Objective To study the change and significance of osteoprotegerin(OPG)/receptor activator of NF κB ligand(RANKL)during the process of rat arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) to differentiate subgroups:7 d (early) subgroup and 14 d (late) subgroup.into osteoblast-like cells.Methods The rat arterial SMCs were divided randomly into the SMC group,atorvastatin group,and osteoblast-like group.Each group was also divided into 2.The osteoblast-like group was given β-glycerophosphate and vitamin C in culture medium,the atorvastatin group was given both β-glycerophosphate,vitamin C and atorvastatin.Von Kossa staining,Ca2+ content assay,ALP activity assay and osteocalcin assayed with Western blot were used to check the level of calcification.Real-time PCR was used to check the mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL.Results There was high expression of OPG (early 2.71 ±0.08,late 2.69 ±0.02) but no RANKL in the SMC group all the time.The expressions of OPG were increased in the early subgroup and decreased in late subgroup in the atorvastatin group (early 3.52±0.05,late 2.50±0.03) and osteoblast-like group (early 4.18±0.10,late 2.30 ± 0.11).And the expressions of RANKL were both increased in the atorvastatin group and osteoblast-like group dnring the calcification process (from 1.01 ± 0.19 to 2.40 ± 0.10,and from 1.70±0.07 to 3.22±0.11,respectively).Among the three groups,the ratio of OPG/RANKL was decreased with the increasing calcification level (F =52.93,2.33,both P＜0.05).And compared with the early subgroups,the ratio of OPG/RANKL in the late subgroups was also decreased along with the increase of calcification level in each group(F=38.71,1.74,both P＜0.05).Conclusions The ratio of OPG/RANKL has a negative correlation with the level of the osteoblast-like cells differentiation,and atorvastatin could inhibit the calcification.

Objective To study the correlation between the features of peripheral lung carcinoma on spiral CT(SCT) and bFGF expression and angiogenesis. Methods 22 cases of peripheral lung carcinoma proved pathologically and examined with CT(SCT) both plain scan and contrast-enhanced scan were analyzed retrospectively . The expressions of bFGF and angiogenesis were detected with immunohistochemical SP method. The SCT features were compared with immunohistochemical results such as bFGF expression, microvessel density (MVD). Results The positive expression of bFGF was 59.9%, and the mean MVD was 46.10?18.18. There was significantly positive correlation between bFGF and MVD (P

Objective To investigate the correlation of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and microvessel density(MVD) value with spiral CT(SCT) features in lung carcinoma.Methods Pre-and post-enhanced SCT scans were performed in 41 cases of lung carcinoma proved surgically and pathologically.There were 29 men and 12 women.22 cases were peripheral lung carcinoma,and 19 cases were central lung carcinoma.SCT characteristics of all cases were analyzed and recorded.SP immunohistochemical technique was experimented on each pathologic specimen.The enhanced range of lesions and the expression of VEGF,MVD value were analyzed using stepwise regression.Chi-square test was performed to determine the correlation between the expression of VEGF,MVD value and CT features in peripheral lung carcinoma.Results CT enhanced degree of lesions increased with the increased level of positive expression of VEGF and MVD value by stepwise regression analysis(standardized coefficients were 0.498 and 0.399,respectively,P3cm in diameter were significantly higher than those of the group with tumor size ≤3 cm.The MVD value increased significantly in cases with deep lubulation sign,spiculate protuberance and vessel convergence(P

Recent studies showed that activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway promoted the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells in the arterial calcification, but its mechanism remains unknown. In this study, the hypothesis that Wnt/β-catenin pathway promotes the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells by upregulating the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) was examined. LiCl was used to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The differentiation of osteoblast-like cells was observed by Von Kossa staining, calcium content assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, and detection of osteocalcin expression. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG, the decoy receptor of RANKL) during the osteoblast-like cell differentiation. Different concentrations of OPG were added to the culture media respectively to inhibit the function of RANKL, and the change in the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells was evaluated. The results showed that when the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated by LiCl, the expression of RANKL was significantly increased, which coincided with the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (P<0.05), and the OPG treatment could partly attenuate the promoting effect of Wnt/β-catenin pathway on the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (P<0.05), but it failed to completely abolish such effect. It was concluded that activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway promotes the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells by both RANKL-dependent and RANKL-independent mechanisms.

There are similarities between magnetotactic bacteria and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) which isolated from Acid mine drainage(AMD). The weak magnetotaxis of some bioleaching bacteria isolated were found by microscope. A magnetophoresis apparatus was designed based on these weak magnetotaxis and be used to analysis the movement of these strains. The physiological properties of the anear magnetic field strain and removed magnetic field strain which isolated successfully by magnetophoresis apparatus have large difference. The nanometer magnetic particles was extract from the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans which purified by spread plate method from AMFS and its main elements are Fe and O by energy spectrum analysis. The results show that A. ferrooxidans have weak magnetotaxis and can be isolated by magnetophoresis. With the development of this new isolating method, the research of magnetotactic bacteria and bioleaching will get more benefit from it.

Objective To investigate the related factors of serum carnitine deficiency in critical ill patients, and the influence of its deficiency on the length of hospital stay. Methods A prospective study was conducted. Critical ill patients with acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score>12 admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March 2013 to September 2013 were enrolled. Serum carnitine concentration and indexes of organ function were determined,and the tolerance of enteral nutrition within 5 days,the length of hospital stay,the length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay,and the hospital mortality were recorded. The relationship between serum carnitine and indexes mentioned above was analyzed. Results Thirty critically ill patients were enrolled. Serum carnitine concentration was very low in all critically ill patients,i.e. (8.92±5.05)μmol/L(normal reference value at 43.5 μmol/L)at hospital admission. Serum carnitine concentration in patients with APACHEⅡscore>23(7 cases)was significantly lower than that in those with APACHEⅡscore 12-23(23 cases,μmol/L:5.33±1.72 vs. 10.02±5.24,t=2.300,P=0.001). Serum carnitine concentration in patients with serum total bilirubin(TBil)>19μmol/L(9 cases)was significantly lower than that in those with TBil≤19μmol/L(21 cases,μmol/L:5.54±2.70 vs. 9.84±5.08,t=2.750,P=0.014). Serum carnitine concentration was negatively correlated with the APACHEⅡscore and the TBil(r=-0.387,P=0.035;r=-0.346,P=0.048). During the 5-day observation period,enteral feeding amount〔(5 134±1 173)mL〕was positively correlated with serum carnitine concentration(r=0.430,P=0.022). In 30 critical patients,the incidence of abdominal distension was 40.0%(12/30),and the serum carnitine concentration of patients with abdominal distension was lower compared with that of patients without abdominal distension(μmol/L:7.83±4.98 vs. 9.12±5.35,t=0.707,P=0.383). The incidence of diarrhea was 26.7%(8/30),and the serum carnitine concentration of diarrhea patients was lower compared with that of patients without diarrhea(μmol/L:8.27±5.78 vs. 9.73±4.78,t=0.607,P=0.576). The mean length of hospital stay was(34.72±16.66)days. The serum carnitine concentrations in patients with hospital stay≥45 days (8 cases)were lower compared with those in those<45 days(22 cases,μmol/L:5.71±3.23 vs. 9.95±5.26,t=1.627,P=0.020). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and the hospital stay(r=-0.165, P=0.385). The length of ICU stay was(18.60±10.72)days. Serum carnitine concentration in patients with the length of ICU stay>7 days(27 cases)was slightly lower than that in those with the length of ICU stay≤7 days (3 cases,μmol/L:8.44±5.00 vs. 13.24±3.65,t=1.610,P=0.119). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and the length of ICU stay(r=-0.019,P= 0.293). In-hospital mortality was 26.67%(8/30). No significant difference in serum carnitine concentrations was found between the death group and the survival group(μmol/L:12.24±6.52 vs. 7.72±3.91,t=-1.846,P=0.098). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and in-hospital mortality(r=0.340,P=0.066). Conclusions Carnitine deficiency is significant in critically ill patients,and it is correlated with disease severity and serum TBil. The total amount of lenteral feeding was lower,and hospital stay was prolonged in critically ill patients with low serum carnitine level.

AIM: To study the protective effect of ethyl pyruvate(EP) on hepatocytes in septic mice.METHODS: The cecal ligation-perforation was made in mice as septic model.Ringer's ethyl pyruvate solution(REPS) and Ringer's lactic solution(RLS) were used to resuscitate septic mice.Anti-oxidative capacity of hepatic tissue and liver function were detected in different groups.RESULTS: Anti-oxidative capacity in septic mice was significantly lower than that in sham group(P

Objective To examine the frequency and the course of cytomegalovims infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and correlation of transplant factors with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and viral load. Methods Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we detected the copies of CMV-DNA in blood samples of the 62 patients after allo-HSCT. Furthermore, we studied the relationship between transplant factors and CMV infection. Results Among the total, 23 cases were contracted with CMV infection, 4 cases developed to CMV disease. 22 cases were cured and 1 case died. Course of CMV infection influenced the viral load significantly. Donor type, stem cell source, use of ATG, Ⅱ-Ⅳ grade aGVHD, use of glucocorticoid, complicating with other infection and use of cellular filter significantly influenced CMV infection. However, in multivariate analysis, none of them was the independent risk factors. Conclusion Real-time polymerase chain reaction may be used to early diagnose of the CMV infection and to guide treatment. Many factors influenced CMV infection. Early diagnosis and treatment could decrease the morbidity and mortality of CMV infection.

Objective To explore the clinical outcome of improved technique of Gamma nail in the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fracture of the elderly patients. Methods From March 2002 to October 2006.39 patients with intertrochanteric hip fracture were operated by improved technique of Gam-ma nail.There were 18 males and 21 females at average age of75.7 years(67_98 years).There were 6 patients with type A1 fracture,24 with type A2 fracture and 9 with type A3 fracture according to AO/ASIF classification.Of all.36 patients(92.3%)had osteoporosis.The operation improvements included the following points:(1)The patients were placed at the lateral decubitus position with the fractured limb on the uppermost,with flexion of knee and hip of 60°.The normal hip and knee were flexed as possible.(2)One-off indirect traction reduction was used after general anesthesia. no requirement of continuous mechanical traction.(3)C-arm image intensifier was employed to obtain normal and lateral projections.Results Of all,35 patients were followed up for a mean period of3 years and 2 months, ranging from 6 months to 5 years and 2 months.Operation data showed incision length of(4.3±1.2)cm,mean opera-tion time of(46±10)minutes,intraoperative bleeding volume of(65±26)ml and intraoperative X-ray exposure of(3.0±2.1)times.Postoperative recovery data showed survival in one-year follow up,with ambulation time of(10.5±3.6)days and fracture union time of(10.9±2.1)weeks.Mean Parker's score wag(6.9±3.2)points 6 months after operation. Conclusions Improved technique of Gamma nail can shorten operation duration,reduce operative trauma and bleeding,reduce X-ray exposure and im-prove success rate of surgery.as facilitates early pest-operative recovery and reduces the perioperative mortality rate of the elderly.

Objective:To identify anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) antibody in patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology and describe the clinical features of anti-DPPX antibody-associated encephalitis in Chinese patients.Methods:For patients registered in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital Encephalitis and Paraneoplastic Syndrome Registration Project from 2016 to 2019 with negative findings in autoimmune encephalitis routine antibody profile and paraneoplastic antibody profile, but with positive tissue-based assay (TBA) results, further tests for rare antibodies, including cell-based assay (CBA) of anti-DPPX antibody, were performed. Patients positive for anti-DPPX antibody were enrolled and the clinical data were collected.Results:Two patients with anti-DPPX antibody-associated encephalitis were found from 2016 to 2019 among about 15 000 patients. Both were females, aged 46 and 75 years. One patient had diarrhea, cachexia, cognitive dysfunction, agitation, myoclonus, tremor, and seizures. The other had cognitive impairment, restlessness, memory loss, disorientation, and sleep disturbance. The second patient had medical history of systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary Sj?gren′s syndrome.Conclusions:TBA should be combined with CBA in identification of anti-DPPX antibody to confirm the diagnosis. Anti-DPPX antibody-associated encephalitis has clinical manifestations of encephalopathy with diarrhea and cachexia, and can coexist with systemic lupus erythematosus.