Objective To study the effects of asiaticoside on the growth of melanoma B16 cell cultures in vitro. Methods Melanoma B16 cells were subcultured and the inhibition of cellular growth was investigated. The morphology of the cells was observed after inhibition. The induction of apoptosis by asiaticoside was determined by flow cytometry. Results It was found that asiaticoside could significantly inhibit the growth of B16 cell cultures in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The annexin-v positive cells were increased, along with that cells intaking R123 marked mitochondria were decreased, and PI positive cells increased, which indicated that cellular apoptosis was induced. Conclusion Asiaticoside plays an inhibitory role in the growth of melanoma B16 cells.

Purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7R) and Nod like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contribute to the inflammatory activation.Great attention has been paid to P2X7R and NLRP3 inflammasome in recent years,especially in the fields of central nervous system.To further elucidate the role of the P2X7R and NLRP3 inflammasome in the central nervous system,we review the latest research progress of composition and physiological functions of P2X7R and NLRP3 inflammasome and how they play their roles in diseases of the central nervous system.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the prosthesis-patient mismatch has a deleterious impact on survival after mitral valve replacement.

DATA SOURCESA comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect was carried out. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.

STUDY SELECTIONAll articles published after January 1980 was initially considered. Non-English and non-human studies, case reports, and reviews were excluded from the initial search. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.

RESULTSA total of 8 retrospective cohort studies were identified for this review. The overall incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (<1.3 to <1.2 cm(2)/m(2)) after mitral valve replacement ranged from 3.7% to 85.9% (moderate prosthesis-patient mismatch (0.9 to 1.2 cm(2)/m(2)) in 37.4% to 69.5%, severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (<0.9 cm(2)/m(2)) in 8.7% to 16.4%). Four studies demonstrated an association of prosthesis-patient mismatch with reduced long-term survival, but the other four studies found no significant deleterious impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch after mitral valve replacement. No definite conclusion could be derived from these conflicting results.

CONCLUSIONSCurrent evidence is insufficient to derive a definite conclusion whether mitral prosthesis-patient mismatch affects long-term survival because of the biases and confounding factors that interfere with late clinical outcomes. Goodquality prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of mitral prosthesis-patient mismatch after mitral valve replacement in the future.

Heart Valve Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; mortality ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore mechanism of dermal toxicity of trichloroethylene(TCE).

METHODSNormal human keratinocytes (KC) were isolated from foreskins of healthy donors undergoing circumcision by two-step trypsin digestion and cultured in serum-free medium. Cells were treated with medium, 1% acetone (volume fraction) 0.125, 0.500 or 2.000 mmol/L TCE for different time (4, 8, 12 or 24) hours. After treatment, MTT assay and ATPase activity detected, inhibition ratio of mitochondrial enzyme was calculated according to optical density (A) value of MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by flow cytometry FCM after being stained with Rhodamine123 (Rh123). Morphological changes were also observed through transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSCellular viability and ATPase activity declined with dose of TCE, while inhibition ratio of mitochondrial enzyme increased with dose of TCE. FCM results showed that after treatment with 2.000 mmol/L TCE, fluorescence density of Rh123 decreased quickly from 18.73 +/- 0.45(0 h) to 8.20 +/- 0.66(8 h) (P < 0.01). After 8 h, fluorescence density maintained at the level equal to that of 8 h (fluorescence density of Rh123 were 8.20 +/- 0.36 and 8.20 +/- 0.40 for 12 and 24 h respectively, compared with that for 8 h group, P > 0.05). The results also showed that MMP diminished with dose of TCE. Under TEM, mitochondria in TCE-treated group appeared extensive swelling and vacuolar degeneration with less matrix and obscure or vanished mitochondria cristae but in control group, mitochondrial structure was integrated, with uniform matrix and visible mitochondria cristae.

CONCLUSIONSTCE could inhibit mitochondrial metabolic enzyme, reduce ATP production, diminish MMP, and destroy ultrastructure of mitochondria in KC, all these contributing to the cytotoxicity of TCE.

Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of caspase-8, caspase-9 activity and apoptosis rates in the process of trichloroethylene-induced damage in keratinocytes, and explore the tentative mechanism of apoptosis.

METHODSHuman keratinocytes were exposed to 0.125, 0.250, 0.500, 1.000 and 2.000 mmol/L trichloroethylene for 4, 8, 12 and 24 h. The inhibitive groups were pretreated with 100 micromol/L Z-LEHD-FMK (a specific inhibitor of caspase-9) for 1 h, and were stimulated with 2.000 mmol/l TCE for 12 h. MTT assay was used to detect the viability of different cells; The activity of caspase were calculated according to spectrophotometry; Change of the apoptotic rates was assessed by flow cytometer (FCM) after double-stained with Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI).

RESULTS(1) The minimum effective concentration for cell viability reduction was 0.125 mmol/L at 12 h and the shortest time required to produce a change was 4 h at a concentration of 2.000 mmol/L (compared with control group, P < 0.01). Cell viability in all the groups markedly decreased from 12 h to 24 h (P < 0.05). (2) The activity of caspase-8 in the various dosage groups at different times had no statistical difference compared with the control group, P > 0.01. (3) At 8 h, 1.000 and 2.000 mmol/L TCE groups could significantly enhance caspase-9 activity (P < 0.05). The caspase-9 activity in all the groups showed differences and was significantly higher than those of control cells when time was over 12 h (P < 0.05). (4) After exposing to different dosages of TCE for 12 h, the rate of apoptosis rose to (80.43 +/- 4.21)% with the increase of dosage, compared with the control group, (9.40 +/- 2.98)%, which showed a dose-effect relationship. (5) The cells pre-treated with caspase-9 inhibitor resulted in a decrease in the caspase-9 activity and apoptosis rates (compared with 2.000 mmol/L TCE exposed group, P < 0.01). However, there was no statistical significance in comparison with the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCaspase-9 may be an important mediator of apoptosis in keratinocytes induced by trichloroethylene.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo detect the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in aqueous humor of patients with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

METHODSAqueous humor samples were obtained from 32 patients with active CNV. The concentrations of VEGF and PEDF in aqueous humor were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative analysis. VEGF and PEDF in 10 samples of aqueous humor from patients with cataract were also detected by the same methods as control.

RESULTThe mean VEGF and PEDF concentrations in aqueous humor of active CNV patients were higher than those in the control group (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe patients with active CNV exhibit significantly higher VEGF and PEDF levels than those in control, indicating that VEGF along with PEDF may modulate the formation of CNV.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aqueous Humor ; chemistry ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; metabolism ; Eye Proteins ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factors ; analysis ; Serpins ; analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Background/Aims: Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) has been widely used in diagnosing small bowel disease. We conducted this study to systematically appraise its technical and clinical performance. Methods: Studies on SBE published by September 2018 were systematically searched. Technical and clinical performance data were collected and analyzed with descriptive or meta-analysis methods. Results: In total, 54 articles incorporating 4,592 patients (6,036 procedures) were included. Regarding technical parameters, the pooled insertion depths (IDs) for anterograde and retrograde SBE were 209.2 cm and 98.1 cm, respectively. The pooled retrograde ID in Asian countries was significantly greater than that in Western countries (129.0 cm vs 81.1 cm, p<0.001). The pooled anterograde and retrograde procedure times were 57.6 minutes and 65.1 minutes, respectively.The total enteroscopy rate was 21.9%, with no significant difference between Asian and Western countries. Clinically, the pooled diagnostic yield of SBE was 62.3%. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) was the most common indication (50.0%), with a diagnostic yield of 59.5%. Vascular lesions were the most common findings in Western OGIB patients (76.9%) but not in Asian ones (31.0%). The rates of severe and mild adverse events were 0.5% and 2.5%, respectively. Conclusions SBE is technically efficient and is clinically effective and safe, but total enteroscopy is relatively difficult to achieve with this technique. Etiologies of OGIB in Asian countries differ from those in Western countries.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.