Effect of Dehydrocostus Lactone on Proliferation of K562 Cells and Its Mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the inhibitory effect of dehydrocostus lactone on the proliferation of human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells and the underlying mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effect of dehydrocostus lactone on the cell cycle and apoptosis of K562 cells. The levels of BCR/ABL-STATs-related molecules were analyzed by using Western blot.@*RESULTS@#The CCK-8 assay showed that dehydrocostus lactone at graded concentration of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 μmol/L could significantly inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells after exposure for 24 h. The proliferation inhibition rate was (24.32±3.05%), (42.91±3.89%), (46.35±4.93%), (77.06±5.42%) and (89.04±4.25%) respectively, showing statistically significantly different from (2.08±0.27%) in the control (P＜0.05). Also, the treatment with 5 and 10 μmol/L of dehydrocostus lactone induced K562 cell apoptosis, the apoptotic rate of K562 cells was significantly higher than that the control group (P＜0.05), and up-regulated the expression level of BAX and p21. Furthermore, dehydrocostus lactone (5 and 10 μmol/L) also increased the percentage of cells in G2/M [(8.53±1.71)% to (17.42±2.72) and (31.79±4.38%)](P＜0.05). The study results also revealed that dehydrocostus lactone significantly inhibited the expression of BCR/ABL STAT3, STAT5, CyclinB1, CDK1 and BCL-2, and up-regulated the expression level of BAX and p21.@*CONCLUSION@#Dehydrocostus lactone can suppress the proliferation of K562 cells and induce the apoptosis of K562 cells through BCR/ABL-STAT signaling pathways.

Antibiotics De-Escalation in the Treatment of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Trauma Patients: A Retrospective Study on Propensity Score Matching Method / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Antimicrobial de-escalation refers to starting the antimicrobial treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, followed by narrowing the drug spectrum according to culture results. The present study evaluated the effect of de-escalation on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in trauma patients.</p><p><b>Methods</b>This retrospective study was conducted on trauma patients with VAP, who received de-escalation therapy (de-escalation group) or non-de-escalation therapy (non-de-escalation group). Propensity score matching method was used to balance the baseline characteristics between both groups. The 28-day mortality, length of hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit stay, and expense of antibiotics and hospitalization between both groups were compared. Multivariable analysis explored the factors that influenced the 28-day mortality and implementation of de-escalation.</p><p><b>Results</b>Among the 156 patients, 62 patients received de-escalation therapy and 94 patients received non-de-escalation therapy. No significant difference was observed in 28-day mortality between both groups (28.6% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.620). The duration of antibiotics treatment in the de-escalation group was shorter than that in the non-de-escalation group (11 [8-13] vs. 14 [8-19] days, P = 0.045). The expenses of antibiotics and hospitalization in de-escalation group were significantly lower than that in the non-de-escalation group (6430 ± 2730 vs. 7618 ± 2568 RMB Yuan, P = 0.043 and 19,173 ± 16,861 vs. 24,184 ± 12,039 RMB Yuan, P = 0.024, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, high injury severity score, multi-drug resistant (MDR) infection, and inappropriate initial antibiotics were associated with patients' 28-day mortality, while high APACHE II score, MDR infection and inappropriate initial antibiotics were independent factors that prevented the implementation of de-escalation.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>De-escalation strategy in the treatment of trauma patients with VAP could reduce the duration of antibiotics treatments and expense of hospitalization, without increasing the 28-day mortality and MDR infection.</p>

Isoalantolactone Inhibits Proliferation of K562/A02 Cells through Caspase-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the apoptosis-inducing effects of isoalantolactone on chronic myeloid leukemia drug-resistant cell line K562/A02.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>K562/A02 cells were treated with 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L isoalantolactone for 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h. The cell viability was analyzed with CCK8 assay. The effects of isoalantolactone on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species(ROS) and apoptosis of K562/A02 cells were measured by flow cytometry. The apoptosis related proteins were analyzed by using Western blot after treatment with isoalantolactone.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Isoalantolactone effectively inhibited the proliferation of K562/A02 cells in dose- and time-dependent manner, the ICvalue of isoalantolactone in K562/A02 cells at 24 h was about (15±1.42) µmol/L (P<0.05). Flow cytometric analysis displayed that after treatment of K562/A02 cells with 0, 10, 15, and 20 µmol/L of isoalantolactone, apoptotic rate were 1.35±0.52%, 18.07±4.03%, 27.53±3.01%, and 34.99±4.91%, respectively, mitochondrial membrane potential was 96.42±3.59%, 74.25±6.91%, 60.97±5.69%, and 31.28±4.95%, respectively. Otherwise, isoalantolactone induced accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) in K562/A02 cells (5.03±1.43%, 17.55±3.85%, 32.09±3.23%, and 44.38±5.92%). Meanwhile, isoalantolactone significantly down-regulated the expression of BCL-2 protein and up-regulated the expression of BAX, cytochrome C, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-PARP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Isoalantolactone significantly inhibits K562/A02 cell proliferation mainly via caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway.</p>

Enterogenous infection of Candida albicans in immunocompromised rats under severe acute pancreatitis / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Opportunistic infection of Candida albicans (C. albicans) has become a serious problem in immunocompromised patients. The study aimed to explore the mechanism of enterogenous infection of C. albicans in immunocompromised rats under severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n=100) were randomly assigned into 5 groups as the following: blank group, cyclophosphamide+ceftriaxone+SAP group, cyclophosphamide+ceftriaxone group, cyclophosphamide+SAP group, and cyclophosphamide group. The rats were sacrificed at 5 and 10 days, and their jejunum, colon, mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, intestinal content, and blood were quickly collected to detect C. albicans. A region of the 25S rRNA gene was chosen and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to differentiate C. albicans genotypes. The amplified products were further sequenced and compared to judge their homology. RESULTS: Compared with the Cyclophosphamide group, the combination of immunosuppressants and broad-spectrum antibiotics significantly increased the colonization of C. albicans in intestine in 5 and 10 days. Pure SAP stress did not increase the opportunistic infection of C. albicans. The PCR products of C. albicans isolates all belonged to the genotype A family, and sequence alignment showed that the amplified fragments were homologous. CONCLUSION: The damage of immune system and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents are important risk factors for opportunistic fungal infection. Intestinal tract is an important source for genotype-A C. albicans to translocate and invade into bloodstream.

Effect of Candida albicans on Intestinal Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Inflammation is supposed to play a key role in the pathophysiological processes of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI), and Candida albicans in human gut commonly elevates inflammatory cytokines in intestinal mucosa. This study aimed to explore the effect of C. albicans on IIRI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups according to the status of C. albicans infection and IIRI operation: group blank and sham; group blank and IIRI; group cefoperazone plus IIRI; group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and IIRI (CCI); and group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and sham. The levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-μ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and diamine oxidase (DAO) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate the inflammation reactivity as well as the integrity of small intestine. Histological scores were used to assess the mucosal damage, and the C. albicans blood translocation was detected to judge the permeability of intestinal mucosal barrier.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of inflammatory factors TNF-μ, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and intestine were higher in rats undergone both C. albicans infection and IIRI operation compared with rats in other groups. The levels of DAO (serum: 44.13 ± 4.30 pg/ml, intestine: 346.21 ± 37.03 pg/g) and Chiu scores (3.41 ± 1.09) which reflected intestinal mucosal disruption were highest in group CCI after the operation. The number of C. albicans translocated into blood was most in group CCI ([33.80 ± 6.60] ×102 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intestinal C. albicans infection worsened the IIRI-induced disruption of intestinal mucosal barrier and facilitated the subsequent C. albicans translocation and dissemination.</p>

Value of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a predictive marker of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the value of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in predicting symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (sPDA) in preterm infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) of ≤ 32 weeks and diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) by echocardiography within 48 hours after birth between June 2014 and April 2015 were selected as subjects. Their clinical manifestations were observed, and serum NT-proBNP levels were measured and echocardiography was performed at 3 and 5 days after birth. The infants were divided into sPDA group and asymptomatic PDA (asPDA) group based on their clinical manifestations and the results of echocardiography. The correlations between serum NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic indices were analyzed. Serum NT-proBNP levels were compared between the two groups. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum NT-proBNP in the prediction of sPDA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 69 preterm infants were enrolled in this study, with 13 infants in the sPDA group and 56 infants in the asPDA group. Serum NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with the diameter of the arterial duct (r=0.856; P<0.05)and the ratio of left atrial diameter to aortic root diameter (LA/AO) (r=0.713; P<0.05). At 3 and 5 days after birth, the serum NT-proBNP levels in the sPDA group were significantly higher than those in the asPDA group (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the prediction of sPDA by NT-proBNP levels at 3 days after birth was 0.949 (95% CI: 0.892-1.000; P<0.001), with a cut-off value of 27 035 pg/mL (sensitivity: 92.3%; specificity: 94.6%); the AUC for the prediction of sPDA by NT-proBNP levels at 5 days after birth was 0.924 (95% CI: 0.848-1.000; P<0.001), with a cut-off value of 6 411 pg/mL (sensitivity: 92.3%; specificity: 92.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NT-proBNP may be a quantitative index for shunt volume. The measurement of serum NT-proBNP levels on 3 and 5 days after birth may be useful to predict sPDA in preterm infants.</p>

Primary study of the method for repair of severe unilateral complete cleft lip / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the probability of repairing the severe cleft lip and nose in one time.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>35 patients were included. A revised method was presented based on the popular methods used.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 35 patients, the length of lip in two sides was equal in 33 patients, and the appearance of the nose shape was satisfactory in 31 patients evaluated by third expert group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method presented in this paper could repair the abnormalities of the lip and nose effectively in severe cleft lip patients in one time and was adapted in the patients who could not be treated with serial methods because of a bad economic state.</p>