OBJECTIVESTo investigate mechanism for the increasing level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in tumour patients during radiotherapy and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) to the expression of VEGF protein by radiotherapy in the prostate cancer cell line (PC3M).

METHODSTo observe the changes of serum VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy dynamically and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the expression of VEGF by radiotherapy in PC3M.

RESULTSThe changes of serum VEGF in three patients receiving radiotherapy had been observed continuously. The levels of serum VEGF began to increase when the patients received radiotherapy and rised up to peak value after fifteen days, then declined to the range of pre-radiotherapy. Irradiating the PC3M cells with X-rays significantly increased the VEGF expression and secretion. The expression of VEGF protein in the group treated by VEGF AS-ODNs and X-ray irradiation decreased significantly than the group treated only by X-ray irradiation.

CONCLUSIONSThe induction of VEGF protein expression by X-ray irradiation in tumor cells may result in the increasing of the VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy and the induction can be blocked by VEGF AS-ODNs.

DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in natural killer (NK) cell count in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients.

METHODSThe number of NK cells in the peripheral blood was determined with flow cytometry in 63 asthmatic patients with acute episodes, 65 patients with stable asthma and 62 healthy nonatopic subjects.

RESULTSA significant decrease in NK cell number was noted in asthmatic patients during acute exacerbation [(13.9-/+9.4) %] in comparison with patients with stable asthma [(22.5-/+12.3) %] and healthy subjects [(19.6-/+10.1)%] (P<0.05), and the NK cell number showed no significant difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONNK cell number is reduced in acute exacerbation of asthma, suggesting its important role in the asthmatic process.

Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; immunology ; Cell Count ; methods ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo develop a high performance capillary electrophoresis method for Citrus aurantium fingerprints to control its quality.

METHODThe background electrolyte (BGE) was an 80 mmol x L(-1) boric acid solution containing 15 mmol x L(-1) borate. The pH of the BGE was adjusted to 9.70 with KOH solution. The detection wavelength was 201 nm and a voltage of 16 kV was applied. The sample hydrodynamic injection was 0.4 ps with a duration time of 8 sec. C. aurantium was extracted by water and a set of capillary electrophoresis fingerprints (CEFP) containing 12 co-possessing peaks was obtained.

RESULTThere were good similarities between the standard CEFP and each set of CEFP of C. aurantium collected from eleven different places, and their similarity coefficients were between 0.973 and 0.996.

CONCLUSIONThe CEFP has acceptable precision, reproducibility and stability and can be used for the quality control of C. aurantium.

Borates ; chemistry ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Electrolytes ; chemistry ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Temperature

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis value of urodynamics in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy(BPH).Method With urodynamic device,the full set of urodynamic exam was administrated in 427 patients with BPH,and the externalsphincter urethral myogram was monitored simultaneously in pressure-flow studies(PFS).The umdynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),DS(descending slope)and post-voiding residual(PVR)were recorded,as well as the situation of bladder detrusor constraction and bladder compliance and urethral sphincter coodination.The bladder outflow obstruction was diagnosed by A-G nomogram,P-Q plot and DS.The IPSS score and prostate volume were also acquired.Results The diagnostic rate of BOO is 81.5%,among them concomitantly detrusor muscle impair in 117 cases (27.4%),decreased bladder compliance in 162 case(37.9%),urethral sphincter dyssynergia in 148 cases(34.7%),and unstable bladder in 164 cases(38.4%).The increase degree of BOO show an increasing tendency with urodynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS,IPSS score and prostatic volume respectively,but a decreasing tendency with Q_(max) and bladder compliance.Conclusions The urodynamic exam plays an important role in diagnosis of BOO.There is a positive relation among degree of BOO with urodynamic findings such as P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS and IPSS score and prostatic volume,however,a negative relation with Qmax and bladder compliance respectively.

In order to develop potent antidiabetic agents that have inhibitory effect to a-glucosidase, twelve β-acetamido ketone derivatives such as N-{[(substituted-4-oxo-thiochroman-3-yl)phenyl]-methyl}acetamide are designed and synthesized through one-pot Dakin-West reaction. Their chemical structures are confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and HR-MS. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assays of compounds 4a-41 were carried out using glucose oxidase method. The result indicated that most of them possess inhibitory activity in vitro. Compound 4k showed the most potent inhibitory activity with 87.3% inhibition of α-glucosidase at the concentration of 5.39 mmol x L(-1). The structure-activity relationship of these β-acetamido ketone derivatives was discussed preliminarily. Moreover, the molecular docking method was used to study the interaction mode of compound 4k and α-glucosidase. Our results will be helpful for designing of α-glucosidase inhibitors in the future.
Acetamides ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of area postrema (AP) of medulla in control of cardiovascular functions in rat.

METHODS(1) Sprague Dawley rats were anaesthetized with urethane and pentobarbital and the AP was stimulated by electrical stimulus with intensity of 0.1 mA and frequencies ranged 10 approximate, equals 80 Hz. (2) Excitatory amino acid L-glutamate (L- Glu, 0.1 approximate, equals 0.5 mol/L) was microinjected into AP in urethane anaesthetized rats and the changes of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded.

RESULT(1) When the frequencies of 10 Hz, 20 Hz and 40 Hz were used, the electrical stimulation of AP caused decrease of MAP and HR (P<0.001),while the electrical stimulation with the frequencies of 60 Hz and 80 Hz caused an increase of MAP (P<0.05) but a decrease of HR (P<0.001). (2) Microinjection of L-Glu at 0.1 mol/L had no effect on MAP and HR (P>0.05), but it decreased MAP and HR at 0.15 mol/L (P<0.001, P<0.05). The MAP was increased (P<0.001) but HR (P<0.05) was decreased at the concentrations of 0.2 mol/L and 0.5 mol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAlterations of MAP and HR induced by electrical or chemical stimulation on AP of medulla are related to the frequency of electrical stimulation or concentration of L-Glu.

Animals ; Area Postrema ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Electric Stimulation ; Glutamic Acid ; pharmacology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solitary Nucleus ; physiology

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis value of urodynamics in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy(BPH).Method With urodynamic device,the full set of urodynamic exam was administrated in 427 patients with BPH,and the externalsphincter urethral myogram was monitored simultaneously in pressure-flow studies(PFS).The umdynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),DS(descending slope)and post-voiding residual(PVR)were recorded,as well as the situation of bladder detrusor constraction and bladder compliance and urethral sphincter coodination.The bladder outflow obstruction was diagnosed by A-G nomogram,P-Q plot and DS.The IPSS score and prostate volume were also acquired.Results The diagnostic rate of BOO is 81.5%,among them concomitantly detrusor muscle impair in 117 cases (27.4%),decreased bladder compliance in 162 case(37.9%),urethral sphincter dyssynergia in 148 cases(34.7%),and unstable bladder in 164 cases(38.4%).The increase degree of BOO show an increasing tendency with urodynamic finding such as Q_(max),P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS,IPSS score and prostatic volume respectively,but a decreasing tendency with Q_(max) and bladder compliance.Conclusions The urodynamic exam plays an important role in diagnosis of BOO.There is a positive relation among degree of BOO with urodynamic findings such as P_(det)-Q_(max),P_(open),DS and IPSS score and prostatic volume,however,a negative relation with Qmax and bladder compliance respectively.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16 in the process of reversing cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer.Methods Human ovarian cancer cisplatin-resistant cell lines CoC1/DDP were transfected with miRNA-15a and miRNA-16 mimics and treated with cisplatin.qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16 in normal CoC1/DDP cell group,cisplatin treated group,negative control group,miRNA-15a transfected group,miRNA-16 transfected group and overexpressed Bmi-1 plasmid.Western blot was used to detect the expression level of Bmi-1 in each group,CCK-8 and Annexin V/PI were used to detect cell survival and apoptosis,and γ-H2AX immunofluorescence was used to detect cell apoptosis.Results The CoC1/DDP ovarian cancer cell line shows low expression of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16,and high expression of Bmi-1 protein,which makes it resistant to cisplatin.When the levels of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16 are overexpressed,the Bmi-1 protein decreases(P<0.05),leading to a decrease in cell survival rate(P<0.05),a significant increase in DNA apoptosis(P<0.05),and more severe DNA damage(P<0.05).Overexpression of Bmi-1 plasmid can increase cell viability(P<0.05)and reduce the rate of cell apoptosis(P<0.05).Conclusion The Bmi-1 protein may be a target for the regulation of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16,and overexpression of miRNA-15a and miRNA-16 can increase the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by reducing the Bmi-1 protein.This provides a new idea for predicting molecular markers of cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer and overcoming drug resistance targets in ovarian cancer.

