Aim: To investigate gene expression spectra in human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 treated with gambogic acid (GA).Methods:Human cDNA microarray and RT-PCR technology were used to detect the changes in gene expression. Results: 31 genes in groups exposed to gambogic acid for 24 h and 56 genes for 48 h group were expessed differentially in comparison to the control group. Conclusior:The antitumor mechanism of GA might focus on apoptosis,metastasis as well as interfering with the cell cycle.

Objective: To analyze the mortality trend of bladder cancer among residents in Qidong, Jiangsu Province from 1972 to 2016, so as to provide the basis for the prevention and treatment strategy of bladder cancer in Qidong. Methods: The data of bladder cancer was collected from Qidong Cancer Registry.The crude mortality rate ( CR ), age-standardized rate by Chinese population in 2000 (CASR) and world population in 1960 ( WASR ), truncated rate (35-64 years) and cumulative rate ( 0-74 years ) were calculated. The annual percent change ( APC ) was used to analyze the trend of mortality in bladder cancer. Results: During from 1972 to 2016, There were 1 497 deaths due to bladder cancer in Qidong from 1972 to 2016. The CR, CASR and WASR were 2.96/105, 1.83/105 and 1.80/105, respectively. The APCs in CR, CASR, WASR of bladder cancer were 5.29%, 1.86% and 1.81%, respectively ( P<0.05 ), showing upward trends. The truncated rate, cumulative rate and cumulative risk were 1.47/105, 0.17% and 0.17%, respectively. The CR, CASR and WASR in males were 4.71/105, 2.97/105 and 3.31/105, respectively, which was higher than that of 1.26/105, 0.75/105, and 0.66/105 in females ( P<0.05 ). The APC of CR, CASR and WASR in males were 5.71%, 1.96% and 2.17%, respectively ( P<0.05 ), all showed upward trends. For females, the APC of CR was 4.47% ( P<0.05 ), showing an upward trend, but there was no significant change in CASR and WASR ( P>0.05 ). The CR of bladder cancer was high among people aged more than 55 years. The CR in 55-64-year-old group, 65-74-year-old group and more than 75-year-old group showed upward trends, with APC of 4.50%, 2.22% and 4.51%, respectively ( P<0.05 ). Conclusions From 1972 to 2016, the mortality of bladder cancer in Qidong showed an upward trend, which was relatively high in men and people aged over 55 years.

Objective To investigate the removal effect of immunoadsorption (IA) on associated antibodies and the efficacy in late-onset myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods A total of 25 late-onset MG patients were randomly selected to enroll in this study. IA therapy was given to 10 patients (IA group), while immunoglobin (0.4 g·kg-1·d-1) was administrated to the other 15 patients for 5 days(Ig group). The titers of Titin antibody (Titin-ab), acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR-ab) and presynaptic membrane antibody (PrsmR-ab) were detected before and after the treatment. Quantitive MG (QMG) score was assessed before and immediately after the entire course of treatment. The clinical efficacy, the duration of respiratory support and in-hospital were compared between two groups. The correlation between three antibodies and QMG score was also analyzed. Results Compared with that before treatment, the Titin-ab PIN values, the AchR-ab PIN values, and the PrsmR-ab P/N values of IA group were all decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05, respectively). The P/N value of Titin-ab in IA group was decreased by 54.7%～3.5%, which was significantly higher than that in Ig group(19.9%±3.1%) (P<0.01). QMG score reduced by 42.4%± 4.2% and 23.8%±3.7% in IA group and Ig group respectively (P<0.01, respectively). Symptoms were effectively ameliorated by both treatments, but the effective power of IA group was higher than that of Ig group (70% vs 40%, P<0.05). Remission time of IA group was significantly shorter than that of Ig group [(5.38±0.42) d vs (8.4±1.54) d, P=0.008), so was the duration of in-hospital [(13.50±0.50) d vs (16.50±0.50) d, P<0.05). The number of respiratory support in IA group was less than that in Ig group (1/10 vs 6/15, P<0.05). By the Pearson correlation analysis, the decrease of Titin-ab showed a better longitudinal correlation with the decrease of QMG score than the other two antibodies (r=0.6315, P<0.01). Conclusion IA can rapidly and effectively clear the pathogenic antibodies of late-onset MG patients and its short-term clinical efficacy is better than immunoglobin.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of the clinical pathway for the treatment of advanced schistosomiasis he-patic fibrosis. Methods The duration of hospital stay,gross hospitalization expense,individual-paid expense,interior diame-ter of portal vein,levels of four serum hepatic fibrosis-related parameters(PIIIP,CIV,HA,and LN),and activities of ALT, AST andγ-GT were assessed and compared between the advanced schistosomiasis patients receiving the clinical pathway and ones receiving non-clinical pathway. Results There were 142 advanced schistosomiasis patients with hepatic fibrosis receiving the clinical pathway of anti-hepatic fibrosis. Compared with the patients receiving non-clinical pathway ,the gross hospitalization expenses reduced by 11.2％(t=6.310,P<0.05),and the individual-paid expenses reduced by 16.1％(t=4.326,P<0.05). The mean HA level was twice higher than the normal range,with a positive rising from 70.4％to 83.1％,and the abnormal rates of CIV andγ-GT were 64.1％and 28.9％respectively. Conclusions The clinical pathway can drastically reduce the treatment expenses in advanced schistosomiasis patients with hepatic fibrosis. However,the patients have a trend towards the persistent disease progression. Therefore,the researches of more effective therapeutic methods for advanced schistosomiasis hepatic fibro-sis are urgently needed.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction on Fas/FasL in salivary glands of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome and their mRNA expression.

