Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between the expression of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and epitheli-al-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer and to determine the clinical significance of FoxP3. Methods: The expression of FoxP3, TGF-β1, E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, Vimentin, and Fibronectin protein were detected in the cancer cells of 74 cases with breast carcinoma via immunohistochemistry. The correlation of FoxP3 protein with clinico-pathologic features of breast carcinoma and the re-lationships among the expressions of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were analyzed. Results:The ex-pression rates of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and EMT are 36.5%(27/74), 39.2%(29/74), and 40.5%(30/74), respectively. The FoxP3 protein ex-pression in breast cancer is correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) but not with other clinico-pathological features (P>0.05). The expression of FoxP3 is also correlated with the expression of TGF-β1. Furthermore, TGF-β1 can induce EMT (P<0.05). Conclu-sion:The expression of FoxP3 is correlated with lymph node metastasis and EMT in breast cancer. Therefore, FoxP3 may be a marker for predicting metastasis.

Objective To describe the clinical characters and risk factors of feeding intolerance in neonates. Methods The data of all neonates hospitalized in the newborn ward from January 2003 to March 2007 were ana- lyzed.Results The incidence of feeding intolerance was 6.99 % in the term infants and 27.63 % in the premature infants,and this increased in low birth weight and small gestational age infants.The symptoms of feeding intoler- ance.such as vomiting,gastric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty presented usually in the first week of enteral feeding.The neonates with smaller gestational age and lower birth weight often presented with gas- tric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty,but the larger ones with vomiting.The incidence of feed- ing intolerance increased in asphyxia aegrotus.Conclusion The birth weight and gestational age are protection fac- tors of feeding intolerance in neonates,the asphyxia are risk factors.More attention should be paid to vomiting,gas- tric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty of neonates,especially,in the first week of enteral feeding.

BACKGROUND:N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor is an ionic glutamate receptor which is closely related with the neural synaptic plasticity, and also can regulate neural synaptic plasticity. OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism by which N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B regulate neural synaptic plasticity after cerebral ischemia. METHODS: 60 Wister rats were randomly and evenly divided into a sham-operated group and a cerebral ischemia group. Rat models of chronic cerebral ischemia were established using the modified bilateral common carotid artery occlusion method in the cerebral ischemia group, while rats in the sham-operated group did not undergo occlusion of the common carotid artery and vagus nerve. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 0-12 hours after chronic cerebral ischemia, NR2A expression in the rat hippocampus was gradualy decreased, while the expression of NR2B reached its peak level at 4 hours after cerebral ischemia. Under the circumstance of cerebral ischemia, neither low frequency nor high frequency induced long-term potentiation. These findings suggest that NR2B exhibit inhibitory effect, while NR2A exhibit promoting effect on long-term potentiation induced by stimulation.

Objective To study the effect of fluoride on bone metabolism in rats, and to understand the mechanism of pathogenesis of skeletal fluorosis. Methods A total of 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups that included control group (distilled water), low-dose group(NaF, 50 mg/L), medium-dose group (NaF,100 mg/L) and high-dose group(NaF, 150 mg/L), respectively. After being bred for 12 weeks, the rats were put to death (etherization). Incidence of dental fluorosis was estimated, and serum was collected. Radioimmunoassay was employed to detect the levels of osteocalcin (BGP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT), respectively.Colorimetry method was employed to determine the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP). Results Incidence of dental fluorosis between the four groups was significantly different statistically(x2 =82.81 ,P ＜ 0.01 ). The incidence was significantly different(x2 = 22.67, 40.00, 40.00, all P＜ 0.01 ) between low-dose ( 80%, 16/20), medium-dose ( 100%, 20/20), high-dose groups ( 100%, 20/20) and control group (0,0/20),respectively. Serum levels of BGP, PTH, CT were significantly different between the groups(F = 38.614, 20.778,3.023, P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the four.groups of ALP and ACP in serum (F = 0.609,2.895, all P ＞ 0.05 ). Serum BGP in low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups[ ( 19.60 ± 12.79),(33.41 ± 10.81 ), (39.46 ± 9.51 )mg/L, respectively] was significantly higher than that of the control group[ (7.35 ± 3.22)mg/L, all P ＜ 0.01 ]. Serum PTH in low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups[ (72.27 ± 25.38), (67.80 ± 12.01), (106.52 ± 36.37)pmol/L] was significantly higher than that of the control group[(47.08 ± 9.22)pmol/L,all P ＜ 0.01 ]. Serum PTH of the high-dose group was significantly higher than that of the low-dose and the mediumdose groups(all P ＜ 0.01 ). Serum CT in medium-dose and high-dose groups[ ( 13.39 ± 2.07), ( 15.05 ± 4.77)pmol/L ] was significantly lower than that of the control group[ (26.06 ± 28.31 ) pmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05 ] and also significantly lower than that of the low-dose group [ (24.49 ± 14. 10) pmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05 ]. Conclusions Fluoride affects bone metabolism in rats, BGP, PTH and CT play a key role in the pathogenesis of skeletal fluorosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of paeoniflorin (PAE) on TNF-α-induced TNF receptor type I (TNFR1)-mediated signaling pathway in mouse renal arterial endothelial cells (AECs) and to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSMouse AECs were cultured in vitro and then they were treated by different concentrations PAE or TNF-α for various time periods. Expression levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the low dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 0.8 μmo/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the middle dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 8 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL) with Western blot analysis. Nuclear translocation of transcription factor NF-κB (NE-κB) was detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 45-mm TNF-α 30 ng/mL), and the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 45-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL) by immunofluorescent staining. Expression levels of the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated (protein) kinase (ph-ERK) and p38 (ph- p38) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media) and the high dose PAE group (2-h PAE 80 μmol/L culture) by Western blot. NF-κB inhibitor-α (IκBα) protein expressions were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the p38 inhibitor group (SB group, pretreatment with SB238025 25 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min), the ERK inhibitor group (PD group, treated by PD98059 50 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min) by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels obviously increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels were obviously inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Protein expression levels of ph-p38 and ph-ERK were obviously higher in the hIgh dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, IκBα protein expression levels obviously decreased in the TNF-α group (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, TNF-α-induced IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.01); the inhibition of PAE on IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the SB group (P < 0.05). NF-κB/p65 signal was mainly located in cytoplasm in the normal group. NF-κB/p65 was translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus after stimulated by 45 min TNF-α in the TNF-α group, while it could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group.

CONCLUSIONSPAE inhibited TNF-α-induced expression of lCAM-1. Its action might be associated with inhibiting TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathway. p38 participated and mediated these actions.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

A quantitative HPLC-DAD method was developed for simultaneous determination of N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine and N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine in Solani Melongenae Radix from different cultivation regions in China The separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) at 30 degrees C with a gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase. The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was 300 nm. The calibration curves of N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine and N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine were linear over the ranges of 2.84-68.16, 3.10-74.40 mg x L(-1), and the average recoveries (n = 9) were 99.30% and 102.8%, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of sixteen samples from different cultivation regions in China, which indicated that the method is simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable for quality evaluation of Solani Melongenae Radix.
Amides ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Solanaceae ; chemistry ; classification

The flavonoids were investigated from the whole plants of Lagopsis supina. The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Two flavones were isolated from the CH2Cl2 layer of Lagopsis supina extract and identified as genkwanin (1) and 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (2), respectively. Ten flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the water layer of Lagopsis supina and elucidated as kaempferol-3-O-6" (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (3), quercetin-3-O-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside(5), kaempferol-3-Of3-D-glucoside ( 6), isorhamnetin-3-O-/-D-glycopyranoside (7), apigenin-7-O-6-D-glucoside (8), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (9), chrysoeriol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (10), rutin (11 ), and kaempferol-3-β-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucoside (tiliroside, 12). Compounds 3 and 4 were firstly isolated from Lamiaceae family, and compounds 1-12 were isolated from the plants of Lagopsis genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) on the osteogenic activities of human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2. Methods SaOS-2 cells were exposed to rhBMP-2 for 12,24,48 h at 0(control) ,2,20,200 μg/L, respectively. The mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and bone gla(BCP) were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction. Results The mRNA expression of ALP and BGP of SaOS-2 cells increased gradually with rhBMP-2. The mRNA expression of ALP of the 20 μg/L group exposed for 48 h(1.60 ± 0.64), and the 200 μg/L group exposed for 12,48 h(1.70 ± 0.41, 1.80±0.19) were significantly higher than those of control (12 h: 0.80±0.25, 48 h: 0.74±0.21, allP<0.05). The mRNA expression of BGP of the 2 μg/L group exposed for 24 h(1.67 ± 0.33), the 20 μg/L group exposed for 12,24 h(2.42 ± 0.13,1.82 ± 0.14) and the 200 μg/L group exposed for 12,24 h(1.46 ± 0.11,1.24 ± 0.07) were significantly higher than those of control( 12 h: 1.01 ± 0.14, 24 h: 0.84 ± 0.12, all P< 0.05). Conclusions rhBMP-2 can promote the mRNA expression of ALP and BGP of SaOS-2 cells. They have a dose-response relationship, but represent a different dose-response effect.

Objective To observe the effects of recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1 to 34(referred to as hPTH) on the expression level of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and bone gla protein(BCP) in human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2(referred to as SaOS-2 cells). Methods SaOS-2 cells were subcultured and treated with 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L hPTH for 12, 24 and 48 h. Total cellular RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized by reverse doses of hPTH, different duration of action, and their interaction on the expression level of ALP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells was significantly different(F = 29.32, 2.92, 7.64, all P < 0.05). The expression level of ALP mRNA(0.78 ± 0.43, 0.71 ± 0.05, 0.75 ± 0.19, 0.76 ± 0.14) of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 0, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L hPTH for 48 h was lower than those of treated for 12 h(1.01 ± 0.16, 1.37 ± 0.38, 1.49 ± 0.16, 2.52 ± 0.70, all P< 0.05) and 24 h (1.80 ± 0.47, 1.30 ± 0.36, 1.27 ± 0.17, 1.17 ± 0.11, all P< 0.05). The expression level of ALP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 100 nmol/L hPTH for 12 hours was higher than that of the control(P < 0.05); the expression level of ALP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L hPTH for 24 h interaction on the expression level of BGP mRNA of SaOS-2 were significantly different (F = 8.26, 10.33, 5.51, all P< 0.05). The expression level of BGP mRNA(1.17 ± 0.28, 0.98 ± 0.08, 0.92 ± 0.17 and 0.84 ± 0.59) of SaOS2 cells after treatment with 0, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L hPTH for 48 h was lower than those of treated for 12 h( 1.01 ± 0.14, 1.21 ± 0.18, 1.34 ± 0.30, 1.68 ± 0.62, all P< 0.05), and 24 h(1.71 ± 0.35, 1.41 ± 0.47, 1.28 ± 0.31 and 1.01 ± 0.18, all P < 0.05). The expression level of BGP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 100 nmol/L hPTH for 12 h was higher than that of those groups treated with 0 and 1 nmol/L hPTH(all P< 0.05). The expression level of BGP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 10 and 100 nmol/L hPTH for 24 h and 48 h was lower than those of the control(all P < 0.05). The expression level of BGP mRNA of SaOS-2 cells after treatment with 100 nmol/L hPTH for 24 hours was lower than that the group treated with 1 nmol/L hPTH(P < 0.05). Conclusions In vitro, hPTH significantly enhances osteogenic activities of human osteoblast in a short time, however, with prolonged stimulation time, osteogenic activity can show a downward trend.

Aim To investigate the effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari ultrafiltration(RAS-RH)on oxidative stress and inflammatory injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)induced by ionizing radiation.Methods The model of HUVECs damage induced by 6 Gy X-rays was estab-lished.HUVECs were treated with different concentra-tions of RAS-RH(100,200,400 μg·L-1).The proliferative activity of HUVECs was detected by CCK-8 method,the structural changes of mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscope,the level of ROS was detected by DCFH-DA probe,the change of intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 kit,and the apoptosis and cycle were detected by flow cytometry.The contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in cells were detected by ELISA.The activities of MDA,CAT,SOD and GSH-PX were detected by biochemical kit.The gene expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,NF-κB,eNOS and IL-6 were detected by qRT-PCR,and the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,eNOS,NF-κB,p-NF-κB and IL-6 protein were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,RAS-RH could increase the activity of HUVECs induced by ionizing radiation,decrease the rate of ap-optosis,decrease the level of intracellular ROS,re-duce the injury of intracellular mitochondria,increase the level of mitochondrial membrane potential,promote the expression of Nrf2,HO-1 and eNOS,and inhibit the expression of NF-κB and IL-6.Conclusions RAS-RH has anti-radiation,antioxidant and anti-in-flammatory effects,which may reduce the oxidative stress and inflammatory damage of HUVECs induced by ionizing radiation by activating the activity of Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway,thus promoting the activity of cell proliferation.