[The research of rehabilitation effect of cochlear implantation for deaf children with gene mutation]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evaluation on auditory rehabilitation effect for 42 deaf children with GJB2 gene mutation after cochlear implantation to provide a reference for the cochlear implant effect evaluation of such patients.

METHOD

To conduct the detection on common genetic deafness gene mutation hotspots of hearing impaired children with cochlear implantation. To conduct auditory rehabilitation effect evaluation on 42 cases of patients with GJB2 genetic deafness after 3 months, 6 months and 12 months of the operation respectively. The single factor repeated measure ANOVA was applied to analyze whether there were significant difference among the results of initial consonant of a Chinese syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation, the results of vowel of a Chinese syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation, and the results of two-syllable recognition at 3 different stages after the operation.

RESULT

235delC is the high-incidence mutational site in 42 cases of patients with GJB2 genetic deafness, the total detection rate is up to 90.48%. There were significant differences in the initial consonant of a Chinese syllable recognition rate, the vowel of a Chinese syllable recognition rate, the two-syllable recognition rate as well as the vowel of a Chinese syllable recognition rate after 3 months, 6 months and 12 months of the operation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Cochlear implantation is a safe and effective measure for auditory reconstruction, it can help patients with GJB2 hereditary severe sensorineural deafness to improve auditory speech recognition.

Regulatory function of β1,4-galactosyltransferase I expression on Lewis-Y glycan and embryo implantation

β1,4-Galactosyltransferase I (β1,4-GalT-I), a key enzyme in glycobiology, mediates several biological mechanisms. However, the correlation between β-1,4-GalT-I expression in the uterine endometrium and embryo implantation remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between β1,4-GalT-I and Lewis(Y) (Le(Y)) glycan during embryo implantation. So far, using green fluorescent protein as an indicator, β1,4-GalT-I interference plasmid (pcDNA3.0-siGalT I), overexpression plasmid (pcDNA3.0-HA-GalT I), interference control plasmid (control pcDNA3.0-siGalT I), and empty vector (pcDNA3.0) were transfected into human uterine epithelial RL95-2 cells that imitate the receptive endometrium. Invasive embryos at pre-implantation and treated RL95-2 cells were co-cultured to determine embryo attachment in each of the transfection groups. The results showed that plasmid transfection was successful in all the groups. β1,4-GalT-I and Fucosyltransferase 1 (FUT1) gene expression declined in the interference group, and the synthesis of Le(Y) decreased accordingly, but the expression of this antigen increased in the overexpression group. After co-culturing of the embryos and 36h transfection of RL95-2, the results of these in vitro implantation models showed that the attachment rate was lower in the interference group (30.0 ± 0.2%) than in the untreated group (50.0 ± 0.6%), empty vector group (50.0 ± 0.2%), and interference control group (46.7 ± 0.6%), however, it was highest in the overexpression group (70.0 ± 0.2%). These results indicated that β1,4-galactosyltransferase I possibly regulate mutual uterus-embryo adhesion and embryo implantation by regulating cell surface Le(Y) glycan expression.

Differential antibody induction to surface textured silica nanoparticle adjuvants (VAC3P.1055)

Nanoparticles have been shown to be a potent adjuvant in vaccine design. Previous studies demonstrated that carboxylated 40-50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) with covalently bound antigen offer a new class of vaccine with only two elements (antigen and particle) but with no added inflammatory stimuli. Herein, we report on a deconstructed two-part vaccine whereby the adjuvant and protein carrier are co-administered to elicit potent antibody responses in vivo. Recent works indicate that particle shape can also influence the immune response. As such, we investigate the influence of surface morphology using smooth and rough surfaced silica nanoparticle adjuvants, showing smooth nanoparticles as the more potent antibody inducers. MTT assay confirms that both silica nanoparticle adjuvant and polystyrene protein carrier display excellent biocompatibility with over 95% viability with COS-7 cells. Preliminary in vitro dendritic cell (DC) culture experiments indicate that silica nanoparticle adjuvants, similarly to PSNPs, do not induce the up-regulation of maturation markers, CD80, CD86 and MHC II on CD11c+ gated DCs. This suggests the particle carrier itself is non-inflammatory, a required feature for our vaccine approach. Ongoing studies are focusing on the cytokines induced in vitro and in vivo by these novel constructs. The outcomes from this study provide key design criteria in the development of novel nanoparticle immunotherapeutics for the treatment of disease.

HCG induces β1,4-GalT I expression and promotes embryo implantation

Embryo implantation is regarded as a critical physiological process for the success of pregnancy. There are so many reports on the research of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in artificial insemination, but the impact of HCG on endometrial receptivity has not been elucidated. Beta1, 4-Galactosyltransferase-I (β1,4-GalT-I) is ubiquitously expresses in human tissues with the exception of the brain. It not only transfers galactose from UDP-galactoside to GlcNAc to form Galβl,4-GlcNAc, but plays crucial role as cell adhesion molecule by recognizing and adhering other extracellular matrix and galactose of cell surface glycoprotein and glycolipid in cancer cells invasion and migration. The process of the embryos implantation is very similar to tumor invasion, so many biological factors participate in the tumor invasion also play a role in embryo implantation. We hypothesize that β1,4-GalT-I may take part in embryo implantation. In this study, we demonstrated that the over expression of β1,4-GalT-I was induced by HCG in RL95-2 cells. Moreover, the expression of some molecules, such as TIMP-1, LN and MMPs could be regulated by engineered expression of β1,4-GalT-I and therefore lead to the significantly alteration of adhesion capability of RL95-2 cells, even result in reduced adhesive ability between JAR cells and RL95-2 cells. Furthermore, our results indicated that HCG can obviously increase the EGFR signaling pathways-dependent molecular expression through β1,4-GalT-I, HCG also improved the adhesive ability between JAR cells and RL95-2 cells (P<0.01). Taken together, our data suggested that HCG provides a mechanism to bridge embryo to endometrium through β1,4-GalT.

The bacterial and host factors associated with extrapulmonary dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

With high morbidity and mortality worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is still an important public health threat. The majority of human TB cases are caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although pulmonary TB is the most common presentation, M. tuberculosis can disseminate into other organs and causes extrapulmonary TB (EPTB). The dissemination of bacteria from the initial site of infection to other organs can lead to fatal diseases, such as miliary and meningeal TB. Thoroughly understanding the mechanisms and pathways of dissemination would develop therapies to prevent the lethal prognosis of EPTB (miliary and meningeal TB) and vaccines to promote the development of adaptive immunity. This review focuses on risk factors of EPTB, bacterial and host genes involved in EPTB, and potential mechanisms of M. tuberculosis extrapulmonary dissemination.

Pharmacological activation of PPAR gamma ameliorates vascular endothelial insulin resistance via a non-canonical PPAR gamma-dependent nuclear factor-kappa B trans-repression pathway

Vascular endothelial insulin resistance (IR) is a critically initial factor in cardiocerebrovascular events resulted from diabetes and is becoming a worldwide public health issue. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are clinical insulin-sensitizers acting through a canonical peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)-dependent insulin trans-activation pathway. However, it remains elusive whether there are other mechanisms. In current study, we investigated whether TZDs improve endothelial IR induced by high glucose concentration or hyperglycemia via a non-canonical PPARγ-dependent nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) trans-repression pathway. Our results showed that pre-treatment with TZDs dramatically decrease the susceptibility of endothelial cell to IR, while post-treatment notably improve the endothelial IR both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, TZDs substantially increase the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inhibitory κB alpha (IκBα), whereas decrease those of the phosphorylated inhibitory κB kinase alpha/beta (phosphor-IKKα/β) and the cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), suggesting that TZDs act indeed through a PPARγ-dependent NF-κB trans-repression pathway. These findings highlighted a non-canonical mechanism for TZDs to ameliorate endothelial IR which might provide a potential strategy to prevent and treat the diabetic vascular complications clinically.

Influence of standing positions and beam projections on effective dose and eye lens dose of anaesthetists in interventional procedures

More and more anaesthetists are getting involved in interventional radiology procedures and so it is important to know the radiation dose and to optimise protection for anaesthetists. In this study, based on Monte Carlo simulations and field measurements, both the whole-body doses and eye lens dose of anaesthetists were studied. The results showed that the radiation exposure to anaesthetists not only depends on their workload, but also largely varies with their standing positions and beam projections during interventional procedures. The simulation results showed that the effective dose to anaesthetists may vary with their standing positions and beam projections to more than a factor of 10, and the eye lens dose may vary with the standing positions and beam projections to more than a factor of 200. In general, a close position to the bed and the left lateral (LLAT) beam projection will bring a high exposure to anaesthetists. Good correlations between the eye lens dose and the doses at the neck, chest and waist over the apron were observed from the field measurements. The results indicate that adequate arrangements of anaesthesia device or other monitoring equipment in the fluoroscopy rooms are useful measures to reduce the radiation exposure to anaesthetists, and anaesthetists should be aware that they will receive the highest doses under left lateral beam projection.

OPN induces FoxM1 expression and localization through ERK 1/2, AKT, and p38 signaling pathway in HEC-1A cells

Mammalian embryo implantation is an extremely complex process and requires endometrial receptivity. In order to establish this receptivity, sequential proliferation and differentiation during the menstrual cycle is necessary. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is described as a major oncogenic transcription factor in tumor initiation, promotion and progression. According to these functions, we believe that FoxM1 should also play an essential role in embryo implantation. Osteopontin (OPN), an adhesion molecule, has been studied extensively in reproduction. In this study, we observed the expression and distribution of FoxM1 during the proliferative-phase and secretory-phase human endometrium and the pre-implantation mouse uterus firstly. Then we observed the relationship between OPN and FoxM1. Our results showed that FoxM1 was mainly distributed in glandular epithelium. OPN increased the expression of FoxM1 in the human uterine epithelial cell line HEC-1A cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. OPN regulates FoxM1 to influence HEC-1A cell proliferation through extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK 1/2), protein kinase B (PKB, AKT), and the p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK, p38) signaling pathway. Inhibition of ERK 1/2, AKT and p38 suppressed OPN-induced FoxM1 expression and location. Our data indicate that FoxM1 might be regulated by OPN to influence endometrial proliferation to establish endometrial receptivity.

Presence of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-) leukemia-propagating cells at diagnosis identifies patients at high risk of relapse with Ph chromosome-positive ALL after allo-hematopoietic SCT

Relapse of Ph chromosome-positive ALL (Ph(+)ALL) results from the persistence of leukemia-propagating cells (LPCs). In Ph(+)ALL, a xenograft assay recently determined that LPCs are enriched in the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-) fraction. Therefore, the prognostic significance of LPCs in Ph(+)ALL subjects after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT) was investigated. A total of 80 consecutive adults with Ph(+)ALL who underwent allo-HSCT were eligible. A multi-parameter flow cytometry analysis examining CD58-FITC/CD10-PE/ CD19-APC-Cy7/CD34-PerCP/CD45-Vioblue/ CD38-APC on gated leukemia BM blasts was performed at diagnosis. Based on the original blast phenotypes, subjects were stratified into the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-)group (N=15) and other phenotype group (N=65). During minimal residual disease monitoring, significantly higher levels of BCR/ABL transcripts were detected in subjects in the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-) group than in other phenotype group, especially at 3 months post HSCT. In addition, CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-)LPCs are directly correlated with a higher 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and worse leukemia-free survival (LFS) and OS. Multivariate analyses indicated that presence of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-) LPCs at diagnosis, and BCR-ABL reduction at 3 months post HSCT were independent risk factors for relapse, LFS and OS. Our data suggest that presence of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD58(-) LPCs at diagnosis allows rapid identification of high-risk patients for relapse after allo-HSCT.

Assessment of DNA methylation changes in tissue culture of Brassica napus

Plant tissue culture, as a fundamental technique for genetic engineering, has great potential of epigenetic variation, of which DNA methylation is well known of importance to genome activity. We assessed DNA methylation level of explants during tissue culture of Brassica napus (cv. Yangyou 9), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assisted quantification. By detecting methylation levels in hypocotyls cultured in mediums with different concentrations of hormones, we found dissected tissue:cultured with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L 6-BA, presented the lowest methylation level and highest induction rate of callus (91.0%). Different time point of cultured explants also showed obvious methylation variations, explants cultured after 6 and 21 days exhibited methylation ratios of 4.33 and 8.07%, respectively. Whereas, the methylation ratio raised to 38.7% after 30 days cultivation, indicating that methylation level of hypocotyls ranged during tissue culture. Moreover, we observed that the methylation level in callus is the highest during regeneration of rape-seed, following the regenerated plantlets and hypocotyls. This paper indicated the function of hormones and differentiation of callus is relevant to the methylation levels during tissue culture.

L-Carnitine intake prevents irregular feeding-induced obesity and lipid metabolism disorder

L-Carnitine supplementation has been used to reduce obesity caused by high-fat diet, which is beneficial for lowering blood and hepatic lipid levels, and for ameliorating fatty liver. However, whether l-carnitine may affect irregular feeding-induced obesity and lipid metabolism disorder is still largely unknown. In the present study, we developed a time-delayed pattern of eating, and investigated the effects of l-carnitine on the irregular eating induced adiposity in mice. After an experimental period of 8 weeks with l-carnitine supplementation, l-carnitine significantly inhibited body weight increase and epididymal fat weight gain induced by the time-delayed feeding. In addition, l-carnitine administration decreased levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (GPT), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and triglyceride (TG), which were significantly elevated by the irregular feeding. Moreover, mice supplemented with l-carnitine did not display glucose intolerance-associated hallmarks, which were found in the irregular feeding-induced obesity. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that l-carnitine counteracted the negative alterations of lipid metabolic gene expression (fatty acid synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase) in the liver and fat of mice caused by the irregular feeding. Therefore, our results suggest that the time-delayed pattern of eating can induce adiposity and lipid metabolic disorders, while l-carnitine supplementation might prevent these negative symptoms.

The P450 enzyme Shade mediates the hydroxylation of ecdysone to 20-hydroxyecdysone in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Ecdysone 20-monooxygenase (E20MO), a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP314A1), catalyses the conversion of ecdysone (E) to 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). We report here the cloning and characterization of the Halloween gene Shade (Shd) encoding E20MO in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. LdSHD has five conserved motifs typical of insect P450s, ie the Helix-C, Helix-I, Helix-K, PxxFxPE/DRF (PERF) and heme-binding motifs. LdShd was expressed in developing eggs, the first to fourth instars, wandering larvae, pupae and adults, with statistically significant fluctuations. Its mRNA was ubiquitously distributed in the head, thorax and abdomen. The recombinant LdSHD protein expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) cells catalysed the conversion of E to 20E. Dietary introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of LdShd into the second instar larvae successfully knocked down the LdShd expression level, decreased the mRNA level of the ecdysone receptor (LdEcR) gene, caused larval lethality, delayed development and affected pupation. Moreover, ingestion of LdShd-dsRNA by the fourth instars also down-regulated LdShd and LdEcR expression, reduced the 20E titre, and negatively influenced pupation. Introduction of 20E and a nonsteroidal ecdysteroid agonist halofenozide into the LdShd-dsRNA-ingested second instars, and of halofenozide into the LdShd-dsRNA-ingested fourth instars almost completely relieved the negative effects on larval performance. Thus, LdSHD functions to regulate metamorphotic processes by converting E to 20E in a coleopteran insect species Le. decemlineata.

FoxM1 influences embryo implantation and is regulated by 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone in mouse uteri and endometrium cells

To be a successful implantation, endometrial receptivity should be established. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is described as a major oncogenic transcription factor in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. FoxM1 regulates the expression of lots of targeted genes important to cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis; cell-cycle progression; and tumor angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and metastasis. According to these functions, we believe that FoxM1 should also play an essential role in embryo implantation. To test our hypothesis, we observed the expression and distribution of FoxM1 during the early pregnancy of mouse. Then, we used Immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of FoxM1 induced by E2 and/or P4 in the ovariectomized mouse uterus and human endometrium cells. This study further investigated whether FoxM1 was an important factor in the implantation. Our results showed that FoxM1 expressed in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy (Day 1 to 5). The expression of FoxM1 gradually increased along pregnancy process; FoxM1 expression could be increased by E2. On the contrary, FoxM1 expression could be decreased by P4 and E2 plus P4. We also detected the proliferation of human endometrium cells. We found that E2 might promote cells proliferation, while P4 and E2 plus P4 inhibited cells proliferation; Inhibiting FoxM1 could interfere the embryo implantation of mouse. Amplification or inhibiting of FoxM1 in JAR cells can increase or decrease the adhesion rate to Rl95-2 and HEC-1A cells separately. Our data indicate that FoxM1 might play an important role during the process of mouse embryo implantation.

Fluorogenic probes with substitutions at the 2 and 7 positions of cephalosporin are highly BlaC-specific for rapid Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection

Current methods for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are either time consuming or require expensive instruments and are thus are not suitable for point-of-care diagnosis. The design, synthesis, and evaluation of fluorogenic probes with high specificity for BlaC, a biomarker expressed by Mtb, are described. The fluorogenic probe CDG-3 is based on cephalosporin with substitutions at the 2 and 7 positions and it demonstrates over 120,000-fold selectivity for BlaC over TEM-1 Bla, the most common β-lactamase. CDG-3 can detect 10 colony-forming units of the attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG in human sputum in the presence of high levels of contaminating β-lactamases expressed by other clinically prevalent bacterial strains. In a trial with 50 clinical samples, CDG-3 detected tuberculosis with 90% sensitivity and 73% specificity relative to Mtb culture within one hour, thus demonstrating its potential as a low-cost point-of-care test for use in resource-limited areas.

Computational models on quantitative prediction of bioactivity of HIV-1 integrase 3' processing inhibitors

In this study, four computational quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were built to predict the bioactivity of 3' processing (3'P) inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase. Some 453 inhibitors whose bioactivity values were detected by the radiolabelling method were collected. The molecular structures were represented with MOE descriptors. In total, 21 descriptors were selected for modelling. All inhibitors were divided into a training set and a test set with two methods: (1) by a Kohonen's self-organizing map (SOM); (2) by a random selection. For every training set and test set, a multilinear regression (MLR) analysis and a support vector machine (SVM) were used to establish models, respectively. For the training/test set divided by SOM, the correlation coefficients (r) were over 0.84, and for the training/test set split randomly, the r values were over 0.86. Some molecular properties such as hydrogen bond donor capacity, atomic partial charge properties, molecular refractivity, the number of aromatic bonds and molecular surface area, volume and shape properties played important roles for inhibiting 3' processing step of HIV-1 integrase.

Variation in anisotropy and diffusivity along the medulla oblongata and the whole spinal cord in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study using diffusion tensor imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Disturbed somatosensory evoked potentials have been demonstrated in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (but this functional delay was found to originate above the C5-6 level, while the lower cord level was unaffected). Together with MR imaging observation of tonsillar ectopia and a relatively tethered cord, we hypothesized that there is disturbed mean diffusivity integrity along the spinal cord. In this study, advanced DTI was used to evaluate whether there was underlying decreased WM integrity within the brain stem and spinal cord in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and any relationship to cerebellar tonsillar ectopia. Clinical impact on balance testing was also correlated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with right thoracic curves were compared with 13 age-matched healthy girls. DTI of the brain and whole spinal cord was performed. ROIs were manually defined for the medulla oblongata and along each intervertebral segment of the cord. Mean values of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were computed at the defined regions. Between-group comparisons were performed by 1-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Significantly decreased fractional anisotropy values and increased mean diffusivity values were found at the medulla oblongata and C1-2, C2-3, C3-4, and C4-5 segments in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared with healthy subjects. No significant difference was found in the lower cord levels. Significant correlation was found between the tonsillar level and fractional anisotropy value at the C4-5 level in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis only.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study are in agreement with previous findings showing abnormal somatosensory evoked potential readings occurring only above the C5-6 level in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; these findings might partially explain the pathophysiology of the neural pathway involved.