This study was purposed to investigate the angiogenesis-promoting activities of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) modified by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the underlying mechanisms. The hMSCs were transfected by recombinant adenoviral vector carrying human HGF gene and seeded onto the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Three days later, the number of blood vessels was counted and their angiogenic response was compared with those of hMSCs of same generation, recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and alpha-MEM as control. The expression levels of bFGF, VEGF, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 were evaluated by RT-PCR assay. The results showed that gene-modified hMSCs exhibited greatest activity to promote angiogenesis while the angiogenic response was nearly same between groups treated by hMSCs and bFGF, all of which were significantly higher than that observed in control (p < 0.01). RT-PCR analysis revealed that hMSCs constitutively expressed multiple angiogenesis-associated growth factors and their levels seemed up-regulated by HGF gene transfer. It is concluded that HGF gene-modified hMSCs show a potent angiogenesis-promoting function and may be useful in the treatment of ischemic disorders.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; genetics ; Transfection

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Recently, the immunotherapy has been highlighted among cancer treatments. Cancer-testis antigen (CTA) has been studied in a variety of solid tumors because of its specific expression in tumors, and testis, ovary and placenta tissues, but not in other normal tissues. In order to provide a new approach for multiple myeloma (MM) immunotherapy, we examined the CTA expression in MM cell lines, and primary myeloma cells in patients with MM. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in MM cell lines of RPMI-8226 and U266, and bone marrow (BM) cells of 25 MM patients and 18 healthy volunteers. The results showed that the 4 CTAs were expressed in RPMI-8226 and U266 cell lines. The positive expression rate of MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in the BM cells of 25 MM patients was 28% (7/25), 80% (20/25), 40% (10/25) and 68% (17/25), respectively. In contrast, the expression of any member of the CTAs was not detected in BM cells of 18 healthy volunteers. The expression of two or more CTAs was detected in 80% (20/25) MM patients, and that of at least one CTA in 88% (22/25). The mRNA expression levels of SSX1 and SSX4 were significantly higher in patients with MM at stage III than in those at stage I and II (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the mRNA expression levels of MAGE-C1/CT7 and SSX2 in further stratified analyses by age, gender, MM types and percentage of MM cells in BM (P>0.05). In conclusion, our present study showed that MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 were co-expressed in MM cell lines and the primary myeloma cells in MM patients, but not expressed in BM cells of healthy subjects. The mRNA levels of SSX1 and SSX4 are associated with MM clinical stage. This work may provide a new insight into MM immunotherapy in the future.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the distribution and drug resistance characteristics of pathogenic bacteria in patients with neutropenic acute leukemia (AL) and bloodstream infections (BSI). Methods　The clinical data of 258 neutropenic acute leukemia patients with bloodstream infections, who admitted to Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2016 to December 2021, were collected and analyzed for pathogenic bacteria and drug resistance. Results A total of 268 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 258 patients, including 180 strains of gram-negative bacteria (67.16%), 61 strains of gram-positive bacteria (22.76%), and 27 strains of fungi (10.07%). Gram-negative bacteria were mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae (53/268, 19.78%), Escherichia coli (49/268, 18.28%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (41/268, 15.30%). Gram-positive bacteria were mainly coagulase negative Staphylococcus (31/268, 11.57%) and Staphylococcus aureus(17/268, 6.34%). The main fungi were Candida tropicalis (25/268, 9.33%). Escherichia coli (33/268, 12.31%) was the most common pathogen isolated from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25/268, 9.33%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (18/268, 6.72%) and Candida tropicalis (18/268, 6.72%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (35/268, 13.06%) was the most common pathogen isolated from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL),followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15/268, 5.60%) and Escherichia coli (14/268, 5.22%). The resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, amikacin, cefoxitin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was low. Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin. Candida was sensitive to flucytosine, amphotericin B and itraconazole. Conclusions　In patients with granulosa after AL chemotherapy combined with BSI, the pathogenic bacteria isolated from AML are diverse, and the pathogenic bacteria isolated from ALL are mainly gram-negative bacteria. Pathogenic bacteria have different degrees of drug resistance to commonly used antibacterial drugs, so it is important to strengthen the monitoring of the distribution of pathogenic bacteria and the change of drug resistance and rational use of antibacterial drugs to minimize the death of patients.

