OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention of baicalin on signal transduction and activating transcription factor expression of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

METHODSRecruited were UC patients at Outpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Inpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Center for Digestive Endoscopy of College City Branch, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Southern Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from June 2010 to January 2011. They were assigned to the UC group (33 cases) and the diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) group (30 cases). Another 30 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were taken from UC patients. IL23R gene expressions in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were detected using Q-PCR. Expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) , STAT6, phosphorylated-STAT4 (p-STAT4), and p-STAT6 were detected using Western blot. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Effects of different concentrations baicalin on expressions of PBMCs, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 of UC patients were also detected.

RESULTSCompared with the negative control group, 40 µmol baicalin obviously decreased IL23R gene expression of UC patients (P <0. 01). Compared with the healthy control group and the IBS-D group, p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios increased, p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios decreased, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 all increased in the US group (all P <0. 05). Compared with the negative control, 5 and 10 µmol baicalin groups, 20 and 40 moL baicalin obviously decreased p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously increased p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously lowered levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and elevated IL-10 levels (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSION40 µmoL baicalin could in vitro inhibit p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios, adjust p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios and related cytokines, thereby balancing the immunity and relieving inflammatory reactions of UC.

Activating Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phosphorylation ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Recombinant human BMP-2 was compounded with chitosan/gelatin/hydroxyapatite(HCG) scaffold and the complex was sterilized by 60Co radiating. Osteoblast isolated from cranial bones of newborn rat was primary cultured and seeded onto the complexes. 3 days after culturing, scanning electron microscope(SEM) was applied to detect the compatibility of the cell with the complex. SEM showed osteoblast attached closely with the complex and grew well in its pores. Then the complexes with osteoblast modification were implanted into athymic nude mice subcutaneously. 8 weeks after implantation, X-ray photograph and histological observation were applied to detect the bone formation of the complexes. Under X-ray a high-density areas consistent with the shape of the implanted complex could be seen. Histological observation also proved there was bone formation in the interspace of the complex. A conclusion was drawn that rhBMP-2 compounded HCG scaffold had good osteogenesis ability in vivo.

The cry gene family, produced during the late exponential phase of growth in Bacillus thuringiensis, is a large, still-growing family of homologous genes, in which each gene encodes a protein with strong specific activity against only one or a few insect species. Extensive studies are mostly focusing on the structural and functional relationships of Cry proteins, and have revealed several residues or domains that are important for the target recognition and receptor attachment. In this study,we have employed a maximum likelihood method to detect evidence of adaptive evolution in Cry proteins, and have identified 24 positively selected residues, which are all located in Domain Ⅱ or Ⅲ. Combined with known data from mutagenesis studies, the majority of these residues, at the molecular level, contribute much to the insect specificity determination. We postulate that the potential pressures driving the diversification of Cry proteins may be in an attempt to adapt for the "arm race" between δ-endotoxins and the targeted insects, or to enlarge their target spectra, hence result in the functional divergence. The sites identified to be under positive selection would provide targets for further structural and functional analyses on Cry proteins.

The study was aimed to investigate the effective therapeutic method for patients with multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis. A 58-year-old patient diagnosed as multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis in four limbs was enrolled in this study. The various clinical and laboratorial examinations were performed, including bone marrow smear, immunologic test, radiography and so on. Patient received chemotherapeutic drugs and then autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). The result showed that hematopoietic reconstitution was achieved at 23 days after auto-HSCT. Immunofixation electrophoresis was normal. There was only 0.6% plasma cells in the bone marrow. In conclusion, the auto-HSCT may be an effective treatment for multiple myeloma accompanied with amyloidosis in four limbs.
Amyloidosis ; complications ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; complications ; surgery ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of verapamil and hypothermia on the spermatogenesis of rats after testicular torsion.

METHODSSixty healthy pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 5 groups: A (testis torsion), B (testis torsion + verapamil), C (testis torsion + hypothermia), D (testis torsion + verapamil + hypothermia) and E (control). After treatment, the left testis was removed for the observation of the histological changes under the microscope and measurement of the percentage of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry.

RESULTSHE staining showed disordered arrangement, reduced layers and decreased number of spermatogenic cells, apoptotic bodies, necrosis and partial invasion of inflammatory cells in all the groups but E, most obvious in Group A. The apoptosis rates of germ cells in Groups A, B, C, D and E were (32.11 +/- 2.20)%, (20.18 +/- 1.50)%, (20.02 +/- 1.90)%, (13.75 +/- 1.40)% and (8.56 +/- 0.90)%, respectively, and the Makler scores in the 5 groups were (14.47 +/- 1.35), (15.45 +/- 0.75), (15.48 +/- 0.75), (16.22 +/- 0.72) and (19.60 +/- 0.56), respectively, both with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe increased apoptosis of germ cells after testicular torsion-and-reposition may reduce the spermatogenesis of the testis. Either verapamil or local hypothermia can enhance testicular resistance against injuries, and the combination of the two can more efficiently prevent the germ cells from apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spermatogenesis ; Verapamil ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of preoperative biliary drainage on surgical morbidity in hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients underwent surgery.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven consecutive patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma whose serum total bilirubin (TBIL) level > 85 micromol/L and underwent surgery in the period from June 1998 to August 2007 were enrolled. There were 67 male and 44 female patients, aged from 26 to 82 years old with a mean of 56 years old.

RESULTSFifty-five patients underwent preoperative biliary drainage with a mean of 11.4 d of drainage period (drainage group), the other (n = 56) were the non-drainage group. The preoperative TBIL level of drainage group was (154 +/- 69) micromol/L, which was significantly lower than the value of pre-drainage (256 +/- 136) micromol/L (P = 0.000) and the value of non-drainage group (268 +/- 174) micromol/L (P = 0.005). ALT and GGT levels could be lowered by preoperative biliary drainage. The postoperative complications of these two groups were comparable (36.3% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.381). Four patients in drainage group and 5 patients in non-drainage group died of liver failure. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that hepatectomy (OR = 0.284, P = 0.003) was the independent risk factor associated with postoperative morbidity. Bismuth-Corlette classification (OR = 0.211, P = 0.028) was the independent risk factor linked to postoperative mortality.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative biliary drainage could alleviate liver injury due to hyperbilirubin, but it could not decrease the surgical morbidity and postoperative mortality. Concomitant hepatectomy and Bismuth-Corlette classification were independent risk factors linked to surgical risks.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Preoperative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the proliferation of SW620 cells and the expression of PAK1 gene.

METHODSHuman colonic cancer cell line SW620 was treated with EGCG at 40, 60 and 80 micromol/L and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. The proliferation of SW620 cells was observed by MTT assay before and after EGCG treatment, and the expression of PAK1 protein was observed by Western blotting.

RESULTSSW620 cells treated with EGCG displayed a slowed growth in comparison with the control cells, and the growth rate decreased with the increase of EGCG concentration. PAK1 protein expression was lowered in SW620 cells after EGCG treatment for 48 h.

CONCLUSIONEGCG can inhibit the proliferation and partially reduce the expression of PAK1 protein in SW620 cells.

Blotting, Western ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; p21-Activated Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cell adhesion molecules and Their significance in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for E-cadherin was performed on 64 cases of IMPC and 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

RESULTSE-cadherin was mainly expressed on the cell membrane of tumor cells. The expression of E-cadherin in IMPC (85.9%, 55/64) was significantly higher than that in IDC (43.9%, 25/57). E-cadherin expressed in the intercellular contact surface of IMPC cells. In contrast, it was weakly positive/not expressed on the outer membranous surface of the tumor clusters in IMPC. The rate of lymph node metastasis in IMPC (85.9%, 55/64) was significantly higher than that in IDC (52.6%, 30/57), the rate of alpha-catenin and beta-catenin coexpression in IMPC (45.1%, 26/51) with lymph node metastasis and E-cadherin normal expression was also significantly higher than that in IDC (15.4%, 2/13).

CONCLUSIONWeak cell adhesion molecule expression on the outer surface of IMPC cell clusters, in contrast to strong cohesion in intercellular contact surface, may help to explain the high metastatic potential of this type of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; secondary ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; alpha Catenin ; beta Catenin

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of arthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive management of bunion and hallux valgus deformities.

METHODSTotal 50 patients (53 feet) with bunion and hallux valgus deformities were treated under arthroscopy from July 2008 to July 2011, with an average age of 42.3 years old (ranging from 30 to 65 years old) involving 19 left feet, 28 right feet and 3 both feet. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal(MP-IP) Scale Score was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThere were no complications such as hallux varus, hallux rigid and nerve or blood vessel injury. Clinically, AOFAS MP-IP Scale Score was increased from 62.19 ± 6.01 preoperatively to 88.26 ± 6.81 postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopy-assisted minimally invasive management appears to be a good procedure with advantages of less complication, little trauma and early rehabilitation for bunion and hallux valugs deformities.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Hallux Valgus ; surgery ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the current status of HIV infection and HIV-related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 14 cities in China.

METHODSA cluster sampling method was administrated and 14 large or medium cities were selected. The respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was also used to conduct a questionnaire survey in 6101 MSM. Blood specimens were collected for HIV and syphilis testing.

RESULTSA total of 6101 MSM were selected and investigated, with an HIV infection rate of 6.3% (384/6101) and a syphilis infection rate of 14.0% (854/6101). The proportion of MSM knowing correct HIV/AIDS knowledge was 59.7% (3644/6101); 6.2% (378/6101) and 11.2% (683/6101) of the respondents ever had buying sex or selling sex in the last six months respectively; the proportion of consistent condom-using each time while with male partners in the last month was 39.2% (2392/6101). The proportion of condom-using while with male partners was 65.2% (3978/6101) in the last time among MSM.

CONCLUSIONA high HIV infection rate was observed among MSM with limited HIV/AIDS awareness and high risk behaviors. It is necessary to initiate a rapid response to prevent HIV spreading in MSM.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Homosexuality, Male ; psychology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Unsafe Sex