Rapid sensing and imaging of methylglyoxal in living cells enabled by a near-infrared fluorescent probe.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe (SWJT-2) has been designed and synthesized for the detection of methylglyoxal (MGO). It showed a low detection limit (0.32 µM), high selectivity and the fastest detection (15 min) over various reactive carbonyl compounds in aqueous solution. SWJT-2 had been successfully applied to bioimaging in HeLa cells to detect exogenous and endogenous MGO.

Systemic ventricular strain and torsion are predictive of elevated serum NT-proBNP in Fontan patients: a magnetic resonance study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the associations between cardiac strain, cardiac torsion, ventricular volumes, and ventricular ejection fraction, with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in Fontan patients who were age- and gender-matched with healthy control subjects. METHODS: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies performed in 22 (15 male, 7 female) patients with single-ventricle physiology (all morphological left ventricles) palliated with Fontan and 17 (10 male, 7 female) age- and gender-matched healthy children volunteers were retrospectively analyzed. Serum NT-proBNP levels were obtained in Fontan subjects. Standard post-processing of CMR images included systemic ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, stroke volume, cardiac mass, atrioventricular regurgitation, and ejection fraction. CMR tissue tracking (TT) software was used to quantify global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), and global circumferential strain (GCS) and torsion of the systemic ventricle. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used in comparisons of correlations between NT-proBNP and functional parameters in repair Fontan patients. Intra-observer and inter-observer variability of CMR strain and torsion values were determined from 10 randomly selected Fontan subjects and 10 randomly selected control subjects. RESULTS: GLS was significantly lower in Fontan patients than in control subjects (-15.19±2.94 vs. -19.97±1.70; P<0.001). GLS was not significantly different between normal NT-proBNP levels and high NT-proBNP levels in Fontan patients (-15.59±2.72 vs. -14.62±3.32; P=0.462). The GCS of repair Fontan patients was not significantly lower than that of the control group (-16.76±3.27 vs. -17.88±2.26; P=0.235). GCS was significantly different between normal and high NT-proBNP levels group in Fontan patients (-17.95±2.43 vs. -15.04±3.67; P=0.036). The peak systolic torsion and peak systolic torsion rates were significantly lower in Fontan patients than in control subjects (0.81±0.41 vs. 1.07±0.36, P=0.044; 7.36±3.41 vs. 9.85±2.61, P=0.017). Peak systolic torsion was significantly lower in Fontan patients with normal NT-proBNP levels than in high NT-proBNP subjects (0.67±0.43 vs. 1.01±0.29; P=0.036). GCS and torsion were more strongly correlated with NT-proBNP in the patient group (r=0.541 for GCS; r=0.588 for torsion, P<0.01). The parameters of strain and torsion could be reproduced with sufficient accuracy by intra-observer agreement(biases =0.04 for GLS; biases =0.66 for GCS; biases =1.03 for GRS; biases =0.04 for torsion) and inter-observer agreement (biases =0.32 for GLS; biases =0.85 for GCS; biases =1.52 for GRS; biases =0.18 for torsion). CONCLUSIONS: GLS is an earlier marker of contractile dysfunction in repair Fontan patients. Peak systolic torsion may be a biomarker for determining subclinical dysfunction, as it is more strongly correlated with serum biomarkers of ventricular function than ventricular size or ejection fraction.

Brain natriuretic peptide for prevention of contrast-inducednephropathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication and associated with poor clinical outcomes. The protective value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) administration on CIN is still controversial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary angiography (CAG). We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for BNP in preventing CIN. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for RCTs comparing administration of BNP versus non-BNP for preventing CIN. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots. Relative risk (RR) was calculated for incidence of CIN and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) using the random or fixed effect model according to heterogeneity analysis. RESULTS: There were five RCTs with 1441 patients in this analysis. BNP treatment was associated with lower incidence of CIN (RR = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.27-0.54, p < 0.001) and MACEs (RR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.24-0.95, p = 0.034) with no significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 0 %, p = 0.701; I 2 = 60 %, p = 0.113, respectively). Similar results were seen in subgroup analysis. Prophylactic BNP significantly decreased the incidence of CIN after cardiac catheterization in the studies of regarding sodium chloride as placebo (I 2 = 0 %, RR = 0.39, 95 % CI 0.27-0.56, p < 0.001) or JADAD score > 3 (I 2 = 0 %, RR = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.21-0.68, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preprocedural BNP treatment significantly decreased the incidence of CIN and short-term MACEs in patients undergoing PCI or CAG.

