OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of curcumin in inducing the apoptosis of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231.

METHODCurcumin of different concentrations at 0, 10 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 micromol x L(-1) were used to intervene breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 for 24 hours. MTT was used to observe its effect on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The flow cytometry was used to detect its effect on the cell apoptosis. The real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot was used to assess the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

RESULTCurcumin could inhibit the proliferative ability of breast cancer cells by inducing them in a concentration-dependent manner. Curcumin could significantly increase the expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Female ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to explore the possibility of Xihuangwan (XHW)'s application in assistant therapy in patients with breast cancer, short- and long-term clinical efficacy were assessed in this study. Eighty and four patients with advanced breast cancer were selected in this study. They were divided into control group and treatment group randomly and evenly. All patients received surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy regimen composed of PTX + EPI + CTX (TEC regimen). Treatment group received additional assistant treatment of XHW. Short-term clinical efficacy was assessed by KPS, lesion stabilizing rate and side effects in 3-month follow-up study. Long-term clinical efficacy was assessed by overall survival (OS) and free-progression survival (FPS). KPS increased significantly after treatment in all patients (P < 0.05), more significantly in treatment group than in control group after treatment (P < 0.05); lesion stabilizing rate in treatment group increased significantly in treatment group than in control group (92.86% vs. 85.71%, P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between control group and treatment group in occurrence of side effects. Compared with control group, OS and FPS increased significantly in treatment group. Data in this study showed that XHW was suitable in treatment of advanced breast cancer due to its satisfactory short-term and long-term therapeutic effects.
Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of hepatitis C virus core antigen(HCV-cAg),hepatitis C virus(HCV-IgG) and hepatitis C virus(HCV-RNA) in the laboratory diagnosis of Hepatitis C.Methods HCV-cAg and HCV-IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),HCV-RNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in 84 suspected HCV patients and 87 healthy control subjects.Results In 84 suspected HCV patients,the HCV-IgG positive rate was 84.5%,HCV-cAg positive rate was 13.1%,HCV-RNA positive rate was 52.4%.Among 71 cases of HCV-IgG positive patients,there were 35 cases with negative HCV-RNA,the false positive rate was 49.3%.In 11 cases of HCV-cAg positive patients,there were 5 cases with negative HCV-RNA,the false positive rate was 45.5%.In 44 cases of HCV-RNA positive diagnosis of hepatitis C patients,HCV-IgG false negative rate was 18.2%,HCV-cAg false negative rate was 86.4%.The false negative rate of combined detection of HCV-cAg and HCV-IgG was 13.6%,and the true positive rate was 100.0%.Conclusion HCV-cAg and HCV-IgG have certain false negative and false positive in laboratory diagnosis of HCV,combine these two methods,or joint with HCV-RNA detection,could reduce the rate of missed diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the value of vessel size index(VSI) in grading oligodendroglioma by vessel size imaging technique. Methods Twenty-four histologically confirmed oligodendroglioma cases were enrolled (13 gradeⅡand 11 gradeⅢ) . All patients underwent conventional MRI scanning, followed by multi gradient-echo spin-echo sequence from dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion to generate VSI maps. Region of interests were contoured on VSI color maps to obtain hot-spot value of mean VSI of microvasculature (VSImean) and maximum VSI of microvasculature (VSImax). Paraffin sections of each case was stained with CD34 to acquire microvascular caliber (VShis). Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between VSImean, VSImax and VShis respectively. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare VSImean, VSImax and VShis between grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas. ROC analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of VSImean, VSImax and VShis in grading oligodendrogliomas. Results Both VSImean and VSImax were strongly correlated with VShis (r=0.738, 0.705,P<0.05). For gradeⅡand Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas, VSImean were 38.93(17.96 to 81.18)μm and 91.49(36.94 to 144.68)μm, VSImax were 45.12(22.30 to 89.65)μm and 121.19(57.29 to 164.00)μm, VShis were 8.51(5.25 to 12.76)μm and 11.03(7.59 to 21.96)μm respectively. VSImean, VSImax, and VShis showed significant difference (Z=-3.505,-3.911, -2.729,P<0.05) between grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ oligodendrogliomas. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity and AUC of VSImean was 52.58 μm, 90.91%, 92.31%, 0.923 respectively, 81.18μm, 90.91%, 100.00%, 0.972 for VSImax, and 9.01μm, 90.00%, 84.62%, 0.838 for VShis respectively. Conclusions Vessel size imaging derived VSI correlated well with histopathology. It could provide valuable information in the pre-operative grading of oligodendroglioma.

Objective To study the value of lung window and soft tissue window in measuring colon diseases with experimental CTVC examination.Methods Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases were placed with glue in a thoroughly cleaned porcine colon(overall length,150 era)that was distented with air and submerged in a water phantom and scanned 10 times on a 64-MSCT(GE Light speed)with identical scanning parameters.The data were reconstructed every 0.625 mm and reviewed using 2D images, navigation,MPR and 3D volume-rendered images on a GE AW 4.2 workstation.The maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured by two radiologists with more than 10 years working experience in lung window(W = 1000,L =-700)and soft tissue window(W =400,L =40),respectively.The average value of maximum diameters of the artificial polypoids were measured for 10 times and were compared with the actual diameter.Results Twenty-four artificial polypoid diseases and their shape,size,loeation and relation of diseases with bowel wall were all showed excellently.The maximum diameter measured was close to the actual diameter.The average value was mostly less than actual diameter and a few of them more than the actual diameter.The maximum diameter measured in lung window was close to the actual diameter,and there was no difference between the two data sets(t =0.431,P =0.669).There was difference between the maximum diameter measured in soft tissue window and the virtual diameter(t = 2.691,P = 0.010). Conclusion In screening the colon diseases,CTVC is a good method of choice with no insult or less insult, and higher repeatability.The lung window should be chosen in measuring colon diseases in CTVC examination.

Objective To evaluate the safety,biocompatibility and efficacy of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(ASD)with no stainless-steel-screw occluder in canine model.Methods The device was constructed from superelastic Nitinol wires tightly woven into two flat disks and sewed with polyester fibers inside,with a pliable loop on the right-atrial-disk of the device,connecting to the delivery cable.ASD was created by transcatheter puncture and balloon dilatation and then closed by occluder under fluoroscopy in the catheterization laboratory.The location and the influence of the implanted device on function of tricuspid valve and mitral valve were evaluated by echocardiography.At 1,2,3 and 6 months after the operation,the animals were killed and autopsy was conducted.Results Eight dogs with puncture-produced ASD underwent ASD closing procedure successfully.The occluder showed no influence on the function of MV and AV demonstrated by echocardiogram.The two disks of the implanted device were covered with a smooth intact neogenesis layer in all dogs.Endocardial cells fully covered the surface of the two disk without inflammating reaction 3 months later. There was no evidence of corrosion on the surface of the nitinol wire removed from the dog after 6 months.Light microscopic examination of the liver,kidney,lung and spleen showed no evidence of embolization and inflammation.Conclusion Transcatheter ASD occlusion with new-type occluder is safe,feasible,effective and good biocompatibility with a good prospective clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the value of CT findings in the diagnosis of laryngeal carcinoma infiltration extent.Method:The data of comparison of CT findings and clinico-pathologic stages on 61 patients with laryngeal carcinoma were analyzed from 1995 to 1999.There were 58 males and 3 females ,ranging in age from 37 to 83 years old which stages were T1N0M0 in 11,T2N0M0 in 21,T2N1M0 in 9,T2N2M0 in 1,T2N3M0 in 1,T3N0M0 in 10,T3N1M0 in 2,T4N0M0 in 4 and T4N1M0 in 2,respectively.And the supraglottic cancer was 11(18.0%,11/61),glottic cancer 47(77.1%,47/61),transglottic cancer 3(4.9%,3/61),respectively.The CT examination and surgical treatment were made in all 61 patients.Results:The correct rate at CT findings was 91.8%(56/61),and the accurate rate of clinical stage was 73.8%(45/61).These results showed different significance (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The CT findings showed valuable in the diagnosis to infiltration extent of laryngeal carcinoma and clinical significance for surgical treatment of patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and microvessel density(MVD)in non-small cell lung cancer.Methods The expression of bFGF and MVD were observed in 54 eases of NSCLC were detected with in situ hybrldization and immunohistochemical detection.Resuits The expression of bFGF and MVD was greater in adenecarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas of NSCLC (P＜0.05).The expression of bFGF was significantly different among the three groups of both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarecnomas with varying differentiation (P＜0.05).There was hisher bFGF expression and greater MVD in NSCLC patients with regional lymplmode involvement and those with laterdistant metastasis(P＜0.05).Condusion bFGF may play an important role in tumor angiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of human NSCLC,and detection of bFGF may be a good metastasis and prognostic predictors for human NSCLC.

Objective To compare the result of percutaneous or open drainage for muhilocular bacterial liver abscess. Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with multilocular bacterial liver abscess were reviewed retrospectively over the past 5 years. Twenty-one cases underwent B-us or CT-guided pereutaneons drainage (PD) and 24 received surgical drainage (SD) as the first-line treatment. The treatment outcomes in both groups were compared, and clinical end-points included time to defervescence, failure of treatment, secondary procedures, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. Results The time of defervesecnce was not statistically different between the two groups (4.85 day vs. 4.38 days, P＞0.05). However, patients in SD group suffered from less treatment failures (2 cases vs. 9 cases, P<0.05), less requirement for secondary procedures (1 cases vs. 11 cases,P<0.01), and shorter hospital stay (8 day vs. 11 days, P<0.05). There was no difference in morbidity or mortality rates between the two groups. Conclusions It was concluded that for multilocular liver abscess, SD provides better clinical outcomes than PD in terms of treatment success, number of secondary procedures, and hospital stay with comparable morbidity and mortality rates. SD should be considered as first-line treatment for multilocular bacterial liver abscesses.