Inhibitory effect of cryptotanshinone on angiogenesis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-angiogenic effect of cryptotanshinone (CPT) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the effect of CPT on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HUVECs were incubated with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μ mol/L CPT for detecting cell viability with dimethyl thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Then, HUVECs were incubated with 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 μ mol/L CPT for detecting endothelial cell migration, invasion, and tubular-like structure formation with wound healing, transwell invasion and matrigel tube formation assays, respectively. To gain insight into CPT-mediated signaling, the effects of CPT on T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcription factors were detected by the Dual-luciferase reporter assay. Next, the nuclear expression of β-catenin was evaluated using Western blot and immunochemistry. Finally, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclin D1, downstream proteins of the Wnt pathway were examined with Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CPT dose-dependently suppressed endothelial cell viability, migration, invasion, and tubular-like structure formation. In particular, CPT blocked β-catenindependent transcription in HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. In Western bolt, 10 μ mol/L CPT decreased expression of β-catenin in nucleus of HUVECs (P<0.01). In immunohistochemistry, β-catenin was more potent in response to LiCl (an activator of the pathway) treatment. However, the signals were weaker in the nucleus of the CPT (10 μ mol/L) group, compared to the positive control. Also, VEGF and cyclin D1 were both eliminated by CPT in 5 and 10 μ mol/L doses (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study supported the role of CPT as an angiogenic inhibitor, which may impact on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.</p>

Fingertip replantation with anastomosis of palm vein and retaining the nail / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the replantation methods and clinical results of amputated fingertip.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2007 to June 2011, 18 fingers of 13 cases were replanted with anastomosis of palm vein and retaining the nail, including 9 males and 4 females,with an average age of 26 years old ranging from 17 to 45 years old. The time from injury to therapy was from 30 min to 5 h, time of broken finger ischemia was from 1.5 to 7 h. All broken fingers were preservation under normal temperature.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All fingers were survived, no vascular crisis happened. All cases were followed up from 3 to 24 months with an average of 14 months. The length and shape of replanted fingers were similar to that of the healthy side. The new nails were smooth, the function was perfect,the sense of pain and touched sensation had been recovered. Their two-piont discriminations ranged from 3 to 6 mm with an average of 5 mm. According to the assessment standard of Chinese Medical Association of Hand Surgery, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, poor in 1 case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fingertip replantation with anastomosis of palm vein and retaining the nail is regained satisfactory appearance and function of the digits with a high survival rate.</p>

Vacuum sealing drainage and free coupling chain-link posterior tibial artery flap in the reconstruction of degloving injury of propodium / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present the methods of vacuum sealing drainage and free coupling chain-link flap of posterior tibial artery flap and medial plantar flap in the reconstruction of degloving injury of propodium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Oct. 2008 to Dec. 2011 five cases with degloving injury of propodium underwent debridement and vacuum sealing drainage on the first stage. Free chain-link flap of posterior tibial artery flap and medial plantar flap were applied to close the wound at the secondary stage. The nerve was included in the coupling flaps. The size of posterior tibial artery flap ranged from 14 cm x 10 cm to 11 cm x 8 cm,and the size of medial plantar flap ranged from 12 cm x 8 cm to 8 cm x 6 cm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All flaps were survived with no vascular crisis. The flap sensation recovered to S3-S3 during the follow-up period of 6-21 months. The texture and appearance of flaps were satisfied. The plantar had not ulcer and corpus callosum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vacuum sealing drainage and free chain-link flap of posterior tibial artery flap and medial plantar flap with nerve are the ideal methods for the reconstruction of degloving injury of propodium.</p>

Mechanism of platycodin D-induced apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the molecular mechanism of platycodin D showing the inhibitory effect on proliferation and induced apoptosis of humane long cancer cells A549.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Humane long cancer cells A549 were cultured in vitro, with the final PD concentration of 5-20 micromol x L(-1). PD's inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay. Morphological changes in cells were observed with microscope. The cell apoptosis rate was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The change of mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1. The protein expressing of leaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, cleaved PARP, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bak and Bax were detected by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>PD could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and show stronger effect with the increase of concentration and over time. Compared with the control group, PDs of different concentration showed significant increase in the cell apoptosis rate, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential after 24 h. Protein electrophoresis inspection showed cut segments in both protein Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 and notable fractures with time. Further study found that PD decreased Bcl-2, Bcl-xl proteins and increased Bax, Bak proteins after processing A549 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PD shows notable effect on cytotoxicity and can induce A549 cell apoptosis. It causes decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential by regulating Bax, Bak, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expressions, and thus activating caspase and finally causing long cancer cell apoptosis.</p>

Mechanisms of (2-methyl-n-butyl) shikonin induced apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the effect of (2-methyl-n-butyl) shikonin (MBS) on inducing apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 and the role of ERK1/2 signal pathway in the apoptosis. MTT assay was used to detect SGC-7901 cell proliferation. DNA condensation was measured by DAPI stain. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was analyzed by JC-1 staining. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Survivin, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, p-JNK, JNK, p-p38 and p38 were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that MBS reduced the cell viability of SGC-7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 at 24 h and 48 h for SGC-7901 cells was 10.113 and 4.196 micromolL(-1), respectively. After being treated with MBS, the typical nuclear condensation was observed in SGC-7901 cells by DAPI stain. Apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells was induced by MBS in a dose dependent manner. The protein expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated, while the protein expressions of cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK were up-regulated after MBS treatment. U0126, a specific MAP kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor, blocked the ERK1/2 activation by MBS. MMP was decreased by MBS treatment. It can be concluded that MBS could inhibit SGC-7901 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, ERK1/2 signal pathway and JNK signal pathway might be involved in this process.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its effect on microRNA expression in lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) on the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in lung cancer A549 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta 1) in different concentrations was used to induce EMT in lung cancer A549 cells. The morphological changes were observed under phase-contrast microscope. The changes of EMT-related proteins were analyzed by Western blot. The changes of miRNAs expression after EMT were detected by microRNA (miRNA) array. Real time quantitative RT-PCR was applied to verify the reliability of miRNA array results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lung cancer A549 cells became elongated and the cell-cell junction became loose after EMT. The epithelial protein marker E-cadherin was down-regulated and the mesenchymal protein markers vimentin and fibronectin up-regulated. There were 51 miRNAs showing statistically significant changes of expression more than double (P<0.05) after EMT. Among them 18 were up-regulated and 33 down-regulated. Of them, mir-33a was down-regulated by 92.8% and mir-193a-3p by 86.5%. Real time quantitative RT-PCR showed that mir-33a was down-regulated by 73.1% and mir-193a-3p by 56.6%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epithelial-mesenchymal transition has effects on the expression of miRNAs, and miRNAs may regulate the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells via EMT.</p>

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy versus open lobectomy for mini pathologic N2 non-small cell lung cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess early and late outcomes of patients with minimal mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis N2 non-small cell lung cancer disease unexpectedly detected during the operation, who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for clinical stage I.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 263 patients underwent surgery between January 2004 and December 2007, who were diagnosed as having early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (clinical stage was cT1-2N0M0, stage I) before the surgery, but were found to have mini mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis disease (clinical stage was pT1-2N2M0, stage IIIa) unexpectedly detected during the operation and after the operation. All patients underwent lobectomy and systematic lymph nodes dissection as radical treatments. Among them, 63 patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, including 37 male patients (58.7%) with a mean age of (58 ± 11) years old. Two hundred patients underwent open thoracotomy lobectomy, including 132 male patients (66%) with a mean age of (59 ± 11) years old. To compare and analyze clinical features, early and late outcomes of patients in these two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 263 patients with an average survival time (34.9 ± 1.2) months (median 31 months), 63 cases in VATS lobectomy group with an average survival time (40.3 ± 2.2) months (median 37 months), 200 cases in open pulmonary lobectomy group with an average survival time (33.1 ± 1.3) months (median 29 months). The 1-, 2-, 3-year over survival rate of all the patients was 92.0%, 57.4%, 29.3%. The 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rate of patients in VATS lobectomy group was 92.1%, 82.5%, 41.3%. The 1, 2, 3 year survival rate of patients in thoracotomy lobectomy group was 92.0%, 49.5%, 25.5%. There was significant difference between the two groups in this factor (χ(2) = 5.58, P = 0.018).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VATS lobectomy is feasibility and safety for unexpected mini N2 disease. Even if lymph node metastasis is unexpectedly detected during video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for clinical stage I disease after rigorous evaluation of preoperative, it is no need to convert to conventional thoracotomy.</p>