In order to investigate the influence of angiotensin II on hematopoietic system, CD34+ cells in cord blood were purified, and the effects of angiotensin II in combination with various cytokines on their growth and differentiation were studied by cell culture in vitro. It was found that angiotensin II in suspending medium could stimulate both BFU-E and CFU-GM expansion. The number of BFU-E and CFU-GM was increased with the increases of angiotensin II concentrations during a certain range. In addition, the expansion fold of CFU-GM was increased from 2.3 +/- 0.8 times to 7.8 +/- 2.3 times when angiotensin II was added in the presence of SCF+G-CSF+GM-CSF+IL3 cytokines mixture. Similarly, the expansion fold of BFU-E was increased from 3.1 +/- 1.8 times to 9. 2 +/- 2.3 times with angiotensin II in the presence of SCF+EPO+TPO+IL-3. In the semi-solid medium, angiotensin II could stimulate CFU-GM expansion but had no effect on the growth of BFU-E. In conclusion, angiotensin II had some stimulating effects on cord blood hematopoietic progenitors expansion in vitro in the presence of other cytokines.
Angiotensin II/*pharmacology ; Antigens, CD34/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Fetal Blood/*cytology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*cytology

Purpose To explore the effect of Levothyroxine on spatial working memory in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) using blood oxygenation level dependent-functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI). Materials and Methods Sixteen patients with SCH before and after 6 months levothyroxine (LT4) treatment and 16 matched euthyroid volunteers underwent n-back task fMRI scanning. AFNI software was used for localization and quantification. Results All the subjects demonstrated activated areas including bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilateral premotor area (PreMA), supplementary motor area/anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral parietal area (PA) and right caudate nucleus/thalamus, with right hemisphere dominance. Quantitative analysis of regions of interests showed that all these regions had load effect related to memory load in the control group (P<0.001), whereas only left DLPFC, left PA, bilateral PreMA and right caudate nucleus/thalamus showed the same effect in SCH group. After 6-month treatment with LT4, BOLD signal change was observed in SCH patients within the right DLPFC, right PA and anterior cingulate/supplementary motor cortex (P<0.001). The activation intensity of working memory related brain regions was lower in SCH group compared with that of the control group. Conclusion Spatial working memory impairments in SCH patients are likely related to decreased right DLPFC and right posterior parietal function. LT4 replacement therapy is important to improve and reverse the memory impairment.

In order to investigate the influence of angiotensin Ⅱ on hematopoietic system, CD34+cells in cord blood were purified, and the effects of angiotensin Ⅱ in combination with various cytokines on their growth and differentiation were studied by cell culture in vitro. It was found that angiotensin Ⅱ in suspending medium could stimulate both BFU-E and CFU-GM expansion. The number of BFU-E and CFU-GM was increased with the increases of angiotensin Ⅱ concentrations during a certain range. In addition, the expansion fold of CFU-GM was increased from 2.3±0.8 times to 7.8±2.3 times when angiotensin Ⅱ was added in the presence of SCF+G-CSF+GM-CSF+IL-3 cytokines mixture. Similarly, the expansion fold of BFU-E was increased from 3.1 ±1.8 times to 9.2±2.3 times with angiotensin Ⅱ in the presence of SCF+EPO+TPO+IL-3. In the semi-solid medium, angiotensin Ⅱ could stimulate CFU-GM expansion but had no effect on the growth of BFU-E. In conclusion, angiotensin Ⅱ had some stimulating effects on cord blood hematopoietic progenitors expansion in vitro in the presence of other cytokines.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccination in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to analyze the factors related to vaccination.Methods:Data were obtained from 1 203 patients with SLE, via a multi-center web-based survey using an online questionnaire. Data about their social conditions, clinical presentations, willingness for being vaccinated, vaccination within 5 years were collected. Demographic data were shown by descriptive analysis. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the power of related indexes as predictors of vaccination.Results:The vaccination rates of influenza, pneumococcal, HBV, HPV, and VZV were 5.49% (66/1 203), 0.66% (8/1 203), 2.08% (25/1 203), 3.82% (46/1 203), and 0.17% (2/1 203), respectively. Data analysis showed that higher education ( χ2=30.94, P<0.001) and higher income ( χ2=10.70, P=0.001) had greater effects on influenza vaccination. There was a relationship between HPV vaccination and higher education ( χ2=20.96, P<0.001), higher income ( χ2=20.56, P<0.001), younger age ( χ2=8.54, P=0.001), and single ( χ2=5.63, P=0.018). Male ( χ2=10.27, P=0.001) and higher education ( χ2=4.52, P=0.034) were associated with HBV vaccination. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher education [ OR (95% CI)=2.14 (1.10, 4.18), P=0.026], having children under 18 years-old [ OR(95% CI)=1.802(1.02, 3.18), P=0.042], and hydroxychloroquine usage [ OR(95% CI)=2.55(1.06, 6.15), P=0.037], had a positive correlation with influenza vaccination. Male [ OR(95% CI)=4.24(1.37, 13.08), P=0.012], had an impact on HBV vaccination. The factors related to HPV vaccination included age <45 [ OR (95% CI)=0.93(0.89, 0.97), P=0.001], higher education [ OR(95% CI)=2.28(1.11, 4.65), P=0.024], higher income [ OR(95% CI)=2.68(1.32, 3.41), P=0.006] and the usage of immunosuppressive agents [ OR(95% CI)=1.92(1.03, 3.59), P=0.041]. Conclusion:The prevalence of vaccination in patients with SLE is low. Patients with higher education and income are more likely to being vaccinated.