BACKGROUNDIncreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which in turn promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis, is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various cardiac diseases such as ischemia and heart failure. Recent studies have shown that over expression of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) confers resistance to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, not much is known about the regulation of myocyte survival by Hsp27.

METHODSThe rat cardiac cell line H9c2, with a stable overexpression of Hsp27, was established, with empty vector transfected H9c2 cells as controls. Following the cells challenged by Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, intracellular ROS, cell morphology, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the activation of serine/threonine kinase Akt were determined.

RESULTSAlong with marked suppression of H2O2-induced injury by Hsp27 overexpression in H9c2 cells, ROS generation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were also significantly depressed. Furthermore, augmented Akt activation was observed in Hsp27 overexpressed H9c2 cells following H2O2 exposure.

CONCLUSIONSHsp27 inhibits oxidative stress-induced H9c2 damage and inhibition of ROS generation and the augmentation of Akt activation may be involved in the protective signaling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism and the suppression effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on hematopoietic system.

METHODSSemi-solid culture system was used to observe the effect of HCMV AD169 strain on colony forming unit granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), CFU-erythroid (CFU-E), CFU-multipotent (CFU-Mix) and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) growth. The techniques of in situ polymerase chain reaction (IS-PCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to demonstrate the existence of HCMV DNA in the colony cells of cultured CFU-GM, CFU-Mix, CFU-MK and CFU-E, respectively. The immediate early antigen (IEA) mRNA in CFU-MK and late antigen (LA) mRNA in CFU-E were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCMV early protein P52 was detected with immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSHCMV AD169 suppressed the differentiation and proliferation of CFU-GM, CFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-MK in vitro significantly (P < 0.05). The suppression was dose-dependent. HCMV DNA was successfully detected in CFU-GM, CFU-Mix, CFU-MK colony cells from viral infection groups by IS-PCR, and was detected in CFU-E by PCR, while it was negative in blank control or mock control groups. CFU-MK colony cells expressed HCMV IEA mRNA with the size of 340 bp in virus infection groups of 10(3) plague forming unit (PFU), 10(4) PFU and 10(5) PFU, respectively. The HCMV LA mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and was 263 bp long in positive control group of HCMV-infected human embryonic fibroblasts. The expression of HCMV LA mRNA in CFU-E was negative. The early protein P52 of HCMV in 10(4) PFU group was also identified by immunohistochemical staining.

CONCLUSIONHCMV AD169 strains inhibited the differentiation and proliferation of CFU-GM, CFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-MK by the infection of the hematopoietic progenitors. HCMV might cause the suppression of hematopoiesis by direct infection, which is thought to be one of the reasons of HCMV infection associated with thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and anemia.

Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Erythrocytes ; virology ; Hematopoietic System ; cytology ; virology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; virology ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effective therapeutic method of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hepatitis in children.

METHODSTwenty-five children with HCMV hepatitis were randomly assigned to a treated group (n=13) or a control group (n=12). Both groups were treated with prednisone, glucurone, luminal and Xiaoyanlidanpian. But the treated group was given ganciclovir (GCV) + intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in addition. Each infant of the two groups was checked for blood routine, liver function and HCMV copy numbers on admission and before discharge. They were seen at the third, sixth and ninth month after discharge. On each visit blood specimens were collected for HCMV copy numbers (fluorescence quantitative PCR, FQ-PCR).

RESULTSThe viral load of the treated group decreased significantly. A significant difference in viral copy numbers was found between the two groups on admission, discharge, and third, sixth and ninth month after discharge (P less than 0.001). The number of HCMV DNA copy fell to 10(3) copies/ml on discharge while that of the control group fell to the same level after the third month. The differences between the two groups in the length of hospitalization, time of initial jaundice disappearance and complete disappearance were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The need for transfusion in the treated group was significantly less than that in the control group (chi-square=4.012, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombination of GCV with a high dosage of IVIG to treat HCMV active infection could decrease viral load remarkably; The duration of disease, severity of symptoms, degree of anemia and the need for blood transfusion were reduced. No adverse effects related to the combination of GCV with IVIG therapy were observed.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; drug therapy ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

This study aims to explore the characteristics of crystallization inhibition by cellulose polymers at the supersaturated states of drugs. The study was performed by simulating supersaturated process and preparing supersaturated drug solid, and was carried out by measuring the content of drugs at different time points using dissolution apparatus. The types, amounts, ionic intensity and viscosity of cellulose polymers were examined to assess the crystallization inhibition effect on BCS II class drug indomethacin. HPMC E15 exhibited the strongest crystallization inhibition effect. The more added, more obvious crystallization suppression was observed against indomethacin. The decrease in viscosity and increase in ionic intensity led to an enhanced inhibition. The research provides a scientific guide for the crystallization inhibition of supersaturated drug by cellulose polymers.

The clinical effects of two different methods-high-viscosity cement percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and low-viscosity cement percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) were investigated. From June 2010 to August 2013, 98 cases of OVCFs were included in our study. Forty-six patients underwent high-viscosity PVP and 52 patients underwent low-viscosity PKP. The occurrence of cement leakage was observed. Pain relief and functional activity were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. Restoration of the vertebral body height and angle of kyphosis were assessed by comparing preoperative and postoperative measurements of the anterior heights, middle heights and the kyphotic angle of the fractured vertebra. Nine out of the 54 vertebra bodies and 11 out of the 60 vertebra bodies were observed to have cement leakage in the high-viscosity PVP and low-viscosity PKP groups, respectively. The rate of cement leakage, correction of anterior vertebral height and kyphotic angles showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Low-viscosity PKP had significant advantage in terms of the restoration of middle vertebral height as compared with the high-viscosity PVP (P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in pain relief and functional capacity status after surgery (P<0.05). It was concluded that high-viscosity PVP and low-viscosity PKP have similar clinical effects in terms of the rate of cement leakage, restoration of the anterior vertebral body height, changes of kyphotic angles, functional activity, and pain relief. Low-viscosity PKP is better than high-viscosity PVP in restoring the height of the middle vertebra.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; pathology ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; pathology ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Pain ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Pain Measurement ; Recovery of Function ; physiology ; Spinal Fractures ; pathology ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Spine ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Viscosity ; Visual Analog Scale