ThisstudywasaimedtoobservetheinhibitoryeffectsofQi-Zhu (QZ)granulesonearlyproteinuria in diabetic nephropathy rats with syndrome of qi-yin deficiency and phlegm blocking collaterals. A total of 44 rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, Huang-Kui capsule group, QZ granules group. The rat model of diabetic nephropathy with syndrome of qi-yin deficiency and phlegm blocking collaterals was induced by the combination of unilateral renal artery ligation, diet of high-calorie and high cholesterol, and intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin. The medication was given for 8 weeks. The concentrations of protein and creatinine in urine were observed on the 4th week. The blood glucose, blood lipids, liver function and renal pathological changes were observed at the end of the experiment. The results showed that compared with the model group, QZ granules can obvious suppress early proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy, promote creatinine excretion, regulate blood lipid metabolism, protect liver function and improve renal pathological changes. It was concluded that QZ granules had independent inhibition effect on early proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy rats with syndrome of qi-yin deficiency and phlegm blocking collaterals. The effect was independent of lowing blood glucose. It represented the corresponding relation between the syndrome and efficacy in Chinese herb compounds.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of hypothermic antegrade machine perfusion against canine ischemic brain injury.Methods:Thirteen beagle dogs were divided into the mild hypothermia with perfusion group ( n=6) and normothermia with perfusion group ( n=7) according to the random number table. The model of ischemic brain injury was established by neck transection. After 1 hour of ischemic circulatory arrest, the perfusion fluid based on autologous blood was continuously perfused through bilateral common carotid artery for 6 hours. The temperature of the perfusion fluid was set at 33 ℃ in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group and 37℃ in the normothermia with perfusion group, respectively. Blood oxygen saturation was recorded at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after the beginning of perfusion to evaluate the perfusate oxygen level. The perfusate was collected, and the levels of Na +, K +, Ca 2+ and glucose as well as the pH value of the perfusate were detected in the two groups. At the end of perfusion, the parietal brain tissues of 1 dog from each group were collected to evaluate the water contents of brain tissues. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the morphological integrity of the pyramidal neurons in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Neuronal nuclei antigen (NeuN) was used to evaluate the structural and morphological integrity of pyramidal neurons. Immunofluorescence glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionic calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) were used to evaluate the integrity and activity of astrocytes and microglia fragments. Results:At 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours of perfusion, there was no significant difference in the blood oxygen saturation or Na + concentrations between the two groups (all P>0.05); the K + concentrations in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group were (4.57±0.12)mmol/L, (4.67±0.14)mmol/L, (4.27±0.12)mmol/L, (4.45±0.10)mmol/L, (6.60±0.15)mmol/L, (7.37±0.18)mmol/L and (9.03±0.16)mmol/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the normothermia with perfusion group [(4.84±0.10)mmol/L, (5.31±0.13)mmol/L, (5.44±0.24)mmol/L, (5.70±0.18)mmol/L, (7.79±0.18)mmol/L, (10.44±0.40)mmol/L, (10.40±0.41)mmol/L] (all P<0.01). At 0, 1, 2 and 3 hours of perfusion, the Ca 2+ concentrations in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group were (0.72±0.15)mmol/L, (1.55±0.16)mmol/L, (1.62±0.15)mmol/L and (1.88±0.15)mmol/L, respectively, being significantly higher than those in the normothermia with perfusion group [(0.41±0.13)mmol/L, (0.99±0.12)mmol/L, (1.29±0.13)mmol/L, (1.57±0.11)mmol/L] (all P<0.01), and no significant differences were found at other time points (all P>0.05). At 0, 1 and 2 hours of perfusion, the glucose concentrations in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group were (5.75±0.19)mmol/L, (5.17±0.15)mmol/L and (4.72±0.15)mmol/L, respectively, being significantly higher than those in the normothermia with perfusion group [(5.30±0.22)mmol/L, (4.89±0.20)mmol/L, (4.30±0.17)mmol/L] (all P<0.01), with no significant differences found at other time points (all P>0.05). At 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours of perfusion, the pH values of the mild hypothermia with perfusion group were 7.32±0.06, 7.25±0.02, 7.23±0.02, 7.24±0.02 and 7.24±0.02, respectively, being significantly higher than those in the normothermia with perfusion group (7.26±0.01, 7.21±0.01, 7.17±0.02, 7.15±0.02, 7.08±0.02) ( P<0.05 or 0.01), with no significant differences at other time points (all P>0.05). The water content of brain tissues in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group was (74.9±0.4)%, which was significantly lower than (79.9±0.9)% in the normothermia with perfusion group ( P<0.01). Nissl staining showed that the pyramidal neurons in prefrontal cortex and dentate gyrus had good integrity in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group. NeuN immunofluorescence staining showed that the morphology and structure of pyramidal neuron cells in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group were better with clearly visible axons than those in the normothermia with perfusion group, whereas the cytosol was full and swollen with scarce axons in the normothermia with perfusion group. GFAP and Iba1 immunofluorescence staining showed that more structurally intact glial cells, more abnormally active cells, thickener axons and better axon integrity in all directions were found in the mild hypothermia with perfusion group than those in the normothermia with perfusion group. Conclusion:Compared with normal temperature antegrade mechanical perfusion, the mild hypothermia antegrade mechanical perfusion can protect canine brain tissue and alleviate ischemic brain injury by maintaining stable energy and oxygen supply, balancing ion homeostasis and perfusion fluid pH value, reducing tissue edema, and maintaining low metabolism of pyramidal neurons, astrocytes and microglia.

Objective To evaluate the preservation effect of normothermic mechanical perfusion with red blood cells from humanized genetically modified pig on severed human limbs.Methods Severed human limbs were perfused with red blood cells from humanized genetically modified pigs for 6 h.Perfusion solution was taken every hour to measure the oxygen partial pressure,Na+,K+,Ca2+,pH value,glucose,lactic acid and creatine kinase levels.Superficial flexor muscle was sampled to detect the changes of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,interleukin(IL)-2 and IL-1 levels.At 0 and 6 h after perfusion,the superficial flexor muscles of the forearm were taken for pathological examination.Intercellular space and glycogen consumption of skeletal muscles were observed.An appropriate amount of forearm vessels was collected every 2 h to detect the apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells.X-ray angiography was performed before perfusion and 6 h after perfusion to observe the filling degree of finger-tip peripheral vessels.Results The oxygen partial pressure was observed in the normal range throughout the perfusion.Na+concentration peaked at 1 h,reaching 138.7 mmol/L,and then fluctuated within the normal range.K+level peaked at 2 h up to 6.08 mmol/L,then decreased and fluctuated within the normal range.Ca2+concentration reached the peak at 4 h,up to 1.03 mmol/L.Glucose level was gradually decreased at the beginning of perfusion,reaching the lowest value of 17.7 mmol/L at 2 h after perfusion,and then maintained a dynamic balance.The pH value was decreased to 7.28 at 6 h after perfusion.The lactic acid level was increased to 9.6 mmol/L at 1 h after perfusion,and then gradually decreased.The creatine kinase level was increased at the start of perfusion,reached the peak at 2 h up to 20 030 U/L,then decreased and remained stable at the end of perfusion.At the end of perfusion,the morphology of muscle fibers was normal,the gap among muscle fibers was expanded slightly,and the glycogen of skeletal muscles was not significantly accumulated.At 0 h perfusion,the number of apoptotic cells in vascular endothelial cells was large,which was declined at 6 h perfusion.Evident vascular filling was observed at 0 h,and the filling degree of some finger-tip vessels was decreased at 6 h.Conclusions Normothermic mechanical perfusion of severed human limbs with red blood cells from humanized genetically modified pigs may continuously and stably supply energy and oxygen,adjust the ion pH balance of perfusion solution,maintain normal cellular metabolism and exerts certain protective effect upon severed human limbs.

Objective To investigate the differences and the immunocompatibility of wild-type (WT), four-gene modified (TKO/hCD55) and six-gene modified (TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM) pig erythrocytes with human serum. Methods The blood samples were collected from 20 volunteers with different blood groups. WT, TKO/hCD55, TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM pig erythrocytes, ABO-compatible (ABO-C) and ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) human erythrocytes were exposed to human serum of different blood groups, respectively. The blood agglutination and antigen-antibody binding levels (IgG, IgM) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity were detected. The immunocompatibility of two types of genetically modified pig erythrocytes with human serum was evaluated. Results No significant blood agglutination was observed in the ABO-C group. The blood agglutination levels in the WT and ABO-I groups were higher than those in the TKO/hCD55 and TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM groups (all P<0.001). The level of erythrocyte lysis in the WT group was higher than those in the ABO-C, TKO/hCD55 and TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM groups. The level of erythrocyte lysis in the ABO-I group was higher than those in the TKO/hCD55 and TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM groups (both P<0.01). The pig erythrocyte binding level with IgM and IgG in the TKO/hCD55 group was lower than those in the WT and ABO-I groups. The pig erythrocyte binding level with IgG and IgM in the TKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM group was lower than that in the WT group and pig erythrocyte binding level with IgG was lower than that in the ABO-I group (all P<0.05). Conclusions The immunocompatibility of genetically modified pig erythrocytes is better than that of wild-type pigs and close to that of ABO-C pigs. Humanized pig erythrocytes may be considered as a blood source when blood sources are extremely scarce.

Limb dismemberment injuries are common in clinical practice,and safe and effective protection of the dismembered limb is the key to successful limb replantation.Normothermic machine perfusion has made significant breakthrough in the field of organ transplantation,which may maintain the active function of organs and tissues for a long period of time and prolong the preservation time.These findings have been validated in large animal models and clinical trials.Meantime,this technology is expected to provide novel reference for the preservation and functional recovery of severed limbs.Therefore,this paper reviews the problems of static cold preservation in the preservation of disarticulated limbs,the development history of mechanical perfusion,the current status of clinical application of ambient mechanical perfusion of disarticulated limbs as well as the problems to be solved,and looks forward to the direction of its development and the prospect of its clinical application,with a view to promoting the wide application of this technology in the clinic.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) without familial clustering or syndromic features is known as sporadic TAD (STAD). So far, the genetic basis of STAD remains unknown. Whole exome sequencing was performed in 223 STAD patients and 414 healthy controls from the Chinese Han population (N = 637). After population structure and genetic relationship and ancestry analyses, we used the optimal sequence kernel association test to identify the candidate genes or variants of STAD. We found that COL3A1 was significantly relevant to STAD (P = 7.35 × 10
Aneurysm, Dissecting/genetics* ; Case-Control Studies ; Cluster Analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen Type III/genetics* ; Computational Biology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans