Activated T-cells inhibit neurogenesis by releasing granzyme B: rescue by Kv1.3 blockers.

There is a great need for pharmacological approaches to enhance neural progenitor cell (NPC) function particularly in neuroinflammatory diseases with failed neuroregeneration. In diseases such as multiple sclerosis and stroke, T-cell infiltration occurs in periventricular zones where NPCs are located and is associated with irreversible neuronal loss. We studied the effect of T-cell activation on NPC functions.

Concurrent blockade of the NF-kappaB and Akt pathways potently sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapeutic-induced cytotoxicity.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and Akt are two major cell survival pathways that are often constitutively activated and can be further stimulated by chemotherpeutics in cancer cells. Although individually targeting the NF-kappaB or Akt has been reported to sensitize caner therapy, the effectiveness of concurrent blocking these two pathways for chemosensitizing of cancer cells to genotoxic therapeutics has not been investigated. In the present study, we investigate the activation of the NF-kappaB and Akt pathways by two frontline anticancer drugs cisplatin and etopside in a variety of cancer cell lines.

An epidemiological survey of bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and trichomoniasis in the Tibetan area of Sichuan Province, China.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of vaginitis in the Tibetan area of Sichuan Province in China.

Study Design: Between September and October 2007, 397 women were surveyed with a questionnaire and diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and trichomoniasis by Gram stain and microscopy of vaginal swabs.

Results: The prevalence of BV, VVC, and trichomoniasis was 51.

TWEAK/Fn14 promotes apoptosis of human endometrial cancer cells via caspase pathway.

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible immediate-early response protein 14 (Fn14) have been detected in several human tumors, and demonstrated to regulate multiple cellular responses, including proliferation, survival, migration, apoptosis and differentiation, suggesting roles in cancer. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of TWEAK/Fn14 in the development of human endometrial cancer. We found that TWEAK gene expression was down-regulated and Fn14 gene expression was up-regulated in human endometrial cancer specimens compared with that in normal endometrial specimens; TWEAK acting on Fn14 decreased cell viability by inducing apoptosis through caspase pathways in endometrial cancer cells.

AT1 blockade attenuates atherosclerotic plaque destabilization accompanied by the suppression of cathepsin S activity in apoE-deficient mice.

Although it has been suggested that the renin-angiotensin (RA) system and cathepsins contribute to the development and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque, the interaction of the RA system and cathepsins is unclear. Thus, we investigated the effects of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist, olmesartan, on the levels of cathepsins in brachiocephalic atherosclerotic plaque and plaque stabilization in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice receiving a high-fat diet. Under a high fat diet, treatment with olmesartan (3 mg/kg per day) maintained collagen and elastin at high levels and attenuated the plaque development and cathepsin S (Cat S) level in the atherosclerotic plaque of apoE-deficient mice.

Association of constitutive nuclear factor-kappaB activation with aggressive aspects and poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

Introduction: Although nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is generally believed to be involved in carcinogenesis, the relationship between NF-kappaB activation and progression of cervical cancer in clinical settings has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the association of NF-kappaB activation with aggressive aspects and prognosis in cervical cancer.

Methods: Nuclear factor-kappaB subunits p65 and p50 were detected in 159 paraffin tissues including normal cervical, precancerous (squamous intraepithelial lesions), and cervical carcinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry.

[Efficacy and safety of remifemin compared to tibolone for controlling of perimenopausal symptoms].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of remifemin (isopropanolic extract of cimicifuga racemosa) treating perimenopausal symptoms in comparison of tibolone.

Methods: One hundred and eighty postmenopausal women at range of 40 - 60 years old were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized and double blind study. They were divided into remifemin and tibolone group at ratio 1:1.

Bioequivalence of a single 10-mg dose of finasteride 5-mg oral disintegrating tablets and standard tablets in healthy adult male Han Chinese volunteers: a randomized sequence, open-label, two-way crossover study.

Background: Finasteride, an inhibitor of the steroid 5alpha-reductase, has been approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. An orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) 5-mg formulation of finasteride was recently developed. Information regarding its pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence was required to assess the efficacy and safety of this formulation before marketing it in China.

[Effects of energy controllable steep pulses on intracellular calcium concentration and cell membrane potential].

Background And Objective: Our previous experiments showed that steep pulses could kill tumor cells, but the mechanism is unclear. This study was to probe the effects of different dosages of energy controllable steep pulses (ECSP) on intracellular concentration of dissociative calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) and cell membrane potential.

Methods: The breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into control group and five ECSP (different dosages) groups.

Fusion protein Ag85B-MPT64(190-198)-Mtb8.4 has higher immunogenicity than Ag85B with capacity to boost BCG-primed immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major infectious disease worldwide despite chemotherapy and BCG vaccine. The efficacy of the current TB vaccine BCG varies from 0 to 80%. New vaccines that have better protection than BCG or have the capability to boost BCG-primed immunity are urgently needed.

Calcium regulating the polarity: a new pathogenesis of aphthous ulcer.

Aphthous ulcer is one of the most common oral conditions. Although many etiological factors have been presented, its precise cause remains unclear. Not only is calcium an integral part of the teeth and bones, but it is a second messenger involving in many physiological processes.

[Study of local immunity of lower genital tract infections].

Objective: To investigate the profile of local immunity of vagina and the immune defense mechanisms against lower genital tract infections.

Methods: Vaginal lavage was collected from healthy women and patients of vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonol vaginitis, human papilloma virus infection (VVC), and chlamydia trachomatis infection. Each group included 60 cases.

[Experimental study on effects of energy controllable steep pulses on cytoskeleton of human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3].

The aim of our study was to determine the effects of energy controllable steep pulse (ECSP) on the cytoskeleton of human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3. SKOV3 cells were divided into five groups under ECSP treatment with different parameters (frequency, pulse duration, peak value of voltage). The positive control group included SKOV3 cells treated with volchicine; the negative control group included SKOV3 cells subjected to sham-lightning stroke.

The antitumoral effect of Paris Saponin I associated with the induction of apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway.

Rhizoma Paridis, a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise in cancer prevention and therapy. In the present study, we isolated Paris Saponin I (PSI), an active component of Rhizoma paridis, and evaluated its effects on a panel of human cell lines and in a mouse model of human ovarian cancer to explore the mechanisms of its activity. PSI had more potent and selective cytotoxic effects on tumor cell lines than etoposide had, promoting dramatic G(2)-M phase arrest and apoptosis in SKOV3 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

The effect of high frequency steep pulsed electric fields on in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiency of ovarian cancer cell line skov3 and potential use in electrochemotherapy.

Background: Patients received electrochemotherapy often associated with unpleasant sensations mainly result from low-frequency electric pulse induced muscle contractions. Increasing the repetition frequency of electric pulse can reduce unpleasant sensations. However, due to the specificity of SPEF, frequency related antitumor efficiency need to be further clarified.

Correlation of inhibitor of differentiation 1 expression to tumor progression, poor differentiation and aggressive behaviors in cervical carcinoma.

Objective: To study the correlation of inhibitor of differentiation 1 (Id-1) to tumor invasion and metastasis by examining Id-1 expression levels in different stages of cervical carcinogenesis.

Methods: Id-1 mRNA and protein expression was detected in total of 171 cervical samples including precancerous and cancerous tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Twenty-five normal cervical tissues were used as a normal control.

Confirming the RNAi-mediated mechanism of action of siRNA-based cancer therapeutics in mice.

siRNAs that specifically silence the expression of cancer-related genes offer a therapeutic approach in oncology. However, it remains critical to determine the true mechanism of their therapeutic effects. Here, we describe the preclinical development of chemically modified siRNA targeting the essential cell-cycle proteins polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and kinesin spindle protein (KSP) in mice.

[Study on vaginal production of human defensins and the correlated pathogenetic factors of vulvovaginal candidiasis].

Objective: To investigate the correlated pathogenetic factors and vaginal local immunity in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).

Methods: A case control study was conducted to compare VVC group (60 cases) with normal group (60 cases). All of the women filled up the specific questionnaires.

[Steep pulse changes the expression of tissue factor in ovarian tumor].

As a micro-wound and target-aimed technology without special limitation, Electric Pulses have been widely researched in tumor treatment and the effects have been demonstrated by a series of experiments, yet the mechanism has not been explained clearly. In this experiment, energy controllable steep pulse (ECSP) was used to treat nude mice bearing human ovarian tumor, and the result was compared with that of the control group. The expression of an important coagulant factor-tissue factor (TF) was analyzed, as TF was also a tumor indicator of invasion and metastasis, the result may indicate the relationship among ECSP, thrombosis and tumor invasion.

Secondary relaxation behavior in a strong glass.

In the present paper we study the enthalpy relaxation behavior of the hyperquenched GeO(2) (HQGeO(2)) glass, one of the strongest glass systems. By applying the hyperquenching-annealing-calorimetry approach, we have found that unlike fragile glasses the strong HQGeO(2) glass relaxes in a manner that all the secondary relaxation units contribute to the primary relaxation. By analyzing dynamic properties of the secondary relaxation, we have identified two typical features of the Johari-Goldstein relaxation in the HQGeO(2) glass.

Feasibility of laparoscopic high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for patients with uterine localized adenomyosis.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of laparoscopic high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in the treatment of patients with uterine localized adenomyosis.

Design: A prospective clinical trial.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

[Multivariate analysis of impacting perinatal outcomes in preeclampsia].

Objective: To discuss the influencing factors of perinatal outcomes in preeclampsia.

Methods: Statistically the single factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for 448 preeclamptic women.

Results: There were 94 cases (21.

Frequency response model and simulation of transmembrane potentials on cellular inner and outer membranes.

In order to calculate transmembrane potentials of both inner and outer membranes more accurately, this paper presented a multi-shelled dielectric model for spherical cell according to the structure of cell, because the influence of organelles such as nuclear on the electric field distribution should be account for. Based on this model, the general method for analyzing the frequency response of the transmembrane potential on cellular inner and outer membrane is proposed. From the simulation and analysis of the frequency response, it can be drawn that the frequency response of the transmembrane potential on cellular outer membrane shows first-order low-pass filter characteristic, while that on inner membrane can be treated as a first-order band-pass filter.