Paeonol regulates phenotypic conversion of macrophages via estrogen receptor-a / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effect of paeonol on macrophage phenotvpe conversion based on estrogen receptora (ERa).Methods The macrophage Ml polarization model was established by 100 jjig • L"' LPS and 20 pug • L_1 I FN-7.ELISA was used to examine the effects of paeonol on tumor necrosis factor-a ( TNF-cx ) , interleukin-1 £ ( 1L-1 £ ) , interleukin-10 (IL-10), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , and malondi- aldehyde ( MDA).Western blot was used to detect the expression of M1 phenotvpe markers iNOS, CD86 and M2 phenotvpe markers Arg-1 and CD 163 in macrophages.Further, the methods of blockers and shRNA interference were used to verify whether the effect of paeonol was mediated by ERa.Results ELISA results shower] that paeonol reduced the content of TNF-a, IL- lp and MDA, and increased the content of IL-10 and SOD.Western blot results showed that paeonol reduced the expression of iNOS and CD86 proteins in model group, and increased the expression of Arg-1 and CD163 proteins.Both ERa selective blocker MPP and ERa shRNA reduced the efficacy of paeonol, while ERp selective blocker PHTPP had no significant effect on paeonol.Conclusion Paeonol can induce the transformation of macrophages into M2 type by ERa and alleviate the progression of atherosclerosis.

Topical Delivery of Modified Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction () Using Low-Frequency Ultrasound Sonophoresis for Refractory Metastatic Malignant Bowel Obstruction: An Open-Label Single-Arm Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical delivery of modified Da-Cheng- Qi Decoction (, MDCQD) by low-frequency ultrasound sonophoresis (LFUS) in patients with refractory metastatic malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) using an objective performance criteria (OPC) design.@*METHODS@#Fifty patients with refractory metastatic MBO were enrolled in this open-label single-arm clinical trial. Alongside fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, glycerol enema, intravenous nutrition and antisecretory therapy, a 50 g dose of MDCQD (prepared as a hydrogel) was applied through topical delivery at the site of abodminal pain or Tianshu (S 25) using LFUS for 30 min, twice daily for 5 consecutive days. The overall outcome was the remission of intestinal obstruction, and improvement on abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea and vomiting scores. Indicators of safety evaluation included liver and renal function as well as blood coagulation indicators.@*RESULTS@#Among 50 patients, 5 patients (10%) showed complete remission of intestinal obstruction and 21 patients (42%) showed improvement of intestinal obstruction. The overall remission rate of bowel obstruction was 52%. The results of the symptom score, based on the severity and frequency of the episode, are as follows: 26 patients (52%) showed improvment on symptom scores, 20 patients (40%) did not respond to treatment, and 4 patients (8%) discontinued treatment due to intolerance. No serious adverse effects or abnormal changes on liver and renal function or blood coagulation were observed.@*CONCLUSION@#Topical delivery of MDCQD at 100 g/day using LFUS can improve the treatment response in patients with refractory metastatic MBO.

Sangtongjian Mixture ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats / 中成药

AIM To observe the effects of Sangtongjian Mixture (STJ) on glucose and lipid metabolism,insulin resistance and fat cytokines in type 2 diabetic rats,and their mechanisms of action.METHODS One hundred and forty rats fed on the combination of STZ and high fat diet were established as the type 2 diabetic models.Fasting blood glucose (FBG) level reached more than 16.7 mmol/L and then the rats were randomly divided into model group,metformin (180 mg/kg) group,STJ (73.5,147 and 294 mg/kg) groups.Ten rats were set as the blank group.Each treatment group was intragastrically given the corresponding agents for twelve weeks.The fasting blood glucose levels of rats were measured once every two weeks after the administration.After a 12-week administration period,glycosylated serum protein (GSP),glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and lipid profile indices (TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C) were determined.The serum insulin level was measured by radioimmunoassay,and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated.The levels of serum adiponectin and leptin were detected by ELISA.RESULTS STJ remarkably decreased the levels of FBG,GSP,GHb,TC,TG,LDL-C,leptin and HOMR-IR in type 2 diabetic rats.Furthermore,STJ also significantly increased the levels of HDL-C,adiponectin and ISI.CONCLUSION STJ can improve glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats by ameliorating insulin resistance and regulating fat cytokine levels.

Female bladder ectopic skene glands: one case report and literature review / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To investigate the pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of female bladder ectopic skene glands.Methods A female with bladder tumor was treated in our hospital in May 2013.Preoperative so(n)graphy revealed a 0.9 cm×0.6 cm round solid mass in the bottom of bladder wall.Mass was hypoechoic homogeneous with regular shape,blood flow within the mass was noted.The tumor was treated with transurethral resection.Routine pathological examination suggested bladder ectopic Skene glands.Immunohistochemical stains for prostate specific antigen (PSA),prostate spectific acid phosphatase (PSAP),androgen receptor (AR),estrogen receptor (ER),CD10,cytokeratin 14 (CK14),cytokeratin 18 (CK18),P63,high molecular weight cytokeratin (34βE12),α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR/p504s) were further performed.Results Routine pathological examination showed prostate glands composed of prostate gland epithelial cells and basal cells in a submucosal location.Immunohistochemical stains showed:PSA-,PSAP +,AR +,ER-,CD10+,CK18 +,CK14-,P63 +,34βE12 +,AMACR-.Conclusions Routine pathological examination combined with immunohistochemical stains such as PSA,PSAP,and others,can be used to diagnose ectopic Skene glands disease.Female bladder ectopic Skene glands is a benign lesion,and the prognosis is good.

Toxic effects of strychnine and strychnine N-oxide on zebrafish embryos / 中国天然药物

AIM@#The application of strychnine (S) is limited due to its toxicity; strychnine N-oxide (SNO) is a derivative of strychnine. The aim was to employ zebrafish embryos to investigate and compare the developmental toxicity induced by S and SNO.@*METHODS@#The toxicity of S and SNO was examined through the hatching rate and survival rate. Morphological changes of the zebrafish were observed with a dissecting microscope. Apoptosis was detected through acridine orange (AO) staining and flow cytometry. Apoptotic genes were measured by RT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#Embryo malformation was observed in the embryos exposed to S at 200 μmol·L(-1). When SNO concentration was increased to 1 mmol·L(-1), scoliolosis, and pericardial edema could be seen in some embryos. Results from fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed that S at 200 μmol·L(-1) induced apoptosis, whereas the apoptotic rate in the SNO-treated group (200 μmol·L(-1)) was much lower than that in the S group. RT-PCR analysis showed that p53 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the S group were significantly altered compared with the control group (*P < 0.05). Moreover, Bax mRNA expression in both S and SNO group were significantly different from that in the control group (**P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#These results lead to the conclusion that SNO has significantly lower toxicity than S in zebrafish embryos.

Study of effect of tongsaimai tablets on experimental diabetic foot model rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Tongsaimai (TSM) tablets in treating foot trauma of diabetic foot (DF) model rats, and discuss its potential mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male SD rats were selected to duplicate the diabetic foot ulcer model and randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the metformin treatment group, and TSM 12.44, 6.22, 3.11 g x kg(-1) groups (n = 10). The healing of ulcer wounds were observed on day 1, 4, 8, 13 and 18. After 18 days, a histopathologic examination was conducted for ulcer tissues. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by hydroxylamine and TBA methods. The content of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined with the radioimmunoassay. The immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ulcer tissues and the number of capillary vessels.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>TSM could alleviate the pathological changes of diabetic foot rats, accelerate the ulcer healing on 4, 8, 13, 18 d, reduce MDA, IL-6, TNF-alpha, VEGF content in rat serum at 18 d (after the rehabilitation period), and enhance the SOD content. Specifically, the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group showed significant differences compared with the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). At 18 d after the treatment (the late rehabilitation period), the VEGF expression of TSM 12.44, 6.22 g x kg(-1) groups and the number of blood capillaries of the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group were significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TSM could promote the foot wound healing of DF model rats, reduce MDA, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in serum, increase the SOD content and decrease the VEGF expression and the number of blood capillaries in the late rehabilitation period. Its action mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress injury and the inflammatory cell infiltration.</p>

Cytogenetic and clinical analysis of 340 Chinese patients with primary amenorrhea / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relationship between karyotypes and clinic features of patients with primary amenorrhea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>G banding was done for 340 patients with primary amenorrhea to facilitate individual chromosome identification, and if specific staining for certain portions of the chromosome was necessary, C banding was used. The clinical data were recorded by physical examination and ultrasound scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Karyotype analysis of the 340 patients revealed that 180 (52.94%) patients had normal female karyotypes and 160 (47.06%) patients had abnormal karyotypes. The abnormal karyotypes included abnormal X chromosome (150 patients), mosaic X-Y chromosome (4 patients), abnormal autosome (5 patients), and X-autosome translocation (1 patient). The main clinical manifestations in patients with primary amenorrhea were primordial or absent uterus (95.9%), invisible secondary sex features (68.8%), little or absent ovary (62.6%), and short stature (30.0%). The incidence of short stature in patients with X chromosome aberration (46%, 69/150) was significangly higher that in patients with 46, XX (9.44%, 17/180) as well as 46, XY (6.67%, 3/45; Chi square = 146.25, P=0.000). All primary amenorrhea patients with deletion or break-point at Xp1 1.1-11.4 were short statures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>One of the main reasons of primary amenorrhea is choromosome abnormality, especially heterosome abnormality. It implies the need to routinely screen chromosomal anomalies for such patients. There might be relationship between Xp1 1.1-11.4 integrity and height improvement.</p>

Small pancreatic cancer diagnosis and prognosis / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnostic methods and prognosis of small pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2000 to January 2007, 89 patients with pancreatic cancer underwent surgery in our hospital. Of those, 14 had a tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter (small tumor group), and the other 75 had a tumor >2 cm in diameter (controlled group). The clinicopathological data of all the cases were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the small pancreatic cancer group, CT and MRI detected 66.7% (8/12) and 77.8% (7/9) of the tumors, respectively. Serosal infiltration was found in 2 cases, lymph node involvement in 3 cases, and retroperitoneal infiltration in 3 cases. The follow-up duration of this group was 4-86 months. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 42.8% and 31.7%, while in the control group, the overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 29.7% and 22.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the lymph node involvement, serosal infiltration and retroperitoneal infiltration were independent risk factors (P<0.05). However, the tumor size was not shown to be an independent risk factor (OR value = 1.45, P = 0.971).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT and MRI are valuable in detecting small pancreatic cancer. Small pancreatic cancers are likely to have a better prognosis when compared with larger ones. Lymph node metastasis and local infiltration are independent predictors of prognosis but not tumor size.</p>

The nuclear factor kappa B activation: the key step of cell proliferation in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the way of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and the mechanism of NF-kappaB-promoted proliferation in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The protein of IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) was measured by Western blot and the influence on cell-cycle was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IKKalpha was tested higher in three ER-negative breast cancer cell lines than in MCF-7. The influence caused by epidermal growth factor (EGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and E(2) to tumor cells' proliferation was tested. EGF could remarkably enhance cyclin D(1) expression about 83% more in EGF group than that in control group and proliferation index from 0.22 to 0.31 (P < 0.01). On the other hand, TNF-alpha inhibited cyclin D(1) expression. Protein kinase C inhibitor, Go6976, could peculiarly prevent NF-kappaB over-expression caused by EGF. The cell-cycle was assayed by FCM in phase G(0)/G(1) 69.36% and in phase S 22.77% when adding EGF and in phase G(0)/G(1) 91.54% and in phase S 7.81% when adding EGF and Go6976. The proliferation index decreased from 0.31 to 0.09 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EGF-EGFR pathway can provide ER-negative breast cancer cells the signal for the autonomous growth. This signal promoted tumor cells' proliferation is transmitted by activating NF-kappaB and expressing more cyclin D(1). In this pathway, NF-kappaB play an important role as signal transmitting. The strategy to NF-kappaB activating may provide new way to treat ER-negative breast cancers.</p>