High-resolution color doppler ultrasound examination and related risk factor analysis of lower extremity vasculopathy in type 2 diabetes patients

This study aims to investigate the value of high-resolution color Doppler ultrasonography (HR-CDU) in the evaluation of lower-extremity vasculopathy (LEV) and its related risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Two hundred forty T2DM patients were selected, who underwent lower-extremity arterial HR-CDU. The patients were divided into the LEV group (V group) and the nonvasculopathy group (A group). The V group was then divided into the mild (B group), moderate (C group), and severe (D group) subgroups. The relevant clinical parameters were simultaneously recorded. The results showed that the lesion-positive detection rate of HR-CDU was significantly higher than that of clinical examination. The age, disease duration, smoking history, blood pressure, blood sugar, fibrinogen (FIB), C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA), and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in the V group were higher than in the N group. In the logistic regression analysis, smoking history, age, disease duration, FIB, UA, and fasting blood glucose were independent risk factors of T2DM LEV. The incidence of LEV in T2DM patients increased significantly with increasing age, UA, FIB, CRP, UAE, disease duration, and smoking history, and the vasculopathy level became more severe. In conclusion, age, disease duration, smoking history, blood pressure, blood sugar, FIB, CRP, UA, and UAE are the related risk factors of LEV in T2DM patients.

The cultivation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from patients with high altitude polycythemia

The aim of this study was to isolate and culture bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from patients with high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) in order to provide a foundation for further exploration of their biological characteristics. MSCs were isolated and cultured from 10 HAPC patients and 10 healthy controls by using a density gradient centrifugation and an adherent screening method. The morphous of MSCs were observed under an inverted microscope, and its surface antigens were determined using flow cytometry. The growth of the MSCs was also detected to evaluate its proliferation. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow using a density gradient centrifugation, and they were cultured in vitro. The bone marrow MSCs were successfully isolated and cultured, which presented as fusiform and adherent cells. The MSCs in both groups expressed CD90,CD44,CD29,CD105, CD106, CD146, CD166,Stro—1 and CD13, but they did not express CD45, CD4,CD8,CD19,CD20,CD80,CD14,CD3,CD34 or HLA—DR (P>0.05). The bone marrow MSCs from HAPC patients had a higher proliferation than the bone marrow MSCs from the healthy controls (P<0.01). The bone marrow MSCs from HAPC patients can be effectively cultured in vitro.

Cloning and expression analysis of a stress-induced GmIMT1 gene in soybean (Glycine max)

Here, we aimed to clone and identify the GmIMT1 gene related to the salt stress response in soybean. The full-length cDNA sequence of the GmIMT1 gene was amplified in soybean using degenerate primers of Mesembrythmum crystallium. To understand the stress response, the GmIMT1 gene was cloned and sequenced. Then, the expression vectors of the gene were constructed, and introduced into the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana through Agrobacterium mediated transformation, and the salt tolerance was analyzed in the transgenic plants. In addition, the expression patterns of GmIMT1 gene in soybean were analyzed. The expression was examined in different organs (roots, leaves, flower seeds, and stem) and under different stress conditions (drought, high salt, low temperature, salicylic acid, ethane, abscisic acid, and methyl jasmonate) by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The results showed that the root, leaves, and stems exhibited high level of GmIMT1 gene expression, whereas there was no expression in the seeds. In addition, the GmIMT1 gene expression was upregulated under all stress conditions. Overall, the results clearly indicate that GmIMT1 might be involved in multiple plant response pathways to the different environmental conditions. Furthermore transgenic plants exhibited higher salt-tolerance compared to wild type plants.

In vitro activity of isoimperatorin, alone and in combination, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Previous studies have shown that isoimperatorin (IO), a furanocoumarin isolated from several medicinal plants, has antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv (ATCC 27294). This study demonstrated that IO has antimycobacterial activity against 2 drug-sensitive and 6 drug-resistant isolates, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 50-100 μg ml(-1) and 100-200 μg ml(-1), respectively. IO exhibited synergistic antimycobacterial effects with rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH) and ethambutol (EMB) against 6 drug-resistant strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values of 0·133-0·472, 0·123-0·475 and 0·124-0·25, respectively. The IO/RMP, IO/INH and IO/EMB combination treatments had synergistic effects or no interaction in the 2 drug-sensitive strains and the standard strain ATCC 27294. The synergism of combined drugs against drug-resistant strains was better than drug-sensitive strains. No antagonism was observed in with the aforementioned combinations against all strains tested. IO exhibited relatively low cytotoxicity to Vero cells. Our results indicate that IO may serve as promising a template for future antimycobacterial drug development.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report on the in vitro synergistic antimycobacterial effects of isoimperatorin (IO) in combination with three first-line drugs: rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH) and ethambutol (EMB). The results indicated that the antimycobacterial activity of IO was modest; however, IO was a useful and effective agent against Myco. tuberculosis when it was combined with first-line antimycobacterial drugs and is worthy of further development as a lead compound for the development of novel antimycobacterial therapeutic agents.

Association of cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate with SYNTAX score in patients with diabetes

AIM

Serum cystatin C has been proposed as a better marker of glomerular filtration rate than serum creatinine. SYNTAX score (SXscore) can accurately reflect the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the association between Cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) and SXscore in patients with diabetes has never been reported.

METHODS

We prospectively included 656 consecutive patients with diabetes who were angiographically diagnosed with CAD from January 2010 to December 2011. Renal function was assessed by eGFRcys. SXscore was calculated using SXscore algorithm. Ordinal logistic regression and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the association between eGFRcys and SXscore.

RESULTS

Patients with renal dysfunction were older, more often female, more likely to have a history of hypertension and less tobacco use when compared with those patients with normal renal function. Age, sex, SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, HbA1c, TC, LDL, HDL, TG, BMI and CRP were not different among SXscore tertile groups. Incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history and tobacco use were similar among these groups. Correlation analysis suggested that eGFRcys was negatively correlated with SXscore (R=-0.255, P<0.001). Ordinal logistic regression showed that eGFRcys was an independent predictor of SXscore (β=-0.027, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

eGFRcys was an independent predictor of SXscore in patients with diabetes. This might help explain the increased risk of CVD events and mortality in patients with renal dysfunction. Further prospectively multiple centre studies are required to better quantify this finding.

Stat3-coordinated Lin-28-let-7-HMGA2 and miR-200-ZEB1 circuits initiate and maintain oncostatin M-driven epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Inflammation can act as a crucial mediator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we show that oncostatin M (OSM) is expressed in an autocrine/paracrine fashion in invasive breast carcinoma. OSM stimulation promotes spontaneous lung metastasis of MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice. A conspicuous epigenetic transition was induced by OSM stimulation not only in breast cancer cell lines but also in MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice. The expression of miR-200 and let-7 family members in response to OSM stimulation was downregulated in a signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (Stat3)-dependent manner, resulting in comprehensive alterations of the transcription factors and oncoproteins targeted by these microRNAs. Inhibition of Stat3 activation or the ectopic expression of let-7 and miR-200 effectively reversed the mesenchymal phenotype of breast cancer cells. Stat3 promotes the transcription of Lin-28 by directly binding to the Lin-28 promoter, resulting in the repression of let-7 expression and concomitant upregulation of the let-7 target, high-mobility group A protein 2 (HMGA2). Knock down of HMGA2 significantly impairs OSM-driven EMT. Our data indicate that downregulation of let-7 and miR-200 levels initiates and maintains OSM-induced EMT phenotypes, and HMGA2 acts as a master switch of OSM-induced EMT. These findings highlight the importance of Stat3-coordinated Lin-28B-let-7-HMGA2 and miR-200-ZEB1 circuits in the cytokine-mediated phenotypic reprogramming of breast cancer cells.

First-time donors responding to a national disaster may be an untapped resource for the blood centre

BACKGROUND

On 12 May 2008, a severe earthquake struck Sichuan in China. Many people donated blood for the first time, leading us to question whether these donors might become repeat donors in the future. The return pattern of post-earthquake first-time donors (PEFTD) was compared with that of first-time donors (FTD) in a comparable period.

METHODS

Demographic characteristics, transfusion-transmissible infection rates and 1-year return rates were compared between 5147 PEFTD (5/13-5/19, 2008) and 3176 FTD (5/13-5/19, 2009) from five Chinese blood centres using chi-squared tests. Adjusted logistic regression was used to detect earthquake effect on donor return.

RESULTS

Post-earthquake first-time donors were more frequently between 26 and 45 years, men, and better educated compared with the control group. Slightly higher but not statistically significant increased rates of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) (0·87% vs. 0·50%, P=0·054), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (0·70% vs. 0·63%, P=0·414), syphilis (0·9% vs. 0·7%, P=0·489) and lower rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (0·31% vs. 0·60%, P=0·078) reactivity were detected for PEFTD. The 1-year return rate for PEFTD was significantly lower than that of the controls (8·0% vs. 13·0%, P<0·001). After adjusting for demographic factors, donation volume and sites, the PEFTD were less likely to return in 1 year than the controls (OR: 0·520; 95% CI: 0·442, 0·611).

CONCLUSION

Post-earthquake first-time donors may be less likely to donate again without continuing motivation strategies. Further studies on PEFTD's lack of motivation to return for donation are needed to design recruitment strategies to convert PEFTD to become repeat donors to continuously replenish the blood supply.

Back-scattered electron imaging combined with EBSD technique for characterization of pearlitic steels

Microstructure of pearlitic steels subjected different heat treatments were characterized combining the usage of back-scattered electron imaging and electron backscatter diffraction in a scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that the method used in current study enabled the acquisition of pearlite nodule, colony and interlamellar spacing of pearlite structure only through sample preparation of one time. Both the morphology of pearlite lamellae and the crystallographic orientation of ferrite matrix can be released in back-scattered electron imaging image and electron backscatter diffraction micrograph acquired at the same region. The definitions of pearlite colony and the low-angle boundaries existed in ferrite matrix were also discussed based on this method.

The relationship between the TGF-beta1 gene -509C/T polymorphism and tubulointerstitial damage resulting from primary nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene -509C/T polymorphism and the susceptibility to primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS), and in particular to the severe degree of tubulointerstitial damage (TID) seen in Chinese.

METHODS

Ninety-eight PNS patients and 128 normal controls were studied. The extent of tubulointerstitial changes was evaluated and patients were divided into two groups according to the severe or mild degree of TID. The TGF-beta1gene -509C/T polymorphism was detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, and the serum level of TGF-beta1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

No statistical differences in genotype or allele frequency of the TGF-beta1 gene -509C/T were found between PNS and normal subjects. However, T allele and CT + T T genotype frequency were higher in the PNS with severe TID than the mild TID and controls. Additionally, the serum concentration of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in the PNS with severe TID group than the other two groups and in the T T genotype individuals than the CC and CT genotype individuals. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that TGF-beta1 gene -509C/T genotype was the risk factor of TID in PNS patients [OR (odd ratio) 2.34, confidence interval (CI) 0.98-3.46, p = 0.012]. CONCLUSION. TGF-beta1 gene -509C/T polymorphism was associated with severe TID. The higher value in serum concentration of TGF-beta1 was also associated with severe TID and the T T genotype/T allele. T allele gene might be the important risk factor for susceptibility.

The synergy of honokiol and fluconazole against clinical isolates of azole-resistant Candida albicans

AIMS

To evaluate the interaction of fluconazole (FLC) and honokiol (HNK) in vitro and vivo against azole-resistant (azole-R) clinical isolates of Candida albicans.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A checkerboard microdilution method was used to study the in vitro interaction of FLC and HNK in 24 azole-R clinical isolates of C. albicans. In vivo antifungal activity was performed to further analyse the interaction between FLC and HNK. In the in vitro study, synergism was observed in all 24 FLC-resistant strains tested as determined by fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), and in 22 strains by Delta E models. No antagonistic activity was observed in any of the strains tested. These positive interactions were also confirmed by using the time-killing test for the selected strain C. albicans YL371, which shows strong susceptible to the combination of HNK and FLC. In the in vivo study, the mice with candidiasis were treated successfully by a combination therapy of HNK with FLC, the results showed a decrease of the colony forming unit in infected and treated animals compared to the controls, at the conditions of the treatment used in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Synergistic activity of HNK and FLC against clinical isolates of FLC-resistant C. albicans was observed in vitro and in vivo.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This report might provide a potential therapeutic method to overcome the problem of drug-resistance in C. albicans.

Anticancer Role of PPARgamma Agonists in Hematological Malignancies Found in the Vasculature, Marrow, and Eyes

The use of targeted cancer therapies in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation treatment has increased overall survival of cancer patients. However, longer survival is accompanied by increased incidence of comorbidities due, in part, to drug side effects and toxicities. It is well accepted that inflammation and tumorigenesis are linked. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists are potent mediators of anti-inflammatory responses, it was a logical extension to examine the role of PPARgamma agonists in the treatment and prevention of cancer. This paper has two objectives: first to highlight the potential uses for PPARgamma agonists in anticancer therapy with special emphasis on their role when used as adjuvant or combined therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies found in the vasculature, marrow, and eyes, and second, to review the potential role PPARgamma and/or its ligands may have in modulating cancer-associated angiogenesis and tumor-stromal microenvironment crosstalk in bone marrow.

3',4'-Dihydroxyflavonol down-regulates monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in smooth muscle: role of focal adhesion kinase and PDGF receptor signalling

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We investigated the effects of a synthetic flavonol, 3',4'-dihydroxyflavonol (DiOHF) on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

MCP-1 expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and protein phosphorylation by immunoprecipitation and Western blots.

KEY RESULTS

DiOHF (1-30 micromol x L(-1)) concentration-dependently reduced MCP-1 expression in both quiescent cells and cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or interleukin 1-beta. The effect of DiOHF was associated with a suppression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mediated signalling. In vitro kinase assays demonstrated that DiOHF is a potent inhibitor of FAK kinase activity (EC(50)= 2.4 micromol x L(-1)). Expression of FAK-related non-kinase reduced basal MCP-1 expression, but not that induced by PDGF or interleukin 1-beta. DiOHF also inhibited autophosphorylation of PDGF receptors. The PDGF receptor inhibitor AG-1296 potently suppressed basal and PDGF-induced MCP-1 expression. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation by DiOHF, either directly or indirectly, may also be involved in its effects on MCP-1 expression. DiOHF had no inhibitory effect on either p38 or nuclear factor-kappaB activation. Moreover, DiOHF inhibited smooth muscle cell spreading (a FAK-mediated response) and proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This is the first report on a flavonoid compound (DiOHF) that is a potent FAK inhibitor. DiOHF also inhibits PDGF receptor autophosphorylation. These effects underlie the inhibitory action of DiOHF on MCP-1 expression in smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that DiOHF might be a useful tool for dissection of the (patho)physiological roles of FAK signalling.

A new strategy to induce effective antitumour response in vitro and in vivo

To induce Her2-specific cell immune response, we used xenogeneic antigen rat neu L2-S2 domains as the vaccine antigen. The antigenic protein was engineered as a chimeric protein with human IgG1 Fc region (neu-Fc). Neu-Fc could stimulate the cell proliferation in mixed lymphocyte reaction effectively. Simultaneous neu-Fc and IFN-gamma stimulation dramatically elevated IL-12 secretion and reduced IL-10 production in PBMC. To further augment the activating effects on Th1-type response, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was utilized as a non-specific stimulus. Neu-Fc, IFN-gamma and BCG costimulation exhibited the most conspicuous effects on the reversal of the Th1-type inhibitory effects by MCF-7 cell supernatant compared with neu-Fc alone or IFN-gamma and BCG costimulation. The lytic activity of effector cells to Her2 overexpressing cells was greatly promoted by neu-Fc, IFN-gamma and BCG stimulation simultaneously. Neu-Fc led to considerable retardation in EMT6/Her2 tumour growth in Balb/c mice. IFN-gamma and BCG efficiently enhanced the antitumour activity. A large amount of inflammatory cells were found to be accumulated in the tumour tissues or surrounded tumours in mice treated with neu-Fc, IFN-gamma and BCG but no inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in control tumours, indicating that the strategy is potent enough to support the initiation and propagation of tumour-specific immune response in an established tumour and generate a proinflammatory environment.

Color-changing and color-tunable photonic bandgap fiber textiles

We present the fabrication and use of plastic Photonic Band Gap Bragg fibers in photonic textiles for applications in interactive cloths, sensing fabrics, signage and art. In their cross section Bragg fibers feature periodic sequence of layers of two distinct plastics. Under ambient illumination the fibers appear colored due to optical interference in their microstructure. Importantly, no dyes or colorants are used in fabrication of such fibers, thus making the fibers resistant to color fading. Additionally, Bragg fibers guide light in the low refractive index core by photonic bandgap effect, while uniformly emitting a portion of guided color without the need of mechanical perturbations such as surface corrugation or microbending, thus making such fibers mechanically superior to the standard light emitting fibers. Intensity of side emission is controlled by varying the number of layers in a Bragg reflector. Under white light illumination, emitted color is very stable over time as it is defined by the fiber geometry rather than by spectral content of the light source. Moreover, Bragg fibers can be designed to reflect one color when side illuminated, and to emit another color while transmitting the light. By controlling the relative intensities of the ambient and guided light the overall fiber color can be varied, thus enabling passive color changing textiles. Additionally, by stretching a PBG Bragg fiber, its guided and reflected colors change proportionally to the amount of stretching, thus enabling visually interactive and sensing textiles responsive to the mechanical influence. Finally, we argue that plastic Bragg fibers offer economical solution demanded by textile applications.