A pilot study of the SARC-F scale on screening sarcopenia and physical disability in the Chinese older people

INTRODUCTION

The SARC-F scale is a newly developed tool to diagnose sarcopenia and obviate the need for measurement of muscle mass. SARC-F ≥ 4 is defined as sarcopenia. The questions of SARC-F cover physical functions targeting sarcopenia or initial presentation for sarcopenia. The aim of the study is to explore the application of SARC-F in the Chinese people.

METHODS

Two hundred thirty Chinese people over 65 years old were assessed by the SARC-F scale, PSMS, Lawton IADL and the shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international(the short FES-I). Hospitalization was investigated. Physical performance and strength were measured. The association of SARC-F with other scales or tests was analyzed.

RESULTS

Poor physical performance and grip strength were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4 independently (P<0.005). The κ value for agreement of SARC-F ≥ 4 and cutoff points of tests were 0.391 to 0.635. The short FES-I were correlated to SARC-F scores (Spearman's coefficient 0.692). Poor PSMS and Lawton IADL scores were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4(P=0.000) and SARC-F ≥ 4 was associated with hospitalization in the past 2 years (P=0.000).

CONCLUSION

The SARC-F scale can identify old Chinese people with impaired physical function who may suffered from sarcopenia. SARC-F judgment reflects fear of falling, indicates the hospitalization events and is associated with ability of daily life. Thus, SARC-F may be a simple and useful tool for screening individuals with impaired physical function. Further studies on SARC-F in Chinese people would be worthy.

A rare loss-of-function SCN5A variant is associated with lidocaine-induced ventricular fibrillation

The human genome contains over 4 million variant sites, as compared to the reference genome, including rare sequence variants, which have the potential to exert large phenotypic effects, such as susceptibility to drug toxicity. We report identification and functional characterization of a rare non-synonymous (p.A1427S) variant in the SCN5A gene that was associated with incessant and lethal ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation after administration of lidocaine to a patient with acute myocardial infarction. The variant, located in a highly conserved domain distinct from the predicted lidocaine binding site, decreased peak current density of the sodium channel. With the increasing availability of the whole exome and whole genome sequencing data, it would be possible to identify and characterize rare variants in SCN5A that might predispose to lethal ventricular arrhythmias.

MiR-324-5p inhibits proliferation of glioma by target regulation of GLI1

OBJECTIVES

To study the effects of the miR-324-5p on the glioma cells proliferation via the targeted regulation of the glioma-associated oncogene 1.

METHODS

The luciferase reporter gene was used to test whether the glioma-associated oncogene 1 was the target of the miR-324-5p microRNA. The glioma-associated oncogene 1 expression was detected by Western blot. The proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The glioma-associated oncogene 1 is a target of the miR-324-5p. An over-expressed miR-324-5p could reduce the cell survival rate and increase the G1/G0 phase rate in the glioma cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-324-5p can inhibit proliferation of the glioma cells via the targeted regulation of the glioma-associated oncogene 1.

Study of co-transplantation of SPIO labeled bone marrow stromal stem cells and Schwann cells for treating traumatic brain injury in rats and in vivo tracing of magnetically labeled cells by MRI

AIM

The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of co-transplantation Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells (BMSCs) and Schwann Cells (SCs) in treating rat traumatic brain injury (TBI), the migration of BMSCs in the brain, and whether co-transplantation treatment is superior to single transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeled BMSCs and SCs were transplanted and co-transplanted into the rats with TBI. The neurological functions of the rats were evaluated by the NSS (Neurological Severity Score) at day 3, 7, 14, and 30. Moreover, 7.0T MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan was conducted in order to observe the migration of the labeled BMSCs.

RESULTS

MRI scan showed that when SPIO labeled BMSCs were injected into the brain, T2WI (weighted image) showed low signals and these low signals migrated toward the lesion. The speed of migration was faster in the co-transplantation group than in the single transplantation group. NSS results showed that the prognosis was better in the co-transplantation group than in the single transplantation group at day 14 after injection.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-transplantation of BMSCs and SCs showed faster cell migration and better prognosis in rat TBI.

Phenotypic Identification of Spinal Cord-Infiltrating CD4+ T Lymphocytes in a Murine Model of Neuropathic Pain

BACKGROUND

Neuropathic pain is one of the most devastating kinds of chronic pain. Neuroinflammation has been shown to contribute to the development of neuropathic pain. We have previously demonstrated that lumbar spinal cord-infiltrating CD4⁺ T lymphocytes contribute to the maintenance of mechanical hypersensitivity in spinal nerve L5 transection (L5Tx), a murine model of neuropathic pain. Here, we further examined the phenotype of the CD4⁺ T lymphocytes involved in the maintenance of neuropathic pain-like behavior via intracellular flow cytometric analysis and explored potential interactions between infiltrating CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and spinal cord glial cells.

RESULTS

We consistently observed significantly higher numbers of T-Bet⁺, IFN-γ⁺, TNF-α⁺, and GM-CSF⁺, but not GATA3⁺ or IL-4⁺, lumbar spinal cord-infiltrating CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in the L5Tx group compared to the sham group at day 7 post-L5Tx. This suggests that the infiltrating CD4⁺ T lymphocytes expressed a pro-inflammatory type 1 phenotype (Th1). Despite the observation of CD4⁺ CD40 ligand (CD154)⁺ T lymphocytes in the lumbar spinal cord post-L5Tx, CD154 knockout (KO) mice did not display significant changes in L5Tx-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, indicating that T lymphocyte-microglial interaction through the CD154-CD40 pathway is not necessary for L5Tx-induced hypersensitivity. In addition, spinal cord astrocytic activation, represented by glial fibillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, was significantly lower in CD4 KO mice compared to wild type (WT) mice at day 14 post-L5Tx, suggesting the involvement of astrocytes in the pronociceptive effects mediated by infiltrating CD4⁺ T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

In all, these data indicate that the maintenance of L5Tx-induced neuropathic pain is mostly mediated by Th1 cells in a CD154-independent manner via a mechanism that could involve multiple Th1 cytokines and astrocytic activation.

Jamming graphs: a local approach to global mechanical rigidity

We revisit the concept of minimal rigidity as applied to frictionless, repulsive soft sphere packings in two dimensions with the introduction of the jamming graph. Minimal rigidity is a purely combinatorial property encoded via Laman's theorem in two dimensions. It constrains the global, average coordination number of the graph, for example. However, minimal rigidity does not address the geometry of local mechanical stability. The jamming graph contains both properties of global mechanical stability at the onset of jamming and local mechanical stability. We demonstrate how jamming graphs can be constructed using local moves via the Henneberg construction such that these graphs fall under the jurisdiction of correlated percolation. We then probe how jamming graphs destabilize, or become unjammed, by deleting a bond and computing the resulting rigid cluster distribution. We also study how the system restabilizes with the addition of new contacts and how a jamming graph with extra (redundant) contacts destabilizes. The latter endeavor allows us to probe a disk packing in the rigid phase and uncover a potentially new diverging length scale associated with the random deletion of contacts as compared to the study of cut-out (or frozen-in) subsystems.

Simultaneous Quantification of Six Major Flavonoids From Fructus sophorae by LC-ESI-MS/MS and Statistical Analysis

A new, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of six major flavonoids including sophoricoside, genistin, genistein, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol in Fructus sophorae. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were used to classify and differentiate these samples. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column with linear gradient elution of methanol and 0.05% acetic acid (v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. The detection was accomplished in the negative mode using multiple-reaction monitoring. The total run time was 8.0 min. Full validation of the assay was carried out including linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The validated method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of these active components in Fructus sophorae. The results demonstrated that the quantitative difference in content of six active compounds was useful for chemotaxonomy of many samples from different sources and the standardization and differentiation of many similar samples. Simultaneous quantification of bioactive components by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method coupled with chemometric techniques would be a well-acceptable strategy to comprehensively control the quality of Fructus sophorae.

SIRT1 negatively regulates amyloid-beta-induced inflammation via the NF-κB pathway

Chronic inflammation induced by amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays a key role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 may be associated with chronic inflammation in AMD. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) regulates inflammation via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling, and resveratrol has been reported to prevent Aβ-induced retinal degeneration; therefore, we investigated whether this action was mediated via activation of SIRT1 signaling. Human adult retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were exposed to Aβ, and overactivation and knockdown of SIRT1 were performed to investigate whether SIRT1 is required for abrogating Aβ-induced inflammation. We found that Aβ-induced RPE barrier disruption and expression of IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-9 were abrogated by the SIRT1 activator SRT1720, whereas alterations induced by Aβ in SIRT1-silenced RPE cells were not attenuated by SRT1720. In addition, SRT1720 inhibited Aβ-mediated NF-κB activation and decrease of the NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα. Our findings suggest a protective role for SIRT1 signaling in Aβ-dependent retinal degeneration and inflammation in AMD.

PAK4 kinase-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation involved in gastric cancer metastasis

Superior cervical ganglia 10 (SCG10), as a microtubule (MT) destabilizer, maintains MT homeostasis and has a critical role in neuronal development, but its function in tumorigenesis has not been characterized. In the present study, we demonstrated that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4)-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation regulates MT homeostasis in metastatic gastric cancer. Our results indicate that SCG10 is a physiological substrate of PAK4, which is phosphorylated on serine 50 (Ser50) in a PAK4-dependent manner. Phosphorylated SCG10 regulated MT dynamics to promote gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in a xenograft mouse models. Inhibiting PAK4, either by LCH-7749944 or RNA interference, resulted in the inhibition of Ser50 phosphorylation and a blockade to cell invasion, suggesting that PAK4-SCG10 signaling occurs in gastric cancer cell invasion. Moreover, we demonstrated a strong positive correlation between PAK4 and phospho-Ser50 SCG10 expression in gastric cancer samples. We also showed that high expression of SCG10 phospho-Ser50 is highly correlated to an aggressive phenotype of clinical gastric cancer. These findings revealed a novel function of SCG10 in promoting invasive potential of gastric cancer cells, suggesting that blocking PAK4-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation might be a potential therapeutic strategy for metastasis of gastric cancer.

Valosin-containing protein regulates the proteasome-mediated degradation of DNA-PKcs in glioma cells

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has an important role in the repair of DNA damage and regulates the radiation sensitivity of glioblastoma cells. The VCP (valosine-containing protein), a chaperone protein that regulates ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation, is phosphorylated by DNA-PK and recruited to DNA double-strand break sites to regulate DNA damage repair. However, it is not clear whether VCP is involved in DNA-PKcs (DNA-PK catalytic subunit) degradation or whether it regulates the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma. Our data demonstrated that DNA-PKcs was ubiquitinated and bound to VCP. VCP knockdown resulted in the accumulation of the DNA-PKcs protein in glioblastoma cells, and the proteasome inhibitor MG132 synergised this increase. As expected, this increase promoted the efficiency of DNA repair in several glioblastoma cell lines; in turn, this enhanced activity decreased the radiation sensitivity and prolonged the survival fraction of glioblastoma cells in vitro. Moreover, the VCP knockdown in glioblastoma cells reduced the survival time of the xenografted mice with radiation treatment relative to the control xenografted glioblastoma mice. In addition, the VCP protein was also downregulated in ∼25% of GBM tissues from patients (WHO, grade IV astrocytoma), and the VCP protein level was correlated with patient survival (R²=0.5222, P<0.05). These findings demonstrated that VCP regulates DNA-PKcs degradation and increases the sensitivity of GBM cells to radiation.

Isolation and characterization of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)-producing Streptomyces sp. S161 from sheep (Ovis aries) faeces

An actinomycete producing oil-like mixtures was isolated and characterized. The strain was isolated from sheep faeces and identified as Streptomyces sp. S161 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The strain showed cellulase and xylanase activities. The (1) H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the mixtures showed that the mixtures were composed of fatty acid methyl esters (52·5), triglycerides (13·7) and monoglycerides (9·1) (mol.%). Based on the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, the fatty acid methyl esters were mainly composed of C14-C16 long-chain fatty acids. The results indicated that Streptomyces sp. S161 could produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) directly from starch. To our knowledge, this is the first isolated strain that can produce biodiesel (FAME) directly from starch.

Identification of a novel HLA-B*27 allele, B*27:79 and the B*27 subtype polymorphism in the Hunan ethnic Han population of China

This article describes a novel HLA-B*27 allele, HLA-B*27:79, which was identified in a Hunan Han ethnic individual of China by a PCR sequence-based typing method. The new sequence has one nucleotide mutation at position 437(A→T) compared with the allele B*27:04:01. This nucleotide change causes an amino acid substitution from Aspartate (Asp) to Valine (Val) at codon 122. This is the first report of mutation at this position in the HLA-B locus. Then, we investigated the HLA-B*27 subtype polymorphism of the Hunan Han population, and the results showed that B*27:04, B*27:05 and B*27:06 are the predominant subtypes with the allele frequencies 0.97%, 0.26% and 0.10% respectively.

Secondhand cigarette smoke exposure causes upregulation of cerebrovascular 5-HT(1) (B) receptors via the Raf/ERK/MAPK pathway in rats

AIM

Cigarette smoke exposure increases the risk of stroke. Upregulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT(1) (B) ) receptors is associated with the pathogenesis of cerebral ischaemia. This study examined the hypothesis that the expression of 5-HT(1) (B) receptors is altered in brain vessels after secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure.

METHODS

Rats were exposed to SHS in vivo for 200 min daily for 8 weeks. The contractile responses of isolated cerebral arteries were studies by a sensitive myograph. The mRNA and protein expression for 5-HT(1) (B) receptors were examined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence respectively. In addition, the phosphorylation of Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway was evaluated.

RESULTS

The results showed that SHS exposure shifted the 5-HT(1) (B) receptor-mediated concentration-contraction curve towards the left with a markedly increased maximal contraction. Furthermore, there were significant elevations in mRNA level and protein expression of 5-HT(1) (B) receptors in SHS-exposed rats. Immunostaining revealed that the 5-HT(1) (B) receptors were localized to the smooth muscle cells of cerebral arteries. SHS was also found to induce the phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK1/2 proteins. The administration of a Raf-1 inhibitor GW5074 attenuated the 5-HT(1) (B) receptor upregulation.

CONCLUSION

Secondhand smoke exposure upregulates cerebrovascular 5-HT(1) (B) receptors in rats. The receptor upregulation is associated with Raf/ERK/MAPK activation.