OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) on distribution taxis of paclitaxel in mice with lung cancer to discuss targeted relationship between acupoints and corresponding viscera.

METHODSAccording to randomized digital table, 315 SPF-grade BALB/C female mice were divided into 7 groups: blank group (group A), model group (group B), medication group (group C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (group D), acupuncture at Feishu group (group E), acupuncture at Lingtai group (group F) and acupuncture at Feishu and Lingtai group (group G), 45 mice in each one. Except the blank group, the remaining groups were treated with N-nitroso-tris-chloroethyl urea (NTCU) to establish the model of squamous-cell carcinoma. After model establishment, group A, group B and group C were not treated with acupuncture; group A and group B were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chlorvde solution by 6 mL/kg while group C was treated with intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The group D, group E, group F and group G were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint, "Feishu" (BL 13), "Lingtai" (GV 10) and "Feishu" (BL 13) plus "Lingtai" (GV 10), respectively, then were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The treatment was all given once a day for continuous 10 days. 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after the treatments, 6 mice in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed to collect samples of lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart, etc. High performance liquid chromatography was applied to measure the concentration of paclitaxel in each organ (lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart) at different time points.

RESULTS(1) The content of paclitaxel in lung, kidney and heart reached the peak at 2 h, then decreased significantly in group C, group D, group E, group F and group G; the content of paclitaxel in spleen showed downtrend at each time point. The content of paclitaxel in liver reached the peak at 2 h in group C and group D; the content of paclitaxel reached the peak at 8 h in group E, group F and group G. (2) The content of paclitaxel in lung in group E and group G was higher than that in group C and group D at each time point (all P < 0.01); the content of paclitaxel in lung in group F was higher than that in group C (P < 0.01) and group D (P < 0.01) only at time point of 2 h. The content of paclitaxel in lung in group G was higher than that in group F at each time point (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between group G and group E (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) could influ- ence the metabolism of paclitaxel in lung-cancer mice, leading to distribution change in each organ. As a result, it could cause targeting effects, which is more significant at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacokinetics ; Taxus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo determine Th1/Th2 cytokines and chemokines in patients with allergic diseases and its clinic significance.

METHODSSerum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, Eotaxin, RANTES and LTB4 were determined from peripheral blood of 64 allergic patients and 21 healthy controls with ELISA.

RESULTSIL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and Eotaxin, LTB4 were increased significantly in serum of allergic patients compared with those of controls (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of IFN-gamma and RANTES between patients and controls (P>0.05). Serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and LTB4 were correlated with each other (P<0.01). Eotaxin, RANTES and IFN-gamma levels were also significantly correlated with each other (P<0.05). LTB4 was correlated with Eotaxin as well (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONA wide range of cytokines and chemokines is involved in allergic diseases,which may play their roles in a complex interactive manner.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemokines ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; blood ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-13 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Leukotriene B4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the genetic association between Polymorphism of heat shock protein(HSP)70-hom gene+2437T/C and susceptibility to breast cancer in the Han descent population of Shaanxi Province.Methods 136 patients with breast cancer and 150 healthy controls without breast cancer were recruited to participate in the study.Genotype was determined by Polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme analysis for the polymorphism of the HSP70-hom gene +2437T/C.Results The distribution of HSP70-hom genotypes and allelotypes had significant difference between the patients with breast cancer and healthy controls(χ2=7.282,P=0.026;χ2=6.586,P=0.010).Stratified by immunohistochemistry, the distribution of HSP70-hom genotypes types had significant difference between the patients with triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)and healthy controls(χ2=9.047,P=0.003).However,there was no significant difference of the distribu-tion of HSP70-hom genotypes between the patients with non-TNBC and healthy controls(χ2=2.575,P=0.109).Conclu-sion For Han descent population of Shaanxi Province,polymorphism of the HSP70-hom gene +2437T/C may associate with the risk of breast cancer,especially for TNBC.

