Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is a classic signaling pathway which controls embryonic development.Recent studies show that HH signaling pathway plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and development of cancer.Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) is closely associated with malignant tumor metastasis,relapse and treatment resistance.HH pathway plays crucial roles in maintaining the characters of BCSCs,and will probably become a novel therapeutic target of breast cancers.

ObjectiveTo explore the application of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC)and central venous catheter (CVC) in the surgical parenteral nutrition.MethodThe operation time,success rate,indwelling duration,abnormal biopsy,and adverse reactions of PICC and CVC were retrospectively compared.ResultsCVC had significantly shorter operation time than PICC groups [ (28.67 ±5.13) min vs.(45.20 ±6.89)min,P =0.035 ).The mean indwelling duration was significantly longer in PICC group than in CVC group [ ( 114.85 ± 10.29) d vs.(24.78 ± 8.42) d,P =0.033 ].PICC group was superior to CVC group in terms of five complication items,while only phlebitis was more frequent/severe in CVC group.ConclusionsPICC may be more suitable for long-term ( ＞4 weeks) catheter-based nutrition.CVC has short operation time and fast flow rate,and therefore is most suitable for rescue treatment for critically ill patients.

Objectives To study the effect of ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on apoptosis and Caspase-3 expression in human umbilical arterial vascular smooth muscle cells. Methods Human umbilical artery vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro. Different doses of bortezomib (0, 4, 10, 40nmol/L) were used to treat cell. Cell proliferation activity were detected by using CCK8 method. Western Blot assay was used to measure the expression of Pro-caspase-3 and Cleaved-PARP protein. Morphology of cells in different groups are observed by confocal microscopy and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry analysis. Results Bortezomib inhibits proliferation activity of vascular smooth muscle cells. With increasing of drug concentration and treating time, cell viability are reduced (P < 0.01). Cells treated with different concentrations bortezomib for 48 h showed increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.01), decreased pro-caspase-3 protein expression and increased cleaved-PARP protein expression (P < 0.01). Laser confocal microscope found that with the increase of drug concentration, the number of apoptotic cells showed an upward trend under per high-power vision. Conclusion The ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor bortezomib may decrease the expression of pro-caspase-3 and increase Cleaved-PARP expression in human umbilical artery vascular smooth muscle cells. Additionally , it could induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yufeng Capsule (Radix Astragali, Radix Salviae Mitiorrhizae, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, etc) on the moisture content, activity of Na +,K + AT Pase and Ca 2+ ATPase in brain tissue of rat with ischemia reperfusion.Methods:the model with ischemia reperfusion was established by line embolism method, the moisture content and activity of ATPase in brain tissue of model rat were determined respectively at ischemia 2h reperfusion 1h and ischemia 2h reperfusion 24h.Results:Yufeng Capsule could significantly decrease moisture content of rats brain, increase the activity of Na +,K + ATPase and Ca 2+ ATPase.Conclusion:Yufeng Capsule could prevent and treat the cerebral edema caused by ischemia reperfusion, its mechanism may be related to improving cytomembrane ionic transport after ischemia reperfusion.

Objective To obtain the gene coding for the group 5 allergens from Dermatophagoides farinae ( Derf5 ) and predict its molecular characteristics. Methods The total RNA of D. farinae were extracted, and the gene Derf5 was amplified by RT-PCR with the primers designed according to previous sequence published in GenBank. The target gene was linked into pMD19-T Simple plasmid, sequenced and analyzed by bioinformatics software. Results The sequence homology reached to 97.8% between our sequenced result with one complete open reading fragment (ORF) and the reference. The gene encode an extracellular hydrophobic protein with 132 amino acid resides, one signal peptide from 1 to 19 position and one transmembrane domain from 1 to 19 position. The secondary structure was composed of extended strand (1. 52% ), random coil (7.58%) and alpha helix (90.91%). The encoded protein was deduced to have two Casein kinase Ⅱ phosphorylation sites. The similarity of the amino acid sequence of the group 5 allergens were 78% between D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus. Conclusion The gene Derf5 was cloned successfully, and its characteristics was primarily predicted.

Objective To assess the value of endoluminal convex array probe combined with high frequency linear array probe in diagnosis of internal carotid artery occlusion, and to improve the diagnostic accuracy rate of ultrasonography. Methods Patients suspected with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (n=490) were examined by carotid ultrasound. First, suspicious patients with carotid artery occlusion were selected using high-frequency linear array probe, then screen results were confirmed by endoluminal convex array probe and compared with previous results in those patients. Results Sixty eight patients,who were suspected of internal carotid artery occlusion,were screened out by high-frequency linear array probe. Results were re-examined by endoluminal convex array probe, 42 patients were diagnosed as internal carotid artery occlusion, 19 patients were diagnosed as severe stenosis as the internal carotid artery and 7 patients were diagnosed as ca?rotid artery tortuosity with no significant stenosis. Conclusion Endoluminal convex array probe is an effective complement for internal carotid arterial inspection when it combines with high-frequency linear probe. It can improve the diagnostic accu?racy rate of degree and the range in internal carotid artery occlusion and stenosis, therefore reduce chances of misdiagnosis.

Biomedical Research ; Communication ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Medical Oncology ; Suggestion

Aged ; China ; Confusion ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature

Objectives To study the expression patterns of steroid receptor coactivators (SRC) and steroid-induced stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in endometriosis,and to explore the roles of SRC in the steroid-induced SDF-1 expression endometriosis.Methods From May 2010 to October 2012,16 endometriosis cases at stages Ⅲ or Ⅳ according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification undergoing surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University were enrolled in this study.Their ectopic endometrium were from ovarian endometriomata which were identified pathologically with 9 cases at proliferative phase and 7 cases at secretory phase.The normal endometrium were acquired from the healthy women with normal menstrual cycle (n =10,proliferative phase =5,secretory phase =5).The mnRNA levels of SRC and SDF-1α during the menstrual cycle were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Ectopic endometrium stromal cells were purified and cultured in medium containing 17β-estradiol (10-8mol/L) or 17β-estradiol (10-8 mol/L) + progesterone (10-6 mol/L).At 24,48,72 and 96 hours,the supernatants were collected to measure SDF-1α expression by ELISA.Ectopic endometrium stromal cells were transfected respectively with siRNA of SRC-1 and SRC-2 using lipofectamine.Two days after transfection,17β-estradiol (10-8 moL/L) or 17β-estradiol (10-8 mol/L) + progesterone (10-6 mol/L) were added into the media.On the third day after the steroid hormones treatment,the media were collected to quantify SDF-1α expression with ELISA.Results (1) Cyclical changes: the SRC-1,SRC-2 and SDF-1 α showed marked cyclic differences in normal endometrium (P ＜ 0.05).In proliferative phase and secretory phase,the SRC-1,SRC-2 and SDF-1 α were 5.6 ± 1.2,3.8 ± 1.1,2.7 ± 0.5 and 2.6 ± 1.0,2.1 ± 1.0,1.6-± 0.5,respectively.There was no periodic variation in the expression of SRC-1,SRC-2 and SDF-1α in ectopic endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.(2) Steroid-induced SDF-1α expression in ectopic endometrium stromal cells: the 17β-estradiol-induced SDF-1α expression was (1 803 ± 196),(2 272 ± 261) and (2 162 ± 258) ng/L at 48,72 and 96 hours.At the same time points,the SDF-1α expression induced by 17β-estradiol and progesterone was (1 307 ± 150),(1 518 ± 301) and (1 550 ± 144) ng/L,respectively.There was significant difference between two groups (P ＜0.05).(3) The effects of SRC silencing on steroid hormones-induced SDF-1 α expression in ectopic endometrium stromal cells: the expression of 17β-estradiol-induced SDF-1α at 72 hours was significantly decreased from (2 313 ± 357) ng/L to (1 155 ± 244) ng/L after the silencing of SRC-1 (P ＜ 0.05).After the silencing of SRC-2,the 17β-estradiol-induced SDF-1 α at 72 hours was (1 958 ±324) ng/L.There was no significant difference compared with the before the silencing (P ＞ 0.05).The expression of SDF-1 α at 72 hours induced by 17β-estradiol + progesterone was (1 534 ± 449) ng/L and (2 051 ± 380) ng/L respectively before and after the silencing of SRC-2 and showed the significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion During the expression of SDF-1 α regulated by steroids in ectopic endometrium cells,SRC-1 is the major coactivator of 17β-estradiol and SRC-2 is the major coactivator of progesterone.

ObjectiveTo assess the value of the Beijing version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( MoCA) in community dwelling older adults residing in Shenyang,China.MethodsThe stratified random sampling method was used to investigate the population over 60 years old in 4 communities of Shenyang in the year 2011.Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Beijing version of MoCA were administered to all participants.258 old people finished the assessment.ResultsThe internal consistency of the MoCA Beijing version was good,yielding a Cronbach alpha of 0.836.The correlation between the MoCA Beijing version and the MMSE was good(r=0.623,P＜0.001 ).Only 15.1％ participants had an education of over 12 years,but 26.3％ participants had an education of 6 years or less.Only 3 items of MoCA Beijing version ( naming lion,forward digit span,recall daisy)showednosignificantdifferencebetweenpersonswithandwithoutover 6yearsofeducation.ConclusionsThe results indicates that the Beijing version of MoCA have good reliability and validity.This study shows that an education of 6 years or less might be the proper population to add the one point in China,and the cutoff-point of 26 for normal is too high for Chinese population.