Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and atrial fibrillation (AF) by examining peripheral blood level of NLRP3 inlfammasome and other inlfammatory factors in relevant patients.
Method: A total of 60 AF patients were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: Paroxysmal AF (PAF) group and Non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (nPAF) group, n=30 in each group;in addition, there was a Control group including 26 healthy subjects from physical examination. NLRP3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by lfow cytometry;blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP and NT-proBNP were detected by ELISA. The correlations among different factors were studied by liner regression analysis and the differences were compared among groups.
Result:①Compared with Control group, PAF and nPAF groups had increased PBMCs level of NLRP3 and blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, P<0.05, while NLRP3 level was similar between PAF group and nPAF group, P>0.05.②PAF and nPAF groups showed elevated blood level of NT-proBNP than Control group, P<0.05. ③PBMCs level of NLRP3 was positively related to left atrial diameter (r=0.579, P<0.05) and negatively related to left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.490, P<0.05) in both AF groups.
Conclusion: ① NLRP3 inflammasome was closely related to AF, which may provide a therapeutic target for AF treatment. ② AF was closely related to inflammatory response. ③ Downstream product of NLRP3 may cause the inlfammatory response which could induce the occurrence, development and maintenance of AF in relevant patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of American Ginseng Capsule (AGC) on the liver oxidative injury and the Nrf2 protein expression in the liver tissue of rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone electromagnetic radiation.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Shuifei Jibin Capsule (SJC) group, and the AGC group,10 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were not irradiated. Rats in the rest three groups were exposed by imitated 900 MHz cellular phone for 4 h in 12 consecutive days. Meanwhile, rats in the SJC group and the AGC group were intragastrically administrated with suspension of SJC and AGC (1 mL/200 g body weight) respectively. Normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. The histolomorphological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining. Contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)were detected by colorimetry. The Nrf2 protein expression of hepatocytes was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, hepatocyte nucleus was atrophied or partially disappeared, the contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); contents of liver SOD and GSH decreased (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, karyopyknosis was obviously attenuated and approached to the normal level in the SJC group and the AGC group. The contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P <0. 05), and the contents of liver SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX obviously increased (P < 0.05) in the SJC group. The contents of liver MDA and the Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), and contents of SOD and GSH obviously increased in the AGC group (P <0.01, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electromagnetic radiation induced by 900 MHz cell phone could affect the expression of Nrf2 protein, induce oxidative injury, and induce abnormal morphology of liver cells. SJC and AGC could promote the morphological recovery of the liver cells. Its mechanism might be related to affecting the expression of Nrf2 protein and attenuating oxidative damage of liver cells.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the specific expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related GRP78 and CHOP in podocyte of MKR mice with diabetic nephropathy (DN);To discuss the intervention effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Yishen Decoction (ZGJTYS). Methods 8-week old MKR mice were randomly divided into five groups:blank group, model group, ZGJTYS group, 4-Phenylbutyric acid group, gliquidone+benazepril group, and normal control group consisting of wild type C57BC/6 mice, 10 mice per group. All mice from model group and each treatment group received high-fat diet feed and unilateral nephrectomy to make the DN model. Mice from treatment groups received medicine intervention for four weeks. The levels of FBG were detected by electrochemical detection method, and the UmAlb was detected by ELISA. The expressions of GRP78, CHOP mRNA, and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The morphological structure changes of the podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopes. Results Compared with blank group, FBG and UmAlb in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01);the expressions of GRP78 mRNA and protein markedly decreased (P<0.01);the expressions of CHOP mRNA and protein increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, FBG and UmAlb in each treatment group significantly decreased (P<0.01);the expressions of GRP78 mRNA and protein in the ZGJTYS group and 4-Phenylbutyric acid group increased (P<0.01), the expressions of CHOP mRNA and protein decreased (P<0.01). The renal pathological lesions of each treatment group were significantly improved compared with model group. Conclusion ZGJTYS Decoction can effectively improve the damaged podocyte induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, delay DN progress.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression profile of NK ligands in acute leukemia cell lines and investigate the differential expression pattern between acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSUsing quantitative real-time PCR, 23 NK ligands (MICA, MICB, ULBP-1, ULBP-2, ULBP-3, ULBP-4, HLA-E, HLA-G, CD48, NBTA, HLA-F, LLT-1, PVR, Nectin2, CD72, CD80, ICAM-1, LFA-3, CRACC, Fas, DR4, DR5, TNFR1) were detected in 6 acute leukemia cell lines, including 3 ALL cell lines (CEM, Jurkat T, Reh) and 3 AML cell lines (HL-60, KG-1a, NB4), respectively. Independent-samples t test analysis was performed to determine statistical significance.

RESULTSUsing β-actin as reference gene, the relative expression results showed that the expression of 4 NK ligands between ALL and AML is significantly different. Specifically, the level of ULBP-2 is higher in ALL (CEM: 1, Jurkat T: 0.617, Reh: 0.246) than that in AML (HL-60: 0.000, KG-1a: 0.003, NB4: 0.000)(P = 0.047). However, the expressions of CD48, PVR(PVR-1, PVR-2) and DR4 is higher in AML (HL-60: 13.987, 4.403, 10.334, 8.711; KG-1a: 5.387, 2.900, 7.315, 4.512; NB4: 7.763, 3.248, 7.049, 6.127) than that in ALL (CEM: 1, 1, 1, 1; Jurkat T: 2.035, 1.553, 3.888, 0.449; Reh: 1.559, 0.000, 0.000, 1.304) (P = 0.044, 0.014, 0.014, 0.011). And there're no significant differences between the rest 19 NK ligands.

CONCLUSIONSULBP-2, CD48, PVR and DR4 might play an important role in the distinct mechanisms in leukemogenesis between ALL and AML and could be potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Acute Disease ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD48 Antigen ; Cell Line, Tumor ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

Objective To observe the effect of mature rehmannia extract on platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and b-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) 2 in myocardial tissue of rats with myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 30 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group and rehmannia glutinosa group with 10 rats in each group.Myocardial infarction models were established in rats of model group and prepared Rehmannia glutinosa group.The rats in the prepared rehmannia glutinosa group were subcutaneously injected with the extract of the prepared Rehmannia glutinosa 4 g/kg.The rats in the blank group and the model group were subcutaneously injected with the same volume of saline.Once a day for 15 days.The cardiac function was measured by echocardiography in rats.The HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of myocardium.The levels of PDGF and Bcl-2 in myocardium were detected by ELISA.The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) and CD34 protein were detected by immunoturbidimetry.Results Compared with the model group,the levels of LVDd,LVDs,LVEDs and LVESV in the Rehmannia glutinosa group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05) and LVEF was significantly increased (P＜0.05),while the levels of PDGF (0.53 ± 0.02 g/ml vs.0.35 ± 0.01 g/ml),Bcl-2 (1.04 ± 0.20 g/ml vs.0.84 ± 0.12 g/ml),VEGF (85.24 ± 12.45 pg/ml vs.65.26 ± 10.06 pg/ml),BFGF (86.27 ± 6.56 pg/ml vs.62.26 ± 4.37 pg/ml) and CD34 (102.36 ± 10.52 pg/ml vs.26.37 ± 3.94 pg/ml) in in the Rehmannia glutinosa group were significantly increased (P＜0.05).Conclusions The Rehmannia glutinosa extract can improve the cardiac function of rats with myocardial infarction,Promote the formation of new blood vessels and improve myocardial damage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of T lymphocytic subsets in chronic tonsillitis patients for evaluation of their clinical implication. METHOD: Fresh peripheral blood samples were obtained from 54 chronic tonsillitis patients and 52 healthy counterparts. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets including the naive (CD45RA+), memory (CD45RO+), functional (CD28+), activated (HLA-DR+, CD25+) and apoptosis (CD95+) T lymphocytes, were analyzed by flow cytometry, respectively. The clinical data such as serum Cystatin C con centration, ASO and ESR were simultaneously recorded from each chronic tonsillitis patient. RESULT: The CD4+ T cells, the rate of CD4+/CD8+ and CD4+ CD45RA+ /CD4+ CD45RO+, the CD4+ CD45RA+ T cells and the CD4+ CD25+ T cells in chronic tonsillitis were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05) while an obviously increasing percentage of memory (CD45RO+) and apoptosis (CD95+) T lymphocytes in chronic tonsillitis patients, and there were significant differences between the patients with chronic tonsillitis and the healthy volunteers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the chronic tonsillitis patients, Serum Cystatin C level was negatively correlated with CD4+ CD45RA+ T(P < 0.05), and not significantly correlated with other T lymphocyte subtypes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Immune disorder is present in the peripheral blood of chronic tonsillitis patients. Our data may provide valuable information for evaluation of disease progression of chronic tonsillitis patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Tonsillitis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective: To observe the dynamics of antibody response in great gerbils infected with Yersinia pestis in experiment. Method: A total of 211 great gerbils were captured in the southern margin of plague natural focus of Junggar Basin of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2011. Among them, there were 167 great gerbils without infection of Y. pestis and 44 great gerbils infected by Y.pestis. Y.pestis No. 2504 was employed for this experimental strain, which was strong toxic strain with negativity in the reduction experiment of nitrate. 35 great gerbils without the infection of Y. pestis were divided randomly and averagely into 7 groups including 6 experimental groups and 1 control group. Great gerbils in the 1st to 6th experimental groups were exposed first with 1 × 10⁶-1 × 10¹¹ CFU/ml of bacterial fluid with 10 times of gradient dilution; groin areas of great gerbils in the control group were injected subcutaneously with physiological saline; and the amount of infection was all 1 ml. 17 great gerbils infected with Y. pestis and the first detection of F1-antibody titer in 1∶256-1∶4 096 were grouped according to F1-antibody titer: group 1∶4 096 (n=4), group 1∶2 048 (n=4), group 1∶1 024 (n=3), group 1∶512 (n=3) and group 1∶256 (n=3); and blood in caudal regions was collected in asepsis for the detection of F1-antibody, with a total of 5 times. 9 great gerbils which were selected from the remaining great gerbils infected with Y. pestis and detected F1-antibody negative 2 times were exposed 1×10⁶ CFU/ml of bacterial fluid for the second infection, with the amount of infection being 1 ml. Blood in caudal regions of great gerbils after the first and second infection were collected for the detection of plague F1-antibody on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th and 120th day after infection. Declined regression models for great gerbils' antibodies were established with unary linear regression equation; declined change diagrams for the antibodies were drawn to observe the declined F1-antibody after great gerbils were exposed to Y. pestis. Results: In great gerbils with the first infection of Y. pestis, antibodies were detected in the 1 × 10⁶-1 × 10⁸ CFU/ml of group on the 30th, 15th and 15th day, respectively; the positive rates of antibody were 1/4, 3/4 and 4/5, respectively; the group 1×10⁷ and 1× 10⁸ CFU/ml reached to the highest antibody titer with 1∶256 on the 120th day; antibodies were revealed in the group 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰ and 1×10¹¹ CFU/ml from the 5th to 7th day when the seroconversion of all antibodies was observed; group 1×10¹¹ CFU/ml reached to the highest antibody titer on the 120th day with 1∶4 096. In the great gerbils with the second exposure to Y.pestis, positive antibodies were detected on the 3rd day with the positive rate being 2/9; and the highest antibody titer with 1∶2 048 was noted on the 90th day. Unary linear regression equation of declined F1 antibody of great gerbils was y=0.045x- 0.321 (F=115.40, P< 0.001), and the shortest duration for F1-antibody titer declining from 1∶4 096 to 0 was 140 d and the longest duration 200 d. Conclusion Great gerbils infected with the high concentration of Y. pestis fluid show shorter duration in producing F1-antibody, the antibody positive rate is also higher, and the highest antibody titer can reach 1∶4 096. The great gerbils could hold the plague F1 antibodies for a long time which was about 140 to 200 days from the highest titer.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and neuroimaging features of patients with osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS).Methods The clinical features and examination results ,including the clinical manifestations,the data of cranial MRI/CT,changes of EEG,treatment and prognosis,were analyzed in 4 patients with ODS.Results All the 4 patients had the history of hyponatraemia.The common clinical manifestations included psychiatric disorder,altered consciousness,dysphasia,dysphagia,quadriplegia and dystonia.Severe transient abnormal EEG was found in these patients,and all the brain CT scanning and CSF were negative.MRI features could only be noted 10 d after the appearing of clinical manifestations and all the first time MRI was negative in these 4 patients.Four patients were diagnosed as having extrapontine myelinolysis,showing symmetrical low T1-weighted signal and high T2-weighted signal within the pons,the basal ganglia,the thalami,the insular cortex and the hippocampal head.Three patients were also diagnosed as having central pontine myelinolysis,showing symmetrical T1 low signal and T2 high signal in the basilar part of pons; much clear imaging could be noted with the help of weighing the abnormal signals.Three patients got improvement with 1 having dystonia sequel.Conclusion ODS is correlated with chronic hyponatraemia,and both hypokalaemia and hypochloremia may be the 2 possible triggers; when they appear,quick correction is not needed.MRI features may be significantly delayed,thus,repeated imaging study is necessary.

OBJECTIVETo study the immunoactivity,biodistribution and metabolic pattern of (131)I-Herceptin in rabbits.

METHODSHerceptin was radiolabelled with (131)I and its radiochemicalpurity (RCP) measured by size-exclusion high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The binding rate to BT-474 cells was measured to evaluate the immunoactivity of (131)I-Herceptin. (131)I-herceptin (2.0 mCi/kg) was injected intravenously into New Zealand rabbits. Scintigraphy on emission computed tomography was performed at 3 h, 1, 3 and 5 days after injection, and the radiocounts of the heart, liver and kidney etc. were compared with that of the muscle to calculate the organ-to-muscle activity ratio (O/M). On the fifth day,the rabbits were killed and the blood, myocardium, lung and other organs were obtained for measuring the radiocounts on gamma-counter to calculate the uptake percentage per gram tissue (ID%/g).

RESULTSThe labeling rate of (131)I-herceptin was 93% with RCP of 95% and binding rate to BT-474 cells of 36.9%. After injection of (131)I-herceptin, the heart, lung and liver displayed dense radioactive regions but not the muscles and intestines. Three hours after injection, the O/M ratio of the heart was significantly higher than that of the lung, kidney and intestine (P<0.05), but decreased significantly one day after injection (t=10.817, P<0.001) with further decrement on days 3 and 5 (P<0.05). The O/M ratio of liver on day 1, 3, and 5 reduced significantly in comparison with that at 3 h (P<0.05). The uptake percentage was higher in the blood (11.3 ID/g%) than in the liver (2.8 ID/g%) and the myocardium (1.8 ID/g%).

CONCLUSIONS(131)I-herceptin possesses high immunoactivity which distributes mainly in the blood, liver and kidney, but with low uptake in the myocardium.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; standards ; Binding, Competitive ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Quality Control ; Rabbits ; Time Factors ; Tissue Distribution ; Trastuzumab