Autophagy is a crucial biological process of eukaryotes, which is involved in cell growth, survival and energy metabolism, while the premise of the autophagy function is activated autophagic flux. It has been confirmed that impaired autophagic flux promotes pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory diseases, especially cancer, neurodegenerative disease and tissue fibrosis, therefore the analysis of autophagic flux state is important for revealing autophagy function and the mechanism of autophagy related diseases. Given that autophagy is a dynamic process with multiple steps, it is very hard to observe the real state of autophagic flux. Summarized here is the novel concept and current approach to detect autophagic flux. This knowledge is crucial for the researching of the biological function of autophagy, and may provide some strategies for developing autophagy-related drug.

OBJECTIVE:To review the relationship between endothelial progenitor cells and the re-endothelialization of vascular prosthesis in order to find out some effective ways to solve the most frequent complications of asotransplantation,thrombogenesis and intima hyperplasia.DATA SOURCES:A computer-based online search was conducted to identify articles related to endothelial progenitor cells and the re-endothelialization of vascular prosthesis published in Pubmed,Ovid and MD Consult database from January 2000 to December 2006 using the key words of "endothelial progenitor cells,vascular prosthesis,endothelialization".Meanwhile,CNKI database was searched for related papers published between January 2000and December 2006,the keywords were "endothelial progenitor cells,vascular prosthesis,endothelialization" in Chinese.STUDY SELECTION:The literatures included all the related papers about the roles of endothelial progenitor cells in the re-endothelialization of vascular prosthesis.Inclusive criteria:the study types were randomized controlled trials,drug stress test and clinical drug effect test; the samples were both human and animals.Exclusive criteria:Reviews and literatures without controls were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION:Totally 115 related literatures were collected,and 24 were accorded with the inclusive criteria.The excluded were 91 papers of reviews and repeated trials or drug effect studies.DATA SYNTHESIS:These related literatures,including not only animal experiments but also clinical detections,analyzed the relationship between endothelial progenitor cells and the re-endothelialization of vascular prosthesis and correlative promoting mechanisms.CONCLUSION:It is concluded that endothelial progenitor cells play an important role in the endothelialization after vascular prosthesis is grafted in vivo.

DEDD is a member of the death-effector domain protein family. DEDD inhibits the Smad3 mediated transcriptional activity and participates in the regulation of apoptosis. In this study, how the death-effector domain of DEDD participates in the regulation of Smad3 activity and apoptosis has been further investigated. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation had been used to detect the effects of the full length DEDD and its two truncated mutants, N-DEDD and C-DEDD on Smad3 subcellular distribution, phosphorylation, and interaction between Smad4. The effects of the full length DEDD and its two truncated mutants on cell apoptosis and proliferation had also been explored by flow cytometry and MTT assay. It showed that DEDD and N-DEDD inhibit TGF-beta1 induced Smad3 nuclear translocation and the formation of Smad3-Samd4 complex. DEDD and its two mutants can induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation. These results suggested that DEDD inhibits the activity of Smad3 through its death-effector domain. Both the two truncated mutants of DEDD participate in the regulation of apoptosis and cell proliferation.

TLR2 activity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, tumor carcinogenesis and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. To establish a TLR2 receptor-based cell screening model, NF-kappaB promoter-driven luciferase reporter plasmids were transfected into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) stably expressing human TLR2 and co-receptors CD14, TLR1 and TLR6. Single clones were then isolated and characterized. Using this screening system, a human TLR2-binding peptide C8 was obtained from the Ph.D.-7 Phage Display Peptide Library through biopanning and rapid analysis of selective interactive ligands (BRASIL). The binding characteristic of C8 with human TLR2 was evaluated by ELISA, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The NF-kappaB luciferase activity assay showed that C8 could activate the TLR2/TLR1 signaling pathway and induce the production of cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6. In conclusion, the TLR2 receptor-based cell screening system is successfully established and a new TLR2-binding peptide is identified by using this system.

Expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its receptor (gp80、gp130) in 8 patients with Graves' disease (GD) were compared with those in 8 euthyroid patients with nodular goiter or benign thyroid adenoma. The thyroid tissues of GD expressed significantly higher IL-6 mRNA, gp130 mRNA and IL-6 protein than those of the control group, suggesting that activated IL-6/gp130 signal pathway in the thyroid tissue may contribute to the pathogenesis of GD.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the etiology, prevention and treatment of colon ischemia after operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHOD Seven of 140 cases complicated with colon ischemia who had received AAA operation were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Three cases underwent emergency operation. The seven cases were subjected to removal of AAA, implantation of prosthesis, and ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. Two cases had the ligation of the bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA). Epilateral IIA was ligated in 2 cases. Bowel resection was carried out in 3 cases, 1 of which received reconstruction of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Three cases received conservative therapy, but died from multiply organ failure. CONCLUSION Correct prevention and management of colon ischemia can effectively reduce the operative morbidity of AAA patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; surgery ; Colon ; blood supply ; Humans ; Ischemia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

Objective: To investigate the molecular markers of copy number aberrations (CNAs) of genes related to extrohepatic metastasis-free survival after the operation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The CNA status of 20 candidate genes in 66 HCC samples was detected by microarray comparative genomic hybridization. The associations between gene CNAs and extrohepatic metastasis-free survival were evaluated using the Cox regression model, Log-rank test, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for metastasis-free survival were MDM4 gain (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-6.37, P < 0.05), APC loss (HR = 8.43, 95% CI = 2.48-28.66, P < 0.01), and BCL2L1 gain (HR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.13-10.52, P < 0.05) and the independent protective factor was FBXW7 loss (HR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.89, P < 0.05). By stepwise Cox regression analysis, three CNAs related to metastasis-free survival were screened out: MDM4 gain (HR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.11-6.64, P < 0.05), APC loss (HR = 7.19, 95% CI = 1.88-27.60, P < 0.005), and FBXW7 loss (HR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.05-0.46, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in metastasis-free survival rate between the HCC patients with FBXW7 loss and without MDM4 gain or APC loss, those with MDM4 gain and/or APC loss and without FBXW7 loss, and those with other CNA combinations (log-rank test, P < 0.01). Conclusion MDM4 gain, APC loss, and FBXW7 loss are the independent prognostic factors for extrohepatic metastasis-free survival after the operation for HCC and can be used to predict the risk of extrohepatic metastasis after the operation for HCC.