Objective To observe the effect of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF)on apoptosis and matrix metabolism of rat intervertebral.disc cells cultured in vitro. Methods Culture system of rat intervertebral disc cells was established to culture the monolayer intervertebral disc cells in vitro.The well-grown intervertebral disc cells of the second generation were chosen and anti-Fas antibody was applied to induce their apoptosis.Then,VEGF at different concentrations ( 10,100,1 000 μg/L)were used to affect their apoptosis and metabolism.The apoptosis of the cells stained with Propidium Iodide (PI) was detected by using flow cytometry.The levels of hydroxyproline and proteoglycan in the culture medium were detected by using chloramines T method and DMB chromometry method,respectively.Results ( 1 ) The apoptotic ratio of the intervertebral disc cells affected by different concentrations of VEGF (10,100,1 000 μg/L) was (87.62 ±11.06)％,(53.30 ±9.23)％ and (16.75 ±4.21)％ respectively,with significant differences in comparison with the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ).(2)The contents of hydroxyproline [ (6.71 ±0.33) μg/L,(9.12 ±0.41 ) μg/L,( 11.58 ±0.12) μg/L] and proteoglycan [ (23.21 ± 2.87) μg/L,( 32.45 ± 5.23 ) μg/L,(37.18 ± 3.22) μg/] in the culture medium raised with the increase of VEGF concentration ( 10,100,1 000 μg/L),with statistical differences compared with those of the control group (P ＜0.01 ).The contents of hydroxyproline and proteoglycan were positively correlated with the concentration of VEGF (ra=0.972,P＜0.01;rb =0.907,P＜0.01). Conclusion VEGF can inhibit the apoptosis of the rat intervertebral disc cells cultured in vitro and promote collagen and proteoglycan synthesis of the cell matrix.

Science Spirti play a important role in promoting moral standardization and the comcept development.The implication of science to seek truth,rational,criticize and suspicion,freedomand creating,which possesses important significance to cllture value sense of professional ethics of physicians to save life by loveheart,uphold truth,dedceating ond self to medical cause,and to promote sociatist medical moral progress.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous injection of the fibrin glue bv double needle technique to treat sacral cyst.Methods Clinical data of 20 cases with double-needle injection of fibrin glue technology to treat sacral cyst were retrospectively analyzed.All patients had varying degrees of sacral nerve root compression symptoms.The treatment for sacral cyst was carried out after clear diagnosis was made.On the basis of CT-guided percutaneous injection of fibrin glue,the improved CT-guided percutaneous injection of fibrin glue by double-needle technique was used to treat these patients.The average dose of fibrin glue was(5.9 ± 2.4)ml.The clinical results of improvement as to pain and neurological function were evaluated after follow-up of an average of 17 months.The assessment criteria were as follows:excellent,complete resolution of signs and symptoms,with the patient returning to his or her regular employment and no recurrence of cysts during 1 year of follow-up,good,symptoms and signs in the legs and perineal region resolved but with persistent pain in the lumbosacral region,which did not interfere with the patient' s regular work (the cysts did not recur for 6 months during follow-up),fair,no improvement in clinical symptoms,but a decrease in cyst size on the imaging study,poor,no improvement in clinical symptoms and no observed changes in cyst size in imaging studies or recurrence.Results Most patients experienced some degree of pain relief and functional improvement after fibrin glue therapy,with most experiencing complete or marked resolution of clinical symptoms.Nine patients reported excellent recovery,8 reported good recovery,2 reported fair recovery,and 1 reported poor recovery.The overall percentage of positive outcomes (excellent and good recovery) was 85％.No serious postoperative complications were discovered.Conclusions CT guided percutaneous injection of the fibrin glue bydouble needle technique to treat sacral cyst is an ideal method.Double needle technique is simple,safe and reliable.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in renal transplantation recipients.Method The clinical data of 8 renal transplantation recipients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis infection were retrospectively analyzed.Result Fever,cough and expectoration were the most common symptoms,however,lacking typicality.Images of chest Xray and CT scan were various and couldn't verify TB infection from pneumonia.Seven of 8 cases were diagnosed through invasive methods,either bronchofibroscope or fiberthoracoscopy.Immunosuppressants were decreased in all cases.Three-drug regimens,including isoniazide,rifampicin and ethambutol or pyrazinarnide,were administrated as anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy.All the cases were cured,without episodes like acute rejection and liver function impairment.Conclusion Routine examinations are not sufficient to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis in kidney transplantation recipients.While,invasive methods like bronchofibroscope and fiberthoracoscope are helpful.When diagnosed,patients should receive normative anti-tuberculosis treatment and immunosuppressive agents adjustment,which can benefit the prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in renal transplantation recipients.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the recombinant surface antigen 1 (rSAG1) in immunodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Methods Isopropyl β-D- 1 -thio-galaetopyranoside (IPTG) was used to induce the expression of recombinant plasmid pET28a-SAG1 of Escherich coli(pET28a-SAG1/BL21 ). The expression products (rSAG1) of pET28a-SAG1/BL21 were identified by Western blotting. The serum of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, normal mouse serum and the serum from 10 toxoplasma gondii patients were used as primary anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, and the rSAG1 gene products were identified by Western blotting, by which the diagnostic value of rSAG1 in Toxoplasmosis was compared. Results After induction and purification, rSAG1 protein was obtained and its relative molecular mass was 38.5 × 103. The fusion protein could be recognized by the serum of mouse infected with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, rSAG1 of expression products of surface membrane antigen SAG1 gene from Toxoplasma Gondii could be detected in 4 cases from 10 patients by Westem blotting.Conclusion The rSAG1 has a potential value in the immunodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis.

Objective To investigate the temperature variation within intra-spinal canal and intra-spinal tumor during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure for vertebral tumor in experimental rabbits. Methods Eight New Zealand white rabbits were transplanted with VX2 carcinoma in the lumbar vertebral body by percutaneous puncture inoculation technique under CT guidance in order to set up vertebral tumor models. The eight vertebral tumor models were treated with RFA under CT guidance. The temperature within the spinal canal and vertebral tumor of rabbits was measured and recorded every 30 seconds during the RFA treatment. The results were statistically analyzed by paired sampled t text. Results The intra-tumor temperature rose to 90℃ rapidly and remained stable during the whole RFA procedure, whereas the temperature in the spinal canal exceeded 42℃ when treatment time was over three minutes during the procedure. Statistically significant difference in the temperature level during RFA existed between the spinal canal and the vertebral tumor (P < 0.05). Conclusion The temperature in the vertebral tumor of rabbit can quickly reach to the therapeutic level during RFA. Prolonging operative time of RFA may hurt the nerve due to high temperature.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of SIRT6/NF-κB signal axis in delaying hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell senescence with ginsenoside Rg1, in order to provide theatrical and experimental basis for looking for methods for delaying HSC senescence.

METHODSca-1 + HSC/HPC was isolated by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and divided into five groups: the normal control group, the aging group, the positive control group, the Rg1 anti-senescence group, and the Rg1-treated group. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining, cell cycle analysis and hemopoietic progenitor cell mix (CFU-Mix) were adopted to determine the effect Rg1 in delaying or treating Sca-1 + HSC/HPC senescence biology. The mRNA and protein of senescence regulation molecules SIRT6 and NF-KB were examined by realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) and western blotting.

RESULTCompared with the senescence group, the Rg1 anti-senescence group and the Rg1-treated group showed lower percentage in SA-β-Gal-stained positive cells, decreased cell proportion in G1 phase, increased number of CFU-Mix, up-regulated in SIRT6 mRNA and protein expression, down-regulation in NF-KB mRNA and protein expression. The Rg1 anti-senescence group showed more evident changes in indexes than the Rg1-treated group.

CONCLUSIONRg, may inhibit Sca-1 + HSC/HPC senescence induced by t-BHP by regulating SIRT6/NF-KB signal path.

Animals ; Antigens, Ly ; analysis ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Sirtuins ; physiology

OBJECTIVEEndothelial apoptosis plays an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. It would be useful to clarify whether activation of non-neuronal muscarinic receptor (NNMR) could prevent endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of NNMR activation on regulating rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) apoptosis induced by homocysteine, an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis, and further studied its molecular mechanism.

METHODSRAECs were incubated using homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L for 36 h. RAECs were also pre-treated with carbachol or arecoline to examine their effects. RT-PCR was used to assess changes in the gene expression related to cell apoptosis.

RESULTSIncubation of RAECs with homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L resulted in morphologic changes, such as cellular shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination. These could be attenuated by pretreatment with carbachol and arecoline at the concentration of 10 micromol/L for 12 h. Homocysteine induced apoptosis in RAECs and the molecular mechanisms were associated with the regulation of fas, fas-L and caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway, bcl-2, bcl-xL and bax in the mitochondrial pathway, caspase-12 in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway and caspase-3, caspase-6 and p53 as downstream effectors. Carbachol and arecoline attenuated the effects of homocysteine on genes in the death receptor pathway, in the mitochondrial pathway and in the downstream pathway. Atropine could reverse all of the effects of arecoline.

CONCLUSIONActivation of NNMR by carbacol and arecoline inhibits homocysteine-induced endothelial cell apoptosis mainly through regulation of death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway and downstream effectors.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Arecoline ; Carbachol ; Cell Cycle ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Homocysteine ; adverse effects ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; metabolism

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.
Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Environment ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Vascular System Injuries

Objective To evaluate the short-term and mid-to-long-term clinical effectiveness of endovascular isolation technique with covered-stent in treating Stanford type B aortic dissection. Methods A total of 183 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection, who were admitted to authors’ hospital during the period from January 2005 to December 2013 to receive endovascular isolation treatment with covered-stent under general anaethesia, were enrolled in this study. The clinical data, including post-operative symptoms, complications, retention time in ICU, hospitalization days, 30-day mortality, etc. were retrospectively analyzed. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up to check the situation, position and shape of the stent, the diameter of dissection false lumen, the internal leakage, etc. The survival rate and the quality of life were determined. Results Endovascular isolation procedure with covered-stent was successfully accomplished in all the 183 cases. The retention time in ICU was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, the mean hospitalization time was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, and the 30-day mortality was 1.09%. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up regularly, and no collapse or displacement of stent was observed, and the stent remained in its normal shape. No recurrence of dissection, rupture or reversal tear was observed. No long existing internal leakage could be detected. During the follow-up period 4 patients died, among them three died from cerebral infarction and one died of natural death. The 5-year survival rate was 97.82% and the patient’s quality of life did not become apparently worse. Conclusion For the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection, endovascular isolation therapy with covered-stent has excellent short-term effect and stable mid-to-long-term result.