Kang-Ai Injection Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cells Proliferation through IL-6/STAT3 Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the mechanisms underlying the proliferative inhibition of Chinese herbal medicine Kang-Ai injection (KAI) in gastric cancer cells.@*METHODS@#Gastric cancer cell lines MGC803 and BGC823 were treated by 0, 0.3%, 1%, 3% and 10% KAI for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The cell proliferation was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry. Interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The protein expression levels of cyclin A, cyclin E, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, p21, retinoblastoma (RB), protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 and STAT3 were detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#KAI inhibited the proliferation of MGC803 and BGC823 gastric cancer cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. After treated with KAI for 48 h, the proportion of G1 phase was increased, expression level of cyclin D1 and phosphorylation-RB were down-regulated, whereas the expression of p21 was up-regulated (all P<0.01). Furthermore, 48-h treatment with KAI decreased the phosphorylation level of STAT3, inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6 (all P<0.01). IL-6 at dose of 10 ng/mL significantly attenuated the proliferative effect of both 3% and 10% KAI, and recovered KAI-inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression level (all P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#KAI exerted an anti-proliferative function by inhibiting IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway followed by the induction of G1 phase arrest in gastric cancer cells.

Recent advances in novel anticancer agents targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction for molecular cancer therapeutics / 药学学报

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation, growth, invasion, and metastasis of human cancers. Moreover, β-catenin/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) interaction regulates the transcription of the key oncogenes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, β-catenin/TCF4 interaction would be a promising therapeutic target for the development of highly selective anticancer agents. At present, most ongoing small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including PKF222-815, iCRT3/5/14, LF3, and sanguinarine, have been developed in preclinical studies for human cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the research advances of up-to date inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including the molecular structure and cellular functions of β-catenin in canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This review holds a hopeful avenue for the development of novel and highly selective Wnt inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction for future anticancer strategy.

Expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model. Then we determined the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue by immunohistochemistry and examined the ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernosum under the transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prolactinoma-induced ED model was successfully established in 15 rats. The weight of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in the rats treated with DES as compared with the normal saline and sterilized arachis oil controls ([46.7 ± 15.5] vs [11.7 ± 2.4] and [12.4 ± 2.3] mg, both P < 0.05). The level of serum PRL was markedly higher while that of T remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups ([1,744.9 ± 304.5] vs [11.5 ± 2.4] and [10.6 ± 1.9] ng/ml, both P < 0.0l; [1.54 ± 0.46] vs [3.11 ± 1.08] and [3.04 ± 1.11] ng/ml, both P < 0.05). The rate of penile erection was significantly reduced in the prolactinoma-induced ED model rats in comparison with the normal saline and arachis oil controls (16.7% vs 100% and 87.5%, both P < 0.05), and so was the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue (0.024 ± 0.011 vs 0.066 ± 0.019 and 0.058 ± 0.021, both P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy manifested significant ultrastructural changes in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the cavernous tissue in the prolactinoma-induced ED models.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernous tissue and the reduced expression of nNOS in penile tissue may be the most important mechanisms of prolactinoma-induced ED in rats.</p>

Diagnosis of ileocecal valve syndrome by ultrasound / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To discuss the clinical value of transabdominal sonography after bowl preparation in diagnosis of ileocecal valve syndrome ( IVS) .Methods The ultrasonic features of IVS in 37 cases were summerized and correlated with the follow-up findings after conservative treatment or the pathologic results after operation .Twenty-eight cases were confirmed by follow-up and 9 cases by operative pathology.Results Among the 37 cases of IVS,28 were idiopathic IVS (75.7%,28/37) and 9 were secondary IVS (24.3%, 9/37%).For the secondary cases, the primary diseases included 5 acute appendicitis,2 Meckel diverticulum,1 terminal ileitis and 1 carcinoma of ascending colon .The diagnostic accuracy rate of ultrasound was 89.2%(33/37).Misdiagnosis rate was 10.8%(4/37),including 1 case of idiopathic and 3 cases of secondary IVS .The IVS ultrasonic images coulde be displayed clearly using 7.0-10.0 MHz probes.In fasting examination,three ultrasonic characteristic signss were found in interminal ileum region at the right lower abdomen .And these features were bagel-shaped sign [91.9%(34/37),average size (1.9 ±1.6) cm ×(0.8 ±0.3) cm],short sleevelet-shaped sign [91.9% (34/37,average size (2.1 ± 0.4)cm ×(1.3 ±0.2) cm],and rose-shaped sign [83.8% (31/37),average size (1.4 ±0.2) cm × (1.0 ±0.2) cm].The shapes of some signs were changeable when the probe compressed .In the case of idiopathic IVS ,several pathologic changes could be seen on sonography after intestinal tract filling of oral 20%mannitol,including slight thickened mucosa and submucosa of erminalileum ,enlarged ieocecal valve and the crocodile-mouth sign.Conclusions Transabdominal ultrasonic examination with high frequency probe after bowl preparation plays an important role in diagnosis of IVS .The method is simple and accurate and should be recommended and applied clinically .

Comparison of different antidepression therapy in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with depression / 中华妇产科杂志

0.05),but a significant difference at weeks 4,8,and 12 between two groups(P