Objective To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum soluble CD163 (sCD163 )and the positive rate of membrane -bound CD163 (mCD163 )in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)in children with infection -associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS).Methods Between July 2012 and June 2016,26 pediatric patients with IAHS (IAHS group)and 28 pediatric patients with sepsis(sepsis group)admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University were selected,and 20 healthy children were taken as healthy control group. Sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum sCD163 .The population of circulating mCD163 positive monocytes was determined by using flow cytometry.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values of sCD163 and mCD163 in children with IAHS compared with the diagnos-tic and prognostic values of plasma ferritin,and so on.Results The serum levels of sCD163 in patients of IAHS group, sepsis group and healthy control group were (1264 ±538)mg/L,(862 ±332)mg/L,(610 ±316)mg/L,respective-ly.And the population of mCD163 -positive PBMC in patients of IAHS group,sepsis group and healthy control group was (88.3 ±9.7)%,(68.5 ±18.3)%,(28.9 ±5.2)%,respectively.Both serum sCD163 and the population of mCD163 -positive PBMC were significantly higher in IAHS group compared with those of sepsis group (t =2.031 ,P =0.048;t =3.191 ,P =0.002,respectively).The serum sCD163 and population of mCD163 -positive PBMC in sepsis group were higher than controls (t =3.848,P =0.002;t =4.049,P =0.000,respectively).Moreover,the areas under the ROC curve (AUC)for the mCD163 ,sCD163 ,were 0.853(P =0.013),0.762(P =0.004),0.755(P =0.049),respec-tively.mCD163 at a cutoff of 83.7% had a high diagnosis sensitivity (81 .8%)and specificity (72.4%).The optimal cutoff values of sCD163 and ferritin for predicting IAHS was 888 mg/L (sensitivity 66.7% and specificity 63.3%)and 2880 μg/L (sensitivity 80.0% and specificity 54.5%).In addition,the serum level of sCD163 and the population of mCD163 -positive PBMCs were significantly increased in acute phase and decreased in recovery phase[(1553 ±542) mg/L vs.(866 ±92)mg/L,(91 .0 ±6.4)% vs.(79.0 ±4.6)%,t =2.450,χ2 =3.419,P =0.036,0.007]in IAHS group.Furthermore,subgroup analysis indicated that the serum level of sCD163 and the population of mCD163 -positive PBMCs were significantly higher in dead patients than those in survived patients [(1748.91 ±518.17)mg/L vs. (909.69 ±171 .35)mg/L,t =3.070,P =0.011 ;(93.50 ±8.42)% vs.(77.30 ±3.28)%,χ2 =3.005,P =0.024, respectively].Conclusion Serum sCD163 and the population of mCD163 -positive PMSCs are specific and validity bio-markers for early diagnosis of IAHS,which also are associated with treatment response assessment and prognostic analy-sis in IAHS.

Objective To investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expressions of sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (Ntcp) and bile salt export pump (Bsep),as well as the liver function markers in the serum including total bilirubin (TBIL),total bile acids (TBA),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in mice.Methods One hundred and twenty-eight C57BL/6 mice were intra-peritoneally injected with different doses of 5,10,20 or 40 mg/kg LPS (n =24),respectively.No treatment or treated with 0.9％ NaC1 in mice as controls.Serum TBIL,TBA,ALT and AST levels were measured at 24 h,48 h and 72 h after LPS injection in each group.The mRNA expressions of Ntcp and Bsep were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).The liver histological sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E).Results The Ntcp and Bsep mRNA expressions in mice liver were significantly lower in livers of LPS-treated mice within 24-72 h compared with control group,and the lowest level was reached at 24 h in a dose-dependent manner.And the relative expressions of Ntcp mRNA and Bsep mRNA were (0.64 ± 0.02),(0.53 ± 0.14),(0.25±0.09),(0.15±0.07)and (0.74±0.12),(0.58±0.11),(0.41±0.09),(0.27 ± ± 0.11) in livers of mice injected with LPS in the different doses of 5,10,20,40 mg/kg,respectively.In addition,serum levels of TBIL,TBA,ALT,and AST were significantly increased in mice of LPS-treated group compared with control group,particularly within 24 h after LPS treatment.Serum levels of TBIL,TBA,ALT,and AST were significantly decreased in mice of 40 mg/kg LPS-treated 72 h group compared with 24 h group presenting them with (1.29 ± 0.25) μ mol/L vs.(1.71 ± 0.22) μ moL/L,(6.97 ± 0.98) μmol/Lvs.(8.96±1.01) μmol/L,(120.17±21.08) U/L vs.(179.22±16.57) U/L,(360.34 ±35.31) U/L vs.(510.97 ± 34.70) U/L,respectively.Furthermore,histological changes in liver depend on dose and the course of LPS treatment.Cytoplasm rarefaction and inflammatory cells infiltration were detected at 24 h after treatment with 5 or 10 mg/kg LPS.Acidophilic and vacuolar degeneration,neutrophils infiltration in the hepatic sinusoid and portal area,the proliferation of bile ductulus were observed at 48 h,72 h after treatment with 5 or 10 mg/kg LPS.In the 20 or 40 mg/kg LPS treatment groups,focal necrosis,infiltration with inflammatory cells,proliferation of bile ductulus and expansion of duct were observed at 24 h,48 h and 72 h after LPS treatment.Conclusions LPS decreases the mRNA expressions of Ntcp and Bsep in a dose dependent manner in mice,contributing to mechanism of liver injury induced by endotoxin.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice aged 8-12 weeks were divided into 4 groups with 8 mice in each group, according to the method of simple random sampling. Sepsis-induced ALI mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 5 mg/kg (LPS group), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control group (PBS group) was injected with equal volume of PBS. The LPS+FICZ group was intervened by intraperitoneal injection of 1 μg FICZ 1 hour after LPS stimuli, while the FICZ control group (FICZ group) was given the same amount of FICZ 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection of PBS. Serum and lung tissue were collected 24 hours after LPS stimuli, and the pathological changes of lung tissue were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio of lung tissue. The concentrations of inflammatory factors in serum and lung tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway related molecules were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting.Results:Compared with PBS group, inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar collapse and obvious alveolar exudative lesions had increased, lung tissue W/D ratio was significantly increased, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, lung tissue IL-6 mRNA expression, and the mRNA expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), CCAAT/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and the protein expressions of GRP78, PERK, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), CHOP in lung tissue were significantly increased in LPS group. However, the indexes of FICZ group were not affected. Compared with LPS group, LPS+FICZ group had less inflammatory cell infiltration, relatively intact alveolar structure. Lung W/D weight ratio in LPS+FICZ group was significantly decreased (5.38±0.10 vs. 6.60±0.30, P < 0.01), so as serum IL-6 (ng/L: 15.55±3.77 vs. 32.22±3.84) and lung IL-6 mRNA expression (2 -ΔΔCt: 0.79±0.21 vs. 6.89±0.92, both P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of GRP78, PERK and CHOP were also significantly decreased [GRP78 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.90±0.16 vs. 7.55±1.29, PERK mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.68±0.20 vs. 4.54±0.89, CHOP mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.13±0.24 vs. 4.44±1.13, all P < 0.05], and the protein expressions of GRP78, PERK, ATF6 and CHOP were significantly decreased (GRP78/GAPDH: 0.59±0.02 vs. 0.77±0.01, PERK/GAPDH: 0.48±0.03 vs. 1.04±0.05, ATF6/GAPDH: 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.65±0.01, CHOP/GAPDH: 0.91±0.05 vs. 1.11±0.07, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:FICZ protects LPS-induced ALI possibly via suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress and reducing IL-6 expression in blood and lung tissue.

BACKGROUNDL-glutamate (L-GLU) is a major neurotransmitter in the nucleus ambiguus (NA), which can modulate respiration, arterial pressure, heart rate, etc. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of L-GLU microinjected into NA on gastric motility in rats.

METHODSA latex balloon connected with a pressure transducer was inserted into the pylorus through the forestomach for continuous recording of the gastric motility. The total amplitude, total duration, and motility index of gastric contraction waves within 5 minutes before microinjection and after microinjection were measured.

RESULTSL-GLU (5 nmol, 10 nmol and 20 nmol in 50 nl normal saline (PS) respectively) microinjected into the right NA significantly inhibited gastric motility, while microinjection of physiological saline at the same position and the same volume did not change the gastric motility. The inhibitory effect was blocked by D-2-amino-5-phophonovalerate (D-AP5, 5 nmol, in 50 nl PS), the specific N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, but was not influenced by 6-cyaon-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-(1H,4H)-dione (CNQX) (5 nmol, in 50 nl PS), the non-NMDA ionotropic receptor antagonist. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy abolished the inhibitory effect by microinjection of L-GLU into NA.

CONCLUSIONSMicroinjection of L-GLU into NA inhibits the gastric motility through specific NMDA receptor activity, not non-NMDA receptor activity, and the efferent pathway is the vagal nerves.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate ; pharmacology ; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Glutamic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Vagotomy

Serum cortisol and plasma ACTH were determined in 10 patients with severe sepsis and 12 with septic shock on day 1,3,5 after diagnosis were made,and the data were compared with 12 control patients. To evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis function in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock,1?g ACTH stimulation test was applied after hormone concentrations were obtained on day 1.Compared with the control patients,ACTH level was significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis and lower in septic shock(P

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from Faeces bombycis.

METHODIsolation and purification were carried out on silic gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-18 column chromatography. The chemical structures of the constituents were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTFifteen compounds were identified as 3S, 5R-dihydroxy-6R, 7-megstigmadien-9-one (1), 3S, 5R-dihydroxy-6S, 7-megstigmadien-9-one (2), (6R, 9R)-3-oxo-alpha-ionol-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), (6R, 9S)-3-oxo-alpha-ionol-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), blumenol C glucoside (5), byzantionoside B (6), alangionoside L (7), lutein (8), pipecolic acid (9), betaine (10), alanine (11), glutamic acid (12), phenylalanine (13), leucine (14), isoleucine (15).

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds were separated from Faeces bombycis for the first time.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diptera ; chemistry ; Feces ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Structure

Objective: To investigate cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention status among residents with intra-urban migration in Central China, so as to provide insights into targeted prevention and control of CVD. Methods: Basic data of residents aged 35 to 75 years who participated in Early Screening and Comprehensive Intervention Project for CVD high-risk populations in Central China from September 2015 to August 2020 were collected. According to birth place, type of registered residence and current residence, residents were divided into four groups: local residents in old urban area, local residents in new urban area, other urban migrants and other rural migrants. The status of CVD primary and secondary prevention, were analysed by using a robust Poisson regression model. Results: A total of 76 513 residents were recruited, including 29 420 males (38.45%) and 47 093 females (61.55%), and had a mean age of (56.36±9.84) years. There were 45 087 (58.93%) local residents in old urban area, 23 868 (31.19%) local residents in new urban area, 5 668 (7.41%) other urban migrants and 1 890 (2.47%) other rural migrants. After adjusting for variables such as age, gender and educational level, the results of robust Poisson regression analysis showed that compared with local residents in old urban area, local residents in new urban area had lower compliance rates of non- or moderate-drinking (RR=0.987, 95%CI: 0.975-1.000) and healthy diet (RR=0.535, 95%CI: 0.365-0.782), lower proportion of using aspirin as primary prevention in CVD high-risk population (RR=0.616, 95%CI: 0.511-0.741), lower awareness (RR=0.873, 95%CI: 0.782-0.974) and control rates (RR=0.730, 95%CI: 0.627-0.849) of hypertension; other urban migrants had higher compliance rate of non-smoking (RR=1.045, 95%CI: 1.017-1.075); other rural migrants had lower proportion of using aspirin as primary prevention in CVD high-risk population (RR=0.826, 95%CI: 0.707-0.966). Conclusion The CVD primaryprevention among local residents in new urban area is relatively poor among four groups of residents in Central China, and key interventions are needed.

Translocating protein and translocating peptides have therapeutic potential against tumors by exposing the cytotoxic domains of toxic proteins to the cell cytosol. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of N-terminally fused PE translocating peptides on granzyme B (GrBa) activity. PE II-GrBa fusion protein genes were constructed by replacing N-terminal signal and acidic dipeptide sequence of human granzyme B gene with two truncated translocating sequences of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE II aa 280-364/358) by recombinant PCR, and then cloned into pIND inducible expression vector. The resulting pIND-PE II-GrBa expression vectors were co-transfected with assistant plasmid pVgRXR into HeLa cells through lipofectamine, followed by selection on G418 and zeocin. The resistant cells were collected and induced with ponasterone A. Western blot analysis demonstrated that ponasterone A induction caused the expression of PE II-GrBa fusion proteins, and indirect immunofluorescence detected giant sized multinucleated cells, suggesting cytoskeletal and mitotic abnormalities as reported in our previous studies. Western blot, enzymatic activity assay and cell counting analysis indicated that two types of PE II-GrBa fusion proteins were capable of cleaving both endogenous and exogenous substrates of granzyme B, and inhibiting the growth of cells. The PE II (aa 280-358)-GrBa was shown to have higher serine protease activity and stronger growth inhibitory effect. Such inhibition was presumably associated with G2 arrest as determined by cell cycle analysis. These data prove that PE II-GrBa fusion proteins have cell inhibitory effect similar to GrBa, and that the shorter PE-derived peptide exerts less influence on GrBa activity. This study helps to optimize the construction of recombinant protein comprising translocating peptides and cytotoxic molecules for tumor cell killing.
ADP Ribose Transferases ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Exotoxins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Granzymes ; genetics ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Virulence Factors ; genetics ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of methylprednisolone (MP) on liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods Total of 48 C57BL/6 mice (8-week old) were randomly divided into the control group,LPS-induced endotoxemia model (1 h,2 h,4 h,8 h,24 h,48 h) and intervention group with MP therapy (n =6).Mice were intraperitoneally injected withLPS (20 mg/kg) for indicated time (1 h,2 h,4 h,8 h,24 h,48 h),and MP (20mg/kg) was intraperitonealinjected into micetointervene LPS-induced liver injury.Saline was used as control.Pathological changes of liver tissues were analyzed by hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining.The serum levels of ALT,TBIL and TBA were determined,and the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and the protein levels of P62,LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ in livers were detected by real time-PCR and Western-blot.Results (1) MP therapy protects mice against LPS-induced liver injury at the dose of 20 mg (kg · d).The pathological sections showed that the structure of hepatic lobule,the hepatocyte vacuolar degeneration,eosinophilic degeneration were improved in LPS + MP/group compared with LPS group;(2) The serum levels of ALT,TBIL,TBA in LPS + MP group was significantly decreased compared with LPS 48 h group [(63.40 ±11.55) vs.(104.50±29.34) U/L,(0.37 ±0.08) vs.(0.52 ±0.12) μmol/L,(4.67 ±2.58) vs.(10.33 ± 2.34) μmol/L,P =0.009,P =0.032,P ＜ 0.01];(3) The mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β in LPS + MP group was significantly lower than that of LPS 48 h group [(4.18 ±0.81) vs.(10.09 ±4.73),(0.31 ±0.14) vs.(1.06 ±0.68),(0.17 ±0.05) vs.(1.22 ±0.50),respectively,all P ＜0.05];(4) LPS activated autophagy within 2h after LPS treatment.Then,autophagy was suppressed from 2h to 24h after LPS treatment indicated as the decreased expression of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ.Interestingly,MP treatment significantly reversed LPS-suppressed autophagy showing that the protein level of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ was significantly increased in LPS + MP group compared with LPS 48 h group.Conclusions MP therapy protects mice against LPS-induced liver injury and inflammation,partially due to activation of autophagy in livers.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the MRI findings in ten patients of spinal epidural angiolipoma for differentiated diagnosis presurgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten surgically proved cases of spinal epidural angiolipomas were retrospectively reviewed, and the lesion was classified according to the MR findings. RESULTS: Ten tumors were located in the superior (n = 4), middle (n = 2), or inferior (n = 4) thoracic level. The mass, with the spindle shape, was located in the posterior epidural space and extended parallel to the long axis of the spine. All lesions contained a fat and vascular element. The vascular content, correlating with the presence of hypointense regions on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and hyperintense signals on T2-weighted imaging, had marked enhancement. However, there were no flow void signs on MR images. All tumors were divided into two types based on the MR features. In type 1 (n = 3), the mass was predominantly composed of lipomatous tissue (> 50%) and contained only a few small angiomatous regions, which had a trabeculated or mottled appear. In type 2 (n = 7), the mass, however, was predominantly composed of vascular components (> 50%), which presented as large foci in the center of the mass. CONCLUSION: Most spinal epidural angiolipomas exhibit hyperintensity on T1WI while the hypointense region on the noncontrast T1WI indicates to be vascular, which manifests an obvious enhancement with gadolinium administration.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiolipoma/*diagnosis/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epidural Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Young Adult