression of survivin significantly enhanced in irradiation group and decreased in β-element + irradiation groups. Conclusions β-elemene could enhance the tumor radiosensitivity through inhibitiong the expression of survivin.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of retention enema with rhubarb for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with intestine paralysis.MethodsTotally 60 patients with SAP since last five years were included,and then they were randomly divided into control group and treatment group with 30 patients in each group.Patients in control group received routine treatment of SAP,including fasting,gastrointestinal decompression,antibiotics,inhibition of pancreatic secretion,inhibition of SIRS and organ support.Patients in treatment group received additional retention-enema with rhubarb (200mL soak solution by 100g rhubarb),once daily until the recovery of bowel function.The bladder pressure ( the 1,2,5 and 6 days after admission)was evaluated,and APACHE Ⅱ score was determined.The recovery of bowel function ( the bowel sounds,the flatus and defecation of intestinal tract),SIRS recovery time,hospital stay,and the mortality were observed.ResultsAt the 5 and 6 days after admission,the bladder pressure and APACHE Ⅱ score in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group [ (21.9 ±9.0)cmH2O vs (25.3 ±9.5)cmH2O,( 16.5 ±7.5)cmH2O vs (20.6 ±7.7)cmH2O,1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa; (9.8 ±3.8) vs (12.5 ±3.6),(9.2 ±2.4)vs ( 11.2 ± 2.5 ),P ＜ 0.05 ) ].The recovery time of bowel function and SIRS recovery time,hospital stay,and the mortality in treatment group were ( 126.8 ± 28.2 ) h,( 131.2 ± 29.6) h,( 25.6 ± 6.2) d and 16.7 ％,and the recovery time of bowel function and SIRS recovery time,hospital stay were significantly lower than those in control group [ ( 169.9 ± 53.4 ) h,( 160.4 ± 30.4) h,( 33.2 ± 6.4) d,P ＜ 0.05 ).The mortality was reduced,but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant ( 26.7％,P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionsThe retention-enema with rhubarb can accelerate the recovery time of bowel function of SAP patients and reduce the hospital stay.

Objective To analyze radiation induced alterations of vitronectin and collagen expressions in fibroblasts at different times post-irradiation,so as to evaluate the potential to apply vitronectin as a biomarker of radiation-induced lung fibrosis.Methods The human fibroblast cells WI-38 and IMR-90 were irradiated with 137Cs γ-rays at doses of 0 (control),4,6,8,10 and 12 Gy,respectively.The cells and its supernatant were collected at 6,12,24,36,48 and 60 h post-irradiation.The expressions of vitronectin and collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ were analyzed by Western blot,PCR and ELISA.Results After irradiation,the expressions of vitronectin and collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ were positively correlated (r=0.40-0.79,P＜0.05) and were all significantly higher than that in control group (t =3.04-25.45,P ＜0.05) and reached the highest expression levels at 48 h after 8-10 Gy of irradiation (t =2.92-18.86,P ＜ 0.05).Analyses of Real-time PCR and ELISA assay showed that expressions of vitronectin mRNA and its protein level in the cell lysis were significantly increased by radiation (F =27.09-42.62,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The expressions of vitronectin in cellular supernatant and its mRNA may be a potential biomarker of radiation-induced fibrosis,and 48 h after 8 Gy irradiation may be an optimum condition of measurement.

AIM To study the distrubution and excretion of protopine in rats. METHODS Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (RP HPLC) was developed for determining the level of protopine in rats. The analytical column were packed with 5 ?m C 18 . The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol, water and 10% acetic acid (80∶20∶2), in which the pH was modulated to 5 6 with 15% ammonia. Protopine biological samples were isolated well, in which two extraction with ether under basical condition and an extraction with 0 02 mol?L -1 sulfuric acid were performed, respectively. The content of protopine in the biological sample was measured by an UV detector at 285 nm. The distrubution and excetion of protopine have been investigated in rats after intravenous administration 10 mg?kg -1 . RESULTS Protopine distrubuted in many tissues after iv a dose of 10 mg?kg -1 . The higher level of protopine was found in lung, kidney, spleen and brain, and the highest was observed in lung at 5, 15 minutes after administration. However the top level tissue was testicle at 3 h, which may be due to small blood circulation. The excretion of the parent compound in urine was 36 87% of dose, but the excretion of the parent compound in feces and bile was less than 1% of dose. Plasma protein binding was less than 5%. CONCLUSION The distrubution of protopine is extensive and the parent compoud was mainly excreted by urine and plasma protein binding was low.

