Objective To investigate the role of Chinese traditional medicine-Tianlongchuankeling in modulation of the transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts induced by rhTGF-?1,and the involved mechanism of the signal transduction.Methods Human primary bronchial sub-epithelial fibroblasts(HPBFs)were incubated with either Tianlongchuankeling or its main components of Qingtiankui,Danfuzi and Faxia respectively before being treated with rhTGF-?1(10 ?g/L)for different time.Total protein of cells were collected at different timelapse(10min,30min respectively).Phosphorylated MAPKs for p38,ERK1/2,phosphorylated smad2 and the expression of ?-SMA were detected by using Western blotting.Total RNA was extracted at 20 h and 72 h and subjected to RT-PCR for evaluation of the expression of ?-SMA gene.Results The induction of ?-SMA in HPBFs by TGF-?1 was down-regulated significantly in the cells treated with Tianlongchuankeling or Danfuzi.The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 under TGF-?1 stimulation was inhibited significantly in Tianlongchuankeling and Danfuzi group.No difference of the level in phosphorylation of p-38 and smad2 was found among groups.Conclusion Tianlongchuankeling has the capability to suppress the induction of ?-SMA by TGF-?1 through down-regulation of the phosphorylation of ERK1/2,thereby preventing the transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts,which may be responsible for the treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.Danfuzi,one of main components of Tianlongchuankeling,may make a major contribution to this process.

AIM:To investigate the role of miR-125b in regulating the sensitivity of CD133+ colorectal cancer cells to cisplatin.METHODS:The expression of miR-125b was detected by RT-qPCR in the routine SW480 cells and CD133+ SW480 cells.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to measure the percentage of CD133+ cell population in the SW480 cell line treated with miR-125b and cisplatin.MTT assay was performed to evaluate the effect of miR-125b on the cisplatin-induced cell death in the CD133+ SW480 cells.Bioinformatics and Western blot were performed to determine whether the expression of HAX-1 was regulated by miR-125b.JC-1 staining, Annexin V staining and Western blot analysis were used to study the pathway of apoptosis in the CD133+ SW480 cells co-treated with miR-125b and cisplatin.RESULTS:The expression of miR-125b was significantly lower in the CD133+ SW480 cells than that in the routine SW480 cells and normal colonic epithelial FHC cells.Treatment with cisplatin alone increased the percentage of CD133+ SW480 cell population.However, miR-125b significantly inhibited the enrichment of CD133+ cell population induced by cisplatin.In addition, the results of MTT assay showed that the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin was significantly enhanced when the miR-125b was transfected into the CD133+ SW480 cells.The results of Western blot indicated that the HAX-1 gene was the target of miR-125b.Furthermore, the apoptosis induced by the combination of miR-125b and cisplatin was dependent on the dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane, leading to the release of cytochrome C into the cytoplasm and the subsequently activation of apoptosis in the CD133+ SW480 cells.CONCLUSION:miR-125b increased the sensitivity of CD133+ colo-rectal cancer cells to cisplatin by down-regulating the expression of HAX-1.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of ziprasidone mesylate injection on the acute agitation symptom in mental retardation. Methods The total of 80 patients of mental retardation with acute agitation symptoms were randomly divided into two groups:the treatment group (40 patients) were intra-muscarly given with ziprasidone mesylate injection at the initial dose of 10 mg, 20 mg 4 h later, and 30 mg once on the second day and third day. And the control group (40 patients) were treated with haloperidol injection. The volume dose of haloperidol was 20 mg everyday. Other antipsychotic drugs, antimanic drugs and benzodiazepines were not allowed to be used during the observation, neither does the prophylactic use of drugs against parkinson's disease. Before and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 h after treatment, the positive and negative scale ( PANSS) reduction rate, the end of the clinical global impression scale ( CGI) were assessed. By the end of the treatment, the adverse reactions symptom, cale ( TESS) was assessed for the safety. Results By the end of treatment PANSS reduction rate was 46. 31% in the test group and 48. 81% in the control group, the clinical improvement rate was 80. 00% in the treatment group and 82. 50% in the control group. No statistically significant difference on efficacy was found between two groups. The side reaction rate in the treatment group was 27. 5%, that in the control group was 40. 0%, there was significant difference ( P<0. 05) between two groups, but the extrapyramidal reaction in the control group was significantly more than that in the treatment group(P<0. 05). Conclusion Ziprasidone mesylate injection is effective on treating the symptoms of mental retardation, in corresponding to the effect of haloperidol injection,and with less extrapyramidal reactions.

Sulfur compounds in the diesel were selectively derived into methylsulfonium salts by reacting with iodomethane in the presence of silver tetrafluoroborate, and characterized by positive-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR MS). The conversion ratios and react selectivities of the methylation for various sulfur compounds were investigated by gas chromatograph coupled with pulse flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD). Result shows that the sulfur compounds in the diesel can react with iodomethane easily at room temperature, the most of sulfur compound derived into methylsulfonium salts;the homologue of benzothiophene get the higher conversion ratio and react selectivity than the homologue of dibenzothiophene (DBT). It is found that primarily sterically hindered alkylated DBT, for example, 4- or 4-, 6- DBT, is recalcitrant to be methylated. Other than benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes, one- and two-ring sulfides, as well as other sulfur compounds with a double bond equivalent (DBE) value ranged from 1 to 12 are identified in the diesel.

Objective:To investigate whether microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) affects the proliferation and apoptosis of choroidal microvascular endothelial cells by regulating the expression of T cell factor 4 (TCF4).Methods:Human choroidal microvascular endothelial cells were cultured in vitro, and they were divided into vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) group and Normal control group.The Cultured cells in the VEGF group were divided into four subgroups, and were transfected with miR-NC, miR-338-3p mimics, miR-338-3p mimics + pcDNA, miR-338-3p mimics + pcDNA-TCF4 before VEGF treatment, respectively.Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-338-3p and TCF4.MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate.The double luciferase report experiment verified the targeting relationship of miR-338-3p and TCF4.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ki-67, PCNA, bax, and bcl-2. Results:After VEGF treatment, the expression level of miR-338-3p was significantly reduced, the expression level of TCF4 mRNA was significantly increased, the cell viability was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased, the levels of Ki-67, PCNA, bcl-2 protein were increased significantly, and the level of bax protein was decreased significantly (all at P<0.05). After miR-338-3p overexpression, the cell viability was significantly reduced, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased, and the levels of Ki-67, PCNA, and bcl-2 proteins were significantly reduced, the level of bax protein was increased significantly (all at P<0.05). Double luciferase reporting experiments confirmed that miR-338-3p targeted TCF4.Compared with the VEGF + miR-338-3p + pcDNA group, the cell viability of the VEGF + miR-338-3p + pcDNA-TCF4 group was significantly increased ([56.48±13.20]% vs. [96.24±16.24]%), and the apoptosis rate was significantly reduced ([30.59±3.57]% vs.[12.36±1.29]%), the levels of Ki-67, PCNA and bcl-2 protein were significantly increased (0.41±0.11 vs. 0.96±0.19; 0.44±0.10 vs. 0.97±0.20; 0.55±0.12 vs. 0.98±0.15), and the levels of bax protein were significantly decreased (0.87±0.13 vs. 0.42±0.11) ( t=5.700, 14.408, 7.516, 7.111, 6.715, 7.927; all at P<0.01). Conclusions:Overexpression of miR-338-3p can negatively regulate TCF4 expression, thereby inhibite choroidal microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic etiology for fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) but a normal karyotype at whole genome level by chromosome microarray analysis (CMA).

METHODSSeventy-eight fetuses with increased NT (≥ 3.0 mm) but a normal karyotype were collected between 11(+0) and 13(+6) gestational weeks. Genomic DNA was extracted, and microarray testing was performed using Affymetrix CytoScan(TM) HD arrays. The data was analyzed by CHAS software. All detected copy number variations (CNVs) were confirmed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe CMA assay has detected pathogenic CNVs in 6 fetuses (7.69%), which have ranged from 0.41 Mb to 15.87 Mb. Well-known microdeletion or microduplication syndromes including Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, 22q11 microdeletion syndrome and ATR-16 syndrome were identified in three cases. The detection rates in fetuses with or without structural abnormalities were 18.18% and 5.97%, respectively (P=0.198 with Fisher's Exact Test). The average NT in fetuses with pathogenic CNVs and non-pathogenic CNVs has measured 4.48 mm and 4.22 mm (P=0.735 by Mann-Whitney Test).

CONCLUSIONFor fetuses with increased NT, CMA can identify chromosomal microdeletion/microduplication unrecognizable by conventional karyotyping analysis. It may therefore play an important role in prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling by improving the diagnostic rate.

Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

Objectives: To investigate the effect of short-term exposure to ambient NO₂ has influence on lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: A panel of doctor-diagnosed stable COPD patients (n=33) were recruited and repeatedly measured for lung function and FeNO from December 2013 to October 2014. The patients who lived in Beijing for more than one year and aged between 60 and 85 years old were included in the study. We excluded patients with asthma, bronchial tensor, lung cancer and other respiratory disorders other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and occupational exposure and chest trauma surgery patients. Because the frequency of each subject visiting to the hospital was different, a total of 170 times of lung function measurements and 215 times of FeNO measurements were conducted. At the same time, the atmospheric NO₂ data of Beijing environmental monitoring station near the residence of each patient during the study period were collected from 1 day to 7 days lag before the measurement. Effects of short-term NO₂ exposure on lung function and FeNO in COPD patients were estimated by linear mixed-effects models. Results: The subjects' forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and exhaled NO of subjects were (3.26±0.83) L, (1.66±0.61) L, (4.13±1.77) L/s, and (48.99±14.30) μg/m³, respectively. The concentration of NO₂ was (70.3±34.2) μg/m³ and the interquartile range (IQR) was 39.0 μg/m³. Short-term exposure to NO₂ resulted in a significant decrease in FVC among COPD patients' which was most obvious in 2 days lag. Every quartile range increased in NO₂ (39 μg/m³, 2 day) would cause a 1.84% (95%CI: -3.20%- -0.48%) reduction in FVC. The effects of exposure to higher concentration of NO₂ (≥58.0 μg/m³) on FVC estimate was -2.32% (95%CI: -4.15%- -0.48%)(P=0.02). No significant relevance of FeNO and NO₂ was observed in this study. Conclusions Short term exposure to ambient NO₂ may bring down pulmonary function in COPD patients.

Objective To establish a central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) model on different strains of rabbits by intravenous injection of adrenaline,which may contribute to related researches of CSC.Methods This study was approved by Bioethics Committee of Fourth Military University and complied with Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Visual Research.Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was initially performed on male New Zealand white rabbits (10),Belgium rabbits (5) and Chinchilla rabbits (10) to make sure that the retinas of subjects were normal.For the New Zealand white rabbits,adrenaline was injected via ear vein at a dose of 0.04 mg/kg once per day for the first 8 weeks and followed by a dose of 0.08 mg/kg for the next 4 weeks,while 0.04 mg/kg adrenaline was injected in the same way for 8 weeks in the Belgium rabbits and Chinchilla rabbits.FFA was performed every week after injection of adrenaline to evaluate the fluorescence leakage in ocular fundus.New Zealand white rabbits were sacrificed in 4 (3 rabbits),8 (3 rabbits) and 12 weeks (4 rabbits) after injection respectively,and Belgium rabbits and Chinchilla rabbits were sacrificed in the 8 weeks after injection.The eyeballs of the rabbits were enucleated to prepare the retinal sections for histopathological examination after hematoxylin-eosin staining.The results of FFA and retinal structure were compared among different strains of rabbits.Results No fluorescence leakage was found by FFA in ocular fundus,and the retinal structure was normal in all the 10 New Zealand white rabbits during the experiment.Fluorescence leakage was found by FFA in 2 Belgium rabbits at 1 week and 2 weeks after injection respectively,and retinal detachment and depigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with an enlarged intercellular space were shown by hematoxylin-eosin staining.For the Chinchilla rabbits,fluorescence leakages were found in 7 rabbits throughout the whole period of adrenaline administration.Circumscribed retinal detachment,depigmentation of RPE with enlarged intercellular space were also found in leakage lesions.Conclusions Repeated intravenous injection of adrenaline can induce CSC-like lesions in colored rabbits but not in albino rabbits.

