[Clinical Significance of HBV Detection in NHL Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relation of HBV infection with clinical characteristics and prognosis in NHL patients, so as to explore the significance of HBV detection. METHODS: Sixty-eight NHL patients from December 2013 to December 2016 were enrolled in NHL group and 136 patients with other malignancies were chosen in control group, the detectable rate of HBV was compared between 2 groups. The correlation of HBV infection with sex, age, stage, cell origin, expression of P53 and BCL-2 in NHL patients was analyzed. The prognosis-related factors in NHL patients were also analyzed. RESULTS: The infection rate of HBV in NHL group was 51.47%(35/68), that in control group was 15.44% (21/136), and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=27.768,P<0.05). HBV infection correlated with cell origins and expression of BCL-2 in NHL patients(P<0.05). The prognosis of NHL patients demonstrated no correlation with sex, age, cell origins and HBV infection (P>0.05), while the prognosis was significantly related with stage, expression of P53 and BCL-2(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HBV infection correlates with BCL-2 expression level of NHL patients, and shows influence on the prognosis of patients.

[Value of hsCRP and Alb in Evaluating the Prognosis of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of hsCRP and Alb in evaluating the prognosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: 126 SLE patients from January 2011 to January 2016 were enrolled in this study, and their clinical data were collected, including SLEDAI, hsCRP and Alb and complications. The correlation between hsCRP/Alb ratio and SLEDAI after treatment was analyzed. All patients were followed up after discharge, and the prognosis-related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: After treatment, hsCRP/Alb ratio of patients with SLEDAI 10-14 score was significantly higher than that of 5-9 and 0-4 score(P<0.05). hsCRP/Alb ratio was positively correlated with infection (r=0.574), renal damage (r=0.499) and cardiac injury (r=0.516) (P<0.05), while it demonstrated no correlation with blood system damage, CNS damage and lung injury(P>0.05). after treatment SLEDAI ≥10 score, hsCRP/Alb≥0.05 mg/g and complications significantly correlated with prognosis of patients(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: hsCRP/Alb correlates with the prognosis of patients with SLE at a certam level.

Ginsenoside rb1 reduces isoproterenol-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

Cardiomyocytes apoptosis can lead to heart failure. Conventional and alternative drugs, such as Chinese herbal remedies, have been developed to target cardiomyoblast cells apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), an active compound, which is isolated from Notoginseng and Ginseng on isoproterenol-(ISO-) induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes and its mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Rb1 reduced the ISO-induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells. The effect of Rb1 was significantly suppressed by H89 (inhibitor for PKA), but not by C-1 (inhibitor for PKC). Based on in-cell blot analysis, the ISO-induced PKA and PKC expressions were decreased by Rb1, which was inhibited by H89, but not by C-1. The expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were decreased after treatment with both ISO and Rb1, but with no change for caspase-8. Our results indicated that Rb1 reducing ISO-induced rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis may be involved in PKA and caspase-9 pathways.

Inhibitory Effects of PC-SPESII Herbal Extract on Human Breast Cancer Metastasis.

Cancer metastasis is refractory to most forms of chemotherapy. Conventional and alternative drugs, such as Chinese herbal remedies, have been developed to target metastatic cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of PC-SPESII, an herbal formulation, on the migration, invasion, and metastasis of an experimental human breast cancer cell line in vivo and in vitro. PC-SPESII suppressed pulmonary metastasis and tumor growth of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer xenografts without affecting body weight, liver function, and kidney function. PC-SPESII also inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Based on ELISA analysis, secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9, proteins associated with extracellular matrix degradation, was reduced in response to PC-SPESII treatment. Western blot analysis of whole-cell extracts revealed that the levels of proteolytic proteins associated with matrix and base membrane degradation (MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA) were decreased and the levels of their endogenous inhibitors (TIMP1 and TIMP2) were increased. Moreover, the p38MAPK and SAPK/JNK signaling pathway, which stimulates proteolytic enzymes and matrix degradation, was inhibited by PC-PSESII. Remarkably, cotreatment with PC-PSESII and p38MAPK or SAPK/JNK inhibitors magnified the antimetastatic phenotype. Our results indicate that PC-PSESII impairs human breast cancer metastasis by regulating proteolytic enzymes and matrix dynamics through the p38MAPK and SAPK/JNK pathway.

Evodiamine induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in MDA­MB-231 human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Owing to high efficiency and low toxic effects, further exploration of natural compounds from Chinese herbal medicine may be an efficient approach for breast cancer drug discovery. In this study, we investigated the effects of evodiamine on the growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, evodiamine inhibited cell migration and invasion abilities through downregulation of MMP-9, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPAR expression. Evodiamine-induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis were associated with a decrease in Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) expression and an increase in Bax and p27Kip1 expression. Moreover, evodiamine regulated p-ERK and p-p38 MAPK expression. Evodiamine-induced apoptosis was enhanced by its combination with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD98059 or the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580. Evodiamine-inhibited metastasis was partly blocked by combination with PD98059 or SB203580. In vivo, the administration of evodiamine (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis. These results demonstrate that evodiamine possesses antitumor activities via inhibition of cell migration and invasion, arrest of the cell cycle and induction of cell apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells.

The neuroprotective effect of losartan through inhibiting AT1/ASK1/MKK4/JNK3 pathway following cerebral I/R in rat hippocampal CA1 region.

AIMS: It has been well documented that angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1) ) receptor blockers (ARBs) are known to attenuate neural damage and the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 3 (JNK3) pathway and caspase-3 signal are involved in neuronal cell death following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In this study, we first showed that losartan could protect neurons against cerebral I/R-induced injury. METHODS: Cerebral ischemia model was induced by four-vessel occlusion. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against AT1 receptor and losartan were used to detect whether the AT1 receptor implicated in cerebral I/R. Immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunoblotting (IB) were used to detect the interactions between ß-arrestin-2 and AT1/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/MAP kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) signaling module following cerebral I/R. RESULTS: First, losartan decreased cerebral I/R-induced neuronal death. Second, losartan depressed the ß-arrestin-2-assembled AT1/ASK1/MKK4 signaling module. Third, losartan depressed the activation of c-jun, JNK3, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: Taken together, losartan could attenuate neural damage following the cerebral I/R via inhibiting the ß-arrestin-2-assembled AT1/ASK1/MKK4 signaling module and depressing the activation of c-jun, JNK3, and caspase-3 and the release of cytochrome c.

Effects of L-lysine monohydrochloride on insulin and blood glucose levels in spinal cord injured rats.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia in brain and spinal cord could aggravate neurologic impairment. Recent studies showed that L-lysine monohydrochloride (LMH) could increase the insulin secretion and regulate the blood glucose level. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of LMH on pancreatic islet B cells, the levels of endogenous insulin and blood glucose in spinal cord injured rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, namely, normal control group, model group, high-dose LMH group (621.5 mg/kg equal to LMH 1/8 LD50), and low-dose LMH group (310.8 mg/kg equal to LMH 1/16 LD50). The model of spinal cord injured rat was established by hemi-transection at the lower right thoracic spinal cord. LMH was administered via intraperitoneal injection once spinal cord injury was produced in rats. All rats were sacrificed 48 hours after spinal cord injured. The effects of LMH on pancreatic islet B cells, the content of endogenous insulin, and the level of blood glucose were observed with immunohistochemical method, radioimmunoassay method, and biochemical analyzer, respectively. RESULTS: The insulin immunohistochemical intensities of islet B cells were significantly weaker in model group than those in normal control group (P < 0.01). The levels of endogenous insulin were significantly lower and the blood glucose levels were significantly higher in model group than those in normal control group (P < 0.01). The insulin immunohistochemical intensities of islet B cells were significantly stronger in high-dose LMH group than those in model group (P < 0.05). In addition, we found that the levels of endogenous insulin were significantly higher and the blood glucose levels were significantly lower in high-dose LMH group than those in model group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the insulin immunohistochemical intensities of islet B cells, the levels of endogenous insulin and the blood glucose between low-dose LMH group and model group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: LMH, but dose-dependent, might participate in the regulation of pancreatic islet B cells, and then reduce the blood glucose levels in the spinal cord injured rats.