Background:Capsule endoscopy has been demonstrated to be an effective diagnostic tool for small bowel diseases in a series of small sample researches. However,the results need to be verified by large sample studies. Aims:To investigate the diagnostic performance and safety of capsule endoscopy for small bowel diseases. Methods:Consecutive patients undergoing capsule endoscopy for suspected small bowel diseases from May 2008 to Apr. 2013 in Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command of PLA were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results:A total of 573 patients were enrolled,the overall success rate of the examination was 99. 13%(568 / 573)and the overall completion rate was 88. 38%(502 / 568). The mean time of capsule passing the pylorus was 43. 45 min,and that of passing the small bowel was 287. 21 min. The overall detection rate of small bowel lesions was 53. 52%(304 / 568)and the overall diagnostic rate was 51. 06%(290 / 568). Both the detection rate and diagnostic rate in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(OGIB) were significantly higher than those in patients with obscure abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea(64. 26% and 62. 46%vs. 41. 72% and 39. 07% ,and 32. 14% and 27. 38% ,P all < 0. 05). Small bowel lesions detected by capsule endoscopy included angiopathy(21. 38% ),ulceration(20. 72% ),neoplasms(14. 47% ),erosion(11. 84% ),and Crohn’s disease(11. 18%),etc. Capsule retention occurred in 2. 29%(13/568)of the patients,and one acute intestinal obstruction and 2 perforations were observed. Conclusions:Capsule endoscopy is a safe and effective diagnostic modality for small bowel diseases. OGIB is the most common indication for capsule endoscopy,and capsule endoscopy is also helpful for evaluation of established or suspected Crohn’s disease.

An actinomycetes which produced soluble blue pigment was isolated from the soil sample in Nanjing,China.Based on its cell chemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence we found that its cell wall contained L-diaminopimelic acid and glycine,the whole cell hydrolysates contained glucose and ribose,whole cell contained fatty acid from C14 to C17 with 12-methyltetradecanoic(anteiso-15) and 14-methylpentadentadecanoic acid(iso-16) as the major components.The results shown that,it belongs to the genus Streptomyces.Phylogenetic tree of 16S rDNA sequences indicated that all strains were clustered into 9 branches.All strains that could produce blue pigment were clustered into 2 branches,they were S.coelicolor、S.cyaneus.The isolate closely related to Streptomyces indigocolor with a similarity of 99.4% fell into S.cyaneus branch.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)on myocardial inflammatory cytokine expression and heart function in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MethodsRats with AMI induced by left anterior descending coronary branch ligation were randomized to rhGH and control groups compared with sham-operated group. The effects of 4 weeks of therapy with GH starting 24 hours after myocardial infarction on myocardial cytokines expression and heart function were studied. Myocardial inflammation was examined by analyzing the myocardial cytokine production including the pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the anti-inflammatory cytokine: IL-10. Echocardiography was used to evaluate heart function. ResultsThe levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in the infarcted and non-infarcted region of control group were markedly elevated compared to sham-operated group (all P＜0.05). After 4 weeks therapy, rhGH reduced the expression of TNF -α, IL-1β, IL-6 and increased IL-10 expression in the infarcted and non-infarcted region of rhGH group compared to control group (all P＜0. 05 ). Echocardiography showed that rhGH markedly improved left heart function (P＜0. 05 ). ConclusionsEarly rhGH treatment can improve heart function and myocardial inflammatory cytokine expression after AMI. One of immunopharmacologic mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of rhGH on heart function improvement may involve the attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the increase of anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in cardiac myocytes.

This study is to investigate the protective effects of the SB203580 against radiation induced mortality and intestinal injury of mice. A total of 67 male C57BL/6 mice (20.0-22.0 g) were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, total body irradiation exposure (IR, 7.2 Gy) only, and IR (7.2 Gy) + SB203580 (15 mg x kg(-1)). 30 days survival rate was observed in the experiment. In intestinal injury experiment, the expression levels of caspase-3, Ki67, p53 and p-p38 were assayed in the mice intestine crypts. The results showed that the 30 days survival rate was 100% (control), 0 (IR) and 40% (IR+ SB203580), separately. Compared to the IR groups, the positive cells of caspase-3, p53 and p-p38 in crypt cells decreased 33.00%, 21.78% and 34.63%, respectively. The rate of positive cells of Ki67 increased 37.96%. Significant difference was found between all of them (P < 0.01). SB203580 potently protected against radiation-induced lethal and intestinal injury in mice, and it may be a potential radio protector.

The aim of this study was to investigate the support effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ cell (HSPC) expansion in vitro and its influence on cell characteristics including the surface marker of CD34+ cells, homing adhesion molecules and colony-forming ability. The mononucleated cells (MNCs) were isolated from UCB, then the CD34+ cells were isolated from freshly obtained MNCs by immunomagnetic beads, the MSC feeder cells exposed to gamma-ray of 137Cs were prepared by MSC feeder. The CD34+ cells were inoculated in different culture media. Experiment was divided into 3 groups: HSPC+CK group in which cytokines were added to medium (SCF, FL and TPO); HSPC+MSC group in which CD34+ cells were inoculated on MSC feeder; HSPC+MSC+CK group in which cytokines and MSC feeder cells were added to medium. After culture for 4, 7, 10, 14 days the MNC amount was counted and expansion ability of CD34+ cells was evaluated. The immunotypes of CD34+ cells and subsets, homing adhesion molecules and colony-forming ability in different groups detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the amount of MNCs and CD34+ cells all obviously increased during culture for 14 days, the expansion levels of MNCs in 3 groups were HSPC+MSC+CK group>HSPC+CK group>HSPC+MSC group in proper order. Within 10 days of expansion in vitro amount of MNCs obtained significant expansion, meantime the expansion of CD34+ cells was higher also. The CD34+ count in 3 groups at day 4 of culture decreased significantly as compared with 0 day of culture (p<0.01). The CD34+ cells ratios in 3 groups after expansion were HSPC+MSC group>HSPC+MSC+CK group>HSPC+CK group in proper order (p<0.01), while CD34+ subset levels in 3 groups were different, the CD34+CD38- cells in HSPC+CK group at 4 days of culture increased transiently (62.71%), then quickly decreased, the CD34+CD38- cell ratio at day 7 was 0.05%, while the CD34+CD38- cell ratio in HSPC+MSC group at day 7 was 18.92%, difference was significant as compared with HSPC+CK group (p<0.05). The analysis of colony-forming units showed that the colony-forming ability at various time points after expansion all sustained in high level. It is concluded that in short-time (<7 day) culture of UCB CD34+ cells the combination of MSCs with cytokines can significantly expand the CD34+ cells and make the HSPCs to maintain original biologic characteristics.
Antigens, CD34 ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of human umbilical blood (UB) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on the CD34(+) cells transplantation in NOD/SCID Mice.

METHODSUmbilical blood CD34(+) cells (3.5 x 10(5) cells) alone or combined with umbilical cord MSC cells were transplanted into NOD/SCID mice that had been irradiated with (137)Cs (3.0 Gy) before transplantation. Changes in peripheral blood cells within 6 post-transplantation weeks were detected. The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after transplantation. The human hematopoietic cells (hCD45(+)) and multi-lineage engraftment cells (CD3/CD19, CD33, CD14, CD61, and CD235a) in NOD/SCID recipients bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn the 3rd post-transplantation week, white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT), and red blood cells (RBC) began to increase in both two groups. In the 6th post-transplantation week, WBC and PLT counts in CD34(+) + MSC group reached peak levels and were significantly higher than CD34(+) alone group (P < 0.05), while RBC level was not significantly different between these two groups P > 0.05). hCD45(+) cell levels in bone marrow and peripheral blood were (42.66 +/- 2.57) % and (4.74 +/- 1.02) % in CD34(+) + MSC group, which were significantly higher than those in CD34(+) alone group [(25.27 +/- 1.67) % and (1.19 +/- 0.54) %, respectively, P = 0.006]. Also in the 6th post-transplantation week, the proportions of CD19(+), CD33(+), CD14(+), CD61(+), and CD235a(+) in CD34(+) + MSC group were significantly higher than those in CD34(+) alone group (P < 0.05), while the proportion of CD3(+) T lymphocyte in CD34(+) + MSC group was significantly lower than that in CD34(+) alone group (P = 0.003). The amplification of CD19(+) B lymphocyte was significantly higher than other blood cell lineages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe co-transplantation of MSC cells and CD34(+) cells can promote hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and hematopoietic recovery in vivo.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and the potential mechanism of umbilical cord (UC) derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on umbilical cord blood (UCB) derived CD34+ cells in vivo homing in xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice model.

METHODSCD34+ cells and MSCs were derived from fresh UCB and UC, respectively. CD34+ cells (5 x 10(5) per mice) and MSC cells (5 x 10(6) per mice) were co-transplanted into irradiated NOD/SCID mice intravenously. CD34+ cells (5 x 10(5) per mice) alone were transplanted into the mice as control group. CD34+ cells home in bone marrow and spleen of recipient mice were detected 20 hours after transplant by FACS and RT-PCR, and the homing efficiencies were calculated. The effect of MSCs on CD34+ cells chemotactic function was investigated after co-cultured UCB CD34+ cells with UC MSCs in vitro. After 4 and 7 days coculture, the homing related adhesion molecules (the CD49e, CD31, CD62L, CD11a) expressed on CD34+ cells were detected by FACS.

RESULTS1) The homing efficiencies in bone marrow in experimental and control group were (7.2 +/- 1.1)% and (5.4 +/- 0.9)%, respectively (P < 0.05). 2) Human GAPDH gene was detected in bone marrow in experimental group and in spleen in both groups. 3) The migration efficiency of CD34+ cells was significantly higher in experimental group (35.7 +/- 5.8)% than in control group (3.5 +/- 0.6)% (P < 0.05). 4) The expression of CD49e, CD31, CD62L on CD34+ cells kept higher level in MSCs cocultured group than in CD34+ cells alone group.

CONCLUSIONSMSCs can efficiently increase homing of CD34+ cells to bone marrow and spleen in vivo by keeping a high level of homing adhesion molecules expression and improving migration efficiency of UCB CD34+ cells.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow (BM) microenrivonment and their effect on myeloma cells survival and bortezomib induced apoptosis.

METHODSBMSCs were derived from BM of untreated myeloma patients (MM-BMSCs) and healthy donors (HD-BMSCs), respectively. The phenotype, proliferation time and cytokine secretion of MM-BMSCs were detected and compared with HD-BMSCs. Then BMSCs were co-cultured with myeloma cell line NCI-H929 and bortezomib in vitro. The NCI-H929 cells proliferation and bortezomib induced cell apoptosis were investigated.

RESULTSMM-BMSCs and HD-BMSCs were isolated successfully. The phenotype of MM-BMSCs was similar to that of HD-BMSCs. Expressions of CD73, CD105, CD44 and CD29 were positive, but those of CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR (< 1%) negative. The proliferation time of MM-BMSCs was longer than that of HD-BMSCs (82 h vs 62 h, P < 0.05). Moreover, over-expressions of IL-6 and VEGF in MM-BMSCs culture supernatant were detected as compared with that in HD-BMSCs [(188.8 ± 9.4) pg/ml vs (115.0 ± 15.1) pg/ml and (1497.2 ± 39.7) pg/ml vs (1329.0 ± 21.1) pg/ml, respectively]. MM- BMSCs supported survival of the myeloma cells NCI-H929 and protected them from bortezomib induced cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSMM-BMSCs is benefit for myeloma cells proliferation and against cell apoptosis induced by bortezomib. Over-expression of IL-6 and VEGF maybe play a critical role in these effects.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bortezomib ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism

This study is to investigate the protective effects of the SB203580 against radiation induced mortality and intestinal injury of mice. A total of 67 male C57BL/6 mice (20.0-22.0 g) were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, total body irradiation exposure (IR, 7.2 Gy) only, and IR (7.2 Gy) + SB203580 (15 mg x kg(-1)). 30 days survival rate was observed in the experiment. In intestinal injury experiment, the expression levels of caspase-3, Ki67, p53 and p-p38 were assayed in the mice intestine crypts. The results showed that the 30 days survival rate was 100% (control), 0 (IR) and 40% (IR+ SB203580), separately. Compared to the IR groups, the positive cells of caspase-3, p53 and p-p38 in crypt cells decreased 33.00%, 21.78% and 34.63%, respectively. The rate of positive cells of Ki67 increased 37.96%. Significant difference was found between all of them (P < 0.01). SB203580 potently protected against radiation-induced lethal and intestinal injury in mice, and it may be a potential radio protector.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

To investigate the effects of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) on the homing-related function of expanded ex vivo umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells, purified cord blood CD34(+) cells were cultured in serum-free medium containing a HGF combination of FL + SCF + TPO (FST) with either 100 ng/ml SDF-1 alone, 100 ng/ml PF4 alone, or both of these 2 cytokines. The expansion rate of CD34(+) cells, colony formation, homing-related functions including expression of homing-related adhesion molecules of expanded CD34(+) cell, adhesion activity and chemotactic function of the re-selected expanded CD34(+) cells were evaluated at different time points. The results showed that expansion rate of CD34(+) cells and expansion multiple of CFU in SDF-1 groups were higher than those in control. The expression of CD49e on the expanded CD34(+) cells was remarkable up-regulated, in contrast, expression of CXCR-4 on the expanded CD34(+) cells was remarkable down-regulated in SDF-1 groups. The expression of CD49e, CD54 and CXCR-4 on the expanded CD34(+) cells were remarkably up-regulated in the PF4 groups. In all the SDF-1 group, PF4 group and SDF-1 plus PF4 group, the ability of expanded CD34(+) cells adhering to fibronectin layer were higher than those in the control on day 10. Spontaneous migration rate of expanded CD34(+) cells in SDF-1 groups were higher than those in control, while SDF-1-induced migration rate were lower than those in control on day 10. SDF-1-induced migration rate in PF4 groups were higher than those in control on day 10. Spontaneous and SDF-1-induced migration rate of expanded CD34(+) cells in the SDF-1 plus PF4 groups were higher than those in control on day 10. It is concluded that, SDF-1 and PF4 can up-regulate expression of adhesion molecules on expanded CD34(+) cells, and retain the adherent and migration ability of expanded CD34(+) cells, which is helpful for the homing of expanded CD34(+) cells. In short, SDF-1 and PF4 are helpful for the homing-related function of the expanded UCB HSPC.
Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; immunology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines, CXC ; pharmacology ; Chemotaxis ; immunology ; physiology ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Platelet Factor 4 ; pharmacology