Objective To evaluate the relationship of peripheral blood Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells with disease activity in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods This study recruited 21 patients with active SSc,24 patients with inactive SSc and 24 normal human controls with informed consent.Peripheral blood samples were obtained from these subjects.Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood CD4+ cells,a fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A,retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RoRγt),forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs),and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to measure the serum level of IL-17.Results Increased percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood CD4+ cells was observed in patients with active SSc compared with those with inactive SSc and normal human controls (2.34％ ± 1.19％vs.0.68％ ± 0.39％ and 0.57％ ± 0.49％,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).No statistical difference was noted in the percentage of Treg cells in CD4+ cells or the mRNA expression levels of FoxP3 between the patients with active SSc,inactive SSc and normal human controls (all P ＞ 0.05).There was a significant increase in the mRNA expression of IL-17A,RoRγt in PBMCs and serum levels of IL-17 in patients with active SSc compared with patients with inactive SSc and normal human controls ( 11.73 ± 0.80 vs.9.77 ± 1.30 and 10.79 ± 0.74,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05; 18.48 ± 1.09 vs.15.89 ± 1.48 and 17.77 ± 1.64,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05; 53.60± 9.90 pg/ml vs.15.18 ± 3.24 pg/ml and 15.53 ± 4.12 pg/ml,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of Th17 cells in CD4+ cells and serum IL-17 levels were both positively correlated with disease activity in patients with active SSc (r =0.675,0.644,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Th17 cells are highly proliferative in patients with active SSc,which may be closely correlated with the activity of SSc.

International cooperation and exchanges plays an important role in the disciplines development in hospital,and can indirectly improve the overall capacity and quality of healthcare..This paper draw on 10 years of international cooperation and exchange in the practice of discipline development,,analyzed working patterns and mechanisms to strengthen international scientific cooperation.

Objective To investigate the current dyslipidemia profiles and correlation with etiological factors in early stage post-transplantation, and the impact of lipid metabolic disorder on renal function. Methods The clinical data of 1032 renal allografts from eight hospitals in Beijing between 2004 and 2008 were collected and evaluated retrospectively. Before and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th month post-transplantation, the changes in blood total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG),low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were analyzed. The difference in the blood lipid disorder at different stages stratified by time and different age group, the effects of immunosuppressive agents on blood lipid, and the impact of blood lipid disorder on the blood creatinine were studied. Results Except HDL-cholesterol, TC, LDL-cholesterol and TG levels were increased gradually at the first year, especially LDL-cholesterol and TG. The TC and LDL-choleaterol abnormalities were obviously related with age (P<0. 01 ). The effect of Tacrolimus (Tac)-based immunosuppressive regimen on the lipid metabolic disorder was less than cyclosporine (CsA). At the first year, there was no significant difference in blood creatinine between lipid-lowering treatment and non-lipid-lowering treatment (P>0. 05). For the recipients not subject to lipid-lowering treatment and their TG level higher than the normal at the first month after operation, the creatinine level at the first year was significantly higher than in those with normal TG level (P< 0. 05). Conclusion The lipid metabolic disorder following renal transplantation is a common complication after the first transplant year, and was related with age and immunosuppressive agent regimen. Tac-based immunosuppressive regimen has little effects on the blood lipid metabolism.

Objective To investigate effects of antioxidant stress protein hem e oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endoplasm ic reticulum stress (ERS) of rat hepatocytes. Methods The BRL cells (rat hepatocyte cell line) were cultured. The hepatocytes were treated with LPS, LPS+HO-1 si RNA , HO-1 siRNA and PB S solution, respectively. The cell viability was m easured by trypan blue ex-clusion test. The apoptosis cells were detected by the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258. E xpressions of GR P78, C HO P, caspase-12 and HO-1 were detected by Western blotting. Results LPS caused an in-crease of HO-1 protein expression of rat hepatocytes in a dose-dependent and tim e-dependent m anner, a up-regulation of GRP78, CHO P and caspase-12, a decrease in cellviability,and an increase in apopto-sis rate of hepatocytes. Pretreatm ent of HO-1 siRNA inhibited the up-regulation of LPS-induced HO-1, however, aggravated ERS and cellular injury. Conclusion HO-1 inhibites ERS-m ediated cellular injury of rat hepatocytes induced by LPS.

Objective:o prepare Danshensu liposomes and investigate drug release characteristics in vitro. Methods: Danshensu liposomes were prepared by a reverse-phase evaporation method. The encapsulation efficiency was used as the index, an orthogonal test was adopted to investigate the effect of concentration of soybean lecithin, ratio of lipid-Danshensu and pH value of solution on the preparation procedure of Danshensu liposomes. The particle size of the liposomes was also investigated by a transmission electron micro-scope ( TEM) . The concentration of Danshensu was determined by HPLC, and the difference of release characteristics in Danshensu li-posomes and Danshensu solution was measured by a dialysis method. Results:The optimum preparation technology was as follows:the concentration of soybean lecithin was 40 mg·ml-1 ,the ratio of drug-lipid was 1: 10,and the pH value of solution was 6. 6. The mor-phology of the prepared liposomes showed spheric structure with uniform diameter, and the average particle size was ( 174 ± 36 ) nm and the encapsulation efficiency was 38. 9%. The linear range of Danshensu was 2. 0-20. 0 mg·L-1(r=0. 9984). The drug release of liposomes in vitro was slower than that of free Danshensu solution in 24 h. Conclusion:Danshensu liposomes with fine morphology have sustained release property.

AIM: In this research, the apoptosis mechanism in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to increasingly high Hcy concentrations was investigated by examining the intracellular signaling pathways. METHODS: HUVEC were cultured and pretreated with Hcy. Twenty-four h after Hcy treatment, cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V and DNA ladder analysis. Caspase3 and c-IAP1/2 mRNA expression were examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein expression detected by Western blotting. The activation of caspase 3 was measured with the specific substrate DEVD-AMC. RESULTS: Hcy (0.3 mmol/L) induced apoptosis of HUVEC. Caspase 3 mRNA and protein expressions increased and activation enhanced with the concentration of increasing Hcy, but c-IAP2 mRNA and protein expression decreased. CONCLUSION: Hcy induces apoptosis of HUVEC in vivo by activating caspase 3 and inhibiting protein c-IAP-2 mRNA and protein expression.

Objective To analyse the risk factors for lymph node metastasis of early colorectal cancer and the therapeutic indication for endoscopy.Methods The clinical data of the 269 early colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgical treatments between January 2009 and December 2013 in the West China hospital of Sichuan University were analyzed retrospectively.Pathologic features were compared between different histological types and investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis of their possible risk factors for lymph node metastasis.Results Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P =0.029),depth of tumor invasion (P =0.006),histological type (P =0.000) and lymphatic involvement (P =0.035) were correlated with lymph node metastasis.Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (OR =5.385,95％ CI:1.156-25.075,P =0.032)and histological type (OR =5.145,95％ CI:1.553-17.053,P =0.007) were independent risk factorsfor lymph node metastasis.Comprehensive analysis showed that lymph node metastasis could not be found in patients with tumor invading the mucous layer.However,lymph node metastasis occurred if the tumor invaded the submucous layer.The larger and less differentiated tumor was,the higher occurrence of lymph node matastasis would be (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Endoscopic resection is recommended for those with early colorectal cancer localized in the mucous layer and without lymph node metastasis.It is recommended that patients with submucosal carcinomas undergo a preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography or pathological screening for the most appropriate surgical treatment,as the larger and the lower differentiated the tumor is,the higher chance the lymphatic metastasis is.

Objective To observe multiple metabolic changes within one year after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate the index of the gastric bypass surgery and the determination of applicable population. Methods The clinical and laboratory data before and after surgery in 112 patients diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus by RYGB were included in this study. According to BMI, these patients were divided into two groups: normal group (≤ 25kg/m2), and the overweight group (> 25 kg/m2). The physiologic and biochemical indexes of the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, respectively. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS17.0 software. Results Compared with the preoperative period, the levels of HbA1c and HOMA-IR in the postoperative period were significantly increased in the two groups. Principal component analysis showed that the postoperatively contributions of BMI and HbA1c in 6 months was bigger than that of the other indexes, while HOMA-β, HOMA-IR had larger contributions after 6-month postoperative period. Conclusion Various metabolic indexes in patients with type 2 diabetes improve significantly within one year after surgery, and the complete remission rate is gradually increased. The indexes including weight, blood glucose, serum lipids, HOMA-βand HOMA-IR in overweight and obese group have more significant improvements than those in normal group. Obese patients are more appropriate for the surgical treatment. The indexes, such as BMI, HbA1c,HOMA-βand HOMA-IR, should help to evaluate the operating effectiveness and preoperative indications.

In recent years, with an increasing number of drug types and unreasonable drug use, the incidence and mortality of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) have been increasing. The pathogenesis of DILI is complex, and may involve liver injury caused by the direct effect of drugs, immune-mediated liver injury, mitochondrial injury, and bile duct injury, etc. This article investigates the pathogenesis and its important role in the prevention and treatment of DILI, and reviews the research advances in the pathogenesis of DILI.

Objective To explore the potential role and function of miR-30 a in myocardial fibrosis after myocardi-al infarction( MI) .Methods We constructed the AAV plasmid vector which carried the miR-30 a gene of rat.The recombinant plasmid was detected by gene sequencing , enzyme digestion and PCR .Virus was packaged into HEK293 cells and virus titer was determined after extraction and purification by PCR .PBS fluid, rAAV9-miR-30 a-NC and rAAV9-miR-30 a were transmited to rat hearts from PBS group , miR-30 a-NC group and miR-30 a group respectively through transcoronary infusion before anterior descending coronary artery ligation .Sham group was set up at the same time.After 4 weeks, heart function was monitored by serial echocardiography , including fractional shortening ( FS) , and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) .Masson staining was used to calculate collagen volume fraction ( CVF) .The expression of collagen ⅠandⅢwere detected by immunohistochemistry . The mRNA level of miR-30a, TGF-β1 and CTGF were detected by real-time PCR.The protein level of TGF-β1 and CTGF were detected by western blot analysis .Results The cardiac function of miR-30 a group was improved significantly compared with PBS group and miR-30a-NC group (P<0.05).The levels of CVF,collagenⅠ,Ⅲexpression and Collagen Ⅰ/Ⅲ ratio in miR-30 a group was significantly lower than PBS group and miR-30 a-NC group ( P<0.01 ) .The mRNA and protein level of TGF-β1 and CTGF in miR-30 a group were reduced signifi-cantly than PBS group and miR-30 a-NC group ( P<0.001 ) .Conclusions The overexpression of miR-30 a after MI may reduce the mRNA and protein level of TGF-β1 and CTGF, so as to suppress myocardial fibrosis and im-prove cardiac function.