Exosome-encapsulated lncRNA HOTAIRM1 contributes to PM2.5-aggravated COPD airway remodeling by enhancing myofibroblast differentiation.

Emphysema, myofibroblast accumulation and airway remodeling can occur in the lungs due to exposure to atmospheric pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Specifically, bronchial epithelium-fibroblast communication participates in airway remodeling, which results in COPD. An increasing number of studies are now being conducted on the role of exosome-mediated cell-cell communication in disease pathogenesis. Here, we investigated whether exosomes generated from bronchial epithelial cells could deliver information to normal stromal fibroblasts and provoke cellular responses, resulting in airway obstruction in COPD. We studied the mechanism of exosome-mediated intercellular communication between human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and primary lung fibroblasts (pLFs). We found that PM2.5-induced HBE-derived exosomes promoted myofibroblast differentiation in pLFs. Then, the exosomal lncRNA expression profiles derived from PM2.5-treated HBE cells and nontreated HBE cells were investigated using an Agilent Human LncRNA Array. Combining coculture assays and direct exosome treatment, we found that HBE cell-derived exosomal HOTAIRM1 facilitated the myofibroblast differentiation of pLFs. Surprisingly, we discovered that exosomal HOTAIRM1 enhanced pLF proliferation to secrete excessive collagen secretion, leading to airway obstruction by stimulating the TGF-ß/SMAD3 signaling pathway. Significantly, PM2.5 reduced FEV1/FVC and FEV1 and increased the level of serum exosomal HOTAIRM1 in healthy people; moreover, serum exosomal HOTAIRM1 was associated with PM2.5-related reductions in FEV1/FVC and FVC. These findings show that PM2.5 triggers alterations in exosome components and clarify that one of the paracrine mediators of myofibroblast differentiation is bronchial epithelial cell-derived HOTAIRM1, which has the potential to be an effective prevention and therapeutic target for PM2.5-induced COPD.

Assessment of Malaria Microscopy Competency at Primary Health Institutions in the Chongqing Municipality.

Background: In April 2019, Chongqing passed the national malaria elimination assessment. However, around 30 imported malaria cases are still being reported every year, and Anopheles sinensis was widely distributed in Chongqing, meaning the risk of malaria resurgence still exists. Early diagnosis and treatment for malaria cases are effective measures to prevent malaria resurgence. The primary health institutions are the first station where potential malaria cases may seek treatment. The competency with which primary health institutions diagnose malaria will directly affect the timeliness of malaria diagnosis. Nowadays, most primary health institutions in Chongqing use microscopy to confirm malaria cases. This study assessed the microscopy competence of primary health institutions, studied and analyzed the results, and provided a scientific basis for malaria prevention and control after malaria elimination in Chongqing. Methods: According to the stratified sampling principle, four plasmodium microscopy technicians (156 in total) were selected from each of the 39 districts/counties of Chongqing to test the plasmodium microscopy competence. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, spatial self-correlation analysis, and ROC curve analysis were carried out on the test results. Result: The average of the technicians' test scores was 4.33 ± 0.47 (min: 3, mid: 4.5, max: 5); The spatial clustering of the scores was significant (MoranI = 0.338, Z = 3.618, P < 0.01). The test scores were positively correlated with the "level of work institutions" (R = 0.21, P < 0.01) but were negatively correlated with "age" (R = -0.31, P < 0.01). The highest Sensitivity of the technicians' microscopy was in qualitative diagnosis (98.92%, CI: 98.00-99.69%). The Delong's test showed that the diagnostic efficiency of the technicians' microscopy to P. falciparum was the best (P < 0.01), however to P. ovale was the worst (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The microscopy technicians in primary health institutions in Chongqing have good microscopy competency in qualitative diagnosis, but there were deficiencies in the identification of plasmodium species. Township level health institutions in Central China have weaker microscopy than those in other areas.

High-precision half-life measurement of 123Xe and 125Xe for fuel areal density diagnosing in inertial confinement fusion.

The half-lives of 123Xe and 125Xe are important to diagnose deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel areal density in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In this work, those two half-lives have been measured with HPGe γ-ray spectrometers using the reference source method. Data have been recorded over seven half-lives with three independent measurements for 123Xe and two for 125Xe. New values of 123Xe (2.040 ± 0.009) h and 125Xe (17.048 ± 0.032) h have been determined with significant reduction of the uncertainty compared to the currently recommended value of (2.08 ± 0.02) and (16.9 ± 0.2) h, respectively.

Metal-Free ß-Amino Alcohol Synthesis: A Two-step Smiles Rearrangement.

A novel method for the synthesis of ß-amino alcohols has been demonstrated under mild reaction conditions with a broad scope via a two-step Smiles rearrangement. What is more, theoretical calculations have been performed to confirm the rationality of the mechanism. The method has been proved to be notably effective for N-arylated amino alcohols, which are difficult to synthesize by traditional methods.

Effects of depression on healing and inflammatory responses of acute wounds in rats.

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of depression on the healing of acute wounds in rats. We hypothesized that depression would have negative effects on inflammation and wound healing and that antidepressant therapy would reverse these effects. This study included 100 rats randomly allocated into five groups: control group (CG), depression group (DG), pre-depression group (PDG), antidepressant group (AG), and pre-antidepressant group (PAG). Acute wounds were created on the rats' backs. The groups were subjected to no interventions (CG), aversive stimuli before (PDG) and after (DG) wound creation, and antidepressant treatment before (PAG) and after (AG) wound creation. On the day of wound creation and on days 3, 6, 9, and 12 after wound creation, observations of the wound area and degree of depression (evaluated using the sucrose preference test, open-field test, and weight change) were recorded. On days 6 and 12 after wound creation, venous serum and wound tissues were collected. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed an initial increase followed by a decrease in the degree of depression in all groups except DG (continuous decline). The wound-healing rate was significantly lower in PDG and DG than in CG; it was higher in AG and PAG than in CG. DG and PDG had higher concentrations of inflammatory cytokines than CG, and AG and PAG had lower concentrations than CG. This indicates that the onset of depression delays the healing of acute wounds and aggravates the inflammatory response in rats. Antidepressant treatment counteracts both of these negative effects.

[Survey and analysis of major human parasitic diseases in Chongqing City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemic of major human parasitic diseases in Chongqing City, so as to provide a reference for developing prevention and control strategies. METHODS: According to the unified methods formulated by the national investigation scheme and stratified cluster random sampling, 36 rural pilots and 50 urban pilots were selected in Chongqing City. The number of the objects investigated in individual pilot was defined over 250. RESULTS: Totally 22 263 residents were detected. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasites was 5.41%. The infection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Enterobius vermicularis were 1.20%, 4.23%, 0.13% and 0.47% respectively. Only 0.22% of the infections were co-infections. The infection rate of overall intestinal parasites was statistically higher in the females than that in the males (χ2 = 15.19, P < 0.05), and the infection rates were significantly different among various age groups, occupations, education levels, and regions (χ2 = 15.19, 396.72, 421.07, 347.79, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The infection rates of major human parasites in Chongqing show an obviously decreasing tendency compared with the rates of the past twice of national surveys. In the future, the controlling practices are obliged to focus on reducing the infection rates of soil-borne parasites.

[Epidemiological analysis and control strategy discussion for overseas imported malaria cases reported in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported malaria reported in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015, so as to provide the evidence for improving the imported malaria control strategies. METHODS: The epidemiological data of overseas imported malaria cases were collected and analyzed descriptively for the species, original countries, diagnosis and treatment in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: A total of 148 overseas imported malaria cases were reported in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015, in which 96 (65.54%) cases were falciparum malaria, and 37 (24.32%) cases were vivax malaria; 125 (84.46%) cases were infected in Africa, and the rest of 23 (15.54%) cases were infected in Southeast Asia. Most of the patients were 30 to 50 years old male workmen, and the ratio of male to female was 11.42:1. There was no obvious seasonal distribution among the reported timelines of the cases; however, there were two small peaks from June to August and from January to February. The median interval time of imported malaria cases from malaria onset to see a doctor was 1 day and from seeing the doctor to get malaria diagnosis was 2 days. The patients' first selected institutions were county medical institutions (50 cases, 33.78%), then provincial medical institutions (36 cases, 24.325%) and private doctors (20 cases, 13.51%), and only 79 (53.38%) patients got malaria diagnoses in their first selected institutions. The standard treatment were provided to 142 (95.54%) cases. There were 43 (29.05%) patients had serious complications and three patients were dead. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important to enhance the multi-sector's collaboration to establish the collaborative investigation mechanism for screening malaria patients, and strengthen malaria health education for overseas workers and training courses in primary care medical institutions.

Topical application of dexamethasone to prevent cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cerebral vasospasm is a common and serious complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Many studies have revealed a role of inflammation in the development of cerebral vasospasm. This study aimed to investigate whether topically administered dexamethasone could attenuate vasospasm in SAH patients. METHODS: Paired samples were designed to compare postoperative mean middle cerebral artery velocity between treated patients and controls matched for age (+/-10 years), sex, location and size (small, medium or large) of aneurysm, as well as baseline mean middle cerebral artery velocity. We enrolled ten consecutive aneurysmal SAH patients who had Hunt-Hess (HH) grade 3 and Fish grade 3 lesions and were admitted within 24 hours following the onset of SAH. These patients were treated with dexamethasone 10mg topically at the end of the operation. Each treated patient was matched with a control patient who did not receive topical dexamethasone. All controls also had HH grade 3 and Fish grade 3 SAH and were admitted within 24 hours after the onset of SAH. Serial measurements of mean middle cerebral artery velocity were performed postoperatively every day for 2 weeks. Results were analysed with the paired t-test. RESULTS: One patient (10%) in the treated group had vasospasm, without neurological deficit, compared with four patients (40%) in the control group, one of whom had hemiplegia. Paired t-test showed that the mean middle cerebral artery velocity in controls was significantly higher than that in treated patients on days 4-14. CONCLUSION: Topical application of dexamethasone is a promising strategy for prevention and attenuation of vasospasm following aneurysmal SAH.