Objective To evaluate the effect of long term home non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (HNIPPV ) in stable severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) .Methods Forty-two patients with stable severe COPD after hospital dis-charge were divided into 2 groups :The observation group (conventional treatment + HNIPPV ,22 patients) and control group (con-ventional treatment ,20 patients) .Parameters before and after one year follow-up observation were compared ,which includes arterial bloods gases ,lung function test ,6-min walking distance(6MWD) ,dyspnea grade ,scoring for emotional disorders ,the hospitalization rates .Results PaCO2 ,PaO2 ,6MWD ,dyspnea grade ,scoring for emotional disorders ,the hospitalization rates improved after one year in the observation group (P < 0 .05) .There were no significance of FVC and FEV1 between the two groups after one year . There were no patients who were dead or exited with other reason after one year in the two groups .Conclusion Long term HNIP-PV could decrease exacerbations ,respiratory failure and increase life quality ,this therapy is effective and safe for patients with sta-ble severe COPD .

AIM:To investigate the effect of oleuropein on interleukin-1β( IL-1β)-induced SD rat articular chondrocytes .METHODS:The SD rat articular chondrocytes were isolated by 2 step enzyme digestions .The chondrocytes were cultured in vitro.Inverted microscopic observation was performed during the culture .Alcian blue staining and type II collagen immunohistochemical staining were used to identify the chondrocytes .The effects of oleuropein on the viability of chondrocytes were determined by CCK-8 assay.The cells in 3rd passage were pretreated with oleuropein at 10, 50 or 100 μmol/L and subsequently stimulated with IL-1βat 10 μg/L for 24 h.Production of prostaglandin E 2 ( PGE2 ) and ni-tric oxide (NO) were evaluated by the Griess reaction and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP)-1 and MMP-13 was measured by real-time PCR.The protein levels of in-ducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were detected by Western blotting .RESULTS:The cell viability of chondrocytes was not significantly impaired by treating with oleuropein at concentration of 10, 50 or 100μmol/L for 24 h compared with control group .Pretreatment with oleuropein significantly in-hibited the production of PGE 2 and NO induced by IL-1β.Oleuropein also significantly decreased the IL-1β-stimulated MMP-1 and MMP-13 mRNA expression in articular chondrocytes .Pretreatment with oleuropein inhibited the IL-1β-media-ted activation of NF-κB by suppressing the degradation of its inhibitory protein IκBαin the cytoplasm .CONCLUSION:Oleuropein inhibits IL-1β-induced inflammatory gene expression by suppressing NF-κB activation at the transcriptional le-vel, suggesting a new mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effects of oleuropein as a novel agent on treating with osteoarthri-tis.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:TostudytheeffectofsmallinterferingRNA(siRNA)ontheexpressionofbeta2-microglo-bulin (β2M) in pre-differentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).METHODS: The β2M siRNA was transfected into the pre-differentiated BMSCs with Lipofectamine 2000.BMSCs were divided into transfection group , blank control group and negative control group .The expression of β2 M at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time qPCR, Western blotting and laser confocal microscopy .The productions of aggrecan and type II collagen in pre-differentia-ted BMSCs were determined by toluidine blue staining and type Ⅱcollagen immunofluorescence .RESULTS:The results of real-time qPCR, Western blotting and laser confocal microscopy showed that siRNA successfully inhibited the expression ofβ2 M at mRNA and protein levels in the pre-differentiated BMSCs .The results of toluidine blue and type Ⅱcollagen im-munofluorescence staining showed that siRNA does not affect the productions of aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen in the pre-differentiated BMSCs .CONCLUSION:siRNA targeting β2 M reduces the expression of β2 M in the pre-differentiated BM-SCs and does not affect the chondrocyte characteristics of pre -differentiated BMSCs .

[ABSTRACT]AIM:Toinvestigatetheinhibitoryeffectsofresveratrolonchondrosarcomaandtherelationwith mitochondrial and PI3K/Akt pathways.METHODS:Chondrosarcoma SW1353 cells were treated with resveratrol at con-centrations of 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L for the time intervals of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h.The viability and apoptosis of the SW1353 cells in the presence or absence of resveratrol were analyzed by CCK 8 assay and Hoechst 33258 staining , respec-tively.The protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, activated caspase-3, Akt and p-Akt were detected by Western blotting .The cell migration ability was determined by wound scratch assay .RESULTS:Exposure of the cells to resveratrol resulted in a de-crease in the cell viability in a dose-and time-dependent manner (P<0.05).visible nuclei with apoptotic characteristics in resveratrol group were observed .The protein levels of activated caspase-3 and Bax were increased , and Bcl-2 and p-Akt were decreased compared with control group .The total Akt were not significantly changed .Resveratrol also significantly re-duced the migration of tumor cells .CONCLUSION:Resveratrol induces apoptosis of chondrosarcoma , which plays a role of part through mitochondrial and PI 3K/Akt signaling pathways .

BACKGROUND:Many in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that hypoxic co-cultures promote stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the influence of hypoxia on the chondrogenic differentiation of three-dimensional co-cultured adipose-derived stem cells and articular chondrocytes.
METHODS:Adipose-derived stem cells and articular chondrocytes were mixed at the ratio of 3:1, then the mixed cells were seeded onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-gelatin scaffold at the ultimate concentration of 5.0×1010/L. The cells were cultured in normoxia (20%O 2 ) and hypoxic (5%O 2 ) conditions for 6 weeks. After culture, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for histological structure analysis, and alcian blue staining was used to evaluate glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Type II col agen expression was detected by immunohistochemistry staining. The content of DNA, glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline in the scaffold-cellcomplex was measured.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the hypoxia group, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed the formation of massive cells and extracellular matrix;alcian blue staining showed massive glycosaminoglycan formation;immunohistochemistry staining detected strongly positive expression of col agen type II, the content of DNA, glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline was higher than the normoxia group. Hypoxia promotes in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of co-cultured adipose-derived stem cells and articular chondrocytes. .

OBJECTIVETo assess the safety and clinical efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with various stents for treating patients with cirrhosis and esophageal gastric varices bleeding.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients were stratified according to stent type: bare stent group, covered stent-grafts group, combined stents group. Rates of success, shunt insufficiency, rebleeding, patient survival, and major complications were observed. The shunt insufficiency rate, rebleeding rate, and survival rate were calculated by the life tables method, the Kaplan-Meier analytical curve, and the log-rank test; a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThe overall success rate of all TIPS for treating the esophageal gastric varices bleeding was 100%. The overall shunt insufficiency rates at 6-, 12-and 24-months post-TIPS were 8%, 9% and 16%, rebleeding rates were 2%, 6% and 17%, and survival rates were 100%, 97% and 94%. The shunt insufficiency rate was 26% in the bare stent group, 14% in the covered stent-grafis group, and 5% in the combined stents group (x2=1.00, P=0.61). The rebleeding rate was 33% in the bare stent group, 7% in the covered stent-grafts group, and 3%in the combined stents group (x2=1.69, P=0.43). The survival rate was 92% in the bare stent group, 93% in the covered stent-grafts group, and 100% in the combined stents group (x2=1.91, P=0.39). The shunt insufficiency rates were higher in patients with splenectomy than in those without splenectomy (30% vs.14%; x2=4.15, P=0.04). The intraperitoneal hemorrhage rates in the covered stent-grafis group and the combined stents group were significantly lower than that in the bare stent group (0% vs 0% vs 13%; x2=8.88, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTIPS with an 8 mm stent effectively treated and prevented esophageal gastric varices bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. Intraperitoneal hemorrhaging caused by TIPS was significantly decreased in the covered stent-grafts group and combined stents group,which represented an improvement in safety of this treatment. However, the influence of covered stent-grafis and combined stents towards the clinical efficacy of TIPS needs further study.

Esophageal Diseases ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Stents ; Survival Rate

Objective:This study focuses on Na +-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) deficiency to analyze and investigate the value of the serum bile acid profile for facilitating the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Methods:Clinical data of 66 patients with cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from early April 2015 to the end of December 2021 were collected, including 32 cases of NTCP deficiency (16 adults and 16 children), 16 cases of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD), 8 cases of Alagille syndrome, and 10 cases of biliary atresia. At the same time, adult and pediatric healthy control groups (15 cases each) were established. The serum bile acid components of the study subjects were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The data were plotted and compared using statistical SPSS 19.0 and GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. The clinical and bile acid profiles of children with NTCP deficiency and corresponding healthy controls, as well as differences between NTCP deficiency and other CLDs, were compared using statistical methods such as t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests.Results:Compared with the healthy control, the levels of total conjugated bile acids, total primary bile acids, total secondary bile acids, glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid, and glycochenodeoxycholic acid were increased in NTCP deficiency patients ( P < 0.05). Compared with adults with NTCP deficiency, the levels of total conjugated bile acids and total primary bile acids were significantly increased in children with NTCP deficiency ( P < 0.05). The serum levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholate, taurohyocholate, and tauro-α-muricholic acid were significantly increased in children with NTCP deficiency, but the bile acid levels such as glycodeoxycholic acid, glycolithocholate, and lithocholic acid were decreased ( P < 0.05). The serum levels of secondary bile acids such as lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and hyodeoxycholic acid were significantly higher in children with NTCP deficiency than those in other CLD groups such as NICCD, Alagille syndrome, and biliary atresia ( P < 0.05). Total primary bile acids/total secondary bile acids, total conjugated bile acids/total unconjugated bile acids, taurocholic acid, serum taurodeoxycholic acid, and glycodeoxycholic acid effectively distinguished children with NTCP deficiency from other non-NTCP deficiency CLDs. Conclusion:This study confirms that serum bile acid profile analysis has an important reference value for facilitating the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of NTCP deficiency. Furthermore, it deepens the scientific understanding of the changing characteristics of serum bile acid profiles in patients with CLDs such as NTCP deficiency, provides a metabolomic basis for in-depth understanding of its pathogenesis, and provides clues and ideas for subsequent in-depth research.