The structure and 5-HT immunoreactivity in the brain and suboesophageal ganglion of three beetles, Ambrostoma quadriimpressum, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata and Oxycetonia jucunda, were first studied by means of colophony-paraffin embedding serial section technique and strepteavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. The results showed that the brains of these three taxonomically closely related beetles were remarkably different in composition and size. Mushroom bodies and antennal lobes in Oxycetonia jucunda were conspicuous. Calyces and lobes of the mushroom bodies.were much developed. In contrast, calyces of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum and Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata were extremely undeveloped. However, the postretinal fibres and circumpharyngeal nerves of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum were highly developed. In the three beetles, 5-HT immunoreactivity was present in all neuropils of the brain and the suboesophageal ganglion. The pattern of 5-HT immunoreactivity and the localization of immunoreactive somata which often clustered into groups were similar among these beetles, while the immunoreactivity intensity was distinct, especially in the lamina. The results suggest that the three beetles have given rise to adaptive radiation under the evolutionary pressure because of the long-term different life styles and living environments in which the taxonomic status of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum is relatively low. The similarity of the pattern of 5-HT immunoreactivity and localization of some positive somata among the three beetles raise the possibility that 5-HT seemes to serve similar physiological function in different insects. Furthermore, 5-HT might be involved in modulating the ingestion by regulating muscular activity and visual sensitivity.

Objective To investigate the status quos of helicobacter pylori infection in people of the area bordering Yunnan,Guizhou and Guangxi so as to provide the basis for the prevention of diseases caused by helico-bacter pylori infection. Methods There were 29547 people including 6644 civil servants,1484 medical staff,5839 factory workers,5542 teachers,10038 students,who took physical examination from January,2012 to Decem-ber,2015 in the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities. According to the principle of stratified sampling,3363 people were selected at random from the above groups. Among them there were 756 civil servants,215 medical staff,689 factory workers,654 teachers,1049 students. And there were 1515 Zhuang people, 897 Han people,234 Miao people,282 Yao people ,147 Gelao ,134 Buyi,154 people from other ethnics. Their ages ranged from 7 to 65. ELISA reagent method was adopted to detect helicobacter pylori infection. The relationship between ethnicity,gender,age,occupation,region and infection rate was analyzed. Results The total positive rate of helicobacter pylori was 47.2%in this region. As for different ethnic groups,the positive rate of Zhuang people was as high as 52.7%,and that of Kelao people was the lowest ,only 31.3%. Women′s infection rate was 41.5%,while that of the male was 52.4%. In terms of different age groups,people aged from 50 to 59 got an infection rate as high as 55.3%,while the age group under 18 had the lowest rate,only 19.6%. In the aspect of different professions,civil servants had the highest positive rate 57.9%. Students had the lowest rate 35.9%. Regional distribution analysis showed that Baise had the highest infection rate(51.4%),while Qian xi nan had the lowest rate of 33.9%. There was statistical difference in helicobacter pylori infection between different ethnic groups,genders,ages,occupations and regions(P<0.05). Conclusion The infection of helicobacter pylori in people of the area bordering Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi are related to ethnicity,gender,age,occupation and region.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of cisplatin (DDP) combined with Matrine (Ma;plant alkaloid) against hepatocellular carcinoma using a nude mouse model with xenografted human tumors.

METHODSTwenty-four 6-week old male BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with HepG2 cells into the axilla, and randomly divided into four groups:control (NS) group,Ma treatment group,DDP treatment group and DDP+Ma combination treatment group. All treatments were delivered via intraperitoneal injection.Changes in whole body weights and tumor volume were assessed by before and after treatment measurements and plotting of growth curves. After 14 days of drug intervention, the mice were sacrificed for collection of tumor tissue and assessment of the tumor inhibition rates for each treatment. Affects on expression of survivin and caspase-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. ANOVA test and t-test were performed for the statistical analyses.

RESULTSThe tumor inhibition rates for the various treatments were:37.5%,Ma alone;75.0% DDP alone;83.3%,DDP+Ma group DDP combined. The DDP+Ma-induced inhibition was significantly greater than that achieved wit Ma or DDP alone (both P less than 0.05). The average weight of the DDP+Ma group (21.5 g) was lower than that of the NS group (28.5 g) and the Ma group (26.67 g),but higher than that of the DDP group (17.33 g).In addition, the DDP+Ma group also showed more robust general health,as indicated by activity,participation in life routines and appetite,than the DDP group. The rate of positive staining for survivin expression in tumor tissues was significantly lower in the DDP+Ma group (19.58%+/-4.52%) than in the NS group (83.26%+/-15.56%), the Ma group (62.50%+/-8.09%), and the DDP group (38.67%+/-8.26%) (all P less than 0.05).In contrast, the rate of positive staining for Bax expression was significantly higher in the DDP+Ma group (78.26%+/-6.09%) than in the NS group (21.15%+/-3.68%), the Ma group (35.13%+/-10.57%), and the DDP group (65.88%+/-4.81%) (all P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with Ma alone or DDP alone is sufficient to inhibit the growth ofxenografted human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in nude mice. The DDP+Ma combination treatment,however,shows greater inhibitory effect,suggesting that Ma may enhance DDP's anticancer properties. The improved health status of mice treated with DDP+Ma suggests that Ma may reduce DDP toxicity. The mechanism underlying these beneficial treatment effects may involve modulation of survivin/caspase-3 expression and subsequent apoptosis.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Tumor Burden