Objective To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine on neonates with myocardial injury caused by as?phyxia. Methods Forty-four neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia were randomly divided into L-carnitine treatment group (21 cases) and control group (23 cases). Patients in control group were received routine treatment and pa?tients in treatment group were given L-carnitine 0. 1 g/(kg · d) on the basis of routine treatment for 7 days. Symptoms and physical signs were observed before therapy and during the treatment in two groups. Before and after the treatment, plasma levels of free L-carnitine and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were detected with the method of colorimetric assay and chemilumi?nescent, respectively. Results The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in treatment group than that of control group (90.48%vs 60.87%, P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, there was a significantly higher plasma concentra?tion of free L-carnitine in treatment group after treatment [(27.00±5.69)μmol/L vs (13.20±3.04)μmol/L, P<0.05]. In treat?ment group, plasma concentration of free L-carnitine was significantly higher after treatment than that of pre-therapy [(14.87 ± 3.95)μmol/L,P<0.05]. Compared with the control group, there was a significantly lower plasma concentration of cTnI after treatment in treatment group [(0.025±0.006)μg/L vs (0.046±0.010)μg/L, P<0.05]. In the treatment group, there was a significant correlation between decreased plasma concentration of cTnI and increased plasma concentration of free L-carnitine (r=0.899, P<0.05). Conclusion Administration of L-carnitine can effectively decrease the abnormal plasma lev?el of cTnI in neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia, and thereby protect the myocardium.

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal protein anchored on the plasma membrane and highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).GPC3 could he used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC and the serum levels of GPC3 in liver cancer patients has a significant role for their prognosis.Moreover, GPC3 in HCC cells is immunoreactive, rendering it a suitable target for the treatment of HCC.Nowadays, several clinical trials targeting GPC3 for HCC therapy have already been conducted: new anti- GPC3 antibodies are generated; the clinical trials about its combination administration with other targeted medicines are being in progress; (tP(3-targeted TRAB, GPC3 vaccines and GPC3-based chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) therapy are under investigation.In this review, we briefly discuss the structure of GPC3, its role in HCC pathogenesis and summarize the recent development in the clinical application of GPC3.We firmly believe that GPC3 would be a promising target for HCC therapy.And further studies focusing on GPC3 should provide us more solid evidence.

Objective: To establish quantitative analysis of multi-components with single marker (QAMS) for determination of 10 phloroglucinol contents in effective fraction of Dryopteris fragrans. Methods: The relative correction factors of nine phloroglucinol (aspidin PB, aspidin AB, flavaspidic acid BB, saroaspidin A, flavaspidic acid PB, disflavapidic acid PB, flavaspidic acid AB, compound VI, and aspidinol B) were determined by HPLC method with the aspidinn BB as the internal standard, which were to calculate the content of each. At the same time, external standard method (ESM) was used to determine the contents of 10 components in effective fraction, and the differences between the two methods were compared to verify the feasibility and accuracy of QAMS method. Results: The relative correction factor (RCF) was good. There was no significant difference between the quantitative results with the two methods in the 12 batches of 10 phloroglucinols. Conclusion: The established QAMS method can be used for quantitative analysis of D. fragrans with aspidinn BB as the internal standard in the absence of reference substances, and provided a reference for the multi-index quality evaluation in effective fraction of D. fragrans.

Background Contrast sensitivity (CS) of amblyopia has been extensively studied,but its relationship with spatial frequency channels needs further research. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons of the CS deficits in amblyopia through comparing the differences in CS between amblyopic and normal eyes from the point of view of spatial frequency channels. MethodsThe CS values of 166 normal children eyes and 143 amblyopic children abnormal eyes were measured by adopting OPTEC 6500.Then,spatial frequency channels' tuning curves were derived via principal component analysis and non-orthogonal rotation.Also,numbers and bandwidths of channels were calculated using the method of full width at half maximum ( FWHM ).All of these were used to analyze the variations of CS between amblyopia and normal eyes by comparing the numbers and the bandwidths of the channels.The reliability of spatial frequency channel was verified by a cross-validation study of 43 amblyopic children. ResultAt spatial frequency of 1.5,3.0,6.0,12.0,18.0 cpd,the mean of CS of amblyopia were 36.35±21.40,50.33 ± 33.46,46.88 ± 41.72,16.24 ± 17.26,4.67 ± 5.79,and the mean of CS of normal eyes were 49.49±24.69,87.23±40.87,93.18±51.99.36.63±24.72,15.70±13.87,with the rank-sum test results were H =27.83,66.61,68.34,78.23,89.88,P＜0.05.There existed three spatial frequency channels in both amblyopia and normal eyes.At the peaks of 3.0,6.0 and 12.0 cpd,the bandwidths of normal eyes were 1.03,1.02 and 0.99 octaves,and the bandwidths of amblyopia were 1.04,1.01and 0.73 octaves.Conclusions The reduction in bandwidths of the corresponding spatial frequency channels may cause the CS deficits in amblyopia.

Objective To investigate the function of soluble stem cell factor receptor(s-kit)and stem cell factor(SCF) in chronic aplastic anemia(CAA).Methods ELISA assay was employed to determine the levels of s-kit and SCF in peripheral blood of CAA patients and umbilical cord blood.Results The levels of s-kit and SCF in peripheral blood of CAA patients are lower than those of normal group and umbilical cord blood group.Conclusions The decreased levels of s-kit and SCF show that s-kit and SCF may play a role in CAA mechanism.The raised levels of s-kit and SCF show that s-kit and SCF may be applied in the field of cord blood transplantation.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of UGT1A6 and UGT1A9 gene polymorphisms on blood concentration of valproic acid in Han epileptic patients.METHODS:Totally 107 Chinese Han epileptic patients were selected from outpatient department of our hospital during Jan.2014-Apr.2015.They were given valproic acid monotherapy treatment for 3 months to 6 years.The steady state concentration ofvalproic acid was detected by EMIT.UGT1A6 (rs2070959,rs6759892) and UGT1A9 (rs13418420,rs2741045,rs2741049,rs6731242,rs72551330) genotypes were detected by MALDI-TOF-MS.The correlation of gene polymorphism with con centration dose ratios (CDR) of valproic acid was investigated.RESULTS:UGT1A9 rs72551330 mutation had not been detected,and the frequency of genotypes in other 6 sites were all in line with Hardy-Weinberg balance (P＞0.05).The CDR of valproic acid in pa tients with UGT1A6 rs2070959,rs6759892 mutation (AG+GG or TG+GG type) were significantly lower than those with wild homozy gote (AA or TT type),with statistical significance (P＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance in CDR of valproic acid among patients with UGT1A9 rs13418420,rs2741045,rs2741049 and rs6731242 wild homozygote and mutation (P＞0.05).CONCLUSIONS:UGT1A6 rs2070959,rs6759892 gene polymorphisms of Han epileptic patients are associated with blood concentration of valproic acid,and the patients with UGT1A6 rs2070959,rs6759892 mutation need more dose ofvalproic acid.

Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; methods ; Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)-conjugated nanoparticles between breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells with high metabolism and breast fibroblasts with normal metabolism, and investigate the feasibility of using the coated nanoparticles as a MRI-targeted contrast agent for highly metabolic carcinoma cells.

METHODSThe γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG was prepared. The glucose metabolism level of both cell lines was determined. The targeting efficacy of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG and γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs to breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells and breast fibroblasts at 10 min, 30 min, 1 h and 2 h was measured with Prussian blue staining and UV colorimetric assay. MRI was performed to visualize the changes of T2WI signal intensity.

RESULTSPrussian blue staining showed more intracellular blue granules in the MDA-MB-231 cells of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG NPs group than that in the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA NPs group, and the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG uptake was greatly competed by free D-glucose. As revealed by UV colorimetric assay, MDA-MB-231 cells also showed that the cellular iron amount of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG group was significantly higher than that of the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA group and γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG + D-glucose group, statistically with a significant difference between them. MRI showed that the signal intensity of γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG group was decrease significantly, the T2 signal intensity was decreased by 10.5%, 37.5%, 72.9%, 92.0% for 10 min, 30 min, 1 h and 2 h, respectively. In contrast, the signal intensity did not show obvious decrease in the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG group, the T2 signal intensity was decreased by 8.5%, 11.4%, 32.0%, 76.7% for 10 min, 30 min, 1 h and 2 h, respectively. However, HUM-CELL-0056 cells did not produce apparent difference for positive staining in the γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG group, γ-Fe2O3@DMSA group and γ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG+D-glucose group, and the signal intensity also did not produce apparent difference.

CONCLUSIONSγ-Fe2O3@DMSA-DG has good targeting ability to highly metabolic breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells. It is feasible to serve as a specific MRI-targeted contrast agent for highly metabolic carcinoma cells, and deserves further studies in vivo.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Contrast Media ; pharmacokinetics ; Deoxyglucose ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Nanoconjugates ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Succimer ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUNDDiabetic nephropathy is a major cause of renal failure in diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been known that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers have a renal protective effect. This study aimed to investigate whether treatment with angiotensin II receptor blocker, olmesartan, could modify renal hemodynamic variables and vascular structural properties, then attenuate renal injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM rats.

METHODSDM was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of STZ. The rats were then randomized to a DM group and an olmesartan treatment (OLM + DM) group. The normal group (non-DM) were administered only citrate buffer. At the end of the 14th week, blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight and urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio were determined. Further, the flow-pressure and pressure-glomerular filtration rate (GFR) relationships were determined for maximally vasodilated, perfused kidneys. From the relationship, 3 indices of vascular structural properties were estimated: slope of flow-pressure (minimal renal vascular resistance, reflecting overall luminal dimensions of preglomerular and postglomerular vasculature), slope of pressure-GFR (glomerular filtration capacity against pressure) and threshold pressure for beginning filtration at pressure-GFR (preglomerular to postglomerular vascular resistance ratio). Kidneys were then perfusion fixed for histological analysis. The renal histopathology was observed by light microscopy.

RESULTSThe body weight of DM rats was lower than that of non-DM rats. Blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio were significantly greater in DM rats than in non-DM rats. The parameters such as kidney weight/body weight, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio in OLM + DM rats had dramatically decreased compared with those in DM rats. However, the treatment with olmesartan had no effect on blood glucose levels. The slope of flow-pressure relationship was greater in DM rats than that in non-DM rats (P < 0.05). But the slope of the pressure-GFR relationship was lower in DM rats than that in non-DM rats (P < 0.05) with the x-intercept of the line similar between the two groups. The slope of the flow-pressure relationship was decreased in DM rats group treated with olmesartan (P < 0.05). Moreover, olmesartan significantly increased the slope of the pressure-GFR relationship in DM rats (P < 0.05). The x-intercept of the pressure-GFR relationship reduced following olmesartan in DM rats.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with olmesartan reduced urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio independent of blood glucose and increased average renal vessel lumen diameter in the perfused kidneys of STZ-induced DM rats, predominantly in preglomerular vessels, and then improved renal excretory capability. These findings were consistent with remodeling of the preglomerular vasculature in our hisological measurements.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Imidazoles ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles

Objective To explore the role of NF-kB activation on spontaneous formation of germinal centers in spleen in BXSB mice and it's mechanisms.Methods Eighteen BXSB mice were divided to control group and pyrrolidine dithiocarbonate(PDTC)group randomly.PDTC group was given PDTC 120 mg/kg?BW ip every other day and control group was given the same dose of dissolving solution.NF-kB activity was deter- mined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Two color flow cytometry were used to detect CD154 expression on splenic B cells and germinal center B cells apoptosis.Germinal centers were stained for histochemical analysis.Results PDTC could inhibit the NF-kB activity in spleen tissue in BXSB mice.It decreased the NF-kB activity by 62.82%.Spontaneous germinal center formation was detected in spleen in BXSB mice.In- hibiting NF-KB activation could down-regulate CD154 expression on splenic B cell,retard spontaneous germi- nal center formation and increase germinal center B cell apoptosis.Conclusion NF-kB activation may induce spontaneous germinal center formation in spleen in BXSB mice by upregulating CD154 expression on splenic B cell and decreasing germinal center B cell apoptosis.The autoreactive B cells generated during spontaneous germinal center formation may escape apoptosis and then differentiate to autoantibody-producing plasm cells.It suggests that NF-kB can be a therapeutic target.