Ghrelin promotes cardiomyocyte differentiation of adipose tissue‑derived mesenchymal stem cells by DDX17‑mediated regulation of the SFRP4/Wnt/β‑catenin axis

Adipose tissue‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) differentiate into cardiomyocytes and may be an ideal cell source for myocardial regenerative medicine. Ghrelin is a gastric‑secreted peptide hormone involved in the multilineage differentiation of MSCs. To the best of our knowledge, however, the role and potential downstream regulatory mechanism of ghrelin in cardiomyocyte differentiation of ADMSCs is still unknown. The mRNA and protein levels were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was used to show the expression and cellular localization of cardiomyocyte markers and β‑catenin. RNA sequencing was used to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that regulated by ghrelin. The present study found that ghrelin promoted cardiomyocyte differentiation of ADMSCs in a concentration‑dependent manner, as shown by increased levels of cardiomyocyte markers GATA binding protein 4, α‑myosin heavy chain (α‑MHC), ISL LIM homeobox 1, NK2 homeobox 5 and troponin T2, cardiac type. Ghrelin increased β‑catenin accumulation in nucleus and decreased the protein expression of secreted frizzled‑related protein 4 (SFRP4), an inhibitor of Wnt signaling. RNA sequencing was used to determine the DEGs regulated by ghrelin. Functional enrichment showed that DEGs were more enriched in cardiomyocyte differentiation‑associated terms and Wnt pathways. Dead‑box helicase 17 (DDX17), an upregulated DEG, showed enhanced mRNA and protein expression levels following ghrelin addition. Overexpression of DDX17 promoted protein expression of cardiac‑specific markers and β‑catenin and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of α‑MHC and β‑catenin. DDX17 upregulation inhibited protein expression of SFRP4. Rescue assay confirmed that the addition of SFRP4 partially reversed ghrelin‑enhanced protein levels of cardiac‑specific markers and the fluorescence intensity of α‑MHC. In conclusion, ghrelin promoted cardiomyocyte differentiation of ADMSCs by DDX17‑mediated regulation of the SFRP4/Wnt/β‑catenin axis.

Composition and characteristics of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus

The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition, morphology, characteristics, distribution and function of distinct macrophage subpopulations in the mouse thymus. Apoptosis of mouse thymocytes was induced by glucocorticoids and three monoclonal antibodies against Mac-2, F4/80 and ED1 were used for immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical analysis. The morphology of thymic macrophages was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Four subpopulations of mouse thymic macrophages were identified. Dendritic macrophages were identified using anti-Mac-2 and anti-F4/80 antibodies, and were demonstrated to be distributed in the entire thymus. Phagocytes were also observed. In addition, plate-shaped macrophages, identified using the anti-F4/80 antibody, were distributed under the thymic cortex capsule. Small oval macrophages, identified using the anti-Mac-2 antibody, were distributed in the thymic medulla and corticomedullary region (CMR), while phagocytes were not observed in these types of cell. ED1+ thymic macrophages with irregular forms were distributed in the CMR. All of the four subpopulations of mouse thymic macrophages described above exhibited acid phosphate activity. This study indicated the existence of macrophage subpopulations with different shapes, distribution and functions in the mouse thymus.

Physical and sexual abuse of women before, during, and after pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

To examine patterns of physical and sexual abuse before, during, and after pregnancy.

METHODS

A community-based interview survey of a representative group of women with children aged 6-18 months was carried out between November 1, 2001, and February 28, 2002, in 32 communities of the Tianjing, Liaoning, Henan, and Shannxi provinces.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of physical and sexual abuse (occurring before, during, and after pregnancy) was 11.7%. The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse before pregnancy was 8.5%, compared with 3.6% during pregnancy and 7.4% during an average postpartum period of 11 months. Abuse before pregnancy was a strong indicator of abuse during pregnancy and after delivery, and abuse during a previous period was a strong indicator of subsequent abuse. Most abuse was recurrent and not severe.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine screening for abuse in the maternity services setting is advocated to decrease the effect of abuse on women and their children.

[The application of adaptive line enhancement filter in extracting cutaneous electrogastrogram]

Based on the principle of adaptive filtering, The higher signal-to-noise ratio of electrogastrogram data can be extracted from abdomen skin with the adaptive line enhancement filter. The design method of feedback factor and filtering coefficient is introduced in this paper. Experimental and practical results show the method is effective.

[Postpartum depression]

A retrospective study was carried out in Beijing, China, in 1992. Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used to inquire the mothers at 6-12 month after delivery. A total of 550 women were investigated by mailing. 425 women replied. The positive rate of PPD in our study was 17.9%. Women who had had a history of mood disorder before pregnancy had a higher risk of PPD. Social and psychological factors such as lacking support from the women's relatives, the poor marital relationship and the bad living condition shown to be significantly associated with postnatal depression. PPD can seriously affected the physical and mental health and well-being of women, her child's early education causing delayed development and her family causing a great deal of suffering, personal distress and marital troubles even causing divorce and suicide. Thus it is important to identify the high risk women and give treatment as early as possible.

[Serum HSV-2 antibody in males from high and low incidence areas of cervical cancer]

Serum HSV-2 antibody in male from high and low incidence areas of cervical cancer was assayed by enzyme-immuno-slide method. The results show that the geometric mean titer of the serum HSV-2 antibody in the male from high incidence area (413.5) is significantly higher than that from the low incidence area (210.4) (P less than 0.01). It indicates that the high cancer incidence might be related to the high HSV-2 infection rate in the spouses of the cervical cancer patients.