Alleles ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and related mechanism of seaweed polysaccharide (SP) on apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-FLS).

METHODSRA-FLS were in vitro cultured using modified tissue culture method. Effect of SP (0, 15, 20, and 25 mg/mL, respectively) at different time points (0, 3, 4, and 5 days, respectively) on the proliferation and apoptosis of RA-FLS, and protein expressions of Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst 33258 staining assay, TUNEL assay, and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with 0 mg/mL SP at the same time point, the proliferation of RA-FLS was inhibited, and the apoptosis was promoted 3, 4, and 5 days after intervened by 15, 20, and 25 mg/mL SP, respectively (P<0.01) in time- and dose-dependent manners. RA-FLS Bax protein expression was up-regulated, Bcl-2 protein expression down-regulated, Caspase-3 activated and split by 15, 20, and 25 mg/mL SP, respectively for 4 days (P<0.05, P<0.01). Besides, the changes were in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSSP could inhibit RA-FLS proliferation and induce its apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manners. Its apoptosis mechanism might be through up-regulating intracellular Bax protein expression and down-regulating Bcl-2 protein expression, thus influencing the mitochondrion signaling pathway, further promoting Caspase-3 activation and split, resulting in the apoptosis of RA-FLS.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Seaweed ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles and differences of angiogenesis of different dermal scaffolds on wound contraction and apoptosis during full-thickness burn wound repair.

METHODSWounds were observed at different time after the collagen-sulfonated carboxymethyl chitosan porous scaffold or collagen-chitosan porous scaffold or acellular dermal matrix were respectively transplanted on wounds of full thickness burn with debridement in Bama miniature pigs. At the same time, vessels and myo-fibroblasts expressing α-smooth muscle action(α-SMA) and apoptosis in wounds of different time were detected in situ by immunohistochemical staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling. The burn wounds without any scaffold transplantation were studied as the control.

RESULTSWounds with different scaffolds transplantation were different from granulation wounds. Vessels expressing α-SMA had been increasing continuously in the wounds from 1 to 3 weeks after different scaffolds transplantation and decreased in wounds after epidermis had been grafted for 2 weeks on surface of the scaffolds transplanted on wounds for 2 weeks. Vessels expressing α-SMA were the most in the wounds with collagen-sulfonated carboxymethyl chitosan porous scaffold transplantation and the least in the control wounds without dermal scaffold at different time. Myo-fibroblasts expressing α-SMA was the least in the wounds with collagen-sulfonated carboxymethyl chitosan porous scaffold transplantation and the peak of expressions was on the 2nd week, however, the peak in the wounds with the other two scaffolds transplantation and in the control wound without dermal scaffold was on the 3rd week. Myo-fibroblasts expressing α-SMA was the most in the control wounds. Apoptosis had been increasing continuously in the transplantation wounds from 2 to 4 weeks after different scaffolds transplantation, however, apoptosis had begun to increase continuously from 3 to 4 weeks in the control wounds. Apoptosis was the most in the wounds with collagen-sulfonated carboxymethyl chitosan porous scaffold transplantation and the least in the control wounds without dermal scaffold from 3 to 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSulfonated carboxymethyl chitosan can promote migration of reparative cells and angiogenesis, and it can repair full-thickness burn wound fast and well.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; pathology ; surgery ; Chitosan ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin, Artificial ; Swine ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVE: Using microbeam X-ray fluorescence (Micro-XRF) analyzer for determination of acid-resistant silicic particles in lung, and to explore its potential application in diagnosis of drowning. METHODS: Thirty two white rabbits were divided randomly into drowning group (n=12), post-mortem immersion group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Lungs and water sample were collected for determination of area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles using Micro-XRF method. RESULTS: The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles for the drowning water sample was 4.4 mm2/mL. For the lungs of drowning group, the post-mortem immersion group and the control group, the determined average values were (25.30 +/- 10.95) mm2/g, (1.68 +/- 0.63) mm2/g and (1.65 +/- 0.85) mm2/g, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the drowning group and the other two groups. CONCLUSION The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles in lungs may be used as an indicator of drowning. The method is highly sensitive and rapid. It provides a potential application in drowning diagnosis.
Animals ; Drowning/diagnosis* ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Fresh Water/analysis* ; Lung/chemistry* ; Male ; Rabbits ; Silicon/analysis* ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods*

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Huangqisan pellets （HQS） on the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin （PI3K/Akt/mTOR） signaling pathway and autophagy in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy （DN） rats. MethodDN rat model was established through high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin （35 mg·kg^-1）. DN rats were randomly assigned into model group， irbesartan （0.027 g·kg^-1） group， low-dose HQS （0.54 g·kg^-1） group and high-dose HQS （1.08 g·kg^-1） group. The levels of 24 h urinary total protein （UTP）， serum albumin （Alb）， serum creatinine （SCr）， urea nitrogen （BUN）， triglyceride （TG） and total cholesterol （TC） were measured after 12 weeks of continuous administration. The pathological changes of renal tissue were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The expression of podocyte split diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin in the renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein levels and phosphorylation of key proteins in PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway， as well as the expression of yeast Atg6 homolog （Beclin1） and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3） in the renal tissue were analyzed by Western blot. ResultCompared with the control group， the model group showcased increased 24 h UTP， SCr， BUN， TG， and TC levels and decreased Alb level （P<0.01）. After modeling， the rats showed granulosity of epithelial cells of renal tubules， thickening of capillary basement membrane， proliferation of mesangial cells， and sclerosis of glomerulus. Furthermore， modeling down-regulated the expression of nephrin and podocin in the podocyte hiatus of glomerulus （P<0.01） as well as the protein levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， and p-mTOR and the autophagy markers LC3 and Beclin1 in renal tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， irbesartan and HQS decreased the 24 h UTP， Cr， BUN， TG， and TC levels， increased the Alb level， and alleviated the pathological damage of kidney. Moreover， they up-regulated the expression of Nephrin and Podocin in the podocyte hiatus of glomerulus， as well as the protein levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， p-mTOR， LC3， and Beclin1 in renal tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHQS may inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to enhance podocyte autophagy and protect the glomerulus， thus slowing down the development of DN.

BACKGROUNDSubcutaneous absorption is accelerated by the monomeric conformation of insulin Aspart, which provides good glycemic control with a lower risk of hypoglycemia and less body weight increase. In the present study we investigated the efficacy and safety of a rapid-acting human insulin analogue (insulin Aspart) delivered with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) into Chinese diabetic patients.

METHODSA total of 21 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were recruited for the 2-way cross-over, open-labeled trial, and then randomized to Group A (n = 10, treated with insulin Aspart) or Group B (n = 11, treated with Novolin R). Insulin Aspart and Novolin R were administered by CSII. Capillary glucose concentrations were measured at 8 time points, pre-prandial and postprandial, bedtime (10 pm), midnight (2 am) every day during the treatment.

RESULTSThe average capillary glucose profiles for the day were much better controlled in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.01). The blood glucose levels were particularly better controlled in Group A than in Group B at pre-breakfast ((6.72 +/- 1.24) mmol/L vs (7.84 +/- 1.58) mmol/L, P = 0.014), post-breakfast ((8.96 +/- 2.41) mmol/L vs (11.70 +/- 3.11) mmol/L, P = 0.0028), post-supper ((8.15 +/- 2.10) mmol/L vs (10.07 +/- 2.36) mmol/L, P = 0.008), bed time ((7.73 +/- 1.72) mmol/L vs (9.39 +/- 2.05) mmol/L, P = 0.007) and midnight ((6.32 +/- 1.16) mmol/L vs (7.48 +/- 1.36) mmol/L, P = 0.0049). There was no significant difference in the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONInsulin Aspart results in better control of blood glucose levels than regular human insulin (Novolin R) in diabetic patients during delivery by CSII.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Cross-Over Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Insulin Aspart ; Insulin Infusion Systems ; Male ; Middle Aged

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate change of platelet count in red blood cell （RBC） units at different storage periods and explore the efficiency of platelet removal by leukocyte filter. MethodsA total of 58 RBC units were divided into four groups according to different storage periods： 1 week Group （16）， 2 weeks Group （16）， 3 weeks Group （14） and 4 weeks Group （12）. RBC units in the four groups were filtered through leukocyte filter. The RBC samples before and after filtration were obtained. The platelet count was detected by automatic blood cell counter and the efficiency of platelet removal was calculated. RBC samples before filtration were made into blood cell smears. The blood cell smears were dyed with Wright-Giemsa stain， and the morphology of platelets was observed through a microscope. ResultsThe platelet count in RBC units stored for 1， 2， 3 and 4 weeks was （286.5±62.34）×10⁹/L， （238.0±57.37）×10⁹/L， （193.6±56.21）×10⁹/L and （167.8±24.76）×10⁹/L， respectively. Platelet count in blood stored for 3 weeks （P<0.01） and 4 weeks （P <0.000 1） were significantly lower than those stored for 1 weeks. When observed in the blood smears of RBC units at different storage periods， platelets with normal morphology were distributed in clump and scattered style. The platelet removal rates of the four groups were （80.13±9.06） %， （76.41±10.13） %， （77.78±9.30） % and （70.63±9.39） %， respectively， with no significant difference （P >0.05）. ConclusionsPlatelet count in RBC units decreases gradually as the storage period increases， but most platelets still remain in RBC units of late storage periods （3 weeks and 4 weeks）. The leukocyte filter is able to remove most of the platelets， and the removal efficiency is similar among the groups.