Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) expression in bronchial epithelial cells (Beas-2B)induced by particulate matter 2.5(PM2.5).Methods PM2.5 powder was dis-solved in DMEM medium and diluted into five concentrations , 0,12.5,25,50 and 100μg/ml, respectively.The double an-tibiotics ( streptomycin and penicillin ) and FBS were added into the solution to a 2% final concentration of serum system after being treated by ultrasound for 30 minutes.The cultured Beas-2B cells were then treated with different doses of PM2.5.Subsequently, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) transactivity and the transcriptional activation of vegf gene promot-er were tested by dual-luciferase reporter gene analysis system while phosphorylation of p 65 , expression levels of IκBαand VEGF were detected by Western blotting .Results PM2.5 induced up-regulation of VEGF expression in Beas-2B cells in a dose-dependent manner , accompanied by NF-κB transactivation at the highest level under 100 μg/ml of PM2.5 treatment. Moreover, PM2.5 induced degradation of the repressor protein IκBαand increase in the phosphorylation level of p 65 sub-unit in Beas-2B cells.Knockdown of NF-κB p65 expression significantly inhibited vegf gene promoter transcriptional activa-tion as well as VEGF protein expression in Beas-2B cells induced by PM2.5.Conclusion PM2.5 induces VEGF expres-sion via activation of NF-κB pathway in bronchial epithelial cells .

ObjectiveTo study the relevant effect of proinflammatory cytokines interelenkin-17(IL-17), -6 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) on statins attenuating no-reflow phenomenon after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats.MethodsEighteen healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to body weight: sham operation, injury, preconditioning groups. The preconditioning group was given atorvastatin 2 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 and the other two groups were given the same volume of saline once. After 7 days, the rats were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of chloral hydrate, and then the thoracic cavity was opened. The coronary artery of injury group and preconditioning group were ligated for 60 minutes, and then opened for 15 minutes, to establish the rat acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model. The sham operation group was was treated with a seam through the coronary artery without ligation. Eleetrocardiogram was checked before ligation, and ligation was carried out for 15, 30, 45 minutes and then reperfusion for 15 minutes. After reperfusion for 15 minutes, the thioflavine S and Even's were injected from femoral venous, then the heart and blood were obtained(keeping left ventricular only). Hearts were flushed with saline and sliced transversely into five to seven sections. Finally, observed at 365 nm wave length the existence of non-fluorescent areas, which was no-reflow zone. The level of serum IL-17, IL-6 and ET-1 was detected by ELISA. Results The electrocardiogram confirmed that the sham operation group had no ischemic damage and the model of myocardial ischemia- reperfusion was established in preconditioning group and injury group. The noreflow phenomenon could be observed under 365 nm wave length in preconditioning group and injury group. The ligated area[LA％, (57.34 ± 11.49)％, (53.08 ± 8.66)％] of injury group and preconditioning group was higher than that of sham operation group(0, all P ＜ 0.05); the area of no-reflow[ANF％, (48.96 ± 6.94)％, (21.37 ±3.35)％] of injury group and preconditioning group was higher than that of sham operation group(0, all P ＜ 0.05),and the ANF％ of preconditioning group was lower than that of injury group(P ＜ 0.05) ; the level of serum IL-17,IL-6 and ET-1[(151.67 ± 11.19) × 10-9, (167.89 ± 5.13) × 10-9, (322.37 ± 19.08) × 10-9 g/L] of injury group was higher than those of sham group and preconditioning operation group[(49.75 ± 14.06) × 10-9, (59.32 ± 5.26) ×10-9, (109.9 ± 12.12) × 10-9, (90.45 ± 11.63) × 10-9, (112.47 ± 10.40) × 10-9 and(198.91 ± 27.88) × 10-9 g/L,P ＜ 0.05], the level of serum IL-17, IL-6 and ET-1 of preconditioning group was higher than those of sham operation group(P＜ 0.05). Conclusionsno-reflow phenomenon is related with IL-17 and ET-1 which can promote the expression of IL-6, statins decreases the expression of IL-17 and ET-1, and then decreases the on-reflow phenomenon.

AIMTo explore the effects of M3 receptor on myocyte apoptosis induced by acute myocardial infarction in rats.

METHODSRat model was induced by ligation of the anterior branch of the left coronary artery. All animals were divided into four groups: sham-operated group, occlusion group, choline group (10 mg x kg(-1), iv), and 4DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine-methiodide) group (0.12 mg x kg(-1), iv). The serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined. The infarct size areas on the myocardium were identified by TTC staining. The apoptosis in cardiomyocyte was detected by TUNEL assay and apoptosis-related proteins in Bcl-2 and Fas expression were measured by immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTSM3 receptor agonist choline reduced serum MDA content and increased SOD activity. The myocardial expression of Bcl-2 was increased, whereas the expression of Fas was decreased by choline. However, blockade of M3 receptor by 4DAMP completely inhibited these effects of choline on cardiac myocytes.

CONCLUSIONActivation of M3 receptor has protective effect on myocyte apoptosis induced by acute myocardial infarction in rat, and this effect might be related to modulating the expression of some immediateearly genes including Bcl-2 and Fas.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Choline ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; agonists ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; fas Receptor

Objective To observe the changes of brain neurotransmitters in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS) with encephalofluc-tuogram technology (ET). Methods From August, 2015 to December, 2016, 30 patients with VVS were selected as case group, 30 controls matched with sex and age were selected from the outpatients without syncope. They were detected the function of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), acetylcholine (Ach), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) with ET. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in the values of GABA, Glu, 5-HT, Ach and DA (t<1.680, P>0.05), while the values of NE was higher in the case group than in the control group (t=-3.552, P<0.001). Conclusion VVS may be related to the high level of activity of NE in the brain.

In recent years,it has been found that there are lymphoid follicle structures outside the lymphoid tissues and organs, which are called ectopic lymphoid tissues,also known as tertiary lymphoid tissues(TLTs).TLTs currently have been found in a number of diseases such as multiple sclerosis,diabetes,cancer,atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis and the like.Here we focus on the molecular mechanism of TLTs and the relationship between TLTs and multiple sclerosis (MS)/experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) disease,and briefly describe the role of TLTs in the development of MS/EAE,the relevant mechanisms and research progress,make people have more understanding and insights on the formation of TLTs and the mechanism that it involved in disease,to provid theoretical knowledge for clinical treatment.

Punica granatum L.(pomegranate) is a medicinal plant belonging to the genus Punica Linn..The peel, seed, flower, leaf and root of P.granatum is widely used as traditional medicine in China.Phytochemical studies showed that the major chemical constituents of P.granatum were tannins, flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, fatty acids, etc.Biological studies on extracts and active ingredients of P.granatum show some bioactivities, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antibacterial activities.Herein, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of different parts of pomegranate were reviewed, providing a theoretical basis for the further research and utilization of pomegranate.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the effects of BMSCs on the proliferation of cirrhotic fat-storing cells (CFSC) and hepatocytes in vitro.

METHODSBMSCs and hepatocytes were isolated and harvested from the bone marrow and livers of rats. A co-culture system was set up by transwell inserts in which the two chambers were separated by a semipermeable membrane. BMSCs labeled with PKH26 were cultured with hepatocytes/CFSC in the co-culture system and also in a cell-cell direct contact culture system. Anti-albumin and anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA) antibodies were tested by using fluorescence immunocytochemistry. BMSCs and hepatocytes/CFSC cultured alone served as controls. The proliferation level of hepatocytes in the co-culture system was measured. CFSC were cultured with the conditional medium of BMSCs, and their quantities were measured microscopically.

RESULTSExpression of albumin was observed in the hepatocytes of the two culture systems after they were cultured for 72 h but the albumin levels were higher in the cell-cell direct contact culture system (P<0.01). As compared to the controls, the number of hepatocytes was larger in the co-culture system (P<0.01). No expression of alpha-SMA in CFSC was observed in either culture system. The proliferation of CFSC was inhibited by the conditional medium of BMSCs. The longer the time of the co-culturing the more significant was the CFSC growth suppression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBMSCs can be induced into hepatocytes by a local micro-environment formed by hepatocytes. BMSCs may promote proliferation of hepatocytes and inhibit proliferation of CFSC.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To explore the effect of decalcified bone matrix (DBM) rich in biological activity on surgical-grade medical calcium sulfate, and to observe the change of different content of DBM on the physical and chemical properties of calcium sulfate, which provide theoretical basis for the preparation of calcium sulfate bone cement with osteogenic and injectable properties.Methods:DBM with weight content of 0, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% was fully mixed with CSH. Dissolve 0.3 g of methyl cellulose in 10 ml of deionized water to prepare a 3% methyl cellulose solution. Methylcellulose solution was added according to the liquid-solid ratio of 0.4. The mixture was evenly stirred to form slurry, then the degradation rate, compressive strength, setting time and and pH value of calcium sulfate in vitrowas measured.Results:The initial setting time and final setting time of calcium sulfate were 4.96±0.20 and 5.83±0.12 min respectively. With the increase of DBM content, the initial setting time and final setting time increased significantly ( F=49.275, P<0.05; F=124.859, P<0.05). The compressive strength of pure calcium sulfate is 23.33±6.35 MPa; when the content is 40%, the compressive strength is only 3.33 MPa. With the increase of DBM content, the compressive strength first increased and then decreased; the content of 5%, 10%, 20% DBM had little effect on the compressive strength ( P>0.05), while the compressive strength of 30% and 40% groups decreased significantly ( t=3.259, P<0.05). DBM with different contents can significantly change the degradation rate of calcium sulfate complex. When the content of DBM is 30% and 40%, the complete degradation time in vivo is only 10 d, while the degradation rate of calcium sulfate is 63% in 30 d. At any time point in vitro degradation, DBM had no significant effect on the pH value of calcium sulfate complex culture medium, and the change law was consistent with that of pure calcium sulfate. Conclusion:With the increase of DBM content, the degradation rate is gradually accelerated, the compressive strength is reduced, and the setting time is prolonged, which is not conducive to the preparation of injectable calcium sulfate cement.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the kinesis of cellular and humoral immune responses to different kinds of recombinant hepatitis B(rHB) vaccines in the immunized mice.

METHODSAt serial time points, the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 secreted by spleens mononuclear cells (MNC) of the vaccinated mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunospot methods (ELISPOT) after stimulation in vitro with HBsAg MHC class I peptide S28-39 or HBsAg. The lymphocytotoxicity of the immunized mice were also detected (CTL) by a specific lysis assay and the levels of anti-HBs were measured by the Abbott IMX kit.

RESULTSThe peak values of IFN-gamma and IL-2 in vaccinated mice were detected by ELISPOT, 10 - 14 days after immunization. The CTL and the level of IFN-gamma induced by rHB vaccine derived from yeast cells (Hansenula polymorpha) (rHP vaccine) were significantly higher than the other two vaccines (P < 0.05). The maximum lysis of CTL appeared in the vaccinated mice on day 10 after immunization, with the percentage of 39.8%. The levels of IL-2 induced by rHP vaccine were significantly higher than the other two vaccines (P < 0.05). However, the IL-2 levels in the rSC (saccharomyces cerevisiae) vaccine group were higher as compared with the rCHO vaccine group at day 7 and day 14 (7 d t = 4.595, P = 0.001 < 0.05; 14 d t = 5.721, P = 0.000 < 0.05) after immunization. The cellular immune response to the rHP vaccine was the strongest while it was the lowest to the rCHO vaccine at day 7 after immunization. The sero-positive rates and the titers of anti-HBs in the vaccinated mice increased with time after vaccination. The titers of anti-HBs in the rCHO vaccine group at day 7 were similar to the rSC vaccine group, but significantly higher than that of the rHP vaccine group (P = 0.044 < 0.05). The anti-HBs titers of the rCHO vaccine group at day 14 were significantly higher as compared to the rSC (P = 0.012 < 0.05) and rHP (P = 0.009 < 0.05) vaccine groups.

CONCLUSIONThe immune responses induced by the three kinds of rHB vaccines were different in their patterns and levels. According to the intensity of early cellular immune response, the two yeast HB vaccines were superior to the rCHO vaccine, especially to the rHP vaccine. In contrast, the rCHO vaccine induced early seroconversion and high levels of anti-HBs.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; classification ; immunology ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; classification ; immunology

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical effect and toxicity of bortezomib combined with methylprednisolone in treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Clinical data of 33 patients (23 male, 10 female; aged from 38 to 85 years old) were analyzed retrospectively. The median diagnosis time was 25 (2 - 120) months. 33 patients received bortezomib (0.9 - 1.1) mg/m(2) on days 1, 4, 8, 11, in combination with methylprednisolone 40 mg/d (4 cases), 80mg/d (13 cases), 120 mg/d (2 cases), 200 mg/d (9 cases), 300 mg/d (5 cases) respectively. The median follow-up time was 10(3-60) months. The used therapy courses were 1 - 8 (mean 4 courses). The results indicated that 24 cases showed the response of different degree, the overall response rate (ORR) was 72.7% (24/33). 32 patients received ≥ 2 therapy courses, and ORR was 71.9% (23/32). 16 patients received 4 therapy courses, and ORR was 93.8% (15/16 cases). 7 patients received 6 therapy courses and the ORR was 100% (7/7 cases). Main side-effects were thrombocytopenia, infection and peripheral neuropathy. The median survival time was 41.5 (2 - 120) months and the 2-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate were 80%, 59.1% and 21.1%, respectively. It is concluded that bortezomib combined with methylprednisolone is an effective therapy with higher response rate, and safe in treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; Bortezomib ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome