AIM: To investigate the expression of vitamin D3 up-regulated protein 1 (VDUP1) in peripheral eosinophils of asthma patients and its relation with eosinophil activation.METHODS: 10 normal volunteers and 31 mild to moderate asthma patients were selected. Symptom severity, pulmonary function index, induced sputum eosinophil counts were recorded. Then, gene and protein expressions of VDUP1 and ?-actin were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In addition, eosinophils were incubated with IL-5, both VDUP1 and ?-actin were amplified by RT-PCR. The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) of supernatant and serum were also detected by ELISA assay. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in expression of VDUP1 in asthma attack patients without treatment compared with normal volunteers and patients in remission. In contrast, no significant difference between the patients in remission and normal volunteers was observed. In patients with asthma attacks, a negative relationship between expression intensity of VDUP1 and EOS% in induced sputum and serum ECP concentration was also observed. The expression of VDUP1 in eosinophils was decreased by IL-5 stimulation, simultaneously, the ECP in supernatant was increased. CONCLUSION: The expression of VDUP1 in eosinophils decreases in asthma patients, and is negatively associated with serum ECP and induced sputum EOS%. EOS activation by IL-5 may be related to VDUP1 pathway.

Objective To evaluate the stability and biodistribution of a novel SPECT-MRI bi-functional agem 99Tcm-Gd-DTPA-DG in tumor-bearing nude mice. Methods DTPA-DG was synthesized and then conjugated with Gd2O3 to generate Gd-DTPA-DG. The tumor-bearing nude mice were scanned by MRI to evaluate the tumor targeting ability of Gd-DTPA-DG. The orthogonal experiment was applied to optimize pH value of reaction medium and reaction temperature. The radiolabeling efficiency was measured by thin layer chromatography. The distribution of 99Tcm-Gd-DTPA-DG in nude mice was evaluated by scintigrapy in vivo. The % ID/g was measured at different time after intravenous injection of 99Tcm-Gd-DTPA-DG. Results The tumor was significantly enhanced by Gd-DTPA-DG with MRI. The radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-Gd-DTPADG was about 98.5% and remained 96.2% at room temperature for 6 h. The tumor was well visualized by 99TcmGd-DTPA-DG SPECT at 2 h after injection. The tumor uptake was (1.48 ±0.12) %ID/g, and the rumor to muscle radioactivity ratio was 2.91. Conclusions MRI contrast of Gd-DTPA-DG may enhance tumor detection. 99Tcm-labeled Gd-DTPA-DG may be useful for tumor imaging and might have a potential role as a SPECT-MRI bi-functional agent.

Objective:To assess the age-related differences in the management strategies and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) under the chest pain center model.Methods:Clinical data of 2 833 patients with ACS were enrolled in the retrospective observational registry between January 2017 and June 2019 at 11 hospitals with chest pain centers in Chengdu. The patients were divided into four groups according to their ages: < 55 years old group ( n = 569), 55-64 years old group ( n = 556), 65-74 years old group ( n = 804), ≥ 75 years old group ( n = 904). The collected data included the patients' demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, medical history, symptoms and signs of onset, experimental examination, types of ACS and the time from the symptom to the hospital (S-to-D), etc., and the clinical characteristics, management strategies, all-cause mortality in the hospital, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) within 1 year after discharge were compared. The primary end point was the clinical outcome of ACS patients in different age groups, including all-cause deaths in the hospital and the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge. The secondary end point was the proportion of ACS patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in different age groups. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of all-cause deaths in ACS patients. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to express the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge in different age groups. Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge of ACS patients. Results:As age increased, the proportion of male patients gradually decreased, and the percentages of male patients aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, and ≥ 75 years old were 87.2% (496/569), 77.0% (428/556), 66.4% (534/804), and 60.1% (543/904), respectively; and ACS patients combined with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke history were more common [the percentages of patients with hypertension aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, ≥ 75 years old were 41.3% (235/569), 52.2% (290/556), 59.7% (480/804), and 66.9% (605/904); the percentages of diabetes were 18.6% (106/569), 25.5% (142/556), 27.0% (217/804), and 28.2% (255/904); the percentages of coronary heart disease were 10.1% (57/564), 13.9% (77/555), 17.6% (141/803), and 23.7% (213/899); the percentages of stroke were 0.7% (4/564), 4.0% (22/552), 4.5% (36/801), and 8.6% (77/894)]. But the percentages of patients with a history of active smoking, typical chest pain/chest tightness and dyslipidemia were significantly reduced [the percentages of smoking history were 60.2% (340/565), 48.0% (266/554), 33.7% (270/801), and 21.7% (195/899), typical chest pain/chest tightness were 96.9% (536/553), 96.4% (516/535), 91.8% (716/780), 90.2% (776/860); the percentages of dyslipidemia were 11.2% (63/565), 9.2% (51/553), 5.7% (46/802), and 4.9% (44/896)], the time of S-to-D was significantly prolonged [minutes: 176.0 (73.5, 557.0), 194.5 (89.3, 682.3), 221.0 (98.8, 940.5), and 270.0 (115.0, 867.0)], hemoglobin (Hb) level was significantly reduced(g/L: 145.44±17.43, 135.95±19.25, 129.75±19.03, 122.19±20.55), and the incidence of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) increased significantly [18.6% (106/569), 20.5% (114/556), 26.6% (214/804), 26.5% (240/904)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The proportion of Killip grade Ⅲ -Ⅳ were the highest in patients aged ≥ 75 years old, 9.0% and 12.6%, respectively. Compared with the groups aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, and 65-74 years old, the proportion of patients aged ≥ 75 years old who underwent PCI was the lowest, and the all-cause mortality in the hospital and the incidence of 1-year MACCE of patients underwent PCI were significantly lower than those of patients underwent conservative treatment [6.0% (28/463) vs. 10.4% (45/434), 14.6% (43/294) vs. 24.3 % (55/226), both P < 0.05]. As age increased, the hospital all-cause mortality and the 1-year MACCE incidence increased (all-cause mortality rates in < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, ≥ 75 years old groups were 0.9%, 2.2%, 5.5%, 8.3%, and the 1-year MACCE incidences were 5.0%, 6.7%, 13.9%, 18.7%, both P < 0.01). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, cardiogenic shock, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the number of vascular disease and underwent PCI were the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality [the odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 1.644 (1.356-1.993), 11.794 (7.469-18.621), 2.449 (1.419-4.227), 1.334 (1.096-1.624), 0.391 (0.247-0.619), all P < 0.001]. Cox regression analysis showed that age, STEMI, the number of vascular disease and underwent PCI were independent risk factors of the occurrence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge [hazard ratio ( HR) and 95% CI were 1.354 (1.205-1.521), 1.387 (1.003-1.916), 1.314 (1.155-1.495), 0.547 (0.402-0.745), all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:In the chest pain center model, compared with other age of ACS patients, the proportion of NSTEMI in elderly patients group aged ≥ 75 years old was higher, the proportion of PCI was lower, and the clinical outcome was worse. However, the prognosis of elderly patients receiving PCI treatment was better than the patients receiving conservative treatment.

OBJECTIVETo culture and amplify the young rabbit's bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro, and to observe the effect of hypothermia on the cells' growing behavior and biological function.

METHODSBMSCs were acquired from the rabbit' tibia bone marrow and induced to mature osteoblasts in vitro. The cultured cells growing well in vitro were preserved in liquid nitrogen. The anabiotic cells having cryopreserved for 1 week were chosen as the experimental group, and the routine 7th generation as the control group. Their biological function in comparion by the examination of morphological changes, cells' proliferation ability, colone forming ratio, synthesis ability of ALP and protein, mineralized nodes forming ability were observed.

RESULTSAs contrast to the control groups, the anabiotic cells also grew and proliferated well in vitro except a little more slowly than before. They had the similar general shape in all the time segments, but a little differences in cells' ultrastructure. The experimental groups also had the typical characters of mature osteoblasts, and high abilities of the synthesis of ALP and proteins. The statistic data showed that these two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cryopreserved osteoblasts had the same biological functions and the similar growing behaviors as before. These results suggest that it is practical to use the cryopreserved osteoblasts for further study on bone tissue engineering.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVETo study the change of tissue oxygen index (TOI) by non-invasive near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and to investigate the blood flow variety of fibula flaps after operation.

METHODSThirty-six patients who accepted fibula flap reconstruction were chosen as subjects. Authors measured the TOI of the fibula flaps and the control side every four hours in the first twenty-four hours, and measured these positions with the intermittence of twelve hours from second to eighth day after operation.

RESULTSThirty-five flaps were successful and one failed. The TOI of fibula flaps shortly after operation was significantly lower than that before the operation( P<0.05). In the successful cases the TOI of fibula flaps and the control sides was fluctuated from 50.0% to 72.0%. The TOI of fibula flaps was significantly lower than that of the control sides within 144 hours after operation(P<0.05). After 144 hours the TOI was equal to that of the control side. TOI of the failed case decreased dramatically.

CONCLUSIONSNIRS can reliably indicate the change of TOI in buried flaps and detect ischemia at the early stage. The TOI of the fibula flaps depress at the early stage and returns to normal at 144 hours after operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibula ; transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oximetry ; methods ; Oxygen ; blood ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum progesterone level at the day with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration and pregnant outcome from in in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Methods From Mar. 2002 to Apr. 2007, 786 cycles with serum progesterone measurement on the day of hCG administration for final oocyte maturation in IVF were analyzed retrospectively in Reproductive Medicine Center in First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.All stimulations were down-regulated with gronadotrophin release hormone agonist (GnRH-a) in both long protocols and short protocols before gonadotrophin stimulation. When the thresholds of serum progesterone were set at 5.5, 6.0,6.5,7.0,7.5,8.0,8.5 and 9.0 nmol/L, respectively. If the level of progesterone was less than the thresholds, those patients were in lower progesterone group, on the contrary, more than the threshold value, those patients were in higher progesterone group. The laboratory results and the clinical outcomes between all patients at lower and higher progesterone group at different thresholds value were analyzed. Results The rate of normal fertilization, quality embryos, successful implantation, chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and live birth did not exhibit remarkable difference between patients with higher and lower serum progesterone level at multiple thresholds on the day of hCG administration in the 786 cycles (P >0.05). However, when the thresholds of serum progesterone were at 8.5 and 9.0 nmol/L, early abortion rates of 27.3% (3/11) and 3/7 in higher progesterone group were significantly higher than 8.8% (26/297) and 8.6% (26/301) in lower progesterone group (P<0.05). And the total abortion rates of 3/7 in higher progesterone group were significantly higher than 11.0% (34/301) in lower progesterone group when the thresholds of serum progesterone were 9.0 nmol/L (P<0.05). Conclusions This study did not prove the correlationship between progesterone level at the clay with hCG administration and the probability of clinical pregnancy or live birth. However, early abortion rates or the total abortion rates were associated with higher progesterone level when the thresholds of serum progesterone were at 8.5 nmol/L or 9.0 nmoL/L.

2 in some patients with the loss of high and medium sized vWF multimers in plasma.Eight patients with vWD were identified, wherein two were characterized as type 1,4 as type 2A and 2 as type 3 respectively.Conclusion The panel of tests is suitable for diagnosis and classification of vWD.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of Vater ampulla-duodenal conjunction resection in the treatment of periampullary carcinoma. Methods From January 2005 to July 2006, 15 patients underwent this modus operandi, including carcinoma of duodenal papilla (6 cases), Vater ampulla (5 cases) and lower part of common bile duct (4 cases). The descending part of duodenum, Vater ampulla, head of pancreas and common bile duct were excised en bloc followed by reconstruction of GI conduit. Result One patient died of stress ulcer 2 months postoperatively, the 14 patients recovered uneventfully without any major complications, and 3-16 months follow-up found no tumor recurrence. Conclusion Vater ampulla-duodenal conjunction resection as a new surgical procedure provides enough tumor margin clearance while causing less trauma than standard pancreatoduodenectomy in selected cases of periampullary carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction radical left colectomy.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on clinicopathological dada of 15 colorectal patients who were treated by laparoscopic-assisted anal specimen extraction radical left colectomy with self-developed surgical instrument Cai tube between January and September in 2014. Tumor location included descending colon (n=3), the junction of descending colon and sigmoid colon (n=2), the sigmoid colon (n=6) and upper rectum (n=4). Clinical efficacy of patients was observed.

RESULTSThere were no perioperative deaths or postoperative complications, such as anastomotic bleeding or leakage. The median operation time was 257 (range 103-337) min, median blood loss was 50(range 20-200) ml, median time to first flatus was 3 (range 1-5) d and median hospital stay was 14 (range 11-21) d. All the patients had good quality of life and normal defecation function without tumor recurrence or metastasis after 1-8 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic-assisted anal specimen extraction radical left colectomy is safe and feasible.

Colectomy ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Quality of Life ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo investigate the protective effect of melatonin (MT) on lung tissues during acute lung injury (ALI) in rats and its possible mechanism.

METHODSAll rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, dexamethasone (DEX) and MT treatment group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) content of lung tissues were detected at 3, 6 and 12 h after intratracheal instillation in each group. In addition, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were observed through immunohistochemistry staining in lung tissues.

RESULTSCompared with control group, SOD activity decreased significantly in LPS group (P < 0.01), but MPO activity,MDA content and the expression of ICAM-1 increased obviously (P < 0.01). The administration of MT and DEX mitigated above changes significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMT possessed protective effect on lung tissues during ALI through scavenging free radicals and inhibiting the expression of ICAM-1 probably.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism