Aged ; Anthracosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Respiratory Function Tests

Background Many researches confirmed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)plays an important role on the proliferation and differentiation of retinal progenitor cells,but its low intraocular permeability limits its clinical application.To explore an effective approach to enhance the intraocular permeability of bFGF has an important significance for the treatment of retinopathy. Objective This study was to investigate the effect of azone on bFGF intraocular permeability after its topical administration. Methods Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups on random number table method.Distilled water( blank control group),5％ bFGF eyedrops(5％ bFGF group ),0.4％ azone+5％ bFGF eyedrops (0.4％ azone + 5％ bFGF group ) and 0.4％ azone+ 10％ bFGF eyedrops (0.4％ azone + 10％ bFGF group)were topically administered in different groups at 5- minute interval for 3 times.Aqueous and vitreous fluid were extracted 30 minutes after administration of eyedrops,and those in the 0.4％ azone + 5％ bFGF group were obtained 30,60 and 120 minutes after administration.bFGF concentration in the aqueous and vitreous fluid was quantified with ELISA. Results The bFGF levels(A value)in aqueous and vitreous fluid were 0.1007±0.0100 and 0.1340±0.0100 after topical administration of the 5％ bFGF eyedrops,those in blank control group were 0.1363 ±0.0100 and 0.1130±0.0100,respectively,and those in the 0.4％ azone+5％ bFGF group and 0.4％ azone+10％ bFGF group were significantly higher than the 5％ bFGF group ( both P=0.000).However,no significant difference was found in bFGF levels between 0.4％ azone+5％ bFGF group and 0.4％ azone + 10％ bFGF groups in both aqueous and vitreous fluid ( P =0.985,0.098 ).A value of bFGF in aqueous was gradually increased with prolong of time in the 0.4％ azone+5％ bFGF group,with the values 0.9413±0.0300 at 30 minutes,0.3865±0.0300 at 60 minutes,and 0.2550±0.0300 at 120 minutes,showing a positive linear correlation between bFGF level and time( R2 =0.736,P =0.003 ),but no significant correlation was seen in vitreous sample(R2=0.196,P=0.233). Conclusions Azone can improve the intraocular penetration of bFGF eyedrops.Increasing the concentration of bFGF in eyedrop from 5％ to 10％ dose not change its intraocular distribution.The highest content of the bFGF in aqueous is at 30 minutes following the administration of 0.4％ azone+5％ bFGF eyedrops.

The aim of this study is to explore the tissue distribution of PEGylated puerarin in acute myocardial ischemia model rats. Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups (30 each). Both were given PEGylated puerarin at a dose of 488 mg x kg(-1). After 5 min of medication, one group was normal rats, another group with acute myocardial ischemia was established by peritoneal injection of 50 mg x kg(-1) isoprenaline. After administration, the animals were executed at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min, then heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney were extracted. The content of puerarin in organ tissue was determined by HPLC. The results showed that the AUC of tissue distribution of PEGylated puerarin in normal rats was liver > kidney > heart ≈ spleen > lung > brain. While the AUC of tissue distribution of PEGylated puerarin in acute myocardial ischemia model rats was liver ≈ heart > kidney > lung ≈ spleen > brain. AUC(heart) of PEGylated puerarin in acute myocardial ischemia model rats was 1.7 times than that of the normal rats, and there was significant difference (P < 0.05). Thus, PEGylated puerarin had a good heart-targeting property in early myocardial infarction area, drugs could accumulate in the ischemic myocardium. It provided important information for further study and clinic use of PEGylated puerarin.

OBJECTIVETo in vitro study the inhibition effect and possible mechanism of As2S3 nanoparticles (As2S3 nano) on human MDS cell line MUTZ-1 and to compare with that of traditional As2S3.

METHODMUTZ-1 cells were treated with As2S3 nano and traditional regular-sized particles (TRSP) at different concentrations. The cell growth inhibition rate was determined by MTT assay, cell apoptosis by morphology and flow cytometry (FCM), cell cycle by FCM and the activity of caspase-3 by chemiluminescence assay.

RESULTSTreatment of As2S3 nano and TRSP at concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 16 micromol/L for 48 h could lead to a significant dose-dependent decrease of MUTZ-1 cells and induce apoptosis. The percentages of inhibition were 48.9%, 75.9%, 89.4% and 96.5% in As2S3 nano vs 14.5%, 25.4%, 34.7% and 51.5% in TRSP and apoptosis rates were (12.9 +/- 1.9)%, (19.2 +/- 2.2)%, (30.1 +/- 2.5)% and (45.9 +/- 2.3)% in As2S3 nano vs (5.3 +/- 1.8%)%, (11.1 +/- 2.6)%, (19.3 +/- 2.3)% and (25.5 +/- 2.5)% in TRSP respectively. There was statistically significant difference in these two groups (P < 0.01). The proportion of cell in G2/M phase and the activity of caspase-3 of MUTZ-1 cells treated with A2S32 nano were significantly higher than those treated with control group and As2S3 TRSP groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAs2S3 nanoparticles and TRSP can inhibit the proliferation of MUTZ-1 cells and induce apoptosis, which maybe through activating caspase-3 pathways and increasing the proportion of G2/M phase. As2S3 nanoparticles can produce a much better antitumor effect than As2S3 TRSP do.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nanoparticles

To study the anti-coagulant effect and influence of danggui Sini decoction (DSD) on rat's plasma endogenous metabolites by animal experiment and ¹H-NMR based metabolomics method. After intragastric administration of Danggui Sini Decoction for 7 days, Plasma thrombin time (TT) was measured. Rat plasma metabolic fingerprint in two groups was analyzed using ¹H-NMR, based on which the principal component analysis( PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) models for metabonomic analysis. Potential biomarkers were screened by using variable importance in the projection (VIP) and T test. DSD could prolong TT of the rat significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, six kinds of endogenous metabolites in DSD group change significantly (P < 0.05), among which isobutyrate, carnitine and phenylalanine content had an upward trend (P < 0.01) and lysine, Histidine and cholesterol content had a downward trend (P < 0.05). It is likely that carnitine, phenylalanine, Histidine and cholesterol are the potential metabolic markers in the anti-coagulant process and DSD affects the platelet aggregation and the expression of tissue factor and fiber protease by regulating the energy, amino acid and lipid metabolism.
Animals ; Anticoagulants ; chemistry ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Female ; Male ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Rats

OBJECTIVEAs our previous comparative proteomics study on high and low metastasis human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell strains revealed that cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was related to higher metastasis potential, we further investigated the relationship between serum CK19 level in HCC patients and their clinico-pathologic characteristics.

METHODSSerum CK19 levels of 101 normal controls and 108 pathology-proven HCC patients were determined using radioimmunoassay, and the their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters were studied.

RESULTSThe upper limit of one-side 98% confidence interval of normal serum CK19 level was 2.3 microg/L. Among 108 HCC patients, 24 (22.2%) had increased serum CK19 level, ranging from 2.4 to 45.5 microg/L. There were 12 patients (11.1%) with increased CK19 level but normal AFP level. The percentage of poor differentiated tumor was higher in CK19 increased cases (37.5%, 9/24) than in CK19 normal cases (20.2%, 17/84). Moreover, the presence of portal vein tumor emboli was significantly higher in CK19 increased cases (25.0%, 6/24) than in CK19 normal cases (6.0%, 5/84). (Chi-square = 7.403, P < 0.01) In addition, the percentage of TNM stage III/IV tumor was significantly higher in CK19 increased patients (54.2%, 13/24) than in CK19 normal cases. (chi-square = 13.300, P < 0.005)

CONCLUSIONSome HCC patients do have increased serum CK19 level, which could be related to portal vein tumor emboli, poor tumor differentiation and advanced tumor stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; genetics ; Proteome ; analysis

A new and a known anthraquinone glycosides were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots of Rheum officinale Baill. The extract was purified by various chromatographies, such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-C18 column chromatography and HPLC. Two compounds were identified by the spectroscopic techniques of NMR, MS, and chemical method. In addition, they were tested for their cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cell. Unfortunately, they showed no or weak activity.
Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare different expression profiles of all known chemokine receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with different metastasis potentials.

