BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells can protect and repair the liver of rats with liver failure, but the mechanisms are not completely clear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects and related mechanisms of intravenous injection of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on acute liver failure in rats. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats (provided by Qingdao Daren Fucheng Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. in China) were randomly divided into control group, model group and transplantation group. Animal models of acute liver failure were established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine in the model group and the transplantation group. One day after modeling, the rats in the transplantation group were injected with human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell suspension, and those in the model group were injected with the same amount of saline. After 1 and 3 days of cell transplantation, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were measured. Three days after cell transplantation, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 were detected, the pathological changes of the rat liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3β protein in the liver tissue was detected by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, there was a significant reduction in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in the transplantation group (P < 0.05). Inflammation and necrosis of liver tissues in the transplant group were alleviated compared with the model group. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β in the liver tissue of the transplanted group was lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05). Overall, these results indicate that human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells can alleviate hepatic inflammation and pathological injury, and improve the liver function in rats with acute hepatic failure. Moreover, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β activity.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the molecular epidemiology of hemoglobinopathies in Yongzhou area of Hunan province in order to provide a basis for making the guidelines of local thalassemia prevention program.

METHODSTwo thousand and two samples (1001 couples) were randomly recruited based on demographic data and distribution of ethnic groups. All samples were subjected to full blood count and analysis of hemoglobin and 6 common alpha-thalassemia mutations. Known beta-thalassemia mutations were screened in samples with beta-thalassemia trait. The remaining samples with positive phenotype and unknown mutations were subjected to DNA sequence analysis.

RESULTSTwo hundred and forty individuals were found to be carriers of hemoglobinopathic mutations, which included 6 common alpha-thalassemia deletions, 9 common beta-thalassemia mutations and 3 common structural hemoglobin variants. One hundred and seventy-four mutant alleles for alpha-thalassemia were detected, which gave a carrier rate of 8.69%, of which 0.1% was due to HbH disease. Seventy mutant alleles for beta-thalassemia were detected, which gave a carrier rate of 3.50%. Seven subjects (0.35%) were identified as carriers of hemoglobin variants. The overall carrier rate for hemoglobinopathic mutations was 12.54% based on detection of 251 hemoglobinopathy mutant alleles. The overall carrier rate for alpha- and beta-thalassemia among ethnic Yaos was 25.00%, which was significantly higher than that of ethnic Han Chinese (11.14%, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence and mutation spectrum of hemoglobinopathies in Yongzhou area has been delineated for the first time.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Female ; Hemoglobinopathies ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Mutation ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of Irisin on proliferation,apoptosis,migration and invasion of human cholangiocarcinoma cell line Hucct-1.Methods After treatment with Irisin,CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to investigate the effect of Irisin on proliferation and apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells.Scratch test and transwell invasion assay were used to studythe effect of Irisin on the migration and invasion ability of cholangiocarcinoma cells.Western blot was utilized to detect the expression of E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin in cholangiocarcinoma cells.Results CCK-8 assay showed that Irisin inhibited cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferationin a dose-dependent manner.Flow cytometry assay showed that the apoptosis rate of Irisin group [(14.8 ±0.9)％] was higher than that in the control group [(5.4±0.6)％],(P＜0.05).The scratch test showed that the rate of cell scratch healing in Irisin group [(15.0± 1.0)％] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(28.0±2.0)％] (P＜0.05).Transwell invasion test showed that the number of cells in Irisin group was (96.0±7.0),which was significantly lower than that in control group (155.0± 9.0) (P＜0.05).Western blot showed that the expression of E-cadherin increased and N-cadherin and Vimentin decreased after Irisin treatment.Conclusion Irisin inhibits proliferation,migration and invasion and promote apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Objective To investigate the expression of FNDC5 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients.Methods Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of FNDC5 in HCC tissues,and the relationship between its expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis.Results FNDC5 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of HCC cells,weakly expressed in the nucleus.Among the 30 liver cancer tissues,FNDC5 was weakly positive in 5,positive in 19,and strongly positive in 6 cases.QRT-PCR assay showed that FNDC5 was highly expressed in HCC tissues with vascular invasion.The incidence of vascular invasion in the high-expression of FNDC5 was 30％ (9/30),which was significantly higher than that of the FNDC5 low-expression group [6.7％ (2/30),] and the difference was significant (x2 =15.026,P ＜0.05).There was no significant correlation between FNDC5 level and age,sex,HBsAg,and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in HCC (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion FNDC5 level in the liver cancer tissues is closely related to the occurrence of vascular invasion.

Objective:To analyze the costs and effectiveness of five common screening modes and genetic screening for thalassemia in China in order to find the optimal way and provide evidence for the implementation of thalassemia prevention and control projects in Hunan Province.Methods:From June 2020 to April 2021, 12 971 couples from 14 cities and autonomous prefectures in Hunan Province were selected as the study population. The diagnosis of thalassemia was based on the results of genetic testing. Results of routine blood test and hemoglobin electrophoresis were collected and analyzed. The efficacy of five screening modes, at the cut-off value of <80 fl or 82 fl for the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), was analyzed by positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Jorden index and cost-effectiveness ratio. Sensitivity analysis was used to assess the feasibility of genetic screening at different costs after fixing the costs of routine blood and hemoglobin electrophoresis. The five thalassemia screening models are as follows: Mode 1: The woman had a blood routine test first. If the result was positive, the spouse required a blood routine test. If both results were positive, a thalassemia gene test should be offered to the couple. Mode 2: Both husband and wife were screened by blood routine and hemoglobin electrophoresis. If one or both of them were positive, both would be tested for thalassemia gene. Mode 3: The couple received blood routine tests initially. If either was positive, both should receive hemoglobin electrophoresis testing. If either was positive, both parties will conduct thalassemia gene testing. Mode 4: The woman was screened by blood routine and hemoglobin electrophoresis. If any one of them was positive, the woman would be tested for thalassemia gene. If the gene test result was positive, the spouse should receive thalassemia gene. Mode 5: Both spouses conducted a blood routine test. If either was positive, both would conduct hemoglobin electrophoresis test. If both were positive, both spouses should receive thalassemia gene testing. Gene testing mode: The woman would be tested for thalassemia, and her spouse would have thalassemia test too if her result was positive.Results:When using MCV<80 fl as the cut-off for diagnosing thalassemia, the Youden indices of the five prenatal screening modes in Hunan Province were 0.551, 0.639, 0.898, 0.555 and 0.356, while when using MCV<82 fl as the cut-off, the Youden indices were 0.549, 0.629, 0.851, 0.548 and 0.356. When the MCV cut-off value was <80 fl, the missed diagnosis rates of the five screening modes were 44.44%, 0.00, 0.00, 18.52% and 62.96%, and the cost-effectiveness ratios were 21 709, 250 939, 76 870, 138 463 and 92 860 yuan (RMB)/couple, respectively. When the price of genetic testing was lower than 55 yuan (RMB), the cost-effectiveness ratio of genetic screening was lower than that of Mode 3.Conclusions:MCV<80 fl can be considered as the positive criteria in blood routine screening for thalassemia in Hunan Province, and the cost-effectiveness ratio of Mode 3 (the couple received blood routine tests initially. If either was positive, both should receive hemoglobin electrophoresis testing. If either was positive, both parties will conduct thalassemia gene testing) is the best. Genetic screening has certain advantages with the decreasing price.