Objective To observe whether sodium arsenite(NaAsO2)can activate the expressions of hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1)of normal human liver cell line named Chang liver.Methods Chang liver cells were exposed to NaAsO2 at 10 μmoL/L,0(contml),2,6,12,24 h and at 0(control),5,10,25,50 μmol/L in 12 h, followed by the measuring of the expressions of HO-1 protein in ceUs with western blot.Results In 10 μmol/L groups Chang liver cells exposed for 6,12,24 h cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-l protein(3.97±0.72, 12.92±2.98,23.29±3.82)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00),and compared with the control, the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-9.42,-8.95,-13.83,respectively,P＜ 0.05 or＜0.01).In 12 h,5,10,25 and 50 μmol/L groups cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-1(16.34±0.25, 7.75±0.39,7.93±0.14,12.48±0.35)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00).and compared with the control,the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-36.25,-30.19,-86.40, -56.40,respectively,all P＜0.01).Conclusion Inorganic arsenic call induce the activation of HO-1,promote the expression of protein in a time-and dose-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of cervical spinal posture and prior loading history on spinal compressive strength.

METHODSTwelve human cadaver cervical spines were harvested and dissected into 24 motion segments containing 2 vertebrae and the intervertebral discs (C3,4 and C5,6). Compressive loads were applied on so that the effects of 2 loading conditions (dehydrated, superhydrated) and 2 postures (neutral trunk, flexed) could be examined. Dissection techniques and X-rays were used to determine the tissue injuries.

RESULTSSpecimens had a lower ultimate compressive strength (P <0.001) in flexed posture than in neutral trunk posture. Under the injury loading in neutral trunk posture, superhydrated specimens had a lower strength (29%, P <0.01) than dehydrated specimens did.

CONCLUSIONThe spine may be more prone to injury early in the morning when the discs are at highest level of hydration and the cervical spine is in fully flexed posture.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; physiology ; Compressive Strength ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Posture ; Weight-Bearing

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xinmailong Injection (XI) in treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with qi-yang deficiency and blood stasis resistance syndrome (QY-DBSRS).

METHODSTotally 238 CHF patients with QYDBSRS were assigned to the treatment group (118 cases) and the control group (120 cases) by randomized, double-blind, placebo parallel controlled method. Patients in the treatment group received routine therapy and XI (100 mg/2 mL, by dripping at 5 mg/kg, twice per day for 5 consecutive days), while those in the control group received routine therapy and XI mimetic agent (100 mg/2 mL, by dripping at 5 mg/kg, twice per day for 5 consecutive days). The heart function classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA), 6-min walking distance, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), scores for Chinese medical symptoms were observed before and after treatment, and safety assessed.

RESULTSTotally 235 patients actually entered full analysis set (FAS), including 120 cases in the control group and 115 cases in the treatment group. The total effective rate of heart function, 6-min walking distance and increased post-pre-treatment distance in the experimental group were superior to those of the control group with statistical difference (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, increased value of post-pre-treatment LVEF, the total effective rate of Chinese medical syndrome efficacy, scores for Chinese medical symptoms and decreased post-pre-treatment value of Chinese medical syndrome scores were obviously improved (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXI could improve the heart function of CHF patients, improve Chinese medical symptoms, elevate exercise tolerance, and improve LVEF. It had no obvious toxic and side effects.

Chronic Disease ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Qi ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of calcitonin on the pathology of fusion in lumbar posterior/facet spinal fusion in rabbit model.

METHODSThirty-two male New Zealand white rabbits were used to establish spinal fusion model. Sixteen rabbits received calcitonin at a dose of 1 IU x kg(-1) x d(-1) were classified as calcitonin group, and the remaining 16 rabbits as control group. Rabbits were killed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after operations. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe the pathological process of spinal fusion. Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSBone resorption and fibrovascular stroma formation were the main histological presentation 1 week after surgery. Two and 4 weeks after surgery, more cartilage formed with varying degrees of mineralization, while less trabeculae could be observed in the phase of active bone formation. No remarked margin was seen between cartilage and bone tissues. Eight weeks after surgery, trabeculae distributed widely. The pathological process of spinal fusion in calcitonin group was faster than in control group. Emery scores showed significant differences at different time points (F = 265.44, P < 0.001). Calcitonin and time had a positively synergistic effect on Emery scores, and calcitonin caused significant difference in terms of Emery scores since the second week (F = 22.43, P < 0.001). Expressions of BMP, were significantly different at different time points (F = 1186.54, P < 0.001). Also, calcitonin and time had a synergistic effect on BMP2 expression (F = 13.14, P < 0. 001).

CONCLUSIONSEndochondral ossification exists in the spinal fusion process and may be the main way of ossification. Calcitonin may stimulate the expression of BMP2 and thus accelerate the process of spinal fusion.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Calcitonin ; therapeutic use ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

METHODThe effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran.

RESULTAs compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown.

CONCLUSIONL.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Dextrans ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; drug effects ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; drug effects ; Hemorheology ; Hemostasis ; drug effects ; Lycopus ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Space Flight

AIMTo initially analyze the protein expression in the rat hippocampus with the proteomics approach.

METHODSProteins from hippocampal tissue homogenates of the rat were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE), and the proteins were stained with colloidal coomassie blue to produce a high-resolution map of the rat hippocampus proteome. Selected proteins from this map were digested with trypsin, and the resulting tryptic peptides were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The mass spectrometric data were used to identify the proteins through searches of the NCBI protein sequence database.

RESULTS37 prominent proteins with various functional characteristics were identified. The identification of brain protein classes, like metabolism enzymes, cytoskeleton proteins, heat shock proteins, antioxidant proteins, signalling proteins, proteasome-related proteins, neuron-specific proteins and glial-associated proteins. Furthermore, 3 hypothetical proteins which are unknown proteins, so far only proposed from their nucleic acid structure were identified.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides the first unbiased characterization of proteins of the rat hippocampus and will be used for future studies of differential protein expression in rat models of neurological disorders.

Animals ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of (188)Re-labeled herceptin on the proliferation in vitro of breast carcinoma cell line (SKBR-3) overexpressing HER-2/neu proto-oncogene.

METHODSHerceptin was radiolabeled with (188)Re through a direct labeling method. SKBR-3 cells were cultured with (188)Re-Herceptin at different radioactivity doses (3.7x10(4), 18.5x10(4), 37x10(4), 55.5x10(4) and 74x10(4) Bq/ml) or with (188)Re-nmIgG and (188)ReO(4)(-) for comparison. The cell proliferation inhibition was determined with MTT colorimetric assay.

RESULTS(188)Re-Herceptin could markedly inhibit the growth of SKBR-3 cells in a radioactivity dose-dependent fashion, while the effect of (188)Re-nmIgG and (188)ReO(4)(-) showed rather poor inhibitory effect in vitro. The 50% inhibition doses (IC(50)) of (188)Re-Herceptin, (188)Re-nmIgG and (188)ReO(4)(-) were 76.1x10(4) Bq/L, 139.2x10(4) Bq/L and 175x10(4) Bq/L, respectively.

CONCLUSION(188)Re-Herceptin can effectively inhibit the growth of in vitro cultured breast cancer cells overexpressing HER-2/neu, and shows much potential for clinical use in beast cancer radioimmunotherapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunotoxins ; pharmacology ; Radioisotopes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; biosynthesis ; Rhenium ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Trastuzumab

OBJECTIVETo investigate the co-culture of keratinocytes with Malassezia isolates which cause the pityriasis versicolor with different color and to analyze the changes of cytokines associated with melanogenesis.

METHODSThe effects of Malassezia species with different proportions on the growth rate of keratinocytes was assessed with 5 g/L methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia species were performed with isolates from hyer- and hypo-pigmentation areas of pityriasis versicolor. The supernatants were collected at different time points, and the changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-beta), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), stem cell factor (SCF) were recorded. Three control groups were established accordingly.