Primary prostate synovial sarcoma (PPSS) is rare in clinic. One patient was admitted to our hospital in May 2021. The patient was admitted to the hospital because of the physical examination. Preoperative pelvic enhanced MR, PETCT and preoperative puncture pathology suggested that pelvic soft tissue sarcoma was likely. Robot-assisted radical resection of pelvic tumor was performed, and the unilateral PPSS was diagnosed by postoperative pathology, immunohistochemistry and gene detection. Patients were treated with ifosfamide + adriamycin adjuvant chemotherapy one month after operation, and Proton therapy radiotherapy five months after operation. Follow-up for more than 2 years showed that the patients were generally in good condition, and no recurrence or metastasis was found in imaging.

Objective:To investigate the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning combined with postconditioning (RIPC+ RIPostC) on postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods:Eighty patients aged 44-64 years old and scheduled to elective heart valve replacement under CPB in the operating room of our hospital were recruited and divided into control group (group C) and group R according to random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in group R underwent RIPC 30 minutes before the start of CPB and RIPostC 30 minutes before the end of CPB. The specific treatment measures were as follows: tie an inflatable cuff on the patient' s lower limb, inflate and pressurize until the pressure to 200 mmHg, hold for 5 minutes, and then completely deflate the cuff until the pressure to 0; after 5 minutes, inflate and pressurize again, and repeat for 3 cycles. The cuff was tied to the patient' s lower limb, but no inflation and deflation were performed in group C. Peripheral venous blood was drawn 1 day before operation and 1 day and 3 days after operation, and blood routine was determined. POD was assessed by the intensive care unit (ICU) consciousness disturbance assessment method (CAM-ICU) within 3 days after the operation. Neurocognitive testing was performed preoperatively, at discharge, and 3 months postoperatively, and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and dementia (AD) were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE), with exclusion of preoperative patients with <24 points. Intraoperative and postoperative adverse events including sinus bradycardia or hypotension/hypertension, postoperative infection, etc. were recorded. The length of hospital stay and 90-day mortality were recorded. After 3 months, data related to sleep, quality of life, anxiety and pain were collected using questionnaires.Results:The white blood cell count, neutrophil count and percentage of neutrophils in the two groups at 1 day and 3 days after operation were all higher than those at 1 day before operation, but the indexes in group R was significantly lower than those in group C ( P<0.05). A total of 13 patients (32.5%) in group C developed POD within 3 days after surgery, while 27 patients (67.5%) did not develop POD, and there was a significant difference between the groups ( P<0.05). A total of 5 patients (12.5%) in group R developed POD within 3 days after surgery, and 35 patients (87.5%) did not develop POD. At the 90-day follow-up, there was no difference in the MMSE score compared with the baseline ( P>0.05). A total of 4 patients (10%) developed neurocognitive dysfunction after surgery. There was no difference in the incidence of POCD between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of adverse events such as bradykinesia, hypotension/hypertension, and postoperative infection were similar between the two groups, and there was no significant difference ( P>0.05). During the 90-day follow-up period after surgery, no patient died in either group. There was no significant difference in postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). Using the EQ-5D questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of the two groups of patients, the results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months after operation, there was no significant difference in sleep quality between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:RIPC+ RIPostC can reduce the inflammatory response, reduce the incidence of POD and improve the quality of life after operation in patients with heart valve replacement under CPB.