This study is to investigate whether the synthesized chiral compound Nordy has influence on the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from human umbilical cord blood induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). EPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation. After cultured for 7 -10 days, EPCs were prepared for detecting effect of Nordy on proliferation, migration and tubule-forming activity in Matrigel induced by VEGF. Incubation of EPCs with 100 micromol L(-1) Nordy for 24 h initially inhibited the proliferative capacity of EPCs induced by VEGF (P <0.05). Moreover, 25 -50 micromol L(-1) Nordy also exhibited inhibitory effect at 48 -72 h. In addition, 25 - 100 micromol L(-1) Nordy impaired EPCs migratory and tubule-forming capacity in vitro (P < 0.05). Nordy could inhibit in EPCs the functions of proliferation, migration and tubulogenesis induced by VEGF in vitro, which might be a possible mechanism of its anti-EPCs effects.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Masoprocol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo investigate vasculogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from human umbilical cord blood and their contribution to the neovascularization of malignant glioma in vivo.

METHODSEPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation. After 7-10 days of culture, EPCs were investigated for CD34 and VEGFR-2 expression by direct immunofluoresent staining. The proliferative activity, migratory capability and forming capillary-like tubules were also monitored after stimulation with VEGF(50 mg/L) in vitro. Moreover, EPCs were administered into tumor-bearing mice, and the tumor and mouse organs were examined under confocal laser scanning microscope to visualize the distribution and localization of transplanted EPCs. In order to quantity the incorporation of EPCs into tumor vessels, cryosections of the tumor tissue were double-labelled with antihuman CD31 and anti-mouse CD31.

RESULTSAfter 7 to 10 days of culture, EPCs assumed cobblestone-like monolayer growth pattern with nearly complete confluence, and expressed CD34 and VEGFR-2. Significant proliferative activity, increased migratory capability and forming capillary-like tubules were observed when stimulated with VEGF. The transplanted EPCs in vivo specifically homed to solid tumor tissue and incorporated into the tumor's endothelium. Quantitative analysis revealed that human EPCs contributed significantly to tumor neovascularization by incorporation into tumor vasculature (18.68 +/- 1.32)% of the total vessels.

CONCLUSIONEPCs possess the potential to form neovascular network in tumor and play a role in the phenotypical heterogeneity of tumor microvascular architecture.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Glioma ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; immunology ; Stem Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; immunology

BACKGROUNDColon cancer is a common malignant tumor in the clinic with an incidence rate that is increasing in recent years. The key point for improving the survival rate is the diagnosis and treatment at an early stage. The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of the Fuji Intelligent Chromo Endoscopy (FICE) and staining technique for the diagnosis of colon tumors and non-tumor lesions.

METHODSFrom March to November 2007, 654 patients were examined with ordinary colonoscopy. Among them 223 patients with colon neoplasm or polypoid lesion were included. The patients were examined with a magnifying ordinary colonoscopy, a magnifying FICE technique and magnifying staining technique. The pit pattern and blood capillary form of the lesion were examined, an endoscopic diagnosis was made and it was compared with the pathologic diagnosis.

RESULTSFour hundred and fifty-one neoplasms were detected in the 223 patients, among those 91.1% (411/451) were detected with the magnifying ordinary endoscopy while 99.1% (447/451) were detected with the FICE technique; there was a significant difference between the two methods. FICE could clearly show the structure and form of mucosal blood capillaries (P < 0.01) but there was no significant difference between the two methods for showing the pit pattern. The coincident rate of FICE for the diagnosis of tumor and non-tumor lesions was 91.6% (413/451), that of the magnifying staining technique was 82.0% (370/451) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMagnifying FICE could show the mucosal microstructure and blood capillary form and it had a superiority of high coincident rate, high sensitivity and specificity when compared with ordinary magnifying colonoscopy and magnifying staining endoscopy. In addition, it was easy to operate and a biopsy could be taken from the target, so it has a satisfactory clinical practical value.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of indicators of oxidative stress in serum and NF-kappaB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with silicosis, and explore the mechanism of the development of silicosis.

METHODSThe subjects were divided into (1) 200 workers exposed to SiO2 for at least 1 years in a foundry served as the dust-exposure group; (2) 130 cases with silicosis (I phase silicosis 64 cases, II phase 46 cases III phase 20 cases) served as the silicosis group; (3) 32 cases with 0+ phase silicosis in the foundry served as the observed group,(4)100 subjects from a hotel served as the control group. The serum including superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), lipid malondialdehyde (MDA) and NF-kappaB protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, NO levels in dust-exposed group and silicosis group significantly increased, and SOD decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group and dust-exposed group, T-AOC, NOS, MDA levels in silicosis group significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). GSH-Px in dust-exposed group and silicosis group were (231.164 +/- 36.484) and (270.469 +/- 39.228)U/ml, respectively which were significantly than that [(223.360 +/- 46.838) U/ml] in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and there was significant difference of GSHPx between the silicosis group and the dust-exposed group significantly (P < 0.01) . GSH-Px level [(290.750 +/- 39.129) U/ml] in III phase silicosis group were significantly higher than those [(256.906 +/- 21.41) and (259.594 +/- 34.79) U/ml] in observation group and I phase silicosis group (P < 0.05). NF-kappaB levels [(72.06 +/- 9.12) and (85.25 +/- 11.64) ng/L] in dust-exposed group and silicosis group were significantly higher than that [(59.71 +/- 9.27) ng/L] in control group (P < 0.01), and there was significant difference of between the silicosis group and the dust-exposed group (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between serum GSH-Px level and the silicosis stages (r = 0.507, P < 0.01). Also there was a positive correlation between NF-kappaB level and silicosis stages, age, GSH-Px or NO levels (r = 0.376, 0.243, 0.233, 0.221, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe imbalance of oxidative and anti-oxidation system and the activation of NF-kappaB are related with the occurrence and development of silicosis. The monitoring of oxidative stress indicators and NF-kappaB is beneficial to the prediction and prognosis assessment of silicosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Silicosis ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective: This article investigated the clinical characteristics and distribution of drug resistance mutation sites in HBV RT region of hepatitis B infected patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on 1 948 patients with HBV infection, who had been tested for NAs resistance mutation and had a medical history of NAs in the Laboratory Department of the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. Basic clinical information and drug resistance related mutation information were recorded. Meanwhile, the serological index data of hepatitis B were collected. Drug resistance gene mutant group and non-mutated group were grouped according to whether the drug resistance genes had a mutation in HBV RT region, and the clinical characteristics and genotype distribution of the two groups were statistically analyzed. The pattern of drug resistance gene mutation, number of mutation sites, drug resistance type and mutation of NAs resistance-related sites were analyzed in 917 patients with drug resistance gene mutation in HBV RT region. χ² Inspection was used for counting data. Meanwhile, two independent samples t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for measurement data. Results: Among the 1 948 patients with chronic HBV infection, 917 patients had drug resistance gene mutation in RT region (47.07%). The proportion of patients with acute hepatitis B and CHB in HBV RT resistance gene mutant group was lower than that in the non-mutated group, while the proportion of patients with HBV-related cirrhosis was higher than that in the non-mutated group, these differences were statistically significant. Compared with the non-mutated group in HBV RT region, the age, the positive rates of HBeAg and HBV DNA, and HBV DNA load of these patients were increased in drug resistance gene mutant group, these differences were statistically significant. Genotypes of patients in both groups were dominated by C, followed by B and D. The proportion of patients with genotype C in HBV RT drug resistance gene mutant group was higher than that of non-mutated group, the difference was statistically significant. There were 53 gene mutation patterns in 917 patients with drug resistance gene mutation in HBV RT region, and the main pattern was rtL180M+rtM204V+rtS202G (9.70%). The mutation sites were dominated by 3 (20.74%). There were 5 types of drug resistance, LAM+Ldt (21.25%) was the most. Among the 18 sites that were clearly associated with LAM, ADV, ETV and Ldt resistance in the HBV RT region, 14 sites were mutated, and the most common mutation sites were rtL180M, rtM204V, rtM204 and rtS202G. what's more, the proportion of patients with NAs drug resistance was LAM>Ldt>ETV>ADV. Conclusion: In order to prevent adverse consequences of this study such as disease recurrence or disease progression caused by HBV drug resistance, HBV infected patients, who have long-term use of NAs antiviral therapy, should monitor the level of HBV DNA and drug resistance genes in HBV RT region in order to optimize the treatment plan in time or guide individualized treatment.
Humans ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; DNA, Viral/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Mutation ; Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics* ; Lamivudine/therapeutic use*

Objective To investigate the reasons of natural extinction of Oncomelania hupensis snails by comparing the difference of the water chemical properties between the snail-breeding marshland and non-snail marshland in Eastern Dongting Lake areas. Methods Three adjoining marshlands in Eastern Dongting Lake areas were selected, one was a snail-breeding marshland, the second was a non-snail marshland, and the third was a boundary zone between them. During the periods of water-rising season, wet season and water-falling season, the water samples from the bottom of 0.5 m were collected by the systematic random sampling method (200 m × 200 m grid method). In addition, the water samples below the surface of 0.5 m were also collected in the wet season. The physicochemical indexes of the sampling water were detected. Results According to the Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard (GB 3838–2002), the water quality indicators which were less than the detection limit were Cr, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cu, S－ and CN－ during the three sampling seasons. The pollutants which were slightly higher than Grade III but lower than Grade IV (Hg ≤ 1 μg/L, TP ≤ 0.1 mg/L) were Hg and TP. The pollutants below the Grade III included As and F－. The temperature and pH values were within the Grade III. The oxygen consumption indicators covering DO, COD and BOD in the water-rising season and wet season were within the Grade III, while the value of BOD was beyond the scope of Grade III but was between Grade Ⅳ (≤ 6 mg/L) and Grade V (≤ 10 mg/L) in the water-falling season. The differences of the water pollution indexes between the snail-breeding marshland and non-snail marshland were statistically significant, and these indexes included F－, As and pH in the water-rising season (P < 0.05); pH, BOD and Fat the surface layer in the wet season (P < 0.05); F－ at the bottom in the wet season (P < 0.05); TP and F－ in the water-falling season. Moreover, the above-mentioned indexes in the non-snail marshland of Qianliang Lake were higher than those in the snail-breeding marshland of Junshan Park. Thus, F－ was the only index which had statistical differences in every sampling season, and the concentration of F－ at the non-snail marshland was also higher than that at the snail-breeding marshland. In the water-rising season, the pH value at the non-snail marshland exceeded the suitable range for the growth of snails (6.8 to 7.8). Conclusion In the Eastern Dongting Lake area, the high concentration of F－ and pH of water may be responsible for the natural extinction of O. hupensis snails.