Establishment of a blue light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro.

To establish a blue-light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Fourth-generation human RPE cells were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, cells were exposed to blue light (2000 ± 500 lux) for 0 (control), 3, 6, 9, and 12 h, and cell culture was stopped after 12 h. In group B, cells were exposed to blue light at the same intensity and time periods, but cell culture was stopped after 24 h. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to determine the most suitable illuminating time with apoptotic index. Flow cytometry was used to determine apoptotic ratio of RPEs. In group A, the apoptotic index of cells that received 6, 9 and 12 h of blue light was higher than that of control. The apoptotic index of cells receiving 9 and 12 h was higher than that of 6 h (P = 0.000). In group B, the apoptotic index and RPE cell apoptosis ratio of cells exposed to 6, 9 and 12 h of blue light were higher than that of 3 h (P = 0.000); and cells receiving 9 and 12 h had higher values than that of 6 h. This study demonstrated that the best conditions to establish a blue light damage model of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro are 2000 ± 500 lux light intensity for 6 h, with 24 h of cell culture post-exposure.

Tetradecyl 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in adult rats.

Tetradecyl 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate (ABG001) is a small molecule separated from gentian extract that has a similar effect to nerve growth factor. It is not clear whether it can promote functional recovery in animals suffering from a central nervous system injury. In order to explore the role of ABG001 in restoration of tissue structure and motor function of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), ABG001 (0.4 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. Subsequently, behavioral assessments and morphological studies were performed to detect recovery of hind limb motor function and neuroregeneration. The results showed that compared with DMSO group, the rats in the ABG treatment group had better performance in BBB score and grip strength test (P < 0.05), the area of necrosis was smaller (P < 0.05), GFAP expression was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and Map-2 expression was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Additionally, after ABG treatment, the number of fluorogold positive cells transported reversely to red nucleus increased (P < 0.05). The results suggest that ABG001 can promote recovery of hind limb motor function in rats with SCI, which may be related to its functions of inhibiting glial cell proliferation and promoting neuroregeneration.

Balance between inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus.

To investigate the cytokine profile in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and central nervous system infection, we measured interferon-g (IFN-g), interleukin-1b (IL-1b), IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-17 levels in serum and CSF from 50 SLE patients and 38 matched controls. In patients with active compared to quiescent disease, serum levels were higher for IL-1b (P = 0.042) and IL-17 (P = 0.041) but we found no significant correlation between IL-1b and IL-17 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (r = 0.055, r = 0.219, respectively). IL-10 level in active patients was lower compared to that in quiescent controls (P = 0.032). When comparing specific disease manifestations, IL-1b levels in patients with fever (P = 0.035) and IL-6 (P = 0.048) and IL-8 (P = 0.048) levels in those showing nervous system involvement were higher than in controls. Based on MRI results, we found that only increased cerebral ischemia was associated with increased IFN-g levels (P = 0.009). In neuropsychiatric lupus erythematous patients, CSF levels of IL-6 (P = 0.002), IL-8 (P = 0.009), and IL-17 (P = 0.034) were significantly higher when compared with control patients. IL-10:IL-1b ratio in patients with moderate and quiescent disease was higher than in patients with disease activity (P = 0.000). Pro-inflammatory adaptive cytokines were elevated during disease flare, while regulatory mediators were elevated during periods of stable disease. Alterations in the balance between inflammatory and regulatory mediators may be targets for novel immunotherapeutic agents for managing autoimmune diseases.

Bone histomorphometry detection of autologous bone powder graft repair of partial mandibular defects in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to understand the effect of autologous bone powder graft repair of partial mandibular defects of rabbits by the quantitative detection of bone formation. New Zealand rabbits (N = 18) were selected as the test objects, and subjected to bilateral partial mandibular defect induction. One side of the mandibular defect acted as the test group, upon which the autologous bone powder backfilling graft was performed; the other side was put aside and acted as the negative control group. All used an autogenous control. At the twelfth postoperative week, the animals were sacrificed, and semi-automatic image analysis was used to conduct bone histomorphometric detection. Immediately subsequent, quantitative detection of bone formation was performed in the test group. Fluorescent perimeter percent, mineralization apposition rate, and bone formation rate were selected as the dynamic indicators; and trabecular area percent, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and trabecular separation degree were selected as the static indicators for single factorial variance testing. It was found that the values of P are less than 0.05 between the test group and the control group, indicating that the effect of autologous bone powder graft repair on partial mandibular defects in rabbits was positive.

Pathway-based network analysis of myeloma tumors: monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and multiple myeloma.

Although many studies have been carried out on monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significances (MGUS), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and multiple myeloma (MM), their classification and underlying pathogenesis are far from elucidated. To discover the relationships among MGUS, SMM, and MM at the transcriptome level, differentially expressed genes in MGUS, SMM, and MM were identified by the rank product method, and then co-expression networks were constructed by integrating the data. Finally, a pathway-network was constructed based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, and the relationships between the pathways were identified. The results indicated that there were 55, 78, and 138 pathways involved in the myeloma tumor developmental stages of MGUS, SMM, and MM, respectively. The biological processes identified therein were found to have a close relationship with the immune system. Processes and pathways related to the abnormal activity of DNA and RNA were also present in SMM and MM. Six common pathways were found in the whole process of myeloma tumor development. Nine pathways were shown to participate in the progression of MGUS to SMM, and prostate cancer was the sole pathway that was involved only in MGUS and MM. Pathway-network analysis might provide a new indicator for the developmental stage diagnosis of myeloma tumors.