Objective To explore the best time point for the ipsilateral hepatocellular apoptosis and the contralateraI hepatic hypertrophy after selective portal vein embolization(SPVE)in rabbit.Methods In a randomized study design,forty rabbits were divided into 5 groups with 8 rabbits per-group,including one as the control and the other 4 were treated with SPVE during open surgery.The rabbits were killed postoperatively,in 3,7,14,21 days respectively after the embolization.The hepatic lobes volume,the ipsilateral hepatocellular necrosis rates and apoptosis index,and liver functions were determined as well. Results In the treatment groups,the average amount of the right liver volumes decreased from 46.4 cm~3 preoperatively to 46.0,44.4,42.0,39.7 cm~3 in groups of 3,7,14,21 days postoperatively;meanwhile,the left liver volumes increased from 54.0 cm~3 preoperatively to 54.5,56.3,61.7,63.9 cm~3 respectively during 3, 7,14,21 days after the procedures.The rates of future remaining live volumes(FRLV)increased from 53.8% preoperatively to 54.2%,55.9%,59.0%,61.0% at 3,7,14,21 days postoperatively.The apoptosis indexes of hepatocells from group A to E were 8.1%,12.2%,19.4%,20.1%,14.2% respectively.Conclusions SPVE leads to atrophy of the ipsilateral hepatic lobe and hypertrophy of contralateral lobe,indicating that hepatocytes undergone apoptosis,rather than necrosis.The time point is 7 to 14 days.

OBJECTIVELeft ventricular diastolic dysfunction is common in cardiovascular diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) is a typical disease with diastolic dysfunction. We analyzed the association between the left ventricular flow propagation velocity (FPV), quantified by color M-mode Doppler and as an indicator for diastolic dysfunction, and clinical outcome in patients with HCM.

METHODSStandard echocardiography including FPV was performed in 43 cases with HCM and 22 control cases without a clear history of heart disease. All eligible cases were followed up to more than 1 year.

RESULTSHospitalization rate due to emerging atrial fibrillation/flutter was 21%, due to emerging ventricular tachycardia was 16%, due to heart failure was 26%, and due to other events was 14% in HCM patients. FPV [(31.6 ± 11.5) cm/s vs. (68.3 ± 18.3) cm/s, P < 0.01] and FPV/E (0.49 ± 0.20 vs. 1.18 ± 0.41, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in HCM group than in control group. PV/E was an independent predictor for atrial fibrillation/flutter and heart failure, IVST was independent predictor for VT (χ(2) = 5.181, P = 0.0228), LAD (χ(2) = 6.172, P = 0.0130) and FPV/E (χ(2) = 3.932, P = 0.0474) were independent risk factors for total cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of atrial fibrillation and heart failure were closely related with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in HCM patients and FPV/E was independent predictor for clinical cardiovascular events.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to investigate the changes of biological properties and expression patterns of the aging related genes in umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) during in vitro culture. UC-MSC at passage 3 were served as the control cells and those at passage 15 were considered as the aged cells. The biological features of those two kinds of cells including morphology, proliferation activity and phenotypic profile were observed, and the differences of gene expression were analysed by the whole human genome oligo microarray. Several differential genes were selected for further confirmation by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that UC-MSC at passage 15 were larger in size and their proliferation rate was slower compared with those of cells at passage 3, while the positivity of CD44 and CD105 remained unchanged. Compared with UC-MSC at passage 3, relatively aged cells expressed higher levels of genes that are associated with small subunit of ribosome. Further analysis with Gene Ontology functional categories showed that the up-regulated genes were concentrated in those related to steroid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism and the development of autoimmune diseases and degenerative diseases and the down-regulated genes in UC-MSC at passage 15 were concentrated in cytoskeleton molecules, DNA structure binding, mRNA binding and protein function. Functional analysis with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional pathway revealed that the expression of some genes responsible for ribosome composition was elevated while those of associated with extracellular matrix, focal adhesion and cell cycle progression were down-regulated. It is concluded that UC-MSC become senescent due to the declines in metabolism and proliferation activities.
Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; genetics ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Microarray Analysis ; Transcriptome ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of exogenous carbon monoxide-releasing molecules 2 (CORM-2) on the vitality and toxicity of E. coli ATCC 25922, and to analyze the potential mechanism.

METHODS(1) In vitro experiments. Standard strains of E. coli ATCC 25922 were divided into groups A (without addition), B, C, D, and E according to the random number table, and then the latter 4 groups were respectively cultured with 1.2 mmol/L CORM-2, 1.6 mmol/L CORM-2, 1.2 mmol/L inactive CORM-2 (iCORM-2), 1.6 mmol/L iCORM-2, with six samples in each group. After being cultured for 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 27, 30, 48 hours, proliferative vitality of E. coli was examined (denoted as absorption value under 600 nm wavelength), and bacteria number was counted. Other standard strains of E. coli ATCC 25922 were divided into groups F (without addition) and G (cultured with 0.8 mmol/L CORM-2), the expressions of genes fliA, dnaK, marA, and waaQ related to E. coli were detected by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. (2) In vivo experiments. Other standard strains of E. coli ATCC 25922 were grouped as A', B', C', D', and E' and treated with the same method as that in groups A, B, C, D, and E, and 0.5 mL bacterial liquid of each group were collected when the absorption value of bacterial liquid in group A' was equal to 0.4 (under 600 nm wavelength). Seventy-two C57BL/6 mice were divided into groups, namely blank control (without treatment), H, I, J, K, and L according to the random number table, with 12 mice in each group. The mice in the latter 5 groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL bacterial suspension of groups A', B', C', D', and E' respectively. After injection, general condition of mice in groups H, I, J, K, and L was observed. The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were determined at post injection hour (PIH) 6, 12. The liver and lung samples were harvested for determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity at PIH 12. The same process was carried out in blank control group. Data were processed with repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA), factorial design ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and t test.

RESULTS(1) In vitro experiments. Compared with those of groups A and D, the proliferative vitality and bacteria number of E. coli in group B were all decreased (with F values respectively 1170.80, 217.52, P values all below 0.01). Compared with those of groups A and E, the proliferative vitality and bacteria number of E. coli in group C were also obviously decreased (with F values respectively 7948.34, 14 432.85, P values all below 0.01). Compared with those in group F, the expression of fliA was downregulated, while the expressions of dnaK, marA, and waaQ were upregulated in group G (with t values 30.28, -165.54, -168.88, -187.28, P values all below 0.01). (2) In vivo experiments. Symptoms including listlessness and tachypnea were observed in mice in groups H, K, and L, and they were ameliorated or not obvious in groups I and J. At PIH 6, the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in groups H and K were respectively (647.3 ± 3.8) pg/mL, (3.44 ± 0.22) ng/mL and (639.3 ± 0.8) pg/mL, (2.47 ± 0.32) ng/mL, which were obviously higher than those in group I [(124.6 ± 10.7) pg/mL, (1.03 ± 0.16) ng/mL, with t values from 15.22 to 84.03, P values all below 0.01]. The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in group J at PIH 6, 12 were also obviously decreased as compared with those in groups H and L (with t values from 19.27 to 245.34, P values all below 0.01). MPO activity of liver and lung tissues were significantly attenuated in group I at PIH 12 as compared with those in groups H and K, and it was also attenuated in group J when compared with those in groups H and L (with t values respectively from 17.36 to 18.92 and 2.35 to 3.61, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCORM-2 can obviously inhibit the vitality and toxicity of E. coli, which might be attributable to regulation of expressions of genes fliA, dnaK, marA, and waaQ of E. coli.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; metabolism ; Glycosyltransferases ; metabolism ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Liver ; enzymology ; Lung ; enzymology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Sigma Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIIC) and postoperative nutritional support on the intestinal permeability and the cellular immunity function in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSAll the patients diagnosed as advanced gastric cancer in the Gastric Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Jiangsu Cancer Hospital were randomly divided into three groups using random digit table:(1)EN group treated with enteral nutrition during postoperative period; (2)HIIC+EN group treated with HIIC combined with postoperative enteral nutrition;(3)HIIC+PN group treated with HIIC combined with postoperative parenteral nutrition. Index of lactulose/mannitol(L/M) ratio was used to evaluate the permeability of intestinal mucosa. The percentage of CD4(+), CD8(+) and NK cell, the ratio of CD4/CD8 T cell in peripheral blood were tested by flow cytometry. The time points of these measurements were the day before surgery, postoperative days (POD) 3, 7, and 12.

RESULTSCompared with the day before surgery(POD-1), the ratio of L/M on POD+3 increased significantly in all the three groups(0.1235±0.0611 vs. 0.0280±0.0183, 0.1648±0.0571 vs. 0.0305±0.0208, 0.1702±0.0628 vs. 0.0298±0.0229)(P<0.05) and then decreased gradually. The L/M ratio of EN(0.0278±0.0217) and HIIC+EN(0.0336±0.0235) groups recovered to the baseline on POD+12, however HIIC+PN group still had elevated L/M ratio(0.0616±0.0430). The percentage of CD4(+)T cell and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in HIIC+EN group and HIIC+PN group were significantly lower than those in EN group(P=0.033, P=0.002, respectively). Compared with the POD-1,the percentage of CD4(+)T cell and the ratio of CD4/CD8 in HIIC+EN group and EN group on POD+12 were increased significantly(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHIIC may cause significant increase in intestinal permeability and inhibit cellular immunity in patients undergoing radical resection for advanced gastric cancer. Mucosal permeability can be reversed by enteral nutrition.

Abdominal Cavity ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Intestinal Mucosa ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Intraoperative Care ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Support ; methods ; Permeability ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy

Flavonol synthase (FLS) is one of the key enzymes in flavonoids metabolic pathways. In this study, middle sequence was obtained from Carthamus tinctorius transcriptome sequencing results. Full-length cDNAs of FLS was cloned from petals of C. tinctorius to FLS by using RT-PCR and RACE technology. Its full-length cDNA was 1,201 bp, with an open reading frame of 1,101 bp and 336 encoded amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis showed that, FLS gene encoded amino acids in C. tinctorius were highly homologous with amino acids in congeneric Compositae species, especially Rudbeckia laciniata. The pBASTA-FLS plant expression vector was successfully built by the molecular biology method, which lays a foundation for further studying biology functions of the gene and biosynthesis mechanism of flavonoids.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Carthamus tinctorius ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

The CrylA Crystal Protein from Bacillus thuringiensis is associated with DNA, but the role and sequences of these DNA molecules are unknown. CrylA bipyramidal crystals from B. thuringiensis strain 4.0718 was selectively dissolved and associated DNA was extracted from protoxin. The DNA was digested with Nde I to obtain 3 to 5 kb fragments and then the fragments were subcloned into pMD18-T vector, screening of recombinants were done by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. The ORF of cry1Ac gene was amplified by primers designed and then subcloned. The 3.5 kb BamH I and Sal I fragments of pMDX35 was inserted into the pET30a vector, giving 8.9 kb recombinant plasmid, pETX35. ETX35 strain were obtained by transformed pETX35 into B121 (DE3). A 141 kD fusion protein was superexpressed as inclusion bodies. Quantitative protein analysis indicated that the amount of 141 kD protein was above the level of 51.36% of total cellular protein. Plasmid pHTX42 constructed from shuttle vector pHT304 was transformed B. thuringiensis acrystalliferous strain XBU001 with electroporation to obtain the recombinant HTX42. The recombinant protein was found with a molecular mass of 130 kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Scanning analysis indicated that the expressed protein accounted up to 79.28% of total cellular proteins and accumulated in the cells mounted up to 64.13% of cellular dry weight. Under Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), typical bipyramidal crystals from HTX42 strain were found with a size of 1.2 microm x 2.0 microm. Bioassay showed that these inclusion bodies of ETX35 strain and crystals from HTX42 strain were highly toxic against the larvae of Plutella xylostella. On such a base, constructing insecticidal recombinant and analyzing the source, structure, and function of the 20 kb DNA can be further achieved.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Endotoxins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Hemolysin Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Moths ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo understand the sexual physiology and psychology of male college students and to provide schools, families and the society with reference for the sexual physiological and psychological education among college students as well as for the diagnosis and treatment of their sexual psychological disorders in Jiangsu.

METHODSAn investigation was conducted by using a questionnaire on sexual physiology and psychology among randomly selected 3786 male college students from 18 universities in Jiangsu.

RESULTSAs regards sexual education, 5.49% of the subjects were satisfied with their schools, 78.18% wanted it to be strengthened and 68.36% obtained their sexual knowledge from the internet. Concerning sexual physiology, 68.78% experienced their first spermatorrhea at the age of 12-15. As for sexual psychology, 85.79% loved a certain female inwardly, and 70.99% experienced love affairs. With regard to sexual activity, 25.54% had sexual experience.

CONCLUSIONCollege students nowadays are relatively open in sexual ideology, immature in sexual psychology and lacking in sexual knowledge, while schools are inefficient in sexual education. Their sexual health calls for joint attention from schools, families and the society, particularly schools, which need to establish special offices for research and education on sexual health.

China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; psychology ; Students ; psychology ; Universities ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children (CSSNHL) is consistently increasing. However, the pathology and prognosis of CSSNHL are still poorly understood. This retrospective study evaluated clinical characteristics and possible associated factors of CSSNHL.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six CSSNHL patients treated in Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Institute of Otolaryngology at Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2008 and August 2015 were included in this study. These patients were analyzed for clinical characteristics, audiological characteristics, laboratory examinations, and prognostic factors.

RESULTSAmong the 136 patients (151 ears), 121 patients (121 ears, 80.1%) were diagnosed with unilaterally CSSNHL, and 15 patients (30 ears, 19.9%) with bilateral CSSNHL. The complete recovery rate of CSSNHL was 9.3%, and the overall recovery rate was 37.7%. We found that initial degree of hearing loss, onset of treatment, tinnitus, the ascending type audiogram, gender, side of hearing loss, the recorded auditory brainstem response (ABR), and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) had prognostic significance. Age, ear fullness, and vertigo had no significant correlation with recovery. Furthermore, the relevant blood tests showed 30.8% of the children had abnormal white blood cell (WBC) counts, 22.1% had elevated homocysteine levels, 65.8% had high alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 33.8% had high IgE antibody levels, and 86.1% had positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies.

CONCLUSIONSCSSNHL commonly occurs unilaterally and results in severe hearing loss. Initial severe hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are negative prognostic factors for hearing recovery, while positive prognostic factors include tinnitus, gender, the ascending type audiogram, early treatment, identifiable ABR waves, and DPOAEs. Age, vertigo, and ear fullness are not correlated with the recovery. Some serologic indicators, including the level of WBC, platelet, homocysteine, ALP, positive CMV IgG antibody, fibrinogen, and some immunologic indicators, are closely related to CSSNHL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; blood ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo assess left ventricular systolic synchronicity by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODSEighteen LVNC patients and 30 healthy controls were included. Two-dimensional echocardiography, QTVI was applied on parasternal long axis view, apical two-chamber and four-chamber view. Tissue velocity curve was obtained from the middle and basal segments of left ventricular posterior, lateral, septal, anterior, inferior and anteroseptal walls. Time interval from the beginning of QRS complex to the peak systolic velocity (Q-Ts) and the maximal difference in Ts among all 12 LV segments (Max-DeltaTs) was calculated.

RESULTSQ-Ts from basal and middle segments of left ventricular inferior, lateral and posterior walls was significantly prolonged in LVNC patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Max-DeltaTs was also significantly increased in LVNC patients [(161.9 +/- 93.2) ms] than that in controls [(61.2 +/- 27.4) ms, P < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONSThere was significant left ventricular asynchronies in patients with LVNC and delayed systolic contraction occurred mostly in the basal and middle segments of left ventricular inferior, posterior and lateral walls.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathies ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Contraction ; Ultrasonography ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Young Adult