Study on mechanism of curcumol against liver fibrosis based on autophagy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells / 中国中药杂志

The present study clarified the molecular mechanism of curcumol against liver fibrosis based on its effects on the autopha-gy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells. The hepatic stellate cells were divided into a blank control group, a transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)(10 ng·mL~(-1)) group, and low-(12.5 mg·L~(-1)), medium-(25 mg·L~(-1)), and high-dose(50 mg·L~(-1)) curcumol groups. The effect of curcumol on the viability of hepatic stellate cells induced by TGF-β1 was detected by the MTT assay kit. The apo-ptosis in each group was determined by flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR(RT-PCR) was employed for the detection of mRNA expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen(collagen Ⅰ), and type Ⅲ collagen(collagen Ⅲ). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of p62, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), beclin1, B cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax). Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used to observe cell morphology and autophagosome formation in each group. The autophagic flux was observed after cell infection with adenovirus under double fluorescence labeling. The cell viability assay revealed that compared with the TGF-β1 group, the curcumol groups showed significantly decreased cell viability. The apoptosis assay showed that the apoptosis rates of the curcumol groups were significantly higher than that of the TGF-β1 group. RT-PCR indicated that the mRNA expression of α-SMA, collagenⅠ, and collagen Ⅲ in the curcumol groups was significantly lower than that of the TGF-β1 group. Western blot showed that the expression of p62, LC3, beclin1, Bcl-2, and Bax in the curcumol groups was significantly different from that in the TGF-β1 group. As demonstrated by TEM, compared with the TGF-β1 group, the curcumol groups showed significantly increased autophagosomes. The detection of autophagic flow by the adenovirus under double fluorescence labeling showed that autolysosomes in the curcumol groups were significantly increased compared with those in the TGF-β1 group. Curcumol can induce the autophagy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells, which may be one of its anti-liver fibrosis mechanisms.

Cultivation, screening, identification and transplantation of Muse cell from human umbilical cord-derived for spinal cord injury in rats / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) by immunomagnetic bead screening from Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells(WJ-MSCs), and explore transplantation of Muse cell for safety and effectivensess of sub acute cord injury in rats.@*METHODS@#Donated Wharton's Jelly-mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSCs) were successfully derived from a human umbilical cord by a series of procedures namely physical isolation of Wharton's Jelly from cord membrane, collagenase and trypsin treatment and density gradient centrifugation. Magnetic activated cell sorting was performed to specifically select SSEA3+ Muse cells, and flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to identify further. In vivo, spinal cord contusion injury model in rats was induced by NYU-III impactor, and were randomly divided and equally into four groups, namely group A (sham), group B (control), group C (Non-Muse cells transplantation) and group D (Muse cells transplantation). Laminectomy was conducted in group A but no spinal cord contusion injury. Laminectomy and cord injury were performed in group B, C and D, 10 g trip rod was freely falling down from 12.5 mm. Two weeks later, group B, C and D were received PBS injection, Non-Muse cells transplantation and Muse cells transplantation respectively, four-point injection were performed in each cord with totally 4×10⁵ cells. BBB scores were evaluated on 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 week after injury. Four weeks after cell transplantation, the rats were sacrificed, and immunohistochemistry were carried out to observe survival, migration and differentiation of the injected cells.@*RESULTS@#The expression of CD105, CD90 and CD73 were over 99.5% in the derived WJ-MSCs population, but CD45 and CD14 were lower than 0.5%, positive rate of SSEA3+ was 1.46% under flow cytometer, However, after MACS sorting, the percentage of 92.0% Muse cells expressed SSEA3 and CD105, and immunohistochemistry results of SSEA3 showed typically membrane morphology with special processes. In vivo, BBB scores was 21 in group A at different time points. One-way ANOVA and LSD analysis showed that BBB scores in group C and D were significantly higher than that in group B (=0.004, 0.002), but there was no significantly difference between group C and D. Further intra-group paired t test showed that BBB score was significantly higher at 4 weeks than that 3 weeks in group C (=0.005). However, in group D, BBB scores were significantly higher at 4 and 6 week than those at 3 and 5 weeks, values were 0.005 and 0.016 respectively. Immunohistochemistry results showed that both Muse cells and Non-Muse cells could survive for 4 weeks in rats and they migrated from the four-point injection to injury site. But there showed more Muse cells survival than Non-Muse cells in the cord.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Immunomagnetic bead screening is efficient to select large number of purified SSEA3+ Muse cells. Muse cells could survive and target-migrate in injured cord to improve BBB scores continuously. Muse cells are a novel kind of seed cells in the spinal cord injury treatment.

Validity study of Coda Motion Analysis System for measuring cervical lateral flexion in normal adults / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the validity of Coda Motion Analysis System for measuring cervical lateral flexion in normal adults in order to explore a new measuring tool for clinical and research practice.@*METHODS@#A total of 43 participants were involved in the study. Cervical range of lateral flexion were measured with Coda Motion Analysis System and "gold standard" X-ray simultaneously. The validity and agreement were assessed using the scatter diagram, the Pearson correlation coefficient and limits of agreement.@*RESULTS@#Cervical range of lateral flexion measured by Coda Motion Analysis System had no statistical differences with those measured by X-ray(>0.05). The Coda Motion Analysis System demonstrated a very good linear relation with the X-ray measurements in cervical range of right lateral flexion, left flexion and total lateral flexion, and the Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.72, 0.85 and 0.90 respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Coda Motion Analysis System showed good validity for measuring cervical lateral flexion in normal adults. Because the reliability of Coda Motion Analysis System was established previously, the results of this study suggest that the system has the potential to be used to measure cervical lateral flexion in clinical and research practice.

Preferential conduction to right ventricular outflow track leads to left bundle-branch block morphology in patient with premature ventricular contraction originating from the aortic sinus cusp / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between originate and breakout and radiofrequency catheter ablation strategy in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for premature ventricular contractions originating from the aortic sinus cusp (ASC) using 3-dimensional electro anatomic mapping.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 21 consecutive patients (10 male) underwent ablation for frequent PVCs originating from ASC in our hospital between May 2009 and February 2012. Electro anatomic mapping and ablation of right ventricular outflow track (RVOT) and left ventricular outflow track (LVOT) were performed with the 7F 4-mm-tip ablation catheter from right femoral vein and artery. Activation mapping and pacing mapping were performed in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ablation was successful in all 21 patients successful ablation target in left coronary sinus cusp (LCC, n = 17), in right coronary sinus cusp (RCC, n = 2) and in noncoronary sinus cusp (NCC, n = 2). Seven patients showed a RBBB morphology (group A) and 14 patients showed a LBBB morphology (group B). In group A, earliest ventricular activation (EVA) was recorded 22 - 34 (27.4 ± 4.6) ms earlier before QRS at the site of catheter ablation in ASC. In group B, EVA was later in RVOT than that in ASC in 5 patients and EVA at the site of catheter ablation in RVOT and ASC was 22 - 28 (25.2 ± 2.7) ms and 26 - 40 (32.8 ± 5.2) ms, respectively (t = -3.6, P = 0.024) while EVA was earlier in the remaining 9 patients and EVA recorded in RVOT and ASC was 22 - 38 (28.7 ± 5.9) ms and 18 - 28 (22.7 ± 3.6) ms, respectively (t = 3.8, P = 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with premature ventricular contractions originating from the ASC often show preferential conduction to the RVOT, which may explain the LBBB morphology of ECG in these patients.</p>

Value of identifying the slow conduction zone of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia by electroanatomic mapping / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of identifying slow conduction zone(SCZ) of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia(ILVT) by electroanatomic mapping.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve patients with ILVT were mapped by a 3-dimensional electroanatomic (EA) mapping system. Left posterior fascicular potential (PP) and the SCZ with diastolic potential (DP) in LV during sinus rhythm (SR) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were mapped after a three-dimensional endocardial geometry of the left ventricular was established. Then we investigated the electrophysiological and anatomic characteristics of SCZ.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EA mapping was successfully performed in 9 patients during SR and VT, and in 3 patients during VT. The SCZ with DP was located at the inferoposterior septum, and the length of the SCZ was (25.1 ± 2.2) mm with a conduction velocity of (0.08 ± 0.01) m/s. There was no difference in these parameters between patients during SR and VT (P > 0.05). There was one area with PP located at the posterior septum. The areas with both DP and PP were found in 9 patients during SR and VT. In addition, this area was coincided with such area during VT during SR and radiofrequency ablation targeting the site within the area abolished VT in all patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The ILVT substrate within the junction area of the SCZ and the posterior fascicular can be identified by EA mapping and used to guide the ablation of ILVT.</p>

Association between abnormal electrocardiographic features and disease severity in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relationship between electrocardiographic (ECG) features and disease severity in patients with the arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The study group consisted of 61 subjects with a definite diagnosis of ARVC on the basis of published guideline criteria and patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to the extent of diseased myocardium defined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Group A: local involvement (n = 19, 31%), Group B: diffuse involvement of whole right ventricle (n = 28, 46%) and Group C: involvement of both right and left ventricles (n = 14, 23%).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Normal electrocardiogram was shown in 1 patient in each group. Epsilon wave was detected in 24 (39%) patients, QRS duration was prolonged [≥ 110 ms (V(1)-V(3))] in 21 (34%) patients, S-wave upstroke was prolonged (≥ 55 ms) in 17 (28%) patients, complete right branch bundle block was evidenced in 10 (16%) patients and pathologic Q waves was found in 9 (15%) patients. The incidence of above abnormal ECG changes was increased in proportion to the degree of disease severity (group A < group B < group C). Incidence of Epsilon wave and prolonged QRS duration [ ≥ 110 ms (V(1)-V(3))] were significantly higher in Group C than in Group A. Incidence of prolonged S-wave upstroke (≥ 55 ms) was significantly higher in Group C than in Group A and Group B. T-wave inversion in V(1) leads was often found in Group A. T-wave inversion in inferior leads (V(1)-V(3) leads or beyond V(3)) was often presented in Group B and Group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Normal ECG does not exclude the possibility of diagnosis of ARVC. The extent of T-wave inversion in the precordial leads and incidence of Epsilon wave, prolonged QRS duration [ ≥ 110 ms (V(1)-V(3))] and prolonged S-wave upstroke (≥ 55 ms) were related to degree of disease severity in patients with ARVC.</p>

Association between electrocardiogram characteristics and long-term outcome in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between clinical and ECG characteristics and prognoses in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We reviewed the data from 21 VF patients [male 47.6%, mean age (38.5 ± 19.0) years] with first event of VF, all patients were resuscitated after cardiac arrest and diagnosed as idiopathic VF. The prevalence of J wave was assessed and patients were divided into J wave positive (J+ group) and negative group (J- group). The end point was death or syncope from arrhythmia, and recorded VF recurrence during the follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>J wave was frequent in subjects with idiopathic VF (71.4%). Among patients in the J+ group (15 cases), notch on the QRS wave was found in 7 subjects (46.7%), these patients were more likely to suffer from the sudden cardiac arrest during sleep at early morning than those with J wave but without notch on the QRS wave. Two patients dead suddenly in the J+ group and 1 dead from embolism in the J- group during follow-up [mean (42.4 ± 39.9) months]. The mean year-onset of VF or syncope was significantly higher in the J+ group than in the J-group [(1.3 ± 0.5) episodes/year vs. (0.4 ± 0.3) episodes/year, P < 0.01]. J wave positive was also associated with an increased risk of VF recurrence (RR 1.9, 95%CI 1.1 to 2.9, P = 0.03).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>J wave prevalence is high in patients with history of idiopathic VF, and positive J wave is associated with high risk of recurrence of sudden cardiac death.</p>

Value of multi-slice spiral CT in the diagnosis of closed thyroid cartilage injury / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical application and to evaluate the value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in closed thyroid cartilage injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MSCT scan was performed in 5 patients with closed thyroid cartilage injury, and 2D and 3D images reconstructions were achieved after volume data was transferred to workstation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 5 cases, the thyroid cartilage fracture was found in left board in 4 patients, in right board in 1 patient. In addition, one patient had concurrent cricoid cartilage fracture and another patient had laryngotracheal stenosis. These fractures and changes were all visualized by 2D and 3D images. Lower window level and window width were helpful to reveal the structures of thyroid cartilage. Multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) was superior in displaying alignment and displacement of fracture in 4 cases. 3D-volume reconstruction (3D-VR) was accurate in displaying space change of cartilage structures. In 3 cases, the evaluation of 3D-VR was accurate in assessing the length, width and shape of fracture, providing helpful data for the clinician to adopt the optimal management Computed tomography virtual laryngoscope (CTVL) helped to offer the criterions to the diagnosis of upper airway stricture and the location of laryngotracheal stenosis in one case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MSCT was useful in the diagnosis and management of closed thyroid cartilage injury and the laryngotracheal stenosis. It was believed that the reasonable use of the reprocessing technique plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of the effect of closed thyroid cartilage injury.</p>