Matrine reversed multidrug resistance of breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Matrine is an alkaloid extracted from a Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, and has been used clinically for breast cancer with marked therapeutic efficacy in China. However, the mechanism has not been well known. Thus, the present study was to explore whether Matrine reverses multidrug resistance for breast cancer cells through the regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect the inhibitory action; Annexin V to detect apoptosis; fluorospectrophotometry to examine intracellular adriamycin (ADR) accumulation; and Western blot to label the proteins of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), MRP1, PTEN, p-AKT, Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3. Matrine (0-2.5 mg/mL) inhibited MCF-7/ADR cell growth and induced apoptosis (P < 0.01). A total of 0.2 mg/mL Matrine could increase the intracellular concentration of ADR; the accumulation in MCF-7/ADR cells increased 3.56 times. Compared with control group, 0.6, 1.2 mg/mL Matrine reduced protein expressions of P-gp, MRP1, p-AKT, Bcl-2, but increased PTEN, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 gradually, and unchanged caspase-3. Matrine was more likely to reduce the expression of P-gp, MRP1, and p-AKT at the same inhibition radio of Matrine, (0.6 mg/mL) and MK2206 (0.05 µmol/L). Matrine inhibited MCF-7/ADR cell growth, induced apoptosis, and reversed multidrug resistance for breast cancer cells through the regulation of downstream apoptosis factors of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by decreasing cell phosphorylation of AKT level.

A case of myeloproliferative neoplasm with a normal complete blood cell count: A novel problem of the JAK2 era.

The present study reported a case of a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) in a patient with a normal complete blood cell count. Bone marrow biopsy showed bone marrow hyperplasia, an elevated megakaryocyte count, megakaryocytic dysplasia and pleomorphic changes, multiple megakaryocyte clusters and focal reticulin fiber hyperplasia. Furthermore, genetic analysis revealed that the patient was positive for the JAK2-V617F mutation, and negative for the JAK2 exon 12 and 13 mutations and the BCR-ABL (p210) fusion gene. The patient's condition was basically stable and at the time of writing, the patient remained in a stable condition with no specific symptoms of disease. The present study also analyzed the diagnostic and clinical features of MPNs, and a literature review was performed. MPN with a normal complete blood cell count is a rare disease, and attention should be focused on this entity in the clinic.

Serum somatostatin and neuron-specific enolase might be biochemical markers of vascular dementia in the early stage.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate whether serum somatostatin (SS) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), the representative neuropeptide relative to learning and memory, to be biochemical markers of the vascular dementia (VaD) in the early stage. METHODS: 42 patients with VaD were randomized in the VaD group and 38 stroke patients without dementia was in the control group. Radioimmunoassay was used to detect SS in the serum and CSF, and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to detect NSE in the serum and CSF. SS and NSE in CSF were compared 3 days after stroke. SS and NSE contends in serum were compared 3 days, 3 months and 6 months poststroke. RESULTS: CSF and serum SS contents in VaD group were lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). SS in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and the temporal lobe, thalamus were lower than that in the occipital lobe (P<0.05); Serum NSE contents in VaD group were significantly higher than that of control group 3 days after stroke, 3 months and 6 months (P<0.01, respectively), and has a tendency to increase (P<0.05); SS contents significantly lower than that in the control group with the trend to decrease (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NSE increased and SS decreased with the lower content in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and the temporal lobe which has close relationship with learning and memory, thus Serum NSE and SS might be the biochemical markers of VaD in the early stage.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation for breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

To evaluate the long-term effect of breast conservation with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for early-stage breast cancer, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, and China Journal Full-text Database were searched to identify relevant original published trials. Randomized controlled trials in any language comparing APBI with whole-breast radiotherapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer were included. RevMan 5 software was used for statistical analysis. Four trials involving 919 patients were included. The rate of 5- and 7-year excellent/good cosmetic results was significant {odds ratio (OR) = 2.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21-3.62]} between two groups. The 5- and 8-year overall survival had no significant difference [OR = 1.76 (95% CI = 0.67-4.62) and OR = 0.86 (95% CI = 0.44-1.66)]. The 10-year overall survival had significant differences [OR = 0.56 (95% CI = 0.35-0.91)]. There were no differences in the 5-year local recurrence (LR)-free survival [OR = 0.65 (95% CI = 0.18-2.34)], cancer-specific survival [OR = 1.67 (95% CI = 0.39-7.12)], disease-free survival [OR = 0.84 (95% CI = 0.38-1.84)], LR [OR = 1.36 (95% CI = 0.46-3.99)], the rate of contralateral breast cancer [OR = 2.82 (95% CI = 0.73-10.89)], and distant metastasis [OR = 0.71 (95% CI = 0.22-2.31)]. APBI significantly improved the rate of excellent/good cosmetic results anywhere in the breast, shortened the treatment time, alleviated the pain, and improved the quality of life. Future large-scale, high-quality, and double-blind trials are needed.

Modulation of the gene expression in the protective effects of electroacupuncture against cerebral ischemia: a cDNA microarray study.

In the present study, a cDNA microarray technology was used to analyze the gene expression profile in ischemia and in electroacupuncture (EA)-treated ischemia. A focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model on Macaca mulatta was performed with a modified middle cerebral artery occlusion method. Among the nearly 8000 genes, approximately 8% of the total number of genes examined were affected after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Major altered genes were downregulated. In EA-treated monkeys, approximately 10% of the total number of genes examined were affected. Major altered genes were upregulated, including signal transduction-, cell-cycle-, metabolism-, stress response-, DNA repair-related genes. One of the representative upregulated genes encodes insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was confirmed using in situ hybridization. Results showed that after ischemia/reperfusion injury, IGF-1 mRNA expression decreased in ipsilateral striatum, whereas increased in ipsilateral hippocampus. No expression changes were observed in cortex. EA treatment could obviously upregulate the IGF-1 mRNA expression in striatum, and further enhance its expression in hippocampus. Therefore, the data presented suggest a possible mediator underlying the mechanisms of anti-ischemic effect of acupuncture. In conclusion, the protective mechanisms of EA against stroke include several related pathways and gene expressions. Microarray analysis may provide a framework for understanding these complicated mechanisms and yield valuable, clinically relevant insights and potentially therapeutic targets of stroke.