Objective To investigate the changes in the metabolism of neurotransmitters in different regions of the brain induced by propofol in healthy volunteers using the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technology.Methods IH-MRS was performed in ten 20-40 year old healthy volunteers. Each volunteer underwent MRS scan twice. The first MRS scan was performed when they were conscious as baseline control value. The second scan was performed during target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol. The target effect-site concentration was set at 3.0 ?g?ml-1. Volume of interest (VOI) included sensory cortex, motor cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and basal ganglia. The metabolites in the spectra included N-acetyl-aspartic acid (NAA), glutamic acid (Glu), GABA, choline compounds (Cho) and creatine (Cr) .Results During TCI of propofol MAP and RR were significantly decreased ( P 0.05) as compared to the baseline value when the volunteers were conscious. During TCI of propofol the NAA content in thalamus and hippocampus, Glu content in thalamus, hippocampus and basal ganglia and Cho content in all the 5 regions of the brain were significantly decreased ( P

AlM: To investigate the relationship between the anterior ischemic optic neuropathy ( AlON ) and the carotid artery change using doppler ultrasound.METHODS:Fifty-four cases of AlON patients and 54 cases of healthy control were observed, atherosclerotic spots were detected by the application of color ultrasound.RESULTS:ln AlON group of 54 patients, 38 cases appeared carotid atherosclerosis, accounting for 70%. The number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 18, 13, and 7 respectively, accounting for 33%, 24% and 13%. ln the control group, 20 cases were detected atherosclerotic change, accounting for 37%. And the number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 12, 5 and 3 respectively, accounting for 22%, 9%, 6%. Significant stenosis and velocity change were showed in neither AlON group nor control group. Compared with the control group, AlON group had more cases of atherosclerotic plaque, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=12. 836, P=0. 005)CONCLUSlON: The incidence of AlON is correlated with carotid atherosclerosis, and carotid ultrasonography is significantly valuable for AlON etiology and diagnosis.

Objective To summarize the features of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS in EHH.Methods A retrospective analysis of 88 EHH patients and 50 healthy controls was conducted with focus on their findings on CEUS.Results The structures of the cardiac and abdominal esophagus were clear in 50 healthy controls,and the esophageal hiatus diameters were (1.96±0.39) cm.In contrast,the cardiac and abdominal esophagus in EHH patients were unable to be identified in subdiaphragm region.The esophageal hiatus was wider with a diameter of (3.24±0.76) cm.The difference was statistically significant(t=2.36,P＜0.05).The hernia sacs were found in 78 EHH patients at rest.And the hernia sacs were present on the diaphragm in 10 EHH patients after pressure.The maximum diameter of hernia sac was 7.6 cm.The size of hernia sac may change with abdominal pressure.In sliding EHH patients,the sac wall was found to slide up and down the diaphragm.A mass was found on the wall in 2 patients.The B ring was present in 76 patients.For healthy controls in supine position,contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that the gastric bottom and diaphragm were at dependent or horizontal position.The gastric bottom and diaphragm was upward in 73 patients.Conclusions The EHH has characteristic appearance on CEUS.It is easy to detect and diagnose EHH with CEUS,which has a diagnostic value in detection of space-occupying lesions in hernia sac.CEUS can be used for EHH screening.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Syk on the VEGF-C expression in breast cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemical EnVision method was used to detect the protein expression of Syk, NFκB and VEGF-C in breast carcinoma; and the relationship between protein expression of Syk, NFκB, VEGF-C and lymph node metastasis was analysed. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-Syk, and the effect of Syk gene on the VEGF-C and NFκB expression was determined.

RESULTSIn the lymph node metastatic group, a lower expression rate of Syk and higher expression rate of VEGF-C and NFκB were detected as compared to the non-metastatic group. The expression of Syk was negatively associated with NFκB (r = -0.448, P = 0.002) and VEGF-C (r = -0.620, P = 0.000) expression, and VEGF-C was associated with the nuclear expression of NFκB (r = 0.310, P = 0.036). Compared with the non-transfected cells, the pcDNA3.1(-)-Syk transfected MDA-MB-231 cells showed significantly lower transcriptional level of VEGF-C mRNA, expression level of VEGF-C protein and NFκB activity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSyk may play an important role in the lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. It may down-regulate the expression of VEGF-C by inhibiting the activity of NFκB, which thus suppresses lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Syk Kinase ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; genetics ; metabolism

The marine biological source of mineral drugs recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version) mainly including pearl, nacre, clam shell, common oyster shell, ark shell, cuttle bone, and sea-ear shell are widely used in clinical. Calcium carbonate and a small amount of protein are the main components in this type of drugs. In this paper, a systematical and comparable study were carried out by determination of calcium carbonate by EDTA titration method, the crystal of calcium carbonate by X-Ray powder diffraction and the total amino acids (TAAs) of the hydrolyzed samples by ultraviolet spectrophotometry method. As a result, the crystal structure is calcite for common oyster shell, mixture of calcite and aragonite for nacre and sea-ear shell, aragonite for the other drugs. The content of calcium carbonate ranged from 86% to 96%. Cuttle bone has the highest amount of TAAs among the seven drugs which reached 1.7% while clam shell has the lowest content of 0.16% on average. In conclusion, an effective method was developed for the quality control of marine mineral drugs by comprehensive analysis of calcium carbonate and TAAs in the seven marine mineral drugs.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; analysis ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; X-Ray Diffraction

