Effects of inward rectifier potassium channel blockers on EPCs function / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of inward rectifier potassium channel blockers (BaCl2, CsCl) on the functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Density gradient centrifugation-isolated rat hone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in vitro. EPCs were harvested and seeded on six culture dish when cells grew to 3-5 passages. Before testing the EPCs were synchronized with M199, which contain 2% fetal calf serum. In the end, EPCs were treated with different intervention. The experiment mainly included two parts: (1) BaCl2 (100 micromol/L) and free BaC2 of Tyrodes solution; (2) CsCl (1 mmol/L) and control. Cell pretreated with blockers above mentioned for 12 h, then the gene expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), epoprotenol (PGI2) were assessed, beyond that the ability of adhesion, migration were assayed with different tests. In addition, the medium was collected when EPCs were treated for 3 days. The levels of SDF-1 were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Going even further, EPCs were treated with the signal pathway blockers in advance, after repeat the above steps, in order to analyze the change of SDF-1 and then discuss its mechanism.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, BaCl2, CsCl could increase EPC adhesion and migration to same extent. Moreover, the gene expression of SDF-1, PGI2 was significantly up-regulated and the production of SDF-1 increased evidently. Furthermore, the mechanism of SDF-1 secretion increasing mainly was associated with eNOS signaling pathways.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ba2+ and Cs+ play important roles in increasing EPCs functions, such as adhesion, migration and secretion.</p>

The effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VSMCs ere isolated from rat thoracic aorta and the 3rd-5th VSMCs were incubated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L), high glucose (25 mmol/L), or high glucose (25 mmol/L) + P38 inhibitor (25 mmol/L +SB203580) for another 24 hours. Then the gene expression of osteopontin (OPN), alpha smooth-actin (alpha-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) were assayed by real time RT-PCR, the protein expression of P38 were assayed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) High glucose promoted the phenotype transformation of VSMCs and up-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. (2) High glucose promoted the phosphorylation of P38. (3) SB203580, the inhibitor of P38/MAPK signal pathway, inhibited the effects of high glucose on phenotype transformation and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High glucose may promote phenotype transformation of VSMCs via the signal pathway of P38/MAPK.</p>

Anti-mycobacteria drugs therapy for periductal mastitis with fistula / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the etiology, clinical and pathologic characteristics of periductal mastitis with fistula and estimate the effect of anti-mycobacterial agents for periductal mastitis with fistula.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 27 patients of periductal mastitis with fistula received anti-mycobacteria drugs therapy from December 2008 to September 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. All of the patients were female. The mean age at onset was 28 years (range 15 to 40 years old). The main clinical manifestation of the 27 patients was breast fistula, including 21 patients with single fistula and 6 patients with multiple fistula. Three patients manifested with pure fistula, 14 patients with both fistula and lump, 10 patients with fistula, lump and abscess. The samples including pus or tissues of all patients were underwent bacteria culture and all patients core needle biopsy. All patients were given primary anti-mycobacteria drugs therapy, parts of patients received surgery based on the evaluation of medical treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The common bacteria culture of all patients failed to demonstrate any causative microorganism. Four cases were selected randomly to undergo PCR of mycobacteria, only one case was identified as Massiliense in bacteria culture of mycobacteria. Twenty-seven patients with periductal mastitis with fistula were treated with anti-mycobacterial agents (isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol or pyrazinamide of triple oral drugs) for 1 to 3 months, the fistula of all 27 patients were closed well. Sixteen patients were treated with the agents only and cured. Eleven patients received surgical treatment after treated with the medical agents. None of the patients were given mastectomy. All patients had no reccurence until now.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The periductal mastitis with fistula has a closely relationship with the infection of nontuberculosis mycobacteria. Those patients could be treated with triple anti-mycobacterial agents and could also avoided mastectomy.</p>

Androgen receptor mutation and progression of prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

Prostate cancer growth is almost wholly dependent on the route of the androgen receptor and most therapies aimed at blocking this signaling axis are useful tools in the management of this disease. Unfortunately such therapies invariably fail, and the cancer progresses to an androgen-independent stage. In such cases, androgen receptor mutation almost always occurs and much evidence suggests the continuous growth of the tumor. One mechanism by which the receptor is thought to remain active is mutation. This paper reviews the molecular mechanism of tumor growing after androgen receptor mutation and some of the promising management principles and systemic chemotherapy options against prostate cancer.

The clinical study of high-frequency ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy for breast microcalcifications / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical application of high-frequency ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy for breast microcalcifications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six patients with 70 lesions of microcalcifications detected at mammography underwent high-frequency ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy from July 2009 to October 2010. All patients were female, aged 24 to 61 years (median age 40 years). Among 70 lesions of microcalcifications, unilateral lesions were 62 cases and bilateral lesions were 4 cases. The clinical factors that affected the success of biopsy were investigated by χ(2) test and Logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 70 lesions of microcalcifications, the successful rate of biopsy was 72.9% (51/70). The biopsy successful rate of microcalcifications without and with masses were 65.2% (30/46) and 87.5% (21/34) respectively (χ(2) = 3.960, P = 0.047). The biopsy successful rate of microcalcifications of maximal diameter more than 5 mm was higher than that of maximal diameter less than 5 mm (88.9% vs. 55.9%, χ(2) = 9.633, P = 0.002). The Logistic regression analysis showed that the types and maximal diameter of microcalcifications were the main factors that affected the success of biopsy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical application of high-frequency ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy was an effective option for the diagnosis of breast microcalcifications, especially for the type of microcalcifications with masses and the maximal diameter more than 5 mm.</p>

Risk factors of breast cancer in women in Guangdong and the countermeasures / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen high-risk population of breast cancer by analyzing the risk factors of breast cancer in Guangdong Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was performed to identify the risk factors of breast cancer between premenopausal women and postmenopausal women. Chi-square test and unconditional logistic regression were used to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In premenopausal women, prophylactic, family history of breast cancer, bad mood, bad life incidence and work load were the risk factors, and breast hyperplasia history, breast tissue examination history, regular exercise and sleeping without bra were the protective factors. In postmenopausal women, family history of breast cancer was the risk factor, and breast hyperplasia history and mood adjustment were the protective factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The risk and protective factors of breast cancer differ between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, which highlights the importance of using different risk models to screen the high-risk populations.</p>

Astragalus protects the testis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of astragalus on testis tissues following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty healthy adult Wistar rats were equally randomized into Group A (sham-operation control), B (torsion/detorsion) and C (torsion/detorsion plus intraperitoneal injection of astragalus). The testicular torsion/detorsion model was established by the Turner method. All the rats were fed under the same condition for 7 days and sacrificed, and the torsional testes were harvested for the detection of germ cell apoptosis, glutathione activity and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde (MDA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptosis indexes (AI) of spermatogenic cells in the torsional testes were (5.82 +/- 1.21), (36.18 +/- 8.40) and (20.39 +/- 3.57) in Group A, B and C, significantly higher in Group B and C than in A (P < 0.05) and in Group B than in C (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in glutathione activity in the ipsilateral testes among Group A (48.03 +/- 2.01), B (30.93 +/- 1.25), C (38.44 +/- 1.06) U/mg (P< 0.05), as well as in the level of MDA, (1.43 +/- 0.17), (3.98 +/- 0.36), (2.57 +/- 0.53) nmol/ml, among the three groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Astragalus could significantly reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, decrease the level of lipid peroxidation and protect glutathione activity in the torsional testis.</p>