Potential regulatory effects of stem cell exosomes on inflammatory response in ischemic stroke treatment.

The high incidence and disability rates of stroke pose a heavy burden on society. Inflammation is a significant pathological reaction that occurs after an ischemic stroke. Currently, therapeutic methods, except for intravenous thrombolysis and vascular thrombectomy, have limited time windows. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can migrate, differentiate, and inhibit inflammatory immune responses. Exosomes (Exos), which are secretory vesicles, have the characteristics of the cells from which they are derived, making them attractive targets for research in recent years. MSC-derived exosomes can attenuate the inflammatory response caused by cerebral stroke by modulating damage-associated molecular patterns. In this review, research on the inflammatory response mechanisms associated with Exos therapy after an ischemic injury is discussed to provide a new approach to clinical treatment.

[Clinical results of critical rehabilitation pathway after total knee arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of the application of critical rehabilitation pathway in the rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: From March 2015 to December 2019, 67 patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were included. There were 49 females and 18 males, 42 cases on the left and 25 cases on the right, with an average age of 60 to 81(70.72±5.92) years old. Critical rehabilitation paths included intensive strength and gait rehabilitation exercises. All patients were evaluated before operation and 3, 12 months after operation. The evaluation indexes included stair climbing test (SCT), six minute walk test (6MWT), quadriceps and hamstring strength, range of motion, visual pain scale (VAS), Western Ontario McMasterUniversity Osteoarthritis score(WOMAC). RESULTS: All the patients completed the entire pathway and the assessment. The results of pre-operative, 3 months after surgery and 12 months after surgery were as follows respectively. SCT-up: (16.32±3.58) s, (18.16±2.46) s, (11.00±1.29) s, F=193.448, P<0.05;SCT-down:(17.40±2.94) s, (18.96±2.61) s, (12.16± 1.91) s, F=208.028, P<0.05;6MWT:(276.00±57.70) m, (318.00±46.18) m, (435.12±57.36) m, F=326.408, P<0.05;Quadriceps strength: (70.08±8.17) N, (52.40±6.67) N, (78.84±4.56) N, F=286.375, P<0.05;Hamstring muscle strength: (44.88± 7.53) N, (44.28 ±4.63) N, (47.04 ±4.77) N, F =3.620, P <0.05;Knee flexion angle: (115.56 ±13.04) ° , (113.16 ±8.84) ° , (120.28±5.23) °, F=11.228, P<0.05;Knee extension angle:(2.16±3.51) °, (-0.28±2.05) °, (-0.72±1.21) °, F=45.460, P< 0.05;VAS 7.52±1.26, 3.44±0.87, 1.76±0.60, F=723.110, P<0.05;WOMAC pain index:7.88±1.05, 3.60±0.65, 1.96±0.54, F=1 186.196, P<0.05;WOMAC stiffindex:3.00±0.50, 2.20±0.50, 1.68±0.56, F=177.944, P<0.05;WOMAC function index: 30.24±1.76, 26.16±2.08, 13.52±1.53, F=2 227.287, P<0.05. CONCLUSION: Critical rehabilitation path is safe and effective. The knee function of patients who receive critical rehabilitation path after TKA is significantly improved in the first 12 months after operation.

[DNA barcoding identification of original plants of a rare medicinal material Resina Draconis and related Dracaena species].

Resina Draconis, a rare and precious traditional medicine in China, is known as the "holy medicine for promoting blood circulation". According to the national drug standard, it's derived from the resin extracted from the wood of Dracaena cochinchinensis, a Liliaceae plant. In addition, a variety of Dracaena species all over the world can form red resins, and there is currently no molecular identification method that can efficiently identify the origin of Dracaena medicinal materials. In this study, seven species of Dracaena distributed in China were selected as the research objects. Four commonly used DNA barcodes(ITS2, matK, rbcL and psbA-trnH), and four highly variable regions(trnP-psaJ, psbK-psbI, trnT-trnL, clpP) in chloroplast genome were used to evaluate the identification efficiency of Dracaena species. The results showed that clpP sequence fragment could accurately identify seven species of Dracaena plants. However, due to the long sequence of clpP fragment, there were potential problems in the practical application process. We found that the combined fragment "psbK-psbI+ trnP-psaJ" can also be used for accurate molecular identification of the Resina Draconis origin plants and relative species of Dracaena, which were both relatively short sequences in the combined fragment, showing high success rates of amplification and sequencing. Therefore, the "psbK-psbI+ trnP-psaJ" combined fragment can be used as the DNA barcode fragments for molecular identification of Resina Dracon's origin plants and relative species of Dracaena. Research on the identification of Dracaena species, the results of this study can be used to accurately identify the original material of Resina Draconis, and providing effective means for identification, rational development and application of Resina Draconis base source.

Transcriptome profiling reveals candidate flavonoid-related genes during formation of dragon's blood from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen under conditions of wounding stress.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dragon's Blood (Resina Draconis) is a red resin that has been used in traditional medicine to promote blood circulation, regenerate muscles, reduce swelling and pain, stop bleeding, etc., and its main chemical constituents are flavonoids. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen is the only plant defined by the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China as a source of dragon's blood. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to reveal genes involved in the biosynthesis and accumulation of flavonoids of D. cochinchinensis which is under wounding stress by performing a de novo transcriptome analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: D. cochinchinensis samples were collected for transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis at 0 days (0 d), 3 days (3 d), 6 days (6 d), and 10 days (10 d) after induction wounding stress, and tissues were microscopically observed after wounding stress. RESULTS: A total of 63,244 unigenes were obtained through bioinformatics analysis, and genes associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoids were identified. Through the analysis of DEGs after wounding stress in D. cochinchinensis, based on gene expression consistent with flavonoid accumulation levels, 20 genes in connection with the flavonoid synthesis pathway and 56 genes that may be responsible for flavonoid modification and transport, and also revealed TFs (MYB, bHLH) that may be responsible for flavonoid biosynthesis. Analysis of DEGs between the four periods revealed that after wounding stress, the greatest number of significant DEGs were enriched during the first 3 days, while fewer DEGs were enriched after day 3, which corresponding to only about 1/10 (353/3883) the number of DEGs during the first 3 days. In addition, putative unigenes involved in lignin biosynthesis, such as CSE, HCT, CCR, F5H, and CAD, were significantly down-regulation after D. cochinchinensis wounding stress, but the putative unigenes responsible for flavonoid biosynthesis, such as CHS, CHI, DFR, F3'5'H, F3H, ANR, FLS, and ANS were significantly up-regulation. CONCLUSION: We performed de novo transcriptome analysis of D.cochinchinensis under wounding stress, candidate genes and TFs involved in the biosynthesis and accumulation of flavonoids were identified, which is the first report on the transcript variants in flavonoid form accumulation in D. cochinchinensis under wounding stress. According to the results of DEGs analysis, wounding stress attenuated lignin biosynthesis meanwhile promoted flavonoid biosynthesis. In addition, we also compared the transcriptomics of the two different original plants (D.cochinchinensis and D.cambodiana) that form dragon's blood in order to provide further understanding of the formation of dragon's blood.

Complete Chloroplast Genome Analysis of Two Important Medicinal Alpinia Species: Alpinia galanga and Alpinia kwangsiensis.

Most Alpinia species are valued as foods, ornamental plants, or plants with medicinal properties. However, morphological characteristics and commonly used DNA barcode fragments are not sufficient for accurately identifying Alpinia species. Difficulties in species identification have led to confusion in the sale and use of Alpinia for medicinal use. To mine resources and improve the molecular methods for distinguishing among Alpinia species, we report the complete chloroplast (CP) genomes of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia kwangsiensis species, obtained via high-throughput Illumina sequencing. The CP genomes of A. galanga and A. kwangsiensis exhibited a typical circular tetramerous structure, including a large single-copy region (87,565 and 87,732 bp, respectively), a small single-copy region (17,909 and 15,181 bp, respectively), and a pair of inverted repeats (27,313 and 29,705 bp, respectively). The guanine-cytosine content of the CP genomes is 36.26 and 36.15%, respectively. Furthermore, each CP genome contained 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 38 distinct tRNA genes, and 8 distinct rRNA genes. We identified 110 and 125 simple sequence repeats in the CP genomes of A. galanga and A. kwangsiensis, respectively. We then combined these data with publicly available CP genome data from four other Alpinia species (A. hainanensis, A. oxyphylla, A. pumila, and A. zerumbet) and analyzed their sequence characteristics. Nucleotide diversity was analyzed based on the alignment of the complete CP genome sequences, and five candidate highly variable site markers (trnS-trnG, trnC-petN, rpl32-trnL, psaC-ndhE, and ndhC-trnV) were found. Twenty-eight complete CP genome sequences belonging to Alpinieae species were used to construct phylogenetic trees. The results fully demonstrated the phylogenetic relationship among the genera of the Alpinieae, and further proved that Alpinia is a non-monophyletic group. The complete CP genomes of the two medicinal Alpinia species provides lays the foundation for the use of CP genomes in species identification and phylogenetic analyses of Alpinia species.

Selective medial temporal volume reduction in the hippocampus of patients with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

BACKGROUND: Different subtypes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy may indicate different mechanisms and outcomes, suggesting that it is necessary to use a 'pure sample' of a single subtype. METHODS: A volumetric study, in conjunction with cognition assessments, was performed in a pure sample of patients with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic seizures (IGE-GTCS; 15 males and 15 females) matched with normal control subjects (15 males and 17 females). The volumetric measurements were focused on the hippocampus and its surrounding structures, including the amygdala, the parahippocampal gyrus, the entorhinal cortex and the perirhinal cortex. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in China was administered to assess cognitive status. RESULTS: A volume reduction was found only in the hippocampus, with a more severe effect on the left side than the right side. The total number and frequency of seizures had significant negative correlations with multiple cognitive measures. Furthermore, the hippocampal volume reduction was significantly correlated with some aspects of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that compared with the other medial temporal structures, the hippocampus may be more vulnerable to the neuropathology of IGE-GTCS. The observation that cognitive deterioration was correlated with an increased frequency and total number of seizures highlights the critical importance of preventing seizures from recurrence.

[Effect of the change in sulphate and dissolved oxygen mass concentration on metal release in old cast iron distribution pipes].

To understand the processes of corrosion by-product release and the consequent "red water" problems caused by the variation of water chemical composition in drinking water distribution system, the effect of sulphate and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on total iron release in corroded old iron pipe sections historically transporting groundwater was investigated in laboratory using small-scale pipe section reactors. The release behaviors of some low-level metals, such as Mn, As, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni, in the process of iron release were also monitored. The results showed that the total iron and Mn release increased significantly with the increase of sulphate concentration, and apparent red water occurred when sulphate concentration was above 400 mg x L(-1). With the increase of sulfate concentration, the effluent concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni also increased obviously, however, the effluent concentrations of these metals were lower than the influent concentrations under most circumstances, which indicated that adsorption of these metals by pipe corrosion scales occurred. Increasing DO within a certain range could significantly inhibit the iron release.

Effects of orthodontic load on the periodontium of autogenously transplanted teeth in beagle dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the periodontal healing of autogenously transplanted teeth loaded orthodontically after autotransplantation in Beagle dogs. METHODS: Forty-eight teeth were autogenously transplanted, 24 of which were loaded postoperatively with orthodontic force at different time points and for different durations. Periodontal healing was evaluated by probing pocket depth (PPD), the expression of relevant proteins, and histomorphometric analyses. RESULTS: The dental pockets of loaded and non-loaded teeth were both much deeper after the first postoperative week than before transplantation (P<0.05). Later, the PPD, which was measured after postoperative weeks 1, 3, 5, 9 and 13, gradually became shallow. The expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were higher in loaded teeth than in non-loaded teeth (P<0.05), and in groups subjected to two weeks duration of loading than in other groups at the same load time point (P<0.05). For the same load duration, the expressions of ALP and bFGF in teeth loaded after postoperative week 4 were higher than those of other treatments (P<0.05). According to histomorphometric analyses, an orthodontic force on transplanted teeth applied after postoperative weeks 4 or 8 for two weeks duration should be favorable for periodontal healing. CONCLUSIONS: It is advisable to apply an appropriate magnitude of force on autotransplanted teeth, such as orthodontic force, at appropriate time points and for a suitable duration, to achieve the optimal clinical prognosis following autogenous tooth transplantation. These results may serve as a basis for subsequent studies in humans so as to make clinical improvements.

[Histological study about the effect of orthodontic loading time and duration on the periodontal repair in autologous tooth transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: The study established an animal model of autologous tooth transplantation in dogs and aimed to explore the effects of orthodontic loading time and duration on the periodontal repair in autologous tooth transplantation. METHODS: 12 Beagle dogs were selected and grouped randomly in this research. Four first premolar teeth in every dog were carried on autologous transplant operation. These teeth were exerted the orthodontic force after the operation in 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively. The loading duration was 1, 2 and 4 weeks respectively. We examined the dental and periodontal tissue samples in first premolar teeth by histological study, measured root absorption rate and analyzed reconstruction condition of periodontal tissue with statistical methods. RESULTS: Root absorption rates of the experimental group which was exerted the orthodontic force were lower than those of the control group. The difference between two groups had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Root absorption rates in different levels of orthodontic loading time (X) and the duration (Y) had no statistical significance (P > 0.05), but these two factors had interaction effect (P(X x Y) < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Orthodontic force contributes to the improvement of root absorption and reconstruction of periodontal tissue in transplant teeth. The orthodontic loading time and the duration have no obvious effect on root absorption rate of transplant teeth. When X is two weeks and Y is four weeks, it is most beneficial for the reconstruction effect of periodontal tissues in transplant teeth.