Cloning and expression analysis of CtbHLH transcription factor gene from Carthamus tinctorius and construction of plant expression vector / 中国中药杂志

To clone bHLH( basic helix-loop-helix) gene from Carthamus tinctorius,analyze the expression level in different plant tissues and construct the plant expression vector. The bHLH1 gene was cloned by RT-PCR techniques,and the protein characteristics were analyzed by bioinformatics,and phylogenetic tree was constructed. The expression of bHLH1 gene in different tissues and the roots after inoculated by Fusarium oxysporum were analyzed using real time-PCR,and the plant expression vector p BASTA-bHLH1 was constructed. The obtained ORF sequence of bHLH1 gene was 897 bp,encoded a protein of 298 amino acids. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that C. tinctorius bHLH1 had a certain homology with other species of amino acids,and was the most similar to the amino acid sequence of tobacco. Real-time PCR results showed significant differences,CtbHLH1 gene in red flower petals in different tissues and different flowering period had remarkable difference in expression level,its high amount expressed in petals,flowers third day after blossom expressed the highest quantity,at the end of the flowering the expression quantity is low. In addition,it is expressed in the root,and the expression in the stem and leaves is extremely low. The bHLH1 gene of C. tinctorius is successfully cloned,and the expression is analyzed. The plant expression vector p BASTA-bHLH is constructed.

Research progress on chemical constituents of Anhua dark tea and their activities / 中草药

As one of the typical representative of dark tea, Anhua dark tea have been received more attention due to its significant hypolipidemic effects in recent years, and more investigation has been performed on the components and activities of Anhua dark tea especially on Fuzhuan brick tea. In this paper, the recent study on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Anhua dark tea was summarized, so as to provide reference for its further investigation and development of relative production.

Strategies for diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis masquerading as gallbladder cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis sometimes exhibit imaging and intraoperative findings that are similar to those of advanced gallbladder cancer, thus these patients are easily misdiagnosed. The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis masquerading as gallbladder cancer that could potentially aid in the correct diagnosis of this condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical, serological, radiological and operative features of twelve patients with obviously wall-thickening or mass-forming xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis were retrospectively analyzed. Additionally, the patient preoperative features were compared to those of 36 patients with advanced gallbladder cancers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis exhibited one to three episodes of acute cholecystitis within 0.5 to 7 months prior to admission to the hospital. Five of these patients exhibited concomitant choledocholithiasis, whereas no concomitant choledocholithiasis was identified in patients with advanced gallbladder cancer. The incidence of abdominal pain (χ(2) = 6.588, P = 0.010), acute cholecystitis (χ(2) = 29.176, P = 0.000), acute cholangitis (χ(2) = 6.349, P = 0.012), choledocholithiasis (χ(2) = 16.744, P = 0.000), carcinoembryonic antigen test (P = 0.007), CA125 (P = 0.001), and diffuse gallbladder wall thickening (χ(2) = 6.031, P = 0.014), continued mucosal line (χ(2) = 15.745, P = 0.000), homogeneous enhancement of mucosal line (χ(2) = 19.947, P = 0.000), submucosal hypoattenuated nodules or band (χ(2) = 18.607, P = 0.000) in computed tomography demonstrated statistically significant differences between cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer. Furthermore, all the twelve patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis exhibited at least one positive computed tomography imaging feature aside from past acute cholecystitis episode, and no patient with advanced gallbladder cancer simultaneously exhibited past acute cholecystitis episode and at least one positive computed tomography imaging feature.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The accurate preoperative diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis includes an integrated review of past acute cholecystitis episode, choledocholithiasis, and positive computed tomography imaging features. Besides, we present an algorithm for intraoperative diagnosis.</p>

A clinical study on multi-disciplinary team and surgery for resectable colorectal cancer with liver metastases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To analyze the survival outcomes of the surgery for colorectal cancer with liver metastases (CRCLM), and study the mode of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for CRCLM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The retrospective analysis was conducted for 38 patients with CRCLM received MDT management and surgical treatment from January 2009 to August 2011. The peri-operative and survival outcomes of MDT and surgery were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the cases met the present criteria of resetability for CRCLM, but only 4 cases (10.5%) met the previous one. Coloproctectomy and hepatectomy were performed in all cases, with 39 colorectal neoplasms and 155 liver lesions removed. One case died of postoperative septic shock. Colorectal and hepatic specific complications were absent in the others patients except one case of biliary leak which was treated with conservative management. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was arranged in 13 cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered for every patient. After a mean follow-up of (22 ± 10) months according to the finding time of liver metastases, recurrence and metastases were observed in 16 cases and 6 cases died of late-stage cachexia. The 1-, 2- and 3-overall survival rate were 94.4%, 85.3% and 75.8% respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-disease-free survival rate were 70.1%, 54.2% and 54.2% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MDT mode for resectable CRCLM is recommendable. Surgical resection of CRCLM is feasible and safe, which seems to achieve favourable short-middle oncologic outcomes. And long-term survival is expected.</p>

Utility of Simple Body Weight Support Training Apparatus in Hemiplegia or Paraplegia Rehabilitation / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo determine the utility of the simple body weight support training apparatus used to improve ambulatory function in patients with hemiplegia or paraplegia.Methods38 cases with hemiplegia or paraplegia were randomly divided into control(C,n=10),regular body weight support treadmill training group(R,n=14),simple body weight support training group(S,n=14).All the patients received comprehensive rehabilitation for 6 months.Function Independence Measured(FIM),10 meters ambulatory velocity,Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA),Barthel Index(BI) were used to evaluate the effect of training.ResultsThe FIM scores and ambulatory velocity of the patients in group R and S improved significantly compared with that of group C.There was no difference of FIM scores and ambulatory velocity between group R and S.ConclusionThe effect of simple body weight support training on improving the ambulatory function is similar to regular body weight support treadmill.

Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on reaching ability of stroke patients in standing / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) technique on reaching ability of stroke patients in standing.MethodsThere were 9 stroke patients during recovery stage in the treatment group by using PNF technique for 3 months. The control group, other 9 stroke patients during recovery stage, received the general techniques for 3 months.ResultsReaching ability of stroke patients in standing in treatment group were significantly better than that of the control group(P<0.05-0.01).ConclusionThe reaching ability of stroke patients could be improved by PNF technique.

Impact of p16INK4A and p15INK4B on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and apoptosis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Both tumor suppressor p16INK4A and p15INK4B are members of INK family of CDK inhibitor. Although the role of p16 has been well documented, the role of p15 and its signaling pathway remain less well studied. This study was aimed to assess the effect of p16 and p15 on hepatocarcinoma cell lines with different status of Rb gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After identification of the genetic status of p16, p15 as well as Rb of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines BEL7402, SMMC7721 with the use of multiple PCR, the eukaryotic expression p16 and p15 recombinants pXJ-p16 and pXJ-p15 were constructed, respectively. The existence of exogenous p16, p15 genes, and the expression of p16 and p15 were assayed by means of PCR and RNA dot blotting. Finally, the proliferation and apoptosis were studied by using MTT, colony formation assay and flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neither deletion of p16 nor p15 was detected in the two cell lines. However, Rb exons 14-16 instead of exons 22-23 deletion existed in SMMC7721. The increased mRNA expression level of p16 was found in BEL7402-p16 and SMMC7721-p16, while increased mRNA expression level of p15 was found in BEL7402-p15. The endogenous p16 and p15 genes were transcripted at low level. The cell growth and colony formation were decreased in BEL7402-p15, compared with either mock cell BEL7402 or vector control cell BEL7402-pXJ. Also shown in this study were an altered G1 phase population from 37.7% to 43.6%, an S phase population from 22% to 13% (P<0.05), and a Sub G1 peak (apoptosis peak) in BEL7402-p15. Conversely, BEL7402-p16 with endogenous p16 gene showed neither difference in cell cycle population nor difference in colony formation rate, compared with control cell groups. Additionally, SMMC7721-p16 cell growth was not inhibited by exogenous p16 gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>p15 significantly arrested cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in BEL7402 in vitro, and the function was not influenced by endogenous p15 gene. The inhibition of cell growth by p16 on HCC cells could be dependent on intact RB pathway.</p>