Amuc_1100 pretreatment alleviates acute pancreatitis in a mouse model through regulating gut microbiota and inhibiting inflammatory infiltration.

Amuc_1100 is a membrane protein from Akkermansia muciniphila, which has been found to play a role in host immunological homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by activating TLR2 and TLR4. In this study we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Amuc_1100 on acute pancreatitis (AP) induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The mice were treated with the protein Amuc_1100 (3 µg, i.g.) for 20 days before caerulein injection. Cecal contents of the mice were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that pretreatment with Amuc_1100 significantly alleviated AP-associated pancreatic injury, reduced serum amylase and lipase. Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IFN-γ and IL-6) in spleen and pancreas through inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly decreased the inflammatory infiltration, accompanied by the reduction of Ly6C+ macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen of AP mice. Gut microbiome analysis showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Desulfobacterota and Campilobacterota was decreased, while the proportion of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota was increased in AP mice pretreated with Amuc_1100. We further demonstrated that Amuc_1100 pretreatment restored the enrichment of tryptophan metabolism, which was mediated by intestinal flora. These results provide new evidence that Amuc_1100 lessens the severity of AP through its anti-inflammatory properties with a reduction of macrophages and neutrophil infiltration, as well as its regulation of the composition of intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism.

Mechanism of analgesic effect of fire needle on peripheral sensitization in rats with neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapy. / ç«é’ˆå¯¹åŒ–ç–—æ‰€è‡´ç¥žç»ç— ç†æ€§ç–¼ç—›å¤§é¼ å¤–å‘¨æ•åŒ–çš„é•‡ç—›ä½œç”¨æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the analgesic mechanism of fire needle on peripheral sensitization in rats with neuropathic pain(NP) induced by oxaliplatin, so as to investigate its mechanism in improving peri-pheral sensitization. METHODS: Male SD rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups：normal group(n=6), model group(n=6), fire needle group(n=6), and medication group(n=6). NP rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of oxaliplatin(4 mg/kg) on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23. For rats in the fire needle group, fire needle treatment was performed at the "Jiaji"(EX-B2) acupoints of the L4-L6 segments on days 24, 26, and 28, ie. 1 day, 3 and 5 days after modeling. The medication group received intraperitoneal injection of pregabalin(100 mg/kg). Mechanical pain thresholds of the rats were measured before modeling, after modeling and intervention. Serum contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6) and chemokine ligand 12(CXCL12) were detected by ELISA. Skin histopathology changes in the acupoint area were observed using HE staining. The number of mast cells in the skin of the acupoints was observed using toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the postive expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1), protease-activated receptor 2(PAR2) and tryptase(TPS) in the skin of the acupoint area. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of TRPV1 and PAR2 in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG). RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the model group had decreased paw withdrawal threshold(PWT) after modeling(P<0.05), increased serum contents of IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL12(P<0.05), increased number of mast cells in the acupoint area(P<0.05), and increased positive protein expressions of TPS, TRPV1, and PAR2 in the skin of the acupoint area(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the fire needle group and medication group had increased PWT after intervention(P<0.05), decreased serum contents of IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL12, and postive protein expressions of TPS, TRPV1, and PAR2 in the skin of the acupoint area(P<0.05)；while the medication group had decreased protein expressions of TRPV1 and PAR2 in DRG(P<0.05). HE staining showed thickened epidermis, disordered cellular arrangement, significant intercellular edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group. In the medication and fire needle groups, the epidermis was thinner, cellular arrangement was clearer, and the extent of tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced compared to the model group. CONCLUSIONS: Fire needle can improve mechanical pain threshold and reduce the contents of peripheral inflammatory factors in rats with oxaliplatin-induced NP. This effect may be related to the inhibition of mast cell activation and the inhibition of TPS, TRPV1 and PAR2 protein expressions, in the local areas of acupoints.

Homeotic Protein Distal-Less Regulates NlObp8 and NlCsp10 to Impact the Recognition of Linalool in the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs), which are thought to play key roles in the olfactory recognition of insects, can be induced by the odorants they recognize, but little is known about the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Here, we found that NlOBP8 and NlCSP10 play coordinative roles in the chemoreception of brown planthoppers (BPHs) to the volatile component linalool. Also, the relative mRNA levels of NlObp8 and NlCp10 decreased upon exposure to linalool. Further, homeotic protein distal-less (Dll), which was also highly expressed in the antennae, was found to positively regulate the transcription of NlObp8 and NlCsp10 directly. Knocking down NlDll expression downregulated the expression of many additional olfactory functional genes and impaired the repellent behavior of BPHs to linalool. Our findings elucidate the direct regulatory role of Dll in BPHs' olfactory plasticity to linalool through modulating the olfactory functional gene expression and could provide guidance to sustainably control BPHs in the field.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Triphenylmethanes via Organocatalytic Regio- and Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Aniline Derivatives.

Herein, we described a highly regio- and enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of aniline derivatives with in situ generated ortho-quinone methides enabled by chiral phosphoric acid, furnishing a wide range of enantioenriched triarylmethanes bearing three similar benzene rings in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent stereoselectivities (up to 98% ee). Furthermore, the large-scale reactions and diversified transformations of product demonstrate the practicality of the protocol. Density functional theory calculations elucidate the origin of the enantioselectivity.

Amino-functionalized perylenediimide derivative with dual fluorescence emission for the detection of ascorbic acid in vivo and in vitro.

The rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA) is of significance in medical assays and diagnostics. In this work, a new aminoperylenediimide (APDI) derived ratiometric fluorescent probe based on the specific redox reaction of cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) and AA was constructed. APDI exhibited dual fluorescence emission peaks at 549 and 596 nm with an excitation wavelength of 494 nm. In the presence of CoOOH, the dual fluorescence could be quenched. The dominant fluorescence quenching mechanism was caused by the inner filter effect. Using the red emission as a reference, the fluorescence intensity ratio (F549 /F596 ) was linearly correlated with the concentration of AA over a range of 0.05 to 1 µM. The limit of detection for AA was found to be 17 nM. Importantly, the probe was successfully used to detect AA in living cells. Therefore, this high sensitivity and selectivity strategy could directly survey the AA levels in real samples.

Acupuncture for improving a case of widespread herpes zoster after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster presents as clustered blisters on one side of the body, accompanied by nerve pain. This is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, and it occurs primarily in people with weakened immunity. Tumor and chemotherapy drugs can impair the patient's immune function, induce herpes zoster and prolong the course of disease.In these patients, skin changes can last for months and blisters can recur and cause serious complications such as postherpetic neuralgia.Acupuncture is a common alternative therapy for herpes zoster in East Asia. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of an elderly male patient with widespread herpes zoster in the trunk after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma chemotherapy. The patient had received conventional treatment with valaciclovir and mecobalamin within 24 hours of symptom onset. Because neither the clustered blisters nor the nerve pain were improved a week later, acupuncture and related techniques were applied. These included electro-acupuncture, surrounding acupuncture, fire acupuncture, and cupping. The patient recovered 20 days after the herpes zoster attack, and there were no adverse reactions during the treatment process. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that acupuncture and related techniques are effective interventions for this condition.This case report is innovative because it shows that acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment can improve the skin lesions in patients with HZ after tumour chemotherapy, relieve pain, and shorten the course of HZ.

Degeneration of capsaicin sensitive sensory nerves enhances myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction in rats.

BACKGROUND: Evidence indicated an involvement of afferent nerves in the pathology of acute myocardial infarction. This study was undertaken to clarify the role and mechanisms by which the sensory afferent degeneration exacerbates the myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction in rats. METHODS: The myocardial injury was assessed by analysis of 1) the differences in the infarct size, myocyte apoptosis, the caspase activity in the myocardium and cardiac troponin I in serum between the denervated and non-denervated rats; 2) the differences in the size of infarctiom with and without antagonisms of endogenous neurokinin 1 receptor or calcitonin gene related peptide receptor in acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Degeneration of the afferent nerves resulted in marked increase in the pain threshold and decrease in substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide in dorsal root ganglia, spinal dorsal horn and myocardium. Increases of the infarction size (39% ± 4% vs. 26% ± 4%,), troponin-I (28.4 ± 8.89 ng/ml, vs. 14.6 ± 9.75 ng/ml), apoptosis of myocytes (by 1.8 ± 0.2 folds) and caspase-3 activity (1.6 ± 0.3 vs. 1.05 ± 0.18) were observed in the denervated animals at 6h of myocardial infarction, compared with the non-denervated rats. Antagonisms of the endogenous neurokinin 1 receptor or calcitonin gene related peptide receptor caused increase of the size of infarction in the animals. CONCLUSION: Degeneration of capsaicin sensitive afferent nerves enhances the myocardial injury of acute myocardial infarction, possibly due to reduction of endogenous calcitonin gene related peptide and substance P.

Degeneration of sensory afferent nerves enhances pulmonary inflammatory alterations in acute myocardial infarction in rats.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests proinflammatory changes in the lungs during acute myocardial infarction and a participation of neural mechanisms and substance P in the pathology. This study was undertaken to investigate the role and the mechanisms by which sensory afferent degeneration at neonatal stages exacerbates the pulmonary inflammatory responses to acute myocardial infarction in the adult rats. METHODS: The degeneration of capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves was induced by administration of capsaicin to neonatal rats. The pulmonary inflammatory changes following coronary artery occlusion (CAO) were assessed by the analysis of the infiltration of neutrophils and tissue morphology in the lungs. RESULTS: Significant increases in the pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils, up to 240% and 218% of the sham controls at 3 and 6 h, respectively, after CAO (P<.05) and marked pulmonary edema were observed. Degeneration of capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves or antagonism of endogenous neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor exacerbated the pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils (up to 214% and 254% of the controls, respectively) and pulmonary tissue edema following the CAO. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that degeneration of sensory afferent nerves enhances the pulmonary inflammatory changes in acute myocardial infarction, in which the endogenous NK may play a role.

[Residual stomach, duodenum, and continual jejunal interposition after subtotal gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of residual stomach, duodenum, and continual jejunal interposition on the patients of gastric cancer after subtotal gastrectomy. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with gastric cancer after subtotal gastrectomy were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A (n = 26, receiving digestive tract reconstruction by manual end-to-side anastomosis of residual stomach and jejunum, end-to-side anastomosis of residual duodenum and jejunum, and side-to-side anastomosis of jejunum and jejunum, then the jejunum proximal to the stomach-jejunum anastomosis and the jejunum distal to the duodenum-jejunum anastomosis were ligated so as to form an integral continual jejunal interposition; and Group B (n = 28, receiving Bilroth digestive tract reconstruction. The operation time, body weight, prognosis nutrition index (PNI), and Visick score 3 and 6 months after the operation were observed. RESULTS: All patients recovered quickly and no complicating anastomosis leakage and obstruction was found. It took 53 +/- 9 minutes to finish the reconstruction in Group A, significantly shorter than that in Group B (57 +/- 6 minutes, t = -2.145, P = 0.037). The body weight and PNI of both groups decreased significantly 3 months after the operation in comparison with those before the operation (both P < 0.05). The body weight and PNI of Group A returned to the levels before operation. Although the body weight and PNI of Group B recovered to some extent 6 months after operation, they remained significantly lower than those before operation both P < 0.05). The Visick score 6 months after operation of Group A was superior to that of Group B (t = 2.1 P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Residual stomach, duodenum, and continual jejunal interposition after subtotal gastrectomy helps overcome the difficulty in the procedure of digestive tract reconstruction and restore the physiological passage through duodenum, thus avoiding reflux and improving patients' quality of life.

[Sequence analysis and expression of GRA7 gene of Toxoplasma gondii isolates in Escherichia coli].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difference of GRA7 gene of Toxoplasma gondii different isolated strains and express GRA7 in Escherichia coli. METHODS: The GRA7 gene was amplified from genomes of T. gondii isolates by PCR and was cloned into pGEX-4T-1. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into JM109 and sent to be sequenced. The sequence was analyzed with CLUSTALW (an internet tool). The recombinant plasmid was induced by IPTG to express the fusion protein,which was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot with positive sera. The protein was purified and used as a diagnostic antigen for ELISA to test serum samples. RESULTS: There was no difference among the sequences of T. gondii GRA7 gene from different isolates. The recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1/GRA7 induced by IPTG was expressed in E. coli. It was a GST fusion protein and could react with human and rabbit positive sera analyzed by Western blot. CONCLUSION: The GRA7 gene of T. gondii isolates is highly conservative. The GRA7 is expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli, which shows an immunoreactivity.

Schistosoma japonicum: construction of phage display antibody library and its application in the immunodiagnosis of infection.

BACKGROUND: A monoclonal antibody would be an effective tool for the detection of circulating antigens in the serum of patients with schistosomiasis, but the traditional way of producing monoclonal antibodies is not cost-effective. The objective of this study was to find a new method for the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies against Schistosoma japonicum (Sj). METHODS: A phage display antibody library for Sj was constructed. To obtain a single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) against Sj, the library was screened with metabolic antigens from adult Sj worms (Sj-MAg) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The soluble scFvs selected were used to detect Sj antigens in the serum of acute and chronic schistosomiasis patients. RESULTS: Six positive clones with good reactivity to Sj-MAg were obtained from the phage display antibody library of about 1.07 x 10(6) individual clones. Only two of these six clones bound specifically to Sj-MAg and were chosen for further analysis. Specific soluble anti-Sj-MAg scFvs were produced by inducing the 2 clones with isopropyl-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The characteristics of the scFvs were then determined. The results of Western blot showed that these scFvs could bind to Sj-MAg specifically and had a molecular weight of about 31 kD. When testing serum from schistosomiasis patients with one of the two specific scFvs, its sensitivity was found to be 60% and 37% in acute and chronic patients, respectively, with a specificity of 90%. When the two specific scFvs were combined, their sensitivity was found to be 75% and 57% in acute and chronic patients, respectively, with a specificity of 85%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the scFvs are potentially useful for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The library construction also provides a useful tool for the further screening of other antibodies for both diagnostic and immunotherapeutic applications and for epitope analysis and vaccine design.

[Expression of proteinase cathepsin L1 gene of Schistosoma japonicum in Escherichia coli].

OBJECTIVE: To express the proteinase cathepsin L1 gene of Schistosoma japonicum (SjCL1) in Escherichia coli JM109 cells. METHODS: The SjCL1 gene was amplified from the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-SjCL1 by PCR. The gene was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pGEX4T-1 to construct a recombinant plasmid pGEX-SjCL1. The E. coli JM109 cells were transformed with the recombinant plasmid pGEX-SjCL1 and the transformants were induced by IPTG to express the recombinant protein, the target protein was then identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. RESULTS: A 1 kb length PCR product was obtained and a recombinant plasmid pGEX-SjCL1 was constructed. The expression product was detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and an expression band about 62000 was found. CONCLUSION: The SjCL1 gene is effectively expressed in the E. coli JM109 cells.

[In vitro and in vivo study on proliferation of adnoid cystic carcinoma cell lines after nm23-h1. Introduction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of nm23-h1 transfection on proliferation characteristics of adnoid carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: In vitro ACC-M cell lines were incubated after putative anti-metastatic gene nm23-h1 was introduced into the cells with the help of G418 selective incubation base. The ACC-M cells were transplanted into 10 BALB/C nude mices subcutaneously and non-transfected cell lines were taken as control. Immunohisto chemistry and Ki67 antibody were employed to study the proliferation character of cell crawling pieces and paraffin-bedded slice, meanwhile, the solid tumor of both groups were prepared for flow cytometry(FCM). RESULTS: Transfected cells grew slower than non-transfected cells and this trend became more obvious as passages passed on. In vitro the expression of Ki67 of transfected cells was little stronger than non-transfected cells, while the expression of Ki67 in solid slices was almost negative in both groups. Transfected cells presented slower growth than non-transfected cells in the early stage (2 weeks) and 2 weeks later there was no obvious difference in size(P > 0.05). FCM value accorded well with the result. CONCLUSION: Introduction of nm23-h1 into the ACC-M cell lines may have transient inhibitory effects on its proliferation.

[Controlled clinical study on 49 patients of SARS treated by integrative Chinese and Western medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating SARS. METHODS: By controlled paralled design, 49 patients of SARS were studied, they were divided into the control group (n = 29) and the ICWM group (n = 20). The former was treated according to the "Recommended Program for Treatment of SARS" provided by Health Ministry, by administering of such drugs as Ribavirin, Levofloxacin, Thymopentin, Azithromycin, etc, the latter was treated with the ICWM protocol for SARS of "Special Technological Action to Prevent and Treat SARS" provided by Science and Technology Ministry. RESULTS: (1) The time for improving symptom in the ICWM group was 5.10 days and that in the control group was 7.62 days, the difference between them was significant (P < 0.05); (2) The days and amount for use hormone before subtract in the two group were similar, with insignificant difference (P > 0.05); (3) The days and amount for use hormone after subtract in the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05); (4) The time for improving peripheral WBC count and absolute value of lymphocyte, as well as for absorption time of shadow in chest film were not different significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In treating SARS, ICWM was superior to the treatment with western medicine alone in aspects of improving clinical symptom, promoting recovery of immune function and absorption of lung inflammation, decreasing the dosage of hormone used and shortening the therapeutic course.

[Screening and identification of phage antibodies from phage display library against Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain single chain variable fragment(ScFv) against the circulating antigen(CAg) from Schistosoma japonicum(Sj). METHODS: Metabolic antigen of adult worm of Sj (Sj-MAg) was used in the panning of phage library against Schistosoma japonicum. The activity of Sj-MAg-binding phage clones was assayed by ELISA. The specificity of expression products of the positive clones was analyzed by ELISA, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. RESULTS: Seventy-two randomly selected clones were tested for the presence of anti-Sj-MAg ScFvs, 6 clones showed positive. The specificity of these 6 clones was confirmed by binding them to antigens of other four trematodes. Two clones (B04, C24) were found to bind to Sj-MAg but not to any of the antigens of other four trematodes and their expression products were about 31 kDa in size. CONCLUSION: ScFv antibodies against the circulating antigens from Schistosoma japonicum Sj-MAg can be selected and manufactured from the antibody library.