Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that recognizes multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns. It is a cytoplasmic immune factor that responds to cellular stress signals, and it is usually activated after infection or inflammation, forming an NLRP3 inflammasome to protect the body. Aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation is reportedly associated with some inflammatory diseases and metabolic diseases. Recently, there have been mounting indications that NLRP3 inflammasomes play an important role in liver injuries caused by a variety of diseases, specifically hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. Herein, we summarize new research pertaining to NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. The review addresses the potential mechanisms of action of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and its regulation in these liver diseases.
Humans ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/physiology* ; Animals ; Liver Diseases/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the role of circular RNAs(circRNA)in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and its potential mechanism.Methods Six-month-old APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and wild type(WT)mice were subjected and then randomly divided into WT group,WT+circ-Olfm1 knockout group,AD group(transgenic APP/PS1 mice),AD+circ-Olfm1 knockout group,AD+FOXO3a knockout group,with 3 mice in each group.① The total RNA of mouse brain was extracted,and the differential expression of circRNAs and mRNAs between the AD mice and WT mice was detected,and the obtained circRNAs and mRNAs were analyzed with gene ontology(GO)analysis.② RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of the top 10 up-regulated and down-regulated circRNAs,as well as the expression of circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p.③ Lentiviral vectors were prepared and stereotaxically injected into the cortex or hippocampus of WT and AD mice to knock out circ-Olfm1 gene.Water maze test was used to evaluate the effect of circ-Olfm1 knockout on cognitive function,and immunofluorescence assay was employed to observe the deposition of amyloid β(Aβ)plaque in the brain.④ The interaction between circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p was verified by double luciferase reporter gene analysis.⑤ The protein levels of AMPK and FOXO3a were detected by Western blotting.⑥ Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the mitochondria of the hippocampus.⑦ The levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.Results There were totally 52 differentially expressed circRNAs identified between the AD and WT mice,including 28 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated(fold change>1.5,P<0.05).These differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in signal transduction,learning and memory and other functions.circ-Olfm1 was identified as the most significantly differentially expressed circRNA,which is highly expressed in the neurons and up-regulated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the AD mice.Knockout of circ-Olfm1 reduced the number of Aβ plaques in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD mice(P<0.01).In starBase database,there are complementary sequences observed between circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p.Western blotting showed that the addition of Aβ42 significantly increased the expression of AMPK and FOXO3a in the neuronal cells(P<0.01).And silencing circ-Olfm1 led to decreased expression of AMPK and FOXO3a in neuronal cells+Aβ42(P<0.01).ELISA revealed that knockout of FOXO3a significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α(P<0.01).Transmission electron microscopy displayed that knocking FOXO3a out significantly aggravated mitochondrial damage(P<0.01).Conclusion circ-Olfm1 is up-regulated in the brain tissue and neurons+Aβ42 of AD rats,and the mechanism of cognitive impairment in AD rats may be through its regulating FOXO3a protein.

Objective:To automatically synthesize Al 18F-1, 4, 7-triazacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04, perform PET/CT imaging in vivo, and evaluate its diagnostic efficacy on tumors. Methods:Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was produced in All-in-one automatic synthesis module and its quality control was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a radioactive detector. Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging was performed in normal BALB/c mice ( n=3) and 4T1 breast cancer models ( n=3) to determine its biodistribution. Then Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging were performed in a hepatocellular carcinoma patient (male, 51 years old). Results:The synthesis time of Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was about 35 min, and the radiochemical yield was (25.2±1.9)% (attenuation correction, n=3). The product was colorless transparent solution with pH value of 7.0-7.5, and the specific activity was (46.11±3.07) GBq/μmol (attenuation correction, n=3). The radiochemical purity was above 99.0% and was still above 98.0% at room temperature after 6 h. PET/CT imaging in mice showed that physiological uptake of Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 was mainly in biliary system and bladder, and Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 highly concentrated in tumor xenografts. PET/CT imaging in the patient showed that Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 obtained high tumor background ratio (TBR) values of 4.1, 8.9, 5.4, 4.8, 2.2 in parasternal lymph nodes, anterior diaphragmatic lymph nodes, hilar lymph nodes, pancreaticoduodenal ligament lymph nodes, abdominal aortic lymph nodes, respectively, while TBR values were 1.0, 2.8, 5.0, 2.1, 1.1 by 18F-FDG. Conclusions:Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 can be synthesized with short time, high radiochemical yield and good stability using All-in-one module. Al 18F-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging has high contrast and excellent diagnostic efficacy on tumors.

