AIM: To investigate the effect of aminoguanidine (AG) on plasma and renal levels of angiogenesis Ⅱ (AngⅡ), and to identify the relationship of AGEs with AngⅡ in STZ-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Diabetes was induced, rats were then received AG in treatment group. At the end of 12th week, urine albumin excretion rate (UAER) and calculate creatinine clearance (Ccr) were detected. Periodic acid-Schiff reagent was used to evaluate renal pathology. Plasma and renal AngⅡ were analyzed by radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: AG treatment significantly prevented the increase in UAER (P<0.01), renal pathology (P<0.01), and level of renal AngⅡ (P<0.01). However, plasma concentration of AngⅡ was higher than that in diabetic rats without AG treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: AG down-regulates renal Ang Ⅱ level, probably by reducing the formation of AGEs, which may be one of the renoprotective factors in diabetic nephropathy. More proofs are needed to identify the result that plasma AngⅡ concentration increases in DMA group.

Objective To assess the volume and function of right atrium(RA) in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension(PH) by echocardiography and explore the influencing factors of these changes.Methods The study include 20 healthy participants as the control group and 57 patients with chronic PH as the case group.The patients were divided into three groups: low-grade PH, midrange PH and severe PH.Maximal RA volume index(VmaxI), minimal RA volume index(VminI), pre-atrial contraction RA volume index( VpreI), reservoir volume index(RVI), conduit volume index(CVI), contraction-chamber volume index (CCVI) were measured and calculated.The diameter of tricuspid valve and the late-diastole peak velocity of the bloodstream(Va) were measured,and then RA ejection force(RAEF) could be calculated.Systolic strain rate(RASRs), early diastolic strain rate (RASRe), and late diastolic strain rate (RASRa) of RA free wall were measured respectively.The correlation between pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF),the tissue Doppler of RV free wall(Ea/Aa) and the parameters of RA were analysed,and the main factors influencing the volume and function of RA were exploxed.Results With the rising of PASP, the RA volume changed obviously.And CCVI, RAEF, RVI, RASRs and the absolute value of RASRa increased gradually, but CVI decreased gradually.PASP, RVEF and Ea/Aa correlated with the parameters of RA.The main factors influencing the Vprel were EDVI, Ea/Aa and the course of disease,and VpreI and PASP mainly influenced the RAEF.Conclusions In patients with chronic PH the volume and function of RA changed,and some index of which was infuenced by PASP, RVEF, Ea/Aa and so on.

Aim To investigate the effect of plumbagin on invasion and apoptosis of human hepatocellular car-cinoma ( HepG2 ) . Methods HepG2 cells were cul-tured in vitro with different concentrations of plumba-gin, then cell proliferation was observed by MTT as-say; cell invasion was observed by transwell invasion assay; cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2 was detected by immunocytochemistry. Results MTT results showed that plumbagin could significantly inhibit cell proliferation compared with the control group, and in a dose-dependent manner ( P <0. 05 ) . Transwell inva-sion assay showed that cell invasion was significantly decreased with increasing concentrations of plumbagin ( P < 0. 01 ) . Flow cytometry showed that apoptosis rate was significantly higher in 4 , 8 μmol · L-1 group of plumbagin compared with that of the control group ( P<0. 01 ) . Immunocytochemistry showed that, with the increasing concentration of plumbagin, Bax protein expression increased, Bcl-2 protein expression was de-creased, both in a dose-dependent manner ( P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Plumbagin can inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation and accelerate apoptosis of HepG2 cells, but also has the ability to inhibit HepG2 cell in-vasion.
( P < 0. 01 ) . Flow cytometry showed that apoptosis rate was significantly higher in 4 , 8 μmol · L-1 group of plumbagin compared with that of the control group ( P<0. 01 ) . Immunocytochemistry showed that, with the increasing concentration of plumbagin, Bax protein expression increased, Bcl-2 protein expression was de-creased, both in a dose-dependent manner ( P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Plumbagin can inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation and accelerate apoptosis of HepG2 cells, but also has the ability to inhibit HepG2 cell in-vasion.

Objective:To investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) gene polymorphism and toxici-ties related to high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods:GSTP1 genotypes and allelic frequencies in 51 children with ALL were determined by Nest PCR, denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE), and DNA sequencing. HD-MTX adverse reactions were analyzed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCICTC). Results:We identified three SNPs of GSTP1, including rs1695 (A313G), rs1138272 (G439T), and rs4891 (T555C). The wild types, het-erozygous types, and homozygous types of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 polymorphisms were detected in 32 cases (62.7%), 16 cases (31.4%), and 3 cases (5.9%), respectively. GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 polymorphisms included only one heterozygous type and one homozygous type. The allele frequencies of the three SNPs were 21.6%, 2.9%, and 21.6%. The AG+GG/TC+CC genotype of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 was associated with decrease in the odds of peripheral hemoglobin (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.06-1.00, P=0.049). The AG+GG/TC+CC genotype of GSTP1 rs1695/rs4891 in standard and intermediate-risk ALL children was significantly correlated with higher odds of gastrointesti-nal toxicity (OR=0.125, 95%CI=0.02-0.78, P=0.026). Conclusion:GSTP1 rs1695 (A313G)/rs4891 (T555C) gene polymorphism is as-sociated with the reduction of peripheral hemoglobin in ALL children and with the odds of gastrointestinal toxicity in standard and inter-mediate-risk ALL children who receive high-dose methotrexate.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between polymorphisms of serine hydroxymethyltransferase1 gene and the adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods:A total of 51 patients with ALL were treated with HD-MTX, and clinical manifestations after HD-MTX treatment were evaluated retrospectively. cD-NA was obtained from mRNA. The polymorphisms of SHMT1 gene containing rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, and rs12952556 sites were tested by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. Effects of SHMT1 gene polymorphisms on HD-MTX ad-verse reactions were evaluated. Results:Severe adverse reactions in ALL patients treated with HD-MTX appeared to be mainly neutro-penia and hepatoadverse reactions. The frequency distributions of rs3783 (C>G), rs1979276 (C>T), rs12952556 (A>G), and rs1979277 (C>T) were the same. The polymorphisms of rs1979277 showed no correlation with neutropenia (P>0.05) but rs1979277 CT and TT genotypes were correlated with hepatoadverse reactions (CT: OR=0.129, 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.817, P=0.03; TT: OR=0.103, 95% CI:0.017 to 0.620, P=0.013). Conclusion: No correlation was found between the combination of rs1979277, rs3783, rs1979276, rs12952556, and neutropenia, but one or more of these loci may reduce the risk of hepatoadverse reactions.

Objective To investigate anti-HBV effect of total flavonoids in Scorzonera austriaca wild (TFSA) in vitro.Methods MTT assay was used to observe the effect of TFSA on HepG2.2.15 cells, ELISA assay was used to detect the inhibition on HBsAg and HBeAg secretion from HepG2.2.15 cells and RTFQ-PCR assay was used to detect the inhibition rates of HBV-DNA.ResuIts The TC50 of TFSA on HepG2.2.15 cells was 0.603 mg/mL . TFSA significantly reduced the content of HBsAg and HBeAg and the numbers of HBV-DNA in the HepG2.2.15 cell cultural supernatants under nontoxic concentrations (0.062, 0.125, 0.250 mg/mL), and the maximal inhibitory rate was 89%, 33% and 43%, respectively. ConcIusion TFSA have anti-HBV effects in vitro.

Aim To observe the physical coupling between transient receptor potential channel vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4 ) and cPLA2 in endothelial cells. Methods We investigated the physical association of TRPV4-cPLA2 coupling by immunofluorescence reso-nance energy transfer (immuno-FRET)to assess the spatial proximity between TRPV4 and cPLA2 in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC),primary cul-tured endothelial cells and in thoracic aortas rings from high salt-induced hypertension mice.Results At the cellular level,with high salt treatment,the physical in-teraction of TRPV4 and cPLA2 was significantly en-hanced in primary vascular endothelial cells and HMEC.Furthermore, in thoracic aortas rings from high salt-induced hypertension mice,we found an in-creases interaction between TRPV4 and cPLA2 in en-dothelial cells from arterial segments .Conclusion High-salt treatment increases the endothelial TRPV4-cPLA2 coupling,indicating that this coupling may pro-vide a new target for vascular endothelial dysfunction.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between Creactive protein(CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods:A total of 96 cases of gastric cancer were included in the study. The clinical pathological stage and lymph node detection in patients with gastric cancer were analyzed, with the preoperative CAR as the dependent variable. Results:1) The pa-tients with preoperative CAR>0.04 has higher transfer rate and metastasis than the patients with preoperative CAR≤0.04, and the dif-ference was significant (P<0.05). The lymph node stage of patients with preoperative CAR>0.04 was significantly higher than that of the patients with preoperative CAR≤0.04, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). 2) The mean CAR of patients with Borrmann typesⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ, andⅣgradually increased;with the progression of the pathological stage of gastric cancer, the mean value of CAR in-creased. 3) During the operation, the total number of lymph node dissections was high and the mean value of CAR before the opera-tion was high. Conclusion:The correlation between preoperative CAR and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer may reflect the degree of lymph node metastasis to a certain extent.

To discover novel antitumor fluoroquinolone lead compounds from a rational modification for antibacterial fluoroquinolones, a fused heterocyclic ketone corresponding to thiazolo[2,3- b][1,2,4]triazolone used as a bioisosteric replacement of the C-3 carboxylic acid group of ciprofloxacin 1, and further modification by a Claisen condensation reaction with substituted benzaldehydes formed novel fluoroquinolone C-3 fuse heterocyclic α, β-unsaturated ketones as the title compounds (6a-6r), separately. The structures of eighteen title compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and MS, and the in vitro anti-proliferative activity against human hepatoma Hep-3B cells, pancreatic Capan-1 cells and leukemia HL60 cells was evaluated by a MTT assay. The preliminary results showed that the title compounds not only had more significant anti-proliferative activity against three tested cancer cell lines than that of the parent ciprofloxacin 1, but also exhibited the highest activity against Capan-1 cells. In particular, compounds carrying an electron-withdrawing carboxyl (6k, 6m) or sulfonamide substituent (6q, 6r) attached to benzene ring were comparable to or better than constractive drug doxorubicin against Capan-1 cells. As such, it suggests that it is favorable for a fused heterocyclic α, β-unsaturated ketone scaffold instead of the C-3 carboxylic acid group to improve the antitumor activity of fluoroquinolones.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of long-term changes in giant coronary artery aneurysm (GCAA) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD) and the technical approach of using selective coronary angiography (SCAG) in children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made in 52 patients with KD and GCAA in acute phase, including 38 males and 14 females with an average age of (4.1±2.5) years old ranging from 1 to 14 years old, from January 2008 to December 2018 at the Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center.The selective coronary angiography (SCAG) was performed in the patients who were followed up for (10.6±3.6) years (1-19 years). The changes in coronary artery lesions were analyzed and the technical approach of SCAG was discussed in children. Results: Among 52 patients investigated by SCAG, the location of coronary artery lesion was found the left-anterior descending branch in 21 cases(40.4%), 20 cases(38.5%) in the right coronary artery, 8 cases(15.4%) in the left main trunk and 3 cases(5.7%) in circumflex.The left coronary artery in 2 cases and the right coronary artery in 4 cases were completely occluded, and collateral vessel formation was found in 12 cases.There were 21 cases of right coronary artery stenosis, including 7 cases of the right coronary artery occlusion and bridge-like neovascularization, and 4 cases of the right coronary artery woven lesions (thrombotic occlusion and clustered neovascularization). There were 27 cases of the left coronary artery stenosis with different degrees, including 5 cases of the left coronary artery occlusion and bridge-like neovascularization, and 2 cases of the left coronary artery woven lesions (thrombotic occlusion and clustered neovascularization). All of 52 patients with GCAA were followed up for 1 to 19 years.GCAA still existed in 40 cases.Regression to small coronary artery aneurysm was found in 8 cases, and mild-dilation regression was observed only in 4 patients.The resting electrocardiogram showed pathological Q wave and the left ventricular enlargement in 6 cases, and normal in the remaining 46 patients.The children had no subjective symptoms and their activities were not restricted.Compared with SCAG, echocardiography detected 52 cases with proximal morphological changes in the coronary artery, but distal changes were found only in 3 cases.And 12 cases with coronary artery occlusion and neovascularization failed to be prompted by echocardiography. Conclusions GCAA induced by KD can persist for a long time, and has characteristics of coronary occlusion, stenosis, and collateral vessel formation.The conventional electrocardiogram and echocardiography are insensitive to the coronary artery morphology and dysfunction in KD sequelae.The SCAG is of great value in tracking this disease.For using SCAG in children, as long as the approp-riate equipment and projection angle are selected, and the operation skills are mastered, satisfactory images and high success rate can be obtained.