AIM: To observe the changes of the number of NKT cells in spleens and livers of induced model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and to study the role NKT cells play in the immunoregulation of EAE. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG<,35-55> peptide and received clinical evaluation daily. The mice were sacrificed at the fastigium and the splenic and hepatic lymphocytes were isolated. The changes of NKT cells in normal and EAE C57BL/6 mice were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percent of NKT cells in lymphocytes of different organs of EAE model were greater decreased than in that of normal mice. The percent of NKT cells in splenic lymphocytes of normal mice was 2.22± 0.14, while that in EAE mice was 1.94±0.07 (P < 0.05). The percent of NKI cells in hepatic lymphocytes of normal mice was 5.52±2.17, while that in EAE mice was 2.67± 1.41 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The proliferation of splenic and hepatic NKT cells in C57BL/6 mice are inhibited in EAE model, which may indicate that the immune function conducted by NKT cell is down regulated in EAE mice.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the environmental quality of Guiyu, Guangdong impacted by the electronic waste recycling industry.

METHODSThe surface water, ground water and sediment samples taken separately from two sites that recycle E-wastes and other rubbish relevant to the E-waste recycling, and an agricultural area, were analyzed, and the data were used to evaluate the impact of E-waste recycling on the environmental quality of Guiyu based on environmental quality standards in China.

RESULTSThe concentrations of lead and iron in the surface water samples significantly different in the three locations. The maximum value of lead in the first site was 8 times higher than the threshold of environmental quality standards for surface water. The concentration of iron in polluted sample was 22 times that of the background sample. Manganese and iron also showed a significant difference in ground water samples between the three sites. The amount of iron was 22 times that of the threshold of the quality standard for ground water, and 120 times that of the background sample. Moreover, the results of all the eight heavy metals showed significant differences among the sediment samples. The concentrations of copper, cadmium, nickel, and lead in the polluted samples were above the median benchmarks of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The copper concentration of 2670 mg/kg was 10 times that of the median benchmark.

CONCLUSIONE-waste recycling has led to the severe pollution Guiyu.

China ; Electronics ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; standards ; Fresh Water ; chemistry ; Geologic Sediments ; chemistry ; Iron ; analysis ; Lead ; analysis ; Manganese ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Refuse Disposal ; methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo provide effective environmental management for total amount control of atmospheric pollutants.

METHODSAn atmospheric diffusion model of sulfur dioxide on the surface of the earth was established and tested in Shantou of Guangdong Province on the basis of an overall assessment of regional natural environment, social economic state of development, pollution sources and atmospheric environmental quality. Compared with actual monitoring results in a studied region, simulation values fell within the range of two times of error and were evenly distributed in the two sides of the monitored values. Predicted with the largest emission model method, the largest emission of sulfur dioxide would be 54,279.792 tons per year in 2010.

CONCLUSIONThe mathematical model established and revised on the basis of GIS is more rational and suitable for the regional characteristics of total amount control of air pollutants.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Air Pollution ; prevention & control ; China ; Computer Simulation ; Geographic Information Systems ; Models, Theoretical ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Wind

Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; diagnosis ; Carcinosarcoma ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thymus Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the underlying mechanism of the protective effects of resveratrol on oxidant-induced mitochondrial damage in embryonic rat cardiomyocytes.

METHODSH9c2 cells, a permanent cell line derived from embryonic rat cardiac tissue, and then randomly divided into control group [PBS, cells exposed to H2O2 (600 µmol/L) for 20 min to induce mitochondrial oxidant damage], resveratrol group (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10 and 20 µmol/L for 20 min at 20 min before exposing to H2O2), resveratrol plus inhibitor group (1 µmol/L KT5823 for 10 min at 10 min before 5 µmol/L resveratrol treatment) and inhibitor group (1 µmol/L KT5823 for 10 min). Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured by staining cells with tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening was evaluated by measuring the decrease of TMRE fluorescence intensity. Immunofluorescence assay was used to observe GSK-3β phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of GSK-3β and VASP were determined by Western blot. To detect intracellular NO, cells were loaded with DAF-FM DA (specific fluorescent dye of NO) and imaged with confocal microscopy.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, resveratrol (0.01-5 µmol/L) attenuated H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage reflected by attenuating the H2O2-induced TMRE fluorescence intensity decrease in a dose-dependent manner and the efficacy of 10 and 20 µmol/L resveratrol was significantly lower than that of 5 µmol/L resveratrol. Resveratrol also significantly upregulated the protein expression of VASP and increased GSK-3β Ser(9) phosphorylation, which could lead the inactivation of GSK-3β. These effects of resveratrol could be significantly abolished by protein kinase G inhibitor KT5823, while KT5823 alone did not affect GSK-3β and VASP phosphorylation. Confocal microscopy showed that DAF-FM (specific NO indicator) was similar between resveratrol and control group, suggesting that resveratrol did not produce NO.

CONCLUSIONSResveratrol could attenuate oxidant-induced mitochondrial damage in embryonic rat cardiomyocytes by inactivating GSK-3β via cGMP/PKG signaling pathway independent of NO-related mechanism.

Animals ; Carbazoles ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidants ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the anatomical retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy(RSN)and standardize the procedure of RSN. Methods The retrospective analysis was performed on 405 consecutive patients underwent anatomical RSN in Our institute from January 2002 to June 2008.There were 232 male and 173 female patients with the average age of(57.2±14.2)years,among whom there were 228 renal cell carcinoma patients accepted RSU,96 and 49 renal pelvic carcinoma and ureteral carcinoma cases accepted retroperitoneoscopic ureteronephrectomy (RSUN) and 32 cases accepted simple RSN due to loss of renal function caused by benign renal discsses.The tadical RSN was performed by dissecting outside Gerota's fascia and in the latent cavities between this fascia and lateral conal fascia in the dorsal side and between this fascia and prerenal fusion fascia in the ventral side,whereas the simple RSN was done inside Gerota's fascia by making direct incision on it and dissecting between this fascia and perirenal adipose tissue.Kidneys and perirenal adipose tissue were completely removed by dissection along several avascular planes around the kidney under the amplified view of laparoscopy. The software SPSS 12.0 was used for the statistical analysis of all data. Results The mean operative time was (132±48)min for radical and simple RSN and (245 ± 62)min for radical RSUN, which included the time for position change and second skin preparation. The medium estimated blood loss was 100 ml(10-2500 ml) and the average drainage volume was 150 ml (0-1152 ml) postoperatively. 15 cases (3. 70%) required blood transfusion with the median volume of 400ml (400-1650 ml). Four cases (0. 99%) were converted to open surgery due to severe adhesion (2 cases), difficult exposure of renal helium (1 case) and severe bleeding (1 case).The mean drainage time was (3. 9±1.8)d, the mean time to first oral intake was (2.7±1.2)d and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (8.6±3. 8)d. Conclusion The anatomical RSN is safe and effective and should be the standard surgical procedure for laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Objective:To explore the endoscopic features of early gastric cancer (EGC) related to non-curative endoscopic resection, and to construct an assessment model to quantify the risk of non-curative resection.Methods:From August 2006 to October 2019, 378 lesions that underwent endoscopic resection and were diagnosed pathological as EGC in the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included in this case-control study.Seventy-eight (20.6%) non-curative resection lesions were included in the observation group, and 234 lesions which selected from 300 lesions of curative resection were included in the control group according to the difference of operation year ±1 with the observation group, and the ratio of 1∶3 of the observation group to the control group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the risk factors for non-curative resection. The independent risk factor with the minimum β coefficient was assigned 1 point, and the remaining factors were scored according to the ratio of their β coefficient to the minimum. A predictive model was established to analyze the 378 lesions.The non-curative resection rates of lesions of different scores were calculated. Results:Univariate analysis showed that the lesion diameter, the location, redness, ulcer or ulcer scar, fold interruption, fold entanglement, and invasion depth observed with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) were associated with non-curative resection of EGC lesions ( P<0.05), and contact or spontaneous bleeding may be associated with non-curative resection ( P=0.068). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that submucosal involvement (VS confined to the mucosa: β=0.901, P=0.011, OR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.23-4.92), lesion diameter of 3-<5 cm (VS <3 cm: β=0.723, P=0.038, OR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.04-4.09), lesion diameter of ≥5 cm (VS <3 cm: β=2.078, P=0.003, OR=7.99, 95% CI: 2.02-31.66), location in the upper 1/3 of the stomach (VS lower 1/3: β=1.540, P<0.001, OR=4.66, 95% CI: 2.30-9.45), and fold interruption ( β=2.287, P=0.008, OR=1.93, 95% CI: 0.95-3.93) were independent risk factors for non-curative resection of EGC lesions. The factor of lesion diameter of 3-<5 cm and submucosal involvement were assigned 1 point respectively, location in the upper 1/3 of the stomach was assigned 2 points, diameter of ≥5 cm and fold interruption were assigned 3 points respectively, and other factors were assigned 0 point. Then the analysis of 378 lesions showed that the probability of non-curative resection at ≥2 points was 41.9% (37/93), 4 times as much as that at 0 [11.5% (25/217)]. Conclusion:EGC lesions with diameter ≥3 cm, located in the upper 1/3 of the stomach, interrupted folds or submucosal involvement are highly related to non-curative resection. The predictive model based on these factors achieves satisfactory efficacy, but it still needs further validation in larger cohorts.

Objective    To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Methods    The clinical data of 11 male patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from December 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age of the patients was 52.0-79.0 (62.0±6.9) years. The imaging data and pathological changes before and after neoadjuvant treatment were compared, and adverse reactions during neoadjuvant treatment were recorded. Objective remission rate (ORR) and main pathological remission rate (MPR) and pathological complete remission rate (pCR) were the main observation endpoints. Results    After preoperative neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab combined with platinum or paclitaxel, all patients successfully underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer. The ORR was 72.7%, and the MPR was 81.8%. Among them, 45.5% of patients achieved pCR. The main adverse reactions were hypoalbuminemia, decreased appetite and nausea. The mortality rate within 30 days after surgery was 0, and no tumor metastasis was observed. Conclusion    Pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is safe and feasible to treat non-small cell lung cancer, and the short-term efficacy is beneficial.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to establish and evaluate the methodology of isolated rabbit eye (IRE) test.

METHODSIRE test was performed according to modifications of the in vitro toxicology (INVITTOX) Protocol No.85: Rabbit enucleated eye test by European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), and then 26 chemicals and 26 cosmetic products were tested in both in vitro IRE and in vivo Draize tests. A statistical analysis was conducted to determine the relevance of the IRE test to the data generated in the Draize test.

RESULTSIRE test was established successfully in our laboratory. It was shown that ranking correlation and class concordance were fairly well between the IRE test and the Draize test for 26 reference chemicals (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=51.314, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.261; Gamma=0.960, P<0.001; Kappa=0.843, P<0.001) and 26 cosmetic products (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=15.522, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.311; Gamma=0.967, P<0.001; Kappa=0.611, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIRE test was established successfully for in vitro testing of eye irritation as an alternative to Draize test.

Animal Testing Alternatives ; Animals ; Cosmetics ; toxicity ; Eye ; drug effects ; Irritants ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 0.1 Gy X-ray irradiation on the gene expression profiles in normal human lymphoblastoid cells using gene microarray and to explore the possible mechanism of the biological effect of low-dose irradiation.

METHODSThe NimbleGen 12×135 K microarray corresponding to 45033 genes was used to analyze the gene expression profiles in AHH-1 cells cultured for 6 h and 20 h after 0.1 Gy X-ray irradiation. A gene was identified as the differentially expressed gene if the ratio between its expression levels in irradiation group and control group was higher than 2 or lower than 0.5. RT-PCR and real-time PCR were used to confirm some differentially expressed genes.

RESULTSThere were 760 up-regulated genes and 1222 down-regulated genes in the cells at 6 h after 0.1 Gy X-ray irradiation, while there were 463 up-regulated genes and 753 down-regulated genes at 20 h after 0.1 Gy X-ray irradiation; there were 92 differentially expressed genes in common. The expression of GADD45A, CDKN2A, and Cx43 measured using gene microarray was confirmed by RT-PCR and real-time PCR.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose irradiation can affect the expression of many functional genes, which provides a basis for the research on the mechanism of radiation damage.

Cell Line ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; radiation effects ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Transcriptome ; X-Rays