Repair the donor site of ipsilateral fibular hallux flap with transverse V-Y advancement flap of the great toe / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical application and effect of repairing the donor site of ipsilateral fibular hallux flap with the transverse V-Y advancement flap of the great toe.Methods:Form January 2017 to January 2020, the donor sites of the ipsilateral fibular hallux flap were repaired by the transverse V-Y advancement flap of the great toe in the Department of Hand Surgery, 521 Hospital of Weapon Industry on 20 patients, including 16 males and 4 females with an average age of 33 (18-52) years old. First, the donor site of the fibular hallux flap was sutured to reduce the size of wound. The width of the remaining wound was 0.4 to 1.6 cm, and the area of the remaining wound was 0.5 cm×0.8 cm-1.6 cm×1.8 cm. Then the remaining wound was repaired with the transverse V-Y advancement flap of the ipsilateral great toe. The distance for transfer of transverse advancement V-Y flap was 0.2-0.8 cm, and the area of the transverse V-Y advancement flap was 1.0 cm×1.4 cm-1.8 cm×2.4 cm. The end of postoperative follow-up was scheduled in July 2021. The follow-up items included: survival of the transverse V-Y advancement flap, wound infection, appearance, shape, texture and sensation of the V-Y advancement flap, pain on the V-Y advancement flap and the great toe, cold tolerance and the scar condition at the donor site of the ipsilateral fibular hallux flap and the V-Y advancement flap, the appearance, sensation and flexion and extension of the great toe at the donor site, other discomforts in the donor site of great toe, walking and other functions affected by the discomforts.Results:The postoperative follow-up lasted from 12 to 18(average of 14) months. All the V-Y advancement flaps survived without infection at the donor sites of the great toe, and donor sites healed primarily. The appearance, shape and texture of the advancement V-Y flap were close to the skin of the same area of the contralateral great toe. The TPD of the V-Y advancement flap and the ipsilateral great toe ranged from 4 to 7 mm. The average score of the Visual analog scale(VAS) was 0.3 and 0.6 respectively in the evaluation of cold tolerance of the advancement V-Y flap and the ipsilateral great toe. The average score of the Vancouver scar scale(VSS) was 0.2 and 1.2 respectively in the scar evaluation of the V-Y advancement flap and the ipsilateral great toe. There was no visual difference between the appearance of the great toe at the donor site and the contralateral toe. There was no pain and other discomfort on the V-Y advancement flap and the ipsilateral great toe. The functions of the donor foot were not affected in walking, running, jumping and tiptoeing in all cases.Conclusion:It is a simple, safe and effective method to repair the donor site of the small-area ipsilateral fibular hallux flap by the transverse V-Y advancement flap of the great toe. It only causes a small wound but the appearance and function of the ipsilateral great toe can be repaired with a transverse V-Y advancement flap of the great toe.

Metagenomics approach to identify lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in the gut microbiota of the Chinese bamboo rat cecum

BACKGROUND: Lignocellulose is considered a renewable organic material, but the industrial production of biofuel from lignocellulose is challenging because of the lack of highly active hydrolytic enzymes. The guts of herbivores contain many symbiotic microorganisms that have evolved to hydrolyze plant lignocellulose. Chinese bamboo rats mainly consume high-fiber foods, indicating that some members of the intestinal tract microbiota digest lignocellulose, providing these rats with the energy required for growth. RESULTS: Here, we used metagenomics to analyze the diversity and functions of the gut microbiota in Chinese bamboo rats. We identified abundant populations of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, whose main functions involved carbohydrate, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolism. We also found 587 carbohydrate-active enzyme genes belonging to different families, including 7 carbohydrate esterase families and 21 glycoside hydrolase families. The glycoside hydrolase 3, glycoside hydrolase 1, glycoside hydrolase 43, carbohydrate esterase 4, carbohydrate esterase 1, and carbohydrate esterase 3 families demonstrated outstanding performance. CONCLUSIONS: The microbes and enzymes identified in our study expand the existing arsenal of proficient degraders and enzymes for lignocellulosic biofuel production. This study also describes a powerful approach for targeting gut microbes and enzymes in numerous industries.

Awareness and willingness to vaccinate daughters with human papillomavirus vaccines among parents of primary and middle school students / 预防医学

Objective @#To investigate the awareness of human papillomavirus ( HPV ) vaccine and willingness to vaccinate daughters among parents of primary and middle school students, so as to provide the reference for the promotion of HPV vaccine in primary and middle school girls.@*Methods @#Using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, the parents of girls in in Grade Four to Nine from schools in Gongshu District of Hangzhou, Xiuzhou District of Jiaxing and Wuxing District of Huzhou were selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, HPV vaccine related knowledge and willingness to vaccinate daughters with HPV vaccines. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors for the willingness to vaccinate daughters with HPV vaccines among parents. @*Results @#Totally 1 500 questionnaires were sent out, and 1 466 were effectively collected, with an effective rate of 97.73%. There were 313 fathers responded, accounting for 21.35%; and 1 153 mothers responded, accounting for 78.65%. The awareness rate of HPV vaccine was 16.81%. The rate of willing to vaccinate daughters with HPV vaccines was 49.86%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients who ever vaccinated daughters with self-paid vaccines ( OR=1.935, 95%CI: 1.473-2.541 ), knew cervical cancer ( OR=1.424, 95%CI: 1.065-1.904 ), knew HPV vaccine dose ( OR=1.672, 95%CI:1.216-2.301 ), knew the best vaccination period ( OR=1.392, 95%CI: 1.032-1.876 ), knew the need of cervical cancer screening even after vaccination ( OR=1.596, 95%CI:1.227-2.075) were more willing to vaccinate daughters with HPV vaccines, while the parents who thought HPV vaccine expensive ( OR=0.154, 95%CI: 0.099-0.240 ) were less willing to vaccinate daughters with HPV vaccines. @*Conclusions @#The rates of HPV vaccine awareness and willingness to vaccinate daughters are 16.81% and 49.86% among parents of primary and middle school students. Their knowledge of HPV vaccine and the price of the vaccine may affect their willingness to vaccinate daughters.

Advances in gene editing in the treatment of CAR-T / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#嵌合抗原受体T（chimeric antigen receptor T, CAR-T）细胞是通过基因工程技术将T细胞改造成针对肿瘤特异性抗原 的新型杀伤细胞，具有特异性强、效率高、 非MHC限制等优点，在复发/难治性血液系统肿瘤和部分实体瘤中取得良好的治疗效 果。但目前CAR-T细胞治疗仍面临着缺乏“现货供应”的通用型CAR-T细胞、抑制性免疫微环境和T细胞耗竭等问题。近年来， 锌指核酸酶(zinc finger nucleases, ZFNs)、转录激活子样效应因子核酸酶(transcription activator like effector nucleases,TALENs)、 规 律性重复短回文序列簇[clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated(Cas9)，CRISPR/Cas9]等新型基 因编辑技术被广泛应用于细胞免疫治疗，为解决上述问题带来了希望。本文综述了目前CAR-T细胞治疗的研究进展及存在问 题，并探讨了3种主要的基因编辑技术改良CAR-T细胞治疗的策略， 为CAR-T细胞的基础研究和临床治疗提供参考。

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of apatinib for patients with recurrent epithelial ovari-an cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

To assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who had failed in second-line chemotherapy. Methods: The clinical data of 46 patients with recurrent EOC who had failed in second-line chemotherapy and were admitted to the Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from September 2017 to November 2018 were collected. The treatment efficacy of apatinib was evaluated, and treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were recorded to evaluate its safety. Results:A total of 46 eligible patients were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 12 months. The median overall survival (OS) was 6 months (range 2-15 months). The objective response rate (ORR) was 26.1% (12/46 patients), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 86.9% (40/46 patients). AEs occurred in 30 patients (65.2%), and were mainly of grade 1-2. The most common treatment-related AEs were hypertension (39.1%) and hand-foot-skin syndrome (30.4%); only one patient experienced grade 3 treatment-related hyperten-sion. All grade 1-2 AEs could be recovered rapidly and well-tolerated after treatment with medication. Conclusions: Apatinib may be a safe and effective option for patients with advanced EOC who had failed in second-line chemotherapy. Further Studies are warranted in large-scale clinical trials.

Roles of the ERK1/2 and PI3K/PKB signaling pathways in regulating the expression of extracellular matrix genes in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the mechanisms by which PD98059 and LY294002 interfere with the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix regulated by connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Methods: Rat PASMCs were cultured and separated into a control group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of collagen III and fibronectin mRNA. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses were performed to detect the expression of collagen III protein. Results: The expression of collagen III and fibronectin mRNA was greater in PASMCs stimulated with CTGF for 48 h, than in the control group. After 72h of stimulation, the expression of collagen III protein in the PASMCs was greater than in the control. The equivalent gene and protein expression of the CPL group were much more significant. Conclusions: CTGF can stimulate the gene expression of collagen III and fibronectin in PASMCs, which may be one of the factors that promote pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR) under the conditions of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PD98059 and LY294002 can inhibit the ERK1/2 and PI3K/PKB signaling pathways, respectively, thus interfering with the biological effects of CTGF. This may be a new way to reduce PAH-PVR.

Progress in the Research on Venous Thromboembolism / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease with high risk for death and recurrence and can severely impair patients' quality of life.Despite decades of study on this troublesome disease,there are still many unsolved problems in terms of pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment.Hundreds of articles with various study methods and controversial research results are published every year.Thus it is crucial to keep track of reliable recent studies and articles on VTE in order to better understand it and to handle intricate related clinical events more reasonably.We reviewed high-qualified articles and guidelines from recent years and summarized VTE-related progresses in this review.

Selective extraction of dimethoate from cucumber samples by use of molecularly imprinted microspheres / 药物分析学报

Molecularly imprinted polymers for dimethoate recognition were synthesized by the precipitation polymerization technique using methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker. The morphology, adsorption and recognition properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), static adsorption test, and competitive adsorption test. To obtain the best selectivity and binding performance, the synthesis and adsorption conditions of MIPs were optimized through single factor experiments. Under the optimized conditions, the resultant polymers exhibited uniform size, satisfactory binding capacity and significant selectivity. Furthermore, the imprinted polymers were successfully applied as a specific solid-phase extractants combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for determination of dimethoate residues in the cucumber samples. The average recoveries of three spiked samples ranged from 78.5% to 87.9% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 4.4% and the limit of detection (LOD) obtained for dimethoate as low as 2.3μg/mL.

Anticoagulant efficacy and safety of argatroban for patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anticoagulant efficacy and safety of argatroban for patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 300 consecutive patients with coronary heart disease undergoing elective PCI were enrolled and randomized into heparin group (100 U/kg via artery sheaths, n = 150) and argatroban group (200 µg/kg bolus, followed by 350 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) i.v. infusion, n = 150). The primary efficacy endpoint was the activated clotting time (ACT) results (10 min and 60 min after anticoagulant administration and at the point at the end of PCI). The additional dosage of heparin or argatroban was given if the ACT value during PCI procedure < 250 s. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was also measured at pre-procedure, 10 min after anticoagulant injection and 60 min after PCI. The primary safety endpoint was thrombosis and hemorrhagic events during PCI procedure and hospital stay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients in the two groups attained the target ACT ( ≥ 250 s), and ACT in heparin group was significantly prolonged [(343.32 ± 44.70) s vs. (289.60 ± 20.88) s, P < 0.01], at 10 min after anticoagulation injection. ACT was similar between the two groups at 60 min after anticoagulation injection [(291.26 ± 46.79) s vs. (288.40 ± 21.61) s, P > 0.05]. The ACT value in argatroban group was similar at 10 min and 60 min after injection (P > 0.05). Supplemental anticoagulant was needed for 13 (8.7%) patients in heparin group and 2 (1.3%) patients in argatroban group because of ACT under 250 s (P < 0.05) . At the end of PCI procedure, ACT in heparin group was significantly shorter than in argatroban group [(247.16 ± 41.38)s vs. (278.65 ± 20.51) s, P < 0.01]. APTT in heparin group was significantly prolonged than in argatroban group not only at 10 min point [(182.16 ± 4.37) s vs. (81.69 ± 21.49) s, P < 0.01] after anticoagulant injection but also at the point of 60 min after PCI procedure[(169.13 ± 6.35)s vs. (56.21 ± 15.68) s, P < 0.01]. There was no thrombus event in two groups and no bleeding event in argatroban group, and there was three bleeding events in heparin group [2.0% (3/150) vs.0, P > 0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Argatroban is an effective and safe anticoagulation agent during elective PCI procedure, anticoagulant efficacy and risk of bleeding side effects of argatroban are similar to heparin.</p>

Case-control study on different fixation methods for the treatment of tibial fractures in 96 patients / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effects of limited excision and locking plate fixation, interlocking intramedullary nailing and external fixation in treating tibial fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2007 to May 2011, 96 patients with tibial fractures were divided into three groups (Group A, Group B and Group C) and were treated with three kind of fixations including limited excision and locking plate fixation (36 cases in Group A, including 24 males and 12 females), interlocking intramedullary mailing (38 cases in Group B, including 22 males and 16 females) and external fixation (22 cases in Group C, including 12 males and 10 females). Operative time, healing time, weight-bearing time and complications were observed. Johner-Wruhs scoring was used to evaluate the function of lower limbs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up from 3 months to 30 months with an average of 13 months. In Group A, the operative time was (85.01 +/- 12.2) minutes; the healing time was (143.0 + 12.3) days; the weight-bearing time was (114.3 +/- 12.2) days; Complications occured in 3 patients. According to Johner-Wruhs scoring, the results were rated as excellent in 21 cases, good in 12 cases, moderate in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case; In Group B, the operative time was (90.0 +/- 14.6) minutes; the healing time was (132.0 +/- 14.6) days; the weight-bearing time was (46.0 +/- 12.2) days; Three patients occurred complications. According to Johner-Wruhs scoring,the results were rated as excellent in 24 cases, good in 11 cases, moderate in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case. In Group C, the operative time was (70.0 +/- 10.2) minutes; the healing time was (121.0 +/- 13.5) days; the weight-bearing time was (108.2 +/- 8.9) days; Two patients underwent complications. According to Johner-Wruhs scoring, the results were rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, moderate in 0 case, and poor in 1 case. There were no significant significance among three groups in operative time, healing time, complications and the lower limbs function recovered (P > 0.05). But weight-bearing time in interlocking intramedullary nailing was better than in limited excision and locking plate fixation and external fixation (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different fixation methods have different advantages. Limited excision,closed reduction with locking plate fixation is an ideal method to treat the tibial fracture.</p>

Determination of fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides,and tetracyclines multiresidues simultaneously in porcine tissue by MSPD and HPLC-DAD / 药物分析学报

An efficient method is provided to detect simultaneously some important veterinary drugs from different classes in highly complex animal tissue matrix.This method using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) is developed to effectively determine two fluoroquinolones (enoxacin and lomefloxacin),two sulfonamides (sulfanilamide and sulfamethoxazole) and one tetracycline (tetracycline) simultaneously in porcine tissues.In the process,MSPD methodology was used to treat samples,washed by n-hexane to remove lipid,eluted the analytes with acetonitrile-dichloromethane (1∶1,v/v).Solvent acetonitrile and solvent acetic acid (0.1％) were combined in a gradient.HPLC-DAD analysis of the tissue samples was performed within 15min at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min.The results showed that a recovery at 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 μg/g fortification levels ranged from 80.6％ to 99.2％ with satisfactory relative standard deviations (RSDs) (below 6.1％.n=3) and the limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 7 μg/kg to 34 μg/kg in porcine tissues.Utilization of the method in successfully simultaneous analysis of porcine tissue incurred with veterinary drug multiresidues is described.

Lack of Association of Common Polymorphism of LRP1 Gene with Myocardial Infarction in a Chinese Han Population / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study examined the association of a common polymorphic allele (25G) of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteinl (LRP1) gene with myocardial infarction (MI).The genotypes of LRP1 25CG (rs35282763) were determined in 347 MI patients and 347 age-and sex-frequency-matched controls from an unrelated Chinese Han population.Factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) levels were measured in the MI patients and controls by chromogenic assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The results showed that LRP1 25CG (rs35282763) genotype distribution did not differ significantly between patients (n=206 for 25CC,n=122 for 25CG) and controls (n=191 for 25CC,n=126 for 25CG;P＞0.05).The 25G allele was not associated with a reduced risk of MI (P ＞0.05).Further stratifications for age,sex,and other cardiovascular risk factors did not affect the negative findings.It was concluded that the presence of the G allele at the 25CG (rs35282763) polymorphism of the LRP1is not associated with a reduced risk of MI,and genotyping for LRP1 25CG (rs35282763) polymorphism is not useful in assessing the individual risk of MI.

A rapid method for the determination of dopamine in porcine muscle by pre-column derivatization and HPLC with fluorescence detection / 药物分析学报

A rapid method has been developed based on the sample preparation procedure named as QuEChERS （Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe）, combined with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector and C18 column after precolumn derivatization using o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol to determine dopamine in porcine muscle. Methanol and deionized water （0.1% acetic acid, v/v） with a ratio of 60：40 was used as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min and dopamine was eluted within 15 min. The linearity range was 0.003-8 μg/mL with r=0.9992. The detection limit for dopamine was 4 μg/kg and the quantification limit was 9 μg/kg. Recovery studies were carried out at 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg fortification levels and the average recoveries obtained ranged from 90.4% to 98.2% with relative standard deviations between 3.5% and 8.1%. The method was found to be suitable for detection of dopamine in animal product tissues at the maximum residue level.

A rapid method for the determination of dopamine in porcine muscle by pre-column derivatization and HPLC with fluorescence detection / 药物分析学报

A rapid method has been developed based on the sample preparation procedure named as QuEChERS (Quick,Easy,Cheap,Effective,Rugged and Safe),combined with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector and C18 column after precolumn derivatization using o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol to determine dopamine in porcine muscle.Methanol and deionized water (0.1％ acetic acid,v/v) with a ratio of 60∶40 was used as mobile phase.The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min and dopamine was eluted within 15 min.The linearity range was 0.003-8 μg/mL with r=0.9992.The detection limit for dopamine was 4 μg/kg and the quantification limit was 9 μg/kg.Recovery studies were carried out at 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg fortification levels and the average recoveries obtained ranged from 90.4％ to 98.2％ with relative standard deviations between 3.5％ and 8.1％.The method was found to be suitable for detection of dopamine in animal product tissues at the maximum residue level.

Relationship between Acquired Deficiency of Vitamin K-dependent Clotting Factors And Hemorrhage / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study examined the changes of activities of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (VKDCF)under various pathological conditions and explored the relationship between acquired deficiency of VKDCFs and hemorrhage.Clinical data of 35 patients who were diagnosed as having acquired deficiency of VKDCF were retrospectively analyzed.Coagulation factors involved in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways were detected in these patients and 41 control subjects.The results showed that the average activities of VKDCFs were decreased in the patients in comparison to the control subjects and significantly increased after treatment of these patients with vitamin K and blood products.Multivariate regression analysis indicated that decreased activity of VKDCF was not an independent risk factor for bleeding disorders owing to deficiency or metabolic disturbance of vitamin K.It was concluded that acquired deficiency of VKDCF occurs under a variety of pathologic conditions and is closely associated with hemorrhagic events.Administration of vitamin K and transfusion of blood products containing high concentrations of VKDCFs helps alleviate the hemorrhagic diseases.

Binding of EGF1 Domain Peptide in Coagulation Factor Ⅶ with Tissue Factor and Its Implications for the Triggering of Coagulation / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The binding function of EGF1 domain peptide with tissue factor(TF)and its ability of triggering coagulation were explored.The TF expression model in vitro was established by lipopolysaccharide induction.The affinity of EGFP-EGF1 and TF expressing cells was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry(FCM).The affinity of EGFP-EGF1 and rat soluble TF was quantitated by surface plasmon resonance(SPR).The ability of EGFP-EGF1 in triggering coagulation was tested by prothrombin time assay.The FCM results showed recombinant factor Ⅶ(rFⅦ)could definitely depress the integration of EGFP-EGF1 with recombinant TF(rTF)(68.65%±3.86% vs 57.98%±4.71%,P<0.01).The SPR results indicated the association constant ka of EGFP-EGF1 proteins was higher than rFⅦ(8.29±1.39 vs 3.75±0.32,P<0.01).However,the EGFP-EGF1 protein lost the activity of triggering coagulation as compared with blood plasma of normal SD rats(56.8±3.2 s vs 17.8±3.4 s,P<0.01).It was concluded that the rat EGF1 peptide could specifically bind to TF without the ability of triggering coagulation.EGF1 peptide may be a good target head for delivering drugs to TF in anticoagulation therapy.

The Effect of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor on Angiogenesis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

To investigate the in vitro and in vivo proangiogenic effects of brain-derived ncurotrophic factor (BDNF),human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were isolated and cultured in primary culture.The effect of BDNF on the proliferation of HUVECs was examined by MTT assay.The effects of BDNF on HUVEC migration and tube formation were studied by modified Boyden chamber assay and tube formation assay,respectively.Matrigel plug assay and chorioaUantoic membrane assay were used to evaluate the effects of BDNF on angiogencsis in vivo.Our results showed that BDNF substantially stimulated the migration and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro,although it did not induce HUVEC proliferation.BDNF also induced angiogenesis both in matrigcl plug of mouse model and in chick chorioallantoic membrane.In conclusion,BDNF can promote angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo,and may be a proangiogenic factor.

Role of sodium cromoglycate in brain protection and its effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta after global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of sodium cromoglycate in brain protection and its effects on brain tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) expressions after global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in gerbils.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four healthy male gerbils were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the sham-operated group with isolation of the bilateral carotid arteries but without occlusion, IR injury model group with bilateral carotid artery occlusion, and sodium cromoglycate treatment group with bilateral carotid artery occlusion and sodium cromoglycate administration at 25 mg/kg via the lingual vein as soon as the reperfusion start with another dose 1 h later. The animals were then sacrificed and the thalamus were removed, fixed in 10% formaldehyde and sliced for observation under light microscope with HE staining. The rest brain tissues were prepared into homogenate to determine the content of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The right hemispheres of the gerbils were measured for wet weight and dry weight to calculate the water content in the brain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The water content in the brain of the gerbils in the model group was the highest among the groups, and that in sodium cromoglycate treatment group was significantly less than that of the model group (P<0.05). Microscopic examination showed the most severe brain tissue damage in the model group with also the highest TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in the brain. The brain TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in sodium cromoglycate group were significantly decreased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sodium cromoglycate can alleviate brain IR injury possibly by lowering the TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in the brain tissues.</p>

Homocysteine-induced Enhanced Expression of Tissue Factor in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Summary: The homocysteine (Hcy)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the effect of Hey on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were investigated. Human umbilical artery VSMCs were cultured by tissue explanting method, identified by α-actin immunohistochemistry, and incubated with different concentrations of Hcy/PTDC (NF-κB inhibitor). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of TF mRNA in VSMCs. Flow cytometry was used to assay the expression of TF protein on the surface of VSMCs and the expression of iNOS in VSMCs. Westem blot was carried out to detect the expression of NF-κB protein in nuclei. The results showed that Hcy could induce VSMCs expressing TF mRNA significantly after the VSMCs were incubated with Hey at concentrations of 10, 100, 500 μmol/L respectively. There was low expression level of TF protein on the surface of the resting VSMCs and Hcy could also induce VSMCs expressing TF protein on the cell surface in different concentrations. Additionally, Hcy could rapidly induce the activation of NF-κB and this effect could be significantly inhibited by PDTC. Hcy alone could not induce the expression of iNOS in VSMCs. It was concluded that Hey could significantly induce the expression of TF in VSMCs and enhance the activation of NF-κB, subsequently mediate TF gene expression and protein synthesis. NF-κB-mediated expression of TF in VSMCs might be the important mechanism of atherosclerosis and thrombosis induced by Hcy.

Down-regulation of Tissue Factor by siRNA Increased Doxorubi- cin-induced Apoptosis in Human Neuroblastoma / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The effects of tissue factor (TF) on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human neuroblas- toma were investigated. The expression of TF was examined by Western blotting. TFsiRNA-pSUPER plasmid was constructed by inserting specific 19-nt silencing sequence targeting TF gene into pSU- PER vector. Transfection of TFsiRNA-pSUPER was performed using lipofectamine2000. The cytotox- icity of doxorubicin was determined by WST assay. The activation of Caspase-3 and PARP induced by doxorubicin was tested by Western blotting. The apoptotic cells were stained by Hochest33342 and counted under fluorescence inverted microscope. It was found that human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC expressed high level of TF. Knockdown of the TF expression was achieved by trans- fection of TFsiRNA-pSUPER on SK-N-MC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of TF sig- nificantly decreased the viability of transfected SK-N-MC cells treated with different concentrations of doxorubicin. Cleavage of Caspase-3 and PARP was enhanced in transfected SK-N-MC cells with down-regulation of TF. TFsiRNA treatment significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells in transfected SK-N-MC cells as compared with those control cells (P＜0.05) when these cells were ex-posed to 1 μg/mL doxorubicin for 8 h. These results suggested that knockdown of the TF expression by specific siRNA vector could increase the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and enhance doxorubi- cin-induced apoptosis in human nearoblastoma cells. Over-expression of TF might contribute to chemotherapy resistance in human neuroblastoma and its progression, at lest in part, by regulating doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.