OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of DMF on the human liver cells (HL-7702) in vitro.

METHODSLiver cells were exposed to different concentrations of DMF (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mmol/L) for 12 hours. Apoptotic rate, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in liver cells were measured by FCM and western blotting respectively.

RESULTSThe increase in apoptotic rate of hepatocytes in concentration-manner was shown after DMF treatment for 12 h. After treatment the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased steadily and lower than the control group (P < 0.01), the expression of Bax showed no significant difference among the groups of different dosage by one-factor analysis of variance (P > 0.05), as the increase of the dosage of DMF. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax dropped with the dosage of DMF increasing, and the ratio in 200 mmol/L of DMF was significantly lower than that of the control (P < 0.01). The new lands of procaspase-3 in 150, 200 mmol/L were observed, which demonstrated that there was active caspase-3.

CONCLUSIONDMF can induce apoptosis of cultured adult normal hepatocytes in vitro, and the mechanism might be related to the decrease of Bcl-2/Bax and the cleavage of Caspase-3.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethylformamide ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Cells, Cultured ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Dimethylformamide ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Humans

In traditional oral practice, the presystemic interactions with gut microbiota is an important mechanism underlying the holistic health benefits of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), making the study of CHMs distinct from the research of Western medicines of which the systemic exposure (level in blood) is the starting point and the core. Gut microbial metabolism complements host metabolism in maintaining metabolic homeostasis of many biologically important endogenous molecules and the disposition of numerous exogenous compounds. Among them, the widely distributed gut bacterial β-glucuronidases (BGUSs) coordinate with host UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) to play a role in the occurrence and intervention of diseases by affecting the glucuronidation homeostasis and altering the intestinal local and/or systemic exposure of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. On one hand, many ingredients of CHMs undergo enterohepatic circulation; On the other hand, CHMs can act on BGUSs directly or indirectly change the distribution and function of BGUSs through reprogramming gut microbiome. The multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs may play an important role in the overall therapeutic benefits of CHMs. This work firstly summarizes the latest research progress on BGUSs; then the physiological, pathological and pharmacological significance of BGUSs are exemplified with representative endogenous and exogenous compounds from the aspects of nutrient utilization, metabolic homeostasis, and therapeutic response based on the varied substrate spectra of BGUSs; finally, the scattered data in literature were integrated to summarize the multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs, highlighting the important role of BGUSs in the holistic actions of CHMs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the changes of the copy numbers of mtDNA in peripheral blood mono-nucle- ar cell(PBMC) and the disordered of antioxidant capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODSThe Ficoll Hypaque method was used to isolate the PBMC from blood specimens. The ND1 gene of the mitochondrial was amplified by real-time PCR; meantime β-actin was served as a quantitative standard marker; the difference of mtDNA copy number in PBMC was compared between HCC and healthy control group. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PBMC was determined by flow cytometry. The change of total antioxidant capacity (T- AOC) of plasma was detected by the biochemistry examination.

RESULTSThe copy numbers of ND1 gene in PBMC of HCC was 73% that of the healthy control group,which suggested a decrease of the copy numbers of mtDNA in HCC. The levels of ROS of PBMC in HCC was (417. 82 ± 110.62) and (301.82 ± 75.54) in control group, which showed that the levels of ROS of PBMC in HCC were significant higher than that in control group (P < 0.01).Plasma T-AOC in HCC was (1.30 ± 0.85), and (3.20 ± 1.62) in control. The T-AOC of plasma of HCC was significantly lower than in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere was a certain relationship between the decrease of the copy numbers of mtDNA and the disordered antioxidant capacity in hepatocellular carcinoma, which may be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Actins ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study DNA damage of workers occupationally exposed to lead with flow cytometer assay.

METHODSThe lymphocytes were obtained from 41 workers occupationally exposed to lead (comparable group) and another 50 from control group. Flow cytometer (FCM) assay was used to detect DNA damage.

RESULTSDNA damage rate and geometric mean fluorescence intensity in the comparable group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the DNA damage and geometric mean fluorescence intensity between different age groups (P>0.05). The differences in correlation analysis between blood lead, urine lead, delta-ALA and DNA damage rate were not significant (P>0.05). The correlation analysis showed no statistical significance between concentration of blood lead, urine lead, delta-ALA and geometric mean fluorescence intensity (P>0.05). There was positive correlations not only between the high concentration of blood lead, delta-ALA and damage rate of DNA, but also between the high concentration of blood lead and geometric mean fluorescence intensity. The coefficient r showed statistical significance (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOccupational lead exposure can cause DNA damage. Gamma H2AX flow cytometer assay is a sensitive, objective and effective method for detection of DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lead ; adverse effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDThe resection and reconstruction of the hepatic artery is often required in radical surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. In this study, we report our experience in performing arterioportal shunting as an alternative for the arterial reconstruction.

METHODSFour patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent extended left hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy combined with en bloc resection of the hepatic artery and arterioportal shunting with restriction of the arterial caliber. The efficacy of arterioportal shunting was assessed by computed tomography angiography (CTA).

RESULTSAll the four patients recovered uneventfully without any complications. CTA showed a patent shunt and normal liver regeneration. No signs of portal hypertension were found at one year of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSArterioportal shunting with restriction of the arterial caliber appears to be a feasible and safe alternative for the microvascular reconstruction after hepatic artery resection in radical surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical ; methods ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEUltrasound scanning can provide the information of acoustic impedance through the ultrasonic reflection theory. This study tries to introduce the application of the ultrasonic technique in predicting biomechanical properties of cancellous bone.

