Objective To investigate the effects of apigenin on the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) induced by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and the possible molecular mechanism. Methods VSMCs were isolated from thoracic aortas of male Sprague-Dawley rats using enzyme digestion method. Migration of VSMCs was determined by transwell assay. Western blotting was carried out to evaluate phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Results Treatment with PDGF-BB (20 ng·mL-1 ) significantly promote VSMC migration,the number of migrated cells was 2. 46 times than that of control group. However,after 12. 5 μmol·L-1 apigenin pretreatment,the number of migrated cells was 46. 5% of the PDGF-BB group. Various dose of apigenin can significantly inhibit VSMC migration induced by PDGF-BB,12. 5 μmol · L-1 apigenin treatment significantly inhibited PDGF-BB phosphorylation of JNK. Conclusion Apigenin can suppress the migration of VSMC induced by PDGF-BB. These beneficial effects on VSMC were at least partly mediated by the inhibition of activity of JNK.

Objective To investigate the correlation between spatial memory and sleep architecture and hippocampal volumes in patients with chronic insomnia disorder.Methods Twenty-two chronic insomnia patients and 17 normal sleepers (controls) were selected to evaluate the subjective insomnia using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the objective insomnia by polysomnography (PSG).The cognitive function was measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Spatial memory and object-memory were measured by Nine-box Maze, and object-recognition memory was detected by picture recognition test.MRI was used to detect hippocampus volumes.Results Compared with controls, a significant reduction in total sleep time (328.3 (310.4, 387.9) min vs 418.0 (375.8, 45.5) min, Z=2.607, P=0.009), sleep efficiency (%) (77.7 (73.1, 84.0) vs 93.0 (87.2, 93.9), Z=3.739,P=0.000), proportion of N3 (%) (5.5 (0.4, 14.4) vs 13.7 (7.7, 18.3), Z=2.664, P=0.008) and proportion of rapid eye movement (REM) (%) (14.4 (10.7, 17.2) vs 17.3 (15.9, 23.3), Z=2.890, P=0.004) was seen in insomnia patients, whereas sleep latency was delayed.The error numbers of spatial working-memory (4.5 (2.0, 7.3) vs 1.0 (0.0, 3.0), Z=3.007, P=0.003) in chronic insomnia patients were more than those in controls.There was no statistically significant difference in object reference memory, spatial reference memory and object recognition in two groups.A significant reduction of the left (2 818.0 (2 534.9, 3 191.8) mm3 vs 3 453.3 (3 081.2, 3 764.4) mm3, Z=3.314, P=0.001), right (2 780.5 (2 451.2, 3 191.8) mm3 vs 3 479.8 (3 024.1, 3 786.7) mm3, Z=3.484,P=0.000) and whole hippocampal volumes (5 561.7 (4 956.6, 6 396.9) mm3 vs 6 898.9 (6 017.1, 7 540.1) mm3, Z=3.455, P=0.001) was seen in chronic insomnia patients compared with controls.The hippocampal volumes were negatively correlated with sleep latency (r=-0.432, P=0.006), but positively correlated with sleep efficiency, proportion of N3 (r=0.323, 0.376;P=0.045, 0.018).There was a negative correlation between the error numbers of spatial working-memory and hippocampal volumes (r=-0.351, P=0.029).The hippocampal volumes were negatively correlated with the duration of disease in chronic insomnia patients (r=-0.734, P<0.01).Conclusion The spatial memory may be associated with decreased proportion of REM and reduced hippocampal volumes in chronic insomnia patients.

Objectives To access the bacteriology in patients with sepsis due to biliary tract infection to provide a basis for empirical selection of proper antibiotic treatment.Methods This is a single-center retrospective study on 214 patients with biliary tract infection admitted from August 2014 to July 2016 to the surgical intensive care units (ICU) of The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.To study the demographic information,sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA),usage of antibiotics before ICU and duration of ICU were analyzed.Bile,peritoneal drainage and blood samples were collected.Results 47 septic shock patients and 25 septic patients due to biliary tract infection were enrolled in the trial.The two groups (the shock group vs.the sepsis group) had a significant difference in the duration of ICU stay [(6.4 ± 4.6) d vs.(2.3 ± 1.8) d,P ＜ 0.05].48 strains of pathogens were isolated from the bile samples.The major pathogens were Escherichia coli (E.coli) (n =23,47.9％),Enterococcus faecalis (n =8,16.7％) and Enterococcus faecium (n =2,4.2％).80 strains of pathogens were isolated from the peritoneal drainage culture samples.E.coli,pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Klebsiella pneumoniae ranked the top 3 species,accounting for 26.3％,11.3％ and 7.5％,respectively.The sensitivity of E.coli isolated from bile to amikacin,imipenem and panipenem were all over 90.0％.Conclusions E.coli was the principal gram-negative bacterium in biliary infection induced sepsis.Early administration of carbapenemes may reduce the occurrence of septic shock in these patients.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis in combination with acute peripheral nerve damage is rare. A young female patient with anti-NMDAR encephalitis was admitted to Qianfoshan Hospital in Shandong Province on October 23, 2022. The main manifestations were abnormal mental behavior, consciousness disorders, and flaccid paralysis. Electromyography indicated axonal damage to the upper and lower extremities. Patient was in critical condition and admitted to the ICU with tracheal intubation for central hypoventilation. A combination of critical polyneuropathy was considered. The prognosis was good after hormone shock, immunosuppressive therapy, surgical therapy, anti-infection, respiratory support and symptomatic support. The diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with acute peripheral nerve damage is difficult. Immune factors need to be considered and paraneoplastic syndrome should be differentially diagnosed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate spontaneous metastasis, micrometastasis and genetic stability in human breast carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

METHODSIntact tissue from surgical specimens from breast carcinoma patients was xenografted into nude mice and transplanted from generation to generation. Cells from the xenografts were cultured in vitro and retransplanted into nude mice. Microsatellite DNA in the genome of human breast carcinomas, xenotransplanted tumors and metastases in nude mice were analyzed at three microsatellite loci.

RESULTSThe tumorigenicity of orthotopic xenotransplantation was 88.6% (31/35), with a metastatic rate of 41.9% (13/31). Cells from xenotransplants were successfully cultured in vitro. The taking rate of retransplantation into nude mice and the spontaneous lung metastasis rate were both 100% (10/10). Microsatellite DNA sequences in the genome of xenotransplanted tumors and metastases in nude mice were identical with that of the original human breast carcinoma at three microsatellite loci.

CONCLUSIONSTumorigenicity and metastatic potential can be improved in human breast carcinoma xenografts using intact fresh tumor tissue and orthotopic grafts. Xenotransplanted tumors and tumors after serial passage maintained the genetic stability. The detection of microsatellite DNA may identify micrometastases in a nude mouse model.

Aneuploidy ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Division ; Female ; Humans ; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tumor Cells, Cultured