dl-3-n-Butylphthalide can be applied in many areas of central nervous system diseases,such as cerebral ischemia,cerebral trauma,dysmnesia,convulsion,and so on.This paper reviewed the effect and mechanism of it.

Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid(ATRA) combined with arsenic trioxide(As2O3) on acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL).Methods 9 patients of APL underwent ATRA with As2O3 therapy.The patients in combination group were treated with ATRA 25mg/(m2?d) and As2O3 10mg intravenously for 3 to 4 hours per day until complete remission(CR) or for 50 days.According to the white blood cell(WBC) counts,anthracycline and cytosine arabinoside(Ara-C) were added on third day.Results 6 newly-diagnosed and 2 relapse patients of the combination group were CR after first treat.The medium time to CR was 30.12?4.89 days.Conclusion ATRA + As2O3 with anthracycline regiment is superior to either regiment given alone to patients with APL.It is an efficient therapeutic approach to APL patients using a combination of ATRA with As2O3.

BACKGROUND: The source of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is limited, and the cellular morphology,proliferation and multi-directional differentiation capacities can vary during serial passages in BMSCs in vitro.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on cellular morphology, proliferation and differentiation of serially passaged BMSCs.METHODS: (1) BMSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured. These cells were passaged six times in vitro, and the cellular morphology was observed and photographed. (2) BMSCs at passage 6 were seeded into 96-well plates and randomly divided into control group and FGF treatment group. The proliferation of cells in both groups was detected with cell counting kit-8 kit at days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 after culture. (3) BMSCs at passage 6 were seeded into 6-well plates and randomly divided into control group and FGF treatment group. After 7 days treatment with growth medium or growth medium containing FGF, the cellular morphology was observed and photographed. And then the cells of both groups were treated with osteogenic induction medium, adipogenic induction medium and chondrogenic induction medium for the next 7 days. The osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic related genes (RUNX2, ALP, OCN;PPARγ2, AP2, ADIPOQ; SOX9, collagen II, aggrecan) were detected with real-time PCR. The protein expressions of RUNX2, PPARγ2, SOX9 were detected with western blot assay. (4) BMSCs at passage 6 were seeded into 6-well plates and randomly divided into control group and FGF treatment group. After 7 days treatment with growth medium or growth medium containing FGF, the cells were cultured with osteogenic induction medium, adipogenic induction medium and chondrogenic induction medium for the next 14 days. Then, alizarin red S staining, oil red O staining and alcian blue staining were performed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After in vitro passage for six times, the cellular morphology changed obviously, and FGF treatment recovered the characteristics of primary cells. (2) Compared with the control group, the cell proliferation in the FGF treatment group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the expression of osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic related genes (RUNX2, ALP, OCN; PPARγ2, AP2, ADIPOQ; SOX9, collagen II, aggrecan) was increased significantly in the FGF treatment group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of RUNX2,PPARγ2, SOX9 were also higher in the FGF treatment group than the control group (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the control group, the number of extracellular calcium nodules, the number of intracellular lipid droplets, and the expression of acid acidic mucopolysaccharide were significantly increased after FGF pretreatment. To conclude, FGF pretreatment can preserve the stemness of BMSCs serially passaged in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jiangtang Yishen Recipe (JTYSR) on high insulin induced cell proliferation of human glomerular mesangial cells (HMCs) and the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K).

METHODSHMCs were divided into 4 groups, i.e., the negative control group, the high insulin model group, the JTYSR group, and the LY294002 group. The concentration of insulin, JTYSR, and LY294002 was respectively confirmed by pre-experiment. Different culture solution was respectively added for different groups. RPMI1640 culture solution was added for HMCs in the negative control group, while HMCs in the rest 3 groups were cultured by 100 nmol/L insulin for 24 h. Meanwhile, HMCs from the JTYSR group and the LY294002 group were exposed to 125 mg/L JTYSR and 80 micromol/L LY294002 respectively for further 48 h. The proliferation of HMCs was detected by MTT and flow cytometry. The protein expression of IRS-1 and PI-3K in HMC was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot. Results The proliferation of HMCs induced by high insulin could be significantly lowered, and the protein expression of IRS-1 and PI-3K could be down-regulated in the JTYSR group and the LY294002 group (P <0.01). Compared with the LY294002 group, the protein expression of IRS-1 and PI-3K could be slightly down-regulated in the JTYSR group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONJTYSR could lower high insulin induced proliferation of HMCs, and its mechanism might be related to insulin signaling pathway.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; metabolism ; Mesangial Cells ; physiology ; Morpholines ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of mucinous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with pancreatic mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma confirmed by pathology from May 1993 to October 2005 was retrospectively studied. Results Fifteen cases of mucinous cystadenoma, 4 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and 4 cases of mucinous cystadenoma with malignancy were included in this data. Ultrasonography, CT, and MRI/MRCP displayed a cystic tumor in 73.7%, 68.8%, and 83.3% of all patients, respectively. The mean diameter of the tumors was 9.4 cm, and the maximum diameter of the tumors was 20 cm. Pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, local excision of cystadenoma and other procedures were performed according to the site of tumors. The resectable rate was 82.6%. Twenty-one patients (91.3%) were followed up. All of the 14 patients with mucinous cystadenoma were alive with the follow-up from 4 months to 11 years after operation. Two of the 4 cases of mucinous cystadenoma with malignancy were alive with the follow-up of 5 months and 4 years after operations, while the other 2 died with the survival time of 15 months and 18 months. One patient with mucinous cystadenocacinoma was alive 5 months after operation, while the other 2 died with the survival time of 7 months and 13 months. Conclusion Mucinous cystadenoma has a malignant tendency. As the mucinous cystadenocacinoma is a low malignant potential tumor, the resectable rate is high and prognosis is satisfactory. The excision of total tumor including the surrounding pancreatic tissue is the first choice of the treatment. Pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, and other procedures according to the site tumors is feasible.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of liposomal transfection of antisense oligonucleotide (ASON) on the erythroid cell alpha-globin gene in the patients with severe beta-thalassemia, and provide a new idea for beta-thalassemia gene therapy.

METHODSA highly effective ASON targeting alpha-globin gene was transfected into severe beta-thalassemic erythroid cells cultured in vitro by liposomal at an optimal concentration. The expression level of alpha, beta, gamma-globin gene, the level of hemoglobin, and the excess alpha-globin chains precipitates in ASON group and control group were carefully analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR(Q-RT-PCR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and electron microscope, respectively.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of alpha-globin gene was significantly lower in ASON group (9.04 +/- 0.29) than in control group (24.23 +/- 0.29) (P<0.01). Simultaneously, the disequilibrium between alpha- and beta-, gamma-globin gene expression was partly modified by ASON, the ratios of ASON group and control group being 0.79 +/- 0.02 and 2.26 +/- 0.06 respectively (P<0.01). HPLC demonstrated that the levels of HbA2 and HbF increased with downregulation of alpha-globin gene in beta-thalassemic erythroid cells, particularly HbF. The precipitates of alpha-globin chains in ASON group were lessened under electron microscope, particularly in early erythroblast while no change in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe high effective ASON contributes to inhibit the alpha-globin gene expression of severe beta-thalassemic erythroid cells, partly modify the disequilibrium between alpha-, beta- and gamma-globin gene expression and obviously reduce the precipitates of alpha-globin chains in erythroid cells. It might provide a new idea for gene therapy of beta-thalassemia.

Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Transfection ; alpha-Globins ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta-Globins ; metabolism ; beta-Thalassemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; gamma-Globins ; metabolism

Objective The purpose of our study was to investigate three dimensional dynamic contrast enhanced MR angiography(3D DCE M RA) in the detection of portosystemic collateral circulation in the falciform ligament in patients with portal hypertension. Methods From April 2003 to July 2008, 53 portal hypertension patients with varices in the falciform ligament were evaluated with 3D DCE MRA.Two radiologists independently assessed the number, diameter, location and drainages of the portosystemic collateral circulation in the falciform ligament according to the information on the 3D DCE MRA.Results The veins in the falciform ligament were classified into the superior and inferior groups, and both groups arise from the left trunk of the portal vein.In our study, the number of varices detected on 3D DCE MRA images varied from 1 to 3, and the diameters of these vessels varied from 0.4 to 2.6 cm.The inferior group consisted of paraumbilical/umbilical veins (47 cases), which flowed toward umbilicus and then drained upwards (n = 16) including deep superior epigastric veins (n = 7), superficial superior epigastric veins (n = 9), downwards (n = 40) including deep inferior epigastric veins (n = 7), superficial inferior epigastric veins (n = 33), or upwards and downwards at the same time (n = 9).The superior group of vessels in the falciform ligament were directly anastomosed with the internal thoracic vessels (n = 6).Conclusion In patients with portal hypertension, 3D DCE MRA can optimally demonstrate the portosystemic collateral circulation in the falciform ligament, which includes the superior and inferior drainage groups.

Objective To explore the value of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods VTI features of 77 histologically proven thyroid nodules in 74 patients were analyzed and the VTI features were divided into 6 grades.The higher grade represented higher tissue stiffness.Differences in VTI grade between benign and malignant lesions were analyzed by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve,and the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were calculated.Results 77 pathologically proven thyroid nodules included 61 benign and 16 malignant lesions.VTI images classification included 0 in grade Ⅰ,1 ingrade Ⅱ,1 in grade Ⅲ,9 in grade Ⅳ,3 in grade Ⅴ and 2 in grade Ⅵ for malignant diseases ; and included 18 in grade Ⅰ,28 in grade Ⅱ,10 in grade Ⅲ,1 in grade Ⅳ,2 in grade Ⅴ and 2 in grade Ⅵ for benign diseases.The best diagnostic point of VTI-grade was grade Ⅳ.When VTI-grade Ⅳ or greater was used as the diagnostic criterium for malignancy,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy rate in differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 87.50％,91.80％ and 90.9(％ respectively.Conclusions VTI is useful in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Animals ; Aquaporin 4 ; metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; physiopathology ; Brain Edema ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Capillary Permeability ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology

0.05).At different time points after ischemia-reperfusion,the expression of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-3 were lower in the transgen mice than that in the wild type rats.Conclusions Under standard condition,overexpression of bcl-xl could significantly reduce the infarct area and improve neurological function in transgene mice than those in the wild type rats.The effect of overexpression of bcl-xl might be realized through inhibiting the apoptosis of neuron,and the mechanism might be that the overexpression of bcl-xl inhibit the release of cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3.