Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofXing Nao Kai Qiao (brain-awakening and orifice-opening) needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia.Method Fifty-five patients with vertebrobasilar ischemia were randomized into a treatment group of 26 cases and a control group of 29 cases. The treatment group was intervened byXing Nao Kai Qiao needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion, while the control group was by oral administration ofYangxue Qingnao granules. The blood flow of vertebrobasilar arteries were observed by using ultrasonic Doppler blood-flow detector before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The recovery and markedly-effective rate and total effective rate were respectively 61.5% and 96.2% in the treatment group, versus 34.5% and 89.7% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01,P<0.05). The VS and VD of vertebral arteries and VS of basilar arteries were significantly changed after intervention in the treatment group (P<0.05). The VS of basilar arteries was significantly changed after intervention in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, The VS of vertebral and basilar arteries in the treatment group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionXing Nao Kai Qiao needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective approach in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia.

Endostatin is a potent, endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, which corresponds to the C-terminal fragment of collagen ⅩⅧ. The human endostatin gene was amplified from a human fetal liver cDNA library by means of PCR and was cloned into pPIC9K vector. Soluble endostatin was superexpressed in Pichia pastoris (50.5mg/L) . The recombinant protein was purified by cation exchange chromatography with the final yield of more than 95%. Western blotting analysis showed positive immunoreactivity to the expressed product. Recombinant endostatin was able to suppress the angiogenesis on the CAMs. Also, the endostatin inhibited specifically of the migration of HMECs stimulated by bFGF, with EC50 being about 0.4 ?g/ml.

Objective:To explore the monitoring value of left ventricular functional parameters obtained by bedside ultrasound combined with clinically relevant indicators in patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted. A total of 24 patients receiving VA-ECMO adjuvant support in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2018 to January 2020 were selected. The bedside ultrasound was performed on the first day of ECMO support, the day before weaning, the clinical indicators before weaning were obtained. The differences in clinical indicators and the left ventricular functional parameters between the two groups of whether weaning successfully were compared; univariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen out the related factors affecting weaning.Results:Sixteen patients were successful weaned and 8 patients failed. Compared with the weaning failure group, patients in the weaning success group required less continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT, cases: 4 vs. 6, P < 0.05), mean arterial pressure (MAP) before weaning was higher [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 84.64±9.55 vs. 62.30±8.79, P < 0.05], and the pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) was also higher (0.966±0.670 vs. 0.866±0.061, P < 0.05), while vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), serum creatinine (SCr) and serum lactic acid (Lac) were lower [VIS score: 7.27±1.42 vs. 16.93±8.52, SCr (μmol/L): 123.60±83.64 vs. 213.10±117.39, Lac (mmol/L): 1.94±0.91 vs. 5.62±5.48, all P < 0.05]. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the MAP, VIS, SCr, Lac, SpO 2 before weaning were the related factors affecting weaning [odds ratio ( OR) were 0.306, -0.740, -0.011, -0.632, -4.069; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 1.065-1.732, 0.235-0.899, 0.979-0.999, 0.285-0.992 and 0.001-0.208; P values were 0.014, 0.022, 0.038, 0.047, 0.002]. In the weaning success group, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), velocity of mitralannulus in systolic (LatSa), maximum flow velocity of aortic valve (AV-Vmax), velocity-time integral (VTI), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular global longitudinal strain rate (LVGLSr) were all increased on the day before ECMO weaning compared with the first day of ECMO support [LVEF: 0.40±0.05 vs. 0.28±0.07, LatSa (cm/s): 6.81±0.91 vs. 4.62±1.02, AV-Vmax (cm/s): 104.81±33.98 vs. 64.44±16.85, VTI (cm): 14.56±3.11 vs. 7.96±1.98, LVGLS: (-8.95±2.59)% vs. (-5.26±1.28)%, LVGLSr (1/s): -0.48±0.11 vs. -0.29±0.09], whereas the ECMO flow was significantly reduced (L/min: 1.46±0.47 vs. 2.64±0.31), the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in left ventricular functional parameters between the first day of ECMO support and the day before ECMO weaning in the weaning failure group. Compared with the weaning failure group, the weaning success group had higher LVEF, LatSa, AV-Vmax, VTI, LVGLS, LVGLSr on the day before ECMO weaning [LVEF: 0.40±0.05 vs. 0.26±0.07, LatSa (cm/s): 6.81±0.91 vs. 4.31±1.03, AV-Vmax (cm/s): 104.81±33.98 vs. 67.67±18.46, VTI (cm): 14.56±3.11 vs. 7.75±2.77, LVGLS: (-8.95±2.59)% vs. (-4.81±1.81)%, LVGLSr (1/s): -0.48±0.11 vs. -0.30±0.10, all P < 0.05] and lower ECMO flow (L/min: 1.46±0.47 vs. 2.20±0.62, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Bedside echocardiographic left ventricular function parameters (LVEF, LatSa, AV-Vmax, VTI, LVGLS, LVGLSr) combined with clinical indicators (MAP, VIS, SCr, Lac, SpO 2) were helpful to evaluate the therapeutic effect of patients receiving VA-ECMO support and can provide important guiding value in the selection of VA-ECMO weaning timing and the judgment of prognosis.

In order to quantitate the bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) infection in vitro, a BIV indicator cell line (BIVL) was established by transfecting baby hamster kidney cells with reporter plasmids containing the firefly luciferase gene driven by a BIV long terminal repeat promoter. The BIV activates promoter activity of the LTR to express luciferase upon infection. BIV infection could therefore by quantified by detection of luciferase activity. Compared to standard assays used to detect BIV infection, the BIVL-based assay is 10 times more sensitive than the the CPE-based assay, and has similar sensitivity with the viral capsid protein Western blot assay. BIV indicator cell line could detect BIV infection specifically. Luciferase activity of BIV infected BIVL cells showed a time dependent manner, and 60 h post infection is the optimal time to detect BIV infection. Luciferase activity of BIVL cells correlates with the BIV capsid protein expression. Moreover, a linear relationship was found between MOI and the activated intensity of luciferase expression. In brief, the BIV indicator cell line is an easy, robust and quantitive method for monitoring BIV infection.

Objective To construct wtp53/junB fusion gene and its eukaryotic expression vector in order to provide the basis for further application of polygene union therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and gene recombination techniques were used to construct the eukaryotic vector of pEGFP-C1-wtp53/junB fusion gene, which carries the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The transfection of pEGFP-C1-wtp53/junB in hepatoma HepG2 cells was detected by the location of green fluorescence. Results The DNA sequence of wtp53/junB fusion gene was successfully cloned into the pEGFP-C1 plasmid and the sequence was the same as what we expected. Green fluorescence located on cell nucleus proved that pEGFP-C1-wtp53/junB was transfected into HepG2 cell line successfully. Conclusion We successfully constructed the eukaryotic vector of pEGFP-C1-wtp53/junB fusion gene, which carries the EGFP, and transfects it into human hepatoma cell nucleus. It may lay the basis for studying the synergetic effect of wtp53 and junB in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Partial nature of "promoting blood circulation and dieresis" of Salvia Miltiorrhizain was initially demonstrated by investigating the regulation effect of AQP2 expression in kidney of trauma blood stasis model rats with the Salvia Miltiorrhizain so as to provide guidance for its clinical deployment of administration. Random allocation was taken to averagely divide 30 SD rats into two groups: 10 rats in normal group and 20 rats in blood stasis syndrome group. Trauma blood stasis rat model was established by quantitatively beating. Then the rat model group was divided into model group and salvia group. After 7 days of treatment, the rat kidney AQP2 expression was detected, the content of urine AQP2 was compared and the damaged local muscle and kidney pathological changes were observed by immunohistochemical method and western blot method. Compared with that of the normal group, rats in model group had inflammatory cells infiltration, blood stasis and edema of the injured local muscles and up-regulated AQP2 expression, decreasing urinary output, and kidney tissues blood stasis and edema (P < 0.05). On the other hand, compared with that of the model group, those parameters of rats in salvia group were all decreasing except urine output (P < 0.05). Such result indicated that Salvia Miltiorrhiza can reduce trauma blood stasis rat content of urine AQP2 and down-regulated AQP2 expression in kidney tissue, so as to reduce the reabsorption of water by renal tubular and increase urine output. The promoting blood circulation effect of Salvia Miltiorrhizain can alleviate the degree of the damaged tissue edema and encourage urine drainage. This therapy is closely related to the effect of regulating AQP2 in kidney by salvia, so the purpose of this study by verifying "promoting blood circulation and diuresis" as the mechanism for the regulation effect of the salvia on AQP2 expression.
Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Diuresis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Kidney ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To explore the prognostic value of speckle tracking imaging (STI) for left ventricular remodeling(LVR) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with the analysis of the relation between regional wall motion abnormality after AMI and LVR by STI in association with wall motion score index (WMSI).Methods Eighty-three patients with first onset AMI were enrolled from January 2012 to May 2015 and underwent echocardiography within 24 h of the onset and at 6-month follow-up.LVR was defined as more than 20％ of the percentage change of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (△LVEDV％) from baseline to 6-month follow-up (divided as LVR and non-LVR group).Standard long-axis and shortaxis views were stored and analyzed for longitudinal (LS),radial (RS) and circumferential (CS) strain of STI metrics as well as scores of WMSI.Segments of WMSI≥2 were selected and calculated for the mean values of LS (LS_WMSI),RS (RS_WMSI) and CS (CS_WMSI).Results LVR occurred in twenty-seven AMI patients at 6-month follow-up.No difference has shown for demographics,electrocardiogram,lab tests,coronary angiography as well as the measurements of two-dimensional echocardiography between the two groups from baseline,while all STI metrics had statistical difference when the comparisons (P ＜0.05,all),especially the WMSI selected STI metrics (P ＜0.001,all).Linear regression analysis demonstrated that CS_WMSI (r =0.716,P ＜0.001) was best correlated to △LVEDV％ among all STI metrics and also the best predictor of LVR by receive operator curve analysis (sensitivity of 92.6％,specificity of 87.5 ％ and area under the curve of 0.9563).Conclusions Baseline STI metrics can precisely predict LVR at 6-month follow-up.Among the STI metrics,CS_WMSI has shown preferable predictive and diagnostic value,which indicates that the impairment of segmental circumferential wall motion is closely correlated to LVR after myocardial infarction.

This study explored the double lethal effects of pEGFP-C1-wtp53/junB fusion gene on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. wtp53/junB fusion gene was constructed and transformed into HepG2 cell line. Expression of KAI1 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, cells apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, proliferation of cells was detected byMTT chromometry, cell transmigration was detected by using transwell systems. The results showed that after transformation with pEGFP-C1-wtp53/JunB, the expression level of KAI1 protein was up-regulated, being 8.13 times the blank control group in HepG2 cells and significantly higher than 2.87 times which transformed with pEGFP-C1-JunB, 3.11 times which transformed with pEGFP-C1-wtp53 (P<0.001). Apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells transformed with pEGFP-C1-wtp53/JunB was significantly higher than that of other groups (P<0.001), and invasive ability of HepG2 cells transformed with pEGFP-C1-wtp53/JunB was significantly lower than other groups(P<0.001). It was concluded that the fusion gene of wtp53 and JunB could not only inhibit the growth of hepatoma cells and promote tumor cell apoptosis, but also suppress the invasive ability of tumor cells by up-regulating the expression of KAI1.

Objective To study the predictive value for adverse cardiac events (ACE) of left ventricular diastolic function measured by G-MPI. Methods Patients assessed by 2 days rest-stressed G-MPI during March 2012 to May 2013 in Beijing Hospital were collected and observed for the cumulative survival rate without ACE after G-MPI. ACE included cardiac death, non-fatal MI and late revascularization (60 d after the examination). Using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) to get the LVEF and left ventricular peak filling rate (PFR). Using 17 segments, 5-point scoring system to get the summed stress score (SSS). Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors for ACE, and Kaplan-Meier method was used to investigate the cumulative survival rate without ACE.χ2 test was also used. Results A total of 11 patients who underwent early revascularization (within 60 d after G-MPI) were excluded and 139 patients (76 males, 63 females; average age 68.73 years) were assigned to different groups for outcome analysis, and 9 (6.5%, 9/139) patients had ACE in the whole group. Cox regression analysis showed that SSS, LVEF, PFR were the independent predictors for ACE (all P<0.05). Patients with PFR<2.1 EDV/s had a higher incidence of ACE than those with PFR≥2.1 EDV/s (14.3%(7/49) vs 2.2%(2/90), χ2=7.63, P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate without ACE was lower in patients with PFR<2.1 EDV/s than that in patients with PFR≥2.1 EDV/s (67.7% vs 95.0%), and lower in patients with LVEF<50% than that in patients with LVEF≥50%(32.0% vs 90.8%), and also lower in patients with SSS≥8 than those with SSS<8(62.0% vs 94.7%; χ2 values: 11.92,11.27, 10.40, all P<0.01).Combining PFR with SSS and LVEF respectively, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate without ACE in patients with LVEF≥50% was higher than that in patients with LVEF<50% when PFR<2.1 EDV/s (76.7% vs 30.8%), and also higher in patients with SSS<8 than that in patients with SSS≥8 when PFR≥2.1 EDV/s (100% vs 72.2%; χ2 values: 7.14, 13.09, both P<0.01). Conclusion PFR of left ventricular diastolic function measured by G-MPI is one of the independent predictors for ACE, and it could effectively improve the predictive value for ACE if combined with LVEF and SSS.