Objective To investigate the value of echocardiography in assessing right ventricular function of primary light-chain amyloidosis(AL)-cardiac amyloidosis(CA)patients.Methods A total of 25 patients biopsy diagnosed as AL-CA,who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2021,were enrolled in this study as amyloidosis group.And 25 heathy volunteers were set as control group.The routine right ventricular morphology and functional parameters were acquired by standard echocardiography.Right ventricular global longitudinal strain(RVGLS)and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVfwLS)were obtained by two-dimensional speckle tracking imagine.Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)/pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP),RVGLS/PASP,RVfwLS/PASP ratio were calculated as the noninvasively parameters of right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling.Results ①Compared with control group,patients in amyloidosis group showed significantly larger right heart size,and significantly thicker right ventricular free wall[(7.16±1.84)mm vs.(3.76±0.66)mm],the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).②Compared with control group,RVGLS[(17.43±2.45)%vs.(23.22±3.73)%]and RVfwLS[(18.44±2.10)%vs.(22.62±3.64)%]were significantly impaired in amyloidosis group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).The ratios of TAPSE/PASP,RVGLS/PASP,RVfwLS/PASP were found to be lower in amyloidosis group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).③TAPSE/PASP showed mild correlations with N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor(NT-proBNP),highly sensitive T cardiac troponin(hs-TNT)(r=0.45 and 0.40)there were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Echocardiography can effectively evaluate the right heart function impairment in AL-CA patients,providing valuable information for a deeper understanding of the pathological and physiological mechanisms of the disease.

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice. Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse (n=80) by using a punch biopsy. The mice were assigned randomly into two groups, with 40 animals in each group: a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma; a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally. Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 4, 7, 10 and 14 (n=5 per group in each POD) by percentage of wound closure. The mice was euthanized on POD 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35 (n=1 in each POD). The wounds were removed, routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned and HE-stained. A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds. The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group, earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7, and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD 7 (P<0.05). The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group (P<0.05). The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10 (P<0.05 for all). The count of bacterial colonies was 10(3) CFU/mL on POD 4 and <20 CFU/mL on POD 7, significantly lower than that in control group (10(9) CFU/mL on POD 4 and >10(12) CFU/mL on the POD 7) (P<0.05). It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colonization.

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice.Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse (n=80) by using a punch biopsy.The mice were assigned randomly into two groups,with 40animals in each group:a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma; a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally.Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 4,7,10 and 14 (n=5 per group in each POD) by percentage of wound closure.The mice was euthanized on POD 1,4,7,10,14,21,28 and 35 (n=1 in each POD).The wounds were removed,routinely fixed,paraffin-embedded,sectioned and HE-stained.A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds.The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group,earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7,and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD7 (P＜0.05).The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group (P＜0.05).The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10 (P＜0.05 for all).The count of bacterial colonies was 103 CFU/mL on POD 4 and ＜20 CFU/mL on POD 7,significantly lower than that in control group (109 CFU/mL on POD 4 and ＞1012 CFU/mL on the POD 7) (P＜0.05).It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colonization.

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression. In this study, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone. The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring [(3)H] L-arginine converses to [(3)H] L-citrulline, and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot. It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls (P<0.01). Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs (P<0.05), which could be blocked by SB203580 (P<0.01), but not by actinomycin D (P>0.05). It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women, the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms (P<0.01). Moreover, the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progesterone. With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways, which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.

In this study, the sterilizing effect of atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasmas (APNPs) on Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) was preliminarily examined and the possible mechanisms were explored. N. gonorrhoeae FA1090, FA19 and MS11 were treated by APNPs and their survival rate was analyzed by using CFUs counting and structurally studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The morphological changes of bacterial cell membrane and wall were studied under TEM. Our results showed that APNPs had strong sterilizing effect on N. gonorrhoeae. The survival rate of MS11 in N. gonorrhoeae liquid medium was 60.65% after disinfection with the APNPs for 5 min, whereas, the survival rate of FA19 was 92.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 96.40%. The survival rate of MS11 was 21.13% after exposure to APNPs for 6 min, whereas the survival rate of FA19 was 31.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 91.00%. N. gonorrhoeae was structurally damaged after treatment with APNPs. It is concluded that APNPs is able to effectively and quickly kill the N. gonorrhoeae, and the killing effect is related to the architectural damage of cell membrane.

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant murine interleukin-23(rIL-23)on systemic candidiasis in a murine model.Methods A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed murine model of systemic candidiasis was established.The mice were divided into control group and rIL-23 treatment group.Colony forming units(CFU)of the kidney and spleen were determined by using plating dilution method.The histopathological changes and degree of infection of the kidney and spleen were graded.Meanwhile,the levels of interferon gamma(IFN-γ)in the spleen were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results On the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after Candida albicans infection the number of CFU of the fungi in the kidney in the control group was significantly greater than that in rIL-23 treatment group(P＜0.01).The number of CFU of the fungi on the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after Candida albicans infection in the spleen in control group was also greater than that in rIL-23 treatment group,but without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).The scores of histopathological changes in the kidney in rIL-23 treatment group were lower than those in control group(P＜0.01),and the degree of infection was milder in rIL-23 treatment group.The scores of histopathological changes in the spleen in rIL-23 treatment group were also lower than those in control group,but without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).The levels of IFN-γ in the spleen on the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after infection in rIL-23 treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion rIL-23 has protective effect on murine systemic candidiasis.

Objective: To construct the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) expression plasmid (pEGFC1-IGFBP7) and to investigate the effect of IGFBP7 on the apoptosis of SK-MEL-28 (human malignant melanoma cell line) cells. Methods: The pEGFC1-IGFBP7 plasmid was constructed; pEGFC1-IGFBP7 and empty plasmids were transfected into SK-MEL-28 cells separately. The transfection efficiency was observed under fluorescence microscope. Apoptosis of SK-MEL-28 cells after transfection was detected by Annexin-FITC/PI staining. Results: The pEGFC1-IGFBP7 plasmid was successfully constructed and was effectively transfected into SK-MEL-28 cells by Effectene reagent, with the transfection rate being 61%. The results of flow cytometry showed that pEGFC1-IGFBP7 significantly induced apoptosis of SK-MEL-28 cells, with the apoptotic rates of pEGFC1-IGFBP7, empty vector, and non-transfected plasmid groups being (28.4±2.57)%, (5.8±0.44)%, and (6.4±0.71)% 24 h after transfection, respectively (F=406.138, P<0.05). Conclusion: pEGFC1-IGFBP7 can effectively induce apoptosis of malignant melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells, which provides an experimental basis for IGFBP7 gene-based therapy of malignant melanoma.

Objective To evaluate the effects of progesterone on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated inflammatory responses to gonococcal infection. Methods Peripheral neutrophils were isolated from heparinized peripheral blood obtained from normal individuals, then divided into 4 groups: progesterone group (pretreated with progesterone only), gonococcus group (stimulated with gonococcal suspension), intervention group (pretreated with progesterone followed by stimuation with gonococcal suspension), and control group (receiving no pretreatment or stimulation). Real-time RT-PCR was conducted to detect the mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)in neutrophils from all groups at 0, 3, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the last treatment, and iNOS protein levels were measured by Western-blot in gonococcus group and intervention group. Results Real-time RT-PCR indicated that the expression levels of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA increased in gonococcus group and intervention group, and reached their peak at 8 hours in gonococcus group, while no significant changes were noted in the above parameters in progesterone group or control group. Also, the level of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA was lower in intervention group than that in the gonococcus group (P ＜ 0.05). Western blot showed an elevation in iNOS protein expression in both gonococcus group and intervention group, and the former group was higher than the latter group in the parameter (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Progesterone can downregulate the expressions of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1 β by PMNs, inhibit the PMN-induced inflammatory responses induced by gonococcal infection, which is likely to be associated with the asymptomatic gonococcal infection in women.

Objective To investigate the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on the healing of skin ulcers using Balb/c mice. Methods Wounds with a diameter 6 mm were created on each side of the backs of BalB/c mice ( n = 150) using a punch bioptome. The mice were assigned randomly into a control group ( wounds healed naturally), a laser group (wounds treated with a He-Ne laser for 10 min daily) and a CAP group (wounds treated with CAP for 10 min daily). Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (PODs) 4, 7, 10 and 14 in terms of percent wound closure. Ten mice per group were sacrificed on each of the evaluation days. Both wounds were removed and a histological examination was conducted. A scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) in the wounded tissue was detected by using immunohistochemical methods on POD 7. The results were quantified using an HPIAS-1000 system. Results Compared with the control group, the average percentage of wound healing was significantly greater in the CAP group on PODs 7 and 10. The average scores on the histological examination were significantly higher in the CAP group on PODs 7, 10 and 14. Compared with the other two groups, the expression of VEGF was up-regulated significantly in the CAP group.Conclusions CAP can positively affect the wound healing process. This might be related to the up-regulation of VEGF in the wounded tissues.

Objective To research the distribution and the characteristics of the plasmid mediated quinolone resistant genes in Shewanella algae. Methods The qnr, qepA, aac(6')-Ib-cr genes were amplified by PCR, then the positive PCR products were sequenced to determine the gene type. The transferability of plasmid mediated quinolone resistance was ensured by conjugation experiment. MICs were measured by E-test. qnrA gene was mapped to plasmids to locate it. Results The qnrA gene were detected in the Shewanella algae, this is a newfound subgroup qnrA7, the GenBank accession no. was GQ463707, qnrB, qnrS,qnrC, qnrD, qepA and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes were not detected. qnrA7 reside in a plasmid about 33 kb, conjugation experiment was unsuccessful. The strain was susceptible to quinolones. Conclusion It deserves paying close attention to the report of an original qnrA subgroup in an isolate of water-borne species of Shewanella algae.