Objective To explore the effect and its mechism of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) induced by high glucose.Methods (1) The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose(5.5 mmol/L),high glucose(33 mmol/L),high glucose + OPG(0.5,1,and 2 μg/ml)as well as mannitol(5.5 mmol/L glucose+27.5 mmol/L mannitol) for 48 h,respectively.Flow cytometry assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect the cell apoptosis.The expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were measured by western blot analysis.(2) The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose,high glucose,high glucose + OPG (2 μg/ml OPG),high glucose + rapamycin(10 ng/ml rapamycin) as well as high glucose + rapamycin + OPG for 24h,respectively.The expression levels of S6K,p-S6K,4EBP1 and p-4EBP1 protein were measured by western blot analysis.(3)The cultured HUVECs were treated with normal glucose,high glucose,high glucose + OPG(2 μg/ml)for 24 h,respectively.The expression levels of tuberin and p-tuberin protein were measured by western blot analysis.Results (1) Compared with normal glucose group,the apoptosis of HUVECs and the expression level of Bax was dramatically increased,and the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased significantly in high glucose group (P＜0.05).The apoptosis of HUVECs and the expression level of Bax in high glucose + OPG group was significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which was still higher than that in normal glucose group (P＜ 0.05).and the expression of Bcl-2 in high glucose + OPG group was significantly higher than that in high glucose group,which was still lower than that in normal glucose group (P＜0.05).There was no statistically difference between hyperosmolar control group and normal glucose group.(2) Compared with normal glucose group,the expression levels of p-S6K and p-4EBP1 were increased markedly in high glucose group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of p-S6K and p-4EBP1 in high glucose + OPG group were significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which were still higher than that in normal glucose group(P＜0.05).No significant difference was found between high glucose + OPG group and high glucose + rapamycin group.(3) Compared with normal glucose group,the expression level of p-tuberin was increased markedly in high glucose group (P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of p-tuberin in high glucose + OPG group was significantly lower than that in high glucose group,which was still higher than that in normal glucose group (P ＜0.05).Conclusions It suggests that the protective effect and mechanism of OPG on HUVECs cultured with high glucose may be association with tuberin/mTORC1 pathway.

ObjectiveTo evaluate ultrasound diagnosis of occult inguinal hernia in children. MethodsThe contralateral site of 132 established unilateral inguinal hernia cases was checked by ultrasound and 33 outpatient suspected occult inguinal hernia cases underwent B-mode ultrasonography. [WT5”HZ]Results Occult inguinal hernia was diagnosed in 15 cases (11.4%) in the 132 children,and diagnosis of occult inguinal hernia was founded by ultrasound in 17 out of the 33 outpatient cases. No opposite inguinal hernia developed in the ultrasound negative 117 patients during follow up of 2 to 12 months,and hernia developed in one out of the 16 outpatient cases initially judged as negative by ultrasound. ConclusionUltrasonography is useful for the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernia in children.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in hypertensive patients aged 80 or over and associated risk factors at level A tertiary hospitals.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among very old hypertensive patients (≥ 80 years) at 28level A tertiary hospitals by using questionnaire-based surveys.A total of 1298 hypertensive subjects aged between 80 and 101 years were enrolled in this study.Blood pressures was measured in the supine position and the upright position within three minutes of standing,and 316 patients were assigned to the orthostatic hypotension(OH) group and the other 982 patients to the non-orthostatic hypotension(NOH) group.Additional information was acquired through patients' medical records and the questionnaire.Results The prevalence of OH was 24.3％ (316 cases) There were no significan different betueen OH patienl with NOHones in gender and age.OH patients had higher supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.003 and 0.000,respectively),lower standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.000 and 0.000,respectively),and higher rates of past coronary heart disease,stroke and renal abnormalities (P =0.037,0.001 and 0.014,respectively) than NOH patients.Logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence of OH in the patients was positively correlated with supine systolic blood pressure(OR=1.196,CI:1.153-1.242,P=0.000) and supine diastolic blood pressure (OR =1.740,CI:1.602-1.885,P =0.000) and was negatively correlated with standing systolic blood pressure(OR =0.824,CI:0.795-0.855,P=0.000) and standing diastolic blood pressure (OR =0.584,CI:0.539-0.634,P =0.000).Conclusions The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension is high in hypertensive patients aged 80 years or over at level A tertiary hospitals.Poor blood pressure control may increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of the porous titanium/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (Ti/Ch/HA) composite scaffold as a bone repair substitute.Methods Additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology was used to fabricate porous Ti scaffolds as supporting structures.Chitosan/hydroxyapatite (Ch/HA) sponge was prepared within the macro-pores of Ti scaffolds using freeze drying technology.Thus,a kind of composite porous Ti/Ch/HA scaffold with good cell affinity was obtained.Osteoblastic cells were seeded and cultured in pure porous Ti scaffolds and composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds for 7 days.The cellular morphology,seeding efficiency and proliferation were examined and compared between the 2 kinds of scaffolds using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT assay.Results The SEM examination showed that the macro-pores of Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds were full of the composite sponge structure of Ch/HA,with a micropore size of 50 to 200 μm.Like the pure porous Ti scaffolds,composite Ti/Ch/HA ones have a compressive strength of 168.2 to 192.6 MPa,a yielding strength of 137.1 to 154.1 MPa,and a Young's modulus of 3.21 to 4.51 GPa.After culture for 7 days,a large number of flat cells adhered onto the surface of Ti scaffolds while the cells adhering onto the Ti/Ch/HA composite scaffolds were fusiform.The seeding efficiency of osteoblastic cells in the composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds (73.218％ ± 3.748％) was significantly higher than that in the pure porous Ti scaffolds (21.352％ ±4.365％) (P ＜0.05);the OD value of the composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds (0.783 ±0.043) was significantly higher than that of the pure porous Ti scaffolds (0.382 ± 0.036) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Ti/Ch/HA composite scaffolds can match human bone in mechanical properties.Compared with pure porous Ti scaffolds,the Ti/Ch/HA composite ones are more suitable for adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts,making them an ideal kind of bone repair substitute.

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; pathology

Objective To explore the effects of atorvastatin and valsartan on high glucose-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury.Methods Cultured HUVECs were divided and assigned to 9 groups:normal control group,mannitol control group,high glucose group,low dose atorvastatin group (0.1 μ mol/L),medium dose atorvastatin group (1 μmol/L),high dose atorvastatin group (10 μ mol/L),low dose valsartan group (0.1 μmol/L),medium dose valsartan group (1 μmol/L),and high dose valsartan group (10 μmol/L).H UVECs were pretreated with or without 30 mmol/L glucose plus various concentrations of atorvastatin and valsartan (0.1,1,10 μmol/L) for 16 hours and then incubated with 5.5 mmol/L glucose for 6 days.The levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1),monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1),and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with normal glucose group,hyperglycemia memory increased the levels of VCAM-1,MCP-1,and PAI-1 (all P＜0.05),which were still maintained at high levels even after withdrawal of high glucose.Atorvastatin and valsartan treatment decreased the levels of VCAM-1,MCP-1,and PAI-1 (all P＜0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin and valsartan may lower the secretion of VCAM-1,MCP-1,and PAI-1,and prevent high glucose memory-induced injury to endothelial cell.

Objective To investigate the CT features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC).Methods The CT findings of 8 patients with PHNEC which was confirmed by surgery and histopathology were analyzed retrospectively.Tumor location,size,shape,margin,density,enhancement patterns and degree,portal vein tumor thrombus,hilar and retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement were studied retrospectively.Results Of 8 patients,there were 5 tumors which were located in the right liver,1 in the left liver,and the remaining 2 in both the left and right livers.The CT value of the mass on plain scanning ranged from 20 to 35 HU.The mean value of CT was (29.6 ± 8.4) HU.Tumors showed low density in 5 patients and slightly lower density in 3.In 5 tumors the boundary was clear and in 3 it was not clear.Uneven mass density and different sizes of necrotic cysts were found in 8 tumors.In one of these tumors,the inside showed honey-comb appearance while small areas of haemorrhage were found in the tumor of another 2 patients.For all the eight patients,there were dilatation of peripheral bile ducts,portal vein tumor thrombus,enlarged lymph nodes or peritoneal effusion in hepatic portal area and peritoneal cavity.In the arterial phase,there was mild to moderate enhancement of the mass with CT value of 38 ～ 65 HU.The average value of CT was (54.8 ± 6.9) HU.In the venous phase,there was mild to moderate continuous enhancement of liver parenchyma,with CT value of 40 ～67 HU.The average value of CT was (61.4 ± 11.6) HU.In the delay phase,a substantial part of the mass was continuously enhanced in 2 patients while there was slow fading of enhancement in 6 patients.The CT value were 36 ～ 57 HU,the average value of CT was (46.6 ± 9.2) HU.In 3 patients,the separations inside the tumor showed enhancement.Conclusion CT features combined with clinical findings might give a hint to the diagnosis of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of liver.

Objective To study the functional mechanism of Naoxin tong Capsule (Ca psule for cerebral and heart diseases) on a cute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Totally 105 ACS p atients diagnosed with coro nary angiography were randomized into a treatment group (55 cases), and a control group (50 cases). The control group was treated routin ely with western medicine while the treatment group treated with Naoxintong Capsule, 2 capsules each time, 3 times a day, in addition to the routine western medicine. Before and 4 weeks after treatment, the serum hypersensitive C-react ive protein (hs-CRP) was measured. Before and six months af ter treatment, changes of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carot id plaque were examined with Color Doppler Ultrasonography. Resu lts Four weeks after treatment, the hs-CRP level in the treatment grou p was significantly lowered than before treatmen t, and the effect was more significant than that of the control group (P

Objective To prepare Exosomes secreted by mouse hepatoma cell (H_(22)) and heat stressed Exosomes (HS-Exo) derived from heat stress-treated mouse hepatoma cell (H_(22)), in order to study the possible anti-tumor immune mechanism. Methods Exosomes and HS-Exo were purified by serial ultracentrifugation and sucrose density gradiant centrifugation, and were observed and identified by electron microscope. The components and production of the protein and the effects of the host immune response against hepatocellular carcinoma of HS-Exo were observed by using Exosomes as the control. Their immunological factors were detected by Western blot. Lymphocyte proliferation and specific cytotoxic activity of mouse splenic cells were determined by MTT. CD4~+ and CD8~+ lymphocytes infiltration in mouse tumor tissues immunized by both were analysed by immunohistochemical staining. Results HS-Exo was similar in morphology to the Exosomes, the important immune-ralated protein expressed in HS-Exo was increased (P<0.05). HS-Exo immunized mouse group showed more effective inhibition of tumor growth, better-induced lymphocyte proliferation,more significantly enhanced the cytotoxic activity of spleen lymphocytes, as well as a more prominent role in tumor therapy than Exosomes immunized mouse control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Heat stress treatment method for the preparation of HS-Exo was feasible. HS-Exo had a stronger role in the immuneactivity and tumor treatment than control Exosomes.

Objective To investigate the immunoregulatory ability of human lung-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on T cells. Methods MSCs were isolated and cultured from human fetal lung. The immune phenotype was tested by flow cytometry and T lymphocyte proliferation assessed by thymidine incorporation. Results HLA-DR, CD86, and CD80 were not expressed in human lung-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The proliferation of peripherial blood-derived T cells was suppressed and this suppression seemed dependent on the concentration of MSCs. Conclusion Human lung-derived MSCs have been proved to possess immunomodulatory ability.