Objective: To study the chemical constituents from Prunella vulgaris and their antitumor activities. Methods: Silica gel, reverse-phase octadecylsilyl (ODS), Sephadex LH-20 chromatographic methods, and HPLC were applied to isolating and purifying compounds. MS and NMR spectroscopic methods were used to determine their structures. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these chemical components for MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-10A cell lines was measured by MTT method. Results: Forteen compounds were isolated from the fruits of P. vulgaris and their structures were identified as: autantiamide acetate (1), 5α,8α-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (2), β-amyrin (3), betulic acid (4), 3-hydroxy-11-en-11,12-dehydrogenation-28,13-oic acid lactone (5), eburicol (6), 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (7), candelabrone 12-methyl ether (8), cyclopentaneacetic acid (9), 2α,3β-dihydroxyursa-12-en-28-oic acid (10), α-spinasterol (11), oleanolic acid (12), ursolic acid (13), and β-sitosterol (14). Conclusion: Compounds 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 are isolated from the genus of Prunella L. for the first time. The results of cytotoxic assay indicate that compounds 10 and 13 can obviously inhibit the activity of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and the normal cell lines MCF-10A. Compound 4 can selectly inhibit the activity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 while show no effect on the normal cell lines MCF-10A.

Objective To study whether ultrasound combined with microbubbles induces suppress invasion in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells PC-3 and to identify the probable mechanism.Methods Ultrasound with a frequency of 21 kHz and intensity of 46 mW/cm2 in continuous wave mode was used.Ultrasound combined with microbubbles (200 μl SonoVue) was used to treat androgen-independent human prostate cancer PC-3 cells for 30 seconds.PC-3 cells were divided into three groups:control group,ultrasound group and ultrasound combined with microbubbles group.Twelve hours after treatment,cell growth curve we drawn,and transwell chamber model was used to do cell invasion experiments in vitro.Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 messenger ribonucleic acid.Results Twelve hours after treatment,cell growth was not significant difference among three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Twelve hours after treatment,ultrasound combined with microbubbles could significantly inhibit the invasion of human prostate cancer cells (P ＜0.05).Treatment with ultrasound combined with microbubbles down-regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 messenger ribonucleic acid.Conclusions Ultrasound combined with microbubbles inhibited the invasion in human androgen-independent prostate cancer cells through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of metastatic hepatic carcino-ma .Methods 42 patients with metastatic hepatic carcinoma (metastases≤3 ,maximum tumor diameter≤5 cm)were treated with Co60 stereotactic radiotherapy alone .The prescription isodose of PTV was 3 .5-4 .5 Gy ,total 10 times ,the median survival time ,lo-cal control ,complication and RILD(radiation-induced liver disease) of the patients were assessed .Results The median survival date was 7 .9 months ,2 cases were complete remission ,the local control rates was 69% ,27 cases were partial remission ,and there was no serious adverse side effect ,such as severe radiation-induced hepatic injury .Conclusion The stereotactic radiotherqpy was a good choice for inoperable metastatic hepatic carcinoma .

Objective To explore the duration of blood blocking effect and recovery process induced by low-frequency ultrasound combining microbubbles (USMB) on prostate cancer xenografts.Methods A total of 88 nude mice undergoing USMB was studied.Contrast enhanced ultrasound,Hemotoxylin and eosin staining,and modified Martius-Sarlet-Blue staining were used to compared the average peak intensity(API),time to peak intensity(TP) and histological alteration before and after treatment.Results Immediately after the treatment,the tumor contrast perfusion completely disappeared,API dropped from 68.63±5.25 to 18.01±2.73 (P<0.001,vs pre-treatment) and TP increased from (32.28±6.18)s to (72.63±7.47)s (P<0.001,vs pre-treatment).At 30 minutes and 1 hour after treatment,the tumor perfusion remained defect.At 2 hours after treatment,rarely dotted enhancement was showed.The differences among the three groups in API and TP at 30 minutes,1 hour and 2 hours after treatment were not significant (all P>0.05).From post-3 hours after treatment ,the tumor perfusion began a process of perfusion recovery,and showed nodular or large patch of heterogeneous enhancement.API at 3 hours after treatment was 51.99±6.20 (P<0.001,vs post treatment immediately),and TP decreased to (50.41±6.51)s (P<0.001,vs post treatment immediately).At 4 hours,5 hours,6 hours,12 hours and 24 hours after treatment ,CEUS showed homogeneous and rich enhancement,and there was no significant difference in both API and TP,compared with those pre-treatment (all P>0.05,vs pre-treatment).Histological examinations showed that,immediately after treatment,microvessels severely dilated,ruptured and intravascular and extravascular thrombi formed.At 30 minutes,1-hour and 2-hour after treatment,extravascular thrombi and hematomas gradually disappeared.From 3-hour after treatment,vessel dilation was lessened,and intravascular thrombi gradually shrank.At 12-hour after treatment,microvessels had almost fully recovered as pre-treatment.Conclusions USMB could block blood perfusion of prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice for 2 hours.The blood reperfusion is probably mainly caused by thrombolysis in microvessels.

The present study aims to investigate the kinetic histocytochemical changes of acupoints in different condition. The expression of tryptase (+) mast cells, histamine (HA) , serotonin (5-HT) and nociceptive neuropeptides including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) were observed by immunohistochemistry combined with confocal technology. Mast cells were labeled with anti-mast cell tryptase antibody and simultaneously with HA or 5-HT primary antibodies to observe their co-expression. The results showed that: (1) SP and CGRP were expressed more highly on the cutaneous nerve fibers of "Hegu" (LI 4) after acupuncture stimulation than that of the control. Mast cells aggregated in close proximity to the blood vessels in intra-epidermis and dermis, and some of them with degranulation in the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue of "Hegu" (LI 4). Both mast cells and their granules appeared with HA (+) and 5-HT (+) expression at stimulated LI 4 sites, while a few intact mast cells with a little expression of 5-HT and HA were distributed in areas of non-stimulated Ll 4. (2) The acupoints in different locations such as Baihui (GV 20), Weishu (BL 21), Zhongwan (CV 12) and LI 4 had the same constituent but the contents were different. (3) The histocytochemical responses of acupoints sensitized by the Gastric mucosa injury (GMI) were also investigated. GMI resulted in neurogenic plasma extravasation by Evans Blue (EB) in the skin of the acupoints over the back and abdomen, which mostly occurred in the T9-T11 dermatomere. The EB extravasation dots just like acupoints sensitization appeared after GMI and disappeared gradually during the natural self-recovery of the gastric mucosa. More SP and CGRP positive nerve fibers were distributed in EB dots than in regions beside EB dots and in the control, mostly distributed in the nerve fibers around both the vessels and root of hair follicle. Mast cells also aggregated and degranulated to release algogenic substances of 5-HT and HA around the vessels in areas of the EB dots. Collectively the acupoints displayed the same histocytochemical responses due to either acupuncture stimulation or GMI. This may potentially be the histocytochemical basis in the local acupoints and acupoints displayed kinetic changes in different condition.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Histocytochemistry ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Mice ; Rats ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Skin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on expression of TGF-? in pulmonary fibroblasts (WI26 cells) and its application value.Methods Pulmonary fibroblasts were divided into control group,MMF group,TGF-? group,and MMF+TGF-? group,after routine culture.Expression of TGF-?-induced COL1A1 was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Expression of COL1 proteins was detected by Western blot analysis and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase assay,respectively.Difference in contractility of collagen fibers and migration of cells was observed in collagen matrix contraction test and cell scratch test.Results The expression level of COL1A1 mRNA was higher in MMF group than in control group 24 and 48 h after treatment with MMF (77.0%?2.9% vs 38.0%?3.7%),and was lower in MMF group than in control group 24 and 48 h after treatment with TGF-? and MMF+ TGF-? (134.0%?3.1% vs 189.0%?2.4%,and 95.0%?2.7% vs 71.0%?3.3%,P

Objective To observe the effects of standardized three stage rehabilitation treatment on the neu- rological deficit scores (NDS) and ADL performance of ischemic stroke patients.Methods A total of 164 ischemic stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group.The neurological function and ADL performance of the patients were assessed by using NDS and Modified Barthcl Index (MBI) at the admission,at the end of 1st,3rd and 6th months post stroke.Results No significant differences were found be- tween the rehabilitative and the control groups with regard to NDS and MBI at admission.The NDS demonstrated a decreasing tendency,while the MBI score an increasing tendency in both groups.In the control group,significant difference of NDS was found between admission and the end of 1st month as well as between the end of the 1 st and the 3rd months.In rehabilitation group,significant difference was revealed between all the time points with regard to NDS and MBI scores.At the end of the 1st,3rd and 6th months,the MBI scores of the rehabilitation group were signifi- cantly higher than those of the control group,indicating that the ADL performance of those treated with standardized three-stage rehabilitation protocol was improved quicker than those without the protocol.Conclusion Standardized three-stage rehabilitation treatment could improve the neurological function and ADL performance of the ischemic stroke patients.

Objective To study the homology characteristics of clinicaly isolated and colonized linezolid(LZD)-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (E.faecalis) strains from a patient.Methods Ten E.faecalis strains (2 were isolated from urine specimens and 8 were from stool specimens) isolated from a patient with pulmonary infection were performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing, homology of E.faecalis was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results Before and after patients received LZD therapy, 2 E.faecalis strains isolated form urine specimens were both resistant to LZD (MICs: 8 mg/mL, 16 mg/mL, respectively), among 8 strains from stool specimens (6 were isolated before therapy, and 2 were isolated after therapy), LZD susceptible, intermediate, and resistant strains were 4, 2, and 2 respectively(MICs: 0.25-12 mg/mL).10 strains of E.faecalis were homologous by PFGE typing.Conclusion In this case, the detection of E.faecalis from urinary tract and intestinal tract is homologous, which suggested that LZD-resistant Enterococcus may be colonized in vivo for a long time, and may be shift to cause bacterial infection.

OBJECTIVEIBS-D rat model was established to assess the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method (SWPSM) for intervening diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by observing rats' general state, stool properties, AWR ranking, and histopathological changes.

METHODSTotally 72 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. the normal group, the model group, the high, middle, low dose SWPSM groups, and the control group, 12 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was successfully established referring to AL-Chaer ED's modeling method. After modeling high, middle, and low dose SWPS Recipe boil-free granules were given by gastrogavage to rats in corresponding treatment groups. Sishen Pill boil-free granule was given by gastrogavage to those in the control group. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group. The medication lasted for 2 weeks. Rats' general state, stool properties, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) ranking, and histopathological changes were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the general state of all rats got im- provement to various degrees. The improvement in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups were superior to that in the low dose SWPS Recipe group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the growth rate between after and before treatment in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group, the defecation amount within 4 h was less in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups and the control group (P < 0.05). The Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stool, ratio of dry stool and wet stool were lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group (P < 0.05). The AWR ranking score was lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group when the volume of balloon dilation was 1.5 mL. There was no organic change of histological or morphological observation.

CONCLUSIONSHigh sensitive IBS-D model was proved to be reliable. SWPSM could reduce the quantity of stools, lower Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stools as well as ratios of dry stool and wet stool, contributing to reducing the high sensitivity of rats' visceral organs to some extent.

Animals ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To reveal and forecast the incidence trend of Brucellosis, in order to provide acientific basis for future intervention and policy-making. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze and statistically describe the distribution of the disease in different times, different locations and different (7.0783/10 million to 13.1257/10 million) and Qingxu ( 1.4811/10 million to 8.5241/10 million) were higher,followed by Yangqu county(0 to 5.8232/10 million), Xiaodian(0.8108/l0 million to 2.4229/10 million) and Jinyuan district ( 0.5329/ 10 million to 1.5896/10 million), and the remaining counties(districts) in the annual There were 223 cases of Brucellosis patients from 2006 to 2009 in Taiyuan. Vocational high risk population was farmers, with a total of 140 cases, accounting for 62.78% of the total number of incidence, followed by students and workers, respectively, 13, 14 cases, accounting for 5.83% and 6.28%, other occupational groups, 56 cases,77.58%;28 cases aged above 60 years, accounting for 12.56%;22 cases aged younger than 19 years, accounting identical in the four years, most cases occurred in spring and summer and showing a clear seasonal high.Conclusions The incidence trend of Brucellosis is on the rise from 2006 to 2009. High risk population is farmer,and the number of younger patients is on the rise, we propose strengthen protection for high risk groups.