Delivering Integrated Community Care for the Elderly: A Qualitative Case Study in Southern China.

The rapid aging and increasing care demands among the elderly population present challenges to China's health and social care system. The concept of aging in place has prompted the implementation of integrated community care (ICC) in the country. This study aims to provide empirical insights into the practices of integrated care policies and approaches at the community level. Data for this study were collected through six months of participatory observations at a local community health service center in a southern Chinese city. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the multidisciplinary community care team to gather frontline formal caregiver perceptions of ICC, thereby facilitating a better understanding of the obstacles and opportunities. Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: the ICC delivery model and development strategies within the community care scheme, the person-centered guiding principle, and the challenges and struggles encountered by formal caregivers within China's current ICC system. The case study presented herein serves as a notable example of the pivotal role of primary care in the successful implementation of elderly care within a community setting. The adoption of a private organization-led approach to medico-social integration care in the community holds significant potential as a service delivery model for effectively addressing a wide range of elderly care issues.

Regulation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition by histone deacetylase 3 posttranslational modifications in neointimal hyperplasia.

Background: Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is the process by which endothelial cells lose their specific markers and acquire mesenchymal or myofibroblastic phenotypes. Studies have demonstrated the importance of endothelial-derived vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through EndMT in neointimal hyperplasia. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic modification enzymes involved in the epigenetic control of important cellular functions. Recent studies found that HDAC3, a class I HDAC, causes posttranslational modifications, including deacetylation and decrotonylation. However, the effect of HDAC3 on EndMT in neointimal hyperplasia via posttranslational modifications remains to be seen. Therefore, we investigated the effects of HDAC3 on EndMT in carotid artery-ligated mice and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the underlying posttranslational modifications. Methods: HUVECs were treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 or the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at different concentrations and durations. In HUVECs, HDAC3 expression, the expression of endothelial and mesenchymal markers, and posttranslational modifications were analyzed with Western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunofluorescence. C57BL/6 mice underwent left carotid artery ligation. Mice were treated with the HDAC3-selective inhibitor RGFP966 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) from 1 day before to 14 days after ligation. Then, the sections of the carotid arteries were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence staining. The carotid arteries from other mice were examined for the expression of EndMT markers and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the acetylation and crotonylation of carotid arteries were immunostained in mice. Results: In HUVECs, TGF-ß1 and TNF-α induced EndMT by decreasing CD31 expression and increasing α-smooth muscle actin expression. TGF-ß1 and TNF-α also upregulated HDAC3 expression in HUVECs. The in vivo study in mice indicated that RGFP966 significantly alleviated neointimal hyperplasia of the carotid artery compared with vehicle treatment. Furthermore, RGFP966 suppressed EndMT and the inflammatory response in carotid artery-ligated mice. Further investigation revealed that HDAC3 regulated EndMT by posttranslational modifications of deacetylation and decrotonylation. Conclusions: These results suggest that HDAC3 regulates EndMT in neointimal hyperplasia through posttranslational modifications.

FGF15 promotes hepatic NPC1L1 degradation in lithogenic diet-fed mice.

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD) is accompanied by biliary cholesterol supersaturation. Hepatic Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), which is present in humans but not in wild-type (WT) mice, promotes hepatocyte cholesterol uptake and decreases biliary cholesterol supersaturation. In contrast, intestinal NPC1L1 promotes intestinal cholesterol absorption, increasing biliary cholesterol supersaturation. Ezetimibe (EZE) can inhibit both hepatic and intestinal NPC1L1. However, whether hepatic NPC1L1 can affect CGD progress remains unknown. METHODS: Mice expressing hepatic NPC1L1 (NPC1L1hepatic-OE mice) were generated using Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) gene delivery. The protein level and function of hepatic NPC1L1 were examined under chow diet, high fat-cholesterol diet (HFCD), and lithogenic diet (LD) feeding. Gallstone formation rates were examined with or without EZE treatment. Fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) treatment and inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) were applied to verify the mechanism of hepatic NPC1L1 degradation. RESULTS: The HFCD-fed NPC1L1hepatic-OE mice retained the biliary cholesterol desaturation function of hepatic NPC1L1, whereas EZE treatment decreased biliary cholesterol saturation and did not cause CGD. The ubiquitination and degradation of hepatic NPC1L1 were discovered in LD-fed NPC1L1hepatic-OE mice. Treatment of FGF15 during HFCD feeding and inhibition of FGFR4 during LD feeding could affect the protein level and function of hepatic NPC1L1. CONCLUSIONS: LD induces the ubiquitination and degradation of hepatic NPC1L1 via the FGF15-FGFR4 pathway. EZE may act as an effective preventative agent for CGD.

Adeno-associated virus-based caveolin-1 delivery via different routes for the prevention of cholesterol gallstone formation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic caveolin-1 (CAV1) is reduced in cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD). Mice with CAV1 deficiency were prone to develop CGD. However, it remains unknown whether restored hepatic CAV1 expression prevents the development of CGD. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were injected with adeno-associated virus 2/8 (AAV2/8) vectors carrying the CAV1 gene (AAV2/8CAV1) via intravenous (i.v.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) route and then subjected to a lithogenic diet (LD) for 8 weeks. Uninjected mice were used as controls. The functional consequences of rescuing CAV1 expression by either i.v. or i.p. AAV2/8CAV1 treatment for CGD prevention and its subsequent molecular mechanisms were examined. RESULTS: CAV1 expression was reduced in the liver and gallbladder of LD-fed CGD mice. We discovered that AAV2/8CAV1 i.p. delivery results in higher transduction efficiency in the gallbladder than tail vein administration. Although either i.v. or i.p. injection of AAV2/8CAV1 improved liver lipid metabolic abnormalities in CGD mice but did not affect LD feeding-induced bile cholesterol supersaturation. In comparison with i.v. administration route, i.p. administration of AAV2/8CAV1 obviously increased CAV1 protein levels in the gallbladder of LD-fed mice, and i.p. delivery of AAV2/8CAV1 partially improved gallbladder cholecystokinin receptor (CCKAR) responsiveness and impeded bile cholesterol nucleation via the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, which induced a reduction in gallbladder mucin-1 (MUC1) and MUC5ac expression and gallbladder cholesterol accumulation. CONCLUSION: CGD prevention by i.p. AAV2/8CAV1 injection in LD-fed mice was associated with the improvement of gallbladder stasis, which again supported the notion that supersaturated bile is required but not sufficient for the formation of cholesterol gallstones. Additionally, AAV treatment via the local i.p. injection offers particular advantages over the systemic i.v. route for much more effective gallbladder gene delivery, which will be an excellent tool for conducting preclinical functional studies on the maintenance of normal gallbladder function to prevent CGD.

Endogenous Viral Elements in Shrew Genomes Provide Insights into Pestivirus Ancient History.

As viral genomic imprints in host genomes, endogenous viral elements (EVEs) shed light on the deep evolutionary history of viruses, ancestral host ranges, and ancient viral-host interactions. In addition, they may provide crucial information for calibrating viral evolutionary timescales. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive in silico screening of a large data set of available mammalian genomes for EVEs deriving from members of the viral family Flaviviridae, an important group of viruses including well-known human pathogens, such as Zika, dengue, or hepatitis C viruses. We identified two novel pestivirus-like EVEs in the reference genome of the Indochinese shrew (Crocidura indochinensis). Homologs of these novel EVEs were subsequently detected in vivo by molecular detection and sequencing in 27 shrew species, including 26 species representing a wide distribution within the Crocidurinae subfamily and one in the Soricinae subfamily on different continents. Based on this wide distribution, we estimate that the integration event occurred before the last common ancestor of the subfamily, about 10.8 million years ago, attesting to an ancient origin of pestiviruses and Flaviviridae in general. Moreover, we provide the first description of Flaviviridae-derived EVEs in mammals even though the family encompasses numerous mammal-infecting members. This also suggests that shrews were past and perhaps also current natural reservoirs of pestiviruses. Taken together, our results expand the current known Pestivirus host range and provide novel insight into the ancient evolutionary history of pestiviruses and the Flaviviridae family in general.

Turbulence Model Comparative Study for Complex Phenomena in Supersonic Steam Ejectors with Double Choking Mode.

Scholars usually ignore the non-equilibrium condensing effects in turbulence-model comparative studies on supersonic steam ejectors. In this study, a non-equilibrium condensation model considering real physical properties was coupled respectively with seven turbulence models. They are the k-ε Standard, k-ε RNG, k-ε Realizable, k-ω Standard, k-ω SST, Transition SST, and Linear Reynolds Stress Model. Simulation results were compared with the experiment results globally and locally. The complex flow phenomena in the steam ejector captured by different models, including shock waves, choking, non-equilibrium condensation, boundary layer separation, and vortices were discussed. The reasons for the differences in simulation results were explained and compared. The relationship between ejector performance and local flow phenomena was illustrated. The novelty lies in the conclusions that consider the non-equilibrium condensing effects. Results show that the number and type of shock waves predicted by different turbulence models are different. Non-equilibrium condensation and boundary layer separation regions obtained by various turbulence models are different. Comparing the ejector performance and the complex flow phenomena with the experimental results, the k-ω SST model is proposed to simulate supersonic steam ejectors.

Aquatic Flaviviruses.

Flaviviruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, including some well-known human pathogens such as Zika, dengue, and yellow fever viruses, which are primarily associated with mosquito and tick vectors. The vast majority of flavivirus research has focused on terrestrial environments; however, recent findings indicate that a range of flaviviruses are also present in aquatic environments, both marine and freshwater. These flaviviruses are found in various hosts, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms. Although the effects of aquatic flaviviruses on the hosts they infect are not all known, some have been detected in farmed species and may have detrimental effects on the aquaculture industry. Exploration of the evolutionary history through the discovery of the Wenzhou shark flavivirus in both a shark and crab host is of particular interest since the potential dual-host nature of this virus may indicate that the invertebrate-vertebrate relationship seen in other flaviviruses may have a more profound evolutionary root than previously expected. Potential endogenous viral elements and the range of novel aquatic flaviviruses discovered thus shed light on virus origins and evolutionary history and may indicate that, like terrestrial life, the origins of flaviviruses may lie in aquatic environments.

Molecular detection and genomic characterization of diverse hepaciviruses in African rodents.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV; genus Hepacivirus) represents a major public health problem, infecting about three per cent of the human population. Because no animal reservoir carrying closely related hepaciviruses has been identified, the zoonotic origins of HCV still remain unresolved. Motivated by recent findings of divergent hepaciviruses in rodents and a plausible African origin of HCV genotypes, we have screened a large collection of small mammals samples from seven sub-Saharan African countries. Out of 4,303 samples screened, eighty were found positive for the presence of hepaciviruses in twenty-nine different host species. We, here, report fifty-six novel genomes that considerably increase the diversity of three divergent rodent hepacivirus lineages. Furthermore, we provide strong evidence for hepacivirus co-infections in rodents, which were exclusively found in four sampled species of brush-furred mice. We also detect evidence of recombination within specific host lineages. Our study expands the available hepacivirus genomic data and contributes insights into the relatively deep evolutionary history of these pathogens in rodents. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of rodents as a potential hepacivirus reservoir and as models for investigating HCV infection dynamics.

Niviventer confucianus sacer (Rodentia, Muridae) is a distinct species based on molecular, karyotyping, and morphological evidence.

Niviventer confucianus sacer Thomas, 1908, which has been regarded as a subspecies of N. confucianus, was found to be a distinct species from N. confucianus based on molecular, karyotyping, and morphological characteristics in this study. Niviventer c. sacer was found to belong to a distinct phylogenetic clade in phylogenetic tree constructed using the mitochondrial gene Cytb, it clustered with N. bukit (Bonhote, 1903) from Vietnam and N. confucianus (Milne-Edwards, 1871) from Yunnan, but showed a distant relationship with N. confucianus from adjacent areas. The genetic distance between N. c. sacer and N. confucianus was more than 5.8%, reaching the level of interspecific differentiation. The species delimitation indicates that N. c. sacer is a monophyletic group. The karyotype of N. c. sacer (FN = 55, 8m+4st+32t+X(sm)Y(t)) differed from that of N. confucianus (FN = 59, 6m+4sm+2st+32t+X(sm)Y(t)). In terms of morphological features, the length of incisive foramen (LIF) and length of auditory bulla (LAB) of N. c. sacer is significantly larger than that of N. confucianus and N. bukit (P < 0.05) and the proportion of white tail tip to total tail length is significantly longer at N. c. sacer (≥ 1/3) than that at N. confucianus (≤ 1/3). Therefore, integrated analysis confirmed that N. c. sacer is a distinct species of genus Niviventer rather than a subspecies of N. confucianus or N. bukit, namely N. sacer, which is only distributed in Shandong.

Tripterygium glycoside protects against puromycin amino nucleoside­induced podocyte injury by upregulating autophagy.

Tripterygium glycoside (TG), an active ingredient of the widely used Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has immunosuppressive and anti­inflammatory effects. Previous studies have indicated that TG is a potentially effective therapeutic option to treat nephrotic syndrome. The mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of TG, including its effect on autophagy and apoptosis in podocyte injury, remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to assess the protective effect of TG on podocytes via its potential role in the activation of autophagic and phosphatidylinositol 3­kinase (PI3K) pathways. Using flow cytometry, western blot analysis, cell counting kit­8 assays and transmission electron microscopy analysis, the effects of TG on puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)­induced podocyte injury were investigated. Chloroquine (CQ), an inhibitor of autophagy, was used to assess the importance of autophagy in the protective effect of TG. In addition, LY294002, an inhibitor of class III PI3K, was used to identify which signaling pathways TG is involved in. PAN caused marked apoptosis of podocytes, which was significantly antagonized by TG. The expression of microtubule­associated protein 1A/1B­light chain 3 and the appearance of autophagosomes increased significantly following TG treatment, whereas the expression levels of p62 and cleaved caspase-3 were markedly decreased. Podocyte apoptosis decreased significantly when the podocytes were treated with TG compared with the levels of apoptosis in the PAN­ and PAN+CQ­treated groups. The expression of phosphorylated AKT was increased significantly in the TG­treated groups, and the effects of TG on the podocytes were significantly inhibited by LY294002. In conclusion, TG protected podocytes from PAN­induced injury, and the effects were attributable to the activation of autophagy, mainly via a PI3K­dependent pathway.

High glucose-induced fibronectin upregulation in cultured mesangial cells involves caveolin-1-dependent RhoA-GTP activation via Src kinase.

Increasing evidence indicates that diabetes-mediated renal interstitial fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) protein accumulation is an important event in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the current study, it was observed that high levels of glucose (HG) time­ and dose-dependently increased the production of the ECM protein, fibronectin (FN), in primary rat mesangial cells. Inhibition of the Rho pathway blocked HG­induced FN upregulation. HG­induced RhoA activation was prevented by inhibiting caveolae with filipin III or caveolin­1 siRNA and rescued by exogenous caveolin­1. HG also increased caveolin-1/Src association and activated Src kinase, whereas the inhibition of Src blocked RhoA activation and FN upregulation. Src-mediated phosphorylation of caveolin­1 on Y14 has also been implicated in signaling responses. Overexpression of the nonphosphorylatable caveolin­1 Y14A mutant prevented the HG­induced RhoA activation and FN upregulation. In conclusion, HG­induced FN upregulation requires caveolae and caveolin­1 to interact with RhoA and Src kinases. Interference with Src/caveolin-1/RhoA signaling may provide novel mechanistic targets for the treatment of DKD.

CAV1 Prevents Gallbladder Cholesterol Crystallization by Regulating Biosynthesis and Transport of Bile Salts.

Cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD) is a hepatobiliary disorder which results from a biochemical imbalance in the gallbladder bile. Here we show that loss of CAV1 sensitized mice to lithogenic diet-induced gallbladder cholesterol crystallization, which was associated with dysregulation of several hepatic transporters that efflux cholesterol, phospholipids, and bile salts. The combined effect of increased biliary cholesterol concentration and decreased biliary bile salt secretion in CAV1(-/-) mice led to an increased cholesterol saturation index and the formation of cholesterol crystals. At the signaling level, the ERK/AP-1 pathway seems to mediate the effects of CAV1 on biliary BA homeostasis and might be developed as a therapeutic target for CGD. We propose that CAV1 is an anti-lithogenic factor and that the CAV1(-/-) mice may offer a convenient CGD model to develop therapeutic interventions for this disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2118-2127, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Physiological analyses indicate superoxide dismutase, catalase, and phytochelatins play important roles in Pb tolerance in Eremochloa ophiuroides.

Phytoremediation is considered to be a promising approach to restore or stabilize soil contaminated by lead (Pb). Turfgrasses, due to their high biomass yields, are considered to be suitable for use in phytoextraction of soil contaminated with heavy metal. It has been demonstrated that centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack., Poaceae) is a good turfgrass for restore of soil contaminated by Pb. However, the enhanced tolerant mechanisms in metallicolous (M) centipedegrass accessions remain unknown. In this study, we made a comparative study of growth performance, Pb accumulation, antioxidant levels, and phytochelatin concentrations in roots and shoots from M and nonmetallicolous (NM) centipedegrass accessions. Results showed that turf quality and growth rate were less repressed in M accessions than in NM accession. Pb stress caused generation of reactive oxygen species in centipedegrass with relatively lower levels in M accessions. Antioxidant activity analysis indicated that superoxide dismutase and catalase played important roles in Pb tolerance in M accessions. M accessions accumulated more Pb in roots and shoots. Greatly increased phytochelatins and less repressed sulfur contents in roots and shoots of M accessions indicated that they correlated with Pb accumulation and tolerance in centipedegrass.

Analysis of complete mitochondrial genome and its application to phylogeny of Caryomys inez (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Arvicolinae).

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Inez's red-backed vole Caryomys inez was sequenced and analyzed as the first species in genus Caryomys. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. inez is 16,354 bp in length and shows a typical vertebrate pattern with 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs and 2 non-coding regions. To gain a clear phylogenetic position of C. inez, a ML phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 12 PCGs on H-strand from 23 rodent species except for ND6 gene which is on L-strand. As a result, C. inez is clustered with genera Eothenomys and Myodes, showing their close phylogenetic relationships. The present study may facilitate further investigation of the taxonomic studies and phylogenetic analyses of the genus Caryomys.

Adenovirus-mediated osteoprotegerin ameliorates cartilage destruction by inhibiting proteoglycan loss and chondrocyte apoptosis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis.

Our aim is to elucidate the effects of osteoproteogerin (OPG) on cartilage destruction in rats as a model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). To establish the CIA model, Sprague Dawley rats were injected with bovine type II collagen solution subcutaneously via the tails. Adenovirus-mediated OPG (Ad-OPG) was then injected intra-articularly either at the beginning of CIA (early OPG treatment) or one week after CIA establishment (late OPG treatment); vehicle or Ad-green fluorescent protein were injected as controls. The rats were killed 4 weeks after treatment. Ankle-joint sections were obtained for histology. Serum samples were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Safranin O staining showed that proteoglycan loss was inhibited in the early and late Ad-OPG groups. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining revealed that both early and late Ad-OPG treatments significantly prevented chondrocyte apoptosis in CIA rats. Furthermore, disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-5 expression decreased remarkably in the early and late OPG treatment groups. However, the cartilage destruction score, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein level and caspase-3 expression were only decreased in the early Ad-OPG treatment group. Additionally, ankle-joint swelling and the interleukin-1ß expression level in CIA rats were not notably altered by Ad-OPG treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that early Ad-OPG treatment has potent protective effects against cartilage destruction during rheumatoid arthritis progression, mainly by reducing proteoglycan loss and chondrocyte apoptosis.

N-acetylcysteine treatment following spinal cord trauma reduces neural tissue damage and improves locomotor function in mice.

Following spinal cord trauma, mitochondrial dysfunction associated with increased oxidative stress is a critical event leading to leukocyte inflammatory responses, neuronal cell death and demyelination, contributing to permanent locomotor and neurological disability. The present study demonstrated that the mitochondrial enhancer N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may restore redox balance via enhancement of mitochondrial respiratory activity following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). In addition, NAC ameliorates oxidative stress-induced neuronal loss, demyelination, leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory mediator expression and improves long-term locomotor function. Furthermore, neuronal survival and neurological recovery are significantly correlated with increased mitochondrial bioenergetics in SCI following treatment with NAC. Therefore, NAC may represent a potential therapeutic agent for preserving mitochondrial dynamics and integrity following traumatic SCI.

Critical role of SHP2 (PTPN11) signaling in germinal center-derived lymphoma.

Germinal center lymphoma is a heterogeneous human lymphoma entity. Here we report that constitutive activity of SHP2 (PTPN11) and its downstream kinase ERK is essential for the viability of germinal center lymphoma cells and disease progression. Mechanistically, SHP2/ERK inhibition impedes c-Myc transcriptional activity, which results in the repression of proliferative phenotype signatures of germinal center lymphoma. Furthermore, SHP2/ERK signaling is required to maintain the CD19/c-Myc loop, which preferentially promotes survival of a distinct subtype of germinal center lymphoma cells carrying the MYC/IGH translocation. These findings demonstrate a critical function for SHP2/ERK signaling upstream of c-Myc in germinal center lymphoma cells and provide a rationale for targeting SHP2 in the therapy of germinal center lymphoma.

Comparative analyses of physiological responses of Cynodon dactylon accessions from Southwest China to sulfur dioxide toxicity.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant in developing countries, is highly toxic to plants. To achieve better air quality and landscape, planting appropriate grass species in severe SO2 polluted areas is very critical. Cynodon dactylon, a widely used warm season turfgrass species, has good SO2-tolerant ability. In this study, we selected 9 out of 38 C. dactylon accessions from Southwest China as representatives of high, intermediate SO2-tolerant and SO2-sensitive accessions to comparatively analyze their physiological differences in leaves under SO2 untreated and treated conditions. Our results revealed that SO2-tolerant C. dactylon accessions showed higher soluble sugar, proline, and chlorophyll a contents under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions; higher chlorophyll b and carotenoid under SO2 treated condition; lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, oxidative damages, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities under SO2 treated condition; and higher peroxidase (POD) activities under SO2 untreated condition. Further results indicated that SO2-tolerant C. dactylon accessions had higher sulfur contents under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions, consistent with higher SO activities under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions, and higher SiR activities under SO2 treated condition. Taken together, our results indicated that SO2 tolerance of C. dactylon might be largely related to soluble sugar, proline and chlorophyll a contents, and SO enzyme activity.

Targeting endothelin receptors A and B attenuates the inflammatory response and improves locomotor function following spinal cord injury in mice.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), the disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier by activation of the endothelin (ET) system is a critical event leading to leukocyte infiltration, inflammatory response and oxidative stress, contributing to neurological disability. In the present study, we showed that blockade of ET receptor A (ETAR) and/or ET receptor B (ETBR) prevented early inflammatory responses directly via the inhibition of neutrophil and monocyte diapedesis and inflammatory mediator production following traumatic SCI in mice. Long-term neurological improvement, based on a series of tests of locomotor performance, occurred only in the spinal cord­injured mice following blockade of ETAR and ETBR. We also examined the post­traumatic changes of the micro-environment within the injured spinal cord of mice following blockade of ET receptors. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase in spinal cord­injured mice treated with vehicle, whereas blockade of ETAR and ETBR reversed the oxidation state imbalance. In addition, hemeoxygenase-1, a protective protease involved in early SCI, was increased in spinal cord­injured mice following the blockade of ETAR and ETBR, or only ETBR. Matrix metalloproteinase-9, a tissue-destructive protease involved in early damage, was decreased in the injured spinal cord of mice following blockade of ETAR, ETBR or a combination thereof. The findings of the present study therefore suggested an association between ETAR and ETBR in regulating early pathogenesis of SCI and determining the outcomes of long­term neurological recovery.

[Effects of Eucalyptus grandis leaf litter at its early stage of decomposition on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Cichorium intybus].

From March to May, 2010, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Eucalyptus grandis leaf litter at its early stage of decomposition on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Cichorium intybus. Four treatments with different application rate of the leaf litter, i.e., 0 g x pot(-1) (CK), 30 g x pot(-1) (A1), 60 g x pot(-1) (A2), and 90 g x pot(-1) (A3), were installed. Each pot contained 12 kg soil mixed with the leaf litter, and then, C. intybus was sown. The growth indicators of the C. intybus were measured at the 30, 45, 60, and 75 d after sowing, and the photosynthetic characteristics of the C. intybus in treatment A3 were studied after the seedlings third leaf fully expanded. At each measured time, the biomass accumulation and leaf area growth of C. intybus in treatments A1, A2, and A3 were inhibited significantly. At the early stage of the leaf litter decomposition, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments of the C. intybus seedlings was inhibited significantly, and the inhibition effect was getting stronger with the increasing amount of the leaf litter addition. The diurnal change of the seedlings photosynthetic rate in all treatments showed a bimodal curve with midday depression, the stomatal conductance and water use efficiency had the same variation trend with the net photosynthetic rate, and the total diurnal photosynthesis decreased in the order of CK > A1 > A2 > A3. The GC-MS analysis showed there were 33 kinds of small molecule compounds released gradually with the decomposition of the leaf litter, among which, allelopathic substance terpenoid dominated.