Effects of lycopene on number and function of human peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells cultivated with high glucose

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of lycopene on the migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) cultivated with high glucose (HG) and as well as explore the mechanism behind the protective effects of lycopene on peripheral blood EPCs. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. EPCs were identified after induction of cellular differentiation. Third generation EPCs were incubated with HG (33 mmol/L) or 10, 30, and 50 microg/mL of lycopene plus HG. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs. EPC migration was assessed by MTT assay with a modified boyden chamber. Adhesion assay was performed by replating EPCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, after which adherent cells were counted. In vitro vasculogenesis activity was assayed by Madrigal network formation assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity of EPCs treated with 10, 30, and 50 microg/mL of lycopene plus HG were all significantly higher comapred to the HG group (P < 0.05). Rates of apoptosis were also significantly lower than that of the HG group. Moreover, lycopene blocked phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs (P < 0.05). To confirm the causal relationship between MAPK inhibition and the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced cellular injury, we treated cells with SB203580, a phosphorylation inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly inhibited HG-induced EPC injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity as well as reduces apoptosis of EPCs. Further, the underlying molecular mechanism of the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced EPC injury may involve the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. Specifically, lycopene was shown to inhibit HG-induced EPC injury by inhibiting p38 MAPKs.

Effects of lycopene on number and function of human peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells cultivated with high glucose

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of lycopene on the migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) cultivated with high glucose (HG) and as well as explore the mechanism behind the protective effects of lycopene on peripheral blood EPCs. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. EPCs were identified after induction of cellular differentiation. Third generation EPCs were incubated with HG (33 mmol/L) or 10, 30, and 50 microg/mL of lycopene plus HG. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs. EPC migration was assessed by MTT assay with a modified boyden chamber. Adhesion assay was performed by replating EPCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, after which adherent cells were counted. In vitro vasculogenesis activity was assayed by Madrigal network formation assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity of EPCs treated with 10, 30, and 50 microg/mL of lycopene plus HG were all significantly higher comapred to the HG group (P < 0.05). Rates of apoptosis were also significantly lower than that of the HG group. Moreover, lycopene blocked phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs (P < 0.05). To confirm the causal relationship between MAPK inhibition and the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced cellular injury, we treated cells with SB203580, a phosphorylation inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly inhibited HG-induced EPC injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity as well as reduces apoptosis of EPCs. Further, the underlying molecular mechanism of the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced EPC injury may involve the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. Specifically, lycopene was shown to inhibit HG-induced EPC injury by inhibiting p38 MAPKs.

Preliminary study on CT perfusion imaging in guiding biopsy of pulmonary lumps / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>CT perfusion imaging (CTP) has been proved to be a powerful functional imaging technique. This study aimed to evaluate the value of CTP in guiding biopsy of pulmonary lumps.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 147 patients with pulmonary lumps who had CT guided biopsies were enrolled in this study from February 2005 to June 2007. The patients were assigned to 3 groups: 33 cases guided by CTP as group I, 45 cases guided by contrast-enhanced scan of CT as group II, and 69 cases guided by plain scan of CT as group III. Each group was subdivided into central and peripheral types according to the location of the lumps. The achievement ratio of biopsy, the accuracy in grouping, and grading of lung cancer, and the incidence of complication were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total achievement ratios of biopsy from group I to III were 100% (33/33), 91% (41/45), and 80% (55/69) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the central type, they were 100% (18/18), 88% (15/17), and 79% (11/14) respectively, and the difference was also statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the peripheral type, they were 100% (15/15), 93% (26/28), and 80% (44/55) respectivelies, and the difference was not statistically significant among the three groups. The total accuracies in grouping and grading of lung cancer from group I to III were 100% (27/27), 91% (31/34), and 72% (33/46) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III and between group II and III (P < 0.05). For the central type, they were 100% (16/16), 94% (16/17), and 70% (8/12) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the peripheral type, they were 100% (11/11), 88% (15/17), and 72% (26/36) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). The total incidence of complication from group I to III were 15% (5/33), 27% (12/45), and 43% (30/69) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.01). For the central type, they were 11% (2/18), 24% (4/17), and 57% (8/14) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.01). For the peripheral type, they were 20% (3/15), 29% (8/28), and 40% (22/55) respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTP guided biopsy of pulmonary lumps using multi-detector row CT has the potential to improve the accuracy of histopathological diagnosis with a lower risk and higher achievement ratio. More research and technical improvements are needed before it is widely used.</p>

Endostar reduces the growth and metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in nude mouse models of human cervical cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of endostar alone or in combination with cisplatin on tumor growth and metastasis, as well as the inhibition of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in nude mouse models of human cervical cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HeLa cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the hind flank region of female nu/mice to establish xenograft models. The nude mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) sodium chloride (as control); (2) cisplatin alone; (3) endostar alone; (4) cisplatin plus endostar (10 mg/kg); (5) cisplatin plus endostar (20 mg/kg). The course of all the treatments lasted for 4 weeks. The tumor growth and lymph node metastasis were observed. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to detect the angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Either endostar alone or endostar with cisplatin inhibited the tumor growth significantly than cisplatin and NS (P < 0.05). (2) The rates of lymph node metastasis in the endostar (20 mg/kg) with cisplatin, the endostar (10 mg/kg) with cisplatin, the endostar, the cisplatin and the NS groups were 0 (0/8), 12.5% (1/8), 12.5% (1/8), 62.5% (5/8) and 75.0% (6/8) (P = 0.002), respectively. (3) The MVD of tumor tissue in these five groups were 10.88 +/- 1.38, 10.25 +/- 1.22, 10.83 +/- 2.29, 15.58 +/- 2.31 and 22.08 +/- 1.93, respectively (P < 0.05). The MLD were 5.00 +/- 0.63, 5.17 +/- 0.75, 6.00 +/- 0.63, 14.33 +/- 1.63 and 13.67 +/- 1.21, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endostar can reduce the tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in nude mouse model of human cervical cancer.</p>

A continuous-monitoring procedure of alkaline phosphatase activity with p-acetylphenylphosphace as substrate / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To establish a new determination method for the measuring of alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) with p-acetyl phenyl phosphace (PAP-PNa_2) as substrate.Methods With the help of Vital semiautomatic analyzer,researched a continuous-monitoring procedure and set up experimental parameters.Results When using this assay,the wavelength of PAP's absorption was 325 nm and the Km of ALP was 0.376 mmol/L.The molecular extinction coefficient of PAP at 340 nm was 23 390 L?mol~(-1)? cm~(-1) and the concentration of citrate buffer was 0.438 mol/L.During the process,we found that the optimum pH of enzyme was 10.4,and the concentration of substrate was 5.0 mmol/L.The time of linear reaction was 900 seconds,and the linear range was 0-1 110 U/L.Serum total ALP were 63.1-118.3 U/ L(male) and 52.5-89.0 U/L(female),based on results from 60 heath adults.Conclusions The method is practical in its repetition and convenience,saves time and is not liable to be affected by bilirubin in serum.It is especially suited to the use of automatic analyzers.