METHODSThe rat femoral head embedded in plexiglass was used as the bone specimens for ultrasound scanning and the gray scale images scanned by ultrasound microscope were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThe value of acoustic impedance was calculated by analyzing the gray scale image.

CONCLUSIONThe application of ultrasonic microscopy can show more value about the microstructure of biomechanical properties of bone tissue.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Femur Head ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo study DNA damage of human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) with flow cytometry (FCM) assay.

METHODSThe lymphocytes were obtained from 21 workers who are occupationally exposed to 1,2-DCE (exposed group) and 27 workers who were not exposed to 1,2-DCE in the same factory (inner control) and 28 island residents who had never been occupationally exposed to adverse factors (external control). FCM assay was adopted to detect DNA damage of the lymphocytes of each group. Lymphocytes of the health people were incubated with 1,2-DCE at different doses, and FCM assay was used to detect DNA damage.

RESULTSDNA damage rate (%) of the exposed group of exposed workers (4.05% ± 2.55%) was significantly higher than the inner control group of workers (1.97% ± 1.40%) and external control groups of island residents (0.23% ± 0.13%), and the DNA damage of inner control was higher than the external control, all the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The geometric mean fluorescence intensity of the workers in the exposed group (3.33 ± 3.01) was significantly higher than the (2.07 ± 0.58) only (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the DNA damage rate as well as the geometric mean fluorescence intensity among the exposed group of workers with different years of working period (P > 0.05). In vitro, the fluorescence intensity at the dose of 20, 30 µmol/L for 0.5 h exposure showed statistical significance compared with the negative control group (P < 0.01). The DNA damage rate at the dose of 20, 30 µmol/L for 1.0 h exposure was statistically significant compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); The fluorescence intensity at the dose of 10, 20, 30 µmol/L for 1.0 h exposure was statistically significant compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION1,2-DEC can cause DNA damage. And γH2AX FCM assay can be a sensitive, objective and effective method of detecting DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Adult ; Cell Survival ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; toxicity ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Occupational Exposure

INTRODUCTIONMinimally invasive surgical ablation is an emerging alternative method to catheter ablation and the full surgical maze procedure for nonpharmacologic treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We present a totally thoracoscopic "box lesion" radiofrequency ablation procedure in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF.

MATERIALS AND METHODSFrom June 2011 to October 2012, 14 patients with lone paroxysmal (n = 7) or persistent AF (n = 7) were enrolled in this study. Procedures were performed through 3 5-12 mm holes on each side of the chest wall. A bipolar ablation device was used to create a box lesion in the posterior wall of the left atrium that encircled the 4 pulmonary veins (achieving bilateral pulmonary vein/posterior left atrial wall isolation). Perioperative complications were recorded for all patients. Freedom from AF was assessed by 24-hour Holter monitoring every 3 months or during symptoms of arrhythmia.

RESULTSThe ablation was successfully performed in all patients, with median operation time of 128 minutes (range, 45 to 180 minutes). No operative mortality or morbidity were noted during the study period. Freedom from AF was achieved in 12 patients (85.7%) during follow-up (median follow-up 9 months). One patient with persistent AF was shifted to paroxysmal AF. No atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia was noted during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThese early results show that totally thoracoscopic surgical ablation using a unique "box lesion" procedure for persistent or paroxysmal AF is a feasible and effective method with good short-term results. Further study is necessary to validate this result.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracoscopy

To analyze the clinical characteristics of juvenile gout,101 gout patients in Affiliasted First Hospital of Wanan Medical College from 2016 January to Decemder were divided into juvenile group (≤ 20 years,n=41) and adult group (＞20 years,n=60),the clinical data and related biochemical tests were collected.The body mass index (BMI),fasting blood glucose (FBG),TC,TG,uric acid,urea nitrogen,creatinine,cystatin C,glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and C-reactive protein (CRP),the first gout position,the duration of disease,the family history,the number of involved joints and the tophi were compared between two groups.Compared with the adult group,the juvenile group had significantly higher BMI [(25.6± 1.3) vs.(22.8± 1.0),t=-12.51)],TC [(5.55±0.51) vs.(5.07±0.54),t=-4.44),TG [(2.04±0.32) vs.(1.83±0.39),t=-2.92),uric acid[606.0 (541.0,641.0) vs.502.5 (447.5,542.2),Z=-5.65land C-reactive protein[68.0(57.0,83.5) vs.46.0 (36.0,59.8),Z=-4.64],while lower FBG [(4.83±0.68) vs.(5.74± 1.23),t=4.31)] and the number of involved joints[1(1,1) vs.2(1,4),Z=5.45].The GFR was higher in the juvenile group [(140.4± 31.0) vs.(77.7±22.5),t=-ll.81,P＜0.001)],while the urea nitrogen [6.3 (5.8,6.9) vs.7.6 (6.8,8.4),Z=5.89],creatinine [65.1 (56.2,75.1) vs.87.4 (78.5,98.4),Z=7.18] and cystatin C[1.0(0.9,1.1) vs.1.9(1.5,2.0),Z=7.66]were lower than those in adult group(all P＜0.01).The incidence of the first metatarsophalangeal joint involvement and the ankle joint involvement had no statistical difference between two groups (x2=3.434,P＞0.05).The proportion of family history of gout was higher in juvenile group (x2=6.174,P＜0.05)but the proportion of tophi was lower (x2=16.564,P＜0.01) than those in adult group.The characteristics of juvenile gout are significantly different with those of adult gout patients,so the juvenile patients should be managed differently from the adult patients.