Humans ; Lipodystrophy ; congenital

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hiccup ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Young Adult

Objective To study the anti-tumor effects of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNF-α generadiotherapy on mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma, and to explore the mechanism involved. Methods 240 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma were randomly divided into four groups, including control group,irradiation group, liposome group, and liposome combined irradiation group. The plasmids packed by liposome were injected locally into the tumors of the mice, and the tumors of liposome combined irradiation group were irradiated with 10 Gy γ-rays 24 h later. The expression levels of TNF-α and endostatin in mouse serum were measured by ELISA. Then the tumor growth rates at different time were observed. Tumor angiogenesis density were estimated on frozen sections stained with CD31 by using the Chalkley counting method to vessel hot-spots. The tumor inhibition rates were also calculated. Results Radiation induced the expression of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNFα. The endostatin and TNF-α were expressed steadily for about 4 weeks. The highest levels of expression of the endostatin and TNF-α were (52. 64 ±4. 19)and( 12. 01 ±0. 87 ) ng/ml at 2 week. The expression levels of TNF-α and endostatin were higher in combined therapy group than those in other groups( F = 29. 726,P ＜ 0.05 ). Compared with the control group, the density of tumor angiogenesis were depressed [ (4.7 ± 0. 8 ) vs ( 10.0 ± 1. 2)/field, t = 14. 063, P ＜ 0.05 ] and tumor growth were significantly inhibited compared to the control group and irradiation group [ (5907. 2 ±78.6), (4653.4±32.8) and (763.5 ± 12.3) mm3, F= 16.415,P ＜0.05)]. Conclusions The expression of pEgr-1-endostatin-TNFα could be induced by irradiation in dose- and time-dependent manner. The effect of antitumor and angiogenesis inhibition may be more significant than irradition.

AIMTo observe protective effects and involved mechanism of ginsenoside Rb3 on hypoxic/ischemic brain injury, using cultured hippocampal neurons, rat hippocampal slices and intact animals.

METHODS(1) Mice were tightly closed in glasses of 150 ml, and then survival time of them was observed. (2) During simulated ischemia and after reoxygenation, changes of orthodromic population spikes (OPS) in the area CA1 of hippocampal slice were investigated. (3) By using histochemistry, the expressions of NOS in CA1 area of rat hippocampus after hypoxic exposure were observed. (4) Using LDH detection, tests of total NOS, iNOS and cNOS activity, the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb3 were investigated on cultured hippocampal neurons treated with hypoxia.

RESULTS(1) Given ginsenoside Rb3 (10 mmol/L), mice survived significantly longer than that of control group. (2) The occurrence of HIP (hypoxic injury potentials) decreased after administration of ginsenosides Rb3 (60 micromol/L) in many slices, while the recovery rate and amplitude of OPS after reoxygenation were significantly higher than those of the control group. (3) In CA1 area of rat hippocampus, NOS-positive neurons increased at the end of 24 h hypoxia and further 24 h reoxygenation, while the number of NOS-positive neurons decreased after treatment with ginsenoside Rb3. (4) The LDH leakage rate of cultured rat hippocampal neurons increased at the end of hypoxia, while it decreased after treatment with Rb3. Moreover the total NOS, especially iNOS activity of these neurons also decreased.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rb3 has a significant protective effect on hypoxic-ischemic injury of neurons, and this involves the stabilization of the cell membrane, the inhibition of the expression and activity of NOS, especially iNOS activity.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the different analgesic effects of acupuncture by selecting points along and not along the meridian in treating migraine, analyze the necessity of selecting points along the meridian in the treatment of migraine with acupuncture, and to provide evidence for the acupuncture treatment for migraine.Method Sixty-nine migraine patients were selected as the study subjects and randomized into Shaoyang meridian group, Yangming meridian group and a non-meridian point group by adopting a complete randomized design, 23 cases in each group, to respectively receive acupuncture at the Yuan-primary point of Foot Shaoyang Meridian Qiuxu (GB40), the Yuan-primary point of Foot Yangming Meridian Chongyang (ST42), and a non-meridian point at the midpoint between Qiuxu and Chongyang. Of the three groups, only Shaoyang meridian group selected point along the meridian. The improvements of pain intensity in the three groups were compared, and the pain intensity was measured by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Nonparametric test was used to analyze whether there were significant differences in comparing the improvements of pain in the three groups.Result According to the statistical analyses, the pain intensities were improved significantly in each group (P<0.001), while there were no significant between-group differences in comparing the improvement of pain intensity (P>0.05).Conclusion In the treatment of migraine with acupuncture, selecting points along the meridian and not along the meridian (including non-meridian point) produces equivalent analgesic effect.

BACKGROUNDValproic acid (VPA) improves early survival and organ function in a highly lethal poly-trauma and hemorrhagic shock model or other severe insults. We assessed whether VPA could improve organ function in a rat model of septic shock and illustrated the possible mechanisms.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group, VPA group, LPS group, and LPS + VPA group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to replicate the experimental model of septic shock. Rats were treated with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Six hours after LPS injection, blood was sampled for gas analysis, measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Lung, liver and kidney were collected for histopathological assessment. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-a in pulmonary tissue were measured. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung was also evaluated by Western blotting.

RESULTSLPS resulted in a significant decrease in PaO2, which was increased by VPA administration followed LPS injection. In addition, LPS also induced an increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, these increases were attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. The lungs, liver and kidneys from the LPS group were significantly damaged compared with the control group. However, the damage was attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. Myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pulmonary tissue increased significantly in the LPS group compared with the control group. These increases were significantly inhibited in the LPS + VPA group. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung tissue in the LPS group was inhibited compared with the control. However, the level of acetylation of histone H3 in the LPS + VPA group was markedly elevated in contrast to the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with VPA can attenuate multiple organ damage caused by LPS induced septic shock. Our data also suggest that the beneficial effects are in part due to the decrease in inflammatory cytokines and restoration of normal acetylation homeostasis.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDElevated levels of interleukin-7 (IL-7) have been correlated with CD4(+) T cell depletion and the emergence of syncytium-inducing (SI) variants in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, and suggested as an indicator of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease progression. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IL-7 on disease progression and virus phenotype in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSIn a cross-sectional study of 71 untreated HIV-1 seropositive individuals and 12 healthy donors, plasma IL-7 levels were determined by an ultra sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and its relations to CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, plasma viral loads and HIV phenotypes were analyzed.

RESULTSSignificant higher IL-7 levels were found in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients [(3.33 +/- 3.60) pg/ml] than those of health controls [(1.2 +/- 0.81) pg/ml] (P < 0.05), and IL-7 levels were inversely associated with CD4(+) T cell counts (r = -0.497, P < 0.01). Furthermore, IL-7 levels were significant higher in patients with SI variants [(9.12 +/- 4.55) pg/ml] than those with non-syncytium-inducing variants [(1.50 +/- 2.69) pg/ml] (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased IL-7 levels were found in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients and significantly associated with disease progression, thus increased IL-7 plasma levels may indicate disease progression.

Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Disease Progression ; HIV Seropositivity ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Interleukin-7 ; blood ; physiology ; Phenotype ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of dynamin-1 and phosphor-dynamin-1 in the hippocampus of children and rats with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and to investigate the roles of dynamin-1 and phosphor-dynamin-1 in the development of MTLE.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 25 days) were randomly divided into acute control (AC), acute seizure (AS), latent control (LC), latent seizure (LS), chronic control (CC) and chronic spontaneous seizure (CS) groups. Lithium chloride-pilocarpine was used to induce a rat model of MTLE. The hippocampus samples of 5 children with a pathologically confirmed hippocampal sclerosis who received surgical operation were collected as a human model (HM) group, and the hippocampus samples of 4 dead children (without organic lesion of the hippocampus) were collected by autopsy as a human control (HC) group. The expression of dynamin-1 and phosphor-dynamin-1 in the hippocampus of children and rats with MTLE was measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe Western blot showed that the expression of phosphor-dynamin-1 was significantly lower in the AS and CS groups than in the corresponding control groups (AC and CC groups) (P<0.05). The expression of phosphor-dynamin-1 was significantly lower in the HM group than in the HC group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of dynamin-1 among the AS, LS and CS groups and between the HM and HC groups (P>0.05). The immunohistochemical results showed that phosphor-dynamin-1 was highly expressed in the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons of AC, CC and HC groups, but its expression was significantly reduced in the AS, CS and HM groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of phosphor-dynamin-1, not dynamin-1, is downregulated in the hippocampus of children and rats with MTLE during seizures, which suggests that the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of dynamin-1 may be involved in the development of MTLE.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Child ; Dynamin I ; analysis ; metabolism ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; metabolism ; Female ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) V3 loop amino acid mutations among HIV-1 infected people in Liaoning province.

METHODSThe whole blood samples of the HIV carriers and AIDS patients were collected in Liaoning province, China and were extracted PBMC genome DNA. HIV-1 V3 and flanking region sequences were amplified by nest-polymerase chain reaction (nest-PCR) with env specific primers: ED5/ED12 and ED31/ED33. Products were sequenced directly and sequences were aligned, translated and analyzed.

RESULTSIn AIDS group, some amino acid mutations at specific position of V3 loop: S to R at position 11, H to S, T and N at position 13, A to V at position 19, F to Y at position 20, Q or D to N at position 25 and 29, were found and all common mutations were associated with T tropic/SI phenotype. The frequency of such amino acid mutations in specific positions was higher in AIDS group than that of the asymptomatic infection group (P < 0.05). In addition, we found some unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop: GQGR, APGR and RPGA, GLGR, RPGA in addition to some rare mutations, such as: N to H at position 5 and H to S, F at position 34.

CONCLUSIONThe amino acid mutations on the V3 loop of HIV-1 epidemic in Liaoning province were in agreement with the results of subtype B, but we observed some rare mutations and unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genes, env ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; genetics ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the high level of asparagine synthetase (AS) expression in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is associated with an inferior prognosis.

METHODSAS mRNA level in leukemic cells from 53 newly diagnosed ALL children was measured by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR method. Patients were divided into groups according to their relapse risk and outcome, and the AS expression levels in each group were compared. The survival rates in different AS expressing level groups were estimated and compared.

RESULTSThe highest level of AS [median 17.25 (2.48-46. 82)] was observed in children failed remission, intermediate level [14.28 (3.20-54.47)] in relapsed children and the lowest level [5.08 (0.84-54.92)] in children with continuous complete remission (CCR) (P<0.05). The AS mRNA level [14.93 (2.48-54.47)] in children with poor outcome (un-remission and relapsed) was significantly higher than that in children in CCR (P<0.01). The two-year estimated disease free survival was much lower in children with high AS expression (53.8%) than in those with low AS expression (84.6%) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh expression of AS is associated with a poor outcome in ALL children.

Adolescent ; Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; enzymology ; Prognosis