Cycloartenol, a phytosterol compound, also one of the key precusor substances for biosynthesis of numerous sterol compounds, has a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibiosis and anti-alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, cycloartenol also plays an important role in the process of plant growth and development. This article reviewed the research progress on cycloartenol pharmacological activity in domestic and foreign articles, and summarized the effect of cycloartenol and "cycloartenol pathway" on the plant growth and development, laying foundation for the its further study, development and utilization.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer and compare the prognostic value of CAR with other inflammation-based prognostic scoring systems.

METHODSWe retrospectively evaluated 163 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients in Nanfang Hospital between January, 2007 and December, 2014. All recommended cutoff values of the clinicopathological factors were defined using receiver- operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. We evaluated the prognostic value of CAR in comparison with Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the area under the ROC curve. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to identify the factors closely associated with overall survival of the patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare overall survival curves between patients with a high CAR and those with a low CAR.

RESULTSThe recommended cutoff value of CAR was 0.132. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test demonstrated a significant difference in the overall survival between patients with a low CAR (<0.132) and those with a high CAR (≥0.132) (2157.0∓395.3 vs 1661.0∓136.4 days, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve of CAR, NLR and GPS was 0.656, 0.550 and 0.642, respectively, indicating a better prognostic value of CAR. Univariate analyses showed that age, C-reactive protein, albumin, CAR, NLR, GPS, platelet, TMN stage, Dukes stage and chemotherapy regimens were associated with the overall survival of the patients (P<0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that TMN stage [HR=1.689 (95%CI: 1.146-2.488), P=0.008] and Dukes stage [HR=2.447 (95%CI: 1.349-4.441), P=0.003] were associated with the overall survival of the patients.

CONCLUSIONSSimilar to the previously reported inflammation-based prognostic systems (GPS and NLR), CAR is useful for predicting the survival of patients with colorectal cancer and can be complementary to the two prognostic scoring systems.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the curative effect of arthroscopy-assisted irrigation with different times for the treatment of suppurative knee arthritis in elder patients.

METHODSFrom October 2012 to October 2014, 23 old patients with suppurative knee arthritis were treated with arthroscopic debridement and continuous irrigation. All the patients were randomly divided into two groups:one-week irrigation group (10 cases) and two-week irrigation group(13 cases). The ESR, CRP, recovery time of knee skin temperature, joint rang of motion and knee function were observed to evaluate the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the mean duration was(13.3±2.3) months. No recurrence was observed. The CRP in both groups returned to normal level 2 weeks after operation. The ESR in two-week irrigation group returned to normal level 2 weeks after operation, while in one-week irrigation group it was still at a high level, and returned to normal level 3 weeks after operation; there was a statistical significance between these two groups(<0.05). The recovery time of knee skin temperature after operation in two-week irrigation group was (13.4±1.2) d on average(ranged, 8 to 17 d), which was less than(15.5±1.9) d on average(ranged, 10 to 20 d) in one-week irrigation group (<0.05). The knee joint mobility of all patients 1, 3, 6 months after operation was significantly improved compared with those before surgery(<0.05). The knee joint mobility of patients in two-week irrigation group was better than that in one-week irrigation group at the first month after operation(<0.05);but there were no significant differences between these two groups 3, 6 months after operation. The Lysholm score of all patients 1, 3, 6 months after operation was significantly improved compared with those before surgery(<0.05). The Lysholm score of patients in two-week irrigation group was better than in one-week irrigation group at the first month after operation(<0.05);but there were no significant differences between these two groups 3, 6 months after operation. All the patients had stable knee functions 3 months after operation. According to the Lysholm scale, 3 patients got an excellent result, 6 good and 1 poor in one-week irrigation group 6 months after operation;5 patients got an excellent result, 7 good and 1 poor in two-week irrigation group;there was no significant differences between these two groups.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of suppurative knee arthritis using arthroscopy has such advantages as minimal invasion and complete debridement, which is helpful to attenuate inflammation and regain knee function. It is suggested that the irrigation should be prolonged for two weeks postoperatively.

Objective To construct a model of Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) for forecasting the epidemic of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Xianyang, Shaanxi, China, and provide valuable reference information for JE control and prevention. Methods Theoretically epidemiologic study was employed in the research process. Monthly incidence data on JE for the period from Jan 2005 to Sep 2014 were obtained from a passive surveillance system at the Center for Diseases Prevention and Control in Xianyang, Shaanxi province. An optimal SARIMA model was developed for JE incidence from 2005 to 2013 with the Box and Jenkins approach. This SARIMA model could predict JE incidence for the year 2014 and 2015. Results SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (2, 1, 1)was considered to be the best model with the lowest Bayesian information criterion, Akaike information criterion, Mean Absolute Error values, the highest R, and a lower Mean Absolute Percent Error. SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (2, 1, 1)was stationary and accurate for predicting JE incidence in Xianyang. The predicted incidence, around 0.3/100 000 from June to August in 2014 with low errors, was higher compared with the actual incidence. Therefore, SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (2, 1, 1)appeared to be reliable and accurate and could be applied to incidence prediction. Conclusions The proposed prediction model could provide clues to early identification of the JE incidence that is increased abnormally (≥0.4/100 000). According to the predicted Results in 2014, the JE incidence in Xianyang will decline slightly and reach its peak from June to August.

To observe the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Puerariae Lobatae Radix in hepatocyte insulin resistance(IR) models, and investigate its preliminary molecular mechanism. IR-HepG2 cell model was stably established with 1×10-9 mol•L⁻¹ insulin plus 3.75×10-6 mol•L-1 dexamethasone treatment for 48 h according to optimized protocol in our research group. After IR-HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations(5%,10% and 15%) of Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay; the glucose consumptions in IR-HepG2 cells were separately detected at different time points (12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 h) by using glucose oxidase method; intracellular glycogen content was detected by anthrone method; and the protein expression levels of leptin receptor (Ob-R), insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS2), glucose transporter 1(GLUT1) and GLUT2 were detected by Western blot assay. The results showed that Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum (5%, 10% and 15%) had no significant effect on IR-HepG2 cell viability; 5% and 10% Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum significantly increased glucose consumption of IR-HepG2 cells (P<0.01) at 18, 21 and 24 h; 15% Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum elevated the glucose consumption of IR-HepG2 cells at 15 h (P<0.05), and significantly elevated the glucose consumption at 18, 21, 24 and 30 h (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. The optimized time of anti-hyperglycemic effect was defined as 24 h, and further study showed that Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum could increase intracellular glycogen content after 24 h treatment (P<0.01), and up-regulate IRS2, Ob-R, GLUT1 and GLUT2 protein expression levels. Our results indicated that Puerariae Lobatae Radix-containing serum could achieve the anti-hyperglycemic effect through important PI3K/PDK signaling pathway partially by up-regulating the expression levels of Ob-R and IRS2, GLUT1 and GLUT2 in IR-HepG2 cells, accelerating the glucose transport into hepatocytes and increasing hepatic glycogen synthesis to enhance the anti-hyperglycemic effect of IR-HepG2 cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of heat exposure during the second week of pregnancy on placental development and intrauterine growth of fetal rats.

METHODS24 pregnant rats were either exposed or not to a temperature of 35∓1 degrees celsius; during the second week of pregnancy. The body weight gain of the pregnant rats was measured regularly, and in late pregnancy, the pregnant rats were dissected and the number, weight, length, tail length, appearance of the offspring rats, number of live and still births, and the placental weight were recorded. The expressions of HSP70, Bax and Bcl-2 in the placenta were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the pregnant rats in heat exposure group had significantly lower body weight at the end of pregnancy and gestational weight gain, and the body weight, body length and tail length of the offspring rats were also significantly lower or smaller (P<0.05). The placental weight was comparable between the two groups. The placental expressions of HSP70,Bax,and Bcl-2 were significantly higher in the heat exposure group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy has adverse effects on placental development and intrauterine growth of the fetal rats by inducing heat shock response of placental tissue and apoptosis of the placental cells.

The aim of the research was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) by quantification of the active metabolite of mycophenolic acid (MPA) after multiple escalating oral doses in Han kidney transplant recipients. A total of 28 Han postoperative kidney transplant recipients were given a multiple-dose of 540, 720 or 900 mg of EC-MPS two times a day in combination with tacrolimus for 6 days. Blood specimens were collected at each time point from 0 to 12 h after EC-MPS administration. MPA plasma concentrations were measured by UPLC-UV. The relationship between the EC-MPS dose and its PK parameters was assessed. In the range from 540 to 900 mg,and AUCdid not increase with dose escalation. The AUC,,andfor the 540 720 and 900 mg doses were not significantly different, respectively (>0.05). AUCandwere increased less than proportionally with increasing EC-MPS dose levels. Inter-individual variability in AUC,andwere considerable. Nonlinear PK relationships were found from the doses of 540-900 mg of EC-MPS.

OBJECTIVETo screen for the optimal dose of benzene and cyclophosphamide using an orthogonal design for establishment of New Zealand rabbit models of aplastic anemia.

METHODSFollowing an orthogonal experimental design, the effects of 3 levels of 4 factors, namely the dose of benzene (A), the dose of cyclophosphamide (B), the number of benzene injections (C), and the number of cyclophosphamide injections (D) were tested in the establishment of New Zealand rabbit models of aplastic anemia using a L(3) orthogonal table, and the optimal protocol for the model establishment was selected from the 9 experimental groups. Each rabbit received subcutaneous injection of benzene on the back every other day, followed by daily cyclophosphamide injection via the ear vein for prescribed times. The blood routine was examined every 6 days, and before modeling and at 36 days after modeling, a small sample of the femoral bone was collected for bone marrow histopathological examination.

RESULTSComparison of the white blood cell, erythrocyte and platelet counts among the 9 groups showed successful modeling in Groups 4-9, and daily mean reduction rates of the cell counts in Groups 7, 8, and 9 differed significantly from those in the other groups (P<0.05). In Group 7, bone marrow sections showed low myelodysplasia, reduced hematopoietic tissue, reduced or even absence of megakaryocytes, and increased fat cells. Further observation found that the rabbits in Group 7 had sustained bone marrow suppression, consistent with the clinical characteristics of the disease.

CONCLUSIONStable models of aplastic anemia can be established efficiently in New Zealand rabbits by a combination of 8 subcutaneous injections of benzene at 1.5 mL/kg and 4 intravenous injections of cyclophosphamide at 10 mg/kg.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of α-enolase (ENO1) in regulating glucose metabolism and cell growth in human glioma cells.

METHODSGlucose uptake and lactate generation were assessed to evaluate the changes in glucose metabolism in human glioma U251 cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated ENO1 knockdown. MTT assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining were used to examine the cell growth and cell cycle changes following siRNA transfection of the cells.

RESULTSTransfection of U251 cells with siRNA-ENO1 markedly reduced glucose uptake (P=0.023) and lactate generation (P=0.007) in the cells and resulted in significant suppression of cell proliferation (*P<0.05) since the second day following the transfection. Transfection with siRNA-ENO1 also obviously suppressed cell cycle G1/S transition in the cells (P=0.0425). The expressions of HK2 and LDHA, the marker genes for glucose metabolism, were significantly down-regulated in the cells with siRNA-mediated ENO1 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONENO1 as a potential oncogene promotes glioma cell growth by positively modulating glucose metabolism.