Sp1 mediated the inhibitory effect of glutamate on pulmonary surfactant synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the release of endogenous glutamate (Glu) participates in lung injury by activating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), but the mechanism is still unclear. This study was to investigate the effects and related mechanisms of Glu on the lipid synthesis of pulmonary surfactant (PS) in isolated rat lung tissues. METHODS: The cultured lung tissues of adult SD rats were treated with Glu. The amount of [3H]-choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine (PC) was detected. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the changes of mRNA and protein expression of cytidine triphosphate: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase alpha (CCTα), a key regulatory enzyme in PC biosynthesis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NMDAR1, which is a functional subunit of NMDAR. Specific protein 1 (Sp1) expression plasmids were used. After transfected with Sp1 expression plasmids, the mRNA and protein levels of CCTα were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot in A549 cells. After treated with NMDA and MK-801, the mRNA and protein levels of Sp1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot in A549 cells. RESULTS: Glu decreased the incorporation of [3H]-choline into PC in a concentration- and time- dependent manner. Glu treatment significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of CCTα in lungs. Glu treatment up-regulated NMDAR1 protein expression, and the NMDAR blocker MK-801 could partially reverse the reduction of [3H]-choline incorporation induced by Glu (10-4 mol/L) in lungs. After transfected with Sp1 plasmid for 30 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of CCTα were increased and the protein expression of Sp1 was also up-regulated. After A549 cells were treated with NMDA, the level of Sp1 mRNA did not change significantly, but the expression of nucleus protein in Sp1 was significantly decreased, while the expression of cytoplasmic protein was significantly increased. However, MK-801could reverse these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Glu reduced the biosynthesis of the main lipid PC in PS and inhibited CCTα expression by activating NMDAR, which were mediated by the inhibition of the nuclear translocation of Sp1 and the promoter activity of CCTα. In conclusion, NMDAR-mediated Glu toxicity leading to impaired PS synthesis may be a potential pathogenesis of lung injury.

Organic Liquid Fertilizer Coupled With Single Application of Chemical Fertilization Improves Growth, Biomass, and Yield Components of Cotton Under Mulch Drip Irrigation.

Excessive fertilization, low nutrient utilization rate, and continuous deterioration of cotton field environment have adversely affected the sustainable development of cotton in Xinjiang province of China. To overcome these issues, we hypothesized that an appropriate combination of liquid organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer (CF) would effectively reduce the input of CF without sacrificing the quality and yield of cotton. A 2-year field experiment explores the effects of three fertilization treatments on the growth, biomass accumulation, and yield of cotton. The three fertilization treatments, namely, no application of fertilizer (CK), the single application of CF, and the combined application of organic liquid fertilizer and CF (F0.6-F1.4), were set up in five ratios. Compared with CF treatment, the combined application of organic liquid fertilizer and CF treatments (F0.6-F1.2) speeded the growth period of cotton by 2-7 days with increased plant height, stem diameter, functional leaf width, and more number of branches, with 9.7-23.5 and 8.4-28.5% higher total plant biomass (TPB) and reproductive organs biomass (ROB), respectively. Compared with CF treatment, the rapid growth duration and maximum accumulation rate of reproductive organs were the highest in F0.8 treatment, with an average increase of 4.6 days and 20.3%. Increment in biomass accumulation contributed to an average increase of 21.8 and 18.9% in cotton boll number and yield, respectively, under F0.8 treatment. Principal component analysis shows that the total biomass, ROB, and total bolls per unit area were positively correlated with the yield, while stem diameter and vegetative organ biomass are negatively correlated with the yield. In conclusion, under film mulching with drip irrigation, organic liquid fertilizer combined with CF reduced by 20% (F0.8 treatment: N, P2O5, and K2O were 182, 104, and 76 kg hm-2, respectively) can sustain the normal growth, promote the accumulation rate of ROB, and lead to efficient cotton production.

An Optimized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway Improved Patient Care in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: An optimized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is lacking for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact and feasibility of an optimized ERAS pathway in patients with surgically treated AIS. METHODS: In total, 79 patients with AIS who underwent corrective surgery without 3-column osteotomy were recruited from Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University between 2012 and 2018. Forty-four patients were treated according to a traditional protocol and 35 were managed using an optimized ERAS pathway, which was designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team. The following data were collected and retrospectively analyzed, demographic characteristics, Cobb angle, curve type (Lenke), surgical duration, fusion level, correction rate, estimated blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin level, postoperative pain score, pain relief time, hemovac drainage, drainage removal time, first ambulation time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the traditional and ERAS groups with respect to demographic characteristics, Cobb angle, curve type (Lenke), fusion level, and correction rate. However, the ERAS group had a shorter surgical duration, less blood loss and hemovac drainage, a higher postoperative hemoglobin level, and earlier pain relief, ambulation, and discharge. The rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting were lower in the ERAS group than in the traditional group. CONCLUSIONS: The ERAS pathway is capable of improving the perioperative status of patients with AIS by offering stronger analgesia, faster ambulation, and earlier discharge.

[Responses of root physiological characteristics of different drought-tolerant cotton varieties to drought]. / ä¸¤ä¸ªä¸åŒè€æ—±æ€§æ£‰èŠ±å“ç§æ ¹ç³»ç”Ÿç†ç‰¹æ€§å¯¹å¹²æ—±çš„å“åº”.

In order to explore the physiological responses of root system of different drought-resistant cotton varieties to drought and their relationships with biomass, we examined the effects of drought stress on root vigor, antioxidant enzyme activities and anatomic structure (duct diameter, number) and biomass of different drought-tolerant varieties, including the drought-inolerant variety 'Xinluzao 17' (L17) and the drought-tolerant variety 'Xinluzao 22' (L22). Both varieties were grown under soil column cultivation conditions, with conventional irrigation (CK), mild drought (W1) and moderate drought (W2) treatments. The results showed that drought stress caused significant reductions in soluble protein (SP) content, root vigor (RV), the number of cork layers, the number of rhizome ducts, the diameter of the ducts in both varieties. The higher root MDA content, CAT, POD and SOD activities in response to drought led to reduction of aboveground dry mass. Compared with that of L17, SP content, 0-40 cm and 80-120 cm soil layer RV, the number of cork layers, the number of rhizome ducts, the diameter of ducts, and the aboveground dry mass of L22 all signi-ficantly increased. Under the W2 treatment, the RV decrease of L22 was 26.2% lower than that of L17, and CAT, POD, SOD activities and the thickness of cortex were 43.6%, 6.9%, 25.4%, 19.9% higher than that of L17. There were positive correlations between dry mass and RV, SOD, POD, the number of cork layers, the diameter and number of rhizome ducts. Therefore, cotton variety with strong drought tolerance could maintain higher root activity, cork layer number, the diameter of rhizome ducts, and number under drought conditions, and thus promote the accumulation of aboveground biomass, which was the physiological mechanism for their stronger drought tolerance.

[Start-up Performance of Low-substrate Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation Under Different COD Concentrations].

An anaerobic sequencing batch reactor(ASBR)was used to treat low-substrate simulated wastewater with NH4+-N and NO2--N concentrations of (25.00±0.40) mg·L-1 and (33.00±0.60) mg·L-1, respectively. The COD concentrations were controlled at 5.00, 15.00, 30.00, and 50.00 mg·L-1 by adding sodium acetate, and its effects on start-up of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) were investigated under the temperature of 30℃. The results showed that ① The start-up of ANAMMOX could be achieved successfully after 74, 94, 106, and 129 days. The nitrogen removal efficiency was optimum when the COD concentration was between 15.00 and 30.00 mg·L-1. In the steady phase, the average effluent concentrations of NH4+-N were 1.98 and 1.89 mg·L-1, the average effluent concentrations of NO2--N were below 0.62 mg·L-1, and the average effluent concentrations of TN were 2.37 and 2.28 mg·L-1. ② The average contribution of heterotrophic denitrification to nitrogen removal decreased to 4.78%, 9.59%, 10.21%, and 36.50%, respectively, during start-up process. The average contribution of ANAMMOX to nitrogen removal gradually increased to 95.22%, 90.41%, 89.79%, and 63.50%, respectively. ③ The activities of ANAMMOX exceeded denitrification activities at 44, 76, 86, and 114 days, respectively, which finally reached 0.700, 0.690, 0.670, and 0.510 mg·(g·h)-1, and the denitrification activities were 0.110, 0.130, 0.240 and 0.410 mg·(g·h)-1, respectively. Thus, the research results have provided references for the application of ANAMMOX to engineering.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 affects gastric cancer progression by repressing BMP3 promoter methylation.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D3 has been known to have an anticancer effect, but the mechanisms underlying this is poorly explored. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor role of vitamin D3 on gastric cancer and mechanisms. METHODS: The Roche Elecsys platform was applied in retrospective studies to detect the role of 25-hydroxylvitamin D3 in adenocarcinoma and colony formation assay was conducted to verify the effect of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. After the identification of hypermethylation of BMP3 CpG islands by bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS), we further investigated the relationship of BMP3 expression and gastric carcinogenesis by Western blot analysis and gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Here we show that low concentration of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 links to can-cerization and significantly inhibits proliferation of undifferentiated gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and BGC-823. BMP3 promoter hypermethylation was highly correlated with gastric tumor. Moreover, BMP3 expression was regulated by its promoter methylation in gastric cells. The further exploration of the relationship between 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and BMP3 by EMSA results that 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates BMP3 expression by the inhibition of BMP3 promoter methylation in gastric tumor cells. CONCLUSION: In combination with the data from clinical research, bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification, we propose that 1, 25-hydroxylvitamin D3 affects gastric cancer progression by repressing BMP3 promoter methylation.

Identification of lumbar disc disease hallmarks: a large cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc disease has a disabling impact on global people with heavy burden on society, mainly consisting of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The recently released lumbar disc nomenclature version 2.0 deepens our understandings on the diseases. Consequently, there is an urgent need to clarify the occurrence and distribution features of LDD and LDH in a large-scale sample in terms of the novel version. QUESTION/PURPOSES: We asked: (1) Is there a difference in the occurrence and distribution hallmarks of LDD and LDH in a population-based large-scale sample? (2) Does the novel nomenclature version bring novel vision on lumbar disc disease? METHODS: Five thousand two hundred eighty-eight consecutive cases (26,440 lumbar discs) undergoing lumbar spine MRI were retrospectively included from Jan 2008 to Dec 2010 in a territory university hospital. Five hundred nine cases were excluded. There were 2727 males (51.57%) and 2561 females (48.43%) with a mean age of 43.73 years. Both T1 and T2 weighted lumbar MRI images from L1/2 to L5/S1 were profoundly analyzed in axial and sagittal planes. We classified lumbar discs in terms of version 2.0. RESULTS: The occurrence of LDH and LDD was 14.18 and 44.23% in average, respectively. Notably, lumbar spine discs were more prone to LDD than LDH. L4/5 was the most frequent level in terms of LDH (26.08%) and LDD (56.09%), followed by L5/S1 (LDH: 24.09%; LDD: 55.33%), then L3/4, L2/3 and L1/2 in ranking order. The prevalence of LDH and LDD in upper lumbar discs from L1/2 to L3/4 was significant lower than the average prevalence rate (P < 0.05). The mean age was 24.70 (±14.81) years for normal lumbar discs; 49.76 (±14.95) years for LDD; 37.01 (±12.91) years for LDH; 51.31(±15.00) years for LDD and LDH (P < 0.05). Modic changes, HIZ, spondylosis deformans and decreased disc height were linked with older age; whereas Schmorl node and lumbar disc sequestration were not associated with age (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LDD is 44.23%, higher than LDH as 14.18%. L4/5 and L5/S1 are the most frequent involved segments for the majority of lumbar disc diseases. Schmorl node occurs (1.6%) more frequently in upper lumbar spine, independent of age. Modic changes (0.87%) are closely related with older age. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When diagnosing and treating lumbar disc disease, it might be important to consider the updated nomenclature of LDD and LDH. Our study provides additional novel vision on the features of LDD and LDH in a large-scale sample based on the nomenclature of novel version.

[Serum adiponectin levels in children with Kawasaki disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change in serum adiponectin levels and its significance in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: Forty-five KD patients were enrolled in this study, including 18 with coronary artery lesions (CAL group) and 27 without coronary artery lesions (NCAL group). Twenty healthy children were recruited to the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum adiponectin levels, and an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). RESULTS: The serum adiponectin levels in the CAL and NCAL groups were significantly lower than in the control group during the acute phase, subacute phase, and recovery phase (P<0.01), with lower levels observed during the acute phase and subacute phase (P<0.01). Compared with the NCAL group, the CAL group had significantly higher serum levels of adiponectin during the acute phase and recovery phase (P<0.05). The levels of TC, HDL, and LDL in the NCAL and CAL groups were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of serum adiponectin in KD patients were positively correlated with the levels of TC, TG, and C-reactive protein and the occurrence of CAL (r=0.31, 0.30, 0.34, and 0.35, respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children with KD have metabolic disorders of blood lipids and reduced serum adiponectin levels. Reduced serum adiponectin levels may be the result of systemic inflammation, while increased adiponectin levels may be closely associated with the occurrence of CAL.

[Application of capture-mark-recapture method on evaluating the abilities of birth defects surveillance systems].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the abilities of population-based birth defects surveillance system (PBBDSS) and hospital-based birth defects surveillance system(HBBDSS). METHODS: We used capture-mark-recapture method(CMR) to analyze the data of the two kinds of birth defects surveillance systems from 1 Oct. 2006 to 31 Dec. 2006 in a county of Hunan province. Data from PBBDSS were defined as the first source and data from HBBDSS were defined as the second source. RESULTS: 49 and 28 birth defect cases were found from PBBDSS and from HBBDSS respectively. Among these cases, 20 were marked. With the method of CMR, the estimated birth defects cases were 68 (95% CI: 56-70). The coincident rates of PBBDSS and HBBDSS were 72.1% and 41.2%, while the total coincident rates was 83.8% and the coincident rates from different sources was 57.1%. The unreported rates of PBBDSS and HBBDSS were 27.9% and 58.8%. CONCLUSION: Not only the HBBDSS but also the PBBDSS appeared to have had high unreported rates, suggesting that we could use CMR to adjust the rate of birth defects from the birth defects surveillance data.