Donors with a serum sodium concentration of >155 mmol/L are extended criteria donors for liver transplantation (LT). Elevated serum sodium of donors leads to an increased incidence of hepatic dysfunction in the early postoperative period of LT; however, the exact mechanism has not been reported. We constructed a Lewis rat model of 70% hepatic parenchymal area subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) with hypernatremia and a BRL-3A cell model of hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) with high-sodium (HS) culture medium precondition. To determine the degree of injury, biochemical analysis, histological analysis, and oxidative stress and apoptosis detection were performed. We applied specific inhibitors of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger (NCX) in vivo and in vitro to verify their roles in injury. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and the area of hepatic necrosis were significantly elevated in the HS+I/R group. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, myeloperoxidase (MPO)‍-positive cells, and aggravated cellular apoptosis were detected in the HS+I/R group. The HS+H/R group of BRL-3A cells showed significantly increased cellular apoptosis and ROS production compared to the H/R group. The application of amiloride (Amil), a specific inhibitor of ENaC, reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) aggravated by HS both in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by decreased serum transaminases, inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. SN-6, a specific inhibitor of NCX, had a similar effect to Amil. In summary, hypernatremia aggravates hepatic IRI, which can be attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of ENaC or NCX.
Animals ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy* ; Hypernatremia/complications* ; Rats ; Liver/metabolism* ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Male ; Apoptosis ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Epithelial Sodium Channel Blockers/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Sodium Channels ; Cell Line ; Liver Transplantation

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To screen plasma exosomal protein molecular markers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) by applying Label-Free quantification and bioinformatics analysis.Methods:Fifty plasma specimens from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (from January 2021 to June 2022) were collected from SCI patients and healthy people, respectively. Plasma exosomes were isolated using ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blot. Plasma exosomal differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were analyzed using Label-Free quantitative proteomics, and DEPs were characterized, annotated, and enriched based on Gene Ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases. The screened DEPs were validated by western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using plasma exosomal specimens.Results:According to the spinal cord injury classification of the American Spinal Injury Association, 14 cases were grade A, 19 cases were grade B, 12 cases were grade C, and 5 cases were grade D. Plasma exosomes of SCI patients and control groups showed typical cup-like morphology, with diameters mainly ranging from 30-200 nm. A total of 493 exosomal proteins were identified by Label-Free quantification, and 126 proteins were screened for differential expression, of which 38 were up-regulated and 88 were down-regulated. GO annotation revealed that DEPs were mainly involved in functions such as protein activation cascade, complement activation and immune response. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that DEPs were involved in biological pathways such as complement and coagulation cascade reactions, proteasome and neurodegenerative disease pathways. Two candidate proteins, APOB and S100A9, were initially screened based on quantitative results from proteomics and bioinformatics analyses. Western blot results showed that the relative expression of S100A9 protein in plasma exosomes of 30 SCI patients (1.62±0.19) was elevated compared with that of 30 control groups (0.86±0.24), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.55, P<0.001), while the relative expression of APOB protein (1.06±0.13 and 1.02±0.23) were not statistically significant ( t=0.46, P=0.653). The results of ELISA analysis showed that the expression of S100A9 in plasma exosomes of patients with different degrees of SCI (grade A 197.7±11.7 pg/ml, grade B 151.7±15.2 pg/ml, grade C 136.3±14.7 pg/ml) had statistical significance ( F=69.94, P<0.001), the higher the severity of SCI, the higher the expression of S100A9 in plasma exosomes (A vs. B, q=13.11, P<0.001; A vs. C, q=15.66, P<0.001; B vs. C, q=4.19, P=0.005). Conclusion:S100A9 is a potentially valid plasma exosomal molecular marker for assessing the severity of SCI.

Objective:To explore the microbiological characteristics of donor blood culture and donor liver perfusion culture and summarize the clinical experiences to provide basic rationales for preventing donor-derived infections.Methods:From August 1, 2018 to November 26, 2018 and November 27, 2018 to December 31, 2020 at First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, culture results of donor blood and donor liver perfusate were retrospectively reviewed.According to whether or not donor liver was obtained without breaking diaphragm, removing gallbladder intraoperatively and flushing bile through cystic duct, two stages were assigned: before and after improvement measures of liver donor, i.e.August 1, 2018 to November 26, 2018 and November 27, 2018 to December 31, 2020.The culture results of donor blood samples and donor liver perfusion fluid samples in two stages of liver transplantation were statistically analyzed and infection preventing measures during donor liver maintenance and obtaining donor liver examined.Results:A total of 486 cases of blood culture from potential donors and 478 cases of liver perfusion culture were analyzed.The results showed that the incidence of blood culture infection was 4.5% and 4.3% before and after improvement measures( χ2=0.008; P=0.927)while the incidence of perfusion fluid infection was 56.8% and 46.2%( χ2=4.569; P=0.031); Klebsiella pneumoniae was a major pathogen cultured in perfusion solution before improvement measures and Staphylococcus epidermidis after improvement measures. Conclusions:Before organ donation, infection screening and prevention of potential donors and corresponding measures during donor liver acquisition can reduce donor source infection and effectively lower the mortality of recipients.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) on dendritic cell (DC) maturation and function through solute carrier family 1 member 2 (Slc1a2).Methods:Mouse bone marrow-derived DCs were transfected with Slc1a2-specific siRNA and an overexpression Slc1a2 eukaryotic expression vector. The real-time fluorescence quantitation (RT-PCR) and Western Blot methods were used to detect knockdown and overexpression efficiency. The expression of surface molecules (CD40, CD80) and major histocompatibility complex Ⅱ (MHCⅡ) of DCs was detected by flow cytometry. ELISA was used to detect the secretion of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The effects of knockdown of Slc1a2 on DC maturation and function and the effects of overexpression of Slc1a2 on DC maturation and function were reflected by the above assay results. A mixed lymphocyte culture assay was used to investigate the effect of Slc1a2 on T cell proliferation, and an ELISA was used to detect the lavel of IL-17A. Changes in the relative fluorescence intensity of FITC in DCs were analyzed by flow cytometry to investigate the ability of Slc1a2 overexpression on antigen phagocytosis. Finally, DCs were pretreated with an NF-κB inhibitor, toluoylphenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), and the effect of TPCK on the expression of Slc1a2 in DCs and DC maturation was examined.Results:Slc1a2 expression was found to be high in DC treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) ( P<0.001). The knockdown of Slc1a2 decreased DC maturation and ability to stimulate the proliferation of CD4 + T cells ( P<0.001) and inhibited IL-17 secretion ( P<0.01). Overexpression of Slc1a2 promoted DC maturation and ability to stimulate the proliferation of CD4 + T cells(all P<0.01) Pretreatment of DC with the NF-κB inhibitor TPCK inhibited the expression of Slc1a2 at mRNA and protein levels induced by LPS. Conclusions:NF-κB regulates Slc1a2 expression, which affects the maturation and function of DC.

Objective To explore the correlation between main indicators of donor liver and early prognosis after liver transplantation.Methods The clinical data of 166 donors and recipients of post-mortem organ donation (DD) from June 2017 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The effects of donor age,sex,body mass index,serum sodium level,total bilirubin,prothrombin time and international standardized ratio on early allograft dysfunction (EAD) in liver transplant recipients were investigated.According to the culture results of donor liver preservation solution,the results were divided into positive group and negative group.Combined with the culture results of blood,sputum and drainage fluid after liver transplantation,the early infection rate of recipients in the two groups was observed.Results Univariate analysis showed that preoperative donor bilirubin total ＞17.1 mmol/L and donor cold ischemia time ＞8 h were risk factors for postoperative EAD in transplant recipients.Multivariate analysis showed that donor cold ischemia time ＞8 h was an independent risk factor for postoperative EAD in liver transplant recipients;the incidence of EAD in the group with cold ischemia time ＞8 h was significantly higher than that in the group with cold ischemia time ≤8 h (26.3％ vs.7.0％;P =0.003).The positive rate of postoperative sputum culture and drainage fluid culture in the donors with positive donor culture was 43.9％ and 48.8％,respectively,which was significantly higher than that in the negative group (10.7％ and 13.1％).The difference was statistically significant (P =0.000,P =0.000).The positive rate of postoperative blood culture in the positive group and the negative group was 12.2％ and 6.0％ with the difference being not statistically significant (P =0.161).Conclusion Cold ischemia time of the donor ＞8 h is an independent risk factor for EAD in recipients after liver transplantation.Shortening the cold ischemia time of donor liver can reduce the incidence of postoperative EAD in recipients.The culture results of preservation solution have a certain guiding effect on the postoperative anti-infective treatment of the recipients.

The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats from Liaoning province, northeastern China. From October 2014 to September 2016, sera of 651 cats, including 364 domestic cats and 287 feral cats (332 females and 319 males) were assessed. They were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen using SNAP Heartworm RT test kit. In this population, the average prevalence was 4.5%. Age and rearing conditions (feral or domestic) were found to be associated with the prevalence of D. immitis. The prevalence was significantly higher in feral cats compared with domestic cats (8.4% vs 1.4%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between males and females (4.7% vs 4.2%, P>0.05), but older cats (≥3 years old) showed a statistically higher prevalence compared with younger cats ( < 3 years old) in feral populations (16.8 vs 2.4%, P < 0.01), while the difference between the age groups was not statistically significant in domestic cats (2.4% vs 0.51%, P>0.05), all these results suggest that outdoor exposure time may be one of the most important factors for D. immitis prevalence in cats. Results reveal that D. immitis are prevalence in domestic and feral cats in northeastern China, which indicates that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to decrease the incidence of feline heartworm disease in Liaoning province, northeastern China.
Animals ; Cats* ; China* ; Dirofilaria immitis* ; Dirofilaria* ; Dirofilariasis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

OBJECTIVETo detect the activity of autophagy and explore the impact on survival and proliferation of HEL cells and hematopoietic cells of polycythemia vera （PV） patients with JAK2 V617F mutation.

METHODSFlow cytometry, AO staining and Western blot methods were used to detect the autophagy activity and the expression of LC3-Ⅱ protein of JAK2 V617F+ HEL cells and hematopoietic cells of 12 newly diagnosed PV patients with JAK2 V617F mutation. HEL cells and bone marrow cells of 3 PV patients were treated with rapamycin or 3-MA to induce and inhibit autophagy, respectively. CellTiter Glo(R) method was used to detect the proliferation activity of cells.

RESULTSThere was higher level of mean LC3-Ⅱ fluorescence intensity in HEL cells (159 389 ± 29 001) than that in K562 cells (96 047 ± 24 134) (P=0.044). The formation of autophagosome in HEL cells is more than that in K562 cells detected by microscope. What's more, the level of mean LC3-Ⅱ fluorescence intensity in 12 PV patients' myeloid cells (92 842 ± 4 250) was higher than that of 15 healthy volunteers (86 633 ± 2 504) (P=0.001). The expression of LC3-Ⅱ protein was higher in PV patients' peripheral blood cells than that in healthy volunteers detected by Western blot. After treated with rapamycin 12, 24, 48 h, the activity of autophagy in HEL cells and bone marrow cells of 3 PV patients were increased and the proliferation activity was higher than the control group, the proliferation activity at 48 h were (101 413 ± 3 720), (18 744 ± 1 015), respectively. However, after treated with 3-MA 12, 24, 48 h, the activity of autophagy was decreased and the proliferation activity was lower than the control group, the proliferation activity at 48 h were (5 732 ± 166), (5 371 ± 56), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere is high basical activity of autophagy in JAK2 V617F+ HEL cells and hematopoietic cells of PV patients with JAK2 V617F mutation. Up-regulated autophagy promotes proliferation of JAK2 V617F⁺ HEL cells and bone marrow cells of PV patients with JAK2 V617F mutation. Decreased autophagy inhibits proliferation of JAK2 V617F+ HEL cells and bone marrow cells of PV patients with JAK2 V617F mutation.

BACKGROUND:Some studies have shown that more copy number variations are present in early passage human induced pluripotent stem cells than later passage human human induced pluripotent stem cells, their parental somatic fibroblasts or human embryonic stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether the reprogramming process itself compromises genomic stability and further explore the efficiency of induced pluripotent stem cellestablishment. METHODS:Using high-resolution Affymetrix CytoScan HD array, we compared copy number variations and loss of heterozygosity in early passage induced pluripotent stem cells with their fibroblast cellorigins from genetic epilepsy patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with somatic fibroblasts from genetic epilepsy patient, there was no difference in the loss of heterozygosity between the two types of cells, but more copy number variations were present in early passage human induced pluripotent stem cells which were characterized as microduplication and involved oncogenic genes. Results demonstrate the dynamic nature of genomic abnormalities during reprogramming process and the necessity of frequent monitoring human induced pluripotent stem cells to assure their genomic stability and clinical safety.