METHODThirty-two NOD mice were randomly divided into the model group, the traditional Chinese medicine group (TCM group, orally given 0.4 mL nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction as per 100 g x kg(-1) everyday), the hydroxychloroquine group (given 0.4 mL hydroxychloroquine as per 60 mg x kg(-1) everyday), the traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine group (TCM WM group, given nourishing Yin, Strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction 50 g x kg(-1) and hydroxychloroquine 60 mg x kg(-1), 0.4 mL everyday), with eight mice in each group. Eight Balb/C mice were selected as the normal control group (normal group). All of mice were killed after eight weeks, and their submaxillary glands were dissected. The expression levels of Fas/FasL were examined by immunohistochemical method, and the FasL mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTThe expression levels of Fas/FasL in salivary glands of the model group were higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05). The expression level of FasL of the normal group was much lower than that in the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05). The relative expression level of Fas mRNA in salivary glands of the model group was higher than that in other groups, but the control group was notably lower than other groups (P < 0.05). The expression level of FasL mRNA in salivary glands of the model group was higher than that in TCM and TCM WM groups (P < 0.05). But the expression level in TCM WM group was notably lower than the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction could down-regulate the expression level of Fas/FasL in salivary glands of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome and their mRNA expression, and had a better efficacy after being combined with hydroxychloroquine. The nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction might treat the Sjogren's Syndrome by reducing apoptosis which is regulated by Fas/FasL

Animals ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Qi ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salivary Glands ; metabolism ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; therapy ; Yin-Yang ; fas Receptor ; genetics

Background Optical nerve damage of glaucomatous eyes is associated with intracranial pressure.Conventional method of evaluating intracranial pressure is to measure cerebrospinal pressure by lumber puncture.However,the measurement of intraorbital optical nerve parameters,a novel method of evaluating intracranial pressure,is introduced in this field.Objective This study was to measure and analyze the intraorbital optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and cross sectional area (ONSA) in normal population using multi-slice spiral CT.Methods This study protocol was approved by Clinical Ethic Committee of Shenzhen Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital and followed Hersinki Declaration.Informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to any medical examination.One hundred and five eyes of 105 normal persons with normal cerebral CT image were enrolled in Shenzhen Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital from January 2012 to September 2013.Cerebral volume was scanned in all the individuals by 64 slice spiral CT.The brain images were obtained for the curve planar rebuilding of intraorbital optical nerve on image post-processing workstation.The maximum and minimum of ONSD and the ONSA in axial sections at 3,6,9,12 and 15 mm far away from globe wall were measured using a standardized technique to analyze the change of optical nerve parameters at different point locations.These parameters were compared in different gender or eyes.The correlation among age and the optical nerve parameters at 3 mm far away from globe wall was evaluated by multivariate regression analysis.Results The average maximal ONSDs were (6.24±0.47), (5.56±0.44),(5.18±0.43),(4.82±0.41) and (4.69±0.41) mm;the average minimal ONSDs were (5.56±0.50),(4.97± 0.41) ,(4.55±0.35),(4.26±0.39) and (4.10±0.40) mm;the average ONSAs were (27.68±4.40),(22.02±3.35) , (18.74± 2.75) , (16.34±2.72) , (15.40±2.68) mm2 at 3,6,9,12 and 15 mm far away from posterior eyeball wall,respectively, showing significant differences in the maximal/minimal ONSDs and ONSAs among the different point locations (F =218.329,215.906,246.924, all at P =0.001).No significant differences were found in the maximal/minimal ONSDs and ONSAs between male and female or between the right eyes and left eyes (gender:t=1.805,P=0.074;t=1.930,P=0.056;t=1.329,P=0.187;eyes:t=0.724,P=0.471;t=1.562,P=0.121;t=1.424,P=0.158).No significant correlations were seen between age and maximal/minimal ONSDs or ONSAs with the coefficients of 1.873,7.415 and-0.853 correspondingly (P =0.847,0.460,0.637).Conclusions Intraorbital section of optical nerve can be rebuilt using standardized technique after scanning of 64 slice spiral CT.The cross section of intraorbital optic nerve sheath is oval in shape and the optic nerve is thinning with the increase of distance far away posterior eyeball wall in normal populatuion.

