Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of mineral dust-induced gene(MDIG) in malignant pleural effusions (MPE) and tuberculosis pleural effusions (TBPE).Methods Fifty-four patients with MPE (MPE group) and 50 patients with TBPE (TBPE group) were collected.The MDIG protein was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the relative quantification of MDIG mRNA was measured by real-time quantitation polymerase chain reaction.The cutoff value,sensitivity and specificity of the MDIG protein and MDIG mRNA to diagnose the MPE were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.By Spearman correlation analysis,the correlation of MDIG protein and MDIG mRNA was evaluated.Results The MDIG protein in MPE group was significantly higher than that in TBPE group [(304.38 ± 228.47) ng/L vs.(44.43 ± 40.57) ng/L],and there was statistical difference (P ＜ 0.01).The MDIG mRNA in MPE group was significantly higher than that in TBPE group (6.27 ± 3.54 vs.1.82 ± 0.64),and there was statistical difference (P ＜ 0.01).With a cutoff point of 114.23 ng/L,MDIG protein had a sensitivity of 77.8％ and a specificity of 94.0％ for differential diagnosis.With a cutoff point of 2.75,MDIG mRNA had a sensitivity of 88.9％ and a specificity of 92.0％ for differential diagnosis.There was a positive correction between MDIG protein and MDIG mRNA (r =0.915,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The MDIG protein and MDIG mRNA are highly expressed in MPE with a good sensitivity and specificity.MDIG protein and MDIG mRNA maybe a good clinical indicator in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

Objective To investigate change of chemokine mRNA and protein in the patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)complicated infection.Methods Fourty-eight patients with DM complicated infection were studied.Expression of mRNA and protein of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)and interleukin 8 (IL-8)were measured by FQ-PCR,RT-PCR and ELISA.The relationship between hs-CRP,PMNL,IL-8 and MCP-1 were analyzed.Results Expression of mRNA and protein of MCP-1 and IL-8 were increased in the DM patients complicated infection.MCP-1 mRNA(mesured by FQ-PCR)was positively correlated with the protein(IL-8 r = 0.33;MCP-1 r = 0.88;P

With the current accumulation of metagenome data, it is possible to build an integrated platform for processing of rigorously selected metagenomic samples (also referred as "metagenomic communities" here) of interests. Any metagenomic samples could then be searched against this database to find the most similar sample(s). However, on one hand, current databases with a large number of metagenomic samples mostly serve as data repositories but not well annotated database, and only offer few functions for analysis. On the other hand, the few available methods to measure the similarity of metagenomic data could only compare a few pre-defined set of metagenome. It has long been intriguing scientists to effectively calculate similarities between microbial communities in a large repository, to examine how similar these samples are and to find the correlation of the meta-information of these samples. In this work we propose a novel system, Meta-Mesh, which includes a metagenomic database and its companion analysis platform that could systematically and efficiently analyze, compare and search similar metagenomic samples. In the database part, we have collected more than 7 000 high quality and well annotated metagenomic samples from the public domain and in-house facilities. The analysis platform supplies a list of online tools which could accept metagenomic samples, build taxonomical annotations, compare sample in multiple angle, and then search for similar samples against its database by a fast indexing strategy and scoring function. We also used case studies of "database search for identification" and "samples clustering based on similarity matrix" using human-associated habitat samples to demonstrate the performance of Meta-Mesh in metagenomic analysis. Therefore, Meta-Mesh would serve as a database and data analysis system to quickly parse and identify similar
Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Databases, Genetic ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; methods

Objective To investigate abnormal protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in human gastric adenoearcinoma, and further reveal the clinical significance. Method The MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins expression was determined by immunohistochemistry staining in 45 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues, 45 adjacent specimens and 10 normal gastric mucosa tissues via tissue arrays accordingly. The relationship of these protein expression with differentiation degree, development and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma were also analyzed. Results Positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in gastric adenocarcinoma, adjacent specimens and gastric normal mucosa were as follows: MMP-9, 82.2%(37/45), 64.4% (29/45), 30.0% (3/10) (P=0.019); VEGF, 73.3% (33/45), 62.2% (28/45), 30. 0% (3/10) (P=0.029); PCNA,84.4% (38/45), 71.1% (32/45), 10.0% (1/10) ,there were statistically significant difference (P = 0. 001). The positive rates of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma were as follows: MMP-9,70.0%(7/10), 80. 0% (8/10), 88.0%(22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P=0.015);VEGF, 50.0%(5/10), 60.0% (6/10), 88.0% (22/25), there were statistically significant difference (P =0.000);PCNA, 60.0% (6/10) ,90.0% (9/10) ,92.0% (23/25) ,the difference is significant statistically (P = 0.004). The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA showed positive relationship with each other by rank correlation analysis (P < 0. 05). Conclusion Tissue arrays technology is effective tool to analyze the expression of cancer related proteins in gastric adenocarcinoma. The expression of MMP-9, VEGF and PCNA proteins participates in the tumorigenesis and development process of gastric adenocarcinoma, and these can be used as indexes to evaluate prognosis in clinical.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Ligustrazine Injection (LI) against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSThirty healthy adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups, 10 in each group, i.e., the normal control group, the cisplatin group, and the LI group. Guinea pigs in the normal control group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline at 3 mL/kg for 7 consecutive days. Those in the cisplatin group were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin at 3 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. Those in the LI group were intraperitoneally injected with LI at 140 mg/kg for 7 days, but cisplatin (3 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected from the opposite side starting from the 4th day. Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was performed in all animals before and after injection. All animals were sacrificed after the final testing under anesthesia and their cochleas collected. Half the cochleas of each group were collected for silver nitrate staining of cochlear basilar membrane stretched. The other half the cochleas of each group made into paraffin sections to observe the apoptosis of cochlea cells by TUNEL method and the expression levels of c-Jun detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the difference of BAEP threshold among the 3 groups before injection (P > 0.05), but the BAEP threshold increased in the cisplatin group and the LI group (P < 0.05). Besides, it was higher in the cisplatin group (P < 0.05). In the cisplatin group, most hair cells were missing, spiral ganglion cells obviously decreased, more TUNEL positive cells occurred, and the expression of c-Jun was stronger. But the aforesaid impairment in the LI group was obviously lessened (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLI showed certain antagonist effect on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Its mechanism might be associated with scavenging oxygen radicals of the cochlea tissue, improving the microcirculation, and fighting against apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; toxicity ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the onset of left ventricular remodeling (LVRM) after acute myocardium infarction (AMI) and its changes within 6 hours in dogs on echocardiography. Methods AMI was induced in 14 dogs by ligating the left anterior descending arteries. Eight myocardium infarcted models were successful and were sacrified for pathological study. The indices of LVRM: wall infarction thickness (WIT), the wall motion score index (WMSI), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were evaluated before and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 5 h and 6 h after operation. Results Compared with the pre-operation, WIT and LVEF were decreased (P<0.01), LVESV and WMSI were increased (P<0.01), and LVEDV was increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) at every time point after operation. WIT had no significant difference at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 5h and 6h after operation (P＞0.05). LVEDV, LVESV were higher (P<0.05) and LVEF was lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01) at 4 h, 5 h, and 6 h than at 1 h, and 2 h after operation. WMSI was higher at 3 h, 4 h, 5 h, and 6 h than at 1h (P<0.05). Conclusions In our experiment, LVRM occurred at 1 h after AMI in dogs. Thus echocardiography may evaluate early LVRM.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of neoadjunctive chemotherapy(NAC)of docetaxel and epirubicin com-bined with cyclophosphamide on clinical efficacy and tumor markers of breast cancer patients with different molecular types. METH-ODS:A total of 88 female patients with locally advanced breast cancer collected from our hospital during Jan. 2014-Jan. 2016 were divided into Luminal A type(23 cases),Luminal B type(21 cases),basal-like type(11 cases),HER2-over expressing type(18 cases)and normal breast-like type(15 cases)according to molecular type. All patients were given Docetaxel injection+Epirubicin hydrochloride injection+Cyclophosphamide for injection for consecutive 6 cycles(21 d as a cycle). Total response rates and patho-logical complete remission(pCR)rates were compared among breast cancer patients with different molecular types. The expression of serum tumor markers [CEA,CA125,CA153] were compared before and after treatment,and the occurrence of ADR was record-ed. RESULTS:Total response rate of 88 patients was 63.64%,among which that of basal-like breast cancer patients was 72.73%, significantly higher than other molecular types,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in total response rates of pairwise molecular type comparison(P>0.05). The pCR rate of 88 patients was 27.27%,and that of basal-like breast cancer patients was the highest(45.45%). There was statistical significance in pCR rates of pairwise molecular type compari-son(P<0.05),except there was no significant difference in pCR rate between HER2-over expressing type and normal breast-like type(P>0.05). Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in the expression of CEA,CA125 and CA153 in breast can-cer patients with different molecular types(P>0.05). After treatment,the expression of CEA,CA125 and CA153 in different mo-lecular types were decreased significantly,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the expres-sion of above markers among different molecular types(P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR among different molecular types(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:NAC plan of docetaxel and epirubicin combined with cyclophospha-mide can reduce the expression of tumor markers and shows certain therapeutic efficacy for breast cancer patients with different mo-lecular types. Total response rate and pCR rate of basal-like type are better than those of other molecular types,so NAC plan is the preferred treatment for basal-like type breast cancer.

Objective To explore the influences of extracellular matrices (ECM) secreted by ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation of and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in HaCaT cells. Methods Fibroblasts were irradiated with UVB of 15 mJ/cm2 once daily for 5 days to induce premature senescence, which was identified by SA-β-gal staining 72 hours after the last irradiation.HaCaT cells were divided into 3 groups and inoculated into plates coated with extracellular matrices secreted by non-senescent (PRE-ECM) or senescent fibroblasts (SIPS-ECM) or into uncoated plates (NON-ECM), fol-lowed by additional culture. U0126, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, was used to treat the HaCaT cells 1 hour before inoculation. Then, MTT assay was carried out to detect the proliferation of HaCaT cells after a 3-day culture,Western blot to assess the phosphorylation of ERK at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours after the inoculation, flow cytometry to analyse cell cycle and apoptosis after 24 hours of culture. Results The most rapid and intense phosphory-lation of ERK was observed in SIPS-ECM group. Inhibiting the activation of ERK pathway with U0126 could completely suppress the promoting effect of ECM from senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation of HaCaT cells.After the blocking of ERK activation, the proportion of HaCaT cells in S and G2/M phase decreased from 37.40%, 41.34% and 43.31% to 29.41%, 36.48% and 39.96%, respectively, in NON-ECM, PRE-ECM and SCIP-ECM group. Conclusion The ECM produced by UVB-induced senescent fibroblasts promote the prolifera-tion of HaCaT cells via inducing the phosphorylation of ERK.

To study on the effects of Achyranthes bidentata on Tongsaimai pellets main active ingredients chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and glycyrrhizin in rats in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors, a method for the simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and liquiritigenin in rat plasma was established by UPLC-MS/MS. The analysis was performed on a waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid/water as mobile phase, and the gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1). The analytes were detected by tandem mass spectrometry with the electrospray ionization (ESI) source and in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. It turned out that the analytes of Tongsaimai pellets groups C(max) and AUC(Q-infinity) values were higher than that with A. bidentata group, and the C(max) values of chlorogenic acid had significantly difference (P < 0.05), the AUC(0-infinity) values of chlorogenic acid and glycyrrhizin had significantly difference (P < 0.05); The T(max) and CL values of two groups had no significantly difference. Results showed that the established method was specific, rapid, accurate and sensitive for the studies of Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic, and A. bidentata have varying degrees of effects on Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chalcone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Male ; Pyrans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective:To explore the risk factors influencing the prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation and summarize the relevant diagnostic and therapeutic experiences.Methods:The clinicopathological features with diagnosis and treatment plan of 102 recurrent HCC patients fulfilling the Fudan Criteria were compared for survival rate (univariate analysis) and independent prognostic indicators were obtained by Cox multivariate analysis.Results:The 1/3/5-year overall survival rates were 92.2%, 48.6% and 34.6% and the 1/3/5-year survival rates with tumor were 63.2%, 31.0% and 16.7% respectively. Cox regression analysis indicated that patient age, whether tumor can be surgically resected or not and personalized diagnostic & therapeutic plan based upon targeted therapy were independent prognostic factors affecting the overall survival rates and survival rates with tumor.Conclusions:Although HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation seriously influence patient prognosis, satisfactory outcomes may be obtained for some patients through active, effective and precise managements.