Effect of Rongchang capsule on seizure behavior, cognitive impairment, and hippocampal DNA damage and inflammatory factors in epileptic rat.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the behavioral changes and changes in DNA fragments and related inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of epileptic rats pretreated with Rongchang capsule (). METHODS: Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal group (NG), model group (MG), sodium valproate group (VG), and Rongchang capsule group (RG) (n = 20 in each group). Pentylentetrazol was administered to the MG, VG, and RG to induce epilepsy. The VG and RG were pretreated with 1/2 the therapeutic dose of sodium valproate and Rongchang capsule, respectively. Changes in convulsion behavior and water maze learning were observed. Single cell gel electrophoresis was used to detect changes in the DNA in the hippocampus. The tail length (TL) and Olive tail moment (OTM) of cells were analyzed by GASP software. The expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), and CCL4 in the hippocampus was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Rongchang capsule had a weaker effect on convulsive latency than sodium valproate, but significantly reduced seizure susceptibility. The spatial learning ability of the RG was better than that of the VG (P ≤ 0.01). The TL and OTM were significantly higher in the MG than the NG (P < 0.01). The RG had a better TL and OTM than the VG (P < 0.01). Combined with the microscopy results, DNA damage was most pronounced in the MG. Drug intervention decreased the DNA damage in the VG and RG. The expressions of IL-1ß, CCL4, and HMGB1 in the hippocampus were significantly greater in the MG than the NG (P < 0.01), and were significantly reduced in the RG and VG compared with the MG (P < 0.01); however, there was no intergroup difference in the expression of TGF-ß. The average values for the expression of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus were higher in the RG than in the VG; thus, Rongchang capsule may have a weaker effect on reducing the expression of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus than sodium valproate. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with Rongchang capsule prevents or delays cognitive impairment in rats with induced epilepsy, reduces hippocampal DNA damage, and decreases the hippocampal expressions of IL-1ß, CCL4, and HMGB1.

[Effects of all trans retinoic acid on the expression alterations of beta-protein 1 in human breast cancer cell lines of MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the cell proliferation and expression alterations of beta-protein 1 (BP1) in human breast cancer cells lines of MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7. METHOD: The proliferation changes were detected by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) after the treatment of ATRA. At the dose of 10(-5) mol/L ATRA, the expression of BP1 was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunochemistry. RESULTS: After the treatment of ATRA, the proliferation of cells and the expression of BP1 decreased. Optical density ratio (ODR) of each group decreased from 0.85 ± 0.01, 0.71 ± 0.01 to 0.75 ± 0.02, 0.72 ± 0.06 at 24 h, 0.55 ± 0.01, 0.52 ± 0.05 at 48 h and 0.34 ± 0.02, 0.48 ± 0.03 at 72 h. Significant differences existed among different time groups (P < 0.01). The mean optical density (MOD) of each group decreased from 0.509 ± 0.081, 0.826 ± 0.015 to 0.509 ± 0.081, 0.826 ± 0.015 at 24 h, 0.270 ± 0.022, 0.641 ± 0.041 at 48 h and 0.145 ± 0.019 and 0.206 ± 0.179 at 72 h. Significant differences existed among different time groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ATRA can inhibit the proliferation and the expression of BP1 in breast cancer cells. And BP1 gene may become a therapeutic target for the ATRA-mediated inhibited growth of breast cancer cells.

[Clinical comparative study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy outcome in locally advanced breast cancer: docetaxel versus paclitaxel plus pirarubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel with paclitaxel plus pirarubicin hydrochloride (THP) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). METHODS: A total of 97 LABC cases were randomly divided into 2 groups: docetaxel group (n = 49, taxotere plus THP & CTX) and paclitaxel group (n = 48, paclitaxel plus THP & CTX). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy had four cycles of 21 days each. RESULTS: The clinical and pathological complete remission rates of docetaxel group was 28.6% and 26.5% respectively. They were significantly higher than those of paclitaxel group (10.4% and 8.3%). Furthermore the pathological negative rate of regional lymph node in docetaxel group was also significantly higher than that of paclitaxel group (40.6% vs. 12.9%). However, grade III-IV blood system toxic reaction was found in 71.4% cases, grade II-IV liver dysfunction in 53.1% cases and edema in 24.5% cases among docetaxel group. They were higher than those among paclitaxel group (46.9%, 27.1% & 4.2%). CONCLUSION: Compared with paclitaxel, the combined regimen of docetaxel plus THP and CTX offers better outcomes for locally advanced breast cancer.

[Application of guide wire location under mammography for a resection of subclinical breast lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of guide wire location under mammography for a resection of subclinical breast lesions. METHODS: A total of 79 patients presenting with abnormal mammography but unpalpable lesions received a guide wire pre-operative location under mammography. And 82 lesions were successfully located and resected for pathological examination. RESULTS: All 82 lesions were located with a high accuracy. The pathological examination revealed breast fibroma (n = 4), mammary gland hyperplasia with calcification (n = 58), intraductal papilloma (n = 2), fat necrosis with calcification (n = 3), mammary atypical hyperplasia (n = 5), breast inflammation (n = 1) and breast cancer (n = 9). CONCLUSION: The technique of guide wire location under mammography is highly accurate for pre-operative location of subclinical breast lesions. It is valuable for an early diagnosis of unpalpable breast lesions.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit on Cadmium-Induced Change of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Rats.

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit (AESC) on cadmium-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the different brain regions of adult rats were investigated. Male rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CdCl2 (0.6 mg/kg/d) for 21 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) in striatum and serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cortex were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Cd intoxicated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (20 mg/kg/d or 60 mg/kg/d, p.o., 30 min before CdCl2) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in cortex induced by CdCl2. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Cd-induced depletion of monoamine neu-rotransmitters in brain through its antioxidant activity.

[Diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps in children].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of breast lumps in children. METHODS: The clinical data of 61 children with breast lumps, 20 with physiological breast masses, 5 male and 15 female, aged 1 - 14, 38 with benign tumors, 1 male and 37 female, aged 10 - 14, 3 with malignant tumors, aged 7 months, and 10 and 13 years. diagnosed and treated 2001 - 2006 were analyzed. RESULTS: The 20 cases of physiological masses did not undergo any treatment and were followed up for 2 years. The masses disappear by itself within one year in 17 cases, disappear within 2 years in 2 cases, and remained the same size in 1 case. The 38 cases with benign tumors all underwent resection, 36 cases were cured and 2 cases recurred. Recurrence was not seen in 2 of the 3 cases of malignant breast tumors, and the patient of leiomyosarcoma died one year after the operation. CONCLUSION: Physiological breast masses in children needn't treatment; mostly enjoy spontaneous cure. The outcomes of benign breast tumors in children are good after operation. Malignant breast tumor is rare, and it is still difficult to predict its prognosis now.

[Correlation between expression of metastasis-associated gene 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 and invasion and metastasis of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene in breast carcinoma and the relationship between the expression of these genes and the invasion of breast cancer. METHODS: Fluorescence quantitative PCR technique was used to detect the mRNA expression of MTA1 and MMP-9 gene among 56 human breast cancer samples. RESULTS: The mRNA expression rate of MTA1 was higher in 83.9% (47/56) of the primary breast cancer tissues compared with the matched normal breast tissues. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 was higher in 85.7% (48/56) of the primary breast cancer tissues compared to the matched normal breast tissues. The over-expression of MTA1 and that of the MMP-9 gene were significantly related with the degree of differentiation, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer (all P < 0.05). The positive ratio of MTA1 gene is tightly associated with that of MMP-9 gene (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The united detection of MTA1 and MMP-9 gene expression predicts the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer and supplies evidence for clinical therapy and judgment of prognosis. MTA1 and MMP-9 will become new targets for gene therapy.