Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury is the leading cause of delayed recovery of liver function and dysfunction after operation.Some studies have shown that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is activated during ischemia and reperfusion,which plays a protective role on the liver by inhibiting or enhancing the expressions of downstream target proteins.Therefore,PI3K/ Akt signaling has become an important target pathway for preventing and improving hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.This review summarized the research progresses of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the rapid development of medical and tissue engineering has provided more choices for making nerve conduit preparation. OBJECTIVE: To review the application of nerve conduits in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. METHODS: The first author retrieved the CNKI and PubMed databases to search relevant articles published from 2010 to 2016. The key words were "nerve conduit, peripheral nerve" in Chinese and English, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The nerve conduit materials are mainly classified into biotype and non-biotype. Biotype materials mainly include muscle, amniotic membrane, vein and small intestinal submucosal layer. The non-biotype materials include chitosan, collagen, silk fibroin, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyaniline and silicone tubes. Some materials currently have been approved to enter the clinical stage. There are more or less problems in the clinical application of nerve conduits in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. For example, the length of a defect that can be repaired is limited; the mechanical properties and mechanical properties are not exactly matched with nerve regeneration; the degradation rate is inconsistent with the rate of nerve regeneration; and poor biocompatibility exists.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of treatment of chronic primary glomerulopathy (CPG) patients of Shen deficiency and dampness heat syndrome (SDDHS) by Yishen Qingli Granule (YQG) combined with low-dose Tripterygium Wilfordii multiglycoside Tablet (TWT).

METHODSTotally 231 CPG patients of SDDHS were enrolled in this study (including 60 patients from First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 58 from First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 46 from Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University, 35 from First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 14 from First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and 18 from Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine). They were randomly assigned to the control group (116 cases) and the trial group (115 cases) according to block group method. There were 217 cases in the safety analysis set (109 cases in the trial group vs 108 cases in the control group), and 203 cases in the full analysis set (99 cases in the trial group vs 104 cases in the control group). All patients received basic treatment such as ACEI/ARB. Furthermore, YQG (consisting of raw astragalus 10 g, prepared Polygonum Multiflorum 10 g, Pyrrosia 10 g, 1.5 g each package, containing 10 g of crude drugs) was additionally given to patients in the trial group, each package, twice daily. The TWT (10 mg) was given, twice a day. The TWT dose was adjusted according to 24 h urinary total protein (UTP). The placebos of YQG and TWT were administered to those in the control group. The treatment course consisted of 24 weeks and the follow-up visit lasted for 24 weeks. The biochemical indices were observed before and after treatment including 24 h UTP, urine red cell count (U(RBC)), renal functions (BUN, SCr), blood routine test (WBC), and liver functions (SGPT, SGOT). Reverse reactions such as gastrointestinal discomfort, skin rash, and irregular menstruation were also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the total effective rate was better in the trial group (82.83% vs 61.54%, P < 0.01). Results of stratified comparison of UTP showed better efficacy in the trial group (0.8-3.0 g/24 h, P < 0.01). The UTP decline occurred in the trial group after 8 weeks of treatment, with stable action, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the trial group, U(RBC) level decreased after treatment but changed more significantly. But there was no statistical difference in the changes when compared with the control group (P > 0.05). After treatment, there were no statistical difference in safety indicators such as WBC, SGPT, and SGOT between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of basic treatment such as ACEI/ARB, application of YQG combined with low-dose TWT had better effect in controlling proteinuria of CPG patients, and could help stabilizing their conditions with less adverse reactions.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium

OBJECTIVETo understand the changing trend of occupational hazard of industries in Shunde area and to provide the scientific evidence for the prevention of occupational diseases.

METHODSThe pre-evaluation of occupational hazard was carried out for the construction projects. The data about employee number scale, industry species, occupational hazard factors, hazard levels and prevention measures for construction projects were collected and analyzed. The data of Shunde Occupational Health Survey in 2011 served as the control data.

RESULTSThere were 258 construction projects in 2010 and 2011, in which the proportions of medium and large scales increased to 8.1% and 2.4% respectively, the proportions of the furniture and chemical industries decreased from 25.6% or/and 5.1% to 2.7% or/and 1.8%, the proportions of the high-tech industries increased from 1.8% to 9.2%. The proportions of the projects with serious, medium and slight occupational hazard levels were 4.3%, 67.8% and 27.9%, respectively. The proportions of the projects with harmful chemicals, dusts and physical factors were 34.2%, 46.8%, 42.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe feature of occupational hazard in Shunde industries has changed at upgrading stage. We should pay attention to the prevention of occupational diseases in high-tech industries.

Construction Industry ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDEfficient cell adhesion and proliferation is a central issue in cell-based tissue engineering, which offers great promise for repair of urethral defects or strictures. This study evaluated the adhesion and growth of rabbit uroepithelium on a surface-modified three-dimensional poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold.

METHODSUrethral mucosa were harvested from male New Zealand rabbits and the urothelium were dissociated and then cultured. Immunocytochemistry on cultured uroepithelium for pancytokeratin and uroplakin II and TE-7 confirmed pure populations. After in vitro proliferation, cells were seeded onto a surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments. The morphology and viability of the cells were examined by immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining. Inverted and scanning microscopes were used to document cell growth and adhesion.

RESULTSThree to five days after primary culture, the uroepithelial cells gradually became confluent, assuming a cobblestone pattern. The filaments of the urethral scaffold had excellent biocompatibility and allowed growth of the uroepithelium, without affecting viability. The uroepithelial cells adhered to and grew well on the scaffold. After 3 - 7 days, the cells grew vigorously and meshes of the scaffold were full of uroepitheliums.

CONCLUSIONSThe surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments allows the growth of uroepithelium and can serve as a carrier for the tissue engineering of urethra.

Absorbable Implants ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Urethra ; cytology

Background Efficient cell adhesion and proliferation is a central issue in cell-based tissue engineering, which offers great promise for repair of urethral defects or strictures. This study evaluated the adhesion and growth of rabbit uroepithelium on a surface-modified three-dimensional poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold.Methods Urethral mucosa were harvested from male New Zealand rabbits and the urothelium were dissociated and then cultured. Immunocytochemistry on cultured uroepithelium for pancytokeratin and uroplakin Ⅱ and TE-7 confirmed pure populations. After in vitro proliferation, cells were seeded onto a surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments. The morphology and viability of the cells were examined by immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining.Inverted and scanning microscopes were used to document cell growth and adhesion.Results Three to five days after primary culture, the uroepithelial cells gradually became confluent, assuming a cobblestone pattern. The filaments of the urethral scaffold had excellent biocompatibility and allowed growth of the uroepithelium, without affecting viability. The uroepithelial cells adhered to and grew well on the scaffold. After 3-7 days,the cells grew vigorously and meshes of the scaffold were full of uroepitheliums.Conclusions The surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments allows the growth of uroepithelium and can serve as a carrier for the tissue engineering of urethra.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effects of insulin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation of vascular endothelial cells induced by burn serum and its correlative mechanism.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and divided into 5 groups: blank control group (BC, ordinary culture without any stimulation), normal serum control group (NS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% healthy human serum), burn serum stimulation group (BS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum), burn serum+insulin treatment group (BI, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum and 1x10(-7) mol/L insulin), inhibitor pretreatment group [IP, pretreated with 50 micromol/L protein kinase B (Akt) specific inhibitor LY-294002, then cultured with the same medium as used in BI group 30 minutes later] according to the random number table. Six hours later, the injury and apoptosis of HUVECs was respectively observed by the scanning electron microscope and determined by the flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B-alpha (p-IkappaB-alpha) and Akt (p-Akt) in cytoplasm, and the content of NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were determined with Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with those in BC group, HUVECs in BS group shrank obviously with irregular nuclear structure, and intercellular links jagged or vanished. Slight change was observed in HUVECs structure in NS and BI groups, with the cell ductility and nuclear structure much better than those in BS group. (2) The apoptosis rates of HUVECs in BS group [(28.5+/-2.3)%], BI group [(22.3+/-1.8)%], and IP group [(29.7+/-2.4)%] were all obviously higher than that in BC group [(15.7+/-2.2)%, F=14.288, P<0.05 or P<0.01]. There was no significant statistical difference between NS group [(17.0+/-2.5)%] and BC group in apoptosis rate (F=14.288, P>0.05). The apoptosis rate of HUVECs in BI group was obviously lower than that in BS group (F=14.288, P<0.05). (3) Compared with those in BC group, the protein expressions of p-IkappaB-alpha in cytoplasm and NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were up-regulated, and the protein expression of p-Akt in cytoplasm was down-regulated in BS and IP groups. The expression levels of the three proteins in NS and BI groups were close to those in BC group.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin could inhibit the IkappaB phosphorylation, and then restrict NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and improve the vascular endothelial cells function accordingly through regulating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway.

Apoptosis ; Burns ; blood ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Serum ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 in response to DNA damage and to confirm that the function of the BRCA1 protein is regulated by a variety of mechanisms including transcriptional control, phosphorylation and protein-protein interaction.

METHODSWith the human breast cell line MCF7 as the positive control, we determined the subcellular distribution of BRCA1 in the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting analyses.

RESULTSBRCA1 was present in the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145 and PC3. Ionizing radiation induced BRCA1 nuclear export, increasing from 14% to 40% in the cytoplasma (P < 0.01) and decreasing from 46% to 21% in the nuclei (P < 0.01). This DNA damage-induced BRCA1 nuclear export occurred only in the p53 wild-type but not in the p53 mutant cell line. The apoptosis rate of LNCaP cells was as high as 40% after nuclear export, with an obvious increase of cleaved caspase-3, which was correlated with BRCA1 nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling.

CONCLUSIONCytoplasmic relocalization of the BRCA1 protein may be a mechanism whereby the BRCA1 function is regulated in response to DNA damage. Its induction of a higher rate of cell apoptosis indicates BRCA1 to be another good biomarker for the treatment of prostate cancer.

BRCA1 Protein ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism