ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury(IRI) in old rats and the cardiac protective effect of Esmolol(ES). Methods116 rats were divided into three groups: IR group, IR+ES group and Sham group. The ischemic samples were observed in ischemia and 3,6,12,24 hours after IR. The myocardial levels of expression of ICAM-1 mRNA were evaluated by method of IN Situ Hybridization and the protein were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The content of infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs), malomdialdehyde(MDA), superoxides dismutase(SOD) and the myocardial infarction area were measured too. ResultsAfter IR, myocardial levels of expression of ICAM-1 mRNA, protein,MDA and PMNs were increased significantly; SOD was decreased significantly. Between the levels of expression of ICAM-1 protein and PMNs, infarction area of myocardium, a close correlation were observed(P<0.05). In IR+ES group, all of the indicators were increased after IR, but the levels of increase in IR+ES group were more significantly modification as compared with IR group(P<0.05-0.01).Conclusions The findings indicate that PMNs could induce myocardial IRI after IR, which result from the ICAM-1 mediated PMNs adhesion.ES is able to decrease myocardial IRI by blocking the expression of ICAM-1 partially.

Objective:To investigate the techniques of establishment of abdominal heart transplantation model in rats and modify the procedure to make it more stable and improve the success rate.Methods: Heterotopic abdominal heart transplantations of Wistar and SD rats were performed by using Ono's method with modification of preparation of recipients,donor cardiectomy and donor transplantations.Results: One hundred heart transplantations were performed,among which 90 were successful.The success rate was 90%.Conclusion: This modified Ono's method can shorten the ischemia time and recipient abdominal aorta occlusion time,make vessel anastomosis easier and increase the success rate of operation.It is a stable and reliable model of heart transplantations in rats.

Objective To summarize the experience of hybrid repair performed in high risk patients with dissection involving the aortic arch.Methods From Sep.2007 to Mar.2015,hybrid repair was performed in 33 high risk patients with dissection involving the aortic arch including acute (n =8),subacute (n =15),or chronic (n =10) cases.Descripitive statistics were computed for continuous and categorical variables.Results There were 22 male and 11 female patients with a mean age of(69 ± 10) years,and ASA Physical Status Ⅲ-Ⅳ.Simultaneous (n =27) and staged (n =5,mean interval 5.0 ± 1.3 days)endovascular repair were performed via femoral artery.The technical success rate was 100％.The average hospital stay was (16 ±6) days.One case died of cerebral infraction.There were two with strokes,one with pneumonia and two with renal failure as complications.Median follow-up was 47 months (3-66 months).There were four deaths with two were related to aortic artery.Endoleak was found in 3 during follow-up.One type Ⅰ endoleak was cured after remedy hybrid repair.Conclusions Hybrid repair performed in patients at high risk with dissection involving the aortic arch is less invasive with favorable medium and long-term outcomes.

Objective Sirolimus is a new, potent immunosuppreasant considered to be nonnephrotoxic. There is limited experience with the use of sirolimus in liver transplant recipients. This study was to investigate the clinical experience of conversion from tacrolimus-based to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients. Patients switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression during the same period were also enrolled as controls. Methods This retrospective study examined liver transplant recipients who had been switched from tacrelimus-based to sirolimus-based or cyelosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy between January 2004 and January 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those switched to sirolimus-based immunosuppression (group A; n=32); and those switched to cyclosporine-based immunosuppression (group B; n=15). Results The rate of successful conversion was 34.5% in group A (10/32) compared with 45.5% in group B (7/15); this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). After conversion, renal function in patients in group A remained normal, while the renal function in patients in group B become abnormal 4 months after conversion (P<0.05). In group A, some simlimus-associated adverse effects occurred but were mild and easy to control. Conclusion Sirolimus can be used safely in place of tacrolimus in liver transplant recipients.

This study is to explore new lead compounds by inhibition of Pin1 for anticancer therapy using temperature sensitive mutants. As Pin1 is conserved from yeast to human, we established a high-throughput screening method for Pin1 inhibitors, which employed yeast assay. This method led to the identification of one potent hits, 8-11. In vitro, 8-11 inhibited purified Pin1 enzyme activity with IC50 of (10.40 +/- 1.68) micromol x L(-1), induced G1 phase arrest and apoptosis, showed inhibitory effects on a series of cancer cell proliferation, reduced Cyclin D1 expression, was defined as reciprocally matched for protein-ligand complex in virtual docking analysis and reduced cell migration ability. In vivo, we could observe reduction of tumor volume after treatment with 8-11 in xenograft mice compared with vehicle DMSO treatment. Altogether, these results provide for the first time the involvement of 8-11 in the anticancer activity against Pin1.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; G1 Phase ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Temperature ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Yeasts

Melittin exhibits high antibacterial potency against drug-resistant bacteria. However, the clinical utility of melittin is limited by its serious hemolytic activity. Thus, the need for developing novel melittin analogues with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity has grown. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated 20 novel melittin analogues with varying hydrophobic, polar or positively charged amino acids. The results showed that 8 compounds had antimicrobial activity (MIC: 1-4 μg·mL^-1) against gram-positive pathogens equal to or better than that of melittin, and 16 compounds had low hemolytic activity (HC₅₀ ≥ 11.9 μg·mL^-1). Compounds 13 (MIC: 2-4 μg·mL^-1) and 15 (MIC: 1-2 μg·mL^-1) showed equal or better antimicrobial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium compared to melittin (MIC: 4 μg·mL^-1). Compound 13 (HC₅₀: 24.0 ± 4.3 μg·mL^-1) displayed noticeably decreased hemolytic activity compared to melittin (HC₅₀: 5.3 ± 0.4 μg·mL^-1). This work established a base for further study on the structure-activity relationships and structure-toxicity relationships of melittin.

This study purposed to investigate the effects of different oxygen concentrations and reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the biological characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their possible mechanisms through simulating oxygen environment to which the peripheral blood HSC are subjected in peripheral blood HSCT. The proliferation ability, cell cycle, directed differentiation ability, ROS level and hematopoietic reconstitution ability of Lin(-)c-kit(+)Sca-1(+) BMHSC were detected by using in vitro amplification test, directional differentiation test, cell cycle analysis, ROS assay and transplantation of Lin(-)c-kit(+)Sca-1(+) HSC from sublethally irradiated mice respectively. The results showed that oxygen concentrations lower than normal oxygen concentration, especially in hypoxic oxygen environment, could reduce ROS generation and amplify more primitive CD34(+)AC133(+) HSC and active CD34(+) HSC, and maintain more stem cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase, which is more helpful to the growth of CFU-S and viability of mice. At the same time, BMHSC exposed to normal oxygen level or inconstant and greatly changed oxygen concentrations could produce a high level of ROS, and the above-mentioned features and functional indicators are relatively low. It is concluded that ROS levels of HSC in BMHSCT are closely related with the oxygen concentration surrounding the cells and its stability. Low oxygen concentration and antioxidant intervention are helpful to transplantation of BMHSC.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods of culturing and identifying mouse myeloid semimature dendritic cell (smDC) in vitro.

METHODSMyeloid monocytes derived from 6-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 ng/ml recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and 20 ng/ml recombinant murine interleukin (IL)-4 for 9 days. Then cells were incubated with 40 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for 24 hours to obtain smDC. Meanwhile, smDC was differentiated into mature dendritic cell (mDC) or immature dendritic cell (iDC) by treatment with 1 micro/m1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or without LPS. The morphological features of smDC were assayed by inverted microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface markers such as CD11c, CD4O, CD8O, CD86, and MHC-II were tested by flow cytometry. IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-10 in the supernatant were tested by ELISA. The activation of allogene lymphocyte (BALB/c mice) stimulated by C57BL/6 myeloid smDC in mixed lymphocyte reaction was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 in vitro.

RESULTSThe shape of smDC was round or oval-shaped, and the diameter of smDC was about 15 microm. The length of smDC dendrite was between 5 to 10 microm. smDC, iDC, and mDC all expressed high level of CD11 c. The expressions of MHC-II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 on smDC were higher than those of iDC and lower than those of mDC. IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-12 secretion of smDC was significantly lower than that of mDC (P < 0.01), and IL-12 was significantly lower than that of iDC (P < 0.05), while no significant difference of IL-1beta and IL-6 secretion was found between smDC and iDC (P > 0.05). Furthermore, IL-10 secretion was not significantly different among these three kinds of DCs (P > 0.05). The effect of allogene lymphocytes activation on smDC was significantly lower than that of mDC and positive control (P < 0.01), but had no significant difference when compared with that of iDC and negative control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSsmDC may be a relatively independent dendritic cell sub-population in terms of function and morphology. It is a feasible way to induce myeloid monocytes to differentiate into smDC using GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Monocytes ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the use of clinical nutritional support in critical SARS patients, and the relationship between blood glucose levels/insulin administration amount and outcome.

METHODSTwenty-one SARS patients who reached the standard of Ministry of Health's "critical level" were transferred into our ICU in an average of 11 days after onset and enrolled in this clinical trial. All patients underwent respiratory support and clinical nutrition support as scheduled. For about 60 kg patient per day 3347.2 kJ(800 kcal), 36 g protein, and 125 g carbohydrate was given intravenously; 4184 kJ(1000 kcal), 38 g protein, and 125 g carbohydrate was provided by enteral route. MCT/LCT as fat resource shared 50% calories intake. All patients received similar doses of intravenous Methylprednisolone(about 200 mg/d). Blood glucose, serum albumin, blood lymphocyte counts, and serum alanine transminase (ALT) were checked on the first admission day in ICU and on the 12th day after nutrition therapy was started. Insulin was started to pump in to maintain the blood glucose levels between 4.44-7.78 mmol/L (80-140 mg/dl) when the levels exceeded normal range.

RESULTSUpon admission into ICU, all patients had poor nutrients intake for an average of 11 days and 16 patients (76.2%) were diagnosed as malnutrition. Parenteral and enteral nutrition therapy were then offered for an average of 12 days. On the 12th day, the serum albumin increased [(28.5 +/- 2.2)] g/L vs (37.0 +/- 4.1) g/L] (P = 0.0001) and so did the lymphocytes count [(0.74 +/- 0.47)] x 10(9)/L vs (1.22 +/- 0.73) x 10(9)/L] (P = 0.02). The blood glucose maintained at lower level in the surviving patients when compared with those who died [(9.5 +/- 2.3) mmol/L vs (6.3 +/- 1.8) mmol/L] [(196 +/- 70) mg/dl vs (110 +/- 21) mg/dl] (P = 0.0002), and the abnormally high ALT levels presented in some of the patients decreased but not significantly (81.0% vs 57.1%) (P = 0.18). In order to keep blood glucose within the range 4.44-7.78 mmol/L (80-140 mg/dl), only 18.8% of the surviving patients needed insulin intervention as opposed to 80.0% of those who died (P = 0.03). The amount of insulin used in the surviving group was significant lower than that in the group who died [(24 +/- 2) IU/d vs (72 +/- 9) IU/d] (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEleven days after SARS onset, most of the critical patients presented with malnutrition. Some improved nutrition related parameters may be associated with clinical nutritional support. The surviving patients required less insulin when compared to those who died. 80.0% of the patients who died need insulin versus only 18.8% of the surviving patients. Due to the difficulty of SARS management, this study was not a randomized controlled clinical trial. More clinical trials will be needed for checking the results of this investigation.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Malnutrition ; blood ; etiology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the alteration of cardiac myocyte nuclear inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate receptor (IP(4)R) binding properties in rat subjected to myocardial ischemic reperfusion in order to further make it clear whether this change is involved in the molecule mechanism of cell apoptosis of rat with myocardial ischemic reperfusion.

METHODSExtracting of cardiac myocyte nucleus was accomplished by saccharose density gradient centrifugation method, the binding properties of nuclear IP(4)R in different conditions were detected by radioligand binding assay. Apoptosis index of myocardial cell was determined by using TUNEL assay.

RESULTS(1) Myocardial cell apoptosis index in rat heart underwent 30 min regional ischemia and 3 h reperfusion increased distinctly compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). (2) There were two IP(4) binding sites located to the nuclear envelope. (3) In ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) group, Bmax from high affinity binding site of nuclear IP(4)R significantly increased compared with that in sham-operated group, whereas Bmax from low affinity binding site didn't change. Kd values of both sites were all significantly decreased by 63% and 55%, respectively. (4) Phosphorylation of nuclear IP(4)R by PKC increased markedly its binding ability both in IRI and control group (P < 0.05), which was more apparent in IRI group. (5) In sham-operated group, the binding ability of nuclear IP(4)R increased with increasing free calcium concentrations in cytoplasm, and the binding properties of IP(4)R in IRI group were also increased in the condition of calcium overloading.

CONCLUSIONThe increasing of binding properties of nuclear IP(4)R from ischemic reperfusion heart may be one of important mechanism involved in myocardial cell apoptosis, furthermore resulting in myocardial IRI.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism