Phloretin Ameliorates Succinate-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Regulating Hepatic Stellate Cells

Background@#Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major cells which play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis. During injury, extracellular stimulators can induce HSCs transdifferentiated into active form. Phloretin showed its ability to protect the liver from injury, so in this research we would like to investigate the effect of phloretin on succinate-induced HSCs activation in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo study. @*Methods@#In in vitro, succinate was used to induce HSCs activation, and then the effect of phloretin on activated HSCs was examined. In in vivo, succinate was used to generated liver fibrosis in mouse and phloretin co-treated to check its protection on the liver. @*Results@#Phloretin can reduce the increase of fibrogenic markers and inhibits the proliferation, migration, and contraction caused by succinate in in vitro experiments. Moreover, an upregulation of proteins associated with aerobic glycolysis occurred during the activation of HSCs, which was attenuated by phloretin treatment. In in vivo experiments, intraperitoneal injection of phloretin decreased expression of fibrotic and glycolytic markers in the livers of mice with sodium succinate diet-induced liver fibrosis. These results suggest that aerobic glycolysis plays critical role in activation of HSCs and succinate can induce liver fibrosis in mice, whereas phloretin has therapeutic potential for treating hepatic fibrosis. @*Conclusion@#Intraperitoneal injection of phloretin attenuated succinate-induced hepatic fibrosis and alleviates the succinate-induced HSCs activation.

Biogenic synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by Shewanella sp. HN-41 using a modified bioelectrochemical system

BACKGROUND Synthesis of selenium nanoparticles from selenite by Shewanella sp. HN-41 demonstrated that particle size depended on the reaction time and biomass of cells. The slow reaction and low biomass tended to form small particles. In this study, Shewanella sp. HN-41 was introduced into the anode of a nonexternal circuit bioelectrochemical system (nec_BES) to convert chemical energy from lactate to low electron current to the cathode, where selenite was reduced. RESULTS Our experiment with two systems, one bioelectrochemical system with a cathode flushed with nitrogen and the other with a no-nitrogen-flushing cathode, showed that the former could not produce Se nanoparticles after 21 d, but the latter formed them with an average size of 37.7 nm. The SEM and TEM images demonstrated that the particle size of 10 nm occupied over 10% and most of the particles were in the range of 30­60 nm. The XRD result and SAED image demonstrated no clear peaks of crystal and proved that the Se nanoparticles are amorphous. CONCLUSIONS : The clean Se nanoparticles were synthesized and completely separated from bacterial cells in the bioelectrochemical system. This study opened a new approach for the biological synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Finally, the Se products in the range of 30­60 nm can be tested for antimicrobial activities in medical applications

Irisin Regulates the Functions of Hepatic Stellate Cells

Background@#Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are known to play a fundamental role in the progression of liver fibrosis. Once HSCs are activated, they are involved in proliferation, migration, and contractility which are characteristics of liver fibrogenesis. Recent studies have shown that irisin, a myokine secreted during physical exercise, has a protective effect in various metabolic diseases, especially in renal fibrosis. However, whether irisin is involved in HSC activation and other processes associated with liver fibrosis has not yet been investigated. In this study, we reveal the role of irisin in HSC activation as well as in proliferation, migration, and contractile properties of HSCs in vitro. @*Methods@#LX-2 cells, immortalized human HSCs, were treated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a core regulator of HSC fibrosis, with or without irisin, and markers of the aforementioned processes were analyzed. Further, an inflammatory response was stimulated with TGF-β1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with irisin and the expression of cytokines was measured. @*Results@#Recombinant irisin significantly suppressed the expression of TGF-β1-stimulated fibrosis markers including alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen type 1 alpha 1 and prevented the TGF-β1-induced proliferation, migration, and contractility of LX-2 cells. Additionally, irisin ameliorated the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β induced by TGF-β1 and LPS treatments. @*Conclusion@#These findings suggested that irisin potently improved the progression of hepatic fibrosis by regulating HSC activation, proliferation, migration, contractility, and HSC-mediated production of inflammatory cytokine.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Influenza Vaccinations Among College Students in Vietnam and the United States / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Influenza is a significant worldwide public health issue. Knowledge and perceptions regarding the flu vaccination are associated with whether individuals obtain the vaccination. The purpose of this study was to examine how such perceptions were related to knowledge and self-efficacy regarding influenza and the flu vaccination in Vietnam and the US. METHODS: College students (n=932) in Vietnam (n=495) and the US (n=437) completed a self-administered survey regarding knowledge and perceptions of influenza vaccinations in September and October 2016. RESULTS: Vietnamese participants reported significantly lower levels of awareness about flu risk, higher levels of negative attitudes toward flu vaccination, lower levels of knowledge about the flu and vaccination, and lower levels of self-efficacy than US participants. Higher levels of flu and flu vaccination knowledge and self-efficacy regarding general responsible health practices were associated with lower levels of negative perceptions of flu risk and attitudes toward vaccination. At the same time, self-efficacy regarding responsible health practices was associated with higher levels of awareness of flu risk and lower levels of negative attitudes toward vaccination. Self-efficacy regarding exercise was associated with lower levels of perceptions of flu risk and higher levels of negative attitudes toward vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Vietnam could benefit from influenza education based on this comparison with the US. In both countries, knowledge and self-efficacy were found to be important factors influencing perceptions of influenza risk and vaccination.

Remarks on surfactant therapy in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome at intensive care unit of Children Hospital No 2 from January 2007 to July 2007

Background: Respiratory distress is one among the leading reasons cause mortality for infants especially for preterm babies or light weight babies. Surfactant therapy in premature infants can decrease mortality, duration of respiratory treatment, pulmonary air leaks and chronic lung disease. Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of surfactant therapy in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome at Intensive Care Unit of Children Hospital N\xb0.2. Subjects and method:A cases study about premature infants less than 24 hours after birth with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) admitted to intensive care unit and treated with surfactant from January 2007 to July 2007 at the Children Hospital No 2. There were 30 cases recruited. The data was collected and analyzed by EpiInfo software 2002.Results: Most of them improved in respiration status after using surfactant (96.7%); no case of air leak was seen; 3 bronchopulmonary dysplasia cases and 4 deaths due to nosocomial infection were seen. Conclusion: Surfactant therapy was effective in premature infants with RDS. In the case of having economic advantages, surfactant may be indicated for preventive treatment on the premature and light weigh infants without respiratory distress syndrome on clinical aspect.

Initial results of close intramedullary nailing in tibial fracture with transversal locking

Shaft fractures of the tibia and fibula are trending upwards. Nowadays, close intramedullary nailing technique with transversal locking is a modern method applied successfully in Europe and America for numerous complicated fractures. For that reason, from October 1999, we improved the equipments (operating table, Kuntscher nail) to implement this technique at Saint-Paul Hospital in 42 cases of multiform fractures. The initial results are satisfactory: no infection, no iterative operations by other procedures, hospitalisation time about 5 days, light deambulation after 1-1.5 months in the majority of patients, relative good anatomical recovery, good esthetis result. Acceptable angulation of the fracture in 3 cases was observed.