BACKGROUND:It is reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)transplantation might be a promising treatment for liver fibrosis.But the mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis induced by BMSC transplantation,and to study the mechanism of BMSC in treating hepatic fibrosis in vivo.METHODS:CCl_4 subcutaneous injection was performed to induce rat liver fibrosis.After 8 weeks of CCU injection,20 rats which underwent successful model establishment were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,10 in each group.The experimental group received MSC transplantation via tail vein injection,and the control group were given DMEM instead.The rats were killed and the livers were harvested at three time point,the day of MSC transplantation,3 days after transplantation,and 7 days after transplantation.The hydroxyproline content was detected by HE and Masson staining,and the expression changes of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)proteins were determined using immunohistochemistry.The apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells were determined by α-SMA and TUNEL(terminal dUTP nick-end labeling)dual-staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 8 weeks of CCU injection,the hydroxyproline content increased and histology indicated progress of liver fibrosis.At 7 days after MSC transplantation,the hydroxyproline in the liver was decreased,and the liver fibrosis was alleviated in the experimental group but aggravated in the control group.Immunohistochemistry indicated that α-SMA positive cells were increased at 8 weeks after CCU injection.At day 7 after transplantation,α-SMA positive cells in the experimental group were significantly less than control group(P ＜ 0.05).At 3 days after transplantation,the hepatic stellate cells apoptosis in the experimental group was significantly aggravated compared with control group(P ＜ 0.05).This suggested that MSC transplant was an effective treatment for liver fibrosis.MSC inducing hepatic stellate cells apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms.

Objective Toexplore the expressions of interleukin-16 (IL-16), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), and CRP and their clinical significance in acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by observing the changes in these factors in patients with AECOPD. Methods 103 patients with AECOPD and 20 healthy controls were collected. According to the 2013 GOLD guideline, all the patients with AECOPD were divided into4 groups(group A of 21 patients, B of 30, C of 27, andD of 25). Results As compared withthe control group, plasma concentrations of IL-16, IFN-γ, CXCR3. and CRP were significantly increased in the patients with AECOPD (P < 0.01), and as the severity of the disease was elevating, these expression levels were significantly increased.While the expression levels of IL-16, IFN-γ, CXCR3, and CRP levels were significantly reduced after treatment, but they were still higherthan those in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of serum IL-16, IFN-γ, CXCR3, and CRP were significantly correlated in patients with AECOPD. Conclusions Expressions of IL-16, IFN-γ and CXCR3 are significantly increased in AECOPD, which is correlated with disease severity and decreased after treatment, suggesting that these three factors may be associated with the occurrence and development of COPD.

By using a cell-based high throughput screening model for the CLA-1 up-regulator, Streptomyces 203909 was found to produce up-regulator of CLA-1. A novel trichostatin analogue was isolated from the rice fermentation of Streptomyces sp. CPCC 203909by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography (CC) over silica gel, flash C18 CC, and reversed-phase HPLC. Its structure was identified as (-)-(R,2E,4Z)-7-[(4'-dimethylamino) phenyl]-4,6-dimethyl-7-oxohepta-2,4-dienoyl-L-glutamine (1) by the spectroscopic and chemical methods, and combination with the CD spectroscopy and Marfey's method. In the prelimi- nary assays, Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney 293 cell line with IC50 value 35.3 [µmol · L(-1).
Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Fermentation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

Eleven compounds were isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp. CPCC 202950 by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over macroporous resin HP-20, MCI, and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide(1),5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioinosine(2), vanillamide(3), trans-3-methylthioacrylamide(4), 1,2,3,4-Tetraydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylic acid(5), cyclo(L-pro-L-tyr) (6), N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)]ethylacetamide(7), benzamide (8), cyclo ('L-leucyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline)(9), cyclo-(Phe-Gly) (10), and tryptophan (11). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new natural products. In the preliminary assays, none of the compounds exhibited obvious inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity (IC50 > 10 micromol x L(-1)).
Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; HIV Protease ; analysis ; HIV Protease Inhibitors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

Animals ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Taurine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo compare the diagnostic value of barium enema (BE), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in primary colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 64 patients with suspected colorectal carcinoma received BE (n=39), spiral CT (n=31) and MRI (n=42). The detective results were compared with the surgical results.

RESULTSAmong 64 patients, 54 cases were pathologically proved as colorectal carcinoma. The diagnostic sensitivity of BE,CT and MRI was 96.9% ,96.2% and 97.1% ,and the overall accuracy was 92.3% 83.9 % and 90.5% respectively. The overall accuracy of CT and MRI for tumor T staging was 73.1% and 82.9% respectively.

CONCLUSIONBE can be considered as a primary approach for diagnosing colorectal carcinoma, CT and MRI be necessary diagnostic approaches. Combined BE with MRI is the best choice for diagnosing of colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Barium Sulfate ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

ObjectiveTo assess the value of passive leg raising (PLR) test in predicting fluid responsiveness in patients with sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction.Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. Thirty-eight patients under mechanical ventilation suffering from sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction admitted to Department of Surgical Intensive Care Unit of First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from September 2013 to July 2014 were enrolled. The patients were studied in four phases: before PLR (semi-recumbent position with the trunk in 45°), PLR (the lower limbs were raised to a 45° angle while the trunk was in a supine position), before volume expansion (VE, return to the semi-recumbent position), and VE with infusing of 250 mL 5% albumin within 30 minutes. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded in every phase. The patients were classified into two groups according to their response to VE: responders (at least a 15% increase in stroke volume,ΔSVVE≥15%), and non-responders. The correlations among all changes in hemodynamic parameters were analyzed by linear correlation analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to assess the value of hemodynamic parameters before and after PLR in predicting fluid responsiveness.Results Of 38 patients, 25 patients were responders, and 13 non-responders. There was no significant difference in the baseline and hemodynamic parameters at semi-recumbent position between the two groups. The changes in SV and cardiac output (CO) after PLR (ΔSVPLR andΔCOPLR) were significantly higher in responders than those of non-responders [ΔSVPLR: (14.7±5.7)%vs. (6.4±5.3)%,t = 4.304,P = 0.000;ΔCOPLR: (11.2±7.5)% vs. (3.4±2.3)%,t = 3.454,P = 0.001], but there was no significant difference in the changes in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and heart rate after PLR (ΔSBPPLR,ΔMAPPLR,ΔPPPLR andΔHRPLR) between two groups.ΔSVVE in responders was significantly higher than that of the non-responders [(20.8±5.5) % vs. (5.0±3.7) %,t = 8.347,P = 0.000]. It was shown by correlation analysis thatΔSVPLR was positively correlated withΔSVVE (r = 0.593,P = 0.000),ΔCOPLR was positively correlated withΔSVVE (r = 0.494,P = 0.002). The area under ROC curve (AUC) ofΔSVPLR≥8.1% for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.860±0.062 (P = 0.000), with sensitivity of 92.0% and specificity of 70.0%; the AUC ofΔCOPLR≥5.6% for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.840±0.070 (P = 0.000), with sensitivity of 84.0%and specificity of 76.9%; the AUC ofΔMAPPLR≥6.9% for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.662±0.089, with sensitivity of 68.0% and specificity of 76.9%; the AUC ofΔSBPPLR≥6.4% for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.628±0.098, with sensitivity of 76.0% and specificity of 61.5%; the AUC ofΔPPPLR≥6.2% for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.502±0.094, with sensitivity of 56.0% and specificity of 53.8%; the AUC ofΔHRPLR≥-1.7%for predicting fluid responsiveness was 0.457±0.100, with sensitivity of 56.0% and specificity of 46.2%.Conclusion In patients with sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction, changes in SV and CO induced by PLR are accurate indices for predicting fluid responsiveness, but the changes in HR, MAP, SBP and PP cannot predict the fluid responsiveness.

Objective To investigate the learning curve of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) applied in mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods A prospective observation study was conducted. A total of 60 consecutive patients necessary for mechanical ventilation and TEE examination admitted to the Department of Surgical ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from December 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled. The TEE examination was performed by the same ICU physician who was skilled in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The TEE probe intubation (trial numbers of TEE intubation, the duration for a successful intubation at the first attempt, the total time for successful intubation), TEE examination (the scores of TEE examination, the duration of TEE examination), and the complication during examination were observed, with learning curve established. According to the date of examination, a statistical analysis was carried out for each group of 12 cases. Through the learning curve, that TEE examinations in how many cases should be performed by the ICU physician to master the skill was observed.Results With the increase of TEE examinations performed by the physician, the duration for a successful intubation at the first attempt and the total time for successful intubation were gradually reduced; the scores of TEE examination were gradually increased, and the duration of TEE examination gradually reduced. ① TEE intubation: there was no statistical significant difference among the 60 patients in the number of intubation attempts (F = 0.258,P = 0.904). After the SICU doctor completed TEE intubations in 12 cases, the duration for a successful intubation at the first attempt was significantly reduced (seconds: 22.24±18.37 vs. 34.88±1.65,P < 0.05) and then tended to stabilize in the 16 - 23 seconds. The learning curve indicated that the physician could basically master the intubation skills after performing TEE intubations in 24 cases. ② TEE examination: after the physician completed TEE intubations in 24 cases, the TEE examination scores were increased significantly (40.08±7.27 vs. 23.67±9.70,P < 0.05), and then tended to stabilize in the 40 - 47 scores; after TEE intubations were performed in 24 cases, the examination duration was significantly shortened (minutes: 39.97±6.67 vs. 58.22±14.19,P < 0.05), and after 36 cases were completed, the duration could be further shortened (minutes:31.04±7.84 vs. 39.97±6.67,P < 0.05). The learning curve indicated that the ICU physician could basically master the examination skills when TEE examinations were completed in 36 cases. In addition, no serious complications occurred during the TEE examination.Conclusions A SICU physician with skilled TTE experience can basically master the TEE technology through 36 times of examinations, and reach full mastery after 48 times, the duration for a successful intubation at the first attempt could be stabilized at 20 seconds, and the examination duration could be stabilized at 30 minutes.

To understand the genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of type B influenza viruses in Guangzhou in 2006, three virus strains from etiology surveillance and seven strains from outbreaks were investigated. Genome RNAs of type B influenza viruses were extracted and reverse-transcripted into cDNAs using random primers. The whole-length DNA of HA and NA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned into T-A plasmid and sequenced, and analyzed phylogenetically by DNAstar software. The results showed that the HA of type B influenza viruses were similar and the homology were more than 99%. The type B influenza viruses belong to Victoria lineage. The NA of the type B influenza viruses were similar and the homology were more than 98%. Phylogenetic trees of HA and NA showed that the isolates from etiology surveillance formed a cluster, and the isolates from outbreaks were separated from the cluster. The homology of the type B influenza viruses with B/Shanghai/361/2002, which is the WHO recommended influenza vaccine strain in 2005-2006, were 88.9%-89.7%. It suggested the protective effect of influenza vaccine against type B influenza viruses used in 2005-2006 in Guangzhou may not be afforded.
China ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (APS) on the proliferation, osteogenic capacity and structure of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in vitro.

METHODSPDLCs were cultured in vitro with APS of 0.08, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg x mL(-1). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTr), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cell structure were detected to determine the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs proliferation and differentiation.

RESULTSWhen the APS was 0.2 mg x mL(-1), the absorbance of MTT and ALP exhibit significantly increased as compared to the control (P < 0.05). The cells cultured in vitro with APS of 0.2 mg x mL(-1) had the normal structure.

CONCLUSIONAPS with proper concentration in short-term culture may promote the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; In Vitro Techniques ; Periodontal Ligament