The formation of macrophage-derived foam cells is a typical feature of atherosclerosis (AS). Reverse cholesterol efflux (RCT) is one of important factors for the formation of macrophage foam cells. In this study, macrophage form cells were induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and then treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid, so as to observe the effect of ferulic acid on the intracellular lipid metabolism in the ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation, the cholesterol efflux and the mRNA expression and protein levels of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) that mediate cholesterol efflux, and discuss the potential mechanism of ferulic acid in resisting AS. According to the findings, compared with the control group, the ox-LDL-treated group showed significant increase in intracellular lipid content, especially for the cholesterol content; whereas the intracellular lipid accumulation markedly decreased, after the treatment with ferulic acid. The data also demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 significantly increased after macrophage foam cells were treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid. In summary, ferulic acid may show the anti-atherosclerosis effect by increasing the surface ABCA1 and ABCG1 expressions of macrophage form cells and promoting cholesterol efflux.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; analysis ; genetics ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Mice

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the adequacy of nutritional therapy and prognosis in trauma patients.Methods:217 trauma patients were included.The nutritional therapy interventions were divided into three groups:low energy therapy (＜50％),moderate energy therapy (50％ ～ 80％),high energy therapy (＞ 80％).General data,hospitalstay,ICU stay,infectious complications and mortality were compared among groups.Results:The protein intake of high energy group was higher than the other two groups (P ＜0.01).High energy therapy was associated with reduced mortality and decreased length of hospital stay.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that high energy therapy had a significantly higher 60 days cumulative survival rate compared with other groups.Conclusion:High energy therapy is more effective and associated with improved mortality and decreased length of stay.

Double-hit lymphoma (DHL) is a kind of disease with features intermediated between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL),usually accompanied by myc gene breakpoint with other recurrent chromosomal breakpoint and mainly involving myc and bcl-2 translocation.The presentation of this disease is characterized by elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels,B symptoms,bone marrow involvement,advanced stage disease,extranodal involvement,and central nervous system involvement.Because its features are similar with DLBCL and BL,it's difficult to distinguish them by pathological diagnosis.At present,the differential diagnosis is mainly by chromosomal analysis (G-banding),FISH and immunohistochemistry.This subtype received a poor response to conventional chemotherapy for DLBCL,and has a poor prognosis.The median survival time is only 0.2-1.5 years.Currently,the main regimens include RCHOP,RICE,RCVD,methotrexate prophylaxis for central nervous system involvement,high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

Objective To examine the synaptic structure and glutamatergic transmitter of the pathway linking the anterior thalamic nucleus(ATN) and the subicular complex. Methods The HRP tracing and post embedding immunogold technique were used. Results In the anterior thalamic nucleus,anterograde HRP labelled terminals contained clear round synaptic vesicles and several mitochondria,and formed asymmetric synaptic contacts with HRP-labelled or non-HRP labelled dendrites.The highest densities of immunogold particles following glutamate immunostaining were found in HRP-labelled terminals and similar axon terminals devoid of HRP reaction product,They formed asymmetric synaptic contacts(Gray type Ⅰ) with dendrites.The average density of those immunogold particles was more than 3 times higher than that of the gold particles in the dendrites of their contacts and over 6 times higher than that of the particles in the terminals that formed symmetric synapses(Gray type Ⅱ).In two serial GABA immunogold reactive sections,Gray tpye Ⅱ terminals were heavily labeled whereas Gray type Ⅰterminals displayed a very slight labelling.In glutamate immunogold reactive sections,Gray type Ⅱ terminals were slightly labeled.A GABA positive terminal which formed symmetric synapses with HRP-labeled dendrites and the terminal which formed asymmetric synapses converged on the same dendrite.Conclusion The terminals of projection neurons in the pathway linking the anterior thalamic nucleus and the subicular complex are glutamatergic.In anterior thalamic nucleus corticothalamic projection neuron terminals form asymmetric synaptic contacts with HRP-labelled thalamocortical projection neurons by axo-dendritic synapses.

Objective To investigate the prognostic relevant factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recipients following liver transplantation (LT).Methods The clinical data of 147 cases of HCC undergoing LT between Aug. 2004 and Feb. 2011 in Nanfang Hospital were studied retrospectively.Those of significance in 14 relevant factors involving gender,age,blood-type,CTP,model of end-stage liver disease (MELD),alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),tumor number,cumulative diameter of tumor,tumor occupying proportion of the liver,bilobar involvement,envelope invasion,macrovascular invasion,and microvascular invasion (MVI),HCC histology differentiation,which were based on univariate analysis with Log-Rank,were analyzed by means of Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model to screen out independently relevant ones.Results 143 cases were followed up.The follow-up duration ranged from 6 to 84 months.The 1- and 3-year cumulative survival rate was 75.2％ and 54.7％ respectively.The tumor free 1- and 3-year cumulative survival rate was 70％ and 59％ respectively.Univariate ananlysis revealed that age,AFP,tumor number,cumulative diameter of tumor,tumor occupying proportion of the liver,bilobar involvement,envelope invasion,macrovascular invasion,and MVI had significant difference, In a Cox model,MVI,macrovascular invasion and AFP≥ 400 μg/L were independent prognostic factors.Conclusion MVI,macrovascular invasion and AFP are the main prognostic risk fators.Intervention and non-tumor technique should be performed preoperatively and intraoperatively,respectively.

