CXCR7 is a new receptor of chemokine CXCL12 after CXCR4.The present study shows that CXCL12/CXCR7 biological axis has important influence to the development of a variety of tumors,similar to CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis.CXCR7 is present in many kinds of tumor tissues and tumor cells widely,and plays an important role in tumor cells growth,proliferation,adhesion and migration.Restraining CXCR7 expression or blocking the CXCR7 signaling pathways may offer new strategies for the treatment of tumors.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the protective effect of 1, 3-dicyclopentyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4, 5-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (ZL-5015) on lethal endotoxin-challenged mice and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS:Mouse model of lethal endotoxin challenge and endotoxemia were established by intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose of 70 mg/kg to the C57BL/6J mice.Mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS (10 mg/L) were used as an in vitro inflammatory model.The levels of interleukin-1β( IL-1β) , interleukin-10 ( IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of the cytokines.RESULTS:Prophylactic treatment of the mice with ZL-5015 (100 and 200 mg/kg, ig) slightly increased the survival rate, extended the survival time, decreased the serum levels of IL-1βand TNF-α, and increased the serum level of IL-10 in the early stage of endotoxemia as compared with model group.The results of in vitro study demonstrated that treatment of the endotoxin-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages with ZL-5015 (10, 20 and 40μmol/L) inhibited the expression of IL-1βand TNF-αat both mRNA and protein levels but promoted the expression of IL-10 at both mRNA and protein levels.CONCLUSION: The tetrahydropyrimidine derivative ZL-5015 shows a moderate anti-endotoxin effect by increasing the survival rate and extending the survival time of the mice challenged by endotoxin, which may result from inhibition of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1βand TNF-α, and promotion of the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

Objective To explore the protective effect and mechanism of astaxanthin (AST) on the acute kidney injury induced by iohexol in rats.Method Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups:control group (Ctrl);iohexol group (CM);astaxanthin group (AST,100 mg/kg),low astaxanthin dose group (LAST+CM,50 mg/kg) and high astaxanthin dose group (HAST+CM,100 mg/kg),6 in each group.The rats in AST,LAST+CM,HAST+CM groups were administrated with AST by oral gavages using an intubation needle for 10 consecutive days.The rats in Ctrl and CM groups rats in Ctrl,CM groups were given with dissolvant instead in equal volume.Except for the Ctrl and AST groups,on day 8,rats were given indomethacin,L-NAME and iohexol in their femoral vein under chloral hydrate anesthesia to build a contrast induced-nephropathy (CIN) model.At the end of the experiment (72 h after CIN induction),all rats were sacrificed.The Scr level,BUN level,renal histology,renal tissue activities in superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase (CAT),glutathione peroxidase (GPx),Glutathione (GSH) and level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were performed.Apoptosis of renal cells was detected by Bcl-2,Bax and Caspase-3 p17 with Western blot.Results Compared with Ctrl group,the levels of Scr,BUN were significantly increased in CM group (all P ＜ 0.01);while compared with CM group,the indicators were decreased in treatment groups (P ＜ 0.01).Renal tubular structure damage,medulla congestion,loss of brush border,vacuolar degeneration,apoptosis and proteinaceous casts were observed in the CM group,and the renal injury scores were higher compared with Ctrl group (P ＜ 0.05),however,administrated with AST could significantly improve the changes (P ＜ 0.05).Oxidative stress indicators showed that MDA level were increased while SOD,GPx,GSH activities were significantly decreased at CM group (all P ＜ 0.05),and the indicators above were ameliorated in treatment groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Western blot showed that the expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated while the Bax,Caspase 3 p17 was up-regulated respectively at CM group (P ＜ 0.05),while the HAST+CM group could prevent the changes.Conclusions Iohexol can results in oxidative stress increased in kidney,which activate Caspase-3 p17 signal path,down-regulated Bcl-2 expression,up-regulated Bax expression respectively,and lead to cell apoptosis.AST can ameliorate the changes,especially with high AST dose,which suggest that the possible protection mechanism is by ameliorating oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis pathways.

Objective To investigate the imaging findings of early heterotopic ossification. Methods The imaging findings of 30 rehabilitation patients with heterotopic ossification were analyzed. Results The early heterotopic ossification performance of X-ray and CT showed articular soft tissue edema, and higher density. MR images showed different signal characteristics at different stages of heterotopic ossification. Immature bone performance the same or long T1 and T2 signal, enhanced scan showed the edge of the lace-like "strengthen". Conclusion Heterotopic ossification at different stages shows different imaging features. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best effective methods for the diagnosis of early ectopic ossification, X-ray and CT can be used for review.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a disease with high mortality and morbidity. This article discussed the application of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging for intracerebral hemorrhage clinical research, and its limitations and prospect.

Objective To explore the relationship between the types of female breast density and age and breast cancer .Methods By accepting the digital mammography X -ray examination for 5 006 women cases and according to the ACR BI -RADS standard in the fourth edition ,the breast density assessment was quantified . We analysed the relationship between the breast density and age and breast cancer .Results In 5 006 cases,the average female age was between 44.22 ±8.09 years old,median age was 43 years old.The components of the breast density were fat type , small amount type , large amount type and compact type each count were 256 (5.11%),726(14.51%),3 719(74.29%),305(6.09%)respectively.By dividing into different age -group to analyze the breast density,there was significant statistical differences of the breast density among age -groups(P<0.001).Among them the breast cancer were 184 cases.Age was between 51.26 ±10.15 years old.Breast cancer in each breast density were fat type 10.16%(26/256),small amount type 9.09%(66/726),large a-mount type 2.45%(91/3719)and compact type 0.33%(1/305).There were statistical differences among age -groups and breast densities and breast (P<0.001).Conclusion Age plays a very important effects on the fe-male breast density .The lower breast density is a high risk factor to breast cancer occurrence .

The vagus nerve innervates most visceral organs.Upon activation,vagal efferents release acetylcholine,which influences organ function.In addition,vagal afferents convey information regarding the mechanical and chemical environment of the organ to the central nervous system (CNS).This bidirectional communication provides a mechanism for reflex regulation of the biological function of the organ.In the lung,the vagus nerve modulates airway tone,perfusion and secretion,in addition to its effects on breathing pattern.Recently,the vagus nerve has been recognized to play a role in the pathogenesis of lung disease via neuro-immune interactions.The vagus nerve has significant influences in pulmonary diseases,such as asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.In disease,the nerve is activated by cytokines,chemokines,and other mediators from many cell types to convey immunologic information to the CNS,which may alter disease outcome.Activation of the vagus nerve also releases neuropeptides to modulate immune cell behavior and can evoke the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway that regulates lung inflammation.Understanding the role of the vagus nerve in neuro-immune interaction may contribute significantly to the clinical management of pulmonary diseases.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of enhanced magnetic resonance pulmonary perfusion imaging(MRPP) in the diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary embolism(PE). Methods Sixty patients suspected of PE underwent MRPP. Twenty-seven patients also underwent radionuclide perfusion imaging. 22 patients repeated MRPP examination after 3 day to 1 month anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy. The feasibility and accuracy of MRPP in the diagnosis and follow-up of PE were evaluated according to the transformation rate of signal (TROS), time-signal curve and some parameters of main pulmonary artery(such as peak value of flow,mean flow velocity and flow rate). The t test and rank sum test were used for the statistics. Results MRPP showed a high agreement with radionuclide perfusion imaging. TROS was (2. 86 ± 2. 48 ) vs ( 6. 72 ± 2. 54) ( t = 3. 370, P ＜ 0. 01 ), the peak time was ( 13.98 ±5.60) vs ( 12. 33 ± 3.63 ) s ( t = 3. 930, P ＜ 0. 01 ), the peak value of main pulmonary blood flow was (60.39 ± 15. 17) vs (69.93±13.22) cm/s(t=2.930, P＜0. 01) and mean flow velocity (11.68±5.46) vs ( 13.54 ± 4. 18 ) cm/s ( t = 2. 380, P ＜ 0. 05 ) before and after anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy. The flow rate per unit was (80. 57 ± 24. 87) vs ( 85.48 ± 11.81 ) ml/s ( t = 0. 86,P ＞ 0. 05 ) . Conclusion MRPP shows a high agreement with radionuclide perfusion imaging and is a useful method for the diagnosis and follow-up of PE.

Objective To investigate the MRI findings of perihip heterotopic ossification (HO) in the early, mid and late stages. Meth-ods The MRI of 44 inpatients with HO from February, 2011 to September, 2013 were reviewed, in which 20 cases (28 joints) were in early stage, 18 cases (24 joints) in mid stage and 6 cases (8 joints) in late stage. For the enhanced T1WI, 9 cases (11 joints) were in early stage, 6 cases (7 joints) in mid stage, and 3 cases (4 joints) in late stage. Theχ2 trend test was used to evaluate the MRI signal change with the HO maturity. Results With the maturity of hip HO, the signal intensity of T2WI reduced (χ2=16.773, P<0.001), fat signal on T1WI increased, the enhancement reduced (χ2=16.048, P=0.007). Conclusion The MRI findings of perihip HO are characteristic in MRI in all the stages. MRI is useful for the diagnosis of perihip HO, especially for the early HO.

This study reported the outcome of a case of fetal hemolytic disease after multiple intrauterine transfusions due to Rh incompatibility between the mother and fetus. The pregnant women had a history of termination for fetal edema at 29 weeks of gestation due to undecided reason as no relevant tests were conducted. Fetal edema was found and hemolytic disease (severe anemia) was diagnosed at 24 gestational weeks in the index pregnancy. After five intrauterine transfusions, fetal edema and anemia were improved. The baby who was born by cesarean section at 33 gestational weeks, was diagnosed with hemolytic disease and transferred to the neonatology department. After one month of treatment, the baby was improved and discharged. Whereafter he was followed up to one year of age without any abnormality in physical or mental development.