Objective To evaluate the clinical application and safety of CT-guided pereutaneous transthoracic biopsy in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses.Methods Thirty three cases were undertaken CT- guided percutaneous transthoraeie biopsy with automatic biopsy gun and then the sampling specimens were undergone histological examination.The accuracy of puncture,diagnostic correctness and complications were analyzed.Results The operations were performed successfully in all 33 cases(100%),the definite pathologic diagnosis were made in 28 out of 33 cases(85%)and no complications occurred.Conclusion As for midiastinal masses,CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic biopsy is a feasible,successful,efficient interventional diagnostic method with high accuracy in localization,puncture,diagnosis and few complications, which should he recommended in clinical use more widely.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:852-854)

Objective To investigate the effect of frequency on osteoblast apoptosis induced by tensile strain.Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were applied with 1％ biaxial tensile strain at the frequency of 1,2,3,4,5 Hz,re spectively for 1 hour per day in 8 days.The survival rate of the cells was determined by activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).Annexin V-FITC/ PI Flow cytometry was used to test cell apoptosis.Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the gene level of apoptosis markers caspase-3,-9 as well as Bcl-2 and Bax,and Western blotting was used to test protein expressions of caspase-3,-9.Results Different loading frequencies had no effect on osteoblast activity of LDH.There was no significant difference in the total apoptosis rate of flow cytometry at different frequencies.However,the frequency of 2 Hz could induce early osteoblast apoptosis.Tensile strain at the frequency of 2 Hz could significantly increase the expression of caspase-3,-9 gene and protein,and induce cell apoptosis with the up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2.Conclusions Osteoblast apoptosis and death cannot be induced by 1％ biaxial tensile strain at the frequency of 1-5 Hz,but the frequency of 2 Hz can induce the early apoptosis of osteoblasts by up-regulating the expression of Bax/BCI-2.

This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L^-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is severe respiratory failure in clinical practice, with a mortality rate as high as 40%. Injury of pulmonary endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells occurs during ARDS, and pulmonary endothelial injury results in endothelial barrier disruption, which usually occurs before epithelial injury. Especially, when harmful factors enter the blood, such as sepsis and hemorrhagic shock, the pulmonary endothelial cells are affected firstly. The injured endothelial cells may loss cell-to-cell connections and even die. After the endothelial barrier is disrupted, fluid and proteins cross the endothelial barrier, causing interstitial edema. The alveolar epithelium is more resistant to injury, and when the tight barrier of the epithelium is broken, fluids, proteins, neutrophils, and red blood cells in the interstitium enter the alveolar space. From this process, it is easy to find that the endothelium is the first barrier to prevent edema, therefore, the protection of endothelium is the key to the prevention and treatment of ARDS. In addition, the injured endothelial cells express selectin and cell adhesion molecules, promoting the recruitment of immune cells, which exacerbate the inflammatory response and pulmonary endothelial cell injury. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be derived from umbilical cord, bone marrow, adipose and so on. Because of low immunogenicity, MSCs can be used for allogeneic transplantation and have great application potential in tissue repairing. Through paracrine effect, MSCs can promote cell survival and balance inflammatory response. MSCs infused intravenously can locate in lungs rapidly and interact with endothelial cells directly, thus MSCs have advantages in protecting pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Animal experiments and clinical trials have found that MSC transplantation can significantly improve the symptoms of ARDS and reduce inflammatory reactions and endothelial permeability. Mechanically, MSCs acts mainly through paracrine and immunomodulatory effects. Paracrine cytokines from MSCs can not only promote pulmonary endothelial proliferation, but also reduce inflammatory response and promote cell survival to maintain endothelial integrity. In addition to paracrine cytokines, extracellular vesicles of MSCs are rich in RNAs, proteins and bioactive substances, which can protect pulmonary endothelial cells by intercellular communication and substance transport. Furthermore, MSCs may protect pulmonary endothelial cells indirectly by regulating immune cells, such as reducing the formation of extracellular trapping network of neutrophils, regulating macrophage polarization and regulating Th17/Treg cell balance. Although the beneficial effects of MSCs are verified, much work still needs to be done. MSCs from different tissues have their own characteristics and the scope of application. Different lung diseases possess different endothelial injury mechanisms. Thus, determining the indications of MSCs derived from different tissues is the direction of pulmonary disease clinical trials. From the perspective of transplantation route, intravenous injection of MSCs may have better clinical application in pulmonary endothelial injury caused by endogenous harmful factors in blood. Previous reviews mostly focused on the protective effects of MSCs on alveolar epithelium. In this article, we focused on endothelial cells and reviewed the direct protective effects and mechanisms of MSCs on endothelium through paracrine cytokines and extracellular vesicles, and summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs may indirectly protect pulmonary endothelial cells by regulating immune cells.

OBJECTIVEThis study was aimed to detect the FLT3 gene mutation in patients with de-novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and to investigate its prognostic value and clinical significance.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect FLT3 gene mutation, in bone marrow samples of 54 patients with de novo AML.

RESULTSThe incidence of FLT3-ITD mutation in 54 de-novo AML patients was 22.22%, 10 out of 12(83.3%) AML patients were identified with normal karyotype, while 16.7% patients were identified as with abnormal karyotype. The peripheral blood white cell count and bone marrow blast cells were significantly higher in the patients with FLT3-ITD mutation than those in patients without FLT3-ITD mutation (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in sex, age, CR rate of the first course induction chemotherapy, survival rate and so on between the two groups. Two cases had FLT3-TKD gene mutation; as compared with FLT3-TKD negative AML patients there was no statistical difference in sex, age, white blood cell count, the percentage of marrow blasts and CR rate of the first course of treatment at the initial diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONFLT3-ITD mutation positive likely occurs in AML patients with normal karyotype, the FLT3-ITD mutation is associated with higher peripheral white cell count and higher percentage of bone marrow blast cells.

Abnormal Karyotype ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukocyte Count ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

Objective To investigate the distribution of alleles in 19 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci in Jiangsu Han population.Methods Goldeneye20A kit was used to detect 9 025 samples.Genetic analysis was performed on typing data of 19 autosomal STR loci, and genetic distance with other 17 populations was analyzed.Results All the 19 autosomal STR loci were consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P＞0.05), with the heterozygosity 0.616 1-0.916 3, probability of match 0.012 8-0.202 6, discrimination power 0.797 4-0.987 2, probability of paternity exclusion 0.310 8-0.828 8, and polymorphic information content 0.561 7-0.913 6.The cumulative discrimination power and cumulative probability of exclusion were 0.999 999 999 999 999 998 434 1 and 0.999 999 989, respectively.The Jiangsu Han population had close genetic distances with the Han population in Tianjin, Hunan and Jilin, and significant difference with Han population in Aletai region in Xinjiang (P＜0.05).Conclusion The STR allele polymorphism data and population genetic parameters of Jiangsu Han population can provide data support for the forensic application of these STR loci in Jiangsu Han population.

BACKGROUNDIron is a biocorrodible metal that might be used in bioabsorbable stents. This study investigated the effects at the cellular and protein levels of soluble divalent iron (ferrous gluconate) and soluble trivalent iron (ferric chloride) on the proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) in vitro.

METHODSThe water-soluble tetrazolium (WST-1) test was used to evaluate the effect of iron on proliferation of HASMC and Western blotting was used to measure the levels of signaling proteins involved in proliferative and apoptosis pathways.

RESULTSHASMC proliferation was inhibited in a concentration dependent manner after treatment with soluble divalent and trivalent iron at concentrations of 100-500 µmol/L. Western blotting analysis showed that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression following treatment with soluble divalent iron and trivalent iron at 100, 300 and 500 µmol/L was reduced compared to the control. The PCNA expression decreased with increasing iron concentration and to a greater extent with the trivalent iron than with the divalent iron treatment group. The p53 expression was markedly increased in a concentration dependent manner in both iron treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONThe soluble divalent iron and, to a greater degree trivalent iron, inhibited HASMC proliferation in a dosedependent manner, which may be attributed to reduction of PCNA expression and increase of p53 expression.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; chemistry ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the roles and clinical significance of innate immune receptors and cytokine in children with measles.

METHODThe children with measles hospitalized in the department of infectious diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University during 2009-2011 were enrolled into measles group, while the healthy children examined in well baby clinic were enrolled into control group. The mRNA expression of TLR2/3/4/7, melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA-5), retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), IFN-α/β and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of IFN-α, IFN-β and IL-10 in plasma were measured using ELISA. SPSS 13.0 software was applied to analyze the difference between two groups.

RESULTData from a total of 98 patients in measles group and 59 children in control group were collected. The mRNA expressions of TLR2, MDA-5 and RIG-I had no statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05, respectively). The relative mRNA expressions of TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 in measles group (2.25 ± 0.74, 2.05 ± 0.72, 2.12 ± 0.29) were significantly lower than those in control group (2.09 ± 0.78, 1.90 ± 0.75, 1.87 ± 0.68) (P < 0.01; respectively). Both IFN-α and IFN-β had significantly decreased mRNA expressions in measles patients (2.41 ± 1.31, 2.47 ± 1.26) compared with those in controls (2.22 ± 0.48, 2.35 ± 0.64)(P < 0.01 respectively); however, IL-10 mRNA levels significantly increased (2.49 ± 0.58 vs. 2.62 ± 0.95) (P < 0.001). The IL-10 levels in plasma in measles group were significantly higher during the whole period of fever [<5 d group: 29.89 (25.82-38.15) ng/L and ≥ 5 d group:34.55 (28.26-38.70) ng/L] than that in control group [25.15 (24.20-27.38) ng/L] (P < 0.05 respectively).

CONCLUSIONTLR3/4/7 mRNA expression was low in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of measles patients. Levels of IL-10 were significantly raised in the early stage after infection and lasted for a long time, and reduced IFN-α levels in plasma were associated with the fever durations of measles patients. These results indicated that multiple TLRs and cytokines may participate in the immune response after measles virus infection.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Measles ; immunology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of frequency on osteoblast apoptosis induced by tensile strain. Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were applied with 1% biaxial tensile strain at the frequency of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Hz, respectively for 1 hour per day in 8 days. The survival rate of the cells was determined by activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Annexin V-FITC/ PI Flow cytometry was used to test cell apoptosis. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the gene level of apoptosis markers caspase-3, -9 as well as Bcl-2 and Bax, and Western blotting was used to test protein expressions of caspase-3, -9. Results Different loading frequencies had no effect on osteoblast activity of LDH. There was no significant difference in the total apoptosis rate of flow cytometry at different frequencies. However, the frequency of 2 Hz could induce early osteoblast apoptosis. Tensile strain at the frequency of 2 Hz could significantly increase the expression of caspase-3, -9 gene and protein, and induce cell apoptosis with the up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2. Conclusions Osteoblast apoptosis and death cannot be induced by 1% biaxial tensile strain at the frequency of 1-5 Hz, but the frequency of 2 Hz can induce the early apoptosis of osteoblasts by up-regulating the expression of Bax/BCl-2.

ObjectiveThe absorption of substances into blood is mainly dependent on the mesenteric lymphatic pathway and the portal venous pathway. The substances transported via the portal venous pathway can be metabolized by the biotransformation in the liver. On the contrary, the substances in the mesenteric lymph fluid enter the blood circulation without biotransformation and can affect the body directly. Alcohol consumption is strongly linked to global health risk. Previous reports have analyzed the changes of metabolites in plasma, serum, urine, liver and feces after alcohol consumption. Whether alcohol consumption affects the metabolites in lymph fluid is still unknown. Therefore, it is particularly important to explore the changes of substances transported via the mesenteric lymphatic pathway and analyze their harmfulness after alcohol drinking. MethodsIn this study, male Wistar rats were divided into high, medium, and low-dosage alcohol groups (receiving Chinese Baijiu at 56%, 28% and 5.6% ABV, respectively) and water groups. The experiment was conducted by alcohol gavage lasting 10 d, 10 ml·kg^-1·d^-1. Then mesenteric lymph fluid was collected for non-targeted metabolomic analysis by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and bioinformatic analysis. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were performed by using Biodeep. Meanwhile, KEGG enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites was also performed by Biodeep. MetaboAnalyst was used to analyze the relationship between the differential metabolites and diseases. ResultsThe metabolites in the mesenteric lymph fluid of the high-dosage alcohol group change the most. Based on the KEGG enrichment analysis, the pathways of differential metabolites between the high-dosage alcohol group and the control group are mainly enriched in the central carbon metabolism in cancer, bile secretion, linoleic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, etc. Interestingly, in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids category, the content of arachidonic acid is increased by 7.25 times, whereas the contents of palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid and erucic acid all decrease, indicating lipid substances in lymph fluid are absorbed selectively after alcohol intake. It’s worth noting that arachidonic acid is closely related to inflammatory response. Furthermore, the differential metabolites are mainly related with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and lung cancer. The differential metabolites between the medium-dosage alcohol and the control group were mainly enriched in phenylalanine metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism and cholesterol metabolism. The differential metabolites are mainly related to schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease. As the dose of alcohol increases, the contents of some metabolites in lymph fluid increase, including cholesterol, L-leucine, fumaric acid and mannitol, and the number of metabolites related to schizophrenia also tends to increase, indicatingthat some metabolites absorbed by the intestine-lymphatic pathway are dose-dependent on alcohol intake. ConclusionAfter alcohol intake, the metabolites transported via the intestinal-lymphatic pathway are significantly changed, especially in the high-dosage group. Some metabolites absorbed via the intestinal-lymphatic pathway are dose-dependent on alcohol intake. Most importantly, alcohol intake may cause inflammatory response and the occurrence of neurological diseases, psychiatric diseases and cancer diseases. High-dosage drinking may aggravate or accelerate the occurrence of related diseases. These results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of alcohol-related diseases based on the intestinal-lymphatic pathway.