Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; surgery ; Humans ; Parotid Neoplasms ; surgery

ObjectiveTo observe production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF)via ERK nerve growth factor (NF)-κB singling pathway in human fibroblasts during wound healing and explore relating mechanism.MethodsHuman fibroblasts from the injured skin were used for this study and treated with GMCSF.RT-PCR was used for analyzing the protein and mRNA levels of VEGF and Western blotting was employed to determine the phosphorylation of ERK. The fibroblasts were pre-treated with ERK specific inhibitor PD98059 and further treated with GMCSF, then the fibroblasts and the supernatant were collected for detection of protein level of VEGF by means of Western blot. ERK signal pathway was inhibited to detect the activation of NF-κB by means of immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, the nuclear and cytoplasmic extraction kit was used to separate the cytoplasm and nucleus and Western blot employed for observation of the NF-κB activation. ResultsThe mRNA level and protein level of VEGF were increased significantly with treatment with higher concentration of GMCSF in a dose-dependent manner. VEGF mRNA level was increased two hours after administration with GMCSF and reached peak at 4-6 hours. GMCSF could remarkably activate the ERK phosphorylation. Compared with GMCSF, the ERK specific inhibitor PD98059inhibited significantly the effect of GMCSF in inducing VEGF expression (P ＜ 0.05). Western blot and immunofluorescence staining analyses showed that the activation of NF-ΚB was inhibited with reduced production of VEGF after GMCSF treatment.Conclusion GMCSF up-regulates production of VEGF through activating NF-κB via ERK signal pathway in the human fibroblasts.

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the innovative self-assembling system, "beads", prepared by continuously shaking alpha-cyclodextrin and soybean oil without the use of organic solvents and surfactants at room temperature. Berberine hydrochloride previously dissolved in soybean oil was chosen as a model drug to explore the shape, structure, drug loading and in vitro release of beads. The particle size and drug loading of berberine hydrochloride-loaded beads were (2.25 +/- 0.23) mm and (67.02 +/- 0.64) microg x g(-1), respectively. Confocal microscopy showed that the core-shell structure of beads could contain poorly water soluble drugs or lipophilic drugs in the lipid core. The drug release rate and cumulative releases of beads were both higher than those of raw medicine of berberine hydrochloride in simulated intestinal fluid. These results suggested that beads were the novel and potential lipid-based drug delivery system for lipophilic or poorly water soluble traditional Chinese medicine.
Berberine ; administration & dosage ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Particle Size ; Solubility ; Soybean Oil ; administration & dosage ; alpha-Cyclodextrins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of baicalin on induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line DU145.

METHODHuman prostate cancer cell line DU145 was treated with different concentration of baicalin in vitro. The apoptosis rate was determined by FACS analysis, cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry, morphological changes and protein analysis were determined by means of electron microscope techniqueand immunohistochemical techniquerespectively.

RESULT50micromol x L(-1) and 125 micromol x L(-1) of baicalin dose-dependently induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer cell DU145 in a dose and time-dependent manner. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that baicalin induced a arrest in G1 phase, showing a typical apoptosis peak. Electron microscopy detected a characteristic appearance of the apoptotic cells morphology. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that induction of apoptosis by ways of inhibition of the bcl-2, loss of the Bax, and upregulation of Fas.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that baicalin may induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of prostate cancer cells, and has direct anti-tumor effects on human prostate cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo measure the permeability of human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc and cartilage to provide basic parameter for oral biomechanics and tissue engineering, and analyze its mechanisms of pathology and load-release.

METHODSConfined compression method was used to measure the permeability (k value) of four cadavers' TMJs, which were sampled into three parts: disc, condyle and glenoid fossa with different diameters (2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm). All 128 samples were tested with correspond diameter indenter.

RESULTSLarger the sample diameter was, higher the k value became. The highest k value appeared in the disc while the lowest appeared in glenoid fossa.

CONCLUSIONIn normal condition, TMJ can suffer huge load by decreasing its permeability. Disc is weakest for the higher permeability, it's easy-damaged region is an initiated factor of TMJ disease.

Cartilage ; Humans ; Permeability ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUNDBased on in vivo research on the effect of the coating of the extracellular matrix composition of pedicle screws on the conduction and induction of bone formation in young sheep, the aim of this study was to investigate the application of coated pedicle screws in sheep with scoliosis whose spines are under constant development.

METHODSFour groups of pedicle screws were randomly implanted into bilateral L2-L5 pedicles of 2.5- to 3-month-old sheep. A static experiment was performed on one side and a loading test was performed on the other side by implanting connecting rods at the L2-L3 and L4-L5 segments. The changes in the force on the coated screws and the combination of the surface of the coated screws with the surrounding bone in the growth process of young sheep's spines with aging were observed. After 3 months, the lumbar vertebrae with the screws were removed and examined by micro-CT, histological, and biomechanical analyses.

RESULTSUnder nonloading conditions, there is bone formation around the surfaces of coated screws. The bone forming on the surface of collagen/chondroitin sulfate/hydroxyapatite coating of pedicle screws is the most, the one of the collagen/chondroitin sulfate coating and hydroxyapatite coating is followed, and no significant difference between the two groups. In terms of the trabecular bone morphology parameters of the region of interest around the surface of the pedicle screws, such as bone mineral content, bone mineral density, tissue mineral content, tissue bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and connection density, those associated with collagen/chondroitin sulfate/hydroxyapatite coatings are largest and those unassociated with coatings are smallest. Under nonloading conditions, the pullout strength of the collagen/chondroitin sulfate/hydroxyapatite-coated screws was largest, and that of the uncoated screws was minimal (P < 0.01). Under loading conditions, the maximum pullout strength of each group of pedicle screws was less than that of the pedicle screws in the nonloading state (P < 0.01) with no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUnder nonloading conditions, the coatings of both organic and inorganic components of the extracellular matrix of titanium pedicle screws can conduct or induce bone formation around the surface of the screws. The ability of collagen/chondroitin sulfate/hydroxyapatite coatings to induce bone formation is stronger; under loading conditions, a large amount of connective tissue formed around the surfaces of the screws in each group. No significant differences were found between the groups.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; chemistry ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Rats ; Sheep ; X-Ray Microtomography

Ductus Arteriosus ; abnormalities ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital ; complications

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of sodium hya- luronate in relieving the symptoms of refractory non-bacterial cystitis.Methods Totally,20 patients(1 man and 19 women;mean age,47 years;age range,22-68 years)with refractory non-bacterial cystitis were included.Their disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years.Of them,16 patients had the disease for more than 1 year.Instillation of sodium hyaluronate(50 ml solution of 40 mg HA)was performed intravesically in them for a total of 12 weeks(once a week for the first 4 weeks and once every 4 weeks for the succeeding 8 weeks).Follow-up visit ended at 16 weeks,when the patients filled in the symptom assessment scores(VAS on pain,frequency and urgency)according to the subjective evaluation.Therapeutic results were classified as(1)total response:symptom disappearance or relief by at least 90% of the symptom scores;(2)partial response:symptom relief by 50%-89%;(3)mild response:symptom relief by 49% or less;(4)no re- sponse:no improvement in symptom scores.Results Nineteen patients completed the 16-week follow-up with only 1 withdrawing.The average general symptom score decreased from 22.32?5.53 to 9.47?5.88 (P＜0.001);frequency score from 8.21?1.75 to 3.89v2.31(P＜0.001);urgency score from 7.47?2.14 to 3.37?2.14(P＜0.001);pain score from 6.63?3.47 to 2.21?2.74(P＜0.001).After 16 weeks,overall positive response rate(total+partial response)was 53%(10/19).No serious adverse effect occurred except for urethral irritation(25%,5/20),worsening of distending pain of the bladder(5%,1/20) and vertigo(15%,3/20)caused by the procedure itself.Conclusions For patients suffering from refrac- tory non-bacterial cystitis,intravesical instillations of sodium hyaluronate can significantly relieve the symp- toms and is safe and of good patient compliance.

This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of hepatic resection combined with radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection (HR) alone for the treatment of multifocal hepatoeellular carcinomas (HCC).A literature search was conducted from the database including MEDLINE,Embase,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and China Biology Medicine (CBM) disc.The primary outcomes included the 1-,3-,5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rate.The secondary outcomes contained the intraoperative parameters and postoperative adverse events (AEs).These parameters were all analyzed by RevMan 5.3 software.After carefully screening relevant studies,four retrospective studies of high quality involving 466 patients (197 in the combined group and 269 in the HR group) were included in this study.The pooled results showed that the 1-,3-,5-year OS rate in the combined group were comparable with those in the HR group (OR=0.77,0.96,0.88;P=0.33,0.88,0.70,respectively).Similarly,there was no significant difference in 1-,3-,5-year DFS rate between the combined group and the HR alone group (OR=0.57,0.83,0.72;P=0.17,0.37,0.32,respectively).And the intraoperative parameters and postoperative AEs were also comparable between the above two cohorts.However,two included studies reported that tumor often recurred in the ablation site in the combined group.The present meta-analysis indicated that the HR combined with RFA could reach a long-term survival outcome similar to curative HR for multifocal HCC patients.And this therapy may be a promising alternative for these patients with marginal liver function or complicated tumor distribution.Furthermore,high quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are imperative to verify this conclusion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) gene polymorphism and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).

METHODSFifty patients with failed renal allografts and clinically and histopathologically confirmed CAN were enrolled in this study along with another 50 renal transplant recipients with normal graft function. The DNA extracted from whole blood of the patients was amplified with PCR with sequence-specific primers for determining TGF-beta1 genotypes (position +869, codon 10 and position +915, codon 25). According to documented descriptions, the patients were classified into high and moderate-to-low cytokine production genotypes. The distribution frequencies of high production genotypes was then compared between CAN and non-CAN groups. To eliminate interference in the analysis of the association between TGF-beta1 polymorphism and CAN, other possible risk factors for CAN were screened, including the patients' gender, age, HLA match, delayed graft function, acute rejection, immunosuppressive regimen, cytomegalovirus infection, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

RESULTSCAN patients showed significantly greater proportion of high cytokine production genotype than the non-CAN group [70% (35/50) vs 38% (19/50), Chi(2)=10.306, P=0.001). Of the screened risk factors for CAN, only acute rejection showed some difference between the two groups, but analysis after subgrouping according to acute rejection did not suggest its influence on CAN, which supports the result that the rate of high production genotype was significantly higher in CAN group than in the non-CAN group.

CONCLUSIONMost CAN patients have high TGF-beta1 production genotype, which might be a risk factor for CAN after renal transplantation. TGF-beta1 genotyping can be of value in predicting the risk of CAN after renal transplantation.

Adult ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Graft Rejection ; genetics ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; genetics ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; Transplantation, Homologous