Effects of miR-9 and tetramethylpyrazine on activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulation of the incidence and development of several hepatic diseases. Thus manipulating miRNAs may be a promising therapeutic strategy against these entities. In this study hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were transfected with hsa-miR-9 or anti-hsa-miR-9, treated with tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), or subjected to treatment with TMP and hsa-miR-9 transfection (combined treatment group). Then, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to measure mRNA levels of hsa-miR-9. Expression of hsa-miR-9 was highest in the combination treatment group compared with other groups, and significantly higher than TMP-treated and hsa-miR-9-transfected groups (both p<0.05). The anti-hsa-miR-9-transfected group expressed the lowest mRNA level of hsa-miR-9 with marked decrease versus control (p<0.05). Downstream factors that may be affected by miR-9 such as leptin, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and collagen I, as well as phosphorylation levels of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were investigated at the protein level. All these factors were regulated contrariwise to expression trends of hsa-miR-9, showing the lowest level in the combination treatment group and highest level in anti-hsa-miR-9-transfected group. These results suggest that both transfection of hsa-miR-9 and TMP can lead to upregulated endogenous expression of hsa-miR-9, inhibit activation of JAK1/STAT3 signal pathway induced by leptin, and lead to reduction of α-SMA and collagen I-thus impeding activation of HSC.

[Double balloon endoscopy in diagnosis of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of double balloon endoscopy (DBE) for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) METHODS: The data of 103 OGIB patients who underwent DBE from January 2007 to September 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: DBE was successfully performed in all 103 patients without complications. Of 103 patients, 66(64.1 %) had positive DBE findings and 28 had surgery procedures(27.2 %). Ninety-four patients finally acquired positive diagnosis, including small intestine tumor(31.1 %), angiodysplasia(22.3 %), exulceratio simplex(9.7 %), Crohn's disease(6.8 %), diverticulum(4.9 %), abdominal purpure(4.9 %), etc. Lesions occurred more frequently in proximal small intestine than in distal small intestine (56.3 % Compared with 30.1 %, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: DBE is a safe, effective and reliable procedure for the diagnosis of OGIB.

[Diagnostic values of double-balloon enteroscopy and abdominal computed tomography in small bowel disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic values of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) and abdominal computed tomography (CT) in small bowel disease. METHODS: Seventy eight DBE procedures were carried out in 70 patients, 40 males and 30 females; aged 47.7 (16 - 83) with suspected small bowel disease, all of whom received gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominal CT examination at the same time. The diagnostic value of DBE was compared with that of CT. RESULTS: Seventeen kinds of small bowel lesions were detected, mainly including Crohn's disease, adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stroma tumor, vascular deformity, lymphoma, diverticulum, and polyp. There were no complications and all procedures were tolerated well. The mean duration of procedure was 110 min (30 - 240 min). Nineteen patients received surgical intervention. The diagnostic yield rate of DBE was 57.1% (40/70), significantly higher than that of CT (31.4%, 22/70, P < 0.01). The positive diagnosis rate of DBE combined with CT was 62.9% (44/70), not significant different from that of the DBE alone (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: DBE shows a significantly higher diagnostic yield than CT in patients with suspected small bowel disease, and thus should be selected for the initial diagnosis. DBE Combined with CT did not increase the diagnostic yield. However, CT not only provides direction of intubation for DBE, but also clearly depicts the small bowel wall and extraenteric alterations. DBE and CT compliment each other in examining the patients with suspected small bowel disease.

[Isolation, identification, phylogenetic analysis and related properties of a pathogen in Silurus meridionalis Chen].

In October 2005, a large number of adults of Silurus meridionalis Chen died in the mud fish farming of Sichuan province. Later, three predominate strains of bacteria were isolated from the body of moribund fish. By artificial infection tests, strain TWN3 was confirmed to be the pathogen of the disease. Based on the characteristics of morphology, physiology and biochemistry tests, TWN3 was initially identified as Proteus vulgaris, and its G + C content of DNA is 39.1% . After being amplified, the sequence of its 16S rDNA was analyzed in the database of NCBI and it showed that TWN3 had the highest similarity to P. vulgaris, with 99.52% identity. By constructing the molecular phylogenetic dendrogram with Minimum Evolution method in Mega3.1, it was revealed that TWN3 was in the same branch with P. vulgaris. Based on all the results above, TWN3 is identified as P. vulgaris. However, the result of one biochemistry test, growth in KCN, deviates from the description in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. With reference to the Manual above, Proteus vulgaris is divided into two groups, P. vulgaris BG2 and 3. According to the specific biochemical properties, TWN3 is classified as a member of P. vulgaris BG3. Relevant tests of biological properties were also conducted, which showed that this strain has no haemolysis and is sensitive to four kinds of antibiotic such as gentamicin. Moreover, it can strongly cause diseases to mice. The research on the growth property of strain TWN3 indicated that its growth temperature ranges from 10 degrees C to 43 degrees C , optimum 37 degrees C ; growth pH ranges from 4 to 11, optimum 6. Its optimum salinity varies under different temperatures, and it grows best under 1.5 % salinity while 37 degrees C. The aim of these researches is to provide an evidence for the prevention and cure of TWN3. According to the appearance of the diseased Silurus meridionalis Chen and results of artificial infection test on crucian carps, it is considered that Silurus meridionalis Chen is infected through digestive system and it is also recommended that Bdellovibrio should be used in biological control. Although the pathogenicity of P. vulgaris is extensive, there has been no report that P. vulgaris is considered as the pathogen of cultivated Silurus meridionalis Chen so far. In addition, the identification of strain TWN3 has positive effects on the future research on the taxonomy of Proteus.

Double-balloon enteroscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a single center experience in China.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). METHODS: The data about 75 OGIB patients who underwent DBE in January 2007-June 2009 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: DBE was successfully performed in all 75 patients without complication. Of the 75 patients, 44 (58.7%) had positive DBE findings, 22 had negative DBE findings but had potential bleeding at surgery and capsule endoscopy, etc. These 66 patients were finally diagnosed as OGIB which was most commonly caused by small bowel tumor (28.0%), angiodysplasia (18.7%) and Crohn's disease (10.7%). Lesions occurred more frequently in proximal small bowel than in distal small bowel (49.3% vs 33.3%, P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: DBE is a safe, effective and accurate procedure for the diagnosis of OGIB.