Single-cell analysis of phenotypic plasticity could improve the development of more effective therapeutics. Still, the development of tools to measure single-cell heterogeneity has lagged due to difficulties in manipulating and culturing single cells. Here, we describe a single-cell culture and phenotyping platform that employs a starburst microfluidic network and automatic liquid handling system to capture single cells for long-term culture and multi-dimensional analysis and quantify their clonal properties via their surface biomarker and secreted cytokine/growth factor profiles. Studies performed on this platform found that cells derived from single-cell cultures maintained phenotypic equilibria similar to their parental populations. Single-cell cultures exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs stochastically disrupted this balance to favor stem-like cells. They had enhanced expression of mRNAs and secreted factors associated with cell signaling, survival, and differentiation. This single-cell analysis approach can be extended to analyze more complex phenotypes and screen responses to therapeutic targets.

Objective To investigate the association between bone mineral density(BMD)and metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 300 patients with T2DM were enrolled and divided into T2DM with MAFLD group(n=162)and T2DM without MAFLD group(n=138)according to controlled attenuation parameters(CAP).The bone mineral density(BMD)of the patients was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometer.Results Compared with T2DM group,BMI,abdominal circumference(AC),FIns,FC-P,TG,HOMA-IR,ALB,liver stiffness measurement(LSM),CAP and BMD in T2DM+MAFLD group increased(P<0.05),while HDL-C and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)decreased(P<0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the overall BMD of the male lumbar spine was positively correlated with smoking,AC,BMI,CAP,FIns,FC-P,HOMA-IR(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and negatively correlated with ALP(P<0.01).The overall hip BMD was positively correlated with smoking,AC,BMI,CAP,FC-P(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The overall BMD of the female lumbar spine is positively correlated with BMI and CAP(P<0.05 or P<0.01),but negatively correlated with age and ALP(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The overall hip BMD was positively correlated with BMI and CAP(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with age and ALP(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Multiple linear regression analysis shows that CAP is the influencing factor for overall lumbar BMD,while BMI is the influencing factor for overall hip BMD.Conclusions CAP is the influencing factor for overall lumbar BMD,while BMI is the influencing factor for overall hip BMD.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a cytosolic DNA sensor which is regarded as a potential target for antitumor immunotherapy. However, clinical trials of STING agonists display limited anti-tumor effects and dose-dependent side-effects like inflammatory damage and cell toxicity. Here, we showed that tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) actively enter macrophages to promote STING activation and M1 polarization in a size-dependent manner, and synergized with Mn²⁺ to enhance the expressions of IFN-β and iNOS, as well as the co-stimulatory molecules for antigen presentation. Moreover, to reduce the cytotoxicity of Mn²⁺, we constructed a TDN-MnO₂ complex and found that it displayed a much higher efficacy than TDN plus Mn²⁺ to initiate macrophage activation and anti-tumor response both in vitro and in vivo. Together, our studies explored a novel immune activation effect of TDN in cancer therapy and its synergistic therapeutic outcomes with MnO₂. These findings provide new therapeutic opportunities for cancer therapy.

Objective To evaluate the value of detecting HCMV-DNA in urine in the diseases of newborn babies ,by comparing the result between HCMV-DNA in urine and HCMV-IgM antibody in blood in different diseases of the newborn babies .Methods The urine and blood samples were collected from 1 520 infants who were in hospital of the neonate department from January 2013 to December 2014 .The HCMV-DNA in urine was examined by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR) .And HCMV-IgM antibody in blood was examined by the method of chemiluminescence(ECL) .Results In the 1 520 cases ,153 had de-tectable HCMV-DNA in their urine samples with a positive rate 10 .07% ,while only 4 cases were positive of the HCMV-IgM anti-body in blood with a positive rate 0 .27% .The two groups was statistically significant difference (P<0 .05) .In the infant diseases of 1 520 cases ,the positive rate of HCMV-DNA in urine was 82 .6% of the hepatitis syndrome while the positive rate of HCMV-IgM antibody in blood was 3 .85% .The positive rate of HCMV-DNA in urine was 8 .95% in the jaundice symptoms ,while the posi-tive rate HCMV-DNA in urine was 4 .62% in the pulmonary infection .Each group of disease was statistically significant difference in the positive rate of HCMV-DNA (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The detection of HCMV-DNA in urine is more beneficial to the diag-nosis of HCM V infection of infants than the detection of HCM V-IgM antibody in blood ,especially in hepatitis syndrome ,neonatal jaundice and pulmonary infection .

Objective To investigate effect of hypertonic-hyperoncotic solution (HHS,namely 4.5 g/ml NaCl plus 6.0 g/ml hydroxyethyl starch) on brain protection in rabbits with pulmonary trauma combined with hemorrhagic shock and the possible mechanism.Methods Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group (Group A),lactated Ringer' s solution (LRS) treatment group (Group B) and HHS treatment group (Group C),with 10 rabbits per group.Models of pulmonary trauma with hemorrhagic shock were established in Groups B and C.Later,fluid resuscitation,including LRS at 3-fold the volume of blood loss and HHS at dose of 5 mL/kg,was respectively given for Groups B and C at 60 minutes after shock.Rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 4 hours after resuscitation for brain tissue harvest.Evan blue exudation in the parietal cortex of rabbit brain in each group was observed by fluorescence microscope.Brain water content was weighed and calculated.Neuron apoptosis was tested by TUNEL method.Expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were detected by Western blot.Resalts Group B showed massive exudation of Evan blue,notable increase of brain water content,large apoptosis of neurons,up-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins,but a decline of Bcl-2 to Bax ratio,as compared with Group A (P ＜ 0.01).However,Group C showed significant decrease regarding Evan blue exudation,brain water content and apoptotic neurons,and significant increase of ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax,as compared with Group B (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion HHS improves blood brain barrier,inhibits neuron apoptosis and thus protects brain function.

Objective To explore the influence on the bad eating habits of diabetes by the management of diabetes education with families participation.Method Sixty-six patients with type 2 diabete mellitus were chosen as study object.They were divided into the experiment group and the control group at random.The diabetic knowledge and die behavior education were taken to the two groups and the families of the experiment group.The bad eating habits of the two groups were investigated before and after management. Results The snack,night snack and out eating times were significantly decreased in the experiment group than the control group and before management.There were statistical significant difference(all P<0.05).Conclusion The management of diabetes education with families participation can improve the bad eating habits so as to delay the progression of diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the leaves and stems of Aconitum coreanum.

METHODThe isolation and purification of chemical constituents were carried out on silica gel and polyamide column chromatographic. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis.

RESULTFive compounds were obtained and their structures were identified as guan-fu base I (1), guan-fu base R (2), beta-sitosterol (3), D-mannitol (4), daucosterol (5).

CONCLUSIONCompound 2 is a new compound. Compounds 1 and 3, 4 are isolated from the leaves and stems of A. coreanum for the first time.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Segmentation is a precondition step for modeling and analysis of the cochlea. In this paper, an interactive segmentation approach with a combination of 3D (three-dimensional) narrow-band level set algorithm and visualization technology was adopted to separate the cochlea. The 3D narrow-band level set algorithm was used to separate the objective of interest from volume data, and the visualization technology was used to display the segmented result. Users could modify intermediate parameters based on the direct 3D visual feedback until getting satisfying result. The basic principle and characteristics of level set and narrow-band level set algorithms were described in detail. The 3D narrow-band level set algorithm was successfully used to separate the cochlea from spiral CT images of the temporal bone. The experimental results show that the interactive method combining the narrow-band level set algorithm with visualization technique is capable of segmenting the cochlea from the medical volume data. Compared with the method of segmenting object from image volume slice by slice, our method can save much time.
Algorithms ; Cochlea ; diagnostic imaging ; Computer Graphics ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of teicoplanin on the patients with severe infection in ICU.METHODS Thirty cases were observed and the dosage of drug was 400mg once a day for injection.The duration of the treatment was 7-10 days.RESULTS The total cure rate was 70.00%,the total response was 83.33%,and the bacterial clearance rate was 86.67%.CONCLUSIONS Teicoplanin is both effective and safe for patients with severe infection in ICU.