The Role of Whole Body DWI in the Evaluation of Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the characteristics of ADC value changes in DWI of newly diagnosed symptomatic MM patients and its correlation with R-ISS stage.@*METHODS@#The data of 148 newly diagnosed symptomatic MM patients treated by whole-body DWI scan at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2016 to June 2019 were selected and retrospectively analyzed and 30 cases of age-matched healthy people were selected as controls. The differences of ADC values between the patients in normal control group, DWI- group and DWI+ group were compared, and the relationship between ADC values and R-ISS stage in MM patients was compared.@*RESULTS@#The plasma cell percentage of the patients in DWI+ group was higher than those in DWI- group. ADC values of vertebra, sternum, rib, pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle of the patients in DWI+ group were significantly higher than those in DWI- group and normal control group. The ADC values of each part of the patients in DWI- group were higher than those in normal control group. ADC values of sternum, rib and pectoral girdle in the patients at R-ISS stage III were higher than those at R-ISS stage I and II, while, there was no statistical difference between R-ISS stage I and II groups. And there was no significant difference in ADC values of other bone parts such as vertebra and pelvic girdle in patients at R-ISS stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ.@*CONCLUSION@#DWI+ in MM patients is related to higher tumor invasion. The ADC values of the DWI+ group are higher than those of the DWI- group; the bone ADC values of the DWI- patients are still higher than the normal ones. And there is a certain relationship between ADC value and R-ISS stage.

Radiological features of traumatic vertebral endplate fracture: an analysis of 194 cases with 263 vertebral fractures / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The importance of identifying osteoporotic vertebral endplate or/and cortex fracture (ECF), which primarily includes endplate fracture (EPF) and vertebral anterior cortex buckling, has been recognized. However, some old traumatic ECFs with healing process in the elderly may be mistaken as osteoporotic. This study analyzes the radiological features of traumatic EPF.@*METHODS@#This was a retrospective analysis of 194 spine trauma patients with 263 vertebral fractures (mean age: 42.11 ± 9.82 years, 118 males and 76 females). All patients had traumatic EPF identified by X-ray/CT/MRI.@*RESULTS@#The involved vertebra was mostly L1 (29.7%), followed by T12 and L2. Except EPFs involved both superior and inferior endplates (12.6%), only 1.9% involved inferior endplate alone, with the majority involved superior endplate. If each endplate was divided into five segments of equal lengths (from anterior to posterior: a1, a2, m, p2, p1), the most depressed point of superior EPFs was mostly at segment-a2 (approximately 45%), followed by segment-a1 (approximately 20%) or segment-m (approximately 20%), and very rarely at segment-p1. The upper 1/3 of anterior vertebral wall was more likely to fracture, followed by middle 1/3 of anterior wall. For posterior vertebral wall fracture, 68.5% broke the bony wall surrounding the basivertebral vain. 58.6%, 30.0%, and 11.4% of vertebral fractures had 1/3 vertebral body height loss. As the extent of vertebral height loss increased, the chance of having both superior and inferior EPFs also increased; however, the chance of having inferior EPF alone did not increase.@*CONCLUSION@#Traumatic EPF features are characterized, which may help the differentiation of traumatic and osteoporotic EPFs.

IL-37b alleviates septic shock through inhibition of immune responses related to dendritic cells / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To express the recombinant IL-37b protein and to investigate its role in the regulation of immune responses. Methods The prokaryotic expression vector pET28/IL-37b was constructed. The recombinant IL-37b protein was induced to be expressed and was purified using Ni2+-NTA gel column. C57BL/6 J mice were treated with IL-37b and injected with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)to induce septic shock,and the expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IFN-γ in the serum of the mice were detected. Dendritic cells from bone marrow of the mice were isolated and cultured, and were treated with IL-37b. After LPS-induced activation, the expression levels of marker molecules such as CD40, CD80 and MHCII on the cell surface, and cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α in the culture supernatants were detected by flow cytometry. The CD4 +T cells from mice were isolated and the inhibitory effects of IL-37b on the expression of IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-10 in the culture supernatants of T cells after induction by LPS were detected. Results IL-37b reduced the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum of septic shock mice. IL-37b also inhibited the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines of the mouse dendritic cells, and suppress the activation of CD4 +T cells in vitro. Conclusions Purified recombinant IL-37b protein has high bioactivity, and can alleviate septic shock in organisms through inhibiting the activation of dendritic cells and related T cell immune responses.

Research on correlation between family cohesion and adaptability and quality of life in patients with enterostomy / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between family cohesion and adaptability and quality of life in patients with enterostomy. Methods Using Chinese version of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACESⅡ-CV) and Chinese version of Stoma-Quality of Life (STOMA-QOL-C) to investigate the status of family cohesion and adaptability, family type and their impact on quality of life of 110 patients with enterostomy. Results Scores of family cohesion and adaptability averaged 59.15 ± 11.94, 47.32 ± 9.40,were significantly lower than 63.90 ± 8.00 and 50.90 ± 6.20 in the norm,and the difference was statistically significant (t=-4.171,-3.990, P<0.01).The family cohesion was positively correlated with the score of quality of life, social interaction and psychological burden(r=0.274, 0.284, 0.263, P<0.05), and the family adaptability was positively correlated with the score of quality of life,social interaction and psychological burden(r=0.316, 0.338, 0.228, P<0.05 or 0.01). The balance type family was 30 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 45.10±7.26, the intermediate type family was 50 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 43.48±9.98, the extreme type family was 28 cases;scores of quality of life averaged 43.37 ± 16.68, and difference between the three was no statistically significant(F=0.442, P=0.665). Conclusions In the nursing process of patients with enterostomy, health care workers should pay attention to improve family cohesion and adaptability, as to achieve the purpose of improving the quality of life of the patients.

Effects of different doses of lidocaine on acute liver injury in septic rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of lidocaine on acute liver injury in septic rats.Methods Fifty male Wistar rats,weighing 200-250 g,aged 8-10 weeks,were randomly divided into 5 groups(n =10 each):sham operation group(group S),sepsis group(group CLP),and different doses of lidocaine groups(groups L1-3).Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)in anesthetized rats.At 0,1 and 2 h after CLP,lidocaine 5,10 and 20 mg/kg(in normal saline 0.5 ml)were injected intraperitoneally in groups L1-3 respectively,while normal saline 0.5 ml was given in groups S and CLP.At 24 h after CLP,blood samples were taken for determination of the plasma alanine aminotran sferase(ALT)concenlralion.The rats were then sacrificed,and the liver was removed for microscopic examination and determination of the hepatic high-mobility group box 1 protein(HMGBI)mRNA expression.Results Compared with group S,the plasma ALT concentration was significandy increased and hepatic HMGBI mRNA expression was up-regulated in groups CLP and L1-3(P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group CLP,HMGBI mRNA expression was down-regulated in groups 14-3,while the plasma ALT concentration was decreased in groups L2 and L3(P ＜ 0.05),The plasma ALT concentration was significantly decreased and HMGBI mRNA expression was down-regulated in groups L2 and L3 com pared with group L1,and in group L3 compared with group L2(P ＜ 0.05).The microscopic examination showed that the pathologic changes were attenuated in groups L1-3,and the changes were least severe in group L3.Concluslon Lidocaine can reduce acute liver injury in septic rats,this effect is dose-related,and inhibition of hepatic HMGBI mRNA expression is involved in the mechanism.

Effects of chronic sleep deprivation on learning and memory abilities, brain dopamine content and D1 receptor expression in rats / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) on the learning and memory abilities, brain dopamine(DA) content and D1 receptor expression in rat hippocampus and hypothalamus. Methods Healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into CSD group, treatment control(TC) group and blank control(BC) group after screening experiment. Each group included 10 rats. Rat CSD model was established by modified multiple platform method (MMPM), in which the rats were subjected to 18 h/d sleep deprivation(PM16:00-AM10:00)for 21 days. Rats in TC group were given similar deprivation as CSD group, but lived in a deprivation box with bottom covered with wire grid. The learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by Morris water maze and open-field test at CSD 7, 14, and 21 d. DA content and D1 receptor protein expression in hippocampus and hypothalamus were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD) and Western blotting analysis, respectively. Results Compared with BC and TC groups, CSD rats were exhausted and irritated, without sleek hair. The weight of CSD rats were decreased significantly from the third day of sleep deprivation (P<0.01). The escape latency in Morris water maze of CSD group was increased significantly and the platform crossings decreased significantly compared with those of the other two groups (P<0.01). The spontaneous motor activity distance and activity times were also significantly decreased in CSD group(P<0.05). The hippocampus and hypothalamus DA content and D1 receptor protein expression were significantly decreased in CSD group as determined by HPLC-ECD and Western blotting analysis (P<0.05). As expected, there were no significant differences in the above parameters between BC and TC group. Conclusion CSD can impair the learning and memory abilities in rats. Decreased dopamine and D1 receptor in hippocampus and hypothalamus may be involved in modulating the learning and memory dysfunction.

Effect of different doses of lidocaine on expression of HMGB1 in small intestine in septic rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of different doses of lidocaine on expression of the high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) in small intestine in septic rats.Methods Fifty adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n =10 each):sham operation group (group S),sepsis group( group Sep ) and different doses of lidocaine group (group L1～3 ).Group S were not applied cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Sepsis intestinal damage model was performed in group Sep by CLP.Group L1～3 were given intraperitoneally lidocaine in a dose ofS,10 and 20 mg/kg at immediately,1 and 2 h after CLP,respectively.Isometric normal saline was given intraperitoneally in group S and group Sep.The small intestine tissues were taken at 24 and 48 h after CLP.The small intestine morphology was observed with optical microscope.The expression of the HMGB1 mRNA were examined by PCR and the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) were determined by ELISA.Results Compared with group S,the expression of HMGB1 mRNA was increased and the activity of DAO decreased in group Sep and groups L1～3 at 24 and 48 h after CLP ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with group Sep,the expression of HMGB1 mRNA was decreased and the activity of DAO increased in a dose-dependent manner in groups L1～3 ( P ＜0.05),The injury of pathology of small intestine was slighter in groups L1～3 than in group Sep.Conclusion Lidocaine can reduce samll intestine injury through inhibiting HMGB1 expression in septic rats by a dose-dependent manner.

Resveratrol-induced augmentation of telomerase activity delays senescence of endothelial progenitor cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Previous studies have shown that resveratrol increases endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) numbers and functional activity. Increased EPC numbers and activity are associated with the inhibition of EPC senescence. In this study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol on the senescence of EPCs, leading to potentiation of cellular function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and identified immunocytochemically. EPCs were incubated with resveratrol (1, 10, and 50 µmol/L) or control for specified times. After in vitro cultivation, acidic β-galactosidase staining revealed the extent of senescence in the cells. To gain further insight into the underlying mechanism of the effect of resveratrol, we measured telomerase activity using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Furthermore, we measured the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and the phosphorylation of Akt by immunoblotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Resveratrol dose-dependently inhibited the onset of EPC senescence in culture. Resveratrol also significantly increased telomerase activity. Interestingly, quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that resveratrol dose-dependently increased the expression of the catalytic subunit, hTERT, an effect that was significantly inhibited by pharmacological phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) blockers (wortmannin). The expression of hTERT is regulated by the PI3-K/Akt pathway; therefore, we examined the effect of resveratrol on Akt activity in EPCs. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that resveratrol led to dose-dependent phosphorylation and activation of Akt in EPCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Resveratrol delayed EPCs senescence in vitro, which may be dependent on telomerase activation.</p>

Correlation of multi-slice CT findings to clinical staging and prognosis of mesenteric blood vessel infarction / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation of multi-slice CT findings to the clinical staging and prognosis of intestinal obstruction due to mesenteric blood vessel infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four patients with intestinal obstruction resulting from infarction of the mesenteric vein or artery underwent multi-slice CT scanning, and the CT findings were analyzed for their relation with the intestinal ischemia and prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen patients were confirmed to have mesenteric arterial thrombosis (29%) and 40 had mesenteric venous thromboses (71%) by multi-slice CT scanning. The total mortality rate was 29%, of which mesenteric artery infarction took up 87% and mesenteric vein infarction 5%. The prognosis of the patients was closely related to the cause of the bowel infarction. Such CT findings as increased intensity of the intestinal canal and decreased enhancement and thickening of the bowel wall indicated favorable prognosis, whereas the signs of paper-thin wall sign, fecal sign, pneumatosis of the bowel wall, mesenteric veno gas and pneumoperitoneum all suggested poor prognosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Multi-slice CT scanning can identify mesenteric blood vessel infarction resulting in intestinal obstruction, and the CT signs can offer objective and valuable information for clinical staging and prognostic evaluation.</p>

Preparation, dissolution and bioavailability of lycopene-Poloxamer 188 solid dispersion / 中国药科大学学报

Aim: To improve the solubility, dissolution and bioavailability of lycopene by preparing lycopene solid dispersion. Methods: Lycopene solid dispersion was prepared by the solvent method using Poloxamer 188 as car-rier. The physicochemical characteristics of the dispersion were determined by DSC, ultraviolet-visible spectra and the Dissolution Apparatus Ⅱ( Paddle). The oral bioavailability of lycopene was estimated in rat after oral dosing of lycopene solid dispersion or oil preparation. The plasma concentrations of lycopene in rats were determined by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by Kinetica software package. Results: In vitro dissolution of lycopene solid dispersion was greater than those of lycopene (raw material), and the physical mixture of lyco-pene and Poloxamer 188, partly due to the existing molecular state of lycopene in the dispersion. It was also found that the relative bioavailability of lycopene solid dispersion to lycopene oil preparation was (312. 2±96. 9) % . The optimal ratio of lycopene to carrier in the dispersion was about 1: 5. Conclusion: Lycopene-Poloxamer 188 solid dispersion could be prepared by the proposed simple, low-costly procedure resulting in improved bioavail-ability of lycopene, which is worthy of further development.

C/EBP homologous protein-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress-related apoptosis pathway is involved in abdominal aortic constriction-induced myocardium hypertrophy in rats / 生理学报

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an adaptive process in response to circumstantial changes, but excessive and/or prolonged ERS can induce cell apoptosis. C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is a very important marker participating in ERS-associated cell apoptosis, while the role of the myocyte apoptosis induced by CHOP remains unclear in the development of hypertrophy. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CHOP-mediated ERS-associated apoptosis on myocardial hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic constriction in rats. Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into model group (n=45) and control group (n=40). The rats in model group received abdominal aortic constriction. Hemodynamic changes, whole heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) and left ventricular weight/body weight (LVW/BW) were measured on 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d after surgery, respectively. The mRNA expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), calreticulin (CRT) and CHOP, which are important markers of ERS, were detected by RT-PCR, and Western blot was used to assess the protein level of GRP78, CRT, CHOP, and apoptosis-associated proteins, Bax and Bcl-2. The results obtained were as follows. Compared with control group, the blood pressure, LVW/BW, and HW/BW of rats in model group increased significantly and cardiac function enhanced compensatively on 7 d after surgery, and increased progressively during the experiment. As early as 1 d after surgery, the mRNA level of CRT in model group increased by 136% (P< 0.01) compared with control, while the protein expression increased by 69.2% on 7 d after surgery (P<0.01). Both mRNA and protein expression of GRP78 increased by 20% and 186% (P<0.01) respectively on 7 d after surgery, and the expression sustained high level during the experiment afterwards. Correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between +dp/dt(max) and CRT protein expression (r=0.780, P<0.01) as well as GRP78 protein expression (r=0.694, P<0.01). Prolonged ERS triggered myocyte apoptosis, as both the mRNA and protein level of CHOP in model group increased by 22.2% (P<0.01) and 76.0% (P<0.01) respectively compared with control on 7 d after hypertrophy (14 d after surgery), and meanwhile, the protein expression of pro-apoptotic Bax increased by 41.1% (P<0.01) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression decreased by 25.5% (P<0.01). Correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between CHOP and Bax expression (r=0.654, P<0.01), and a negative correlation between CHOP and Bcl-2 expression (r=-0.671, P<0.01). These results suggest that abdominal aortic constriction induces a significant up-regulation in ER molecular chaperones at early stage of post-surgery, indicating that ERS response is activated in the rat heart; while prolonged ERS could lead to myocyte apoptosis, and CHOP-mediated ERS-associated apoptosis may contribute to myocardial hypertrophy. We speculate that cell apoptosis may take part in the regulation of myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure, and determine the progression of decompensated hypertrophy.

Endothelial progenitor cell mediates transport of hepatitis B / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication has been reported to be involved in many extrahepatic viral disorders; however, the mechanism by which HBV is transinfected into extrahepatic tissues such as myocardium and causes HBV associated myocarditis remains largely unknown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were infected by HBV and then transfused into ischemic model of mice. HBV surface and core antigen as well as mutation of HBV particles were detected by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent activated cell sorter and transmission electron microscopy in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Human cord blood EPCs, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) could be effectively infected by taking up HBV in vitro. HBV envelope surface and core antigen expressions were first detectable in EPCs at day 3 after virus challenge, sustained for up to 11 days, and decreased thereafter. Similarly, the virus particles were the most abundant in EPCs in the first week observed by a transmission electron microscope, and declined in 3 weeks after HBV infection. HBV DNA but not HBV cccDNA in EPCs were detectable even 3 weeks after virus challenge, as shown by PCR analysis. Furthermore, intravenous transplantation of HBV-treated EPCs into myocardial infarction Sprague & Dawley rats model resulted in incorporation of both EPCs and HBV into injured endothelial tissues of capillaries in the ischemic border zone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results strongly support that EPCs serve as virus carrier mediating HBV trans-infection into the injured myocardial tissues. The findings might suggest a novel mechanism for HBV-associated myocarditis.</p>

Potential risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus cross-species transmission in neonatal pig islets under xenotransplanted condition / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the potential risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) cross-species transmission xenotransplanted with microencapsulated neonatal pig islets (NPIs).@*METHODS@#Ten dogs were randomly divided into an experiment group and a control group. The experiment group was transplanted with microencapsulated NPIs, and the control group was transplanted with non-microencapsulated NPIs. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed to evaluate the function of microencapsulated NPIs after the transplantation; immunity histochemistry was used to detect the microencapsulated NPIs in the liver of dogs which had been transplanted after 28 days; PCR and RT-PCR were performed to detect PERV and pig mitochondrial (mt) DNA in the blood samples obtained from recipients at various time points after the transplantation.@*RESULTS@#The level of serum special porcine C peptide increased significantly after the injection of glucose for 15 approximately 30 min in dogs which were transplanted with the micro-encapsulated NPIs over 2 weeks, while special porcine C peptide could not be detected in the control group. Immunity histochemistry showed that a few microencapsulated NPIs were still alive in the liver of the dog, and the liver was not damaged. PCR and RT-PCR showed that pig mt DNA and PERV could not be detected in the experiment group 1 approximately 28 days after the transplantation, while very weak expression of that in the control could be detected in the first 4 days and disappeared 10 days after the transplantation.@*CONCLUSION@#Microencapsulated NPIs can survive and have biological function in dogs. There is no evidence of PERV replication, suggesting that the xenotransplantation with microencapsulated NPIs can prevent PERV effectively, and may have great value.

Inhibition of calcineurin is involved in cardioprotection induced by ischemic postconditioning in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To demonstrate the mechanisms underlying cardioprotection induced by ischemic postconditioning(I-postC) via studying the alteration of calreticulin(CRT)/calcineurin(CaN) signaling pathway in rat heart subjected to ischemia/reperfusion(I/R).METHODS: The model of myocardial I/R injury in vivo was made by occluding the left anterior descending artery for 45 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion in Wistar rats.Hemodynamics and activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB) in plasma were measured.Myocardial infarct size was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected using in situ TDT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL).The activity of CaN,the expressions of CaN and CRT in myocardium were detected by enzyme reaction phosphorus measurement and Western blotting analysis,respectively.RESULTS: Cyclosporin A,the inhibitor of CaN,limited significantly myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by I/R,but had no significant effect on cardiac function.I-postC ameliorated significantly the cardiac dysfunction induced by I/R.Compared with those in I/R group,the myocardial infarct size,the LDH and CK-MB activities in plasma and the cardiomyocyte apoptotic index were significantly reduced in I-postC group.In addition,I/R-induced upregulation of CaN activity,CaN and CRT expression were relieved by I-postC.No significant difference was found between I-postC and ischemic preconditioning groups.I-postC had stronger protective effect on the reperfused heart compared with cyclosporin A.CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that I-postC protects myocardium against I/R injury,at least in part,via inhibiting the CRT/CaN signaling pathway.