Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K),AKT,TSC1/2,and the mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling cascade involves many cellular processes including apoptosis,growth,proliferation and differentiation,This pathway has been found to be the most variable one in human tumors.As tumor is a poorly differentiated disease,this review examines the role of the PI3K-AKT signal pathway in cell differentiation and tumor development.

Background and purpose:Endometrial carcinoma is a common malignant tumour in women and expresses COX-2,CDK4;the expressions are associated with the development of the tumour. Mifepristone can inhibit the growth of the tumours, but its mechanisms are not very clear, We investigated the inhibitory effect of antiprogestins mifepristone n the growth of human endometrial carcinoma cell line HHUA xenografted in nude mice of and the expressions of COX-2,CDK4,the purpose was to find out whether or not mifepristone could influence the expressions of COX-2,CDK4. Methods:Human endometrial carcinoma HHUA cells were cultured in vitro.The models of xenografted tumor were established by the transplantation of human endometrial carcinoma HHUA cell on nude mice. The nude mice were randomly divided into two groups to receive either refined peanut oil (control group), or daily mifepristone for six weeks, respectively . The sizes of xenograft were measured in the pre-and post-treatment. The changes of morphology were observed by glass microscopy. The positive immunostaining for COX-2 and CDK4 were evaluated semiquantitatively by using an immunohistochemical scoring system (HSCORE) that it incorporated both the intensity and the distribution of specific staining.Results:After 6 weeks of treatment , the size of the xenografts in MIF group were 115.25?10.97 mm 3 ,compared with 313.25?43.92 mm 3 in the control group (P

Objective To compare the effect of breathing oxygen or air on respiratory function training for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods 32 patients with stable COPD, pulmonary function Ⅱ～Ⅳ, were divided into 2 groups: oxygen (10males and 6 females and air (12 males and 4 females). All the patients participated in a standardized pulmonary rehabilitation program. They were assessed with St. George respiratory questionnaire, pulmonary function test, 6-minute walking distance, cardiopulmonary exercise test and Borg scale, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) before and after training. Results After 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation, the VO2max in oxygen group increased compared with that of the air. Conclusion Supplying oxygen during training can increase the tolerance of COPD patients.

: Objective To investigate the effects of exercise therapy on activity of daily living (ADL), perception of dyspnea and quality of life (QOL) in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods 40 COPD stable patients accepted treadmill exercise for 8 weeks. 6-min walk test (6MWT), the parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise test, ADL, perception of dyspnea (Borg Scale), and St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) were measured before and after exercise. Results ADLs in different levels (P<0.05), especially in higher level (P<0.01), were significantly improved in all patients after exercise. Perception of dyspnea (Borg Scale) was also improved significantly (P<0.01). There was positive correlation between ADL and QOL （r=0.455, P<0.01), but negative between dyspnea and QOL （r=-0.412,P<0.05). Conclusion Exercise therapy can improve the ADL and perception of dyspnea in daily activities in patients with COPD, as well as QOL.

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis and clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) concurrent with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods The clinical characteristics,pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment of 3 cases who were diagnosed as AS concurrent with MM were analyzed and relevant literatures were reviewed.Results MM was confirmed in patients who had long-term stable AS.A wide variety of manifestations,including persistent pain in spine and thorax,pathologic fracture,anemia,kidney damage and nervous system abnormalities were frequently presented.These patients were insensitive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment,and they had a unfavorable prognosis.Conclusion Patients who are diagnosed as AS concurrent with MM can present with a variety of clinical features.Manifestations which are difficult to explain clinically by AS and poor response to treatment especially when the patients have longterm stable AS are potential clues for MM.

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BACKGROUND: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a kind of polypeptide growth factor possessing multifunctional biological activities,can protect neurons and promote the growth of nerves. It has been corfirmed that bFGF has therapeutic effects on retina ischemia/reperfusion injury (RIRI).OBJECTIVE: To establish RIRI model and analyze the effects of bFGF on cellular apoptosis of retina and the expression of regulatory gene protein.DESIGN: Randomized grouping and validating trial.SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Pathology, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Qingdao University, from April 2002 to December 2003. Twenty-eight healthy Wistar rats were enrolled in this experiment. Four rats were randomly chosen for normal control group, the left eyes of the other 24 rats were set as normal saline control group, and the right eyes were set as bFGF group.METHODS: Normal saline control group and bFGF group adopted the rat RIRI models established by transiently elevating intraocular pressure. Normal saline of 12 μL was injected into the vitreous cavity of the left eyes of the rats in normal control group. 12 μL bFGF was injected into the vitreous cavity of the right eyes of the rats in bFGF group, 4 rats once. No administration was given in normal control group. The expression of apoptotic cells was detected and apoptosis indexes were calculated with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method and immunohistochemical staining method at the 1st, 6th,12th, 24th,48th and 72nd hours after reperfusion and ischemia for 1 hour.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The detection results of apoptotic cells in situ of retina tissuesat different time points after reperfusion. ②The expression of Fas and caspases-2 in retina tissues at different time points after reperfusion.RESULTS ① Comparison of apoptosis indexes of retina tissues at different time points after ischemia reperfusion: There were no apoptotic cells in the retina tissues of the rats in normal control group. As compared with those in normal saline control group, apoptosis indexes in bFGF group were significantly decreased at ischemia 1 hour and reperfusion 1, 6, 12, 24, 48and 72 hours, especially at the 12th, 24th and 48th hours after reperfusion (t =5.362-5.595, P ＜ 0.05). ② The change of Fas expression at different time points after ischemia reperfusion: There was hardly any Fas expression in normal control group. As compared with that in normal saline control group, Fas expression in bFGF group was significantlydecreased at ischemia 1 hour and reperfusion 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, especially at the 6th, 12th and 24th hours after reperfusion (t=3.954-9.327, P ＜ 0.05). ③The changes of caspase-2 expression at different time points after ischemia reperfusion: There was no caspase-2 expression in normal control group.Compared with that in normal saline control group, the number of caspase2 positive cells in bFGF group was significantly decreased at the 6th,12th,24th, 48th and 72nd hours after ischemia for 1 hour and reperfusion (t=4.125-15.641, P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: bFGF can significantly inhibit the expression of apoptosis gene Fas and caspase-2 in the ischemia and reperfusion of retina, thus reducing cellular apoptosis of ganglion cells and exerting therapeutic effects on the ischemia and reperfusion of retina.

Objective To study the relationship between M3 receptor and prostastic tumor by analyzing the expressions of M3 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in adult human normal and neoplastic prostatic gland tissue. Methods The specimens included 36 normal prostates(fresh),36 benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)tissue(fresh),and 36 cancer tissue(8 fresh).RT-PCR was used to detect M3 receptor,VEGPs genetic expression.At protein level,VEGF,Ms receptor,CD34 were detected by western-blot and immunohistochemical method. Results VEGF and M3 receptor's genetic expressions were higher in prostate cancer tissue(O.8354±0.1897,0.7824±0.2047)than in BPH tissue(0.6735±0.1603,0.6021±0.1637),while the expressions of these genes were lowest in normal prostate tissue(0.5425±0.1629,0.3436±0.1581)(P<0.001).There was a positive correlation between M3 and VEGFs gene expression(r=0.4999,P

AIM: To investigate the alteration of serum free fatty acids in the carbon tetrachloride-induced fatty liver. METHODS: Drug-induced fatty liver rat models were built by injection 40% CCl_4. Serum free fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. RESULTS: In the composition of serun free fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids [oleic acid C18∶1,(28.672?7.332 ?/mg?L~(-1) vs 41.373?2.180 ?/mg?L~(-1)), linoleic acid C18∶2(16.739?0.871 ?/mg?L~(-1) vs 24.959?5.325 ?/mg?L~(-1)), arachidonic acid C20∶4(6.105?2.656 ?/mg?L~(-1) vs 9.802?0.779 ?/mg?L~(-1)),P

Objective To study the relationship between the stenosis content of carotid artery and the degree of homocysteine (Hcy) by analyzing the level changes of Hcy in ischemic stroke patients.Methods One hundred and thirty patients of carotid artery stenosis with ischemic stroke were divided into four groups based on the degrees of carotid artery stenosis determined by ultrasound Doppler flow imaging:the slight stenosis group (32patients),the moderate group (35 patients),the severe group (33 patients) and the total occlusion group (30 patients).Meanwhile,30 healthy people were chosen as the control group.The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy),total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of each group were measured,and the results were compared with those of the control group.Results It was found that the serum Hcy level in ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05),whereas the variations ofTC,TG,HDL and LDL levels between the ischemic stroke group and the control group could be neglected (P＞0.05).An obviously increased order of serum Hcy levels was observed as the following,the control group,the slight stenosis group,the moderate group,the severe group as well as the total occlusion group.The difference between every two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The level of serum Hcy was positive correlated to the content of carotid artery stenosis (r=0.835,P＜0.05).However,no correlation was found between the carotid artery stenosis and each level of TC,TG and LDL (r=0.031,0.012,0.018,respectively,P＞0.05).Conclusions The serum Hcy level is closely related to the degree of carotid artery stenosis,and high level Hcy is suggested to be one of major risk factors for ischemic stroke.