Objective To evaluate the role of pretreatment with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the protective effect of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) on rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) during oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD).Methods BMVECs were sub-cultured in vitro and divided with a random number table into 7 groups:normal control group,normal control + Ang-1 group,OGD group,OGD + Ang-1 group,OGD + DHA group,OGD + DHA + Ang-1 group,and OGD + DHA + GW9662 + Ang-1 group.The normal control and normal control + Ang-1 groups were cultured in DMEM containing serum,5 mmol/L glucose,and 1.25 mmol/L pyruvate;OGD groups were cultured in glucose-and serum-free DMEM.DHA (40 μmol/L) was added to OGD + DHA,OGD + DHA + Ang-1,and OGD + DHA + GW9662 + Ang-1 groups,and 5 μmol/LGW9662 [inhibitor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ)] to OGD + DHA + GW9662 +Ang-1 group,before pretreatment for 1 hour in 5％ CO2 and 95％ air.After the pretreatment,Ang-1 (250 ng/ml)was added to normal control + Ang-1,OGD + Ang-1,OGD + DHA + Ang-1,and OGD + DHA + GW9662 +Ang-1 groups.The cells were cultured in 94％ N2∶ 5％ CO2∶ 1％ O2 for 24 hours,except for normal control and normal control + Ang-1 groups,which were cultured in 5％ CO2 and 95％ air instead.The cell apoptosis rate was detected with flow cytometry,expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3,Tie-1,Tie-2,pTie-2,pAkt,ZO-1proteins with Western blot.Results Compared with normal control group,the cell apoptosis rate in OGD,OGD + Ang-1,OGD + DHA,OGD + DHA + Ang-1,and OGD + DHA + GW9662 + Ang-1 groups were significantly increased (P =0.000,0.000,0.000,0.004,0.000);the expression levels of Bax,caspase-3,and Tie-1 were significantly enhanced (Bax:0.62 ± 0.03,0.38 ± 0.03,0.45 ± 0.03,0.26 ± 0.02,0.33 ± 0.02vs.0.16 ±0.01;caspase-3:0.76 ±0.05,0.42 ±0.04,0.52 ±0.02,0.32 ±0.02,0.40 ±0.02 vs.0.15 ±0.01;Tie-1:0.51 ±0.03,0.25 ±0.01,0.33 ±0.02,0.16±0.01,0.22±0.02 vs.0.12 ±0.01;all P=0.000);the expression levels of Bcl-2,Bcl-2/Bax,Tie-2,and pTie-2 were significantly decreased [Bcl-2:0.09±0.01,0.20±0.01,0.16±0.02,0.31±0.01,0.22±0.01 vs.0.34±0.01;Bcl-2/Bax:(14.93±1.86)％,(68.03±5.56)％,(36.93 ±2.22)％,(119.1 ±13.3)％,(64.23 ±6.07)％ vs.(208.33 ±7.37)％;Tie-2:0.07±0.01,0.16±0.02,0.11 ±0.01,0.21±0.01,0.18±0.01 vs.0.26±0.01;pTie-2:0.05±0.01,0.15 ±0.01,0.07 ±0.01,0.22 ±0.02,0.16±0.01 vs.0.27 ±0.01;allP=0.000],in addition,pAkt and ZO-1 in OGD,OGD + Ang-1,OGD + DHA,and OGD + DHA + GW9662 +Ang-1 groups were also significantly reduced (pAkt:0.13 ±0.01,0.26 ±0.01,0.14 ±0.01,0.28 ±0.02vs.0.39±0.02;ZO-1:0.08±0.01,0.18±0.01,0.10±0.01,0.19±0.01vs.0.23±0.02;allP=0.000).Compared with the OGD group,OGD + Ang-1 and OGD + DHA + Ang-1 groups demonstrated significantly reduced cell apoptosis (both P =0.000).Compared with normal control + Ang-1 group,the expression levels of pTie-2,pAkt,and ZO-1 were significantly decreased in OGD + Ang-1 and OGD + DHA +Ang-1 groups (pTie-2:0.15 ±0.01,0.22 ±0.02 vs.0.52 ±0.02;pAkt:0.26 ±0.01,0.37 ±0.04 vs.0.67 ± 0.05;ZO-1:0.18 ± 0.01,0.24 ± 0.02 vs.0.39 ± 0.05;all P =0.000).Compared with OGD +Ang-1 group,OGD + DHA + Ang-1 group had significantly decreased cell apoptosis and expression levels of Bax,caspase-3 and Tie-1,and significantly increased expressions of Bcl-2,Bcl-2/Bax,Tie-2,pTie-2,pAkt,and ZO-1 (all P =0.000),while OGD + DHA + GW9662 + Ang-1 group showed no significant differences in these indexes (P =0.202,0.770,0.382,0.448,0.233,0.736,0.143,0.526,0.495,0.670).Conclusion Pretreatment with DHA may enhance the protective effect of Ang-1 on rat BMVECs under the condition of OGD,possibly via activating PPAR-γ,suppressing Tie-1 expression,and hence amplifying the activation of Tie-2.

Objective To study the correlation between risk factors of CVD and cognitive deficit associated with cerebral infarction. Methods Cognitive function was tested in 101 cases of cerebral infarction using HDS-R at the end of 3 weeks and 6 months after onset of the stroke. Meanwhile, the data of risk factors and relative information of cerebral vascular disease were collected by using the scale of complications and inquiring the past history. The risk factors of CVD, such as neurological deficit, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fever, heart diseases, smoking, overdrinking were compared between the cognitive deficit group and non-cognitive deficit group. Logistic regression analysis was adopted for data analysis. Results Of the 101 cases , 65 had cognitive deficit at the end of 3 weeks and 53 at the end of 6 months after onset of stroke. Age and score of scale of complications between cognitive deficit group and non cognitive deficit group were significantly different(P

The anaerobic granular sludge from an Internal Circulation (IC) reactor of a paper mill wastewater treatment plant were seeded in an Anammox upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor. After 185 days operation, the reactor was finally started up by increasing the influent ammonium and nitrite concentrations to 224 mg/L and 255 mg/L, respectively, with volumetric nitrogen removal rate increasing to 3.76 kg/(m3·d). The physicochemical characteristics of the cultivated Anammox granules were observed by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results suggested that during the start-up course, the granular sludge initially disintegrated and then re-aggregated. FTIR spectra results revealed that the Anammox granular sludge contained abundant functional groups, indicating that it may also possess good adsorption properties. The ecological structure of the granular sludge, analyzed by the metagenomic sequencing methods, suggested that the relative abundance of the dominant bacterial community in the seeding sludge, i.e., Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, significantly reduced, while Planctomycetes which contains anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria remarkably increased from 1.59% to 23.24% in the Anammox granules.
Ammonia ; chemistry ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; Sewage ; microbiology ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Waste Water ; chemistry

Objective: To study the influence of Xinmailong injection (XML) on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in different states.Methods: A cumulative dosing method was utilized to evaluate the influence of XML on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in resting state, and KCl or noradrenaline (NA) induced contracted state.Different tool drugs were used to analyze the mechanism of the effects.Results: Compared with the control group, a specific concentration range of XML could excite the isolated thoracic aorta in resting state, further increase the vascular tension after KCl action, while decrease the vascular tension after NA action.The vasodilative effect of XML on blood vessel after NA action was inhibited by propranolol and diclofenac, while showed no influence from Nω-Nitro-L-arginine.Conclusion: XML has different effects on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in different states, and the mechanisms of the effects are related to calcium channel, β-receptor and prostaglandins.

BACKGROUND: Permanent or transient implantation of biomaterials can result in biomaterials-centered infections (BCI) in lung cancer patients.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between BCI and peripheral blood transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in patients with lung cancer.METHODS: A total of 248 lung cancer patients undergoing in vivo intravascular catheter indwelling > 7 days were included.Quantitative method was used for intubation, bacteriological culture and paired blood culture, and API Staph strips were adopted for positive patients. While enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect TGF-β1 levels in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer and 75 healthy volunteers as normal controls.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among the 248 patients, there were 82 BCI-positive cases, and 166 BCI-negative cases.Thirteen patients were confirmed to have catheter-related bloodstream infection. There were 48 Gram-positive bacteria, 24Gram-negative bacilli, and 10 fungal. The levels of TGF-β1 were higher in BCI-positive patients than BCI-negative patients (P < 0.05); the levels of TGF-β1 in the BCI-negative group were higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.05). For lung cancer patients with nosocomial infection induced BCI, there are various species of pathogenic bacteria, and Gram-positive bacteria are more common. To detect TGF-β1 levels in patients with lung cancer is of significance for early prevention of BCI.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative three-dimensional endoscopic ultra-sonography (3D-EUS) in tumor invasion depth (T-staging) of rectal cancer. Methods From May 2007 to November 2007, 21 patients with rectal cancer diagnosed by eolonoscopy and biopsy, underwent 3D-EUS, 2D-EUS and MRI before surgery to predict T-staging. The results were assessed according to post-surgical pathological findings. Results The accuracy of 3D-EUS in T-staging was 85.71%, which was significantly higher than that of MRI (57.14%, P<0.05), and similar with that of 2D-EUS (76.19%, P>0.05). Conclusion More accurate T-staging could be achieved by 3D-EUS, which could be combined with MRI to detect lymph node metastasis, and provide more information for therapy decision in rectal cancer.

