Objective To evaluate the value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)in distinguishing the solid solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN).Methods 42 patients with SPN (malignant in 25 and benign in 1 7)who were confirmed by operation,biopsy or follow up after treatment underwent routine chest T1 WI,T2 WI and DWI.The b values were chosen as 300,500,800 and 1 000 s/mm2 ,and the corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)values and the signal intensity (SI)were respectively measured.Results The ADC values and SI of benign and malignant SPNs were gradually reduced with increasing b value.The ADC value between benign and malignant SPNs was statistically significant with b value of 500 s/mm2 (P 500 =0.03 <0.05 ),meanwhile the SI was statistically significant with b values from 300 to 1000 s/mm2 (P 300 <0.001,P 500 =0.03 <0.05,P 800 =0.01 <0.05, P 1 000 =0.02<0.05).Conclusion Both SI and ADC value of DWI play important role in distinguishing benign and malignant SPNs, and the diagnostic efficiency of SI is superior to ADC value.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; analysis ; Hippocampus ; blood supply ; chemistry ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Danshensu (DSS) and Ligustrazine (TMZ), the extracts of Chinese herbs for promoting blood circulation, on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced myocardial hypertrophy and its related genes, and to explore the mechanisms of inhibitory effect.

METHODSAdopting one-step method, the total RNA of myocardial cells was extracted by TRIzol reagent. Then the expression of ANP and beta-actin mRNA, as symbol of myocardial cells, were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSMolecular biological research showed that Ang II could significantly increase the expression of ANP mRNA in myocardial cells (P < 0.01), which could be significantly inhibited by Losartan (P < 0.01), both DSS and TMZ had the inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). Ang II could increase beta-actin mRNA expression in myocardial cells simultaneously, Losartan, DSS and TMZ could also significantly inhibit it (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effective ingredients of Chinese herbs for promoting blood circulation, DSS and TMZ, have the effect of inhibiting the hyper-expression of ANP and beta-actin induced by Ang II, and preventing myocardial hypertrophy, therefore, it could be used to prevent and treat cardiomegaly.

Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lactates ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The chemical constituents of Taxus chinensis var. mairei cell cultures were investigated by chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Thirteen compounds were isolated from the 80% ethanol extract of cultured cells and their structures were elucidated by spectral data and physicochemical properties, which were identified as 2α,4α,7β,9α,10β-pentaacetoxy-14β-hydroxytax-11-ene (1), 2α,4α,7β,9α,10β-pentaacetoxytax-11-ene (2), 1β-deoxybaccatin VI (3), 2α-acetoxytaxusin (4), taxuyunnanine C (5), yunnanxane (6), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-propionyloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (7), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-isobutyryloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (8), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-(2'-methyl)butyryloxy-4 (20), 11-taxadiene (9), 13-dehydroxylbaccatin III (10), 13-dehydroxy-10-deacetylbaccatin III (11), paclitaxel (12) and (13) β-sitosterol. Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 2, 4, 10 and 11 are isolated from the cell culture of Taxus chinensis var. mairei for the first time.
Alkenes ; analysis ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Paclitaxel ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis ; Taxoids ; analysis ; Taxus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of 3 month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice after six-month intervention with curcumin, in order to discuss the neuroprotective effect of curcumin.

METHODAPPswe/PS1dE9dtg mice were randomly divided into the model group, the Rosiglitazone group (10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and curcumin high (400 mg x kg9-1) x d(-1)), medium (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and low (100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) dosage groups, with C57/BL6J mice of the same age and the same background in the normal control group. After 6 months, the immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and the Western blot method were used to observe the changes in positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area, their distribution and protein expressions.

RESULTBoth of the immunohistochemical staining and the Western blot method showed more positive cell of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in hippocampal CA1 area and higher protein expressions in the model group than the normal group (P < 0.01). IHC showed a lower result in the Rosiglitazone group than the model group (P < 0.05), while Western blot showed a much lower result (P < 0.01). The number of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs positive cells and the protein expressions decreased in the curcumin high group, the medium group showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01), and the low dose group also showed reductions in the protein expressions of Aβ40 and Aβ42.

CONCLUSIONThe six-month intervention with curcumin can significantly reduce the expressions of hippocampal Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs in brains of APPswe/PS1dE9 double transgenic mice. Whether curcumin can impact Aβ cascade reaction by down-regulating expressions of Aβ40, Aβ42 and ADDLs and show the neuroprotective effect needs further studies.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different penetration enhancers on the transcutaneous permeability of lappaconitine gel in vitro and therefore to screen out the effective accelerator to enhance the permeation rate of lappaconitine.

METHODUsing improved Franz-type diffusion cell and excised big mouse skin in vitro as transdermal barrier, the kinetics parameters such as cumulative permeation quantity, permeation rate and permeation lagged time were determined by HPLC. The enhancement ability of four different enhancers such as azone (Azone), propylene glycol (PG), oleic acid (OA) and lauryl alcohol (LA), was investigated when used either uniquely or combinatively each other at random.

RESULTWhen used combinatively, Azone + PG, LA + PG, OA + PG can enhance the cumulative permeation quantity, OA + PG was the best one among them.

CONCLUSIONThe selection of the best penetration enhancers provided reference for lappaconitine transdermal delivery.

Aconitine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Azepines ; pharmacology ; Dodecanol ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Oleic Acid ; pharmacology ; Propylene Glycol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Absorption ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the localization and distribution of expressions of Smads (mother against dpp), the intracellular signal transduction molecules in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, in the testis of male sterile rats with Shen-yang deficiency induced by adenine and to observe the effect of Wenyang Shengjing Decoction (WSD) on these expressions.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group and the WSD group. Localization and distribution of Smad 1, Smad 2 and Smad 4 expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry SABC and semi-quantitative RT-PCR and analyzed statistically by image analysis system; the contents of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected by radioimmunoassay; and the weights of body, testis and epididymis, as well as sperm number of rats were also measured.

RESULTSSmad 1 and Smad 2 were expressed in cytoplasm of all levels of spermatogenic cells in rats' testis with their positive immuno-responsive substance locating in the cytoplasm, and positive Smad 2 expression could also be found in cytoplasm of Sertoli's cell, but both of them showed negative response in Leydig's cell; Smad 4 was positively expressed in cytoplasm of Leydig's cell but showed negative response in spermatogenic cell and Sertoli's cell. Compared with the normal control, Smad 1 expression was lower (P < 0.05), but Smad 2 and Smad 4 were higher in the model group (both P < 0.05), these abnormal changes could be reversed by WSD treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the body weight, sperm number and serum T level were lower, and levels of FSH and LH were higher (all P < 0.05) in the model group, which could all be improved by WSD (P < 0.05); the weights of testis and epididymis were unchanged in all groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWSD could not only increase the sperm number through elevating serum T level and decreasing the levels of FSH and LH, but also by way of regulating Smads genes expression to adjust the levels of sex hormones, promote the production of sperm directly or indirectly, so as to treat male infertility.

Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smad Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo find out the mechanisms of redifferentiation and reversion of malignant human gastric cancer cells induced by ascorbic acid.

METHODSHuman gastric cancer cells grown in the laboratory were used. The Trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine the cell doubling time. The electrophoresis rate and colonogenic potential were the indices used to measure the rate of redifferentiation. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the content of H202 were evaluated by spectrophotography.

RESULTSSix mmol/L ascorbic acid was used as a positive control. Human gastric cancer cells were treated with 75 microm hydrogen peroxide, which alleviated many of the malignant characteristics. For example, the cell surface charge obviously decreased and the electrophoresis rate dropped from 2.21 to 1.10 microm x s(-1) x V(-1) x cm(-1). The colonogenic potential, a measure of cell differentiation, decreased 90.2%. After treatment with ascorbic acid, there was a concentration- and time-dependent increase in hydrogen peroxide (H202) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the activity of catalase (CAT) resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease. SOD and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) exhibited some effects, but there were statistically significant differences between the SOD and AT group and the H202 group.

CONCLUSIONSAscorbic acid induces growth inhibition and redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells through the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This study was aimed to retrospectively analyze and compare the clinical curative efficacy of patients with hematologic malignancies after G-CSF-mobilized sibling HLA-matched (sm) peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (sm-allo-PBHSCT) and sm-allo-PBHSCT combined with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). 100 patients received sm-allo-HSCT in a single center from October 2001 to October to 2010, included 38 patients received sm-allo-PBHSCT and 62 patients received sm-allo-PBHSCT combined with BMT. The myeloablative or reduced intensity conditioning regimens were chosen according to the condition of patients. All patients received standard cyclosporine (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as prophylaxis for GVHD. The results showed that the rapid hematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all patients. The median time of ANC ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L in both groups were 12 days, the median time of platelet count ≥ 20 × 10(9)/L was 15 days in sm-allo-PBHSCT group and 16 days in sm-allo-PBHSCT + BMT group. The incidence of acute GVHD, acute GVHD of III-IV grade and chronic GVHD in sm-allo-PBHSCT and sm-allo-PBHSCT + BMT groups were 37.1% and 34.2%, 7.89% and 8.06%, 36.11% and 41.38% respectively, there were no statistical differences. The relapse rates were similar in two groups (sm-allo-PBHSCT 13.16% vs sm-allo-PBHSCT + BMT 12.9%). The 3-year disease-free survivals in sm-allo-PBHSC and sm-allo-PBHSCT + BMT groups were 57.1 ± 8.7% and 61.3 ± 6.4% respectively (p = 0.852). The 2-year overall survival of high-risk patients was 41.4 ± 12.8% in sm-allo-PBHSCT group, while 60.9 ± 9.6% in sm-allo-PBHSCT + BMT group (p = 0.071). It is concluded that the rhG-CSF mobilized sibling matched allo-PBHSCT + BMT is superior to the rhG-CSF mobilized sibling matched allo-PBHSCT in increasing the overall survival of high-risk hematologic malignancies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; HLA Antigens ; immunology ; Hematologic Diseases ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Young Adult

Objective To examine the association between tea drinking and the risk of lung cancer in Chinese population.Methods All relevant published articles in Chinese and English literature database were identified.Meta-analysis was conducted.Combined odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the associations and dose-response relationship between tea drinking and the risk of lung cancer.Results Twelve studies were included.An inverse association with lung cancer was observed on tea drinkers when compared to non-tea drinkers (OR=0.66,95％CI:0.49-0.89).Conclusion Tea drinking might serve as a protective factor on lung cancer in the Chinese population.