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Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin(IL)-2 and interferon(IFN)-γin serum and synovial fluid of patients with joint injure with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD), and study the roles of IL-2 and IFN-γ in KBD joint injure. Methods In accordance with the "Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin-Beck disease"(GB16003-1995),48 cases of KBD patients and 26 healthy people(control group) from KBD endemic area in Long county Shaanxi province were enrolled in the study. KBD patient were 24 males and 24 females, respectively, aged 40 to 65 years (mean age 51 years). Forty-eight serum specimens and 28 synovial fluid specimens of patients(14 males and 14 females,respectively) were collected. Healthy control group were 13 males and 13 females, respectively. Twenty-six serum specimens of healthy controls were collected. Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results In healthy controls and KBD patients, the midian of serum IL-2 were 46.8 ng/L and 55.7 ng/L, respectively, and IFN-γ were 52.3 ng/L and 48.8 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between healthy controls and KBD patients(t = 0.62, 0.70, all P ＞ 0.05).In synovial fluid of KBD patient, the midian of IL-2 and IFN-γwere 48.3 ng/L and 44.1 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between serum and synovial fluid in KBD patients(t = 0.69, 1.72, all P ＞0.05). Conclusion Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γare not significantly increased in KBD patients with articular damage, indicating that IL-2 and IFN-γare not involved in KBD joint injury.

Objective To investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 11 ( GDF11 ) on β-cell function in db/db mice and its possible mechanism. Methods Twenty eight-week-old male db/db mice were randomizedtoi.p. administration of GDF11(0.3mg·kg-1·day-1)or equivalent PBS(n=10)for 6 weeks.10age-matched male db/m were used as normal control, received equivalent PBS injection for 6 weeks. Blood glucose levels, body weights and food intake were monitored weekly. IPGTT and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion ( GSIS) were analyzed. After 6 weeks of intervention, serum HbA1C , TG, TC, and FFA were measured respectively. The concentrations of hormones in serum and pancreas were evaluated. The mRNA expression of Pdx-1, MafA, Nkx6. 1, and insulin2 were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of phosphorylated Smd2 (P-Smad2), Smad2 in islet were examined by western blot. Results Compared with NC group, GDF11 administration decreased FBG, HbA1C , modified lipid profiles. GDF11 improved glucose tolerance and augmented GSIS. Moreover, GDF11 increased serum insulin and pancreatic insulin content, while decreased serum glucagon concentration. The expression of Pdx-1, MafA, Nkx6. 1, and Insulin2 were significantly increased in GDF11 group. GDF11 elevated the expression of P-Smad2 in islets. Conclusion s GDF11 may preserve β-cell function and facilitate the secretion and production of insulin. Diminishing the metabolic abnormalities, alleviating the secretion of glucagon, as well as maintaining the key transcript factor activation may contribute to the amelioration of β-cell function after GDF11 administration. Smad2 pathway may be related to the protective effects of GDF11.

Objective To investigate the effect of growth differentiation factor 11 ( GDF11 ) on aorta in apolipoprotein E-Null( ApoE-/-) mice and its possible mechanisms. Methods Four-week-old healthy male ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat diet for 1 week and were then divided into 4 groups:vehicle group(n=10), GDF11 group (n=10),adeno-associated virus-green fluorescent protein group(AAV-GFP group, n=10), and AAV-GDF11 group ( n=10 ) . The mice received intraperitoneal injection with phosphate buffered saline, GDF11 protein, a single injection of purified AAV-GDF11 or AAV-GFP through the tail vein, respectively. After 4 weeks, serum GDF11/8 level and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation were detected. After 12 weeks, serum GDF11/8, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α), total cholesterol ( TC), triglycerides ( TG), oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL), and free fatty acids(FFA)levels were measured, the plaque areas in aortic enface and cross sections were measured by oil red O or HE staining, the macrophages/T lymphocytes infiltration in plaques were detected with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 were determined by real-time PCR. Results Compared with vehicle or AAV-GFP groups, GDF11 and AAV-GDF11 groups presented improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, decreased levels of blood inflammatory factors, blood lipid, reduced plaque on face area sections[Vehicle group : GDF11 group:(31. 23 ± 3. 12)% vs (17. 18 ± 2. 17) %;AAV-GFP group : AAV-GDF11 group:(38.01±4.43)% vs(14.54±2.86)%,P<0.05]andcrosssections[Vehiclegroup :GDF11 group:(19. 87 ± 2. 11)% vs (10. 32 ± 1. 47)%;AAV-GFP group : AAV-GDF11 group:(23. 02 ± 2. 76)%vs (9.06±1.63)%, P<0. 05]. There were less macrophages and T lymphocytes infiltration in plaques and lower mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors at aortic wall. Conclusion GDF11 reduces the area of atherosclerotic lesion in ApoE-/-mice, which may be involved in endothelial protection, such as to reduce inflammatory reaction, and to change cellular composition in plaques.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy

Objective To summarize the experience of minimally invasive treatment in upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 40 cases with upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection who were treated from December 2009 to December 2013.Results Twenty-one cases were performed with retrograde catheterization at cystoscopy and 11 cases were performed with percutaneous nephrostomy directed by B-ultrasound in the stage Ⅰ,the infection were controlled after operation 2-6 d.These patients were successfully cured by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL),ureterorenoscope lithotripsy (URL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the stage Ⅱ].The remaining 8 cases were successfully cured by URL with antiinfection therapy in the stage Ⅰ.All patients had no ureteral perforation,laceration,urine derived sepsis and severe bleeding complications.All of ureteral calculi were drained after 2-10 weeks.The average hospital stay was 13.4 d.Patients were followed up for 1-12 months after the stone expulsion,the average was 6 months.There was 3 patients who with preoperative renal dysfunction had been improved after URL,and other patients' renal function returned to normal.Conclusions The therapy of retrograde catheterization at cystoscopy and percutaneous nephrostomy directed by B-ultrasound in the stage Ⅰ,combined with ESWL,URL or PCNL in the stage Ⅱ in treating upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection have more advantage such as less complication,rapid control of infection and complete removal of stones.It is an ideal method.

The 1.23 kb DNA fragment encoding the early protein EP0 of pseudorabies virus (PRV) Ea strain was amplified by PCR technique and cloned into pBluescriptII sk+.Three sequencing plasmids containing the partial fragment of the EP0 gene were constructed and the sequences were obtained by Sanger's sequencing technique. Compared with PRV InFh strain, there were multipile site-mutations and a deleted-mutation in the EP0 gene of PRV strain Ea，and the diversity of amino acid residues also existed.Then, the EP0 gene was inserted into an expression vector, pET-28a, fused into the downstream of the 6ΧHis-Tag in frame, to yield the expression plasmid pETEP0. After induction by IPTG, a high expression of fusion protein was obtained, SDS-PAGE analysis and Western blotting showed that the fusion protein was 62kD and the protein was specific to antisera against PRV Ea strain. This indicated that the EP0 gene be expressed in BL21(DE3) and the expression products have immuno-genicity.

Objective To investigate the effects of partial body weight supported treadmill training (BW- STT) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and on patients' quality of life.Methods Sixty patients with PSD were re- cruited and divided into a training group (n=30,male 17,female 13) and a control group (n=30,male 16,fe- male 14).All patients were treated with routine internal medication and rehabilitation.The patients of the training group also received BWSTT in addition to their routine treatment.All patients' neurological impairment was evaluated using the Modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS).The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used for evaluating the degree of depression.The Fugl-Meyer scale and the Barthel index were used to assess ambula- tion and balance,and facility in the activities of daily living.All patients were assessed before and after the treat- ment.Results After four weeks of treatment,depression in the training group had improved significantly more than in the control group.Conclusion BWSTT intervention is very important for patients with PSD:it can reduce the degree of depression and improve the quality of life.

Induced the mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells into neural cells on silk fibroin via the improved 4-/4+ RA method to explore the effect of the silk fibroin to the ES-derived neurons' growth,adherence and differentiation.Suspended the ES cells into EBs and then transferred them to three different substrates-coated 35 mm dishes including gelatin,Bombyx mori silk fibroin(SF) and Tussah silk fibroin(TSF) to identify the adherence and proportion of ES cells-derived neurons under these three substrates.The results showed that the EBs adhered to the gelatin and TSF are faster than to the SF.The average adhesive rate on gelatin and TSF are 90.3% and 84.4% respectively,and only 38.5% on SF,all the proportion of ?-Ⅲ-Tubulin positive cells is approximately 40%.It may provide important experimental information for tissue engineering,in which ES cells-derived neuron cells and silk fibroin materials are scaffolds,and also offer a source for cell therapy research of neurodegenerative disease.

BACKGROUND: Gelatin methacryloyl has been widely used in the field of tissue engineering, as it has suitable biological properties, tunable physical and chemical properties, non-cytotoxic and non-immunogenicity.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the latest advances in the repair of skin and soft tissue damage using gelatin methacryl hydrogel materials. METHODS: PubMed and SciFinder were retrieved for articles concerning gelatin methacrylate hydrogels published from January 2007 to August 2017. The key words were "seed cell, skin regeneration, wound vascularization, gelatin, gelatin methacryloyl, scaffold material, wound healing, microenvironment, tissue construction, skin tissue engineering". RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel is very similar to the native extracellular matrix, and has a cell adhesion site, a matrix metalloproteinase-reactive peptide-based sequence and a cross-linkable property exhibiting good tissue affinity. The hydrogel has adjustable physical and chemical properties, a certain degree of adhesion and biodegradability, which make it an ideal cell scaffold, allowing all kinds of cells to proliferate and extend on its surface. Therefore, gelatin methacrylamide hydrogel has broad prospects in the skin tissue engineering, which can accelerate wound vascularization and epithelial tissue regeneration, improve wound healing rate, reduce the probability of infection, and improve the patient's quality life. The gelatin methacrylamide hydrogen is proved to provide an efficient and portable gel dressing for burn wounds and war wounds, and it can also be used to fill skin and soft tissue defects such as trauma and ulcers, and cover cosmetic incisions.