OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition in regulating the apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells and promoting mucosal healing in young rats with inflammatory bowl disease (IBD). METHODS: A total of 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4-5 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control, IBD model, short peptide, and short peptide+glutamine (n=20 each). The IBD model was prepared by a single colon perfusion of 3-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid. At 3 days after modeling, the rats in the short peptide group were fed with short peptide formula (100 mL/kg), and those in the short peptide+glutamine group were fed with short peptide formula (100 mL/kg) and glutamine (0.5 g/kg). The course of intervention was 1 week. General conditions were observed after the experiment and their intestinal mucosal tissue was obtained. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological change of the intestinal mucosa. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes (bax and bc1-2) and apoptotic signal transduction factors (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9) in the intestinal mucosa. Western blot was used to measure the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the colonic mucosa. RESULTS: The IBD model group had poorer general conditions than the other three groups (blank control, short peptide and short peptide+glutamine), and the short peptide+glutamine group had better general conditions than the IBD model and short peptide groups. The IBD model group had significantly higher mRNA expression of bax than the other three groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 among the 4 groups (P>0.05). The short peptide group had a significantly higher level of IGF-1 than the short peptide+glutamine, blank control and IBD model groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition can effectively improve the general nutritional status of young rats with IBD, but it is not better than exclusive enteral nutrition in inhibiting the apoptosis of colonic mucosal cells and stimulating the synthesis of IGF-1 in the intestinal mucosa.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Enteral Nutrition ; Glutamine ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo analyze the frequency and clinical significance of ABL tyrosine kinase point mutations in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients receiving imatinib treatment.

METHODSNested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on 40 bone marrow samples from 23 patients to amplify the ABL kinase domain, followed by direct sequencing and sequence homologous analysis.

RESULTSIn the 23 patients analyzed, the ABL domain point mutations was detected in 7 patients who presented with 5 types of nucleotide changes, namely T315I(n=3), Y253H, E255K, F317L and G321W. The incidence of mutations in chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP) and blast phase (BP) was 25.00%, 40.00% and 30.00%, respectively. For 6 of the 7 patients with mutations who were resistant to imatinib before sequencing, the daily drug dose had been increased to 600-800 mg daily for poor response to 400 mg/day imatinib. During the follow-up for 3-6 months, only the patient with F317L achieved major cytogenetic response (MCR), and the patient with Y253H and 1 of the 3 with T315I progressed to BP. The newly diagnosed patient with G321W IN cp achieved a complete hematologic remission and had a significant decrease of the proportion of BCR-ABL-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONSABL kinase point mutation is an important mechanism of imatinib resistance. The type of mutations is associated with the level of resistance to imatinib, and detection of ABL kinase point mutations by direct sequencing may help estimate the prognosis and plan for therapeutic strategy adjustment.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Base Sequence ; Benzamides ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Point Mutation ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use

With the kernel of efficacy, "Xiaohe Silian" was a pattern and method for new drug discovery which was constituted with "metabolism-efficacy, toxicity-efficacy, quality-efficacy and structure-efficacy". Its connotation was in keeping with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical pharmacy. This paper systematically summarized the research method of new drug discovery practice process for TCM. To avoid western drug like in TCM new drug discovery, we carried out combination analysis with TCM clinical pharmacy. The correlation analysis between basic elements of "Xiaohe Silian(n) and TCM clinical pharmacy was studied to guarantee this method could integrate closely with TCM clinic from all angles. Hence, this method aimed to provide a new method for TCM new drug discovery on the basis of TCM clinical pharmacy with insisting on holistic view of multicomponent study, kinetic view of metabolic process when the curative effect occurred and molecular material view of quality control and structure-activity exposition.
Drug Discovery ; methods ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety, tolerance and efficacy of Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA in contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the liver.

METHODSForty-two patients having been suspected of suffering from primary liver tumor or hepatic metastasis by ultrasonography (US) or CT received Gd-BOPTA or Gd-DTPA in contrast-enhanced MRI examination pre- and post-contrast MRI. T(1)- and T(2)-weighted spin-echo, and T(1)-weighted gradient-echo images were acquired before injection. Dynamic T(1)-weighted gradient-echo images were obtained at 15 - 45 s, 1 - 2, 2 - 3, 4 - 5 and 8 min, respectively, after intravenous injection of Gd-BOPTA or Gd-DTPA at the same dose of 0.1 mmol/kg, and delayed T(1)-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo images were acquired at 40 - 120 minutes after injection. All the images were assessed in three matched pairs including pre-contrast images vs. early post-contrast images; pre-contrast images vs. delayed post-contrast images; and pre-contrast images vs. early and delayed post-contrast images. The assessment was made in terms of 4 aspects including improved conspicuousness and/or delineation of liver lesions, improved confidence in lesion detection or exclusion, improved assessment of lesion internal morphology, and improved confidence in lesion characterization. The results of assessments were statistically compared inside every group or between two groups, and the radiological utility of contrast enhancement was also evaluated at the end of the study.

RESULTS1. There were significant differences between pre-contrast images vs. early post-contrast images and pre-contrast images vs. delayed post-contrast images inside the Gd-DTPA group, and the early post-contrast images were superior to delayed images. 2. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of pre-contrast images vs. delayed post-contrast images, and Gd-BOPTA was superior to Gd-DTPA. 3. The quality of post-contrast images were improved obviously with a rate of 72.7% for Gd-BOPTA and 70.0% for Gd-DTPA, respectively, but without significant difference.

CONCLUSIONThe early post-contrast phase of Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is superior to delayed phase. The effects of Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA in early post-contrast imaging are comparable, but Gd-BOPTA is significantly superior to Gd-DTPA in delayed post-contrast imaging.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Contrast Media ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Meglumine ; analogs & derivatives ; Middle Aged ; Organometallic Compounds

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics and MR imaging features of intracranial metastasis from malignant tumors.

METHODS1271 patients who had history of primary tumor and suspected of cranial metastasis had MRI on Philips Gyroscan T5-NT MR scanner. The sequences included pre-contrast T(1)WI, FLAIR, and postcontrast transversal, sagittal, and coronal T(1)WI. All of the clinical data and MRI features of the patients were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSOf 547 patients with intracranial metastasis, 393 came from lung cancer (71.9%), 10% of 547 patients were found to have the presenting symptoms of cranial metastasis. 526 had parenchymal cerebral metastasis, and 21 only meningeal metastasis. Of these 526 patients found to have brain metastasis, 164 had single metastasis (31.2%), and 362 multiple (68.8%). Most of the cerebral metastatic lesions showed uniform or ring enhancement after intravenous injection of contrast medium, dura-arachnoid metastasis showed continuous and thick-curve enhancement at the cerebral convex, but not extending to the sulcus, while pia-dura metastasis displayed as thin and linear or nodular enhancement extending to the adjacent sulci.

CONCLUSIONThe most common primary lesion with metastasis to the brain were lung cancers, followed by breast and gastrointestinal cancers. By using gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MR imaging, many single and small cerebral metastasis could be found earlier.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo report the MRI features of intracranial metastases of lung cancer.

METHODSA total of 858 patients with history of primary lung cancer suspicious of brain metastases was retrospectively reviewed with MRI.

RESULTS1. Of the 858 patients, 393 (45.8%) had brain metastases on MRI. The primary tumor was lung adenocarcinoma in 117 (29.8%), small cell lung cancer in 110 (28.0%), squamous cell cancer in 52 (13.2%), adenosquamous cancer in 16 (4.1%), large cell carcinoma in 2 (0.5%) and carcinoid in 1 (0.3%). The histopathological types of the primary tumor were unknown in 95 (24.2%). 2. Meningeal metastasis was found in 19 patients with lung cancer. The primary tumor was of adenocarcinoma lung in 6, small cell lung cancer in 5, squamous cell carcinoma in 4 and the remaining 4 were of unknown histopathological type. 3. Edema around the lesion: in 120 cases, there was no obvious edema; the edema was slight in 98 cases, moderate in 70, serious in 86.

CONCLUSIONThe brain metastasis of lung cancer is of common occurrence. MRI with enhancement is very helpful in the establishment of diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Exosomes are bilayer-lipid membrane nanovesicle from almost all living cell types which are in-volved in intercellular substance transporting and signaling communication .Exosomes are 30 ~120 nm in diameter , can transfer bioactive molecules including DNA , RNA, microRNA, protein as well as lipids derived from parents ' cells to re-cipient cells by body fluids , and specifically influence their physiological or pathological conditions .Leukemia is due to malignant proliferation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells .It was reported that leukemia cells derived exosomes play a key role in disease progression , drug resistance , and predict prognosis .This paper will outline the role of exosomes de-rived from leukemia cells and provide important information to help explore the molecular pathogenesis , biomarker as well as therapeutic target of leukemia .

A variety of biomarkers have been identified in recent prospective and retrospective reports as being potentially predictive of venous thromboembolis (VTE), particularly idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (IDVT). This study identified a serum tumor biomarker for early screening of IDVT. A total of 128 IDVT patients (54 females and 74 males; average age: 50.9±17.4 years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, β2-microglobulin, cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) in patients with IDVT were detected. Malignancies were histo- or cytopathologically confirmed. Of the 128 IDVT patients, 16 (12.5%) were found to have malignancies. Serum CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 were found to be helpful for detecting malignancies in IDVT patients. Our study revealed a positive association between these markers and tumors in IDVT patients. On the other hand, SCC and AFP were not sensitive enough to be markers for detecting tumors in patients with IDVT. No significant differences were found in positive rates of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between tumor and non-tumor groups, and no significant difference exists in serum levels of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between the two groups. Carbohydrate antigens, CA 15-3 in particular, may be useful for differential diagnosis and prediction of malignancies in patients with IDVT.

This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) combined with trehalose on the cryopreserved platelets. The platelets were preserved at -80 degrees C. The experiments were divided into 5 groups: blank control group composed of apheresis platelet suspension; trehalose group composed of apheresis platelet suspension and 0.25 mol/L trehalose; DMSO group composed of apheresis platelet suspension and 5% DMSO; 5% combined group composed of apheresis platelet suspension, 5% DMSO and 0.25 mol/L trehalose; 2.5% combined group composed of apheresis platelet suspension, 2.5% DMSO and 0.25 mol/L trehalose. All the groups were thawed at 37 degrees C in a waterbath. The recovery rate of platelets and mean platelet volume (MPV) were assayed by using hemocytometer; the ultrastructural changes were examined by electron microscopy; the expressions of CD41, CD42b, CD61 and CD62p on platelets were detected by flow cytometry. The results indicated that single use of trehalose had no strong effect in increasing the recovery rate of platelets, but the morphology of platelets was close to normal. The DMSO showed significant effect in increasing the recovery rate of platelets and maintaining the intact property of platelets, however, the shape of platelets tended to sealing, and partial platelets still displayed heteromorphic changes. The combination of DMSO and trehalose revealed the protective effect on the external morphology and internal structure of platelets to be close to the normal homeostasis, and ensured an ideal recovery rate of the cryopreserved platelets and higher expression levels of CD41, CD42b, CD61 and CD62p in the same time. It is concluded that the combined use of DMSO and trehalose possesses the synergistic protective effect on the cryopreserved platelets, therefore, the combined use of both as the protective agent is hopeful to further raise the effectiveness of clinical infusion of the cryopreserved platelets.
Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Trehalose ; pharmacology

The present study was to investigate the effect of kinetin on ovary and uterus of D-galactose-induced female mouse model of aging. Aging female mice model caused by D-galactose were used as model group, the aging model mice intragastrically administered with kinetin solution (daily 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) were used as kinetin groups, and the mice with solvent as normal group (n = 20). To detect the effects of kinetin, estrous cycle, estradiol content, ovarian and uterine wet weight and organ index, SOD and GSH-Px activities, MDA and total protein contents, as well as the reserve function of ovaries were examined. The results showed that, kinetin-induced changes in two kinetin groups were observed, compared with the model group: (1) the estrous cycle was shortened; (2) serum estradiol content was significantly increased; (3) the wet weights of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (4) SOD and GSH-Px activities of ovary and uterus were significantly higher; (5) the MDA contents of the ovary and uterus were reduced significantly; (6) total protein contents of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (7) the numbers of mature oocytes in fallopian tubes were increased significantly. The results show that kinetin can protect ovary and uterus against oxidative damage, prevent low estrogen secretion caused by ovarian oxidative damage, shorten the estrous cycle in mice, and eventually maintain ovarian and uterine vitalities.
Aging ; Animals ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Estrous Cycle ; drug effects ; Female ; Galactose ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Organ Size ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects