DADLE suppresses the proliferation of human liver cancer HepG2 cells by activation of PKC pathway and elevates the sensitivity to cis-diammine dichloridoplatium / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of DADLE, a δ-opioid receptor agonist, on the proliferation of human liver cancer HepG2 cells and explore the mechanism involving PKC pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HepG2 cells were treated with DADLE at different doses (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 µmol/L). Cell viability was determined using methyl thiazolyl terazolium (MTT) assay. The expression of PKC mRNA and p-PKC protein were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. After treated separately with DADLE plusing NAL or PMA, the cell cycle of HepG2 cells was analyzed by flow cytometer. MTT was used to detect their proliferation capacity and Western blot was used to examine the p-PKC expression. The growth inhibitory rate of HepG2 cells treated with DADLE and cis-diammine dichloridoplatinum (CDDP) was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DADLE at different concentrations showed an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cells though inhibiting the expression of PKC mRNA and p-PKC protein. The results of flow cytometry showed that compared with the control group, the percentage of S + G(2)/M cells in DADLE-treated group was lowered by 3.94% (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, after treated with NAL and PMA, the percentage was elevated by 3.22% and 3.63%, respectively (P < 0.01). The MTT and Western blot assays showed that compared with the control group, the values of A570 and p-PKC protein levels in the HepG2 cells of DADLE-treated group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). After treatment with NAL and PMA, the values of A570 and p-PKC protein levels were elevated significantly (P < 0.01). The growth inhibitory rate of DADLE + CDDP group was 79.9%, significantly lower than 25.2% and 43.2% of the DADLE and CDDP groups, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Activation of δ-opioid receptor by DADLE inhibits the apoptosis of human liver cancer HepG2 cells. The underlying mechanism may be correlated with PKC pathway. DADLE can enhance the chemosensitivity of HepG2 cells to CDDP.</p>

Candida infection in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize our hospital's experience in the diagnosis and treatment of Candida infection in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-eight cases with ANP were reviewed. There were diagnoses either by operative finding or by CT scanning. Sixty-two cases received prophylactic antibiotic treatment, other sixteen did not. For cultivation of Candida, blood, urine, stool, sputum and wound drainage fluid culture, and swabs were examined microbiologically for fungi.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of Candida infection in all patients with ANP was 17.9% (14/78) and mortality was 28.6% (4/14). The incidence of prophylactic antibiotic group was 19.4% (12/62) and mortality was 25.0% (3/12). Non prophylactic group was 12.5% (2/16) and 50.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our data provide evidence for the clinical significance of Candida infection in patients with ANP. The current prophylactic antibiotic treatment can prevent a septic course of the ANP, but might lead to the evolution of Candida infection.</p>