Changes of QT Dispersion in Hemodialysis Patients after Administrating Zhigancao Decoction () / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the alteration of QT dispersion (QTd) and QTc dispersion (QTcd) in hemodialysis patients after oral administration of Zhigancao Decoction (, Roasted Licorice Decoction, RLD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To investigate the alteration of QTd and QTcd in 68 routine hemodialysis patients before and after hemodialysis with 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) after orally administrated RLD for 4 weeks. Blood was also taken for measurement of plasma electrolytes, liver function, renal function, hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (HCT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After hemodialysis, QTd and QTcd were prolonged evidently; the difference was significant between before and after hemodialysis (P<0.05). After RLD orally administrated for 4 weeks, QTd and QTcd only slightly increased after dialysis compared with pre-dialysis (P>0.05). The QTd and QTcd of the post-therapy-post-dialysis decreased significantly compared with the pre-therapy-post-dialysis (P<0.05). There were no other significant changes in other variables (post-therapy-pre-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-pre-dialysis, or post-therapy-post-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-post-dialysis;P>0.05). After therapy, the number of patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, occasional ventricular premature beat and multiple ventricular premature beat were decreased from 15 to 4, 10 to 2 and 7 to 1, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RLD therapy not only lowered the increased QTd and QTcd after hemodialysis, but also displayed a safety profile.</p>

Influence of deleted in colorectal carcinoma gene on proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3 in vivo and in vitro / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the effects of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene on proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>An exogenous recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)-DCC, containing human DCC cDNA coding sequences, was constructed and transfected into SKOV-3 cells (SKOV-3/DCC). The pcDNA3.1 (+) transfected cells (SKOV-3/Neo) and SKOV-3 cells were used as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Expressions of DCC mRNA and protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis, respectively. Cell growth was detected by soft agar colony formation assay and MTT assay. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy were used to assess the effects of DCC on cell cycle distribution and ultrastructure, respectively. BALB/c mice were used to evaluate the effects of DCC on tumorigenicity in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis revealed the exogenous DCC gene was successfully transfected into SKOV-3 cell lines and obtained permanent expression. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of SKOV-3/DCC cells was significantly lower than that of SKOV-3 or SKOV-3/Neo cells (all P<0.05). DCC expression caused SKOV-3 cells to be arrested in G1 phase (78.0%), and electron microscopic analysis showed SKOV-3/DCC cells displayed typical morphological changes of apoptosis. Two mice xenografted with SKOV-3/DCC cells showed no tumor tumorigenecity. The tumor volume of BALB/c mice bearing SKOV-3/DCC cells (3.403 mm(3)) was smaller than that of SKOV-3 cells (9.206 mm(3)).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DCC gene may play an important role in suppressing the growth of SKOV-3 cell line and inducing apoptosis.</p>