METHODSEighteen pairs of chemokine receptor primers were designed using Premier software. Expression profiles of the 18 chemokine receptors on four HCC cell lines of lower to higher potentials of metastasis (SMMC-7721, MHCC97-L, MHCC97-H and HCCLM6) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Expression of CXCR4 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSExpression profiles of chemokine receptors on four HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials had significant differences (P < 0.01), in which CCR10, CXCR4 and CXCR6 expressions decreased gradually as the metastatic potential of the cell lines increased. The expressions of CCR3, CCR4, CCR10, CCR12 and XCR1 on HCCLM6 were significantly reduced compared with SMMC-7721 (P < 0.01), whereas the expressions of CXCR1 (P = 0.006) and CXCR5 (P = 0.003) exceeded that of SMMC-7721. Except for CXCR2, CXCR6 and XCR1, most of chemokine receptors on MHCC97-H were expressed differently compared with MHCC97-L (P < 0.05), in which expressions of CCR1 (P = 0.002), CCR2 (P = 0.004) and CCR5 (P = 0.046) exceeded MHCC97-L. CXCR4 was detected only on the positive controls and SMMC-7721 when the template of total RNA was reduced one-half in RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONChemokine receptors are expressed very differently at mRNA level on HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials. The different profiles of chemokine receptors in tumor microenvironment and the function of CXCR4 in HCC should be further studied. Our findings have important implications in understanding the relationship between chemokine receptors and the metastatic potential of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Chemokine ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathologic features and diagnostic algorithm of light chain nephropathy (LCN).

METHODSSeven cases of LCN were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunolabeling of light chains (kappa, lambda) by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTSThe histopathology of 7 cases by light microscopy was variable, with 3 cases showing nodular glomerulosclerosis, 1 case showing mild to moderate mesangial proliferation, and 3 cases showing cast nephropathy with minimal glomerular change. Immunofluorescence study revealed positive staining of a single type of light chain in mesangium (nodular pattern) or along glomerular basement membrane (linear), along tubular basement membrane and around arteriolar walls in all the 7 cases. Ultrastructurally, electron-dense granular deposits were identified in mesangium, subendothelial aspect of glomerular basement membrane, outer aspect of tubular basement membrane and arteriolar walls. Immunogold labeling of light chains showed distinct labeling of a single type light chain in the granular electron-dense materials (5 cases being kappa-positive and 2 being lambda-positive).

CONCLUSIONSLCN typically shows nodular glomerulosclerosis. The ultrastructural change is characteristic and important for diagnosis. Immunolabeling of light chains by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy carries further diagnostic value, especially in cases with minimal light microscopic change.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains ; immunology ; Kidney Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo analyze the value of ovarian reserve markers for predicting ovarian response in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

METHODSAccording to the ovarian response, 331 patients undergoing oocyte retrieval cycles were divided into of normal, poor, and high response groups. Serum anti-Mvllerian hormone (AMH) was determined using AMH ELISA kit on day 3 of the menstrual cycle, antral follicle count (AFC) was measured using vaginal ultrasound, and basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels were detected using chemiluminescence method.

RESULTSSerum AMH and FSH levels, FSH/LH ratio, AFC, and the patients age, but not the basal E(2) level (P>0.05), were correlated with the number of oocytes collected (×1000/ampules of Gn) (P<0.001). AFC and serum AMH were the strongest single predictors for low ovarian response, with the areas under curve (AUC) of 0.855 (0.787-0.924) and 0.832 (0.764-0.900) (P<0.05), and cutoff values of ≤9 and ≤1.88 ng/ml, respectively. AFC was the strongest single predictor for high ovarian response, with an AUC of 0.787 (0.728-0.847) and the cutoff value of ≥15. Logistic regression model found that the combination of AFC, serum AMH and FSH improved the predictive power for poor ovarian response, but not for high ovarian response.

CONCLUSIONAFC, serum AMH, FSH, FSH/LH, and age are all predictors of ovarian response, among which AFC is the strongest single predictor. A multivariable model can improve the predictive power for low ovarian response but not for high ovarian response.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Oocytes ; cytology ; Ovarian Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ovary ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction ; methods ; Young Adult