OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbs for stasis removing and collaterals dredging (CHSRCD) upon angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-angiotensin-(1-7)-Mas axis in the renal cortex of diabetic nephropathy rats.

METHODSTotally 89 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (C group, n=22), the high-glucose high-fat control group (H group, n=10), and the streptozotocin (STZ)-injecting group (n=57). The diabetes rat model (n=50) was induced by feeding high-glucose high-fat diet in combination with intraperitoneal injection of STZ, which were further divided into the model group (M group, n=24), the irbesartan group (I group, n=13), and the CHSRCD (Z group, n=13). Rats in I and Z groups were intragastrically fed with suspension of irbesartan and CHSRCD, once daily for 16 weeks. Equal volume of drinking water was administrated to rats in the rest groups. Blood glucose and 24 h urine protein quantitation were tested at four time points. And the mRNA expression of ACE2 and Mas at various time points was detected by Real-time PCR, immunohistochemical assay, and Western blot. Quantitative analyses of ACE2 and Mas protein expression were performed at the end of week 16.

RESULTSCompared with the C group, blood glucose increased in the H and M groups (P < 0.01). It was higher in the H group (P < 0. 01). 24 h urine protein quantitation at different time points increased in the M group, and it was higher than that in the H group (P < 0.05). Compared with the M group, 24 h urine protein quantitation decreased at the end of week 8 in the I group, and at the end of week 8 and 16 in the Z group (P < 0.05). It was lower in the Z group than in the I group at the end of week 16 (P < 0.05). Compared with the C and H groups, the expression of ACE2 mRNA in the renal cortex was lower in the M group at the end of week 16 (P < 0.01). Compared with the M group, it was higher in the Z group (P < 0. 01). There was no statistical difference in the expressions of Mas mRNA at the end of week 16 between the C group and the M group (P > 0.05). It was lower in the M group than in the H group (P < 0.05). It was higher in the Z group than in the M group (P < 0.05), and higher than in the I group (P < 0.05). The expression of ACE2 and Mas protein in the M group decreased as time went by. The expression quantitation of ACE2 and Mas protein at the end of week 16 was lower in the M group than in the C group (P < 0.05). Compared with the M group, ACE2 expression of the Z group and Mas of the I and Z groups increased more significantly (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCHSRCD could play a role in renal protection for diabetic nephropathy rats by up-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of ACE2 and Mas, promoting the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis, and lowering urinary protein.

Angiotensin I ; metabolism ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Cortex ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the treatment outcome and related influencing factors of Tibet- an nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Qinghai Province，so as to provide evidence for tuberculosis control and treatment among Tibetan population． Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on 5 564 Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Qinghai province who were reported in the China Tuberculosis Information Management System and approved to receive treatment from 2008 to 2017． The main influencing factors were detected by unconditional Logistic regression model analysis，dependent variable was successful treatment or not，independent variables were other factors related to the treatment outcome． Ｒesults The treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was 87. 1% ( 4 848 /5 564) ，and the adverse outcome rate was 12. 9% ( 716 /5 564) ． Unconditional Logistic regression model analysis indicated that non-full- course supervision management，living in agricultural and pastoral area，having severe disease，floating population，and age older than 60 years were risk factors of adverse outcome． The odds ratio( OＲ) 95% confidence interval( CI) of the above risk factors were 13. 044( 10. 671-15. 944) ，2. 305( 1. 703-3. 119) ， 2. 090( 1. 346-3. 243) ，1. 967( 1. 443-2. 682) ，and 1. 909( 1. 410-2. 586) ． Clinical consultation，farmers and herdsmen were protective factors． The OＲ( 95% CI) were 0. 451( 0. 375-0. 543) ，and 0. 786( 0. 627- 0. 985) ． Conclusions Treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was low． Therefore，the directly observed treatment short-course ( DOTS) strategy should be strictly implemented and the full-course supervision management should be strengthened to improve the treatment success rate． More attention should be paid to the elderly，severe，floating，agricultural and pastoral populations among the Tibetan population．

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of apoptotic lymphocytes on the secretion of cytokines by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSEC).

METHODSHuman HSEC cells were co-cultured for 16 h with allogenetic apoptotic lymphocytes induced by UVB irradiation. The supernatants were collected and the levels of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were detected by Luminex technique.

RESULTSAll the cytokines were down-regulated by about 50% in HSECs after co-culture with the apoptotic lymphocytes as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCo-culture with apoptotic lymphocytes can down-regulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HSECs, which may contribute to tolerogenic microenvironment in the liver.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Down-Regulation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-2 ; secretion ; Liver ; cytology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) with oxidative stress in colon cancer cells exposed to intermittent hypoxia (IH).

METHODSColon cancer SW480 cells were exposed to IH, continuous hypoxia, or normoxia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to examine the levels of AOPP and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), xanthine oxidase assay was used to determine malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were performed for detection of transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) expression.

RESULTSCompared with the normoxia group, the two hypoxia groups showed significantly increased AOPP and MDA levels (P<0.05) and lowered SOD and GSH-PX levels (P<0.05). The concentration of AOPP was positively correlated to MDA, VEGF, and TGF-β(1) levels (P<0.05), but inversely to SOD. No significant correlation was found between AOPP and GSH-PX levels.

CONCLUSIONCompared with continuous hypoxia, IH results in more obvious protein oxidation in relation to oxidative stress. The increased expression of VEGF and TGF-β(1) in the context of hypoxia is closely related to AOPP level.

Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

To construct a rabies virus mutant, the psi region was replaced by the coding region of human cytochrome c gene, and the coding region for cytoplasmic domain of glycoprotein G was deleted in the full-length of genomic cDNA of rabies virus strain SRV9. The mutant plasmid and the plasmids with N, P, L and G structural proteins of wild type SRV9 were co-transfected into BHK-21 cells. It was shown by IFA that there were many specific fluorescence in the BHK-21 cells, and typical rabies virus virions were observed by electronic microscope. These results demonstrated that the mutant rabies virus was successfully rescued. The genetically modified SRV9 stain has promise to provide invaluable experimental tool to develop attenuated live rabies vaccine.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; genetics ; Humans ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Mutation ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo analyse sonographical features of epididymis tuberculosis with caseous necrosis and improve the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis.

METHODSUltrasonic features of 12 cases with epididymis tuberculosis with caseous necrosis, confirmed by surgical pathology, was retrospectively analysed: size, location, echogenicity, degree of blood flow in the lesion.

RESULTSIn all 12 patients, the number of purified protein derivative test (PPD) presenting the positive reached to 67%, while cases with the pulmonary tuberculosis was 42%. The epididymal tuberculosis with caseous necrosis could present images of the whole or focal epididymal enlargement and abnormal shape. The lesions internal echoes were irregular, inhomogeneous increased isoechoic echogenicity or hypoechoic, including bad-defined, irregular, homogeneous hypoechoic or anechoic. In lesional location, 4 out of 12 patients (33%) possessed richly color blood flow in Color Doppler Power Imaging(CDPI). The testicular enlargement with increased internal echoes and the testicular hydroceles were partly (58%, 7/12) observed by ultrasound. There was no varicocele, scrotal wall thickening and inguinal lymph node enlargement.

CONCLUSIONThe High Frequency Color Doppler images is helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of epididymis tuberculosis with caseous necrosis.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epididymitis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Male Genital ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ideal digestive tract reconstruction methods among three different surgical methods after radical gastrectomy of gastric cancer patients.

METHODSA total of 123 patients who received elective radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer from February 2010 to August 2011 were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into radical proximal gastrectomy and jejunal interposition group, radical proximal gastrectomy and esophageal with the posterior of residual-stomach group, and radical total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy group. Patients were followed up for 12 months. Symptoms of reflux esophagitis were observed, gastric emptying tests were done, liver and kidney function was also monitored. The quality of life was documented before operation, and one and twelve months after operation.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found among these three groups in the pH value of lower part of esophagus, the blood regular test results and the functional parameters of kidney and liver before and after operation(all P>0.05). Symptoms of reflux esophagitis was reported in 1(2.4%) patients in the jejunal interposition group, 10(24.4%) in esophageal with the posterial of residual-stomach group, and 7(17.1%) in the Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy group(P=0.017). There was 1(2.4%), 10(17.1%), and 8(19.5%) patients presented reflux of barium meal in these three groups, respectively (P=0.046). There were no statistically significant difference in PH at the distal esophagus(6.9±0.2 vs. 6.8±0.1 vs. 6.9±0.1, P=0.196). The quality of life was significantly improved one year after surgery in terms of general status, physical function, emotional function, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, constipation, and diarrhea (all P<0.05), with the jejunal interposition superior than the other two methods.

CONCLUSIONThree methods of digestive tract reconstruction in radical gastrectomy of gastric cancer patients can improve the health status and the quality of life in gastric cancer patients. Radical proximal gastrectomy and jejunal interposition is the preferred method.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Esophagus ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastric Stump ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Quality of Life ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the translocation of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)) after injuries by transfection with green fluorescence protein (GFP)/5-LOX in PC12 cells.

METHODSPC12 cells were stably transfected with pEGFP-C2/5-LOX (GFP/5-LOX) or pEGFP-C2 vectors (control). After treatment with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), H(2)O(2) or NMDA, GFP/5-LOX localization in the cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope. Wild-type 5-LOX was determined by immunostaining after the treatment.

RESULTIn the GFP/5-LOX-transfected cells, GFP/5-LOX was primarily localized in the nucleus; while in the GFP-transfected cells, GFP was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. After OGD and H(2)O(2) treatments, GFP/5-LOX was translocated to the nuclear membrane in 50.6 % and 57.7% cells respectively. However, after NMDA treatment or in GFP-transfected cells, no translocation was observed. Wild-type 5-LOX was distributed in the nuclei and cytoplasm, and all the 3 treatments induced 5-LOX translocation to the nuclear membrane.

CONCLUSIONIn the PC12 cells stably transfected with GFP/5-LOX, GFP/5-LOX is primarily distributed in the nuclei; the OGD-, H(2)O(2)- and NMDA-induced 5-LOX translocation exhibits different properties.

Animals ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; N-Methylaspartate ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Envelope ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Rats ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of decitabine-based conditioning regimen in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) , acute myeloid leukemia secondary to MDS (MDS-AML) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) . Methods: From March 1, 2013 to May 25, 2015, 22 patients who underwent allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with decitabine-based conditioning regimen were analyzed retrospectively. Results: ①22 patients, 14 males and 8 females with a median age of 42.5 (24-56) years old, were diagnosed as MDS (n=14) , CMML (n=4) , MDS-AML (n=4) . ②15 patients were treated with the conditioning regimen of decitabine combined with busulfan, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and cytarabine, the other 7 cases were treated with decitabine, busulfan, fludarabine, and cytarabine. The dose of decitabine was 20 mg·m(-2)·d(-1) for 5 days.Rabbit anti-human anti-thymocyte globulin (2.5 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) for 4 days) was involved in conditioning regimen in patients with unrelated donor or haploidentical transplantation. ③Except 1 patient died of infection in 2 months after transplantation, the other patients were engrafted successfully. The median time of granulocyte engraftment was 13 (12-18) days, and the median time of platelet engraftment was 16 (13-81) days. ④The incidence of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) was (41.3±10.6) %, and severe aGVHD (grade of III-IV) was (18.4±9.7) %. The incidence of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) was (56.4±11.3) %, and extensive cGVHD was (36.4±12.1) %. ⑤8 patients were suffered with cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia. Among the 18 patients with definitely infection, 6 occurred during myelosuppression and 12 cases occurred after hematopoietic reconstruction. The 2-year and 3-year non-relapse mortality was (13.9±7.4) % and (24.3±9.5) %, respectively. ⑥The 2-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) was (77.3±8.9) % and (67.9±10.0) %, respectively. The 2-year and 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was (72.7±9.5) % and (63.6±10.3) %, respectively. Conclusions: allo-HSCT with decitabine-based conditioning regimen is feasible in the treatment of MDS, MDS-AML or CMML.
Adult ; Busulfan ; Decitabine ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD allo-HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA).

METHODSThe clinical data of 41 SAA patients received MSD allo-HSCT from May. 2003 to Aug. 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. 24 patients were male, 17 were female. Median age was 23 (5 - 43) years old. 28 patients had SAA-I, 9 had SAA-II, and 4 had post-hepatitis aplastic anemia. 17 patients received allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation (allo-BMT), and 24 received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation (allo-PBSCT). The conditioning regimens: 20 patients received cyclophosphamide (CY) + anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) + fludarabine (Flu), 21 received CY + ATG + Flu+ cytarabine (Ara-C) ± busulfan (Bu)/melphalan (Mel). Prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): 25 patients received cyclosporine (CSA) plus short-term methotrexate (MTX), 16 received tacrolimus (FK506) plus short-term MTX. The median number of infused CD34(+) cells were 3.48 (2.39 - 4.80)×10(6)/kg in allo-BMT and 2.95 (1.27 - 5.98)×10(6)/kg in allo-PBSCT, respectively.

RESULTSHematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all 41 patients (100%). The median time of neutrophils (ANC) reached to 0.5×10(9)/L and platelets (PLT) reached to 20×10(9)/L were 14 (10 - 23) days and 19 (8 - 38) days, respectively. 12 patients developed acute GVHD (aGVHD), out of which 11 developed grade I-II aGVHD, and one developed grade IV. 2 patients occurred chronic GVHD (cGVHD), out of which one with local cGVHD and the other with extensive. 4 patients occurred graft rejection (GR), all of them recovered haemopoiesis and survived after donor PBSC infusion. 5 patients (12.2%) died, out of which one died of extensive cGVHD, and 4 died of invasive fungal infections (IFI). Median follow-up time was 23 (3 - 79) months. 36 patients survived. 5-year estimated overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), and transplant-related mortality (TRM) was (81.1 ± 9.0)%, (68.4 ± 11.0)%, and (18.9 ± 9.0)%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that lover OS had significant correlation with receiving PBSCT, occurrence of aGVHD, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5×10(6)/kg, the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion before transplant more than 30 U and occurrence of IFI after transplantation (P = 0.034, 0.001, 0.006, 0.000, 0.001, respectively). Occurrence of aGVHD had significant correlation with the disparity between donor and recipient ABO blood groups, the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U, and the number of RBC transfusion more than 30 U before transplantation, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5× 10(6)/kg (P = 0.019, 0.038, 0.005, 0.005, respectively). The occurrence of GR had significant correlation with the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U before transplantation (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONMSD allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for patients with SAA. Lower number of blood transfusion before transplantation, use of BMT, more number of infused CD34(+) cells can effectively prevent and treat aGVHD and IFI after transplantation, which may improve the efficacy of MSD allo-HSCT for SAA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult