OBJECTIVEDiabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), an important cause of heart failure, is characterized by microvascular pathologies and interstitial fibrosis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent, which can differentiate into cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells. They also secrete angiogenic and antiapoptotic factors. However, little information is available about the effect of MSCs transplantation on diabetic heart.

METHODSMSCs were isolated from bone marrow of isogenic adult rats and cultured ex vivo. Eight weeks post streptozotocin injection, saline or exogenous MSCs labelled with 4'6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole (DAPI) were injected into the femoral vein of diabetic rats and examined 4 weeks later by echocardiography, histopathologic analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, zymography analysis for activities of MMP-2 and Western blot analysis for troponin T.

RESULTSLeft ventricular posterior wall thickness and myocardial arteriolar density as well as the TIMP-1 mRNA and MMP-2 activity were significantly decreased in DCM group (P < 0.01 versus control group respectively), these changes were significantly attenuated by MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05 versus DCM). MSCs transplantation also significantly reduced fibrosis and downregulated MMP-9 mRNA in diabetic myocardium.

CONCLUSIONIntravenous MSCs transplantation could attenuate LV remodeling in DCM rats.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Troponin T ; biosynthesis ; Ventricular Remodeling

Rapid discrimination of compounds with similar structures and properties is a hot topic in analytical chemistry. In this study, a cyclic chemiluminescence (CCL) system was designed by using nano-magnesium oxide as catalyst. The effects of reactant concentration, reaction temperature and detection wavelength on CCL analysis were studied. It was found that the CCL signal satisfied the first order exponential decay law. Each reaction had an exponential decay equation (EDE) describing its signal change law. The initial variable A was proportional to the reactant concentration. The decay-coefficient k was a characteristic constant that was independent of the reactant concentration. For iso-butanol, it's A-values versus concentration was linear in 0. 89-14. 24 mg / L, the average of k-value in this range was 32. 0 with a RSD of 2. 2% . Thus, qualitative and quantitative analysis could be conducted according to the A and k values. The system was used to analyze eight kinds of alcohol compounds, and it was found that there were significant differences in the k-values for different alcohols. For example, the k-values for n-butanol, iso-butanol and sec-butanol were 27. 2 ±0. 2, 32. 0±0. 8 and 19. 5±0. 1, respectively.

BACKGROUNDTransradial access has been increasingly used during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in last decade. Clinical benefits of upstream use of tirfiban therapy in STEMI patients treated by primary PCI have been reported. We investigated the merits of transradial vs. transfemoral access in primary PCI for STEMI patients with upstream use of tirofiban.

METHODSPatients with STEMI treated with tirofiban between December 2006 and October 2012 then by primary PCI were compared between transradial (n = 298) and transfemoral (n = 314) access. Baseline demographics, angiographic and PCI features and primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30-day clinical follow-up were recorded.

RESULTSBaseline and procedural characteristics were comparable between the two groups, apart from more patients in transradial group had hypertension and were treated by thrombus aspiration during primary PCI. Significantly fewer MACE occurred in the transradial group (5.4%) compared with the transfemoral group (9.9%) at 30-day clinical follow-up. Major bleeding events at 30-day clinical follow-up were 0 in transradial group and in 2.9% of transfemoral group. Multivariate analysis confirmed transradial approach as an independent negative predictor of 30-day MACE (HR 0.68; 95%CI 0.35 - 0.91; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSUsing transradial approach in primary PCI for acute STEMI infarction patients treated with tirofiban was clearly beneficial in reducing bleeding complications and improving 30-day clinical outcomes.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; methods ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDThe clinical significance of ischemic chest pain before acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains an interesting issue of investigation particularly in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aimed to assess the impact of angina prior to STEMI on short-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

METHODSAmong a total of 875 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, 292 had episodes of angina within 24 hours of STEMI (PA group) and the remaining 583 were free of anginal symptoms (non-PA group). Clinical characteristics, angiographic and procedural features, and in-hospital and 30-day outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSDiabetes was less common (17.5% vs. 23.3%, P = 0.04) and symptom-to-door time was shortened ((191.6 ± 96.8) minutes vs. (357.2 ± 341.9) minutes, P < 0.001) in the PA group than in the non-PA group. Patients with angina prior to STEMI had fewer totally or nearly totally occluded infarct-related artery (TIMI flow grade 0 - 1) at initial angiography (75.0% vs. 90.7%, P < 0.001), and achieved more TIMI flow grade 3 after primary PCI (84.2% vs. 78.2%, P = 0.04). These were associated with higher rates of overall procedural success (95.9% vs. 91.8%, P = 0.02) and of complete ST-segment resolution at 90 minutes after the procedure (51.7% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.001). During a 30-day clinical follow-up, the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly improved ((53.0 ± 8.6)% vs. (51.1 ± 9.7)%, P = 0.002) and the primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac events was reduced in the PA group (7.2% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPresence of angina prior to acute STEMI is associated with better outcome at a 30-day clinical follow-up in patients undergoing primary PCI.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; physiopathology ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of CatWalk automated gait analysis system for evaluation of motor function of rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI) after umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell (UC-MSC) treatment.

METHODSEighteen Wistar rats were randomized equally into normal control group, TBI ∓ saline group, and TBI ∓ UC-MSCs group. The rats in the latter two groups were subjected to weight-drop impact to induce TBI followed by injection UC-MSCs or saline into the lesion 7 days after TBI. The neurological function was assessed using CatWalk system and modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) before and 3 days after TBI and 7 days after UC-MSC transplantation. The rats were sacrificed 14 days after the cell transplantation and the brain sections were stained for immunohistochemical analyses.

RESULTSThree days after TBI, mNSS test showed moderate injury of the rats. Seven days after the cell transplantation, the rats showed significant motor function improvement and CatWalk analysis indicated partial recovery of the gait parameters of the 4 limbs compared to the rats with saline treatment. Histological analyses showed that DiO-labeled UC-MSCs were present in the lesion boundary and expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein and β-tubulin III.

CONCLUSIONUC-MSC transplantation can promote functional improvement of the brain after TBI in rats. Compared with mNSS test, CatWalk analysis is more sensitive and objective for assessing neurological function and also provides more detailed information on specific gait parameters.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gait ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

This study was aimed to investigate clinical and prognostic significances of 4 target antigens (CD19, CD20, CD22 and CD33) for antibody-based immunotherapy and to evaluate the applications of these antibody-based target therapy to adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The immunophenotype of 220 adult patients with ALL were analyzed by four-color flow Cytometry, and cytogenetic and molecular parameters were detected by conventional cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, real-time quantitative PCR, nested PCR and DNA sequencing. The results showed that CD19 positive (CD19(+)) cases were more in female (46.4% vs. 23.4%, P = 0.006), elderly patients aged > 60 years (14.4% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.022), CD33(+) co-expression cases (47.8% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.001) and genetic high-risk group (55.8% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.002) compared with CD19 negative (CD19(-)) cases; CD20(+) cases had lower co-expression of CD13 than CD20(-) cases (31.6% vs.67.1%, P = 0.000) and no significant prognostic indications for CD20(+) was observed; CD22(+) cases had higher relapse rate at 12-month than CD22(-) cases (93.9% vs.57.1%, P = 0.041) in B-ALL patients; CD33(+) cases had higher incidence of Ph(+) than CD33(-) cases (43.5% vs.19.4%, P = 0.007) and significantly correlated with Ph(+) (r = 0.261, P = 0.006). It is concluded that elucidation of the characteristics of the target antigens (CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33) used for antibody-based immunotherapy will help hematologists making the correct decision whether and when to use these antibody-based target therapies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; immunology ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 ; immunology ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3 ; immunology ; Young Adult

AIM To prepare and characterize SiO2 solid dispersions of Curcumae longae Rhizoma extract.METHODS For the solid dispersions prepared by solvent evaporation method,its ratio of extract to carrier (SiO2) was screened by in vitro dissolution test,and the characterization was achieved by determination of particle size,specific surface area,porosity,micromorphology observation,infrared spectroscopy and X-ray.RESULTS When the ratio of extract to carfer was 1:8,three main components (bisdemethoxycurcumin,demethoxycurcumin and curcumin) in the extract reached the highest accumulative dissolution rates.Compared with physical mixture,the solid dispersions demonstrated lower particle size,specific surface area and porosity.Extract was dispensed in the carrier in an amorphous state.CONCLUSION SiO2 solid dispersions can obviously improve the dissolution rates of the main components in Curcumae longae Rhizoma extract.

Objective To investigate the relationship between children's body mass index (BMI)at 5 to 6 years old and glucose concentrations of mothers without pre-existing diabetes or a gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) diagnosis during pregnancy.Methods A prospective observational study was performed in offspring whose mother had no pre-existing diabetes or a GDM diagnosis during pregnancy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical Uni versity from Jan.2006 to Dec.2007.The data of maternal glucose concentrations of oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)were acquired through referring to clinical records.Weight and height at 5 to 6 years old were measured and used to calculate BMI.Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between children's BMI and maternal glucose concentrations.The influence of maternal glucose concentrations on the risk of overweight of offspring was analyzed by Logistic regression.Results There were 860 cases of children were followed-up,including 459 male cases and 401 female cases.The average BMI of children was(15.6 ± 2.7) kg/m2.There were 78 cases of overweight (9.06％) and 50 cases of obesity(5.81％).The mean maternal fasting glucose level of the OGTT was (3.8 ± 0.6) mmol/L and 2 h glucose level of the OGTT was (6.0 ± 0.9) mmol/L.After adjusting for progestation BMI,maternal weight gain during pregnancy,sex,birth weight,age and paternal weight,at the 5 to 6 years old,BMI of offspring of mothers whose fasting glucose level of the OGTT≥5.51 mmol/L were significantly higher than those of mothers whose average blood glucose level ＜5.51 mmol/L(β =0.45,95％ CI:0.15-0.80).Maternal fasting glucose level of the OGTT≥5.51 mmoL/L was associated with an greater risk of children's overweight(OR =2.32,95％ CI:1.30-3.96).Conclusions Even though the mother was in the absence of pre-existing diabetes or GDM during pregnancy,fetal exposure to high maternal glucose concentration may also promote the development of overweight in the offspring at 5 to 6 years old.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is widespread worldwide, not only posing a serious threat to human food safety and animal husbandry, but also endangering human health. The selectivity index was employed to measure anti-T. gondii activity. Hederagenin (HE) exhibited potent anti-T. gondii activity and low cytotoxicity. For this reason, HE was selected for in vivo experiments. HE showed 64.8%±13.1% inhibition for peritoneal tachyzoites in mice, higher than spiramycin 56.8%±6.0%. Biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde, illustrated that HE was a good inhibitor of T. gondii in vivo. This compound was also effective in relieving T. gondii-induced liver damage. Collectively, it was demonstrated that HE had potential as an anti-T. gondii agent.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is widespread worldwide, not only posing a serious threat to human food safety and animal husbandry, but also endangering human health. The selectivity index was employed to measure anti-T. gondii activity. Hederagenin (HE) exhibited potent anti-T. gondii activity and low cytotoxicity. For this reason, HE was selected for in vivo experiments. HE showed 64.8%±13.1% inhibition for peritoneal tachyzoites in mice, higher than spiramycin 56.8%±6.0%. Biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde, illustrated that HE was a good inhibitor of T. gondii in vivo. This compound was also effective in relieving T. gondii-induced liver damage. Collectively, it was demonstrated that HE had potential as an anti-T. gondii agent.