This paper provides a brief overview of the current research activities which focused on the bio-application of gold magnetic nanocomposite particles. By combining the magnetic characteristics of the iron oxide core with the unique features of nano-gold particles such as targeting by surface modification and optical properties, such composite nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in cancer hyperthermia, CT and MRI imaging, bio-separation, bio sensors, gene diagnosis, drug targeting and many other biomedical fields.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Gold ; chemistry ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Nanocomposites ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Neoplasms

Objective To evaluate the correlation between left ventricular function and arterial stiffness of left femoral artery in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD).Methods Thirty-three patients with LEAD and 37 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study.The intima-media thickness (IMT),diameter and parameters of arterial stiffness [dispensability coefficient (DC),compliance coefficient (CC),stiffness α,stiffness β,pulse wave velocity (PWVβ) ]were measured by ultrasonography with the technology of QIMT and QAS.The thickness of the interventricular septum (IVSd),end-diastolic left ventricular diameter (LVDd) and left ventricular mass (LVM),and parameters of the left ventriculsr function (EF,E/A,E'/A',E/E' and Tei index) were measured by echocardiography.These parameters were compared between two groups.Correlations between the parameters of the arterial stiffness and those of the cardiac function were evaluated by Pearson correlative analysis.Results ①The IVSd,LVM and E/E' ratio were significantly higher in LEAD group than those in control group ( P ＜0.05).There were no significant differences in EF,E/A,E'/A',and Tei index between two groups ( P ＞0.05).②The IMT,α,β,PWVβ of left femoral artery were significantly higher in LEAD group than those in control group,while DC and CC were significantly lower in LEAD group than those in control group ( P ＜0.05).③The E/E' ratio,one of the parameters representing the left ventricular diastolic function,was correlated negatively with CC and positively with α,β,and PWVβ ( P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01 ).The E'/A' ratio was correlated positively with DC and CC,and negatively with α,β,and PWVβ ( P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01 ).Both EF and Tei index were not significantly correlated with the above parameters of arterial stiffness ( P ＞0.05).Conclusions Patients with LEAD have thickened femoral IMT,higher arterial stiffness of left femoral artery,as well as impaired left ventricular function.There is a close correlation between the atherosclerosis of the femoral artery and the early left vcntricular dysfunction.

Objective To evaluate the association between the left carotid arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with lower extremity atherosclerosis (AS).Methods ①A total of 32 patients with AS and 34 control objects were enrolled.The carotid arterial stiffness parameters:compliance coefficient (CC),distensibility coefficient (DC),stiffness parameter (α,β),pulse wave velocity β (PWVβ) were measured by using quality arterial stiffness(QAS) technology.And the values were compared between the two groups.②The parameters of left ventricular (LV) structure and function:LV end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness (IVSd),LV end-diastolic diameter (LVDd),LV end-diastolic wall thickness (PWd),LV ejection fraction (EF),systolic velocity (s'),early-diastolic velocity (e'),Tei index and E/e' ratio were measured by using two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler.These parameters were compared between the two groups.The association between the carotid arterial stiffness parameters and LV function parameters were analyzed by correlative analysis.Results ①Compared with the control group,the DC and CC were lower,and α,β,PWVβ,IMT were higer than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P ＜0.05).②The IVSd,Tei index and E/e'was significantly higher in the AS group than those in the control group.And the PWd,s',e' were lower than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in EF between the two groups (P ＞0.05).③The e' was correlated positively with DC and CC (r =0.39,0.36,P ＜0.01),and negatively with α,β,and PWVβ (r =-0.42,-0.42,-0.49,P ＜0.01).Tei index was correlated negatively with DC and CC (r =-0.50,-0.52,P ＜0.01),and positively with α,β,and PWVβ (r =0.58,0.58,0.62,P ＜0.01).The E/e' was correlated regatively with CC (r =-0.27,P ＜0.05),and positively with PWVβ (r =0.28,P ＜0.05).There were no significant correlation between s',EF and the stiffness parameters of carotid artery (P＞0.05).Conclusions In patients with AS,the left carotid artery stiffness increases and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function are impaired.The carotid artery stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function is correlated.Changes in carotid artery stiffness reflect the change in left ventricular diastolic function.

Objective:To explore whether sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus affect the senescence of MSCs, and which signaling pathway might be involved in.Methods: Human sera were collected from sex-matched,age-matched active SLE patients (n=6) and healthy volunteers (n=6).Then the complement was inactivated at 56℃ for 30 min.MSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12 containing 10% SLE or normal serum.Three days later MSCs were stained with SA-β-gal.The percentages of SA-β-gal positive cells were evaluated.The mRNA levels of p53 and p21 were detected by Real time PCR.The protein levels of p53/p21 and NF-κB ( p65) were examined by Western blot.Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK8 assay.Results: Compared with normal serum, MSCs from either healthy controls or SLE patients showed more SA-β-gal positive cells in SLE serum,as well as higher levels of p53/p21.In addition,SLE serum also inhibited the capacity of MSC proliferation.In MSCs treated with SLE serum, the level of NF-κB (p65) protein was significantly upregulated.Conclusion:SLE serum can promote the senescence of bone marrow MSCs,which might be mediated by NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the preventive effect of early umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) transplantation on MRL/lpr mice and the underly mechanisms.Methods Fourteen 10-week-old MRL/lpr mice were labeled and numbered.They were randomly divided into 2 groups by using random number table and injected with 1 ×106 UC-MSCs or PBS via tail vein respectively.Proteinuria was measured with Bradford method every 4 weeks.All mice were sacrificed at the age of 28 weeks, with the level of serum antidsDNA antibody and IL-17 detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Splenic Th17 cells, as well as regulatory T cells (Treg) were examined by flow cytometry.Data were analyzed with t test and Pearson's correlation test.Results The onset of proteinuria was delayed for 4 weeks in UC-MSC-treated group compared with that in the control group.At the age of 28 weeks, the 24 hour proteinuria [(1.78±0.17) mg vs (4.77±0.98)mg, t=2.99, P＜0.05] and the spleen weight [(0.149±0.009) g vs (0.273±0.052) g, t=2.33, P＜0.05] in UC-MSCtreated group were significantly lower than those in the control group.There was also a trend of the decline of serum anti-dsDNA antibody and IL-17 level after UC-MSCs transplantation.Compared with those in the control group, both the percentage and the absolute number of Th17 cells were significantly decreased in UC-MSC-treated group [(0.90±0.19)％ vs (2.81±0.50)％, t=3.54, P＜0.01 and (3.7±0.8)×105 vs (19.3±3.7)×105, t=4.12,P＜0.01].Meanwhile, the percentage of Treg elevated after UC-MSCs treatment.The ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly lower in UC-MSC-treated group than that in the control group (0.11±0.03 vs 0.50±0.09, t=4.23,P＜0.01).Both the ratio of Th17/Treg (r=0.73, P＜0.01;r=0.59, P＜0.05) and serum IL-17 level (r=0.78, P＜0.01;r=0.56, P＜0.05) was positively correlated with the level of 24 hour proteinuria and anti-dsDNA antibody respectively in MRL/lpr mice.Conclusion Early UC-MSCs transplantation helps to delay disease onset and ameliorate disease progression in MRL/lpr mice, which may act through the modulation of Th17/Treg balance.

Objective Whether the bone marrow cells (BMC) derived from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) could transmit autoimmune disease was studied for the purpose of clarifying the role of BMC in SLE pathogenesis.The effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from SLE and control mice on the SLE BMC-induced symptoms were compared to elucidate the role of MSC in SLE.Methods Six-week-old B6.MRL-Fas mice were randomly divided into 3 groups.One group was transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Faslg mice.One group was co-transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Fasr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched B6.MRL-Faslpr mice.One group was co-transplanted with BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Faslg mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched C57BL/6 mice.Before transplantation,the recipient mice received irradiation by an X-ray source.The levels of serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) and proteinuria were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Bradford method every 4 weeks,respectively.The survival rate was recorded.All mice were sacrificed 18 weeks later.Splenic plasma cells,Th1,Th2 and Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry.Statistical analyses were performed using the independent t test and ANOVA.Results Eight weeks after transplantation,ANA was positive in all the recipient mice.However,there was no significant difference between the three groups (P＞0.05).No proteinuria was observed in all the recipient mice.The mice received BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Fasr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched B6.MRL-Fasr mice showed an elevated trend of the percentages of splenic plasma cells,Th1,Th2 and Th17 cells compared with the other two groups,plasma cells [(1.05±0.16)％,(0.58±0.11)％,t=2.53,P＞0.05;(1.05±0.16)％,(0.71±0.18)％,t=1.45,P＞0.05],Th1 cells [(6.6±2.2)％,(5.7±1.0)％,t=0.38,P＞0.05;(6.6±2.2)％,(4.0±1.7)％,t=0.96,P＞0.05],Th2 cells [(3.3±0.4)％,(2.1±0.6)％,t=1.76,P＞0.05;(3.3±0.4)％,(2.2±0.6)％,t=1.51,P＞0.05],Th17 cells [(2.30±0.71)％,(1.31±0.31)％,t=1.27,P＞0.05;(2.30±0.71)％,(1.12±0.27)％,t=1.67,P＞0.05].However,there was no significant difference between the groups.The survival rate of the three groups was 43％,43％ and 80％ respectively.And the survival rate of the mice received BMC from the 30-week-old B6.MRL-Fasr mice and bone marrow MSC from the age-matched C57BL/6 mice was significantly higher than those of the other groups.Conclusion Our results indicate that BMC from SLE can transmit autoimmune disease.The bone marrow MSC can not prevent lupus-like presentations induced by BMC from SLE.Transplantation of bone marrow MSC from C57BL/6 mice can significantly elevate the survival rate.

Objective To study the blood concentration of hydroxychloroquine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with different doses, and analyze the relationship between blood concentration of hydroxychloroquine and disease activity, and evaluate its safety.Methods Forty SLE patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, each group contained 20 cases.The patients in group A were treated with hydroxychloroquine (0.4 g, qd), while patients in group B were treated with hydroxychloroquine (0.2 g, qd).The treatment lasted more than six months in every patient.The blood concentrations of hydroxychloro-quine were detected by high performance liquid chromatography.The clinical and laboratory indices were collected.The systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was recorded.The doses and varieties of combined hormone, immunosuppressant were recorded.The correlation of blood concentration of hydroxychloroquine and disease activity was analyzed.The significance was determined by Student's t test and Pearson correlation analysis.Results In SLE patients, the average blood concentration of hydro-xychloroquine was (402±190) ng/ml in group A and (150±60) ng/ml in group B (t=7.471, P＜0.01).The disease activities of patients in the two groups showed no significant difference (t=-0.172, P＞0.05).The platelet counts of patients in group A were significantly higher than those in group B[(188±88)×109/L vs (158 ±87) ×109/L] (t=4.375, P＜0.05).However, the other laboratory parameters showed no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the blood concentrations of hydroxy-chloroquine are significantly different in different dosages.The high dose of hydroxy-chloroquine is related to high platelet number in lupus patients.These findings suggest that hydroxychloroquine is safe and effective for SLE patients.

Objective The purpose of this study is to observe the changes of immune cell subsets in lupus mice after umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) transplantation. Methods B6.MRL-Faslpr lupus mice were randomly divided into the following three groups: the UC-MSCs treated group, the fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) treated group and the untreated group. MSC (1×106) or FLS (1×106) were injected into the tail vein of lupus mice respectively. Four weeks after treatment, the spleen index was calculated. The pathological changes of kidney were assessed by HE staining. The frequencies of immune cell subsets in spleen and macrophage in kidney as well as abdominal cavity were analyzed by flow cytometry. Data were analyzed with t test. Results The spleen index of UC-MSCs treated lupus mice [(79 ±9) mg/10 g] and IgG level [(7.5±1.5) mg/ml] were significantly decreased when compared with FLS treated group [(147±23) mg/10 g, t=2.78, P<0.01] [(17.0 ±2.8) mg/ml, t=3.00, P<0.01] and the untreated group [(156 ±16) mg/10 g, t=4.29, P<0.01] [(16.7 ±1.6) mg/ml,t=4.01, P<0.01]. HE staining also showed that the pathological changes of kidney were alleviated after MSCs transplantation. In addition, the frequency of plasma cells in the untreated group [(2.61 2± 0.318)% vs (0.306±0.017)%, t=7.22, P<0.01] and the FLS treated group [(2.412±0.297)% vs (0.306±0.017)%, t=7.07, P<0.01] were markedly higher than MSCs treatment [(0.306 ±0.017)%]. Moreover, the frequency of CD25+Foxp3+/CD4+Treg in the MSCs treated group [(15.08±0.81)%] was significantly increased compared with the untreated group [(8.02 ±0.47)%, t=7.45, P<0.01] and FLS treated group [(8.80 ±0.23)%, t=7.39, P<0.01]. MSCs treatment resulted in a decrease in CXCR5+PD1+/CD4+Tfh and IFNγ+/CD4+Th1 subset, compared with the untreated group [(14.3±1.5)%vs (31.5±3.3)%, t=5.25, P<0.01] [(1.78±0.27)% vs (5.93±1.56)%, t=2.60, P<0.05] and the FLS treated group [(14.3±1.5)%vs (28.8±2.2)%, t=5.49, P<0.01] [(1.78±0.27)%vs (4.88±0.81)%, t=3.61, P<0.01]. The frequency of macrophage in kidney of the MSCs treated group [(3.52 ±0.37)%] was markedly increased compared with the untreated group[(1.58±0.29)%, t=3.25, P<0.01], while neither the IL4+/CD4+Th2 subset nor the IL17+/CD4+Th17subset and the frequency of macrophage in abdominal cavity showed significant changes in the three groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that the therapeutic effects of MSCs on lupus mice may mediate through increasing the frequency of spleen Treg and renal macrophage and decreasing the frequency of Tfh, Th1 and plasma cells.

Objective To investigate the abnormality of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells autophagy in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) mice,and explore the mechanism of UC-Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) in treating PBC.Methods After establishing the PBC model,we divided them into the PBC model group;the UC-MSCs treatment group and the Stattic group [Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor group].Six mice were used as the control group.Liver pathology and the serum pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E2 subunit (PDC-E2) antibody titers were detected.Autophagosome of the intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell was observed by electronic microscope.Protein levels of STAT3/pSTAT3,Beclin-1 were detected by western blot.We cultured human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells in vitro,and down regulated STAT3.After stimulated by GCDC,we co-cultured them with UC-MSCs,and collected the cells in order to detect LC3 Ⅱ.The measurement data were compared with t test or single factor analysis of variance.Results Compared with the control group,periportal inflammatory cell infiltration and granuloma formation were observed in the PBC group.MSCs treatment decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells.The level of antiPDC-E2 of the PBC group (107±18) ng/ml was higher than that of the control group (42±6) ng/ml (q=6.326,P＜0.01),MSCs treatment down regulated anti-PDC-E2 level (43±4) ng/ml (q=5.801,P＜0.01).More autophagosomes in the PBC group (5.00±1.29) than the control group (1.75±0.25) were observed (q=4.061,P＞0.05).Western blot showed that the level of Beclin-1 was higher in PBC group (1.80±0.36) than the control group (0.40±0.20) (q =6.757,P＜0.01),MSCs reduced the expression of Beclin-1 (0.86±0.06)(q=4.536,P＜0.05) as well as Stattic (0.72±0.03) (q=5.226,P＜0.05).PBC group had a higher expression level of STAT3 (1.80±0.42) (q=5.730,P＜0.05) and pSTAT3 (2.04±0.29)(q=6.492,P＜0.01) than the control group (0.50±0.05)(0.91±0.14).MSCs treatment decreased the expression of STAT3 (0.51±0.13)(q =5.703,P＜0.01) and pSTAT3 (0.76±0.07) (q =7.388,P＜0.01) in intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells.After down regulated STAT3 of HiBECs,MSCs reduced the expression of LC3 Ⅱ of HiBECs.Conclusion The intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells autophage of PBC mice is abnormal,MSCs can alleviate PBC by down regulating the autophage of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells via STAT3.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between CD4+ T lymphocyte count and results of enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) coinfected patients.Methods A total of 193 HIV-infected individuals in Yunnan Province and Shanghai were enrolled.T-SPOT.TB assay was employed to detect M.tb specific T lymphocyte in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).CD4+ T lymphocyte in PBMC from the enrolled subjects was detected by flow cytometry.Data were analyzed using t test.ResultsThe incidence of latent tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals was 30.6％.The CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in HIV-infected individuals with active tuberculosis were 190×106/L,which were significantly lower than those in HIV-infected individuals with latent tuberculosis (484×106/L; t=6.665,P＜0.01).The HIV-infected individuals were stratified according to CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of ＞500×106/L,200×106-500×106/L,and ＜200×106/L and the constituent ratios of active tuberculosis/latent tuberculosis were 1∶16.2,1∶1.3 and 5.6∶1,respectively.Among 79 subjects with positive T-SPOT.TB results,20 were coinfected with active tuberculosis,in which 14 had CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of ＜200 ×106/L,5 had 200×105-500×106/L and 1 had ＞500×106/L.Fifty-two in 59 HIV/latent tuberculosis patients individuals had CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of ＞200×106/L.ConclusionsThe prevalence of latent tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals is high in China.Cellular immunity in HIV-infected individuals with active tuberculosis is severely impaired.With the decrease of CD4 ′ T lymphocyte counts,patients with latent tuberculosis are prone to develop active tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals.The negative predictive value of T-SPOT.TB is significantly diminished in patient with low CD4+ T lymphocyte counts,especially less than 200×106/L.