Objective To observe the effect of autophagy inhibitor on the activation of alcohol induced hepatic stel-late cells, and the mechanisms thereof. Methods HSC-T6 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups, includ-ing blank control group, alcohol group, 5 mmol/L 3-MA+alcohol group (low alcohol group) and 10 mmol/L 3-MA+alcohol group (high alcohol group). RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels ofα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and typeⅠcollagen. The levels of LC3Ⅱ,α-SMA and typeⅠcollagen were detected by Western blot assay. The cell viability of HSC-T6 was detected by MTT assay. Results The mRNA expressions ofα-SMA, typeⅠcollagen and the protein of expressionsα-SMA, typeⅠcollagen and LC3Ⅱwere significantly up-regulated in alcohol group compared with those of control group (P<0.05), while the expressions of those parameters were significantly down-regulated in 10 mmol/L 3-MA+alcohol group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein levels ofα-SMA and typeⅠcollagen were significantly decreased in two 3-MA-treated groups compared with those in alcohol group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared with the 5 mmol/L 3-MA+alcohol group,the protein expressions ofα-SMA, typeⅠcollagen and LC3Ⅱwere significantly decreased in10 mmol/L 3-MA+alcohol group (P < 0.05 ). Compared with the alcohol group,there was significantly lower proliferation activity in all two 3-MA-treated groups (P<0.05). Conclusion 3-MA can inhibit the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ,α-SMA and typeⅠcollagen induced by alcohol in HSC-T6 cells, and inhibit the proliferation of HSC cells.

AIM:To determine notoginsenoside R_1 and ginsenoside Rg_1, Rb_1 in Zidan Huoxue Tablet by HPLC linear gradient elution (total saponins of Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng). METHODS: Using HPLC method with Hypersil ODS2 C_ 18 column. A mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water 0-20 min (20∶80), 20-21 min(40-20∶60-80), 21-30 min(20∶80) gradient elution. The column temperature was at room temperature. The detection wavelength was at 203 nm. RESULTS: The linear ranges of R1, Rg1, Rb1 were 0.52-2.6 ?g (r= 0.999 9 ), 2.106 -10.53 ?g (r= 0.999 6 ) and 2.946-14.73 ?g (r= 0.999 6 ), respectively. The average recoveryies were 99.3% (RSD=1.1%), 100.0%(RSD=0.5%) and 99.7%(RSD=0.9%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is selective and reproducible for determination of notoginsenoside R_1 and ginsenoside Rg_1, Rb_1 in Zidan Huoxue Tablet.

Objective To study the effects of dendritic cells (DC) modified with transforming growth factor ?1 (TGF-?1) gene on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in Lewis rats. Methods 30 female Lewis rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: normal group, EAMG group, DCs treatment group, pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs treatment group, pcDNA_3-DCs treatment group and normal saline group. The rats were immunized with the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) protein extracted from electric organ of Narcine timilei and completed Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in the experiment groups except normal group. 2?106 pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs/rat were injected subcutaneously into the backs of the rats that had been immunized 5 days earlier with AChR+CFA. The rats in DCs treatment group, pcDNA_3-DCs treatment group and normal saline group were injected in parallel with untreated DCs, pcDNA_3-DCs and normal saline respectively. Then the clinical manifestations were observed everyday. And 7 weeks after the first immunization, repetitive nerve stimulation, detection of acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChRab) and ultrastructural study of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) were performed. Results (1) The mild symptoms were observed on 1 or 2 rats in the experiment groups except normal group after a week, which lasted for 2 to 5 days. After about 5 weeks, the rats in EAMG group, DCs treatment group, pcDNA_3-DCs treatment group and normal saline group presented some symptoms at different degree like myasthenia gravis, and only one of the rats in pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs treatment group presented mildly decreased activity. (2) The significant decrement of repetitive nerve stimulation were found in EAMG group, DCs treatment group, pcDNA_3-DCs treatment group and normal saline group(16.75?6.13, 17.75?7.81, 18.25?8.22 and 16.50?7.14, respectively), but there was no attenuation in pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs treatment group and normal group(3.20?3.70 and 5.60?2.70, respectively). The percentage of decrement in pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs treatment group was lower than that in EAMG group(5.60?2.70 and 16.75?6.13, respectively,P0.05). (4) The combined AChRs in NMJ of the rats in pcDNA_3-TGF-?1-DCs group were higher than that in EAMG group, and the structure changes of the synapse were relieved.Conclusion It suggests that DCs, transfected with pcDNA_3-TGF-?1, when injected subcutaneously into Lewis rats with incipient EAMG, could inhibit the production of AChR-Ab, relieve the pathologic changes in NMJ and ameliorate the development of EAMG.

Objective To study the distribution and clinicopathological characteristics between VEGF-C and pefitumoral lymph vessels density(PLVD) in breast cancer tissue, and to investigate the development and the mechanism of breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL). Methods VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were detected by using immunohistochemical technique for the detection of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in forty-seven breast cancer specimens. We measured the patients' circumferences of bilateral upper limbs to determine whether there was lymphoedema and made classification in the follow-ups. Results VEGF-C was positive in 33 out of 47 cases. PLVD significantly increased in VEGF-C positive groups (30.39±10. 46) than in negative groups (23.16±11.67) (P<0.05). VEGF-C semi-quantitative score was in a positive correlation with PLVD (r=0.334). The positive expression rate (42.55%) and semi-quantitative score (3.68±1.59) of VEGF-C increased in the lymph node positive group than in the negative group, PLVD increased in the lymph node positive group compared with that in negative group (32.12±10.29 vs. 24.82±11.06), P<0.05. The risk of lymphoedema increased in the VEGF-C negative group (5/14) compared with that in the positive group (3/33) (P<0.05). Conclusion VEGF-C has a high rate of positive expression in breast cancer, and is positively correlated with PLVD. High expression of VEGF-C can reduce the risk of BCRL in breast cancer.

Abstract: Objective To understand the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Yersinia pestis strains isolated from Himalayan marmot natural focus area and domestic rat plague focus area in southern China, and provide reference for mastering the pathogenic characteristics of Yersinia pestis of two plague foci. Methods A total of 412 of Yersinia pestis strains isolated from Himalayan marmot plague focus and domestic rat plague focus of southern China were subjected to to sorbitol fermentation assays, virulence factor, different region (DFR) typing, and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) typing. Results The biochemical types of Y. pestis from the two plague foci showed distinct regional distribution features. Five biochemical phenotypes were identified in Yersinia pestis isolated from Himalayan marmot natural focus area, while only one biochemical phenotype was identified in strains isolated from the domestic rat plague focus of Southern China. Most of the Yersinia pestis isolated from the two plague foci were capable of producing the virulence factors of Fl and PstI. Among the strains from Himalayan marmot focus, 70.53% (201/285) were VW-positive, 75.09% (214/285) were Pgm-positive, 20.00% (57/285) of the strains were Pgm-negative, and 5.26% (15/285) were Pgm mixed-type strains. Among strains from domestic rat plague focus of southern China, 37.80% (48/127) were VW-positive, 29.13% (37/127) were Pgm-positive, 58.27% (74/127) were Pgm-negative, and 12.60% (16/127) were Pgm mixed-type strains. DFR typing revealed 22 genotypes of Y. pestis from the Himalayan marmot plague focus, with the main genotypes being type 5, 7, 8, 10, 19, 32 and 49. All strains from domestic rat plague focus area in southern China belonged to type 9. CRISPR typing revealed that all strains from the Himalayan marmot natural focus were classified into 7 CRISPR gene clusters and 14 CRISPR genotypes, with the main genotypes being G7, G22, G26-a1'and G22-A1'. All strains from domestic rat plague focus area in southern China belonged to CRISPR genotype G30, with the gene cluster being Ca8. Conclusions The phenotypes and genotypes of the Yersinia pestis of Himalayan marmot plague focus are diverse, with an obvious characteristics of geographical distribution. The phenotype and genotype of the Yersinia pestis of domestic rat plague focus of Southern China are single. DFR and CRISPR genotyping methods with phenotypic characteristics can effectively identify the Yersinia pestis isolated from the two plague foci, thereby meeting the needs of identification and traceability research.

Objective:To understand whether there are drug resistant and disinfectant resistant Yersinia pestis strains in China, and to provide accurate information for clinical treatment of plague. Methods:A total of 2 753 Yersinia pestis strains isolated from 10 natural plague foci in China from 1943 to 2016 were collected. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) released sequences of aminoglycoside streptomycin resistant genes strA, strB, β-lactam antibiotics resistant genes TEM, SHV and CTX-M, sulfamilamide resistant genes sul1, sul2 and sul3, and disinfectant resistant gene qacE△1-sul1, a pair of primers of each gene was designed for above-mentioned genes. Genomic DNA of 2 753 strains of Yersinia pestis was extracted, and the 9 target genes of all DNA samples were amplified by PCR. Results:Negative and positive controls of PCR detection were established. No corresponding target bands of aminoglycoside streptomycin resistant genes strA, strB, β-lactam antibiotics resistant genes TEM, SHV and CTX-M, sulfamilamide resistant genes sul1, sul2 and sul3, and disinfectant resistant gene qacE△1-sul1 were found in the DNA samples of 2 753 strains of Yersinia pestis.Conclusion:The above-mentioned genes of drug resistance and disinfectant resistance have not been detected in Yersinia pestis of China, but the monitoring of drug resistance of Yersinia pestis still needs to be carried out continuously.

Objective:To investigate the drug resistance of Yersinia pestis to 11 kinds of antibiotics in the natural foci of plague in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and to provide a theoretical basis for scientifically and effectively selecting antibiotics for treatment of the plague. Methods:A total of 137 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from the natural foci of plague in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at different times, regions, hosts and vectors were collected. According to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI), the agar plate dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 11 kinds of antibiotics against 137 strains of Yersinia pestis, including ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, streptomycin, ceftriaxone, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, cefuroxime, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The MIC 50 and MIC 90 (the minimum concentration of drug which could inhibit 50% and 90% of bacterial growth) were calculated, and their sensitivity was determined according to CLSI standards. Results:Among 137 strains of Yersinia pestis tested, no strains of Yersinia pestis had single or multiple resistance to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, streptomycin, ceftriaxone, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, cefuroxime, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. According to CLSI standards, 137 strains of Yersinia pestis were all sensitive to the 11 kinds of antibiotics; among them, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim had higher antibacterial activity, with MIC 90 < 0.250 μg/ ml; the antibacterial activity of spectinomycin was the lowest, with MIC 90 of 16.000 μg/ml. Conclusions:The Yersinia pestis isolated from the natural foci of plague in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is not found to have single or multiple resistance to the 11 kinds of antibiotics. Continuous drug resistance monitoring of Yersinia pestis should be carried out to provide a basis for clinical medication.

Objective To investigate the etiology and the epidemiologic features of drug resistance and disinfectant resistance of Yersinia pestis in Hainan,Qinghai Province,in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the plague in this area.Methods Totally 75 strains were isolated from vary kinds of host in Hainan from 1960 to 2009,and biochemical test,virulence factors evaluation [Fra1 (F1),pesticin Ⅰ (Pst Ⅰ),virulence antigen (VW),pigmentation (Pgm)],plasmid analysis,different region (DFR) genotyping,drug resistance and disinfectant resistance gene test were carried out.Forty-five strains of Yersinia pestis were selected to determine their toxicity in mice,median lethal dose (LD50) was calculated,and LD50 ＜ 1 000 was defined as strongly toxic.Results Sixty of the 75 strains were Qing-Tibet Plateau ecotype,7 strains were Qilian Mountain ecotype,and the remaining 8 were different ecotypes from the plague foci in Qinghai Plateau.Eighty percent (60/75) contained all the four virulence factors;and 97.78％ (44/45) of the strains were velogenic strains;96.00％ (72/75) of the strains contained 3 kinds of plasmids (Mr:6 × 106,45 × 106 and 52 × 106);the DFR strains had 3 genomovars,which were genomovar 8 (65 strains),genomovar 5 (8 strains) and genomovar 21 (2 strains).No strains related to streptomycin,sulfonamides,β-lactam antibiotics and disinfectants had been found in the 75 strains of Yersinia pestis.Conclusions The strains isolated in Hainan have the characteristics of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau plague's pathogen,and they have strong toxicity.In view of high mortality of plague,drug resistance and disinfectant resistance gene test should be put into routine monitoring of the plague.