Objective:To evaluate the effect of Nutlin-3,a MDM2 antagonist,on the pyroptosis in SMMC-7721 cells.Methods: The expression of actived caspase-1(p20) and IL-1β was detected using Western blot analysis.Pyroptosis was investigated by a standard lactate dehydrogenase release assay(LDH).IL-1β content in the cell culture supernatant was quantified by ELISA.Results: Nutlin-3 up-regulated the expression level of actived caspase-1 and IL-1β in SMMC-7721 cells.Meanwhile,Nutlin-3 increased significantly the content of LDH and IL-1β in the cell culture supernatant(P<0.05).Conclusion: Nutlin-3 activated pro-caspase-1,promoted pyroptosis and IL-1β release in SMMC-7721 cells.

Objective To investigate the changes of QT dispersion and heart rate variability in children with ventricular contraction. Methods 50 healthy children who came for medical examinations at Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital from January 2012 to January 2014 were selected as control group. 147 children with ventricular contraction admitted in Pediatric Intracardiac Department of Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital from January 2012 to January 2014 were divided them into Benign Group (LownⅠ&LownⅡ) and Malignant Group(LownⅢ, LownⅣA, LownⅣB&LownⅤ) according to the results of Lown classification. Benign Group contained 90 cases while Malignant Group contained 57 cases. Difference in QT dispersion and indices of heart rate variability of the three groups were compared. Results There were no statistically differences between control group and benign group in QT dispersion (P > 0.05). QT dispersion of malignant group was much longer than that of control group and the differences had statistically meaning(P<0.001). SDNN(standard deviation of NN intervals) , SDANN (standard deviation of the averages of RR intervals ), SDNN index (index of standard deviation of the averages of NN intervals), rMSSD(root mean square of successive differences) and PNN50(percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals>50 ms) of malignant group was much shorter than that of control group and benign group and the differences had statistically meaning (P< 0.01). SDNN, SDANN and SDNN index of benign group was shorter than that of control group and the differences had statistically meaning (P<0.05). Conclusions Heart rate variability of children with malignant ventricular contraction becomes significantly shorter and QT dispersion becomes significantly longer. Detection of QT dispersion and heart rate variability can effectively predict the risky degree of ventricular contraction in children.

Objective To prepare the hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSY-A)enteric coating pellets,and investigate in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics.Methods HSY-A enteric coating pellets were prepared by extrude-rounding and fluid bed technique.The micromeritic characteristics,the factors affecting the release properties of enteric coating pellets the release mechanism were explored,and the in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors were also evaluated.Results The in vitro release behavior of HSY-A from enteric coating pellets could be described by Ritger-peppas equation,and fit diffusion mechanism,in vivo pharmacokinetic test confirmed the argument that pellets have good acid residence and enteric properties. Conclusion HSY-A enteric coating pellets have been successfully prepared and the expected release properties is achieved in the study.

Objective: To study the relationship between human herpes vi rus 6 (HHV-6) infection and oral squamors cell carcinoma. Methods: The serum anti-HHV-6 antibody titers from 16 cases of oral squamors cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 16 control subjects were detected by indirect immunofluores cence assay. HHV-6 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was amplified by P CR and the specificity was confirmed by Southern-blot hybridization with an int ernal probe oligonuclotide. An immunohistochemical staining was used to detect H HV-6 antigen in OSCC tissues. Results: Positive expression of s erum HHV-6 IgG antibody was found in all the cases of OSCC and in 12 of the 16 controls. Geometric mean titer of OSCC group and control group was 1∶118 and 1 ∶64 respectively (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Helwingia Chinensis.

METHODCompounds were isolated with silica gel, Sephadex LH - 20 and polyamide chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated and identified as cinnamic acid (1), gult-5-en-3beta-ol (2), friedelin (3), alpha-amyrin (4), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (5) and 4, 5-dimethoxy-1, 2-benzoquinone (6).

CONCLUSIONAll these Compounds were obtained from H. chinensis for the first time.

Cinnamates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cornaceae ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo establish serum proteome fingerprinting predictive models and search for proteins associated with colorectal cancer.

