Cell migration is defined as the directional movement of cells toward a specific chemical concentration gradient, which plays a crucial role in embryo development, wound healing and tumor metastasis. However, current research methods showed low flux and are only suitable for single-factor assessment, and it was difficult to comprehensively consider the effects of other parameters such as different concentration gradients on cell migration behavior. In this paper, a four-channel microfluidic chip was designed. Its characteristics were as follows: it relied on laminar flow and diffusion mechanisms to establish and maintain a concentration gradient; it was suitable for observation of cell migration in different concentration gradient environment under a single microscope field; four cell isolation zones (20 μm width) were integrated into the microfluidic device to calibrate the initial cell position, which ensured the accuracy of the experimental results. In particular, we used COMSOL Multiphysics software to simulate the structure of the chip, which demonstrated the necessity of designing S-shaped microchannel and horizontal pressure balance channel to maintain concentration gradient. Finally, neutrophils were incubated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs, 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 μmol·L ^-1), which were closely related to diabetes mellitus and its complications. The migration behavior of incubated neutrophils was studied in the 100 nmol·L ^-1 of chemokine (N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine) concentration gradient. The results prove the reliability and practicability of the microfluidic chip.
Cell Movement ; Chemotaxis ; Equipment Design ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; Microfluidics ; Neutrophils ; Reproducibility of Results

Objective::Regarding the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there is great interest in preventing recurrent cardiovascular events (RCVEs). The prognostic importance of liver fibrosis scores (LFSs) has previously been reported in various CVDs. We hypothesized that LFSs might also be useful predictors for RCVEs in patients with prior cardiovascular events (CVEs). Herein, we aimed to evaluate the associations of LFSs with RCVEs in a large, real-world cohort of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with a prior CVE.Methods::In this multicenter prospective study, 6527 consecutive patients with angiography-diagnosed CAD who had experienced a prior CVE (acute coronary syndrome, stroke, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting) were enrolled. LFSs were computed according to the published formulas: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) includes age, body mass index (BMI), impaired fasting glycemia or diabetes mellitus (DM), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, platelets, and albumin; fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) includes age, AST, ALT, and platelets; Forns score includes age, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and platelets; BARD includes BMI, AST/ALT ratio, and DM; GGT/platelet ratio includes GGT and platelets; AST/ALT ratio includes AST and ALT; and AST/platelet ratio index includes AST and platelets. The originally reported cutoffs were used for the categorization of low-, intermediate-, and high-score subgroups. All patients were followed up for the occurrence of RCVEs (comprising cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke). Cox and Poisson regression analyses were used to assess the relationship of baseline LFSs with the risk of RCVE.Results::During a mean follow-up of (54.67 ± 18.80) months, 532 (8.2%) RCVEs were recorded. Intermediate and high NFS, FIB-4, Forns, and BARD scores were independently associated with an increased risk of RCVE (hazard ratios ranging from 1.42 to 1.75 for intermediate scores and 1.35 to 2.52 for high scores). In the subgroup analyses of sex, age, BMI, DM, and hypertension status, the increased risk of RCVEs with high LFSs (NFS, FIB-4, Forns, and BARD) was maintained across the different subgroups (all P < 0.05). Conclusion::This study showed that LFSs are indeed independently associated with RCVEs, suggesting that LFSs may be used as novel tools for risk stratification in CAD patients with a prior CVE.

Objective::Regarding the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there is great interest in preventing recurrent cardiovascular events (RCVEs). The prognostic importance of liver fibrosis scores (LFSs) has previously been reported in various CVDs. We hypothesized that LFSs might also be useful predictors for RCVEs in patients with prior cardiovascular events (CVEs). Herein, we aimed to evaluate the associations of LFSs with RCVEs in a large, real-world cohort of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with a prior CVE.Methods::In this multicenter prospective study, 6527 consecutive patients with angiography-diagnosed CAD who had experienced a prior CVE (acute coronary syndrome, stroke, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting) were enrolled. LFSs were computed according to the published formulas: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) includes age, body mass index (BMI), impaired fasting glycemia or diabetes mellitus (DM), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, platelets, and albumin; fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) includes age, AST, ALT, and platelets; Forns score includes age, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and platelets; BARD includes BMI, AST/ALT ratio, and DM; GGT/platelet ratio includes GGT and platelets; AST/ALT ratio includes AST and ALT; and AST/platelet ratio index includes AST and platelets. The originally reported cutoffs were used for the categorization of low-, intermediate-, and high-score subgroups. All patients were followed up for the occurrence of RCVEs (comprising cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke). Cox and Poisson regression analyses were used to assess the relationship of baseline LFSs with the risk of RCVE.Results::During a mean follow-up of (54.67 ± 18.80) months, 532 (8.2%) RCVEs were recorded. Intermediate and high NFS, FIB-4, Forns, and BARD scores were independently associated with an increased risk of RCVE (hazard ratios ranging from 1.42 to 1.75 for intermediate scores and 1.35 to 2.52 for high scores). In the subgroup analyses of sex, age, BMI, DM, and hypertension status, the increased risk of RCVEs with high LFSs (NFS, FIB-4, Forns, and BARD) was maintained across the different subgroups (all P < 0.05). Conclusion::This study showed that LFSs are indeed independently associated with RCVEs, suggesting that LFSs may be used as novel tools for risk stratification in CAD patients with a prior CVE.

Objective:To establish the quality control of Chuanqi Zhennaoning capsules.Methods:A TLC method was used to identify Panax Notoginseng and Radix Angelica Pubescentis;an HPLC method was used to determine tetrahydropalmatine in Rhizoma Corydalis (processed with vinegar).Results:The specific spots of Panax Notoginseng and Radix Angelica Pubescentis were presented clearly by TLC without interference from the negative control;the linear range of tetrahydropalmatine was 1.95-24.40 μg·ml-1 (r=0.999 9);the average recovery was 99.2%(RSD=1.51%,n=6).Conclusion:The method is simple,feasible and reproducible,which can be used for the quality control of Chuanqi Zhennaoning capsules.

BACKGROUND:To date, it is stil unclear whether the intramuscular injection of heterogeneous umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s (UC-MSC) can cause cardiac ectopic pathological angiogenesis as wel as increase col agen synthesis to promote myocardial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of intramuscular injection of human UC-MSCs on myocardial micrangium and col agen expression in normal Wistar rats. METHODS:After 2 weeks of feeding, 60 male SPF Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive intramuscular injection of PBS (normal group), DMEM (culture medium group), human UC-MSCs supernatant (supernatant group), 0.25×105, 1.0×105, 4.0×105 human UC-MSCs (low-, moderate-and high-dose groups), respectively (n=10 per group). Al the rats were subjected to second injection (same dose) at 4 weeks after first intramuscular injection. Then, the rats were kil ed under anesthesia at 4 weeks after second injection, to take heart tissues from the left ventricle for pathological observation, immunohistochemical examination and Masson staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:No alteration of the response, activity, victualage, faeces, weight growth, and fur was found, and there was no death in rats during the experiment. Al the rats had no symptoms of molt, inflammation, skin ulcer, scleroma. Strong positive expression of CD34 for the micrangium in the myocardial tissue was observed, and positive expression of the col agen in the myocardial tissue observed by Masson staining. There were no significant differences in the microvessel density and col agen expression in the myocardium among the groups (F=0.110 and 0.585, P>0.05). To conclude, hUC-MSCs or its supernatant via intramuscular injection has no effect on the micrangium and col agen expression in normal rats.

The aim of this study is to design a biological information retrieval and analysis system (BIRAS) based on the Internet. Using the specific network protocol, BIRAS system could send and receive information from the Entrez search and retrieval system maintained by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in USA. The literatures, nucleotide sequence, protein sequences, and other resources according to the user-defined term could then be retrieved and sent to the user by pop up message or by E-mail informing automatically using BIRAS system. All the information retrieving and analyzing processes are done in real-time. As a robust system for intelligently and dynamically retrieving and analyzing on the user-defined information, it is believed that BIRAS would be extensively used to retrieve specific information from large amount of biological databases in now days. The program is available on request from the corresponding author.
Animals ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Computers ; Databases as Topic ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Internet ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; National Library of Medicine (U.S.) ; PubMed ; Software ; Time Factors ; United States