BACKGROUND:The clinical research have found that the interbervebral disc herniation often occurs in several members or even al the members of a family, and the location, reason and symptom are basical y the same, indicating that genes play an important role in this kind of disease. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the apoptosis Fas gene expression characteristics of lumbar disc in the familial patients with intervertebral disc herniation. METHODS:Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR was used to test Fas gene expression of vertebral pulp and cartilage endplate in the intervertebral disc among 15 familial patients, 21 ordinary patients and five fresh cadavers. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fas gene expression level of endplate of familial and ordinary patients with intervertebral disc herniation was higher than that of fresh cadavers, and there was no significant difference (P<0.05);there was no significant difference in Fas gene expression in endplates between familial patients and ordinary patients with intervertebral disc herniation (P>0.05). Compared with the vertebral pulps of ordinary patients with intervertebral disc herniation and fresh cadavers, there was no significant difference in the Fas expression of vertebral pulps of familial patients with intervertebral disc herniation (P>0.05). The increasing Fas gene expression may be secondary in the endplates of familial patients with intervertebral disc herniation, which can prevent intervertebral disc degeneration through preventing the endplate degeneration.

Objective To detect the expression of aquaporin 1 in pancreas of rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) and to study the effect of Dachengqi decoction on it.MethodsOne hundred and sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group ( C group,n =32 ),ANP group ( n =32),Dexamethasone group (De group,n =32),Acetazolamide group (A group,n =32) and Dachengqi decoction group (DD group,n =32).ANP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the biliary and pancreatic duct.Rats in De group received dexamethasone (4 mg/kg) intravenously after ANP induction; while rats in A group received 1 ml acetazolamide via gastric lavage 2 h before ANP induction; rats in DD group received 2 ml Dachengqi decoction via gastric lavage 48,24,2h before ANP induction; rats in C group received laparotomy.Eight rats in each group were sacrificed at 3 h,6 h,12 h and 18h after induction of ANP models.Quantity of ascites and levels of serum amylases were measured.Pathological changes in pancreas tissue were detected by HE and electron microscope.Capillary permeability in pancreas tissue was detected by Evans Blue (EB) extravasations method.AQP1 expression in pancreas tissue was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting.ResultsLevels of serum amylase in ANP group was significantly higher,and the pancreatic injuries were obvious ; the levels of serum amylase in De group and DD group was lower than that in ANP group,and the pancreatic injuries were attenuated.The levels of serum amylase in A group were higher than that in ANP group,and the pancreatic.injuries were more severe than that in ANP group.Six hours after ANP induction,the levels of EB in pancreas were (13.44 ±2.56),(126.35 ± 14.80),(86.31 ± 14.46),( 108.99 ± 15.07 ),(78.29 ± 16.85 ) mg/L In C group,ANP group,De group,A group and DD group,and the expression of AQP1 mRNA in pancreatic tissue was ( 170.07 ± 22.48 ) ％,( 83.93 ± 8.98 ) ％,( 117.09 ±10.70 ) ％,( 69.00 ± 8.98 ) ％,( 112.82 ± 11.79 ) ％ ; and the expression of AQP1 protein was 0.23 ± 0.06,0.10 ±0.02,0.32 ±0.03,0.13 ±0.02,0.45 ±0.04.The content of EB in ANP group was higher than that in C group,while the expression of AQP1 mRNA and protein in ANP group was significantly lower than that in C group (P ＜ 0.05 ).The content of EB in De group and DD group was significantly lower than that in ANP group,while the expression of AQP1 mRNA and protein was significantly higher than that in ANP group (P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsAQP1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of capillary endothelial barrier dysfunction in rats with ANP.Dachengqi Decoction can attenuate pancreatic injuries of rats by regulating the expression of AQP1.

Objective Even after successful surgical repair,patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) are at high risk of long-term morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular events,which is probably related to persistent arterial disfunction during long-terr follow-up after operation,The aim of the study was to explore the alterations of vascular structure and function in children with successfully repaired CoA in the short-and mid-term follow-up.Methods A cohort of 20 children who underwent CoA repair between January 2010 and October 2010 in Guangzhou women and children's Medical Center was studied.There were 14 males and 6 females in CoA group,which comprised 6 patients with isolated CoA,14 patients with CoA associated with intracardia anomalies,whose median age of operation was 4 months (rang from lmonth to 10.0 years).And 20 patients with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) were included as VSD group during the same time,with 12 males and 8 females,whose median age of operation was 5 months (rang from 1 month to 12.0 years).Resting blood pressure,flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery,carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were compared in CoA group and VSD group,including preoperative media data and follow-up of 1 month,6 months and 1 year.In addition,as comparison to the operation group,20 health children with normal echocardiographic findings,whose median age was 5 months (rang from 3 month to 10.0 years),were selected as health group for the 1-year following up.None of them had obesity,hyperlipidemia,diabetes mellitus,metabolic diseases or systemic inflammatory disease.Results As a result of the datas before operation and those I month,6 months and 1 year after operation,all children were normotensive at rest.In the same period,Carotid IMT in CoA group[(0.47 ± 0.10)mm,(0.49 ±0.10) mm,(0.57 ±0.07)mm,(0.61 ± 0.07) mm]was significantly thicker than that in VSD group[(0.41 ±0.11) mm,(0.43 ±0.11)mm,(0.51 ±0.08) mm,(0.55 ±0.08) mm](P＜0.05) and health group[(0.40 ±0.09) mm,(0.42 ±0.11)mm,(0.50 ±0.08) mm,(0.57 ±0.08) mm](P ＜0.05),Brachial artery FMI in children with CoA[(5.4,6 ±1.51)％,(5.71 ±1.88)％,(5.42±1.69)％,(5.27±1.02)％]was significantly lower than that in the VSD control group[(6.69±1.45) ％,(6.66±1.21)％,(6.81 ±1.03)％,(6.43±1.34)％](P＜0.05) and health group[(6.59 ±1.84)％,(6.84±1.41)％,(6.91 ±1.31)％,(6.56±1.62)％](P＜0.05).Significant difference could not be found in neither the IMT nor the FMI between the VSI control group and health group in 4 period respectively,P ＞ 0.05.Conclusion Children after successful coarctation repair have abnomal structural and functional properties of the aorta above the place of coarctation even their blood pressure at rest is normal.These results confirm that the alterations in mechanical properties of carotid arteries as well as the generalized endothelial dysfunction in children with coarctation of the aorta are persistent,which can not be prevented or reversed by surgical repair,and which may partly explain the high incidence of cardiovascular disease observed in their adulthood and reduced life expectancy,furtherly supporting the claim that coartation of the aorta is a systemic vascular disorder which needs long-term follow-up of vascular function.

Objective To construct recombinant retroviral vector containing human hepatocellular carcinoma-related gene ANGPTL4 ( angiopoietin-like 4) cDNA and to evaluate antitumor effect of recombinant retroviral vector-mediated human ANGPTL4 gene transfer. Methods ANGPTL4 cDNA was cloned in vitro from human liver cell lines HL-7702 and subcloned into plasmid vector pMSCV and sequenced. High-tiler recombinant retrovirus pMSCV-ANGPTLA and blank retrovirus pMSCV packaged under mediation of lipofectamine infected HepG2 cells in vitro, respectively. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy detected expression of GFP (green fluorescence protein) in HepG2 cells. The expression of ANGPTL4 mRNA in HepG2 cells was determined. Results Recombinant retroviral vector pMSCV-ANGPTL4 was constructed successfully. Titer of recombinant retrovirus pMSCV-ANGPTL4 packaged is 1. 4 ? 106 infective viral grains /ml. Titer of blank retrovirus pMSCV packaged was 1. 5 ? 106 infective viral grains /ml. Positive cell rate of HepG2-ANGPTL4 cells group expressing GFP was 68.45% , and average intensity of fluorescence of HepG2-ANGPTL4 cells group was 31.67 -fold as that of HepG2 cells group. Positive cell rate of HepG2-pMSCV cells group expressing GFP was 77.72%, and average intensity of fluorescence of HepG2-pMSCV cells group was 64. 87 -fold as that of HepG2 cells group. The expression of ANGPTL4 mRNA in HepG2-ANGPTL4 cells group was higher than that in HepG2-pMSCV cells group (154%) and HepG2 cells group( 161%). The proliferation rate of HepG2-ANGPTL4 cells group in vitro was lower than HepG2-pMSCV cells group and HepG2 cells group (P

AIM: To investigate the levels of mRNA, protein of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) and caspase 3 in the drug resistance induced by doxorubicin in human gallbladder carcinoma cell line GBC-SD, the effect of ceramide metabolism in this process was examined. METHODS: Human gallbladder carcinoma cell line GBC-SD was treated by doxorubicin at concentration of 200 ?g/L for 12 weeks (named GBC-SD12). Cytotoxicity, mRNA and protein of GCS were measured on 1st week, 4th week and 12th week by MTT assays, RT-PCR or Western blotting. The levels of caspase 3 were measured by spectrofluorometry. RESULTS: A 3.8-fold increase in drug resistance to doxorubicin in GBC-SD12 was observed. Up-regulation of GCS mRNA and protein were also detected in GBC-SD12 (P

By activity-guided fractionation, gliotoxin was isolated as an antibacterial metabolite of the fungus Penicillium decumbens which was derived from the jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai. Gliotoxin was further evaluated for antibacterial activity against several piscine and human MDR (multidrug resistance) pathogens. Gliotoxin showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive piscine pathogens such as Streptococcus iniae FP5228, Streptococcus iniae FP3187, Streptococcus parauberis FP3287, Streptococcus parauberis SPOF3K, S. parauberis KSP28, and Lactococcus garvieae FP5245. Gliotoxin showed strong activity especially against S. parauberis SPOF3K and S. iniae FP5228, which are resistant to oxytetracycline. It is noteworthy that gliotoxin effectively suppressed streptococci which are the major pathogens for piscine infection and mortality in aquaculture industry. Gliotoxin also showed strong antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant human pathogens (MDR) including Enterococcus faecium 5270 and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) 3089.
Aquaculture ; Enterococcus faecium ; Fungi ; Gliotoxin ; Humans ; Lactococcus ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mortality ; Oxytetracycline ; Penicillium ; Staphylococcus ; Streptococcus

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that IL-33, a novel member of the IL-1b family, is involved in organ fibrosis. However, the roles of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 in epidural fibrosis post spine operation remain elusive. METHODS: A mouse model of epidural fibrosis was established after laminectomy. IL-33 in the wound tissues post laminectomy was measured with Western blotting, ELISA and imaging. The fibroblast cell line NIH-3T3 and primary fibroblasts were treated with IL-33 and the mechanisms of maturation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts were analyzed. To explore roles of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 In vivo, IL-33 knockout (KO) and ST2 KO mice were employed to construct the model of laminectomy. The epidural fibrosis was evaluated using H&E and Masson staining, western-blotting, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: As demonstrated in western blotting and ELISA, IL-33 was increased in epidural wound tissues post laminectomy. The immunoflurosence imaging revealed that endothelial cells (CD31 + ) and fibroblasts (a-SAM +) were major producers of IL-33 in the epidural wound tissues. In vitro, IL-33 promoted fibroblast maturation, which was blocked by ST2 neutralization antibody, suggesting that IL-33-promoted-fibroblasts maturation was ST2 dependent. Further, IL-33/ ST2 activated MAPK p38 and TGF-β pathways. Either p38 inhibitor or TGF-β inhibitor decreased fibronectin and a-SAM production from IL-33-treated fibroblasts, suggesting that p38 and TGF-β were involved with IL-33/ST2 signal pathways in the fibroblasts maturation. In vivo, IL-33 KO or ST2 KO decreased fibronectin, a-SMA and collagen deposition in the wound tissues of mice that underwent spine surgery. In addition, TGF-β 1 was decreased in IL-33 KO or ST2 KO epidural wound tissues. CONCLUSION In summary, IL-33/ST2 promoted fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts via MAPK p38 and TGF-β in a mouse model of epidural fibrosis after laminectomy.

Objective:To monitor the blood pressure in pediatric patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) before and 8 years after surgery, and explore the mechanism of elevated blood pressure in pediatric patients with repaired CoA.Methods:A cohort of 23 pediatric patients who underwent CoA repair between January 2010 and October 2010 in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center was studied. And 20 age-, sex-match patients with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) who underwent surgery at the same time, 20 age-, sex-match health patients with normal echocardiographic findings were included in the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), arm-leg SBP gradient, right carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were monitored at baseline(1 day before surgery) and 8-year follow-up (8 years after surgery).Results:There were no differences in SBP and DBP among patients with CoA, patients with VSD and health children at baseline ( P>0.05). But at 8-year follow-up, 2 patients with CoA exhibited hypertension. Not only that, patients with CoA had higher SBP than patients with VSD and health children at 8-year follow-up ( P<0.05). Patients with CoA had higher arm-leg SBP gradient than patients with VSD and health children at baseline ( P<0.01). But there were no differences in arm-leg SBP among patients with CoA, patients with VSD and health children at 8-year follow-up ( P>0.05). Patients with CoA had increased CIMT and higher serum levels of TGF-β1 at baseline and 8-year follow-up ( P<0.05). The preoperative levels of CIMT and serum TGF-β1 in the patients with CoA were highly positively correlated with their levels at 8-year follow-up, respectively ( P<0.01). There was a strong correlation between the levels of CIMT and serum TGF-β1 in patients with CoA, both preoperatively and postoperatively ( P<0.01). The preoperative and postoperative levels of CIMT and serum TGF-β1 in the patients with CoA were highly positively correlated with SBP at 8-year follow-up, respectively( P<0.05). Conclusion:Although surgery can successfully cure the anatomical " stenosis" , patients with CoA have elevated systolic blood pressure than normal people and patients with simple congenital heart disease (such as VSD). And some of the patients with CoA suffer from hypertension at long-term follow-up, even they are normotensive preoperatively. It may be related to vascular remodeling, in which TGF-β signaling pathway may be involved. Monitoring CIMT and TGF-β1 in patients with CoA preoperatively may be significative for prediction for the levels of SBP postoperatively.

The aim of the study was to develop a simple, rapid and accurate LC-MS/MS method for the determination of digoxin.Digoxin-d3 was taken as the internal standard (IS), and sample preparation was achieved by liquid-liquid extraction.Chromatographic separation was performed on a Kinetex C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 2.6 μm; Phenomenex) using an isocratic elution with merely 2 min for each sample.The mobile phase consisted of water and acetonitrile solutions, both containing 1 mmol/L ammonium acetate and 1 mmol/L formic acid (55∶45).The detection was conducted on a TripleQuadTM 4500MD mass spectrometer coupled with electrospray ionization interface under positive-ion multiple reaction monitoring mode.The transitions were m/z 798.5 → 651.3 and m/z 801.6 → 654.4 for digoxin and digoxin-d3, respectively.Results showed that the method was linear over the range of 0.100-20.0 ng/mL.The selectivity, accuracy and precision, recovery and stability of the method were all within the acceptable limits with no matrix effect.This method was successfully applied to a girl treated with digoxin with substantial improvement of therapeutic effect and elimination of toxic reaction, so it can provide valuable fuidance and reference for individualized medication in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND:Nanocomposite hydrogel has great research prospects and application potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of nanocomposite hydrogel in osteoarthritis and cartilage repair. METHODS:Databases such as CNKI and PubMed were searched.The English key words were"nanocomposite hydrogel,nanogel,osteoarthritis,cartage,physical encapsulation,electrostatic interaction,covalent crosslinking",and the Chinese key words were"nanocomposite hydrogel,nanogel,osteoarthritis,cartage,physical encapsulation,physical encapsulation,electrostatic effect,covalent cross-linking".After an initial screening of all articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,71 articles with high correlation were retained for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In cell or animal experiments,nanocomposite hydrogel has the effect of improving osteoarthritis.Nanocomposite hydrogel can promote cartilage repair,improve the internal environment of osteoarthritis,and achieve the therapeutic purpose of osteoarthritis by improving the mechanical environment between joints,carrying targeted drugs,and promoting the chondrogenesis of seed cells.At present,the research of nanocomposite hydrogel in osteoarthritis disease still has a huge space to play.It is expected to open up a new way for the clinical treatment of osteoarthritis by continuing to deepen the research of material preparation and actively carrying out cell and animal experiments.