METHODSThirty-six randomly selected colorectal cancer patients and 36 cases with hernia or gall bladder diseases scheduled for elective operation were enrolled as cancer group and control group respectively. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected before the operations. Special serum protein or peptide fingerprint was investigated by using surface enhanced laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) measurement after blood sample had been treated with weak cation exchange protein chip (CM10) for each case. The obtained data were analyzed by Biomarker Wizard software to screen serum proteome tumor markers and set up diagnosis predictive model for colorectal cancer. Blind validation of the model with 44 healthy controls and 88 colorectal cancer patients were carried out by using Biomarker Patterns Software.

RESULTSIn comparing colorectal cancer group with control group, 5 specific protein peaks (P < 0.05) were found. The predictive model had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.2%. A sensitivity of 71.6% and a specificity of 72.7% was got with the blind validation. The specific protein peaks with a mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 8908 and 13,707 showed in all the results and it showed their strong relationship with colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONSThe predictive models built by the differences of serum proteome fingerprint could be a very useful diagnostic tool in colorectal cancer. Proteins with m/z of 8908 and 13,707 would possibly be the tumor markers of colorectal cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteomics ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVEFurther studies have been conducted to evaluate the roles of Ngn3 in adult islet maintenance and renewal.

METHODSIslets were isolated from 6 - 8 week old male C57BL/6 mice. After common bile duct cannulation, the pancreas was resected and digested in collagenase V (2.5 mg/ml). Islets were then handpicked and 10 - 12 islets were plated in 60 mm culture dish and cultivated with RPMI-1640, which contained 12.5 mmol/L HEPES, 5.2 mmol/L glucose and 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Islet cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry methods for A6, insulin, glucagon, nestin, Ngn3 and 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU).

RESULTSThe results of these studies indicated that less than 15 percent of proliferated islet cells were Ngn3 expressing cells, in which about one third of the Ngn3 positive cells co-expressed A6. The existence of Ngn3 in cultured islet cells is consistent with the results from other's findings both in embryogenesis and adult islet studies. A significant finding of our study is that the existence of A6 and Ngn3 co-expressing cells in the cultured islet. A6 is a marker for identifying bile duct epithelial cell oriented hepatic progenitor cells. Islet-derived A6 cells are possibly born in the adult pancreatic duct and migrate into islets. A6 cells co-express Ngn3 when these cells commit to endocrine lineage within the islets. More interestingly, islet-derived A6 positive cells have the potential to transdifferentiate into hepatic cells.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of Ngn3(+) and A6(+) cells in the cultured islets suggests that the four established islet cell types arise from a common endocrine lineage residing within the adult islets. A6 and Ngn3 are useful markers for understanding intra-islet adult stem cell lineages in our future studies. This approach may allow for significant advances in understanding the IPC proliferation and differentiation, and open the possibility of using intra-islet adult stem cells for diabetes treatment.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cells, Cultured ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a serum protein fingerprint model for prediction of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer by SELDI-TOF-MS analysis, and to determine the differentiatial proteins associated with the metastatic liver cancers.

METHODSData were collected from the Department of General Surgery in Zhongshan Hospital. A group of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) without liver metastasis (n = 36) and another group with liver metastasis (n = 36) were included in this study. Serum samples were collected from peripheral venous blood before operation. Special serum protein or peptide fingerprint was determined by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The obtained data were analyzed by Biomarker Wizard software to screen the serum protein markers discriminating colorectal cancer patients with and without liver metastasis. A serum protein fingerprint model was established. This model was blindly verified in of CRC patients with and 44 cases without liver metastasis.

RESULTSComparing the characteristic proteins in those two groups of patients, 10 specific protein peaks were identified with statistical significance (P < 0.05). According to m/z growing from small to large, they were: 2398, 2814, 4084, 4289, 4465, 6422, 6619, 11 482, 11 649 and 13 714. The predictive model had a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 97.2%. The validation showed a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONA predictive model based on differentiatial serum protein fingerprint with high sensitivity and specificity has been successfully established. It should be a very useful tool in detection and diagnosis of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Mapping ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to identify short-term result of cell transplantation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) patients who were treated by intracoronary transplantation of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells (BMCs) in addition to standard therapy.

METHODSBased on given standard therapy, eighteen patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were enrolled and divided into transplantation group and control group. The clinical characteristics of two groups were comparable. Among these patients, 10 patients were performed percutaneous coronary autologous BMCs transplantation. Blood routine test, hepatic function, renal function, glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, low density cholesterol (LDL), high density cholesterol (HDL), uric acid (UA) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at the time point of pre-operation and some time after transplantation. All patients were monitored under ultrasonic cardiography, Holter, six-minute-walk test and magnetic resonance imaging over a period of at least 6 months. Annual hospital days were recorded during two-year follow-up.

RESULTSBlood routine test, hepatic function, renal function, glucose, TG, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, UA and hsCRP had no significant differences among 48 hours, 3 months and 6 months after transplantation compared with control and pre-transplantation (P > 0.05). Six-minute-walk distance elevated significantly six months after BMCs transplantation compared with control and pre-transplantation [(494.3 +/- 62.8) m vs (307.2 +/- 75.0) m, (321.5 +/- 63.7) m, P < 0.05]. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the sizes of LVEDd had no significant changes compared with that of control and pre-transplantation (P > 0.05). Myocardium lesion area measured by (MRI) seemed decrease in transplantation group compared with that of control and pre-operation [(4.96 +/- 0.47) cm(2) vs (5.12 +/- 0.54) cm(2), (5.02 +/- 0.39) cm(2), P > 0.05], but there was no significance. None of proarrhythmias and side effects had been observed around transplantation and 2 years follow-up. There was no significant difference in survival between two groups in 2 years follow-up. Interestingly, annual hospital day in BMCs transplantation patients was significantly shorter than that in control group [(30.2 +/- 11.2) d vs (43.6 +/- 9.8) d, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSAutologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation can prolong six-minute-walk, decrease re-hospitalization rate, elevate exercise ability and help to improve cardiac function in patients with IDC. In addition, it was demonstrated that cell transplantation is safe.

Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To observe short-term and long-term efficacies of Danlu Tongdu tablets on lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with kidney deficiency and stasis syndrome, and its effect on nucleus pulposus reabsorption and immunoinflammatory factors. Method: One hundred and sixty patients were randomly divided into control group (80 cases) and observation group by random number table. Patients in control group (80 cases) got acupoint massage and acupuncture, 1 time/day. In addition to the therapy of control group, patients in observation group were also given Danlu Tongdu tablets, 4 tablets/time, 3 times/days. A course of treatment was 12 weeks, and a 9-month follow-up was recorded. Lumbago and leg pain were recorded by visual simulation (VAS) before treatment and at the first, second, third month after treatment. Before and after treatment, Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA), symptoms and signs were scored. During the 9-month follow-up, relapse rate and relapse time were recorded, and VAS and JOA were scored. Absorption of nucleus pulposus was assessed, and levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) were detected. Result: By rank sum test, the clinical efficacy in observation group was better than that in control group (Z=2.125, P<0.05), and scores of JOA was better than that in control group (Z=1.924, P<0.05). At the first, second and third months after treatment, VAS scores of low back pain, leg pain were lower than those in control group (P<0.01), while the decline range were more than that in control group (P<0.01). And scores of symptoms and signs were lower than that in control group (P<0.01), whereas scores by dimensions of JOA scale and the total score of JOA were all higher than those in control group (P<0.01). Complete absorptivity of nucleus pulposus in observation group was 61.11%, which was higher than 42.03%in observation group (χ²=5.138, P<0.05). Levels of IL-1, IL-17, TNF-α and MMP-3 were lower than that in control group (P<0.01). Relapse rate in observation group was 23.61%, which was lower than 40.58%in control group (χ²=4.668, P<0.05). Average recurrence time was longer than that in control group (P<0.05), score of VAS was lower than that in control group (P<0.05), and the total score of JOA was higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: In addition to acupuncture and massage therapy, Danlu Tongdu tablets can also be used to relieve pain and ameliorate function, improve clinical efficacy, reduce relapse rate, promote nucleus pulposus reabsorption, and relieve inflammation of nerve root.