Baicalin Antagonizes Prostate Cancer Stemness via Inhibiting Notch1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of baicalin on prostate cancer (PCa) progression both in vivo and in vitro.@*METHODS@#The in situ PCa stem cells (PCSCs)-injected xenograft tumor models were established in BALB/c nude mice. Tumor volume and weight were respectively checked after baicalin (100 mg/kg) treatment. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the growth arrest and cell necrosis. mRNA expression levels of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), CD44, CD133 and Notch1 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression levels of ALDH1, CD44, CD133, Notch1, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) P65 and NF-κB p-P65 were detected by Western blot. Expression and subcellular location of ALDH1, CD44, CD133, Notch1 and NF-κB p65 were detected by immunofluorescence analysis. In vitro, cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis of PC3 PCSCs was assessed by flow cytometry after baicalin (125 µmol/L) treatment. The migration and invasion abilities of PCSCs were assessed using Transwell assays. Transmission electron microscopy scanning was utilized to observe the structure and autophagosome formation of baicalin-treated PCSCs. In addition, PCSCs were infected with lentiviruses expressing human Notch1.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the tumor volume and weight were notably reduced in mice treated with 100 mg/kg baicalin (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Histopathological analysis showed that baicalin treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Furthermore, baicalin treatment reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of CD44, CD133, ALDH1, and Notch1 as well as the protein expression of NF-κB p-P65 in the xenograft tumor (P<0.01). In vitro, the cell proliferation of PCSCs was significantly attenuated after treatment with 125 µmol/L baicalin for 72 h (P<0.01). The cell migration and invasion rates were decreased following treatment with baicalin for 48 and 72 h (P<0.01). Baicalin notably induced cell apoptosis and seriously damaged the structure of PCSCs. The mRNA and protein expressions of CD133, CD44, ALDH1 and Notch1 in PCSCs were significantly downregulated following baicalin treatment (P<0.01). Importantly, the inhibitory effects of baicalin on PCa progression and stemness were reversed by Notch1 overexpression (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Mechanistically, baicalin exhibited a potential therapeutic effect on PCa via inhibiting the Notch1/NF-κB signaling pathway and its mediated cancer stemness.

Dorsal root ganglion receptor subtype P2X3R mediates postoperative-hyperalgesic priming in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the differences in the role of different purinergic receptor subtypes at different sites in postoperative-hyperalgesic priming in mice. Methods A postoperative-hyperalgesic priming model was constructed by injecting PGE

Design and application of auxiliary isolation device of cupping therapy for cross-infection prevention / 中国针灸

An auxiliary isolation device of cupping therapy for cross-infection prevention is designed to reduce the disinfection steps and be against cross transmission. This device is composed of a disposable isolation unit made of fire proof plastic material and a disposable cup-mouth fixator made of elastic material. The disposable isolation unit includes two parts, the cup neck isolation unit and the inner isolation unit of fire cup. These two parts connect with the disposable cup-mouth fixator. All of those three sections of the device are center-connected ring-like structure. This device can well prevent the direct contact of fire cup with the patient's skin surface, characterized as safety protection, simple operation and saving time and manpower.

A Population-based Study of Invasive Cervical Cancer Patients in Beijing: 1993-2008 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In recent years, the incidence of cervical cancer has been rising, particularly in young adults, as the second most common gynecological cancer in China. The aim of this study was to explore the incidence change and the epidemiological characteristics of cervical cancer in Beijing over the past 16 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All the cases of the study were limited to Beijing residents diagnosed with cervical cancer and registered in Beijing from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2008. A total of 4100 patients with cervical cancer were obtained from the Statistics Database of Beijing Cancer Registry (BJCaR). According to the registered data, we retrospectively reviewed all original cases which we can acquired in reported hospital. Cervical situ cancer, cervical metastatic cancer, non-Beijing residents and repeatedly registered cases were excluded. Totally, 3641 registered cases were verified correctly. Meanwhile, we also collected the following data: Age, occupation, detected methods, histological type, and staging. The trends of incidence and mortality were analyzed by Joinpoint Regression Program 4.1.1.1 produced by National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA). The annual percent change (APC) was calculated using the Joinpoint regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The crude rates of incidence and mortality were 10.4 and 1.0 per 100,000 women, respectively during 1993 to 2008. The average WHO age-standardized incidence rates were 11.5 per 100,000 women. There was a decrease in incidence annually by 8.0% (P = 0.3) during 1993-1996 and a rapid increase annually by 18.9% after 1999 (P < 0.01). The median age was 67 years in 1993, but the median age decreased to 45 years in 2008. The peak of the age-specific incidence curve was at 40 years in the most recent period (2005-2008), which was 25-30 years earlier than that in previous periods (1993-1996). In the 2224 cases, the numbers of patients with stage I, II, III and IV were 910 (40.9%), 601 (27%), 542 (24.4%), 171 (7.7%), respectively. The percentage of patients with stage I was 7.6% (13/171) in 1993-1996, but the percentage increased to 51.6% (643/1247) in 2005-2008 (P < 0.01). Otherwise the percentage of advanced stage (stage III-IV) during the same period was dropped down significantly from 52.0% (89/171) to 22.5% (280/1247) (P < 0.01). Unemployed and housewife ranked first accounting for 27.3% of the total (607/2224). Urban low-income people such as worker ranked the second accounting for 17.0% (377/2224), the third place was farmer accounting for 14.0% (312/2224). Only 381 (17.1%, 381/2224) women in 2224 were first detected cervical cancer by routine screenings. Company staff (36.5%, 139/381), professional and technical personnel (22.6%, 86/381), national official (22.0%, 84/381) occupied the top three (total 81.1%) in the 381 patients detected cervical cancer by screening.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cervical cancer incidence has showed a continuous rise in Beijing since 1999. Government-led mass screening should target the low socioeconomic population primarily. Meanwhile the government should enhance public health education of cancer screening to increase the rate of screening.</p>

Study on the relations between high risk human papillomavirus and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in married women from Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and relationship between high risk human papillomavirus(HR-HPV)and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)in married women from Beijing.Methods From March 2007 to September 2008,a total of 6185 married women were sampled,covering 137 communities in 12 districts.The samples were screened by high-risk HPV DNA test(HC2)and cytological test.For those participants with cytological test results≥ASCUS,pathological tests were performed.An interview was also carried out with the same questionnaire.Results from the tests were inputted into the database twice using EpiData 3.0,reviewed,analyzed,using SPSS 15.0.Results(1)The prevalence rates of HR-HPV and CIN were 9.9% and 6.0%,respectively for the age group 25 to 54.(2)The peak age groups for HR-HPV and CIN prevalence rates were 30 to 34 years old.(3)The prevalence rates of positive cytology(40.3%)and CIN (30.4%)in HR-HPV positive female population were significantly higher than that in HR-HPV negative group.(4)Data from unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that,when comparing with the normal subjects,the risk odds ratios of HR-HPV with low grade CIN and cervical cancer/high grade CIN were 8.385 and 97.416 and the attributable risk proportions with these groups were 88.1% and 99.0%,respectively.Conclusion HR-HPV infection seemed to be the main risk factor for CIN.Married women,from age group 30-34,were under the high risk group in both HR-HPV infection and CIN incidence.

Prevalence and determinants of lower reproductive tract infections among women aged 25-54 years in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To determine the prevalence and determinants of the most commonly seen lower reproductive tract infections among women aged 25-54 years in Beijing.Methods The study population consisted of 6339 women aged 25-54 years in 137 communities of Beijing.Focus of this study was to understand the prevalence of the following diseases as:bacterial vaginosis,trichomoniasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis.In addition to their prevalence rates,a generalized equation for estimation was used to analyze those infection-associated factors.Results The overall infection prevalence in the lower reproductive tract was 11.4%,including bacterial vaginitis as 8.7%,trichomonads as 1.0% and vulvovaginal candidiasis as 1.7%.Factors which were found to be significantly associated with lower reproductive tract infections in women were age,profession,family income,number of sex partners and frequency of condom use during sexual contacts.In patients with bacterial vaginitis,both prevalence rates of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and infection of human papillomavirus were high.Conclusion The prevalence of the most commonly seen lower reproductive tract infections among women aged 25-54 years in Beijing was lower than other areas in China.Lower reproductive tract infections seemed to be related to 30-49 years of age,nongovernmental employee,poverty,higher number of sex partners and not using condoms during sexual contacts.

Rapid purification of human albumin with immunomagnetic microsphere technology / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To develop a rapid and inexpensive method for purification of human albumin, a method of immunomagnetic microspheres (IMMS) based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the purification of human albumin from human serum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polystyrene magnetic microspheres with carboxyl groups as carriers were prepared, and then the carboxyl groups on the surface of the microspheres were activated by ethylcarbodiimide (EDC). Finally rabbit anti-human serum albumin (HSA) antibodies were covalently bound to it and the complex can specifically capture HSA. After the procedure of capturing HSA, through taking rabbit anti-human albumin protein antibodies as a capture antibody, and goat anti-human albumin protein antibodies as a detection antibody, an ELISA on IMMS was developed, which can determine the recovery yield of HSA from the human serum.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result of the experiment was that the recovery of human albumin with IMMS was (86 +/- 4)%, and IMMS were reused for two other purifying cycles, the results of which were (69.0 +/- 0.6)% and (40.8 +/- 0.8)%, and the purity of the product was about 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results above prove that the immunomagnetic purifiying strategy was shown to be efficient and offers an new thought for a large scale production of high-purity HSA.</p>