Objectives: To investigate the effects of adhesion and proliferation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the surface of lactic acid/glycolic acid/asparagic acid-co-polyethylene glycol PLGA-[ASP-PEG] tri-block polymer scaffolds, try to find a new biomaterial to induce seed cells in vitro for bone tissue engineering. Methods: Modified PLGA with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and asparagic acid (ASP) that has many ligands, and synthesis PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer material. BMSCs were cultured in PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer material and PLGA used as control group. Through precipitation method, MTT assay and total cellular protein detection to test the adhersion and proliferation of BMSCs. Scanning electron microscope is used to observe cells appearance. Results: BMSCs on the surface of PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer scaffolds are adherention to the culture flask, the number of cells is much higher than PLGA’s. The precipitation method suggest that adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs on the surface of PLGA-[ASP-PEG] is much higher than the control group(P

Objective To evaluate the efficacy,safety and impact of recombinant human cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4 fusion proteins (rhCTLA-4Ig) on serum human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and CX3CL1 in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods Forty-four RA patients were treated with rhCTLA-4Ig and placebo.Clinical response was assessed by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28).The levels of serum TNF-α and CX3CL1 were determined in 44 RA patients and 20 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test or x2 test.Results At week 12,ACR20,ACR50and ACR70 responses in RA patients with rhCTLA-4Ig were achieved by 95％(20/21 ),76％( 16/21 )and 19％(4/21) respectively,but no patient with placebo achieved ACR20,ACRS0 and ACR70 responses.There were significantly statistical differences in ACR20 and ACR50 responses (x2=39.17,26.69,P＜0.01 ).At week 12,the mean DAS28 in the rhCTLA4Ig group was 3.1±1.3 versus 6.2±1.1 at baseline (P＜0.01).Similarly,health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) improved significantly,declining from 1.4±0.5 at baseline to 0.4±0.5 at week 12 (P＜0.01).However,the mean DAS28 in the placebo group was 5.8±1.2 versus 6.0±0.7 at baseline (P＞0.05),HAQ declined from 1.6±0.4 to 1.6±0.6 (P＞0.05).In addition,there were higher levels of TNF-α and CX3CL1 in the active RA patients than those of the healthy controls (P＜0.01).After 12 weeks therapy,Serum TNF-α and CX3CL1 levels in the rhCTLA-4Ig group decreased significantly (P＜0.01).There weren't decline in the placebo group (P＞0.05).Conclusion This study has shown that rhCTLA-4Ig is very effective in reducing disease activity,improving function during the 12 weeks treatment.rhCTLA-4Ig therapy for 12 weeks can lead to significant decrease of serum TNF-α and CX3CL1.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vivo functional roles of the La autoantigen (La), the human homologue of the 33-kDa vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein (hVAP-33), and the subunit gamma of the human eukaryotic initiation factors 2B (eIF2Bgamma) as co-infection factors supporting chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

METHODSSmall interfering (si)RNAs were designed against the HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and transfected into Huh7 cells chronically infected with the HCV pseudovirus (designated as Huh7-HCV cells). The IRES siRNA producing the most effective silencing was selected for further analysis by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). siRNAs designed against La, hVAP-33, and eIF2Bgamma and the IRES-specific siRNA were then transfected, respectively or in various combinations, into the Huh7-HCV cell line for 48 h. The delta CT values were calculated and used to compare the HCV inhibitive efficacies of the siRNAs in isolation or in combination. Western blotting analysis was used to compare the quantity of core protein expression in each group.

RESULTSThe four gene-specific siRNAs, in isolation or in combination, caused inhibition of HCV replication and gene and protein expressions to varying degrees. The combination of La + IRES siRNAs produced the strongest inhibition of HCV core antigen expression. The combinations of hVAP-33 + IRES siRNAs and eIF2Bgamma + IRES siRNAs produced stronger inhibitions of HCV replication and gene and protein expressions than either hVAP-33 siRNA or eIF2Bgamma siRNA alone.

CONCLUSIONLa, hVAP-33, and eIF2Bgamma act as co-infection factors of HCV chronic infection in vivo. HCV replication and gene and protein expression can be inhibited significantly by RNA interference of these co-infection factors and/or HCV IRES.

Autoantigens ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Ribonucleoproteins ; genetics ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Virus Replication

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effects of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7(mda-7/IL- 24)on lymphoma cell line Namalwa in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Using RT-PCR,the expression of mda-7/IL-24 was examined in 10 malignant hematopoietic cell lines,including Namalwa,Raji,K562,NB4,U937,Ramous,CEM,KG1a, HL60,J6-1,etc.The coding region of mda-7/IL-24 was cloned from LPS-treated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)by RT-PCR,and the eukaryotic expression vector pTarget-IL-24 was constructed.The recombinant vector, after sequenced,was transfected into Namalwa cell line via lipofectamine reagent.The stable expression transfectants were selected by G418.The expression of mda-7/IL-24 mRNA and protein was verified by RT-PCR and Western blotting.MTT assay,colony forming assay,apoptosis detection,and tumorigenesis in nude mice were used to assess the effects of mda- 7/IL-24 on tumor proliferation,growth characteristics,colony forming,apoptosis,and tumorigenesis.Results:Expression of mda-7/IL-24 mRNA was not found in any of the 10 malignant hematopoietic cell lines and the expression of mda-7/IL- 24 mRNA and protein was found in Namalwa cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pTarget-IL-24.Significant de- crease in tumor cell viability was observed in Namalwa cells stably transfected with mda-7/IL-24,compared with control cells transfected with empty plasmid pTarget(P

Aim To investigate the effects of high glu-cose on cholesterol metabolism in renal tubular cells and the intervention of the anthocyanins. Methods HK-2 cells were grown in the DMEM medium supple-mented with 10% FBS and were divided into 5 groups:normal glucose group, high glucose group, mannitol group, C3G group and Cy group. Effect of anthocya-nins on cell viability was detected with MTT, and cho-lesterol accumulation was detected with Amplex Red Cholesterol Assay kit and Filipin staining. Expression of ABCA1 was detected with RT-qPCR and Western Blot. Results In compared with control groups, HG significantly promoted cholesterol mass inside the cell and decreased the cholesterol concentration in the me-dium after treatment for 24 h or 48 h. The levels of mRNA and protein of ABCA1 were detected with RT-qPCR and Western blot, and both were decreased in the presence of HG. Whereas treatment with C3G and Cy markedly attenuated HG-induced cholesterol mass inside the cell by up-regulating the expression of AB-CA1. Conclusions High glucose can reduce the ex-pressions of the ABCA1, and then decrease cholesterol efflux and increase the cholesterol accumulation in HK-2 cells. Anthocyanins can decrease cholesterol accu-mulation by up-regulating the expression of ABCA1.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical and laboratory characteristics of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data of 428 RA cases from Department of of Rheumatology and Immunology Peking University Third Hospital from Jan 2013 to Dec 2018 were collected and used to analyse characters between ANA positive group and ANA negative group. T test was used for the quantitative data in accordance with normal distribution. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for the quantitative data of non normal distribution. The qualitative data were analyzed by chi square test. But while 1≤theoretical frequency < 5, chi square test of corrected four grid table was used. And Fisher exact probability method was used when theoretical frequency < 1. RESULTS: The number of ANA positive group was 231 (54%). The female rate was obviously higher in ANA positive group (82.7% vs. 63.5%, χ²=20.355, P < 0.01). The rate of metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs) involvement was lower in ANA positive group (22.1%) than in ANA negative group (33.0) (χ²=6.414, P < 0.05). The incidence of secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS) was much higher in ANA positive group(19.5% vs. 4.1%, χ²=23.300, P < 0.01). The positivity of rheumatoid factor (RF), as well as the positivity of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide(CCP) antibody was much higher in ANA positive group (77.1% vs. 53.8%, χ²=25.743, P < 0.01, 74.9% vs. 59.4%, χ²=11.694, P < 0.01, respectively). The levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) of ANA positive group were higher [(15.1±5.1) g/L vs. (13.8±5.3) g/L, t=2.359, P < 0.05, 1.25 (0.92) g/L vs. 1.05 (0.65) g/L, Z=-3.449, P < 0.01, respectively]. But the levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet (PLT) was lower in ANA positive group[(109.64±17.98) vs. (114.47±18.48) g/L, t=-2.734, P < 0.01; (266.4×10⁹±104.6×10⁹) vs. (295.9×10⁹±100.1×10⁹) /L, t=-2.970, P < 0.01, respectively]. CONCLUSION The incidence of sSS was obviously higher in ANA positive group than in ANA negative group. Serum IgG of ANA positive group was higher, but Hb and PLT were lower.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology* ; Autoantibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Laboratories ; Peptides, Cyclic ; Rheumatoid Factor

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male

Chinese medicine pair (CMP) was frequently applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic, and its significance was shown in long-term clinical practices and many accumulated experiences. It is the unique combination of two relatively fixed Chinese medicines in TCM clinic with the basic feature and principle of TCM compatibility, is the most fundamental and the simplest form of TCM formulae with certain theory basis and combinatory reason, which is proven effective. And the unique combination is frequently used for achieving mutual reinforcement or detoxication. CMP is an intermediate point between single herb and many TCM formulae, reflecting the regularity of TCM formulae compatibility and connotation of differential treatment. This paper analyzed and summarized the basic characteristics, development process and research significance of CMP, which aims to lead the modern basic and applied research on compatibility theory of CMP.
Drug Interactions ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic time-phase expressions of key genes of brain-gut CaM signal pathway of spleen Qi deficiency rats and the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction.

METHODMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, model 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups, and Sijunzi decoction 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups. Except for the normal control group, the remaining groups were included into the spleen Qi deficiency model with the bitter cold breaking Qi method (ig 7.5 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ of Rheum officinale, Fructus aurantii immaturus, Magnolia officinalis preparation) and the exhaustive swimming method. On the 7th day after the modeling, the Sijunzi decoction groups were orally administered with Sijunzi decoction 20 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹. The expressions of key genes CaM/CaMK II of CaM signaling pathway in hippocampus and intestine at different time points by immunohistochemical method and Western blot. At the same time, the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction on spleen Qi deficiency rats and its mechanism were analyzed.

RESULTSpleen Qi deficiency rats showed higher intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and lower hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression than normal rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After the treatment of Sijunzi decoction, spleen Qi deficiency rats showed reduction in intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and increase in hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe formation of spleen Qi deficiency syndrome may be related to the high expression of CaM/CaMK II in small intestine tissues and its low expression in hippocampus tissues. Sijunzi decoction may achieve the therapeutic effect in spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by reducing the CaM/CaMK II expression in intestinal tissues and increasing it in hippocampus tissues.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; drug effects ; Splenic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the progression of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and heart failure (HF). Recombinant human neuregulin-1 (rhNRG-1) improves cardiac function in models of experimental HF and in clinical trials; however, its impact on mitochondrial function during chronic HF remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether rhNRG-1 could attenuate the functional and structural changes that occur in cardiac mitochondria in a rat model of HF induced by myocardial infarction.

METHODSSixty adult rats underwent sham or coronary ligation to induce HF. Four weeks after ligation, 29 animals with LV ejective fraction ≤ 50% were randomized to receive either vehicle or rhNRG-1 (10 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1), I.V.) for 10 days, another 12 sham-operated animals were given no treatment. Echocardiography was used to determine physiological changes. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), respiratory function and tissue adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production were analyzed. Cytochrome c expression and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were determined. Oxidative stress was evaluated by reactive oxygen species production using fluorescence assays and gene expression of glutathione peroxidase measured by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSCompared with sham-operated animals, vehicle treated HF rats exhibited severe LV remodeling and dysfunction, significant mitochondrial dysfunction, increased mitochondrial cytochrome c release, increased myocyte apoptosis and enhanced oxidative stress. Short-term treatment with rhNRG-1 significantly attenuated LV remodeling and cardiac function. Concomitant with this change, mitochondrial dysfunction was significantly attenuated; with ATP production, MMP and respiratory function restored, cytochrome c release and apoptosis inhibited, and oxidative stress reduced.

CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated that rhNRG-1 can significantly improve LV remodeling and cardiac function in the failing heart, this beneficial effect is related to reducing mitochondrial dysfunction, myocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuregulin-1 ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction