Inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.</p>

Effect of WFDC 2 silencing on the proliferation, motility and invasion of human serous ovarian cancer cells in vitro

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate effect and possible mechanisms of silencing human WFDC2 (HE4) gene on biological behavior changes as cell proliferation, apoptosis, movement and invasion of human serous ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.@*METHODS@#Lentiviral WFDC2 gene sequence of small interfering siRNA was stablely transfected into SKOV3 identified by Q-PCR and western-blot. Obtained SKOV3 stable strains with silenced HE4 were measured by proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion.@*RESULTS@#Gene sequencing showed that the oligonucleotides were successfully inserted into the expected site. After silencing HE4 in the SKOV3, proliferation was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). G(0)/G(1) phase was arrested by the cell cycle (P<0.01) and capacity of the migration and invasion decreased significantly (P<0.01). Slight early apoptosis ratio and no change of late apoptosis were found without change of Caspase-3 or Bcl-2 protein. Proteins involved in ERK pathway as phosphorylated protein as p-EGFR, p-ERK decreased and protease protein involved in tissue remodeling as matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9, MMP-2 and cathepsin B decreased compared with control group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#HE4 gene plays an important role in regulating proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion of serous ovarian cancer cells by ERK pathway and protease system. Its role in apoptosis needs to be further explored, and it may be a potential target for serous ovarian cancer.

Inside out transobturator vaginal tape versus tention-free vaginal tape for primary female stress urinary incontinence: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Inside out transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O) and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) are predominant surgical treatments for female stress urinary incontinence. This meta-analysis evaluated the complications and cure rates of TVT-O versus TVT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A comprehensive literature search was conducted according to the Cochrane Collaboration methodology to identify randomized controlled clinical trials with no language restriction. Two authors independently assessed papers for eligibility and methodological quality. Estimates were measured by relative risk with 95% confidence intervals. Outcome measures were objective cure, subjective cure and complications. Quality rating for each outcome of the meta-analysis and recommendations were performed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, and a pooled estimate of effectiveness and complications was made. Relative risks with 95% confidence intervals for pooled effects under the fixed effects model were: 0.20 (0.09 - 0.45), for bladder injury, 0.37 (0.16 - 0.86) for hematoma, and 2.35 (1.57 - 3.51) for postoperative pain, suggesting an 80% risk reduction of bladder injury, 63% risk reduction of hematoma, and a 1.35% risk elevation for postoperative pain with TVT-O. There was no significant difference between complications of urinary tract infection 1.14 (0.78 - 1.65), lower urinary tract symptoms 1.60 (0.67 - 3.79), recatheterization 0.93 (0.59 - 1.44), and tape erosion 0.90 (0.48 - 1.67), total objective cure rate 1.06 (0.39 - 2.84) and for the subjective cure rate 0.98 (0.93 - 1.04). The quality rating for each outcome and recommendations was high for objective cure, bladder injury, hematoma, lower urinary tract symptoms, and tape erosion and moderate for subjective cure, pain, and urinary tract infection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TVT-O is associated with a reduced risk of bladder injury and hematoma and an elevated risk of postoperative pain. Other complications, including tape erosion, urinary tract infection, lower urinary tract symptoms, and recatheterization, are similar to those of TVT.</p>

Expression of serum human epididymal secretory protein E4 at low grade and high grade serous carcinomas

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the value of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in differential diagnosis of patients with low-grade serous (LGSC) and high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) serous ovarian cancer.@*METHODS@#LGSC and HGSC serous ovarian cancer were diagnosed by the two-tier grade system, serum levels of HE4 and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) were measured by ELISA and radioisotope method, respectively in 60 serous ovarian cancer patients. HE4 and TP53 protein in cancer tissue were measured by immunohistochemical method.@*RESULTS@#The difference in density of HE4 and TP53 protein was significant between LGSC and HGSC tissue, while serum CA125 did not show significant difference between different serum samples. There was significant difference in serum HE4 levels between LGSC and HGSC, and the result was different within FIGO (I+II) stage, suggesting HE4 was not a reliable biomarker for the discrimination between LGSC and HGSC. HE4 had potential as a biomarker for the discrimination between LGSC and HGSC but the role in early diagnosis was limited.@*CONCLUSIONS@#HE4 may be a reliable marker for differential diagnosis of LGSC and HGSC. But its role in early diagnosis of LGSC and HGSC need to be confirmed from the perspective of two-tier grade system.

Relationship of levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and expression of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood with serum immunoglobulin E level in children with bronchiolitis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood as well as serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and expression of Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood, and total serum IgE level were tested by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA respectively in 57 children with RSV bronchiolitis (26 atopic patients and 31 nonatopic patients). Twenty five healthy children were used as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood in children with bronchiolitis, either in the atopic (7.7+/- 1.6%)or the nonatopic group (8.8+/- 2.1%), was significantly lower than that in the control group (10.5+/- 1.6%) (P< 0.01). Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood was significantly lower in both atopic and nonatopic children with bronchiolitis than that in the control group (P< 0.01). Significantly increased total serum IgE level was noted in both atopic (241.2+/- 102.5 IU/mL) and nonatopic children (125.5+/- 63.2 IU/mL) with bronchiolitis compared with that in the control group (27.2+/- 10.5 IU/ml) (P< 0.01). There were significant differences in the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood (P< 0.05) as well as total serum IgE level (P< 0.01) between the atopic and the nonatopic group. The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (r=-0.70, P< 0.01) and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood (r=-0.79, P< 0.01) were closely negatively correlated to total serum IgE level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood were reduced, in contrast, the total serum IgE level increased in children with RSV bronchiolitis. This suggested that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 mRNA together with IgE participated in the pathogenesis of RSV bronchiolitis.</p>