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Objective To investigate the effect of silencing alpha tubulin acetyltransferase 1(α-TAT1)on migration behavior of endothelial cells induced by hepatopulmonary syndrome(HPS).Methods Online database Tabula Muris was used to analyze the expression of α-TAT1 in various cell subsets in the lungs.Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(Sham group,n=6)and common bile duct ligation group(HPS group,n=18).The rats in HPS group were euthanasized at 2 and 4 weeks after modelling,and then the expression of α-TAT1 in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells was detected by immunofluorescence colocalization.The sera from the Sham and HPS rats were used to stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)for 12 and 24 h,respectively.Then the obtained HUVECs were divided into 4 groups:Sham serum+siRNA NC group,Sham serum+siRNA α-TAT1 group,HPS serum+siRNA NC group,HPS serum+siRNA α-TAT1 group.The expression levels of α-TAT1 and Ace-α-tubulin in HUVECs were detected by Western blotting.Immunofluorescence assay was applied to observe the levels of polymerized microtubules of α-Tubulin in HUVECs after nocodazole(10 μmol/L)pretreatment to evaluate the stability of microtubule structure.Cell scratch assay combined with cell immunofluorescence assay was employed to observe the nuclear localization of Golgi apparatus and cell migration ability of HUVECs.The angiogenesis ability of HUVECs was tested by in vitro angiogenesis test.Results In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the expression of α-TAT1 in endothelial cells was significantly increased after HPS inducement.The expression levels of α-TAT1 and Ace-α-tubulin were significantly down-regulated,and the stability of microtubules was weakened in the siRNA α-TAT1 interference group(P＜0.01).In addition,the distribution of GM 130 labeled Golgi apparatus in the protrusion of HUVECs was down-regulated in the siRNAα-TAT1 interference group,as well as the migration ability(P＜0.01).And the length of angiogenesis and network level were also significantly declined(P＜0.01).Conclusion Silencing α-TAT1 reduces the migrαtion and angiogenesis of endothelial cells in HPS,which was associated with weakened stabilization of microtubule.
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BACKGROUND:Previous brain studies have mostly focused on adults and fetuses,and the developmental characteristics of young children's brainstems have rarely been studied. OBJECTIVE:To observe the brainstem development characteristics of healthy young children and to explore the age-related differences and their correlation with sex. METHODS:From January 2019 to April 2022,a retrospective study of 3.0T MRI images of 174 children aged 2 to 6 years in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University was conducted,and the median sagittal diameter,area and angle of the brainstem(including midbrain,pons and medulla oblongata)were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There is an age-related increase in the anterior and posterior diameters of the midbrain,pons and medulla oblongata in the 2-5 years old group as well as in the longitudinal diameter and area of the midbrain,pons and medulla oblongata in the 2-6 years old group.Except for the longitudinal diameter of the medulla oblongata,all others show a positive correlation with age(r>0,P<0.05).In the 2-3 years old group and 4-5 years old group,the children are in the rapid growth and development stage,and these two age groups can be used as the key observation indicators for the development of young children.The anterior-posterior diameter,longitudinal diameter,area of the pons and total brainstem area are strongly correlated with age,which can be used as the key observation indicators for the brainstem development in young children.
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BACKGROUND:The lower cervical vertebral pedicle is the main stress site of the posterior column of the spine,which is of great significance for the maintenance of the stability of the human center of gravity and the reduction of shock.At present,there are few reports on the characteristics of the internal bone trabeculae,and the characteristics of the joint site of the vertebral pedicle with the articular process and the vertebral body.It is urgent to understand the fine anatomical structure of the vertebral pedicle and the relationship and function of each part. OBJECTIVE:To observe the microanatomical morphology of the vertebral pedicle by Micro-CT scanning of cervical vertebra specimens,and to measure and analyze the microstructure and morphometric parameters of the bone trabecula in the cervical pedicle under normal conditions to evaluate the safety performance of the cervical spine. METHODS:Micro-CT scanning was performed on 31 sets of cervical vertebrae C3-C7.By checking and reconstructing the areas of interest in the bone trabecular within the vertebral pedicle,the morphological characteristics and distribution direction of the bone trabecular within the cervical pedicle were observed,and the bone microstructure parameters were detected,and the differences in the bone microstructure of the C3-C7 vertebral pedicle were analyzed and compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The Micro-CT images showed that the honeycomb bone trabeculae of the pedicle of the lower cervical spine presented a complex network of microstructures.The trabeculae near the cortical bone were lamellar and relatively compact,extending forward toward the vertebral body and backward toward the articular process lamina.Abatoid bone trabeculae extended into the medullary cavity and transformed into a network structure,and then into rod-shaped bone trabeculae.The rod-shaped bone trabeculae were sparsely distributed in the medullary cavity.(2)Statistical results of morphological parameters of bone trabeculae showed that bone volume fraction values in C4 and C5 were higher than that in C7(P＜0.05).The bone surface/bone volume value in C7 was higher than that in C3,C4 and C6(P＜0.05).The bone surface density of bone trabeculae in C7 was higher than that in C3,C4,C5 and C6(P＜0.05).Trabecular thickness in C7 was higher than that in C3,C4 and C5(P＜0.05).Bone surface/bone volume and bone surface density of the left pedicle bone trabecular were greater than those on the right side(P＜0.05).(3)The microstructural changes of C3-C7 were summarized,in which the load capacity and stress of the C7 pedicle were poor,and the risk of injury was high in this area.
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BACKGROUND:Nowadays,there are increasing reports on the digitization and visualization system of acupuncture points for adults in traditional Chinese medicine,and the digitization and visualization system of acupuncture points for children in traditional Chinese medicine and the simulation system of acupuncture manipulation for Mongolian medicine training have been reported.However,there are no reports on relevant systems for children in Mongolian medicine. OBJECTIVE:To develop a simulation system of acupuncture points for children in Mongolian medicine,in the hope that it can be used for clinical teaching,manipulation practice and research on acupuncture safety. METHODS:Based on the tomographic anatomical dataset of preschool boys,a three-dimensional(3D)digital virtual anatomical model of children with multiple internal organs and tissues was constructed by using PhotoShop.2021 and Digihuman Reconstruction System software.The relevant annotation information database of 27 acupoints such as Dinghui acupoint of Mongolian medicine was compiled by the Unity database language.The Mongolian gold needle and silver needle were selected to record the acupuncture point teaching video on the 3D printed head and neck resin model of children.In Unity3D software,children's anatomical model,acupoint annotation information database and acupuncture operation video were integrated and coded,and a 3D digital children's Mongolian acupuncture acupoint visualization system integrating simulation acupuncture training,clinical teaching and acupuncture safety research was successfully created. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:This study was based on real children's specimens.In order to reduce the error of two-dimensional segmentation,the manual layer-by-layer segmentation section image method was used to ensure the accuracy of the 3D model to the greatest extent.The Digihuman Reconstruction System was used to extract and save the individual segmentation data while maximizing the accuracy of the 3D model.PhotoShop.2021 software was used to complete the 3D reconstruction of the outer skin of the head and neck of children and the internal bony structure,cervical spinal cord,blood vessels and nerves,muscles and ligaments.After 3D reconstruction,the basic morphology of each independent structure and the integrity of the overall contour were verified in MeshLab software and the final fine adjustment and anatomical position confirmation were conducted using 3-matic research 13.0 software.The real anatomical morphology of the head and neck of preschool children was successfully simulated and restored.Unity3D software was used to integrate the 3D model of children,acupuncture operation video and acupoint annotation database,and the 3D digital Mongolian acupuncture acupoint visualization system for children was successfully constructed.Based on the real continuous fault ultra-thin dataset of preschool boys in China,China's first 3D digitization and visualization system of acupuncture points in the head and neck of children in Mongolian medicine was developed.Compared with the previous acupuncture soft works,this system is more suitable for the anatomical morphological development characteristics of Asian children,and has a high value of application in the fields of research on the safety of acupuncture in Mongolian medicine,clinical teaching and acupuncture simulation training.
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Objective:To explore the effects of phased goal directed fluid therapy (GDFT) during anesthesia surgery on tissue perfusion and cognitive function in patients undergoing radical lung cancer surgery.Methods:A total of 108 lung cancer patients were prospectively selected and randomly divided into a control group and a study group using a random number table method. The control group received classical restrictive liquid therapy, while the study group received staged GDFT. We compared the surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, colloid fluid dosage, crystalloid fluid dosage, total output, and urine volume between two groups of patients; Two groups of patients were compared in terms of oxygenation index (OI), respiratory index (RI), central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO 2), lactate (Lac), central venous arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference (Pcv-aCO 2), oxygen supply index (DO 2I), and oxygen uptake rate (O 2ERe) before anesthesia induction (T 0), before single lung ventilation (T 1), 1 hour of single lung ventilation (T 2), immediate resumption of dual lung ventilation (T 3), 30 minutes of dual lung ventilation (T 4), and after surgery (T 5); The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate the cognitive function scores of two groups of patients 1 day before surgery and 1 and 3 days after surgery, while recording the incidence of cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and pulmonary complications (including pulmonary infection, acute lung injury, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema, atelectasis, etc.) within 3 days after surgery. Results:The amount of crystal fluid and urine output in the research group was significantly lower than that in the control group, while the amount of colloidal fluid was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05). The OI of the study group T 1-T 5 was significantly higher than that of the control group, while the RI of T 2-T 5 was significantly lower than that of the control group (all P<0.05). The ScvO 2 of the study group T 1 to T 5 was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the Lac was significantly lower than that of the control group (all P<0.05); The MMSE scores of both groups of patients were significantly lower than those before surgery on day 1 and 3 after surgery, and the MMSE scores of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group on day 1 and 3 after surgery (all P<0.05). The incidence of POCD within 3 days after surgery in the study group was 16.67%(9/54), lower than 37.04%(20/54) in the control group (χ 2=5.704, P=0.017); The incidence of pulmonary complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group (5.56% vs 22.22%, χ 2=4.955, P=0.026). Conclusions:The application of staged GDFT during anesthesia in patients undergoing radical lung cancer surgery can further improve tissue perfusion, improve microcirculation and oxygen supply-demand balance of systemic organs and tissues, including the brain, alleviate perioperative brain function damage, and reduce the occurrence of postoperative POCD compared to conventional liquid therapy.
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Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by Dabie bandavirus (DBV), characterized by fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and multiple organ damage. Immune dysfunction induced by DBV is closely associated with the pathogenesis of SFTS. Monocytes/macrophages that are essential in innate immunity are the target cells of DBV, and their interaction with DBV plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SFTS. The review summarizes the progress in the features and mechanisms of monocyte/macrophage-mediated immune responses to DBV infection.
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Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on interleukin(IL)-9/IL-9 receptor(IL-9R)in the colon tissue of rats with ulcerative colitis(UC)and investigate the protective mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion on the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC rats. Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control(NC)group and a modeling group.UC models were prepared by giving 4%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)water for 7 d.After the successful construction of the UC rat model,the modeling group was randomly divided into a UC group,a herb-insulated moxibustion(HM)group,and an electroacupuncture(EA)group.HM and EA interventions at bilateral Tianshu(ST25)were performed once a day for 7 d.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colon.The serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,IL-1β,and hemoglobin-H(HbH)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The protein expression levels of IL-9,IL-9R,claudin-2,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),and occludin in the colon tissue were measured by Western blotting or immuno-histochemistry.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-expression of PU.1 and CD4 with the IL-9 protein. Results:Compared with the NC group,the colon tissue of UC rats was severely damaged and ulcerated with congestion and edema,and the colonic histopathological score increased significantly(P<0.01).The serum HbH concentration decreased significantly(P<0.01),while the serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β increased(P<0.01).The protein expression of colonic ZO-1 and occludin decreased significantly(P<0.01),while the protein expression of colonic IL-9 and IL-9R increased(P<0.05).The positive co-expression levels of IL-9/PU.1 and IL-9/CD4 increased in the colon tissue(P<0.05).Compared with the UC group,the colonic mucosal structures were gradually repaired in both HM group and EA group,and healed ulcers could be observed,the colonic histopathological score decreased significantly(P<0.05).The serum concentration of HbH increased(P<0.01),while the serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β decreased(P<0.05).The protein expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin increased(P<0.05),while the protein expression levels of IL-9 and IL-9R decreased(P<0.01).The positive co-expression levels of IL-9/PU.1 and IL-9/CD4 decreased in the colon tissue(P<0.05). Conclusion:Both HM and EA can inhibit the protein expression levels of IL-9 and IL-9R in the UC colon by regulating the transcription factor PU.1,promote the repair of intestinal mucosal barrier,and down-regulate protein contents of proinflammatory factors IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β in the serum,which may be one of the key mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in reducing the inflammation of UC colonic mucosa and protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier.
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Objective To investigate the relationship between serum miR-505,miR-15 and endoscopic activity of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods 98 patients with UC from May 2020 to May 2022 were selected as the observation group,and 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)were selected as the control group during the same period.The modified Mayo score was used to evaluate the endoscopic activity in patients with UC,and the relationship among the changes of serum miR-505 and miR-15 levels and the endoscopic activity in patients with UC was analyzed.Results The level of serum miR-505 in observation group was lower than that in control group,while the level of miR-15 in observation group was higher than that in control group(P<0.05).The level of serum miR-505 in patients with active UC was lower than that in patients with the healing stage,while the level of serum miR-15 in patients with active UC was higher than that in patients with healing stage(P<0.05).The serum miR-505 level of E3 type was lower than that of E2 type and E1 type,and the serum miR-15 level of E3 type was higher than that of E2 type and E1 type(P<0.05).The Mayo score of type E3 was higher than that of type E2 and E1(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum miR-505 was negatively correlated with Mayo score(r =-0.51,P<0.05),while serum miR-15 was positively correlated with Mayo score(r = 0.54,P<0.05).Receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve)results showed that the cut-off value of miR-505 was 0.93,and the area under the curve(AUC)for evaluating the endoscopic activity of patients with UC was 0.67(95%CI:0.659～0.785),and the sensitivity and specificity were 73.24%and 68.55%,respectively.The cut-off value of miR-15 was 0.85,and the AUC for evaluating the endoscopic activity of patients with UC was 0.69(95%CI:0.672～0.814),and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.38%and 69.72%,respectively.The AUC for the joint evaluation of UC by both was 0.82(95%CI:0.809～0.912),and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.56%and 68.49%,respectively.Conclusion Serum miR-505 levels decrease and serum miR-15 levels increase in UC patients than IBS,and the level is closely related to patients'pathological conditions and endoscopic activity.Combined detection of serum miR-505 and miR-15 has a good value in evaluating endoscopic activity in UC patients.
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ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the incidence rate of low-level viremia （LLV） in chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients and related influencing factors， and to provide evidence-based medicine evidence for effective intervention and prevention of LLV in clinical practice. MethodsThis study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline， with a PROSPERO registration number of CRD42023455304. CNKI， Wanfang Data， VIP， SinoMed， PubMed， Embase， Web of Science， and the Cochrane library were searched for observational studies on LLV and related influencing factors in CHB patients published up to July 21， 2023. Stata 16.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 12 articles were included， with a total sample size of 3408 cases， among whom there were 1181 patients with LLV. The meta-analysis showed that the incidence rate of LLV was 32.8% （95% confidence interval ［CI］： 27.6% — 38.3%） in treatment-experienced CHB patients. High HBsAg quantification （odds ratio ［OR］=2.107， 95%CI： 1.782 — 2.491， P<0.001）， positive HBeAg （OR=3.258， 95%CI： 2.629 — 4.038， P<0.001）， high HBV DNA level at baseline （OR=1.286， 95%CI： 1.157 — 1.430， P<0.001）， and history of entecavir treatment （OR=3.089， 95%CI： 1.880 — 5.074， P<0.001） were risk factors for LLV； duration of antiviral therapy ≥3 years （OR=0.175， 95%CI： 0.093 — 0.331， P<0.001） and high alanine aminotransferase level at baseline （OR=0.985， 95%CI： 0.978 — 0.992， P<0.001） were protective factors against LLV. The sensitivity analysis showed no significant change in effective value， suggesting that the results of the meta-analysis were relatively stable. The funnel plot of the studies included was basically symmetrical， and the results of the Egger’s test and the Begg’s test suggested that there was no obvious publication bias in the articles included. ConclusionClinicians should guide decision making based on the influencing factors for LLV and related clinical evidence， so as to reduce long-term clinical risks and avoid adverse outcomes.
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ObjectiveTo establish a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） method for rapid distinguishing Periplocae Cortex from Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex， so as to avoid the influence of genetic confusion on drug safety. MethodThe DSS-tagged sequences of Periplocae Cortex were obtained from the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource （CGIR） and analyzed to find the enzymatic cleavage sites that were different from those of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex. The specific enzymatic cleavage site， Cla I， of Periplocae Cortex was selected， on the basis of which the primers for PCR-RFLP were designed. Furthermore， the factors such as annealing temperature， number of cycles， Taq enzyme， PCR instruments， and enzymatic treatment time that may influence PCR-RFLP were studied. The established PCR-RFLP method was applied to the identification of Periplocae Cortex， Acanthopanacis Cortex， and Lycii Cortex samples produced in different regions. ResultThe PCR-RFLP at the annealing temperature of 59 ℃ and with 40 cycles showed clear bands of the samples. When the enzyme digestion time was 30 min. The reaction produced the target bands at about 140 bp and 290 bp for both Periplocae Cortex and its original plant and only a band at about 430 bp for Acanthopanacis Cortex， Lycii Cortex， and their original plants. The method can accurately distinguish Periplocae Cortex from its confounders Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex. ConclusionThe PCR-RFLP method for distinguishing Periplocae Cortex from Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex was established. It has high stability， sensitivity， and applicability， providing a reference for the quality control of Periplocae Cortex， Acanthopanacis Cortex， and Lycii Cortex.
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Small cell transformation was one mechanism by which EGFR-mutation NSCLC acquired resistance after tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. A few reports of small cell transformation occurred in other oncogene-driven lung cancers. We found the first case of transformation of a RET-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma to SCLC after selpercatinib, a novel highly selective RET TKIs. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used to explore alteration in gene expression in tumor tissue at initial diagnosis and after transformation into small cell carcinoma. We found that transformed into SCLC tumor tissue had inactivation of RB1 and TP53, with RET fusion was still present. In addition, the APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases appeared amplification. Although RET rearrangement still existed, using another RET TKIs was ineffective, and etoposide plus platinum might be an effective rescue treatment.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma of Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Exome Sequencing , ErbB Receptors/genetics , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/drug therapy , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/genetics , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology , Adenocarcinoma of Lung/drug therapy , Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/geneticsABSTRACT
MEK is a canonical effector of mutant KRAS; however, MEK inhibitors fail to yield satisfactory clinical outcomes in KRAS-mutant cancers. Here, we identified mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) induction as a profound metabolic alteration to confer KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resistance to the clinical MEK inhibitor trametinib. Metabolic flux analysis demonstrated that pyruvate metabolism and fatty acid oxidation were markedly enhanced and coordinately powered the OXPHOS system in resistant cells after trametinib treatment, satisfying their energy demand and protecting them from apoptosis. As molecular events in this process, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase IA (CPTIA), two rate-limiting enzymes that control the metabolic flux of pyruvate and palmitic acid to mitochondrial respiration were activated through phosphorylation and transcriptional regulation. Importantly, the co-administration of trametinib and IACS-010759, a clinical mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that blocks OXPHOS, significantly impeded tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival. Overall, our findings reveal that MEK inhibitor therapy creates a metabolic vulnerability in the mitochondria and further develop an effective combinatorial strategy to circumvent MEK inhibitors resistance in KRAS-driven NSCLC.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides （LBP） in promoting the activation of RAW264.7 macrophages. MethodRAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with LBP at different concentrations （50， 100， 200 mg·L-1）， and those stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） at 100 μg·L-1 and galactose （Gal） at 100 mg·L-1 as positive controls. After 24 h of LBP stimulation， the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to detect the survival rate of RAW264.7 macrophages treated with LBP （0， 50， 100， 200， 400， 800 mg·L-1）. The levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-12 （IL-12） in cell culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， and nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） in Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/Toll-like receptor 2 （TLR2）/macrophage galactose-type lectin （MGL） pathway of RAW264.7 macrophages was detected by Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. ResultCCK-8 results showed that compared with the results in the blank group， the survival rate of RAW264.7 macrophages decreased in the 400， 800 mg·L-1 LBP groups （P<0.05）. ELISA results showed that compared with the blank group， 50 mg·L-1 LBP could promote the secretion of IL-12 in RAW264.7 macrophages （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， 100 mg·L-1 LBP and 200 mg·L-1 LBP could promote the secretion of IL-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group， the LBP groups （50， 100， 200 mg·L-1） enhanced protein expression levels of MAPK key molecules （p-p38 MAPK， p-ERK， p-NF-κB， and p-JNK） in TLR4， TLR2， and MGL pathways （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the 200 mg·L-1 LBP group could promote the expression level of p-NF-κB protein in RAW264.7 macrophages （P<0.01）. Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the blank group， the LBP groups （50， 100， and 200 mg·L-1） enhanced the mRNA expression levels of MAPK key molecules （p38 MAPK， ERK， NF-κB， and JNK） in TLR4 and TLR2 pathways （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the 50 and 200 mg·L-1 LBP groups could promote the mRNA expression levels of JNK and ERK2 in RAW264.7 macrophages （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLBP can regulate the activation of RAW264.7 macrophages and participate in the immune response through the TLR2/TLR4/MGL pathway.
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Objective:To explore the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for ulcerative colitis(UC)from the perspective of the P2X7 receptor(P2X7R)-nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome pathway. Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a normal(N)group,a model(M)group,a herb-partitioned moxibustion(HM)group,and an electroacupuncture(EA)group.For modeling,the rats drank 4%dextran sulfate sodium for 7 d.Rats in the HM group and EA group received 7 consecutive days of HM or EA at bilateral Tianshu(ST25),respectively.The histopathological change in colon tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the protein expression of related molecules in the colon tissue,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the concentrations or contents of related molecules in the serum and colon tissue.Wild-type(WT)and P2X7R gene knockout(KO)mice were used to construct UC models,histopathological changes in the colon tissue were observed by HE staining,and the NLRP3 protein expression in the colon tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results:Compared with the N group,the colon histopathological score in the M group was significantly increased,and the protein expression of P2X7R,NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC),Caspase-1,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-18(IL-18)in the colon tissue and the protein levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the M group,the histopathological scores of the colon in the HM group and the EA group were significantly decreased,and the protein expression levels of P2X7R,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 in the colon tissue and the protein level of IL-18 in the serum were significantly decreased(P<0.05).After UC modeling,the colonic mucosal epithelial damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in P2X7R KO mice were less than those in WT mice,and the NLRP3 protein expression in the colon was also decreased compared with that in WT mice(P<0.05). Conclusion:HM and EA at Tianshu(ST25)may inhibit the protein activities of P2X7R,NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 in the colon tissue of rats with UC,thereby reducing the downstream molecules IL-1β and IL-18 in the P2X7R-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway to relieve UC inflammation.
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Objective:To explore the effects of whole-body fatigue on the balance and ankle proprioception during drop landing of individuals with functional ankle instability(FAI)by comparing the differences in balance and pro-prioception between the FAI group and the control group before and after fatigue. Method:A total of 31 participants with unilateral FAI and 31 healthy participants were included in this study.A static balance test,dynamic balance test,and ankle proprioception test were conducted before and after fa-tigue.Sway distance(D)of the center of pressure(COP),root mean square of the COP(RMS),95％confi-dence ellipse area of the COP movements(95％AREA),normalized reach distance,and the area under the curve(AUC)were calculated and analyzed. Result:Before whole-body fatigue,the static balance,dynamic balance,and ankle proprioception during drop landing in FAI group were significantly lower than those in control group.After whole-body fatigue,the static balance,dynamic balance,and ankle proprioception during drop landing in the FAI group and control group decreased significantly(P＜0.05),and the increase of D,RMS and 95％AREA in FAI group were significant-ly larger than those in control group(P＜0.05),and the decrease of normalized reach distance in the postero-medial and posterolateral directions and AUC were significantly larger than those in control group(P＜0.05). Conclusion:Whole-body fatigue reduced the static balance,dynamic balance,and ankle proprioception,and the reduction was larger in FAI individuals than in healthy individuals.Therefore,whole-body fatigue may in-crease the risk of recurrent ankle sprain by reducing posture control and proprioception in FAI individuals.
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Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for ulcerative colitis (UC) and elucidate its mechanism by targeting the vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathway. Methods: A total of 63 patients with UC were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion) and a control group (33 cases, treated with sham herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion). Moxibustion treatment was performed at Qihai (CV6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37), 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The total effective rate, visual analog scale (VAS) score for abdominal bloating and pain, and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score were compared between the two groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the concentrations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and interleukin-12 (IL-12)/interleukin-23 (IL-23) p40. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression levels of VDR and regenerating gene Ⅳ (Reg Ⅳ) proteins in colonic mucosa. The expression levels of VDR, cytochrome p45027B1 (CYP27B1), and Reg Ⅳ mRNAs were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitive polymerase chain reaction. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7％, which was significantly higher than 51.5％ in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores for abdominal bloating and pain in the observation group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), as well as the HADS-depression subscale (HADS-D) and HADS-anxiety subscale (HADS) scores (P<0.05), while only the VAS score for abdominal pain in the control group was reduced (P<0.05), and the improvements of the scores in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum CRP concentrations in both groups and the IL-12/IL-23 p40 concentration in the observation group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the concentrations in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of VDR protein and mRNA in the colon in both groups were all increased (P<0.01), and the expression levels of Reg Ⅳ protein and mRNA and CYP27B1 mRNA were all decreased in the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the improvements in the observation group were more notable than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can effectively alleviate abdominal pain and diarrhea in patients with UC, improve depression and anxiety disorders, and regulate the expression of related proteins in the VDR signaling pathway. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting intestinal inflammation by reducing the release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12/IL-23 p40.
ABSTRACT
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) harms mammalian testis development, yet the specific mechanism of its effect on sperm quality and function is unclear. In this study, male mice were administrated DEHP (200 mg/kg/day) via intragastric (i.g.) injection for 35 days. The sperm quality and function of DEHP-exposed mice were evaluated. DEHP exposure reduced the relative testis weight and serum testosterone levels. In addition, sperm count and motility parameters decreased significantly, which led to reduced sperm fertility characterized by reduced acrosome reaction rate, sperm-egg binding capacity and blastocyte formation. DEHP exposure decreased anti-oxidant indicators and the expressions of Cat, Sod1, Prdx6 and Sirt1 in the testis. DEHP-exposure also resulted in decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in mice testis, as well as the dose-dependent inhibition of the proliferation of GC-1 and GC-2 cells. These phenotypes may be related to increased cell apoptosis characterized by BAX/BCL2 and P53 up-regulation. DEHP exposure resulted in the down-regulation of SIRT1 and p-AKT in mice testis and decreased levels of GC-1and GC-2 cells. DEHP co-incubation with sperm in vitro resulted in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation and progressive motility, as well as p-AKT expression in capacitated sperm. Differential sperm proteomics identified 495 differentially expressed proteins, including 257 proteins down-regulated in the DEHP-exposure group. Bioinformatics analysis showed that proteins involved in sperm-egg interaction and fertilization processes were significantly down-regulated. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the adhesion pathway was enriched in down-regulated proteins, while the pathway associated with ribosomes was enriched in up-regulated proteins. Conclusively, DEHP exposure impaired male fertility by affecting sperm quality and function, and a pathway mediating the DEHP-induced decline in sperm quality and function was identified. The study provides additional information for understanding the molecular mechanisms of DEHP exposure and its effects on male reproduction.
Subject(s)
Diethylhexyl Phthalate , Semen , Animals , Male , Mice , Diethylhexyl Phthalate/toxicity , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Semen/drug effects , Sirtuin 1/metabolism , Spermatozoa , TestisABSTRACT
The prevalence of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 is rapidly increasing in India and Nepal. In addition, BA.2.75 has been detected in at least 34 other countries and is spreading globally. However, the virological features of BA.2.75 are largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the replicative ability and pathogenicity of BA.2.75 clinical isolates in Syrian hamsters. Although we found no substantial differences in weight change among hamsters infected with BA.2, BA.5, or BA.2.75, the replicative ability of BA.2.75 in the lungs was higher than that of BA.2 and BA.5. Of note, BA.2.75 caused focal viral pneumonia in hamsters, characterized by patchy inflammation interspersed in alveolar regions, which was not observed in BA.5-infected hamsters. Moreover, in competition assays, BA.2.75 replicated better than BA.5 in the lungs of hamsters. These results suggest that BA.2.75 can cause more severe respiratory disease than BA.5 and BA.2 and should be closely monitored.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is associated with poor clinical prognosis and lacks available targeted therapy. Given that the major threat of cancer is metastasis, delineation of the molecular mechanism underlying it would help devise therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional role of protocadherin alpha 3 (PCDHA3) in LUSC, as well as investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Data for PCDHA3 expression and clinical information in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were extracted and analyzed in the UALCAN platform. Expression levels of PCDHA3 in LUSC cell lines were analyzed via RT-PCR and western blot. Overexpression of PCDHA3 was conducted via plasmid transfection. CCK-8 and cell cycle assays were utilized to investigate effect of PCDHA3 on cell proliferation. Transwell assay was used to detect migration and invasion. The underlying mechanism was demonstrated via western blot analysis. RESULTS: Our data indicate that PCDHA3 was low expressed in three kinds of LUSC cell lines and best in H520 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of PCDHA3 could significantly impair LUSC cells proliferation, invasion and migration. Moreover, PCHDA3 repressed the biomarkers of mesenchymal (N-cadherin, fibronectin and vimentin) and increased expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and α-catenin). On the other hand, PCDHA3 overexpression partially blocked epithelial-mesenchymal transition. CONCLUSIONS: PCDHA3 suppressed the LUSC cells proliferation, invasion and migration via inhibiting the expression of EMT signatures, suggesting that PCDHA3 could serve as a valuable therapeutic target for LUSC therapy.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Lung Neoplasms , Protocadherins , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/genetics , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Lung/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics , Protocadherins/geneticsABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the colonic mucosal barrier of rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a modeling group, with 20 rats in each group. Rats in the modeling group were subjected to preparing experimental UC models by drinking 4％ DSS for seven consecutive days. Two modeled rats and two normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the success of UC model was confirmed, the remaining 18 modeled rats were randomly divided into three groups, a model group, a model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a model + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group; the remaining normal rats were randomly divided into three groups, a normal group, a normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a normal + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group. After 7 d of intervention with the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion or the mild moxibustion, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining technique was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue under a light microscope; Western blotting and/or immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, junction adhesion molecular 1 (JAM1), mucin 2 (MUC2), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tissue was severely damaged, the pathological score was significantly increased, and the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01); while there were no significant differences in the colonic histopathological score, protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the normal + mild moxibustion group (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the model + mild moxibustion group showed repaired colon tissue, ulcer healing, significantly reduced pathological score, and significantly increased protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 (P<0.05); the Occludin protein expression level in the colon tissue of the model + mild moxibustion group was increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Neither herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion nor mild moxibustion influences the colonic histopathology and intestinal mucosal barrier-related protein expression in the normal rats; both herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and mild moxibustion can up-regulate the protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the colon tissue of UC rats. Mild moxibustion can up-regulate Occludin protein expression. This may be a mechanism of moxibustion in reducing colonic mucosa inflammation in UC.