High glucose inhibits the survival of HRMCs and its mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: High glucose can promote the apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells and cause diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of high glucose on the survival of human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were treated with high glucose (30 mM) or normal glucose (5 mM) for 48 hours. Cell proliferation was determined by trypan blue assay. The relative expression of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) and inflammatory factors detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein expression of Smad2/3, p-Smad2/3 and Smad7 in HRMCs were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with normal glucose, we found that high glucose significantly inhibited cell survival, accompanied by the decrease of tissue metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) mRNA expression. Western blot results showed that the expression of p-Smad2/3 was significantly up-regulated, the expression of Smad7 was significantly downregulated, and inflammatory factors IL-6/IL-8 mRNA expression were increased in the HRMCs cultured with the high glucose. We also found that, compared with the normal glucose, the level of MDA was significantly increased (p<0.01), and the level of SOD was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the HRMCs cultured with the high glucose. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that high glucose inhibited the survival of HRMCs and may be associated with the downregulation of TIMP3 expression, Smad signaling pathway, inflammation and oxidative stress.

[Analysis of lens status of 4452 medical radiation workers in a city].

Objective: To understand the lens condition of radiation workers in a city, explore the factors affecting lens opacity, and provide basis for strengthening the radiation protection management of radiation workers. Methods: In December 2020, according to the national radiation health monitoring project, the occupational health examination data of radiation workers in an occupational health examination institution in a city from December 2018 to November 2020 were collected, including the basic information of radiation workers and ophthalmic examination results. The lens conditions of radiation workers in different subgroups were analyzed, and the influencing factors of lens opacity were analyzed by multifactor logistic regression. Results: A total of 4452 radiation workers were included, of which 439 (9.9%) had lens opacity. The lens opacity rate of male radiation workers was higher than that of female radiation workers (P<0.05) . With the increase of age and length of service, the lens abnormalities of radiation workers increased (r(s)=0.269, 0.212, P<0.01) . The lens opacity rate of radiation workers engaged in nuclear medicine was high (12.7%, 9/71) . The rate of lens opacity in off-the-job medical examination radiation workers was high (18.3%, 26/142) . By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk of lens opacification in the age ≤30-year-old group and the >30-<50-year-old group were 0.087 times (95%CI: 0.058-0.132) and 0.076 times (95%CI: 0.054-0.107) that in the age ≥50-year-old group, respectively. The risk of lens opacification in the age ≤10-year-old group, >10-<20-year-old group and 20-30-year-old group were 0.293 (95%CI: 0.189-0.456) , 0.413 (95%CI: 0.256-0.666) and 0.318 (95%CI: 0.204-0.497) times, respectively. Conclusion: The lens opacity rate of radiation workers is related to age and working age.Attention should be paid to high-age and long-term radiation workers to ensure their health.

[A review of immune-related adverse events associated with immunotherapy].

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for clinical application in China. However, the increased immune-related adverse event (irAE) needs more attention. This review summarized the incidence, characteristic clinical manifestation and treatment of irAEs associated with programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-L1) inhibitors. To have a deep insight into irAE, the potential mechanisms, the different incidences of cancer types, influencing factors and the direction of future research were also discussed here to provide guidance for clinical oncologist to identify and monitor irAE.

Cloning and characterization of the UBC gene from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera).

Protein ubiquitination is extensively involved in the regulation of a considerable number of physiological processes in plant cells. E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UBC), one of the essential enzymes of eukaryotic ubiquitination, catalyzes protein ubiquitination together with E1 and E3. In this study, we cloned four full-length cDNA NnUBCs of Nelumbo nucifera. With the same coding sequence length of 459 bp and coding 153 amino acids, these four genes are highly homologous with the AtUBC1 and AtUBC2 of Arabidopsis thaliana. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction showed that these four genes exhibited different expression patterns in different tissues of N. nucifera. Overall, the expression of NnUBC3 was the highest in all plant tissues. Tests of different stress treatments showed that NnUBC3 plays an important role in response to heat, salt, and drought stresses in N. nucifera. Moreover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants (Atubc1-1Atubc2-1 mutant) expressing NnUBC3 presented a wild-type phenotype, indicating that NnUBC3 performs the same function as AtUBC1 and AtUBC2.

Molecular and characterization of NnPPO cDNA from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) in rhizome browning.

The complete cDNA (NnPPO) of polyphenol oxidase in Nelumbo nucifera was successfully isolated, using Rapid amplification cDNA end (RACE) assays. The full-length cDNA of NnPPO was 2069 bp in size, containing a 1791 bp open reading frame coding 597 amino acids. The putative NnPPO possessed the conserved active sites and domains for PPO function. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that NnPPO shared high homology with PPO of high plants, and the homology modeling proved that NnPPO had the typical structure of PPO family. In order to characterize the role of NnPPO, Real-time PCR assay demonstrated that NnPPO mRNA was expressed in different tissues of N. nucifera including young leave, rhizome, flower, root and leafstalk, with the highest expression in rhizome. Patterns of NnPPO expression in rhizome illustrated its mRNA level was significantly elevated, which was consistent with the change of NnPPO activity during rhizome browning. Therefore, transcriptional activation of NnPPO was probably the main reason causing rhizome browning.

Identification and characterization of chalcone synthase cDNAs (NnCHS) from Nelumbo nucifera.

Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyzes the first committed step in flavonoids biosynthetic pathway. In this study, six full-length cDNAs (NnCHS) encoding CHS from Nelumbo nucifera were successfully isolated, using rapid amplification cDNA end (RACE) assay. The obtained cDNAs were 1426 bp in size, containing a 1167 bp open reading frame coding 389 amino acids. Exons-intron architecture of NnCHS gene was illustrated, consisting two exons inserted by a 426 bp intron. The putative NnCHS possessed all the conserved active sites for CHS function as well as the family signature. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that NnCHS shared high homology with CHS from high plants, and the homology-based structural modeling showed that NnCHS had the typical structure of CHS. Moreover, Real-time PCR assays demonstrated that NnCHS mRNAs were expressed in various tissues of N. nucifera, with the highest expression in red flower and lowest level in the leaves. Moreover, patterns of NnCHS expression illustrated short-time wounding or low temperature significantly induced the up-regulation of NnCHS mRNA.

[Effect of intracerebroventricular injections of ANG II and ANG II antibody on renal sodium excretion and Na+.K(+)-ATPase in rat].

In anesthetized rats, it was observed that intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) microinjection of angiotensin II (ANG II) in a dose of 16 pg evoked a significant increase in renal sodium excretion which began within 15 min and lasted for 90 min. The activity of Na+.K(+)-ATPase in renal cortex after I.C.V. microinjection of ANG II (1.51 +/- 0.26 mumol Pi/mg Pro.h) was inhibited as compared with that of the control injecting of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (2.66 +/- 0.28 mumol Pi/mg Pro.h, P less than 0.01). There was no change in mean arterial pressure. Within 15 min after I.C.V. administration of ANG II antibody, however, and antinatriuretic period of 135 min and a higher activity of Na+.K(+)-ATPase in renal cortex (3.61 +/- 0.34 mumol Pi/mg Pro.h, P less than 0.05 compared with control) were observed. There was no natriuresis in the animals microinjected with ANG II either into femoral vein or into spinal subarachnoid space. The result of the present investigation suggests that brain endogenous ANG II may possess some natriuretic activity possibly through inhibiting renal Na+.K(+)-ATPase activity.