[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To explore the effect of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 ( SREBP-2) on tunicamy-cin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS) in chondrocytes.METHODS:After isolation of human normal chondro-cytes and osteoarthritis ( OA) chondrocytes, the normal cells were cultured and treated with tunicamycin and SREBP-2 siR-NA.After 24 h treatment, fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR ( RT-qPCR) was applied to quantify microRNA-185 ( miR-185) levels.The cell apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry.The expression of SREBP-2 and ERS-related pro-teins, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor-2α(p-eIF2α) and activating tran-scription factor 4 (ATF4), and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3, were determined by Western blot.The caspase-3 activity kit was used to determine the caspase-3 activity.RESULTS: Compared with hu-man normal chondrocytes, both SREBP-2 up-regulation and miR-185 down-regulation were observed in OA chondrocytes (P<0.05).SREBP-2 siRNA transfection enhanced tunicamycin-inhibited miR-185 level (P<0.05).miR-185 overex-pression reduced tunicamycin-induced SREBP-2 expression ( P <0.05 ) .OA control group and tunicamycin treatment group consistently resulted in ERS and cell apoptosis with concomitant enhancement of CHOP, p-eIF2αand ATF4 proteins, increases in Bax and caspase-3 proteins, and reduction of Bcl-2 (P<0.05).However, SREBP-2 silencing significantly re-versed these effects ( P<0.05) .The apoptotic rates were consistent with the expression tendency of apoptosis-related pro-teins (P<0.05).SREBP-2 siRNA transfection markedly down-regulated tunicamycin-induced caspase-3 activity, which was notably blocked by miR-185 inhibition (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:SREBP-2 silencing may inhibit tunicamycin-in-duced ERS and cell apoptosis via up-regulating miR-185 expression.

Objective To detect the expression of the tryptase in the plasma,and study the meaning in brain traumatic patients.Methods There were two groups:the brain traumatic group(40 patients)and the control group (20 health people).The content of plasma tryptase was determined by fluorescence enzyme immunoassay..Results The level of plasma tryptase had no statistical significance in control group(2.97 ±1.05)μg/L compared with the brain traumatic group(3.03 ±1.39)μg/L,however there had statistical significance comparing with sever brain traumatic patients(3.84 ±0.52μg/L)(t =3.32,P <0.05).4 cases of death in patients with severe head injury group content of tryptase (5.85 ±1.05)μg/L,which was significantly higher than the group of 16 cases of injury in severe head injury after 2 months still alive with the content of serum tryptase (2.49 ±0.52)μg/L,the difference was statistically significant (t =8.13,P <0.01).Conclusion The plasma tryptase level in sever brain traumatic patients increased significantly,and might be of importance for treatment strategies and prognosis.

Objective To study the effect of long-term salmon calcitonin on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism biochemical indicators and subjective score of bone pain in maintenance hemedialysis (MHD) patients with osteopenia. Methods Thirty-four MHD patients diagnosed as osteopenia by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA) were enrolled in this study. All the patients were treated with hypodermic injection of salmon calcitonin (50 U, thrice a week) for 12 months. The detecting parameters were as follows: BMD with DEXA in lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, troch, inter, and Ward's triangle before and after the study;serum bone metabolism biochemical indicators before and 6 and 12 months after the study;subjective scores of bone pain before and 1, 6, and 12 months after the study. Results Thirty-two patients were followed-up successfully. As compared to BMD parameters before study, the total T-score (-1.98± 2.20 vs 1.26±1.88, P=0.009) and total Z-score (-0.90±2.15 vs 0.08±2.05, P=0.002) of lumbar spine, the total T-score (-1.72±1.53 vs 1.06±1.58, P=0.016) and totle Z-score (-0.66±0.80 vs 0.08±1.08, P=0.029) of hip, the T-score of L3 (-2.02±2.51 vs 1.24±2.02, P=0.033), the Z-score of L2 (-0.44±1.82 vs 0.06±1.63, P=0.016), the Z-score of femoral troch (-0.65±1.11 vs 0.48±1.12, P=0.034) and the Z-score of inter (-0.58±0.94 vs 0.02±1.12, P=0.006) were increased significantly after study. But there were no significant differences in other examined regions and serum biochemical parameters. The subjective scores of bone pain were decreased rapidly for 41.7% after 1 month (P<0.01) and 76.6% after 6 months (P<0.01). The subjective score of bone pain after 12 months was similar to 6 months. The side effects of salmon calcitonin included nausea and vomitting in 5 cases (14.71%, 5/34), dizziness, blushing and flustered in 1 case respectively (3.13%,1/32). Conclusions Long-term hypodermic injection of salmon calcitonin can improve BMD and bone pain for MHD patients with osteopenia but has no significant effect on serum bone metabolism biochemical indicators. Salmon calcitonin is safe for MHD patients with seldom side effects, such as nausea and vomitting.

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of cyasterone in Shenshixiao capsules. Methods: Using an HPLC method, the column was an Agilent C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 μm) column, the mobile phase was methanol-water with gradient elution. The detection wavelength was 243nm, the flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 ,and the temperature of column was room temperature. Results:The linear relationship of cyasterone was good within the concentration range of 0. 025-0. 247 μg(r=0. 999 6), the average recovery was 99. 4%, and RSD was 0. 76%. Conclusion:The method is rapid, simple and accurate, and can be used in the quality control of the preparation.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation on advanced prostate cancer.Methods From March 2003 to December 2008,a total of 6 previous prostate cancer patients who had been diagnosed with pathological results were treated by laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation.All patients underwent pre-and post-operative IPSS,serum PSA,MRI and normal blood biochemistry examination.The treatment outcome,surgery-related complications were also recorded.Results All operations were successfully completed,no serious intra-and post-operative complications happened.Although there was no significant difference of IPSS between pre-operative [ ( 19.05 + 4.28 ) scores ] and 1 month after operation [ ( 19.87 + 5.72) scores ],but there were significantly decreased in 3 months [ (9.45 ± 2.03 ) scores ] and 6 months [ (6.18 + 1.79) scores ] after operation (P ＜0.05).Also being followed up to 6 months after operation,the serum PSA was significantly decreased compared with the pre-operative value [from(24.80 ± 14.56) μ g/L reduced to( 13.79 ± 7.76) μ g/L](P＜0.05).Conclusion Laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation on advanced prostate cancer is safe and feasible,and can be used as an effective treatment in selective cases.

OBJECTIVETo reconstruct a simpler and reliable composite tissue transplantation model-the femur osteomyocutaneous flap for the replacement of hindlimb transplantation.

METHODSTen femur osteomyocutaneous flaps from 5 Lewis rats were transplanted into 10 syngeneic recipients' inguinal region. Their nutrient vessels were anastomosed with recipients vessels. The graft of this model was consisted of the groin flap and partial femur. To verify the feasibility of this model, gross and histological appearance were studied after transplantation to evaluate the viability of grafts.

RESULTSThe operative time was (159.0 +/- 8.3) min with the harvesting time of (68.0 +/- 4.8) min and the ischemia time of (55. 8 +/- 6.8) min. The methylene blue injection showed rich blood supply of transplanted femur osteomyocutaneous flap. All the 10 flaps survived completely with pink skin color and hair regrowth. The histologic examination of the flaps also revealed the normal appearance of the viable skin and bone marrow.

CONCLUSIONSThe femur osteomyocutaneous flap is a simple and reliable model for composite tissue transplantation, and its establishment will provide a new tool for the study of composite tissue allografts.

Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Femur ; transplantation ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Transplantation

Objective To investigate the related risk factors of hair loss in obese patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinical data of 54 obese patients who underwent LSG in the East Hospital of Tongji University between November 2013 and June 2015 were collected.All the patients received LSG,and postoperative hair loss of patients was observed.Factors affecting postoperative severe hair loss were analyzed,including gender,age,preoperative body mass index (BMI),postoperative excess weight loss (EWL),total bilirubin (TBil),albumin (Alb),hemoglobin (Hb),iron,zinc,copper,folic acid,vitamin B12 and vitamin D.Observation indicators:(1) follow-up and postoperative hair loss situations:cases with follow-up,follow-up time,cases with hair loss,severity of hair loss,time of hair loss,treatment of hair loss;(2) univariate analysis affecting severity of hair loss after LSG;(3) multivariate analysis affecting severity of hair loss after LSG.Follow-up using outpatient examination and Wechat was performed to detect the changes of BMI and hair loss up to September 2016.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s and comparison between groups was done by the t test.Comparison of count data was analyzed by the chi-square test.Multivariate analysis was done using the Logistic regression model.Results (1) Follow-up and postoperative hair loss situations:all the 54 patients were followed up for 15 months.Forty-two patients had hair loss,including 21 with slight hair loss,10 with moderate hair loss and 11 with severe hair loss.A proportion of hair loss was 6/11 in male and 36/43 in female.The onset time and end time of hair loss were (3.4± 1.4) months and (9.0± 3.6) months,respectively.Of 42 patients,15 took oral medication (6 with ferrous sulfate,5 with decavitamin and 4 with zinc gluconate oral solution) against hair loss,with no obvious improvement.During the follow-up,42 patients stopped hair loss and gradually grow new hair.(2) Univariate analysis affecting severity of hair loss after LSG:gender,postoperative EWL and folic acid were factors affecting severity of hair loss after LSG (x2 =5.161,t =-5.114,4.266,P＜0.05).(3) Multivariate analysis of affecting severity of hair loss after LSG:postoperative EWL and folic acid were independent factors affecting severity of hair loss after LSG (OR=1.039,0.499,95％ confidence interval:1.011-1.068,0.300-0.802,P＜0.05).A prediction accuracy of severity of hair loss after LSG was 85.2％.Conclusion Postoperative EWL and folic acid are independent factors affecting severity of hair loss after LSG.

Objective To investigate the effects of 2-methoxyestradiol( 2-ME) on apoptosis of K562 cells and its mechanisms. Methods The K562 cells were cultured and divided into three groups. The control group: K562 cells were cultured without 2-ME treatment. The experimental group: K562 cells were cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of 2-ME (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 μmol/L) for 36 h. The negative control group: K562 cells were replaced by water without RNase in the medium containing different concentrations of 2-ME for 36 h. The apoptosis rate, the protein and its mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and XIAP, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of K562 cells wasdetected by TUNEL, flow cytometry (FCM), half-quantitative RT-PCR and xanthenes oxidized enzyme assay,respectively. Results After treated with 2-ME at different concentrations for 36 hours, in the specified concentration range, 2-ME induced apoptosis of K562 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The possible functional mechanism of 2-ME was to up-regulate Caspase-3 but down-regulate XIAP mRNA expression, and increase ROS activity but decrease SOD activity. Conclusion 2-ME can induce apoptosis of K562 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and indicate its promising potential in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia(CML) patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the combined effects of alcohol consumption and obesity hypertension risk.

METHODSBased on data from program "Prevention of multiple metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu province", Baseline data were obtained in April 1999 to Jun 2004, we conducted the follow up investigation from March 2006 to October 2007 for subjects, those follow up time meet 5 years. A total of 4 083 participants completed the follow-up survey, and 2 778 eligible participants for final analysis. In the baseline and follow up survey, participants returned a completed questionnaire with information on diet, education, occupation, lifestyle factors, and medical history. Data on demographic characteristics, physical examination and laboratory tests were also obtained. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to height ratio (WHtR). Logistic regression model was used to examine the interaction of alcohol consumption with WC, BMI and WHtR on risk of hypertension and the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), the attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and the synergy index (SI) were calculated. If the 95% CI of SI do not include 1, the 95% CI of RERI and AP do not include 0, the interactions are statistically significant.

RESULTSIn the study subjects, 660 patients (254 males and 406 females) were new cases, who developed hypertension by the follow-up investigation. The mean of WC, BMI and WHtR were (23.3 ± 3.2) kg/m(2), (77.7 ± 9.0) cm and 0.49 ± 0.06, were higher than that in normal subjects ((22.4 ± 3.0) kg/m², (74.8 ± 8.5) cm and 0.47 ± 0.05, all P values < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, family history of hypertension, the hazard ratio of EH for participants with obesity, high WC, high WHtR and alcohol consumption were higher, the HR (95% CI) were 2.12 (1.46-3.10), 1.64 (1.32-2.03), 2.80 (1.73-4.59) and 1.65 (1.29-2.12). HR (95% CI) of subjects with both abnormal BMI and current alcohol consumption was 2.76 (2.45-3.17), SI (95% CI) was 1.60 (0.48-5.28), RERI(95%CI) was 0.66 (-0.47-1.79) and AP was 0.24 (-0.22-0.69), HR (95% CI) of subjects with both high WC and current alcohol consumption was 4.93 (2.87-8.49), SI(95% CI) was 4.49(1.97-10.22), RERI (95%CI) was 3.06 (0.48-5.64) and AP(95% CI) was 0.62 (0.41-0.83), HR (95% CI) of subjects with both high WHtR and current alcohol consumption was 2.80 (1.73-4.59), SI (95% CI) was 2.14 (0.88-5.17), RERI was 0.96 (0.48-5.64) and AP (95% CI) was 0.34 (0.03-0.68).

CONCLUSIONBoth obesity, high WC, high WHtR, and alcohol consumption were strong risk factors of EH, and impact of an additive interaction of alcohol consumption and high WC on EH risk existed.

Alcohol Drinking ; epidemiology ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Height Ratio