Risk of Stroke in Patients with Herpes Zoster: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies suggest that herpes zoster (HZ) may increase the risk of stroke, but the results are inconsistent. Our study was designed to assess the association between HZ and the risk of stroke through a meta-analysis of cohort studies. METHODS: The electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception to May 31, 2016 to identify relevant cohort studies that assess the risk of stroke in patients with HZ. Reference lists were also reviewed to identify potential studies. The random-effects model and fixed-effects model were used to calculate the summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Six cohort studies (251,076 HZ patients and 8462 cases of stroke) were identified in the study. The result showed that HZ was significantly correlated with increased risk of stroke, and the pooled RR was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.67) (P = .004). In the subgroup analysis, the significant association was observed except for stroke type (hemorrhage group). In the sensitivity analysis, excluding 1 study, the pooled RR was 1.45 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.80) (P = .001) for HZ, and 4.42 (95% CI: 2.75, 7.11) (P = .000) for herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in our study. CONCLUSION: Our study furnishes evidence of a positive association between HZ and the risk of stroke.

Therapeutic effect of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in rats.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is involved in the development of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs) and explored the NF-E2-related factor-2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway in treating HIBD. METHODS: P7 rats were subjected to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and randomly divided into four groups (control, HIBD, HIBD+PD-MSCs, and HIBD+fibroblasts). Forty-eight hours after the induction of HIBD, 5×10(5) of PD-MSCs were injected into cerebral tissue in the HIBD+PD-MSCs group, while the same dose of fibroblasts were injected in the HIBD+fibroblasts group. Morris Water Maze, gross and pathological changes were tested at P28. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected in rats' hippocampus. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to evaluate the changes of Nrf2/HO-1. RESULTS: The HIBD group showed significantly longer escape latency and a lower frequency of original platform crossing in the Morris Water Maze compared with the control group. Rats receiving PD-MSCs showed significant improvement of HIBD. The pathological changes were evident after HIBD, but ameliorated in the PD-MSCs group. Compared with the control group, HO-1 and Nrf2 were up-regulated at gene and protein levels in the HI brain, beginning at 6 hours and peaking at 48 hours (P<0.05). The expression of HO-1 and Nrf2 in the PD-MSCs treatment group was more pronounced than in the HIBD group (P<0.01). PD-MSCs also decreased MDA production in the brain tissue. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that PD-MSCs have neuroprotective effect during the treatment of HIBD and that the mechanism may be partly due to alleviating oxidative stress.

Reversal of multidrug resistance in renal cell carcinoma by short hairpin RNA targeting MDR1 gene / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), encoded by the MDR1 gene, confers multidrug resistance (MDR) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is a major reason for unsuccessful chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the effct of RNA interference (RNAi) on the reversal of MDR in human RCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We designed and selected one short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting MDR1 gene, which is stably expressed from integrated plasmid and transfected by lentivirus fluid in human RCC A498 cell.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MDR1-targeted RNAi resulted in decreased MDR1 gene mRNA level (P < 0.001), almost abolished P-gp expression and reversed MDR to different chemotherapy drugs in the RCC A498 cell line.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MDR could be reversed by RNAi in human RCC A498 cell line, which may be used for clinical application in future.</p>

Histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 treatment alters immune molecule content and categories in hepatocarcinoma exosomes / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, on the immune molecule content and categories in hepatocarcinoma exosomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Exosomes were isolated from the human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3b, and purified by a combination technique of ultrafiltration centrifugation and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The expressions of heat shock protein (HSP)70, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I, HLA-DR, cluster of differentiation (CD) 80 and NY-ESO-1 on exosomes were analyzed with immunoelectron microscopy and Western blotting before and after MS-275 treatment. Intergroup differences were statistically analyzed by the Student's paired t-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MS-275 treatment of both HepG2 and Hep3b cell types significantly increased the numbers of exosomes, their total protein content, and expression of HSP70, HLA-I and CD80 (per 100 exosomes), as compared to non-treated cells (all, P less than 0.01). MS-275 was also found to induce de novo expression of HLA-DR, but had no significant effect on NY-ESO-1 expression (P more than 0.05). The findings from immunoelectron microscopy confirmed those from Western blotting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, can significantly alter the immune molecule content and categories in exosomes of hepatocarcinoma cells. The differential expression profile may reflect an anti-cancer immune response and represent molecular targets for novel anti-hepatoma therapeutic or preventative strategies.</p>

Effect of doxorubicin induced GM-CSF gene expression regulated by Egr-1 promoter on recovery of hematopoietic function in bearing-melanoma mice / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of hematopoietic growth factor expression regulated by Egr-1 promoter on the recovery of hematopoietic function in bearing-melanoma mice after chemotherapy with doxorubicin (ADM). The human GM-CSF cDNA and enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) cDNA were linked together with internal ribozyme entry site (IRES) and then were inserted into the expression vector pCI-neo under control of the Egr-1 promoter (Egr-EG). This vector was transduced into human bone marrow stromal cell lines HFCL by lipofectamine and was transfused in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. The experimental mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 mice in each group): (1) HFCL/EG + ADM group in which the HFCL/EG cells were transplanted intravenously in SCID mice bearing melanoma, ADM was given intraperitoneally after 3 days; (2) HFCL + ADM group in which the HFCL cells were transplanted intravenously, ADM was given intraperitoneally after 3 days; (3) HPCL/EG group in which HFCL/EG cells were transplanted alone; (4) HFCL group in which HFCL cells were transplanted alone. The dynamic change of peripheral blood picture was assayed by hemocytometer; the eGFP(+) human stromal cells were detected by flow cytometry; the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The results indicated that as compared with HFCL/EG and HFCL groups, the leukocyte count in HFCL/EG + ADM group decreased, but decrease level was weaker than that in HFCL + ADM group, meanwhile the recovery of leukocyte count was earlier than that in HFCL + ADM group. The CFU-GM amount between 4 groups showed no significant difference. The detection results showed that the inhibitory rate of tumor was related to chemotherapy, but not to expression of exogenous gene; the eGFP(+) stromal cells existed in bone marrow of mice treated with ADM. The RT-PCR and Western blot assays revealed enhancement of GM-CSF mRNA and protein. It is concluded that the ADM-inducible GM-CSF gene therapy regulated by Egr-1 promoter may promote the hematopoietic recovery after chemotherapy.

Association of two polymorphisms in ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 gene with Parkinson's disease in Shanghai / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of polymorphisms in the ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) gene with Parkinson's disease(PD)in Shanghai Han Nationality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The distribution of a Serine18Tyrosine polymorphism in exon 3(C/A) and a Serine89Phenylalanine polymorphism in exon 4(C/T)of UCH-L1 gene were detected in 164 PD cases and 172 healthy controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)The C allelic frequency in exon 3 of UCH-L1 gene in PD patients(62.2%) was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls(51.7%) (OR=1.53, P=0.006), as was the C/C genotype(OR=1.90, P=0.008). (2)There was no significant difference in the distribution of the C/T allele and genotypes in exon 4 between PD patients and healthy controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The C allele in exon 3 of UCH-L1 gene might be one of the risk factors for PD in Shanghai Han Nationality, but the polymorphisms of C/T in exon 4 showed no association with the onset of PD.</p>

[Changes of circulating IFN-gamma, IL-4 in patients with chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal initial therapy].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of periodontal initial therapy on circulating blood serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: 15 patients with chronic periodontitis and 15 healthy people were selected. Circulating blood serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured using double antibody sandwich ELISA; Student's t test was used for comparing sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth (PD), and circulating IFN-gamma, IL-4 in patients with chronic periodontitis that were assessed respectively before and 4 to 6 weeks after periodontal initial therapy. RESULTS: The level of blood serum IFN-gamma, IL-4 in patients with chronic periodontitis was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01); After periodontal initial therapy, SBI, PD, and circulating IFN-gamma concentration were reduced significantly (P<0.01); IL-4 concentration had no significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Blood serum IFN-gamma, IL-4 were associated with chronic periodontitis; The control of gingival infection may reduce blood serum IFN-gamma concentration; IL-4 concentration was not reduced with the control of gingival infection. Periodontal initial therapy.

Dopamine beta hydroxylase gene polymorphism and Parkinson's disease / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of dopamine beta hydroxylase(DBH) gene and the susceptibility of Shanghai Chinese Han population to Parkinson's disease(PD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Association study was performed in 144 PD patients and 188 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex and origin. Polymorphism of DBH gene was analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The allelic frequency of A2 allele of DBH gene was significantly higher in PD patients than in controls(P<0.01).The risk of suffering from PD increased (OR=1.82) in the individual with A2 allele. And the genotypic frequency of A2/A2 was significantly higher in PD patients(OR=2.11, P<0.01),too. On the other hand, the allelic frequency of A1 allele and the genotypic frequency of A1/A2 genotype of DBH gene in PD patients were significantly lower(A1 alleles: OR=0.54, P<0.01; A1/A2 genotypes: OR=0.45, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphism in DBH gene might play an important role in the susceptibility of Shanghai Chinese Han population to PD.</p>