Objective To investigate the prevalence of anti-endothelial cell antibody fAECA) in the sera of patients with connective tissue diseases(CTD)complicated with pulmonary arterial hyperten-sion (PAH)and to detect the specific antigens of AECA which may be related to clinical manifestations.Methods AECA was detected with Western blotting in 39 CTD patients with PAH.22 CTD patients without PAH and 30 healthy donors.Results The prevalence of AECA was 82%in CTD patients with PAH.73%in CTD patients without PAH and 20%in healthy donors.Anti-22 000 AECA was only detected in CTD patients with PAH(15%).Anti-75 000 AECA was more frequently detected in CTD patients with PAH than in thosewithout PAH(51%vs 23%.P＜0.05).In CTD patients complicated with PAH.anti-75 000 AECA was morefrequently detected in those with Raynaud's phenomenon or with positive anti-RNP antibody.Conclusion AECA can be more frequently detected in CTD patients with or without PAH.Furthermore,anti-22 000 and anti-75 000 AECA may play a special role in CTD patients with PAH.

To study the mechanism of Shenkangling (SKL), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with prednisone in treating adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats.

Objective To investigate the impact of reduced glutathione(GSH) on the prolifera- tion,oxidative stress and transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1) expression of human hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)(LX-2 cell line).Methods Human hepatocytes and HSCs were incubated with various concentrations of GSH(0.5—50 mmol/L or 0.5—10 mmol/L).The effects of GSH on the proliferation of hepatocytes and HSCs were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphennyhera- zolium bromide colorimetric assay.Human hepatocytes and HSCs were co-cultured with GSH and ferric nitrilotriacetic acid,superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were detected.HSCs were incubated with high(5.0 mmol/L),media(2.5 mmol/L) and low (0.5 mmol/L) concentrations of GSH,the expressions of TGF-?1 mRNA and protein were detected by ELISA and real- time PCR.Results In concentration ranged from 2.5 to 10 mmol/L,the GSH could promote the pro- liferation of hepatocytes but no HSCs,significantly increased the activity of SOD and decrease the con- tents of MDA in hepatocytes and HSCs,and inhibited the expression of TGF-?1 in HSCs.Conclusions GSH can not only promote the proliferation of hepatocytes,but also protect hepatocytes and HSCs from oxidative stress,and inhibit the secretion of TGF-?1 in HSCs.GSH may play a role in hepatocellular protection,antioxidation and anti-fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) mediated gene silencing of β-catenin on the biological characteristics of esophageal carcinoma cells, and to provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the gene therapy of esophageal carcinoma through target inhibition of β-catenin gene.

METHODSSingle strand DNA was synthesized according to the hairpin RNA sequence, and then subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pGenesil-3 to construct a shRNA-expression pDNAs driven by human U6 promoter of β-catenin (pGen-3-CTNNB1). One additional construct of random siRNA (pGen-3-con) without homologous to any human genes was constructed in a similar fashion as control.Positive clones were identified and verified by restriction cleavage and DNA sequencing analyses. pGen-3-CTNNB1 and pGen-3-con were then transfected into esophageal carcinoma cell line Eca-109 with liposome, respectively. Positive colonies were selected with G418. Expression of β-catenin protein and mRNA in the transfected and nontransfected Eca-109 cells were examined by Western blotting, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR, respectively. Xenograft tumor model was used to compare the tumorigenesis of three different cells.Expressions of β-catenin in all tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The invasive abilities of three different cells were examined with transwell invasion filter and Matrigel.

RESULTSβ-catenin expression levels were found markedly decreased in Eca-109 cells transfected with pGen-3-CTNNB1. In vivo, transfection with β-catenin shRNA greatly impeded the tumor growth, pGen-3-con (1.18 ± 0.13) g, Eca-109 (1.38 ± 0.21) g, pGen-3-CTNNB1 (0.42 ± 0.09) g, P < 0.05. Immunohistochemistry staining showed a significantly decreased expression of β-catenin in β-catenin shRNA transfected cells than in random shRNA transfected and nontransfected cells (P < 0.05). The infiltration abilities of esophageal carcinoma cells were significantly suppressed, pGen-3-con (81 ± 5)/HPF, Eca-109 (77 ± 6)/HPF, pGen-3-CTNNB1 (41 ± 4)/HPF, P < 0.01; along with significantly decreased migration abilities, pGen-3-con (73 ± 5)/HPF, Eca-109 (69 ± 5)/HPF, pGen-3-CTNNB1 (38 ± 4)/HPF (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are abnormal expression of β-catenin and activation of Wnt signaling pathway in human esophageal carcinoma cell line Eca-109. RNA interference targeting β-catenin gene suppresses the growth of xenograft tumorigenesis in nude mouse and the invasiveness and metastatic capability of esophageal carcinoma cells.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

Objective To study the effect of enalapril folic acid on peripheral blood inflammatory factors in type H hypertensive of rats.Methods Sixty Wistar Spontaneous hypertension male rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,enalapril group and enalapril folic acid group,15 rats in each group.Type H hypertensive rat model were established by feeding with 3％ methionine in model group,enalapril group and enalapril folic acid group.And enalapril folic acid group were given 10 mL · kg-1 enalapril maleate folic acid solution,enalapril group were given 10 mL · kg-1 enalapril solution,and the model group were given 10 mL · kg-1 double distilled water,and 4 groups were intervened for 8 weeks everyday.The serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy),serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),hypersensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP)and soluble OX40 ligand(OX40L) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The nitric oxide(NO)level were measured by End-point assay.The structure of carotid artery was observed under microscope.Results Compared with Hcy(64.22 ±6.82) μ mol · L-1 and NO(41.45 ±5.25) μmol · L-1 in the enalapril group,levels of Hcy(19.75 ±2.14) μmol · L-1 were lower,and NO(57.68 ±6.43) μmol · L-1were higher in the enalapril folic acid group with significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with TNF-α (72.72 ± 6.89) pg · mL-1,hs-CRP (1.15 ±0.12) pg · mL-1,OX40L(5.24 ±0.47) ng · mL-1in the enalapril group,levels of TNF-α(58.18 ±5.76)pg · mL-1,hs-CRP(0.86-±0.11) pg · mL-1,OX40L(3.03 ±0.39) ng · mL-1 were lower in the enalapril folic acid group with significantly(P ＜0.05).Compared with the carotid artery IMT (61.14±7.73) μm,and IMCSA levels(0.12 ± 0.02) mm2 in the enalapril group,the carotid artery IMT (52.74±6.29)μm,and IMCSA (0.10 ±0.01) mm2 in the enalapril folic acid group were lower with significantly(P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the levels of carotid artery LD(951.38 ± 6.08) μm in the enalapril group,the levels of carotid LD (969.79 ± 6.17) μm in the enalapril folic acid group was higher with significantly(P ＜0.05).Conclusion enalapril folic acid can effectively reduce levels of peripheral blood Hey,TNF-oα,hs-CRP and OX40L in type H hypertensive rats,improve levels of NO,reduce inflammation,and improve the structure of carotid artery.

Objective To elucidate the experience in hemioplasty in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Metbods From January 2002 to July 2008, 45 patients having 48 hemias were studied. Inguinal (50.0%) and umbilical (39.6%) were the most common sites. Multiple hemias were detected in 3 patients. All patients were operated upon with tension-free hemioplasty technique using a polypropylene mesh. Automated peritoneal dialysis was reinstituted in 97.8% of the cases in 24 h postoperatively. Results Forty-eight hemias were detected in 45 patients. Mean operation time and post-operative hospital-stay were (63±38) minutes and 4 (1-26) days. Complications occurred in 7(14.6%) hemioplasties (2 wound infections, 2 wound bleeding, 2 seroma and 1 peritonitis). The average follow-up was (29±21) months. None of the patients had leakage or early hemia recurrence due to early resumption of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD); there were no long-term complications (leakage or recurrence). Conclusions Problems accompanying hernia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients can be safely solved by using a careful technique of tension-free hemioplasty. Postoperative dialysis with APD can be applied after operation.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to test the clinical capacity of hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) devices in elderly inpatients with heart disease, chamber sizes of heart structure, ventricular wall thickness and motion abnormality (WMA), mitral valve and tricuspid regurgitation evaluated by HCU devices in 401 elderly inpatients with heart disease were compared with those evaluated by comprehensive echocardiography (CE) devices. As a result, there was no significant difference in measurements of cardiac chamber dimensions or left ventricular ejection fraction between the two techniques. The HCU's WMA detection rate relative to the CE was 92.15%. Their conformable rates for detection of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation was 93% and 91.4% respectively. Therefore, we conclude that HCU is one of the practical modalities for diagnosis and monitoring in elderly inpatients with heart disease.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Echocardiography ; classification ; instrumentation ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of dasatinib treatment on body height in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 86 AML children aged <17 years. According to the treatment regimen, these children were divided into a conventional chemotherapy group and a dasatinib chemotherapy group. The 57 children in the conventional chemotherapy group were given conventional chemotherapy drugs without tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and the 29 children in the dasatinib chemotherapy group were given conventional chemotherapy drugs and dasatinib. The two groups were compared in terms of height standard deviation score (HtSDS) at the beginning of treatment and after treatment, as well as the change in HtSDS after 1 and 2 years of treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in HtSDS between the conventional and dasatinib chemotherapy groups before treatment. Within the first two years of treatment, the dasatinib chemotherapy group had a similar change trend of HtSDS as the conventional chemotherapy group. Four children in the dasatinib chemotherapy group reached the final adult height during follow-up, which was significantly lower than the target height (P=0.044). In the conventional chemotherapy group, there was no significant difference between final adult height and target height. In the dasatinib chemotherapy group, the children in adolescence had a significant change in HtSDS after treatment (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS Dasatinib treatment may affect the final height of children with AML, and the use of dasatinib after the beginning of adolescence may lead to growth disorder, but dasatinib treatment has little effect on body height in the short-term treatment.
Adolescent ; Body Height ; Child ; Dasatinib ; therapeutic use ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Background Little information is available regarding the effect of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) on the bumetanide-sensitive sodium-potassium-2 chloride cotransporter (NKCC2), the thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC), and the Cl- channel (CLC)-K2 at both mRNA and protein expression level in Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertensive rats. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of Ang Ⅱ with chronic subpressor infusion on nephron-specific gene expression of NKCC2, NCC and CLC-K2. Results Ang Ⅱ significantly increased blood pressure and up-regulated NKCC2 mRNA and protein expression in the kidney. Expression of CLC-K2 mRNA in the kidney increased 1.6 fold (P<0.05).There were no changes in NCC mRNA or protein expression in AngII-treated rats versus control. Conclusions Chronic subpressor Ang Ⅱ infusion can significantly alter NKCC2 and CLC-K2 mRNA expression in the kidney, and protein abundance of NKCC2 in kidney is positively regulated by Ang Ⅱ. These effects may contribute to enhanced renal Na+ and Cl- reabsorption in response to Ang Ⅱ.