Cx43 silencing inhibits mechanical stress-induced apoptosis in mouse articular chondrocyte / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To explore the effect of connexin 43 (Cx43) silence on the apoptosis in mouse chondrocyte under mechanical stress.
 Methods: Mouse chondrocyte ATDC5 cells were divided into a control group, a mechanical stress group, a Cx43 siRNA transfection group, a scramble siRNA transfection group, a mechanical stress+scramble group, and a mechanical stress+siCx43 group. Flexcell FX-5000 system was used to produce mechanical stress on ATDC5 cells cultured in vitro. The mRNA and protein level of Cx43 was detected by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. The cell activity and cell apoptosis was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method and flow cytometry, respectively. Caspase-3 activity was detected by colorimetric assay. The protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-JNK and JNK was detected by Western blot.
 Results: Mechanical stress upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 (both P<0.05). Transfection of Cx43 siRNA significantly decreased Cx43 mRNA and protein level (both P<0.05). After stimulation with mechanical stress, chondrocyte viability was significantly decreased, whereas cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity were increased (both P<0.05). Mechanical stress obviously upregulated Bax protein level, and downregulated Bcl-2 protein expression and Bcl-2/Bax (both P<0.05). Cx43 siRNA transfection significantly increased cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity (both P<0.05). Cx43 siRNA also inhibited Bax expression, and increased the Bcl-2 protein expression and Bcl-2/Bax (both P<0.05). Furthermore, Cx43 siRNA significantly suppressed the p-JNK expression induced by mechanical stress (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Cx43 silence inhibits mechanical stress-induced apoptosis in chondrocyte, which might be mediated by JNK signaling pathway.

Efficacy of intravitreal Conbercept injection for macular edema secondary to macular branch retinal vein occlusion / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreous injection of Conbercept for macular edema secondary to macular branch retinal vein occlusion(MBRVO).METHODS:Clinical records of 19 patients(19 eyes) who were diagnosed MBRVO with macular edema (ME) in our hospital,from July 2015 to September 2016 were retrospectively analysed.All patients were treated with an intravitreal dose of 0.5mg or 0.05mL conbercept ophthalmic injection by the 3+ pro re nata (PRN) project.All patients were evaluated by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),central retinal thickness(CRT),the number of the injection,and the complications.RESULTS:During the 1,2,3 and 6mo after treatment the mean BCVA all improved significantly(P＜0.01),and the mean CRT reduced statistical significantly(P＜0.01);3 eyes had refractory ME,and micro-aneurysm leakage were identified by FFA,and the ME was suppressed effectively after local laser photocoagulation.No complications,such as secondary vitreous haemorrhage,retinal detachment,persistent high intraocular pressure and endophthalmitis were observed during subsequent follow-up.CONCLUSION:Intravitreous injection of conbercept for macular edema secondary to MBRVO may reduce macular edema and improve visual acuity effectively and safely in the short term.

Clinical research on unrelated cord blood transplantation treatment for mucopolysaccharidosis Ⅰ / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the efficacy of unrelated cord blood transplantation treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis Ⅰ (MPS Ⅰ).Methods A 4-year-and-2-month-old boy with MPS Ⅰ who received treatment of human leucocyte antigen-mismatched unrelated cord blood stem cell transplantation after diagnosis was identified.The pre-treatment regimen was Busulfan + Cyclophosphamide + Fludarabine (Bu/Cy4 + Flud).Bu with the dosage of 1.2 mg/kg,once every 6 hours,4 days;Cy with the dosage of 50 mg/(kg · d) for 4 days and Flud with the dosage of 30 mg/(m2 · d) lasted for 4 days,respectively.The day that the graft was transplanted was defined as 0 day,days betore transplantation as negative days,days after transplantation as positive days.After pre-treatment,4.60 × 107/kg of cord blood nucleated cells and 3.05 × 105/kg CD34 positive cells were transplanted into the child.The combination of Antihuman thymocyte globulin,Cyclosporin A and Mycophenolate mofetil was administrated for prophylaxis of graft versus host disease(GVHD).After transplantation,the patient was given granulocyte colony stimulating factor to promote reconstitution of hematopoiesis.Results The myeloid and platelet engraftment time was respectively 15 days and 24 days after transplantation.Short tandem repeat (STR) DNA fingerprinting showed a full donor chimerism on day 21 after transplantation,and the full donor chimerism was stable afterwards.The peripheral-blood α-L-iduronidase (IDUA) activity returned to the normal value,and the IDUA gene sequencing did not demonstrate any mutation in 83 days after transplantation.On day 12 after transplantation,pulmonary infection with pulmonary hypertension occurred.Grade-Ⅱ acute intestinal GVHD occurred on day 15,Grade-Ⅱ acute cutaneous GVHD on day 51,and chronic GVHD (cutaneous,localized) on day 180.Otherwise,the patient complicated with hemorrhagic cystitis on day 35.These complications was cured favourably.In an 18-month-follow-up,the height of the boy increased by 3 cm,and his body weight had increased by 2.4 kg.His corneas regained clear,and his hepatosplenomegaly disappeared.The glycosaminoglycan of urine was negative.The neurocognitive performance of the boy had a little improvement.The abnormalities of fingers and other skeletons had no marked change.Conclusions Unrelated cord blood transplantation for MPS Ⅰ have definited effect.It is the first case report in China on treatment of MPS Ⅰ by unrelated cord blood transplantation.The researchers have accumulated some preliminary experience for future treatment of MPS Ⅰ by unrelated cord blood transplantation.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Data on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.</p>

A analysis on the effect of with or without patellar replacement in total knee arthroplasty / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the outcome of total knee arthroplasty with or without resurfacing of the patella with particular attention to knee score, knee function score and incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain, providing the basis for the choice of surgical procedure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CNKI, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Highwire and other databases were searched for the randomized controlled trials relevant to the patellar with or without replacement in total knee replacement arthroplasty between 1998 and 2010, evaluating of the methodological quality of included studies and extracting valid data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 80 citations were identified as related to patellar resurfacing during total knee arthroplasty, 13 articles meet all inclusion criteria for this study. The incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain is greater in knees without replaced patellas (RR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.61 - 0.99, P = 0.04). No differences are observed between the 2 groups for knee score and knee function score. Knee score (WMD = -0.49, 95%CI: -1.79 - 0.81, P = 0.46), knee function score (WMD = 1.10, 95%CI: -1.77 - 3.98, P = 0.45).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The patella replacement can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative anterior knee pain. There is no difference in the knee score and knee function score between two groups.</p>

VEGF-C mRNA expression and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of VEGF-C mRNA and to investigate its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR was used to measure the level of VEGF-C mRNA in the tumor tissue and corresponding normal mucosa in ESCC patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VEGF-C mRNA expression in tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal mucosa (6.30 vs. 2.81, P = 0.02), and also significantly higher in the patients with lymph node metastasis than that in those without lymph node metastasis (10.11 vs. 4.15, P = 0.04). Among the patients with metastatic lymph nodes, VEGF-C mRNA expression was 62.19 in the patients with > or = 4 metastatic lymph nodes versus 6.30 in those with < 4 (P = 0.01), and 18.98 in the patients with > or = 3 metastatic lymph node stations versus 4.92 in those with < 3 (P = 0.04). In terms of stage, VEGF-C mRNA expression was significantly higher in the stage II b + III + IV than that in the stage I + II a (9.99 vs. 3.80, P = 0.03). Logistic binary regression analysis showed that VEGF-C mRNA was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in ESCC (P = 0.01). In survival analysis, 2-year survival rate was not related with VEGF-C mRNA expression (P = 0.46). It was showed by COX regression model that the number of metastatic lymph node stations was the only independent risk factor for survival (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of VEGF-C mRNA play an important role in lymph node metastasis of human ESCC.</p>

Clinical significance of serum VEGF and bFGF detection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and relationships with c1inicopatho1ogica1 characteristics and their clinical significance. Methods The concentrations of serum VEGF and bFGF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 40 patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy. Results The level of serum VEGF in patients with Ⅳ stage NSCLC was significantly higher than that of Ⅲ stage(P

Implication of micrometastatic cancer cells in the peripheral blood on prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relationship of micrometastatic cancer cells in the blood and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from peripheral vein perioperatively and from the pulmonary vein intraoperatively in NSCLC patients. Cancer cells were detected by flow cytometry, as described previously. The patients were followed up and analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cancer cells in blood samples were detected in 20 of 58 patients (34.5%). Patients under 57 years of age or with stage III/IV lesions had higher positive findings than those over 57 years or with stage I/II lesions (P = 0.000 and 0.006, respectively). On the basis of 40 month follow-up data, the 2- and 3-year survival rates of patients with positive and negative results were 30.0% vs 20.0%, and 52.6% vs 50.0%, respectively. There was significant difference between the overall survival curves which favored patients with negative findings (P = 0.0291 and 0.0092, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study indicates that cancer cells can be detected in the blood perioperatively from NSCLC patients which means poor prognosis.</p>