Objective To detect the alteration of circulating CD34 + cell level in patients with the In'st-ever nonlacunar stroke and to investigate the prognostic value of CD34 +cell level. Methods 1he level of the circulating CD34+ cells were examined using flow eytometry in 119 patients with nonlacunar infarction. 1he patients were divided into group A (higher than average) and group B (lower than average) according to the detected values, The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 3 months after the onset in the two groups wre compared. Results The level of CD34 + cells in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (0. 048 ± 0. 001 versus 0. 032 ± 0. 002, P < 0. 05 ), however, there was no significantly difference in NIHSS sores between the two groups. One week after admission, the increased level of CD34 + cells in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (0. 001 ±0. 003 versus - 0. 005 ± 0. 000, P < 0. 05 ). Three months after the onset of symptoms, the average mRS score in group A was significantly superior to that in group B (2. 98 ± 1.14 versus 3.25 ± 1.39, P <0. 05). 1he level of circulating CD34 + cells at the initial onset of symptom was negatively correlated with the mRS score at 3 months after stroke (r = -0. 48, P <0. 05). Conclusions The higher level of circulating CD34+ cells had better prognosis in patients with cerebral infarction. The level of circulating CD34+ ceils may be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with cerebral infarction.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Yi-Qi Wen-Yang (YQWY) and Huo-Xue Li-Shui (HXLS) decoction on changes of insulin resistance (IR) model and the myocardial tissues of rats with congestive heart failure (CHF) pathology. CHF rat models were established on Wistar male rats through injection of doxorubicin hydrochlo-ride into rat tail vein. Wistar male rats models were randomly divided into the model group, western medicine group, low dose decoction group, middle dose decoction group, and high dose decoction group. After 4-week gavage, 3 mL vein blood was taken from the angular vein sinus for the determination of blood glucose and serum insulin, and the calculation of IR. Finally, the rats were sacrificed. And then, the heart was removed to make HE slice and observe the pathological change of myocardium. The results showed that compared with the model group, YQWY and HXLS decoction can improve the IR level among CHF rats (P<0.05). Among them, the effects of the high dose and middle dose group were obvious. At the same time, this decoction can improve the myocardial cells in CHF rats in myocar-dial cells of the high dose group. And its morphology change was close to the digoxin group. It was concluded that YQWY and HXLS decoction can reverse IR and improve ventricular remodeling among CHF rats to a certain extent.

Objective To explore the changes and clinical significance of serum cystatin-C, β2- mieroglobulin (β2-MG) and renal hemodynamic in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura(HSP). Method Forty-six patients with HSP are in HSP group, 40 healthy children are in control group. Serum cystatin-C was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, β2-MG was detected by radioimmunoassay, renal hemodynamie was detected by colour Doppler ultrasound. Results Serum cystafin-C and β2-MG in HSP group [(3.96±1.52 ), (2.74±0.82)mg/L] were higher than those in control group [(1.67±0.61), (1.89±0.47)mg/L] (P<0.01). Frequenee spectra showed high velocity and resistance, and maximum crest flow rate[(1.068±0.348) m/s] and resistance index (0.894±0.125) in systolic phase of main renal arteries were obviously higher in HSP group than those in control group [(0.859±0.357) m/s and 0.726±0.078] (P<0.05). Conclusions The level of serum cystatin-C and the change of renal hemedynamie can act as the significant indicators of early diagnosis of HSP nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Lung fibroblasts are believed to play an important role in lung tissue repair and regenerative process. The differentiation potential of lung fibroblasts is not known very well.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the multi-differentiation capacity of human lung fibroblasts.DESIGN: An observational comparative experiment.SETTING: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital and Central Laboratory of the First Hospital of Tsinghua University.MATERIALS: This study was performed at the Central Laboratory of the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from March 2006 to October 2006. Human adult lung fibroblasts were isolated as primary cultures from resected lung of patients with lung cancer.The study was approved by hospital's Medical Ethics Committee, and informed consent was signed. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), fetal calf serum (FCS), trypsin- ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), naphthol AS-MX phosphate and Fast Red TR were purchased from Sigma, USA. Mouse anti-human osteopondn antibody was from R&D Systems China Co., Ltd,Polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) membranes were from Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, Hercules, CA.METHODS: Human adult lung fibroblasts were isolated as primary cultures. Human lung fibroblasts were cultured in an osteogenic medium (containing 109-10-5 mol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L vitamin C and 10 mmol/L β-glycerophospate) and adipogenic medium (containing 15% horseurm, 10-8 mol/L dexamethasone and 10 mg/L insulin), or control medium (10% FCS).Ostcoblasts were detected by alkaline phosphatese (ALP) and calcium salt staining. The expression of osteopontin was measured by Western blotting. Oil Red-O staining was used for identification of mature adipocytes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The differentiation of lung fibroblasts induced by osteogenie medium; The differentiation of lung fibroblasts induced by adipogenic medium.RESULTS: With the induction of ostcogenic medium for 2 weeks, the differentiation of lung fibroblasts was induced by osteogenic and adipogenic medium, respectively. The expression of ALP and osteopontin was increased and the deposition of calcium salt was detected. After lung fibroblasts were cultured in adipogenic medium for 14 days, part of the cells gradually experienced morphological change from original spindle into oval shape. Oil Red -O staining indicated lipid drops accumulation within cytoplasm.CONCLUSION: Under certain condition, human long fibroblasts could differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes that were characterized by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To investigate the differentiation potential of human lung fibroblasts.Methods The study was performed in First Hospital of Tsinghua University from March 2006 to October 2006.Human lung fibroblasts were cultured for 2 weeks in an osteogenic medium[containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS)and 50 g/mL Vitamin C and 10 mmol/L ?-glycerophospate],adipogenic medium(containing 15% horse serum,10-8 mol/L dexmethasone and 10 mg/L insulin),or control medium(10% FCS).Osteoblasts were detected by alkaline phosphatese and calcium salt staining.The expression of osteopontin was measured by Western blotting,Oil Red -O staining for identification of mature adipocytes.Results With the induction of osteogenic medium for 2 weeks,the expression of alkaline phosphatese and osteopontin was increased and the deposition of calcium salt was detected.Mature adipocytes formed after culture with adipogenic medium for 2 weeks.Conclusion Under certain condition,human lung fibroblasts can differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes,which were characterized by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To detect the expression of β-catenin in the tissues of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), and to discuss its function in PCNSL.Methods The paraffin embedded tissues from 10 patients diagnosed as PCNSL from October 2010 to April 2012 were collected as the experimental group.The paraffin embedded tissues from 10 patients with lymphadenitis were collected as the control group.Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical method were used to detect the expression of β-catenin in these tissues, and the relationships between β-catenin and clinical data were analyzed.Results Immunohistochemistry results showed that β-catenin protein was localized in the cytoplasm and (or) nucleus.Among 10 PCNSL patients, β-catenin protein was positive in 4 patients, while it was no positive in all of 10 lymphadenitis patients, with the significant differences between both groups (P ＜ 0.05).The β-catenin gene relative expression level was 4.70±0.57 and 1.00±0.27 in the experimental group and the control group, respectively.β-catenin expression was no correlation to age, PS score, cerebrospinal fluid protein level and serum lactate dehydrogenase level of patients with PCNSL.Conclusions Whether in mRNA level or in protein level, β-catenin expression is always high in PCNSL tissues, and its protein is expressed in the cytoplasm, however, this phenomenon was not observed in the tissue of lymphadenitis.

This study was aimed to observe the protective effect of astragalus on bones of vitamin D deficiency rat model. A total of 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, which were the control group, model group, and the astragalus group. The experimental period was 8 weeks. After the experiment, enzyme immunoassay was used for the detection of serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 [25 (OH)VD3], fibroblast growth factor-23 [FGF-23], Klotho, and HE staining of femur. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the vitamin D deficiency rat model group had a decrease in both serum 25 (OH)VD3 and Klotho, and a increase in FGF-23, which meant the ex-istence of osteoporosis. Compared with the model group, the astragalus group had a decrease in both the serum 25 (OH)VD3 and FGF-23, and a increase in Klotho, which meant the osteoporosis of the astragalus group had been im-proved significantly. It was concluded that astragalus can regulate FGF-23 and Klotho in vitamin D deficiency rats in order to have a protective effect for bones.

objective To investigate the value of NT-proBNP in assessing the volume status in maintenance hemodialysis patients with non-dominant edema.Methods One hundred and forty-five patients were recruited.Bioimpedance measurements were performed for overhydration (OH).NT-proBNP was detected by colloidal gold method.Patients were divided into three groups by levels of OH variability (△ OH,equal to OH minus weight increase) as group H (hypervolemia,n=90); group N (normovolemia,n=36) and group L (hypovolemia,n=19).Hemoglobin,albumin,blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were assayed,blood pressure and body mass increase were recorded.Dry weight of patients in Group H were adjusted in 3 months,the relationship between NT-proBNP and volume change were assessed.Results (1) At baseline,overall plasma NT-proBNP levels were higher than normal range.The median NT-proBNP levels in group H and group N were [1318.50(IQR 717.00,3154.25) pg/ml] and [703.50 (IQR 873.00,450.50) pg/ml],respectively.NT-proBNP was positively correlated with △OH value (r=0.801,P ＜ 0.001).(2) After 3 months,NT-proBNP levels in group H was significantly lower than baseline.Forty-one patients reached normal volume range (group H1),49 patients were resistant hypervolemia (group H2).The median NT-proBNP levels in group H1 and group H2 were [685.00 (IQR 422.50,988.50) pg/ml] and [1569.00 (IQR 982.50,2500.50) pg/ml],△ OH in group H1 and group H2 were [(0.63±0.23)L] and [(1.75±0.71)L],respectively.NT-proBNP and △ OH value in two groups had significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).NT-proBNP was positively correlated with △ OH value (r=0.684,P ＜ 0.001).(3) The area under ROC curve for NT-proBNP was 0.818,95％CI (0.733～ 0.904),P ＜ 0.001,since the absolute value of normovolemia was defined as ≤ 1.The cut off value of plasma NT-proBNP was set at 962.50 pg/ml in MHD patients with non-dominant edema,the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were 79.6％ and 73.2％.Conclusion NT-proBNP could be used to assess volume status in MHD patients with non dominant edema.

Objective To evaluate the effect of oxycodone preconditioning on liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats and the role of different opioid receptors.Methods Fiftyfour adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-300 g, were randomly divided into 9 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table: sham operation group (group S), group I/R, oxycodone preconditioning group (group OP) , μ receptor antagonist CTOP group (group CTOP) , δ receptor antagonist naltrindole group (group NTD), κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimne group (group BNI), CTOP + oxycodo ne preconditioning group (group CTOP+OP) , naltrindole + oxycodone preconditioning group (group NTD+ OP) , and nor-binaltorphimne + oxycodone preconditioning group (BNI+OP).The model of intestinal I/R was established by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 45 min followed by 2 h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.The superior mesenteric artery was only exposed, but not occluded in group S.In OP,COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups, oxycodone 0.5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 10 min prior to ischemia.COTP 1 mg/kg and naltrindole 5 mg/kg were injected intravenously at 20 min prior to ischemia in COTP+OP and NTD+OP groups, respectively.Nor-binaltorphimne 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 25 min prior to ischemia in group BNI+OP.In CTOP and NTD groups, the corresponding doses of CTOP and naltrindole were injected intravenously at 10 min prior to ischemia.In group BNI, the corresponding dose of nor-binaltorphimne was injected intravenously at 15 min prior to ischemia.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h of reperfusion, and left hepatic lobes were removed for microscopic examination and for detection of apoptosis in liver cells (using TUNEL).The apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.Results Compared with group S, the AI was significantly increased in the other groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group I/R, the AI was significantly decreased (P＜0.05) , and the pathological changes of livers were reduced in OP, COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups, and no significant change was found in AI and pathological changes of livers in CTOP, NTD and BNI groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group OP, the AI was significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the pathological changes of livers were aggravated in COTP+ OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups.There was no significant difference in AI and pathological changes of livers among groups COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP (P＞0.05).Conclusion Oxycodone preconditioning can mitigate liver injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats, and μ, δ and κ receptors mediate the role with comparable effects.