OBJECTIVE: To investigate the proliferation inhibition and pro-apoptosis effect of LY294002 (PI3K/AKT inhibtor) combined with daunorubicin (DNR) on the chronic myeloid leurenia cell line K562 and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: The effect of LY294002 and DNR on the proliferation of K562 cells in different treating time and concentration were measured by MTT assay. The cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry, the mRNA and protein expression of SKP2 , P27, BCL-2 and BAX were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: LY294002 and DNR were able to inhibit the growth of K562 cells and promote apoptosis in time- and concentration-dependent manner (P＜0.05), both the cell proliferation-inhibiting rate and apoptosis rate in combination therapy group were higher than that in DNR-monotherapy group (P＜0.05). After K562 cells treated by LY294002 combined DNR for 36 h, the cells were statistically significantly reduced in G/M phase (P＜0.05), as compared with control group and DNR group. Compared with DNR group, the cell level of G/G phase rased (P＜0.05) and cell level of S phase decreased (P＞0.05). Compared with DNR group, the expresson of SKP2 and BCL-2 mRNA decreased, and the expression of P27 mRNA increased in the combination therapy group (P＜0.05). The expression of BAX mRNA was not significantly different between different groups. The same result was found in the protein expression. CONCLUSION LY294002 has the sensibilizative effect on DNR chemotherapy, which may be relative with blocking the cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mutation rate and distribution of Homo sapiens neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) gene in the patients with acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS: The genomic DNA of bone marrow was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for NRAS mutations. At the same time, the mutations of ASXL1, DNMT3A, TET2, CEBPA, FLT3, IDH2, NPM1 and c-KIT genes were also detected to analyze the relation with NRAS mutations. RESULTS: A total of 11 NRAS mutations were found in 108 patients with initial acute myeloid leukemia and the mutation rate was 10.2%, including 6 cases of G12D, 3 cases of G13D, and 2 cases of G61K. In the mutation group, the peripheral blood leukocyte count was higher (P＜0.05), more likely to occur in the M subtype, and the M subtype was mutually exclusive (P＜0.05). Moreover, the mutant group was more likely to express CD13 than the non-mutation group (P＜0.05), while no statistic difference was found in age, gender, hemoglobin level, platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase level, bone marrow blast, cytogenetics, complete remission rate and overall survival (P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS The mutation of NRAS gene has no effect on the prognosis of AML patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compared the therapeutic effect between filiform fire needle assisted 308 nm excimer laser and simple 308 nm excimer laser on vitiligo of different parts. METHODS: Target lesions of 134 patients were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the principle of self-controlled, 201 pieces in each one. In the observation group, filiform fire needle was performed at target lesions. Then target lesions both of the two groups were irradiated with 308 nm excimer laser at the same time. Once every 2 weeks, totally 10 treatments were required. The effective rate and effective rate, color recovery rate and responding time of different parts in the two groups were evaluated 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate in the observation group was 82.59% (166/201), which was higher than 68.16% (137/201) in the control group (<0.01). The effective rate of face-neck, trunk, limbs and hand-foot were 90.32%, 81.63%, 81.48% and 58.62% respectively in the observation group, which were higher than 82.80%, 69.39%, 51.85% and 31.03% in the control group (<0.01, <0.05). The color recovery rate of different parts in the observation group was higher than the control group, and the effect was faster in the observation group (<0.01, <0.05). CONCLUSION Filiform fire needle as an adjunctive therapy, combined with 308 nm excimer laser are more effective than simple 308 nm excimer laser for vitiligo of different parts. Combination therapy has a shorter responding time, the face-neck has the best effect and hand-foot has poor effect.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer ; Neck ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitiligo ; therapy

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively investigate the effects of Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (1%～80%) on biphasic compound action potentials (AP) from frog sciatic nerve trunk, and their recoveries from alcohol effects. METHODS: Individual segments of frog sciatic nerve trunk with a length of 6 to 8 cm were prepared. Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol (0%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, 32%, 48%, 64% and 80%) was applied onto the segment of the trunk between the stimulus and ground electrodes via an agent reservoir which was newly armed in a nerve trunk shielded chamber for 5 minutes. The nerve trunk was respectively electro-stimulated to generate the biphasic compound AP which was recorded using the experimental system of BL-420F. This was followed by 5 times washout plus 5 min administration with Ringer's solution before recovery recording of AP. RESULTS: Compared to normal Ringer's solution, Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≤4% did not have dramatic impacts on the AP amplitude and conduction velocity, while Ringer's solution with alcohol at ≥8% there was significant decrease in these two parameters. Ringer's solution with alcohol at the conentrations of 16%, 32% and ≥48% could prevent a small proportion (30%), a large proportion (90%) and all (100%) of sciatic nerve trunks, respectively, from generating AP. Washout with normal Ringer's solution after alcohol application at the concentration of ≤32%, AP could totally recover to normal status. While alcohol at the concentration of 48%, 64% and 80%, the probabilities to regenerate APs were 90%, 40% and 0%, and the AP amplitudes were decreased to 60%, 36% and 0%, respectively. After washout, AP conduction velocity showed no difference with alcohol at the concentration of ≤8% when compared with that before washout, while it could not be recovered to normal under alcohol at ≥16%. CONCLUSION Ringer's solution with different concentrations of alcohol exerts different effects on biphasic compound AP amplitude and conduction velocity. Hopefully, our findings could be helpful for the alcoholic usage and its recovery from alcoholic damage.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Anura ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Ringer's Solution ; pharmacology ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects

Objective To compare the different methods of administration of diacetyl (DA)-established bronchiolitis obliterans (BO)murine model so as to establish a simple,easy-to-operate and stable BO murine model. Methods SPF grade C57BL/6 male mice (6 to 8 weeks)were randomly divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group:oropharyngeal aspiration group (OPR),intratracheal instillation group (ITI),and control groups (OPR-CON and ITI-CON).OPR group was treated with DA (400 mg/kg,327 mg/kg)by oropharyngeal aspiration;ITI group received DA (400 mg/kg,327 mg/mL)through intratracheal instillation;OPR-CON group and ITI-CON group were treated with sterilized distilled water instead of DA,while the other experimental conditions were the same as those in OPR and ITI groups.The mice were kept in SPF-class animal center for 7 d to collect specimens. Collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)and the left lung were examined pathologically.Results Male C57 BL/6 mice were treated with a single dose of DA (400 mg/kg,327 mg/kg)by OPR or ITI,which could establish BO model.The successful model was evaluated by pulmonary function,BALF counts and pathological examination. Airway hyperresponsiveness occurred with the two-method resulted BO.And two methods of instilling DA resulted in airway injury,lumen occlusion,infiltration of inflammatory cells in the airway and around the vessels.The mortality rate of mice was up to 60% and the success of model construction was only 20% in BO model by oropharyngeal aspiration of DA,while that in ITI group mortality was only 30%,the success of model construction was up to 60%.There was no death in control groups.Conclusion BO murine model could be successfully established by OPR or ITI of DA (400 mg/kg,327 mg/mL).However,the BO model was established well by ITI of DA with lower mortality rate.Therefore,ITI of DA-established BO murine model is recommended for use.

BACKGROUND: Morinda officinalis oligosaccharide is the main active ingredient of morinda officinalis extract,which can promote the angiogenesis of ischemic tissue, but the mechanism is unknown. At present, there are two ways for endothelial repair:vascular endothelial cell division or differentiation from vascular endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood. Here, we attempted to explain the pro-angiogenesis mechanism of morinda officinalis oligosaccharide by exploring whether there is a correlation between morinda officinalis oligosaccharide and the biological function of vascular endothelial progenitor cells, thereby providing experimental reference for new drug development. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of morindae officinalis oligosaccharide on the proliferation, differentiation and paracrine of vascular endothelial progenitor cells. METHODS: Vascular endothelial progenitor cells were isolated from healthy human peripheral blood, and divided into two groups: control group (without morindae officinalis oligosaccharide) and experimental group (with 0.15 g/L morindae officinalis oligosaccharide), followed by 48 hours of in vitro culture.The proliferation of vascular endothelial progenitor cells was tested by fluorescent staining;the ratio of vascular endothelial progenitor cells expressing CD31 was detected by flow cytometry; and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1 and interleukin 8 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The percentage of vascular endothelial cells expressing CD34, CD133 or VEGFR- 2 was (84.72±4.34)%. After 48 hours of culture by 0.15 g/L morindae officinalis oligosaccharide, the proliferation rate and the positive expression of CD31 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1 and interleukin 8 in the experimental group were also higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). To conclude, morindae officinalis oligosaccharide can promote the proliferation and differentiation of vascular endothelial progenitor cells, and meanwhile, it can stimulate the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1 and interleukin 8 from vascular endothelial progenitor cells through the paracrine pathway. Consequently, it is a potential drug for myocardial ischemic diseases.

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases with a high prevalence in the general population. The association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease has been well addressed in previous studies. However, whether NAFLD is associated with carotid artery disease in a community-based Chinese population remained unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NAFLD and carotid artery disease.

MethodsA total of 2612 participants (1091 men and 1521 women) aged 40 years and older from Jidong of Tangshan city (China) were selected for this study. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. The presence of carotid stenosis or plaque was evaluated by carotid artery ultrasonography. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between NAFLD and carotid artery disease.

ResultsParticipants with NAFLD have a higher prevalence of carotid stenosis (12.9% vs. 4.6%) and carotid plaque (21.9% vs. 15.0%) than those without NAFLD. After adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, income, physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, triglyceride, waist-hip ratio, and high-density lipoprotein, NAFLD is significantly associated with carotid stenosis (odds ratio [OR]: 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.91), but the association between NAFLD and carotid plaque is not statistically significant (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.8-1.40).

ConclusionA significant association between NAFLD and carotid stenosis is found in a Chinese population.

Adult ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; complications ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

To study the effects of different variable temperature drying modes on active components of roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba, and provide basis for its industrialized drying process. In order to ensure the content of active components, variable temperature drying modes were designed: low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 60 ℃, low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 70 ℃, low temperature at 30 ℃ and high temperature at 80 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 60 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 70 ℃, low temperature at 40 ℃ and high temperature at 80 ℃ and air dry oven was used for variable temperature drying process. Then HPLC method was used to determine the changes of active components in roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba under different temperature modes; and SPSS 17.0 was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the samples, which were first dried at 40 ℃ for six hours and then dried at 80 ℃ for three hours, had the highest contents in dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone Ⅰ and tanshinone ⅡA as compared with other kinds of drying methods, and the contents were 0.35, 2.76, 0.78, 4.47 mg•g⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, as compared with samples dried in the shade, the contents of dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone Ⅰ were increased 2.9% (P>0.05), 45.3% (P<0.05) and 34.5% (P<0.05), respectively; however, the content of tanshinone ⅡA was decreased by 44.1% (P<0.05). The water-soluble active components (rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B) of roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, had the highest contents when the samples were first dried at 30 ℃ for six hours and then 70 ℃ for three hours, and the contents were 3.83,55.44 mg•g⁻¹, increased by 62.3% (P<0.05) and 109.1% (P<0.05) respectively as compared with the samples dried in the shade. Variable temperature drying can significantly affect the contents of active components in roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba. As compared with the traditional process of shade-drying process, low temperature drying can significantly increase the content of water-soluble active components and also with significant promotion effect on the liposoluble components such as tanshinone ⅡA, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone Ⅰ. The variable temperature drying mode, can effectively shorten the process of drying and provide theoretical basis for industrial processing of roots of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the promoter methylation status, mRNA expression and clinical significance of DKK-3 and WIF-1 genes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).

METHODSMethylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) mothod was carried out to detect DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene promoter methylation status in bone marrow specimen from 56 patients with AML and 20 patients with iron deficiency anaemia(IDA) as control; then the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of DKK-3, WIF-1 gene and β -catenin in the above-mentioned specinens, and their relationship with the clinical features and survival time was analyzed.

RESULTSThe promoter methylation rate of DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene in AML patients were significantly higher than that in control group(χ=15.330,P<0.001; χ=17.371,P<0.001). There was no relationship between DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene promoter methylation rate and AML patient's sex, age, clinical typing. The relative expression of DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene mRNA in AML group were 0.840±0.320 and 0.792±0.313, which were lower than those in control group (1.134±0.392 and 1.047±0.334) respectively, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.415,P=0.000; t=3.070, P=0.003). The relative expression of β-catenin mRNA in AML bone marrow specimens in AML group was 0.756±0.304, which was higher than that in control group(0.342±0.105), the difference was statistically significant (t=5.943, P=0.001). The expression of DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene mRNA negatively correlated with β-catenin mRNA(r=-0.543; r=-0.562). Kaplan Meier survival curve analysis showed that overall survival time in AML patients with DKK-3 gene methylation was shorter than that in the AML patients with DKK-3 gene unmethylation(χ=3.957, P=0.042). Futhermore, the orerall survival time in AML patients with WIF-1 gene methylation was also shorter than that in AML patients with WIF-1 gene unmethylation (χ=4.520, P=0.029).

CONCLUSIONWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is abnormally activated in AML patients, the DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene promoter methylation may be involved in Wnt pathways activation and the pathogenesis of AML.

Objective · To investigate the effect of modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) on oxidative stress parameters in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods · Forty-three patients with bipolar disorder (case group) were enrolled that received MECT intervention for 6 weeks, and 49 healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited. Chinese versions of the 17 items Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) were used to assess the efficacy and side effects at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. The plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment to assess the level of oxidative stress. Results · The serum MDA and GSH-Px levels of the case group were higher while the serum SOD levels of the case group was lower than that of the control group, and there was no significant difference in the serum CAT levels between two groups at baseline. MDA levels were higher in manic states than in depressed states, and they were positively correlated with the CGI-S scores. After MECT treatment, the CGI-S scores of patients decreased significantly, and the plasma MDA levels decreased significantly in manic and depressive states, but there was no change in other oxidative stress parameters. Conclusion · There was oxidative stress damage in patients with bipolar disorder, and the severity of the disease varied with the degree of damage. MECT improved the symptoms of the disease and decreased the level of plasma MDA, while there was no effect on the anti-oxidation index.