ay inhibit HT-29 cell proliferation, COX-2 mRNA transcription, COX-2 protein expression and PGE2 synthesis induced by DCA in HT-29 cell line. These data provide new insights into the mechanism of its anti-cancer properties.

To analysis the articles cited by SCI about metabolism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and help researchers studying metabolism of TCM.

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine on inhibiting HT-29 human colon cancer cell proliferation induced by deoxycholic acid(DCA).Methods The berberine with concentration of 1,5,10 or 20?mol/L were added into the HT-29 human colon cancer cell culture media containing 200?mol/L DCA.The effects of berberine on cell proliferation were studied by the method of MTT.RT-PCR was applied to measure the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)mRNA.Cellular immunochemical stain was applied to label COX- 2 protein expression.Concentration of prostaglandin E2(PGE2)was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results HT-29 cells were incubated with DCA for 6 h,COX2 expression of cells were increased prominent compared to controls(65.5%?5.6% vs.6.2%?1.1%).The level of PGE2 were increased(24.1 ng/L?1.4 ng/L vs.10.6 ng/L?0.8 ng/L).One?mol/L berberine reduced the proliferation rate of HT-29 in- duced by DCA over 6 h,the proliferation rate was 7.4?3.5%.Both COX-2 mRNA expression and the level of PGE2 were inhibited when the concentration of berberine was over 1?mol/L,and in a concentration-time dependent manner.Conclusions Berberine can inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 human colon cancer cell in- duced by DCA.Berberine can also suppress the expression of COX-2,and decrease the production of PGE2. These data provide new insights into the mechanism of its anti-cancer properties.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect and feasibility of interventional treatment of cervical artery stenosis in the elderly patients aged 75 years and over. Methods The data of 60cases aged 75 years or over who underwent interventional treatment of the cervical arteriostenosis involving carotid artery (CA), vertebral artery (VA) or proximal segment of the subclavian artery (SCA) were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics,interventional managements and follow-up results were recorded. Results In this cohort, the mean age was (78. 9±3.7) years (range from 75 to 89). The 50 patients (93.3%) complained of cerebral ischemic symptoms, and all the patients had concurrent diseases or risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke history, and so on. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) data showed 55 cases (91.7%) had 2 or more cerebral arteries with a stenosis exceeding 30%. Among all cases, 84 lesions were treated with 84 stents, with a technical success rate of 98.8%. After stenting, the percent diameter stenosis of lesions decreased from a mean of (80.8 ± 12.9) % to (7.1 ± 9.5 ) %. The periprocedural and 30-day postoperative neurological complication rate was 8. 3 %, resulting in a permanent complication rate of 5 %. Clinical improvement rate was 87.5%. During a follow-up period of (36.7±26. 3) months (range from 5 to 99), there were 4 deaths: 2 died from myocardial infarction, 1 died from brain metastases of lung cancer and 1 died from cerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral infarction recurred in 3 cases. Imaging follow-up in 78. 3% of patients for 66 stents, including ultrasound, CTA, MRA or DSA, showed that the general in-stent restenosis rate was 9. 1%, and the restenosis rate of VA, CA and SCA was 21.7% (5/23), 2.6%and 0, respectively. Conclusions The results of this series suggest that interventional treatment ofcervical artery stenosis in the elderly patients aged 75 years and over is effective and feasible. In our experience, clinical comprehensive management and skillful technique of the operator are equally important for the elderly patients aged 75 years and over with high incidence of concurrent diseases or risk factors.

OBJECTIVETo explore the active ingredients in the Chinese yellow wine could inhibit the proliferation and migration of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by homocysteine (Hcy).

METHODSThe primary culture and identification of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was conducted, and the VSMCs in passage 4-7 were used in the following experiments. The VSMCs were divided into 7 groups: control, Hcy (1 mmol/L), Hcy + oligosaccharide, Hcy + polypeptides, Hcy + polyphenols, Hcy + alcohol, Hcy + Chinese yellow wine and were given the corresponding treatment. The proliferation of VSMCs was determined by MTT. Transwell chambers and would healing were employed to test the migratory ability of VSMCs. Wester blot and gelatin zymography were used to investigate the expressions and activities of metal matrix proteinase 2/9 (MMP-2/9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) in VSMCs of each group.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the proliferation, migration and the expression and activity of MMP-2/9 of VSMCs were significantly increased in the VSMCs of Hcy group (P < 0.01). Compared with Hcy group, the proliferation, migration and the expression and activity of MMP-2/9 of VSMCs were significantly decreases in the VSMCs of polypeptides group, polyphenols group and Chinese yellow wine group. However, the expression of TIMP-2 among each group had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONPolypeptides and polyphenols in the Chinese yellow wine could inhibit the proliferation and migration of VSMCs induced by Hcy.

Animals ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Homocysteine ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Polyphenols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism ; Wine

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a member of genetically conserved heat shock protein family. As an important molecular chaperone in eukaryotic cells, HSP90 plays a key regulatory role in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. HSP90 clients encompass a wide range of proteins, thus HSP90 is involved in diverse biological process. With the deeper study, it is found that HSP90 takes an important part in the development and metastasis of cancer,and has become a promising target for the study of anticancer biology. We review the progress of HSP90 as molecular chaperone and its relationship with cancer.

Objective Long-chain triacylglycerol (LCT) by three producers,each mixed with the same medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT),were compared with the brand MCT/LCT in causing focal necrosis of hepatocytes in beagle dogs (a bioequivalence evaluation).Methods 21 beagle dogs (male,0.7-1.5 years old,10-15 kg) were used in this study.According to the sources of the LCT,the animals were divided into Group A (LCT made in China),Group B (LCT made in Japan),Group C (LCT made in Germany),and the control group (the brand 10％ MCT/LCT).Central venous port was placed via the lumber vein of the animals under general anesthesia.After 2 weeks of rehabilitation,MCT/LCT was administered through this port for 28 days at 9 g/ (kg · d) [while the routine dose used clinically was 1 g/ (kg · d)].The laboratory indexes and the pathomorphism of the liver and kidney were studied single blindly.Results Laboratory tests,including liver and kidney function,blood coagulation function and lipid metabolism,did not identify differences among emulsions with different sources of LCT.Liver biopsy at day 28 showed no focal necrosis in Group C and the control group;there was minor damage in Group B;and Group A had obvious liver necrosis.and the pathological findings of other organs are similar.No significant difference was observed in biopsies of other organs.Conclusions Emulsions with different sources of LCT varied in their damage to the liver.Generics with LCT of higher quality were equivalent to the brand MCT/LCT in terms of safety.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, safety and short-term efficacy of stent-assisted angioplasty and/or drug therapy for elderly patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

METHODSElderly patients (> or = 60 years old) with symptomatic vertebrobasilar stenosis (> or = 50%) demonstrated by cerebral angiography were treated with drug therapy and some with endovascular stenting further from April 2001 to June 2006. The clinical, imaging, intervention and follow-up data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSEighty-one elderly patients were chosen for study, including 68 males and 13 females. The mean age is 70 years (60 - 87 years); stroke rate of 4.9% (4/81) and stroke-related mortality rate of 2.5% (2/81) were found in this group during hospitalization and follow-up (mean 28.1 months), and symptoms resolved or improved clinically in 66 (81.5%). Fifty-two balloon expandable stents were placed in 48 (59.3%) patients of this group with a technical success rate of 98.1% and the mean degree of stenosis was reduced from (82.4 +/- 13.1)% to (6.4 +/- 3.2)% (t = 22.4, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONSAppropriate management including endovascular stenting and/or drug therapy may improve short-term outcomes of elderly patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency; meanwhile, stent-assisted angioplasty is technically feasible and relatively safe.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; therapy

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the character of facial nerve palsy due to four different auris diseases including chronic otitis media, Hunt syndrome, tumor and physical or chemical factors, and to discuss the principles of the surgical management of otogenic facial nerve palsy.

METHODSThe clinical characters of 24 patients with otogenic facial nerve palsy because of the four different auris diseases were retrospectively analyzed, all the cases were performed surgical management from October 1991 to March 2007. Facial nerve function was evaluated with House-Brackmann (HB) grading system.

RESULTSThe 24 patients including 10 males and 14 females were analysis, of whom 12 cases due to cholesteatoma, 3 cases due to chronic otitis media, 3 cases due to Hunt syndrome, 2 cases resulted from acute otitis media, 2 cases due to physical or chemical factors and 2 cases due to tumor. All cases were treated with operations included facial nerve decompression, lesion resection with facial nerve decompression and lesion resection without facial nerve decompression, 1 patient's facial nerve was resected because of the tumor. According to HB grade system, I degree recovery was attained in 4 cases, while II degree in 10 cases, III degree in 6 cases, IV degree in 2 cases, V degree in 2 cases and VI degree in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSRemoving the lesions completely was the basic factor to the surgery of otogenic facial palsy, moreover, it was important to have facial nerve decompression soon after lesion removal.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult