BACKGROUND:Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels are from the umbilical cord of newly born individuals and have no ethical issues, and therefore are promising candidates for seeded cels as a substitute for cel transplantation and regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of serum from liver injury rats on induced differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels into hepatocyte-like cels and provide experimental evidence for use of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels in the treatment of patients with end-stage liver disease in the clinic. METHODS: Rat models of acute liver injury were established by intraperitoneal injection of 10% carbon tetrachloride. Rats in the control group were intraperitonealy administered the same amount of soybean oil. Forty-eight hours after modeling, abdominal aorta blood was taken for serum preparation. Passage 3 human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels were cultured with 20% serum from liver injury rats and 20% fetal bovine serum. Morphology of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels was observed before and after culture. Levels ofα-fetoprotein and albumin in the supernatant were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cels exhibited shuttle-shaped appearance and grew in whirlpool-like manner at 1 day after culture with serum from liver injury rats, exhibited short shuttle-shaped appearance at 2 days, were oval-shaped at 3 days, and were round and an extremely smal number of cels were floated at 4 days. At 4 days after culture with serum from liver injury rats, level of albumin in the cel supernatant was significantly increased than that before induction and that in the control group (P< 0.001), and there was no significant difference in level of α-fetoprotein in the cel supernatant. These results suggest that serum of liver injury rats can induce differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cels into hepatocyte-like cels.

Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Syndrome

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment (48 weeks) with tiotropium bromide (5 μg) via Respimat(R) with placebo in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods A total of 338 patients were randomized in this double-blind,placebo controlled,parallel study.All patients received either tiotropium bromide or placebo.Tiotropium bromide solution 5 μg (2 × 2.5 μg/puff) or matching placebo was delivered via Respimat(R) at a dosage of once daily for 48 weeks.Co-primary endpoints were trough forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the time to first exacerbation.Results Statistically significant improvements of both trough FEV1 and trough forced vital capacity (FVC) in the tiotropium group were achieved at weeks 4,24,and 48 compared with those in the placebo group(P ＜ 0.000 1).Tiotropium treatment delayed the time to first exacerbation.The time was 157 days in the tiotropium group and 85 days in the placebo group.A statistically significant difference (P =0.002 7) in favor of tiotropium was also observed.The total numbers of exacerbation during treatment were 90 and 128 in the tiotropium and placebo groups,respectively.The Poisson regression analysis gave a mean exacerbation rate per patient year exposure of 0.67 in the tiotropium group compared to 0.98 in the placebo group with a rate ratio of 0.69 (95％ CI O.50-0.93,P =0.016 4).A much larger improvement from baseline in St.George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) total score was observed for the tiotropium group than in the placebo group(P =0.036 7),SGRQ symptom and activity scores of patients in the tiotropium group were also superior to those of patients receiving placebo.The drugs-related adverse events in the tiotropium and placebo groups were 12 cases and 11 cases,respectively.Conclusions Tiotropium significantly improved lung function and quality of life,delayed the time to first exacerbation,reduced the number of exacerbation.Overall,tiotropium was well tolerated.

Objective To investigate the effects of probiotics on the occurrence of ovalbumin (OVA) induced food allergy and the regulatory effects on immune function of rat models. Methods Thirty female Brown-Norway rats aged 3 weeks were randomly divided into blank control group,food allergy group and probiotics intervention group(n=10).The levels of serum OVA-IgE and intestinal sIgA were measured by ELISA method.Splenic lymphocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro,and the Treg lymphocyte subgroups in the spleen were analyzed by flow eytometry.The levels of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant of cultured splenic lymphocytes were measured by ELISA method. Results The serum OVA-IgE level in food allergy group was significantly higher than that in blank control group(P<0.05),while that in probiotics intervention group was significantly lower than that in food allergy group(P<0.05).Compared with food allergy group and blank control group,the level of intestinal sIgA in probiotics intervention group was significantly higher(P<0.05).The percentage of CD4~+CD25~+T lymphoeytes in food allergy group was significantly lower than that in blank contml group(P0.05).The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in food allergy group were significantly higher than those in blank control group(P<0.05).Probiotics intervention group had significantly lower levels of IL-4,IL-10 and IFN-γ than food allergy group(P<0.05).The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in food allergy group was significantly lower than that in blank control group(P<0.05),while that in probiotics intervention group was significantly higher than that in food allergy group(P<0.05). Conclusion Probioties intervention could prevent the occurrence of food allergy in animal models by modulating the Th1/Th2 eytokine balance.

Objective　To observe the change of lipidemia and lipoprotein in wistar rats with fluorosis.Methods　14 wistar rats were fed normal food with hyper concentration of NaF water (100 mg/L) for six months,the TC,TG,HDL-c,LDL-c,APO AI APO B and AI,R-CHE were measured in serum.Results　The result show that there are an increace of T C,TG,HDL-c,LDL-c,APO AI，APO B and AI,R-CHD compared with normal rats (P <0.05).Conclusions　The result indicate that the fluorosis can increase the lipidemia and lipoprotein in rats with fluorosis and lead to athero selerosis.

Objective To investigate the expression level of endogenetic nitric oxide(NO) in the reproduction process of human anterior cruciate ligament cells. Methods Anterior cruciate ligament cells were isolated and subcultured from the human anterior cruciate ligament. LPS was used to induce the anterior cruciate ligament cell to express the inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS ), and N-monomethyl -L-Arginine (L-NMMA) was used as the interdiction of nitric oxide. They were alone or together added in the culture medium of anterior cruciate ligament cells in different groups. The level of NO was indirectly measured in the medium of HACL. Results LPS promoted significantly anterior cruciate ligament cells to produce endogenetic nitric oxide, compared with the control group(P

Objective To establish reference interval of hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) determined in healthy adults in northeast Si-chuan .Methods Venous blood was pumped from 494 individuals without previously diagnosed diabetes and other critical illness . The HbA1c level ,blood routine examination ,blood lipids ,fasting plasma glucose ,liver and kidney function were measured . Reference value of HbA1c was determined by 95% confidence interval through the mean of HbA1c .Results The HbA1c level took on normal distribution in 494 healthy individuals ,and the reference interval was 4 .482% -6 .012% .There was no statistical signifi-cance of HbA1c level between different genders(t= -0 .905 ,P= 0 .366) .The levels of HbA1c in 20 - < 35 years old people , 35- <65 years old people and ≥65 years old people were(5 .109 ± 0 .150)% ,(5 .224 ± 0 .122)% ,(5 .444 ± 0 .125)% ,and the differences were statistically significant among different age group(P<0 .05) .The HbA1c level and age were positively correlated (r=0 .338 ,P<0 .01) .Conclusion It is necessary to establish appropriate reference intervals of HbA1c for different laboratories or areas .

Objective:To explore the clinical features of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) and the risk factors for fetal death.Methods:The clinical data of 90 patients with APIP in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were retrospectively analyzed from January 2013 to June 2020. Based on the severity, the patients were classified into MAP groups ( n=41), MSAP groups ( n=33), SAP group ( n=16). According to the presence of fetal deaths, the patients were divided into fetal death group ( n=13) and fetal survival group ( n=77). The clinical characteristics and indicators of patients in each group were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed on the variables with differences between groups to explore independent risk factors for fetal death. The receiver operating characteristic curves of laboratory indicators were drawn to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy. Results:Hyperlipidemia was the main cause in 90 APIP cases (42/90, 46.7%). The levels of LDH, CRP, blood glucose, D2 polymer, albumin and ApoA1, the 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates were statistically significant among MAP group, MSAP group and SAP group (all P<0.05). There were no maternal deaths in 90 cases and 13 fetal deaths (14.4%). Fetal mortality increased with the severity of APIP. APIP combined with hypertension ( OR=14.742, 95% CI 1.157-187.890, P=0.038), ketoacidosis ( OR=19.587, 95% CI 1.789-214.469, P=0.015) and CRP level ( OR=1.013, 95% CI 1.001-1.025, P=0.031) were risk factors for fetal death. ApoA1 level ( OR=0.118, 95% CI 0.021-0.664, P=0.015) was a protective factor for fetal death. The sensitivity and specificity of ApoA1 for predicting fetal death were 84.6% and 79.2%, the sensitivity and specificity of CRP for predicting fetal death were 76.9% and 84.4%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the combination of the two indicators for predicting fetal death were 100% and 67.5%. Conclusions:The severity of APIP was closely related to fetal death. Hypertension, ketoacidosis and blood level CRP were independent risk factors for fetal death, which should be paid special attention.

Objective To investigate the different radioprotective effects of total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) on human normal mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs) and hepatoma cells injured by 60 Coγ-ray radiation.Methods hMSCs and HepG-2 cells were cultured and randomly divided into TFA-treated and untreated groups.The cells of different groups were irradiated with 60 Co γ-rays at the dose of 6 Gy.MTT method was utilized to detect the survival rates of the hMSCs and HepG-2 cells pretreated or untreated with TFA before irradiation.Cell clone formation test was used to measure the cellular radiosensitivity.The apoptosis rates of different groups were determined by flow cytometer assay.The expression rates of the apoptosis-promoting proteins Fas and Bax and the apoptosis-inhibiting protein Bcl-2 were analyzed by Western blotting.Results MTT showed that the survival rates of hMSCs pretreated by TFA were 1.15-1.95 times higher than that of the pure irradiation group.On the contrary,the survival rates of the TFA pretreated HepG-2 cells were only 0.53-0.23 times that of the pure irradiation group.There was a good dose-effect relationship between the cell survival rate and the TFA concentration.Cell clone formation rate indicated that combined treatment of TFA and radiation inhibited the cell proliferation more effectively than single TFA or pure radiation.Flow cytometry showed that 6,24 and,48 h post-irradiation to 6 Gy,the apoptosis rates of the hMSCs were 23.3% ,11.2% ,and 2.9% ,respectively in the TFA pretreated group and were 29.3% ,24.9% ,and 13.6% in the pure radiation group.However,the apoptosis rates of the HepG-2 cells at 6,24,and 48 h post-irradiation to 6 Gy were 11.6% ,17.3% ,and 20.1% ,respectively in the TFA pretreated group and were 6.9% ,9.3% ,and 15.8% ,respectively in the direct radiation group.Western blotting showed that the expression levels of Fas and Bax proteins in the HepG-2 cells were significantly higher in the TFA pretreated group than in the pure radiation group.On the contrary,the expression level of the apoptosis inhibiting protein Bcl-2 was significantly lower in the TFA pretreated group than in the pure radiation group.Conclusions TFA has obvious effects of radiological protection on human hMSCs and has no effects of radiological protection but effects of apoptosis enhancement on hepatoma cells.The promotion of apoptosis of TFA on hepatoma cells is primarily through increasing the expression of apoptotic proteins such as Fas and Bax and reducing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

Objective :To explore the feasibility and clinical value of real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echo‐cardiography (RT‐3D TEE) in diagnosis of congenital heart valvular disease (CHVD).Methods :A total of 135 CH‐VD patients treated in our hospital were selected .All patients received surgery ,and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and RT‐3D TEE inspection successively within 7d before surgery .Heart valve lesion condition was observed , and diagnostic results of two methods and surgical outcome were compared and analyzed .Results :RT‐3D TEE could display the morphological structure ,lesion degree and peripheral blood flow of heart valves in CHVD patients in a multi‐angle ,stereoscopic and clear way .It could find heart valve disease which is difficult to be identified by TTE , and corrected the diagnostic deviation .With surgical results as the gold standard ,diagnostic coincidence rate of RT‐3D TEE was significantly higher than that of TTE (97. 04% vs.91. 11%, P＝0.039).CHVD diagnosed by RT‐3D TEE and TTE possessed a intermediate consistency (Kappa＝0.477 , P＝0. 001).Conclusion :RT‐3D TEE can pro‐vide more imaging information for the diagnosis of CHVD ,which can be used as an effective supplement for preop‐erative TTE examination .