OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effects of silymarin （SM） on glioma in vivo and in vitro and its potential mechanism. METHODS Human glioma cell line U87 cells were randomly divided into control group， SM low- concentration， SM medium-concentration and SM high-concentration groups （50， 100， 200 μg/mL）， protein kinase B （Akt） activator group （SC79 20 μmol/L）， high-concentration of SM combined with Akt activator group （SM 200 μg/mL+SC79 20 μmol/L）. After drug treatment （except for the control group）， optical density （OD） value， clone formation rate， apoptotic rate， the expressions of proliferation/apoptosis-related proteins [proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl- 2-associated X protein （Bax）， caspase-3]， the phosphorylation levels of Akt/mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway related proteins [Akt， p38 MAPK， extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）] were detected in each group. The xenograft tumor model in nude mice was established by injecting U87 cells subcutaneously via the right armpit， and then divided into control group， SM low-dose， SM medium-dose and SM high-dose groups （25， 50， 100 mg/kg）， Akt activator group （SC79 40 mg/kg）， high-dose of SM combined with Akt activator group （SM 100 mg/kg+SC79 40 mg/kg）， with 5 mice in each group. After drug intervention （except for the control group of nude mice）， the tumor mass was weighed and the tumor volume was calculated. RESULTS Compared with control group， the OD values， clone formation rates， protein expressions of PCNA and Bcl- 2， phosphorylation levels of Akt， p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in SM groups， tumor mass and volume in nude mice of SM groups were all decreased significantly， while the apoptosis rates， protein expressions of Bax and caspase-3 were increased significantly， in a dose-dependent manner （P＜0.05）；the trend of changes in the above indicators in the Akt activator group was opposite （P＜ 0.05）， and Akt activator could significantly attenuate the inhibitory effect of high-concentration/high-dose SM on glioma in vivo and in vitro （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS SM may promote the apoptosis of U87 cells， and inhibit its proliferation， clone formation and tumor growth in xenograft nude mice by inhibiting Akt/MAPK signaling pathway.

Carcinogenesis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Hepatoblastoma ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Organoids ; YAP-Signaling Proteins

Objective To compare the influence of the continuous airway humidification with microp-ump and the discontinuous dripping technique on patients. Methods Randomized grouping method was adopted, 25 cases with tracheotomy in the observation group used continuous airway humidification with micro-pump, 24 cases in the control group used dripping technique via airway for airway humidification. The two groups were compared retrospectively. Results The oxygen saturation rate in the observation group increased compared with that of the control group, sputum callus formation, irritating cough, airway bleeding and pul-monary infection was significantly lower than those of the control group. Condusious The effect of continu-ous airway humidification with micro- pump is superior to the traditional method of inconsistent endotracheal dripping, the former can also decrease nursing workload of airway humidification.

Objective To investigate the effects of body-weight support treadmill training(BWSTT) on function of lower limbs.Methods 46 hemiplegic patients after stroke were randomly divided into the therapy group(n=23) and control group(n=23).The subjects of both groups were administered with standardized rehabilitation program.The therapy group was also given BWSTT in addition.Both groups were evaluated before and after treatment using Functional Ambulation Category(FAC),Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA),Berg Balance Scale(BBS).Results Before treatment,there was no significant difference between these 2 groups in terms of scores with FAC,FMA and BBS.After treatment,both groups were significantly improved regard to their scores with FAC,FMA and BBS(P<0.01),with the therapy group scored significantly better than the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion BWSTT can significantly improve walk ability and balance function of the hemiplegic patients after stroke.