[Role of Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury].

Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI)is a common complication after lung transplantation and cardiopulmonary bypass. It is an important factor affecting the success rate of transplantation. Its specific pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. It is very significant to find the targets and drugs for the prevention and treatment of LIRI in order to improving the utilization rate of "marginal donor lung" and the long-term survival rate of lung transplant patients. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4(DPP4) inhibitors are a class of oral hypoglycemic agents. Previous studies have shown that DPP4 inhibitors have a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, immunomodulatory and other extrapancreatic functions. Recent studies have shown that DPP4 inhibitors may alleviate LIRI through various mechanisms, including inhibiting inflammatory responses, reducing oxidative stress, regulating blood glucose levels, and activating autophagy. This article reviewed the clinical and preclinical applications and mechanisms of DPP4 inhibitors in LIRI.

Microbial diversity in raw milk and traditional fermented dairy products (Hurood cheese and Jueke) from Inner Mongolia, China.

Hurood cheese (HC) and Jueke (Jk) are 2 traditional fermented dairy products produced from raw milk (RM) in the Inner Mongolia region of China. They have a long history of production and consumption. The microbial compositions of RM, HC, and Jk vary greatly, and are influenced by their geographical origins and unique processing methods. In this study, 2 batches of RM, HC, and Jk samples were collected (April and August 2015) from the Zhenglan Banner, a region located in the southern part of Inner Mongolian belonging to the Xilingol league prefecture. The bacterial and fungal diversities of the samples were determined by 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis, respectively. A total of 112 bacterial and 30 fungal sequences were identified, with Firmicutes and Ascomycota being the predominant phyla for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Lactococcus and Lactobacillus were identified as the main bacterial genera, whereas Kluyveromyces was the predominant fungus identified in the 3 dairy products. Different bacterial and fungal compositions were observed in RM, HC, and Jk samples collected at different times. These results suggested that time of production may be an important factor influencing the microbial diversity present in RM, HC, and Jk.

Upregulation of GADD45α in light-damaged retinal pigment epithelial cells.

To better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for light-induced damage in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, we developed an automated device to recapitulate intense light exposure. When compared with human fibroblasts, ARPE-19 cells that had been exposed to blue-rich light-emitting diode-light of 10 000 Lux at 37 °C for 9 h displayed dramatic cellular apoptosis. Collectively, gene expression profiling and qPCR demonstrated that growth arrest and DNA damage-45α (GADD45α) expression was markedly upregulated. Transient knockdown of GADD45α partially attenuated light-damage-induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells, whereas GADD45α overexpression dramatically increased it. These results demonstrate the critical function of GADD45α in light-induced RPE cellular apoptosis. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting revealed that the upregulation of GADD45α was under direct control of p53. Moreover, treatment with Ly294002, an inhibitor of AKT phosphorylation, further promoted GADD45α gene transcription in both non-light and light-damaged ARPE-19 cells. Treatment also exacerbated RPE cellular apoptosis after light exposure, confirming that inhibition of Akt phosphorylation increases GADD45α expression. Collectively, our findings reveal that light irrigation induces human RPE cellular apoptosis through upregulation of GADD45α expression mediated through both the p53 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT signaling pathways. These results provide new insights into human retinal diseases elicited by light damage and open a new avenue for disease prevention and treatment.

[Target gene sequence capture and next generation sequencing technology to diagnose four children with Alagille syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To make genetic diagnosis of Alagille syndrome (ALGS) patients using target gene sequence capture and next generation sequencing technology. METHOD: Target gene sequence capture and next generation sequencing were used to detect ALGS gene of 4 patients. They were hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics between January 2014 and December 2015, referred to clinical diagnosis of ALGS typical and atypical respectively in 2 cases. Blood samples were collected from patients and their parents and genomic DNA was extracted from lymphocytes. Target gene sequence capture and next generation sequencing was detected. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the results of the patients and their parents. RESULT: Cholestasis, heart defects, inverted triangular face and butterfly vertebrae were presented as main clinical features in 4 male patients. The first hospital visiting ages ranged from 3 months and 14 days to 3 years and 1 month. The age of onset ranged from 3 days to 42 days (median 23 days). According to the clinical diagnostic criteria of ALGS, patient 1 and patient 2 were considered as typical ALGS. The other 2 patients were considered as atypical ALGS. Four Jagged 1(JAG1) pathogenic mutations were detected. Three different missense mutations were detected in patient 1 to patient 3 with ALGS(c.839C>T(p.W280X), c. 703G>A(p.R235X), c. 1720C>T(p.V574M)). The JAG1 mutation of patient 3 was first reported. Patient 4 had one novel insertion mutation (c.1779_1780insA(p.Ile594AsnfsTer23)). Parental analysis verified that the JAG1 missense mutation of 3 patients were de novo. The results of sanger sequencing was consistent with the results of the next generation sequencing. CONCLUSION: Target gene sequence capture combined with next generation sequencing can detect two pathogenic genes in ALGS and test genes of other related diseases in infantile cholestatic diseases simultaneously and presents a high throughput, high efficiency and low cost. It may provide molecular diagnosis and treatment for clinicians with good clinical application prospects.

Effect of NB-UVB on levels of MCP-1 and CCR6 mRNA in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) on the chemokine receptor CCR6 mRNA levels in patients with psoriasis. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) values were recorded before and after the treatment with NB-UVB phototherapy of 30 psoriasis vulgaris patients. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the expression level of CCR6 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and compared with 30 healthy subjects. The PASI value of the 30 psoriasis vulgaris patients decreased significantly after 15 iterations of phototherapy treatment (P < 0.01). The expression level of CCR6 mRNA in psoriasis patients was significantly higher than in the healthy controls (P < 0.01), while the expression level of CCR6 mRNA decreased significantly after phototherapy (P < 0.01). Reduction of CCR6 level may be one of the mechanisms through which NB-UVB can treat psoriasis.

Genetic differentiation between natural and hatchery populations of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) based on microsatellite markers.

Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) is one of the major aquaculture species around the world and supports an important segment of the aquaculture industry in China. In this study, we used ten microsatellite markers to detect genetic diversity within six R. philippinarum populations and genetic differentiation between them. A total of 109 alleles were detected across all loci. Compared to wild populations (N(A) = 8.4-9.1 alleles/locus, H(E) = 0.75-0.77, H(O) = 0.67-0.73), hatchery stocks showed less genetic variation as revealed in lower number of alleles and lower heterozygosity (N(A) = 7.4-7.5 alleles/locus, H(E) = 0.72-0.75, H(O) = 0.68-0.70), indicating that a bottleneck effect has occurred in hatchery history. Significant genetic differentiation was observed between cultured stocks (P < 0.05), and between cultured and wild populations (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis showed a clear separation of the northern three populations and the southern three populations, suggesting that geographically separated populations of R. philippinarum could be genetically differentiated with limited genetic information exchanged between them. The information obtained in this study indicates that the northern and southern populations of R. philippinarum should be managed separately in hatchery practices for the preservation of genetic diversity in wild populations.

Observation of the decay psi(2S)-->K0SK0L.

The decay psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L) is observed using psi(2S) data collected with the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider; the branching fraction is determined to be B(psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L))=(5.24+/-0.47+/-0.48)x10(-5). Compared with J/psi-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L), the psi(2S) branching fraction is enhanced relative to the prediction of the perturbative QCD "12%" rule. The result, together with the branching fractions of psi(2S) decays to other pseudoscalar meson pairs (pi(+)pi(-) and K+K-), is used to investigate the relative phase between the three-gluon and the one-photon annihilation amplitudes of psi(2S) decays.

Observation of a near-threshold enhancement in the pp mass spectrum from radiative J/psi-->gammapp decays.

We observe a narrow enhancement near 2m(p) in the invariant mass spectrum of pp pairs from radiative J/psi-->gammapp decays. No similar structure is seen in J/psi-->pi(0)pp decays. The results are based on an analysis of a 58 x 10(6) event sample of J/psi decays accumulated with the BESII detector at the Beijing electron-positron collider. The enhancement can be fit with either an S- or P-wave Breit-Wigner resonance function. In the case of the S-wave fit, the peak mass is below 2m(p) at M=1859(+3)(-10) (stat)+5-25(syst) MeV/c(2) and the total width is Gamma<30 MeV/c(2) at the 90% confidence level. These mass and width values are not consistent with the properties of any known particle.

Epidemiological survey of oral submucous fibrosis in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, China.

Oral submucous fibrosis is a high risk precancerous condition and is suggested to be caused by areca nut chewing. Areca nut chewing is popular in Hunan Province of China, and is more concentrated in Xiangtan City. Two and nine cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) were first noticed in 1984 and 1985 respectively, and an epidemiologic survey was subsequently performed in 1986. The epidermiologic method of cluster sampling was used. The Yuhu District, one of the five urban districts of the Xiangtan City with a population of 100,000 was selected as a whole body in the survey, 57 independent units of various professions were randomly selected as group samples and more than 70% of subjects in each unit were examined. Definite fibrous band on palpation was used as a main diagnostic criterion for OSF. A total of 11046 individuals were examined; among them were 3907 areca nut chewers (35.37%) and 7139 non-chewers (64.63%). 335 cases of OSF were found, comprising a prevalence rate of 3.03%. The disease involved mainly the middle third of the oral cavity. All of the OSF cases were areca nut chewers. No case had been found in non-chewers. Four cases of oral carcinoma were found on the basis of OSF, the malignant transformation rate was 1.19%. The high prevalence of OSF may be due to areca nut chewing plus extensive and heavy use of hot pepper in Xiangtan people. The result supports the role of the areca nut as an etiologic factor in the development of OSF. The low malignant transformation rate of 1.19% compared with the 7.6% in an Indian report may be because Xiangtan people chew areca nut without tobacco.

Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of malignant tumours: an analysis of 540 cases.

Malignant tumours (540 cases), including tumours of the lung, oesophagus, cardia, stomach, rectum, bladder, other urinary genital organs, face and mouth, eyes, ear, nose and throat (ENT), head and neck, breast and skin, were treated using photodynamic therapy (PDT) between 1982 and 1985 in Beijing. All of the cases were identified pathologically and the patients received haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (5 mg kg-1) intravenously 48-72 h prior to PDT. An argon-pumped dye laser emitting at 630 nm was used for the treatment. The results were as follows: complete response (CR) was obtained in 227 cases (42.1%), partial response (PR) was obtained in 114 cases (21.1%), mild response (MR) was obtained in 120 cases (22.2%) and 79 cases (14.6%) showed no response (NR). The effectiveness of PDT in the different organs was compared. HPD fluorescence was examined in 409 cases of malignant tumours: 344 lesions (84.1%) revealed red fluorescence (positive reaction), 32 gave an equivocal response and 33 gave a negative reaction. Positive fluorescence was seen in all types of malignant tumour in our study. Indications and limitations of PDT for the different organs are discussed and compared.

[The effect of electrical stimulation of the head of caudate nociceptive neuronal activities in the mesencephalon reticular formation and its relation to the acupuncture effect].

38 rabbits were anesthetized with chloralose and urethane. As soon as the animal recovered its consciousness it was immobilized with flaxedil and artificial respiration. The electrical activities of the nociceptive neurons were recorded by glass microelectrodes (tip 1-3 microns) in the ranges P7-11 R2-3 HO+1-6, with the aid of a stereotaxic apparatus. 116 of the nociceptive units responded to noxious stimuli which applied to the peroneal nerve with a short train of pulses. Among them, 64 units (55%) responded by an increase in frequency of the discharge to noxious stimuli (pain-excitation neuron, PEN). In contrast, there were 52 units (45%), which responded to noxious stimuli quite differently, by having a decrease in the frequency of the discharge (pain-inhibition neuron, PIN). Similar results were obtained by the stimulation of the head of caudate nucleus with the same train of pulses: an excitatory effect was observed in PEN, and an inhibitory effect in PIN. However, after electroacupuncture by penetrating acupoint "Hegu" or dolantin given intravenously, under the same conditions used above. We again stimulated both the head of caudate nucleus, eliciting an inhibitory effect on PEN. And a reduction of inhibition or release from it on PIN. From the results presented, it indicated that head of caudate nucleus was connected with the modulation of the nociceptive neuronal activity in M.R.F. and was related to the effect of acupuncture. The effect of atropine on the head of caudate nucleus stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)