Aim To observe the antifibrotic effect of Radis Astragali and to explore the mechanism. Methods The fibrosis of animal model was induced with CCl4,and the model animals were treated with Radis Astragali in treatment group and saline in control group respectively. Results The serum hyaluronic acid (HA), fibrosis score and ICAM_1_positive hepatocytes all the decreased in the treatment group as compared to those in the control group.Conclusion Radis Astragali has satisfactory effect on experimental fibrosis. The mechanism may be correlated with its affection on ICAM_1 in liver tissue.

OBJECTIVETo construct mouse enhanced green fluorecence protein (EGFP) -peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma2, and to detect EGFP-PPARgamma2 expression in infected mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).

METHODSCut the fragment of PPARgamma2 from the expression plasmid pcDNA flag PPARgamma2, then cloned the gene fragment into pEGFP-C1 and pEGFP-N1 vector. Subsequently, subclone the fragment EGFP-PPARgamma2 from pEGFP-C1-PPARgamma2 into the shuttle plasmid DC315. HEK293 cells were co-transfected with the constructed recombinant shuttle plasmid DC315-EGFP-PPARgamma2 and large adenovirus helper plasmid pBHGlox deltaE1, 3Cre in mediation of liposome. The obtained replication-defective recombinant adenovirus Ad-EGFP-PPARgamma2 was confirmed. Then it was propagated in HEK293 cells. After the BMSC were transfected for 72 h, adipogenic differentiation was demonstrated.

RESULTSHEK293 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-C1-PPARgamma2 or pEGFP-N1-PPARgamma2 in mediation of liposome. The former green fluorescence protein was better than the latter by fluorescence microscope. The recombinant plasmids were digested and identified. Western blot analysis showed the expression of EGFP-PPARgamma2 in vitro. EGFP-PPARgamma2 protein was detectable in the nucleus of BMSC.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus encoding EGFP-PPARgamma2 fusion protein was successfully constructed, which provided a basis for application of EGFP-PPARgamma2 gene to adenovirus-mediated gene therapy.

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Transfection

The ligators we have developed is a kind of economical and effective six-ring ligator. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) was performed to treat bleeding from esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis using self-made ligator and foreign multiple ligator. There are similar effects with both self-made ligator and foreign mutiple ligator in the control of variceal bleeding, variceal obliteration and rebleeding (93.8%, 87.5%, 0 in the group with self-made ligator, 94.5%, 87.1%, 2.4% in the group with foreign multiple ligator, P>0.05). In terms of the quality index, successful operation rate, hemastatic rate, variceal obliteration rate, rebleeding rate, complications and variceal recurrence rate, the self-made ligator is as good as the foreign multiple ligator, but much cheaper.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Endoscopes ; Equipment Design ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Humans ; Ligation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in colorectal carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological findings.

METHODSThe expressions of MnSOD in colorectal carcinoma, adenoma, and adjacent corresponding intestinal mucosal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The relationship between MnSOD expression level in colorectal adenoma and clinical parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of MnSOD was negative in adjacent corresponding colorectal tissues. The positive expression rate of MnSOD was 44% (11/25) in colorectal adenoma and 76% (19/25) in colorectal carcinoma (P < 0.05 when compared with the colorectal adenoma and its adjacent tissues). The expression of MnSOD was positively correlated with histopathological grades (P < 0.05) but not with other clinicopathological findings (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of MnSOD may be associated with the carcinogenesis and progression of colorectal carcinoma, and therefore may be used as a new biomarker.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kuntai Capsule (KC), a Chinese patent medicine, in add-back therapy for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment for moderate-severe endometriosis (EM).

METHODSTotally 100 patients suffering from stage III/IV EM, who were confirmed by laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to the GnRH-a group (A) and the KC combined GnRH-a group (B), 50 in each group. Patients in Group A were hypodermically injected with goserelin (3.6 mg), once per 4 weeks. Those in Group B additionally took KC, 4 pills each time, three times per day. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), bone gamma-carboxyglutamic-acid-containing proteins (BGP) were measured respectively. Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebra were also compared between the two groups.

RESULTSSerum levels of E2 and FSH both significantly decreased in the two groups at week 12 of the treatment (P < 0.05), when compared with pre-treatment. Compared with before treatment in the same group, KMI increased in the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, BMI decreased in the two groups with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Serum BGP increased after 12-week treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with Group A after treatment, serum levels of E2 and FSH both significantly increased in Group B (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in KMI between the two groups (P > 0.05). As for the incidence of menopausal symptoms, better effects in improving symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disorders, and vaginal dryness were obtained in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the post-pre-treatment difference of BMI between the two groups, but with statistical post-pre-treatment difference in the BGP level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHKC combined GnRH-a could effectively reduce GnRH-a treatment induced partial low estrogen symptoms, improve increased serum BGP levels after GnRH-a therapy.

Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; agonists ; Humans

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

For children with stage II testicular malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT), the survival is good with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. However, there is limited data on surgical results for cases in which there was no imaging or pathologic evidence of residual tumor, but in which serum tumor markers either increased or failed to normalize after an appropriate period of half-life time post-surgery. To determine the use of chemotherapy for children with stage II germ cell tumors, we analyzed the outcomes (relapse rate and overall survival) of patients who were treated at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 1990 and May 2013. Twenty-four pediatric patients with a median age of 20 months (range, 4 months to 17 years) were enrolled in this study. In 20 cases (83.3%), the tumors had yolk sac histology. For definitive treatment, 21 patients underwent surgery alone, and 3 patients received surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. No relapse was observed in the 3 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas relapse occurred in 16 of the 21 patients (76.2%) treated with surgery alone. There were a total of 2 deaths. Treatment was stopped for 1 patient, who died 3 months later due to the tumor. The other patient achieved complete response after salvage treatment, but developed lung and pelvic metastases 7 months later and died of the tumor after stopping treatment. For children treated with surgery alone and surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy, the 3-year event-free survival rates were 23.8% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.042), and the 3-year overall survival rates were 90.5% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.588). These results suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy can help to reduce the recurrence rate and increase the survival rate for patients with stage II germ cell tumors.
Adolescent ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Testicular Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of gonadotroph-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRH-a) and GnRH antagonist (GnRH-ant) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced follicle apoptosis in female rats.

METHODSThirty-six female Sprague- Dawley rats were randomized into 6 groups, namely normal saline (NS), CTX, GnRH-a+NS, GnRH-a+CTX, GnRH-ant+NS, and GnRH-ant+CTX groups. The rats were sacrificed between the first and second week after the treatments., and the follicle apoptosis was investigated using TUNEL assay and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate of the granulose cells in the follicles in late development was significantly higher than that in early follicles, and the apoptosis rate of the oocytes and granulose cells in rats with CTX treatment was significantly higher than that in rats without CTX treatment (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate of the granulose cells in GnRH-a groups (ranging from 33.40 - or + 4.59 to 73.25 - or + 5.35) was significantly higher than that in GnRH-ant groups (27.46 - or + 4.52 to 49.38 - or + 5.02, P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the oocytes of early follicles between GnRH-a groups (23.48 - or + 4.25 to 36.15 - or + 4.23) and GnRH-ant groups (21.47 - or + 3.81 to 34.04 - or + 5.54, P>0.05). Electron microscopy revealed characteristic apoptotic changes of the oocytes in early follicles and granulose cells in early and late follicles. The apoptotic changes were especially typical in the granulose cells showing the formation of the apoptotic bodies, and the oocytes only showed chromatin condensation and aggregation.

CONCLUSIONIn the rat mode, GnRH-a promotes while GnRH-ant suppressed follicle apoptosis induced by CTX. GnRH analogues regulates mainly granulose cell apoptosis, but have little effect on oocyte apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; analogs & derivatives ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Granulosa Cells ; pathology ; Oocytes ; pathology ; Ovarian Follicle ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate the influence of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on chemotaxis of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs). Rabbit chemotactic migration of primary BEC was assessed in a blind-well Boyden chamber. Radioimmunoassay and radio-ligand affinity analysis were used for determining VIP secretion and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor (VIPR) expression. The results showed: (1) the method for determining chemotaxis of BECs by using insulin as chemotactic factor was stable and reproducible (r=0.9703, P<0.01). (2) VIP (0.001-1 micromol/L) elicited chemotaxis of BECs which was substantial and concentration-dependent. The effects of VIP were inhibited by W-7 and H-7 (P<0.01). (3) Heat stress enhanced the secretion of VIP (P<0.01) and upregulated the expression of VIPR on BECs (P<0.05). These results indicate that VIP in the lungs may play an important role in the repair of damaged epithelium, accelerating restoration of the airway to its normal state. Calmodulin and protein kinase C may be involved in the signal transduction of VIP effects.
Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemotaxis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; biosynthesis ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; pharmacology

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) at low concentration (1-100 pmol/L) on the reactive oxygen-induced inhibition of both pulmonary surfactant (PS) lipid synthesis and the activity of CTP: phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT), a rate-limiting enzyme in biosynthesis of phosphoatidylcholine (PC), were studied in cultured lung explants without serum. The xanthine-xanthine oxidase superoxide anion generating system decreased (3)H-choline incorporation into PC in a dose-dependent manner in cultured lung explants. ET-1 reduced both the reactive oxygen-induced decrease in (3)H-choline incorporation and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content of lung tissues, but did not change the levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the total antioxidant capability in the lung explants. ET-1 enhanced microsomal CCT activity of the lung tissues, while it decreased cytosolic CCT activity of lung tissues. ET-1 also prevented the inhibitive effect of reactive oxygen on microsomal CCT activity in the lung explants. These results suggest that ET-1 at low concentration can protect the microsomal CCT activity and reduce the inhibition of PS lipid synthesis induced by oxidant lung injury. The protective mechanism of ET-1 is not relative to the pulmonary endogenous antioxidant defense system.
Animals ; Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Phospholipids ; biosynthesis ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; toxicity