The Characteristics of Human Resources and Related Research Activities among Basic Stem Cell Research Groups in China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of faculty and research activities of basic stem cell research groups in China.

METHODS

A questionnaire was administered to persons who knew the information among 46 basic stem cell research groups in China. Multiple linear regression models and repeated-measures analyses of variance were used. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used.

RESULTS

Of the 46 groups, 39.1% did not have any faculty recruited from abroad from 2009 to 2013, 37.0% did not have any faculty with junior-level title, 34.8% had ≤25.0% faculty with either M.D. or Ph.D. degree. Papers published in SCI journals per faculty and having faculty recruited from abroad were positively associated with research funding per faculty. The groups with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed the group with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad.

CONCLUSION

To increase the development of basic stem cell research, some characteristics of human resources should be improved, and the groups should recruit more faculty with overseas experience.

ID: 87: TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR CREB3L3 IS A NOVEL REGULATOR FOR ADIPOCYTE BIOLOGY AND METABOLISM

The presence of differential metabolic risks between the metabolically-protective subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and the disease-associated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is well established, but the mechanisms that cause these differences are not well understood. Cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein 3-like 3 (CREB3L3), a previously characterized liver-specific ER-bound transcription factor, was found to be expressed in murine SAT and VAT. In obese human subjects and an obese mouse model, we found that CREB3L3 is downregulated in SAT, but not in VAT. To examine the role of CREB3L3 in adipocyte biology and metabolism, we created a fat-specific CREB3L3 knockout (KO) mouse using the AdipoQ-Cre mouse. To establish a potential role for CREB3L3 in adipocytes, we examined in vitro differentiated adipocytes from isolated WT and KO primary stromal vascular fraction. We observed that ablation of CREB3L3 in SAT adipocytes significantly upregulated expression of both lipogenic and lipolytic markers. At the same time, we also observed significantly increased expression of thermogenic markers like PGC1α and Cox8b. Taken together our data suggest potential upregulation of the fat futile cycle in SAT upon deletion of CREB3L3. Surprisingly, we found that CREB3L3 KO tends to downregulate expression of markers of both lipogenesis and lipolysis in VAT adipocytes. This observation could potentially be contributed by the tendency of CREB3l3 KO VAT to have inhibited differentiation. To investigate the in vivo function of CREB3L3, we challenged WT and KO mice with high fat diet with weekly body weight assessment. We observed that CREB3L3 ablation in adipose tissues promotes significant weight gain in mice on HFD. Unexpectedly, despite being heavier, the KO mice are not more glucose intolerant or insulin resistant. These data together suggest that ablation of CREB3L3 could potentially promote fat storage in adipose tissues to prevent metabolic diseases caused by ectopic fat deposition.

Open-label, ascending dose, prospective cohort study evaluating the antiviral efficacy of Rosuvastatin therapy in serum and lipid fractions in patients with chronic hepatitis C

HMG CoA reductase inhibition suppresses in vitro HCV replication through depletion of cellular sterol proteins such as geranylgeraniol. Our aims were to prospectively evaluate the changes in serum and lipid fraction HCV RNA with Rosuvastatin in non-responder (NR) patients with CHC. A total of 11 patients with CHC genotype-1 received Rosuvastatin at 20 mg qd (weeks 0-4), 40 mg qd (weeks 5-12), with 4 week follow up. Lipid fractions were separated by a sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, HCV RNA determined at wks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 in serum, and in selected very low- (VLDF) to high-density (HDF) lipid fractions. A reduction in LDL and total cholesterol (TC) was not accompanied by significant decline in HCV RNA. At baseline, there was an inverse correlation between HDL and HCV RNA (ρ = -0.45, P = 0.036). At 20 mg, there was correlation between change (Δ) in TG and Δ HCV RNA (ρ = 0.75, P = 0.007), Δ ALT and Δ TC (ρ = -0.64, P = 0.03) and Δ LDL (ρ = -0.67, P = 0.02). At 40 mg, Δ TG maintained a positive correlation with Δ HCV RNA (ρ = 0.65, P = 0.03). There was a group difference for HCV RNA in relation to lipid fractions (P = 0.04) but not study time intervals (P = 0.17); mean log HCV RNA was greater in VLDF compared to HDF (5.81 ± 0.59 vs 5.06 ± 0.67, P = 0.0002) with no other differences to study time intervals (P = 0.099). Short-term Rosuvastatin monotherapy is not associated with significant changes in serum or lipid fraction HCV RNA in NR patients. HCV co-localizes with the lowest density lipid fractions in serum.

Using an image-guided navigation system for localization of small pulmonary nodules before thoracoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) provides a minimally invasive means to resect small pulmonary nodules (SPN). However, thoracoscopy has limits in the detection of small nodules, which are invisible and/or impalpable during surgery. Methods to localize such lesions, including methylene blue injection or the introduction of a hookwire under the guidance of computed tomography (CT), have some limitations. We are developing a new technique using image-guided navigation system for localization of small pulmonary nodules before thoracoscopic surgery.

METHODS

Four pigs underwent spiral-computed tomography (CT) scanning after they were given percutaneously created pulmonary lesions. The CT data were transmitted to a StealthStation navigation system, and with the help of the probe the lesions were located and resected under thoracoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 20 lesions were created. Nodules were located at an average distance of 15.6 mm from the pleural surface. All the lesions were successfully localized, and biopsy specimens revealed successful resection of target material.

CONCLUSION

This method can provide appropriate guidance to small pulmonary nodules and prove effective in immediately facilitating subsequent thoracoscopic resection.

A clinical investigation of 228 patients with phenylketonuria in mainland China

Neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) in Mainland China was started late and is incomplete. At the present time, it only covers 1-2% of the whole nation. There are about 1,500-2,000 PKU patients born in China annually. In this study, 228 PKU patients who were followed in our hospital were reviewed. Only 19 (8.3%) patients were detected by neonatal screening. Two hundred and nine (91.7%) cases were defined by pediatricians at the age of 1 month to 22 years, among them 94.5% had mental retardation, 48.9% developed epilepsy, and 22.9% gave up the treatment because of financial difficulty and loss of confidence in recovery. To help all of the patients, the only feasible way is the popularization of nationwide screening.