Objective: To explore the efficacy and prognostic factors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) . Methods: The clinical records of 33 ALCL patients after HSCT were collected and analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the rates of overall survival (OS) and recurrence after autologous (auto-HSCT) and allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) and the factors influencing prognosis. Results: The median-age of this cohort of 33 ALCL cases at diagnosis was 31 (12-57) years old with a male/female ratio of 23/10, 24 cases (72.7%) were ALK⁺ and 9 ones (27.3%) ALK^-. Of them, 25 patients (19 ALK⁺ and 6 ALK^-) underwent auto-HSCT and 8 cases (5 ALK⁺ and 3ALK^-) allo-HSCT with a median follow-up of 18.7 (4.0-150.0) months. Disease states before HSCT were as follows: only 6 patients achieved CR status and received auto-HSCT, 16 patients achieved PR (14 cases by auto-HSCT and 2 ones allo-HSCT) , the rest 11 cases were refractory/relapse (5 cases by auto-HSCT and 6 ones allo-HSCT) . There were 7 cases died of disease progression (5 after auto-HSCT and 2 allo-HSCT) and 5 cases treatment-related mortality (TRM) (2 after auto-HSCT and 3 allo-HSCT) , TRM of two groups were 8.0% and 37.5%, respectively. Both the median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 15 months after auto-HSCT, the median PFS and OS after allo-HSCT were 3.7 (1.0-90.0) and 4.6 (1.0-90.0) months, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of survival curves between the two groups (OS and PFS, P=0.247 and P=0.317) . The 2-year OS rates in auto-HSCT and allo-HSCT groups were 72% and 50%, respectively. The 5-year OS rates in auto-HSCT and allo-HSCT groups were 36% and 25%, respectively. Conclusion ALCL treated by chemotherapy produced high rates of overall and complete responses. Chemotherapy followed by auto-HSCT remained to be good choice for patients with poor prognostic factors. High-risk patients should be considered more beneficial from allo-HSCT.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Wiltse approach and conven-tional posterior midline approach for single thoracolumbar fracture. Methods Databases including Embase, PubMed,cnki,WanFang Data were searched to collect the related literatures for single thoracolumbar fracture treated with surgery of Wiltse approach and conventional posterior midline approach. The data were collected and evaluated by different reviewers independently and the Meta analysis was conducted by using the RevMan 5.3. Results A total of 6 literatures involving 351 patients were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that there were significant differences in surgical duration,intraoperative bleeding,postoperative discharge volume, and visual analog score(VAS)(P < 0.000 01). There was no significant difference between the Cobb angle(P =0.69)and the fanterior edge convex height(P=0.46).Conclusions Wiltse approach is superior to conventional posterior midline approach for single thoracolumbar fracture with shorter surgical duration,less intraoperative blood loss,less postoperative discharge and lower incidence of postoperative backache. It reduces spine malformation, maintains height of the fanterior edge convex.Wiltse approach is a safe and feasible surgical technique for treating single thoracolumbar fracture.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of amifostine(Amf)on the differentiation of human megakaryocyte cell line-Dami. METHODS Dami cells were treated with Amf 0.01-5.0 mmol · L-1 for 12 d. Dami cells were counted every day for the growth curve:only cells with a diameter>20μm. The platelet demarcation membrane system was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of CD33,CD34,CD41a and DNA ploidy was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS Amf 0.1-1.0 mmol · L-1 promoted the differentiation of Dami cells ,but inhibited their proliferation at a concentration>1.0 mmol · L-1. When these cells were treated with Amf 1.0 mmol · L-1 for 12 d,the platelet demarcation membrane system was observed,the percentage of cells with a diameter >20 μm was increased by 24.6%(P<0.01),the expression of CD41a was increased by 11.9%,while the expression of CD33 was decreased by 13.6%(P<0.05). Polyploidy cells(16N)were observed,and 4N,8N and 16N cells were increased to 31.56%,8.83% and 3.43%,respectively(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Amf 0.1-1.0 mmol · L-1 can promote the differentiation of Dami cells,but inhibit their proliferation at a high concentration(>1.0 mmol·L-1).

Objective To analyze the resenilin-1 (PS-1) gene mutations in Alzheimer' s disease (AD) patients and investigate the influence of the initiation codon mutation on the mRNA expression of PS-1 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) genes and the expression of PS-1 proteins.Methods (1) All 111 AD patients were enrolled by the Department of Neurology,Second Affiliated Hospital,College of Medicine,Zhejiang University from July 2004 to June 2010.Mutations in the 13 exons and flanking regions of PS-1 gene were examined by direct sequencing.(2) cDNAs encoding full-length wild-type and mutant (c.1A ＞G) PS-1 were subcloned into enhanced green fluorescent protein.Levels of the mRNA expression of PS-1 and APP genes and PS-1 proteins expression in the transfected cells were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results A new heterozygous initiation codon mutation changing from ATG to GTG in one individual was identified.Compared to the control groups,the mRNA expression of the mutant PS-1 gene in HEK293 and N2a was significantly lower than the normal PS-1 gene(116.8 ± 3.9 vs 49.5 ±3.3,t =13.27,P ＜0.01 ;69.0 ± 1.9 vs 29.5 ± 1.3,t =17.20,P ＜0.01) and the APP gene was not obviously altered.The proteins were detected by Western blot analysis in HEK293 cells but not in N2a cells.Conclusions Since we only identified one novel heterozygous initiation codon mutation (from ATG to GTG),mutations in PS-1 are likely to be rare in AD patients.Initiation codon mutation would reduce the expression of PS-1 proteins.Inactivation of some of the PS-1 proteins could be insufficient to lead to AD and could be more likelv to act as a risk factor.

Objective To analyze clinical manifestation,diagnosis and treatment of 8 patients with gas gangrene in Wenchuan earthquake.Methods Eight patients with gas gangrene in Wenchuan earthquake were selected for analysis on their clinical manifestations.We finally diagnosed gas gangrene based on patients'clinical manifestation and the cultured ciostridium in the focus of infection.All the patients were treated with antibiotics,repeated surgical debridement,hyperbaric oxygen and nutritional support.Results Most patients had no erepitation of the extremities but found gas in interstice of tissues identified by X-ray,B-ultrasound and CT scanning.Film preparation of efflusion of all patients showed clostridium and bacterial culture manifested mainly perfringens.Most patients were demonstrated to be with polyinfection.In addition,all patients were characterized by pitchy necrotic tissues,effusion,systemic decrease of red blood cells,increase of white blood cells and platelet.No death or amputation occurred under active combined therapy.Conciusions Earthquake induces mainly open trauma often combined with mixed infection,when gas gangrene is one of main special infections.The predominant combined therapies include utility of antibiotics and thorough surgical debridement,while hyperbaric oxygen and nutritional support are important and effective adjunctive therapies.

Objective To investigate the manifestation and the prevention means of video display terminal (VDT) visual fatigue in old people. Methods Conventional eye inspection were performed for 45 patients, including optical muscle movement, position of eye, confluence function and presbyopia. Results We found that the average difference between middle distance correcting lens and 33 cm reading distance from presbyopia correcting lens was about 0.52 DS( P