Association of long non-coding RNA GAS5 and miR-21 levels in CD4+ T cells with clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The present study aimed to assess the expression of growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) and microRNA (miR)-21 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and attempted to explore their association with clinical features. CD4+ T cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors and SLE patients by magnetic-activated cell sorting. GAS5 and miR-21 expression levels in cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ T cells were measured by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that GAS5 and miR-21 levels were significantly elevated in CD4+ T cells of patients with SLE compared with those in control subjects (P<0.05). Regarding clinical features, SLE patients with ulceration had higher GAS5 expression levels in CD4+ T cells than those without ulceration (P<0.05), and the expression of miR-21 was significantly higher in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients with low levels of complement component 3 (C3) than in those with normal levels of complement C3 (P<0.05). In conclusion, GAS5 and miR-21 in CD4+ T cells may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of SLE.

Non-uniform Evolving Hypergraphs and Weighted Evolving Hypergraphs.

Firstly, this paper proposes a non-uniform evolving hypergraph model with nonlinear preferential attachment and an attractiveness. This model allows nodes to arrive in batches according to a Poisson process and to form hyperedges with existing batches of nodes. Both the number of arriving nodes and that of chosen existing nodes are random variables so that the size of each hyperedge is non-uniform. This paper establishes the characteristic equation of hyperdegrees, calculates changes in the hyperdegree of each node, and obtains the stationary average hyperdegree distribution of the model by employing the Poisson process theory and the characteristic equation. Secondly, this paper constructs a model for weighted evolving hypergraphs that couples the establishment of new hyperedges, nodes and the dynamical evolution of the weights. Furthermore, what is obtained are respectively the stationary average hyperdegree and hyperstrength distributions by using the hyperdegree distribution of the established unweighted model above so that the weighted evolving hypergraph exhibits a scale-free behavior for both hyperdegree and hyperstrength distributions.

Effects of clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium on BTLA expression on CD4+ T cells and lymphocyte differentiation in late preterm infants.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Probiotics is recognized to promote growth performance and immune function via balancing the intestinal microflora. Live clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium combined powder (LCBBCP) has been widely to treat intestinal dysbacteriosis in newborns in China. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the combined probiotics on the expression of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) on CD4+ T cells and the differentiation of lymphocyte subsets in late preterm infants. METHODS: Eighty eligible late preterm infants were equally randomized into LCBBCP therapy group (oral LCBBCP dissolved in formula milk before intake) and control group (treated with simple formula milk for preterm infants) by random digit table. Flow cytometry was used to determine the expression level of BTLA on CD4+ T cells and the percentage of individual subpopulation of lymphocytes in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from the late preterm infants in both groups. RESULTS: BTLA protein expression on CD4+ T cells showed no significant change in LCBBCP therapy group before and after intervention, yet was rapidly and significantly down-regulated in the controls. The percentage of increased CD4+ T cells, decreased CD8+ T cells and increased ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cell proportion were seen in both groups after treatment, yet the increasing or decreasing extent in LCBBCP therapy group was more obvious than in control group. The proportion of NK cells and B lymphocytes remained no significant difference between the two groups before and after therapy. CONCLUSIONS: LCBBCP appears capable of facilitating the activation, proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes, which is beneficial to improving immunity in late preterm infants. The continuous high expression of BTLA on CD4+ T cells in LCBBCP therapy group may be involved in the inhibiting of excessive activation of T lymphocytes. Our findings may lay a basis for further clinical evaluation of the efficacies and wider clinical recommendation of probiotics containing live clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium for late preterm infants.

The Evolution of Hyperedge Cardinalities and Bose-Einstein Condensation in Hypernetworks.

To depict the complex relationship among nodes and the evolving process of a complex system, a Bose-Einstein hypernetwork is proposed in this paper. Based on two basic evolutionary mechanisms, growth and preference jumping, the distribution of hyperedge cardinalities is studied. The Poisson process theory is used to describe the arrival process of new node batches. And, by using the Poisson process theory and a continuity technique, the hypernetwork is analyzed and the characteristic equation of hyperedge cardinalities is obtained. Additionally, an analytical expression for the stationary average hyperedge cardinality distribution is derived by employing the characteristic equation, from which Bose-Einstein condensation in the hypernetwork is obtained. The theoretical analyses in this paper agree with the conducted numerical simulations. This is the first study on the hyperedge cardinality in hypernetworks, where Bose-Einstein condensation can be regarded as a special case of hypernetworks. Moreover, a condensation degree is also discussed with which Bose-Einstein condensation can be classified.

Brand effect versus competitiveness in hypernetworks.

A few of evolving models in hypernetworks have been proposed based on uniform growth. In order to better depict the growth mechanism and competitive aspect of real hypernetworks, we propose a model in term of the non-uniform growth. Besides hyperdegrees, the other two important factors are introduced to underlie preferential attachment. One dimension is the brand effect and the other is the competitiveness. Our model can accurately describe the evolution of real hypernetworks. The paper analyzes the model and calculates the stationary average hyperdegree distribution of the hypernetwork by using Poisson process theory and a continuous technique. We also address the limit in which this model has a condensation. The theoretical analyses agree with numerical simulations. Our model is universal, in that the standard preferential attachment, the fitness model in complex networks and scale-free model in hypernetworks can all be seen as degenerate cases of the model.

Effect of Nrf2 on rat ovarian tissues against atrazine-induced anti-oxidative response.

The environmental persistence and bioaccumulation of herbicide atrazine may pose a significant threat to human health. In this experiment, Wistar rats were treated by 5, 25 and 125 mg·kg(-1) atrazine respectively for 28 days, and the oxidative stress responses as well as the activations of Nrf2 signaling pathway in ovarian tissues induced by atrazine were observed. The results showed that after be treated by atrazine, the proportion of atretic follicles in the rat ovary were increased, the contents of NO and MDA in the tissue homogenates were increased, the over-expressed Nrf2 transferred into the nuclei and played an antioxidant role by up-regulated the expression of II phase detoxifying enzymes such as HO1 and NQO1 and the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, SOD and GSH-PX.

Sub-acute exposure to the herbicide atrazine suppresses cell immune functions in adolescent mice.

Atrazine (ATR), one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide, has caused a series of toxicological and environmental problems. This study sought to investigate the effects of ATR on the immune system of mice. Four-week-old female C57B l/6 mice were treated with 5, 25, and 125 mg/kg ATR for 28 days. On day 29, blood was collected and the spleen was harvested to detect lymphocyte transformation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, cellular phenotypes, and cytokines. Results indicated that the thymus and spleen weights decreased after ATR treatment, and the spleen was found to be more sensitive to ATR than the thymus. Decreases in lymphocyte transformation and NK cell activity were also observed in mice treated with 25 mg/kg ATR and 125 mg/kg ATR compared to the control group. In addition, there were also alterations of lymphocyte phenotypes in the spleen, and the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ cells decreased in mice treated with 25 mg/kg ATR and 125 mg/kg ATR compared to the control group. Moreover, serum interleukin-4 level decreased significantly after treatment with 25 mg/kg and 125 mg/kg ATR, but ATR did not affect the expression of interleukin-2, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α. These results suggest that ATR may have induced damage in spleen cells. As ATR is an environmental contaminant, its immunosuppressive action raises concerns that it may potentiate clinical conditions such as tumors, inflammation, and infections. Thus, it needs to be carefully monitored and studied.

[Study on pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B injection in Beagle dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B injection in Beagle dogs. METHODS: Determined the serum concentration of ginkgolide B by LC-MS and calculated its parameter of pharmacokinetics via DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS: After intravenous drips of 0.62, 2.07 and 10.35 mg/kg ginkgolide B, parameters of pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B were as follows: Tmax were 0.444, 1, 1 h; Cmax were 0.764, 3.024, 11.013 mg/L; AUC(0-1) were 1.007, 3.644, 16.646 mg x h/Lo. CONCLUSION: Ginkgolide B has two compartment model in Beagle dogs.

[Study on the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B for injection in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B for injection in rats. METHODS: The serum concentration of ginkgolide B was determined by LC-MS and calculate its parameter of pharmacokinetics via DAS2.0 software. RESULTS: After intravenous of 0.75, 3.75 and 14.0 mg/kg ginkgolide B, parameters of pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B were: Tmax were all (0.083 +/- 0) h, Cmax were (422.312 +/- 14.203), (1608.467 +/- 226.677), (1987.036 +/- 237.202) microg/L, AUC0-1 were (533.833 +/- 114.943), (1786.029 +/- 137.066), (1943.44 +/- 415.892) microg x h/L. CONCLUSION: Ginkgolide B has three compartment model in rats.

[The study of hydrogen peroxide induced DNA damage and recovery in normal aging and premature aging human cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the DNA damage and recovery induced by hydrogen peroxide in normal aging and premature aging human cells. METHODS: The immunofluorescent assay and comet assay were used to estimate basal DNA damage in normal aging BJ cells and premature aging Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) cells, which were divided into three and two distinct population doubling (PD) number groups (BJ 14, 30, 45 and HGPS 8, 17) respectively. The DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide of these cell populations, as well as their repair activity, was also studied. Finally, the recovery capability before and after the xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XPA) knocked down in these groups was measured. RESULTS: Our results indicated that the normal BJ cells of older PD number showed higher basal levels of DNA damage and were more sensitive to the effects of the DNA-damaging agents than the adult one, who, in turn, was more sensitive than the younger ones. The basal damage level of HGPS cells was same or higher than the older BJ cells. HGPS cells also had the same consistent damage change as BJ cells after treatment. The decline of the repair efficiency with age to the DNA damage induced by the agent was also observed. CONCLUSION: The DNA repair of HGPS is repressed by dysfunction of XPA.

[Quercetin permeability across blood-brain barrier and its effect on the viability of U251 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the permeability of quercetin across blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its impact on the proliferation and apoptosis of U251 cells. METHODS: The BBB model was established through culture of primary brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMVEC) and primary astroglia cells (AC), which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and trans epithelial electric resistance (TEER). High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine quercetin permeability across BBB. U251 cells were exposed to quercetin. MTT assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and flow cytometry (FCM) were performed to analyze cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage and cell cycle distribution. RESULTS: The BBB was constructed successfully. Up to 65.54% of quercetin permeated across the BBB. Quercetin attenuated the proliferation of U251 and induced apoptosis. The FCM revealed that the U251 cells were inhibited at the G2/M point. CONCLUSION: Quercetin can permeate across the BBB effectively, restraining the proliferation of U251 cells and inducing apoptosis.

[Observation on electroacupuncture combined with routine western medicine therapy for promoting consciousness of the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the promoting consciousness effect of electroacupuncture combined with routine western medicine therapy on the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma. METHODS: Thirty-two cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture-medication group treated with electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Quze (PC 3) and routine western medicine, and a control group treated with routine western medicine, 16 cases in each group. Glasgow (GCS) scores were assessed after treatment for 7 sessions and 30 sessions respectively and the promoting consciousness rate was observed. RESULTS: After treatment of 7 sessions, GCS score was 6.88 +/- 1.63 in the acupuncture-medication group and 5.25-1.65 in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment of 7 sessions, the promoting consciousness rate was 25.0% in the acupuncture-medication group and 0 in the western medicine group, and after treatment for 30 sessions, the promoting conscious ness rate was 81. 3% in the acupuncture-medication group and 43.8% in the western medicine group with a signifi cant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Quze (PC 3) combined with western medicine has a good promoting consciousness effect in the patient with coma caused by craniocerebral trauma, which is better than that of simple western medicine.