New progress and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of cosmetic allergy-related adverse reactions / 中华预防医学杂志

In China, the current standard for cosmetic adverse reactions related skin disease (GB/T 17149.1-1997) was jointly issued by the Ministry of Health and the State Bureau of Technical Supervision in 1997, cosmetic-allergic adverse reactions include allergic contact dermatitis and photo-allergic contact dermatitis according to this standard. The increasing use and changes in cosmetic ingredients or formula lead to a significant increase for the incidence of adverse reactions as the cosmetics industry is developing rapidly in the last 20 years. In the meantime, the clinical manifestations have become more diverse. In recent years, there have been many reports on the special manifestations for cosmetic allergy and allergen test, which provide a reference for the subsequent improvement of the diagnosis and prevention.

Effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill () in Alleviating Early Hypertensive Renal Injury in Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (, SBP) on early hypertensive renal injury in rats and to explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Twelve-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) with high-salt diet (dietary containing 8% NaCl) were randomized into the SBP group [40 mg/(kg·d)], losartan potassium group [20 mg/(kg·d)] and saline group by stratified random sampling method, 12 in each group. Blood pressure and urea albumin creatinine ratio were measured. After 10 weeks, the expression levels of serum creatinine (Scr), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in serum were assessed. Kidney pathology periodate-schiff staining was performed. Semi-quantitative count of macrophage infiltration was determined by immunochemistry of CD68 staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to examine the mRNA and protein expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), monocyte chemokine peptide (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase-1 (Arg-1).@*RESULTS@#SBP did not affect the mortality of SHR (P<0.05). SBP significantly reduced the level of elevated blood pressure of SHRs, but the effect was less significantly than that of losartan potassium. SBP decreased urine protein (P<0.01) and the expression levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β in serum. The 22-week-old SHRs showed mild proliferation of glomerular endothelial cells, glomerular ischemic lesions, inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tubular interstitium and arteriosclerosis. Both SBP and losartan potassium had alleviated renal pathological change, and significantly reduced the infiltration of macrophage (P<0.05, P<0.01). SBP and losartan potassium decreased the expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, MCP-1, iNOS, and Arg-1.@*CONCLUSION@#SBP significantly modified the early hypertensive renal injury by reducing inflammation, and the effect was similar to losartan potassium.

Regulatory effect of curcumin on renal apoptosis and its mechanism in overtraining rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effects and mechanisms of curcumin alleviating oxidative stress induced by overtraining and inhibiting renal apoptosis in rats.@*METHODS@#Male Wistar rats of 7 weeks old were divided into control group (C group, 12), overtraining group (OM group, 11), curcumin + overtraining group (COM group, 14). Group C did not undergo any exercise intervention. Rats in OM group and COM group underwent 8-week incremental load swimming training. During the training, the COM group was treated with curcumin at the dose of 200 mg/(kg·d) in the volume as 5 ml/kg by intragastric administration, and the other groups was treated with an equal volume of 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose. Twenty-four hours after the last training, renal histopathological changes were observed by light microscopy, related biochemical indicators in blood and renal tissue were detected.@*RESULTS@#The results showed that after 8 weeks of incremental load swimming training, the renal tissue structure of group C was normal under light microscope; histopathological changes were observed in OM group; COM group was significantly relieved compared with OM group. Compared with group C, serum levels of corticosterone (Cor), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in OM group were increased (0.05), while the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was decreased (<0.05), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were decreased (<0.01), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was increased (<0.01); the renal apoptosis was increased (<0.01), the expression of anti-apoptotic B cell lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) was decreased (<0.01), and the expression of proapoptotic Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) was increased (<0.01). Compared with the OM group, Cor level was decreased (<0.01) in the COM group, T level was increased (<0.01), Cr and BUN levels were lower (<0.05); the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased (<0.05), T-AOC and SOD activity were increased (<0.01), MDA concentration was decreased (<0.05); the renal apoptosis was decreased (<0.05), the expression of Bcl-2 was increased (<0.05), and the expression of Bax was decreased (<0.01). The trend of testosterone/corticosterone ratio between groups was consistent with testosterone change, and the change trend of Bcl-2/Bax ratio was consistent with the change of Bcl-2.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The 8-week incremental load swimming training triggered excessive training in rats, aggravated oxidative stress and accelerated renal apoptosis, leading to pathological changes and dysfunction of kidney. Curcumin can up-regulate expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, effectively alleviates oxidative stress induced by overtraining, thereby increasing Bcl-2 expression, decreasing Bax expression, inhibiting renal apoptosis and protecting renal tissue structure and function properly.

Determination of Paraben and Its Metabolite in Sediments by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Tandem Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

A new method for simultaneous determination of six benzoic acid esters and their metabolite p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HB) in sediments was developed.The samples were extracted with methanol and water,and then the extraction was purified by Oasis MCX solid phase column.The separation of targets was conducted by passing through a UPLC?HSS T3 column with a methanol-0.1% acid aqueous solution as the mobile phase under gradient elution.The qualitative analysis of the analytes was measured by Ultra performance liquid chromatography-Triple quadrupole tandem mass under multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) and the internal standard method was applied for quantitative analysis.The results indicated that seven target substances had a good linear relationship in the range of 0.1-500 μg/L with correlation coefficients above 0.9995 and the detection limits of 0.75-1.23 ng/g.The recoveries ranged from 65.5% to 88.3% and the relative standard deviation was 7.4%-13.6%.This method was suitable for the measurement of benzoic acid esters with the advantages such as simple processing,good selectivity and high sensitivity.

Prognostic value of PSA kinetics in locally advanced prostate cancer treated by maximal androgen blockade combined with brachytherapy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of post-treatment PSA kinetics on the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 114 cases of locally advanced PCa treated by maximal androgen blockade (MAB) combined with brachytherapy, and analyzed the association of the changes in PSA kinetics with the prognosis of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median survival time of the patients was 81 (15 - 144) months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of 91. 23%, 78.07% and 68.42% , respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the baseline PSA level, PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, PSA doubling time, and the extent of PSA declining were all predictive factors for the survival time of the PCa patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, and the extent of PSA declining were three independent prognostic factors, which prolonged the long-term survival of the patients by 1.7, 3.2 and 6.8 times, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For locally advanced PCa treated by MAB combined with brachytherapy, PSA nadir <1 micro g/L, the time to nadir <3 months, and the extent of PSA declining >96% are independent prognostic factors.</p>

The action of PI3K/AKT during genistein promoting the activity of eNOS / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Genistein could inhibit the development of atherosclerosis. This study explored the role of PI3K/AKT signaling during genistein promoted eNOS activation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L), then treated with genistein (100 nmol/L) for 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min. The production of NO was assessed by Griess reaction in cell culture supernatant. The mRNA expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression of eNOS and phosphorylation eNOS(Ser(1179)) were determined by Western blot. The effect of genistein on phosphorylation eNOS(Ser(1179)) level was also observed in the presence of LY294002 or NSC154020 (PI3K and AKT inhibitors).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of NO and the expression level of phosphorylation eNOS(Ser(1179)) were significantly increased in ox-LDL + genistein treated cells than ox-LDL treated cells (all P < 0.05), and the peak effects were observed at 15 min, however, eNOS mRNA and non-phosphorylated eNOS protein expression were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the expression level of phosphorylation eNOS(Ser(1179)) was significantly lower in PIK3/AKT inhibitors LY294002 and NSC154020 treated cells compared with ox-LDL + genistein treated cells (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genistein could promote the activity of eNOS through increasing phosphorylation eNOS(Ser(1179)) level through PI3K/AKT pathway.</p>

Sorting and identification of cancer stem cells in human prostate cancer cell lines / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To sort and identify side population (SP) cancer stem cells (CSC) in human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stem-like cells were isolated from five PCa cell lines Du145, IA8, LNCaP, TSU-Pr and PC-3 using FACS based on CD133+ CD44+ immunophenotype and SP in Hoechst staining. The in vitro growth pattern and tumorigenicity of SP stem cells were verified by soft agar colony-formation trial. LNCaP/SP cells were selected for further identification of stem cell properties using immunostaining, proliferation and invasion assay. Eventually, tumorigenicity and metastasis ability of LNCaP/SP were confirmed by xenograft experiments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentages of CSCs of the CD133 CD44 + immunophenotype were extremely low in the five PCa cell lines. On the contrary, the percentages of the isolated SP cells were significantly higher in Du145 ([0.15 +/- 0.02]%), IA8 ([0.60 +/- 0.07 ]%), LNCaP ([0.8 +/- 0.1]%) and TSU-PrL ([2.0 +/- 0.4]%), but none was detected in PC-3. Besides, IA8/SP, LNCaP/SP and TSU-PrL/SP cells showed a significantly greater colony-forming efficiency than non-side population (NSP) cells (P < 0.05). Compared with LNCaP/NSP cells, LNCaP/SP cells exhibited high expressions of integrin alpha2, Nanog, CD44, OCT4 and ABCG2, remarkably enhanced invasive and proliferative potentials in vitro, and markedly increased tumorigenicity and metastasis (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SP sorting is more suitable than CD133+ CD44+ selection for enriching CSCs from PCa cell lines, and LNCaP/ SP represents a typical CSC population.</p>

Characterization of prostate cancer cell lines and their epithelial-mesenchymal transition in subcutaneous tumors / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the differences in the expression of epithelial or mesenchymal standard proteins between prostate cancer cell lines and tumors, and to investigate the relationship between the process of the prostate cancer cell line forming subcutaneous tumors and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by comparing the characteristics of different prostate cell lines forming subcutaneous tumors in SCID mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We constructed prostate cancer models in male SCID mice by subcutaneous injection of 4 human prostate cancer cell lines DU145, Tsu, PC3 and LNCaP, and compared the characteristics of tumor formation. We used Western blot to detect the expressions of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the cancer cell lines and subcutaneous tumors, observed their differences before and after tumor formation, and explore the relationship between EMT and tumor formation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The EMT positive cells DU145 and Tsu showed a higher rate and speed of tumor formation than the EMT negative ones PC3 and LNCaP. The expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated in DU145, up-regulated in Tsu, and absent in PC3 and LNCaP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EMT positive cells have a stronger ability of forming tumors than EMT negative cells, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition does exist in subcutaneous tumor formation.</p>

The effects of atorvastatin on aging kidney / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate whether taking atorvastatin for long time has positive effects on age-related renal impairment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>20-month-age normal female Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 9). First group were fed atorvastatin 10 mg/(kg x d). Second group were fed atorvastatin 1 mg/(kg x d). Third group were fed the same volume normal saline served as control. All the rats were sacrificed after four months. 3-month-age normal female Wistar rats (n = 9) also served as normal control. Kidney weight, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood-lipoids were measured. Paraffin sections of renal tissues were stained with PAS and Sirius red. Sclerosis index of glomerulus was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Renal mass diminution was found in all the groups of aging rats. Scr was decreased in the group of aging rats with atorvastatin 1 mg/(kg x d). The level of blood-lipoids of aging rats was higher than that of young rats. The level of serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were decreased in first group (both P < 0.05) and only LDL decreased in second group (P < 0.05). Morphological changes of aging kidney were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, widen of mesangial region, infiltration of inflammatory cells and sclerosis of arteriole. The treatment of atorvastatin improved the pathologic changes in the aging rats significantly, especially in the first group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Taking atorvastatin for long time can notably improve the pathological changes of aging kidney. All these effects may be induced by lowing of blood-lipoids, relieving the sclerosis of renal arteriole and reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells.</p>

Expression of COX-2 in different human prostate cancer cell lines and its significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and its role in the acquisition of invasive and metastatic potentials of PCa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We detected the expressions of COX-2 in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, C4-2, IF11, IA8 and PC-3 with different metastatic potentials by Western blotting and RT-PCR, and analyzed their roles in the invasion and metastasis of different PCa cell lines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Western blotting and RT-PCR showed that the expression of the COX-2 protein was high in PC-3, but absent in IF11, IA8, LNCaP and C4-2 (P < 0.05), and it was consistent with the expression of COX-2 mRNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>COX-2 expresses differently in PCa cell lines with different metastatic potentials. The overexpression of COX-2 may be associated with the high invasion and metastasis of PC-3, but not with the metastasis of other cell lines.</p>

Identification of Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway in human prostate cancer cell lines and its significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway in different human prostate cancer cell lines and explore its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We detected the expressions of beta-catenin, t-GSK3beta and p-GSK3beta in several prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, C4, C4-2, C4-2B, IF11, IA8, PC-3 and DU145) with different characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were remarkable differences in the expressions of beta-catenin and p-GSK3beta among the cell lines, with beta-catenin and p-GSK3beta highly expressed in LNCaP, C4, C4-2, C4-2B, IF11 and IA8, lowly expressed in PC-3 and DU145, but no difference was observed in the expressions of t-GSK3beta in all the cell lines.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are differences in the state of the Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway among the cell lines with different characters of EMT.</p>

Expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in LNCaP and ARCaP cell lines and their significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in LNCaP and ARCaP cell lines and explore their relationship with the metastasis of human prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions and distribution of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in LNCaP and ARCaP cell lines (IF11 and IA8) were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescent staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of E-cadherin was high in LNCaP, but absent in IF11 and IA8, while beta-catenin was expressed highly in IF11 and LA8, but lowly in LNCaP. Immunofluorescent staining showed that E-cadherin was mainly in the membrane of LNCaP, while beta-catenin both in the membrane of LNCaP and in the nuclei of IF11 and IA8.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E-cadherin and beta-catenin are differently expressed and distributed in prostate cancer cell lines with different characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the abnormal activation of the beta-catenin signal pathway may be involved in the EMT of prostate cancer cells.</p>

Clinical observation on point-through-point therapy of scalp electroacupuncture for treatment of facial spasm / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for the best method of increasing clinical therapeutic effect of facial spasm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of facial spasm were selected and divided randomly into a scalp point-through-point electroacupuncture group (EA treatment group), an electroacupuncture control group (EA control group) and a carbamazepine control group, 40 cases in each group. Baihui (GV 20)-through-Qubin (GB 7), Shenting (GV 24)-through-Hanyan (GB 4), Touwei (ST 8)-through-Xuanli (GB 6), Benshen (GB 13)-through-Shuaigu (GB 8) were selected in the EA treatment group, and Baihui (GV 20), Yangbai (GB 14), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (TE 17), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected in the EA control group, and the EA treatment was given once each day, for 30 days. The carbamazepine control group were treated with carbamazepine 0.1 g, twice each day, for 30 days. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated by changes of grading of facial spasm strength and frequency, and myoelectric activity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The strength and frequency of facial spasm significantly decreased in the EA treatment group with very significant differences as compared with other two groups (P<0.01), and there was a significant difference in the electrophysiologic indexes as the EA treatment group compared with other two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Scalp point-through-point electroacupuncture can increase therapeutic effect on facial spasm and it is a better therapy for this disease.</p>