[Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of 59 Adult Patients with Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and the prognostic risk factors of adult patients with Epestein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (EBV-HLH) so as to enhance the understanding of EBV-HLH and diagnosis and treatment level. METHODS: The clinical manifestation and survival data of 59 adult patients with EBV-HLH admitted in our hospital from January 2013 to August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The most common clinical manifestations of 59 patients were high fever (100%), liver dysfunction (91.5%), however the skin rashes (1.7%), and neurologic abnormality (3.4%) were rare. 96.6% of the patients showed the elevation of serum ferritin and LDH level, and hypoproteinemia and sCD25≥2 400 U/ml were found in 93.2% and 92.3% of the patients, respectively. The median survival time of 59 patients was 2.5±0.7 months; overall survival rate of 1, 3, 6 and 12-month was 69.5%±6.0%, 44.7%±6.6%, 23.9%±5.8%, 19.7%±5.5%, respectively. Univariate survival analysis showed that the patients with EBV-DNA copies≥5×105/ml (P＜0.05), LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05) and Plt count＜20×109/L (P＜0.05) had poor prognosis, and there was statistically difference in the overall survival rate (P＜0.01) between HLH-94/2004 group and the group treated without etoposide (not HLH-94/2004). Multivariate analysis revealed that LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05), Plt count＜20×109/L (P＜0.05) and treatment protocol (not HLH-94/2004) (P＜0.01) were independent prognostic risk factors in 59 patients with EBV-HLH. CONCLUSIONS: EBV-HLH assocites with severe clinical features, high mortality rate and poor prognosis of patients. EBV-DNA copies≥5×105/ml (P＜0.05), LDH level≥600 U/L (P＜0.05) and Plt count＜20×109/L (P＜0.05) are the poor prognostic factors, and the treatment with HLH-94/2004 protocol can effectively improve the survival of EBV-HLH patients, should be applied as early as possible.

[Clinical Characteristics of Liver Dysfunction in Patients with Hemophagocytic Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical feature of liver injury in patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). METHODS: The clinical data of 92 patients with HPS in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively, and the characteristics of hepatic lesion and its relationship with prognosis in HPS patients were explored. RESULT: 92 cases of HPS showed different degrees of liver dysfunction from mild to moderate. The clinical parameters of liver dysfunction included the increased level of LDH (89.13%), AST (64.13%), TBIL (59.78%) and decreased level of ALB (90.22%). Moreover, 76.09% and 67.39% of the patients had the prolonging of APTT and PT respectively. The ALB level of patients in rheumatoid immune group were higher than that in infection, maglinancy and unexplained groups, all with statistically and significant difference (P＜0.05, P＜0.05 and P＜0.01), the ALB level of patients in infection group were statistically and significantly higher than that in unexplained group (P＜0.01). The Fbg level of patients in infection group were lower than that in maglinancy group, unexplained group and rheumatoid immune group, all the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 and P＜0.05). Child-Pugh grading was further carried out in HPS patients with liver disfunction. Survival time of the patients grade A was significantly higher than that of grade B and C of patients. Univariate analysis showed that the patients with LDH≥2000 U/L, ALB＜30 g/L and PT≥15.1 s had a survival time inferior to control patients (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 and P＜0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that ALB＜30 g/L was an independent adverse prognostic factor for these patients (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with HPS generally have impaired liver function mainly manifested with elevated LDH and AST levels, and declined ALB level, which may correlate with the disease cause and prognosis. Patients with LDH≥2000 U/L, ALB＜30 g/L and PT≥15.1 s have a poorer prognosis and should be treated as soon as possible.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of a series of lactone-opened camptothecin derivatives.

A series of E-ring lactone-opened camptothecin (CPT) derivatives bearing with terminal aza-heterocyclic groups were synthesized, and their antitumor activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Hydroxyl-amide analogues with morpholin-4-yl displayed excellent antitumor activity in vitro and efficient inhibition on tumor xenograph model in nude mice. Ester-amide compounds acted less active in vitro cytotoxicity and lower inhibition activity in vivo. Substitutions at 7- and 10- positions favored the antitumor activity.

Well-ordered mesoporous Fe2O3/C composites as high performance anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries have attracted considerable attention in recent years. In order to promote the practical application of sodium-ion batteries, the electrochemical performances, such as specific capacity, reversibility, and rate capability of the anode materials, should be further improved. In this work, a Fe2O3/C composite with a well-ordered mesoporous structure is prepared via a facile co-impregnation method by using mesoporous silica SBA-15 as a hard template. When used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, the well-ordered mesoporous structure ensures fast mass transport kinetics. The presence of nano-sized Fe2O3 particles confined within the carbon walls significantly enhances the specific capacity of the composite. The carbon walls in the composite act not only as an active material contributing to the specific capacity, but also as a conductive matrix improving the cycling stability of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. As a result, the well-ordered mesoporous Fe2O3/C composite exhibits high specific capacity, excellent cycleability, and high rate capability. It is proposed that this simple co-impregnation method is applicable for the preparation of well-ordered mesoporous transition oxide/carbon composite electrode materials for high performance sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries.

Splenectomy enhances the therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell infusion on cirrhosis rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Clinical studies suggest that splenectomy improves liver function in cirrhotic patients, but the influence of splenectomy on stem cell transplantation is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of splenectomy on stem cell infusion and elucidated its mechanism. METHODS: Rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were infused into cirrhosis rats with or without splenectomy, followed by the assessment of the in vivo distribution of stem cells and pathological changes. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor expression were also investigated in splenectomized cirrhosis patients and rats. RESULTS: Splenectomy, prior to cell infusion, improved liver function and suppressed fibrosis progression more efficiently than cell infusion alone in the experimental cirrhosis model. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor levels after splenectomy were increased in patients and rats. These upregulated cytokines significantly facilitated stem cell motility, migration and proliferation in vitro. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 neutralization weakened the promotion of cell migration by these cytokines. The infused cells integrated into liver fibrosis septa and participated in regeneration more efficiently in splenectomized rats. Direct coculture with stem cells led to inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation. In addition, hepatocyte growth factor induced hepatic stellate cell apoptosis via the c-jun N-terminal kinase-p53 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy prior to cell infusion enhanced the therapeutic effect of stem cells on cirrhosis, which involved upregulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor after splenectomy.

Basic fibroblast growth factor-treated adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell infusion to ameliorate liver cirrhosis via paracrine hepatocyte growth factor.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recent studies show that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have potential clinical applications. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. Here, we investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor-treated adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells infusion on a liver fibrosis rat model and elucidated the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were infused into carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis rats through caudal vein. Liver functions and pathological changes were assessed. A co-culture model was used to clarify the potential mechanism. RESULTS: Basic fibroblast growth factor treatment markedly improved the proliferation, differentiation, and hepatocyte growth factor expression ability of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Although adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells infusion alone slightly ameliorated liver functions and suppressed fibrosis progression, basic fibroblast growth factor-treatment significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect in association with elevated hepatocyte growth factor expression. Moreover, double immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the infused cells located in fibrosis area. Furthermore, co-culture with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell led to induction of hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and enhanced hepatocyte proliferation. However, these effects were significantly weakened by knockdown of hepatocyte growth factor. Mechanism investigation revealed that co-culture with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells activated c-jun N-terminal kinase-p53 signaling in hepatic stellate cell and promoted apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Basic fibroblast growth factor treatment enhanced the therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and secretion of hepatocyte growth factor from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells plays a critical role in amelioration of liver injury and regression of fibrosis.

Arabidopsis AtADF1 is functionally affected by mutations on actin binding sites.

The plant actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) binds to both monomeric and filamentous actin, and is directly involved in the depolymerization of actin filaments. To better understand the actin binding sites of the Arabidopsis thaliana L. AtADF1, we generated mutants of AtADF1 and investigated their functions in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of mutants harboring amino acid substitutions revealed that charged residues (Arg98 and Lys100) located at the α-helix 3 and forming an actin binding site together with the N-terminus are essential for both G- and F-actin binding. The basic residues on the ß-strand 5 (K82/A) and the α-helix 4 (R135/A, R137/A) form another actin binding site that is important for F-actin binding. Using transient expression of CFP-tagged AtADF1 mutant proteins in onion (Allium cepa) peel epidermal cells and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana L. plants overexpressing these mutants, we analyzed how these mutant proteins regulate actin organization and affect seedling growth. Our results show that the ADF mutants with a lower affinity for actin filament binding can still be functional, unless the affinity for actin monomers is also affected. The G-actin binding activity of the ADF plays an essential role in actin binding, depolymerization of actin polymers, and therefore in the control of actin organization.

[Design of hyperspectral imaging system based on LCTF].

A new compact lightweight imaging system for hyperspectral imaging is described. The system can be thought of as the substitute for traditional mechanical filter-wheel sensor. The system is based on different techniques. It uses an electronic controlled LCTF(liquid crystal tunable filter) which provided rapid and vibrationless selection of any wavelength in the visible to IR range. The imaging system consisted of an optic lens, a CRI VariSpec LCTF and a Dalsa 1M30 camera. First the outline of this system setup is presented, then the optics designed is introduced, next the working principle of LCTF is described in details. A field experiment with the imaging system loaded on an airship was carried out and collected hyperspectral solid image. The images obtained had higher spectral and spatial resolution. Some parts of the 540-600 nm components of the 16-band image cube were also shown. Finally, the data acquired were rough processed to get reflection spectrum(from 420 to 720 nm) of three targets. It is concluded that the experiment has proved that the imaging system is effective in obtaining hyperspectral data. The image captured by the system can be applied to spectral estimation, spectra based classification and spectral based analysis.

[Expression and significance of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in papillary thyroid carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D (VEGF-C, VEGF-D) are related to lymphangiogenesis. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by regional lymph node metastasis. This study was designed to determine the expression and significance of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: The expression of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in 115 specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 20 specimens of nodular goiter were detected by SP immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Positive rates of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were significantly higher in papillary thyroid carcinoma than in nodular goiter (79.1% vs. 30.0%, 87.0% vs. 15.0%, and 72.2% vs. 20.0%, P<0.01). The expression of VEGF was closely related to the size of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Positive rates of VEGF were 84.7% in lymph node positive group, and 73.2% in lymph node negative group. Positive rates of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in lymph node positive group than in lymph node negative group (93.2% vs. 80.4%, P<0.05; 83.1% vs. 60.7%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: VEGF is closely related to tumor growth of papillary thyroid carcinoma; while VEGF-C and VEGF-D are closely related to lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and may be predictors of lymph node metastasis.

[Characteristics in the feature of 3H-Ryanodine binding to cardiomyocyte nuclei in reperfusion injury in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in binding features of (3)H -Ryanodine cardiac myocytic nuclei in reperfusion injury in the rat, and the effects of phosphorylation regulation on the binding characteristics. METHODS: Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) group and sham-operation group. IRI model was reproduced by ligating the left main coronary artery for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion of the heart for 3 hours, while in the sham-operation group the animals underwent a thoracotomy only for 3.5 hours. Cardiac myocytic nuclei were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociating ratio (Kd) of Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) were measured by radioligand binding analysis as well as Scatchard plot. RESULTS: There was a high affinity of RyRs to bind with (3)H-Ryanodine on the nuclear wall of rat cardiac myocytic nucleus. Compared with that of the sham-operation group, Bmax of RyRs of IRI cardiac myocytic nuclei was decreased by 29% (P<0.01), but there was no difference in Kd between two groups(P>0.05). With phosphorylation by activating the endogenous protein kinase C(PKC) with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+phosphatidyl serine(PS), Bmax of both sham and IRI groups were increased markedly (P<0.01), but in the latter group it was less increased (P<0.01). With phosphorylation by Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM), Bmax was decreased in both sham-operation and IRI groups (both P<0.05), but was less decreased in the latter(P<0.01). However, both PMA+PS and Ca(2+)-CaM did not change the Kd of nuclear RyR in either group (both P>0.05). CONCLUSION: After IRI, Bmax of (3)H -Ryanodine of cardiac myocytic nuclei is decreased and the impact of PMA+PS and Ca(2+)-CaM on the Bmax is impaired, but the affinity of (3)H -Ryanodine to cardiac myocytic nuclei is not altered under above circumstances.

[Vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line induced by hypoxia in vitro].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Hypoxia is a common phenomenon in the tumor microenvironment of most solid tumors including human nasopharyngeal neoplasms. Hypoxia can induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in some tumor cells like glioma cell line C6. The present investigations were conducted to study the effect of hypoxia on the VEGF gene expression in cultured nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE-2Z in vitro and to discuss its impact on tumor metastasis. METHODS: Hypoxic culture model in vitro was established to test the VEGF gene expression in CNE-2Z cell line. After cultured in the hypoxia circumstance for 24 hours, VEGF expression were tested in mRNA level and protein level by RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: VEGF mRNA isoforms VEGF189, VEGF165, VEGF145,and VEGF121 were identified by RT-PCR in cultured CNE-2Z cell line. All of the four VEGF mRNA isoforms expression were increased after treated under hypoxia for 24 hours. The mRNA level of four VEGF isoforms were 2.67+/-0.30, 2.05+/-0.03, 2.73+/-0.15, and 1.65+/-0.01 folds as those in normoxic cells,respectively. Western blot analysis showed that VEGF protein expression in CNE-2Z cells was 2.20+/-0.07 folds as that in normoxic cells. CONCLUSION: VEGF gene expresses in CNE-2Z cell line and can be induced by hypoxia in vitro, this mechanism may be involve in metastasis process of NPC by inproved neoplasm angiogenesis.

[Expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in oral squamous cell carcinomas].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is closely associated with the metastasis and infiltration of tumor. It was recently discovered that it is also associated with angiogenesis of tumor. This study was designed to investigate the expressions of MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue and their association with metastasis and infiltration of OSCC. METHODS: The expressions of MMP-9 and VEGF were detected on paraffin-embedded samples from 51 cases of OSCC, 10 cases of oral squamous cell papilloma, and 10 of normal oral mucosa by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: MMP-9 and VEGF showed negative or weak positive expression in normal oral mucosa and oral squamous cell papilloma. The positive expression rate of MMP-9 and VEGF in OSCC were 78.4% (40/50) and 82.4% (42/51); the coexpression of MMP-9 and VEGF was 66.7% (34/51). CONCLUSION: There was difference between the expression of MMP-9 and VEGF in OSCC tissue. The infiltration of tumor cell is closely associated with the expression of MMP-9 (P < 0.01). Cervical lymph node metastasis closely correlates to the expression level of VEGF (P < 0.01). MMP-9 and VEGF could be used as biological indices for clinically evaluating infiltrative and metastatic potential of OSCC.