Aim To test the contribution of 15-HETE on expression of KV1.5 channel under hypoxia condition,using CDC or NDGA to block 15-LO/15-HETE,and to observe the effect of hypoxia on KV1.5 channel protein,mRNA expressions in cultured rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells(PASMCs)and pulmonary arterials(PAs).Methods Western blot,RT-PCR and 15-LO blockers,cinnamyl 3,4-dihydroxy-[alpha]-cyanocinnamate(CDC)or nordihydroguiairetic acid(NDGA)were used to identify the role of endogenous 15-HETE on expression of KV1.5 channel in cultured rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells(PASMCs)and PAs.Results(1)The expressions of KV1.5 channel protein and mRNA in PASMCs and PAs preteated with CDC or NDGA greatly increased than those of PASMCs under hypoxia group.(2)Exogenous 15-HETE added to PASMCs pretreated with CDC or NDGA greatly decreased the expression of KV1.5 than that of adding PASMCs pretreated with CDC or NDGA under hypoxia condition.Conclusion The down-regulation of KV1.5 channel expression caused by hypoxia is through endogenous 15-HETE.

Objective To establish a multiplex PCR targeting the intergenic spacer regions (IGS) for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans var.grubii,var.neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.Methods Primers were designed by using the software ClustalW2 and Oligo 6 based on the sequence of IGS1 region,which shows high sequence variability in the genome of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.,for the multiplex PCR.Then,the developed multiplex PCR was performed to identify 51 Cryptococcus neoformans strains representing genotypes VNI-VNIV and VNB as well as 41 Cryptococcus gattii strains representing genotypes VGI-VGIV.The identification results were compared with those from common PCR by using primers GPA1A,CLA4D and SODlgattii specific to Cryptococcus neoformans var.grubii,var.neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,respectively,as well as with those from the canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue (CGB) medium-based culture.Results The developed multiplex PCR successfully identified the 92 Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.strains,and yielded negative results from the other tested pathogenic yeasts,which revealed a high specificity of the designed primers.False positive results were observed in the identification of two Cryptococcus gattii strains with GPA1A primer-based PCR,one Cryptococcus gattii strain with CLA4D primer-based PCR,one var.grubii strain and one var.neoformans strain with CGB culture,while no false negative results were observed in the detection of these Cryptococcus strains by any of these methods.Conclusions The developed multiplex PCR in this study can rapidly and accurately identify Cryptococcus neoformans var.grubii,var.neoformans,AD hybrid,and Cryptococcus gattii,with superior performance in comparison with common PCR and CGB medium-based culture.

Objective To describe CT manifestations of intrahepatic spontaneous portosystemic shunts(ISPS) of cirrhosis.Methods Spiral CT(SCT) scans and related clinical findings of 15 cirrhotic patients with ISPS were retrospectively reviewed.Results Three kinds of ISPS were showed :①Right posterior portal vein type was in 12 cases and showed tortuous intrahepatic tubular structures which were all in the posterior segment of the right lobe connecting the right posterior portal vein to the inferior vena cava(IVC) in the suprarenal region in all cases.②Hepatic venous type was in 2 cases,the portal vein communication with the hepatic vein in the liver.③Apex type was in 1 case,the vein arose from the apex of the liver and drains into the internal thoracic vein.Blood ammonia levels were elevated in all cases and symptoms associated with hepatic encephalopahty were present in 2 cases.Conclusion To deeply understand the ISPS,it is of benefit for differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions.

Objective To compare the clinical application of Da Vinci robot surgical system (RSS) with traditional open surgery (TOS).Methods From Feb 2015 to Jul 2016,48 cases of upper abdominal surgical disease patients were divided into RSS group (23 cases) and TOS group (25 patients) randomly.Results The anesthesia time [(194 ±16)min vs.(181 ±11)min,t=3.262,P=0.002] and operation time [(167 ± 14) min vs.(158 ± 14) min,t =2.292,P =0.027] were much longer in the RSS,while the blood loss during operation significantly less than the TOS [(128 ± 62) ml vs.(190 ± 86) ml,t =-2.886,P =0.006].The RSS has obvious advantages in 24 h-drainage [(69 ± 27) ml vs.(114 ± 54) ml.t =-3.680,P =0.001],time to out-of-bed activity [(27.7 ± 8.0) h vs.(35.7 ± 9.9) h,t =-3.067,P =0.004],BPS,postoperative exhausting time[(27.2 ±5.9)h vs.(32.8 ±8.3)h,t =-2.690,P =0.01] and length of hospital stay [(10.4 ± 1.8) d vs.(11.8 ± 1.9) d,t =-2.600,P =0.013].But the total hospital cost was higher in RSS [(117 000 ± 10 000) yuan vs.(77 000 ± 8 000) yuan,t =15.087,P =0.000)].Conclusions The RSS is a much minimally invasive surgery,reducing blood loss and postoperative pain,promoting rapid recovery,shortening hospital stay.