Objective To find the different plasma-associated proteins of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for understanding the pathogenesis of RA. Methods The total protein from either RA patients or normal ones was prepared by means of immobilized pH gradient based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After silver staining, gel-image analysis was performed by using PDQuest. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Results 2-DE patterns of plasma from controls and RA patients were presented. The results showed that average number of protein spots was 592 and 563 respectively, and the corresponding average matching rate was 89% and 87% respectively. Gel-image analysis revealed that there were 24 differential protein spots. A total of 15 differential protein spots were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF-MS, of which 6 proteins were up-regulated as compared with control. Conclusion The differentially expressed proteins can be observed in plasma from RA and controls, which can be used to elucidate the pathogenesis of RA for further study.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a surgery which was commonly used in portal hypertension therapy.It can control and prevent the complication caused by portal hypertension,such as esophageal gastric-fundus variceal bleeding.However,there is a fundamental flaw in the TIPS due to its lack of maintaining a long-lasting and effective shunt,and most of the stenosis or occlusion are in the draining vein:the hepatic vein.Accompanied by direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (DIPS),which has shown its advantage compared with traditional TIPS operation,such as the block of hepatic vein can be avoided,the radiation dose as well as the operation time is lesser,DIPS is safer and so on.Here we reviewed to present a brief introduction of DIPS development history and core concerns of the major medical centers at present.

BACKGROUND:Stem cell therapy has broad prospects in improving cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction;however,alteration in the myocardial microenvironment affects the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells.Exercise preconditioning is similar to ischemic preconditioning and can have a protective effect on the myocardium.However,little attention has been paid to the effects and mechanisms of the combined effects of exercise preconditioning and stem cell transplantation. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of exercise preconditioning on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats with myocardial infarction and to explore the mechanism of local inflammatory microenvironment. METHODS:Eighty female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,transplantation group,and combination group,with 20 rats in each group.The rat model of myocardial infarction was made by ligating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery.The sham operation group was only threaded without ligature.The transplantation and combination groups were injected with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of male rats into the myocardium after modeling.In addition,the combination group also required 8 weeks of treadmill exercise(i.e.,exercise preconditioning)before modeling.Four weeks after stem cell transplantation,exercise performance was measured by incremental exercise exhaustion test;cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography;left ventricular hemodynamics was measured by pressure-volume catheterization,and myocardial histopathology was observed by in situ staining and myocardial collagen volume fraction was obtained.Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect left ventricular pro-inflammatory factor(interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α),anti-inflammatory factor(interleukin-10),sex-determining region of Y chromosome,and fetal genes(atrial natriuretic peptide,brain natriuretic peptide,β-myosin heavy chain)mRNA expression level at 1,7 days and 4 weeks after stem cell transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Four weeks after stem cell transplantation:compared with sham operation group,exercise performance,and left ventricular ejection fraction were reduced(P<0.05);myocardial infarction area,cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area,and collagen volume fraction were increased(P<0.05);the mRNA expression of fetal genes and pro-inflammatory factors were up-regulated(P<0.05),and the mRNA expression of interleukin-10 was down-regulated(P<0.05)in the model group.Compared with the model group,exercise performance and left ventricular ejection fraction were increased(P<0.05);myocardial infarction area,cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area,and collagen volume fraction were decreased(P<0.05);mRNA expression of fetal genes and pro-inflammatory factors was down-regulated(P<0.05),and that of interleukin-10 had no significant change(P>0.05)in the transplantation group.Compared with the transplantation group,all the above indicators in the combination group were further improved(P<0.05).(2)One day and 7 days after stem cell transplantation,compared with the transplantation group,the mRNA expression of sex-determining region of Y chromosome in the combination group increased(P<0.05).(3)Correlation analysis showed that interleukin-1β,interleukin-6(except on the 1st day after transplantation),and tumor necrosis factor-α were negatively correlated with the mRNA expression of sex-determining region of Y chromosome(P<0.05),while interleukin-10 was positively correlated with that of sex-determining region of Y chromosome(P<0.05).These findings suggest that exercise preconditioning can enhance the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats with myocardial infarction,which is characterized by suppression of cardiac remodeling and further amelioration of cardiac function.The mechanism is related to the improvement of the myocardial inflammatory microenvironment to promote bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell retention and survival.