Objective To investigate role of N-(30,40-dimethoxycinnamonyl) anthranilic acid (3,4-DAA) in mediating the negative immune regulation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in mice skin transplantation.Method The mice skin transplant model was established.T lymphocytes were isolated from mice splenocytes,and serum was collected.ELISA was applied to detect the IL-2 and IFN-γ concentrations in culture supernates of mice spleen lymphocytes and serum.Flow cytometry was applied to examine the phenotypes of T lymphocytes and RT-PCR to analyze the IDO mRNA transcription.Results T lymphocyte proliferation was significantly decreased by 3,4-DAA and the concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-γ were apparently decreased in 3,4-DAA group as compared with those in control group.The percentages of CD3 +,CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes were lower,and the percentage of CD4 + CD25 + T lymphocytes was higher in 3,4-DAA disposal group than in control group,but there was no significant difference.IDO mRNA expression showed obvious increase in 3,4-DAA group as compared with control group.Conclusion 3,4-DAA can up-regulate the IDO expression to induce the increasing metabolism of tryptophan,subsequently inhibiting T cell proliferation and showing specific property of negative immune regulation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) for achieving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission in patients with body mass index (BMI) in the range of 25-35 kg/m(2).

METHODSTwenty-two non-morbidly obese (BMI: 25-35 kg/m(2)) patients with T2DM underwent LRYGB. The changes of BMI, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were recorded, and the prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTSAll these 22 patients successfully underwent LRYGB and were followed up for twelve months. Two patients (9.1%) developed complications: one patient had an early hemorrhage at the gastrojejunostomy site, and the other had frequent loose stools that required revision surgery. At 12 months, 14 patients (63.6%) showed T2DM remission, 6 (27.3%) showed glycemic control, and 2(9.1%) showed improvement. Compared with the latter two groups, patients in the T2DM remission group had significantly higher BMI (P=0.001), younger age (P=0.002), and shorter duration of diabetes (P=0.001) before operation.

CONCLUSIONSLYRGB can efficiently and safely treat T2DM in non-morbidly obese patients. Early intervention in these patients may yield better outcomes.

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the expression of p73 gene in lung cancer tissue. Methods： The authors detected quantitatively p73 gene expression in 40 specimens of lung cancer and matched paracancer tissue by RT PCR and analyzed the alteration of p73 by PCR and SSCP. Results： ① Using RT PCR, 24 specimens of lung cancer were determined to be overexpression of p73, 9 of which were moderately differentiated, 15 of which were poor differentiated; 9 of which were Stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ , 15 of which were Stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ . No specimen of paracancer tissue was screened out to be overexpression of p73. There was significantly different expression rates between lung cancer and paracancer tissue (P< 0.01). ② Allele specific analysis showed that expression of G/C： A/T appeared in 10 of 12 heterozygous lung cancer specimens and expression of G/C in 27 specimens. ③ No mutation was detected by SSCP. Conclusion： The expression of p73 gene may be related to differentiation level of lung cancer but not related to clinical stage.

Objective To explore the effect of endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2)on the apoptosis induced by cobalt chloride (CoCl2)in the human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs).Methods CoCl2was used in the primary HPAECs to mimize hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis.The aspartate aminotransferase 1(AAT1),and the key enzyme generating endogenous SO2 were over -expressed by transfecting HPAECs with lentivirus containing AAT1 cDNA.HPAECs were divided into 4 groups:vehicle group,vehicle + CoCl2 group,AAT1 group and AAT1 + CoCl2 group.The expressions of AAT1,B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2),bcl-associated X protein (bax),Caspase-3 and activated Caspase-3 (cleaved Caspase-3)in the HPAECs were measured by Western blot.The AAT activity was assessed with colorimetry method.The SO2 content in the HPAECs was in situ observed by SO2-specific fluorescent probe.The HPAECs apoptosis was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)assay.Results There were significant differences in the endogenous SO2 content,the expre-ssions of AAT1 and bcl-2,and the ratio of cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 among 4 groups of HPAECs were (F＝147.364,23.738,6.521,64.884,all P＜0.05).However,there was no difference in the expression of bax among 4 groups of HPAECs (F＝1.620,P＞0.05).Compared with vehicle group,AAT activity [(0.96 ± 0.24)Carmen's unit/μg vs.(2.21 ± 0. 60)Carmen's unit/μg],endogenous SO2 content (40.71 ± 7.72 vs.105.60 ± 16.20)and bcl-2 expression (0.59 ± 0.19 vs.1.02 ± 0.20)in the HPAECs of vehicle +CoCl2 group were significantly de-creased,while the cell apoptosis assessed by TUNEL and the ratio of cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 (1.56 ± 0.25 vs.0.95 ± 0.13)were significantly increased (all P＜0.05).However,there were no differences in the expression of AAT1 (0. 50 ± 0.12 vs.0.53 ± 0.11)in the HPAECs between vehicle group and vehicle+CoCl2 group (P＞0.05). The SO2 content (351.50 ± 42.43 vs.105.60 ± 16.20)and AAT1 expression (1.22 ± 0.33 vs.0.53 ± 0.11)in the HPAECs of AAT1 group were higher than those of vehicle group (all P ＜0. 05 ). Compared with AAT1 group, endogenous SO2content (333.50 ± 46.22 vs.351.50 ± 42.43)and the expression of AAT1 (1.26 ± 0.36 vs.1.22 ± 0.33)and bcl-2 (1.14 ± 0.38 vs.1.03 ± 0.27)in the HPAECs of AAT1 +CoCl2group did not change (all P＞0. 05).Moreover,no difference was observed in the HPAECs apoptosis assessed by TUNEL and the ratio of cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 (0.51 ± 0.17 vs.0.50 ± 0.11)between the two AAT1 -overexpressed groups (all P ＞0. 05).Conclusion Endo-genous SO2inhibited the hypoxic HPAECs apoptosis stimulated by the treatment of CoCl2.

OBJECTIVETo investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) and haplotypes of interleukin-18(IL-18) gene associated with the susceptibility to colorectal cancer(CRC).

METHODSTwo SNPs of IL-18 gene promoter -137G/C and -607C/A in 170 patients with CRC and 160 healthy controls matched by age and sex in a Chinese population were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) strategy. Frequency of haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium of IL-18 gene in different groups were analyzed by SHEsis programs.

RESULTSThe distributions of IL-18 gene -607C/A polymorphism did not differ between CRC patients and healthy controls, but IL-18 gene -137G/C polymorphism was significantly different(P<0.05). The relative risk of C allele for CRC was 1.814 times of the G allele (OR=1.814,95% CI:1.246-2.642). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, IL-18 -137G/C and -607C/A polymorphisms showed strong linkage disequilibrium(|D'|=0.945), frequency of the -137C/-607A haplotype in patients with CRC was significantly higher than that in healthy controls(P<0.05). The -137C/-607A haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of CRC(OR=1.637, 95% CI:1.100-2.437).

CONCLUSIONSIL-18 gene -137G/C polymorphism and -137C/-607A haplotype are associated with CRC. -137C allele may be an important genetic susceptibility gene for CRC.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

In this study, the inhibitory effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) on interleukin-17 (IL-17) production in peripheral blood T cells from patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) were investigated, in order to explore the therapeutic potential of hUCMSC in the SpA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were isolated from patients with SpA (n = 12) and healthy subjects (n = 6). PBMNC were cultured in vitro with hUCMSC or alone. The expression of IL-17 in CD4(+) T cells or γ/δ T cells were determined in each subject group by flow cytometry. IL-17 concentrations in PBMNC culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The results indicated that the proportion of IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells and IL-17-producing γ/δ T cells of SpA patients were 4.5 folds and 5 folds of healthy controls [CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (3.42 ± 0.82)% vs (0.75 ± 0.25)%, P < 0.01; CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells (0.30 ± 0.10)% vs (0.06 ± 0.02)%, P < 0.01]. After co-culture of PBMNC in patients with hUCMSC, the increased proportions of CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells and CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells in SpA patients were inhibited significantly by hUCMSC [CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (3.42 ± 0.82)% vs (1.81 ± 0.59)% (P < 0.01); CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells (0.30 ± 0.10)% vs (0.16 ± 0.06)% (P < 0.01]. In response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 1 µg/ml), PBMNC from SpA patients secreted more IL-17 than that from healthy control [(573.95 ± 171.68) pg/ml vs (115.53 ± 40.41) pg/ml (P < 0.01)]. In the presence of hUCMSC, PBMNC of SpA patients produced less amount of IL-17 [(573.95 ± 171.68) pg/ml vs (443.20 ± 147.94) pg/ml, (P < 0.01)]. It is concluded that the IL-17 production in peripheral blood T cells from SpA patients can be inhibited by hUCMSC, which have therapeutic potential for SpA.
Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Spondylarthritis ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of the pedicle screw pilot holes placement in thoracic spine using the spiral wires as the guide pin.

METHODSThe pedicle screw pilot holes were drilled within the center of the pedicle and the lateral and medial pedicle walls were violated in 9 human dried thoracic vertebrae. Kirschner wires or spiral wires were separately placed in the holes, and then the posteroanterior and lateral radiographs were taken. The radiographs were evaluated by 3 experienced spine surgeons and 3 young orthopedists. After radiographs were shown to these observers, they combined the posteroanterior and lateral radiographs in each place and determined whether the pedicle screw pilot hole violated the pedicle cortex or not. The results were analyzed by a statistical software.

RESULTSSensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method using spiral wires to detect pedicle pilot hole placement were significantly higher than those of using Kirschner wires. With a true posteroanterior radiograph, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method using spiral wires approximated or attained 100%.

CONCLUSIONSThe method of intrapedicular pilot hole placement verification using spiral wires is effective for guiding the accurate placement of pedicle screws.

Bone Screws ; Bone Wires ; Cadaver ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radiography ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDRenal hypertrophy has been regarded as the early feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN), which may eventually lead to proteinuria and renal fibrosis. However, the exact mechanism of renal hypertrophy is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) with renal hypertrophy in uninephrectomized diabetic rats.

METHODSSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (group C, n = 32) and diabetic nephropathy (group DN, n = 40). Each group was re-divided into 4 subgroups according to the experimental period. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks respectively after induction of diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after rats had received uninephrectomy. Blood glucose (BG), body weight (BW), 24-h urinary albumin excretion (24hUalb), kidney weight (KW), KW/BW, glomerular tuft area (AG), glomerular tuft volume (VG), proximal tubular area (AT) at each time point, the width of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and tubular basement membrane (TBM) at week 8 were measured when the rats were sacrificed. Renal expression of CTGF and p27kip1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between CTGF expression and increasing of VG and AT was analyzed.

RESULTSThere was a significant increase of 24hUalb, KW, and KW/BW from week 1 onward in diabetic rats compared to those in group C (P < 0.05, respectively), diabetic rats also had a significant increase of AG, VG, and AT from week 1 onward. It was also shown that diabetic rats had a thickening of GBM [(245.7 +/- 103.0) nm vs (121.8 +/- 19.1) nm, P < 0.01] and TBM [(767.7 +/- 331.1) nm vs (293.0 +/- 110.5) nm, P < 0.01] at week 8. There was a weak expression for CTGF and p27kip1 in normal glomeruli and tubuli, while a significant increasing expression of CTGF and p27kip1 was found in glomeruli and tubuli in diabetic kidney from week 1 onward (P < 0.05, respectively), and the extent of CTGF expression was positively correlated with AG (r = 0.92, P < 0.05), VG (r = 0.86, P < 0.05), AT (r = 0.94, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with the expression of p27kip1 (r = 0.96, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of CTGF increases in diabetic rat kidney at the early stage, which might be an important mediator of renal hypertrophy through arresting cell cycling.

Albuminuria ; etiology ; Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Hypertrophy ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

Objective To evaluate and study percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) related factors in the treatment of renal calculi caused postoperative fever and its prevention measures. Methods Making a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 150 patients who underwent PCNL, including age, gender, diabetes history and previous ipsilateral renal surgery, stone type, stone size, whether the complication of upper ureteral stones, preoperative urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis and pyonephrosis, preoperative renal fistula, postoperative centering vein pressure, intraoperative perfusion and the operation time from January 2015 to June 2017. After the operation, the patients were divided into two groups: fever group and non-fever group, and analyzed the related factors of the fever. Results Among the 150 cases, fever occurred in 27 cases after PCNL, taking up 18%. Gender, history of diabetes, staghorn calculi or staghorn stone, stone size, with ureteral calculi, preoperative urine leukocyte count, renal abscess, preoperative renal fistula, postoperative central venous pressure, intraoperative perfusion and operation time between the two groups, the differences that were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Logistic that multivariate analysis showed that female patients with upper ureteral calculi, perfusion, intraoperative volume,preoperative pyonephrosis, long operation time are independent risk factors of fever after operation (OR^>1, P<0.05). Conclusion Routine bacterial culture of urine should be performed before percutaneous nephrolithotomy, urinary tract infection and kidney empyema should be treated thoroughly. The reasonable shorter operative duration and perfusion fluid volume could significantly reduce the incidence of fever after PCNL.

Objective To investigate the prevalence ofperioperative depression and anxiety in patients who underwent acoustic neuroma resection (ANR) and to analyze their associated factors.Methods This survey recruited 62 patients who accepted ANR from June 2010 through June 2011 in our department. Participants were interviewed one day preoperation and one day pre-discharge with 2questionnaires:the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).Personal information and clinical data were also documented. Facial nerve outcomes were reported according to the House-Brackmann scale.Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS,version 13.0,using two-sample t-test,paired t-test,pearson Chi-square test and Binary classification unconditional logistic regression analysis.Significance was accepted at P＜0.05. Results Thirteen patients (20.9％)had depression and/or anxiety preoperation while 24 patients (38.7％) had postoperation.Patients with a long preoperative hospital stay,young in age (Wald=5.958,OR=0.910,P=0.015) and associated with chronic diseases (Wald=6.578,OR=14.591,P=0.010) were prone to preoperative depression and/or anxiety.Female patients (Wald=4.258,OR =4.572,P=0.039),young patients (Wald=8.152,OR=0.913,P=0.004) and patients with facial paralysis of H-B grade Ⅳ-Ⅵ (Wald=6.310,OR=7.630,P=0.012) had a higher incidence of postoperative depression and/or anxiety.Occupation,educational level,economic status,hearing loss or balance dysfunction of the patients showed no statistically significant impact on the incidence of the condition. Conclusions Patients undergoing ANR tend to have a high incidence of perioperative depression and/or anxiety.Surgeons should pay special attention to and take effective measures for female,young patients and those with facial dysfunction because they,in particular,are prone to postoperative depression and/or anxiety.