RESULTSWhen the ratio between keratinocytes and Malassezia species was lower than 1: 10, the growth rate of keratinocytes was not affected by Malassezia (P > 0.05). When the ratio was increased above 1:20, the growth rate of keratinocytes was significantly inhibited by Malassezia (P < 0.01). The secretions of IL-1alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and ET-1 was significantly increased after the co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia (P < 0.01), while those of b-FGF, NGF-beta, and SCF had no significant changes (P > 0.05). Compared with the isolates from the hypo-pigmentation area, ET-1 induced by isolate from hyperpigmentation area significantly increased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWhen Malassezia isolates are co-cultured with keratinocytes, the secretions of cytokines associated with melanogenesis may differ from each other. ET-1 may play certain role in the hyper-pigmentation of pityriasis versicolor.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Malassezia ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Melanins ; biosynthesis ; Tinea Versicolor ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic significance of metastatic lymph node ratio in patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 303 surgically treated patients with colorectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation coefficient. The survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival difference was assessed by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression model in forward stepwise regression. Receiver working characteristic curve was used to compare the accuracy of the metastatic lymph nodes ratio in predicting the death of patients at 5 years postoperatively with that of the number of metastatic lymph nodes.

RESULTSThe MLR was not correlated with the total number of dissected lymph nodes (Spearman correlation coefficient: -0.099, P > 0.05), but the positive rate of metastatic lymph nodes did (correlation coefficient: 0.107, P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the MLR significantly influenced the postoperative survival time (Log-rank chi(2) = 42.878, P < 0.01), even in the patients with less than 12 resected lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rates for rN0, rN1, rN2 and rN3 were 90.9%, 68.9%, 54.7% and 39.4%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the different stages (P < 0.01). Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the metastatic lymph node ratio was an independent prognostic factor. (EXP(B) = 7.809, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between metastatic lymph node ratio and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in predicting the death of patients at 5 years postoperatively based on the area under the receiver working characteristic curve.

CONCLUSIONThe metastatic lymph node ratio in colorectal cancer patients is not correlated with the total number of dissected lymph nodes. The metastatic lymph node ratio is a major independent prognostic factor for patients with colorectal cancer. The ability of metastatic lymph node ratio in predicting the death of colorectal cancer patients at 5 years postoperatively is the same as that of the number of metastatic lymph nodes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the supply of iodized salt in non-excessive iodine counties and iodine-free salt in excessive iodine counties at household level in Hebei province so as to provide a basis for the prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD). Methods According to the national project of IDD surveillance,the county was taken as the elementary sampling unit. The towns and villages were selected by systematic and random sampling in every county and households were chosen by random sampling to collect their edible salt in Hebei province in 2008. The salt iodine content in non-and excessive iodine regions was detected by direct titrition method and semiquantitative method respectively. Results all 48 448 salt samples were collected from 167 non-excessive iodine counties. Weighed by the population of counties,the rate of non-iodized salt was 4.73%. Iodized salt accounted for 95.27%,out of which,96.13% were qualified and the consuming rate of qualified iodized salt was 91.96%. Eighty point eighty three percent(135/167) of the counties covered by iodized salt above 95%,92.81% (155/167) passing rate of iodized salt above 90% and 82.04 (137/167) consuming rate of qualified iodized salt. All 1466 salt samples were collected in 5 counties with excessive water iodine content and the coverage rate of iodine-free salt was 93.25%(1367/1466). Conclusions In a nutshell,the national targets for preliminary elimination of IDD have been achieved in regions of non-excessive iodine of Hebei province. Nevertheless,the coverage rate of iodized salt and qualified iodize salt rate in some counties are still below the national standard. Therefore the prevention and control of IDD need to be strengthened. The supply of iodized salt in excessive iodine regions should be timely stopped.