Edaravone effects on the expression levels of collagen type I and IV after spinal cord injury in rats / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Edaravone, an effective free radical scavenger, has been reported to significantly improve the rehabilitation of limb locomotion after spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism underlying edaravone promoting the recovery of limb locomotion in rats with SCI by observing the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores and expression levels of collagen type I and IV. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were randomly allocated into three groups (n=12 per group): sham group (laminectomy plus intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), model group (SCI model by NYU impactor plus intraperitoneal injection of normal saline), and edaravone group (SCI model by NYU impactor plus intraperitoneal injection of edaravone). All rats were given the administration at the 1stday post-SCI for consecutive 7 days. The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores were tested at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days post treatment. On day 7, all rats were sacrificed to remove the spinal cord, and the morphology of neurons in the spinal cord were observed by Nissl staining; the expression levels of collagen type I and IV were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot assays. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores in the edaravone group were significantly increased at day 5 post treatment (P < 0.05). Nissl staining showed a clear boundary between grey matter and white matter, and a large nucleolus in the neurocytoplasm in the sham group; there was a complete structure of neurons, slight cellular swelling and small hematoma area in the edaravone group; many and large cavitations and swollen nucleus were found in the neurons, even without nucleolus. Immunohistochemistry and western blot assay results showed that the expression levels of collagen type I and IV in the edaravone group were significantly higher than those in the model group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that edaravone can promote the recovery of limb locomotion of rats with SCI,probably via up-regulating the expression levels of collagen type I and IV.

External therapies of traditional Chinese medicine combined with sodium hyaluronate injected in articular cavity therapy on knee osteoarthritis: Meta-analysis / 中国中药杂志

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) combined with sodium hyaluronate(SH) injected in articular cavity therapy on knee osteoarthritis(KOA). The following databases such as CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBM, PubMed and Medline were researched to collect the randomized controlled trails on external therapies of TCM combined with sodium hyaluronate injected in articular cavity therapy on KOA. The selection of studies, assessment of methodological quality and data extraction were performed independently by two researchers. The methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane system evaluation methodology and Meta-analysis were performed by using Cochrane Collaboration's the RevMan 5.3 software. Forteen studies involving 1 449 patients were included. All of the trails were not adequate enough in methodological quality. Meta-analysis indicated that compared with control group, external therapies of TCM combined with sodium hyaluronate injected in articular cavity could raise effectiv rate(<0.000 01) and cure-rate(<0.000 01), improve Lysholm score(=0.003) and reduce VAS score(<0.000 1). But two groups have no difference in Womac score (=0.13).Compared with the treatment with sodium hyaluronate injected in articular cavity, external therapies of TCM combined with sodium hyaluronate injected in articular cavity, a promising treatment options, can be complementary advantages, improve the clinical curativ effect. But it still needs low risk and high quality clinical trials to verify.

Construction of human ARF4 lentiviral vector and stable expression in ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To establish ovarian cancer cell line SKVO3 that can stably express human ADP ribosylation factor-4 (ARF4). Methods A eukaryotic expression vector pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-Puro/ARF4 was constructed and transfected into SKOV3 cells after verifying by DNA sequencing. The expression of ARF4 mRNA was verified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Then, the recombinant plasmid with lentiviral packaging plasmids were co-transfected into SKOV3 cells for packaging. The recombinant lentiviral particles LV-ARF4 were collected and transfected into SKOV3 cells, and the stable transfected SKOV3 cell line was screening by culture with puromycin. The expression of ARF4 gene was detected by qRT-PCR and Western Blot. Results A eukaryotic expression vector pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-Puro/ARF4 was successfully constructed. The vector could significantly up-regulate the expression of ARF4 mRNA in SKOV3 cells and be successfully packaged into recombinant lentiviral particles in HEK-293T cells. Compared with the control group, the relative expression level of ARF4 mRNA and protein in SKOV3 cells was significantly increased after the infection with LV-ARF4 (all P<0.001). Conclusion The recombinant plasmid pCDH-CMV-MCS-EF1-Puro/ARF4 and lentiviral vector LV-ARF4 were successfully constructed. The establishment of stably infected SKOV3 cell line with LV-ARF4 provides an experimental foundation for further studies on the biological function of ARF4 in ovarian cancer.

Effect of miR-200a on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of lung cancer cell line A549 / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate the expression of miR200a in different lung cancer cell lines and its effect on proliferation,migration,and apoptosis in A549 cells.Methods The expressions of miR-200a in different lung cancer cell lines were detected by RT-PCR.miR-200a mimics was transfected into A549 cells by Lipofectamine RNAiMax.The change of proliferation ablility of A549 cells was detected by CCK-8 method and plate clone formation assay.Cell migration was examined by Transwell chamber assay.The flow cytometry was used to examine the changes of apoptosis.The possible target genes of miR-200a were forecasted by bioinformatics tools.Results The results of RT-PCR showed that the expression of miR-200a was significantly down-regulated in A549,H23 and H460 cell lines than 16HBE cell line.CCK-8 assay showed that the OD values of the mimics group at 4,and 5 days were significantly lower than those in the negative control (NC) group (P ＜ 0.05).Plate clone formation assay showed rate of colony formation in the mimics group was significantly lower than that in the NC group [(33.13±0.74)％ vs (45.57 ±1.27)％,P＜0.05].Transwell migration assay showed that the cell number of mimics group that passed the Transwell membrane was significantly lower than that of the NC group [(71.60 ± 17.90) vs (140.20 ± 17.88),P ＜0.05].Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of the mimics group was significantly higher than that of the NC group [(17.80± 1.90)％ vs (11.33 ± 1.96)％,P ＜ 0.05].Tiam1 may be one of the target gene of miR-200a.Conclusion miR-200a can inhibit the proliferation and migration,and promote apoptosis of lung cancer A549 cells,suggesting a potential new therapeutic agent for lung cancer cell.MiR-200a may play a function of regulation of tumor development through target gene Tiam1.

Assessment of Myocardial Viability by Low-dose Dobutamine Stress Speckle Tracking Echocardiography and Delayed Enhancement MRI in Patients With Old Myocardial Infarction / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity between low dose dobutamine stress speckling tracking echocardiography (LDDS-STE) and delayed enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) for assessing viable myocardium (VM) in patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI). Methods: A total of 30 in-hospitalized OMI patients were enrolled, all patients received cardiac MRI and LDDS-STE prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Radial peak systolic strain (RS) and strain rate (RSr) were analyzed by LDDS-STE at both resting and loading conditions, echocardiography was performed at 1, 3 and 6 months after PCI to observe the cardiac wall motion changes and the improvement of wall motion score was taken as golden standard of VM. Results: 510 left ventricular segments were obtained for analysis in 30 patients and echocardiography indicated 201 segments with abnormal wall motion. Compared with golden standard, the area under ROC curve of RSrest for detecting VM was 0.636 with the sensitivity at 60.0% , specificity at 60.5% and the area under ROC curve of RSLDDS for detecting VM was 0.806 with the sensitivity at 79.1%, specificity at 82.7%; the area under ROC curve of RSrrest for detecting VM was 0.646 with the sensitivity at 60.0% , specificity at 60.5% and the area under ROC curve of RSrLDDS for detecting VM was 0.808 with the sensitivity at 80.0%, specificity at 83.7% which were obviously improved than RSrrest . By DE-MRI, the area under ROC curve for detecting VM was 0.901 with the sensitivity at 90.8%, specificity at 87.1% and accuracy at 89.5%. Conclusion: Both DE-MRI and LDDS-STE can recognize VM in OMI patients; while DE-MRI had the better accuracy and repeatability, cost less time which may provide important basis for predicting the efficacy of PCI and for making the treatment strategy.

Five cases of interstitial heterotopic pregnancy after IVF-ET treated by laparoscopic surgery / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To evaluate the efficency and safety of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of interstitial heterotopic pregnancy (IHP) after IVF-ET, five patients with interstitial heterotopic pregnancy after IVF-ET treated by laparoscopy in our hospital from Jan. 2012 to Jan. 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. All operations were finished laparoscopically without any major complications and they successfully delivered. The results suggest that laparosccpic surgery is feasible and safe for IHP to maintain the trauterine pregnancy, and it can diagnose and treat IHP at early stage, which cause mininmal injuries and less disturbance to trauterine pregnancy and ensure rapid recovery.

Treatment of Level 2 Hypertension by Diagnosis and Treatment Program of Integrative Medicine: a Multi-centre, Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the therapeutic effect of diagnosis and treatment program of integrative medicine (IM) on level 2 hypertension in the young and middle-aged patients and their ambulatory blood pressure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized, placebo parallel and controlled, multi-center clinical trial was performed. Totally 199 young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (99 cases) and the control group (100 cases). All received combined hypotensive treatment program by taking Nifedipine Sustained Release Tablet and Hydrochlorothiazide as basic drugs. Patients in the treatment group additionally took Western medicine (WM) combined Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily), while those in the control group additionally took WM combined simulative agents of Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily). The treatment course was 8 weeks for all, and 24-week follow-ups performed. 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and casual blood pressure, and their efficacies were compared between the two groups, and safety assessed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment in the same group, daytime and night casual blood pressure, as well as 24 h ambulatory blood pressure were all obviously improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). Average diastolic and systolic blood pressures at night decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in total efficacies of daytime casual blood pressure or ambulatory blood pressure (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Jiangyabao serial drugs combined WM in treating young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients showed obvious effect in improving night blood pressure, especially for night diastolic blood pressure.</p>

Reamed or unreamed intramedullary nailing for tibial fractures: a meta-analysis / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the treating effects of different intramedullary nailing methods on tibial fractures in adults.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literature reports in both Chinese and English languages were retrieved (from the earliest available records to October 1, 2013) from the PubMed, FMJS, CNKI, Wanfang Data using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing for treatment of tibial fractures. Methodological quality of the trials was critically assessed, and relevant data were extracted. Statistical software Revman 5.0 was used for data-analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 12 randomized controlled trials, comprising 985 patients (475 in the unreamed group and 510 in the reamed group), were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the two methods in the reported outcomes of infection (RR=0.64; 95%CI, 0.39 to 1.07; P=0.09), compartment syndrome (RR=1.44; 95%CI, 0.8 to 2.41; P=0.16), thrombosis (RR=1.29; 95%CI, 0.43 to 3.87; P=0.64), time to union (WMD=5.01; 95%CI, -1.78 to 11.80; P=0.15), delayed union (nonunion) (RR=1.56; 95%CI, 0.97 to 2.49; P=0.06), malunion (RR=1.75; 95%CI, 1.00 to 3.08; P=0.05) and knee pain (RR=0.94; 95%CI, 0.73 to 1.22; P=0.66). But there was a significantly higher fixation failure rate in the unreamed group than in the reamed group (RR=4.29; 95%CI, 2.58 to 7.14; P<0.00001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is no significant difference in the reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial fractures, but our result recommends reamed nails for the treatment of closed tibial fractures for their lower fixation failure rate.</p>

Preparation of cefquinome sulfate proliposome and its pharmacokinetics in rabbit

Cefquinome Sulfate [CS] is a fourth-generation cephalosporin, which has been developed solely for veterinary use. It shows potent antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial species. However, Cefquinome is susceptible to hydrolysis, which limiting its clinical employment efficacies to some extent. So, in this study, to increase Cefquinome Sulfate biological half-life, a novel Cefquinome Sulfate proliposome was prepared by solid dispersion and effervescent techniques and characterized for morphology, particle size, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release. A Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography [RP-HPLC] method was first chosen and established to determine the drug concentration in plasma after intra muscular [IM] administrating Cefquinome Sulfate solution and liposome at a single dosage of 18 mg/kg in rabbit. Then their pharmacokinetics in vivo was compared. Results showed that the received liposome was milky white suspension, spherical or ellipsoidal in shape. The mean particle size was 203 +/- 5 nm and the entrapment efficiency was 53.5 +/- 0.16%. The cefaquinom sulfate solution and liposome both followed a two compartment model, in vivo. The pharmacokinetic parameters for the solution and liposomal formulations were measured as follows: t[1/a alpha] were [1.214 +/- 0.135] h and [1.395 +/- 0.113] h, t[1/2beta] were [8.752 +/- 0.846] h and [16.503 +/- 1.275] h, AUC[0-24] were [49.582 +/- 9.173] [mg-h]/L and [138.727 +/- 11.034] [mg-h]/L, CL/F were [0.357 +/- 0.015] L/[h-kg] and [0.127 +/- 0.012] L/[h-kg], MRT[0-24] were [2.68 +/- 0.229] h and [5.945 +/- 0.479] h, respectively. It could be clearly seen that t[1/2beta] of liposome prolonged [p < 0.05], AUC and MRT both increased remarkably [p < 0.01], CL/F decreased. Results indicated that this preparation has more residence time and exhibits some, sustained-release tendency

Progress in the studies on small molecule IGF-1R inhibitors / 药学学报

The importance of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling in malignant behaviour of tumour cells is well established. Inhibiting the activity of IGF-1R may result in striking apoptosis in malignant cells growing. IGF-1R antibodies which are currently in phase I and II clinical trials and several IGF-IR TKIs have preclinically been characterized. This review describes recent developments of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic viral hepatitis patients with non-A to E hepatitis virus infection / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the status of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic viral hepatitis patients with non-A to E hepatitis virus infection and explore the diagnostic value of fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) technique for occult hepatitis B virus infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The amount of HBV-DNA in serum and liver tissue from 57 patients with non-A to E hepatitis virus infection who were diagnosed as chronic viral hepatitis by Menghini method liver biopsy were detected by using FQ-PCR technique, then the relation between the viral load of HBV DNA in liver tissue and hepatic inflammatory activity were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirteen (22.81%), 22 (38.60%) patients were positive for HBV DNA in serum and liver tissue, respectively. The positive rate and the level of HBV DNA quantity in liver tissue were significantly higher than those in serum; HBV DNA was found positive in both serum and liver tissue in 13 cases, negative in both serum and liver tissue in 35, positive in liver tissue but negative in serum in 9, and in none of the cases HBV DNA was positive in serum but negative in liver tissue (P < 0.01). The logarithmic value of HBV DNA from 13 patients in liver tissue and in serum was respectively: (6.62 +/- 1.21) copies/g vs.(4.03 +/- 1.06) copies/ml, P < 0.01. The hepatic lesions of all HBV DNA positive patients were active pathologic changes, but the level of HBV DNA in liver tissue was not significantly correlated with the grade of hepatic inflammation activity (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Occult HBV infection is the etiology of part of the chronic viral hepatitis patients with non-A-E hepatitis virus infection. Missed diagnosis will occur if diagnosis of hepatitis B is only based on detection of serum HBV markers. It is useful for improvement of the diagnostic level of HBV infection via detection of HBV DNA quantitatively in serum especially in liver tissue of chronic viral hepatitis patients with non-A-E hepatitis virus infection by using FQ-PCR technique. The chronic viral hepatitis patients with occult HBV infection should be also given effective anti-viral therapy.</p>

Study of Fufang Haishe capsule against cell apoptosis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study mechanismt of Fufang Haishe capsule for dementia by observing the effect of it on PC-12 cell apoptosis, which was induced by beta-amyloid protein (Abl-42).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Nerve growth factor (NGF) was used to cultivate the PC-12 cells. Fufang Haishe capsule at different concentrations was added into the culture medium so as to identify the nontoxic concentrations with MTT. To analyze the PC-12 cell apoptosis respectively by MTT assay, Flow cytometry (FCM technique) with different concentrations of Fufang Haishe capsule (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5 mg x mL(-1)), adding Ab or not Western blot was used to detect apoptosis which was measured on the implementation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Fufang Haishe capsule could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta with increased colorimetric MTT asay ( compare among the control group and concentration 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg x mL(-1) group, which is the same below: 1.75 +/- 0.12, 0.73 +/- 0.35, 0.79 +/- 0.11, 0.83 +/- 0.07, 1.31 +/- 0.07, 1.80 +/- 0.38, P < 0.01) and the decreased apoptosis rate of the cells which was analysed by flow cytometry (1.93 +/- 0.41)%, (46.17 +/- 4.08)%, (35.35 +/- 4.63)%, (28.62 +/- 3.81)%, (15.13 +/- 3.15)%, (7.84 +/- 1.76)%, P < 0.01. In addition, Fufang Haishe capsule inhibited the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3 of PC-12 cells which was induced by Abeta.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fufang Haishe capsule significantly inhibite apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta. The mechanism might be that Fufang Haishe capsule decrease the activity of the apoptosis implementing protein,caspase-9 and caspase-3.</p>

Clinical Evaluation of Self-etching and Etching Adhesive on Non-carious Cervical Lesions at Two Years / 医学研究杂志

Objective To compare the clinical performance of the self-etching and the phosphoric acid etching adhesive system for restoration of non-carious Class V restorations for a period of two years.Methods There were 37 patients with at least one pairs of similar-sized non-carious cervical lesions participated in the study.120 restorations were placed by one operator,of which 60 with phosphoric acid etching adhesive system(Spectrum TPH,Prime& Bond)and 60 with self-etch(Clearfil AP-X,SE Bond).The restorations were evaluated by ?2 statistics at the baseline,6th,12th and 24th month according to the modified Ryge"s USPHS criteria.Results At two years,106 teeth were reviewed in 33 patients.The retention rates for self-etching adhesive system were 89% and for phosphoric acid etching adhesive system 77%.The percentage of the retention rates of both adhesive systems was not found to be different when calculating the failure rates.No cases in both adhesive systems showed slight marginal discoloration problems.Some cases for each adhesive system had slight color change after the same period.Conclusions The performance of both adhesive systems is excellent during this two-year clinical trial.The self-etch adhesive system exhibites slightly better coloar match than the phosphoric acid etching system.

Role of hepatitis C virus superinfection in hepatic pathologic changes of patients with chronic hepatitis B: a retrospective short-term and long-term comparative study / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) superinfection on the short-term and long-term hepatic pathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HCV-RNA of twice corresponding period serum samples was detected via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay from 230 patients with CHB for whom liver biopsy was performed at an interval of 0.5-15 years, respectively. The hepatic pathological changes of the patients with CHB who were serum HCV-RNA positive at the beginning of observation and persistently positive between the starting and ending of observation were respectively compared with those of serum HCV-RNA negative and persistently negative patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>41 patients (17.83%) were positive for serum HCV-RNA at the beginning of observation. There were significant differences in the severity of hepatic inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage between serum HCV-RNA positive and negative patients with CHB (P < 0.05). Twenty-nine patients were persistently positive for serum HCV-RNA in the beginning and end of observation. Compared with persistently negative patients who were 116 patients selected from the above-mentioned 230 patients and they were comparable with HCV-RNA persistently positive patients in mean follow-up time, age and sex, the long-term progression of hepatic inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage in persistently positive patients were more speedy (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCV superinfection worsens the hepatic pathological changes of patients with CHB and speeds up its progression.</p>

Structures of four new triterpenoid saponins from the leaves of Oplopanax elatus Nakai / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>Isolation and structural elucidation of the triterpenoid saponins of Oplopanax elatus Nakai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Solvent extraction and column chromatography were used to isolate the triterpenoid saponins, physico-chemical constants and spectroscopic analysis were employed for structural elucidation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four newtriterpenoid saponins named cirenshenoside S (1), cirenshenoside T (2), cirenshenoside U (3) and cirenshenoside V (4) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated to be 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl 3beta,23-dihydroxylup-20 (29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl 3beta-hydroxyolean-9(11),12-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 3alpha-hydroxyolean-12-dien-23,28-dioic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 4 )-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-4 are new triterpenoid saponins and isolated from the leaves of Oplopanax elatus Nakai for the first time.</p>

Inhibitory effect of sinomenine on expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-induced PC-12 cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of sinomenine (Sin) on cell proliferation, intracellular expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and production of PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide-induced PC-12 cells, To explore the Sin's mechanism on nerve cell.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>PC-12 cells were cultured with nerve growing factors (NGF), and pretreated with Sin at various concentrations (0, 3 x 10(-6), 30 x 10(-6), 150 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)) for 2 hours, then with or without stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The proliferation activity of PC-12 cells was determined by 3H-TdR incorporation, and the production of PGE2 in culture supernatants of PC-12 cells was detected with competitive ELISA. Expression of COX-2 mRNA in PC-12 cells was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and expression of COX-2 protein was estimated by Western blot method and cellular enzyme immunoassay. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity in whole-cell extract of PC-12 cells was also measured by an ELISA-based method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The data showed that Sin down-regulated the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, and reduced the production of PGE2 in the LPS-stimulated PC-12 cells which correlated with Sin's concentrations positively. In addition, NF-kappaB activity in LPS-stimulated cells was suppressed significantly by Sin. No inhibition of proliferation of PC-12 cells due to Sin treatment was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sin mediates the down-regulation of expression of COX-2 and production of induced PGE2 in PC-12 cells by suppressing the activity of NF-kappaB.</p>