OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Modified Yiqi Chutan Recipe (MYCR) on blood flow perfusion in treating mid-late stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by using multislice CT perfusion (CTP) , and to assess the relationship between each CTP parameter and the prognosis as well.

METHODSTotally 87 mid-late stage NSCLC patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (44 cases, Shenyi Capsule + MYCR +chemotherapy) and the control group (43 cases, chemotherapy alone) in the ratio of 1:1. And 21 days consisted of 1 therapeutic course, 4 courses in total. All of them underwent CTP of primary tumor and routine thoracic CT examination (plain CT and enhancement CT) 3 times (before therapy, after 2 and 4 cycles). CT findings were analyzed for tumor size and perfusion parameters [blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), permeability surface (PS), mean transit time (MTT), and time to peak (TP) before and after treatment, and relationship between perfusion parameters and prognosis was also assessed.

RESULTSIn 87 cases, 7 dropped out and 80 cases were available, 40 in the treatment group and 40 in the control group. (1) The relief rate was 47.5% (19/40) and the total stable rate was 77.5% (31/40) in the treatment group, and they were 40.0% (16/40) and 65.0% (26/40) in the control group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (χ² = 0.672, 1.227; P > 0.05). (2) Compared with before treatment group in the same group, BF and PS decreased, and MTT increased in the two groups after 2 and 4 courses (P < 0.05); BE and PS decreased, and MTT increased in the control group after 2 courses (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after 4 courses, BE decreased more significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.05). (3) After 4 courses, all patients were assigned to the remission group (35 cases) and the non-remission group (45 cases) according to the RECIST standard. Compared with before treatment in the same group, BF, BF, and PS all decreased, and MTT increased in the remission group after treatment (all P < 0.05); BF increased in the non-remission group after treatment (P < 0.05). (4) All patients were assigned to the BE increase group (34 cases) and the BE decrease group (46 cases) according to changed BE values after treatment. Results showed the mean survival rate was 246 days in the BF increase group (the 1-year accumulative survival rate being 13.0%) and 387 days in the BE decrease group (the 1-year accumulative survival rate being 53.1%). The life span was prolonged and the 1-year accumulative survival rate was elevated in the BE increase group, with statistical difference as compared with the BE decrease group (χ² = 19.057, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSShenyi Capsule plus MYCR could reduce BE in mid-late stage NSCLC patients , improve vascular permeability, showing better synergistic effect with chemotherapy. CTP could not only reflect the change of tumor size, but also reflect vascular function of the tumor. Meanwhile, changes of CTP parameters were closely associated with prognosis. Patients with post-treatment decreased BE value had better prognosis and longer life span.

Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the effect of gene NDRG2(N-myc downstream regulated gene 2) transfection on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cell.Methods Bcap37 cell line expressing low level product encoded by NDRG2 gene is transfected with recombinating adenovirus expressing high level NDRG2 gene product to improve NDRG2 gene expression level. NDRG2 expression was detected by Western blot and the proliferation activity of the cell lines was detected by MTT and flow cytometry. Results High level expression of NDRG2 inhibits cells growth and results in G1 phase arrest in Bcap37 cell line. Compared with non-transfected Bcap37 cells and Bcap37 cells transfected by empty vector,apoptosis cells obviously increase in Bcap37 cell line transfected by recombinating adenovirus expressing high level NDRG2 gene,12% after 48 hours and 21.5% after 72 hours. Conclusion Overexpression of NDRG2 in Bcap37 cells effectively inhibites cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Objective To explore the effect of gene NDRG2 (N-myc downstream regulated gene 2) transfection on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cell. Methods Bcap37 cell line expressing low level product encoded by NDRG2 gene is transfected with recombinating adenovirus expressing high level NDRG2 gene product to improve NDRG2 gene expression level. NDRG2 expression was detected by Western blot and the proliferation activity of the cell lines was detected by MTT and flow cytometry. Results High level expression of NDRG2 inhibits cells growth and results in G_1 phase arrest in Bcap37 cell line. Compared with non-transfected Bcap37 cells and Bcap37 cells transfected by empty vector, apoptosis cells obviously increase in Bcap37 cell line transfected by recombinating adenovirus expressing high level NDRG2 gene, 12% after 48 hours and 21. 5% after 72 hours. Conclusion Overexpres-sion of NDRG2 in Bcap37 cells effectively inhibites cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Objective To assess the feasibility of evaluation of coronary flow reserve (CFR) for left anterior descending (LAD),left circumflex (LCx),and right coronary posterior descending artery(PDA) as well as diagnostic accuracy for patency of each branches by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). Methods CFR of main coronary artery branches at the distal sites were studied by TTDE with adenosine infusion (140 μg · kg-1 · min-1) in 439 consecutive patients with suspected coronary heart disease. The relations between CFR and stenosis rates of coronary bifurcations were analyzed. Results Twenty-eight of LAD,12 of LCx and 21 of PDA were occluded in 439 patients. The success rate of CFR assessment of LAD, LCx and PDA were 96.8% (395/411), 74.9% (320/427), 83.0% (347/418)respectively. Then CFR≤2.0 and CFR≤1.7 were chosen as the criteria of coronary stenosis (≥50 %) and severe stenosis(≥75%). The sensitivity and specificity of detection of LAD,LCx and PDA stenosis were 81% and 87% ,64% and 82%, 79% and 85%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of LAD, LCx and PDA severe stenosis were 86% and 81%, 70% and 85%, 81% and 82%, respectively.Conclusions CFR evaluation of main coronary artery branches has high feasibility and can provide valuable information for relevant vessel patency.

Objective To investigate the change of emotion and striatum dopamine transporter(DAT) expression in adult male rats experiencing maternal deprivation, and to explore whether DNA methylation is involved in the regulatory mechanism of DAT expression. Methods Newborn rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: a maternal separation group (n=16) and a control group (n=14). The maternal deprivation group were separated from their mother for 6 hours (09∶00-15∶00) per day from postnatal day 1 to 14, while the controls (n=14) without the deprivation. When the rats in the 2 groups were 12 week, their spontaneous anxiety levels and exploratory ability in novel environments were assessed by an elevated plus maze and an open field test. DAT mRNA expression in the striatum was detected by reverse transcription-PCR, and its DNA methylation level was measured by bisulfated DNA sequencing. Results Maternally-deprived rats showed lower ability of exploring in a new environment and lower levels of anxiety than the controls. The expression of DAT mRNA in the striatum of the maternal separation group (0.236±0.043) was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.480±0.107) (P＜0.05). However the DNA methylation level in the promoter region of DAT was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusion Maternal deprivation influenced the emotion and expression of dopamine transporter in adult rats and DNA methylation may not be involved.

Objective To investigate the effects of ultrasound irradiating hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-loaded microbubbles on apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells, and to clarify its probable mechanism. Methods The SMMC-7721 cells were randomly divided into six groups as follows: control group, blank liposome microbubbles plus ultrasound, HCPT-loaded microbubbles, HCPT, HCPT plus ultrasound,and HCPT-loaded microbubbles plus ultrasound. Apoptosis was ascertained by Annexin V-Fire/ PI and TUNEL methods. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein was detected by immunocytochemistry staining technique. Results In the group of HCPT-loaded microbubbles plus ultrasound,the apoptosis rate at early term was found to reach (12.18 ± 1.38)% by Annexin V-Fitc/PI assay, brown-colored positive apoptotic cells were observed and the apoptosis rate at advanced term was found to reach (34.25 ± 1.83)% with TUNEL method. The expression of Bcl-2 was found to decrease,the expression of Bax increase,and the ratio of Bcl-2/bax significantly decrease by immunocytochemistry staining technique in the same group. Differences with other groups were significant. Conclusions The method of ultrasound irradiating HCPT-loaded microbubbles can notability induce human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis. The decrease in the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax might be responsible for cells apoptosis.

Objective To study the effects of extracellular-signal regulated kinase mitogenactivated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) signaling pathway inhibition on histone phosphorylation and the related gene expression in human colorectal cancer cells.Methods Two human colorectal cancer cell lines (SW1116 and HCT116) were cultured and treated with gradient(0,20,40/μmol/L) doses of ERK-MAPK signaling pathway inhibitor U0126.Cell viability was determined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay.Cell cycle distribution was assessed by flow cytometry.The expression levels of histone H3 kinases including ribosomal S6 serine-threonine kinase (RSK-2) and mitogen-and stressactivated protein kinase 1 and 2 (MSK1 and MSK2),and the levels of histone H3 (Ser10) phosphorylation and c-Fos protein were detected using Western blotting.Results Treatment of these two human colorectal cancer cell lines with ERK-MAPK inhibitor resulted in a time and dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation significantly. Proliferation rate of HCT116 was reduced to 47% at 72 hours after 40/μmol/L U0126 treatment. Cell cycle analysis showed that the percentage of phase G0/G1 cells significantly increased (P<0. 01) and the percentage of phase S cells decreased (P<0.01) after treatment with ERK-MAPK inhibitor. The expression of MSK1 and RSK2 reduced obviously in both of human colorectal cancer cell lines treated with U0126, which resulted in a 28% and 40% reduction of levels of MSK1 and RSK2 as compared with control HCT116 cells respectively,while no detectable change in the expression of MSK2 was found. Consistent with this, the expression level of histone H3 (ser10) phosphorylation was markedly down-regulated by ERK-MAPK inhibitor, and the related protein c-Fos expression decreased accordantly. Conclusions Decreased ERK-MAPK signaling pathway may reduce histone H3 (Ser10) phosphorylation via suppression of the activity of histone H3 kinase including MSK1 and RSK2, but not MSK2, consequently decrease the expression of c-Fos protein, which results in the inhibition of colorectal cancer cells proliferation.

Objective: To analyze the expression of CMTM1-v17 in normal prostate tissue and prostate carcinoma originated cell lines, and study its impact on the transactivation of androgen receptor and the possible mechanism. Methods: The expression of CMTM1-v17 in normal prostate tissue was analyzed with immunohistochemistry method. In immounocytochemistry was used to analyze the expression of CMTM1-v17 in prostate carcinoma originated cell lines. Luciferase assay was used to study the impact of CMTM1-v17 on the transactivation of AR and its mechanism. Results: The results of immunohistochemistry showed that CMTM1-v17 was highly expressed in prostate. In prostate cancer originated cell lines, CMTM1-v17 could also be detected in prostate cancer originated cell lines PC3, Du145 and LNCaP. And the results of luciferase implied that the relative luciferase activity of the PC3 cells transfected with 1 ?g and 2 ?g pCDI-CMTM1-v17 plasmids separately were 70.8 and 34.7, compared with the control set as 100. When trichostatin A, the inhibitor for histone deacetylase, was used, the repression of androgen receptor could be recovered with trichostatin A treatment,for the relative luciferase activity of the PC3 cells transfected with 1 ?g and 2 ?g pCDI-CMTM1-v17 plasmids and treated with 100 nmol/L trichostatin A rebound to 90.9 and 86.4. Conclusion: CMTM1-v17 is highly expressed in both normal prostate and prostate carcinoma originated cell lines. It may recruit histone deacetylas to inhibit the function of androgen receptor.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of breast medullary carcinoma in CEUS and to compare with pathologic features.Methods Morphologic characteristics of 13 breast medullary carcinomas in CEUS were analyzed.The diameter of mass before and after CEUS were compared.Parameters from time-intensity curves of masses were analyzed in contrast with peripheral breast parenchyma.All the results from CEUS analysis were compared with pathological manifestations.Results Breast medullary carcinoma was characterized as irregular shape (n=10),clear margins (n=11) and uniform enhancement (n=11) in CEUS.These characteristics were in accordance with their morphologic characters in pathology.The diameter of mass before and after CEUS had no significant defference (P=0.61),which was in accordance with expansive growth in pathology.In contrast with peripheral breast parenchyma,the arrival time and time to peak of breast medullary carcinoma were significantly shorter (P=0.034,0.021),and peak enhancement intensity was significantly stronger (P=0.005),which were in accordance with the increased vascular density and their uniform distribution,big arteries at the margin of masses in pathology.Conclusion Breast medullary carcinoma has distinguished characteristics in CEUS,which are in accordance with characters in pathology,and can be used as the basis in clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast medullary carcinoma.

Objective To study the feature of theta oscillation during working memory (WM) dysfunction in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Fifteen MCI patients (MCI group) and 15 healthy subjects for checkup (control group) in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January to November 2016 were recruited. The differences of behavioral results in visual WM tasks were compared between the two groups. Thirty four-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded simultaneously. Short-Time Fourier transform was used to calculate spatial and time-frequency distribution of power and spectral coherence of multi-channel EEGs. Results Compared with control group, MCI group showed significantly longer reaction time and lower accuracy in WM tasks (P<0.01). The analysis of EEGs revealed that the power of Fz channel was the biggest at frontal midline in both groups. And the power density of theta oscillation was lower at frontal electrode sites in MCI group than that of control group ( P<0.01), and theta coherence was significantly decreased in frontal region and between frontal-posterior regions ( P<0.05). Conclusion The absence of theta oscillaton in frontal region may be one of the important reasons of working memory dysfunction for MCI.