Objective To evaluate the cost?benefit and cost?effectiveness of current strategy for preventing mother?to?child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B virus. Methods A decision tree model with the Markov process was developed and simulated over the lifetime of a birth cohort in Zhejiang Province in 2016. The current PMTCT strategy was compared with universal vaccination and non?vaccination. Costs were assessed from social perspective. Benefits were the savings from reduced costs associated with disease and effectiveness were measured by quality?adjusted of life?years (QALY) gained. The net present value (NPV), cost?benefit ratio (BCR) and incremental cost?effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. Univariate and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) were performed to assess parameter uncertainties. The parameters of costs and utilities value of hepatitis B?related disease came from the results of the field survey, which were obtained by face?to?face questionnaire survey combined with inpatient medical records, including eight county and municipal hospitals in Jinhua, Jiaxing and Taizhou. A total of 626 outpatients and 523 inpatient patients were investigated. The annual total costs of infection was calculated by combining the costs of outpatient and inpatient. Results The PMTCT strategy showed a net?gain as 38 323.78 CNY per person, with BCR as 21.10, which was higher than 36 357.80 CNY per person and 13.58 respectively of universal vaccination. Compared with universal vaccination, the PMTCT strategy would save 2 787.07 CNY per additional QALY gained for every person, indicating that PMTCT would be cost?saving. The most important parameters that could affect BCR and ICER were the vaccine coverage rate and costs of hepatitis B related diseases respectively. The PSA showed the PMTCT strategy was preferable as it would gain more QALY and save costs. Conclusions The PMTCT strategy appeared as highly cost?beneficial and highly cost?effective. High vaccination rate was a key factor of high economic value.

Objective To evaluate the cost?benefit and cost?effectiveness of current strategy for preventing mother?to?child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B virus. Methods A decision tree model with the Markov process was developed and simulated over the lifetime of a birth cohort in Zhejiang Province in 2016. The current PMTCT strategy was compared with universal vaccination and non?vaccination. Costs were assessed from social perspective. Benefits were the savings from reduced costs associated with disease and effectiveness were measured by quality?adjusted of life?years (QALY) gained. The net present value (NPV), cost?benefit ratio (BCR) and incremental cost?effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. Univariate and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) were performed to assess parameter uncertainties. The parameters of costs and utilities value of hepatitis B?related disease came from the results of the field survey, which were obtained by face?to?face questionnaire survey combined with inpatient medical records, including eight county and municipal hospitals in Jinhua, Jiaxing and Taizhou. A total of 626 outpatients and 523 inpatient patients were investigated. The annual total costs of infection was calculated by combining the costs of outpatient and inpatient. Results The PMTCT strategy showed a net?gain as 38 323.78 CNY per person, with BCR as 21.10, which was higher than 36 357.80 CNY per person and 13.58 respectively of universal vaccination. Compared with universal vaccination, the PMTCT strategy would save 2 787.07 CNY per additional QALY gained for every person, indicating that PMTCT would be cost?saving. The most important parameters that could affect BCR and ICER were the vaccine coverage rate and costs of hepatitis B related diseases respectively. The PSA showed the PMTCT strategy was preferable as it would gain more QALY and save costs. Conclusions The PMTCT strategy appeared as highly cost?beneficial and highly cost?effective. High vaccination rate was a key factor of high economic value.