Objective: To study the effects of Akt inhibitor MK2206 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer cell lines T47D and MDA-MB-231, and to elucidate the possible mechanism of such effects. Methods: Human breast cancer T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different concentrations of MK2206, respectively. The inhibitory effect of MK2206 on cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay. The apoptosis rates of T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells induced by MK2206 were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression levels of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), bcl-2, bax, phosphorate-AKT (p-AKT) and total Akt (T-Akt) proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: The proliferation of T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells were inhibited after treatment with MK2206 at 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L for 24 h, respectively. The apoptosis rates of T47D and MDAMB-231 cells were increased induced by MK2206. The expression levels of caspase-3, PARP and bax proteins were up-regulated, while the expression levels of bcl-2 and p-Akt proteins were downregulated. All of these effects occurred in a dose-dependent manner. MK2206 had no significant effect on the expression of T-Akt. Conclusion: MK2206 can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines T47D and MDA-MB-231. These effects may be related with the downregulation of p-AKT and the inhibition of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Microglia ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Epithelioid Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors of ureter transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

METHODSBetween January 2001 and December 2005 133 TCC patients were treated. And the data was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSA mean age of the 133 patients was 68 years (range 43 - 87 years) at diagnosis. Altogether the non-invasive ureter TCC was found in 42 patients (31.6%) and the invasive ureter TCC in 91 patients (68.4%). Invasive ureter TCC growth was more common in distally located tumors (82.5%) compared to mid (62.5%) and proximal ureter (47.1%). Tumor stage, grade and location of the tumor were all correlated with disease specific survival in a univariate analysis. In a multivariate Cox analysis, tumor stage and grade were significantly associated with disease specific survival.

CONCLUSIONSMore invasive tumors are found in ureter than in bladder. Ureter cancer is more frequently found in the distal part. Distally located ureteral tumors are more likely invading into the muscular cell layers compared to proximally located tumors. Tumor stage and grade are still the more important prognostic factors for ureter TCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression of apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 and Bax through cell cycle and its possible clinical meaning.

METHODSThe prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was synchronized in M, G1, S and G2 phase using modified thymine deoxyriboside blockage and high pressure N2O technique. The efficiency of synchronization was detected by flow-cytometry. RT-PCR and Western blot methods were used to examine the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in mRNA and protein level.

RESULTSThe synchronized rate of M, G1, S and G2 phase were 92.1%, 87.0%, 80.2% and 75.9% respectively. Bcl-2 was constitutively expressed through the cell cycle, but both the mRNA and protein expression level of Bcl-2 were very high in the G1 phase, dramatically decreased in M, S and G2 phase. The expression level of Bax had no change through the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONSCell cycle could influence the expression level of Bcl-2 significantly but not Bax, these might have some clinical relevance.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the changes of peripheral blood interleukin(IL) 2, IL 10, IL 13 in the serum of asthmatic children and their effect on the pathogenesis of asthma.Method The serum levels of IL 2,IL 10,II 13 in 16 cases of asthmatic children and 10 cases of healthy controls were measured by ELISA methods.Results The serum levels of IL 2,IL 13 in asthmatic patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls( P

Objective To investigate the relationship between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and high-risk (HR)HPV infection among late pregnant women.Methods From Aug.2007 to Feb.2010,168 women at 13 to 32 gestational weeks undergoing prenatal examination in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital went through three stage cervical disease screening,including 21 women with cervicitis and 147 women with C1N (42 women with CIN Ⅲ,37 women with CIN Ⅱ and 68 women with CIN Ⅰ ).Hybrid capture assay version Ⅱ ( HC- Ⅱ ) test was used to measure HR-HPV DNA load,and the logarithmic transtormation (log10) was performed.All 168 women were followed up to postpartum 3 -6 months.HR-HPV infections rates of cervicitis and different CIN,the rate of HR-HPV infection turned naturally negative at postpartum of 3 to 6 months,and HR-HPV load at pregnancy and 3 -6 months postpartum were observed.Results ( 1 ) HR-HPV infection rate:CIN Ⅲ,Ⅱ,Ⅰ and cervicitis pregnant women's HR-HPV positive infection rates were 98％ (41/42),86％ ( 32/37 ),76％ ( 52/68 ) and 62％( 13/21 ) respectively,which reached statistical difference (P =0.002).(2) HR-HPV naturally negative:the rate of pregnant women with different levels of CIN who turned HR-HPV naturally negative within 3 -6 months of postpartum were CIN Ⅲ 5％ (2/41),CIN Ⅱ 47％ (15/32),CIN Ⅰ 52 ％ (27/52) and cervicitis 10/13,which also reached statistical difference among those four groups (P =0.000).(3) HR-HPV load:pregnant women with different grade of CIN and cervicitis HR-HPV DNA load were CIN Ⅲ 2.02 ng/L(1.53,2.67 ng/L),CIN Ⅱ 1.94 ng/L ( 0.75,2.75 ng/L),CIN Ⅰ 2.04 ng/L (0.08,2.95 ng/L) and cervicitis 1.98 ng/L( -0.07,2.47 ng/L).There was no significantly different HPV load in women with cervicitis and different CIN (P =0.719).At 3 -6 months postpartum,HR-HPV load was CIN Ⅲ1.55 ng/L(0.90,2.10 ng/L),which was significantly higher than the amount of CIN Ⅱ 0.09 ng/L(-0.69,1.74 ng/L),CIN Ⅰ 0.48 ng/L( -0.56,2.2 ng/L) and cervicitis -0.46 ng/L ( -0.78,1.40 ng/L,P =0.036).Conclusions With the increasing of CIN grade,the rate of HR-HPV infection in pregnant women was increased,however,the rate of HR-HPV turning negative naturally at 3 -6 months postpartum decreased.With different CIN grade during pregnancy,HR-HPV DNA load did not change significantly,but HR-HPV DNA load increased at 3 -6 months of postpartum.HR-HPV DNA loads with the same grade of CIN and cervicitis during pregnancy higher than that of postpartum among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognosis of surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

METHODSBetween August 1994 and July 2004, 33 patients with renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. The study population included 26 male and 7 female. The median age was 60 years (20 - 82). Level of tumor thrombus was renal vein in 15 patients, infrahepatic (level I) in 9, intrahepatic (level II) in 5, suprahepatic (level III) in 1, and right atrial extension (level IV) in 3. Survival analysis was made with Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSTwenty-nine patients can be followed up. Fourteen patients were lost with a mean survival time of (16.4 +/- 2.9) months (1 - 42 months). Fifteen patients were survival with a mean follow-up of (17.3 +/- 4.6) months (3 - 67 months). One patient was lost on the second postoperative day. Three patients can not be followed up. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 16%. The mean survival time of patients with renal vein involvement [(49.9 +/- 9.8) months] versus level I [(16.7 +/- 1.9) months] was significantly different (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRadical nephrectomy plus thrombectomy is a valuable method for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena cava involvement. Patients with renal vein tumor thrombus appear to have better survival compared to patients with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Embolectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Prognosis ; Renal Veins ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of predicting the stage of prostate cancer with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and pathological grade.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-seven patients were studied retrospectively with prostate cancer diagnosed by systemic biopsy in our hospital. The rank correlation analysis, rank sum test and stepwise discriminant multivariate analysis were used to assess the correlation of serum PSA level, ratio of free PSA to total PSA (FPSA/TPSA ratio) with Gleason score (GS) and stage.

RESULTSSerum PSA level increased with GS for prostate cancer patients (r = 0.369, P < 0.001). With increasing stage, serum PSA level and GS increased (r = 0.398, 0.530, P < 0.001). Overall, FPSA/TPSA ratio was not correlated with stage (P > 0.70), but a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between them when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L (r = -0.600, P < 0.05). When serum PSA > 20 microg/L, 67% - 87% patients with prostate cancer may be stage C or D. The equation using serum PSA and GS to predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer was: x = -3.488 + 0.041 x PSA + 0.428 x GS.

CONCLUSIONSSerum PSA level is positively correlated with GS for prostate cancer patients. Serum PSA level and GS are positively correlated with stage. A negative correlation between FPSA/TPSA ratio and stage is demonstrated when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L. The combination of serum PSA and GS may predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Prostate in combination with an antibiotic for the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

METHODSA double-blind, parallel contrasted, multi-central method was applied in the study. After the Stamey test and expressed prostate secretion (EPS) examination, 160 patients with prostatitis were recruited and randomized into a trial group (80 cases with 1 case missing) and a control group (80 cases). In the trial group, the patients used the levofloxacin and Prostate during the first 4 weeks and Prostate only during the following 4 weeks. In the control group, the patients used the levofloxacin and placebo during the first 4 weeks, and placebo only during the following 4 weeks. Before and 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment, the patients were visited and evaluated by the national institute health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), EPS, and asked about the side.

RESULTSAfter 4-week and 8-week treatment, the pain index dropped by 3.34 +/- 2.45 and 4.06 +/- 3.03 in the trial group, and effects. 2.28 +/- 2.42 and 3.30 +/- 3.29 in the control; the voiding index dropped by 2.22 +/- 1.79 and 2.77 +/- 2.04 in the trial group, and 1.24 +/- 1.67 and 1.83 +/- 2.25 in the control respectively. There was significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment in both the two groups (P < 0.01), while the difference was not significant between 4-week and 8-week post-treatment (P > 0.05). And there was significant difference between the two groups in the pain index and voiding index (P < 0.01), but not in the white blood cell count and lipid in the EPS (P > 0.05). No serious side effects were recorded, and the tolerance to Prostate and placebo showed no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONProstate in combination with an antibiotic can effectively relieve the pain and voiding symptoms and improve the life quality of the patients with nonbacterial prostatitis and well deserves to be recommended in clinical practice.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Pollen ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome