Prognostic value of serum free triiodothyronine in patients with hepatitis E-related acute liver failure / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) in patients with hepatitis E-related acute liver failure (HEV-ALF).Methods:Clinical data of 88 patients with HEV-ALF and 86 patients with acute hepatitis E (AHE) were collected from the member hospitals of Chinese Consortium for the Study of Hepatitis E between January 2016 and December 2021; the data of 100 health subjects who underwent health check-up in Suzhou Municipal Hospital were also collected as healthy control (HC) group. Serum FT3 levels were analyzed in all subjects. HEV-ALF patients were divided into survival group ( n=73) and death group ( n=15) according to their 30 day survival. Correlation between serum FT3 level and prognosis of HEV-ALF patients were analyzed by Cox regression and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive value of serum FT3 levels for predicting the prognosis of patients, and its prediction efficacy was compared with conventional Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), King’s College Hospital criteria (KCH) and Child-Pugh models. Results:The levels of serum FT3 in HEV-ALF patients were significantly lower than those in AHE patients and HC group ( P=0.006 or <0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that international standardized ratio ( HR=17.984, 95% CI 2.804-115.362), hepatic encephalopathy ( HR=12.895, 95% CI 2.386-69.695) and total cholesterol ( HR=2.448, 95% CI 1.108-5.409) were independent risk factors for death in HEV-ALF patients, and serum FT3 level ( HR=0.323, 95% CI 0.119-0.876) was a protective factor. OPLS-DA results showed serum FT3 levels had high predictive value. ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve was 0.828 (95% CI 0.733-0.900, P<0.001), the sensitivity was 80.00%, and the specificity was 78.08%. DCA showed that FT3 has good prediction ability and decision-making level serum FT3 levels in patients with improvement and fluctuation were significantly higher than those in the patients with deterioration ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusion:Serum FT3 levels are closely related to the prognosis of HEV-ALF patients and it may be used as a biomarker for the prognosis of patients with HEV-ALF.

Comparison of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacies of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions (FLLs), and to evaluate the clinical value of Sonazoid.Methods:A total of 58 FLLs in 50 patients who underwent Sonazoid-CEUS and CE-MRI examinations from July 2019 to January 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion criteria. The final diagnostic reference standard was decided by surgical pathology or ultrasound-guided biopsy pathology. Sonazoid-CEUS and CE-MRI features of benign and malignant FLLs were analyzed, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic coincidence rate of the two tests were calculated respectively.Results:There was a statistically significant difference between benign and malignant FLLs in the imaging pattern of homogeneous or heterogeneous intratumoral enhancement in the artery-dominant phase and washout images in the late phase( P<0.001).9.8%(4/41) of the malignant lesions did not decrease until the late phase but decreased in the post-vascular phase. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic coincidence rate of the two tests were 97.6%, 52.9%, 83.3%, 90.0%, 84.5%(Sonazoid-CEUS) and 85.4%, 64.7%, 85.4%, 64.7%, 79.3%(CE-MRI), the differences of sensitivity and specificity were not statistically significant ( P=0.125, P=0.687). Conclusions:The vascular phase in Sonazoid-CEUS is still an important diagnostic sign of FLLs, and the unique Kupffer phase can provide additional information for the diagnosis. Sonazoid-CEUS has the same important value as CE-MRI in the diagnosis of FLLs.

Clinical features and risk factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and risk factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:Ninety COPD patients with IPA admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2015 to September 2019 were enrolled, and 180 COPD patients without IPA admitted in the same period were selected as control group. The clinical data of the patients in both groups were analyzed retrospectively. Chi square test was used to compare the imaging characteristics of patients in two groups, and multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of IPA in COPD patients. Results:Among 90 cases of COPD with IPA, the culture of lower respiratory tract samples identified Aspergillus fumigatus in 78 cases, Aspergillus flavus in 6 cases, Aspergillus fumigatus with Aspergillus flavus in 1 case, Aspergillu sterrus in 1 case, and Aspergillus nigerwere in 1 case; 1 case of Aspergillus mycelium was found by sputum exfoliation cytology and 2 cases were positive for serum galactomannan. Chest CT images showed patchy infiltrating shadow (87.8%), pleural effusion (36.7%), nodules (33.3%), cavity (18.9%), consolidation shadow (17.8%), halo sign (14.4%) and air crescent sign (2.2%). The incidence of patchy infiltrating shadow, consolidation shadow, halo sign and cavity were higher in COPD patients with IPA compared to control group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis showed that prolonged hospital stay ( OR=1.183, 95% CI 1.047-1.336), combination of two antibiotics ( OR=5.391, 95% CI 1.241-23.421), duration of antibiotic treatment ≥14 days ( OR=5.275, 95% CI 1.586-17.541), cumulative use of antibiotics ( OR=2.270, 95% CI 1.406-3.664) were the risk factors of COPD with IPA ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:The risk factors of IPA in COPD patients include long duration of hospital stay, combination of two kinds of antibiotics, more than 14 days of antibiotic treatment, and more varieties of antibiotics. If the above risk factors exist in patients with COPD, etiology and serology examination and dynamic monitoring of chest CT scan should be performed for early diagnosis and improved prognosis.

Effect of osthole on proliferation and radiosensitivity of poorly differentiated CNE2 stem cells from nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中草药

Objective To investigate the effect and the underlying mechanism of osthole on the proliferation and radiosensitivity of CNE2 stem cells, one of the poorly differentiated cell lines from nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Poorly differentiated CNE2 stem cells were isolated and cultured in serum-free medium (SFM). Flow cytometry was used to detect biomarkers (CD44+/CD24-low) of stem cells and the activity of ALDH. CNE2 stem cells was treated with different concentrations of osthole (0, 20, 40, 80 μg/mL), and then subject to MTT assay. Additionally, CNE2 stem cell was treated with 40 μg/mL osthole plus different dose of radiation (0, 2, 5 Gy) followed by colony formation assay. Consequently, Western blotting was used to detect the difference of pGSK-3β, β-catenin, and Cyclin D1 protein expression in CNE2 stem cells after the treatment of osthole with or without radiation. Results Poorly differentiated CNE2 stem cells isolated and cultured in serum-free medium (SFM) could be passaged stably. The ratio of CD44+/CD24-low and the activity of ALDH were significantly higher in CNE2 stem cells than that in the parental cells (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, osthole could obviously suppress the proliferation of CNE2 stem cells in a dose and time dependent manner (P < 0.05). Moreover, colony formation assay revealed that inhibition rate of CNE2 stem cell colony formation was highest after the treatment of osthole plus radiation, followed by the treatment of osthole or radiation alone (P < 0.05). Western blotting indicated that in contrast to the controls, the expression of pGSK-3β, β-catenin, and Cyclin D1 protein was mostly down-regulated in the CNE2 stem cells treated with osthole plus radiation, followed by that treated with osthole or radiation alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion Osthole effectively inhibited the proliferation and increased the radiosensitivity of CNE2 stem cells, probably due to the down-regulation of pGSK-3, β-catenin, and Cyclin D1 in tumor stem cells by osthole.

Follow-up study of 1035 children with recurrent wheezing / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To investigate the long-term outcome of children with recurrent wheeze and to determine the effectiveness of inhaled hormone therapy. Methods One thousand and thirty-five children with recurrent wheezing were followed up for more than 4 years and the data were retrospectively evaluated. Results Of 1035 cases, 751 (72.56%) patients outgrew their wheeze during the follow-up period, whereas the other 284 (27.44%) patients had recurrence wheeze during the last two years. The age of wheezing onset was<3 years in 542 (52.37%) cases, from 3 to 7 years in 386 (37.29%) cases, and from 7 to 12 years in 107 (10.34%) cases. There was significant difference in clinical control rate among groups with different wheezing ages onset (χ2=45.27, P<0.001). Children with wheezing age onset from 7 to 12 years had the lowest clinical control rate. Among 1035 wheeze children, 343 (79.95%) children in 429 cases who received inhaled hormone therapy for more than one year outgrew their wheeze. Whereas 408 (67.35%) in 606 cases who did not receive inhaled hormone therapy outgrew their wheeze. There was significant difference of clinical control rate between inhaled group and non-inhaled group (P<0.01). Con-clusions The age of wheezing onset is<7 years in 89.66%of children with recurrent wheeze. Most of them can be clinicalycon-trolled. The long term inhaled hoemone therapy for children with recurrent wheeze can reduce the risk of developing adulthood asthma.

Clinical study on Suspension Pancreatic-Duct-Jejunum End-to-Side Continuous Suture Anastomosis in pancreaticoduodenectomy / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of Suspension Pancreatic-Duct-Jejunum End-to-Side Continuous Suture Anastomosis (SPDJCS) on the incidence of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy, and to analyze its applicability, safety, and efficacies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective controlled trial was conducted with 165 cases receiving pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery from January 2010 to May 2012. The patients were divided into Group A (end-to-end/end-to-side invaginated anastomosis, n=52), Group B (end-to-side mucosal anastomosis, n=48), and Group C (SPDJCS, n=65). The preoperative data, intraoperative data, and operative outcomes (incidence of pancreatic fistula, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, peritoneal drainage, peritoneal hemorrhage, peritoneal abscess, delayed gastric emptying, pulmonary infection, postoperative infection, blood transfusion, and perioperative mortality) were compared among the 3 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total incidence of pancreatic fistula was 13.9% (23/165) in all the 165 patients. The incidence in Group A and Group B was 23.1% (12/52) and 18.8% (9/48), both higher than that in Group C [3.1% (2/65), both P<0.05]. Group C showed significantly better outcomes than group A and B in terms of the operation time (5.5±1.2 hours vs. 6.1±1.1 hours, 5.5±1.2 hours vs. 6.3±1.5 hours), volume of blood loss (412.0±205.0 mL vs. 525.0±217.0 mL, 412.0±205.0 mL vs. 514.0±217.0 mL), and postoperative drainage amount of plasma tubes (175.0±65.0 mL vs. 275.0±80.0 mL, 175.0±65.0 mL vs. 255.0±75.0 mL) (all P<0.05), while Group A and Group B displayed no difference in these aspects (P>0.05). As complications other than pancreatic fistula were concerned, the three groups were not different from each other (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SPDJCS may have the effect of reducing the incidence of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. It could be safe, practical and convenient technique of anastomosis for pancreaticojejunostomy.</p>

Study on promoter methylation status of E-cadherin gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of methylation on E-cadherin inactivation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line HNE1 and CNE2, as well as evaluate the inhibitory effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) on cell abilities of proliferation and invasion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression level of E-cadherin was measured by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry (polymer method), the methyaltion status was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and cell proliferation and invasion were examined by MTT and invasion assay, separately before and after treatment with demethylating agent 5-Aza-dC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression level of E-cadherin was down-regulated compared with the normal tissue, simultaneously partially methylated in gene promoter. Treatment with 20 µmol/L 5-Aza-dC increased the expression of E-cadherin and reduced the methylation degree. Moreover, it also significantly suppressed cell growth (27.6% for HNE1 cells and 34.3% for CNE2 cells, P < 0.05) and invasiveness (37.2% for HNE1 cells and 29.7% for CNE2 cells, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aberrant methylation around gene promoter region may play an important part in down regulation of E-cadherin in NPC, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for demethylating agents such as 5-Aza-dC.</p>

Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on the tube-like structure formation in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 cell line in vitro / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the anti-angiogenic effect of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3 in abbreviation) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The tube-like structure (TLS) formation of HNE-1 cells, cultured in medium with different concentrations of Rg3, was determined by in vitro anti-angiogenic test based on preliminary experiment observing the TLSs formed by HNE-1 cells on Matrigel and their structural characteristics. The VEGF expression level in HNE-1 cells was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western-blot test after 48-hour cultured in medium with different concentrations of Rg3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HNE-1 cells could form TLSs and mosaic vessels when mix-cultured with CRL-2480 on Matrigel. Rg3 could inhibit the TLS formation of HNE-1 cells. After 24-hour culture in medium with Rg3 at concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml, the number of TLSs were 75.50 ± 6.86, 55.00 ± 11.92, 39.75 ± 7.93 and 24.50 ± 6.25, respectively, which were negatively correlated with the concentrations of Rg3 (r = -0.928; P < 0.01). After 48 hours of culture, the expressions of VEGF significantly declined by IHC test with results as 0.19 ± 0.03, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.11 ± 0.01, and 0.08 ± 0.01, respectively, which were negatively correlated with the concentrations of Rg3 (r = -0.911; P < 0.01). The expressions of VEGF also gradually decreased as revealed by Western blot test, with corresponding results as 119.49, 111.51, 86.45, and 38.29. All of the tests showed significantly declined results in the group at the concentration of 200 µg/ml Rg3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rg3 can inhibit the vasculogenic mimicry of HNE-1 cells, and the possible mechanism might be associated with the down-regulation of VEGF protein expression in HNE-1 cells.</p>

Influence of microtubule depolymerization of myocardial cells on mitochondria distribution and energy metabolism in adult rats / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of microtubule depolymerization of myocardial cells on distribution and activity of mitochondria, and energy metabolism of cells in adult rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Myocardial cells of SD adult rats and SD suckling rats were isolated and cultured. They were divided into adult and suckling rats control groups (AC and SC, normally cultured without any stimulating factor), adult and suckling rats microtubule depolymerization agent groups (AMDA and SMDA, cultured with 8 micromol/L colchicine containing nutrient solution for 30 minutes) according to the random number table. (1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells of adult and suckling rats was detected with Western blot. (2) Myocardial cells of rats in AC and AMDA groups were collected. The expression of cytochrome c was detected with Western blot. Distribution of voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) and polymerized beta tubulin in myocardial cells were observed with immunofluorescent staining. Mitochondrial inner membrane potential was determined with immunocytochemical method. Activity of myocardial cells was detected with MTT method. Contents of ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and energy charge of cells were determined with high performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The expression of polymerized beta tubulin:in AMDA group it was 0.52 + or - 0.07, which was obviously lower than that (1.25 + or - 0.12) in AC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000); in SMDA group it was 0.76 + or - 0.12, which was significantly lower than that (1.11 + or - 0.24) in SC group (F = 31.002, P = 0.000), but was obviously higher than that in AMDA group (F = 31.002, P = 0.009). (2) The expression of cytochrome c in AC group was 0.26 + or - 0.03, which was obviously lower than that (1.55 + or - 0.13) in AMDA group (t = -24.056, P = 0.000). (3) Immunofluorescent staining result: in AC group, microtubules of myocardial cells were in linear tubiform, distributed in parallel with myocardial fiber; VDAC staining result showed that mitochondria were in granular form, distributed in the same direction as microtubules. In AMDA group, the normal distribution regularity of microtubules was destroyed, with weakened immune fluorescence intensity, microtubules structure indistinct, continuity lost, rough in appearance, and the distribution of mitochondria became disrupted. (4) Mitochondrial inner membrane potential in AC group fluorescent intensity was 1288 + or - 84, which was obviously higher than that (331 + or - 27) in AMDA group (t = 26.508, P = 0.000). (5) Cellular activity: in AC group absorbance value was 1.75 + or - 0.11, which was obviously lower than that (0.81 + or - 0.07) in AMDA group (t = 17.348, P = 0.000). (6) Energy metabolism: compared with those in AC group, content of ATP decreased, contents of ADP and AMP increased, and ATP/ADP value and energy charge decreased in AMDA group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Microtubules and mitochondria distribute in the same direction in normal myocardial cells in adult rats. After microtubule depolymerization, mitochondria are arranged in disorder fashion; cytochrome c leaks from mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane potential, energy supply, and cellular activity decrease in the myocardial cells.</p>

Protective effects of enalaprilat on the myocardial kinetics in rats at early stage of severe scald / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effects of Enalaprilat on the myocardial kinetics in rats at early stage of severe scald.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four SD rats were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald, and randomly divided into scald (S, with intraperitoneal injection of isotonic saline according to Parkland formula, n=30), L (n=30), M (n=12) and H (n=12) groups. The rats in L,M,H groups were intraperitoneally injected with 1,2,4 mg/kg Enalaprilat. Other 6 healthy rats were enrolled into study as control (C group). The myocardial kinetic parameters including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), +/- dp/dt max and the levels of A II in myocardium were observed at 1,3,6,12 and 24 post scald hour (PBH) in L and S groups,and at 6,12 PBH in M and H groups. The above indices in C group were also examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of LVSP, LVEDP, +/- dp/dt max in C group were higher than those in other groups during 3-24 PBH (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while those in L,M,H groups were obviously higher than those in S group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The level of +/- dp/dt max in H group at 6,12 PBH were obviously lower than those in L and M groups. The level of A II in S group at 1 PBH was (53.0 +/- 2.6) pg/200 mg, which was significantly higher than thatin C group [(14.8 +/- 0.7) pg/200 mg, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]; it peaked at6 PBH and lowered afterwards, and they were significantly higher than that in C group at 24 PBH (P < 0.01). The levels of A II in L group during 3-24 PBH were obviously higher than those in C group (P < 0.01), which were also lower than those in S group. The level of A II in S group was significantly higher than in L,M,H groups at 6 PBH [(145.2 +/- 14.5) pg/200 mg. vs. (65.1 +/- 0.9) pg/200 mg, (53.6 +/- 1.1) pg/200 mg, (34.2 +/- 0.9) pg/200 mg, respectively, P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Myocardium can be obviously damaged at early stage after severe scald,cardiac function is impaired. Enalaprilat injection (especially at low dose) can significantly ameliorate the myocardial kinetics indices, and it seems to exert a protective effect on cardiac function.</p>

Protective effect of enalaprilat injection against early postburn organ damage in rats / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dose-effect relationship of enalaprilat (ENA) injection on the organ damage following early burn injury in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 54 SD rats were subjected to 30% total body surface area III scald injury, and were randomly divided into simple scald group (B group, with conventional fluid transfusion after scald), ENA treated group (E1, E2, E3 group, with intraperitoneal enalaprilat injection of 1, 2, 4 mg/kg after scald respectively). Other 6 rats were taken as normal control. Aortic systolic pressure (AOSP), aortic diastolic blood pressure (AODP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), angiotensin 1, blood urea nitrogen (Bun), creatinine (Cr), creatinine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of the simple scald group, E1 group, E2 group and E3 group were investigated at 6 h and 12 h post burn.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ang II, Bun, Cr, CK, ALT, AST levels in ENA treated group after 6 h and 12 hours were significantly lower than those of simple scald group (all P < 0.05). AOSP, AODP, MAP in ENA treated group after 6 and 12 hours were significantly higher than those of simple scald group (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low-dose enalaprilat, injection (1 mg/kg) could alleviate organ damage in post-burned rats, but has little effect on AOSP and AODP.</p>

Efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil in treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine resistance / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with lamivudine (LAM) resistance. Methods There were treatment group (32 CHB patients with LAM resistance) and historical control group (24 CHB patients with LAM resistance) in this study. The treatment group received ADV 10 mg/d and LAM 100 mg/d for 48 weeks; the historical control group continued to use LAM monotherapy. During the treatment causes, serum HBV DNA levels, liver function and HBV serology were monitored regularly, and safety assessments were also conducted. Results In treatment group, mean HBV DNA levels decreased by 2.56 log10 eopies/ml and 2.93 log10 copies/ml, virus response rates were 50. 0% and 75.0%, ALT normalization rates were 53.1% and 68.8% after 24 and 48 weeks of treatment, respectively. The histological improvement rate was 65.6% after 48 weeks. Comparing with those in control group, the differences were statistically significant ( P <0. 05), while there was no significant statistical differences in HBeAg loss rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate between two groups. There was no severe adverse event during the treatment. Conclusion ADV is effective and safe in treatment of lamivudine-resistant CHB.

Protective effects of administration of enalapril maleate on rat myocardial damage in early stage of burns / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of enalapril maleate (Enalaprilat) (E) on myocardial damage in early stage after burns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 SD rats were subjected to 30% TBSA III degree scald injury, and randomly divided into scald group (with conventional fluid transfusion after scald) and ENA group (with intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg Enalaprilat after scald). Normal control consisted of 6 rats. Plasma levels of cTnI and CK-MB were determined in all the groups at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 post-scald hours (PSH) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological changes in myocardium were observed at the same time-points.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The serum level of cTnI and CK-MB in scald group were significantly higher than that of normal controls at each time-point (P < 0.01). The serum level of cTnI and CK-MB in ENA group were (1.32 +/- 0.12 microg/L to 2.47 +/- 0.22 microg/L) and (438 +/- 68 U/L to 5569 +/- 322 U/L), respectively, which were obviously lower than those in B group (6.42 +/- 0.96 microg/L to 15.10 +/- 3.69 microg/L) and (2556 +/- 74 U/L to 8047 +/- 574 U/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) at different time-points. (2) Compared with normal controls, cloudy swelling, stromal blood vessel dilatation and congestion inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in scald group, but these pathological changes were less marked in ENA group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Severe myocardial damage in rat occurred early after burns. Enalaprilat injection can markedly alleviate myocardial damage.</p>

Protective effects of Astragaloside and Quercetin on rat myocardial cells after hypoxia / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and compare the protective effects of Astragaloside IV (AST) and Quercetin (QUE) on rat myocardial cells after their exposure to hypoxia, and to determine their dose-effect relationship.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Myocardial cells from fetal SD rat were cultured in vitro and divided into 7 groups: i.e. A (hypoxia), B (hypoxia and 100 mg/L of QUE), C (hypoxia and 50 mg/L of QUE), D (hypoxia and 25 mg/L of QUE), E (hypoxia and 50.0 mg/L of AST), F (hypoxia and 25.0 mg/L of AST), G (hypoxia and 12.5 mg/L AST) H(hypoxia and 10 mg/L of VitE) groups. Different doses of AST and QUE were added into the culture media cells in each group before the myocardial cells receiving hypoxia for 12 hrs. The number of viable cells (CCK-8) and the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), active oxygen (ROS, with detection only in A, C, F and H groups) were determined after hypoxia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The amount of LDH, MDA, ROS (C, F groups) in group B - G decreased significantly compared with those of group A, while the number of viable cells and the SOD content increased significantly. The protective effects were better in group B - G than that of the group H. With the same dosage, levels of LDH, CCK-8 in AST-treated groups were significantly lower than those in QUE-treated group (the number of viable cells in group C, F was 0.454 +/- 0.018, 0.471 +/- 0.017, and the content of lactate dehydrogenase was 2800 +/- 9,2312 +/- 52). There were no significant differences in MDA, SOD and ROS levels between AST and QUE treated groups (ROS in C and F groups were 16.0 +/- 5.3 vs 22.4 +/- 8.7, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AST and QUE might be beneficial in the protection of myocardial cells against hypoxia because of attenuation of oxidative damage. The protective effects of both AST and QUE are better than that of VitE, and that of AST is better than QUE as shown by a decrease in the amount of LDH and increase in the number of viable cells with the same dosage, but no obvious difference is shown between them in attenuating oxidative damage.</p>

The promotive effects of N-nitrosopiperidine on the malignant transformation of the immortalized esophageal epithelium induced by human papillomavirus / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Study on the promotive effects of N-nitrosopiperidine on carcinogenesis process was performed, based on the immortalization of human fetal esophageal epithelium induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) 18E6E7 genes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The immortalized esophageal epithelium SHEE was induced by HPV18E6E7. The cells at 17th passages were cultured in 50 ml flasks. The N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) 0, 2, 4, 8 mmol/L added to the cultured medium of SHEE cells for 3 weeks. The morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were studied by phase contrast microscopy and flow cytometry. Modal number of chromosomes was analyzed by standard method. Tumorigenicity of the cells was assessed by soft agar colony formation and by transplantation of cells into nude mice. Expression of HPV was detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When cells were exposed to high concentration (8 mmol/L) of NPIP, cell death was increased, leaving a few live cells. In normal cultural medium instead of NPIP proliferative status of the cells restored after 4 weeks and the cells progressed to the proliferation stage with continuous replication and atypical hyperplasia. At the end of the 8th week, the cells appeared with large colonies in soft-agar and tumor formation in transplanted nude mice. When the cells were cultured in 2, 4 mmol/L NPIP the doubling passage was delayed and without tumor formation in transplanted nude mice. Modal number of chromosomes was 61-65, in 8 mmol/L NPIP group and control group, 56-61. Expression of HPV18 appeared in experimental and control groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NPIP promotes malignant change of the immortalized esophageal epithelial cells induced by HPV18E6E7. HPV18E6E7 synergy with NPIP will accelerate malignant transformation in esophageal epithelium.</p>