Atmospheric environment and severe acute respiratory infections in Nanjing, China, 2018-2019.

The annual burden of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is enormous, and environmental factors may have a vital role in respiratory infections. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of the atmospheric environment on SARI. A time-series analysis was performed on the relationship between atmospheric environment and 136,989 SARI cases by distributed lag non-linear model. Wind speed, PM10, PM2.5, O3, and CO exhibited differential effects at a range of lag times or exposure ranges. Air pressure, temperature, and diurnal temperature range showed risk effects in the full range. The lag effect of high pollution was stronger, appeared earlier, and lasted longer than that of low pollution. Most environmental factors had a certain non-linear lag relationship with SARI. Low wind speed and high air pollution may be increasing risk factors for SARI.

New insights into the link between pro-environmental attitudes and household food waste behaviours in China: Moderating effect of shopping distance.

Environmental attitude, value and awareness are widely believed to help reach the goal of cutting global food waste, but these psychological and cognitive factors are not always good predictors of wasteful behaviours. Notably, it is still unclear how the role of pro-environmental attitude (PEA) in reducing household food waste (HFW) changes with grocery shopping distance. To this end, using 7319 households survey data from China, this study investigates the moderating effect of shopping distance on the link between PEA and HFW behaviour. The results of Tobit regressions show that PEA is an important predictor of actual HFW behaviour in the absence of the constraint of shopping distance. However, the expansion of shopping distance will weaken the positive role of PEA in reducing HFW. It indicates that, due to the temporal and financial constraints generated by shopping distance, there is a certain degree of hypothetical deviation between the wasteful behaviours that individuals actually exhibit and their stated PEA. Our findings, from the perspective of the moderating effect of shopping distance, explain why some individuals deviate from their stated PEA in HFW behaviour, which provides a new insight into the generation of 'attitude-behaviour' gap. Therefore, policy interventions that merely enhancing environmental education may have limited effect on reducing food waste; instead, the promotion of citizen environmental ethics should be combined with efforts to improve the accessibility of retail infrastructures.

Association between Serum Oxytocin, Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition in Chinese Adult Females.

Background and Objectives: Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide hormone which is known for its classical effects in pregnancy and lactation. Recently, growing evidence demonstrated a close relation between OT and bone. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between OT, bone and osteoporosis risk in Chinese adult females. Materials and Methods: in total, 149 adult females were enrolled. The serum OT levels were measured using ELISA kits. Bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The study subjects were divided into two groups according to their menopause status and then divided into tertiles based on their serum OT level. Results: Serum OT, serum estradiol and BMD at three skeletal sites were significantly higher in the premenopausal group than in the postmenopausal group (p < 0.001, p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). In the tertile analysis, relative to tertile 1, significant associations were found for tertile 3 for OT levels and higher BMD in the femoral neck and total hip, in both pre- and postmenopausal groups. Using logistic regression analysis, tertile 3 appeared less likely to have low-BMD osteoporosis than tertile 1 (OR = 0.257, 95% CI = 0.073, 0.910). In multivariate stepwise regression analysis, OT and total lean mass were two positive determinants of BMD in the femoral neck and total hip in the premenopausal group (adjusted R2 for the model = 0.232 and 0.199, respectively; both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated positive associations between serum OT levels and BMD in a Chinese (non-Caucasian) population. OT appeared to be more strongly associated with hip BMD in premenopausal females. These results may suggest a protective role and potential therapeutic use of OT in osteoporosis, especially for premenopausal women.

Abscisic Acid Modulates Seed Germination via ABA INSENSITIVE5-Mediated PHOSPHATE1.

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) controls many developmental and physiological processes. Here, we report that PHOSPHATE1 (PHO1) participates in ABA-mediated seed germination and early seedling development. The transcription of PHO1 was obviously enhanced during seed germination and early seedling development and repressed by exogenous ABA. The pho1 mutants (pho1-2, pho1-4, and pho1-5) showed ABA-hypersensitive phenotypes, whereas the PHO1-overexpressing lines were ABA-insensitive during seed germination and early seedling development. The expression of PHO1 was repressed in the ABI5-overexpressing line and elevated in the abi5 mutant, and ABI5 can bind to the PHO1 promoter in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ABI5 directly down-regulated PHO1 expression. Disruption of PHO1 abolished the ABA-insensitive germination phenotypes of abi5 mutant, demonstrating that PHO1 was epistatic to ABI5 Together, these data demonstrate that PHO1 is involved in ABA-mediated seed germination and early seedling development and transcriptionally regulated by ABI5.

Design and synthesis of a novel photoaffinity probe for labelling EGF receptor tyrosine kinases.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 are two important tyrosine kinases that play crucial roles in signal transduction pathways that regulate numerous cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, migration, and angiogenesis. In the past 20 years, many proteomic methods have emerged as powerful methods to evaluate proteins in biological processes and human disease states. Among them, activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is one useful approach for the functional analysis of proteins. In this study, a novel photoaffinity probe 11 was designed and synthesised to assess the target profiling of the reactive group in the photoaffinity probe 11. Biological evaluation was performed, and the results showed that the novel photoaffinity probe binds to EGFR and HER2 proteins and it hits targets by the reactive group.

[Bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle infarcts caused by bilateral vertebral artery occlusion: a case report].

Patients with bilateral vertebral artery occlusion have a high incidence of cerebral infarction with poor prognosis. Infarction of bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) is extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported in literature. A 74-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of dizziness and walking instability for 13 d. Brain magnetic resonance image showed acute bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle infarction. Digital subtraction angiography showed occlusion of the initiation part of left vertebral artery and whole right vertebral artery, while a large amount of collateral circulations and recanalization were observed. After volume expansion, anti-platelet aggregation and lipid-lowering therapy, the symptoms disappeared. The patient was followed up for 10 months and he recovered well.

[Purgative activity difference and mechanism of raw and processed Rhei Radix et rhizoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the purgative activity difference and mechanism of raw and processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. METHODS: Mail mice were divided into 9 groups:normal group (saline), model group, Tongbianling group (1 g/kg), raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma groups (5.00, 2.50 and 1.25 g/kg), processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma groups (5.00, 2.50 and 1.25 g/kg). After oral administration for 5 days, the diarrhea experiment and intestinal propelling test were carried out to evaluate the purgative effect difference of raw and processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Wistar rats were divided into normal group (normal saline), model group, Tong-bianling group (0.5 g/kg), raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group (1.25 g/kg), processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group (1.25 g/kg). The changes of levels of gastin( GAS), motilin( MTL), vasoactive peptide (VIP), neurotensin (NT), somatostatin ( SS), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), substance P(SP) and endothelin (ET-1)in blood of the rats and gastin (GAS), motilin( MTL), vasoactive peptide (VIP) and neurotensin (NT) in colon of the rats were detected. RESULT: The levels of GAS, MTL, VIP, NT, SS, AchE, SP and ET-1 in serum of raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group, and GAS, MTL and VIP in colon of raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group were different obviously comparing with the processed one (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and the processed one had obvious differences in regulating intestinal gastrointestinal hormone and neurotransmitter. This effect may be the reason or one of the reasons for purgative activity difference between raw and processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.

[Research on building method of spleen kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats model].

Spleen kidney Yang deficiency (SKYD) diarrhea is a common syndrome in tranditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Until now, there is not an ideal SKYD diarrhea rat model for the research. In this study, we compared single factor way (method I, injecting hydrocortisone and gavaging Sennae Folium) with compound factors way(method II, gavaging adenine, improper diet, exhaustion, and gavaging Sennae Folium) on establishing SKYD diarrhea rat model. After modelling, diarrhea index, D-xylose excretory rate, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index and histopathology examination were used to evaluate the two ways. The results showed that, compared with health group, all the assessment criterias of method I and method II had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05). In addition, the index such as diarrhea index, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index (kidney, testis and thymus) and histopathology examination had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05) between method I and method II. In conclusion, the compound factors modelling method better conforms to the symptom of diarrhoea model caused by SKYD. This new modelling method provides a basis for studying on TCM astringents warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, relieving diarrhea.

Utilizing green finance to promote low-carbon transition of Chinese cities: insights from technological innovation and industrial structure adjustment.

Green finance (GF) has emerged as a promising tool to promote low-carbon development, while knowledge is rather limited regarding the underlying mechanism. This article aims to address this void by constructing a city-level GF index covering seven dimensions and identifying the main pathways through which GF can facilitate the low-carbon development of cities. Using a balanced panel data covering 277 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020, the results show that: (1) China's GF development exhibits an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the east and low in the west', while the distribution of carbon intensity (CI) displays an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the north and low in the south'; (2) GF significantly decreases CI of cities, which is robust to employing DID strategies and IV estimations; (3) The role of GF on CI varies with the level of CI whereas not with the level of GF. Specifically, the mitigating effect of GF on CI is significant in both high GF and low GF groups, but only in high CI group; and (4) GF promotes low-carbon transition of cities through mainly on adjusting industrial structure rather than stimulating technological innovation. Despite we also demonstrate green finance enhances green innovation, due to multi-factors, such technology progress it brings may not always translate into a tangible improvement in green productivity. For most developing countries including China, the future policy objective of green finance should focus on enhancing sustainable technological progress.

Metformin administration in prevention of colorectal polyps in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal polyps are frequently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), posing a significant risk for colorectal cancer. Metformin, a widely prescribed biguanidine drug for type 2 DM, has been suggested to have potential chemoprophylactic effects against various cancers. AIM: To explore the correlation between colorectal polyps and metformin use in type 2 DM patients. METHODS: Type 2 DM patients were categorized into polyp and non-polyp groups. Following this, all patients were categorized into the type 2 DM-metformin, type 2 DM-non-metformin, and non-type 2 DM groups. Based on the baseline colonoscopy results, we performed pairwise comparisons of the incidence of colorectal polyps among the three groups. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between colorectal polyps and the duration of metformin use and between the size and number of polyps and metformin use. Simultaneously, we focused on the specific pathological types of polyps and analyzed their relationship with metformin use. Finally, we compared the incidence of polyps between metformin and non-metformin groups according to the interval colonoscopy results. RESULTS: The rate of metformin use in patients with colorectal polyps was 0.502 times that of patients without colorectal polyps [odds ratio (OR) = 0.502, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.365-0.689; P < 0.001]. The incidence of colorectal polyps did not differ significantly between the type 2 DM-metformin and non-type 2 DM groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the correlations between the duration of metformin use and the incidence of colorectal polyps and between the size and number of polyps and metformin use were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Metformin use did not affect the incidence of colorectal polyps during interval colonoscopy (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin use and colorectal polyp incidence in type 2 DM patients showed a negative correlation, independent of the hypoglycemic effect of metformin.

Experience of copy number variation sequencing applied in spontaneous abortion.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and quantitative fluorescence (QF)-PCR for analyzing chromosomal abnormalities (CA) in spontaneous abortion specimens. METHODS: A total of 650 products of conception (POCs) were collected from spontaneous abortion between April 2018 and May 2020. CNV-seq and QF-PCR were performed to determine the characteristics and frequencies of copy number variants (CNVs) with clinical significance. The clinical features of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: Clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 355 (54.6%) POCs, of which 217 (33.4%) were autosomal trisomies, 42(6.5%) were chromosomal monosomies and 40 (6.2%) were pathogenic CNVs (pCNVs). Chromosomal trisomy occurs mainly on chromosomes 15, 16, 18, 21and 22. Monosomy X was not associated with the maternal or gestational age. The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in miscarriages from women with a normal live birth history was 55.3%; it was 54.4% from women without a normal live birth history (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among women without, with 1, and with ≥ 2 previous miscarriages regarding the rate of chromosomal abnormalities (P > 0.05); CNVs were less frequently detected in women with advanced maternal age than in women aged ≤ 29 and 30-34 years (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common cause of pregnancy loss, and maternal and gestational ages are strongly associated with fetal autosomal trisomy aberrations. Embryo chromosomal examination is recommended regardless of the gestational age, modes of conception or previous abortion status.

[Early cardiovascular complications post lung transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the early cardiovascular complications of patients underwent lung transplantation. METHODS: The clinical records of 73 patients who underwent lung transplantation in Wuxi People's Hospital from September 2002 to September of 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were transferred to intensive care unit (ICU) after lung transplantation, received invasive monitoring (PICCO), mechanical ventilation, immunosuppressive therapy and measures to prevent ischemic reperfusion injury. The early cardiovascular complications after lung transplantation up to discharge from hospital were observed. RESULTS: The postoperative mortality was 20.5% (15/73) within 30 days after surgery. Five patients died of cardiovascular reasons including 2 cases of pulmonary embolism and 3 cases of ventricular fibrillation. Cardiovascular complications during the early post-operation period included: paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (19 cases, 26.0%) and persist atrial fibrillation (1 case, 1.4%); atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in 3 cases and persistent atrial flutter in 1 patient; ventricular fibrillation (3 cases, 4.1%); paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (3 cases, 4.1%); ventricular tachycardia (2 cases, 2.7%); bundle branch block (8 cases, 11.0%); intraventricular block(4 cases, 5.5%); left ventricular heart failure(4 cases, 5.5%), right heart failure(6 cases, 8.2%); pulmonary embolism (2 cases, 2.7%), deep venous thrombosis (1 case, 1.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiovascular complication post lung transplantation. Pulmonary embolism and ventricular fibrillation are not common but related with high mortality rate post lung transplantation.

Construction of a nomogram predictive model for patients with liver rupture undergoing surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of blunt abdominal injury has significantly increased, and the liver is one of the most commonly damaged organs. In this study, we explored and established a nomogram model for patients with liver ruptures undergoing surgical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 66 adult patients with liver rupture, who were admitted to our hospital from January 2011 to October 2018. These patients were classified into two groups, according to whether the patient had surgery: surgery group (41 cases) and non-surgical group (25 cases). The following data were collected from these two groups of patients: gender, age, injury mechanism, liver damage, laboratory test results, and hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen the risk factors of patients who require surgical treatment, establish a predictive model based on the selected indicators, and draw the nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic curves and the calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive value of the model. RESULTS: Compared to the non-surgical group, the body temperature decreased, the heart rate increased, the injury severity score grade increased, the blood urea nitrogen, blood uric acid, creatinine (Cr), arterial partial pressure of oxygen, alkali excess, blood lactic acid and creatine kinase isoenzymes MB (CK-MB) increased, and the HCO- and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) coma scores decreased for patients in the surgical group (all, p<0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that Cr, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, HCO3-, CK-MB, and the Glasgow coma score were the influencing factors for surgical intervention for liver rupture. The nomo-gram model constructed based on these five indicators had a good degree of discrimination (area under the curve = 0.971, 95% CI: 0.896-0.997) and accuracy. CONCLUSION: A nomogram model established based on Cr, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, HCO3-, CK-MB, the GCS, and other parameters can accurately predict the surgical treatment of patients with liver rupture.

Can China's vehicular emissions regulation reduce air pollution?-a quasi-natural experiment based on the latest National Vehicular Emissions Standard (stage-VI).

The existing evidence on the environmental effects of vehicular emissions regulation almost comes from developed countries, but the effectiveness of this policy tool in developing countries, especially in China, remains unclear. This study, for the first time, examined the mitigating effects of China's vehicular emissions regulation on air pollution at the prefecture level cities, by using the latest implementation of China's National Vehicular Emissions Standard VI (CHINA-VI) as a quasi-natural experimental process of policy shocks. To this end, monthly data from 2018 to 2020 was applied to construct a difference-in-differences (DID) model. The results showed that pilot cities' air quality index (AQI) significantly decreased by 4.74 compared to non-pilot cities after the implementation of CHINA-VI. Also, the concentration of PM2.5, PM10, and O3 has decreased by 3.6 µg∕m3, 6.4 µg∕m3, and 3.0 µg∕m3, respectively, which means the new China's vehicular emissions regulation has comprehensively improved air quality. The findings are still valid after a series of robustness tests using different estimation methods such as PSM-DID and IV-2SLS. In addition, we also found heterogeneity in the environmental performance of CHINA-VI across cities. Specifically, cities with lower levels of green finance development and public environmental concern showed a greater emissions reduction effect, but smart cities showed a greater emissions reduction effect than non-smart cities.

[Effect of electroacupuncture pretreatment on ferroptosis in neurons of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture（EA）preconditioning on ferroptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury （CIRI）, so as to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of EA preconditioning. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, EA, inhibitor and inducer groups with 20 rats in each group. The CIRI model was established by modified Zea Longa occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Before modeling, EA treatment （2 Hz/15 Hz, 1-2 mA） was applied to "Baihui"（GV20）, "Fengfu"（GV16） and "Dazhui"（GV14） for rats of the EA group, 20 min a day for 7 consecutive days. Rats of the inhibitor group were intraperitoneally injected with ferristatin-1（25 mg/kg）at a slow and uniform rate. Rats of the inducer group were intraperitoneally injected with Erastin（100 mg/kg） after 7 days of EA preconditioning, once every 2 h for a total of 4 times. The CIRI models were prepared 2 d later after the above interventions finished by thread-occlusion. The degree of neurological impairment was evaluated by modified Zea Longa score. The percentage of infarct size was calculated by TTC staining. The ultrastructure of neurons in hippocampus was observed by transmission electron microscope. The contents of ferrous ion （Fe2+）, malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione （GSH） in cerebral tissue and reactive oxygen species （ROS） in serum were determined by biochemical method. The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential in rats brain tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 （ACSL4）, transferrin receptor （TFRC）, 15-lipoxygenase （15-LOX） and cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） in the ischemic hippocampal region of CIRI rats were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological impairment score, the percentage of cerebral infarction area, the contents of MDA and Fe2+ in cerebral tissue as well as ROS in serum, the protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4, TFRC, 15-LOX, COX-2 in hippocampal tissue were increased （P<0.01）, while the content of GSH in cerebral tissue, the protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4 in hippocampal tissue were decreased （P<0.01）, and mitochondria in brain tissue were significantly damaged （P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the model group, the above indexes were all reversed （P<0.05, P<0.01） in the EA group and inhibitor group. Compared with the EA group, the neurological impairment score, the percentage of cerebral infarction area, the contents of MDA and Fe2+ in cerebral tissue as well as ROS in serum, the protein and mRNA expression le-vels of ACSL4, TFRC, 15-LOX, COX-2 in hippocampal tissue were increased （P<0.05, P<0.01）, while the content of GSH in cerebral tissue, the protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4 in hippocampal tissue were decreased （P<0.01, P<0.05）, and mitochondria in brain tissue were significantly damaged （P<0.05） in the inducer group. CONCLUSION: EA preconditioning has neuroprotective effect on CIRI rats, which may be related to inhibiting ACSL4/TFRC/15-LOX/COX-2 expression and increasing GSH/GPX4 expression.

Kinetic Model for Denitration Reaction Process of Cylindrical Single-Base Gun Propellant.

As a new type of progressive energy release propellant, nitro gradiently distributed propellant (NGDP) was prepared by a denitration reaction between a denitration reagent and the propellant to remove the energy-containing functional group (-O-NO2) from the surface of the propellant. The kinetics of the denitration reaction determines distribution of the nitrate group in the surface layer of NGDP, which further affects the combustion progressivity. In this paper, the kinetic model for the denitration reaction process of the cylindrical single-base gun propellant was studied by the shrinking unreacted core model (SUC model). The energy change of the propellant particles before and after the denitration reaction was used to evaluate the denitration rates, which were used to fit the proposed SUC cylindrical model. The results show that the rate-controlling step of the denitration reaction process is largely dependent on the concentration of the denitration reagent. At low concentrations (the concentration of the denitration reagent was 6%), the denitration reaction process was controlled by the chemical reaction, and the activation energy was found to be 48.40 kJ·mol-1. When the concentration increased (the concentration of the denitration reagent was 15%), the rate-controlling step changed to a solid product layer diffusion control with an activation energy of 84.77 kJ·mol-1. The kinetic models obtained in this study can provide theoretical guidance for the controlled preparation of NGDP with good combustion progressivity.

[Effect of Tongdu Tiaoshen electroacupuncture pretreatment on PPARγ-mediated pyroptosis of cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Tongdu Tiaoshen (promoting the circulation of the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on pyroptosis mediated by peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) of the cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) and explore the potential mechanism of EA for the prevention and treatment of CIRI. METHODS: A total of 110 clean-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, an EA group, an EA + inhibitor group and an agonist group, 22 rats in each group. In the EA group, before modeling, EA was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Dazhui" (GV 14), with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/5 Hz in frequency, 1 to 2 mA in intensity, lasting 20 min; once a day, consecutively for 7 days. On the base of the intervention as the EA group, on the day 7, the intraperitoneal injection with the PPARγ inhibitor, GW9662 (10 mg/kg) was delivered in the EA + inhibitor group. In the agonist group, on the day 7, the PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone hydrochloride (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. At the end of intervention, except the sham-operation group, the modified thread embolization method was adopted to establish the right CIRI model in the rats of the other groups. Using the score of the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), the neurological defect condition of rats was evaluated. TTC staining was adopted to detect the relative cerebral infarction volume of rat, TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of cerebral cortical nerve cells and the transmission electron microscope was used to observe pyroptosis of cerebral cortical neural cells. The positive expression of PPARγ and nucleotide-binding to oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in the cerebral cortex was detected with the immunofluorescence staining. The protein expression of PPARγ, NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D (GSDMD) and GSDMD-N terminal (GSDMD-N) in the cerebral cortex was detected with Western blot. Using the quantitative real-time fluorescence-PCR, the mRNA expression of PPARγ, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD of the cerebral cortex was detected. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in the cerebral cortex of rats were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the mNSS, the relative cerebral infarction volume and the TUNEL positive cells rate were increased (P<0.01), pyroptosis was severe, the protein and mRNA expression levels of PPARγ, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD were elevated (P<0.01); and the protein expression of GSDMD-N and contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. When compared with the model group, the mNSS, the relative cerebral infarction volume and the TUNEL positive cells rate were decreased (P<0.01), pyroptosis was alleviated, the protein and mRNA expression levels of PPARγ were increased (P<0.01), the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD were decreased (P<0.01), the protein expression of GSDMD-N was reduced (P<0.01); and the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were lower (P<0.01) in the EA group and the agonist group; while, in the EA + inhibitor group, the protein expression of PPARγ was increased (P<0.01), the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the mRNA expression of caspase-1 was reduced (P<0.01); and the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were lower (P<0.01). When compared with the EA + inhibitor group, the mNSS, the relative cerebral infarction volume and the TUNEL positive cells rate were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), pyroptosis was alleviated, the protein and mRNA expression levels of PPARγ were increased (P<0.01), the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD were decreased (P<0.01), the protein expression of GSDMD-N was reduced (P<0.01); and the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were declined (P<0.01) in the EA group. Compared with the agonist group, in the EA group, the relative cerebral infarction volume and the TUNEL positive cells rate were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the mRNA expression of PPARγ was decreased (P<0.01) and the protein expression of GSDMD-N was elevated (P<0.05); and the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were higher (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tongdu Tiaoshen EA pretreatment can attenuate the neurological impairment in the rats with CIRI, and the underlying mechanism is related to the up-regulation of PPARγ inducing the inhibition of NLRP3 in the cerebral cortex of rats so that pyroptosis is affected.

Five new species of Trichoderma from moist soils in China.

Trichoderma isolates were collected from moist soils near a water source in different areas of China. ITS sequences were submitted to MIST (Multiloci Identification System for Trichoderma) and meets the Trichoderma [ITS76] standard. Combined analyses of phylogenetic analyses of both phylograms (tef1-α and rpb2) and morphological characteristics, revealed five new species of Trichoderma, namely Trichodermahailarense, T.macrofasciculatum, T.nordicum, T.shangrilaense and T.vadicola. Phylogenetic analyses showed T.macrofasciculatum and T.shangrilaense belong to the Polysporum clade, T.hailarense, while T.nordicum and T.vadicola belong to the Viride clade. Each new taxon formed a distinct clade in phylogenetic analysis and have unique sequences of tef1-α and rpb2 that meet the Trichoderma new species standard. The conidiation of T.macrofasciculatum typically appeared in white pustules in concentric rings on PDA or MEA and its conidia had one or few distinctly verrucose. Conidiophores of T.shangrilaense are short and rarely branched, phialides usually curved and irregularly disposed. The aerial mycelium of T.hailarense and T.vadicola formed strands to floccose mat, conidiation tardy and scattered in tufts, conidiophores repeatedly rebranching in dendriform structure. The phialides of T.nordicum lageniform are curved on PDA and its conidia are globose to obovoidal and large.

[Cathepsin B promoted the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells as induced by tumor necrosis factor-α].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the cathepsin B over-expression group and cathepsin B gene-silencing group so as to investigate whether cathepsin B was capable of promoting the apoptosis of VSMC (vascular smooth muscle cell) induced by TNF-α/act D. METHODS: Human aortic smooth muscle cell (HA-VSMC) was transfected with pcDNA3.1-cathepsin B and pSilencer2.1-cathepsin B plasmids by lipofection to establish the over-expression and gene-silencing groups. Through TNF-α induced apoptosis, the cell viability was observed by MTT assay, morphological observation and assays of apoptotic proteins as indicators of apoptosis. RESULTS: The cathepsin B over-expression and gene-silencing group were successfully established. MTT assay showed no significant difference between the transfected cell and blank control. After the intervention of TNF-α, the HA-VSMC viability decreased significantly. As compared with control group, the over-expression group significantly decreased (9.98% ± 1.04% vs 14.60% ± 1.34%). As compared with the over-expression group, the E64d and CA-074ME groups (18.23% ± 1.05%, 17.40% ± 1.03%) increased significantly while the silent group (21.30% ± 2.37%) significantly increased. The analysis of acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining showed similar results. Western blot showed the Bcl-2 protein were significantly higher in the silent group than that in the control group. And the over-expression group was significantly lower than the control group. The E64d and CA-074ME groups were significantly higher than that in the over-expression group. But the Bax protein level had no significant difference among all groups. CONCLUSION: The over-expression of cathepsin B promotes TNF-α-induced VSMC apoptosis while Cathepsin B gene silencing and the addition of cathepsin inhibitor in over-expression group inhibit the TNF-α induced VSMC apoptosis.