AIM:To investigate the effects of sinapine,an effective monomer of Chinese medicine,on hydro-gen peroxide(H2O2)-induced adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).METHODS:The undifferentiated rat BMSCs were identified and screened by flow cytometry.The adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs was induced by H2O2,and the toxicity of sinapine on BMSCs was tested by CCK-8 assay.After the modeling method and the concentration range of sinapine were determined,the lipid droplets in the cells were detected by Oil Red O semi-quanti-tative assay,and the optimal drug concentration was selected.Finally,Oil Red O assay was observed 24 h after drug inter-vention,and the expression of adipogenic differentiation-related proteins,adipocyte protein 2(aP2),peroxisome prolifera-tor-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)and glucose transporter 4(Glut4),at mRNA and protein levels in the BMSCs was deter-mined by qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Treatment with H2O2at 200 μmol/L for 1 h induced BMSCs to differentiate into adipocytes.Below the concentration of 40 μmol/L,sinapine had no toxicity to BMSCs.The best inhibitory concentra-tion of sinapine on adipogenic differentiation was at 15 μmol/L.The number of lipid droplets in sinapine(15 μmol/L) group was significantly lower than that in model group.In sinapine group,the expression of aP2,PPARγand Glut4 at mR-NA and protein levels was lower than that in model group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Sinapine inhibits H2O2-induced adipogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs.The mechanism may be related to the PPARγ/AMPK signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the antibiotic resisitance of clinic iso-lated bacteria in Beijing Hospital from 2005 to 2008.Methods Making antibiotic sensitivity test of total 9005 strains isolated from patients in Bei-jing Hospital from 2005 to 2008 with K-B method;analyzing the data with Whonet 5.4 system.Results The total strains of gram negative ba-cilli were more than gram positive coccus.There are 19 Penicillin non-susceptible S.pneumoniae(PRSP).As to hemolytic streptococcus,none of them was resistant to penicillin.The β-lactamase producing rate of Haemophilus influenzae was decreased from 13% in 2005 to 4.5% in 2008.During 2008.the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)was 76.8%and that of methicillin-resistant coagulase-nage-tire Staphylococcus(MRSCoNS)was 69.0%.Vancomycin and linezolid resistance strains did not appear.The resistance rate of Enterococcus fae-cium was higher than that of Enterococcus faecalis.The resistant rates of Enterococcus.to vancomycin and teicoplanin had increasing tendency.The detection rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases(ESBLs)to E. coli Was 43.0%.21.3%,52.0%and 52.6%in 4 years.The detection rates of ESBLs to Klebiella pneumonia Was 15.0% 25.9%.18.3% and 25.0%.Multi-antibiotic resistant strains of Pseudomonas aerugirlosa and Acineto-bacter appeared.Conclusion In order to study the resistance and its tendency of bacteria isolated from patients in Beijing Hospital and offer the theory to clinicalians for experienced treat.

OBJECTIVETo determine the inheritance mode and pathogenesis of a family with brachydactyly type A1 in Jining, Shandong province via clinical feature and disease gene analysis.

METHODSFamily survey and clinical examinations were performed to determine the inheritance mode; microsatellite polymorphic markers and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)were employed for linkage analysis and mutation screening respectively.

RESULTSThe brachydactyly type of the family was type A1 (BDA1), and autosomal dominant inheritance. A missense mutation (G298A) of the indian hedgehog gene (IHH) was identified in the patients of this family.

CONCLUSIONA missense mutation G298A of the IHH gene might be the molecular basis for the brachydactyly type A1 in this family from Shandong province.

Base Sequence ; China ; Family ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hedgehog Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo obtain a detailed pattern of the dynamic evolution and interactions among MMP-13, TIMP-1, type I and III collagen during experimental liver fibrosis.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly allocated into a normal group, and a model group. To induce liver fibrosis, rats were intraperitoneally injected with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) three consecutive times in the first week, then two consecutive times per week, totally for 6 weeks. In the normal control group, rats were treated with saline by the same means. Animals were sacrificed 1, 4, 10, 17, 28, 42, 56 days after starting DMN injections. Conventional histological examinations were performed after hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson stain. Fibrosis stages were classified into 0 to 4. Hydroxyproline contents were determined after liver tissues were hydrolyzed in HCl at 160 degrees C for 2 h and then measured with spectrometry at 560 nm wavelength. mRNA levels of MMP-13, TIMP-1, type I and III collagen were determined by semi-quantitive RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn the model group, hepatic type I pro-collagen mRNA expression started to increase on the 10th day after DMN administration (t = 2.85, P < 0.05), type III started to increase on the 28th day (t = 4.16, P< 0.01), and TIMP-1 mRNA expression started to increase on the 4th day (t = 2.60, P < 0.05). They all remained much higher than in the normal group throughout the remaining study period. Hepatic MMP-13 mRNA expression started to increase on the 17th day after DMN administration and remained at a higher level than in the normal group until he 28th day (t = 4.08, P < 0.01), then gradually returned to normal level at the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONAlthough hepatic MMP-13 expression transiently increased during liver fibrosis, enhanced expression of TIMP-1 from the early periods of liver fibrosis inhibited the collagen degrading ability of MMP-13, therefore, over-expressed collagen accumulated in the liver. Thus, it is hypothesized that TIMPs play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Collagenases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR).

METHODSDifferent concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were added to the sperm suspension from 48 healthy fertile men, and the suspension was incubated in 1 x Earle at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Progesterone was used to induce AR for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, and then acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in the suspension before and after capacitation and at different time of AR was measured by p-nitrophenyl sodium phosphate assay. In the meantime, sperm motile parameters were assayed by CASA to observe sperm capacitation and AR.

RESULTSACP activity and sperm motile parameters increased in the 50 approximately 100 nmol/L NO concentration group, showed no significant variation in the 150 approximately 200 nmol/L group, and decreased in the 250 approximately 300 nmol/L group.

CONCLUSIONNO can facilitate sperm capacitation, AR and sperm motile parameters in low concentration and suppress them in high concentration. ACP activity assay of sperm is an objective and reliable method to evaluate sperm capacitation and AR in whole sperm population.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Adult ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; pharmacology ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Sperm Capacitation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSThe expression levels of AIF-1 in 70 CRC tissues and paired adjacent tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, and the correlation of AIF-1 expression with the clinicopathological features of the patients was analyzed. In the CRC cell line SW480, the functional role of AIF-1 in regulating tumor progression was investigated by transfecting the cells with an AIF-1-overexpressing plasmid (AIF-1) and a negative control plasmid (NC). EdU proliferation assay and flow cytometry were used to assess the cell proliferation and cell cycle changes; Transwell migration assay and Annexin V-APC/7-AAD apoptosis assay kit were used to analyze the cell migration and apoptosis. The changes in the biological behaviors of the cells were observed after application of SB203580 to block the p38 MAPK pathway. The expression levels of CDK4, cyclin D1, P21, P27, MMP2, MMP9, Bax, Bcl2, Bcl-xl, p38 and p-p38 were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTSAIF-1 was down-regulated in CRC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues, and its expression level was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.008), TNM stage (P=0.003) and tumor size (P=0.023). Overexpression of AIF-1 in SW480 cells significantly reduced EdU-positive cells and caused obvious cell cycle arrest in G1 phase (P<0.05). AIF-1 overexpression resulted in significantly lowered protein expressions of CDK4 and cyclin D1, enhanced expressions of P21 and P27, attenuated cell migration ability (P<0.001), and decreased protein levels of MMP2 and MMP9. AIF-1 overexpression also induced obvious apoptosis of SW480 cells (P<0.01), significantly increased the protein levels of Bax and p-p38, and decreased the protein levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl; SB203580 significantly attenuated the apoptosis-inducing effect of AIF-1 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONAIF-1 plays the role of a tumor suppressor in CRC by inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing cell migration and inducing cell apoptosis. AIF-1 overexpression promotes the apoptosis of CRC cells by activating the p38 MAPK pathway.

Objective To observe the effects of Xingbi Wenmin Gel on serum levels of IL-4, TGF-β1 and nasal mucosa eosinophils (EOS) in allergic rhinitis (AR) rats; To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods Intraperitoneal injection of egg albumin and aluminum hydroxide based sensitized to ovalbumin challenge 2％ local AR model was established successfully. The experimental rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive control group, and Xingbi Gel low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for intervention. The rat symptom scores in each group were compared, and serum IL-4, TGF-β1, and nasal mucosa EOS counts were detected. Results Compared with the normal group, the serum levels of IL-4 and TGF-β1 in model group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the nasal mucosa EOS counts increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the serum levels of IL-4 and TGF-β1 in Xingbi Gel medium-dosage group and positive control group decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the nasal mucosa EOS counts decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion Xingbi Wenmin Gel may be effective through down-regulation of IL-4, TGF-β1 levels of inflammatory factors, and reduction of EOS infiltration in nasal mucosa.