Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngitis ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effect of bromocriptine(BRC) on the activation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin(PHA).Methods After CD4+ T cell line Jurkat E6-1 cells were stimulated by PHA,prolactin(PRL) and BRC,respectively,the expression of linker for activation of T cells(LAT) and zeta-chain T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 000(ZAP-70) mRNA of T lymphocytes were checked by RT-PCR.The expression of PRL mRNA of T lymphocytes was detected by Real time PCR.The expression of CD25(cluster of differentiation) as a marker of early activation on the surface of T lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry,and the activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) was detected by luciferase reporter system.Results 1.BRC inhibited the expression of ZAP-70 as the common signal molecules both in the T lymphocyte activation pathway and PRL-prolactin-prolactin receptor(PRLR) signal transduction pathway,and decreased the expression of PRL mRNA produced by activation T lymphocytes.2.BRC enhanced the expression of LAT mRNA as another important signal molecular on the T lymphocytes and CD25 on the surface of the T lymphocytes.3.The activation of NF-?B of T lymphocytes was decreased.Conclusions BRC might inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes by inhibiting the expression of ZAP-70,the common signal molecules between T lymphocytes activation and PRL-PRL pathway,and PRL mRNA,the like-T lymphocyte growth factor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate biological characteristics of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and to explore the possibility of hepatocyte-like cells differentiation.METHODS: The umbilical cord was provided by healthy term birth woman in Tianjin Third Central Hospital. Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from human umbilical cord by enzyme digestion method. Cells were passaged at 80%-90% confluent. The ninth passage of cells at a density of 5×10~(10)/L were seeded in 12-well culture plate and incubated with DMEM containing hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-4 and oncostatin for 28 days. Cell growth activity was detected by MTT method; cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry; surface immunological marker in MSC was detected by immunocytochemical stain and flow cytometry; specific surface phenotype of hepatocyte was detected by immunocytochemical staining. Function characteristic of hepatocyte was determined by staining for glycogen.RESULTS: MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord and presented with fibroblastic morphology. 80% of cells were at G_0/G_1 phase with good growth activity and stably passaged over 20 times. These cells were positive for CD29, CD105, and Vimentin, but negative for CD34 and CD31. MSCs were induced to hepatocyte-1 ike cells that were positive for alpha fetoprotein, CK18, CK19 at 1 week and albumin at 3 weeks. At 4 weeks, induced cells were positive for glycogen staining.CONCLUSION: MSCs isolated from human umbilical cord can be cultured in a long periods time in vitro and are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells.

OBJECTIVETo identify independent risk factors influencing the survival time of patients with chronic liver failure and construct a predictive model.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was applied to clinical data of 362 patients with chronic liver failure treated with artificial liver in Tianjin third centre hospital between May 2002 and May 2007. Data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 statistic software, t test and rank test were used on quantitative data, chi-square test was used on qualitative data, Cox regression analysis was used to select the independent risk factors influencing the survival time. According to independent risk factors from Cox regression model, a prognostic model was established.

RESULTS1. Independent risk factors (P less than 0.05) influencing the survival time were: Child-Pugh score, bilirubin separation ALT, ascites, arginine, age, tyrosine and serum sodium. 2. By receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) analysis, the area under ROC (AUR) to predict the outcome of chronic liver failure patients was 0.782, and the cutoff score was 27.69.

CONCLUSIONS1. Child-Pugh score, bilirubin separation ALT, ascites, arginine, age, tyrosine and serum sodium are independent risk factors affecting survival time of patients with chronic liver failure. 2. Cox model we constructed can reliably predict the survival time of patients with chronic liver failure.

End Stage Liver Disease ; Humans ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for 28-day mortality of elderly patients with non-cardiac critical ill in emergency intensive care unit (EICU). Methods A total of 70 elderly non-cardiac critically ill patients (age≥60 years) in EICU were enrolled, and the blood samples were collected to detect BNP level after the patients' admission to EICU. After 28 days, the mortality was assessed. Results Twenty-two patients (31.4 %) died during 28 days observation, whose BNP levels were significantly higher than that of the survivors [ln BNP: (6.4 ± 1.2) ng/L vs. ( 5. 1 ± 1.5 ) ng/L, P＜ 0. 05] ; BNP level had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0. 759 (95% CI: 0. 636-0. 882, P＜0.05) for predicting mortality,and the optimal cut point of BNP was 342 ng/L (sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 68.7%).Conclusions BNP level could be a predictor for 28-days mortality for elderly non-cardiac critically ill patients.

Objective To develop an ideal cultural method to amplify embryonic hepatic stem cells and inhibit their differentiation in vitro. Methods Suspension of ED 14 Fischer (F) 344 rat em-bryonic hepatic stem cells was prepared by collagenase digestion and mechanical disaggregation. Then cells were divided into two groups randomly. The cells in group 1 were seeded into type I collagen-coated plates by adherent culture while those in group 2 were seeded into soft agar medium by suspen-sion culture. After culture for 2 weeks, the morphology and ultrastructure of cells in both groups were observed and compared by inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope, respectivley.The expression of CD90. 1 and CD49F, the two specific stem cell surface markers, was tested by flow cytometry to manifest the establishment of embryonic hepatic stem cells. Alkaline phosphatase stai-ning was used to detect stem cell differentiation. Result Embryonic hepatic stem cells in group 2 were characterized by higher nucleus-cytoplasm ratio and less cell organelles, higher expression of CD90. 1 and CD49F, and stronger positive reaction for alkaline phosphatase staining compared with those in group 1. Moreover, the cells in group 1 showed significant differentiation features. Conclusion Em-bryonic hepatic stem cells cultured suspendedly in soft agar medium experience less differentiation than those adherently cultured in serum-added culture medium, and can proliferate and form clone ball with a specific stem cell feature.

Objective:To investigate the role of blood ammonia in the evaluation of the prognosis of septic patients in the emergency department and to compare its value with mortality in emergency department sepsis (MEDS) score.Methods:A retrospective clinical study was conducted to septic patients who were diagnosed in the Emergency Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2017 to May 2018, and met the diagnostic criteria established by the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine in 2001. The subjects who had other diseases that affected blood ammonia level and were lost to follow-up were excluded. MEDS scores were collected, and the survival status of patients was followed up by telephone. The independent samples t test was used to compare the differences between the two groups, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the accuracy of the prediction of sepsis mortality, and the logistic regression model was used to explore the value of the combined use of blood ammonia and MEDS score.Results:Eighty subjects were finally included in the study and divided into the 1-week survival group ( n=52), 1-week death group ( n=28); 4-week survival group ( n=37), 4-week death group ( n=43); 12-week survival group ( n=33), 12-week death group ( n=47); 1-year survival group ( n=32), and 1-year death group ( n=48). There was no statistical difference in the demographic characteristics of subjects between the groups. The average blood ammonia level of all the subjects who died was higher than that of the patients who survived in the same period [(116.57 ± 85.33) μmol/L vs (77.63 ± 35.82) μmol/L, (108.53 ± 73.00) μmol/L vs (71.19 ± 32.53) μmol/L, (106.74 ± 71.59) μmol/L vs (69.21 ± 28.84) μmol/L, (105.77 ± 71.14) μmol/L vs (69.50 ± 29.25) μmol/L, P<0.05]. Based on death after one week, four weeks, twelve weeks and one year, the area under ROC curve (AUC) of blood ammonia was 0.668 (95% CI: 0.542-0.793, P=0.014), 0.706 (95% CI: 0.593-0.819, P=0.002), 0.705 (95% CI: 0.592-0.818, P=0.002), and 0.697 (95% CI: 0.582-0.811, P=0.003), respectively. Compared with the use of blood ammonia, lactic acid or MEDS score alone, the combined use of blood ammonia and MEDS score increased the accuracy of prognosis evaluation in sepstic patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Blood ammonia has a high value in predicting the short-term and 1-year prognosis of septic patients in the emergency department. The combined use of blood ammonia and MEDS score can further improve its predictive value.

Objective To study the expression and change of neuropeptide substance P (SP) during the wound healing of deep partial thickness scalding in diabetic rats. Methods Eighty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into diabetes mellitus group (n=42) and control group (n=42). Diabetic rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in diabetes mellitus group, and those in control group were intraperitoneally injected with aseptic citrate buffer solution. Deep partial thickness scalding with diameter of 2 cm on the back were prepared in all the rats. The pre-scalding and post-scalding wound specimens of different time points were obtained, and the percentages of wound closure were calculated. The wound specimens were also obtained for immunohistological staining to compare the areas with positive staining of SP, and ELISA was employed to detect the expression of SP in the wound tissues. Results The percentage of wound closure was significantly lower in diabetes mellitus group than that in control group from 7 days post-scalding (P< 0.01). The areas with positive staining of SP in diabetes mellitus group were much smaller than those in control group at different time points, which was most significant on the seventh day post-scalding[(1 350.93±99.28) μm2 vs(1 715.86± 103.41) μm2](P < 0.01). The expression of SP in the wound tissues was significantly lower in diabetes mellitus group than that in control group at different time points, which was most significant on the seventh day post-scalding[(114.04±9.96) vs(143.39±8.94)](P<0.01). Conclusion The significantly lower expression of SP in wound site may be one of the causes of delayed wound healing in diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the safty and accuracy ot estimating the living donor's graft volume with IQQA liver imaging evaluation system.Methods Between June 2007 and July 2010,123living liver donors were enrolled to undergo 16-slice CT scanning,then graft volume was estimated by both IQQA and manu-traced multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) approach.The graft volume and time consuming between IQQA and manu-traced MSCT were compared. Pearson Correlation test was uesd to verify the correlation between the estimated graft volume estimated each method and actual graft weight detected in operation.Linear correlation analysis was done.Results The mean graft volume by IQQA and manu-traced MSCT was (856.76 ± 162.18) and (870.64 ±172.54) cm3 respectively preoperation.Paired t-test showed there was no statistically significant difference between IQQA and MSCT methods (P＞0.05).It took mean ( 16.9 ± 1.4) min to calculatethe graft volume by IQQA and (39.3 ± 2.1 ) min by manu-traced MSCT,respectively (P＜0.05).The real graft volume was (632.59 ± 13 1.73) cm3.Pearson correlation test showed the graft volume calculated by either IQQA or MSCT method had a significantly positive correlation with the real graft weight (MSCT r =0.921,IQQA r =0.896,P＜0.01 ).Graft weight could be expressed in the equation:Actual graft weight =- 150.303 + 1.025 × IQQA value or =- 94.397 + 0.955 × MSCT value.Conclusion IQQA system has same accuracy with MSCT method in predicting the graft volume but consuming less time.IQQA system promotes the recognition of clinician on liver three dimensional anatomic structure.

OBJECTIVEOver the last few decades, diabetic cardiomyopathy has been identified as a significant contributor in cardiac morbidity. However, the mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy have not been clarified.

METHODSIn the present study, a diabetic rat model was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The myocardial CD147 expression and extent of glycosylation, as well as thematrixmetalloproteinases(MMPs) expression and activity, were observed in the diabetic and synchronous rats.

RESULTSThe results showed that CD147 located on sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes. The myocardial CD147 expression and glycosylation were significantly increased in the diabetic rats as compared with the control. Expression of MMP-2 protein, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were also increased in left ventricular myocardium in the diabetic rats. Tamoxifen only inhibited the enhanced expression of myocardial CD147 in the diabetic rats, but not in synchronous control rats. Tamoxifen inhibited glycosylation of myocardial CD147 in both diabetic and control rats. The inhibition of tamoxifen on CD147 glycosylation was stronger than on the expression in the myocardium. The extent of myocardial CD147glycosylation was positively related toMMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Tamoxifen induced an inhibition of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in the control and diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that myocardial CD147 expression, especially the extent of glycosylation, regulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, then accelerates cardiac pathological remodeling inducing diabetic cardiomyopathy. Tamoxifen inhibits myocardial CD147 glycosylation and further depress the activity of MMPs. Therefore, tamoxifen may protect the diabetic rats against diabetic myocardium.

Animals ; Basigin ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; Glycosylation ; Heart ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Sarcolemma ; metabolism ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology