AIMTo investigate the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the differentiation and clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte during the differentiation period.

METHODSThe morphological changes of 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation after the treatment of IL-8 was observed by Oil-Red O staining. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method. MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation were applied to examine the changes of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell cycle analysis was taken by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIL-8 could inhibit the differentiation and GDPH activity in a dose dependent manner. IL-8 decreased the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion after induction. Also, the proportion of cells in G1 phase was increased and that of cells in S and G2 phase was declined after the treatment of IL-8.

CONCLUSIONIL-8 inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by decreasing the clonal expansion of the cells.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of metformin on the endothelial function and the mechanisms in rats with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) injection.

METHODSA single dose (4 mg/kg) of natural LDL was injected through the sublingual vein of rats to induce vascular endothelial dysfunction. Blood samples were then collected from the rats to detect the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum lipid levels. The thoracic aorta of rats was obtained to assay acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation. The effects of metformin pretreatment on the endothelial functions in the rats were investigated.

RESULTSA single-dose LDL significantly inhibited ACh-induced EDR without affecting SNP-induced endothelial-independent relaxation. The injection decreased serum NO and elevated serum MDA level, but had no effect on serum lipid level. Metformin markedly attenuated LDL-induced inhibition of EDR, serum MDA elevation, and serum NO reduction without affecting the serum lipid levels.

CONCLUSIONMetformin provides protection against vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by LDL in rats, the mechanism of which is probably associated with protection of endothelium-dependent relaxation factor and inhibition of the oxidative stress.

Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ghrelin on duodenal migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODSThirty healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into sham-operated group (n=6) and CRF group (n=24), and the latter group was divided into 4 subgroups according to ghrelin doses administered with or without pretreatment with the receptor antagonist D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6. After a 18-h fasting, the rats with or without pretreatment with D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 were given subcutaneous injections of ghrelin at different doses to observe the changes in duodenal MMC recorded using a multi lead physiological recording system.

RESULTSGhrelin significantly increased the MMC cycle duration and dose-dependently enhanced the frequency, amplitude and percentage of phase III MMC cycle. This effect was inhibited by the pretreatment with ghrelin receptor antagonist D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6.

CONCLUSIONGhrelin can promote gastrointestinal motilities of rats with CRF, and the receptor of ghrelin can regulate the activity of MMC.

Animals ; Duodenum ; drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To establish a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) model for the classification and diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with renal involvement,and to provide a new method for the timely detection and diagnosis of the disease.Methods Simulated annealing(SA) algorithm was used to optimize the penalty coefficient C and kernel function parameter g of the support vector machines(SVM) algorithm before an SA-SVM classifier model was established and was applied to the intelligent assistant diagnosis of SLE.Results Unlike the single SVM classifier,this method never fell into local optimum,and improved the classification accuracy of a classifier.The classification accuracy for SLE with renal involvement was as high as 98.72％.Conclusion The experimental results show that this classification model is well applicable to the intelligent diagnosis of SLE with renal involvement.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects on male reproductive function working under cold area.

METHODSAfter on site investigation, advanced molecular lab analysis-single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) which are combined with semen routine analysis were used to evaluate semen quality and sperm sub-clinical injury.

RESULTSSemen routine analysis showed that the semen parameters of the males working in cold area were within normal range, but level I comet cell percentage in SCGE increased significantly, which was 4.4%, compared to the contrast group (1.9%) with significant difference. During sperm chromatin structure assay parameters, comp alpha t increased, with an average value of 22.26%. The two kinds of results both showed single and double strand breakages in sperm.

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to cold could induce sperm DNA injury, but not affect sperm quality. The results suggested that it was important to reinforce the reproductive care in males working in cold areas.

Adult ; Chromatin ; chemistry ; Cold Climate ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Fertility ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sensitivity and usefulness of 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy (SS) and neck ultrasonography (US) as preoperative localization procedures in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).

METHODS160 patients with proved pHPT in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 1983 to June 2002 were studied. There were 107 women(66.9%) and 53 men (33.1%), with a mean age of 38.9 years (10-73 years). 100 patients were underwent SS and 148 patients were underwent US prior to surgery, and the results were compared with operative and histological findings.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of SS and US in localization of the enlarged parathyroid glands was 94.0% and 85.1% respectively, and the positive predictive value of SS and US was 100% and 89.1% respectively, the overall sensitivity was 98.9% by combination of SS and US. In solitary parathyroid adenomas group (n = 145), the sensitivity of SS and US was 93.3% and 84.7% respectively; There was no significant difference (P = 0.428) in sensitivity of SS between the parathyroid glands correctly identified and undetected in classical neck location as compared with ectopic parathyroid glands, whereas significantly (P = 0.026) influenced by the US sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent sensitivity exit between SS and VS in preoperative localization in patients with pHPT undergoing parathyroidectomy. The combined use of SS and US could increase the sensitivity of localization technique. Ectopic parathyroid had no influence on the sensitivity of 99mTc-MIBI scanning, but decreased the sensitivity of ultrasonography. The size of parathyroid tumors had effects on the sensitivity of ultrasonography. Otherwise, various conditions causing SS false negative were observed. Some interfere factors should be excluded when SS negative results were encountered in clinical practice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Parathyroid Glands ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Preoperative Care ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDAccurate assessment of intra- as well as extra-cardiac malformations and radiation dosage concerns are especially crucial to infants and children with interrupted aortic arch (IAA). The purpose of this study is to investigate the value of prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) angiography with low-dosage techniques in the diagnosis of IAA.

METHODSThirteen patients with suspected IAA underwent prospective ECG-triggered DSCT scan and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Surgery was performed on all the patients. A five-point scale was used to assess image quality. The diagnostic accuracy of DSCT angiography and TTE was compared with the surgical findings as the reference standard. A nonparametric Chi-square test was used for comparative analysis. P <0.05 was considered as a significant difference. The mean effective radiation dose (ED) was calculated.

RESULTSDiagnostic DSCT images were obtained for all the patients. Thirteen IAA cases with 60 separate cardiovascular anomalies were confirmed by surgical findings. The diagnostic accuracy of TTE and DSCT for total cardiovascular malformations was 93.7% and 97.9% (P > 0.05), and that for extra-cardiac vascular malformations was 92.3% and 99.0% (P < 0.05), respectively. The mean score of image quality was 3.77 ± 0.83. The mean ED was 0.30 ± 0.04 mSv (range from 0.23 mSv to 0.39 mSv).

CONCLUSIONSIn infants and children with IAA, prospective ECG-triggered DSCT with low radiation exposure and high diagnostic efficiency has higher accuracy compared to TTE in detection of extra-cardiac vascular anomalies.

Aorta, Thoracic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Radiation Dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate COX-2 expression in patients with gastric cancer and its relationship with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.

METHODSCOX-2 expression and CD34-stained microvessel density (MVD) were detected by immunohistochemical methods in specimens from 96 patients with gastric cancer. The correlations among COX-2 expression, MVD and clinicopathologic features were analyzed.

RESULTSThe COX-2 positive rate and MVD in gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in the normal gastric mucosa (80.2% vs. 13.3%; 32.5+/- 8.3 vs. 13.1+/- 2.4, all P< 0.01). The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the patients with stage III and IV were significantly higher (91.4% and 34.9+/- 8.7 respectively, P< 0.01), than that in the patients with stage I and II. The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the cases with lymph node metastasis were 87.9% and (35.0+/- 8.5) respectively, higher than those in the cases without lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). The Spearman rank correlation test showed a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and tumor MVD (r=0.311, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2 plays an important role in gastric cancer angiogenesis. COX-2 and angiogenesis induced by COX-2 contribute to tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-tumor immunotherapeutic effect induced by the suicidalcancer vaccine FC/TK, and to evaluate the safety of this vaccine.

METHODSThe suicidal cancer vaccine, named FC/TK, was prepared by fusion of suicide gene (HSVI,-TK gene) -modified ovarian carcinoma NuTu-19 cells with rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs). The morphology of FC/TK was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The stimulatory effect of FC/TK on T cells was determined by T cell proliferation assay. In immunotherapeutic studies in vivo, Fischer344 rats were injected subcutaneously with NuTu-19 cells, followed by treatment of FC/TK on days 7 and 14, compared to controls treated with irradiated FC/TK, FC or PBS, respectively. Tumor incidence and volume were measured in 90 days after challenge. To determine the killing effect of FC/TK in vivo, TUNEL assays were applied to detect apoptotic cell death in spleen of vaccinated rats with prodrug ganciclovir administration.

RESULTSFC/TK cells were of irregular shape with surface membrane processes. Compared to the control groups, FC/TK significantly promoted T cell proliferation (P <0.01). The rats vaccinated with FC/TK and FC significantly inhibited the tumor growth compared to rats vaccinated with irradiated FC/TK (P <0.05) or with PBS ( P <0.01). The immunotherapeutic effect induced by FC/TK was similar to that using FC. Fluorescence microscopy showed that fluorescein-stained FC/TK cells migrated into spleen also showed to be TUNEL-positive, suggesting that the FC/TK cells were killed by ganciclovir in vivo.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that suicidal cancer vaccine is an effective and safe therapy for ovarian carcinoma and may serve as a broadly applicable approach for other cancer vaccines in the future.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; enzymology ; genetics ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Survival Analysis ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, risk factors of acute renal failure (ARF) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and evaluate its effect on the prognosis of patients after allo-HSCT. A retrospective analysis was performed in 86 patients undergoing allo-HSCT at Peking University First Hospital from June 2003 to April 2007. ARF is defined as a doubling of baseline serum creatinine at any time during the first 100 days post-transplant. The risks of ARF and mortality after ARF were examined using univariate analysis and multivariate unconditional logistic regression. The correlation of ARF and survival was examined using Cox regression. The results indicated that 27 patients (31.40%) developed ARF at a median of 59.5 days after transplant (range 1 to 93 days). The univariate analysis showed that elevated risks were severe acute GVHD (OR 6.196; 95% CI 1.121 - 34.249, p = 0.033), sepsis or septic shock (OR 4.184; 95% CI 1.314 - 13.325, p = 0.018) and hyperbilirubinemia (OR 3.709; 95% CI 1.428 - 9.635, p = 0.006). Renal disease before transplant (OR 6.711; 95% CI 1.199 - 37.564, p = 0.027), hypertension (OR 2.067; 95% CI 0.739 - 5.782, p = 0.165), the use of vancomycin (OR 2.133; 95% CI 0.844 - 5.392, p = 0.106) or foscarnet sodium (OR 2.133; 95% CI 0.844 - 5.392, p = 0.106) may be potential risks. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that renal disease before transplant (OR 6.288; 95% CI 1.218 - 32.455, p = 0.028), sepsis or septic shock (OR 3.614; 95% CI 1.040 - 12.544, p = 0.043) and hyperbilirubinemia (OR 4.448; 95% CI 1.563 - 12.665, p = 0.005) appear to be independently associated with an increased risk of ARF. Age, gender, baseline serum creatinine level, advanced malignant disease, unrelated-donor, total body irradiation (TBI) and cyclosporine levels were not associated with the development of ARF. Cox regression showed that ARF (RR 2.124; 95% CI 1.016 - 4.441, p = 0.045) was independently associated with survival of patients after allo-HSCT. The mortality of patients with ARF within 6 months post-transplant was significantly higher than that of those without ARF (44.4% vs 8.47%, p < 0.001). It is concluded that the cumulative incidence of ARF after allo-HSCT remains high. Renal disease before transplant, hyperbilirubinemia and sepsis or septic shock are all related factors which can increase the risk of ARF. ARF appears to be independent factor influencing survival of patients after allo-HSCT.
Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult