The alterations of microbiota and pathological conditions in the gut of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a serious threat to human life and health. Most patients are diagnosed at the late stage of advanced CRC, resulting in losing their best opportunity for surgical treatment. Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in the control and treatment of advanced CRC. However, the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs can easily cause the imbalance of gut flora, damage the barrier of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and mediate mucosal inflammation of the digestive tract, which is called "gastrointestinal mucositis." This mucositis can affect the quality of life of the host and even threaten their lives. Several studies reported the association between chemotherapy-mediated gastrointestinal mucositis in CRC and gut dysbiosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association are still unclear. The alternative or complementary treatments to reshape gut microbiota and slow down the side effects of chemotherapy have shown the improvement of gastrointestinal mucositis following chemotherapy in the CRC condition. This review will summarize and discuss the evidence of the association between chemotherapy-mediated gastrointestinal mucositis in CRC and altered gut microbiota from in vivo and clinical studies. The possible mechanisms of gastrointestinal mucositis, including the destruction of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, the induction of gut dysbiosis, and histopathological changes in the gut of CRC with chemotherapy will be illustrated. In addition, the nonpharmacological interventions and phytochemical extracts by using the manipulation of the microbial population for therapeutic purposes for relieving side effects of chemotherapy as well as a cancer treatment would be summarized and discussed in this review.

The effect of artemisinin on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG-2 / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the effect of artemisinin on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG‐2 .Methods The inhibition effect of cell proliferation in human hepatocelluar carcinoma cell line HepG2 of artemisinin was detected by MTT test ,and the cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by Flow cytometry .Results Artemisinin at 80 umol/L could effectively inhibi‐ted the proliferation of HepG‐2 cell in a dose‐and time‐dependent manner;the drugs could block cells at G0/S phase ,and induct the HepG‐2 cell apoptosis .Conclusion Artemisinin could effectively inhibit the proliferation of HepG‐2 cell .

A new method of isolating and culturing rabbit osteoblasts in vitro / 生物医学工程学杂志

To establish an experimental model of osteoblasts to easily cause calcification of bone matrix in vitro, we took cranium of a newborn rabbit out under an aseptic condition, removed the connective tissue of the bony suture, and cut the cranium freely into the fragments of not more than 1 mm2. The we isolated and cultured the osteoblasts using tissue explant method. We observed growth status of primary osteoblasts and subcultured osteoblasts using inverted microscope. Then we conducted enzyme staining and alizarin red staining for the third generation of osteoblasts to detect the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and calcified nodules. The result showed that there were calcified nodules or calcification formed after the primary osteoblasts climbing out from the bone for 1 week, and each generation of osteoblasts had the similar calcification with the primary osteoblasts, and there was an increase in calcified nodules after the continuous culture. There was a strong expression of ALP in the plasma membrane of osteoblasts. The calcified nodules were red with alizarin red staining. It is well concluded that osteoblasts isolated with this method easily cause calcification, and can be used as a new experimental model.

The value of pleural effusion and C-reactlve protein in severity evaluation and prognosis of acute pancreati-tis / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the value of pleural effusion and C-reactive protein in severity evalua-tion and prognosis of acute pancreatitis. Methods Clinical data of 108 patients with acute pancreatitis were ana-lyzed retrospectively. AP classification was conducted on the basis of intensified CT examination and the clinical in-dexes including blood calculus, blood lipid, blood glucose and blood gas were measured. The criteria for diagnosis and severity evaluation of acute pancreatitis were based on results of chest X-ray, CT examination and CRP. The correla-tion between pleural effusion, CRP and the severity, etiology, prognosis of acute pancreaitis were analyzed. Results Of the 108 patients, mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) was found in 57 patients, and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in 51. Among SAP, 32 patients (62.75% ) developed pleural effusion, 38 patients (74.51% ) whose CRP > 20.00 mg/L,and 27 patients (52. 94%) had both pleural effusion and CRP > 20. 00 mg/L. There were 13 (22.81% ), 14 (24.56%) and 8 (14.04%) respectively among MAP. The difference between the two groups was sig-nificant(P<0.01). Among acute biliarv pancreatitis,9 patients (33.33%) developed pleural effusion and 15 (55.65%) whose CRP>20 mg/L and 9 (33.33%) had beth pleural effusion and CRP>20.00 mg/L; Among acholic AP,25 (65.79%) developed pleural effusion and 20 (52.63% ) whose CRP > 20.00 mg/L and 23 (60.53%) had beth pleural effusion and CRP>20.00 mg/L. Case fatality was also significantly different between group with pleural effusion,CRP >20.00 mg/L,both pleural effusion and CRP>20.00 mg/L,and group with non-pleural effusion,CRP≤20.00mg/L,non-pleural effusion or CRP≤20.00mg/L respectively(P<0.01). Conclusion Either pleural effusion or CRP can be used as independent prognostic parameters for severe acute pancreatitis,and the combined use of these two parameters is the most reliable.

Interaction of olfactory ensheathing cells with nerve repairing scaffolds / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate a new way to yield plenty of high purity olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and its biocompatibility with appropriate scaffolds.@*METHODS@#OECs were prepared from neonatal Wister rats and co-cultured with poly [LA-co-(Glc-alt-Lys)] (PLGL). Its contact angle, adherent rate, and activity rate were tested.@*RESULTS@#The contact angle of poly (D, L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) (84.5 degree+/-1.5 degree) was significantly higher than that of PLGL (52.6 degree+/-0.8 degree), the adherent rate of PLGL (80%) was significantly higher than that of the PDLLA (57%), and the activity rate of PLGL (88%) was much higher than that of the PDLLA (76%).@*CONCLUSION@#PLGL possesses better hydrophilicity and biocompatibility than PDLLA, and it can provide a better cell growth circumstance which is helpful for the effective treatment of nerve injury.

Comparison between Endoscopic Probe and Self-made Balloon Device for Cardia Achalasia / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To compare the effects of endoscopic probe and self-made balloon device in dilation of the cardia for patients with cardia achalasia.Methods From January 1998 to December 2007,45 patients with cardia achalasia received gastroscopy-assisted dilation at our hospital;22 of them were treated by self-made balloon device and 23 were by endoscopic probe.The efficacies of the two methods were compared.Results In the probe group,each patients received 1 to 9 times of dilation(mean,3.6),while in the balloon group it was 1 to 6 times(mean,2.3).None of the two groups had intra-and post-operative complications.The cost for the first treatment was(1542.57?281.30) yuan in probe group,and(861.91?176.48) yuan in the balloon group(t=9.671,P=0.000).The efficacy of the two groups was similar in 3 months after the treatment [the rates of the cured,improved,and failed were 61%(14),35%(8),and 4%(1) in the probe group,and 68%(15),23%(5),and 9%(2) in the balloon group,Z=-0.351,P=0.726],but significantly different in 6 months [22%(5),13%(3),and 65%(15) vs 45%(10),32%(7),and 23%(5),Z=2.564,P=0.010].Conclusions Both endoscopic probe and self-made balloon device are effective in dilatation of the cardia for cardia achalasia.Self-made balloon device dilatation is exceptionally suitable for local hospitals because of its low cost and simple techniques.