Objective To investigate the expression of T-cell subset,changes of TNF-?,IL-6,IL-8,sIL-2R levels in the sera and its role in development of chromic viral hepatitis B,in order to understand viral replication and clinical significance in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CVHB).Methods Alkaline phosphatase/antialkaline Phosphatase(APAAP) and ELISA techniques were used to detect the levels of T-cell subset in peripheral blood and serum TNF-?,IL-6,IL-8,sIL-2R in 290 patients with chronic hepatitis B.Results In the count of CD 4 + cell and CD 4 +/CD 8 + were significanyly lower,and in the count of CD 8 + cell and levels of TNF-?,IL-6,IL-8,sIL-2R in CVHB patients group were higher than in normal control group(P

Objective To explore the relationship between serum cytokines and liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB), and to discuss their role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Methods ELISA and RIA techniques were used to detect the levels of transforming growth factor-?1( TGF-?1),tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?), Interferon -?(IFN-?), hyaline acid (HA), type III procollagen (PC Ⅲ) and collagen type Ⅳ(C-Ⅳ) in 95 patients with CHB, and contrast study were performed between those serum markers and hepatic pathology. Results The levels of serum TGF-?1, TNF-?, HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ in the patients with CHB were significantly higher than those in normal control group (NC), and were correlated with degree of liver damage positively. Serum levels of TGF-?1, TNF-?, HA, PCⅢ and C-Ⅳ were positive proportion to degree of liver fibrosis (P

Based on the introduction and cultivation of Alisma germplasm which were from Fujian, Jiangxi and Sichuan provinces, the biological characteristics, morphological characteristics and quality were observed and studied. After three-year continuous experiment and monographic study, there were remarkable difference in the biological characteristics, morphological characteristics and product quality of Fujian Alisma, Sichuan Alisma and Jiangxi Alisma. Fujian Alisma and Jiangxi Alisma were the same plant species of A. orientalis, whereas Sichuan Alisma and Fujian Alisma were the different plant species of A. plantago-aquatica. The study results will provide the theoretical and practical basis for the genuine medicinal materials research and good agricultural practice (GAP) of Alisma.
Alisma ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control

Objective:To explore the association and gene-environment interaction between single nu-cleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)involved in cell-cell adhesion and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P)among Chinese population.Methods:A total of 806 NSCL/P trios were drawn by an international consortium,which conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS)using a case-parent trio design to investigate genes affecting risks to NSCL/P.The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT)was used to explore the association between cell-cell adhesion genes,including CDH1,CT-NNB1,PVRL1,PVRL2,PVRL3,ACTN1,VCL,LEF1,and NSCL/P.Conditional Logistic regression models were used to estimate effects on risk of exposed and unexposed children.Four common maternal exposures including maternal smoking,environmental tobacco smoke,alcohol consumption and multivita-min supplementation during pregnancy were included in this study.Results:A total of 226 SNP markers were tested after quality control in this study.Although 23 SNPs in three genes (CTNNB1,CDH1, ACTN1)showed nominal significant association with NSCL/P in the TDT (P <0.05).There were no sig-nificant evidence of linkage and association that remained in the transmission disequilibrium test after Bonferroni correction(P >0.000 2).Tests for gene-environment interaction yielded significant results be-tween rs7431 27 in ACTN1 and environmental tobacco smoke (P =0.000 1 )with an estimated OR (case |G and E)=2.00(95%CI:1 .23 -3.26)and OR (case |G no E)=0.59 (95%CI:0.38 -0.90).Among the lower P value results in gene-environment tests,there were no significant results be-tween rs1 475034,rs370535,rs227341 9 in ACTN1,rs1 06871 in CTNNB1 and environmental tobacco smoke interaction.There were also no significant results between rs7634000,rs2971 366,rs2634553, rs1 489032,rs762481 2 in PVRL3 and multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy in gene-environ-ment tests(P >0.000 2).Conclusion:There is no association between cell-cell adhesion genes,inclu-ding CDH1,CTNNB1,PVRL1,PVRL2,PVRL3,ACTN1,VCL,LEF1,and NSCL/P when the genes are considered alone.But our results suggest that SNPs in ACTN1 may influence the risk to NSCL/P through gene-environment interaction.

Objective To observe RNA-Seq analysis ofgene expression profiling in retinal vascular endothelial cells after anti-vascular endothecial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.Methods Retinal vascular endothelial cells were cultured in vitro,and the logarithmic growth phase cells were used for experiments.The cells were divided into the control group and high glucose group.The cells of two groups were cultured for 5 hours with 5,25 mmol/L glucose,respectively.And then,whole transcriptome sequencing approach was applied to the above two groups of cells through RNA-Seq.Now with biological big data obtained as a basis,to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs).And through enrichment analysis to explain the differential functions of DEGs and their signal pathways.Results The gene expression profiles of the two groups of cells were obtained.Through analysis,449 DEGs were found,including 297 upregulated and 152 downregulated ones.The functions of DEGs were influenced by regulations over molecular biological process,cellular energy metabolism and protein synthesis,etc.Among these genes,ITGB 1BP2,NCF 1 and UNC5C were related to production of inflammation;AKR1C4,ATP 1A3,CHST5,LCTL were related to energy metabolism of cells;DAB 1 and PRSS55 were related to protein synthesis;SMAD9 and BMP4 were related to the metabolism of extracellular matrix.GO enrichment analysis showed that DEGs mainly act in three ways:regulating biological behavior,organizing cellular component and performing molecular function,which were mainly concentrated in the system generation of biological process part and regulation of multicellular organisms.Pathway enrichment analysis showed that gene expressions of the two cell groups were differentiated in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway,complement pathway and amino acid metabolism-related pathways have also been affected,such as tryptophan,serine and cyanide.Among them,leukocyte inhibitory factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 play a role through the TGF-β signaling pathway.Conclusions High glucose affects the function of retinal vascular endothelial cells by destroying transmembrane conduction of retinal vascular endothelial cells,metabolism of extracellular matrix,and transcription and translation of proteins.

Objective To observe the synergistic effect of metformin and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.Methods This study was composed of clinical data review and in vitro cell experiment.Ten patients (12 eyes) with diabetic macular edema treated with antiVEGF drugs were included in the study.Patients were randomly divided into the VEGF group (anti-VEGF drug therapy) and the combined treatment group (anti-VEGF drug combined with metformin).The changes of visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) were compared between the two groups.As far as the in vitro experiment was concerned,vascular endothelial cells were divided into the control group (normal cells),the VEGF group (50 ng/ml VEGF),the anti-VEGF group (50 ng/ml VEGF+2.5 μg/ml of conbercept),and the combined group (50 ng/ml VEGF +2.5 μg/ml of conbercept +2.0 mmol/L of metforrnin).And then MTT cell viability assay,scratch assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay were performed to analyze the cell viability,cell migration and mRNA level of VEGFR2,protein kinase C (PKC)-α and PKC-β successively.Results Review of clinical trial shows that the CRT recovery rates in the combined treatment group were much higher than that in the VEGF group at 3 month after the operation,while the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.462,P＜0.05).In vitro cell experiment results showed that VEGF induction upregulated the viability and mobility of vascular endothelial cells obviously compared with control group,at the same time,the use of anti VEGF drugs can effectively reverse the trend,in contrast,combination of metformin and anti-VEGF showed a more superior effect to some extent (P＜0.05).In the VEGF group,the mRNA expression of VEGFR2,PKC-αand PKC-[β were significantly increased compared with the control group (P＜ 0.01);while the mRNA expression of VEGFR2,PKC-αand PKC-β in the combination group decreased significantly compared with the VEGF group and the control group (P＜0.05).However,in the anti-VEGF group,the mRNA expression of VEGFR2,PKC-αand PKC-β were decreased,but has failed to reach the level of statistical learn the difference.Conclusions The combination ofmetformin and anti-VEGF drugs can reduce the CRT of diabetic retinopathy patients and inhibit the proliferation and migration of retinal vascular endothelial cells which induced by VEGF.The synergistic mechanism may be related to the inhibitory effect of metformin on the expression of VEGFR and PKC.

Objective:To explore the value of ex- vivo porcine stomach model for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training for international trainees. Methods:Fifteen international students received ESD training and learning for twenty days. Firstly, students learned basic theory of ESD and completed a questionnaire. Then they were randomized to receive endoscopic training either on the vitro animal (group A) or on training experience (group B) of the clinical observation. At last, one case was assessed by an experienced endoscopist. The total and step-by-step operating time, complete resection, size of specimen and complications were recorded. All students completed the questionnaire once again. SPSS 20.0 was used for t test and chi-square test. Results:There was significant difference in total ESD operation time between group A and group B ( P<0.05). There were significant differences between the two groups on cutting time and dissection time, but there was no difference on marking time, injection time and operating speed. There was only one case of block resection and perforation in each group. For group A, their mastery and clinic confidence of ESD had been obviously increased after the animal training course. Compared with the operation before the training in group A, it was found that the total time and cutting time of the ESD after the training were also significantly improved. Conclusion:Theory combined with endoscopic training on vitro animal model can make the trainees familiar with the basic theory and master the operational skills, which is helpful and valuable for them to perform ESD in further clinic practice.

Candida albicans is one of the major causes of invasive fungal infections and a serious opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. The antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 has prominent anti-Candida activity, and proteomic analysis revealed significant differences in the expression of cell wall (XOG1) and oxidative stress (SRR1) genes upon the action of AMP-17 on C. albicans, suggesting that AMP-17 may exert anti-C. albicans effects by affecting the expression of XOG1 and SRR1 genes. To further investigate whether XOG1 and SRR1 genes were the targets of AMP-17, C. albicans xog1Δ/Δ and srr1Δ/Δ mutants were constructed using the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. Phenotypic observations revealed that deletion of two genes had no significant effect on C. albicans growth and biofilm formation, whereas XOG1 gene deletion affected in vitro stress response and mycelium formation of C. albicans. Drug sensitivity assay showed that the MIC₈₀ values of AMP-17 against xog1Δ/Δ and srr1Δ/Δ mutants increased from 8 μg/mL (for the wild type C. albicans SC5314) to 16 μg/mL, while the MIC₈₀ values against srr1Δ/Δ: : srr1 revertants decreased to the level of the wild type SC5314. In addition, the ability of AMP-17 to inhibit biofilm formation of both deletion strains was significantly reduced compared to that of wild type SC5314, indicating that the susceptibility of the deletion mutants to AMP-17 was reduced in both the yeast state and during biofilm formation. These results suggest that XOG1 and SRR1 genes are likely two of the potential targets for AMP-17 to exert anti-C. albicans effects, which may facilitate further exploration of the antibacterial mechanism of novel peptide antifungal drugs.
Humans ; Candida albicans ; Antimicrobial Peptides ; Proteomics ; Peptides/pharmacology* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology*