Functional Characterization of the Almstn2 Gene and Its Association with Growth Traits in the Yellowfin Seabream Acanthopagrus latus (Hottuyn, 1782).

Myostatin (mstn), also known as GDF8, is a growth and differentiation factor of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily and plays a key inhibitory effect in the regulation of skeletal muscle development and growth in vertebrates. In the present study, to comprehend the role of the mstn2 gene of the yellowfin seabream Acanthopagrus latus (Almstn2b), the genomic sequence of Almstn2b is 2359 bp, which encodes 360 amino acids and is composed of three exons and two introns, was obtained. Two typical regions, a TGF-ß propeptide and TGF-ß domain, constitute Almstn2b. The topology indicated that Almstn2 was grouped together with other Perciformes, such as the gilthead seabream Sparus aurata. Moreover, Almstn2b was mainly expressed in the brain, fins, and spleen. Furthermore, five SNPs, one in the exons and four in the introns, were identified in the Almstn2b gene. The allele and genotype frequencies of SNP-Almstn2b +1885 A/G were significantly related to the total weight, interorbital distance, stem length, tail length, caudal length, caudal height, body length, and total length (p < 0.05). The allele and genotype frequencies of SNP-Almstn2b +1888 A/G were significantly related to the weight, interorbital distance, long head behind the eyes, body height, tail length, caudal length, and body length. Additionally, the relationship between the SNP-Almstn2b +1915 A/G locus and weight and long head behind the eyes was significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the other two SNPs were not significantly associated with any traits. Thus, the SNPs identified in this study could be utilized as candidate SNPs for breeding and marker-assisted selection in A. latus.

Polidocanol sclerotherapy for multiple gastrointestinal hemangiomas: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) hemangioma has a low incidence among systemic hemangiomas, and some GI hemangiomas occur in the intestine, stomach, and esophagus. Polidocanol has been increasingly used in sclerotherapy. However, this paper reports that minimally invasive treatment of multiple hemangiomas with large diameters can achieve satisfactory results by multipoint injection. CASE SUMMARY: A 46-year-old female patient was hospitalized in another hospital for cough. We accidentally found thickening of the lower esophagus by chest computed tomography. The patient was eventually diagnosed with multiple GI hemangiomas and underwent a series of examinations including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. We calculated the dose of polidocanol according to the volumes of the hemangiomas, fixed the target vein with the help of a transparent cap, and then administered polidocanol via multipoint injection into the hemangiomas under endoscopic guidance. EGD and endoscopic ultrasound showed that the hemangiomas disappeared. The color of the esophageal mucosa returned to normal 1 mo after sclerotherapy. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy may be a safe and effective method for treating multiple hemangiomas of the alimentary canal.

Proteomics analysis after traumatic brain injury in rats: the search for potential biomarkers.

Many studies of protein expression after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have identified biomarkers for diagnosing or determining the prognosis of TBI. In this study, we searched for additional protein markers of TBI using a fluid perfusion impact device to model TBI in S-D rats. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to identify differentially expressed proteins. After proteomic analysis, we detected 405 and 371 protein spots within a pH range of 3-10 from sham-treated and contused brain cortex, respectively. Eighty protein spots were differentially expressed in the two groups and 20 of these proteins were identified. This study validated the established biomarkers of TBI and identified potential biomarkers that could be examined in future work.

Proteomics analysis after traumatic brain injury in rats: the search for potential biomarkers / Análise proteômica após lesão cerebral traumática em ratos: a busca por biomarcadores

Many studies of protein expression after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have identified biomarkers for diagnosing or determining the prognosis of TBI. In this study, we searched for additional protein markers of TBI using a fluid perfusion impact device to model TBI in S-D rats. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to identify differentially expressed proteins. After proteomic analysis, we detected 405 and 371 protein spots within a pH range of 3-10 from sham-treated and contused brain cortex, respectively. Eighty protein spots were differentially expressed in the two groups and 20 of these proteins were identified. This study validated the established biomarkers of TBI and identified potential biomarkers that could be examined in future work.

Muitos estudos de expressão proteica após lesão cerebral traumática (LCT) identificam biomarcadores para determinação diagnóstica ou prognóstica do LCT. No presente estudo, foram investigados marcadores proteicos adicionais de LCT, através de um aparelho de impacto no fluxo e perfusão em ratos S-D. Eletroforese bidimensional em gel e espectrometria de massa foram utilizadas para identificar diferentes proteínas expressas. Após a análise proteômica, detectamos marcas de proteínas 405 e 371, com pH variando entre 3-10 no córtex de ratos sham e naqueles com contusão cerebral, respectivamente. Oitenta marcas proteicas foram expressas nos dois grupos e 20 destas proteínas foram identificadas. Este estudo validou o estabelecimento de biomarcadores de LCT e identificou potencial biomarcadores que poderão ser estudados em estudos futuros.

Inhibition of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 decreases rat cortical neuron injury and blood-brain barrier permeability, and improves neurological functional recovery in traumatic brain injury model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent evidence has supported the neuroprotective effect of bpV (pic), an inhibitor of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), in models of ischemic stroke. However, whether PTEN inhibitors improve long-term functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whether PTEN affects blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability need further elucidation. The present study was performed to address these issues. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to fluid percussion injury (FPI) after treatment with a well-established PTEN inhibitor bpV (pic) or saline starting 24 h before FPI. Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR, or immunostaining was used to measure PTEN, p-Akt, or MMP-9 expression. We determined the presence of neuron apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Evans Blue dye extravasation was measured to evaluate the extent of BBB disruption. Functional recovery was assessed by the neurological severity score (NSS), and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: PTEN expression was up-regulated after TBI. After bpV (pic) treatment, p-Akt was also up-regulated. We found that bpV (pic) significantly decreased BBB permeability and reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells. We further demonstrated that PTEN inhibition improved neurological function recovery in the early stage after TBI. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that treatment with the PTEN inhibitor bpV (pic) has a neuroprotective effect in TBI rats.

Intracranial choriocarcinoma occurrence in males: Two cases and a review of the literature.

Choriocarcinomas generally develop in females. Non-gestational choriocarcinoma in males is extremely rare. The present study describes two cases of young males who were diagnosed with intracranial choriocarcinoma. One case was of an aggressive choriocarcinoma with multiple metastases to the brain, but with an unidentified origin. The patient was admitted in the terminal stage of the cancer. Although a tumor resection was performed, the condition of the patient rapidly deteriorated and chemotherapy was not recommended. The patient succumbed nine days after the surgery. The second case was of a primary ventricular choriocarcinoma. The patient was hospitalized for acute hydrocephalus caused by a mass that was located in the ventricle. Following a tumor resection, the patient underwent a course of whole-brain and spinal radiotherapy. The patient was followed up for more than half a year and remained in a good condition. The present study describes the two cases and a comprehensive review of the literature that was performed to identify similar studies that document choriocarcinomas in males.

Influence of glibenclamide on outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes and traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The influence of sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) and its inhibitor glibenclamide on progressive secondary hemorrhage (PSH), progressive hemorrhagic necrosis (PHN), and brain edema has been studied in rat models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ischemia. These studies indicate that blocking SUR1 may exert protective effects in terms of outcome. METHODS: We discuss the effects of glibenclamide on outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and TBI. We collected demographic, clinical, and imaging data from the clinical records of TBI patients with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to the neurosurgery department at Shanghai 6th People's Hospital between 2001 and 2012. Data from patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Patients were divided into glibenclamide group and insulin group. RESULTS: Of 70 patients fit criteria for inclusion, no significant difference was observed except for age and fasting plasma glucose between the two groups. Outcome indicators, including GCS discharge, GOS discharge, length of study in hospital (LOS-H), and the presence of PSH showed no significant difference too (p>0.05), except for length of stay in neuro-intensive care unit (LOS-NICU) (p<0.05). Age, hours between the initial CT scan and the injury (HCT1) and GCS at admission were observed as factors associated with PSH after logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the use of glibenclamide to control plasma glucose after TBI had no significant effect on patient outcome at discharge but it could reduce the LOS-NICU (p<0.05). Glibenclamide also had no apparent effect on the presence of PSH in TBI patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dose-dependent protective effect of bisperoxovanadium against acute cerebral ischemia in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) is a dual-specificity lipid and protein phosphatase. The loss of PTEN was originally discovered in numerous human cancers. PTEN inhibition by bisperoxovanadium (bpV) reduces neurological damage after ischemic brain injury. The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal neuroprotective dose of bpV when administrated after focal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Focal I/R injury was induced using the middle cerebral artery occlusion method. bpV at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally just after reperfusion, with saline serving as a vehicle control. A maximal reduction in brain injury was observed with 1.0 mg/kg bpV. This dose of bpV also significantly blocked apoptosis in the penumbral cortex of rats. This beneficial effect was associated with the increasing levels of Akt phosphorylation in the penumbral cortex. These results demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of PTEN protects against I/R injury in a dose-dependent manner and the protective effect might be induced through upregulation of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt pro-survival pathway, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy to combat ischemic brain injury.