AIM: To investigate the effect of cold exposure on the thermoregulatory function in hypothyroid rats. METHODS: Hypothyroid model was established by administration of antithyroid drug propylthiouracil(PTU) in rats. Colonic temperature was measured using digital thermometer. Plasma T_3 and T_4 concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The effect of cold exposure on body temperature was observed after 2 weeks of PTU treatment. RESULTS: Plasma T_3 and T_4 concentrations were reduced markedly 2 weeks after PTU treatment, and colonic temperature was also decreased markedly; Hyperthermic response was not different between PTU group and control group during cold exposure. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that PTU-induced hypothyroid rat possesses a robust thermogenic response to short bouts of cold exposure.

0.05). Compared with the altitude of 1 507 m group, the activity of SOD and GSH-Px significantly decreased in the altitude of 3 850 m and 2 500 m groups, it was contrary in the content of MDA (P

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the underlying mechanism.Methods In cultured rat cardiomyocytes,apoptosis was induced by the incubation of isoprenaline ( 10ˉ5 mol/L) for 48 h.CGRP ( 10ˉ8 or 10ˉ7 mol/L) was administrated for 1 h before incubating isoprenaline to evaluate its effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis.At the end of the drug treatment,the rate of apoptotic cells and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined,and RNA was extracted to examine the expression of microRNA-1 and microRNA-133a.Results Isoprenaline significantly increased the rate of apoptotic cells and intracellular ROS production concomitantly with the increased microRNA-1 expression and the decreased microRNA-133a expression,which were inhibited by pretreatment with CGRP.The effects of CGRP were reversed by CGRP receptor antagonist.Conclusion CGRP can inhibit the isoprenaline-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.The beneficial effect of CGRP is related to regulating microRNA-1 and microRNA-133a expression through the prevention of isoprenaline-induced ROS production.

ObjectiveTo design a weight-bearing pressure casting system for transtibial prostheses to make the total surface bearing socket and to control the stump and bearing during the casting process.MethodsThe weight-bearing pressure casting system was designed. 6 cases weared the socket by this method and traditional patellar tendon bearing socket by hand casting. Socket interface pressure was compared, and the effect of casting was assessed.ResultsCompared with patellar tendon bearing socket, the socket pressure in the socked by this method was distributed more equally throughout the transtibial residual limb during the casting process, and completed the stumps compression and stump-end pressure control.ConclusionWeight-bearing pressure casting system can make the total surface bearing socket, and improve the fit of the socket.

AIM: To inverstigate the protective effects of procyanidin on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury models were established by the ligation of left desending coronary artery for 40 min and referfusion for 120 min in rats, and the influence of procyanidin on enzymes of myocardial, myocardial infarction size and lipid peroxide were observed. RESULTS: Procyanidin decreased myocardial creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release significantly diminished myocardial infarction size, raised the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardial and serum in comparison with the control. CONCLUSION: Procyanidin has a protective effect on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. The action is related to the inhibition of the free radical and subsequent lipid peroxidation.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of active immunotherapy combined with endometrial local injury in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion( RSA) caused by negative-blocking antibodies.Methods 112 patients diagnosed RSA with negative -blocking antibodies were randomly divided into the treatment group (62 patients) and control group (50 patients).The patients in treatment group were treated by active immunotherapy combined with endometrial local injury.The patients in the control group were treated by active immunotherapy.The pregnancy outcomes were observed.Results The rate of pregnancy was 93.54%in treatment group,and 80.00%in the control group.The success pregnancy rate in the treatment group was significant higher than that in the control group (χ2 =4.65,P<0.05).The rate of abortion was 3.44% in the treatment group and 12.50% in the control group.It was significant lower than the control group(χ2 =4.90,P<0.05).After active immunotherapy,the pregnan-cy rate was 90.58%in positive-blocking antibodies group and 77.77%in negative-blocking antibodies group.The success pregnancy rate in positive-blocking antibodies group was significant higher than that in negative-blocking antibodies group (χ2 =4.27,P<0.05).The abortion rate in positive-blocking antibodies group was 2.60% and 19.05%in negative-blocking antibodies group.It was significant lower than that in negative-blocking antibodies group (χ2 =6.14,P<0.05).Conclusion It can significantly improve pregnant outcome and reduce the abortion rate with active immunotherapy combined with endometrial local injury in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion ( RSA) caused by negative-blocking antibodies.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of linezolid resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis ( MRSE) strains isolated in Hangzhou area. Methods Twenty-three linezolid-re-sistant Staphylococcus epidermidis ( LRSE) strains were isolated from the patients with septicaemia, urinary tract infection or infectious pleuritis in several hospitals in Hangzhou area during May, 2013 to April, 2015. The minimal inhibition concentrations ( MICs) of thirteen different antibiotics against the LRSE strains were detected by using E-test. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE) and cluster analysis were performed for homology analysis. Correlations between linezolid resistance in the LRSE strains and G2576T mutation at theⅤ functional region of 23S rRNA gene or cfr gene were determined by PCR and sequencing analysis. Re-sults The MICs of linezolid to 15 LRSE strains were higher than 256 μg/ml while to the other 8 LRSE strains were 6 or 8 μg/ml. All of the 23 LRSE strains were resistant to both oxacillin and cefoxitin. Among the LRSE strains with high linezolid MICs (MIC>256 μg/ml), LRSE1 and LRSE2, LRSE3-LRSE6 and LRSE9-LRSE12 respectively belonged to the same clone line and came from the same hospital. All of the 23 LRSE strains carried the cfr gene. Moreover, the G2576T mutation at theⅤfunctional region of 23S rRNA gene was detected in the 15 LRSE strains with high linezolid MICs ( MIC>256 μg/ml ) , but not in the 8 strains with lower linezolid MICs ( MIC=6 or 8 μg/ml) . Conclusion There are significant differences in linezolid resistance among LRSE strains isolated in Hangzhou area. The LRSE strains are methicillin-resist-ant coagulase negative Staphylococcus ( MRCNS) strains and widely distributed. The linezolid resistance in LRSE strains is related to the G2576T mutation at theⅤfunctional region of 23S rRNA gene and cfr gene.

Objective To evaluate the effect of calcipotriol on the proliferation of and cytokine secretion by melanocytes and perilesional CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from patients with vitiligo.Methods Melanocytes isolated from abdominal skin and CD8+ CTLs from perilesional skin of patients with vitiligo were subjected to successive culture in vitro.After several passages,the melanocytes and CD8+ CTLs were cultured alone or in combination with or without the presence of various concentrations of calcipotriol for 24 to 48 hours.MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfopheny)-2H-tetrazolium,inner salt) method was used to evaluate the proliferative activity of cells,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ in the culture supematant of cells,flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis.Some co-cultured melanocytes and CTLs were treated with calcipotriol of 10-8 mol/L and anti-IL-6 antibody of various concentrations (0,1,2,2.5,5,10 mg/L) for two days followed by enumeration of cells.The concentrations of 108 and 10-9 mol/L (calcipotriol) were chosen for relevant tests.Results There was a marked apoptosis in MCs after coculture with CD8+ CTLs.The 24-hour treatment with calcipotriol of 104 and 10-9 mol/L had no obvious effect on the proliferation of melanocytes cultured alone (both P ＞ 0.05),but accelerated the proliferation of melanocytes cocultured with CTLs (both P ＜0.05) as well as that of CD8+ CTLs cultured alone or in combination with melanocytes (all P ＜0.05).A statistical decrease was observed in IL-6,TNF-α and IFN-γlevels in the supernatant of cocultured melanocytes and CTLs compared with those in the supernatant of melanocytes and CTLs cultured alone,and calcipotriol of 10-9 mol/L intensified the decrease in supernatant IL-6 level (t =2.89,P ＜0.05),but no statistical changes were noted for the level of TNF-α or IFN-γin the supernatant of the coculture system after treatment with calcipotriol of 104 or 104 mol/L compared with that before treatment (both P ＞ 0.05).In the coculture system pretreated with calcipotriol of 10-8 mol/L,the number of CD8+ CTLs significantly decreased (t =3.15,P ＜0.05),whereas that of melanocytes significantly increased (t =3.53,P ＜0.05) after the treatment with anti-IL-6 antibody of 5 mg/L.Conclusions Perilesional CD8+ CTLs have a specific cytotoxic effect on melanocytes,and calcipotriol may inhibit the cytotoxic effect of CD8+ CTLs by suppressing the secretion of IL-6,which may partly explain the therapeutic mechanism of calcipotriol for vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitory effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by isoprenaline and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The primary cultured cardiac fibroblasts were incubated with isoprenaline (10(-5) mol/L) for 48 h after pretreatment with CGRP (10(-8) or 10(-7) mol/L) for 1 h. Cell activity was detected by MTT. The mRNA expression of collagen (types I and III) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined by RT-PCR, and the levels of intracellular ROS were determined by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe. RESULTS: Isoprenaline significantly promoted fibroblast proliferation and up-regulated collagen (types I and III) and CTGF mRNA expression concomitantly with an increase in ROS production, which were attenuated by CGRP. The effect of CGRP on cardiac fibroblasts was inhibited by CGRP8-37, a selective antagonist of CGRP receptor. CONCLUSION CGRP is able to protect cardiac fibroblasts against isoprenaline-induced proliferation and collagen expression, which might be related to the down-regulation of CTGF expression through inhibition of ROS production.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Isoproterenol ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Primary Cell Culture ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), which has rarely been reported in China. METHODS: A 18-month-old boy and a 23-month-old girl undergoing alloHSCT for MPS VI and MPS IH Shanghai Children's Medical Center on March 30, 2006 and September 6, 2006 were selected as the study subjects. A busulfan-based myeloablative regimen was used as the conditioning regimen. Peripheral stem cells were respectively collected from a human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matched sibling carrier donor and a HLA 9/10 matched unrelated donor. Both patients were followed up for more than 15 years. The functions of internal organs before and after the transplantation were compared, and child 1 was also compared with his untreated brother and healthy brother. RESULTS: Both children have achieved full donor chimerism after the transplantation, and their enzymatic activities have remained stable. The enzymatic activity of the child 1 was slightly lower than normal but similar to that of his carrier donor, whilst that of the child 2 was normal. Both children have attended schools with good academic performance. Compared with his untreated brother, the respiratory function and hearing of child 1 have significantly improved. However, his orthopedic and cardiac disorders have still remained and required medical intervention. For child 2, her obstructive pulmonary disease was resolved and cognitive development was well preserved after the HSCT. Her heart disease has become stabilized and even improved with time, though her corneal clouding and skeletal malformation still required surgery. CONCLUSION MPS patients can sustain long-term and stable enzymatic activities after successful alloHSCT. Compared with untreated patients, their health can be significantly improved, along with considerably prolonged survival, though the long-term efficacy of HSCT for different organs may vary to a certain extent.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Graft vs Host Disease/etiology* ; China ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Mucopolysaccharidoses/etiology* ; Busulfan ; Treatment Outcome