AIM: To investigate the influences of bypass-activated complement and TNF-? on intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) expression in endothelial cells, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil-endothelial cell (PMN-EC) adhesion. METHODS: In vitro, zymosan-activated human serum(ZAHS) and/or TNF-? directly stimulated the HUVECS monolayers. PMN-EC adhesion percentage was measured, and modified whole-cell ELISA was used for measurement of ICAM-1. RESULTS: ZAHS alone resulted in no significant change in the degree of PMN adhesion and the level of ICAM-1. Activation of HUVECS with TNF-? followed by ZAHS stimulation resulted in greater increase in PMN-EC adhesion and ICAM-1 expression, as compared with the activation with TNF-? alone. CONCLUSION: Bypass-activated complement can promote ICAM-1 expression and neutrophil -endothelium adhesion induced by TNF-?, and so it is effective for promoting inflammation.

AIM: To analyze the effect of human amniotic homogenate extract on corneal neovascularization after corneal alkali burn in the process of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and the effect of corneal neovascularization.METHODS: Totally 32 patients with corneal alkali burn were selected from June 2015 to June 2016 in Foshan,and were randomly divided into Group A and Group B,with a total of 37 eyes.Group A of 17 cases,with a total of 19 eyes,were treated with 40mg/L human amniotic homogenate extract;Group B (n=15),and 18 eyes,treated with 3g/L prednisolone eye drops.In the treatment of 1,4,7,14,21 and 28d at different time points,we observed the growth of corneal neovascularization,and detected the expression of PEDF and VEGF during angiogenesis.RESULTS: Group A of patients in the use of human amniotic homogenate extract after the treatment,the expression level of PEDF was significantly higher than that in Group B(P=0.001),after 28d treatment,the expression level of PEDF reached 0.721±0.314.While patients in Group B the expression level of PEDF was only 0.538±0.253.Two groups had significant difference between the expression level of PEDF (P<0.05).The expression level of VEGF in Group A was lower than in Group B at different time points in the test.After the treatment of 28d patients in the Group A,the expression level of VEGF was 0.152±0.020,in Group B the expression level of VEGF was0.302±0.031.Two groups of patients with VEGF expression level between the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The patients number in Group A with corneal neovascularization was significantly lower than that in Group B,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Human amniotic homogenate extract can increase the expression of PEDF in corneal neovascularization after corneal alkali burn,inhibit the expression of VEGF and the proliferation of corneal neovascularization.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Fn-TPO gene modification on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODSRetroviral vector containing Fn-TPO gene was constructed and bone marrow MSCs was modified by this vector. The transcription of Fn-TPO gene in MSCs was observed. The proliferation capacities, hematopoietic cells adhering capacities and TPO secretion capacities of gene modified MSCs were assayed respectively. Cord blood CD34 cells were seeded on the gene modified MSCs layers and several essential growth factors were added. After co-culturing in vitro for 7 days, the number of CD34 cells and their colony forming capacities were assayed by flow cytometry and semisolid culture assay.

RESULTSRetroviral vector containing Fn-TPO gene was successfully constructed and bone marrow MSCs were modified by this vector. Fn-TPO gene was expressed by bone marrow MSCs after gene modification. The viability of MSCs had no significant difference between pre- and post-gene-modification [(7.18 +/- 0.89) 10(4)/ml vs. (6.92 +/- 0.77) 10(4)/ml, P > 0.05]. The hematopoietic cells adhering ability of gene modified bone marrow MSCs was reinforced(0. 188 +/- 0.018 vs. 0.167 +/- 0.017, P < 0.01). The concentration of TPO in the MSCs culture supernatant raised from (5.58 +/- 0.37) ng/ml to (7.46 +/- 0.59) ng/ml (P < 0.01) and did not significantly decline in a short-time period, but influenced by the growth status of MSCs. After co-culturing with gene modified MSCs for 7 days, the absolute number of nucleated cells, the percentage of CD34+ cells and the colony numbers of BFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM were (29.9 +/- 2.7) x 10(4), (33.3 +/- 2.8)% , 109.3 +/- 4.1, 163.7 +/- 7.1, 13.3 +/- 1.5, respectively, being significantly higher than that co-cultured with non-modified MSCs.

CONCLUSIONSFn-TPO gene modification can improve the capacity of human bone marrow MSCs for hematopoietic cells adhering, TPO secretion and cord blood CD34 cells amplification.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibronectins ; genetics ; Gene Fusion ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Thrombopoietin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of male reproductive toxicity induced by acrylonitrile (ACN).

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were daily administrated ACN by intraperitoneal injection 5 times a week for 13 weeks at the dose of 0, 7.5, 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The rats were sacrificed and testes were removed at the end of 4, 8, 13 or 15 weeks, respectively. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were detected in testes.

RESULTSFollowing ACN treatment of 4 weeks, the levels of GSH in ACN 15.0 mg/kg and 30.0 mg/kg group were (7.44 +/- 0.77) mg/g pro and (6.95 +/- 0.77) mg/g pro respectively, and the activity of GSH-Px was (70.89 +/- 4.01) U/mg pro in 30.0 mg/kg group, all of which were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After 8 weeks, the levels of GSH decreased to (2.50 +/- 0.94) mg/g pro in ACN 30.0 mg/kg group (P < 0.01); the activities of SOD increased to (102.08 +/- 16.08) NU/mg pro and (113.30 +/- 17.20) NU/mg pro in ACN 15.0 mg/kg and 30.0 mg/kg group (P < 0.01). After 13 weeks, the levels of GSH declined in ACN 15.0 mg/kg and 30.0 mg/kg group, and the activities of GST decreased in ACN 30.0 mg/kg group, and of GSH-Px decreased in both doses group. However, the level of MDA [(0.68 +/- 0.16) nmol/mg pro] were significantly higher in 30.0 mg/kg group than that in control group [(0.38 +/- 0.12) nmol/mg pro] (P < 0.01). 2 weeks after stopping ACN treatment, the level of GSH restored to normal but the levels of MDA or the activity of GSH-Px in 30.0 mg/kg group were still higher or lower respectively than those of control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONACN may impair the balance of antioxidant system, thus induce lipid peroxidation damage to rat testes.

Acrylonitrile ; toxicity ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Se-riched soybean peptide (SSP) on antioxidant function in rats of fatty liver caused by high-fat diet.

METHODSForty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups randomly and fed with standard diet and water (NC), high-fat diet and water (HC), high-fat diet and SSP (0.1 g/d) (SeH), standard diet and SSP (0.1 g/d) (SeN) respectively. After 10 weeks, the rats were killed to investigate the pimelosis level in liver tissues by Sudan III staining and the expression of hepatic GRP78 by immunohistochemical analysis. We also analyzed the changes of liver function, blood lipid, the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in livers and serum.

RESULTSThe pimelosis level, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), MDA contents and the expression of GRP78 in HC group were significantly higher than those in NC, SeN, SeH groups. The activities of GSH-Px and SOD in liver and serum were markedly up-regulated in SeH (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between NC and SeN groups.

CONCLUSIONSSP can improve liver cell injury and the antioxidant functions in rats with fatty liver effectively and decrease the expression of GRP78 in liver.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Soybean Proteins ; pharmacology ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

Objective To evaluate the pattern of energy metabolism and nutrients intake in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis to effectively direct their nutrition therapy.Methods Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured with open-circuit indirect Jorimetry in 60 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 60 patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis.Their normal basal energy expenditure (BEE) was predicted by Harris-Benedict equation and energy intake (EI) was determined by diet recall. Correlation between REE and indicators for nutrition assessment was analyzed.Results REE was (77? 21) kJ?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) in 60 patients with pusthepatitic cirrhosis,significantly lower than BEE[(95?16) kJ? kg~(-1)?d~(-1)(P0.05,and their EI was (127?34) kJ?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),1.41?0.43 times as REE,in which PROI was (1.02?0.29) g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),1.31?0.61 times as PROE (0.87?0.34) g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),also indicating a negative nitrogen balance (-2.02?4.07).REE,EI and intake of three nutrients,serum level of albumin and prealbumin (PA) and body weight significantly decreased in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis,as compared to those in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (P

Neuritin is a new neurotrophic factor found recently. In order to identify the function of Neuritin clearly, the coding sequence of human neuritin was amplified by PCR from neuritin cDNA , this fragment digested by NocI and NotI was inserted into pET32a by T4 ligase and transformed into E. coli BL21 then the recombinant plasmid named pET32a-neuritin was constructed successfully . Neuritin was expressed distinctly after inducing by EPTG. The product was identified as neuritin by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis . The expression production was purified on Ni2+-NTA column.

Objective To investigate whether the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler imaging might be an optimal left ventricular lead position for improved outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods Thirty-three patients subjected to CRT were selected, and all were performed conventional ultrasound cardiography and tissue Doppler examinations before operation. The left ventricular delayed contraction site was determined according to the interval between the onset of QRS and the peak systolic velocity. Retrograde coronary venography was performed during operation, and the left ventricular lead site was selected according to the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler examination before operation. The coronary sinus lead site was determined under the guidance of X ray of dorsaventral, lateral, right anterior oblique and left anterior oblique positions. Patients were divided into group A(n=20, the left ventricular lead site was in line with the delayed contraction site) and group B (n=13, the left ventricular lead site was not in line with the delayed contraction site). Results There was no significant difference in age, NYHA grading, left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, QRS width and Ts-SD between the two groups before operation(P> 0.05). Six months after CRT, there was no significant difference in NYHA grading, LVESV and mitral regurgitation(MR) grading between the two groups(P>0.05), while the increase in LVEF and decrease in LVESV of group A were more significant than those of group B (P<0.01). Conclusion In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, CRT significantly improves left ventricular performance, and the more favourable outcomes are achieved in those pace at the delayed contraction site. Tissue Doppler imaging may help to guide the implant of left ventricular lead.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different fertilization methods on the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture for 1 153 cycles of IVF and 205 cycles of ICSI performed between january 2009 and December 2012.

RESULTSA total number of 14 748 embryos in the IVF group and 2 655 embryos in the ICSI group underwent sequential blastocyst culture, with 7 871 blastocysts formed in the former and 1 210 in the latter. No cycles were canceled for no blastocyst formation in either of the two groups. The rates of quality embryos, blastocyst formation and embryo utilization were significantly higher in the IVF than in the ICSI group (64.77 vs 58.72%, 53.37 vs 45.57%, and 60.06 vs 52.17%, all P < 0.05), but the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion showed no significant differences between the two groups (48.94 vs 51.43%, 49.03 vs 52.02%, and 11.69% vs 15.56, all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith the same inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture, IVF has a lower risk of cycle cancellation due to no blastocyst formation and therefore may effect higher rates of blastocyst formation and embryo utilization than ICSI. Our study suggested that appropriate inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture should be laid down according to different fertilization methods.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic