In order to evaluate the use of transendoscopic miniature ultrasonic probe (TEMP) in the diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumor, 18 patients were investigated. The results obtained by TEMP were compared with those of gastroscopy, and endoscopical ultrasonography (EVS). The result showed that among those 18 patients, gastric submucosal leiomyomas, were common and accounted for 88.9％. Most of them were intramural. The diagnostic accuracy of TEMP for the size of tumor and gastric submucosal tumor was 88.9％ and 100％ respectively. Which were much higher than those of gastroscopy (33.3％ and 61.1％ respectively). The sonogrophic characteristics of gastric submucosal tumors in TEMP imaging were related to the nature of the tumors, hut the common manifestations were that all the tumors were hypoechoic under the hyperechoic mucosal layer with clear bell shaped origin, and usually appeared as round or nearly round intragastric eminence. It is concluded that the selective use of TEMP has great value in the diagnosis of gastric submucosal turmor, especially for those lesions which were small and difficult to be detected by EUS.

Objective To prepare Paracetamol (APP) multiloculated implant loaded with poly-lactide-co-glycolide acid (PLGA) and to study the drug release profile in vitro. Methods APP multiloculated implant was fabricated by micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), and high-performance liquid chromato graphy (HPLC) measurement was used to investigate in vitro drug release profile. HPLC analysis was carried out by employing C18 column and a mixture of methanol-water (15∶85) as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 215nm and flow rate was 0.8mL/min. Results With different multiloculated shape, the rate of the drug release in vitro was varied significantly. Moreover, the releasing of APP multiloculated implant with ecto-tetragonum ento-hexagon in vitro conformed to Higuchi equation. Conclusion The technology of the preparations is feasible, and the structural and morphological characteristics of the multiloculated implant have a significant impact on the release speed of the drug delivery system.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in diagnosing pancreatic carcinoma. Methods To compare the results of EUS with those of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), abdominal ultrasonography ,CT/MRI and ERCP in 116 cases of pancreatic carcinoma . Results The sensitivity and accuracy of EUS including IDUS were the highest. The diagnostic accuracies of EUS,IDUS,CT,MRI,ERCP and sonography were 98. 2% ,100% ,85. 3%,87. 0% ,80. 6% and 73. 2% respectively. Conclusion EUS had significant value in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the effect of ambroxol on pulmonary and vascular injury in chronically hypoxic rats. METHODS: 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control,chronically intermittent hypoxia(CIH) and ambroxol precaution group(AP).The CIH and AP groups were made into the chronically hypoxic models .The mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAPM) and the levels of plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma nitric oxide (NO),lipid peroxide(LPO) were determined. The levels of the lung homogenates SOD, LPO, NO and the changes in pulmonary vascular structure were also examined. RESULTS: The levels of plasma and lung homogenates SOD,NO in CIH group were respectively significantly lower than that of normal control and AP group ( P

Objective To explore the effect of ectopic overexpression of Smac/DIABLO on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990,and the sensitization to TRAIL and Gemcitabine induced apoptosis.Methods The Smac/DIABLO gene was transfected into the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 with the participation of Lipofectamine 2000 (SW1990/Smac).The cell line transfected with empty vector served as controls (SW1990/neo).The SW1990/neo and SW1990/Smac cells were assigned into the following treatment groups:TRAIL group,Gemcitabine group,TRAIL plus Gemcitabine group,and the control group.The SW1990 cells were treated with TRAIL and Gemcitabine in different concentrations and time.The cell growth inhibition rate (CGIR) was detected by MTT,the rate of apoptosis was measured by flow eytometry,the apoptosis morphous was observed by Heochst 33342 staining.The expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins such as Smas/DIABLO,XIAP,cytochrome C and caspase-3 were detected by Western blot.Results The cell growth of SW1990/Smac was significantly lower than growth of SW1990/ neo.The concentration of TRAIL were 200,500,1000 and 2500 ng/ml respectively.After 24 hours,the CGIR of SW1990/neo and SW1990/Smac were 11.11％,46.03％,67.08％,76.19％ and 22.11％,42.67％,56.63％,67.6％ respectively (P ＜ 0.05).The concentration of Gemcitabine were 10,20,40 and 60 μmol/L respectively.After 24 hours,the CGIR of SW1990/neo and SW1990/Smac were 15.2％,34.6％,55.16％,76.4％ and 22.65％,36.85％,55.11％,79.99％ respectively (P＜0.05).The cells of SW1990/neo and SW1990/Smac were treated by TRAIL(500 ng/ml),Gemcitabine (20 μmol/L) and combination group.The apoptosis rate were 5.64％,15.30％,27.27％ and 20.37％,23.27％,67.30％ (P ＜ 0.05) respectively.In combination group,the expressions of activators of caspase such as Smas/DIABLO,cytochrome C and caspase-3 increased significantly,while the expressions of inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP decreased.Conclusions Ectopic expression of Smac/DIABLO could induce the apoptosis of SW1990 cell,inhibit the cell proliferation,and enhence the sensitivity of SW1990 cell to TRAIL and Gemcitabine.The mechanism of apoptosis sensitization effect by Smac/DIABLO was associated with significant up-regulation of Smac/DIABLO,cytochrome C,down-regulation of XIAP,and the activation of caspase-3.

AIM: To reproduce hypercapnic models and approach some pathophysiological changes in rats. METHODS: The mixed gases of high concentrated carbon dioxide (8% CO 2, 21% O 2, 71% N 2) were given to wistar rats 7 hours a day for 28 days. The various indexes were compared between control group (group A) and hypercapnic group (group B). RESULTS: The PaCO 2 [(55.90?4.34) mmHg] and the lipid peroxides (LPO) contents in plasma, lung tissue and right ventricle were significantly higher in group B than those in group A ( P

AIM: To investigate the effects of chronic hy poxia and antagonistic effects of aminophylline on airway inflammation and oxida tive lung damage in rats. METHODS: Thirty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (n=10); hypoxia group (n=12); aminop hlline-treated group (n=12). The last two groups were both exposed to hypoxi a 7 hours per day for 21 days. The third group was treated with aminophlline (1 00 mg?kg -1?d -1) before exposed to hypoxia. The level of tumor ne c rosis factor (TNF) -?, interleukin (IL)-10, lipid peroxide (LPO) and the activi ty of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in blood and homogenates of lung tissue. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the levels of TNF-?, IL -10 and LPO were significantly increased (P

The dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of the 50% alcohol extracts of Polygonum multiflorum was comparatively investigated on either normal or CCl4-induced chronic liver injury rats, by determining the general condition, serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology, coupled with the factor analysis. The dosages were 10 and 20 g raw materials per kg body weight. Compared with the normal control group, the normal high dose group showed significant increases of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well the frequent incidences of inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic sinus enlargement and fiber stripes formation in histopathological sections. Compared with the model control group, the model low dose group showed significant declines of serum ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.05), as well the alleviation of vacuoles of hepatocytes, but no amelioration of the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia; moreover, the model high dose group showed significant degeneration declines of serum HMGB-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well the evident alleviation of vacuoles degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis degree. The factor analysis showed that the low dosage treatment had almost neither injuring effect on the normal rats nor protective effect on the model rats; while the high dosage treatment showed observable injuring effect on the normal rats, expressed by the significant increases of the factor-1 (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-1β as the main contributors) and factor-2 (TBIL, ALT and TBA as the main contributors) relative to the normal control group. The liver protective effect of the high dosage treatment could be observed with the significant reduction of the factor-1, indicating the effective alleviation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, it could illustrated the phenomenon of symptom-based prescription theory of Polygonum multiflorum on rat livers: the high dosage of the herb had either an injuring effect on normal rats, or a therapeutic effect on the rats with chronic liver injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of combined use of p14ARF gene and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in pancreatic cancer.

METHODSA human pancreatic cancer cell line PC-3 was transfected with lipofectin-mediated recombinant p14ARF gene, and was then administered with 5-Fu. Cell growth, morphological changes, cell cycle, apoptosis, and molecular changes were measured using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemical assays.

RESULTSAfter transfection of p14ARF, cell growth was obviously inhibited, resulting in an accumulation of cells in the G(1) phase. The proportion of cells in the G(1) phase was significantly increased from 58.51% to 75.92%, and in the S and G(2)/M phases decreased significantly from 20.05% to 12.60%, and from 21.44% to 11.48%, respectively, as compared with those of the control groups. PC-3/p14ARF cells that underwent 5-Fu treatment had significantly greater G(2)/M phase accumulation, from 11.48% to 53.47%. The apoptopic index was increased in PC-3/p14ARF cells from 3.64% to 19.62%. The MTT assay showed p14ARF-expressing cells were significantly more sensitive to 5-Fu (0.01 - 10 mg/L) than those devoid of p14ARF expression (P < 0.01). Western blotting showed p14ARF upregulates p53 expression.

CONCLUSIONCombined use of p14ARF gene and 5-Fu acts synergistically to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, suggesting a new anticancer strategy.

Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; therapy ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; Up-Regulation ; physiology

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is one of the commonest systemic bone metabolism diseases among menopausal women, mainly caused by lowering internal estrogen. Although Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is an effective method in clinical practice for years, it shows side-effect in increasing gynecological carcinoma. It has already been proved by clinical tests that multiple traditional Chinese medicine formulas and their monomer ingredients and phytoestrogen-like active constituents contained in traditional Chinese medicines are effective on treating osteoporosis with relatively less side-effects comparing with HRT. They show protective and therapeutic effects by acting on estrogen receptors of targeted tissues and targeted cells and then affecting expressions of bone metabolism-related regulatory proteins and factors in downstream signal conduct paths. Recent studies on estrogen related receptor (ERR) provide new possibilities and pathways for mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine and their active constituents in osteoporosis.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism