Objective: To investigate the expression of molecular marker ABCG2 of stem cells and tumor angiogenesis-related gene products including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 and very late antigen alfa-2 (VLA-2α) in human glioma-bearing nude mice and observe the patterns of angiogenesis in transplanted tumors by CD34-PAS double staining. Methods: The human glioma cells were subcutaneously transplanted in 30 nude mice. Six normal brain tissues were as controls. The hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical examination were performed to determine the positive rate and the hot-spot of gene product expression. The patterns of angiogenesis were observed under light microscope. Results: The positive rates of ABCG2, VEGF, and VLA-2α expression were all 100% in transplanted tumors. The average percentage of positive cells was (3. 93 ± 1. 438)%, (34. 84 ± 6.212)% (30.33 ± 4.428)%, respectively. The value of micro-vascular density (MVD) labeled by CD34 averaged at 29. 78 ± 5.88. All the three microcirculation patterns, endothelium-dependent vessels, mosaic vessels and vasculogenic mimicry, were present in xenografted human glioma tissue samples. Conclusions: The ABCG2-overexpressed cells tended to be located close to blood vessels. VEGF and VLA-2α play an important role in angiogenesis of transplanted tumors in nude mice. There exist three different microcirculation patterns in high malignant transplanted tumors.

Objective To investigate the 5-and 10-year survival and complications of patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma treated by pre-operative photon radiotherapy (POPRT) plus brachytherapy (192Ir) and selective lymphadenectomy hysterectomy (SLH) plus intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT). Methods From February 1997 to May 2007, 160 patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma were treated by POPRT of 20 Gy in 10 fractions to the whole pelvis, 192Ir brachytherapy of 14 Gy in 2fractions, followed by IOERT of 18 -20 Gy to the whole pelvis during SLH one week after. Results The follow-up rate was 98.1%. The number of patients followed-up for 5 and 10 years was 143 and 135,respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate and local control rate of all patients were 89.4%, 86. 3% and 96. 3%, with the corresponding 10-year rates of 84.4%, 81.0% and 95.0%,respectively. The radiation-induced rectitis and cystitis were 5.0% and 0. 6%, respectivly. The rate of hydronephrosis and lower extremity edema was 6. 3% and 1.3%, respectively. Conclusions Combination of EBRT plus 192Ir brachytherapy and SLH plus IOERT could improve the survival and local control of patiens with cervical carcinoma, with only a few side effects.

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

Thirty-six healthy Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and divided randomly into a control group (group C), a medium-dose cadmium loading group (group M) and a high-dose cadmium loading group (group H). Cadmium chloride was diluted with saline to contain 0.4 mg/ml of autoclaved cadmium solution. Groups M and H were injected in the abdominal cavity with 0.5 and 1.0 mg of cadmium per kg body weight respectively, and group C with saline of the same dosage as in group H over 7 d. Six rats of each group were killed on the 4th day and 7th day after cadmium loading, respectively, and blood, testis, liver and heart were collected. Cadmium content, changes in nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were studied in blood and the tissues of testis, liver and heart. Results showed that during the entire experimental period, body weight in groups M and H decreased significantly as compared with that in group C; cadmium concentration increased significantly in testis, heart and liver of groups M and H, and rose with increased dosage and time of cadmium loading; there was no obvious difference in plasma nitric oxide between groups M and C, though nitric oxide was higher in group M than in group C. Nitric oxide in group H was significantly superior to that in group C. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha was markedly higher in groups M and H than in group C. Nitric oxide contents in the rat s testis, liver and heart homogenates with cadmium loading were higher than those in group C or significantly superior to group C. The same changes in tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the tissue homogenates of the testis and heart were found, but no obvious difference in tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the liver between the three groups was observed. It is suggested that the massive release of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced by cadmium loading may play an important role in the induction of malfunction of multiple systems or organs in rats.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective: To collect, compare and analyze the changes in the strength and stability of the forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation before and after the training in Shaolin Neigong (internal Qigong). Methods: Ninety first-year undergraduates were randomized into three groups using the random number table method, with 30 people in each group. The Gongfa (Qigong method) group received training in both Shaolin Neigong and forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation. The manipulation group only received training in forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation. The control group only received training in forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation for one week. The ZTC-1 intelligent Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation parameter detection system was used to collect the wave crest, wave trough, and crest-trough difference of the strength and frequency of the forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation on the Z-axis (up and down), X-axis (left and right) and Y-axis (backward and forward) at weeks one, five and ten from the three groups. The collected data were then processed and analyzed. Results: The intra-group comparisons showed statistical significance in the Gongfa group and manipulation group (P<0.05). The strength and stability shown on the axes Z, X, and Y constantly grew with the increase of training time in the Gongfa group. The wave crest on the axes Z and Y steadily rose in the manipulation group, as well as the frequency on the axes Z, X and Y. The control group failed to show statistical significance in any of the three times of intra-group comparisons (P>0.05). The between-group comparisons showed statistical significance among the three groups at weeks five and ten (P<0.05). At week five, the wave crest on the axes Z, X, and Y, and the crest-trough difference on the axes X and Y were more prominent in the Gongfa group than in the manipulation group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). At week ten, the wave crest, wave trough, and crest-trough differences on the axes Z, X, and Y were more prominent in the Gongfa group than in the manipulation group, presenting statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Practicing Shaolin Neigong can help the trainees reach the level of strength and frequency of Tuina clinicians in a shorter time in the forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation training. It can advance the efficiency in studying the forearm Rou-Kneading manipulation and promote the quality of the manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of sapindoside on blood pressure, Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma and NO in the serum in renovascular hypertension rat.

METHODThe 2K1C (2 kidney 1 clap) hypertensive model rats were used and drugs had been given by ig. for 5 weeks. The blood pressure was measured at the 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 day after drug. At the end of 5th weeks, the Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma and NO in the serum were measured.

RESULTSapindoside (H, M and L) by ig. for 5 weeks could significantly lower the blood pressure, increase the levels of NO in the serum, reduce the concentration of Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma.

CONCLUSIONSapindoside plays an important role in decreasing the blood pressure of renovascular hypertension rat.

Aldosterone ; blood ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and divided randomly into control group (group C), cadmium loading group with medium dose (group M) and cadmium loading group with high dose (group H). Groups C, M and H were orally dosed daily with 0, 5 and 10 mg/kg of cadmium for over 6 weeks. Effects of cadmium loading on testis and endocrine function of reproduction in male rats were studied. The results showed that the zinc content decreased slightly in testis and plasma, and the cadmium concentration increased significantly in the testis of groups M and H; while the plasma levels of cadmium and zinc had no obvious difference as compared with those of group C; daily sperm production in the testis of group H decreased markedly during week 3 of cadmium loading, and was significantly lower in groups M and H as compared to that in group C during week 6; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in group H and lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X) in groups M and H were markedly lower compared to those of group C; plasma testosterone (T) level in both cadmium loading groups decreased and was low or significantly lower than that in group C; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels had no apparent difference between the three groups. It is suggested that the gradual accumulation of cadmium in testis tissue induced by chronic cadmium loading results in changes in some enzyme activity, a decrease in sperm production, and defect of endocrine function activity in the testis.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; drug effects ; Animals ; Cadmium ; blood ; Cadmium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Isoenzymes ; drug effects ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; drug effects ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; enzymology ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo identify and analyze the differential expression of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L-1 (UCHL1) in the testis of rat offspring after maternal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP).

METHODSForty pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups and given DBP by gastric intubation at the dose of 800 mg/(kg x d) or none from the 14-18th day of pregnancy. Testes were harvested from the fetal and neonatal rats of the normal and exposed groups respectively at GD19 and PND22. The expression of UCHL1 was detected and analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe UCHL1 expression was 50% lower in the DBP-exposed group than in the normal controls on GD19 (P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference between the two groups on PND22 (P > 0.05). UCHL1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm and nuclei of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and sub-primary spermatocytes in the developmental phase of the testis.

CONCLUSIONExposure in utero to DBP affects the UCHL1 expression in testicular spermatogenic cells, disturbs the balance of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and consequently causes maldevelopment of the testis with thinner seminiferous tubules and reduced count of spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; toxicity ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; drug effects ; embryology ; metabolism ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) combined irradiation on the apoptosis of human lung cancer GLC-82 cells and to study its mechanism.

METHODSThe growth inhibition rate of GLC-82 cells acted by different concentrations DHA was detected using MTT assay at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Clone forming test was used. With multi-target single-hit model, the radiosensitization effect was assessed by calculating sensitizing enhancement ratio (SER).The effect of DHA combined irradiation on the apoptosis of GLC-82 cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The protein expression of p53, p21, Bcl-2, and Bax were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSDifferent concentrations DHA (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 μg/mL) had cytotoxicity on GLC-82 cells. The IC50 for 24, 48, and 72 h was 38.25,20.58, and 10.36 μg/mL, respectively, in obvious dose- and time-dependent manner. The growth inhibition rate was more significantly increased than that of the blank control group (P < 0.01, P<0.05). DHA had sensitization enhancement effect on GLC-82 cells, with SER of 1.4. DHA combined irradiation could obviously change the structure of GLC-82 cells cell cycle and induce apoptosis (with the apoptosis rate of 21.5%), which was significantly different from that of the blank control group (P < 0.05). Western blot showed the expression of p53 and p21 protein could be increased by DHA combined irradiation, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein down-regulated (P <0.01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSDHA had stronger cytotoxicity and radiosensitization on GLC-82 cells. Its mechanisms might lie in making the arrest of GLC-82 cells' growth at G0/G1 phase, decreasing the ratio of cells at S phase, restoring the function of p53, decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and inducing apoptosis in GLC-82 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

AIM: The effects of ZX-5, as nitric oxide (NO) donor, on ocular blood flow has been investigated using colored microsphere technique in previous study. The relationship between the production of NO by ZX-5 and ocular blood flow has been evaluated. ZX-5 has been shown to have strong positive effect on increasing choroidal blood flow. However,the effect of ZX-5 on retinal function recovery, the effects of its optical isomers, (R, R)-ZX-5 and (S, S)-ZX-5, on choroidal blood flow and retinal function recovery have not been studied and merit investigation.METHODS: Colored microsphere technique was used for in vivo experiments to determine choroidal blood flow of ocular hypertension (40mmHg) in rabbit eyes. Electroretinography was used to measure the b-wave recovery as an indication of retinal function recovery.RESULTS: (R, R)-ZX-5 increased choroidal blood flow at 10g/L, 50μL instillation into eyes at all time points (P＜0.05).(S, S)-ZX-5 was not effective in increasing choroidal blood flow. ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 showed significant effects in retinal function recovery after ischemia of the retina at all time points (P＜0.05); whereas (S, S)-ZX-5 did not show significant effect on recovery of b-wave after ischemia at most time points except at 120 and 240 minutes.CONCLUSION: ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 have high potency in increasing the choroidal blood flow and improving the retinal function recovery. It is hoped that they could be used for the prevention/treatment of ocular blood flow related eye diseases.