Astaxanthin Promotes the Survival of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells by Alleviating Oxidative Stress via Activating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

The survival of free fat grafts is dependent primarily on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs); however, ADSCs are susceptible to oxidative stress in the recipient area. Astaxanthin (Axt) is a natural xanthophyll carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties and numerous clinical applications. To date, the therapeutic potential of Axt in fat grafting has not been explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Axt on oxidatively stressed ADSCs. An oxidative model of ADSCs was developed to simulate the host's microenvironment. Oxidative insult decreased the protein levels of Cyclin D1, type I collagen alpha 1 (COL1A1), and type II collagen alpha 1 (COL2A1), while increasing the expression of cleaved Caspase 3 and secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in ADSCs. Axt pre-treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress, increased the synthesis of an adipose extracellular matrix, alleviated inflammation, and restored the impaired adipogenic potential in the present model. Furthermore, Axt immensely activated the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, and ML385, an inhibitor of Nrf2, could negate Axt's protective effects. Additionally, Axt alleviated apoptosis by inhibiting bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX)/Caspase 3 signaling and improving the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which could also be abolished by ML385. Our results suggest that Axt may exert its cytoprotective effect on ADSCs through the Nrf2 signaling pathway and could be therapeutic in fat grafting.

CYPA promotes the progression and metastasis of serous ovarian cancer (SOC) in vitro and in vivo.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a type of gynaecological malignancy with high mortality in females. Serous ovarian cancer (SOC) is a distinct subtype of OC with poor early diagnosis. Given the limitations of traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy, targeted treatment is therefore a promising therapy to improve the survival rate of SOC patients. Cyclophilin A (CYPA) is a member of Cyclophilin family and thought to participates in multiple cellular processes such as cell transduction and immune modulation. Recently, various of studies indicated that CYPA has critical impact on cancer progression. CYPA could regulate cell proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance of multiple types of cancers. However, it is still unclear whether it could affect ovarian cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that CYPA was highly expressed in SOC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Further, CYPA was significantly associated with clinical stage and lymphnode metastasis of SOC patients. Additionally, data indicated that knockdown of CYPA by its shRNA dramatically reduces migration and invasion capacity of SOC cells in vitro and blocks tumor metastasis in vivo. Our study investigates the involvement of CYPA in the progression and metastasis of SOC, and therefore provides CYPA as a promising therapeutic target for SOC treatment.

[Active substance fractions and effects of Shugan Hewei Tang on hippocampal meurotransmitters in rat model of chronic stress-induced depression].

To study the antidepressant effect of Shugan Hewei Tang on chronic stress depression model rats, and select the effective substance fractions. Several male SD rats were randomly divided into 17 groups: blank control group, model group, positive control group(fluoxetine), Shugan Hewei Tang high and low dose groups, 6 high and low dose groups of different substance fractions. After modeling for 3 weeks and administration for 1 week, the effective substance fractions were selected according to the body mass and behavioral performance of SD rats in each group; several neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats were determined by LC-MS/MS method, including norepinephrine(NE), serotonin(5-HT), 5-indoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), r-aminobutyric acid(GABA), and glutamic acid(Glu). Behavioral results after modeling showed that as compared with the blank group, the body mass growth of the model group was significantly reduced(P<0.01); the sugar water consumption was reduced(P<0.01); the distance between the open field and the number of crossing the central area were also significantly reduced(P<0.01, P<0.01); the resting time was increased significantly(P<0.01); and the forced swimming time was significantly prolonged(P<0.01), indicating that the depression model was effective. After intragastric administration, as compared with the model group, the above detection indicators of volatile oils, total polysaccharides and terpenoid in Fluoxetine, Shugan Hewei Tang groups were all changed(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The levels of NE, 5-HT and GABA in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly lower than those in the blank group(P<0.01), and the levels of 5-HIAA and Glu were significantly increased(P<0.01). As compared with the model group, neurotransmitters of the treatment groups were changed obviously or significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Shugan Hewei Tang showed obvious anti-depressant effects, and the volatile oils, total polysaccharides and terpenoids acted as the main active substances. The mechanism of anti-depression may be related to its regulation of various neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus.

Clinical practice guidelines for post-stroke depression in China

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a very common complication that leads to increased physical disability, poor functional outcome, and higher mortality. Therefore, early detection and treatment are very important. Since there are currently no specific guidelines for this disorder in China, the purpose of this study was to develop PSD guidelines and provide suggestions for clinicians and related workers.

Clinical practice guidelines for post-stroke depression in China.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a very common complication that leads to increased physical disability, poor functional outcome, and higher mortality. Therefore, early detection and treatment are very important. Since there are currently no specific guidelines for this disorder in China, the purpose of this study was to develop PSD guidelines and provide suggestions for clinicians and related workers.

MA104 Cell line presents characteristics suitable for enterovirus A71 isolation and proliferation.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), one of the most important causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children, can lead to severe clinical outcomes, even death. However, the infection spectrum of EV-A71 in different cell lines remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, the biological characteristics of EV-A71 Subgroup C4 in different cell lines were investigated. To this end, the infectivity of EV-A71Jinan1002 isolated from children with severe HFMD was assessed in 18 different host cell lines. It was found that the MA104 cell line displayed biological characteristics suitable for EV-A71 Subgroup C4 strain isolation and proliferation; indeed, it was found that a broad spectrum of cell lines can be infected by EV-A71Jinan1002. Among the screened cells, four cell lines (HEK293, RD, MA104 and Marc145) produced high 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50 ) values calculated in viral proliferations (ranged from 10(7.6) to 10(7.8) ); the TCID50 being negatively associated with the time to appearance of CPE. Proliferation curves demonstrated that EV-A71Jinan1002 amplifies more efficiently in MA104, Hep-2 and RD cells. Remarkably, the virus isolation rate was much higher in MA104 cells than in RD cells. Thus this study, to our knowledge, is for the first to explore the infection spectrum of EV-A71 subgroup C4 in such a large number of different cell lines. Our data provide useful reference data for facilitating further study of EV-A71.

[Study on BALB/c mice with EV71 infection by diverse inoculation routes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of EV71 JN200804 strain infection in one-day old BALBI c mjce and to establish a animal model of EV71 infection , and to provide information and technical support for the evaluation of the EV71 vaccine and antiviral medicine. METHODS: One-day old BALBic mice were infected with EV71 JN200804 strain through oral( PO) ,intracranial(IC) ,intraperitoneal (IP), intramuscular (IM) routes, respectively. All mice were sacrificed at paralysis of hind limbs and collected organs for viral isolation, RT -PCR and pathological examination, and the electrophysiology were detected before sacrifice. RESULTS: All mice infected through IC, IP and IM routes were paralyzed in hind limbs at 4-5 days and died at 7 days about, the hypokinesia and lethargy of mice were observed through PO routes. The viruses could be isolated and detected in the muscle from mice infected through IC, IP and IM routes and in the spinal cord through IC routes by viral isolation and RT-PCR. The neurogenic and myogenic disorders were detected by electromyography. Histopathologically, the varied pathologic changes were observed in the mouse cerebellum , spinal cord , muscle , heart, lung, liver and kidney. CONCLUSION: EV71 JN200804 strain can infect one-day old BALBI c mice and induce paralysis of hind limbs, its animal infection model may apply to study of EV71 infection pathogenesis and antiviral medicine, and evaluation of the EV71 vaccine.

Anticoccidial activity of traditional Chinese herbal Dichroa febrifuga Lour. extract against Eimeria tenella infection in chickens.

The study was conducted on broiler birds to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of an extract of Chinese traditional herb Dichroa febrifuga Lour. One hundred broiler birds were assigned to five equal groups. All birds in groups 1-4 were orally infected with 1.5 × 10(4) Eimeira tenella sporulated oocysts and birds in groups 1, 2 and 3 were medicated with 20, 40 mg extract/kg feed and 2 mg diclazuril/kg feed, respectively. The bloody diarrhea, oocyst counts, intestinal lesion scores, and the body weight were recorded to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy. The results showed that D. febrifuga extract was effective against Eimeria infection; especially 20 mg D. febrifuga extract/kg feed can significantly increase body weight gains and reduce bloody diarrhea, lesion score, and oocyst excretion in comparison to infected-unmedicated control group.

Anticoccidial effect of halofuginone hydrobromide against Eimeria tenella with associated histology.

Halofuginone (stenorol) has been used as an effective anticoccidial reagent for decades but very little is known about its mode of action. In this study, chickens were inoculated with Eimeria tenella oocysts on 14-day-old and medicated with halofuginone at days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 post inoculations (groups 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively). Chickens in group 7 were taken as challenge-unmedicated control and in group 8 unchallenged-unmedicated control. The survival rate, body weight gains (BWG), oocysts production, cecal scores, bloody diarrhea and histological examinations were analyzed to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of halofuginone and to initially elucidate its mechanisms. Results showed that halofuginone which acted as a coccidiostatic can significantly enhance the BWG, and decrease both the oocyst shedding and cecal destruction caused by E. tenella infection. The histological slide examination noted that halofuginone was effective when provided 0-2 days post inoculation but only partially effective when applied 3-7 days post infection. The second-generation schizonts treated with halofuginone appeared vacuolated and degenerated. It is concluded that halofuginone can inhibit the parasite's invasion of host cecal hypothetical cell at the early stages of life cycle and later disturb the parasite's development by vacuolation of the schizonts. The resulting abnormal schizonts could not divide into schizoites and were eventually eliminated by the host's immune response.

[Molecular-biological identification of pathogens which caused an outbreak of viral encephalitis in Jinan area].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology of the outbreak of viral encephalitis in Jinan area in 2003. METHODS: Virus-specific nucleic acid fragments were amplified by random PCR and RT-PCR using specific primers to enterovirus. After sequencing, the gene sequence was handled by the program BLAST for homologous analysis and the software Clustal W 1.82 for multiple sequence alignment to identify the etiology and its genotype. RESULTS: Five strains were isolated from clinical specimens. A gene fragment for one strain was acquired using random PCR, which was highly homologous to enterovirus. Then, the 5' non-translated region and partial VP1 region were amplified and sequenced. The five isolated strains were all identified as Coxsackievirus B5, and what was more, they were most homologous to the strain isolated during the outbreak of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis in Zhejiang province from 2002 to 2004. CONCLUSION: Coxsackievirus B5 is closely associated with the outbreak of viral encephalitis in Jinan area in 2003. It is an important etiology but other viruses may also played a role which remains to be clarified.