[Experimental treatment of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis with human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect and possible action mechanism of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) in the treatment of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. METHODS: The second generation of hUCB-MSCs was cultured to the fourth generation. Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (clean grade) were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups: bleomycin group, stem cell treatment group, dexamethasone treatment group, and negative control group. A pulmonary fibrosis model was established by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin in the bleomycin group, stem cell treatment group, and dexamethasone treatment group. The stem cell treatment group was injected with stem cells labeled with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (Brdu) via the caudal vein immediately after the model was established. The dexamethasone treatment group was intraperitoneally injected with dexamethasone for 7 d from the next day after the model was established. The negative control group was given an equal volume of normal saline by intra-tracheal instillation. In each group, 5 rats were sacrificed in the 7th, 14th, and 28th days. The expression of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) and Brdu-labeled stem cells were observed by HE and Masson staining and immunohistochemistry. Lung hydroxyproline content was determined by acid hydrolysis. RESULTS: The stem cell treatment groups had Brdu-labeled stem cells seen in lung tissue in the 7th, 14th, and 28th days. Compared with the negative control group, the bleomycin group, stem cell treatment group, and dexamethasone treatment group had significantly increased scores of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis (P < 0.05). In the 7th, 14th, and 28th days, the scores of alveolitis in stem cell treatment group and dexamethasone treatment group were significantly lower than those in bleomycin group (P < 0.05); in the 28th day, the scores of pulmonary fibrosis in stem cell treatment group and dexamethasone treatment group were significantly lower than that in bleomycin group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in scores of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis between the dexamethasone treatment group and stem cell treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with the bleomycin group, the stem cell treatment group and dexamethasone treatment group had significantly decreased number of TGF-ß1-positive cells and hydroxyproline content in lung tissue at all time points (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in number of TGF-ß1-positive cells and hydroxyproline content in lung tissue between the stem cell treatment group and dexamethasone treatment group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: hUCB-MSCs can be transplanted into damaged lung tissue and effectively reduce alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in the early stage of pulmonary fibrosis. The action mechanism of hUCB-MSCs may involve inhibiting the expression of TGF-ß1 and reducing the formation of collagen.

[Effect of prone or spine position on mechanically ventilated neonates after cardiac surgery with acute lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety ventilated with pressure support ventilation (PSV) or neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) in neonates undergoing open-heart surgery with acute lung injury (ALI) in spine and prone positions. METHODS: Fifteen neonates with a mean age of (15 +/- 9) days and a mean weight of (3.5 +/- 0.6) kg underwent open-heart surgery with ALI from July to December in 2009 were enrolled in this study. After hemodynamic stabilization ventilated with pressure regulated volume control (PRVC-base), all cases were ventilated with PSV and NAVA both in spine (SP) and prone (PP) positions for 60 minutes in a randomized crossover trial respectively. The hemodynamics, blood gas analysis, airway pressure, electrical activity of diaphragm (EAdi) and asynchrony index (AI) during every mode were recorded. RESULTS: The heart rate, systolic blood pressure and central venous pressure were stable in every mode. The peak inspiratory pressure and mean airway pressure in every mode had no significant difference but were significantly lower than in PRVC-base either in spine or prone position. The respiratory rate in PSV and NAVA with prone position was more rapid than in spine position and in PRVC-base (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in minute ventilation (MV) for each mode. The oxygenation index was higher in NAVA or PSV in both positions versus PRVC-base [(200 +/- 60) mm Hg in PRVC-base, (272 +/- 76) mm Hg in PSV-SP, (308 +/- 90) mm Hg in PSV-PP, (347 +/- 84) mm Hg in NAVA-SP and (365 +/- 87) mm Hg in NAVA-PP respectively, P < 0.01]. The oxygenation index was significantly higher in NAVA-PP than in PSV-SP (P < 0.05) while PaCO(2) was in normal range and had no significant difference for any mode. The minimal EAdi in NAVA-PP was significant lower than that in PSV-SP [(0.2 +/- 0.1) microV vs (0.5 +/- 0.2) microV, P < 0.05]. The AI of NAVA either in spine or in prone position was 0. It was significantly lower than that in PSV-SP [(21.5 +/- 4.8)%, P < 0.01] and PSV-PP [(22.4 +/- 3.4)%, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: Especially in a prone position, NAVA demonstrates a better synchrony in ALI neonates after cardiac surgery. It helps to provide a better oxygenation for the patients.

[Relationship of occupational injuries with social and economic factors].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of occupational injuries with social and economic factors in chemical industry during 2000.01 - 2001.12. METHOD: 1:2 paired case-control study, univariable logistic regression analysis, principal component analysis, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used in this study. RESULTS: Univariable analysis showed that occupational injuries had significant relationship with age, sex, education, employment pattern, technology, workplace, work changing, wage, family income, enterprise scale, enterprise proprietorship, projective device, operation rules, and training rules of work safety. The extracted four principal components (PC(1), PC(2), PC(3) and PC(4), ranked by contribution) gave good expressions to the initial 11 variables. The cumulative proportion of the four principal components reached 77.36%. PC(1) was the indicative factor of occupational injuries, which represented 46.69% information of initial variables. PC(2) was the kinetic factor of occupational injuries. PC(3) was the stable factor of occupational injuries. PC(4) was the sex factor of occupational injuries. The results of multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that occupational injuries had statistically significant relationship with PC(1) and PC(2). Among the initial variables, sex, employment pattern, income, scale of enterprise, and property of enterprise were more prominent. CONCLUSION: Occupational injuries are related with multiple social and economic factors, which often interact on each other. The prevention and control of occupational injuries should require a comprehensive approach, including training and education of work safety, improving workers' consciousness of self-protection, and enhancing proprietors' consciousness of work safety.

Structure analysis and expressions of a novel tetratransmembrane protein, lysosoma-associated protein transmembrane 4 beta associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To analyze the structure and expressions of the protein encoded by an HCC-associated novel gene, lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4 beta (LAPTM4B). METHODS: Primary structure and fundamental characteristics of LAPTM4B protein were analysed with bioinformatics. Expressions of LAPTM4B in HCC tissues and various cell lines were detected using polyclonal antibodies and Western blot. RESULTS: LAPTM4B encoded two isoforms of proteins with molecular masses 35-ku and 24-ku, respectively. The expression level of LAPTM4B-35 protein in HCC tissues was dramatically upregulated and related to the differentiation status of HCC tissues, and it was also high in some cancer cell lines. Computer analysis showed LAPTM4B was an integral membrane protein with four transmembrane domains. LAPTM4B showed relatively high homology to LAPTM4A and LAPTM5 in various species. CONCLUSION: LAPTM4B gene encoded two isoforms of tetratransmembrane proteins, LAPTM4B-35 and LAPTM4B-24. The expression of LAPTM4B-35 protein is upregulated and associated with poor differentiation in human HCC tissues, and also at high levels in some cancer cell lines. LAPTM4B is an original and conserved protein.

[Anticancer effects of various fractions extracted from Dioscorea bulbifera on mice bearing HepA].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-cancer activities and the possible mechanism of Chinese herb Dioscrea bulbifera. METHOD: The herb was extracted sequentially with petroleum ether, ethanol and water. The anticancer screen were carried out in vivo with HepA in mice. RESULT: The inhibitory effects on the formation of ascites volume and HepA cell viability in ascites were found in those extracted fractions except water fraction, the petroleum ether fraction being the strongest. Life span of mice bearing HepA ascites was prolonged after exposed to 100 mg x kg(-1) petroleum ether fraction and shortened after exposed to water fraction significantly. Besides, abnormal microstructure on HepA cells surface was found and it was supposed to be potential effect against viability of HepA which was convinced with the regeneration of HepA cells from ascites in mice exposed to petroleum ether fraction. CONCLUSION: Anticancer active compounds are mainly extracted by petroleum ether from hydrophobic constituents of Dioscrea bulbifera and the anticancer effects were related to direct toxicity on tumor cell.