Objective To investigate the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) protein and mRNA in the lung of rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham operation (SO), intrahepatic portal hypertension (IHPH), prehepatic portal hypertension (PHPH) and portasymstimic shunt (PCS). Two weeks after preparation of rat models, the following measurements were performed: arterial blood gas analysis; the concentrations of NO in lungs; in situ hybridization of ecNOS and iNOS mRNA expressions in lung tissue sections with digoxin-labeled ecNOS and iNOS oligonucleotide probes; expressions of ecNOS and iNOS proteins by immunohistochemisty; image and semiquantitative analysis of the expressions of ecNOS, iNOS and their mRNA. Results PaO_ 2 was (73.85?6.51) mmHg in IHPH rats, significantly lower than that in PHPH, PCS and SO rats97.39? 1.33, 95.23?2.22 and (99.05?0.75)mmHg, respectively.The level of lung NO of IHPH was(19.78?5.33)?mol per gram of protein,much higher than that of PHPH, PCS and SO 13.21?3.99,13.89?3.16 and (8.71?1.68)?mol per gram of protein,respectively. In capillary endothelia, positive expressions of ecNOS mRNA and ecNOS protein in IHPH(4.96?0.82,4.11?0.28) were significantly higher than those of PHPH (1.81? 0.39, 1.63?0.18), PCS (1.88?0.53,1.83?0.16)and SO(1.19?0.32,0.98?0.20). Conclusion The expressions of NOS protein and mRNA in the lung of rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome were increased, and the level of lung NO was elevated, which seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dipyridamole ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

AIM: To investigate whether Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription ( JAK/STAT) signaling pathway mediates high glucose-induced damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs ) . METHODS:The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay.The expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, caspase-9 and en-dothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS) were detected by Western blot .The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were tested by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography .Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was measured by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorography .RESULTS:Treatment of HUVECs with high glucose (40 mmol/L glucose) for 6~12 h enhanced the protein level of phosphorylated JAK 2, peaking at 9 h.Treatment of the cells with high glucose for 6~12 h also increased the protein level of p-STAT3 with the peak value at 12 h.Pretreatment with the inhibitor of JAK/STAT pathway AG490 for 1 h before exposure of the HUVECs to high glucose significantly inhibi-ted the high glucose -induced injury , as evidenced by an increase in the cell viability , decreases in the expression of caspase-9 and the intracellular ROS production , and increases in MMP and the expression of eNOS .CONCLUSION:JAK/STAT signaling pathway is involved in the high glucose-induced damage in HUVECs .

Taking application of some isolation and purification technologies, such as solvent extraction, preliminary solvent isolation, column chromatographies over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel and preparative HPLC, 10 compounds were obtained from Gynura nepalensis cultivated in the suburban area of Beijing. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature as (3R) -3-hydroxy-β-ionone (1), (3S,5R, 6S, 7E) -5, 6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one (2), (+) -boscialin (3), 3, 6-trans-3-hydroxy-α-ionone (4), 3, 6-cis-3-hydroxy-α-ionone (5), 3, 4-cis-3, 4-dihydroxy-β-ionone (6), ethyl caffeate (7), loliolide (8), 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde (9), and 3-(hydroxyacetyl)indole (10), respectively. All compounds were isolated from the title plant for the first time, and with compounds 1, 2, 4-7, 9 and 10 being isolated from Gynura species for the first time. Structurally, the above compounds 1-6 belong to C13 nor-sesquiterpenoids, sharing the same carbon skeleton of megastigmane. According to this study, they are one of major kinds of chemical constituents of Gynura nepalensis and have important reference value for the investigation on phytotaxonomy of this species.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; Cyclohexanones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; Indoles ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Norisoprenoids ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the role of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating and guiding radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its feeding vessels. Methods From January 2006 to June 2007, 71 patients with 75 hypervascular HCC in Peking University Cancer Hospital who underwent RFA were included in the study. The diagnosis was conifrmed by ultrasound guided biopsy for all patients. These patients were not suitable for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or had poor responds to TACE. They were divided into two groups, which included group percutaneous artery ablation (PAA) combining RFA and group RFA. There were 38 patients with 39 HCC in group PAA combining RFA and CEUS were used to identify the range of HCC inifltration. Firstly, PAA of the feeding vessels was conducted under the guidance of color doplor lfow imaging (CDFI). Then CEUS was performed to evaluate HCC perfusion after blocking the feeding vessels. Finally, the rest of the tumor was ablated by RFA. In group RFA, there were 33 patients with 36 HCC, who did not undertake PAA before RFA. Generally, the RFA was planned based on tumor size and location, and the ablation started with deep part of HCC or portion close to nearby organs. Contrast CT was used as a post-RFA imaging for follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months post-RFA. T test was used to compare the difference in focal lesions number between two groups, andχ2 tests were used to compare the difference in necrosis rate between two groups after treatment. Results In group PAA combining RFA, post-PAA CEUS showed intratumor perfusion decreased more than 70%in 31 HCC (79.5%, 31/39). Of them, 13 HCC (33.3%, 13/39) showed complete perfusion defect with clear margin, called“solar eclipse sign”. The rest 8 HCC (20.5%, 8/39) showed 40%-70%of perfusion defect. In group PAA combining RFA, CDFI showed 35 (83.3%, 35/42) feeding vessels were blocked, and 3 vessels (7.1%, 3/42) showed signiifcant decreased lfow signal after PAA. There were average 3.18±1.42 ablations per HCC in group PAA combining RFA, and 4.32±1.56 in group RFA. The number of ablations per HCC in group PAA combining RFA was signiifcantly less than group RFA (t=2.524, P=0.015). The tumor necrosis rate at 1 month post-RFA in group PAA (92.3%, 36/39) combining RFA was signiifcantly higher than that of group RFA (66.7%, 24/35) (χ2=8.264, P=0.001). Conclusions With CEUS, PAA can effectively block the feeding vessels of HCC, enhance ablated necrosis in the tumor and signiifcantly increase necrosis rate post-RFA for large hypervascular HCC. CEUS-assisted PAA can improve efifciency of RFA with less ablation number and better result.

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of COX-2 and the relation- ship between COX-2 and PTEN in endometrial adenocarcinoma(EAC).Methods The expression of COX-2, PTEN protein was detected by SP-immunohistochemical method in EAC,endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, corresponding normal endometrium.Results The positive rates of COX-2 protein increased from normal en- dometrium(13.33%) to endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia(50.00%) and adenocarcinoma(64.58 %)(P

Taking application of some isolation and purification technologies, including crushing, solvent extraction, preliminary solvent isolation, column chromatographies over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel and preparative HPLC, 8 compounds were obtained from the seeds of Jufeng grape sourced from market. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature values as Catechin (1), Epicatechin (2), quercetin (3), ethylgallate (4), rel-(2S, 3R) -2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -3- (hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-ol (5), rel-(2α, 3β)-7-O-methylcedrusin (6), rel-(1R,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -2-(4-(3-hydroxypropyl) -2-methoxyphenoxy) propane-1,3-diol (7), and (+) -isolariciresinol (8), respectively. Compounds 5-8 were serial lignans isolated from the seeds of grape for the first time. Structurally, 5 and 6 belong in benzofuran-8,3'-neolignans, 7 in 8,4'-oxyneolignan, and 8 in 8,8' :2,7'-cyclolignan. According to in vitro activity evaluation conducted in cell model, compound 6 showed significant anti-oxidative ability, with the activity of RAW264. 7 cell superoxide dismutase being raised evidently in the test as compared with the positive anti-oxidative agents, compounds 1 and 2.
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Vitis ; chemistry

Purpose To investigate the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the parotid gland and detect the gene expression products of EBV harbouring in LELC cells. Methods Thirty-two parotid LELCs were collected from the Departments of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China during the period of January 1986 and December 1995. All the 32 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks had been consecutively re-sectioned again. Immunohistochemical and in situ nucleic acid hybridization methods for detection of EBV gene encoded products were performed. Results (1) 32 LELCs were found out of 125 parotid gland carcinomas, the frequency was 25.6% (32/125). (2) All of the 32 specimens contained a variable number of EBNA-1 and EBERs positive neoplastic cells. (3) Twenty-seven out of 32 specimens (27/32, 84.4%) had a portion of carcinoma cells expressing LMP-1. (4) No ZEBRA positive cell could be found. (5) EA-D, VCA and MA positivity rates for these 32 parotid LELCs reached to 71.9%(23/32), 68.8%(22/32), and 12.5%(4/32), respectively. Conclusions (1) The parotid gland LELC is frequently to be seen in Guangzhou locale of China, where is a high-incidence area of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The parotid gland LELC and NPC are co-prevalent in Guangzhou locale. (2) This disease is also consistently associated with EBV infection. (3) The EBV infection of the parotid gland LELCs is essentially the type of latency Ⅱ, expressing EBNA-1, EBERs and LMP-1. (4) The latent infected EBV harbouring in LELC cells could in part be switched over to lytic cycle, producing EA-D, VCA or/and MA.

AIM: To explore whether strontium ranelate ( Sr ) promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) through the Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway.METHODS:BMSCs were isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts .According to the experimental purposes , the cells were exposed to different concentrations of Sr , cyclopamine ( Cy, an inhibitor of Hedgehog receptor ) or Gli1-siR-NA.The expression of Gli1 and Runx2 in the cells was detected by Western blotting .The activity of alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) was measured by the method of colorimetry , and the mineralized nodules were observed under microscope with aliz-arin red staining .RESULTS:Exposure to Sr at concentrations of 0.1 to 5 mmol/L for 7 d markedly increased the expres-sion of Gli1 in the BMSCs , and the increase in Gli1 expression was the most obvious following Sr exposure at concentration of 3 mmol/L.Cy at concentration of 10 μmol/L inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 expression.Transfection of the BMSCs with Gli1-siRNA not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 and Runx2 ( a downstream protein of Gli1) expression, but also antagonized Sr-induced enhancement of ALP activity and the formation of mineralized nodules . CONCLUSION:The Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway is involved in Sr-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs .

A method was developed for analyzing the stable carbon isotope ratio of five volatile components ( Ethanol, Glycerol, Acetic acid, Ethyl lactate, 2-methyl-butanol ) in wine using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometer ( GC-C-IRMS ) . The sample injection volume was less than 0. 5 μL, and the analytical time of each run was less than 14 min. The precision of this method was 0. 08‰-0. 25‰ for analyzing standards, while 0. 09‰-0. 36‰ for wine samples. Compared to element analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry ( EA-IRMS) results, the deviations were lower than 0. 5‰. Fifty-four wine samples from France, Australia, America and China were considered. The δ13 C of five volatile components were measured using GC-C-IRMS. Discriminant analysis ( DA) was employed for analyzing the geographical origin traceability of selected wine. The result indicated that δ13 C of volatile components could be used to distinguish the origin of wines. The method was shown to be effective in improving detection of the origin traceability of wine.