The Alteration human of gut microbiota and metabolites before and after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that gut microbiota play an important part in the regulation of the immune function. With the development of newer detection methods, our cognition of the human gut microbiota continues to evolve with startling speed, but our understanding of the changes in the structure and function of gut microbiota before and after renal transplantation and the practical applications of this knowledge are still in their infancy. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 10 renal transplant recipients and collected serial fecal specimens (N = 30) before the operation, and on the 7th and 30th day after the operation, and characterized their gut microbiota structure through deep sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4-V5 variable region and analyzed the presence of metabolites using LC-MS methods. RESULTS: A decrease in the relative abundance of overall gut microbiota was detected in post-transplantation samples compared to that in pre-transplantation samples. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) inhibited a obvious separation between the three groups, and the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) method showed that Clostridiales, Clostridia, Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibacterium, and Veillonellaceae were all significantly more abundant in the fecal specimens from the pre-transplantation group while Bacilli, Enterococcaceae, and Enterococcus were significantly more abundant in the fecal specimens from the four weeks post-transplantation group. Anaerostipes and Clostridia-bacterium were detected in the fecal samples from the one week post-transplantation group. Analysis of community composition did not reveal any significant difference between the pre-transplantation group and the post-transplantation group. The metabolic profiling of the volunteers before renal transplantation were distinct from the post-transplantation profiling, which gather together in PCA (Fig. 4A). After renal transplantation, the metabolic profiling of post-transplantation specimens revealed marked diversity and complexity. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicated remarkable variations in the gut microbiota and metabolites following renal transplantation, and that the gut microbiota and metabolites of patients with uremia were relatively stable and showed reasonable concordance. Distinct microbial compositions and metabolites were observed in patients after transplantation.

Effects of quercetin on the apoptosis of the human gastric carcinoma cells.

Quercetin, a natural constituent abundantly present in grapes, red wine, and other food products, is known to possess potent antiproliferative effects against various malignant cells. The present study aims to investigate the effect of quercetin on the apoptosis and morphology of gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells, as well as the probable mechanism, in an effort to identify an effective drug as a potential candidate for gastric cancer. Gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells were treated with quercetin, and cell morphology was determined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis and cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry, using propidium iodide staining. The apoptotic protein expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot. Quercetin induced apoptosis in BGC-823 cell. Some morphologic features of apoptosis were found, such as cell shrinkage or even apoptosis body. Quercetin changed the apoptotic protein expression. These results indicate that quercetin can induce apoptosis of the BGC-823 cells. A decrease in Bcl-2/Bax ratio with the increased expression of caspase-3 provides evidence that quercetin-induced apoptosis may be mediated via the mitochondrial pathway.

[Expression of hnRNPK in gastric carcinoma and its relationship with Helicobacter pylori L-form infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression feature of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K in gastric carcinoma and its clinical significance, and to explore the relationship between hnRNPK expression and Helicobacter pylori L-form infection. METHODS: The expression of hnRNPK protein was examined in 100 cases of gastric carcinoma, 50 paracancerous gastric tissues and 30 matched normal gastric mucosa by Elivision immunohistochemistry and hnRNPK-mRNA by in situ hybridization. Hp-L was detected with Gram staining and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The positive rates of hnRNPK protein and mRNA in gastric carcinoma were 82.0% and 86.0%, respectively, significantly higher than those in the paracancerous gastric tissues and normal controls (P < 0.05). The expression of hnRNPK protein was significantly correlated with histological differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The positive rates of Hp-L in the three groups were 67.0%, 58.0% and 23.3%, respectively. The positive rate of Hp-L in gastric carcinoma had no significant correlation with it in the paracancerous gastric tissues, but was significantly higher than it in the normal controls (P < 0.05). In gastric carcinoma, the expression of hnRNPK protein was higher in cases of Hp-L positive patients than those of Hp-L negative cases (P < 0.05). Positive correlation existed between the expression of hnRNPK protein and Hp-L infection (r = 0.391, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher expression of hnRNPK in gastric carcinoma. Hp-L infection may be associated with the up-regulated hnRNPK expression. The two factors may play a synergetic role in gastric carcinogenesis.

[Epstein-Barr virus infection and p16(INK4a) overexpression in gastric adenocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study Epstein-Barr virus infection and p16 protein abnormal expresson in carcinogenesis and progression of gastric adenocarcinomas (GAC). METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining SP method was used to detect the expression of LMP-1 and p16 in 97 cases of GAC. RESULTS: EBV LMP-1 and p16 protein were detected in 30.9% (30/97) and in 63.91% (62/97) cases of gastric adenocarcinomas respectively. There was no significant difference between EBV-positive and EBV-negative gastric carcinomas in sex, histologic type, depth of tumor invision, lymph node metastasis and clinical stages (P > 0.05); overexpression of p16 was associated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stages; no correlation was found between the expression of EBV LMP-1 and p16 protein. CONCLUSION: 1. EBV play a role in carcinogensis of GAC. 2. P16 gene abnormality is frequently involved in GAC and might be one of the important prognostic factors. 3. EBV infection and p16 alteration are two independent roles in GAC carcinogenesis.

[Studies on bioassay-guided anti-inflammatory fraction in bark of Albizia julibrissin combined determination with LC-MS-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To search the anti-inflammatory fraction of Albizia julibrissin. METHOD: Inflammatory model of Kunming mice ear edema induced by croton oil and determination combined with the LC-MS-MS-guided fractionation and isolation were used. RESULT: The n-butanol fraction (AJ-B) obtained from the ethanolic extract of the Cortex albiziae was the major active fraction. The lignan glycosides fraction (AJ-B-1), which was further isolated from AJ-B, showed significant anti-inflammatory activity and exhibited dose-dependent relationship in the dose of 5 to 20 mg x kg(-1). CONCLUSION: The method of bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation combined with the LC-MS-MS determination may be of benefit to the logical studies on the bioactive fractions or constituents of traditional Chinese materia medica.

[Inhibition of gastric cancer cells growth in vitro by sulindac].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sulindac on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and its antineoplastic mechanisms. METHODS: Human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells were incubated with sulindac at various concentrations and for different times. Morphological changes of BGC-823 cells were observed under an inversion microscope. MTT colorimetric assay was used to examine the effect of sulindac on the proliferation of BGC-823 cells. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to examine cell apoptosis morphology. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of COX-2, bcl-2 and ki-67 in the cells. RESULTS: sulindac induced morphologic alterations in BGC-823 cells, inhibited cell proliferation, increased the proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase, induced apoptosis of BGC-823 cells, and decreased expressions of COX-2, bcl-2, ki-67 in the cells. All the effects were in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Some characteristic morphologic features of apoptosis were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: sulindac may inhibit the growth of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells in vitro and the anti-tumor mechanism may be related to changes in cell cycle distribution, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of expression of COX-2, bcl-2, and ki-67.

[Advances in study on bark of Albizzia julibrissin].

Cortex Albizziae, the stem bark of the leguminous plant Albizzia julibrissin, is specified in Chinese pharmacopoeia as a traditional Chinese medicine used to relieve melancholia and uneasiness of body and mind, invigorate the circulation of blood and subside a swelling. This article reviews the recent advances in chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cortex Albizziae.

[Experimental study on the prevention of epidural scar adhesion with polycaprolactone/polylactic acid membrane].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a polycaprolactone/polylactic acid (PCL/PLA) membrane to inhibit epidural scar adhesion after laminectomy, and observe the responsive changes of the pain media in the spinal cord. METHODS: L(1), L(3) laminectomies were performed on 96 Wistar rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups: None-implant Control Group (NC), Autologous free fat graft group (AFFG) and PCL/PLA membrane group (PCL/PLAm). The rats were killed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Epidural scar formation and adhesion were observed grossly and histologically. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyses the expression of Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in the epidural scar. Immunohistochemistry stain and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate the expression of the substance P and the c-fos gene in the relevant spinal cord, and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Gross evaluation and histological evaluation showed that in the NC lamina defect site had much scar tissue and had wide and tight adhesions to the dura; in the AFFG, with the fat degrading gradually, the adhesions were increased; whereas in the PCL/PLAm group, there were slightly adhesions to the dura. RT-PCR showed that the expression of the TGF-beta was much less in the PCL/PLAm group than in the NC group. The insertion of the PCL/PLA membrane and the fat patch reduced the expression of the substance P and the c-fos gene in the spinal cord. CONCLUSION: The insertion of the PCL/PLA membrane reduces scar formation and separates fibrosis tissue from the dura, the results indicate that PCL/PLA membrane is an effective way of reducing peridural scar formation and preventing the failed back surgery syndrome.

[Relation between helicobacter pylori L-form infection and tumor angiogenesis in human esophageal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between helicobacter pylori L-form (Hp-L) infection in human esophageal carcinoma (EC) and tumor angiogenesis, and study the effect of Hp-L on the malignant biological behaviors of EC. METHODS: Hp-L was examined in 98 patients with EC and 30 controls by Gram stain, electronmicroscopic technique and immunohistochemical stain (ABC method). VEGF, p53 protein and microvessel density (MVD) were examined by immunohistochemical stain (SP method) with their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rate of Hp-L was 60.2% in EC group. Two types of Hp-L were detected in the tissue of EC by electronmicroscopic technique, which lay in the outer or inner carcinoma cells. The positive rates of Hp-L, MVD, VEGF and p53 in the cancer group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.005-0.001). The positive rates of MVD, VEGF and p53 in the Hp-L positive group of EC were significantly higher than those in Hp-L negative group (P < 0.005-0.001). The positive rate of Hp-L was correlated with MVD (r = 0.46, P < 0.01) and the expression of VEGF and p53 (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). The positive rate of Hp-L in the EC group was correlated with vessel invasion, depth of invasion, metastasis to the para-esophageal and distant lymph nodes except tumor size. CONCLUSION: Hp-L infection in EC is closely related with tumor angiogenesis and may be an important promoting factor in esophageal carcinoma growth, invasion and metastasis.