[The Optimal Storage Condition and Storage Time of Umbilical Cord Blood from Collection to Preparation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the optimal storage condition and time of umbilical cord blood from collection to preparation. METHODS: Collect cord blood samples from 30 healthy newborns, with each new born's umbilical cord blood was divided into two parts on average. One part was stored in cold storage (4 ℃) and the other was stored at room temperature (20-24 ℃). Samples were taken at 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h, respectively, total nucleated cells (TNC) count and TNC viability was analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of viable CD34+ cells to viable CD45+ cells and viability of CD34+ cells, and colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) count was performed by hematopoietic progenitor cell colony culture. The change trend of each index over time was observed, and the differences in each index was compared between cold storage and room temperature storage under the same storage time. RESULTS: The TNC count (r 4 ℃=-0.9588， r 20-24 ℃=-0.9790), TNC viability (r 4 ℃=-0.9941， r 20-24 ℃=-0.9970), CD34+ cells viability (r 4 ℃=-0.9932， r 20-24 ℃=-0.9828) of cord blood stored in cold storage (4 ℃) and room temperature storage (20-24 ℃) showed a consistent downward trend with the prolongation of storage time. The percentage of viable CD34+ cells (r 4 ℃=0.9169， r 20-24 ℃=0.7470) and CFU-GM count (r 4 ℃=-0.2537， r 20-24 ℃=-0.8098) did not show consistent trends. When the storage time was the same, the TNC count, TNC viability, CD34+ cells viability and CFU-GM count of cord blood stored in cold storage were higher than those stored at room temperature. Under the same storage time (24, 36, 48, 60 or 72 h), TNC viability in room temperature storage was significantly lower than that in cold storage (P <0.001), but TNC count, percentage of viable CD34+ cells and CFU-GM count were not significantly different between room temperature storage and cold storage. When stored at room temperature for 24 h and 36 h, the viability of CD34+ cells was significantly lower than that in cold storage (P <0.001, P <0.01), when the storage time for 48, 60 and 72 h, there was no significant difference in the CD34+ cells viability between room temperature storage and cold storage. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that cord blood be stored in cold storage (4 ℃) from collection to preparation, and processed as soon as possible.

Bioinformatic screening reveals the significance of MFAP2 in the prognosis and immunotherapy of gastric cancer / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[摘 要] 目的：筛选影响胃癌患者预后及治疗的关键基因，分析关键基因微纤维相关蛋白2（MFAP2）在提示胃癌患者预后及免疫治疗敏感性中的价值。方法：从TCGA数据库下载胃癌患者的癌和癌旁组织的表达谱数据及临床资料。综合加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）和单因素Cox回归分析筛选与胃癌预后显著相关的基因。使用多个患者队列评估关键基因MFAP2的预后价值，分析其效能和临床病理指标的相关性。使用多个在线数据库数据及算法分析MFAP2与肿瘤免疫微环境的关联，免疫表型评分（IPS）联合免疫治疗患者队列分析MFAP2在预测免疫治疗响应性中的价值。采用多数据集验证MFAP2在胃癌及癌旁组织中的表达差异。结果：蓝色模块与胃癌患者的生存结局相关性最高（R=0.17，P<0.001）；进一步与预后相关基因取交集，共筛选到20个关键基因。关键基因MFAP2的高表达提示胃癌的不良预后和病理进展（HR>1，P<0.05）。MFAP2与肿瘤相关成纤维细胞密切相关，高表达MFAP2的胃癌患者对免疫治疗更不敏感。多数据集验证结果显示，MFAP2 mRNA在胃癌组织中高表达（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：MFAP2的高表达是胃癌预后不良和免疫治疗响应不佳的提示因子，有望作为胃癌的新型治疗靶点和预后标志物。

Therapeutic evaluation of rosuvastatin on lipids and endothelial cell functionalities in coronary artery lesions coinciding with hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of blood lipids and endothelial cell function in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with hyperlipidemia after treatment with rosuvastatin. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia diagnosed from December 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively included. Depending on the differences of their treatment strategies, patients were divided into the study group (60 patients were treated with rosuvastatin using the conventional treatment) and the control group (60 patients were treated with the conventional treatment). Dynamic blood lipid level monitoring was performed on the two groups of patients. The changes of cardiac function and hemorheology indexes were evaluated before and after the treatment. Analyze the difference of vascular endothelial function index between the two groups before and after the treatment. Count the occurrence of adverse reactions during the intervention period of the two groups. RESULTS: Before the treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDS), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), fibrinogen content, plasma viscosity, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin (ET) levels (P>0.05). At 60 days of treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups in TC, TG, LDL-C, LVDS, and LVEDD. The fibrinogen content, plasma viscosity, and ET level were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The HDL-C, LVEF, and NO levels were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (8.33% vs 13.33%) (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Resuvastatin can reduce the level of blood lipids in patients with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia and improve the hemorheology indexes and cardiac function of patients. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of vascular endothelial cell function in patients with coronary heart disease.

Dose study of rosuvastatin calcium in the treatment of coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of different doses of rosuvastatin to treat elderly patients with senile coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia. METHODS: By means of retrospective analysis, 150 elderly patients with coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia who were treated in Zhangjiakou First Hospital from January 2020 to December 2020 were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into three groups (50 patients in each group) according to the different treatment methods. All patients were given routine treatment for coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia. At the same time, group A got 5 mg of rosuvastatin calcium per day, group B got 10 mg and group C got C, 20 mg. After 4 months of continuous treatment, changes of blood lipid level, inflammatory factors, and cardiac function in the three groups were compared before and after treatment. Finally, the incidence of adverse reactions in the three groups was statistically compared. RESULTS: After 4 months of treatment, the levels of TC, LDL, and TG in group B were significantly lower than those of group A, and the levels of HDL were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of the above indicators between groups B and C after 4 months of treatment (P>0.05). Using 2 months, 3 months, and 4 months of therapy as time points, the blood lipid levels of the B and C groups was lower than in group A (P<0.05); Serum hs-CRP and TNF of patients in group B and group C after 4 months of treatment were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.05); The LVEF comparison between groups showed that C was higher than A (P<0.05); The occurrence rate between adverse reactions during the 4 months of medication did not have statistical significance (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin calcium canimprove the clinical symptoms of elderly patients with coronary heart disease complicated by hyperlipidemia, and can improve the blood lipid level, cardiac function and the level of inflammatory factors in the body, but the clinical effect is not significantly improved by increasing the application dose. This suggests that the daily application dose should be 10 mg.

Comparing high-dose dual therapy with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for the initial eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection on Hainan Island: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Traditional bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, as a first-line eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), has several disadvantages, including drug side effects, low medication adherence, and high costs. Trials of high-dose dual treatment have demonstrated its advantages, which include good safety and adherence profiles. In this study, we investigated the efficacy, safety, and compliance of a high-dose dual therapy when compared with bismuth-based quadruple treatment for the initial eradication of H. pylori infection on Hainan Island, China. METHODS: We randomized 846 H. pylori-infected patients into two groups. A bismuth-containing quadruple therapy group was administered the following: esomeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, and colloidal bismuth pectin in suspension 150 mg three times/day for 2 weeks. A high-dose dual therapy group was administered the following: esomeprazole 20 mg four times/day and amoxicillin 1000 mg three times/day for 2 weeks. Patients were given a 13C urea breath test at 4 weeks at treatment end. Adverse effects and compliance were evaluated at follow-up visits. RESULTS: Eradication rates in the high-dose dual therapy group were: 90.3% (381/422, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 87.1%-92.9%) in intention-to-treat (ITT) and 93.6% (381/407, 95% CI: 90.8%-95.8%) in per-protocol (PP) analyses. Eradication rates were 87.3% in ITT (370/424, 95% CI: 83.7%-90.3%) and 91.8% in PP analyses (370/403, 95% CI: 88.7%-94.3%) for quadruple therapy, with no statistical differences (P = 0.164 in ITT and P = 0.324 in PP analyses). Adverse effects were 13.5% (55/407) in the dual group and 17.4% (70/403) in the quadruple group (P = 0.129). Compliance was 92.4% (376/407) in the dual group and 86.6% (349/403) in the quadruple group (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose dual therapy had high eradication rates comparable with bismuth-based quadruple treatment, with no differences in adverse effects, however higher adherence rates were recorded.

Geographical Pattern Evolution of Health Resources in China: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Spatial Mismatch.

(1) Background: The rational allocation of limited medical resources is the premise of safeguarding the public health. Especially since the outbreak of COVID-19, the evolution dynamics and spatial mismatch of medical resources have been a focal and frontier issue in academic discussions. (2) Methods: Based on the competitive state model and spatial mismatch index, this paper uses GIS and Geodetector spatial analysis methods and three typical indicators of hospitals, doctors, and beds to conduct an empirical study on the evolutionary characteristics and degree of mismatch in the geographic pattern of health resources in China from 2010 to 2020 (the data are from official publications issued by the National Bureau of statistics in China), in two dimensions of resource supply (economic carrying capacity) and demand (potential demand or need of residents). (3) Results: The spatial pattern of health resources at the provincial level in China has been firmly established for a long time, and the children and elderly population, health care government investment, and service industry added value are the key factors influencing the geographical distribution of health resources. The interaction between the different influence factors is dominated by bifactor enhancement, and about 30-40% of the factor pairs are in a nonlinear enhancement relationship. Hospital, doctor, and bed evolution trends and the magnitude and speed of their changes vary widely in spatial differentiation, but all are characterized by a high level of geographic agglomeration, heterogeneity, and gradient. Dynamic matching is the mainstream of development, while the geographical distribution of negative and positive mismatch shows strong spatial agglomeration and weak spatial autocorrelation. The cold and hot spots with evolution trend and space mismatch are highly clustered, shaping a center-periphery or gradient-varying spatial structure. (4) Conclusions: Despite the variability in the results of the analyses by different dimensions and indicators, the mismatch of health resources in China should not be ignored. According to the mismatch types and change trend, and following the geographic differentiation and spatial agglomeration patterns, this paper constructs a policy design framework of "regionalized governance-classified management", in line with the concept of spatial adaptation and spatial justice, in order to provide a decision making basis for the government to optimize the allocation of health resources and carry out health spatial planning.

Residual behaviors and metabolic pathway of ethylparaben in Drosophila melanogaster.

OBJECTIVE: Parabens are commonly used as preservatives in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. The widespread use of parabens has led to their leaking into the environment. Concerns about the safety of parabens have recently increased due to their potential endocrine-disrupting effects as an emerging contaminant. Thus, it is necessary to study the metabolism of parabens in vivo. METHODS: In this study, Drosophila melanogaster in males and females were exposed to ethylparaben (EP) concentration group (300 mg/L, 700 mg/L, and 1000 mg/L), and control group (0 mg/L) by the capillary feeding assay (CAFE). We quantified the activity of the detoxification-related carboxylesterase (CarE). The contents of EP metabolites in D. melanogaster, including p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA), methylparaben (MP), and intact EP were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The regression model between EP metabolites (PHBA and MP) and CarE was developed using the Fourier series fitting method. RESULTS: The general level of EP metabolites (PHBA, MP, and intact EP) accumulation was accounted for 5.6-11.5% in D. melanogaster. As EP accumulated, the activity of CarE increased, and the activity of CarE in females was higher than males, which is inconsistent with the result of EP intake dose. Additionally, there were significant differences in the proportion of EP metabolites between female and male flies, and the results of sex comparison were different depending on the EP treated groups and EP metabolites. In general, PHBA of EP hydrolytic product and MP of EP transesterification product in D. melanogaster were 41.4-63.9% and 10.4-24.6%, respectively. In terms of the rest of the EP existed in intact form and ranged from 22.4% to 34.0%. Moreover, the EP metabolites in the conjugated form were higher than those in the free form. The regression model between EP metabolites and CarE was established, showing that the CarE activity can be used to estimate the content of PHBA and MP. CONCLUSION: The result indicates that the EP can accumulate in the body through food. Hydrolysis is the main metabolic pathway of EP in D. melanogaster, and transesterification is another metabolic pathway of EP. Additionally, the EP metabolites in flies mainly exist in conjugated form. Furthermore, the Fourier series fitting method model between EP metabolites and CarE, providing theoretical support to study the dose-effect relationship between metabolites of parabens and CarE. This study not only provides a mathematical basis for the safety evaluation of parabens, but also provides support for the further study of the toxicological effects of parabens.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor roxadustat (FG-4592) protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting inflammation.

Hypoxia-induced inflammation is the critical pathological feature of acute kidney injury (AKI). Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling is considered as a central mechanism of body adapting to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor FG-4592 (Roxadustat) is a first-in-class HIF stabilizer for the treatment of patients with renal anemia. The current study aimed to investigate whether FG-4592 could protect against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced kidney injury via inhibiting inflammation. Here, efficacy of FG-4592 was evaluated in a mice model of I/R-induced AKI. Interestingly, improved renal function and renal tubular injuries, combined with reduced kidney injury molecule-1 were observed in the mice with FG-4592 administration. Meanwhile, inflammation responses in FG-4592-treated mice were also strikingly attenuated, as evidenced by the decreased infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils and down-regulated expression of inflammatory cytokines. In vitro, FG-4592 treatment significantly protected the tubular epithelial cells against hypoxia-induced injury, with suppressed inflammation and cell injuries. In summary, FG-4592 treatment could protect against the I/R-induced kidney injury possibly through diminishing tubular cells injuries and suppression of sequence inflammatory responses. Thus, our findings definitely offered a clinical potential approach in treating AKI.

Viral metagenomics reveals sapoviruses of different genogroups in stool samples from children with acute gastroenteritis in Jiangsu, China.

Sapoviruses (SAVs), including several genogroups (GI to GV), are one of the causes of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). In this study, viral metagenomics revealed the presence of sapoviruses of different genogroups in stool from children with AGE. Eight different complete SAV genomes were determined, of which five belonged to GI and the other three belonged to GII, GIV and GV, respectively. Although they were highly similar to published sequences, the GIV and GV were the first complete genome sequences of these SAVs found in China. In a prevalence investigation, 19% of subjects with AGE were positive for SAVs, while none of the control group was positive.

Gender, Age, and Concomitant Diseases of Colorectal Diverticulum in China: A Study of 7,964 Cases.

AIM: To analyze the epidemiological features of colorectal diverticulum (CRD) in China. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed CRD patients in 8 tertiary hospitals located in 5 regions of China from 2000 to 2016. The detection rates, number and distribution, demographic information, concomitant disorders, and their associations were investigated. RESULTS: Of 3,446,118 cases, 7,964 (2.3%) were CRD with a mean age of 56 years (11-92 years). The detection rate increased yearly and with increasing age. Males had a higher detection rate than females (3.0 vs. 1.47%, p < 0.01) and 1.8-times higher increase rate. The detection rate increased with age; however, females of > 60 years had a 2.8-times increasing rate than males. CRD occurred most frequently in the right-side colon, followed by rectum. Multiple diverticula were common in males and increased with age, with a 3-times higher increase rate than single lesion. Single-segment CRD occurred more frequently in males than in females (80.1 vs. 76.4%, p < 0.01). Concurred colon polyps were seen in 51.05% cases. CONCLUSION: CRD detection rates increased annually and with age, particularly in senior females in China. Multiple diverticula were common in males and increased with age. CRD was predominant in the right-side colon. Polyps are the most common comorbidity associated with CRD.

Gender, age, and concomitant diseases of melanosis coli in China: a multicenter study of 6,090 cases.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: Melanosis coli (MC) is a noninflammatory, benign, and reversible colonic disorder, but its detection rates in China are unclear. We therefore aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of MC in China. METHODS: We assessed the detection rates, associated factors and concomitant diseases of MC in the patients who underwent colonoscopy at eight medical centers across five regions of China between January 2006 and October 2016. All data were procured from the electronic database established at each participating institutions. RESULTS: Among the 342,922 included cases, MC was detected in 6,090 cases (detection rate = 1.78%, 95% confidence interval, 1.73%-1.82%) at a mean age of 60 years. The detection rate gradually increased yearly, and along with the increasing age regardless of gender, while a rapid increase presented in the patients ≥60 years of age (0.58% for ≤25 years, 1.22% for 25-59 years, and 3.19% for ≥60 years). The detection rate was higher in females than in males; however, the rate of per-year increase was higher in males than in females at age of ≥60 years, which was 1.85-fold of that in females. Among cancer, polyp, inflammation, and diverticula, polyp was the most common concomitant disease of MC and identified in 41.72% of MC patients. CONCLUSIONS: MC detection rates were increased annually and elevated in older patients, particularly in male patients. Males in the elderly population of ≥60 years were most likely to have MC. Colonic polyp is the most common concomitant disease of MC.

Novel fluoroimmunoassays for detecting ochratoxin A using CdTe quantum dots.

Novel direct and indirect competitive fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assays (cFLISA and icFLISA) for detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) were described using CdTe quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescent label. CdTe QDs were successfully synthesized, which had an emission wavelength of 615 nm. The high purity monoclonal antibody against OTA was prepared through cell thawing and the octylic acid-ammonium sulfate method. The OTA MAbs were successfully coupled with CdTe QDs, and which also retained the original biological activity. The 50% inhibition values (IC50 ) of the cFLISA and icFLISA were 0.630 ng/mL, 0.234 ng/mL, the limits of detection (LOD) were 7.06 × 10-3 and 4.15 × 10-3  ng/mL, and detection ranges were 7.06 × 10-3 - 18.34 ng/mL and 4.15 × 10-3 - 4.88 ng/mL, in-order. The recoveries were 96.0-104.7% along with coefficients of variation (CVs) below 10%. The FLISA provided novel method for determination of OTA and the potential of MAb-CdTe QDs for the establishment of fluorescent immunochromatographic test strip.

Aged men share the sperm protein PATE1 defect with young asthenozoospermia patients.

STUDY QUESTION: Does a defect in the human sperm-located protein prostate and testis expressed 1 (PATE1) exist in both aged men and young asthenozoospermia patients? SUMMARY ANSWER: A defect in sperm PATE1 exists in both aged men and young asthenozoospermia patients, and an antibody against PATE1 can decrease human sperm motility and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Both aged men and young asthenozoospermia patients have poor sperm quality. The PATE1 protein seems to mediate sperm-egg interactions; however, the mechanisms are still unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This was a case-control study including 60 young fathers (aged 28-32 years) and 60 aged fathers (68-72 years old) who donated semen by masturbation after 7 days of sexual abstinence. Comparative sperm proteome analysis from the young fathers and aged fathers was performed to discover key proteins. The target protein PATE1 was chosen and validated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative assessment of sperm PATE1 protein was performed on sperm from 60 young fathers, 60 aged fathers and 110 young asthenozoospermia patients. Furthermore, an antibody against PATE1 assay was used to test whether PATE1 participated in sperm motility and penetration of zona-free hamster egg. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Samples were pooled and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to validate the confidence of proteomic data. Sperm immunofluorescence quantification experiments disclosed whether the aged men indeed shared the same PATE1 defect with 110 young asthenozoospermia patients. The sperm motility test and penetration of zona-free hamster egg assay were performed for PATE1. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Twenty-two sperm proteins with significant differential expression between young adults and aged men were identified (P < 0.05, mean ratio >1.5), including 13 proteins with decreased expressions with aging. Based on bioinformatics, PATE1 was chosen for further study, and exhibited similar changes in expression level and localization on sperm from aged men and young asthenozoospermia patients. Antibody blocking revealed that PATE1 was involved in sperm-egg penetration and sperm motility. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Before any clinical application of PATE1 as a biomarker for the diagnosis of male infertility, more cases should be used to evaluate confidence in this approach. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study revealed a common molecular basis underlying the decline in sperm quality in the natural aging process and in young men with asthenozoospermia. The data should greatly contribute to the development of molecular evaluation of sperm quality, and the diagnosis and treatment of asthenozoospermia. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 81300533, 81370013 and 81000277) and Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (ZR2013HQ002, ZR2014HQ068). The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Intestinal microbiota and type 2 diabetes: from mechanism insights to therapeutic perspective.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is rapidly increasing worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of T2DM has not yet been well explained. Recent evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota composition is associated with obesity and T2DM. In this review, we provide an overview about the mechanisms underlying the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of T2DM. There is clear evidence that the intestinal microbiota influences the host through its effect on body weight, bile acid metabolism, proinflammatory activity and insulin resistance, and modulation of gut hormones. Modulating gut microbiota with the use of probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation may have benefits for improvement in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in the host. Further studies are required to increase our understanding of the complex interplay between intestinal microbiota and the host with T2DM. Further studies may be able to boost the development of new effective therapeutic approaches for T2DM.

Infusion of human umbilical cord­derived mesenchymal stem cells effectively relieves liver cirrhosis in DEN­induced rats.

Cirrhosis is the long­term outcome of chronic hepatic injury and no effective therapy is currently available for this disease. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that are easily acquired and amplified, and may be potential candidates for cell therapy against cirrhosis. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord­derived MSCs (hUCMSCs) for the treatment of liver cirrhosis and identify an effective method for engrafting MSCs. The model of liver cirrhosis was established by induction of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in rats. The isolated hUCMSCs were identified by morphology, flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation; they were injected into the vein of DEN­induced rats at varied cell doses and infusion times. Biochemical analyses of the serum and histopathological analysis of the liver tissues were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hUCMSCs in all treatment groups. The results indicated that isolated hUCMSCs were capable of self­replication and differentiated into multiple lineages, including osteoblast­, adipocyte­ and hepatocyte­like cells. Compared with the control group, administration of hUCMSCs at different cell doses and infusion times relieved DEN­induced cirrhosis to varying degrees. The therapeutic effects of hUCMSCs on liver cirrhosis gradually improved with increased cell dose and infusion times. The improvement of cirrhosis was due to the capacity of hUCMSCs to breakdown collagen fibers in the liver. It was demonstrated that infusion of hUCMSCs effectively relieved liver cirrhosis by facilitating the breakdown of collagen fibers in a dose­dependent manner and multiple infusions caused a relatively greater improvement in cirrhosis compared with a single infusion of hUCMSCs.

[Expression of heat shock protein 90ß and its regulation in the reproductive system of male mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and regulation of heat shock protein 90ß (HSP90ß) in the testis, epididymis and sperms of mice. METHODS: The localization and expression of HSP90ß mRNA and protein were investigated in the testis, epididymis and sperms of mice, and the regulation of HSP90ß in the male reproductive system was explored. RESULTS: HSP90ß was expressed at a higher level in the epididymis than in the testis. In the sperms of the mice, HSP90ß was localized in the acrosome area. The expression of HSP90ß in mouse epididymis decreased after castration and recovered the normal level after testosterone treatment. HSP90ß expression in the testis and epididymis also underwent changes during the postnatal development of the mice. CONCLUSION: HSP90ß may play an important role in spermiogenesis and fertilization, and its expression pattern in the epididymis after castration and during the postnatal development suggests its regulation by hormones and development.

Modulating gut microbiota as an anti-diabetic mechanism of berberine.

Berberine, one of the main constituents of a Chinese traditional herb used to treat bacterial diarrhea, has an effect of lowering glucose, which has been recently confirmed by many studies. However, the mechanism of berberine's antidiabetic effect has not yet been well explained. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota composition is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are closely associated with a low-grade inflammatory state. The protective effect against diabetes of gut microbiota modulation with probiotics or antibiotics has been confirmed in recent observations. Berberine has significant antimicrobial activity against several microbes through inhibiting the assembly function of FtsZ and halting the bacteria cell division. Because berberine acts topically in the gastrointestinal tract and it is poorly absorbed, berberine might modulate gut microbiota without systemic anti-infective activity. Our hypothesis is that gut microbiota modulation may be one mechanism of the antidiabetic effect of berberine. Our hypothesis may provide a novel explanation for berberine's therapeutic effect in patients with diabetes mellitus.

[Relationships between the gene polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes and the outcome of the first induction chemotherapy in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia].

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the gene polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes and the outcome of the first induction chemotherapy in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 113 de novo AML patients were enrolled in this study. The genotypes of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in drug metabolizing enzymes were detected by the SNPstream(®) Genotyping System. The correlation between the distribution of genotypes and the complete remission rate of first induction chemotherapy was analyzed by logical regression. The results showed that patients with variant genotype of CYP2D6 (rs16947) had a lower complete remission (CR) rate, as compared to those with wild type (p = 0.033, OR = 0.32, 95%CI 0.112 - 0.915); meanwhile the patients with variant genotype of GSTO2 (rs156697) had a higher CR rate as compared to those with wild type (p = 0.011, OR = 3.023, 95%CI 1.289 - 7.089). Combined analysis of the above polymorphisms, showed that patients with variant genotype of CYP2D6 and wild genotype of GSTO2 (V + W) had lower CR rates in comparison to patients with wild genotypes of both polymorphisms (p = 0.017, OR = 0.183, 95%CI 0.045 - 0.735). It is concluded that CYP2D6 (rs16947) and GSTO2 (rs156697) polymorphisms are independent factors influencing CR rates of the first induction chemotherapy in de novo AML patients.

[Quality control for ABO blood group typing of neonatal umbilical cord blood].

This study was aimed to investigate a quality control method for ABO typing of neonatal umbilical cord blood(UCB). The routine serology method was used to identify the ABO type of UCB samples. These samples with questions were further detected by sequence specific primer PCR (PCR-SSP). The results showed that among total of 76120 UCB samples identified by positive ABO typing, there were 78 samples (1 per thousand) which could not be determined. Of these 78 samples, 30 (56.92%) samples with a weak agglutination reaction were excluded by reverse ABO typing. Out of 260 samples in reverse ABO typing, 148 samples were consistent with positive ABO typing, 112 samples (43.08%) were inconsistent with the positive ABO typing. 58 undetermined samples were detected by PCR-SSP. Out of them the genotyping results of 45 samples confirmed the serological typing, the phenotyping results in 3 cases were inconsistent to that of genotyping. 10 cases showed the unconformity between positive and reverse typing, but the genotyping results were fully consistent with the positive typing. In conclusion, positive typing for red cell antigens combined with PCR-SSP is efficient and sensitive for quality control of ABO typing for neonatal UCB.

[Frequencies of high-resolution HLA-Cw* alleles in China Northern Han population].

This study was purposed to investigate the frequencies of HLA-Cw* loci in China Northern Han population at gene level and to analyze the population genetic characteristics of HLA-Cw* alleles and distribution difference of gene frequency in regions. The high resolution genotyping for HLA-Cw* loci of 420 cases in China Northern Han population was performed by using PCR-SSP typing technique and their distribution regularity was analyzed statistically. The results showed that 30 HLA-Cw* alleles were detected, among which the frequency of Cw* 0102 (0.1776), 0702 (0.1217), 0602 (0.1150) were highest; other alleles with higher frequency were as follow in proper order: Cw* 0304, 0801, 0303, 0302, 0401, 1402. The rare observed HLA-Cw* 0506, 0810, 1510, 1601 and 1701 were detected firstly in this population. The statistical analysis indicated that the genotype distribution of HLA-Cw* loci coincides with the Hardy-Weinberg test. In conclusion, application of high resolution allele typing can accurately understand the distribution regularity and characteristics of HLA-Cw* alleles in China Northern Han population which provides the basis for research related with HLA-Cw* loci.