Effects of flurbiprofen axetil on postoperative serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels in patients with colorectal cancer.

We explored the effects of flurbiprofen axetil on interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 levels in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 120 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II) scheduled to undergo colorectal cancer surgery were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 40 in each group): flurbiprofen axetil group (group F), morphine group (group M), and tramadol group (group T). Group M received 0.1 mg/kg morphine, group T received 1.5 mg/kg tramadol, and group F received 1.5 mg/kg flurbiprofen axetil. Patients in the 3 groups were administered treatments through intravenous injection 10 min before surgery. Serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels were detected. Postoperative adverse reactions were recorded, such as nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. The serum IL-6 level of the 3 groups increased 3 h after surgery. Compared with group M, IL-6 level was higher in group T and group F at 1 day after the surgery, and the differences between group M and the other groups were significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly different among 3 groups (P < 0.05). Flurbiprofen axetil promoted the secretion of IL-2 and inhibited IL-6; additionally, flurbiprofen axetil may have a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to other treatments.

Regulation of zinc transporter 3 and carbonic anhydrases 2 and 14 mRNA expression in the retina of rats affected by low dietary zinc.

We looked at how zinc transporter 3 ZnT-3) mRNA expression in the rat retina is affected by low dietary zinc. Groups of 12 four-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were fed on a low-zinc diet for 2, 4 or 6 weeks. Half of each group was then fed with a normal-zinc content diet and the other half was given a low-zinc content diet. The expression of ZnT-3, carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2) and 14 (CA14) were detected by RT-PCR. After the rats were fed a low-zinc content diet for 2 weeks, their retina CA2 and CA14 mRNA levels were decreased, and the ZnT-3 mRNA was increased compared with the control rats. After they were fed a low-zinc diet for 4 weeks, ZnT-3, CA2 and CA14 mRNA levels decreased significantly. Then, after being changed back to a normal diet for 2 weeks, the rats had ZnT-3, CA2 and CA14 mRNA levels recovery in the retina.

Generation of pancreatic insulin-producing cells from rhesus monkey induced pluripotent stem cells.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides a promising possibility for type 1 diabetes therapy. However, the generation of insulin-producing cells from iPSCs and evaluation of their efficacy and safety should be achieved in large animals before clinically applying iPSC-derived cells in humans. Here we try to generate insulin-producing cells from rhesus monkey (RM) iPSCs. METHODS: Based on the knowledge of embryonic pancreatic development, we developed a four-stage protocol to generate insulin-producing cells from RM iPSCs. We established a quantitative method using flow cytometry to analyse the differentiation efficiency. In addition, to evaluate the differentiation competence and function of RM iPSC-derived cells, transplantation of stage 3 and 4 cells into immunodeficient mice was performed. RESULTS: RM iPSCs were sequentially induced to definitive endoderm (DE), pancreatic progenitors (PP), endocrine precursors (EP) and insulin-producing cells. PDX1(+) PP cells were obtained efficiently from RM iPSCs (over 85% efficiency). The TGF-ß inhibitor SB431542 promoted the generation of NGN3(+) EP cells, which can generate insulin-producing cells in vivo upon transplantation. Finally, after this four-stage differentiation in vitro, insulin-producing cells that could secrete insulin in response to glucose stimulation were obtained. When transplanted into mouse models for diabetes, these insulin-producing cells could decrease blood glucose levels in approximately 50% of the mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We demonstrate for the first time that RM iPSCs can be differentiated into functional insulin-producing cells, which will provide the basis for investigating the efficacy and safety of autologous iPSC-derived insulin-producing cells in a rhesus monkey model for type 1 diabetes therapy.

The quantification of ADAMTS expression in an animal model of cerebral ischemia using real-time PCR.

BACKGROUND: ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS8 are proteases involved in extracellular matrix proteolysis and antiangiogenesis, but little is known about their expression and function in cerebral ischemia. We investigated the changes in ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS8 in a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The expressions of glyseraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), beta-actin, cyclophilin, and RPL13A were examined in order to validate the appropriate housekeeping genes for a long duration after inducing cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to pMCAO, and ischemic penumbra was collected at 2, 24 h, 3, 7, and 21 days after inducing ischemia, ADAMTS1, ADAMTS8, and the four housekeeping genes were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The expression of beta-actin increased up to 21 days, and that of GAPDH decreased at 24 h after pMCAO, with no statistically significant changes in RPL13A and cyclophilin being detected. ADAMTS1 mRNA increased at 2 h after pMCAO, peaked at 24 h, and remained at a high level until 21 days. The expression of ADAMTS8 mRNA decreased at 2 and 24 h after pMCAO, followed by a slight increase at 3 days, and then decreased again at 7 days. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that RPL13A and cyclophilin are two appropriate housekeeping genes for the rat pMCAO model up to 21 days. ADAMTS1 mRNA levels increased, but ADAMTS8 decreased after pMCAO. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism of brain ischemia and self-repair after injury.