Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in the BSA-overloaded rats kidney

Objective To observe NLRP3 inflammasome expression and inflammatory cells infiltration in the BSA-overloaded rats kidney, and to investigate the potential mechanism of renal injury induced by proteinuria. Methods After unilateral right nephrectomy, eighteen healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: protein overload nephropathy model group (n=10), treated with intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin (BSA); control group (n=8), treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0.9% saline for 9 weeks. Body weigh were measured every week and 24 h urine were collected in 0, 2, 5, 7, 9 week. The plasma levels of blood total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined by automatic analyzers. Renal pathological changes were evaluated by PAS and Masson stains. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the types of inflammatory cells. The NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 protein and mRNA levels were also analyzed by Western blot and real-time PCR in two groups. Results It was found that there was a significant increase of proteinuria and BUN in model group compare to that in control group (all P＜0.05). However, there were no significant changes in body weight, TP, Alb and Scr between the two groups. Morphological study demonstrated that renal tubular epithelial cell injury, proteinaceous casts in tubular lumen, accompanying with the dominant macrophages and lymphocytes infiltration in interstitium in model group. The immunohistochemistry showed that there were more T (CD3+), B cells (CD20+) and macrophages (CD68+) in renal interstitium in model group than that in control group (P＜0.05). Tubulointerstitial injury score was higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05). Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time PCR all showed that the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-18 and IL-1 β were significantly increased compared to those in control group (P＜0.05). Furthermore, there were significant correlations between proteinuria and IL-1β/IL-18 expression (P＜0.05). Conclusion NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in tubulointerstitial inflammation caused by proteinuria.     

机械通气气囊压力调整时间的研究

目的研究机械通气气囊压力调整的合理时间。方法对120例机械通气患者,采用德国产VBM专用气囊测压表,检测压力校正后4、6、8h的气囊压力。结果校正后4、6h气囊压力变化,经统计学处理,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),校正后6、8h气囊压力变化,经统计学处理,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论对于机械通气患者,可以每隔6h校正气囊压力一次,能够防止气囊漏气及相应并发症的发生,同时能够节约护理人力资源。     

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells suppress osteoclastogenesis and bone erosion in collagen-induced arthritis

Osteoclasts are responsible for bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) can inhibit experimental collagen-induced arthritis model. This study aims to determine whether ADSCs also suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone erosion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Osteoclasts were induced from bone marrow-derived CD11b⁺ cells with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) stimulation and assessed with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. For human cells, osteoclasts were produced from human CD14⁺ cells. ADSCs were generated and added to cultures with different ratios with CD11b⁺ cells. Transwell and antibody blockade experiments were performed to define the mechanism of action. NF-κB and RANKL expression were determined by Western blotting and RT-qPCR. About 2 × 10⁶ ADSCs or fibroblast cells were adoptively transferred to DBA1/J mice on day 14 after immunization with type II collagen/complete Freund's adjuvant (CII/CFA) while the onset and severity of the CIA were monitored. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells but not fibroblast cells completely suppressed osteoclastogenesis in vitro for human and mice. ADSCs injected after immunization and before of onset of CIA significantly suppressed disease development. Treatment with ADSCs dramatically decreased the levels of NF-κB p65/p50 in osteoclasts in vitro and P65/50 and RANKL expression by synovial tissues in vivo. We have demonstrated that ADSCs can inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclasts genesis via CD39 signals. Our findings also suggest that ADSCs can inhibit osteoclasts genesis without the involvement of regulatory T cells. ADSCs might represent a promising strategy for stem cell-based therapies for RA. Thus, manipulation of ADSCs may have therapeutic effects on RA and other bone erosion–related diseases.     

