Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that berberine represses multiple tumors and tumor stem cells, but the effect of berberine on lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs and the possible mechanism. METHODS: CD133+ LCSCs were separated from A549 cells by immunomagnetic beads. The effects of different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/L) of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs were determined by MTT and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. In order to further affirm the effect of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs, the expression levels of Ki67, Bax and Bcl-2 protein were detected by western blot. In addition, to investigate the potential mechanism by which berberine exerts regulatory effects on LCSCs, the expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-associated proteins (PTCH1, SHH, Gli-1 and SMO) were determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After magnetic cell sorting, the content of the CD133+ fraction was enriched up to 84.13%. MTT and flow cytometry assays showed that berberine inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of LCSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of Ki67, Bcl-2, PTCH1, SHH, Gli-1 and SMO proteins of LCSCs cultured in the medium with 20 mg/L berberine were dramatically decreased compared to the control, while the expression level of Bax protein was markedly increased compared to the control. These findings suggest that berberine may inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis for LCSCs through the Hedgehog signaling pathway.BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that berberine represses multiple tumors and tumor stem cells, but the effect of berberine on lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs and the possible mechanism. METHODS: CD133+ LCSCs were separated from A549 cells by immunomagnetic beads. The effects of different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/L) of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs were determined by MTT and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. In order to further affirm the effect of berberine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LCSCs, the expression levels of Ki67, Bax and Bcl-2 protein were detected by western blot. In addition, to investigate the potential mechanism by which berberine exerts regulatory effects on LCSCs, the expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-associated proteins (PTCH1, SHH, Gli-1 and SMO) were determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After magnetic cell sorting, the content of the CD133+ fraction was enriched up to 84.13%. MTT and flow cytometry assays showed that berberine inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of LCSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of Ki67, Bcl-2, PTCH1, SHH, Gli-1 and SMO proteins of LCSCs cultured in the medium with 20 mg/L berberine were dramatically decreased compared to the control, while the expression level of Bax protein was markedly increased compared to the control. These findings suggest that berberine may inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis for LCSCs through the Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays a major diagnostic and therapeutic role in most gastrointestinal disorders.However,limited data of clinical safety is available in pregnant patients.Large studies,preferably prospective,with follow-up of fetal outcome are needed to determine fetal safety of endoscopy.This article briefly analyzed the literature on the research progress of gastrointestinal endoscopy during pregnancy,which offered an evident base for diagnosis and treatment in digestive diseases.

To improve and optimize marine antimicrobial peptide R-1 production by a newly isolated Brevibacillus laterosporus Lh-1, Plackett-Burman (PB) design and response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite design was adopted in culture conditions. MINITAB 15.0 was used for planning the experiments, data analysis, contour diagrams and response optimizations. In this study, PB design was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the fifteen factors. By the statistical regression analysis, the significant factors affecting the novel antimicrobial peptide R-1 in submerged fermentation by Br. laterosporus Lh-1 were determined as follows: glucose, peptone and CaCl2. Then a RSM was used to optimize the above critical internal factors, and the optical concentration of the variables were deter-mined as: 15.72 g/L glucose, 6.01 g/L peptone and 3.29 g/L CaCl2. The content of R-1 was increased from 82.15 kU/mL to 116.27 kU/mL.

Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Tanreqing Injection combined with levofloxacin injection in treatment of acute episode of chronic bronchitis and its effect on bacterial clearance rate. Methods Totally 66 patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (33 cases for each). Both groups were given expectorant and antispasmodic treatment. The treatment group was given Tanreqing Injection combined with levofloxacin injection, while the control group was given levofloxacin injection only. The treatment course was 12 days. The clinical symptoms, signs, and sputum culture before and after treatment were observed. The clinical efficacy and the bacterial clearance rate of the two groups were compared. Results The markedly effective cases and the effective cases in the treatment group were 15 and 29 respectively, and those in the control group were 7 and 21 respectively, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The bacterial clearance rate was 89.5% (17/19) in the treatment group, while 55.6%(10/18) in the control group, with significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Acute episode of chronic bronchitis treated by Tanreqing Injection combined with levofloxacin injectcion is more effective than levofloxacin injection only.

Objective To improve short-and mid-term surgical outcomes ofter the tricuspid ring annuloplasty,and to provide theoretic basis for strategy making among patients with tricuspid regurgitation secondary to left-sided heart diseases.Methods Tricuspid regurgitation secondary to left-sided heart diseases ( including mitral valve diseases and aortic valve diseases) were treated by using tricuspid ring annuloplasty techniques.Patients'age averaged (47.3 ± 12.0) years old,there were a total of 84 female patients(53.2％ ).The average systolic pulmonary pressure was (53.4 ± 19.8) mm Hg.From August 2002 to December 2007,a total of 158 consecutive patients underwent tricuspid ring annuloplasty in Fuwai Cardiovascular disease Hospital.Among this group of patients,there were 66 mild tricuspid regurgitation(41.8％ ),54 moderate(34.2％ ),and 38 severe tricuspid regurgitation(24.0％ ).The average age was (47.3 ± 12.0) years old and female accounted for 53.2％ of the whole cohort.The indications for the tricuspid ring annuloplasty included:moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation or moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension ( systolic pulmonary hypertension ＞40 mm Hg).In the current study,the ring annuloplasty techniques were modified in the following aspects:selection of undersized ring and partial fixation of tricuspid septal segment.In all the patients,we chose Cosgrove-Edwards ring for tricuspid annuloplasty.The surgical outcomes were evaluated through multivariate regression and Cox analysis.Results Compared with moderate and severe tricuspid regurgitation groups,mild regurgitation group had the smallest ring diameter,mild group ( 38.2 ± 4.9 ) mm,moderate group(47.0 ± 11.6 ) mm,severe group(44.5 ± 8.9) mm,P ＜0.001.No significant differences were noted in terms of ejection fraction among three groups (0.59 ± 0.08,0.59 ± 0.06 and 0.58 ± 0.09,P =0.73 ).Compared with mild and moderate tricuspid regurgitation groups,severe regurgitation group had the highest systolic pulmonary pressure.The diameter reduction was most significant in severe regurgitation group,diameter reduction in mild,moderate and severe regurgitation groups were ( 12.4 ±5.6) mm,(20.8 ± 11.5 ) mm,( 18.6 ± 8.3 ) mm,respectively,P ＜ 0.00 1.An in-hospital death occurred in moderate regurgitation group.157 patients discharged alive.The median follow-up time was 49.1 months.During follow up,three moderate to severe regurgitation occurred,among which one was in moderate regurgitation group,two in severe regurgitation group ( P =0.06).There were three deaths in mild regurgitation group,two in moderate regurgitation group,and four in severe regurgitation group.No significant differences were found in terms of mid-term morality,P =0.10.Conclusion For patients with tricuspid regurgitation secondary to left-sided heart diseases,the mid-term outcomes of modified Cosgrove-Edwards ring annuloplasty were satisfactory.The taking home messages include:positive recommendation for patients with pulmonary hypertension to accept tricuspid annuloplasty,use of undersized ring,and partial fixation of septal segment.

AIMTo identify the expression of proteins in cardiomyocytes in rats with left kidney artery coarctation.

METHODS16 male SD rats were separated into 2 groups (n=8): 2 kidney 1 Clip group (2K1C) and sham operation group (SO). The postoperational 8th week, after examination by normal doppler and tissue doppler echocardiography, the extracted proteins from cardiomyocytes were isolated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with staining. The gel images were acquired by scanner and 2-DE analysis software. Different spots observed on two 2D gels were selected and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

RESULTSOverall, 21 protein spots showed significant difference, and 14 out of which were identified.

CONCLUSIONKidney artery coactation-induced cardiac hypertrophy displays different expression of proteins in cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; etiology ; metabolism ; Constriction ; Male ; Proteome ; analysis ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Artery ; physiopathology

Objective To explore the long-term predictive value of serum concentration of N-terminal prosoma brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the early acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods The 164 patients firstly hospitalized and finally diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were selected, and then the serum concentration of NT-proBNP was determined in less than 12 hours. According to the 75 percentage points of serum concentration of NT-proBNP, the patients were divided into two groups: low concentration group (n = 123) and high concentration group (n = 41 ). The major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were followed and compared at one month, six months and twelve months between low group and high group. Results At 1-, 6-, 12-month follow-up, the odds ratio (OR) of death event were 4.1, 5.6 and 4.0 in high group respectively, and the nonfatal heart failure occurred in 4, 4 and 7 patients in high group. Multiple factor logistic regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP was an independent risk factor of the MACEs at different periods including short time, middle time and long time in ACS patients (P＜0. 05). Conclusions NT-proBNP is a strong predictor of the long-term MACEs in patients with early ACS.

Objective To use Excel worksheet function to achieve statistical analysis of the fourfold table qualitative data,and to improve knowledge of the.majority of researchers on the statistical capabilities of Excel.Methods The result of actual research published in Chinese Journal of Endemiology was the data source,and statistical analysis results of fourfold table data from Excel and from SAS software were contrasted.Results The worksheet function of Excel could realize the analysis fourfold table data chi-square test,obtained an accurate P values,but not just P ＞ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.05.The results of chi-square test of Excel were the same as the results from SAS software,but Excel could not obtain probability value of fisher exact probability.Conclusion As a dependent statistical analysis software,Excel is an easy to learn,easy to use,efficient and a good helper.In the absence of professional statistical software,Excel can be used to achieve data statistical analysis.