Background and purpose: Mel-18 is one of the mammalian polycomb group members. A number of related researches have implied that Mel-18 may play a role in human tumorigenesis.In this study, we measured the expression of Mel-18 in gastric carcinoma cells in vivo to explore the expression and clinical significance of Mel-18 in gastric carcinoma. Methods: Real time RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Mel-18 in cancer tissue and corresponding normal tissue in 52 cases of gastric carcinoma. The association between Mel-18 expression and the clinicopathological parameters of the tumors was analyzed. Results: The analysis revealed that there was significantly decreased expression of Mel-18 in 18 (34.62%)carcinoma tissues in comparison with para-cancer normal tissue. There was no correlation between Mel-18 expression and clinicopathological parameters, such as age, gender, tumor size and histological differentiation (P>0.05).The decrease of Mel-18 expression was significantly negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (P<0.05). The expression levels of Mel-18 evaluated by the ratios of gene expression were 1.357,0.453,0.183 and 0.170 in stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ gastric carcinoma, respectively. They were 0.634 and 0.210 in patients without lymph node metastasis and in patients with lymph node metastasis, respectively. Expression of Mel-18,lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage were significant covariates, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results showed that Mel-18 might play a crucial role in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma. It is possible that Mel-18 could be used as one of the biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

0.05).The decrease of Mel-18 expression was signifi cantly negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage(P

Aim To prepare the dextran derivative nanoparticles with higher transfecting efficiency to mda-mb-435 human breast cancer cells.Methods The dextran 40 and the sodium periodate were reacted with different mole ratio to form the intermediate:oxidized dextrans having different aldehyde content.With different reactants matching,the spermine were grafted onto the oxidized dextrans mentioned above to form the dextran-spermine imine conjugates which were reduced by the excess reducing agent NaBH4 to produce the end products 9 species of dextran derivative nanoparticles(extran-spermine amine conjugates).The dextran derivative nanipartical of the highest gene transfecting efficiency was selected from the 9 species of dextran derivative nanoparticles by the experiment of gene transfection,using the pEGFP-C1 plasmid as the reporter,the mda-mb-435 human breast cancer cells as the transfected cells.Results The dextran derivative nanoparticles with the highest transfecting efficiency was the one that had the highest content of spermine grafted onto the oxidized dextran40 obtained by the reaction between sodium periodate and dextran40 with the mole ratio of 0.8.Conclusion The dextran derivative nanoparticles of the highest transfecting efficiency to the mda-mb-435 human breast cancer had been prepared.

Objective To study the chemical constituents of Paeonia veitchii. Methods Isolation and purification were carried out on repeated silica gel column chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectral analyses. Results Nine compounds were isolated and identified as paeoniflorin (Ⅰ), hydroxypaeoniflorin (Ⅱ), benzoylpaeoniflorin (Ⅲ), benzoylhydroxypaeoniflorin (Ⅳ), albiflorin (Ⅴ), paeonisothujone (Ⅵ), mudanpinoic acid A (Ⅶ), 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (Ⅷ), bis (2-hydroxybenzyl) ether (Ⅸ). Conclusion Compound Ⅸ is obtained from natural products for the first time. Compounds Ⅳ, Ⅵ-Ⅸ are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective To compare the Dectin-1 signal transduction pathway and its function on dendritic cells between a female patient with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) and a healthy woman,and to explore the possible mechanism for VVC recurrence in this patient.Methods Venous blood samples were collected from a female patient with RVVC and a healthy woman.Then,monocytes were isolated from the blood samples,and were induced to differentiate into dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro.The obtained DCs were divided into three groups to be cultured alone,cocultured with Candida albicans or the combination of Candida albicans and anti-Dectin-1 antibodies for different durations.Flow cytometry was performed to determine the expression levels of CD83,CD86 and CD80 on DCs to evaluate the maturity of DCs,Western blot analysis to measure the protein expressions of Dectin-1,Syk and CARD9 in DCs,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-23,tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-12 in the culture supernatant of DCs.Results After co-culture with Candida albicans for 24 hours,the expressions of CD83,CD86 and CD80 were significantly inhibited on the patient-derived DCs compared with the controlderived DCs.Western blot analysis showed no significant differences in the expression of Dectin-1 between the controland patient-derived DCs,but a decrease in the expressions of phosphorylated-Syk and CARD9 in the patient-derived DCs compared with the control-derived DCs after 2-hour coculture with Candida albicans.After co-culture with Candida albicans for 6 hours,the levels of IL-23,TNF-α and IL-12 were lower in the culture supernatant of patient-derived DCs than in that of control-derived DCs.Furthermore,the anti-Dectin antibody showed no inhibitory effects on the activation of the Syk-dependent signal transduction pathway in or the secretion of the above cytokines by the patient-derived DCs.Conclusion The Dectin-1 signal transduction pathway was abnormal in DCs from the patient with RVVC,which may decelerate the maturation of DCs,inhibit the secretion of IL-23,TNF-o and IL-12 by them,and finally result in a defect in natural mucosal immunity against Candida infection in the host.

