Ocular manifestations and quality of life in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

AIM: To explore the relationship between ocular and systemic conditions and the impact of ocular complications on the quality of life (QOL) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ALLO-HSCT). METHODS: Forty-four patients with severe hematopoietic disease were enrolled after ALLO-HSCT at our center from July 2018 to October 2020. They completed two questionnaires: the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the quality-of-life scale for Chinese patients with visual impairment (SQOL-DV1). Ocular conditions and systemic conditions were also assessed. RESULTS: Eye damage was correlated with total bilirubin (P=0.005), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P=0.021). There was no significant correlation between the overall QOL score and OSDI (P=0.8226) or SQOL-DV1 (P=0.9526) scores. The OSDI and the overall QOL score were not correlated with ocular conditions, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, Schirmer tear test II, sodium fluorescein staining, tear film breakup time, and tear meniscus height. SQOL-DV1 was correlated with BCVA (P=0.0007), sodium fluorescein staining (P=0.007), and tear film breakup time (P=0.0146). CONCLUSION: In some patients, early ocular symptoms are not evident after ALLO-HSCT, while ocular surface complications can be observed after a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Especially for those with elevated total bilirubin or GGT, regular ophthalmic follow-up visits are essential to diagnose and treat ocular graft versus host disease (oGVHD), especially for patients with elevated total bilirubin or GGT.

A nomogram model for predicting ocular GVHD following allo-HSCT based on risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (coGVHD) in patients after allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: This study included 61 patients who survived at least 100 days after allo-HSCT. Risk factors for coGVHD were screened using LASSO regression, then the variables selected were subjected to logistic regression. Nomogram was established to further confirm the risk factors for coGVHD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the performance of the predictive model with the training and test sets. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 61 patients, 38 were diagnosed with coGVHD. We selected five texture features: lymphocytes (LYM) (OR = 2.26), plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA) (OR = 1.19), CD3 + CD25 + cells (OR = 1.38), CD3 + HLA-DR + cells (OR = 0.95), and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) (OR = 1.44). The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the nomogram with the training and test sets were 0.979 (95% CI, 0.895-1.000) and 0.969 (95% CI, 0.846-1.000), respectively.And the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was nonsignificant with the training (p = 0.9949) and test sets (p = 0.9691). CONCLUSION: We constructed a nomogram that can assess the risk of coGVHD in patients after allo-HSCT and help minimize the irreversible loss of vision caused by the disease in high-risk populations.

Paenibacillus hamazuiensis sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from Hamazui hot spring in Yunnan province, south-west China.

A bacterial strain, Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile, designated YIM B00624T which was isolated from a Hamazui hot spring in Tengchong, Yunnan province, south-west China. The strain grew well on International Streptomyces Project (ISP) 2 medium and colonies were creamy yellow, flat and circular. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain YIM B00624T was closely related to the type strain of Paenibacillus filicis S4T (95.9%). The main menaquinone of strain YIM B00624T was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C16:0. The isolate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and four unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain YIM B00624T was 53.4 mol%. Based on physiological, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain YIM B00624T belongs to a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus hamazuiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM B00624T (= CGMCC 1.19245T = KCTC 43365T).

MMP2 and MMP9 contribute to lung ischemia-reperfusion injury via promoting pyroptosis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) is a cause of poor prognosis in several lung diseases and after lung transplantation. In LIRI, matrix metalloproteinases and pyroptosis indicators change in parallel, both of them involvement of inflammatory modulation, but it is unclear whether they are related to each other. METHODS: We analyzed the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) changes from RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data of human transplantation and rat ischemia-reperfusion lung tissues in the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) database. Then established the mouse LIRI model to validate the changes. Further, the severity of lung injury was measured after intervening the matrix metalloproteinases changes with their selective inhibitor during Lung ischemia-reperfusion. Meanwhile, lung, pyroptosis was assessed by assaying the activity of Caspase-1 and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) before and after intervening the matrix metalloproteinases changes. RESULTS: The RNA-Seq data revealed that matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) mRNA expression was elevated both in human lung transplantation and rat lung ischemia-reperfusion tissues, consistent with the change in our mouse model. At the same time, the activity of Caspase-1 and IL-1ß were increased after LIRI. While, the lung injury was attenuated for the use of MMP2 and MMP9 selective inhibitor SB-3CT. Likewise, lung pyroptosis alleviated when treatment the mice with SB-3CT in LIRI. CONCLUSION: We conclude that MMP2 and MMP9 are involved in the process of LIRI, the mechanism of which is related to the promotion of lung pyroptosis.

Risk Factors and Management of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Single-center Experience.

Pancreatic fistula (PF) remains the most frequent complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This study was undertaken to explore the risk factors of postoperative PF following PD and discuss the management of PF in our center. A single-center respective study, involving 241 patients who underwent PD between September 2015 and June 2018, was conducted. Differences in the demographic data, preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables between the group with PF [International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) grade B/C] and the group without PF (no PF and ISGPS grade BL) were evaluated. The diagnosis and grading of PF were in strict accordance with ISGPS. Risk factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that postoperative PF occurred in 50 (20.7%) of the patients; 25 (10.4%) patients had a PF type BL, 46 (19.1%) patients developed a PF type B and 4 (1.6%) had a PF type C. Univariate analysis showed that fasting blood glucose (P=0.02), pancreatic texture (P< 0.001) and pancreatic duct diameter (P=0.01) were correlated with PF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified one independent risk factor for postoperative PF: soft pancreatic texture (OR=3.251, P=0.002). Among the cases, there were three postoperative deaths, giving a 60-day hospital mortality rate of 1.2% (3/241), and the mortality related to PF was 4.0% (2/50). One of the patients died from multiple organ failure caused by postoperative abdominal hemorrhage. In conclusion, soft pancreatic texture is an independent risk factor for PF. Surgeons should be well aware of this risk factor when performing a PD.

Regulation of mPGES-1 composition and cell growth via the MAPK signaling pathway in jurkat cells.

Previous studies have suggested that microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is highly expressed and closely associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in various types of malignant cells. However, their expression patterns and function with respect to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) remain largely unknown. The present study investigated whether mPGES-1 served a crucial role in T-ALL and aimed to identify interactions between mPGES-1 and the MAPK signaling pathway in T-ALL. The results indicated that mPGES-1 overexpression in T-ALL jurkat cells was significantly decreased by RNA silencing. Decreasing mPGES-1 on a consistent basis may inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle in T-ALL jurkat cells. Microarray and western blot analyses revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase served a role in the mPGES-1/prostaglandin E2/EP4/MAPK positive feedback loops. In addition, P38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 exhibited negative feedback effects on mPGES-1. In conclusion, the results suggested that cross-talk between mPGES-1 and the MAPK signaling pathway was very complex. Therefore, the combined regulation of mPGES-1 and the MAPK signaling pathway may be developed into a new candidate therapy for T-ALL in the future.

Lovastatin analogues and other metabolites from soil-derived Aspergillus terreus YIM PH30711.

Eight previously undescribed metabolites including of lovastatin analogues, a pair of diastereoisomers, a cyclopentenone dimer, and three polyketides were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus terreus YIM PH30711. Two types of unprecedented skeletons, benzene-cyclopentanone complex and linear polyketide, and an unusual dimer structure were determined by spectral analysis. Compound, 3α-hydroxy-3,5-dihydromonacolin L showed moderate activity against HMG-CoA reductase, with an inhibition ratio of 34% at the concentration of 50 µM, while lovastatin and dihydromonacolin K ethyl ester presented much stronger activity against HMGR with inhibition rates of 85% and 90% at the concentration of 50 µM, respectively. Aspereusin A was active against AChE with a ratio of 62% at the concentration of 50 µM, while its stereomers did not showed obvious inhibition (<10%). The configuration at C-4 of these three diastereoisomers was crucial in the inhibition against AChE, and the ß-orientation of substituted methoxyl acrylic acid should be beneficial to the combining with AChE.

Corilagin Counteracts IL-13Rα1 Signaling Pathway in Macrophages to Mitigate Schistosome Egg-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis.

The IL-13Rα1 signaling pathway and M2 macrophages play crucial roles in schistosome egg-induced hepatic fibrosis via the expression of pro-fibrotic molecules. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of action of corilagin on schistosome egg-induced hepatic fibrosis via the IL-13Rα1 signaling pathway in M2 macrophages in vitro and in vivo. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-13Rα1, PPARγ, KLF4, SOCS1, STAT6, p-STAT6, and TGF-ß was measured in vitro with corilagin treatment after IL-13 stimulation and in vivo corilagin treatment after effectively killing the adult schistosomes in schistosome-infected mice. Histological analysis of liver tissue was assessed for the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The results revealed that corilagin significantly reduced the expression of PPARγ, KLF4, SOCS1, p-STAT6, and TGF-ß compared with model group and praziquantel administration (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) in vivo and in vitro, which indicated a strong inhibitory effect of corilagin on IL-13Rα1 signaling pathway. As well, the inhibitory effect of corilagin showed a significant dose-dependence (p < 0.05). The area of fibrosis and distribution of M2 macrophages in mouse liver tissue were reduced significantly and dose-dependently with corilagin treatment compared to model group or praziquantel administration (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), indicating that corilagin suppressed IL-13Rα1 signaling pathway and M2 macrophage polarization effectively in vivo. Furthermore, the anti-fibrogenic effect persisted even when IL-13Rα1 was up- or down-regulated in vitro. In conclusion, corilagin can suppress schistosome egg-induced hepatic fibrosis via inhibition of M2 macrophage polarization in the IL-13Rα1 signaling pathway.

[Effects of shRNA Targeting mPGES-1 on Tumorigenicity of K562 Cells in Nude Mice In Vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of shRNA targeting mPGES-1 on tumorigenicity of human acute leukemia K562 cells in nude mice in vivo and its mechanisms. METHODS: For experiment 3 groups including KD group(expression of mPGES-1 in K562 cells was down-regulated by shRNA), CON (cells without any treatment) and NC group (cells treated with nonspecific-sequence shRNA) were set-up. Western blot was used to test the expression of ß-catenin and cyclinD1 in cells. Then the cells of 3 groups were implanted into BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously to establish murine xenograft model. The growth state of the mice and the size of the xenograft tumor were recorded. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of xenograft tumor. Expressions of ß-catenin and cyclinD1 in xenograft tumor were detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: In vitro the expression of ß-catenin and cyclinD1 in KD group were lower than the CON group and NC group (P<0.05). In vivo the tumor volume and weight of KD group were significant smaller than the other two groups (P<0.01). HE staining showed that tissues in the KD group were relatively looser in arrangement with smaller cell nucleus and less cytoplasm. The expression of ß-catenin and cyclinD1 in the KD group were remarkable weak as compared with that in CON group and NC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Down-regulating the expression of mPGES-1 by shRNA may significantly inhibit the tumorigenicity of K562 cells in nude mice in vivo and its mechanism may be related with the inhibition of expression of ß-catenin and cyclinD1.

Carbohydrate antigens as potential biomarkers for the malignancy in patients with idiopathic deep venous thrombosis: a retrospective cohort study.

A variety of biomarkers have been identified in recent prospective and retrospective reports as being potentially predictive of venous thromboembolis (VTE), particularly idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (IDVT). This study identified a serum tumor biomarker for early screening of IDVT. A total of 128 IDVT patients (54 females and 74 males; average age: 50.9±17.4 years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, ß2-microglobulin, cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) in patients with IDVT were detected. Malignancies were histo- or cytopathologically confirmed. Of the 128 IDVT patients, 16 (12.5%) were found to have malignancies. Serum CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 were found to be helpful for detecting malignancies in IDVT patients. Our study revealed a positive association between these markers and tumors in IDVT patients. On the other hand, SCC and AFP were not sensitive enough to be markers for detecting tumors in patients with IDVT. No significant differences were found in positive rates of ferritin and ß2-microglobulin between tumor and non-tumor groups, and no significant difference exists in serum levels of ferritin and ß2-microglobulin between the two groups. Carbohydrate antigens, CA 15-3 in particular, may be useful for differential diagnosis and prediction of malignancies in patients with IDVT.

[Effect of mPGES-1 inhibitor MK886 on cell cycle of leukemia HL-60 cells].

To investigate the effect of a microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) inhibitor MK886 on cell cycle of the human acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells. HL-60 cells were treated with different concentration of MK886 (10, 25, 50 µmol/L) for 24 h. Flow cytometry, Western blot and ELISA were used to measure cell cycle, cyclin D1, mPGES-1, PGE(2), Akt, P-Akt and C-MYC. The results indicated that after treated with MK886, the percentage of HL-60 cells decreased in G(0)/G(1) phase and increased in S phase, and expressions of mPGES-1, cyclin D1, P-Akt and C-MYC and synthesis of PGE(2) decreased significantly. It is concluded that MK886 can arrest HL-60 cells in G(0)/G(1) phase, the mechanism of which is possibly associated to inhibition of mPGES-1 expression, reduction of PGE(2) synthesis, suppression of Akt phosphorylation and C-MYC expression, down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression.

[Effect of mPGES-1 inhibitor MK886 on apoptosis and drug resistance of HL-60/A cells].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of MK886, a mPGES-1 inhibitor, on apoptosis and drug resistance of leukemia HL-60/A cell line. Expression of mPGES-1 was assayed by QT-PCR and Western blot. The effect of MK886 on HL-60/A cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 method, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expression of Akt and P-Akt was detected by Western blot. PGE2 was measured by ELISA. Effect of MK886 (10 µmol/L) on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of HL-60/A cells and expression of mdr-1 mRNA and P170 protein were investigated too. The results indicated the expression of mPGES-1 was higher in HL-60/A cells. MK886 inhibited HL-60/A cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Expression of mPGES-1 and P-Akt and synthesis of PGE2 decreased significantly. MK886 reduced expression of mdr-1 and P170 protein and enhanced the sensitivity of HL-60/A cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. It is concluded that MK886 can inhibit HL-60/A cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and enhance sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, the mechanism of which possibly associates to down-regulation of mPGES-1/PGE2 synthesis, reduction P-Akt expression and decreasing mdr-1 and P170 protein expression.

Fodinibius salinus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt mine.

A novel, moderately halophilic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YIM D17(T), was isolated from a sample of sediment from a salt mine in Yunnan, south-western China. The taxonomy of strain YIM D17(T) was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain YIM D17(T) was Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic and non-motile and formed pink colonies on marine agar. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5-8.0 and in the presence of 10-15 % (w/v) NaCl. The major menaquinone was MK-7. The polar lipid profile was composed predominantly of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, one phospholipid, one glycolipid and one aminolipid. Minor amounts of other lipids were also detectable. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C(17 : 1)ω9c/10-methyl-C(16 : 0) (24.0 %), iso-C(15 : 0) (23.6 %) and C(16 : 1)ω7c/C(16 : 1)ω6c (13.8 %). The DNA G+C content was 43.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the isolate formed a distinct clade with the genera Gracilimonas and Balneola (both in the phylum Bacteroidetes) and was related to the species Gracilimonas tropica, Balneola vulgaris and Balneola alkaliphila, with sequence similarities of 85.6 %, 83.0 % and 82.8 % to the respective type strains. On the basis of its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic features, strain YIM D17(T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Fodinibius salinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM D17(T) ( = ACCC 10716(T) = DSM 21935(T)).

[Cyclin D1, hTERT expression and telomerase activity in HL-60 and HL-60A cell lines and their significance].

To observe the expression of cyclin D1, hTERT, and telomerase activity in MNC, HL-60, HL-60A and to explore their effects on leukemogenesis and drug-resistance, normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, HL-60 cells sensitive to adriamycin and HL-60A cells resistant to adriamycin were investigated. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC(+) PI staining. Expressions of cyclin D1 and hTERT were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. Telomerase activity was detected by TRAP-ELISA. The results indicated that the percentage of MNC, HL-60 and HL-60A in S phase was (10.21 + 2.11)%, (44.93 + 3.00)%, and (51.38 + 1.10)% respectively; the percentage of apoptosis cells was (16.14 + 2.13)%, (7.53 + 0.92)%, (4.15 + 0.96)% respectively; the expression of mRNA and protein for cyclin D1 and hTERT increased; the telomerase activities of HL-60 and HL-60A were higher (p = 0.000), whereas the difference between HL-60 and HL-60A was no statistically significant (p = 0.232); positive correlation between cyclin D1, hTERT and telomerase activity had been found (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the cells of S phase increased while the apoptotic cells decreased in HL-60 and HL-60A, especially in HL-60A, which may be due to the up-regulation of cyclin D1, hTERT and telomerase activity.

Pro370Leu myocilin mutation in a Chinese pedigree with juvenile-onset open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the genotype and phenotype of juvenile-onset open angle glaucoma (JOAG) in a Chinese family (PN pedigree). METHODS: Each family member was comprehensively examined by an experienced ophthalmologist. The clinical characteristics of the family patients with JOAG were documented. Blood samples were obtained from 22 available participants from the PN pedigree. Linkage analysis was performed to identify the possible chromosome loci. The presence of gene mutation was ascertained by polymerase chain reaction amplification and subsequent direct sequencing. RESULTS: The affected members in the PN pedigree are characterized by early age of onset (mean age at diagnosis is 17 years old), severe clinical presentations, high intraocular pressure (mean IOP of 34.18±2.97 mmHg), and poor response to pharmacological treatment (87.5% of the patients required filtering surgery). The region on chromosome 1 between D1S3464 and D1S1619 was identified in this pedigree by linkage analysis. A Pro370Leu myocilin mutation resulting from a heterozygous C→T transition at the 1,109th nucleotide in exon 3 was detected by gene sequencing. The Pro370Leu mutation co-segregated among all affected individuals of PN pedigree. CONCLUSIONS: The GLC1A Pro370Leu mutation is firmly correlated with a severe POAG phenotype. These data provide clues for the severe disease-causing nature of the Pro370Leu allele. Gene screening may be a useful method for pre-symptom diagnosis and a forewarning to detect the at-risk individuals in familial open-angle glaucoma patients, especially in pedigrees of early-onset.

Comparison of FP-7 and S-2 Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in refractory glaucoma patients for short-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGV) has been used for decades, but there is no detailed report about the efficacy of AGV in Chinese glaucoma patients. This study aimed to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy and side effects of S-2 polypropylene and PF-7 silicone AGV implantation in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients. METHODS: Patients were divided into S-2 model AGV group and FP-7 model AGV group. The complete and qualified surgical success rate, change of IOP, number of anti-glaucoma medications used and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Average follow-up time was comparable between two groups. IOP was reduced from (37.9 ± 12.7) mmHg preoperatively to (17.3 ± 5.3) mmHg at the last follow-up in S-2 group and reduced from (39.9 ± 14.4) mmHg to (17.7 ± 4.9) mmHg in FP-7 group. Anti-glaucoma medications were reduced from 3.8 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 in S-2 group, and 3.5 ± 0.2 to 0.7 ± 0.2 in FP-7 groups. The cumulative success rates were comparable in two groups, which were 61.2% and 72.1% in S-2 group and FP-7 group respectively. When IOP reduction criteria was used, complete success rates were 30.6% and 51.2% for S-2 and FP-7 groups, and qualified success rates were 86.1% and 92.7% separately. In both groups, the major complication was hypotony, and the previous trabeculectomy of patients was the major risk factor for surgery failure. CONCLUSIONS: In this short-term retrospective study, S-2 AGV is showed at least as effective as FP-7 AGV in IOP reduction, but associated with higher rate of complications. Previous trabeculectomy is a principle risk factor for AGV implantation failure. These clinical outcomes are important for converting use of the FP-7 silicon AGV in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients.

[Clinical efficacy and safety of FP-7 Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in neurovascular glaucoma patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of FP-7 Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGV) implantation in neurovascular glaucoma (NVG) as the first choice of surgery. METHODS: This retrospective, comparative case series study collected a total of 36 eyes of 36 patients with neurovascular glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2009 to June 2010. Change of intraocular pressure (IOP), the best corrected visual acuity, numbers of anti-glaucoma medication, success rate and postoperative complications were followed up at day 1, week 1, month 1, and every 3 months after surgery. Complete success of surgery was rated as reduction of IOP ≥ 30% without medication and those who failed to meet criteria was rated as partial success. Data were analyzed by paired Student t-test for IOP, rank sum test for paired non-parametric numbers of medication, and repeated measures analysis of variance for comparison of IOP between different time points using SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: Compared with pre-operation, IOP was significant (F = 9.26, P < 0.05) decreased after surgery with FP-7 AGV implantation (39.5 ± 9.7) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs (9.2 ± 8.9), (11.8 ± 3.8), (13.7 ± 4.8), (16.9 ± 5.3), (16.9 ± 6.8) mm Hg at day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 and the last following-up of post-operation, respectively. The numbers of anti-glaucoma medication were significantly (Z = 6.764, P < 0.05) reduced from 4.0 (1-6) of pre-operation to 1.0 (1-3) of post-operation. At the last following up, the complete success rate after FP-7 AGV implantation was 80.6%, and qualified success rate was 91.7%. The postoperative complications including occlusion of the drainage tube, exposure of the drainage tube, shallow anterior chamber and encapsulated cystic blebs around the plate were controlled with additional treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcome indicated that the implantation of FP-7 AGV has a stable IOP lowering effect and fewer complications, which can be considered as one of the first choices for management of NVG.

[Effect of valproic acid on apoptosis of leukemia HL-60 cells and expression of h-tert gene].

This study was aimed to clarify whether valproic acid (VPA) induces apoptosis of leukemia HL-60 cell line and its possible mechanism. The effect of different concentrations and treatment time of VPA on HL-60 cell proliferation was assayed by cytotoxicity test (CCK-8 method) and fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expressions of telomerase subunit h-tert mRNA and apoptosis-related protein as well as caspase-3 activity were detected by real time-quantitative PCR, Western blot and ELISA respectively. The results indicated that VPA inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced cell apoptosis in a dose dependent manner (r = -0.87). The expressions of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 and h-tert mRNA were significantly decreased while the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and caspase-3 activity increased after treatment with VPA. The apoptosis rate of HL-60 cell was negatively correlated with expression of h-tert mRNA. It is concluded that VPA can inhibit leukemia HL-60 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The VPA displays anti-leukemia activity possibly through reducing h-tert mRNA and BCL-2 protein expression, increasing BAX expression and activity of caspase-3.

[Immuno-regulatory effect of 3'-meisoindigo in mice of various germlines].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 3'-meisoindigo on the proliferation and the biological function of the splenocyte and thymocyte of mouse, which were 8 weeks old masculinity BALB/c, C57BL/6 and F1 hybridization mouse. METHODS: Cells of thymus and spleen were harvested and prepared as the unicell suspension, then treated with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 micromol/L 3'-meisoindigo. The cell proliferation was by MTT method, concentration of IL-12 was dectected by ELISA method, the mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and CDK2 were decected by RT-PCR. The cell cycle, apoptosis ratio, death ratio and intracellular ROS concentration were detected by FCM method. The protein level of Bcl-2, CDK2 and Bax were detected by immumofluorescence method. RESULTS: 15, 20, 25 micromol/L 3'-meisoindigo can inhibit the proliferation of thymocyte and splenocyte (P < 0.05). It had dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. 3'-meisoindigo inhibit the secretion of IL-12, even at 5 micromol/L concentration. 15 micromol/L 3'-meisoindigo decrease the mRNA level of Bcl-2 and CDK2, induced apoptosis and G2 arrestting of the thymocyte and splenocyte. (P < 0.05). The intracellular ROS level increased after treated by 3'-meisoindigo at 15 micromol/L for 24 h (P < 0.05). There were no difference among three germ line mouse. CONCLUSION: Above 15 micromol/L, 3'-meisoindigo can inhibit the proliferation and externalization function of thymocyte and splenocyte from different germ line mouse, meanwhile the mRNA and protein level of Bcl-2 and CDK2 decrease, the Bax protein expressed increased, the intracellular ROS level increase too.

[Effect of valproic acid on the expression of P27(Kip1) and P170 and drug resistance of HL-60/HT cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of valproic acid on the expression of P27(Kip1) and P170 and drug resistance of leukemia HL60/HT cell line and explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: HL-60/HT cells were derived from HL-60 cells induced by harringtonine (HT) in gradient concentrations. The inhibitory effect of valproic acid on the proliferation of HL-60 and HL-60/HT cells was evaluated by MTT assay, and the P27(Kip1) expression, P170 expression and cell cycle of the cells were analyzed with flow cytometry. RESULTS: The multidrug-resistant HL-60/HT was acquired, which showed a stable drug-resistant index with increased IC(50) of HT, VCR, DNR and Ara-c by 9.30, 5.20, 4.91 and 3.65 folds, respectively, as compared with those of HL60 cells. The expression of P27(Kip1) in HL-60/HT cells was significantly lower but P170 expression significantly higher than that of HL-60 cells and normal mononuclear cells (P<0.05). The expressions of P27(Kip1) and P170 showed no significant difference between normal mononuclear cells and HL-60 cells. The growth inhibition rate of VPA combined with Ara-C was significantly higher than that of valproic acid or Ara-C alone in HL-60/HT cells and HL-60 cells (q=1.37 and 1.51, respectively). HL-60/HT and HL-60 cells cultured in the presence of VPA resulted in a significant increase in the expression of P27(Kip1) and the G(1)-phase cells (P<0.05), but the expression of P170 underwent no significant changes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: HL-60/HT cells have lower P27(Kip1) expression compared with HL-60 cells. Valproic acid can inhibit the growth of HL-60/HT cells and enhance their Ara-C sensitivity possibly by increasing P27(Kip1) expression and causing cell cycle arrest in G(1) phase.