OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of biofeedback therapy for fecal incontinence in patients with mid or low rectal cancer.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with mid or low rectal cancer received biofeedback treatments after restorative resection and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using anorectal manometry and Vaizey and Wexner scoring systems. Eighteen inpatients without defecating difficulties were selected as control group.

RESULTSThe parameters of anorectal manometry in patients with rectal cancer were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). After biofeedback therapy, the maximum squeeze pressure, resting pressure and maximum tolerated volume were significantly increased, from (118.3+/-42.9) mm Hg to (193.2+/-38.2) mm Hg, (27.8+/-9.0) mm Hg to (47.9+/-9.3) mm Hg,(97.5+/-52.8) ml to (189.1+/-39.0) ml, respectively (all P<0.01), while no significant difference in sensory threshold was observed (P=0.101). Post-treatment Vaizey (10.5+/-2.3 vs 12.9+/-2.8) and Wexner (7.5+/-2.5 vs 10.1+/-2.6) scores were significantly decreased compared with those before biofeedback (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBiofeedback therapy can improve the anal function in patients with rectal cancer after restorative resection.

Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Fecal Incontinence ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Pressure ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

This paper reported that the activation of oncogenes in human fetal esopha geal epithelium treated by alternariol (AOH). It was found that NIH/3T3 cells were transformed via transfeetion of DNA extracted from human fetal esophageal epithelium which was cultured and treated by 10?g/ml AOH in a short term in vitro. The efficiency of primary loci was 0.17 focus per ?g of DNA. In the secondary transfection, the efficiency was 0.58 focus per ?g of DNA (P

The physiological effects of Panax notoginseng seedlings under simulated drought stress by PEG 6000 on antioxidant enzymes, osmotic substances and root activities were studied. The results showed that the activity of POD and APX in roots and leaves kept rising with increasing processing concentration and time. However, on the one hand, at the same processing time, SOD in roots and leaves firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of processing concentration. On the other hand, at the same processing concentration, SOD kept rising with the extension of processing time. In addition, the activity of CAT in roots and leaves tended to increase with the increasing concentration at the same processing time, while it increased at first and then decreased with the extension of time at the same concentration. The activity of SOD and APX in stem did not change obviously, whereas CAT activity in stem increased with the increasing processing time and concentration. With the increase of processing concentration and the extension of processing time, the MDA, soluble protein, proline content and root activity in leaves and roots apparently rose. Moreover, fluorescence signal of H2O2 and NO in root tip enhanced as the processing concentration increased after treated for 1 d. In summary, P. notoginseng seedlings could deal with drought stress by means of adjusting the system of antioxidant enzyme, permeating stress substances and impeded stress signal substances. Thus, when the concentration of PEG 6000 was more than 5%, it would have harm on P. notoginseng seedlings.
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Droughts ; Panax notoginseng ; drug effects ; physiology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The physiological response and bioaccumulation of 2-year-old Panax notoginseng to cadmium stress was investigated under a hydroponic experiment with different cadmium concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10 μmol · L(-1)). Result showed that low concentration (2.5 μmol · L(-1)) of cadmium could stimulate the activities of SOD, POD, APX in P. notoginseng, while high concentration (10 μmol · L(-1)) treatment made activities of antioxidant enzyme descended obviously. But, no matter how high the concentration of cadmium was, the activities of CAT were inhibited. The Pn, Tr, Gs in P. notoginseng decreased gradually with the increase of cadmium concentration, however Ci showed a trend from rise to decline. The enrichment coefficients of different parts in P. notoginseng ranked in the order of hair root > root > rhizome > leaf > stem, and all enrichment coefficients decreased with the increase of concentration of cadmium treatments; while the cadmium content in different parts of P. notoginseng and the transport coefficients rose. To sum up, cadmium could affect antioxidant enzyme system and photosynthetic system of P. notoginseng; P. notoginseng had the ability of cadmium enrichment, so we should plant it in suitable place reduce for reducing the absorption of cadmium; and choose medicinal parts properly to lessen cadmium intake.
Cadmium ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Hydroponics ; Panax notoginseng ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this review is to discuss some critical issues of isoflavones protective against the development of prostate cancer (PCa).

DATA SOURCESData cited in this review were obtained primarily from PubMed and Embase from 1975 to 2015.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles were selected with the search terms "isoflavone", "Phytoestrogen", "soy", "genistin", and "PCa ".

RESULTSIsoflavones do not play an important role on prostate-specific antigen levels reduction in PCa patients or healthy men. The effect of isoflavones on sex hormone levels and PCa risk may be determined by equol converting bacteria in the intestine, specific polymorphic variation and concentrations of isoflavones. The intake of various types of phytoestrogens with lower concentrations in the daily diet may produce synergistic effects against PCa. Moreover, prostate tissue may concentrate isoflavones to potentially anti-carcinogenic levels. In addition, it is noteworthy that isoflavones may act as an agonist in PCa.

CONCLUSIONSIsoflavones play a protective role against the development of PCa. However, careful consideration should be given when isoflavones are used in the prevention and treatment of PCa.

Humans ; Isoflavones ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytoestrogens ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDKeratinocyte serum-free medium (K-SFM) is a defined medium used to support the growth of primary keratinocytes and embryonic stem cell. The aim of this research was to optimize enrichment of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) using K-SFM.

METHODSA K-SFM was used to enrich CSCs from two breast cancer cell lines and a primary culture of breast cancer. RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) was used as a control. CSCs were identified with flow cytometry using CD44(+)/CD24(-) as molecular markers. The expression of a variety of CSC markers (Oct-4, ABCG2, Nanog, N-cadherin, and E-cadherin) was analyzed with real-time PCR.

RESULTSMuch higher percentage of CSCs was achieved with K-SFM: 17.3% for MCF-7 cells, 17.4% for SKBR-3, and 20.0% for primary breast cancer culture. Less than 1% CSC was achieved using RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% FCS. In comparison to the CSCs obtained with RPMI-1640, CSCs in the K-SFM expressed higher levels of Oct-4, ABCG2, Nanog and N-cadherin, and lower level of E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONK-SFM is an optimal culture medium to maintain and to enrich breast CSCs.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 2 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Cadherins ; genetics ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; Nanog Homeobox Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To develop a new algorithm to reconstruct the distribution of acoustic sources of magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction(MAT-MI)in the acoustic inhomogeneous media,which is developed on the basis of generalized finite element method (GFEM) and modified time inversion algorithm. Methods The acoustic and acoustic coupling theory and the basic equations of acoustics were used to study the forward and inverse problems of the acoustic inhomogeneous concentric sphere magneticacoustic coupling model. The solution of acoustic non-uniform media wave equation based on GFEM was proposed.The method solved the problem of acoustically inhomogeneous media sound source reconstruction and conductivity reconstruction.At the same time,the distribution of velocity was reconstructed by rotating the pairs of transducers and the time reversal algorithm. Results The proposed algorithm could accurately reconstruct the acoustic source distribution in acoustic inhomogeneous media,and could obtain the distribution of sound velocity during the reconstruction of sound source and recover the image well. Conclusion The proposed algorithm had its feasibility and effectiveness verified,and gains advantages in MAT-MI reconstruction of acoustic inhomogeneous media.

A sample pretreatment method combining column clean-up with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (CCU-DLLME) for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil-field water was proposed. With this method,most organic interferences in matrix were cleaned up,and PAHs were purified, enriched and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry directly. The influences on extraction efficiency including the kinds of column packing,weight ratio between column packing and sample, column flow rate,type and volume of extraction solvent, type and volume of disperser solvent and extraction time were investigated, respectively. Finally, 12 g of H103 macroporous resin was selected as column packing,12﹕5 of weight ratio between column packing and sample and 4 BV/h of column flow rate were selected in CCU. The resulting eluate was added with 1.00 mL of acetone (disperser solvent) and 15 μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent),followed by DLLME for 2 min. Under the optimum conditions,the enrichment factor of PAHs was 730-1579,the limits of detection (S/N=3) were 1.1-5.3 ng/L, the linear range was 0.01-50 μg/L,the RSDs(n=5) were 0.6%-3.4% and the recoveries were 82.6%-104.6%. This method could greatly reduce the influence of organic interferences in matrix, and was fit for the rapid analysis of pollutants in oil-field water especially.

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensin 1 -7 ( Ang1-7) on cell proliferation and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( p-ERK) level in C6 cells.Methods C6 cells con-taining Mas, the angiotensin 1-7 receptor, was selected as the model of glioma.Cells were divided into three groups: normal control group, Ang1-7 treatment group, A779 +Ang1 -7 treatment group.MTT method was adopted to detect cell proliferation.Western bolt method was adopted to detect the p-ERK/ERK levels.Results Cell proliferation and p-ERK level were inhibited by angiotensin 1 -7, which function was antagonized by A779.Conclusion Angiotensin 1-7 could inhibit p-ERK level and cell proliferation through Mas receptor in C6 cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a new biomaterial combining calcium citrate and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on bone regeneration in a bone defect rabbit model.

METHODSTotally 30 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly and equally divided into calcium citrate-rhBMP-2 (CC-rhBMP-2) group and rhBMP-2 only group. Two 10 mm-long and 5 mm-deep bone defects were respectively created in the left and right femoral condyles of the rabbits. Subsequently 5 pellets of calcium citrate (10 mg) combined with rhBMP-2 (2 mg) or rhBMP-2 alone were implanted into the bone defects and compressed with cotton swab. Bone granules were obtained at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after procedure and received histological analysis. LSD t-test and a subsequent t-test were adopted for statistical analysis.

RESULTSHistomorphometric analysis revealed newly formed bones, and calcium citrate has been absorbed in the treatment group. The percent of newly formed bone area in femoral condyle in control group and CC-rhBMP-2 group was respectively 31.73%+/-1.26% vs 48.21%+/-2.37% at 2 weeks; 43.40%+/-1.65% vs 57.32%+/-1.47% at 4 weeks, and 51.32%+/-7.80% vs 66.74%+/-4.05% at 6 weeks (P less than 0.05 for all). At 2 weeks, mature cancellous bone was observed to be already formed in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONFrom this study, it can be concluded that calcium citrate combined with rhBMP-2 signifcantly enhances bone regeneration in bone defects. This synthetic gelatin matrix stimulates formation of new bone and bone marrow in the defect areas by releasing calcium ions.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium Citrate ; Humans ; Osteogenesis