Objective To explore the value of galactography in diagnosis of nipple discharge diseases. Methods Galactographies in 101 cases with nipple discharge confirmed by operation and pathology were analyzed restrospectively. Results There were breast duct ectasia in 23 cases, breast cystic hyperplasia in 12 cases , ductal inflammation in 8 cases, intraductal papilloma in 46 cases, ductal carcinoma in 9 cases, ductal tuberculosis in 1 case and normal duct in 2 cases. Conclusion The galactography is beneficial in diagnosis of the pathogenesis of galactorrhea and is of great value in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions.

Objective To observe the effects of berberine on inflammatory factors, adipokines and fatty acid metabo-lism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying berberine’s role of improving insulin re-sistance. Methods mRNA level of inflammatory molecules, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after cells were treated with different concentrations of berberine (0, 5, 10, 20, 40μmol/L) for 24 hours and with 10μmol/L berberine at different du-rations (0,4,8,24,48 h). These factors mainly included interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), leptin, adipo-nectin, visfatin, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP). Results In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, transcription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, FAS, AT-GL, AFABP reduced with addition of berberine dosage at 10~40μmol/L(P＜0.05)while visfatin mRNA level increased(P＜0.05)compared with the control group. No significant difference was found in expression of adiponectin(P>0.05). Tran-scription level of IL-6, TNF-α, leptin, AFABP, ATGL, FAS decreased with time after 10μmol/L berberine intervention (8-48 h) compared with the control group(P＜0.05). On the other hand, visfatin mRNA level increased(P＜0.05)compared with the control group. Adiponectin mRNA decreased only after cells were treated with berberine for 48 h(P＜0.05). No sig-nificant difference was found transcription of ACC between each groups treated with berberine(P > 0.05). Conclusion mRNA level of inflammatory factors, adipokines, key enzymes and protein in fatty acid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes can be affected by berberine and this effect depend on its dose and time . This might be the mechanisms underlying berber- ine to improve insulin resistance.

Obiective To descript the method and the equipment of implantable single-point electric stimulation which is designed to continionsly and effectively treat the chronic diseases that harm the people's health. Methods The system is constructed with two parts, outside power transfer and implanted power receiver. The bypass capacitor of transistor and transformer inductor make up of power transmitter, which is half series resonant. With using transeutaneous power transform, the efficiency of this transform is studied. Experiments choose proper transmitting parameters: transformer winding is a 20 turns hollow coil of 35mm diameter, and the frequency is 150-200 kHz; the receiver winding is a 100 turns hollow coil of 10ram diameter. Results Finally the completed prototype of the system and the receiver can generate about 5-10 mA current to stimulation tissue with 5mm gap between receiver and radiator, which meets the requirement of application.ConclusionThis instrument can be used in all kinds of single-point stimulation experiment.

Objective: To construct a polycistron tandem repeated Echistatin (Ecs) gene. Methods: Three Ecs genes with independent initiation and termination codon were ligated tandem through restriction enzyme sites after amplified with 3 pairs of primers using pMD18T-Ecs as template. The polycistron Ecs gene was inserted into pET30a and expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) with IPTG induction. The expression results were identified by 18% SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Results: The expression of Ecs polycistron was accomplished with 18% expression level of total protein determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Conclusion: The successful expression of Ecs polycistron provided a new method for the preparation of low molecular weight protein.

BACKGROUND: An ideal marked molecule has not been found to detarmine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) so as to make sure the homogenicity.OBJECTIVE: To verify the in vitro differentiation from BrdU-treced MSCs into osteoblasts.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A cytological observation/n vitro was performed in Shanxi Medical University from January to October 2008.MATERIALS: Wistar rats aging 4 weeks old were provided by Experimental Animal Center of Shanxi Medical University.METHODS: MSCs were isolated and cultured by using density gradient cantrifugation combined with attachment culture method.At about 80% confluence, trypsin was used for passage and amplification. MSCs at density of 5×1010/L were inoculated in a 25-mm culture dish with L-DMDM culture medium containing dexamethasone, β -phosphoglycarol, vitamin C, and 10% fetal bovine serum. The third-passaged MSCs were labeled in vitro with 10 μmol/L BrdU tracer. Thereafter, 10 visual fields were randomly selected to calculate numbers of positive and negative ceils so as to obtain BrdU tracing rate under a fluorescence microscope (×200).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inverted microscope was used to observe cell morphology; flow cytometry was used to detect cell surface antigen, differentiation into osteoblasts, and BrdU tracing rate in vitro.RESULTS: The purified MSCs which were like fibroblasts were adherent and fusiform. The third-passaged cells were changed equidirectionally and whirlpool-arranged, and the survival rate was more than 95%. The seventh-passaged cells still grew rapidly.CD44, CD71, and CD105 expressions were positive, but CD45 expression was negative. Black particles were visualized in MSCs after Von kossa staining. BrdU tracing rate was more than 90%.CONCLUSION: Density gradient centrifugation combined with attachment culture method can effectively isolate and purify rat MSCs which are cultured in vitro for a long period and differentiated into osteoblasts. BrdU tracer is safe, effective, and convenient to successfully label MSCs.

To reveal the underlying mechanism of doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity, an NMR-based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to observe its metabolic alternations of rat liver. Sixteen differential metabolites between model rats and normal rats were characterized as potential pathological biomarkers related to doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity. Six pathways, including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism were regarded as the targeted metabolic pathways according to Metabolic Pathway Analysis (MetPA). The results suggested that the metabolic perturbations in rats with doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid pathways, purine metabolism, energy metabolism, dysfunction of biotransformation and oxidative stress. The investigation revealed the effects of doxorubicin on liver in a holistic metabolic way, which laid a foundation for further studies on its toxicity mechanism.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; toxicity ; Energy Metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of radical transurethral bladder tumor resection plus chemotherapy for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods Thirty-two patients,who were diagnosed muscle-invasive bladder cancer by preoperative CT and cystoscopy and not tolerating or rejecting radical cystectomy were treated by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBt).The maximum diameter of tumor ranged from 1 - 5 cm,3 cm on average.After conventional intravenous chemotherapy ( docetaxel 75 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2),and given intravenous therapy (HCPT 20 mg + 20 ml saline).Regular cystoscopy was used to monitor tumor recurrence.The examination was performed quarterly in the first 2 years post operation,twice a year since the third year.ResultsThe tumors of 32 cases were resected completely.Operative time were 15 -70 min,the blood loss was 10 -150 ml,without serious complications during the operation.Pathological report showed 32 cases of transitional cell carcinoma.Clinical stages were T2a 20 cases,T2b 12 cases.Pathological grade were G2 13 cases,G3 19 cases.There was no bone marrow suppression,anemia or other severe complications was seen in 32 cases that received chemotherapy.3 of which manifested as low fever,mild nausea,and headache,respectively,having a rest 2 to 3 days the symptoms disappeared.32 patients were followed up for 3 - 60 months,a mean of 28 months.After 1 year the recurrence rate was 9.4％ (3/32),after 2 years was 12.5％ (4/32).The TNM stage of these recurrence cases were 4 cases with T2a and 3 cases with T2b.12 patients died,5 patients died of bladder cancer metastasis.Other 20 patients were survival with no recurrence.ConclusionRadical TURBt plus chemotherapy could be a treatment for the selected patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Objective To study the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance caused by interleukin-6 (IL-6) in ovarian cancer cells and its related signal pathways. Methods Ovarian cancer cell lines A2780(IL-6 receptor positive, while non-IL-6-expressing and cisplatin/paclitaxel-responsive) and SKOV3 cell lines( overexpressing of IL-6 receptor and IL-6 and cisplatin/paclitaxel-resistant) were suitable models for this study. The effect of exogenous (a short period of treatment with recombination IL-6) and endogenous IL-6(by transfecting with plasmid encoding for sense IL-6 ) in A2780 cells or deleting of endogenous IL-6expression in SKOV3 cells (by transfecting with plasmid encoding for antisense IL-6) on the sensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel was investigated. Meanwhile, the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance caused by IL-6 in ovarian cancer cells and its related signal pathways were also analyzed. Results We found that both exogenous and endogenous IL-6 induce cisplatin and paclitaxel resistance in non-IL-6-expressing A2780 cells (the resistance multiple to cisplatin and paclitaxel was: exogenous, 6. 25 and 7.31; endogenous, 7. 13 -8. 34 and 7. 61 - 10. 70), while deleting of endogenous IL-6 expression in IL-6-overexpressing SKOV3 cells promotes its sensitivity to anticancer drugs ( the resistance multiple to cisplatin and paclitaxel was 0. 15 and 0. 10, 0. 10 and 0. 08). IL-6 significantly up-regulated the expression levels of mRNA and protein of drug resistance-associated genes, MDR1 and GST-π, and apoptosis-inhibiting genes, bcl-2, bcl-xL and XIAP in a dose-dependent manner in A2780 cells. In accordance with this finding, the mRNA and protein levels of MDR1 and GST-π enhanced in sense IL-6-transfected A2780 cells, and reduced in antisense IL-6-transfected SKOV3 cells compared with the corresponding parental and control vector-transfected cells, which had no difference. It was found that PD98059 [ mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular signalregulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor ] and wortmannin [ phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor ]significantly antagonized IL-6-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK ) and protein kinase B (Akt), respectively, and both of them blocked IL-6-induced cisplatin and paclitaxel resistance and the inhibitory effects of PD98059 and wortmannin were dependent on its concentration.Conclusions These data suggest that IL-6-induced chemoresistance may be associated with increase of both drug resistance-associated genes ( MDR1 and GST-π) and apoptosis-inhibiting genes ( bcl-2, bcl-xL and XIAP), and activation of MEK/ERK and PL3K/Akt. Therefore, modulation of IL-6 expression or its related signaling pathway may be a promising strategy of treatment for drug-resistant ovarian cancer.

Medicinal values and their chemical bases of Paris (Trilliaceae) are reviewed. Paris plants include 40 species and varieties. Among them, 18 ones are medicinal plants with similarity in traditional uses. Fourteen species have been studied phytochemically, which led to isolation of 207 compounds including 121 steroidal saponins. These saponins are major active constituents from Paris plants, which can explain the traditional uses of the plants to treat cancer, malignant boil, bleeding, gastritis, and so on. The similarity in medicinal uses and chemical constituents of Paris plants implies the possibility of resource substitution among these species. It is worth to further investigate Paris plants in chemical constituents, pharmacological activity, biological property, and toxicology.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To study the percutaneous permeability through mouse skin of lidocaine hydrochloride-loaded destran-based niosomes(LID-HLD-BNs)in vitro and in vivo. Methods HPLC was employed to exam lidocaine hydrochlo?ride. Lidocaine hydro-chloride-loaded conventional liposomes (LID-CLs) and lidocaine hydrochloride injection (LID-IJ) were used as control. Isolated mouse skin was added into Franz diffusion cell to evaluate the permeability of LID-HLD-BNs in vitro. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy(CLSM)was used to observe the permeation depth of mouse skin in vivo. Re?sults The permeation rate and cumulative permeation amount were significantly higher in LID-HLD-BNs group than those of LID-CLs and LID-IJ groups (P<0.05). CLSM studies also confirmed that HLD-BNs reached deeper layers of the skin. Conclusion LID-HLD-BNs has good transdermal ability.