Objective To study the personality characteristics of the stagnation of liver-qi syndrome cases with Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).Methods 20 liver-qi stagnation syndrome cases and 20 normal persons whose paired by sex and age were tested by MMPI. The scores of 13 clinical scales and the section plane of MMPI were acquired and analyzed. Results There was a significant difference in 9 clinical scales (F, Pa, D, Pt, Si, Sc, Hs, Hy, Pd) between the liver-qi stagnation syndrome cases and normal persons ( P<0.05～0.001). The scores of Hs, D, Hy, Pd in the liver-qi stagnation syndrome group were higher than the Chinese normal model. The MMPI section plane of liver-qi stagnation group presented the type of 3/1. Conclusion The patients with liver-qi stagnation have some special personality characteristics such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, indifferent and attention.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cases of anaphylactic death cases and explore the standards of judicial expertise of anaphylactic death for providing evidence for judicial expertise. METHODS: Fifty-nine cases death due to allergic reaction in Shanghai were collected. And details of medical history, clinical manifestation of anaphylactic reaction and postmortem examination findings were reviewed for all cases. RESULTS: In the 59 cases, there were 58 cases died from drug allergy, including 77.6% of them were antibiotics. The rates of treating in standard hospital and illegal clinic were 37.3% and 61.0%, respectively. The allergic symptoms were dyspnea and facial cyanosis. The time from contacting allergens to death ranged from 1 min to 3 d. The concentration of total serum IgE ranged from 50 to 576.92 IU/mL. The results of clinical manifestation and pathological anatomy had obviously changes. CONCLUSION Based on the exclusion of all other cause of death and synthetically analysis of details of cases, medical history, clinical manifestation and anatomy, the conclusion of anaphylactic death can reached. The details of cases including clinical history, exposure to allergens, and clinical manifestation play an important role in diagnosis of anaphylactic death.
Anaphylaxis/mortality* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects* ; Autopsy ; China ; Drug Hypersensitivity/mortality* ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans

Human violent behavior is a complex behavior which is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. There is a trend in investigating the mechanism of violent behavior by using the genetic methods. This article reviews several candidate genes and advances in epigenetics which are associated with violent behavior. The prospects and significance of violent behavior research from the view of gene polymorphism and epigenetics are also discussed.
Aggression ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Forensic Genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Violence

The contents of adenosine, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, parishin and sulfur dioxide residue were compared in differently-processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma to provide the basis for a reasonable processing method of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. The analysis was performed on a Merck Purospher STAR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) under gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The eluates were detected at 270 nm, and the column temperature was 35°C. The content of adenosin, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and parishin in processing of boiling or sulfur-fumigated were lower than that of in processing of steaming. Furthermore, the sulfur dioxide residue of sulphur-fumigated groups exceed 400 mg x kg(-1). This stable and reliable method will contribute to the quality control of different processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma.
Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

To compare the differences of the active ingredient contents and the sulfur dioxide residue in Astragali Radix before and after sulfur fumigation and provide a basis for establishing an alternative processing method. Astragali Radix, harvested at the same time in Longxi Gansu, were processed with different methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the contents of the active ingredients in Astragali Radix and the revised method of the pharmacopoeia of China in 2011 was applied to determine the sulfur dioxide residue. The results show that the three-fold sulfur-fumigation group has the highest level of astragaloside IV and the dried sulfur-fumigation group with 10% water has the lowest level; the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside is the highest in naturally dried group and the lowest in the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times; the sulfur dioxide residue of all sulfur-fumigation groups exceeds certain limit significantly and the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times reaches the highest level.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; adverse effects ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Background The domestic and international researches discovered that many proteins and enzymes of the extracellular matrix (ECM) participate in the sclera remodeling by affecting the collagen typeⅠand fibronectin.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) on expression of collagen typeⅠand fibronectin of ECM in the posterior sclera by injecting liposomes containing tissue inhibitor of TIMP-2 gene into suprachoroidal space of the form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig.Methods Form-deprivation myopia was induced by translucent goggles in 36 clean guinea pig for 2 weeks.Then the animals were randomly assigned to TIMP-2 group,empty plasmid group,saline group and 12 for each group.Liposomes of 5μl containing TIMP-2 gene,empty plasmid and saline were suprachoroidally injected in the right eye respectively,and the left eyes without any treatment were used as self-control group.Other 12 matched guinea pigs only covered the right eyes through out the experimental duration as model control group.The guinea pigs were sacrificed and the posterior sclera tissue of the eyeballs were collected at 2,7 and 14 days after injection of drug.The expressions of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).This study followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior sclera of guinea pig was lower but that of fibronectin mRNA was higher in TIMP-2 group than self-control group,showing significant differences between them (P＜0.05).The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue began to increase from the 2nd day after drug injection and was obviously elevated at the 7th day and then gradually decreased at the 14th day.However,the expression level of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue showed the opposite pattern.The expression levels of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA at the 7th after drug injection were significantly lower than that at the 2nd day or 14th day (P＜0.01).Conclusion Suprachoroidal injection of TIMP-2 in form-deprivation myopia could up-regulate the expression of collagen typeⅠmRNA and down-regulate the expression of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue.It may slow down the sclera remodeling of form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig in the early stage.