Objective To investigate the effects of liver X receptor agonist on the expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand and smooth muscle cell ?-actin in the aorta of ApoE gene knockout mice with earlier atherosclerosis. Methods Male ApoE gene knockout mice (8-week old) were divided randomly into control group and T0901317 treatment group (n=6 in each group). The mice in T0901317 group were administered intraperitoneally with T0901317 at the dose of 20 mg?kg-1?d-1 for 4 weeks. Mice in the control group were only given equivalent amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand and smooth muscle cell ?-actin were detected by immunological histochemical method. Results The expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand in the atherosclerotic plaque in the aortic wall were significantly lower in T0901317 group as compared with those in the DMSO control group (P0.05). Conclusion Liver X receptor agonist may reduce the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by inhibiting the inflammation and the expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand in the aorta of ApoE gene knockout mice.

Objective To investigate the effects of celastrol on the expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in the aorta of apoE gene knockout mice with earlier atherosclerosis.Methods Eight-week-old ApoE gene knockout male mice were divided randomly into control group and celastrol treatment group(n=6 in each group).The mice in celastrol group were given.celastrol(2 mg?kg-1?d-1)by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks;and the mice in control group were only given equivalent amount of dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO).HE staining of root aorta were used to observe the histomorphological changes and measure the size of plaque in ApoE-/-mice.The expressions of MIF and MMP-9 were detected by immunological histochemical method.Results The area of lipid plaque in the mice treated with celastrol was significantly smaller than that of the control(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of fluid load on the prognosis of severe hand , foot and mouth disease in children. Methods The patients with severe hand foot and mouth disease in the emergency department of PICU in our hospital were enrolled as the research object. We would collect demographic characteristics , labora-tory tests and clinical data: age, gender, focus, basic disease, and simplified acute severity score (SAPS)Ⅱ and record the cumulative amount of fluid balance at 24, 48, 72 hours after admission. Results There was a signifi-cant difference on fluid balance at 48 and 72 hours between the survival group and the death group , the death group appeared the positive liquid balance , and there were significant differences in PICU retention time , mechani-cal ventilation rate, MODF involved organs, mortality and other prognostic indicators between the negative fluid balance group and the positive fluid balance group. Conclusion Fluid balance is an important treatment for severe hand foot and mouth disease, and positive liquid balance is related to mortality and other adverse prognosis.

Urinary prothrombin fragment 1 (UPTF1) is a potent inhibitor of urinary stone formation. UPTF1 exerts such inhibitory effect by effective γ-carboxylation in which vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), the rate-limiting enzyme, is involved. This study examined the correlation between VKORC1 expression and calcium oxalate urolithiasis. The renal cortex samples were obtained from patients undergoing nephrectomy and then divided into 3 groups: urolithiasis group, control group A [hydronephrosis-without-stone (HWS) group], control group B (normal control group). The localization and expression of VKORC1 in renal tissues were determined by using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and SYBR Green I real-time reverse-transcription PCR. The rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were conducted to obtain the 3'- and 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of VKORC1. The results showed that VKORC1 was located in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells. The expression of VKORC1 in the urolithiasis group was significantly lower than that in the other two control groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the 3'- and 5'-UTR sequence of the VKORC1 gene was successfully cloned. No insertion or deletion was found in the 3'- and 5'-UTR. However, a 171-bp new base sequence was discovered in the upstream of 5'-UTR end in the urolithiasis group. It was concluded that the decreased expression of VKORC1 may contribute to the development of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in the kidney.

OBJECTIVETo investigate aberrant methylation in the promoter of p16 gene in the sediment cells of pleural effusion and evaluate its clinical significance in the differentiating benign and malignant pleural effusion.

METHODSUsing methylation-specific PCR (MSP), aberrant promoter methylation of p16 gene was detected in the sedimental cells of pleural effusion samples from 66 patients with pleural effusion.

RESULTSOf the 66 patients with pleural effusion, 36 had a definite diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion, and the rest were confirmed to have benign pleural effusion. The positivity rate of p16 gene promoter methylation was 69.4% (25/36) in malignant pleural effusion and 13.3% (4/30) in benign pleural effusion specimens, showing a significant difference between them (χ² = 20.915, P < 0.01). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of aberrant promoter methylation of p16 gene in the 36 malignant cases were 69.4%, 86.7% and 77.3%, respectively. The positive expression of p16 gene promoter methylation in malignant pleural effusion was not correlated to the histological type or the pathological grade of the tumor (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetection of aberrant methylation in p16 gene promoter in the sediment cells of pleural effusion specimens by MSP method allows differentiation between benign and malignant pleural effusion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To evaluate flow-cytometry and Nageotte method for counting residual WBC in thrombocytaphoresis concentrates, their accuracies were determined by dilution studies separately; the repeatability was determined by measuring the interassay coefficient of variation for 14 replicates of a sample with known leukocyte concentration. 102 samples of leukocyte-depleted thrombocytaphoresis concentrates were detected by the above mentioned two methods, and the results were compared each other. The results showed that no difference was observed between two methods over a range of leukocyte concentrations from 0.8 to 10 WBC/microl (P > 0.05). In conclusion, flow-cytometry and Nageotte methods can be used for quality control of WBC-reduced blood components.
Blood Component Transfusion ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; methods ; Leukocyte Reduction Procedures ; methods ; Plateletpheresis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of FTY720, a new immunosuppressive agent, on apoptosis and autophagy in multiple myeloma(MM) cell line U266 and to clarify its molecular mechanism.

METHODSU266 cells were treated with 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 µmol/L FTY720 for 24 hours, and the cell viability was assayed by CCK-8 method. Then U266 cells were treated with 20.0 µmol/L FTY720 for 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours, the cell viability was tested. The apoptotic rates induced by different doses and time points of FTY720 were tested by flow cytometry separately. The expression of LC3B was detected by Western blot after U266 cells treated with different doses of FTY720 to see autophagy. U266 cells were treated with FTY720 ± Bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of autophagy, for 24 hours, then the cell viability and apoptotic rates were tested. Meanwhile the expression of survivin, anti-apoptotic factors, were tested by Western blot.

RESULTSThe cell viability and the apoptotic rates were inhibited significantly by FTY720 (P < 0.05) in time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. The expression of LC3B-II increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, it indicated that the autophagy was induced by FTY720. Bafilomycin A1 could rescue the cell viability and apoptotic rates in U266 cells treated with FTY720, and it could also rescue the expression of survivin decreased by FTY720.

CONCLUSIONSFTY720 can cause apoptosis and autophagy of U266 cells. The autophagy promote the apoptosis, which maybe due to the degradation of anti-apoptotic factors such as survivin or their upstream factors in lysosomes through autophagy.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fingolimod Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Propylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Sphingosine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of monitoring the serum cardiac biomarkers in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and secondary myocardial injury.

METHODSThe serum cardiac biomarkers including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), cardiac tropnin I (cTnI) and myoglobin (Myo) were measured using immunochemiluminescent assays in 36 patients with PTE, who were diagnosed according to imaging findings in the recent 5 years. The measurements in concomitant non-PTE patients free of heart, liver, or kidney diseases were used as the baseline values of the biomarkers. Correlation analysis of the measurements was conducted in relation to the pulmonary embolism area, pulmonary hypertension and mortality rate.

RESULTSThe PTE patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of the serum cardiac biomarkers including AST (56.14-/+15.73 U/L), LDH (303.06-/+94.99 U/L), HBDH (234.67-/+87.86 U/L), CK-MB (26.19-/+12.39 U/L), CK (129.25-/+76.14 U/L), Myo (70.63-/+45.75 ng/ml), and cTnI (0.45-/+0.41 ng/ml) in comparison with the baseline values (P < 0.01). Of these biomarkers, AST and CK-MB showed a significant correlation to the mortality, cTnI was correlated to pulmonary hypertension, and Myo was correlated to pulmonary hypertension and massive pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSIONMeasurements of these serum cardiac biomarkers may serve as indicators for diagnosis of myocardial injury secondary to PTE. AST, CK-MB, cTnI, and Myo can help assess the prognosis of the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; blood ; etiology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; blood ; complications

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship of Ki-67 proliferation index (Ki-67 PI) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) typing and biological behavior, as well as its significance in clinical characters and prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL). A total of 542 cases of NHL in our hospital from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed, and Ki-67 PI was all assayed immunohistochemically, and a total of 82 cases of newly-diagnosed DLBCL with more clinical records were investigated. The results indicated that according to the World Health Organization (WHO) histopathological classification of lymphoma, Ki-67 PI was different as classification for NHL subgroups was different. The Ki-67 PI increased with aggressive progression of NHL. The mean Ki-67 PI ranged from 25.5% in indolent lymphoma to 98.4% in very aggressive lymphoma. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the 50% was the cut-off value distinguishing indolent from aggressive disease. On ROC curve analysis, Ki-67 PI of 75% was found to significantly discriminate patients with DLBCL who had a good or bad prognosis. There was a significant correlation of Ki-67 PI with Ann Arbor stage and LDH level. When the DLBCL cases were divided by Ann Arbor stage and IPI score, the 3-year overall survival (OS) of patients with a low Ki-67 PI (≤ 75%) in the group of Ann Arbor stage III-IV and high LDH level was higher than those with a high Ki-67 PI (> 75%) among the patients with B symptoms and IPI 3.0-5. 3-year OS in those with a low Ki-67 PI (≤ 75%) in the group of Ann Arbor stage III-IV and normal LDH level was higher than those with a high Ki-67 PI (> 75%) among the patients with B symptoms. 3-year OS of patients with a low Ki-67 PI (≤ 75%) in the group at III-IV stage and a high LDH level was higher than those with a high Ki-67 PI (> 75%). It is concluded that a cut-off value of 50% can be helpful to differentiate indolent from aggressive NHL. In DLBCL, a cut-off value of 75% can distinguish patients with a good or bad prognosis when combined with other prognostic factors, i.e. B symptoms, Ann Arbor stage, IPI score and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level.
Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of embelin on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSDifferent concentration of embelin were used to treat HL-60 cells. Cell growth curve was analysed by MTT assay, cell apoptosis by Annexin V/PI double staining and JC-1 dye. The differentiation of HL-60 cells was evaluated by expression of CD33, CD34, CD11b and CD14. Bone marrow cells (BMC) from nine patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANML) were also studied.

RESULTSEmbelin induced differentiation of HL-60 cells with significant increase of CD14 and CD11b expression at 33.97µmol/L for 3 days (P < 0.01). Embelin induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, the apoptosis rates were (9.23 ± 0.05)%, (25.86 ± 0.30)% and (39.03 ± 0.07)% respectively at 339.67 µmol/L of embelin for 12-, 24- and 48-hours treatment (P < 0.05); the apoptosis rates were (0.07 ± 0.03)%, (7.43 ± 0.30)%, (14.01 ± 0.01)%, (25.52 ± 0.03)% and (39.15 ± 0.01)% respectively at 10.19, 33.97, 101.90, 339.67 and 1019.02 µmol/L of embelin for 24-hours culture (P < 0.05). Clusters of differentiation antigen on BMC from three acute promyelocytic leukemia patients showed significant changes at 33.97 µmol/L of embelin treatment for 3 days. Embelin induced apoptosis of BMCs from all the nine ANML patients at 33.97 µmol/L for 24 hour.

CONCLUSIONEmbelin can inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells. The mechanism may be related to mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Embelin at subtoxic concentration doesn't promote leukemia BMC differentiation, but at 339.67 µmol/L induces apoptosis of these cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism