Objective To explore liver protective effects of the stems and leaves and roots of Scutellariae Radix from different areas of Gansu Province;To discuss differences in liver protection of the stems and leaves and roots of Scutellariae Radix. Methods All Kunming mice were randomly divided into 11 groups:normal group, model group, positive control group, Scutellariae Radix root groups and Scutellariae Radix stem-leaf groups of Longxi, Minxian, Weiyuan, Zhangxian. The mice received gavage with relevant medicine once a day for 7 days. 2 hours after the last medication, the mice were given peritoneal injection with 0.1%CCl4 and olive oil to establish the models with liver injury. Hepatic index, the activity of serum ALT and AST, the levels of T-AOC in the liver tissue were calculated in 18 hours after establishing the models. Results Compared with the model group, hepatic index, the activity of serum ALT and AST in the mice of Scutellariae Radix root groups from difference producing areas decreased significantly (P<0.05);the levels of T-AOC in the liver tissue was raised notably (P<0.05). Compared with stem-leaf groups from the same producing area, hepatic index, the activity of ALT and AST in the mice of Scutellariae Radix root groups were remarkably lower than these of Scutellariae Radix stem-leaf groups (P<0.05);the levels of T-AOC in the liver tissue was evidently higher than that of Scutellariae Radix stem-leaf group (P<0.05). Conclusion Scutellariae Radix root water decoction can prevent and protect CCl4-induced acute liver injury to a certain degree, while Scutellariae Radix stem-leaf water decoction shows no significant protective effect on acute liver injury.

Objective To study the antitumor effects of Scutellaria Radix extracts on H22 transplanted tumor in mice and its possible mechanism.Methods The H22 transplanted mouse models were established by inoculating H22 to mice. 60 mice were randomly divided into model group, 5-Fu group, low-, medium- and high-dose Scutellaria Radix extracts groups, with 12 normal mice as control group. All administration groups received gavage with relevant medicine. And then the body weight change, tumor growth inhibitory rate, and spleen and thymus indexes were calculated;the T-AOC and activities of SOD, and MDA content in serum were detected by spectrophotometer;DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes was observed by single cell gel electrophoresis.Results Medium- and high-dose Scutellaria Radix extracts can significantly inhibit the growth of transplanted tumor. Compared with 5-Fu group, medium- and high-dose Scutellaria Radix extracts groups notably increased the body weight, spleen and thymus indexes of mice, promoted T-AOC and activities of SOD, and decreased MDA content in serum, as well as notably reduced DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes.Conclusion Scutellaria Radix extracts have obvious antitumor effects on H22 transplanted tumor in mice and the possible mechanisms may be due to lightening the damage of normal tissue and cell from tumor, enhancing immunologic function and improving antioxidant capability of H22 bearing mice.

Objective To characterize the features of Nasopharyngeal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) on MR imaging and find the main points to differentiate it from the other nasopharyngeal tumors.Methods The MR images of 41 patients with pathologically and immunohistochemically proven nasopharyngeal NHLs were reviewed retrospectively. Images were assessed by the size, invasive extent,signal intensity of primary nasopharyngeal tumor, and the distribution of cervical lymphadenopethy. The difference of regional tissues invasion and cervical lymphadenopathy distribution between the patients with B-cell NHLs and the patients with T-cell or NK/T-cell NHLs were analyzed by Pearson's Chi-Square test or Fisher's exact test Results Of the 41 patients, 26 patients had mature B-cell lymphoma, two patients with mature T-cell Iymphoma, and thirteen patients showed Nature killer/T-cell lymphoma in nasopharynx. MRI revealed that NHLs of nasopharynx can be showed as thickening of nasopharyngeal mucosa and (or) lumps in nasopharynx, which were slightly hyper-intensity on T2-weighted images, and intermediate signal intensity (similar to muscle) on T1 -weighted images, with mild or moderated enhancement following contrast medium administration. Twenty four cases had symmetrical disease of all walls of nasopharynx, and 17 cases had unsymmetrical tumor. Of all cases, 5 cases had superficial ulcerations, 9 cases had exceed nasoharynx invasion spreads superficially along the mucosa, 23 cases had invasion of lingual and (or) palatine tonsils,20 cases showed invasion of parapharygeal muscles, 12 cases suffered from skull base bone infiltration,25 cases had retropaharyngeal lymphadenopathy, and 27 cases had cervical lymhadenopathy. Patient with nasopharyngeal Nature killer/T-cell lymphoma had a higher incidence of exceed nasopharynx invasion,parapharyngeal structures invasion, and superficial ulcerations (the cases were 8, 11, 4 in patient with T-cell or N K/T-cell lymphoma, and 4, 10, 1 in patients with B-cell lymphoma, respectively). Patients with nasopharyngeal B-cell lymphoma had a higher incidence of inasion of lingual and (or) palatine tonsils.Conclusions Nasopharyngeal NHL is a homogeneous tumor that tends to diffusely involve all walls of the nasopharynx and spread in an exophytic fashion to fill the airway, rather than infiltrating into the deep tissues. Different pathological types of nasopharyngeal NHLs have some different appearance on MRI between each other. A large tumor in nasopharynx that fills the nasopharynx cavity, with no or minimal invasion into deep structures, but with invasion extend down into the lingual and(or)palatine tonsils, may suggest the diagnosis of nasopharyneal NHL.

Objective Biochemical indicators such as N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide(NT pro-BNP)and high-sensitivity Creactive protein(hsCRP)predict mortality in acute coronary syndrome(ACS).However,little is known about the relationship of these factors with severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with.Methods Three hundred and thirty-one subjects including 246 unstable angina pectoris patients and 85 myocardial infarction patients were recruited and classified into two groups:single-vessel disease group(1-vessel disease,n=93)and multiple-vessel disease group(≥2-vessels disease,n=238)according to selective coronary angiography.Plasma levels of NT pro-BNP and hsCRP were measured and severity of coronary stenosis was determined by Gensini score.Results NT pro-BNP but not hsCRP level was higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in patients with unstable angina pectoris.The patients with multiple-vessel disease had significantly higher NT pro-BNP level but not hsCRP compared with those with single-vessel disease.NT pro-BNP levels increased significantly as left ventricle(LV)function decreased,and only NT proBNP but not hsCRP level was related to Gensini score of severity of coronary stenosis in ACS.Conclusion NT proBNP but not hsCRP level is related to severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients in ACS.

Objective To compare the diagnostic efficacy of bone scintigraphy and MRI on vertebral metastases in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Methods Forty-seven patients of NPC and clinically confirmed metastatic disease in spine underwent bone scintigraphy and MR examination. The number of involved vertebri diagnosed with two methods were calculated and compared retrospectively. Results A total of 187 vertebral metastases were found in 47 patients, among which 153 (81.82%) were detected with bone scintigarphy and 182 (97.33%) were diagnosed with MRI (χ~2＝23.758, P＝0.000). Conclusion Compared with bone scintigraphy, MRI is superior in detecting vertebral metastases from NPC, and can be used as the first choice for the early diagnosis of spinal metastases from NPC.

Objective To evaluate the signal changes of the skull base after salvage surgury via endoscopic transnasal approach for local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Twenty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation failure underwent nasophargeryngectomy via an endoscopic transnasal approach were selected from April 2006 to December 2011,including 16 males and 4 females with 31 to 67 years old.Each patient had previously received irradiation and experienced recurrence after 8 to 83 months of completed irradiation.All patients underwent MRI no more than 2 weeks before the salvage surgery and were subjected to repeat MRI scans 2 weeks,3 months,6 months later and semi-annually thereafter,with the follow-up time of 6 to 45 months(median 18 months).A two-sided Chi-square test was used to compare the signal changes and the tendency of changes on all presurgical and postsurgical MR images.Results The MRI signal changes were detected at 92 sites of skull-base between 2 weeks and 3 months after the surgery,which was hypointense on T1 WI with moderate to marked contrast enhancement.In the follow-up period,the signal abnormalities at 36 sites of skull base had resolved or restored to the normal,and 34 sites remained stable,while in 22 sites,the MR signal changes became more obvious.The skull base bones adjacent to the region of the resection were more likely to show signal changes than nonadjacent areas (72 vs.20,x2 =33.128,P ＜0.01).The signal changes were more common on the ipsilateral skull base to the recurrent tumor in contrast to the contralateral skull base (68 vs 24,x2 =21.182,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The skull base signal changes after salvage surgury via endoscopic transnasal approach for local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and it occurs in specific location.Most of sites tend to resolve or be stable at the follow up.

To analyze the molecular basis of the variation of the pathogenicity of the influenza B virus, we rescued a recombinant virus with a deletion in the carboxyl terminal of the NS1 protein using reverse genetics based on the parental virus B-S9 of B/Yamagata/16/88. A mutant strain with a deletion of 171 amino acids in the carboxyl terminal of the NS1 protein was named "B-L5". BALB/c mice were inoculated with 3 X 105 EID50 of B-L5 and the parental virus B-S9, respectively. Then, weight changes, survival, and viral titers were documented. During 3 days post-inoculation (dpi) to 7 dpi, the weight of mice infected with B-S9 decreased. However, the weight of mice infected with B-L5 showed weight decreases only at 2 dpi, and quickly recovered at 3 dpi. B-S9 and B-L5 could replicate in the lungs of BALB/c mice. However, viral titers in the lungs of mice infected with B-L5 were 7900-times lower than those of mice infected with B-S9 at 3 dpi. Viral titers in the lungs of mice infected with B-L5 were not detected at 6 dpi. These results showed that, compared with the parent virus B-S9, the mutant virus B-L5 showed lower pathogenicity in BALB/c mice. Our study suggests that deletion of the carboxyl terminal of the NS1 protein decreases the pathogenicity of the influenza B virus. Establishment of a reverse-genetics system for the B influenza virus will provide a platform for studying its pathogenesis, and mechanism of transmission, and for developing live-attenuated influenza B virus vaccines.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Dogs ; Female ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Sequence Deletion ; Survival Analysis ; Viral Load ; genetics ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Virulence

Gene engineering has attracted worldwide attention because of its ability of precise location of disease mutations in genome. As a new gene editing technology, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) system is simple, fast, and accurate to operate at a specific gene site. It overcomes the long-standing problem of conventional operation. At the same time, stem cells are a good foundation for establishing disease model in vitro. Therefore, it has great significance to combine stem cells with the rapidly developing gene manipulation techniques. In this review, we mainly focus on the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its application in stem cell genomic editing, so as to pave the way for promoting rapid application and development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of interleukin-1 beta (IL1B) gene polymorphism and childhood maltreatment on antidepressant treatment.

METHODSTwo hundred and four patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have received treatment with single antidepressant drugs and were followed up for 8 weeks. Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) was used to evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms and therapeutic effect. Childhood maltreatment was assessed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, a 28-item Short Form (CTQ-SF). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the IL1B gene was determined using a SNaPshot method. Correlation of rs16944 gene polymorphism with response to treatment was analyzed using Unphased 3.0.13 software. The main and interactive effects of SNP and childhood maltreatment on the antidepressant treatment were analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSNo significant difference of gender, age, year of education, family history, episode time, and antidepressant agents was detected between the remitters and non-remitters. Association analysis has found that the SNP rs16944 in the IL1B AA genotype carriers antidepressant response was poorer (χ2=3.931, P=0.047). No significant difference was detected in the CTQ scores between the two groups. Genetic and environmental interaction analysis has demonstrated a significant correlation between rs16944 AA genotype and childhood maltreatment and poorer response to antidepressant treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe SNP rs16944 in the IL1B gene and its interaction with childhood maltreatment may influence the effect of antidepressant treatment for patients with MDD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child Abuse ; psychology ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; drug therapy ; genetics ; psychology ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of four-jointed box kinase 1 (FJX1) in gastric cancer (GC), its correlation with survival outcomes of the patients, and its role in GC progression. METHODS: The expression level of FJX1 in GC tissues and normal gastric mucosal tissues and its correlation with the survival outcomes of GC patients were analyzed using TCGA and GEO database GC cohort. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect FJX1 expression level in clinical specimens of GC tissue, and its correlations with the patients' clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were analyzed. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the potential pathways of FJX1 in GC. The effects of FJX1 overexpression or FJX1 silencing on GC cell proliferation and expressions of proliferation-related proteins, PI3K, AKT, p-PI3K, and p-AKT were evaluated using CCK-8 assay and Western blotting. The effect of FJX1 overexpression on GC cell tumorigenicity was evaluated in nude mice. RESULTS: GC tissues showed significantly higher expressions of FJX1 mRNA and protein compared with normal gastric mucosa tissues (P < 0.05). The high expression of FJX1 was associated with poor prognosis of GC patients (P < 0.05) and served as an independent risk factor for poor survival outcomes in GC (P < 0.05). FJX1 was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of GC cells in positive correlation with Ki67 expression (R=0.34, P < 0.05), and was correlated with CA199 levels, depth of tumor infiltration and lymph node metastasis of GC (P < 0.05). In the cell experiment, FJX1 level was shown to regulate the expressions of Ki67 and PCNA and GC cell proliferation (P < 0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the PI3K/AKT pathway potentially mediated the effect of FJX1, which regulated the expressions of PI3K and AKT and their phosphorylated proteins. In nude mice, FJX1 overexpression in GC cells significantly promoted the growth of the transplanted tumors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION FJX1 is highly expressed in GC tissues and is correlated with poor prognosis of GC patients. FJX1 overexpression promotes GC cell proliferation through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.
Animals ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Mice, Nude ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics*