BACKGROUND: The relationship between liver cancer recurrence and hepatitis B virus recurrence remains poorly understood and it is considered to be related to application of immunosuppressive agent after liver transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of tacrolimus (FK506) on the proliferation of HepG2.2.15 cells and the replication of hepatitis B virus in vitro. METHODS: HepG2.2.15 cells were in vitro cultured. After passage 3 HepG2.2.15 cells were cultured for 24 hours, they were interfered with different concentrations of FK506. 0 g/L FK506-interfered group served as control group, 50 g/L FK506-interfered group as low-concentration FK506 group, 100 g/L or 500 g/L FK506-interfered group as medium-concentration FK506 group, and 1 000 g/L or 3 000 g/L FK506-interfered group as high-concentration FK506 group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Moderate- and high-concentration FK506 exhibited inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HepG2.2.15 cells, while low-concentration FK506 exhibited no inhibitory effects with correlation. High-concentration FK506 made HepG2.2.15 cells arresting at G0/G1 stage. FK506 decreased CyclinA expression in HepG2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Higher concentration of FK506 leaded to lower expression of CyclinA. FK506 did not produce effects on the replication of hepatitis B virus in HepG2.2.15 cells. These results indicate that FK506 inhibits the proliferation of HepG2.2.15 cells in vitro, which occurs possibly due to Cyclin A, but it would not affect the replication of hepatitis B virus in vitro.

Objective To investigate the role of ECRG2,a novel tumor suppressor gene,in spindle assembly checkpoint. Methods Using siRNA approach to deplete the expression of ECRG2, using immunofluorescence to test the distribution of ECRG2,using Western blotting to examine the expression cell cycle proteins.Results ECRG2 localized to centrosomes during interphase and kinetochores during mitosis.Further analysis revealed that ECRG2 participates in the spindle assembly checkpoint.Depletion of ECRG2 abolished the spindle assembly checkpoint.Conclusion Our results indicated that ECRG2 is important for ensuring spindle assembly checkpoint,accurate chromosome segregation,and its depletion may contribute to chmmosome instability and aneuploidy in human cancers.

Purpose The aim of this study was to reveal the role of SGT,the small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-containing protein,in the developing mouse brain through examining the expression profile of SGT during the development stage. Methods In this study, quantitative RT-RCR and Western blot were applied to investigate the expression of SGT mRNA and protein in the mouse whole brain. Western bolt was also used to detect the expression of SGT in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, striatum and cerebellum. Immunohistochemical analysis on postnatal and adult mouse brain was performed to examine the subcellular localization of SGT. Results Our data showed that the levels of SGT mRNA and protein in the mouse whole brain were both high during the postnatal stage and declined in the adult. Regional expression of SGT protein in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, striatum and cerebellum showed a similar expression profile.Immunohistochemical analysis found that in the P14 mouse brain, SGT was abundant in all the CA regions of hippocampus as well as most regions of cerebral cortex and striatum. In the cerebellum, SGT was mainly distributed in Purkinje cells. In the sections of the adult mouse brain, faint expression was observed in the regions mentioned above. Conclusions Our findings firstly exhibit the expression pattern of SGT in the mouse brain development,which might shed new light on further functional analysis of SGT in the central nervous system.

Objective To evaluate the effects of focal vibration on the physical properties and surface electroyograms of persons with neck-shoulder pain.Methods Thirty-four patients with neck-shoulder pain received 3 to 5 applications of vibratory stimulation of the inner side of the trapezius and scapula for 30 s each time.They reported their pain level using a visual analogue scale.Muscle tone and the elasticity and stiffness of the trapezius muscle were measured bilaterally using a MyotonPRO Muscular Function Evaluation System.Surface electromyography (sEMG) was performed bilaterally during arm extension while standing.The testing was repeated four times:before treatment (baseline),immediately after treatment (IAT),2 hours after treatment (2AT) and 6 hours after treatment (6AT).Results There was a significant reduction in reported pain at IAT and 2AT compared to baseline,but no significant difference was found between the perceived pain at baseline and at 6AT.The values of oscillation frequency,logarithmic decrement and dynamic stiffness had decreased significantly at IAT and 2AT compared to baseline.The average AEMG during upper-arm flexion of the trapezius on the painful side had increased significantly at IAT comparcd to that before the treatment,while the average IEMG and MF were both significantly higher than before the treatment.At 2AT the average AEMG and IEMG were both still significantly higher than at the baseline,but there was no longer a significant difference in the average MF.By 6AT none of the three indicators differed significantly from those before the treatment.Conclusions A single session of focal vibration can relieve pain,increase muscle activation as well as decrease muscle stiffness for people with neck-shoulder pain within 2 hours.

Objective:To explore effect of early rehabilitation therapy on improving prognosis and quality of life (QOL) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) .Methods :A total of 120 AMI patients treated in our hospital were selected .According to random number table ,they were randomly and equally divided into routine treatment group (n=60 ,received routine treatment) and rehabilitation group (n=60 ,received routine treatment combined rehabilitation therapy ) .Clinical symptoms ,myocardial enzymes ,cardiac function indexes ,complications , QOL ,length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost were statistically analyzed and compared between two groups . Results :Compared with routine treatment group after treatment ,there were significant reductions in incidence rates of dizziness ,low back pain ,leg weakness ,constipation ,palpitations (P<0.05~ <0.01) ,abdominal distension and complications (36.7% vs .5.0% );significant rise in Barthel index [ (61.9 ± 8.7) scores vs .(86.4 ± 6.9) scores] , significant reductions in length of hospital stay [(13.8 ± 3.2) d vs .(5.9 ± 2.6) d] and hospitalization cost [(13600 ± 1450) RMB vs .(8600 ± 1240) RMB] in rehabilitation group ,P<0.05~ <0.01 .Conclusion:Early rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve prognosis and quality of life ,shorten length of hospital stay , lower hospitalization cost in patients with acute myocardial infarction ,which is worth clinical extending .

Objective To evaluate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on cell apoptosis during acute lung injury (ALI) induced by two-hit in rats.Methods Thirty male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 240-270 g, were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table: sham operation group (group Sham), ALI induced by blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock group (group ALI), and penehyclidine hydrochloric group (group PHC).In ALI and PHC groups, the rats were subjected to the combination of chest trauma and hemorrhage (mean arterial pressure 35-40 mmHg mm Hg, lasting for 60 min) to establish a model of ALI.In group PHC, penehyclidine hydrochloric 2 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 1 h before blunt chest trauma.At 8 h after successful establishment of the model, the rats were sacrificed, and lungs were removed for examination of the pathologic changes and for determination of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression (using Western blot), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) content (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) , and cell apoptosis (by TUNEL).Apoptotic index was calculated.Results Compared with group Sham, the levels of Bax, caspase-3 and TNF-α and apoptotic index were significantly increased, and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in ALI and PHC groups.Compared with group ALI, the levels of Bax, caspase-3 and TNF-α and apoptotic index were significantly decreased, and Bcl-2 expression was up-regulated in group PHC.The pathologic changes of lungs were significantly reduced in group PHC than in group ALI.Conclusion Penehyclidine hydrochloride mitigates ALI induced by two-hit through inhibiting cell apoptosis in rats.

Objective:To analyze the relationship among smoking, levels of homocysteine (Hcy), cystatin C (CysC), C reactive protein (CRP) and coronary heart disease (CHD) onset in young people.Methods:A total of 152 patients, who received selective coronary angiography because of chest pain in our hospital, were enrolled, and all subjects were <45 years old.According to examination results, they were divided into CHD group (n=100) and non-CHD group (n=52).Clinical data were analyzed in both groups, and Logistic multi-factor regression analysis was used to analyze independent risk factors for CHD in young people.Results:Compared with non-CHD group, there were significant rise in percentages of men (30.8% vs.65.0%), smoking (46.1% vs.68.0%) and hypertension (34.6% vs.51.0%), levels of CysC[(0.85±0.16) mg/L vs.(1.34±0.28) mg/L], CRP [(1.26±0.85) mg/L vs.(6.93±0.85) mg/L] and Hcy[(7.16±1.16) mol/L vs.(20.85±2.16) mol/L],P<0.05 or <0.01;multi-factor Logistic regression analysis indicated that male, hypertension, smoking, Hcy, CysC and CRP were risk factors for CHD in young people (OR=1.34~3.42, P<0.05 or <0.01).Conclusion:Male, smoking, total cholesterol, homocysteine, Cys C and C reactive protein are risk factors for CHD in young people.Therefore, these risk factors should be eliminated, or its risk should be reduced.

This study aimed to explore the value of animal energy metabolism monitoring system (AEMMS) to evaluate the energy metabolism of acute alcohol liver injury in rat with the treatment of acupuncture.Tirty rats were randomly divided into the control group,the model group and the EA group.The model group and the EA group were gavaged with 50％ ethanol for the establishment of the animal model of acute alcoholic liver injury.EA was given by needling Zusanli (ST-36) 30 min after intragastic administration every day in the EA group.The treatment of acupuncture continued 3 days.In addition,the RER,heat,feeding and drinking were continuously recorded for 96 h in each group at the same time by AEMMS.As a result,the RER,feeding and drinking indices significantly decreased in rats with ALI with an increase in the heat index.There was an up-going tendency of the RER,feeding and drinking indices,and a declined tendency of the heat index in the model rats after EA treatment.It was concluded that AEMMS presented a practical value in the study of the energy metabolism of rats with ALI with the treatment of acupuncture.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of platelet volume indices (PVIs), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the combination of these parameters for the neurological function of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after intravenous thrombolysis.Methods:From January 2016 to January 2019, the data of 147 AIS patients with intravenous thrombolysis in the Emergency Department of Peking University People's Hospital who met the diagnostic criteria of AIS were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to modified rank in scale (MRS) score: MRS≤2 and MRS≥3. The general information, past medical history and laboratory examination results of each group were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of poor prognosis of neurological function in AIS patients with thrombolysis.Results:NLR ( OR=1.045, 95% CI: 1.032-2.350, P=0.032), mean platelet volume (MPV) ( OR=4.212, 95% CI:1.074-16.513, P=0.039), MPV×NLR/PLT ( OR=5.711, 95% CI: 1.342-24.298, P=0.018), platelet distribution width (PDW) ( OR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.001-2.372, P=0.032), and NIHSS score ( OR=1.266, 95% CI: 1.111-1.443, P<0.01) were related with poor prognosis neurological function of AIS patients with intravenous thrombolysis. Conclusions:MPV, NLR, MPV×NLR/PLT PDW and NIHSS scores are the risk factors for poor prognosis of neurological function in AIS patients with thrombolysis. MPV×NLR/PLT can predict the neurological severity of AIS after 3 months.

Abstract: To report on two patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) combined with diffuse connective tissue disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection followed for nearly 3 years, in order to understand the long-term effects on the patients' immune system. Both patients were male, aged 81-82 years, and were hospitalized with fever on January 29, 2020 and February 10, 2020, respectively. Both were diagnosed with COVID-19 after positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. After receiving anti-infection treatment, cough suppressants, ex‐pectorants, and symptomatic supportive treatment, their body temperature returned to normal and two consecutive PCR tests were negative for SARS-CoV-2, and they were discharged from hospital. However, due to recurring fevers and varying degrees of rheumatic disease-related symptoms, both patients were readmitted to the hospital, indicating the presence of positive auto‐ antibodies and organ involvement. One patient recovered from COVID-19 with recurrent fever, joint pain, muscle aches and subcutaneous nodules, and was subsequently diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease. The other patient developed recurrent fever, mouth ulcers and rash after recovery from COVID-19 and was subsequently diagnosed with anti neutro phil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The patient was treated with glucocorticoids and immunosuppres sive drugs and the symptoms resolved rapidly and subsequent laboratory and imaging examinations showed stable condition. However, due to self-termination of medication, their symptoms quickly relapsed, and further treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents resulted in sustained stability of their condition. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hyper‐sensitive C-reactive protein remained within normal limits, and lung CT scans showed stable lesions with partial absorption.SARS-CoV-2 infection may have long-term effects on patients' immune systems, leading to abnormal immune responses and diffuse connective tissue disease. This suggests that regular follow-up observation of immune system-related diseases may be necessary for elderly patients with COVID-19.