Antifibrotic activity of rofecoxib in vivo is associated with reduced portal hypertension in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.

Background And Aim: Upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that is actively involved in inflammation and wound healing, has been found in cirrhotic livers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selective inhibition of COX-2 on the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in rats.

Methods: Liver cirrhosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Nutritional factors in relation to endometrial cancer: a report from a population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China.

We evaluated the role of dietary nutrients in the etiology of endometrial cancer in a population-based case-control study of 1,204 newly diagnosed endometrial cancer cases and 1,212 age frequency-matched controls. Information on usual dietary habits was collected during an in-person interview using a validated, quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association of nutrients with endometrial cancer risk using an energy density method (e.

[Effect of biminne on vascular permeability of nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis rats].

Objective: To investigate whether the effect of Biminne on allergic rhinitis (AR) was through improving vascular permeability of nasal mucosa.

Methods: Rat's model in Biminne-treated group and model group was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide gel suspension Biminne-treated rats were orally given Biminne suspension from the 8th day to the 17th day. On the 18th day, Evan's blue dye (EBD) in the nasal perfusate was detected to assess the vascular permeability.

[Study of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-(A, C, D) genes and its effect on prognosis of breast cancer].

Objective: To study mRNA expression of VEGF-(A, C, D) genes in breast carcinoma and its effect on prognosis.

Methods: The mRNA expression of VEGF-(A, C, D) genes in 61 cases of primary breast carcinoma and 29 cases of benign mammary lesions was detected by TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) technology. The correlation between mRNA expression and various clinicopathologic parameters and survival data was analyzed.

A novel mitochondrial DNA missense mutation at G3421A in a family with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness.

Objective: Mutations in mtDNA are thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis of maternally inherited diabetes. Here, we report a family with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness whose members did not harbour the mtDNA A3243G mutation, the most frequent point mutation in mitochondrial diabetic patients. This study aimed to investigate a possible other mtDNA mutation and its prevalence in type 2 diabetic patients.

Differential effects of selective and non-selective inhibition of nitric oxide synthase on the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase-2 during gastric ulcer healing.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are important enzymes involved in ulcer healing but interactions between them have not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selective or non-selective inhibition of NOS on the expression and activity of COX-2 during healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats. N-[3-(aminomethyl)benzyl] acetamidine (1400 W), a potent selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), at a dose of 0.

High-frequency promoter hypermethylation of the deleted in liver cancer-1 gene in multiple myeloma.

Background: Deleted in liver cancer-1 (DLC-1) is a tumour suppressor gene that is inactive in liver carcinogenesis. It encodes a rho-guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein (rho-GAP) and maps to one of the deleted regions (8p21.3-22).

[The study on donor site sequelae after autologous breast reconstruction with an extended latissimus dorsi flap].

Objective: To study the prevention and treatment on the donor site sequelae after autologous breast reconstruction with extended latissimus dorsi flap.

Methods: 88 patients received breast reconstruction with extended latissimus dorsi flap between May 1999 and Nov 2004 were concerned. We analyzed the donor site sequelae by objective and subjective evaluation and we assessed the functional condition.

Effect of serum on the down-regulation of CHOP-10 during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Hormonal induction of growth-arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) triggers a signaling cascade that culminates in adipogenesis. The transcription factor, C/EBPbeta, is expressed early in this differentiation program, but lacks DNA-binding activity until much later as the preadipocytes traverse the G(1)-S checkpoint of mitotic clonal expansion. Dominant-negative CHOP-10 is initially expressed by growth-arrested preadipocytes and sequesters/inactivates C/EBPbeta by heterodimerization with its leucine zipper.

Papillary endothelial hyperplasia (Masson tumor) of the petrous and jugulare region: case report and literature review.

Objective: Intracranial papillary endothelial hyperplasia (PEH) is rare, and only 13 cases have been reported intracranially in the literature. In this article, we present a case of PEH involving petrous and jugular foramen region due to the uncommon incidence.

Case Description: A 49-year-old female patient with a 4-year history of left-sided hearing loss and facial palsy.

Two closely linked variations in actin cytoskeleton pathway in a Chinese pedigree with disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis.

Background: Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is an uncommon autosomal dominant chronic keratinization disorder, characterized by multiple superficial keratotic lesions surrounded by a slightly raised keratotic border. Recently, SSH1 was identified as the DSAP candidate gene.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the locus of DSAP and identify the candidate gene(s) of the disease.

Treatment of pituitary adenomas with a transsphenoidal approach.

Objective: To evaluate the overall therapeutic effectiveness of transsphenoidal microsurgery for pituitary adenomas and explore the surgical technique, application of new technology, and postoperative follow-up.

Methods: The clinical presentation, imaging features, endocrine examination, pathological types, conditions of operation, postoperative complications, and follow-up of 4050 patients with pituitary adenomas who had undergone transsphenoidal microsurgery from December 1981 to January 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: During the past 6 years, total tumor resection (under microscope) has been achieved in 97.

Effects of oxymatrine on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its mechanism in vivo.

Aim: Hepatic fibrogenesis has close relation with hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP). Oxymatrine (OM) is a kind of Chinese herb that is found to have some effects on liver fibrosis. We aimed to determine the effects of OM on hepatic fibrosis and explore the possible mechanism.

Efficacy and safety of telmisartan vs. losartan in control of mild-to-moderate hypertension: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind study.

This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study compared the efficacy and safety of telmisartan with those of losartan after 8 weeks' treatment. In total, 330 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <180 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 95-109 mmHg) were randomly assigned to receive once-daily treatment with telmisartan 40 mg (n = 164) or losartan 50 mg (n = 166). After 4 weeks' treatment, if a patient's DBP was > or = 90 mmHg, the dose was increased to telmisartan 80 mg or losartan 100 mg, respectively.

Expression of UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-12 in gastric and colonic cancer cell lines and in human colorectal cancer.

Objective: The expression of UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-12 (pp-GalNAc-T12) was studied in 3 normal human tissues (stomach, small intestine and colon), 3 stomach and 6 colon cancer cell lines, as well as in the resected cancer tissues and normal tissues (control) from 19 patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Marathon Ready cDNAs were used as the templates of normal tissues. mRNA was extracted from the cell lines and resected tissues, and reverse-transcribed to cDNA.

[Relationship between terminal sialyl and fucosyl residues of glycans on cell surface and cell biological behaviors].

The relationship between the structures of glycans on the surface of H7721 cells, a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, and the cell behaviors was studied by using neuraminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase to remove the terminal sialyl or fucosyl residues of surface glycans respectively. The cell adhesion to fibronectin (Fn), laminin (Ln) and human umbilical vein epithelial cell (HUVEC), as well as cell chemotactic migration and invasion were selected as the parameters of the cell behaviors. It was found that sialyl residue was not essential for the cell adhesion to Fn, but was important in the cell adhesion to Ln and chemotactic cell invasion, and very crucial in the cell adhesion to HUVEC and chemotactic migration.

[Study of an animal model of post-menopausal atherosclerosis in rabbit and observation of the effect of herbal formula of tonifying-kidney on it].

Objective: To establish an animal model imitating post-menopausal atherosclerosis in rabbit and observe the effect of the herbal formula of tonifying-kidney on this animal model.

Methods: The New Zealand rabbits were treated with ovariectomy, high cholesterol diet plus immune injury, and both of ovariectomy and high cholesterol diet plus immune injury respectively. The blood lipid level and the intima and media of the aorta were observed.

Alteration in N -acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities and glycan structure in tissue and bile glycoproteins from extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

The activities of three N -acetylglucosaminyltransferases (GnT)-III, IV and V, as well as the structural alterations of N-glycans on the glycoproteins in cancer tissues and bile specimens from 28 cases of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC) were compared with those from 18 cases of benign biliary duct diseases (BBDD). GnT activities were determined with fluorescence-labeled substrate using a HPLC method. It was found that GnT-III and GnT-V activities in EBDC were increased to 3.

Gene expression profiling in human insulinoma tissue: genes involved in the insulin secretion pathway and cloning of novel full-length cDNAs.

Insulinoma is a clinically common cause of organic hypoglycemia. The prominent characteristic of insulinoma is endogenous hyperinsulinism. Until now, the molecular biology of human insulinoma has been little understood.

[Isolation and purification of gonyautoxins from Alexandrium mimutum Halim].

Aim: To isolate and purify gonyautoxins from Alexandrium mimutum Halim Amtk2 strain.

Methods: The ethanol extracts of culture Alexandriun minutum Halim Amtk2 were isolated by means of gel filtration chromatography, the toxin fraction obtained was then purified by ion exchange chromatography.

Results: From 100 liter of cultivation liquid of Alexandrium mimutum Halim Amtk2 (6.

Synthesis and antioxidative activity of 2-substituted phenyl-5-(3'-indolyl)-oxazole derivatives.

Aim: To study the synthesis of 5-(3'-indolyl)-oxazoles and their antioxidative activity.

Methods: The amides were prepared from tryptophan and different acid derivatives by the catalytic dehydration of dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC). The characteristic heterocyclic ring system of 5-(3'-indolyl)-oxazoles was constructed by oxidative cyclization of amide, using dicholorodicyanoquinone (DDQ).

[Malignant fibrous histiocytomas of larynx].

Objective: To explore the histopathology, diagnosis and treatment of malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) of larynx.

Methods: The clinical and pathologic features of 9 cases with MFH of larynx were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: All the 9 cases with MFH of larynx were adults (the age ranged from 43 to 87 years; average 56 years); 8 were men and 1 woman.

[The proliferation profile in vitro and anti-tumor effects of dendritic cells co-culturing with CIK cells].

To observe the changes of phenotype, proliferation activity and cytotoxicity of CIK(cytokine induced killer) cells after co-culturing with dendritic cells(DCs), DCs and CIK cells were generated, respectively, by cytokines induction of culturing PBMC of healthy blood donor. The typical DCs and DCs pulsed by A549 lung cancer cells lysate antigen were co-cultured with CIK cells, respectively. Cell surface markers were analyzed by FACS method.

Forskolin up-regulates metastasis-related phenotypes and molecules via protein kinase B, but not PI-3K, in H7721 human hepato-carcinoma cell line.

Forskolin (FSK) is known as an up-regulator of intracellular cAMP and inhibitor of cancer growth and metastasis. The effects of FSK on the metastasis potential and its mechanisms were studied using a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, H7721. It was found that FSK stimulated cell growth, increased cAMP in the cells, and enhanced the metastasis-related phenotypes, including adhesion to laminin (Ln) and human umbilical vein epithelial cells (HUVEC), chemotactic migration and invasion.