AIM:To investigate the relevance between metallothionein(MT) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and activity in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). METHODS: Fifty Kunming male mice, weighing 25 g?5 g, were randomly divided into two groups: experiment group (40 mice) and control group (10 mice). CCl4 was used to induce the hepatic fibrosis model in the experiment group. Conditioned medium of HSCs (containing MMP-2) was added at different concentrations of MT, then MMP-2 activity was detected. Liver tissue microarray was used. Collagen fibers was detected by Sirius red staining. The expressions of MMP-2 and MT proteins in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Gel zymography was used to confirm the activity of MMP-2 in liver tissue homogenate and in the conditioned medium. RESULTS: The expressions of both MMP-2 and MT proteins in liver tissues increased fluctuating with the process of fibrogenesis in the model mice alternately, but the proteins showed out of phase changes. The activity of MMP-2 in the liver tissues also increased gradually and fluctuated with the development of fibrosis. Apart from individual time points, the activity of MMP-2 and MT expression were negatively correlated. The activity of MMP-2 in the conditioned medium treated by MT declined in a dose-dependent manner (r=-0.9990, P

Objective To investigate the protective role of Jidesheng Sheyao tablet in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury(ALI) in rats. Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal control group,dexamethasone positive group,LPS model group, Sheyao groups of low, middle and high dosages successively.All rats, except normal control group, were administrated with LPS by intravenous injection to induce acute lung injury. The rats in positive group and three different dosage groups were treated by dexamethasone(3 mg?kg -1, iv), low dosage(0.8 g?kg -1), middle dosage(1.6 g?kg -1) and high dosage(3.2 g?kg -1) of Jidesheng Sheyao tablet(oral) respectively before LPS-induced ALI. Each rat in normal control group received injection of 1ml normal saline. The animals were killed after injection of LPS for 2 hours, and then the lung index was calculated, the histopathology of the lung injury was observed by light microscope, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteins in the lung tissues and their activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the lung homogenates were detected by immunohistochemistry and zymography separately. Results Compared with model group, the lung indexes were significantly decreased in the drug groups(P

Objective To investigate the effect of advanced glycation end products(AGEs)on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in rabbit retinal M?ller cells in vitro.Methods We successfully cultured rabbit retinal M?ller cells and made AGEs-BSA as well as its control in vitro.Study with M?ller cells were divided into AGEs-BSA group,AGEs-BSA control group and blank control group.AGEs-BSA group and AGEs-BSA control group were respectively treated with 5 different concentration series of AGEs-BSA and AGEs-BSA control and cultured for 3,6 and 9 days,while blank control group was incubated without any intervention.Then VEGF expression in M?ller cells was observed by immunocytochemistry(ICC).Results Compared with control group,VEGF expression in cultured retinal M?ller cells was significantly enhanced in AGEs-BSA group.And the effects were in the time-and concentration-dependent manners.Conclusions AGEs increases VEGF expression in rabbit retinal M?ller cells in vitro,which indicates that AGEs may promote the progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR)through the induction of VEGF expression.

Aim To investigate the effects of thrombospondin-1 type Ⅰ repeat antisense RNA on cell proliferation and growth activity of human endothelial cells.Methods The eukaryotic expression vector of pcDNA3.1-/anti-TSP-1-Ⅰ was constructed.Then the vector was transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).The growth activity of endothelial cells after transfection was detected by MTT.The variation of endothelial cell's cycle was determined by flow cytometry.Cell morphological change was observed by transmission electron microscope.Results The eukaryotic expression vector(pcDNA3.1-/anti-TSP-1-Ⅰ)was successfully constructed and transfected into HUVECs.The OD value of pcDNA3.1-/anti-TSP-1-Ⅰ transfective group was promoted compared with that of nontransfective group(P

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for determination of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate for injection.METH_ ODS:C 18 was used as chromatographic column;the mobile phase consisted of0.12%ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer solution-absolute alcohol(925∶75)with detection wavelength at363nm and flow rate at0.8ml/min.The sample size was10?l and the column temperature was25℃.RESULTS:Linear relation was achieved when the concentration of carbzochrome sodium sulfonate was within the range of0.08865mg/ml～0.4432mg/ml(r=0.9999,n=5).The mean recovery rate was99.89%(RSD=1.53%,n=9).CONCLUSION:This method is simple,rapid,accurate,precise,and which can be used as the quality control of carbzochrome sodium sulfonate for injection.

Objective To investigate the effect of albumin on expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in tubular epithelial cells.Methods Thirty mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) patients with different levels of proteinuria were selected, and their renal biopsy samples were stained by PAS and Masson to observe tubular epithelial cells injury and inflammatory cells infiltration.NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18, as well as different inflammatory cells, were detected by immunohistostaining.In vitro, Western blotting and real-time PCR were employed to detect NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 protein and mRNA in HK-2 cells stimulated by bovine serum albumin (BSA) (20 g/L).Results In MsPGN patients with high levels of proteinuria, there were obvious renal tubular epithelial cell injury and inflammatory cells infiltration (all P ＜ 0.05), and the expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were up-regulated compared to patients with low levels of proteinuria (all P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore, IL-1β and IL-18expressions were positively correlated with the degree of proteinuria (r=0.836, P ＜ 0.05;r=0.901, P ＜0.05).NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in HK-2cells stimulated by BSA compared to the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Albumin is able to induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation in tubular epithelial cells, which may be the mechanism of tubulointerstitial injury and inflammation caused by proteinuria.

Objective To investigate the value of microwave ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe treated primarily by microwave ablation from January 2011 to May 2016 in our department,and explore the safety,efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA).Results The 11 patients had been treated with microwave ablation procedure in 13 lesions,through caudate lobe epigastric puncture in 9 cases and intercostal puncture in 2 cases.A total of 2 cases did not reach the technical success due to one case treated by radiation therapy,and the other treated by repeated MWA.However,the repeated MWA of that patient failed to reach the technical success.And the effective rate of treatment was 81.8％ (9/11).Following up to October 2016,the average follow-up time was (31.5±15.4) months.There were 1 patient with extrahepatic metastasis and 4 cases of patients with intrahepatic distant recurrence,among which 3 cases underwent MWA treatment again and 1 case underwent radiotherapy.Conclusion Microwave ablation is a safe and effective therapy option for the Caudate Lobe tumor.

BACKGROUND:Changes in the parameters of lumbar spine bone structure are direct reaction of morphological changes in lower lumbar spine bone structure. These changes possibly result from normal structure strain of the spine affected by long-term external or internal factors. Whether the conditions reflected by different parameters are identical, and whether corresponding clinical symptoms are correlative stil deserves further exploration. OBJECTIVE:To measure and compare the construction parameters of lumbar spine bone structure in lower lumbar disc herniation patients, and to investigate whether abnormalities of lumbar bony structure could lead to lower lumbar disc herniation and to evaluate the significance in degenerative lumbar disc. METHODS:From March 2008 to March 2010, 207 cases of lower lumbar disc herniation were randomly selected from the Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Fuzhou General Hospital, Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA. They received CT examination at the Department of Radiology at the same period, and results revealed that 143 cases of lower lumbar disc non-herniation served as control group. According to gender, they were divided into male and female groups. According to ages, they were divided into 25-34 group, 35-44 group, 45-54 group and 55-65 group. They were studied by measuring spinous process deflection angle, facet joint angle, lumbar vertebrae curvature, angle of lumbar vertebrae curvature, lumbosacral angle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Process deflection angle at L 4 and L 5 levels had a significant statistical difference between the lower lumbar disc herniation group and the control group. The date did not show normal distribution. Using Rank sum test, it had a significant statistical difference (Z=-10.609,-12.074, P<0.01). There was not significant statistical difference between the lower lumbar disc herniation group and the control group on the facet asymmetry, lumbar vertebrae curvature, angle of lumbar vertebrae curvature and lumbosacral angle at various ages (P>0.05). There only was significant difference on lumbosacral angle between male group and female group (P=0.007<0.01). There was significant difference on the facet asymmetry, lumbar vertebrae curvature, angle of lumbar vertebrae curvature and lumbosacral angle between 55-65 age group and 25-34 age group or 35-44 age group (P<0.01), and there was significant difference between 45-54 age group and 25-34 age group (P<0.01). These data suggested that the abnormalities of lumbar bony structure could not directly lead to the lumbar disc herniation, but the abnormalities of lumbar bony structure aggravate the lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To evaluate the clinical and coronary angiographic features of non-Q wave and Q wave myocardial infarction in the elderly. Methods The clinical history(including hypertension and diabetes), complication and in-hospital mortality, blood lipid, serum CK-Mb, LVEF, and the record of the coronary stenosis by angiography 3-4 weeks after infarction were investigated in non-Q wave and Q wave myocardial infarction patients. Results The clinical history and blood lipid did not differ significantly between the NQMI and QMI patients. NQMI patients had a significantly lower maximal peak 〔(68.7?18.6) mmol/L vs (108.6?17.3)mmol/L, P0.05), but occlusion rate of infarct-related vessels in NQMI patients were lower. Conclusions Prognosis of NQMI patients is better than that of QMI patients in acute-phase, and the occlusion rate of infarct-related vessels in NQMI patients were lower.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between myocardial perfusion and diastolic function with velocity vector imaging (VVI) combined with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in dog models of coronary artery stenosis at rest and stress. Methods Different stenoses in anterior descending branch were made in 8 dogs. Before and after coronary artery stenosis, VVI evaluation was made on short axis image, then MCE were performed in the left ventricular mastoid muscle section at rest and in the peak dose of dobutamine. The myocardial blood flow A·β value and peak diastolic strain rate (SR_(dia)) on the direction of the circumference of the short view were measured, and the relationship between them was analyzed. Results At rest, no significant difference of A·β value nor SR_(dia) was found between the stenotic bed and normal bed when coronary stenosis was mild or moderate. However, A·β value and SR_(dia) of the stenotic bed were smaller than those in the normal bed when coronary stenosis was severe (P<0.05). At dobutamine stress, A·β value and SR_(dia) of the stenotic bed were already less than those in the normal bed when coronary stenosis was mild or moderate. A·β values and SR_(dia) of the stenotic bed decreased further compared to the normal bed (P<0.05) when coronary artery was severe. At both rest and stress, the standard A·β value was strongly correlated with SR_(dia) (r_(rest)=0.57,r_(stress)=0.72,P<0.01). Conclusion VVI can not only evaluate the diastolic function of myocardial segments on the short axis view, but also reflect changes of myocardial perfusion to a certain extent.