BACKGROUND: At present, the transplantation of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs) or bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells (BDHSCs) is common in the treatment of liver fibrosis, but the combined treatment for liver fibrosis is rarely reported. Combined transplantation of BM-EPCs possessing the function of angiogenesis and BDHSCs possessing the function of hepatocyte regeneration might play a dual anti-fibrosis role. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reversal effect on liver fibrosis by the combined transplantation of BM-EPCs and BDHSCs in rats. METHODS: The liver fibrosis rat models were induced with CCl4 subcutaneous injections for 6 weeks. BM-EPCs of rats with liver fibrosis were obtained by culture induction in vitro.BDHSCs of rats with liver fibrosis were obtained by magnetic bead cell sorting.BM-EPCs and/or BDHSCs were transplanted into liver fibrosis rats via the tail vein and branch of the portal vein,and then the effects of BDHSCs transplantatiron on liver fibrosis and liver function were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Masson staining results showed transplantations of BDHSCs and BM-EPCs, alone or both, could suppress the formation of collagen fibers. However, the staging scores of liver fibrosis showed that only the combined transplantation of BM-EPCs and BDHSCs could significantly improve liver fibrosis,which was significantly different from the model group(1.75±0.25 vs. 3.00±0.19, P < 0.05). (2) The liver biochemical assay in the blood showed that the levels of all five parameters of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time in the BM-EPCs/BDHSCs group were significantly improved to be equivalent to normal levels, compared with those in the model group (P < 0.05). To conclude, it is an effective treatment for liver fibrosis by the co-transplantation of BM-EPCs and BDHSCs.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cytokines in the cardiac surgical patient and to evaluate the application of combined acupuncture anesthesia to cardiac surgery.

METHODSThirty patients with atrial septal defect were divided into 3 groups, general anesthesia group (A), acupuncture anesthesia group (B) and combined general anesthesia and EA group (C). Peripheral blood samples were collected before anesthesia, before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 30 min after CPB and 24 h after operation to determine the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and IL-10.

RESULTSThe levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 decreased in the 3 groups after CPB and further decreased 24 h after operation, and in the group C were higher than those in the group B. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased 24 h after operation in the 3 groups with no significant difference among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONThe general anesthesia combined with EA can not completely improve the decrease of IFN-gamma and IL-2 induced by CPB, indicating that the good response of the general anesthesia combined with EA to stress can partially improve the immunosupression induced by CPB. Acupuncture does not have significant effect on inflammatory cytokine reaction induced by cardiac surgery.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective:To investigate the effect of sakubatril/valsartan on left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony in young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Methods:Forty-nine patients with left ventricular systolic asynchronism DCM from July 2017 to July 2018 in Guangdong Medical University Affiliated Hospital were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with sakubatra valsartan and the control group was treated with lotensin for 12 months. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd) and ejection fraction (EF) were measured by two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), ejection fraction (EF) and systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) of 16 segments were measured by three-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound. Plasma NT-proBNP was tested before and after treatment.Results:After treated for 12 months, three-dimensional color Doppler ultrasonography showed the LVEDV in the experimental group decreased significantly: (180.5 ± 42.7) ml vs. (160.5 ± 45.6) ml, P<0.05. The left ventricular systolic asynchronism (SDI) of 16 segments in the experimental group significantly improved, and the value of left ventricular SDI significantly decreased compared with that of the control group: (8.2 ± 3.6)% vs. (10.8 ± 4.1)%, P<0.05. Plasma NT-proBNP decreased more significantly in the experimental group compared with that in the control group: (105.54 ± 13.25) ng/L vs. (137.27 ± 14.36) ng/L, P<0.05. Conclusions:Sakubatril/valsartan can effectively improve left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony in young patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.