Aerobic exercise blocks interleukin-6 levels and germ cell apoptosis in obese rats.

To investigate the effect of a high-fat diet and aerobic exercise intervention and its related mechanism on rat germ cell apoptosis. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, high-fat diet group, control exercise group and high-fat exercise group. Rats were fed with high-fat diet or were given weight-free swimming. The levels of TG, TC, HDL, LDL and IL-6 in serum of rats were measured. The body weight, body length and inguinal fat weight were measured to calculate the Lee's index and lipid/body weight ratio. The expression of IL-6 mRNA in inguinal fat and IL-6R,Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA in testis was detected by RT-PCR. The morphological structure of testis was observed, and the Johnsen's ten-point score was calculated by HE staining, and the germ cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method. We got from the experimental results: a high-fat diet induces obesity and lipid metabolism disorder, alters testis morphological structure and increases germ cell apoptosis in rats. Aerobic exercise improves the lipid metabolism disorder and interferes with germ cell apoptosis by reducing interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 receptor expression.

Retraction Note: Study on the expression and mechanism of inflammatory factors in the brain of rats with cerebral vasospasm.

The article "Study on the expression and mechanism of inflammatory factors in the brain of rats with cerebral vasospasm" by Q. Huang, G. Wang, Y.-L. Hu, J.-X. Liu, J. Yang, S. Wang, H.-B. Zhang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (12): 2887-2894 - PMID: 28682429 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief. Following some concerns raised on PubPeer (link: https://pubpeer.com/publications/48E37B385D83F1B09741B2B06B39C3), the Editor in Chief has started an investigation to assess the validity of the results as well as possible figure manipulation. The authors have been informed about the journal's investigation but remained unresponsive and have not provided the study's raw data. The journal's investigation uncovered a duplication between Figure 2A and Figure 1D with a previously published article (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096212). Additionally, duplications were identified between panels b, c, d, f, g, and h of Figure 3A and Figure 6B, C, D, F, G, and H, respectively, of the same previously published article (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096212). Consequently, the Editor in Chief mistrusts the results presented and has decided to retract the article. This article has been retracted. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/12948.

Early increased ficolin-2 concentrations are associated with severity of liver inflammation and efficacy of anti-viral therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Ficolin-2 is a kind of human serum complement lectin with a structure similar to mannan-binding lectin (MBL), and it has been implicated in innate immunity. Recent studies have shown that complement pathway activation may contribute to hepatitis. However, the relationship between ficolin-2 and viral hepatitis remains largely elusive. The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of ficolin-2 in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Forty nine patients who had not yet received therapy [24 patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (>40 U/L) and 25 patients with normal ALT levels (≤ 40 U/L)], 28 patients with hepatitis C who received therapy for 2 weeks and 16 patients received therapy for a full month or longer were included in the study. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the ficolin-2 concentrations in all serum samples of patients and 42 healthy donors. We found the concentrations of ficolin-2 were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C patients with abnormal ALT values than in chronic hepatitis C patients with normal ALT values and healthy controls. Ficolin-2 concentrations in chronic hepatitis C patients with abnormal ALT values were positively correlated with ALT levels (P < 0.05). After therapy, the concentrations of ficolin-2 decreased and accompany with ALT and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels. Then, we found ficolin-2 concentrations in rapid viral response (RVR) group decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while in non-RVR group, ficolin-2 decreased slightly (P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that early increased ficolin-2 is highly correlated with hepatic inflammation and rapid viral response.

The value of decreased plasma gelsolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in diagnosis and disease activity evaluation.

Plasma gelsolin, the extracellular gelsolin isoform, circulates in the blood of healthy individuals at a concentration of 200 ± 50 mg/l and plays important roles in the extracellular actin-scavenging system during tissue damage. Decreased plasma gelsolin levels have been observed in many inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the variation and potential clinical application of plasma gelsolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were analysed. Plasma samples and clinical data were collected from informed and consenting participants: 47 SLE patients, 60 RA patients and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Semiquantitative western blotting was used for measuring plasma gelsolin levels. The plasma gelsolin levels in patients with SLE and RA were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls (145.3 ± 40.4 versus 182.7 ± 38.3 mg/l and 100.8 ± 36 versus 182.7 ± 38.3 mg/l, p < 0.001), and plasma gelsolin levels were especially lower in RA than in SLE patients (100.8 ± 36 versus 145.3 ± 40.4 mg/L, p < 0.001). An analysis of the clinical data showed a significant negative correlation between plasma gelsolin levels and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores (r = 0.659, p < 0.001) but no correlation between plasma gelsolin levels and RA disease activity score 28 (DAS28) (r = 0.076, p = 0.569). Different clinical characteristics were also observed in SLE and RA patients with normal and decreased plasma gelsolin levels.This study found significantly lower plasma gelsolin levels in patients with SLE and RA compared with healthy controls and documented a significant negative correlation between plasma gelsolin levels and SLEDAI, which suggested the potential clinical application of plasma gelsolin in SLE diagnosis and disease activity evaluation. The different clinical characteristics in SLE and RA patients with normal and decreased plasma gelsolin levels indicate differences in the basis of the diseases.

The natural course of otitis media with effusion in infants who failed universal newborn hearing screening: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the natural course of infants with otitis media with effusion who failed universal newborn hearing screening and to explore the appropriate observation period. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis included infants with otitis media with effusion who failed universal newborn hearing screening every 3 months for 12 months. RESULTS: The average recovery time of the 155 infants was 7.08 ± 0.32 months after diagnosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that frequent reflux, maxillofacial deformities and initial hearing status were independent factors affecting recovery. Moreover, the cumulative recovery of most infants with mild hearing loss and infants with moderate hearing loss accompanied by frequent reflux was significantly higher at six months after diagnosis than at three months. CONCLUSION: For most infants with mild hearing loss, as well as those with moderate hearing loss accompanied by frequent reflux, the observation period can be extended to six months after diagnosis.

LncRNA MIR503HG regulated cell viability, metastasis and apoptosis of cervical cancer via miR-191/CEBPB axis.

OBJECTIVE: The long non-coding RNA MIR503 host gene (MIR503HG) plays a role in suppressing or promoting cancer in many types of human malignant tumors. The role of MIR503HG in cervical cancer is still unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of MIR503HG in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines was accessed using quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometric analysis were performed to assess cell proliferation and apoptosis in cervical cancer. The nude mouse xenograft experiment was used to examine the ability of MIR503HG in tumor formation. In our study, we found that the expression of MIR503HG was significantly reduced in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. In vitro studies have shown that MIR503HG inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and enhanced cell apoptosis in cervical cancer through the miR-191/CEBPB axis. MIR503HG regulated the expression of miR-191 via directly binding to miR-191. RESULTS: The expression of MIR503HG had a negative correlation with miR-191 expression in cervical cancer tissues. MiR-191 regulated the expression of CEBPB by directly targeting 3'-UTR of CEBPB mRNA. Overexpression of MIR503HG inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: MIR503HG plays a role in suppressing tumors in cervical cancer and is a long-term non-coding RNA.

MicroRNA-23a-3p promotes the perihematomal edema formation after intracerebral hemorrhage via ZO-1.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between microRNA-23a-3p expression and perihematomal edema (PHE) in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data and blood samples on the 3rd day after ICH onset were collected. Head CT was performed in each subject when admitted. Serum expressions of microRNAs were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The relationship between hematoma volume and perihematomal edema was analyzed by correlation analysis. The direct binding of microRNA-23a-3p and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was verified by luciferase activity assay and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, in vitro experiments were carried out by flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay, respectively. RESULTS: Serum levels of microRNA-23a-3p and microRNA-130a in ICH patients were remarkably higher than those in the control group, microRNA-26a and microRNA-146a, however, were significantly decreased. A positive correlation was observed between the microRNA-23a-3p expression and the volume of relative perihematomal edema (rPHE) on the 3rd day after ICH (r2=0.3985; p=0.0002). Up-regulation of microRNA-23a-3p significantly decreased ZO-1 expression in hCMEC/D3 cells. Results of luciferase activity assay further indicated that microRNA-23a-3p directly targets the wild-type of ZO-1. In vitro results suggested that microRNA-23a-3p expression markedly affects the proliferation and apoptosis of hCMEC/D3 cells. Similar results were obtained after overexpression or knockdown of ZO-1. CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulated microRNA-23a-3p in ICH patients promotes the apoptosis of cerebral vascular endothelial cells by down-regulatingZO-1, thus participating in the perihematomal edema formation after intracerebral hematoma.

Study on the expression and mechanism of inflammatory factors in the brain of rats with cerebral vasospasm.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the significance of IL-1 and ICAM-1 in rat's subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) cerebral vasospasm (CVS) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the SAH group and the Sham group. Cisterna magna auto blood injection was used to prepare the CVS models. We studied and compared changes in the basilar arteries diameters before and after SAH. We measured the cerebrovascular inner diameter before and after SAH modeling using the ultrasound. ELISA method was used to measure the expression of IL-1 and ICAM-1 in peripheral blood. The expression of MAPK and P38 in the brain was tested using Western blot. Brain cells apoptosis was studied using TUNEL method. RESULTS: Cerebrovascular inner diameter reduced significantly in the SAH group as compared to the control group. The expression of IL-1 and ICAM-1 increased significantly after 48 hours. Compared to the Sham group, p-38 and p-MAPK expression levels in the SAH group increased significantly after 48 hours. Results showed that 48 hours after the operation, the level of apoptosis was significantly higher in the SAH group. IL-1 and ICAM-1 expression levels were associated with a P38-MAPK signal pathway in the brain. p38 and MAPK activation were closely related to apoptosis in the cortex. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the cerebral basilar vasospasm was occurred in rats 48 hours after ASH onset, with an increase in IL-1 and ICAM-1 expression and brain cells apoptosis.

Effects of electro-acupuncture on the expression of c-jun and c-fos in spared dorsal root ganglion and associated spinal laminae following removal of adjacent dorsal root ganglia in cats.

This study evaluated the plastic changes of c-jun and c-fos in the right sixth lumbar dorsal root ganglion (L6 DRG), Rexed's lamina II in representative spinal segments L3, L5, and L6 and in the nucleus dorsalis (ND) at L3 segments after electro-acupuncture (EA) in cats subjected to removal of L1-L5 and L7-S2 DRG. Following dorsal root ganglionectomy, there was a significant increase in the density of c-jun immunoreactivity in the neurons and glia in spinal lamina II and in the ND; there was also marked elevation in the expression of c-fos in ND. In both cases there was no change in the c-jun and c-fos immunoreactivity in the DRG. After EA in the operated animals, there was an up-regulation in the expression of c-jun in the L6 DRG and the associated spinal lamina II; however, increased c-fos expression was detected only in the L6 DRG. Western blot and RT-PCR were also performed to quantitatively explore the mRNA and protein expression changes in the spinal dorsal horn and associated DRG. Following partial deafferentation, there was a significant increase in the protein level of both c-jun and c-fos in the dorsal horn, while, in both cases there was no change in c-jun and c-fos protein and mRNA in the DRG. After EA in the operated animals, both c-jun protein and its mRNA in the L6 DRG as well as the associated dorsal horn of L6 spinal segment were upregulated, but increased c-fos protein and its mRNA was observed only in the L6 DRG. These findings suggested that c-jun and c-fos might be related to the acupuncture promoted spinal cord plasticity as reported previously.

Chinese herbal ingredients are effective immune stimulators for chickens infected with the Newcastle disease virus.

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of 4 Chinese herbal ingredients (CHI) as immune stimulators for an active vaccine in chickens using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The CHI used were Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), Isatis root polysaccharide (IRPS), Propolis polysaccharide, and Epimedium flavone at various concentrations. Two hundred 14-d-old male White Roman chickens were randomly divided into 10 groups. Chickens in groups 1 to 9 were inoculated with the New-castle disease virus (NDV) strain IV vaccine by intranasal and intraocular administration. Chickens in groups 1 to 8 were also administered subcutaneously on the dorsal region of the neck with 0.5 mL of the corresponding CHI at 2 doses: 29 and 58 mg/kg of BW for APS and IRPS and 7.25 and 14.5 mg/kg of BW for the others, once daily for 3 successive days. In group 9 (CHI-free control) and group 10 (both vaccine- and CHI-free control), chickens were injected with 0.5 mL of physiological saline. New-castle disease virus-specific serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody (Ab) production in immunized chickens was quantified using established methods. The results indicate that a majority of the CHI used at appropriate concentrations were effective in enhancing in vitro proliferation of chick embryo fibroblasts in response to the NDV infection. In vivo administration of CHI to vaccinated chickens (7.25 to 58 mg/kg of BW, depending on type) increased serum anti-NDV hemagglutination inhibition Ab titer concentrations, compared with the administration the NDV alone. For all CHI, a beneficial effect on the Ab production was observed on d 21 after the initiation of the vaccination. On the basis of the in vivo doses used, Propolis polysaccharide and Epimedium flavone were more potent than APS and IRPS in promoting the humoral immune response in the young birds (P < 0.05). Collectively, these findings suggest that appropriate doses of CHI can be used as novel, effective immune stimulators for chickens.

Osteoclast numbers in Lewis rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis: identification of preferred sites and parameters for rapid quantitative analysis.

This study defined the best site for quantifying osteoclasts in male Lewis rats with mycobacteria-induced adjuvant arthritis. Hind paw sections of normal and arthritic rats (n = 6 per group) taken 7 days after disease onset were stained for osteoclasts using an anti-human cathepsin K primary antibody. Erosions and osteoclasts were assessed using semiquantitative scores (entire section) and quantitative measures (in calcaneus, navicular tarsal, and tibia). Bone area in arthritic rats was significantly reduced (P