Role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat in rats.

Background: This study aims to explore the characteristics of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the period of paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Methods: Picrosirius red staining and collagen volume fraction were utilized to evaluate the pathological changes of PQ-induced PF in rats. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure the protein and gene expression of EMT markers, EMT-associated transcription factors, and regulators of EMT-related pathways, respectively.

Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Upregulates Intracellular Calcium Signaling by Binding C-terminal of Orail Protein.

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein plays a pivotal role in the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Although regulation of cytosolic calcium is essential for HBV replication and is mediated by HBx protein, the mechanism of HBx protein regulating intracellular calcium level remains poorly understood. The present study examined whether HBx protein elevated the intracellular calcium through interacting with storeoperated calcium entry (SOCE) components, Orail and stromal interaction molecule 1, and then identified the targets of HBx protein, with an attempt to understand the mechanism of HBx protein upsetting intracellular calcium homeostasis.

[Protective effect of paeoniflorin against PM2.5-induced damage in BEAS-2B cells].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of paeoniflorin against PM2.5-induced damage in BEAS-2B cells and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: With a factorial design, this study was performed to observe the protective effects of different doses of paeoniflorin against PM2.

[Effect of low-selenium diet on expressions of CCR7, CD206 and CD163 in the liver and kidney of rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of low-selenium diet on the liver and kidneys of rats and explore the role of macrophage polarization into M1 and M2 phenotypes in liver and kidney injuries.

Methods: Twenty-four rats (12 female and 12 male) were randomly divided into control group and low-selenium group and fed with normal chow (dietary selenium of 0.18 mg/kg) and low-selenium diet (dietary selenium of 0.

Chronic radial head dislocation caused by a rare solitary osteochondroma of the proximal radius in a child: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Osteochondroma is the most common benign bone tumor of the upper limbs that occurs during the developmental phase of children. Solitary epiphyseal enchondromas can be usually found in the humeral capitellum, and the proximal ulna of the elbow.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report the case of a 12-year-old boy of Han ethnicity with a developmental radial head dislocation with a progressive radius deformities, caused by a solitary osteochondroma which originated from the proximal metaphysis of the radius.

C-reactive protein as a prognostic factor for human osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis and literature review.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer in growing adolescents and young adults. The prognostic role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with osteosarcoma is not fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to perform a meta-analysis and literature review on the role of CRP in osteosarcoma and to assess the potential role of serum CRP as a prognostic factor for patients with osteosarcoma.

Management of traumatic hemothorax by closed thoracic drainage using a central venous catheter.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment of traumatic hemothorax by closed pleural drainage using a central venous catheter (CVC), compared with using a conventional chest tube.

Methods: A prospective controlled study with the Ethics Committee approval was undertaken. A total of 407 patients with traumatic hemothorax were involved and they were randomly assigned to undergo closed pleural drainage with CVCs (n=214) or conventional chest tubes (n=193).

[Therapeutic effect of capsule xinganbao on schistosomal hepatocirrhosis].

A total of 118 patients with schistosomal hepatocirrhosis were divided into an experiment group (62 cases) and a control group (56 cases), and the former received capsule Xinganbao and the latter received conventional medicine for 6 months. The reductions of serum HA, LN and PCIII were more notable in the experiment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

[Ecological reasons for the difference in nicotine content of flue-cured tobacco planted in different regions of Hunan Province].

Aimed to explore the ecological reasons for the difference in nicotine content of flue-cured tobacco planted in different regions of Hunan Province, field experiments were conducted in Sangzhi, Liuyang, and Yongzhou counties, the three typical tobacco regions of Hunan Province, taking tobacco variety K326 as the test object. Simultaneously, pot experiments with local soils and guest soils were carried out. The nicotine content of mid position tobacco leaves was analyzed at harvest time.

Repairing large radial nerve defects by acellular nerve allografts seeded with autologous bone marrow stromal cells in a monkey model.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of tissue-engineered nerve grafts created from acellular allogenic nerve tissues combined with autologous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) for repairing large peripheral nerve lesions. In a rhesus monkey model, a 2.5-cm-long gap was created in the radial nerve, followed by implantation of either autografts or acellular allografts seeded with autologous BMSCs, Schwann cells (SCs), or no cells.

Effects of Bi-NTO complex on thermal behaviors, nonisothermal reaction kinetics and burning rates of NG/TEGDN/NC propellant.

A bismuth 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (Bi-NTO) complex was prepared and characterized, and its effects on the thermal behaviors, non-isothermal decomposition reaction kinetics, and burning rates of the double-base (DB) propellant containing the mixed ester of triethyleneglycol dinitrate (TEGDN) and nitroglycerin (NG) with Bi-NTO complex as a ballistic modifier were investigated by thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that Bi-NTO complex can increase the decomposition heat by 140 J g(-1), and it can change the decomposition reaction mechanism function, the kinetic parameters and kinetic equation of the propellant under 0.1 MPa.

[Effects of fullerene soot on the thermal decomposition and Fourier transform infrared spectrum of PEG].

Effects of fullerene soot (FS) on the thermal decomposition and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) of polyethylene glycol (PEG, molecular weight= 20,000) were investigated by thermal analysis (TG-DTG) and in-situ FTIR experiments. The results of thermal analytical experiments showed that the addition of FS postponed not only the initial decomposition temperatures but also the temperatures at maximum decomposition rate of PEG. The maximum decomposition peak temperatures increased and the maximum decomposition rates were lowered even with the addition of 0.

Effects of pressure and TEGDN content on decomposition reaction mechanism and kinetics of DB gun propellant containing the mixed ester of TEGDN and NG.

The effects of pressure and triethyleneglycol dinitrate (TEGDN) content on the decomposition reaction mechanism and kinetics of the double-base (DB) gun propellant composed of mixed ester of TEGDN and nitroglycerin (NG), and nitrocellulose (NC) were investigated by high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC). The results show that the high pressure can decrease the DSC peak temperature, increase the decomposition heat; with the increase in the content of TEGDN, the decomposition heat decreases below 2MPa and rises at 4MPa. The high pressure can change the decomposition reaction mechanism and the kinetics of the DB gun propellant under 0.

Bridging small-gap peripheral nerve defects using acellular nerve allograft implanted with autologous bone marrow stromal cells in primates.

This study evaluated the effects of the transplantation of a tissue-engineered nerve derived from an acellular allogenic nerve graft, combined with autologous bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs), into peripheral nerve defects. In a rhesus monkey model, nerve regeneration was evaluated across a 1-cm lesion in the radial nerve by using an acellular allogenic nerve injected with autologous MSCs. Simple acellular nerve allografts served as control.

Preparation, characterization, non-isothermal reaction kinetics, thermodynamic properties, and safety performances of high nitrogen compound: hydrazine 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one complex.

A new high nitrogen compound hydrazine 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one complex (HNTO) was prepared by the reaction of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one with hydrazine hydrate, and its structure was characterized by means of organic elemental analyzer, FT-IR, XRD, (13)C NMR and (15)N NMR. The non-isothermal reaction kinetics of the main exothermic decomposition reaction of HNTO was investigated by means of DSC. The thermodynamic properties of HNTO were calculated.

Screening of serum biomarkers and establishment of a decision tree in silica-exposed populations by surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-fly mass spectrometry.

Objective: To screen for serum biomarkers of silicosis and to study their roles using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-fly mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) techniques.

Methods: The serum protein/peptide profile on the CM10 proteinchip was acquired using SELDI-TOF-MS from workers classified by the Chinese national diagnostic standard for pneumoconiosis. Discriminant analysis was performed to establish a decision tree using protein/peptide peaks.

[Risk factors affecting the survival rate in serious multiple trauma patients associated with acute lung injure/acute respiratory distress syndrome].

Objective: To investigate risk factors affecting the survival rate in serious multiple traumatic patients associated with acute lung injure (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: The clinical data of 76 serious multiple trauma patients associated with ALI and 95 cases in ARDS, totally 171 patients associated with ALI/ARDS, were retrospectively studied, and stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to analyze 20 possible risk factors affecting survival rate.

Results: The risk factors affecting survival rate in the ALI group: included smoking (B = -5.

[Survivin expression in midline T-cell lymphoma in relation to Epstin-Barr virus infection].

To investigate the expression of survivin gene and its relationship with Epstin-Barr virus (EBV) infection in midline T-cell lymphoma (MTL), immunohistochemistry staining method was used to examine the expression of survivin and EBV-latent membrane protein (LMP-1) in the 41 cases. In situ hybridization (ISH) was used to detect EBV-encoded RNA (EBER1/2). The results showed that the expression of survivin was positive in 26 cases of midline T-cell lymphoma, but no positive was detected in 10 cases of reactive lymphoid tissues.

[The effects of adenovirus-mediated human COX-2 antisense RNA on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of COX-2 and liver cancer and construct a recombinant adenovirus encoding human COX-2 antisense RNA, and then to investigate its effects on liver cancer cell proliferation.

Methods: The expression of COX-2 in 34 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and in SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines was studied by using immunohistochemical techniques. The shuttle plasmid encoding anti-sense COX-2 was constructed by using cloning COX-2 cDNA fragment in the reverse direction into the pHCMVSPIA.

[Experimental study of contralateral testicular changes after unilateral testicular torsion in rats].

Objective: To study the changes of the contralateral testicular histology and germ cell apoptosis after unilateral testicular torsion (UTT) and to determine whether the contralateral testis is injured or not.

Methods: Sixty SD male rats were divided into control group (12 rats) and experimental group(48 rats). The former underwent sham operation of the left testis under general anaesthesia.

Intestinal flora translocation and overgrowth in upper gastrointestinal tract induced by hepatic failure.

AIM:To explore the relationship between endoinfection caused by intestinal flora translocation and multiple organ dysfunction in hepatic failure.METHODS:By using the quantitative bacteria culture, bacteria colony was counted in GI tract, bile duct and mesenteric lymphonodus in rat hepatic failure model.RESULTS:Intestinal flora migrated up to the upper GI tract and overgrew in stomach and jejunum in rats with hepatic failure.