Objective To investigate the application of ultrasound and blood indicators in diagnosis of early liver cirrhosis (S4) for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Data of blood and ultrasound examinations of 631 patients with CHB who received liver biopsy in the Sixth People' s Hospital of Shenyang during April 2002 and March 2011 were collected.Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors independently correlated with early liver cirrhosis,and the diagnostic model was established using these indicators.The diagnostic value of the established model was assessed by using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and compared with FIB-4 index,aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/platelet (PLT) ratio index (APRI) and S index.Results Logistic regression analysis indicated that age,PLT,albumin globulin ratio (A/G) and splenic square area (SPS) in ultrasound findings were independently correlated to early liver cirrhosis (Wald =10056,46.236,3.751 and 10.669,P ＜0.01).AUROC of the model based on the above factors in diagnosing early liver cirrhosis was 0.908,which was higher than those of FIB-1 index,APRI index and S index (Z =8.322,4.334 and 4.087,P ＜ 0.05).Taking 0.063 as cut-off value,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predict value and negative predict value of the established model in diagnosis of early liver cirrhosis were 90.1％,77.8％,50.0％ and 97.1％,respectively.Taking ＜0.060 and ≥0.110 as the cut-off values to exclude,and diagnose early liver cirrhosis,69.7％ (440/631) patients could avoid liver biopsy.Conclusion The model based on age,PLT,A/G and SPS can effectively predict early liver cirrhosis,and can reduce liver biopsy.

Objective To explore the correlation and role of E2F3 gene,miR-17-5p and miR-20a in the cell lines of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. Methods The plasmids of pcDNA3.1-HA-E2F3 and pAAV-siRNA-E2F3 were used to overexpress and knockdown E2F3.The mimics of miR-17-5p,miR-20a and their anti-miRNA oligonucleotides were used to overexpress and screen miR-17-5p and miR-20a.The expression levels of E2F3 gene,miR-17-5p and miR-20a were detected by quantitative real-time PCR,and E2F3 protein were detected by Western blot. Results When E2F3 was overexpressed,the 2- △△Ct of miR-17-5p and miR-20a were 2.26 ± 0.30 and 4.04 ± 0.51,it was statistically significant to compared with control (P ＜ 0.05) ; when E2F3 was knockdown,the 2 △△Ct of miR-17-5p and miR-20a were 0.49 ± 0.02and 0.65 ± 0.04 (P ＜ 0.05) ; when miR-17-5p and miR-20a were overexpressed simultaneously,the level of E2F3 mRNA was significantly decreased,the average E2F3 protein gray scale was 55.31 ± 7.89,the control was 103.67 ± 13.61 (P ＜ 0.05 ) ; when miR-17-5p and miR-20a were knockdown simultaneously,the E2F3 mRNA was significantly increased,the E2F3 protein gray scale was 295.68 ± 19.25,the control was 103.67 ± 13.61 ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions miR-17-5p and miR-20a could be up-regulated by E2F3 gene,and the E2F3 gene could be down-regulated by miR-17-5p and miR-20a.The regulatory feedback loop of E2F3 gene,miR-17-5p and miR-20a exists in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. The loop maybe plays a key role in the development of bladder cancer.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn of rats.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 4-6 weeks,weighing 150-200 g,were used in the study.The lumbar enlargemnent segments of the spinal cord were harvested,and the parasagittal lumbosacral spinal cord slices with attached dorsal roots were prepared and incubated in artificial cerebro-spinal fluid.The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record each index,and 4 spinal cord slices were selected and used for each index records.Experiment Ⅰ Dexmedetomidine was added cumulatively in concentration increments.Aδ and C fibers-mediated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) were recorded before administration (baseline) and during perfusion with dexmedetomidine 4 and 10 μg/ml.Experiment Ⅱ The neurons innervated by Aδ and C fibers were selected,and Aδ and C fibers-mediated eEPSCs were recorded before administration (baseline),at 5 min of perfusion with yohimbine (alpha 2 adrenergic receptor antagonist) 2 μmol/L,and during continuous perfusion with yohimbine 2 μmol/L plus dexmedetomidine 4 μg/ml.Experiment Ⅲ The evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (eE-PSPs) and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (eIPSPs) were recorded before administration (baseline) and during perfusion with dexmedetomidine 4 μg/ml.Results Dexmedetomidine could dose-dependently inhibit Aδ and C fibers-mediated eEPSCs,dexmedetomidine could inhibit Aδ and C fibers-mediated eEPSPs and produced no effect on eIPSPs,and yohimbine could inhibit dexmedetomidine-induced inhibitory effect on eEPSCs.Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine inhibits nociceptive information transmission in the spinal dorsal horn is related to inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission through activating α2-adrenergic receptors,but not related to activation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in rats.

Objective To study the profiles and function of small RNA (sRNA)gene during chondrogenesis in rats so as to clarify the mechanisms of chondrocytes proliferation and differentiation.Methods All the sRNAs were identified from the female SD rats femoral head cartilages at three time points:at birth,ablactation and maturation,and three sRNA libraries were constructed.The Solexa sequencing and the bioinformatics analysis were employed to be blasted with the genomes of SD rats.Results The perfect match reads in the three libraries were screened out,which were correspondent to the 21 7 921 (41.23%),1 96 650 (38.74%)and 245 436 (41.54%)unique sRNA sequence,respectively.The percentages of 20-24 nt sRNA were 71.94% (d0),72.85% (d21),and 86.39%(d42).Half of clean sequences were 22 nt sRNA.The distribution characteristics of the reads were in line with the high-quality sRNA.More than 62% clean reads were from mature miRNA while the ratios in the three libraries were only 0.69%,0.78% and 0.63%.About 60% of the unique sRNA could not be matched with miRBase20.0 or Rfam9.1.Conclusion The distribution model of miRNA in the three libraries indicates that the miRNAs with different functions or from different sources are involved in the regulation of chondrocytes proliferation and differentiation in bone development and formation.

Objective To analyze the expression of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its clinical significance. Methods The expression of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells in 58 newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL and 30 healthy adults was detected by flow cytometry, and the relationship between its expression and the clinical indicators were analyzed statistically. Results The levels of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells in newly diagnosed DLBCL and healthy adults were different, with statistically significant difference [(36.37 ±11.89) % vs. (9.03 ±2.10) %, t = 7.168, P < 0.001]. The level of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells was significantly higher in patients with IPI score 3ˉ5 than that in patients with IPI score 0ˉ2[(44.28±10.10)%vs. (21.51±6.23)%, t=ˉ9.347, P=0.03]. The expression of peripheral blood CD13+ CD4+ CD25hi Treg cells in stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ patients were (19.48 ±1.34) %, (33.98 ±8.03) % and (47.89±8.25) %respectively, and there were significant differences among three groups (F= 38.363, P<0.001). The levels of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells had no relationship with age, sex or LDH level (all P>0.05). Conclusion The levels of peripheral blood CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells are higher in DLBCL patients, which has a close relationship between the expression of CD13+CD4+CD25hi Treg cells and clinical stage and prognosis.

10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.24.015

This study sought to evaluate the effect of steep pulsed electric fields (SPEFs) on the immune response of Wistar mice inoculated with Walker256 sarcoma. Thirty mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group (group A, inoculated with Walker256 sarcoma, not treated), treatment group (group B, inoculated with Walker256 sarcoma, treated by SPEFs), and normal control group (group C, inoculated with normal saline, not treated). Tumor size was measured before and every 3 days after treatment by vernier caliper. MTT methods were used to assess the lymphocytes proliferation and the natural killer (NK) cells activity. TNF-a activity was measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing the SPSS10.0 software package. The experiment results revealed that tumor growth was significantly inhibited in group B as compared with group A (P < 0.01), and that lymphocytes proliferation, NK cells activity and TNF-a activity in group B were not significantly different from those in group C (P = 0.953, P = 0.130, P = 0.080, respectively) but markedly higher than those in group A (P < 0.05). The results also showed that SPEFs could not only kill tumor cells but also induce antitumor immune response and improve the immune function of the host efficiently.
Animals ; Carcinoma 256, Walker ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Female ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Leukocytes ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Pulse ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of atorvastatin (ATV) on the inflammatory response of human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) induced by calcium oxalate crystals. Methods: HK-2 cells were divided into control group (normal medium), ATV group (after 3 h pretreatment with 40 μmol/L ATV, replaced with normal medium), calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group (4 mmol/L calcium oxalate crystal) and ATV treatment group (after 3 h pretreatment with 40 μmol/L ATV, replaced with 4 mmol/L calcium oxalate crystals). After 12 h, the cells were collected, and the expression levels of NLRP3 and Cleaved caspase-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. The expression level of NF-κB was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The cell culture supernatant was collected to detecte the concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression of NLRP3 (0.125±0.013 vs. 0.135±0.007) and Cleaved caspase-1 (0.090±0.014 vs. 0.095±0.006) was decreased in the ATV group compared with the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The relative expression of NLRP3 (0.315±0.021 vs. 0.135±0.007, P<0.001) and Cleaved caspase-1 (0.235±0.008 vs. 0.095±0.006, P<0.001) was significantly increased in the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group compared with the control group. While the relative expression of NLRP3 (0.245±0.007 vs. 0.315±0.021, P<0.05) and Cleaved caspase-1 (0.170±0.017 vs. 0.235±0.008, P<0.05) in the ATV treatment group was significantly lower than that in the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression trends of NLRP3 and Cleaved caspase-1 in each group were consistent with those obtained by Western blotting. The ELISA results showed that the concentration of inflammatory factors IL-1β [(162.00±21.21)pg/ml vs. (183.50±7.78) pg/ml, P>0.05] and IL-18 [(176.50±24.12)pg/ml vs.(182.50±20.51)pg/ml, P>0.05] in the ATV group was lower than that in the control group, but the difference were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The concentrations of IL-1β[(850.50±48.79)pg/ml vs. (183.50±7.78)pg/ml, P<0.001] and IL-18 [(526.00±39.61)pg/ml vs. (182.50±20.51)pg/ml, P<0.001] were significantly increased in the cell culture medium of the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group compared with the control group, while the concentrations of IL-1β [(452.50±36.06)pg/ml vs. (850.50±48.79) pg/ml, P<0.01] and IL-18 [(403.50±23.33)pg/ml vs. (526.00±39.61)pg/ml, P<0.05] was significantly reduced in the cell culture medium of the ATV treatment group compared with the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group. Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression of NF-κB (0.105±0.021 vs. 0.100±0.014) in the ATV group was decreased compared with the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The relative expression of NF-κB (0.295±0.035 vs. 0.100±0.014, P<0.001) in the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group was significantly increased compared with the control group. While the relative expression of NF-κB (0.160±0.012 vs. 0.295±0.035, P<0.05) in the ATV treatment group was significantly lower than that in the calcium oxalate crystal stimulation group. The expression of NF-κB by immunofluorescence staining was consistent with the results of Western blotting. Conclusions Calcium oxalate crystals can induce the inflammatory response of HK-2 cells, while ATV can exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and decreasing the secretion of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-18 and the expression of NF-κB.