Objective To investigate the decisional value of susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI) in intravenous thrombolytic therapy to acute cerebral infarction.Methods According to cerebral microbleeds(CMBs) by SWI, 35 cases of acute cerebral infarction in window-time random were divided into experimental group(14 cases) with CMBs and control group(21 cases) without CMBs.After intravenous thrombolysis, the number of hemorrhagic transformation(HT) was counted by SWI, and statistic difference was compared between the experimental group and the control group(P<0.05).Results After intravenous thrombolytic therapy of acute infarction,12 cases with HT among experimental group, and only 2 cases with HT among control group, there was significant statistically difference between two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion SWI sequence has greater sensitivity in detecting CMBs,and can also assess the state of blood brain barrier(BBB) and vascular wall indirectly.It plays a very important role in giving a decision in the treatment of intravenous thrombolytic with window-time.

Objective To prepare a 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10-HCPT) loaded folate-receptor targeted phase-change contrast agent (FR-HCPT-PNPCA),and to study the general characteristics including drug loading,phase changing and targeting capability in vitro.Methods Using a method of two-step emulsification,the phase-change nanoparticles loading anticancer drug (10-HCPT) with lipids shell and liquid pefluorocarbon core were prepared.The entrapment efficiency and the drug-loading amounts were studied by high performance liquid chromatography,and the phase transition of the nanoparticles after heating was observed.The targeting ability was evaluated on liver cancer cell line 7721 in vitro.Results The FR-HCPT-PNPCA,with a drug encapsulation rate of about 70.42 ％ and drug loading amounts of about 20.05 ％,was prepared successfully.When being heated to 70℃,obvious phase changing and microbubbles generating could be observed under microscope.In addition,a large amount of FR-HCPT-PNPCA particles could adhere specifically around the 7721 cells.Conclusion The prepared FR-HCPT-PNPCA,which has a stable characteristic and high performance of drug loading and tumor targeting,is expected to become a promising multifunctional molecular ultrasound probe for diagnosis and treatment of tumor.

Objective To observe the change of the protein and gene expression of hypoxia inducing factor-1α(HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the nude mouse tumor,which has been treated by HIFU combined with nanoscale ultrasound molecular probes with HSV1-TK gene microvascular density.Methods Sixty nude mice were implanted with HepG2 Cells to establish subcutaneous transplanted tumor.Divided this mice into six groups at random after treated by HIFU:MB+ HSV-TK+ GPC3 (group A),MB + HSV-TK (group B),HSV-TK +GPC3 (group C),HSV-TK (group D),MB + GPC3 (group E),PBS (group F).They were injected into the tail vein every after 3 days.Mice in group A,B,D and E were exposed to ultrasound by 2 W/cm2,1 MHz,5 mintues and 0.2 mL ganciclovi(GCV) was intraperitoneally injected at the first 48 hours after injection.After the treatment,immunohistoche were used to detect the microvascular density(MVD),Western blot and immunohistoche was employed to test the protein change of the VEGF and HIF-1α,Q-PCR was used to test the mRNA gene transcription of VEGF and HIF-1α in the tumor tissues.Results After 14 days,the protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in group A was significantly lower than that in group B,C,D,E and F (P＜0.05),the MVD level in the tumor is also like this,and the difference is statistically significant.Conclusion Anoscale ultrasound molecular probes with HSV1-TK can reduce the the level of VEGF,MVD and HIF-1α in the tumor which has been treated by HIFU,so it can inhibit tumor growth and improve the therapeutic efficacy after HIFU treatment.

Objective:To investigate the preventive effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats and the underlying mechanism.Methods:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:the normal control group,hypobaric and hypoxic group and TMP group (100 mg·kg-1·d-1).After the animal models of hypobaric and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension were established,mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP),mean carotid artery pressure (mCAP),ratio of right ventricular/(lift ventricular + interventricular septum) (RVHI) and morphological changes of pulmonary vessels were observed and the rates of wall thickness/external diameter (WT%) and wall area/total vascular area (WA%) were calculated.The contents of nitric oxide (NO),endothelin-1 (ET-1),hypoxic-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected in serum after the 21-day treatment with TMP.Results:The values of mPAP,RVHI,WT% and WA% of hypobaric and hypoxic group were significant higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01),and those of TMP group were obviously lower than those of hypobaric and hypoxic group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The condition of hypobaric and hypoxic had no significant effect on mCAP,and there were no significant differences among the groups (P>0.05).The values of NO in serum of hypobaric and hypoxic group was lower than those of the normal control group (P<0.05) and those of TMP group were obviously higher than those of hypobaric and hypoxic group (P<0.05).The values of ET-1,HIF-1α and VEGF in serum of hypobaric and hypoxic group were higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05) and those of TMP group were obviously lower than those of hypobaric and hypoxic group (P<0.05).Conclusion:TMP can effectively prevent pulmonary hypertension induced by hypobaric and hypoxic and structural remodeling of pulmonary arterioles.The mechanism may be related to the content up-regulation of NO and activity down-regulation of ET-1,HIF-1α and VEGF in serum of rats.

To observe the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe, a Chinese compound herbal medicine, on apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and expression of caspase-3 in rats after lumbar nerve root compression injury.