Bioreactors ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; classification ; Sorption Detoxification ; instrumentation ; methods

AIM:To investigate the effect of fluvastatin on the expression of serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase 1 ( SGK1) and connective tissue growth factor ( CTGF) induced by aldosterone ( Ald) in rat mesangial cells (GMCs). METHODS:GMCs were divided into (1) control group; (2) aldosterone group with different concentrations and times; (3) Ald (10 -7 mol/L) + spironolactone (10 -9 mol/L) group; (4) Ald (10 -7 mol/L) + LY294002 (20 ?mol/L) group; (5) Ald (10-7mol/L) +SB203580 (20 mmol/L) group; (6) the group of Ald (10-7mol/L) + fluvas-tatin at different concentrations (10-7,10-6,10-5 mol/L); (7) Ald (10 -7mol/L) + fluvastatin (10 -5mol/L) + mevalonate (10 -4 mol/L) group; (8) Ald (10 -7 mol/L) + fluvastatin (10 -5 mol/L) + FPP (farnesyl pyrophosphate,10-4 mol/L) group; (9) Ald (10 -7mol/L) + fluvastatin (10 -5 mol/L) + GGPP (geranylgerany pyrophosphate,10 -4 mol/L) group. The protein levels of SGK1 and CTGF were determined by Western blotting. The levels of fibronection (FN),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the supernatants were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). RESULTS:Aldosterone stimulated the protein expression of SGK1 and CTGF in cultured mesangial cells in a dose-dependent manner (P

OBJECTIVETo develop a life quality scale suitable for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, objectively reflecting its changes.

METHODSAuthors first put forward a theoretical structure model of a scale according to patient-reported outcome (PRO) scale formulation principle by combining basic theories of Chinese medicine (CM). Then authors developed an initial scale on the basis of various life quality scales for respiratory disease patients by using structural decision making. Totally 34 patients with confirmed diagnosis of IPF were tested by questionnaire. Items were screened using expert importance scoring method, factor analysis, correlation coefficient method, Cronbach's alpha coefficient method. IPF patient reported outcomes (IPF PRO, IP) were finally defined.

RESULTSA new IP scale was developed covering three areas and 38 items. Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of clinical symptom scores in ST-George Respiratory Questionnaire and IP scale was 0.828 (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of activity ability scores was 0.929 (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of total scores was 0.862 (P < 0.01). By reliability of IP scale itself (reliability) analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.713. By using factor analysis method for data analysis, KMO statistics was 0.902.

CONCLUSIONIP scale fully reflected the connotation of IPF patients' quality of life, so it could be used as CM clinical therapeutic effect evaluation tool.

Background and purpose: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adult. Due to a high tendency for early metastasis the treatment of UM is very difficult. This study aimed to explore an effective approach for the treatment of patients with UM, we designed a strategy that combined HtrA2 gene therapy and radiation therapy. Methods:pIRES-Egr1-Omi/HtrA2 (pEgr1-HtrA2) recombinant plasmids were constructed and transfected into human UM cells (OCM-1) in vitro. The transfected cells were exposed to irradiation. HtrA2 mRNA and protein levels were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Assays that evaluated the apoptosis inducibility caused by HtrA2 gene therapy combined with radiation was performed by lfow cytometry. Followingly, the effects of HtrA2 overexpression on the in vitro radiosensitivity of uveal melanoma cells were investigated by clonogenic formation assay. The in vivo effects of HtrA2 gene therapy combined with radiation therapy were evaluated in different groups. Results:The recombinant plasmids could be successfully transferred into OCM-1 cells and transfection of pEgr1-HtrA2 plasmids combined with radiotherapy caused dramatically elevation of HtrA2 compared with non-irradiation cells in mRNA and protein levels, which was associated with increased apoptosis.Furthermore, we observed that the transfection of pEgr1-HtrA2 could significantly enhance radiosensitivity of OCM-1 cell in vitro. In mice bearing xenograft tumors, pEgr1-HtrA2 combined with radiation therapy signiifcantly inhibited tumor growth compared with the other treatment groups (P<0.05). Conclusion:Our ifndings indicate that radiation-inducible gene therapy may have potential to be a more effective and speciifc therapy for uveal melanoma because the therapeutic gene can be spatially or temporally controlled by exogenous radiation.

Adult ; Diverticulum ; complications ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

Brain ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

Objective To investigate the expression and role of costimulatory molecule 4-1BB on T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Metheds The expression of 4-1BB on T lymphocytes from 30 RA patients and 20 healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry.Results The expression of 4-1BB on CD4~+T and CD8~+T lymphocytes from RA patients was significantly higher than that of normal control(18.56?4.08,10.33?2.13 vs 1.24?0.12,0.87?0.09,P＜0.01).There was more expression of 4-1BB on CD4~+T and CD8~+ T lymphocytes stimulated by anti-CD3 antibody from RA patients(33?4 vs 21?8,P＜0.01).In addition,the ra- tio of CD4~+T/CD8+T in RA patients was higher than that of normal controls and was positively correlated with 4-1BB~+CD4~+T cell.The expression of 4-1BB on CD4~+T in RA patients was positively correlated with the level of ESR and IgA(r=0.476,P＜0.05;r=0.659,P＜0.05).Conclusion The costimulatory molecule 4-1BB is ab- normally expressed in T lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.The abnormal expression of 4-1BB on T lymphocytes may play an important role in the development of RA.The expression of 4-1BB on CD4~+T cell may take part in the inflammation of RA.

Objective To explore the influence of Azithromycin on helper T lymphocyte cell(Th)1/Th2 in peripheral blood of children with bronchitic asthma.Methods Twenty-four asthmatic children and 20 healthy children were selected.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from venous blood and made into cells suspension in aseptic condition.0.2 mg/L,0.1 mg/L,0.05 mg/L and 0 mg/L Azithromycin were added into the cultures in asthmatic group.The control group was not interfered with Azithromycin.The supernatant was collected after 48 h.The levels of IFN-?,IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosobent assay(ELISA).SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze data.Results 1.The level of IL-4 produced from PBMC of asthmatic group was significantly higher than that of control group(P0.05).2.Azithromycin 0.1 mg/L more promoted the secretion of IL-4 than the other 3 concentrations(Pa0.05).3.Azithromycin 0.2 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L more increased the level of IL-10 than the control group(P0.05).Conclusions The routine drug level of Azithromycin(0.1 mg/L) had no effects on the imbalance of Th1/Th2 of asthmatic children,but could modulate the immunological function by up-regulating the level of IL-10.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of adolescent depression symptoms in Zhejiang, so as to provide reference for improving their mental health. Methods: The middle school and university students in 11 cities of Zhejiang Province were selected by stratified cluster random sampling method. The depression symptoms of the adolescents were assessed by Center for Epidemiological Survey-Depression Scale ( CES-D ) and the influencing factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 25 855 students were investigated, and 25 614 ( 99.07% ) valid questionnaires were collected. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 26.86%(6 879 cases). The detection rate of depressive symptoms in girls was 29.75%, which was higher than 24.12% in boys ( P<0.05). The detection rate of depressive symptoms in high school students was 31.74%, the highest compared with other grades. The multivariate regression analysis showed that female students ( OR=1.690, 95%CI: 1.592-1.794 ), resident students ( OR=1.071, 95%CI: 1.010-1.137 ) , internet addiction ( OR=2.948, 95%CI: 2.527-3.439 ) , attempt smoking ( OR=1.516, 95%CI: 1.359-1.690 ), drinking ( OR=1.624, 95%CI: 1.525-1.729 ), bullied in the past 30 days ( OR=3.143, 95%CI: 2.938-3.363 and having serious injuries within a year ( OR=1.369, 95%CI: 1.263-1.543 ) were associated with adolescents who had depressive symptoms. Conclusions The detection rate of depressive symptoms is relative 26.86% among adolescents of Zhejiang Province. The students who are female, live on campus, have internet addiction, have been bullied or seriously injured, smoke and drink are more likely to have depressive symptoms.

Objective To investigate the histopathological and ultrastructural changes of corneal epithelium induced by erlotinib in mice.Methods Totally 30 6-8 weeks old male BALB/c mice were divided into three groups:Control group (n =12),experimental group (n =12),another 6 mice did nothing as the blank control.Experimental group used erlotinib eye drops and control group used PBS in both eyes,four times per day.At 1 day,7 days and 14 days after the intervention,corneal fluorescence staining (FL) was observed by slit lamp and graded.On the fourteenth day after the intervention,the eye balls of mice were taken,and the histopathological and ultrastructural changes of corneal epithelium and epithelial cells were observed by optical microscope and electron microscope,respectively.And protein of cornea was measured by Western Blot.Results Before the intervention,there was no significant difference in FL scores between the experimental group and control group (P ＞ 0.05).At 1 day,7 days and 14 days,FL score of experimental group was significantly higher than the groups of non-intervention,the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).While FL score of control group was not statistically significant before and after intervention (all P ＞ 0.05);Compared between two groups,there were statistical differences at 7 days,14 days in FL score (all P ＜ 0.05).In the experimental group,the histopathological changes of murine corneal epithelial cells had disorderly arrangement,increased layers of cells,and the inflammatory cells.Under electron microscope,the morphology of corneal epithelial surface cells was irregular and partially detached.The number of microvilli,desmosomes and hemidesmosomes were significantly decreased when compared to the control group.The expression of p-EGFR in experimental group was significantly less than that in control group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Erlotinib can damage the tissue structure of corneal epithelium and ultrastructure of corneal epithelial cells in mice.And the mechanism is probably that erlotinib influence the corneal epithelium by inhibiting the EGFR activation.