DNA Mutational Analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Mutation ; genetics ; Perforin ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; genetics ; Qa-SNARE Proteins ; genetics

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture therapy on triglyceride (TG) content of quadriceps femoris in the high fat diet feeding-induced insulin resistance rats; To discuss acupuncture mechanisms to improve the insulin sensitivity. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats at the age of eight weeks were randomly divided into normal group, model group, electro-acupuncture group, and sham electro-acupuncture group. The normal group was given basic diet, and model group, electro-acupuncture group and sham electro-acupuncture group were given high fat diet for 8 weeks, after which, the model of insulin resistance was successfully obtained. Electro-acupuncture group was given acupuncture therapy with “Guanyuan (GV4)”, “Zhognwan (GV12)”, “Zusanli (ST36)”, and “Fenglong (ST40)” for 8 weeks. Sham electro-acupuncture group was given stimulation at non-acupuncture points which were not on the meridians and near the acupoints but not at the area of the acupoints. In addition, food intake and body weight of each group were recorded, blood glucose was tested, TG content of quadriceps femoris was measured by enzymatic method after the treatment. Results The weight of the rats and TG levels of quadriceps femoris in electro-acupuncture group and sham electro-acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in model group, with significant statistical difference (P<0.05), especially in electro-acupuncture group. Conclusion Acupuncture therapy could improve insulin sensitivity to prevent and its related diseases.

Objective To investigate the effect of expression of Cullin 4B (CUL4B) on the prognosis of patients after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 79 patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1,2014 and June 30,2015 were collected.The specimens of HCC tissues were collected and embedded in paraffin,and then were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Observation indicators:(1) expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues;(2) follow-up and survival;(3) prognostic factors analysis after liver transplantation;(4) association between expression of CUL4B and recurrence and metastasis of tumor after liver transplantation.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect tumor recurrence or metastasis and survival up to June 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.The comparison between groups of count data was done using the chi-square test.The survival curve drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival analysis was done by Log-rank test.The univariate and multivariate analysis were respectively done using the COX regression model.The association analysis was done using the Pearson test.Results (1) Expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues:immunohistochemistry staining showed that CUL4B was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm,with a powerful brownish-yellow staining.The high expression and low expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues were detected in 64 and 15 patients,respectively.(2) Follow-up and survival:79 patients were followed up for 38-56 months,with an average time of 46 months.During the follow-up,37 patients had no tumor recurrence and 42 had tumor recurrence (32 with tumor extrahepatic metastasis and 10 with intrahepatic metastasis);36 had survival and 43 died;the 1-and 3-year overall survival rates were respectively 86.84％ and 63.25％,and 1-and 3-year tumorfree survival rates were respectively 62.31％ and 51.27％.(3) Prognostic factors analysis after liver transplantation:① Results of univariate analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),Child-Pugh score,maximum tumour dimension,capsular invasion,intravascular tumor thrombus,Edmonson pathological grading and expression of CUL4B were related factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC [Hazard Ratio (HR) =2.17,3.36,3.66,2.43,2.19,3.36,2.84,95％ confidence interval(CI):1.17-4.04,1.53-7.42,2.10-6.42,1.33-4.17,1.08-9.04,1.58-7.59,1.17-6.32,P＜ 0.05].The preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),Child-Pugh score,maximum tumour dimension,capsular invasion,intravascular tumor thrombus,Edmonson pathological grading and expression of CUL4B were related factors affecting the 3-year tumor-free survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC (HR =2.06,3.72,3.16,2.36,2.83,3.21,1.69,95％CI:1.34-4.85,1.72-8.63,1.79-7.31,1.46-4.86,1.19-8.63,1.19-7.92,1.06-4.87,P＜0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that maximum tumour dimension,intravascular tumor thrombus and expression of CUL4B were independent factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC [Odds ratio(OR) =3.43,3.69,2.81,95％CI:1.16-6.02,1.96-9.38,1.04-9.63,P＜0.05].The maximum tumour dimension,intravascular tumor thrombus and expression of CUL4B were independent factors affecting the 3-year tumor-free survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC (OR=2.25,4.72,2.74,95％C1:1.16-4.02,1.98-9.47,1.03-7.10,P＜ 0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate in patients with high-and low-expressions of CUL4B was respectively 66.7％ and 32.8％,with a statistically significant difference (x2 =5.69,P＜0.05).The 3-year tumor-free survival rate in patients with high-and low-expressions of CUL4B was respectively 73.3％ and 18.6％,with a statistically significant difference (x2 =4.63,P＜0.05).(4) Association between expression of CUL4B and recurrence and metastasis of tumor after liver transplantation:results of Pearson test showed that expression of CUL4B was significantly associated with HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation (r =0.62,P＜0.05).The further analysis showed that expression of CUL4B was significantly associated with extrahepatic metastasis after liver transplantation (r=0.84,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of CUL4B is associated with HCC recurrence after liver transplantation,and it can be as a predictor for HCC recurrence and distant metastasis after liver transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Anchang Decoction on intestinal microflora and faecal calprotectin (FC) in rats with severe ulcerative colitis based on probiotics.Methods:Totally 50 rats were taken to prepare a model of severe ulcerative colitis. The rats who successfully modeled were divided into model group, Anchang Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage groups, Lizhu Changle group, and mesalazine group, with 5 rats in each group. Another 6 rats were set and the blank group. Lizhu Changle group received Lizhu Changle suspension (containing 50 million live bacteria/ml) for gavage; Anchang Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage groups received Anchang Decoction 1, 5, 10 ml/(kg·d) for gavage; Mesalazine group received Mesalazine suspension (10.5 mg/100 g) for gavage. Rats in the blank group and model group were gavaged with the same volume of normal saline for 7 days. Body mass and disease activity index (DAI) before and after administration were measured. 16s rDNA of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in feces of rats was detected. FC content of rats was detected by ELISA.Results:Compared with the model group, the weight of rats in each administration group increased ( P<0.05), DAI score decreased ( P<0.05), and the level of calprotectin in feces decreased ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the levels of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in each administration group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Anchang Decoction can improve the intestinal micro-ecology by regulating the level of calprotectin in rats with severe ulcerative colitis, thereby playing a therapeutic role.

Objective To investigate the mechanical behavior of bovine pericardium with different orientations after compression and evaluate its effects on the duration of transcatheter aortic valve. Methods According to the fiber directions, the pericardial strips were divided into 12 groups of transverse, longitudinal and oblique pericardial strips, and each group included 3 strips of pericardium. One strip maintained the original state, and the other two strips were under 12.5 N and 25 N compression, respectively for 1 h. The mechanical properties of compressed samples were tested and analyzed subsequently in uniaxial tension test. Results The samples with different orientations showed obvious anisotropy before and after compression. The secant modulus, elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength of the longitudinal pericardium were generally greater than those of the oblique pericardium, while the oblique pericardium was larger than the transverse pericardium. For longitudinal and oblique bovine pericardium under 25 N compression, the average tensile strength ratio was 0.92 and 0.87, respectively, and the ratio of tensile strength before and after compression had a significant difference (P＜0.05). The average tensile strength ratio of transverse bovine pericardium after 25 N compression was 0.97, and there was no significant difference in the ratio of tensile strength before and after compression (P＞0.05). Conclusions The compressive damage of the pericardia with different fiber orientations was very small under low stresses at transitory time. For design and production of transcatheter aortic valves, the orientations of the pericardium and the changes of strength after compression should be taken into consideration.