Some phytoestrogen-containing Chinese herbs have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity. With the development of phgtoestrogen study and the application of herbs in breast cancer, phytoestrogen-containing herbs become the hot researches, but consensus is hampered by conflicting data from various in vitro and in vivo experiments. This article will address the effects of some kinds of herbs on breast cancer cell proliferation, the mechanism and their biological activity. The review will focus on 3 popular botanical herb: Angelica sinensis (dong quai) , Salvia miltiorrhiza (dan-shen root) and ginseng.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Jianpi Bushen Formula(Formula for Invigorating Spleen and Nourishing Kidney) combined with moxibustion on quality of life(QOL) and maturation degree of vaginal exfoliate cells(MDVEC) in premature ovarian failure(POF) patients.Methods Totally 55 POF patients were randomized into treatment group(33 cases,treated by Jianpi Bushen Formula with moxibustion) and control group(22 cases,treated by Premarine).Menopause-specified quality of life(MENQOL) was adopted to evaluate QOL of the patients.Maturation index(MI) and maturation value(MV) were applied to evaluate MDVEC.Results The scores of MENQOL of both groups were improved and the effect of the treatment group(except sexual life dimension) was superior to that of the control group(P

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Chronic Disease ; Daunorubicin ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effects of cognitive interventions (CIs) in the context of communi- ty based rehabilitation (CBR) on cognitive deficits (CDs) in stroke patients.Methods Ninety-two stoke patients with CDs were randomly divided into a CI group and a control group.All patients were treated with conventional CBR.In addition,the patients in the CI group were also treated with special intervention therapy.The patients in both groups were assessed with the neurological and cognitive status examination (NCSE) for cognitive functioning, the FCA for motor function and the BI for their ability in the activities of daily living.Results The NCSE,FCA and BI scores in the cognitive intervention group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment and also significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment.Conclusion CIs can not only improve CDs,but also enhance recovery of motor function and ADL.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of children with adenovirus pneumonia and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the mediacal data of 7 children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH from March to September, 2019. RESULTS: The age of these children ranged from 11 months to 5 years, and among these children, 5 were aged <2 years and 5 were boys. None of these children had underlying diseases. All children were hospitalized due to persistent high fever and cough, and the peak temperature of fever was 39°C to 41°C. With disease progression, 7 children developed hepatomegaly and 6 developed splenomegaly. Routine blood test results showed reductions in two or three lineages of blood cells, with increases in serum ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Phagocytosis of blood cells was observed in 6 children. Radiological examination of lungs showed pneumonia changes. All 7 children were diagnosed with human adenovirus type 7 infection based on pathogenic metagenome detection. No abnormality was found by HLH gene detection and the children were diagnosed with secondary HLH. All children received intravenous immunoglobulin. Among these children, 4 received dexamethasone and etoposide chemotherapy, 3 received dexamethasone alone, and 4 received plasma exchange. Of the 7 children, 2 died and 5 were recovered. Compared with those who survived, the children who died had significantly greater reductions in the three lineages of blood cells and significantly greater increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH. CONCLUSIONS The children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH have main clinical features of persistent high fever, progressive reductions in two or three lineages of peripheral blood cells, and involvement of other organ systems, including hepatosplenomegaly. Significant increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH may suggest a poor prognosis.
Adenoviridae ; Child, Preschool ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

To construct plasmid of recombinant protein candidate vaccine of respiratory syncytial virus, express it in E. coli, and to investigate its immunogenicity and protective efficacy. A CD8+ T cell epitope from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) M2 protein F/M2:81 - 95 and the G:125-225 (G1) gene fragments from RSV-G protein containing B cell epitopes were amplified by PCR method and then inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-DsbA after bonding to a linker. The fusion protein DsbA-G1-Linker-F/M2:81-95 (D-G1LF/M2) was expressed successfully in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The product was proved to be RSV-specific by Western-blot. After purified by affinity chromatography on Ni+ Sepharose and renatured by gradient dialysis. D-G1LF/M2 was used to immune BALB/c mice. D-G1LF/M2 induced high anti-D-G1LF/M2 IgG, anti-RSV IgG and neutralizing antibody titers in serum and lung of BALB/c mice, and elicied RSV-specific CTL responses. The IgG subclass distribution revealed that IgG1/IgG2a ratio was 2.66. Viral titration indicated that D-G1LF/M2 could protect BALB/c mice against RSV challenge in lung.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; prevention & control ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study a simple and reliable method to produce the rat model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, evaluating the model with isoprenaline provocation test (IPT) and morphological indicators.

METHODSAdult male rats were intragastrically infused of wine (52% v/v) at 20 g/(kg x d) for 15 days with the general condition, the change of eating amount and weight being observed. The levels of mean left ventricle systolic pressure (mLVSP), mean left ventricle diastolic pressure (mLVDP), mean left ventricle pressure (mLVP), heart ratio (HR), maximal rise velocity of left ventricular pressure (+ dp/dtmax), maximal fall velocity of left ventricular pressure (- dp/dtmax) and the reaction of isoprenaline were examined by left ventricular cannulation, and the morphological change was observed with optical microscope and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSBoth diastolic and systolic function of the model rats was lower than that of the control group as well as the cardiac energy reserve induced by IPT. Pathological observation demonstrated myocardial hypertrophy, myocardiocyte necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The transmission electron microscopy showed that mitochondria became enlarged or crimpled with fused or disappeared cristae and myofibrils dissolved and fractured.

CONCLUSIONThe adult male SD model rats exhibit diabetic cardiomyopathy by intragastric infusion of wine (52% v/v) at 20 g/(kg x d) for 15 days. IPT can induce the cardiac energy reserve and evaluate that accurately, displaying the hidden heart dysfunction.

Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Isoproterenol ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression profiles of serum Golgi protein-73 (GP73) in liver cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) and determine its clinical value for differential diagnosis.

METHODSSerum protein expressions of GP73 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and chemiluminescence assay, respectively, in patients with PHC (n=80), liver cirrhosis (n=65), and healthy controls (n=50). Inter-group changes were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test, and significance of these differences was assessed by Mann-Whitney test. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and determine the cut-off values for GP73 and AFP. Sensitivity and specificity were compared by the Chi-squared test. Correlation between serum GP73 expression and clinical parameters was determined by Spearman's rank correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe PHC group showed significantly higher serum GP73 (282.0 mug/L) than the liver cirrhosis group (211.8 mug/L) and control group (58.3 mug/L) (H = 93.30, P less than 0.01). For differential diagnosis of PHC and liver cirrhosis, the cut-off value was 318.1 mug/L for GP73 and 13.4 mug/L for AFP. Sensitivity of GP73 was lower than AFP (45% (36/80) vs. 65% (52/80); X2 = 8.02, P less than 0.05). Specificity of GP73 was lower than AFP but no significance was found (83.1% (54/65) vs. 87.7% (57/65); X2=0.27, P more than 0.05). The areas under the ROC curves were not significantly different between GP73 and AFP (0.65 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54~0.72) vs. 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67~0.83); Z = 1.88, P more than 0.05). The area under the ROC curves increased but not significantly (0.80 (95% CI: 0.73~0.88) vs. 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67~0.83); Z=2.61, P more than 0.05). Serum GP73 was correlated with liver cirrhosis (r=0.27), vascular invasion (r=0.29), and TNM staging (r=0.27) (all P less than 0.05), but not with sex (r=0.13), age (r=0.10), enhanced AFP (> 13.4 mug/L; r=0.03), tumor size (r=0.18), or distant metastasis (r=0.04), all P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSerum GP73 and AFP have comparable diagnostic efficiency, but the sensitivity of AFP is superior for differential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma. Elevated serum GP73 may be correlated with liver tumor load and aggressiveness.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transcriptome ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

In order to make clear the packing mechanism of the BmNPV polyhedra, a polyhedrin gene negative recombinant baculovirus, vBmBac(polh-)-5B-EGFP, expressing EGFP was constructed, and used to infect BmN cells jointly with wild-type BmNPV. Fluorescent microscopic observation demonstrated that EGFP and polyhedrin were expressed simultaneously, and the EGFP expression and polyhedra formation occurred in most of the jointly infected cells. Analysis of the purified polyhedra from jointly infected BmN cells showed that the foreign proteins were present in the polyhedra. The results indicated that BmNPV polyhedrin could incorporate proteins other than viral proteins into the polyhedra. It implies that a nonspecific recognition mechanism exists in the embedment of BmNPV polyhedra.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Gene Expression ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Viral Structural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Assembly

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of drug plasma of musk and olibanum (DP-M&O) on the release of inflammatory cytokines from monocytes and the expressions of the proteins associated with inflammation of prostatic or endothelial cells induced by prostate antigen (PAg) stimulation.

METHODSWe prepared DP-M&O using SD rats and monocytes and PAgs using BALB/c mice. We pre-treated the monocytes with DP-M&O at the gradient concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20% for 1 hour, activated them with PAgs, and then cultured them for 96 hours, followed by detection of the release of inflammatory cytokines. We co-cultured the prostate RWPE-1 cells with the endothelial EA. hy926 cells, pre-treated them with the same gradient concentrations of DP-M&O as above for 1 hour, activated with PAgs, and cultured for 96 hours. Then we determined the expression levels of the proteins associated with inflammation of RWPE-1 and EA. hy926 cells by Western blot.

RESULTSDP-M&O decreased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 and increased that of IL-10 in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant differences were found between the 20% P-M&O and PAg groups in the release of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha (70.8 +/- 22.3 vs. 277.1 +/- 65.5, P < 0.01) , IL-113 (277.5 +/- 22.6 vs. 630.4 +/- 89.7, P <0.01), IL-6 (232.7 +/- 62.7 vs. 994.2 vs. 182.3, P < 0.01), IL-8 (227.3 +/- 79.2 vs. 769.3 +/- 284.1, P < 0.01), and IL-10 (640.2 +/- 201.2 vs. 271.1 +/- 55.8, P < 0.01). Compared with the PAg group, the 10 and 20% P-M&O groups showed remarkable decreases in the protein expression of MCP-1/CCL2 in the RWPE-1 cells (1.12 +/- 0.34 vs. 0.56 +/- 0.11 and 0.34 +/- 0.08) and that of VCAM-1 in the EA. hy926 cells (0.94 +/- 0.22 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.17 and 0.38 +/- 0.12) (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of musk and olibanum can decrease the expression of MCP-1/CCL2 in prostate cells and VCAM-1 in vascular endothelial cells, blocking the adhesion of leucocytes and suppressing inflammatory response.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Frankincense ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prostate ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism