Aim To investigate the role of locus coeruleus(LC)-norepinephrinergic system and sympathetic nervous system in immunosuppression under cold stress, using 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA) as chemical sympathectomy.Methods Rats were maintained in cold chamber at 4℃ for 4 h.The 51Cr release assay from YAC-1 cells was used to determine the splenic NK cell activity, the double staining of ABC method was employed to observe the immunoreactive expression of Fos, arginine-vasopressin(AVP), oxytocin(OT) and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), and conventional radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations.Results Central sympathectomy with intracerebroventricular(i.c.v.) injection of 6-OHDA r educed significantly the elevation of plasma corticosterone level, the expressio n of Fos in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and in locus coeruleus(LC ), as well as the suppression of NK activity induced by cold stress at 4℃ for 4 h. Peripheral sympathectomy with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 6-OHDA al so reversed the cold stress-induced suppression of NK cytotoxicity, but without significant effect on Fos expression in brain. Double staining showed that amon g the Fos-positive neurons in PVN only a few co-expressed Fos and AVP or Fos a nd OT, while in LC the majority of Fos-positive neurons co-expressed Fos and T H.Conclusion The mechanism of suppression of NK activity induce d by cold stress may be mediated through HPA axis activated partially by central LC-norepinephrinergic system and through the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.

Objective To evaluate the impact of the re-modified Sugiura procedure on portal hemodynamics and liver function in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.Methods Forty patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent the re-modified Sugiura procedure in the Yichang Second People's Hospital from June 2006 to October 2014 were studied.Changes in the free portal pressure (FPP),portal venous flow (PVF) and liver functions before and after operation were analyzed.Results (1) The FPP at different phases of the operation (after opening the abdomen,after splenectomy,and after devascularization) were (43.2 ± 1.8) cmH2O,(34.8 ± 1.6) cmH2O and (35.2 ± 1.7) cmH2O,respectively.There were significant differences in FPP between the phases of after splenectomy and after opening the abdomen,as well as after devascularization and after opening the abdomen (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in FPP between after devascularization and after splenectomy (P ＞ O.05).(2) The PVF,which were measured with Doppler sonography at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months),were (1 420.4 ± 137.7) ml/min,(1 205.2 ± 126.7) ml/min,(875.8 ± 118.0) ml/min and (893.8 ± 114.7) n1/min,respectively.There were significant differences in PVF between postoperative 10 days and preoperative 1 day,between postoperative 6 months and postoperative 10 days,as well as between postoperative 18 months and preoperative 1 day (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in PVF between postoperative 18 months and postoperative 6 months (P ＞0.05).(3)The liver functions were evaluated using the Child-Pugh score at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months).There were no significant differences among the time points,(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The re-modified Sugiura's procedure durably,appropriately and effectively reduced the PVF and FPP,but it did not have any negative effects on the liver functions of patients with cirrhosis.

Long non-coding RNA(LncRNA)has attracted increasing attention over the recent years. It is closely related to the occurrence and development of human diseases based on numerous academic researches. Analysis of the biological function of LncRNA in depth may lead to great breakthroughs in clarifying pathogenesis of many diseases and provide possible targets for intervention. Recent studies have revealed the importance of LncRNA in the progression of heart failure(HF), the final stage of many cardiovascular diseases. This review summarized the new findings of LncRNA in prognosis and treatment of HF.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of abnormal urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR) in obese population.Methods:Baseline data from 2011 to 2012 in Henan Sub-center of"Risk Evaluation of cAncers in Chinese diabeTic Individuals: A lONgitudinal(REACTION) study"were utilized and those of body mass index≥28 kg/m 2 were screened. The patients were divided into UACR normal group and UACR abnormal group(101 pairs) upon being matched on a 1∶1 basis by age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve, and restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis were performed to explore the risk factors for abnormal UACR. Results:Compared with the normal UACR group, the UACR abnormal group had a higher number of alcohol consumers, a higher prevalence of hypertension, elevated systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption( P=0.008), systolic blood pressure( P<0.001), triglyceride( P=0.049), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR, P=0.033) were independent risk factors for abnormal UACR in obese people. The ROC curve analysis indicated that systolic blood pressure had the strongest diagnostic performance as a single factor(ROC curve area=0.801), and there was no significant difference in diagnostic performance compared to multiple factors combination. RCS analysis results showed that the probability of abnormal UACR increased monotonically with the increase of systolic blood pressure when the systolic blood pressure was between 130 and 158 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). When systolic blood pressure was not in the interval, the probability of abnormal UACR did not change significantly. The results of regression analysis of triglyceride subgroup showed that when triglyceride level was greater than or equal to 5.6 mmol/L, the risk of abnormal UACR level was significantly increased( P=0.029). Conclusion:Systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, HOMA-IR, and alcohol drinking history are independent risk factors for abnormal UACR in obese people. When systolic blood pressure is≥130 mmHg or triglyceride is≥5.6 mmol/L, the risk of abnormal UACR is significantly increased.

Objective: To investigate the effects of apoptotic bodies (ABs) derived from dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on macrophage polarization and inflammation response in vivo. Methods : Human DPSCs were extracted, cultured and identified. Staurosporine was used to apoptosis induction and differential methods were performed for ABs identification. The in vitro cultured macrophages were divided into 3 groups: solvent control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the LPS+ABs. The macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation followed by ABs treatment. In the untreated group, macrophages were added with an equal amount of solvent. The specific uptake of ABs by macrophages, the expression level of CD206 and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. The mouse models of cutaneous wounds and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were established, and the mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: the PBS-treated group, the DPSCs-treated group, and the ABs-treated group. The mice were injected with the same volume of PBS, DPSCs and ABs, respectively. The body weight, histological pathology, the expression levels of CD206 and cytokines, and the extent of tissue regeneration were measured. Results : DPSCs and ABs derived from DPSCs were successfully isolated and characterized. ABs could be taken up by macrophage. While lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), ABs significantly reduced the levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and CD206 (P < 0.01). In the cutaneous inflammatory wound model, the wound closure rate in mice intravenously injected with ABs was significantly accelerated (P < 0.05). The administration of ABs markedly reduced the pro-inflammatory factors levels and increased the CD206+ cell number. In the colitis model, treatment with ABs markedly reduced the loss in bodyweight (P < 0.05), recovered the colon length (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the CD206+ cell number. Conclusion DPSCs-derived ABs could enhance macrophage M2 polarization and attenuate inflammation. Therefore, ABs could be used as a promising cell replacement for inflammatory regulation and tissue regeneration.