In the tumor microenvironment, inflammatory cells regulate intracellular signaling transduction mediated by the corresponding nuclear transcription factor by releasing inflammatory factors ,which leads to transformation of epithelial cells to mesenchymalcellsand eventually promote tumor metastasis. Because of the intimate relationship between inflammation and tumor metastasis , it would be helpful for further enhancement of effectiveness of tumor therapy if we could better understand both the biological character of tumor and the related inflammatory factors.

Objective Wriokle is the sign of skin aging. In order to provide a method for the further study of skin aging, we established some methods for the evaluation of wrinkles. Methods Three methods were used to evaluate wrinkles. 481 Chinese women with wrinkles on their faces were assessed and analyzed by clinical grading, Photoshop and Visionscan meter. We tried to check out the correlation between them. 481 pictures were divided into nine ranks. By using the softwares, we analyzed pictures again. And we calculated the correlation of all the parameters. Results There was good linear relationship between clinical grade and median, and also between values of LEVEL and SD by Photoshop histognam analysis. By Visionscan meter, there was good linear relationship between clinical grade and texture parameters, and also between SELS parameters. Conclusions All the three methods can reflect the skin aging in some degree. In clinical practice, different method or parameter will be chosen according to the different instance.

Objective To summarize the experience of 40 patients with carotid artery stenosis treated by carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods Endovascular plasty and stent placement were performed in 40 patients with carotid artery stenosis from October 2000 to July 2002. A total of 43 stents were placed into, comprising 39 WALLSTENT stents and 4 SMART stents. Out of the 40 cases, cerebral protection devices were used in 5 cases. Results The stent placement was completed successively in all the patients.Diameters of carotid artery all returned to 4mm or above.Mild intraoperative ischemic stroke occurred in 2 cases, and severe intraoperative ischemic stroke was found in other 2 cases: visual field loss of the left eye in 1 case, with after-effects even 3 months after surgery; loss of consciousness and right hemiplegia in 1 case, whom was cured to full consciousness subsequently. The complication rate was 10% (4 of 40) and the rate of severe ischemic stroke was 5% (2 of 40). No complications were seen in patients with cerebral protection devices. Conclusions CAS is effective in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. Carotid stenting with cerebral protection devices may further ensure the patients' safety.

High resolution melting (HRM), based on melting curve analysis, requires not only saturating dyes that fluoresce in the presence of double-stranded DNA, but also higher resolution detection equipment. The melting curve is a novel method for sequence matching, genotyping and mutation scanning. The technology is simple, accurate, rapid, closed-tube, low-cost, and high-throughput, which make it gain more and more applications. This review article presents the basic principles, key factors and both the advantage and limitations of HRM. The potential application is discussed in the study of molecular identity of traditional Chinese medicine.
DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nucleic Acid Denaturation

A total of 12 775 SSRs were identified from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi genomic database, accounting for 2.56% of the total genomic sequences. The result showed that S. baicalensis SSRs were based on 68.32% dinucleotide and 18.63% trinucleotide repeats; CT/GA and TTC/GAA were predominant in the dinucleotide motifs and the trinucleotide motifs respectively. Nine primers were selected to produce highly reproducible SSR bands and were used in studying the genetic diversity of S. baicalensis, 50 individuals from ten populations. 68 SSR polymorphic loci were detected, these loci were polymorphic and displayed 4 to 12 alleles per locus with a mean number of 7; the effect number of alleles was 3. Expected heterozygosities were 0.6 and were far more greater than the average in dicotyledonous plants. PIC (polymorphism information content) was 0.72, Shannon's information index was 1.32, these all proved that S. baicalensis had a high genetic diversity in general. Genetic differentiation among population Gst was 0.131, genetic variation among population accounted for 13.1% and genetic variation within population accounted for 86.9%. The cluster analysis showed that 10 populations S. Baicalensis were classified into 2 groups, but it was not associated with geographical distribution.

Authentications of Chinese herbal medicine have a critical effect in Chinese clinical medicine. DNA molecular marker, as an important component for true or false authentication, is more and more widely used in iden-tification of Chinese medicinal materials. At the same time, many new methods for authentication of Chinese medici-nal materials are continuously emerging. But the systematically comparative analysis of these new methods is lack. The present study taking Lonicera japonica as an example, systematically compared principles, characteristics, ex-periment methods, detection time and the application scope of express sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR), polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR), DNA barcoding and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and put forward corresponding improve-ment opinions. This study can help to screen appropriate approach for rapid authentication of L. japonica and offer demonstrating to other Chinese herbal medicines.

High resolution melting (HRM), based on melting curve analysis, requires not only saturating dyes that fluoresce in the presence of double-stranded DNA, but also higher resolution detection equipment. The melting curve is a novel method for sequence matching, genotyping and mutation scanning. The technology is simple, accurate, rapid, closed-tube, low-cost, and high-throughput, which make it gain more and more applications. This review article presents the basic principles, key factors and both the advantage and limitations of HRM. The potential application is discussed in the study of molecular identity of traditional Chinese medicine.

Animals ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Untranslated

It has been practiced for thousands years to see the relationship between caloric restriction and health.Many experimental and clinical trials confirmed the success of this approach in extending lifespan and decreasing the risk of chronic diseases.However,besides the benefit for the body,it may also give an effort to mood and behavioral improvement.For nowadays,it has been proved that mental assessment is important and necessary before and during caloric restriction therapy.

Objective To investigate the effect of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-2-glucose hybrid positron emission tomography images combined CT image(I8F-FDG PET-CT) on gross target volumes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Forty six patients with pathological defined NSCLC were included in the study. All patients were divided into three groups according to image features; lymphatic metastasis group(18 cases) , ate-lectasis group( 16 cases) , solitary focus group(12 cases). The gross target volumes by CT and by PET-CT (GTVct and GTVPET_CT)were compared with volume differentials and coherence. We also compared the coherence among the three groups. Results The median GTVCT and median GTVPET-CT of atelectasis group was 160.813 cm3 and 108.838 cm3(t = 13.592,P<0.05). The median GTVCT and median GTVPET-CT of lymphatic metastasis group was 65.233 cm3 and 84. 367cm3 (t = 2. 768, P < 0.05 ). In the solitary focus group , median GTVCT was 21.7 cm3,and median GTVPET-CT was 19.6 cm3 (t =0. 684,P >0.05). There was statistic difference in coherence among the three groups (lymphatic metastasis group 0.561, atelectasis group 0. 698, solitary focus group 0.740). Conclusion There are varying degrees of difference between GTVCT and GTVPET-CT in both volume differentials and coherence . Compared to CT, PET-CT could improve the accuracy of radio-therapy. Patients with lymphatic metastasis would most likely benefit from it.