Objective To explore the role of portal venous pressure changes in the liver dysfunction caused by hepatic congestion after extended liver resection.Methods The experimental study was adopted.According to the random number table,90 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups,30 in each group:30 rats in the non-congestion group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe),30 rats in the congestion group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe) with whole caudal lobe congestion by ligation of veins and 30 rats in the congestion + splenectomy group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe) with whole caudal lobe congestion by ligation of veins and splenectomy.(1) Twenty rats in each group were used to make postoperative survival analysis.Ten rats in each group were used for related experiments.The portal venous pressures (PVPs) of 5 rats in each group were detected at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours,and then blood and liver specimens were collected.(2) PVP changes were detected at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours.(3) Clinical and biochemical test:level of total bilirubin (TBil) was tested at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours.(4) Pathological examination:liver pathological damage was detected by HE staining.(5) The expression of CD68 macrophagocyte was detected by immunohistochemical staining.(6) The relative expressions of Cleaved Casepase-3 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) proteins at postoperative 24 hours were detected by Westein blot.(7) The relative expressions of mRNA of vascular regulation related genes (ET-1/eNOS) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).(8)The hyaluronic acid (HA) was measured by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA).Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as （x） ± s.Comparison among 3 groups was done using the ANOVA,and pairwise comparison was done by the LSD test.The postoperative 5-day survival curve was drawn by the KaplanMeier method,and the survival was compared using the Log-rank test.Results (1) Survival analysis:5-day survival rate in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were respectively 75％,10％ and 55％,with a statistically significant difference among the 3 groups (x2=18.21,P ＜0.05).(2)Changes of PVPs and TBil:levels of PVP and TBil in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were respectively (15.77 ±0.67)cmH2O,(18.33 ±0.28) cmH2O,(14.87 ± 0.58) cmH2O,(1.48 ±0.10)μmol/L,(1.76±0.15) μ mol/L,(1.62 ±0.11) μmol/L at postoperative 12 hours and (13.49 ± 0.45) cmH2 O,(16.96 ± 0.82) cmH2 O,(15.69 ± 0.85) cmH2 O,(1.47 ± 0.11) μmol/L,(1.94 ± 0.07) μmol/L,(1.67 ± 0.11) μmol/L at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =56.53,29.01,6.81,27.85,P ＜ 0.05).(3) Results of pathological examination:compared with noncongestion group,there were a lot of vacuolar cells with degeneration appearing in non-congestion liver tissues,severe liver cell swelling and hepatic sinus congestion in the congestion group at postoperative 24 hours.Compared with congestion group,vacuolar degeneration appearing in non-congestion liver tissues have some improvement in the congestion + splenectomy group.(4) Immunohistochemical staining:compared with non-congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group,the positive CD68 marked macrophages in the congestion group were increased at postoperative 24 hours.(5) Western blot assay:the relative expressions of Cleaved Casepase-3 and HIF-1α proteins in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were 0.63 ± 0.05,1.17 ± O.18,0.95 ± 0.17 and 0.63 ± 0.14,1.48 ± 0.08,1.13 ± 0.17,respectively,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =17.42,50.58,P ＜ 0.05).(6) Results of RT-PCR:the relative expression of mRNA of ET-1/eNOS in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 1.01 ± 0.63,2.09 ± 0.27,0.82 ± 0.12 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.73 ± 0.17,2.16 ± 0.94,0.80 ± 0.24 at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =62.91,10.65,P ＜0.05).The relative expression of mRNA of TNF-α in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 0.99 ± 0.08,127.80 ± 13.15,7.34 ± 1.56 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.99 ± 0.06,116.62 ± 13.32,58.62 ± 12.12 at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =436.77,154.54,P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression of mRNA of IL-6 in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 0.98 ±0.06,1.87 ±0.34,1.54 ±0.15 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.99 ±0.05,2.02 ±0.27,1.51 ±0.11at postoperative 24 hours,with statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =22.08,46.71,P ＜ 0.05).(7) Results of ELISA:the level of HA in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively (149 ± 9) ng/L,(200 ± 19) ng/L,(174 ± 9) ng/L at postoperative 12 hours and (136 ± 16) ng/L,(202 ± 13) ng/L,(91 ± 11) ng/L at postoperative 24 hours,with statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =19.23,34.68,P＜0.05).Conclusions On the basis of extended liver resection,a wide range of liver congestion through increasing PVP causes hepatic microcirculation disorders,hypoxia,inflammation,vacuoles degeneration cells,increased cells apoptosis,aggravated damage of liver function and increased mortality of rats.Splenectomy could reduce PVP and then improve the liver tissues damage caused by liver congestion,meanwhile,increase the survival rate of rats.

Objective To investigate the effects of icariin (ICA) on partial vasoactive substances in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) rat model.Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,model control group,ICA low-,middle-and high-dose (20,40,80 mg · kg-1 · d-1) group,12 rats in each group.Except for normal control group,the rats were injected with MCT (50 mg · kg-1 · d-1) to establish PAH model.After 1 week MCT-injection,ICA was given by intragastric administration for 3 weeks according to different groups.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was recorded through catheter connected with Power Lab system.Except for normal control group,the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated using formula:right ventricle weight/the weight of left ventricle with septum× 100％.The morphology of lung artery was assessed by HE staining.Concentration of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ),endothelin (ET),prostaglandine F2α(PGF2α),thromboxane A2(TXA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in serum was measured by ELISA kit assay.The protein levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE),cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and thromboxane A2 synthetase (TXAS) were analyzed by Western blotting,expression of ACE,COX-2 and TXAS mRNA was measured by real time RT-PCR.Results Compared with the normal control group,mPAP [(48.5±5.2) mmHg] and RVHI (33.3±3.8)％in model control group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),the morphology revealed there was obvious artery remodeling at distal artery,the contents of Ang Ⅱ,PGFA2,TXA2 in serum were elevated,and ACE,COX-2 and TXAS gene expression was up-regulated in rats treated with MCT.ICA (40,80 mg · kg-1 · d-1) treatment significantly attenuated mPAP,RVHI and pulmonary artery remodeling (P ＜ 0.05),and decreased the contents of serum Ang Ⅱ,ET,PGF2β,TXA2,and PGI2,and inhibited the gene expression of ACE,COX-2 and TXAS.Conclusion ICA decreases the contents of AngⅡ,ET,PGI2,PGF2α and TXA2 in the serum of MCT-induced PAH rats,which may be one of the mechanisms underlying ICA inhibiting PAH.