Objective:To observe the efficacy, median progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse reaction induced by rh-endostatin injection (Endostar) plus platin-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:Fifty five histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced NSCLC patients received Endostar combined with platin-based chemotherapy for more than 2 cycles. The evaluated parameters included PFS, response rate (RR), clinical benefit rate (CBR) and adverse reaction. Results:Of the 51 patients who can be evaluated for response, 15 (29.4%) achieved partial response (PR), 27 (52.9%) had stable disease (SD), 9 (17.6%) had progressive disease(PD), no patient had complete response(CR). The overall RR was 29.4% (15/51) and CBR was 82.4% (42/51). The median PFS was 6.3 months. There were no significant differences in the short-term efficacy and PFS between the patients who had different pathological features (P=0.037), those had naive or relapsed diseases (P=0.101), or those received different chemotherapeutic regimens (P=0.232). The total white cells and platelets decreased by 72.7% and 54.5%, respectively. The frequency of grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were 36.4% (20 caces) and 21.8% (12 cases), respectively. Four patients stopped the therapy for adverse reaction. One died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage; one had uncontrolled grade Ⅲ hypertension; one had superventricular arrhythmia; one had grade Ⅳ hepatic dysfunction. Conclusion:The combination of Endostar and platin-based chemotherapy increased the CBR and prolonged the PFS of the patients with advanced NSCLC. The toxicities were tolerable.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of metoprolol on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and caspase-8 activation after coronary microembolization(CME) in rats.

METHODSAdult rats were randomly assigned into CME group (intraventricular injection of 3000 microspheres with 42 µm in diameter), sham-operated group (0.1 ml saline) and CME plus metoprolol group (pretreatment with 3 bolus metoprolol 2.5 mg/kg intravenous injection at 10 minutes interval at 30 minutes before microspheres injection, n = 15, each group). Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography at 6 hours post various treatments. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining and the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was detected with Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with sham-operated group, LVEF (72.68% ± 3.26% vs. 82.64% ± 3.43%, P < 0.05), fractional shortening (FS) (37.46% ± 2.38% vs. 42.85% ± 3.25%) and cardiac output (CO) [(0.101 ± 0.006) L/min vs. (0.162 ± 0.008) L/min] were significantly reduced while left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) [(6.22 ± 0.17) mm vs. (5.18 ± 0.43) mm] was significantly increased in CME group (all P < 0.05). Cardiac function [LVEF:73.94% ± 4.22%, FS:38.53% ± 2.03%, CO:(0.120 ± 0.012) L/min, LVEDd:(6.18 ± 0.27) mm] was similar in CME plus metoprolol group compared to CME group (all P > 0.05). The cardiomyocytes apoptosis rates (3.19% ± 1.23% vs. 0.18% ± 0.10%) and the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins were significantly increased in CME group than in sham-operated group (all P < 0.05). The cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate (1.32% ± 0.28%) and the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins were significantly lower in CME plus metoprolol group than in CME group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMetoprolol pretreatment reduced post-CME myocardial apoptosis possibly through downregulating death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Coronary Occlusion ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Embolism ; drug therapy ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Metoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the accumulation and release of tanshinones in suspension cultures of Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots.

METHODAfter 18 day's suspension culture of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834, the chemical elicitor--methyl jasmonat was added into 6-7V suspension cultures and at the same time, tanshinones contents (including cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II(A)) on the day 2, 6 and 9, after dealing with MJ, was quantified by HPLC.

RESULTAfter dealing with MJ on the day 2, 6 and 9, the concentration of cryptotanshinone reached to 0.039, 0.204, 0.571 mg x g(-1) respectively,and tanshinone II(A) reached 0.251, 0.601 and 1.563 mg x g(-1) respectively. After 9 day's treatment by MJ, the maximum increase of cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II(A) were 23.8 fold and 6.2 fold higher than that of the control respectively.

CONCLUSIONMJ could stimulate the accumulation of tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza and have released them into the culture medium.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Culture Techniques ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of eukaryotic initiation factor 4 E (eIF4E) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) expressions in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues.

METHODSClinicopathological data and paraffin samples of resected tumor tissue from 148 patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma undergoing resection in our department between January 2010 and December 2012 were collected retrospectively. Expressions of eIF4E and mTOR were detected in above carcinoma tissues, counterpart para-carcinoma tissues (1 cm distance to carcinoma) and normal tissues (5 cm distance to carcinoma) with Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Their relevance with clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSExpression of mTOR located mainly in cytoplasm and elF4E mainly in cellular membrane, presenting as yellow grains. These two markers showed strong expression in carcinoma tissues and weak or none in para-carcinoma tissues. In esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues, counterpart para-carcinoma tissues and normal tissues, mTOR protein expression was 85.8% (127/148), 35.1% (52/148) and 3.4% (5/148), eIF4E protein expression was 93.9% (139/148), 35.1% (52/148) and 12.8% (19/148), with a downtrend respectively (all P<0.05). Expressions of mTOR and eIF4E were associated with tumor invasion depth and lymphatic metastasis (all P<0.05), while mTOR expression was associated with differentiation degree (P=0.003), but eIF4E expression was not. Both expressions were not associated with gender, age, and tumor size (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpressions of eIF4E and mTOR are up-regulated in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues, which may be associated with tumor malignance and lymphatic metastasis of esophageal squamous carcinoma. Combined detection of two markers may be helpful to predict the tumor malignance and the prognosis of patients.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism