Long noncoding RNA NONHSAG045500 regulates serotonin transporter to ameliorate depressive-like behavior via the cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway in a model of perinatal depression.

OBJECTIVE: Perinatal depression (PND) is the most common complication of childbirth and negatively affects the mother. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NONHSAG045500 inhibits the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter (i.e. serotonin transporter [SERT]) and produces an antidepressant effect. This study aimed to identify a link between the lncRNA NONHSAG045500 and the pathogenesis of PND. METHODS: Female C57BL/6 J mice were divided into normal control group (control group, n = 15), chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model group (PND group, n = 15), lncRNA NONHSAG045500-overexpressed group (LNC group, sublingual intravenous injection of NONHSAG045500 overexpression cells for 7 days, n = 15), and escitalopram treatment group (i.e. the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] group, with escitalopram administered from the 10th day after pregnancy to the 10th day after delivery, n = 15). Control group mice were conceived normally, whereas, in the other groups, a CUS model was established before mice were conceived. Depressive-like behaviour was assessed via sucrose preference, forced swimming, and open-field tests. The expression levels of 5-HT, SERT, and cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway-related proteins in the prefrontal cortex were detected on the 10th day after delivery. RESULTS: Mice in the PND group exhibited significant depressive-like behaviours compared with those in the control group, indicating that the PND model was successfully established. The expression of lncRNA NONHSAG045500 was markedly decreased in the PND group compared with that in the control group. After treatment, both LNC and SSRI groups showed a significant improvement in depression-like behaviour, and the expression of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex was increased in these groups compared with that in the PND group. In addition, the LNC group displayed lower expression of SERT and higher expression of cAMP, PKA, and CREB when in comparison to PND group. CONCLUSION: NONHSAG045500 mediates the development of PND mainly by activating the cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway, increasing the level of 5-HT, and decreasing the expression of SERT.

A term vaginal delivery by a patient with traumatic tetraplegia: A case report.

RATIONALE: About 60,0000 people are involved in traffic accident each year in China and spinal cord injury (SCI) often occurs. Pregnant women with paraplegia is rare, and they face higher risk during pregnancy and childbirth. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of a 35-year-old patient with SCI, who had vaginal forceps delivery at 38 weeks and 5 days of gestation. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with term pregnancy with traumatic tetraplegia. INTERVENTIONS: A vaginal forceps delivery was performed at 38 weeks and 5 days of gestation. OUTCOMES: A vaginal forceps delivery of the patient was smooth. After delivery the patient recovered quickly, her vaginal blood was less, blood pressure was favoring. LESSONS: This study presents a case with traumatic tetraplegia during pregnancy. We suggest that regular prenatal care is necessary.

Identification and evaluation of the novel immunodominant antigen Rv2351c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

There is an urgent need for new immunodominant antigens to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and the efficacy of the TB vaccine to control the disease worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic potential of a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific antigen, Rv2351c, from region of difference (RD) 7 of the MTB genome, and investigated the potency of the vaccine by identifying its immunological function in human and animal immunological experiments. Twenty T-cell epitopes were identified using TEpredict and prediction tools from the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource. A total of 159 subjects, including 61 patients with pulmonary TB, 38 patients with no TB and 55 healthy donors, were recruited and analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. The ELISpot assay using Rv2351c to detect TB infection, as compared with bacteriological tests as the gold standard, had a sensitivity and specificity of 61.4% (35/57) and 91.4% (85/93), respectively. The ELISpot assay using Rv2351c had a good conformance (κ=0.554) as compared with the bacteriological test. Rv2351c also elicited a potent cellular immune response with a high expression of cytokines (IFN-γ (4978±596.7 µg/mL) and IL-4 (68.3±15.5 µg/mL)) and a potent humoral immune response with a high concentration of IgG (1:2.2 × 106), IgG1 (1:4.5 × 105) and IgG2a (1:1.6 × 106) in immunized BALB/c mice. In addition, the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 indicated that Rv2351c induced cellular immunity in the mice. The results of this study indicated that Rv2351c is an antigen with good immunogenicity that may potentially be used to develop diagnostic techniques and new TB vaccines.

Advanced gastrointestinal carcinoma with massive ascites and hydrothorax during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Gastrointestinal carcinoma is rare during pregnancy. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage because special gastrointestinal symptoms are generally overlooked during pregnancy, and there are many limitations and contraindications for using diagnostic tools during pregnancy. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present a case of a 29-year-old patient with 27 weeks and 5 days of gestation due to massive ascites and hydrothorax. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with an advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Pathological report showed poorly differentiated tumor with the signet ring cell component. INTERVENTIONS: Caesarean section was performed. At the same time, an abdominal exploration showed that the omentum was like biscuits . There were extensive and firm intestinal adhesions, and many tumor lesions were found on the surface of greater curvature of stomach, spleen, intestine, peritoneum, ascending colon and descending colon. OUTCOMES: Gastrointestinal surgeon was invited during operation, and palliative gastrectomy was not performed because of extensive metastases. The patient died 30 days after caesarean section. LESSONS: This study present a case with advanced gastrointestinal cancer during pregnancy. We suggest that endoscopic exam is recommended if the patient is highly suspicious.

[Analysis on human T cell epitopes polymorphisms of five specific antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 13 areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphisms of the coding gene and the human T cell epitopes of antigen GlnA1, Mpt70, LppX, GroES and LpqH on Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains in thirteen provinces of China. METHODS: A total of 173 clinical MTBC isolates from thirteen provinces were selected to test the gene sequences of the five antigens, using PCR and DNA sequencing methods. Sequences were compared and sliced by BioEdit, and the variations of the human and nonhuman T cell epitopes were analyzed. The rates on synonymous mutation (dS), non-synonymous mutation (dN) and dN/dS values were calculated by Mega 6.0 software. RESULTS: Among the 173 strains, there were two non-synonymous mutations in the non-epitope region of glnA1, one non-synonymous mutations in epitope domain of mpt70, one non-synonymous mutation and one synonymous mutation in the epitope domain of lpqH; while groES showed no mutation. lppX had five non-synonymous mutations and one synonymous mutation in the epitope domain. Nine strains presented higher polymorphism at the same gene locus of position 152 in lppX. And seven of the fifteen epitopes contained in lppX were altered and the dN/dS value of this gene was 0.19. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the human T cell epitope domains of MTBC antigens Mpt70, LppX and LpqH contained epitope diversity, indicated that these antigens may have involved in diversifying the selection to evade the host immunity. GlnA1 had the polymorphism in epitope domain, which might have little influence on the immuno-response. While GroES seemed relatively conservative, it could play an important role on identification, diagnosis and the development of potential Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine.

Effect of surface compositional heterogeneities and microphase segregation of fluorinated amphiphilic copolymers on antifouling performance.

In this paper, a series of fluorinated amphiphilic copolymers composed of 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate (FMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomers were prepared, and their surface properties and antifouling performance were investigated. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human plasma fibrinogen (HFg) were used as model proteins to study protein adsorption onto the fluorinated amphiphilic surfaces. All the fluorinated amphiphilic surfaces exhibit excellent resistant performance of protein adsorption measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface compositional heterogeneities on the molecular scale play an important role in the antifouling properties. It was found that the copolymers exhibited better antifouling properties than the corresponding homopolymers did, when the percentage of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups is from 4% to 7% and the percentage of hydrophobic fluorinated moieties is from 4% to 14% on the surface. In addition, the protein molecular size scale and the pattern of microphase segregation domains on the surface strongly affect the protein adsorption behaviors. These results demonstrate the desirable protein-resistant performance from the fluorinated amphiphilic copolymers and provide deeper insight of the effect of surface compositional heterogeneity and microphase segregation on the protein adsorption behaviors.