N-Benzyl matrinol was obtained by hydrolysis, benzylation and reduction reaction from matrine. A series of hybrids (8a-8n) from (phenylsulfonyl)furoxan and N-benzyl matrinol were synthesized and biologically evaluated as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents. All target compounds were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against human hepatocellular Bel-7402, SMMC-7721, Bel-7404, and HepG2 cells in vitro by MTT method. The results indicated that all of these compounds had potent anti-proliferative activity which were more potent than their parent compound and 5-FU, especially 8a-8h and 8j showed the strongest anti-HCC HepG2 cell activity with IC50 values of 0.12-0.93 μmol x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fluorouracil ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Oxadiazoles ; pharmacology

Objective:The recombinant human retinal pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF)protein to be obtained and the angiogenesis of the rPEDF to be identified.Methods: PEDF gene gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into pET32a,rPEDF protein was expressed in E.coli BL21 and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.The rPEDF was purified by Ni-NTA on denature condition.The concentration of the rPEDF was determined by Bradford method.The angiogenesis of the rPEDF was determined by chick chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) method.Results: The expression plasmid pET32a-PEDF was constructed successfully.The rPEDF was expressed with stable efficiency in E.coli BL21.The results of the CAM experiment showed that the rPEDF had notable angiogenesis effect in the concentration 0.4、0.04 ng/ml,but had no effect in 4 ng/ml.Conclusion:The PEDF gene was cloned and expressed efficiently,the angiogenesis of the rPEDF to be identified and the activity was worked in certain range.The results can facilitate studying its function and spreading its application.

Objective To study the clinical significance of the serum angiopoietin-2(Ang-2) in the diagnosis,recurrence,invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.Methods The serum Ang-2 and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 158 patients with gastric cancer (gastric cancer group) and 30 normal controls(control group) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) technique respectively.The serum Ang-2 and CEA levels were also measured 2 weeks after operation in gastric cancer group and reexamined in the recurred gastric cancer patients in 2 years after operation (recurred and metastasis group).The correlation between the serum Ang-2 level and pathologic c haracterization of gastric cancer was evaluated.Results The serum Ang-2 and CEA levels in gastric cancer group [ (331.8 ±64.3),(42.6 ±37.3)μg/L] and recurred and metastasis group [(318.7 ±72.9),(40.5 ±36.7)μg/L] were significantly higher than those in control group [ (187.4 ± 32.7),(4.2 ± 3.1 )μ g/L] (P ＜ 0.01 ),and the serum Ang-2 level 2 weeks after operation [ (211.6 ± 75.1 ) μ g/L ] was significantly decreased to the control group (P ＞ 0.05 ),while the serum CEA level [ (33.4 ± 30.6) μ g/L ] was still significantly higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ).The sensitivity of the serum Ang-2 for diagnosis of gastric cancer was markedly higher than that of the serum CEA (P ＜ 0.01 ).There was correlation between serum Ang-2 and degree of tumor differentiation,TNM pathological staging,lymphatic metastasis,invasion depth and tumor size (p ＜0.01 ),but there was no correlation between serum Ang-2 and tissue classification and location of gastric cancer (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion The serum Ang-2 level is suggested to be a valuable gastric cancer marker and conduce to the diagnosis of gastric cancer,the monitoring of recurrence after operation and evaluation of prognosis.

Objective To determine the effects of~(99)Tc-MDP on joint inflammation and bone destruc- tion in collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rats model and its effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?). Methods CIA was induced by immunization of male SD rats with an emulsion of collagen.~(99)Tc-MDP or placebo was intravenous infused to rats for 20 days.Joint inflammation was assessed by arthritis index.Lesions of bone were assessed based on the histological changes in ankle joints,radiographic analysis in hind paw with Larsen score.Systemic TNF-?level was measured by radioimmune assay.Results~(99)Tc-MDP suppressed joint swelling(P

Tumor angiogenesis provides adequate oxygen and nutrition for tumor development and supports tumor growth and metastasis. Stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in pancreatic cancer microenvironment are involved in tumor growth such as promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In this study, anti-CXCR4 nanobody (CXCR4 Nb) and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) &CXCR4 bispecific nanobody (PX4 BsNb) were expressed in Escherichia coli system and purified by nickel column affinity chromatography. We investigated the anti-angiogenesis activity and mechanism of CXCR4 Nb by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Ethical approval was obtained for collection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC) samples from the Local Ethics Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethic Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The results showed that CXCR4 Nb at 0.1 μmol·L^-1 could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) promoted by pancreatic stellate cells in vitro. CXCR4 Nb and PX4 BsNb at 0.3 mg·kg^-1 obviously decreased tumor angiogenesis and inhibited the tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice, the inhibitory rates were 28.8% and 36.1%, respectively. CXCR4 Nb significantly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis with great safety, which provides support for application of CXCR4 Nb and anti-angiogenesis therapy of pancreatic cancer.