Objective Heart transplantation is an effective treatment of end-stage heart diseases and extending the time of donor heart preservation helps to make up for the shortage of donor hearts. This study was to investigate whether high-pressured mixed gas ( HPMG) of carbon monoxide and oxygen could prolong the time of donor heart preservation and its mechanisms. Methods Forty-eight C57BL/6 male mice aged 4-6 weeks were randomly divided in-to four groups of equal number:control ( the donor heart isolated but not transplanted) , immediate transplantation ( the donor heart transplanted right after isolated) , HTK-preservation ( the donor heart preserved in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution for 24 hours after isolated, and HPMG preservation ( the donor heart preserved in an HPMG chamber with the oxygen partial pressure of 3200 hPa and carbon monoxide partial pressure of 800 hPa for 24 hours after isolated) .Another 36 recipient mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly assigned to receive the donor heart immediately after harvested (n=12), preserved in HTK solution (n=12), or preserved in HPMG (n=12).At 2 hours after transplantation, the status of heart re-beating and cardiac function were compared among different groups of recipient mice.At 24 hours, tissues were taken from the transplanted hearts for examination of pathologic changes by HE stai-ning, detection of the apoptosis of cardiac cells by TUNEL, and determination of the expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 -Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ) and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) by Western blot. Resul ts The re-beating rates of the imme-diately transplanted and HPMG-preserved hearts were significantly higher than that of the HTK-preserved ones (P<0.05).At 2 hours after transplantation, the cardiac function scores were 2.5 (2.0-2.9), 0.8 (0.5-1.0), and 4.5 (4.0-4.5) in the immediate implantation, HPMG-preservation and HTK-preservation groups respectively, with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P<0.05).The expressions of LC3-Ⅱand Bcl-2 were 2.06 ±0.29 and 0.87 ±0.18 in the HPMG-preserved heart recipients and 1.24 ±0.20 and 2.07 ±0.32 in the immediately transplanted heart recipients, both higher than 0.13 ±0.03 and 0.19 ±0.02 in the controls and 0.16 ±0.06 and 0.26 ±0.08 in the HTK-preserved heart recipients (P<0.05), the Bcl-2 higher in the HTK-pre-served heart recipients than in the controls (P<0.05), and the LC3-Ⅱ expression higher in the HPMG-preserved heart recipients than in the immediately transplanted heart recipients (P<0.05).HE staining showed that cell edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were more obvious in the HPMG-preserved heart recipients than in the controls and immediately transplanted heart recipients but less obvious than in the HTK-preserved heart recipients.The rate of cell apoptosis was dramatically increased in the HPMG-and HTK-pre-served heart recipients ([5.04 ±1.77]%and [26.72 ±5.23]%) in comparison with the controls ([1.08 ±0.56]%) (P<0.01) and immediately transplanted heart recipients ([2.13 ±1.71]%) (P<0.01) but decreased in the HPMG as compared with the HTK-preserved heart recipients (P<0.01). Conclusion High-pressured mixed gas preservation can reduce cold ischemia-reperfu-sion injury of the donor heart, which may be associated with its promotion of autophagy, provision of energy to cells, and apoptosis of cardiocytes in the donor heart.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) gene silencing on the radiosensitivity of breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell xenograft in nude mice and explore the mechanism.

METHODSMCF-7 cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmids pGPU6-PrxI and pGPU6-HK separately. The pGPU6-PrxI-transfected cells stably expressing Prx I shRNA and pGPU6-HK-transfected cells were inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c nude mice. After exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) with 6 MV X-ray, the xenografts were harvested for measuring the tumor volume and mass, and the tumor inhibition rates were calculated. Immunohistochemistry was employed for detecting the expressions of Prx I and caspase-3 proteins. The ultrastructural changes of the tumor tissues following the exposure were observed using electron microscopy. Western blotting was used to analyze the expressions of γ-H2AX and Rad51 proteins.

RESULTSFollowing IR exposure, the pGPU6-Prx I-transfected cell xenograft showed a significantly delayed growth and smaller tumor volume as compared with pGPU6-HK xnegraft, with a tumor inhibition rate reaching 79.76%, significantly higher than that in non-exposed pGPU6-Prx I group (34.92%) and pGPU6-HK+IR group (56.94%) (P<0.05). The pGPU6-Prx I-transfected xenografts showed significantly increased tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis, down-regulated the expressions of Prx I and Rad51 proteins, and up-regulated the expressions of caspase-3 and γ-H2AX proteins; these changes were even more obvious after IR exposure, which caused a decrease of Rad51 protein by 84.8% and an increase in γ-H2AX protein by 5.6 folds compared with those in pGPU6-HK group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPrx I gene silencing can significantly enhance the radiosensitivity of breast carcinoma xenograft in nude mice possibly by increasing DNA damage and lowering the capacity of the cells for DNA repair. Prx I may serve as an ideal molecular target for radiosensitization of breast carcinoma.

Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; DNA Repair ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Peroxiredoxins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Radiation Tolerance ; genetics ; Transfection ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Chinese kidney-tonifying drugs on bone mineral density, biomechanics, 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 of ovariectomized osteoporosis rats, and explore the mechanism of treating osteoporosis with the drugs.

METHODSThirty-six female SD rats (four months) were randomly divided into model group, sham group and treatment group. All the rats had been ovariectomied except those in sham group. Selecting 4, 8, 12 weeks in the experiment, the value of bone mineral density (BMD) was measure by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) of femoral head, while the biomechanics machine was applied to analysis femoral head biomechanics index and ELISA method was used to detect the content of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 discern in blood-serum, liver and kidney.

RESULTSTreatment group rats' BMD of femoral head was enhance compared with model group, significant differences were absent (P<0.05), and the maximal load and maximal stress measurement were improved, significant differences were absent (P<0.05). As the content of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 discern in blood-serum, liver and kidney were elevate, furthmore there were significant differences in group comparison, all significant differences were absent (P<0.05). But those compared with sham group, there was no significant difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the early period in absence of estrogenic hormone, the Chinese kidney-tonifying drugs could activate bone metabolism to raise BMD and reinforce quality of bone through up-regulating expression of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 at protein level.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Cholecalciferol ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Femur Head ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; adverse effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Agents ; pharmacology

AIMTo observe mRNA expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in spinal cord and brainstem in morphine dependent or withdrawal rats.

METHODSThe mRNA expression level of m1, m2, m3, m4 and m5 were determined by RT-PCR, the beta-actin mRNA expression was used as internal control.

RESULTSThe mRNA level of m1, m2, m3, m4 and m5 in spinal cord and m1 and m2 in brainstem were increased significantly during morphine dependence, and the levels of m1, m2, m3 and m4 in spinal cord and m1 in brainstem were decreased 1 h after the injection of naloxone (4 mg.kg-1, i.p.) in morphine dependent rats. Either scopolamine (0.5 mg.kg-1) or pirenzepine (10 mg.kg-1) was shown to significantly decrease the morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats. The levels of m1, m2, m3 and m5 in spinal cord were increased by pretreatment with pirenzepine and the levels of m2, m3 and m4 in spinal cord were increased by pretreatment with scopolamine.

CONCLUSIONThe adaptive expression of muscarinic receptors at spinal and supraspinal levels play important role in mediating morphine dependence and withdrawal in rats.

Animals ; Brain Stem ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Male ; Morphine ; toxicity ; Morphine Dependence ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; biosynthesis ; classification ; genetics ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; metabolism

Objeodve To discuss the safety and efficacy of " point-line-surface" three step method of straight light beam green laser photoselective vaporesection of the prostate(PVRP) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).Methods The data of one hundred and twenty-six BPH patients who were treated with surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from May 2016 to August 2017 was analyzed retrospective.In all of the patients,69 cases were given "point-line-surface" three step method of straight light beam green laser PVRP(PVRP group),57 cases were given photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP group).Operation time,blood loss,postoperative washing time,indwelling catheter time,international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life score (QOL),maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine (PVR) were compared between the two groups.Results The operation time in the PVRP group was shorter than that in the PVP group(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the blood loss,postoperative washing time and indwelling catheter time between the PVRP group and PVP group(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the IPSS,QOL,Qmax and PVR between the PVRP group and PVP group before operation (P ＜ 0.05).In the two groups,the IPSS,QOL and PVR were lower after operation than that before operation (P ＜ 0.05),while Qmax was higher after operation than that before operation(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the IPSS,QOL,Qmax and PVR between the PVRP group and PVP group after operation(P ＜ 0.05).The rate of postoperative complications in the PVRP group and PVP group was 1.4％(1/69) and 1.8％ (1/57),respectively;there was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications between the PVRP group and PVP group (x2 =11.968,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion " Point-line-surface" three steps of straight light of PVRP for treating BPH have simple steps and short operation time.It is a safe and ideal surgical method for BPH.

BACKGROUND:Vibration environment can cause spinal injury,especially in patients with scoliosis.At present,there is no information about the inherent mode of the whole spine from T1 to the pelvis in scoliosis patients in the free state. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the dynamic characteristics of the whole spine in patients with scoliosis by the finite element method. METHODS:Based on CT scan images,a three-dimensional finite element model of the T1-pelvic total spine of an 11-year-old patient with thoracolumbar biflexion scoliosis was established,and the Cobb angles of thoracolumbar scoliosis were 36° and 24°,respectively.The mode analysis in the free state of the whole spine was carried out by the finite element method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The fifteen-order free modes of the spine were extracted,and the dynamic characteristics of the scolio-curved spine were obtained.The resonance frequency distribution of the spine was concentrated.The thoracic vertebra was the most deformed in the whole spine model,and the amplitude of the thoracic vertebra was larger than that of the lumbar vertebra.Modal analysis was used to analyze the vibration characteristics of scoliosis patients in the vibration environment.It is of great significance to determine the natural frequency,vibration mode,and amplitude of scoliosis patients for analyzing the vibration characteristics of scoliosis.

Objective To study the cytotoxic effect of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) cocultured with U251 tumor cell antigen-loaded mature dendritic cells (DCs) against U251 cell line. Methods The DCs and CIKs were derived from the cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) of the same donor. The DCs were challenged with U251 tumor cell antigen, and cocultured with the CIKs to induce the cell complex Ag-DC-CIK. The mature DCs were identified by morphological and phenotypic analyses. MTT assay was performed to detect the cytotoxic effects ofCBMCs, CIKs, antigen-loaded CIKs (Ag-CIK) or the cell complex Ag-DC-CIK in U25 ! cells. Results The mature DCs derived from the CBMCs highly expressed the costimulatory molecules CD86 (82.66%) and CD40 (69.40%), and moderately expressed CD83 (57.49%) and CD80 (51.14%). The cytotoxic activity of the cell complex Ag-DC-CIK against U251 cells (58.8%) was significantly higher than those of CBMCs (29.71%), CIKs (39.89%), and Ag-CIK (49.92%). Statistical analysis indicated significant difference in the cytotoxic activity between any two of the groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The DCs loaded with the tumor cell antigen can enhance the cytotoxic effect of the CIKs against the target tumor cells, which sheds light on a new approach of immunotherapy for intracranial tumors.

Objective: To explore the occurrence of cognitive impairment in Chinese heart failure (HF) patients and it's impact on prognosis. Methods: In this prospective observational study, a total of 990 HF patients were enrolled from 24 hospitals in China during December 2012 to November 2014. All patients were administrated with the interview-format Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), according to which they were divided into MoCA<26 (with cognitive impairment) group and MoCA≥26 (without cognitive impairment) group. Baseline data were collected and a 1-year follow up was carried out. Univariate and multivariate logistic or Cox regression were performed for 1-year outcomes. Results: Cognitive impairment was evidenced in 628 patients (63.4%) and they were more likely to be older, female, and with higher proportion of New York Heart Association(NYHA) class Ⅲ-Ⅳ, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease, while body mass index (BMI), education level, and medical insurance rate were lower (all P<0.05) as compared to patients in MoCA≥26 group. The rate of percutaneous intervention, device implantation, cardiac surgery and evidence-based medications were significantly lower in MoCA<26 group than in MoCA≥26 group (all P<0.05). During the 1-year follow up, patients in the MoCA<26 group had higher all-cause mortality (10.2%(64/628) vs. 2.2%(8/362), P<0.01), cardiovascular mortality (5.9%(37/628) vs. 0.8%(3/362), P<0.01) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (9.6%(60/628) vs. 2.5%(8/362), P<0.01) than patients in the MoCA≥26 group. In univariate regression, MoCA<26 was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR(95%CI):4.739(2.272-9.885), P<0.01), cardiovascular mortality (HR(95%CI):7.258(2.237-23.548), P=0.001) and MACCE (OR(95%CI):4.143(2.031-8.453), P<0.01). After adjustment by multivariate regression, MoCA<26 was indicated as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR(95%CI): 6.387(2.533-16.104), P<0.01), cardiovascular mortality (HR(95%CI): 10.848(2.586-45.506), P=0.001) and MACCE (OR(95%CI): 4.081(1.299-12.816), P=0.016), while not for re-hospitalization for HF (OR(95%CI):1.010(0.700-1.457), P=0.957). Conclusions: Cognitive impairment is common in HF patients,and it is an independent prognostic factor for 1-year outcomes. Routine cognitive function assessment and active intervention are thus recommended for HF patients.
China ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mental Status and Dementia Tests ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUNDIt has been shown that administration of statins reduced the risk of peri-procedural myocardial damage. However, it remains unclear whether Chinese medicine Danlou Tablet (), similar to statins, may protect patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from peri-procedural myocardial damage.

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the hypothesis whether treatment with Danlou Tablet would improve clinical outcome in patients undergoing selective PCI with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in China.

METHODSApproximately 220 patients with unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing PCI will be enrolled and randomized to Danlou Tablet treatment (4.5 g/day for 2 days before intervention, with a further 4.5 g/day for 90 days thereafter) or placebo. All patients will not receive Danlou Tablet before procedure. The primary end point is to evaluate the incidence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or unplanned re-hospitalization and revascularization after 30 days in patients undergoing selective PCI treated with Danlou Tablet compared with placebo. Secondary endpoints include the incidence of peri-procedural myocardial injury, 3-month clinical outcomes, the quality of life and Chinese medicine syndromes assessment.

CONCLUSIONThis study protocol will provide important evidence of Danlou Tablet treatment on the peri-procedural myocardial injury in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing selective PCI, which may support a strategy of routine Danlou Tablet therapy to improve the clinical outcomes.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Endpoint Determination ; Humans ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Sample Size ; Ultrasonography

In this study, we aimed to establish a rat liver micro-tissue evaluation system to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of the main monomers in Polygonum multiflorum. Rat primary hepatocytes were isolated and purified by two-step in situ perfusion method to prepare hepatic parenchymal cells. The ultra-low adsorption plate and the inverted model were used to establish an in vitro hepatotoxicity evaluation system. After the system was established, the main monomer components(monanthone with emodin type, rhein, emodin, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, physcion) of P. multiflorum were selected for in vitro hepatotoxicity evaluation. This study showed that the primary cells of the liver can form liver micro-tissues in the low adsorption plate method and the mold perfusion method, with good liver structure and function, which can be used to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of the drug to be tested after long-term administration. The five monomers to be tested in P. multiflorum can significantly affect the proliferation of primary liver micro-tissues in rats in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The hepatotoxic effects were as follows: monanthone with emodin type > rhein > emodin > emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside > physcion. The results suggested that the emodin-type monoterpene and rhein might be the potential hepatotoxic components, while the metabolites of emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside and emodin methyl ether showed more toxic risks. The rat primary hepatocyte micro-tissue model system established in this experiment could be used to achieve long-term drug administration in vitro, which was consistent with the clinical features of liver injury caused by long-term use of P. multiflorum. The experimental results provided important information and reference on the clinical application and toxic component of P. multiflorum.
Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Emodin ; Fallopia multiflora ; Glucosides ; Plant Extracts ; Polygonum ; Rats