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine on insulin resistance induced by free fatty acid in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the possible molecular mechanism.Methods 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 0.5 mmol/L palmitic acid to induce insulin resistance.Berberine was used for treatment and aspirin for positive control.Glucose oxidase method was employed for measuring the glucose consumption in the medium and 2-deoxy- [~3H]-D-glucose method was used for the determination of glucose uptake.Western blot was used for the determination of IKB kinase(IKK)?SerlS1 phosphorylation,insulin receptor substrance-1(IRS-1)Ser307 phosphorylation,the protein expression of IKK?,IRS-1,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI-3K)p85 and glucose transporter 4(Glut4).Results After the treatment with 0. 5 mmol/L of palmitic acid for 24 h,glucose consumption by 3T3-L1 adipocytes was decreased by 41%,insulin-stimulated glucose transport was inhibited by 67%,IRS-1 and PI-3K p85 proteins were reduced, and phosphorylations of IKK?Ser181 and IRS-1 Ser307 were induced.The above results were reversed by adding berberine or aspirin.But Glut4 and IKK?protein abundance was not changed during this study.Conclusion Berberine significantly improves insulin resistance induced by free fatty acid in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via inhibiting IKK?serine phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVETo explore correlation between lung and large intestine and the two meridians under pathological condition in the view of meridian theory.

METHODSNinety-six cases of bronchial asthma were applied palpation at the running course of 12 regular meridians under the elbow and knees and back-shu points. And abnormal reactions were recorded, the affected meridians and back-shu points were discovered.

RESULTSThe abnormal reactions most frequently appeared on the Lung Meridian, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Liver Meridian, the Stomach Meridian and the Triple Energizer Meridian. And the unusual reaction of the back-shu points most frequently appeared on Feishu (BL 13), and Dachangshu (BL 25) and Pishu (BL 21) followed as the next two.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of correlation between the Lung Meridian and the Large Intestine Meridians under pathological condition can be proved through meridian and acupoint palpation on bronchial asthma patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; physiopathology ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

In this study, the rat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model was established through tail vein injection with low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) and high fat diet for 8 weeks, and then treated with Jiaotai Pill. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting serum insulin (FINS), free fatty acid(FFA) levels and blood lipid were assayed. HOMA-IR was calculated. Pancreatic pathology was performed. And pancreatic triglyceride (TG) content was examined by the lipid extraction method. Pancreatic islet cell apoptosis were detected by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). According to the results, the model group showed abnormal OGTT, increased FINS, HOMA-IR, FFA, lipid disorder, obvious fat accumulation and significantly increased TG content in pancreatic tissues, and enhanced pancreatic islet cell apoptosis. Compared with the model group, the Jiaotai Pill group displayed improved OGTT, reduced FINS, HOMA-IR, FFA, recovered lipid disorder, decreased fat accumulation and significantly declined TG content in pancreatic tissues, and lowered pancreatic islet cell apoptosis. In summary, Jiaotai pill could effectively treat type 2 diabetes in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction in pancreatic fat accumulation and islet cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fats ; metabolism ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Pancreas ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective By detecting the expression levels of Foxp3 in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and the Foxp3 gene promoter region methylation to explore its role in the pathogenesis of RA.Methods Twenty-five RA patients and 10 healthy controls were selected,and the PBMCs were extracted by density gradient centrifugation.Foxp3 expression levels of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were detected by flow cytometry.The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was used to detect the Foxp3 mRNA expression in PBMCs; and bisulfate processing gene sequencing was used to determinethe differences in Foxp3 gene promoter sequence methylation level of PBMCs.The comparison between groups was analyzed using one-way ANOVA; two sets of qualitative data were compared using Fisher's exact test.Results The expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA in the CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells of active RA patients (2.31±0.25) was significantly lower than inactive RA group (3.68±0.26) and healthy controls (5.67±0.34),the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The Foxp3 mRNA expression level in inactive RA group was lower than that of the healthy controls (P＜0.05).Foxp3 promoter region-67,-74 sites of methylation level in PBMCs of RA patients (46％) was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (6％).Conclusion Reduction in the number of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA and Foxp3 gene promoter methylation levels plays a key role in this process.

Objective To explore the safety of Habib VesOpen bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) catheter used in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Methods A total of 10 miniature pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A(n=6):RFA of normal portal vein was directly performed;group B (n=2): balloon obstruction of the portal vein was performed first, which was followed by RFA for the fresh thrombus in the portal vein; group C (n=2): PVTT model was established first, and RFA of the portal vein was carried out when the portal thrombus became organized. MRI examination was employed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA; the animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after RFA and pathological examination of portal vein was performed. Results Pigs of group A received portal vein RFA under the condition of 5 W power for 0.6-3.6 min. No obvious abnormality was detected by MRI and pathological examination , which were performed one month after the treatment. In the pigs of group B , MRI performed after RFA showed that the damage of portal vein area was more serious than that in the pigs of group A;abdominal MRI examination performed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA showed that the portal venous edema was gradually decreased;pathological examination at one month after RFA demonstrated serious injury of adjacent liver tissue. Pigs of group C received portal vein RFA under the condition of 7 W power for 1.5 min; no obvious edema of the ablated area was observed on MRI performed after RFA , and pathological examination revealed organized thrombus necrosis and va scular endothelial cell damage. Conclusion When Habib VesOpen bipolar RFA catheter is used for the treatment of PVTT, the RFA power and time should be properly selected according to the severity of PVTT. In order to ensure a safer procedure, high power and short ablation time should be used when the severity of PVTT is mild, while low power and longer ablation time are recommended when the PVTT is more severe.