Varespladib mitigates acute liver injury via suppression of excessive mitophagy on Naja atra envenomed mice by inhibiting PLA2

Snakebite envenomation often leads to severe visceral injuries, including acute liver injury (ALI). However, the toxicity mechanism remains unclear. Moreover, varespladib can directly inhibit phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in snake venom, but its protective effect on snakebite-induced ALI and the mechanism have not been clarified. Previous studies have shown that snake venom PLA2 leads to neuron cell death via reactive oxygen species (ROS), one of the initial factors related to the mitophagy pathway. The present study group also found that ROS accumulation occurred after Naja atra envenoming. Hematoxylin and eosin (H/E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to identify the expression of inflammatory factors in the liver tissue, and flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to detect ROS levels and mitochondrial function. Immunofluorescence and western blotting were also used for detecting mitophagy pathway-related proteins. The results showed that N. atra bite induced ALI by activating mitophagy and inducing inflammation and that varespladib had a protective effect. Collectively, these results showed the pathological mechanism of ALI caused by N. atra bite and revealed the protective effect of varespladib.

Effect of MTA3 Inhibition of Glutamine Synthetase-Mediated Glutaminolysis on Radiosensitivity of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Metastasis-associated protein 3 (MTA3) can serve as a tumor suppressor in many cancer types. However, the role of MTA3 in radiosensitivity of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) remains unclear. We thus investigated the function of MTA3 in radiosensitivity for ESCC, one of the most common digestive cancers.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The colony formation assay and nude mice xenograft tumor assay were performed to investigate the effect of MTA3 on radiosensitivity in ESCC. Glutamine consumption assay kit and glutamate production assay kit were used to assess the glutaminolysis. Glutaminase (GLS) Activity Assay Kit and Glutamine Synthetase (GS) Activity Assay Kit were used to analyze the activity of specific metabolic enzymes dominate glutaminolysis. The regulatory mechanism of glutaminolysis by MTA3 was confirmed using Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Gaussia luciferase assay. The expression levels of MTA3 and GS in ESCC primary tissues were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Survival curves were plotted with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test.

RESULTS

The colony formation assay showed that MTA3 depletion and overexpression caused significantly higher and lower clonogenic survival after different doses of irradiation (IR), respectively. When these cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice, the tumors derived from the cells with MTA3 overexpression and MTA3 knockdown were significantly smaller and bigger after IR, respectively. These findings suggest that MTA3 can enhance radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, overexpressed and knockdown MTA3 can repress and expedite glutamine consumption and glutamate production uniformly, respectively. To determine how MTA3 acts on glutaminolysis, the activity of two specific metabolic enzymes dominate this metabolism, GS and GLS, were evaluated. It found that overexpressed and knockdown MTA3 can restrain and enhance the activity of GS, respectively, but have less effect on GLS. Moreover, the decreased radiosensitivity mediated by MTA3 knockdown is significantly increased when treated with GS inhibitor, suggesting that GS plays a crucial role in MTA3-mediated radiosensitivity enhancement. Mechanistically, Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Gaussia luciferase assay showed that MTA3 was recruited to the promoter of GS and suppressed GS transcription. However, knockdown of GATA3 abolished MTA3's repressive effect on GS and inhibited the MTA3's occupation on the promoter region of GS. These results collectively demonstrated that, in ESCC cells, MTA3 is recruited by GATA3 to inhibit GS expression, then ultimately represses glutaminolysis and enhances radiosensitivity. Finally, we showed that the ESCC patients in the MTA3low/GShigh group is significantly associated with shorter overall survival.

CONCLUSION

MTA3 is capable of enhancing radiosensitivity through downregulating GS and MTA3low/GShigh might be a potential prognostic factor for ESCC patients.

The Joint Effect of Body Mass Index and Serum Lipid Levels on Incident Dementia among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the joint effect of body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids levels on incident dementia.

METHODS

We prospectively followed up with 1,627 dementia-free community residents aged ≥60 for 5.7 years on average. At baseline, weight, and height were measured, and total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected in serum. Demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires. Dementia was based on consensus diagnosis of neurologists and neuropsychologists using DSM-IV criteria. Additive Cox proportional model was used to assess the exposure-response relationship between BMI and serum lipid levels and dementia risk. Interactions and further classifications of BMI and serum lipid levels were further presented by bivariate surface models and decision-tree models.

RESULTS

The joint effects of TC with BMI, TG with BMI, and LDL-C with BMI on the risk of incident dementia shared a similar pattern, different from their independent exposure-response curves. The joint effect of HDL-C with BMI showed an S-surface but without statistical significance. Participants with TC<5.4 mmol/L and BMI<21 kg/m2 (Hazard Ratio(HR) 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.05-3.53), TC<5.4 mmol/L and BMI≥21 kg/m2 (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.09-2.72), and TC≥5.4 mmol/L and BMI<21 kg/m2 (HR 4.02, 95% CI 2.10-7.71) were identified to have the increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with TC≥5.4 mmol/L and BMI≥21 kg/m2. Participants with TG<1.7 mmol/L and BMI<21 kg/m2 had an increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with TG≥1.7 mmol/L and BMI≥21 kg/m2 (HR 1.98, 95%CI 1.17-3.3). Participants with LDL-C≥3.3 mmol/L and BMI<21 kg/m2 were identified to have an increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with LDL-C≥3.3 mmol/L and BMI≥21 kg/m2 (HR 3.33, 95%CI 1.64-6.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that low BMI combined with low or high levels of serum lipids may increase the risk of dementia among older adults. This finding suggests the potential impacts of these two metabolic indexes on the risk of dementia.

[Evaluation on applicationof virtual reality technology in dental implant process training]

Objective: To explore the application effect and evaluation of virtual reality technology in oral implant therapy training. Methods: In November 2018, one adult patient (female, 36 years old) with missing right mandibular first molar was treated in the Department of Implantology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University. The three-dimensional virtual models of mandible and implant surgery tools were established, and the virtual reality software (Unity 3D 5.5.1) was imported. Combined with the virtual reality head mounted display, a virtual reality training system simulating the dental implant treatment process was independently developed. Ten refresher doctors and 20 graduate students in Department of Implantology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University from September 2018 to December 2019 were recruited as the experimental objects (no clinical experience was found). According to the level and seniority of doctors, they were randomly divided into virtual training group and conventional training control group, which made the two groups comparable, with 15 in each group. Subjective scores (including anatomical structure, surgical field of vision, cavity preparation, implant placement and process mastery) were given after the corresponding training in the two groups, and the virtual reality training system was used to test. The mesial and distal direction, buccolingual direction, depth and angle deviation of implants before and after the training were analyzed, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Results: The subjective scores of five dimensions in the virtual training group were significantly higher than those in the conventional training control group (P<0.05). In the virtual training group, the mesial and distal, buccolingual, depth and angle deviation of implants were (0.73±0.33), (0.78±0.41), (0.61±0.32) mm and 6.66°±3.87°. All of them were significantly lower than those in the control group [(0.85±0.32), (1.12±0.38), (0.89±0.24) mm and 9.68°±3.74°] (P<0.05). Conclusions: The self-developed virtual reality system of oral implant has good application effect, good operability and predictability. It can be effectively carried out in implant education and training, and it can strengthen skills of doctors, and is conducive to the practical operation.

[Treatment de-intensification strategies for HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer: A short review]

The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is steadily increasing in developed countries. These tumors are more chemoradiosensitive and have a better prognosis than HPV-negative one. In addition, they occur in younger and better-off patients with longer life expectancy. Current radiotherapy and chemotherapy protocols are currently being questioned as they may expose HPV-positive patients to excessive treatment and unnecessary toxic effects. Less intensive treatment regimens could possibly achieve similar efficacy with lower toxicity and improved quality of life. The aim of this work was to summarize the knowledge on these tumors and their implications for radiation oncologists. In this update, we will discuss ongoing de-escalation trials and highlight the issues raised by these studies. We will also comment on the results of recently published de-intensification studies. Three main strategies are analyzed in the present article: the de-escalation of the drug associated with radiotherapy, the de-escalation of the radiotherapy dose (in concomitant chemoradiotherapy, after induction chemotherapy, in a postoperative setting) and de-escalation of radiation target volumes. Our findings ultimately indicate that clinicians should not change the management of oropharyngeal cancer patients outside of clinical trials.

[Dynamic detection of surface blood flow in rat heart and its application in real time identification of myocardial infarction model]

Objective: To establish a method for monitoring the surface blood flow in the heart of rats, and to clarify the relationship between the degree of myocardial infarction and the blood perfusion on the surface of the heart, so as to provide a new indicator for the identification of rat myocardial infarction model. Methods: The rats were divided into control group (n=23) and model group (n=107), the rat hearts were scanned by the laser doppler perfusion imager before and after operation respectively, and the data was analyzed to acquire the rate of surface blood flow change of the heart. Myocardial infarction size of model group was detected by NBT. Model group were divided into three subgroups of mild myocardial infarction, moderate myocardial infarction and severe myocardial infarction according to the myocardial infarction size, and an analysis was made on the correlativity between rate of surface blood flow change of the heart and myocardial infarction size. Results: Myocardial infarction size was highly correlated to the rate of surface blood flow change of the heart in model group (r=0.849 6, P<0.000 1). There was no significant correlation between infarction size and heart blood flow in the mild myocardial infarction subgroup (r=-0.133 6, P>0.05), while the correlation in moderate myocardial infarction was significant (r=0.721 7, P<0.000 1), and the highest correlation was shown in severe myocardial infarction subgroup (r=0.910 2, P<0.000 1). Conclusion: The heart surface blood flow has a close relationship with the myocardial infarction size in rat, so the change of heart blood perfusion can beused as an effective reference to establish and identify rat myocardial infarction model.

[Research of the Epworth sleepiness scale based on ruzzy comprehensive evaluation]

Objective:This research explores the effect of Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) items on domestic patients. Method:Four thousand six hundred and thirty-three suspected OSAHS patients with snoring were selected from respiratory sleep center in the first people's hospital, Yunnan province, between January 2006 and December 2012. These patients filled in the ESS before PSG test. Firstly, these questionnaires were preprocessed, and the null and incorrect ones were deleted. Then, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was applied for the value of each item in ESS. Finally, the reliability was compared between before and after the removal of the lowest values.Result:Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation results show that the total value is 1.016, the item value of Sitting and talking to someone and In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic is the lowest, which is 0.131. The result of reliability analysis shows that the value increases 0.2% after the two items being deleted.Conclusion:Some items of ESS are not suitable for Chinese patients, and they need to be deleted or modified to improve the screening efficiency.

[Relationship between reproductive history and preterm births in the last pregnancy, in Shaanxi province]

Objective: To analyze the incidence of preterm delivery among single live neonates and the association between maternal reproductive history and preterm birth. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on reproductive history among women at childbearing age who were selected through multi-stage stratified random sampling method in Shaanxi, during 2010-2013. Samples would include women at childbearing age and in pregnancy or having had definite pregnancy outcomes. Results: A total of 29 608 women at childbearing age with their infants, were studied. The overall incidence of premature delivery among the single live birth neonates under this study, was 2.7% during 2010-2013. Results from the logistic regression model showed that factors as: having had history with preterm delivery (OR=7.99, 95%CI: 5.59-11.43), age of the mothers, older than 35 (OR= 2.03, 95% CI: 1.59-2.59) and with history of birth defects (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.34) were at higher risks for premature delivery in neonates. Intervals on pregnancies between 3-4 years (compared with ≤2 years, OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.93), between 5-6 years (compared with ≤2 years, OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.52-0.82), or> 6 years (compared with ≤2 years, OR=0.48, 95%CI:0.37-0.61) together with numbers of parity as 1 (compared with primiparas, OR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.67-0.95), as ≥2 (compared with primiparas, OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.97) etc. were protective factors to preterm delivery. Factors as: history of preterm delivery, mothers age (older than 35 years) and intervals of pregnancy, appeared influential to the age of gestation, under the ordinal polytomous logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The incidence of preterm births among single live birth neonates in Shaanxi was lower than the average national level. Programs related to health care services prior to conception and during pregnancy, together with increasing the self-care consciousness of childbearing aged women etc, should all be strengthened in order to reduce the occurrence of preterm birth, in Shaanxi province.

A317491 relieved HIV gp120-associated neuropathic pain involved in P2X3 receptor in dorsal root ganglia

Glycoprotein 120 (gp120) is an HIV envelope glycoprotein. Gp120 can directly stimulate the primary sensory afferent neurons and cause hyperalgesia. The P2X₃ receptor in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is involved in the transmission of pain. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of the P2X₃ receptor in gp120-induced neuropathic pain. Our data showed that mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in rats treated with gp120 were increased compared to those in the control group. The expression levels of the P2X₃ mRNA and protein in rats treated with gp120 were higher than those in the control group. The P2X₃ antagonist A317491 decreased mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia and the up-regulated expression levels of P2X₃ mRNA and protein in rats treated with gp120. A317491 decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the gp120-treated rat DRG. In addition, P2X₃ agonist α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP)-activated currents in DRG neurons cultured with gp120 were higher than those in control neurons. The inhibitory effect of A317491 on α,βme-ATP-induced currents in DRG neurons from the gp120-treated neurons was larger than that for control neurons. Molecular docking data showed that A317491 may be acted in the gp120 protein to inhibit the gp120 initiated the P2X₃ activation, decrease the sensitizing DRG primary afferents and reduce the signal transmission of neuropathic pain in gp120-treated rats. Therefore, the inhibition of the P2X₃ receptor in rat DRG neurons relieved gp120-induced mechanical hyperalgesia.

[Factors related to the influence on congenital malformation of body surface in Shaanxi province]

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors on congenital malformation of body surface. Methods: Multi-stage stratified random sampling method was adopted. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the childbearing aged women who experienced more than 28 weeks pregnancy or having definite pregnancy outcomes in Shaanxi, during 2010-2013. Results: Results from the logistic regression model showed that factors as: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (OR=21.76, 95%CI: 4.46-106.25), histories with abnormal pregnancy or reproduction (OR=11.88, 95%CI: 9.14-15.45), having birth defects in the family (OR=6.15, 95%CI: 2.66-14.23), being twins (OR=5.74, 95% CI: 3.34-9.86), being worker (compared with others, OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.30-4.68) or farmer (compared with others, OR=1.91, 95%CI: 1.14-3.20), less than 4 times of antenatal care (compared with >7, OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.28-2.64), occupational exposure to related risks during pregnancy (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.26-2.42), mother's hometown was from mid-part of Shaanxi (compared with northern Shaanxi, OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.20-2.28), mother's native residence was from the rural areas (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.71), drug use (OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.26-2.13) etc. were risk factors for congenital malformation of body surface. Iron supplement during pregnancy (OR=0.46, 95%CI: 0.21-0.99) appeared as protective factor for congenital malformation of body surface. Conclusion: The following factors seemed to be of risk for congenital malformation of body surface, including: mother's native area was from the middle part of Shaanxi and living in rural area, being worker or farmer, histories of abnormal pregnancy and reproduction, history of birth defects in the family, being twins, with antenatal care less than 4 times, occupational exposure to dangerous materials, drug use, intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy etc.

[The relevance between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome andchronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China: A Meta-analysis]

Objective:To assess the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Method: Databases such as Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Chinese Academic Journals full-text database, Wanfang Resource Database and Chongqing VIP have been searched to collect literatures about the relationship between OSAHS and COPD. The literature in conference proceedings and certain unpublished articles were also manually retrieved. RCT conformed to the condition was evaluated according to the standards of literature assessment, and the data has been extracted. The RevMan5.3 software was applied to carry out the same Metaanalysis.Result: Totally 19 articles were included, and Metaanalysis reveal that overlap syndrome(OS) patient's apnea hypopnea index is significantly higher than those of OSAHS patients［WMD=7.56, 95%CI（4.19,10.94）, P<0.01］; The LSaO₂ of OS patients is significantly lower than OSAHS patients［WMD=-10.50, 95%CI(-11.58, -6.08),P<0.01］; OS patients' FEV₁/FVC is significantly lower than COPD patients［WMD=4.65,95%CI（1.15,8.15）,P<0.01］.The results revealed that subgroup analysis according to the sample volume, age, body mass index(BMI) and FEV₁/FVC between OS patients and OSAHS patients has heterogeneity, but when analysis with the score of ESS the heterogeneity does not exist. Further, the subgroup analysis according to the sample volume, BMI, AHI,LSaO₂ and the time of Oxygen is lower than 90%(T90) those index between OS patients and COPD patients has heterogeneity, and the heterogeneity does not exist when subgroup is analyses with neck circumference. The funnel schema was nearly symmetry with little bias.Conclusion:The experimental results indicate that OSAHS is significantly related with COPD, and they may be the mutual risk factor for each other..

Characterization of Th17 and FoxP3(+) Treg Cells in Paediatric Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis is one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions affecting both children and adults. Growing evidence indicates that T-helper 17 (Th17) cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the relationship between Th17 and Treg cells and their dynamic variations in paediatric psoriasis remain unclear. In this study, we found that both Th17 and FoxP3(+) Treg cells and the ratio of Th17 to Treg cell frequency in the peripheral circulation were increased in patients with paediatric psoriasis and were positively correlated with the disease severity. The function of Treg to suppress CD4(+) CD25(-) T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion was impaired during the onset of psoriasis. After disease remission, both the Th17 and Treg cell frequencies were decreased, and the suppressive function of the Treg cells was obviously restored. However, neither Treg cells from the disease onset nor those after remission can regulate IL-17 secretion by CD4(+) T cells. These findings will further our understanding of the associations between Th17 and Treg cells in paediatric psoriasis and their influence on disease severity.

Microwave dielectric characterisation of 3D-printed BaTiO3/ABS polymer composites

3D printing is used extensively in product prototyping and continues to emerge as a viable option for the direct manufacture of final parts. It is known that dielectric materials with relatively high real permittivity—which are required in important technology sectors such as electronics and communications—may be 3D printed using a variety of techniques. Among these, the fused deposition of polymer composites is particularly straightforward but the range of dielectric permittivities available through commercial feedstock materials is limited. Here we report on the fabrication of a series of composites composed of various loadings of BaTiO₃ microparticles in the polymer acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which may be used with a commercial desktop 3D printer to produce printed parts containing user-defined regions with high permittivity. The microwave dielectric properties of printed parts with BaTiO₃ loadings up to 70 wt% were characterised using a 15 GHz split post dielectric resonator and had real relative permittivities in the range 2.6–8.7 and loss tangents in the range 0.005–0.027. Permittivities were reproducible over the entire process, and matched those of bulk unprinted materials, to within ~1%, suggesting that the technique may be employed as a viable manufacturing process for dielectric composites.