Effect of optimized collagenase digestion on isolated and cultured nucleus pulposus cells in degenerated intervertebral discs.

This study aims to explore the optimized digestive method of collagenase to nucleus pulposus (NP) cells by observing the digestive effects of type I and II collagenase in different concentrations to NP in degenerated intervetebral discs.NP were collected from 18 human herniated intervertebral disc samples, and digested by type I and II collagenase, which were separated or combined in different concentrations. NP cells were counted using an inverted microscope, and the activities were determined by trypan blue staining at 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours after digestion. The growth of NP cells was also observed.The amount of NP cells with combined collagenases was greater than that separated in an identical concentration. With the combined collagenases at 4 and 8 hours, the higher concentration, the greater the amount of NP cells became. The amount of cells in extremely low concentrations of collagenase increased after 16 and 24 hours, and its activities remained at a higher level.The optimized digestion of extremely low concentrations of type I and II collagenase combined could save enzymes, was less harmful to NP cells, and was more adapted to separated and cultured NP cells.

Association Studies of CYP1A1 Exon7 Polymorphism and -GSTM1 Interaction with Esophageal Cancer Risk: a Meta-Analysis in the Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: Although many epidemiological studies have investigated the CYP1A1 exon7 polymorphism and -GSTM1 interaction with esophageal cancer (EC), definite conclusions cannot be drawn. This study was conducted to explore this association in the Chinese population using meta-analysis. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified from PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biology Medicine databases published through August 2015. The association of CYP1A1 exon7 polymorphisms and EC risk was estimated by odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In addition, the interaction between the CYP1A1 exon7 and GSTM1 genotypes was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 13 case-control studies including 1781 EC cases and 1996 controls were included in this metaanalysis. Overall, significantly increased EC risk was associated with the CYP1A1 exon7 polymorphism (G vs. A OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.14 - 1.64; GG vs. AA: OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.22 - 2.79; GG vs. AG: OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.96; GG + AG vs. AA: OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.28 - 1.68; GG vs. AA + AG: OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.10 - 2.31). In a subgroup analyses stratified by geographic areas, histopathology type and source of controls, the significant risk was found in hospital-based population, in South and North China. Analysis of CYP1A1- GSTM1 interaction did find synergistic interaction between these two genes. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides the evidence that CYP1A1 exon7 polymorphism may contribute to the EC development in the Chinese population, and CYP1A1- GSTM1 interaction might elevate the risk.

Selective Inflow Occlusion Technique Versus Intermittent Pringle Maneuver in Hepatectomy for Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

Selective inflow occlusion (SIO) maneuver preserved inflow of nontumorous liver and was supposed to protect liver function. This study aims to evaluate whether SIO maneuver is superior to Pringle maneuver in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy with large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Between January 2008 and May 2012, 656 patients underwent large HCC resections and were divided into 2 groups: intermittent Pringle maneuver (IP) group (n = 336) and SIO group (n = 320). Operative parameters, postoperative laboratory tests, and morbidity and mortality were analyzed. In comparison to the IP maneuver, the SIO maneuver significantly decreased intraoperative blood loss (473 vs 691  mL, P = 0.001) and transfusion rates (11.3% vs 28.6%, P = 0.006). The rate of major complication between the 2 groups was comparable (22.6% vs 18.8%, P = 0.541). Patients with moderate/severe cirrhosis, total bilirubin > 17  µmol/L, or HBV DNA> = 104  copy/mL in SIO group resulted in lower major complication rates. The SIO maneuver is a safe and effective technique for large HCC resections. In patients with moderate/severe cirrhosis, total bilirubin > 17  µmol/L, or HBV DNA> = 104  copy/mL, the SIO technique is preferentially recommended.

Glutathione-S-transferases M1/T1 gene polymorphisms and endometriosis: a meta-analysis in Chinese populations.

In view of the controversies surrounding the glutathione-S-transferases (GST) M1/T1-endometriosis association, a meta-analysis of the GSTM1/GSTT1 genetic association studies of endometriosis was performed in Chinese populations. PubMed, Springer Link, OvidSP, and Chinese databases were searched for related studies. A total of nine studies on GSTM1-endometriosis involved 874 cases and 997 controls, and five studies on GSTT1 involved 404 cases and 513 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the null genotype of GSTM1/GSTT1 was significantly related to endometriosis risk in Chinese populations (GSTM1, OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.22-4.01; GSTT1, OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.34-3.99). In subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity and source of controls, the same results were observed in Chinese Han and population-based studies. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the reliability and stability of the meta-analysis. No publication bias was found among studies by Egger's test. In conclusion, our meta-analysis supports that the GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotype might contribute to individual susceptibility to endometriosis in Chinese populations, especially in Chinese Han.

GSTM1 polymorphisms and lung cancer risk in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis based on 47 studies.

Although a number of studies have been conducted on the association between GSTM1 polymorphisms and lung cancer in China, this association remains elusive and controversial. To clarify the effects of GSTM1 polymorphisms on the risk of lung cancer, a meta-analysis was performed in the Chinese population. Related studies were identified from PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) up to 5th April 2014. A total of 45 articles (47 studies) including 6,623 cases and 7,865 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association (OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.32-1.60) was found between the null GSTM1 and lung cancer risk when all studies in Chinese population pooled into the meta-analysis. In subgroup analyses stratified by quality score, geographic area and source of controls, the same results were observed under all the models. This meta-analysis showed that the null GSTM1 may be a potential biomarker for lung cancer risk in Chinese, but further studies with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are required for definite conclusions.

Neonatal exposure to fluoxetine and fluvoxamine alteres spine density in mouse hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Some women in childbearing ages take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine and fluvoxamine for treating psychiatric symptoms. However, these compounds may cause some side effects to their children. It has been identified that early life exposure to SSRIs increased the chance of developing mood disorders and the biological basis is still unclear. Here, we studied the effects of neonatal exposure to SSRIs on neuronal morphology. We used GFP-transgenic mice to investigate the acute and long-lasting effects of early life exposure to SSRIs on dendritic spine density of CA1 neurons. We found that 18-day drug applications of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine significantly reduced spine density of basal dendrites at postnatal day 22 (P22), but only fluvoxamine caused a reduction of spine density of apical dendrites. Interestingly, compared with the control group, the spine densities of basal dendrites after fluoxetine and fluvoxamine exposure and the spine density of apical dendrites after fluoxetine exposure increased in adult mice at the age of P90. We also observed impaired locomotor activity in adult mice after exposure to SSRIs. Our findings demonstrated that neonatal exposure to SSRIs was capable of influencing the morphological plasticity of excitatory synapses. It raised the caution for clinical use of SSRIs.