[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP3) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma tissues.METHODS: Thirty cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma specimens were col-lected.The expression of BMP3 at mRNA and protein levels in the tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.The hilar cholangiocarcinoma paraffin-embedded specimens (n=103) were collected. The protein expression of BMP3 was determined by immunohistochemical method, and the relationship of BMP3 protein ex-pression with clinical pathological characteristics was evaluated.RESULTS:In the 30 patients with hilar cholangiocarcino-ma, the expressions of BMP3 protein and mRNA in 22 cases of tumor tissues were significantly decreased compared with the adjacent normal tissues.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that 87 cases were negative and 16 cases were weakly positive in all 103 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The expression of BMP3 protein was associated with the tumor TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:BMP3 gene might be inhibited in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The down-regulation of BMP3 gene might be associated with the carcinogenesis and devel-opment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the occurrence of paclitaxel(PTX)-induced muscle soreness and therapeutic efficacy and safety of diclofenac sodium. METHODS:Among 84 patients with malignant tumor receiving PTX chemotherapy,56 patients suf-fered from PTX-induced muscle soreness,among which 22 female patients suffered from medium and severe muscle soreness and then were randomly divided into group A and B,with 11 cases in each group. Group A was given Diclofenac sodium sustained-re-lease tablet 75 mg orally,once a day;group B was given Paracetamol and tramadol hydrochloride tablets one tablet orally,once a day,and then given Promethazine hydrochloride injection 100 mg subcutaneously,2-3 times a day when muscle soreness could not be born. Treatment course of both groups lasted for 5 d. The distribution of muscle soreness were observed. The onset time and dura-tion of muscle soreness were also observed as well as pain relief and the occurrence of ADR in group A and B. RESULTS:Among 84 cases,the incidence of muscle soreness was 66.67%,among which mild pain accounted for 23.81%,moderate pain accounted for 13.10%,and severe pain accounted for 29.76%. Among 56 patients with muscle soreness,earliest muscle soreness occurred on the day of medication,and most of muscle soreness occurred on 1-3 days after medication,mainly manifesting as sore,activity limitation when severe,associated with fatigue. The pain relief rate of group A and B were 100%,but the incidence of adverse re-actions in group A was significantly lower than group B,with statistical significances(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Diclofenac sodi-um is similar to paracetamol and tramadol hydrochloride in the treatment of PTX-induced muscle soreness,but it is better than paracetamol and tramadol hydrochloride in safety.

To study the chemical constituents of the inflorescences of Coreopsis tinctoria from Xinjiang, isolation and purification of constituents were carried out by column chromatography on macroporous resin (D101) , MCI gel, MDS gel, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicchemical properties and spectral data analysis. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as coretinterpenoid A (1), coretinphenol (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (4), luteolin (5), taxifolin (6), 7, 3', 5'-trihydroxyflavanone (7), isookanin (8), isookanin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), 5, 7, 3', 5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), butein (11), okanin (12), sulfuretin (13), and linocinnamarin (14). Compound 1 was a new isabolane-type sesquiterpenoid and compounds 4, 10 and 13 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Coreopsis ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

The bioactivities, chemical composition and distribution of aerial parts of Panax species are different from the roots. The present paper summarized the phytochemical and analytical studies of aerial parts of Panax species, including P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. quinquefoliun and P. japonicus. This review aims so as to provide scientific evidences for further investigation of chemical profile, quality control and optimal utilization of these resources.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Saponins ; analysis ; chemistry

Objective To improve the conventional method of quantitative assessment of regional cerebral blood flows(rCBF)by a perfusion CT study based on maximal slope model at the general infusion rate(

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood flow characteristics of hepatitis B cirrhosis based on Couinaud's hepatic segments and to analyze the correlation between perfusion parameters of liver cirrhosis in the hepatic segments and between the different Child-Pugh classifications by using the pattern of whole liver perfusion detected by multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT).

METHODSWhole-liver perfusion enhanced CT imaging scan was performed for 51 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis (including 24 classified as Child-Pugh A, 19 as Child-Pugh B, and 8 as Child-Pugh C) and 20 patients without any liver abnormalities (who served as the control group).The perfusion parameters of Couinaud's segments were measured in order to compare the blood perfusion differences among the Couinaud's hepatic segments in liver cirrhosis. The blood flow characteristics were analyzed for each lobe and compared between groups, and the time to peak and peak of enhancement values of the aorta and portal veins and spleen were recorded and compared between groups.The F-test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe liver cirrhosis group showed higher time to peak for aorta and portal veins and spleen but lower peak of enhancement values than the control group. The hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) was significantly higher in segment 3 than in segment 7 were (11.40+/- 5.72 vs.9.46+/-5.18 mL/min/100 mL; P less than 0.05). In addition, the differences of the portal venous perfusion (PVP) and total hepatic perfusion (THP) were significant between the liver lobes in various groups (P less than 0.05). The HAP and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) were not significantly different between the groups, but the HAP and HPI in every lobe were higher in the Child C subgroup than in either the Child A or Child B subgroups.

CONCLUSIONThe cirrhotic liver has different blood flow in the various Couinaud's segments. Whole-liver perfusion MSCT can reflect the hemodynamic changes of liver cirrhosis and Child-Pugh classification, and as such may be helpful for distinguishing the normal liver from the cirrhotic liver.

Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Portal Vein ; Spleen ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUNDTissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is related to the aging of many organs, but few data are available on the change of TIMP-1 in liver aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and role of TIMP-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in the process of natural aging in the livers of normal and transgenic mice, and to detect the effects of TIMP-1 on oxidative level and anti-oxidative ability of the livers of transgenic young mice.

METHODSNormal and transgenic mice were divided into 3 groups according to their age: 3-month-old group (n = 5), 12-month-old group (n = 5) and 24-month-old group (n = 5). Histopathological changes of the liver were observed after HE and Masson staining. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of TIMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction; protein expression was measured by Western blot in the livers of normal and transgenic mice of various ages. Changes in levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), monoamine oxidase (MAO), malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as oxidative and anti-oxidative ability were measured.

RESULTSHistologically, more fatty degeneration and collagen deposition were found in the aging livers of transgenic mice than in those of the normal mice as their age of months increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of TIMP-1 were significantly high in the oldest animals. The histopathological changes, mRNA and protein expressions of TIMP-1 increased significantly in the liver of transgenic mice as compared with normal mice. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 showed a minor change in the process of aging. Liver change and collagen deposition were not observed in young mice, but the activity of SOD decreased (P < 0.05), and the activity of MAO (P < 0.01) and the content of MDA increased in the liver of transgenic mice (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of TIMP-1 is significantly high in the liver of transgenic mouse in the process of aging, indicating that the oxidative level increases and the anti-oxidative ability decreases in the liver of transgenic mouse. TIMP-1 plays an important role in the process of liver aging.

Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Monoamine Oxidase ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; analysis ; genetics

China ; Disaster Medicine ; Disasters ; statistics & numerical data ; Earthquakes ; statistics & numerical data ; First Aid ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; statistics & numerical data ; Rescue Work

Objective To explore the thinking and methods of integration curriculum. Methods The content of theory and experiment of the biochemistry,molecular biology, cell biology, medical genetics are optimized, streamlined and integrated to form theory course and experiment experimental course of " basis fo life", namely"four in two". Forming a teaching team across departments, multi-disciplinary teaching is carried out. The theory takes " cell-moleculeinheritance-disorders" as the main line, interspersed with " flipped class model" . The experimental course deletes repeated confirmatory experiments and adds some comprehensive experiments. The course assessment and performance evaluation are carried out with the combination of formative assessment and summative evaluation. Results The teaching mode of integration curriculum has been carried out in the experimental class of undergraduate students for two years. Compared with the theoretical examination scores, the results of the experimental class were significantly higher than that of the control class, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05) . 24 students took part in research in experimental class, but only 10 students did in control class.Conclusion The implementation of integrated curriculum can promote student’s independent learning, improve student’s ability to analyze and solve problems, and mobilize student’s interest in scientific research practice. It provides useful reference and experience for the integration of basic course in the life science field of higher medical colleges.

The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), one of the most essential conjugative enzymes, is responsible for the metabolism and detoxification of bilirubin and other endogenous substances, as well as many different xenobiotic compounds. Deciphering UGT1A1 relevance to human diseases and characterizing the effects of small molecules on the activities of UGT1A1 requires reliable tools for probing the function of this key enzyme in complex biological matrices. Herein, an easy-to-use assay for highly-selective and sensitive monitoring of UGT1A1 activities in various biological matrices, using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD), has been developed and validated. The newly developed LC-FD based assay has been confirmed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, quanti-tative linear range and stability. One of its main advantages is lowering the limits of detection and quantification by about 100-fold in comparison to the previous assay that used the same probe substrate, enabling reliable quantification of lower amounts of active enzyme than any other method. The precision test demonstrated that both intra- and inter-day variations for this assay were less than 5.5％. Further-more, the newly developed assay has also been successfully used to screen and characterize the regu-latory effects of small molecules on the expression level of UGT1A1 in living cells. Overall, an easy-to-use LC-FD based assay has been developed for ultra-sensitive UGT1A1 activities measurements in various biological systems, providing an inexpensive and practical approach for exploring the role of UGT1A1 in human diseases, interactions with xenobiotics, and characterization modulatory effects of small mole-cules on this conjugative enzyme.