miR-144、miR-451在胃癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的探究胃癌患者组织中miR-144、miR-451的表达与临床病理参数及预后的关系。方法2013年6月至2014年6月,收集115例胃癌患者的癌组织及癌旁正常组织,采用实时定量PCR检测组织中miR-144、miR-451的表达水平;分析胃癌组织中miR-144、miR-451的表达与患者临床病理参数的关系,采用Kaplan-Meier生存曲线评估miR-144、miR-451的表达与患者预后的关系,并采用Cox回归模型分析胃癌患者预后的影响因素。结果胃癌组织中miR-144相对表达量为0.214±0.069,低于癌旁正常组织的1.124±0.157,miR-451相对表达量为0.354±0.087,低于癌旁正常组织的1.084±0.108,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);miR-144、miR-451的表达均与肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、远处转移及TNM分期有关(均P<0.05)。Kaplan-Meier生存分析结果表明,与miR-144高表达组、miR-451高表达组相比,miR-144低表达组、miR-451低表达组患者术后5年总生存率较低,术后中位生存时间较短(均P<0.05)。Cox回归模型发现,远处转移、较高TNM分期、miR-144低表达、miR-451低表达是影响胃癌患者预后的危险因素(均P<0.05)。结论胃癌组织中miR-144、miR-451呈低表达,其与患者病情进展和预后有关,检测胃癌组织中miR-144、miR-451的表达可能有利于患者的病情和预后判断。     

Validating an ontology-based algorithm to identify patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Electronic Health Records

BackgroundImproving healthcare for people with chronic conditions requires clinical information systems that support integrated care and information exchange, emphasizing a semantic approach to support multiple and disparate Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Using a literature review, the Australian National Guidelines for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), SNOMED-CT-AU and input from health professionals, we developed a Diabetes Mellitus Ontology (DMO) to diagnose and manage patients with diabetes. This paper describes the manual validation of the DMO-based approach using real world EHR data from a general practice (n = 908 active patients) participating in the electronic Practice Based Research Network (ePBRN).MethodThe DMO-based algorithm to query, using Semantic Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL), the structured fields in the ePBRN data repository were iteratively tested and refined. The accuracy of the final DMO-based algorithm was validated with a manual audit of the general practice EHR. Contingency tables were prepared and Sensitivity and Specificity (accuracy) of the algorithm to diagnose T2DM measured, using the T2DM cases found by manual EHR audit as the gold standard. Accuracy was determined with three attributes – reason for visit (RFV), medication (Rx) and pathology (path) – singly and in combination.ResultsThe Sensitivity and Specificity of the algorithm were 100% and 99.88% with RFV; 96.55% and 98.97% with Rx; and 15.6% and 98.92% with Path. This suggests that Rx and Path data were not as complete or correct as the RFV for this general practice, which kept its RFV information complete and current for diabetes. However, the completeness is good enough for this purpose as confirmed by the very small relative deterioration of the accuracy (Sensitivity and Specificity of 97.67% and 99.18%) when calculated for the combination of RFV, Rx and Path. The manual EHR audit suggested that the accuracy of the algorithm was influenced by data quality such as incorrect data due to mistaken units of measurement and unavailable data due to non-documentation or documented in the wrong place or progress notes, problems with data extraction, encryption and data management errors.ConclusionThis DMO-based algorithm is sufficiently accurate to support a semantic approach, using the RFV, Rx and Path to define patients with T2DM from EHR data. However, the accuracy can be compromised by incomplete or incorrect data. The extent of compromise requires further study, using ontology-based and other approaches.     

Tolerogenic dendritic cell vaccines to treat autoimmune diseases: Can the unattainable dream turn into reality?

Autoimmune diseases affect about one in 15 individuals in developed countries and are characterized by a breakdown in immune tolerance. Current therapeutic approaches against destructive immune responses in autoimmune diseases are based on non-specific agents systemically suppressing the function of many immune effector cells. This indiscriminate immunosuppression, however, often causes serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects. Therefore, the need for more specific treatments resulting in lower toxicity and longer-term solutions is high. Because of the established role of dendritic cells (DCs) in maintaining the balance between immunity and tolerance, tolerogenic (tol)DCs might be novel therapeutic targets to prevent undesirable (auto-)immune responses. The idea behind tolDC therapy is that it is a highly targeted, antigen-specific treatment that only affects the auto-reactive inflammatory response. The therapeutic potential of tolDCs has already been proven in experimental animal models of different autoimmune disorders as well as with in vitro experiments using ex vivo generated human tolDCs, thus the challenge remains in bringing tolDC therapy to the clinic, although first clinical trials have been conducted. In this review, we will extensively discuss the use of tolDCs for induction of antigen-specific tolerance in several autoimmune disease settings, from bench to bedside, including currently applied strategies to generate tolDCs as well as technical difficulties and challenges in the field.     

阿尔茨海默病中髓鞘改变及其机制的研究进展

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）是一种以进行性加重的认知功能减退为主要特征的中枢神经系统退行性疾病。AD除了神经炎性斑和神经原纤维缠结外,还具有多种病理改变,其中髓鞘损伤与AD的发生关系密切。髓鞘损伤可能是AD早期生物标志之一,研究髓鞘损伤可能为AD的早期诊治提供新靶点。     

A comparison of ARMS and mutation specific IHC for common activating EGFR mutations analysis in small biopsy and cytology specimens of advanced non small cell lung cancer

We have compared mutation analysis by Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant-specific antibodies for their ability to detect two common activating EGFR mutations in a cohort of 115 advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including cytology material, core biopsy, and bronchoscopic biopsies. Assessment of EGFR mutation status was performed by using antibodies and ARMS assay specific to the two major forms of mutant EGFR, exon 19 deletion E746-A750 (c.2235_2249del15 or c.2236_2250del15, p. Glu746_Ala750 del) and exon 21 L858R point mutation (c.2573T>G, p.Leu858Arg). In this study the optimal buffer for antigen retrieval was sodium citrate (pH 6.0). Q score was used to evaluate the specific mutant EGFR proteins expression. Validation using clinical material showed deletions in exon 19 were detected in 19.1% and L858R mutation in 20% of all cases by ARMS assay. A cutoff value of score 1 was used as positive by IHC. No wild type cases were immuno-reactive. The antibodies performed well in cytology, core biopsies and bronchoscopic biopsies. There were only one false positive case using L858R IHC (sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.5%, positive predictive value 96%, negative predictive value 100%). All 23 E746-A750 exon 19 deletions identified by mutation analysis were positive by IHC. The sensitivity of exon 19 IHC for E746-A750 was 100%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 100%. The result of the IHC stains was finely correlated with mutations status determined by ARMS assay. Although inferior to molecular genetic analysis of the EGFR gene, IHC is highly specific and sensitive for the targeted EGFR mutations. The antibodies are likely to be of clinical value in cases especially where limited tumor material is available, or in situations where molecular genetic analysis is not readily available.     

Polymorphism in miRNA-1 target site and circulating miRNA-1 phenotype are associated with the decreased risk and prognosis of coronary artery disease

MiRNA molecules have been identified to play key roles in a broad range of physiologic and pathologic processes. Polymorphisms in microRNA target sites (PolymiRTSs) can disturb or obstruct miRNA binding and consequentially influence regulation of the target genes. A two-step study design was used in this study. A case-control study was designed to assess the relationship between miRNA-1 target site rs9548934C→T polymorphism in target gene (Component of Oligomeric Golgi Complex 6, COG6) and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 1013 patients and 610 normal controls. This genetic variant was also evaluated for the association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of CAD in a follow-up study, including 785 (785/1013) patients followed up for 42 months. The phenotypes of circulating miRNA-1 levels in 34 cases were slightly lower than that of 40 controls but not significantly different (P = 0.090). The CT and CT/TT genotypes were associated with a 34% and 26% decreased risk of CAD, and the TT and CT/TT genotypes were associated with a 76% and 49% decreased risk of MACE of CAD. Cox regression analysis showed that rs9548937 C/T variant was associated with a decreased risk of MACE, while age, diabetes mellitus, higher levels of CRP (≥ 3.80 mg/L) and three pathological changes in the coronary artery were associated with an increased risk of MACE. Our findings implicate miRNA-1 target site rs9548934C→T genotypes, circulating miRNA-1 phenotype and CRP levels may modulate the occurrence and MACE of CAD.