[Effect of SHP-1 knockout in airway epithelial cells on emphysema phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice]

Objective: To construct and characterize conditional Src homology region 2 protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) knockout mice in airway epithelial cells and to observe the effect of defective SHP-1 expression in airway epithelial cells on the emphysema phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: To detect the expression of SHP-1 in the airway epithelium of COPD patients. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to construct SHP-1flox/flox transgenic mice, which were mated with airway epithelial Clara protein 10-cyclase recombinase and estrogen receptor fusion transgenic mice (CC10-CreER+/+), and after intraperitoneal injection of tamoxifen, airway epithelial SHP-1 knockout mice were obtained (SHP-1flox/floxCC10-CreER+/-, SHP-1Δ/Δ). Mouse tail and lung tissue DNA was extracted and PCR amplified to discriminate the genotype of the mice; the knockout effect of SHP-1 gene in airway epithelial cells was verified by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. In addition, an emphysema mouse model was constructed using elastase to assess the severity of emphysema in each group of mice. Results: Airway epithelial SHP-1 was significantly downregulated in COPD patients. Genotyping confirmed that SHP-1Δ/Δ mice expressed CC10-CreER and SHP-1-flox. After tamoxifen induction, we demonstrated the absence of SHP-1 protein expression in airway epithelial cells of SHP-1Δ/Δ mice at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels, indicating that airway epithelial cell-specific SHP-1 knockout mice had been successfully constructed. In the emphysema animal model, SHP-1Δ/Δ mice had a more severe emphysema phenotype compared with the control group, which was manifested by disorganization of alveolar structure in lung tissue and rupture and fusion of alveolar walls to form pulmonary alveoli. Conclusions: The present study successfully established and characterized the SHP-1 knockout mouse model of airway epithelial cells, which provides a new experimental tool for the in-depth elucidation of the role of SHP-1 in the emphysema process of COPD and its mechanism.

[Effect of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies on pregnancy outcome in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion]

Objective: To investigate the effect of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) on pregnancy outcome and perinatal outcome of single live birth in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). Methods: The clinical data of 351 cycles of the first transfer of a blastocyst through whole embryo freezing in the Reproductive Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether PGT-A was performed before the transfer, the patients were divided into two groups: the PGT-A group (160 cycles) and the control group (191 cycles) were treated with in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection (IVF/ICSI). To adjust for confounding factors, propensity score matching (PSM) was carried out in a 1∶1 ratio between the two groups of patients. After matching, 98 patients in the PGT-A group and 98 patients in the control group were compared for pregnancy outcome and perinatal outcome of singleton live births. Results: Before PSM, the female age in the PGT-A group was (33.6±4.0) years, lower than that in the control group (34.5±4.5) years (P=0.049). Male age in the PGT-A group was (33.6±4.1) years, lower than that in the control group (35.3±5.1) years (P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in infertility factors, female body mass index (BMI), years of infertility, number of spontaneous abortions, basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), endometrial thickness on the day of transfer and the percentage of high-quality blastocysts (all P values<0.05); After PSM, there was a statistically significant difference in fertilization methods and infertility factors between the two groups (P<0.05), while other differences were not statistically significant (all P values>0.05); There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in implant rate [63.3% (62 cycles) vs. 49.0% (48 cycles), P=0.044], clinical pregnancy rate [63.3% (62 cycles) vs. 49.0% (48 cycles), P=0.044], and live birth rate [42.9% (42 cycles) vs. 28.6% (28 cycles), P=0.037]. There was no statistically significant difference in perinatal outcomes between the PGT-A group and the control group in obtaining single birth live births (P>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with conventional IVF/ICSI assisted pregnancy, PGT-A assisted pregnancy significantly improves implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate in URSA patients. PGT-A improves the pregnancy outcomes in URSA patients but not perinatal outcomes in patients with singleton live births.

[Association of GMF-β expression with Ki-67 and its significance in the prognostic evaluation of astrocytoma]

Objective: To clarify the correlation of the expression of glia maturation factor-β (GMF-β) with Ki-67 in astrocytoma, and to investigate the prognostic implications of combined detection of GMF-β and Ki-67. Methods: One hundred and forty human astrocytoma samples (WHO Ⅱ-Ⅳ grade) were collected at Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University), China from 2006 to 2009. Clinicopathological information and 3-year follow-up data were collected. Expression of GMF-β and Ki-67 was detected by single and double immunohistochemical staining, then the association of GMF-β expression with Ki-67 and its significance in prognostic evaluation of astrocytoma were statistically analyzed. Results: GMF-β expression in astrocytoma cells was correlated to both tumor grade and Ki-67 (both P<0.05); Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that GMF-β and Ki-67 expression were negatively correlated to the 3 year-survival rates, respectively (both P<0.01). Further analysis demonstrated that the two factors were co-influenced on survival, showing a trend of "GMF-β^low Ki-67^low>GMF-β^high Ki-67^low>GMF-β^low Ki-67^high>GMF-β^high Ki-67^high" in 3-year survival rate with significant intergroup differences (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusions: GMF-β expression is positively associated with Ki-67 in astrocytoma. Combined detection of GMF-β and Ki-67 can predict prognosis of patients with glioma.

[Application of two-stage crestal approach sinus elevation in severe atrophic posterior maxilla]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of two-stage crestal approach sinus elevation in severe atrophic maxilla. Methods: A total of 25 patients (male: 13 cases,female: 12 cases) who attended Department of Implant Center, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University from May 2016 to May 2018 were included in this study. The age of the patients was 32-49 years old. The inclusion criteria were: single or multiple tooth loss in posterior maxilla with residual bone height ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 mm and vertical bone width≥6 mm, no pathological changes or septum were detected in the sinus. The elevated sides were divided into three groups according to different buccal-palatal sinus width (SW): wide (16 case, SW＞15 mm), normal (12 case, 12 mm≤SW≤15 mm), narrow (5 case, SW<12 mm). Finally, 23 patients with 33 implants were placed by the two-stage crestal approach for sinus elevation. Six months after implant placement, final restorations were delivered. Implant survival rate, implant stability quotient (ISQ), immediate vertical bone height (VBH) after surgeries, changes of sinus elevation height (cSEH), marginal bone loss (MBL) at 1 year follow-up were examined. Results: Twenty-three patients were finally included in the study, including 12 males and 11 females, aged (41.2±7.6) years old. All implants healed uneventfully. ISQ (wide: 50.81±2.69; normal: 60.58±2.54; narrow: 63.12±3.58), immediate VBH after 1st surgery [wide: (7.99±1.13) mm; normal: (8.95±0.81) mm; narrow: (9.18±0.90) mm] and 2nd surgery [wide: (11.46±0.88) mm; normal: (12.77±0.49) mm; narrow: (12.57±0.55) mm], cSEH six months after 1st [wide: (3.87±0.43) mm; normal: (2.01±0.65) mm; narrow: (1.49±0.33) mm] and 2nd [wide: (1.16±0.29) mm; normal: (1.04±0.33) mm ; narrow: (0.97±0.41) mm] surgery, MBL [wide: (0.91±0.05) mm; normal: (0.79±0.10) mm; narrow: (0.74±0.07) mm] were significantly different among three groups (P<0.05). In all the three groups, cSEH was barely detected at 1-year follow-up (P>0.05). Conclusions: Two-stage crestal approach for sinus elevation might be an alternative protocol in severe atrophic posterior maxilla, especially in cases with narrow and normal buccal-palatal width. There is an urgent need for long time follow-up and more clinical cases.

LINC00473 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by regulating miR-1294/ROBO1 axis

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00473 has been reported to be involved in the regulation of several human cancers. However, the regulatory mechanism of LINC00473 is still unknown in lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of LINC00473, miR-1294 and ROBO1. The functional mechanism of the LINC00473/miR-1294/ROBO1 pathway was investigated by CCK-8, Transwell and dual luciferase reporter assays. The results showed that LINC00473 was up-regulated and miR-1294 was down-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and cells. LINC00473 can bind to miR-1294, and reciprocal inhibition between LINC00473 and miR-1294 expression was identified in lung adenocarcinoma. Functionally, LINC00473 promoted cell proliferation and motility in lung adenocarcinoma by downregulating miR-1294. In addition, miR-1294 directly targets ROBO1. ROBO1 served as an oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. In particular, LINC00473 promoted the progression of lung adenocarcinoma by upregulating ROBO1. In conclusion, LINC00473 acts as a tumor promoter in lung adenocarcinoma by regulating the miR-1294/ROBO1 axis.

Ultrabright fluorescent microsphere and its novel application for improving the sensitivity of immunochromatographic assay

Fluorescent microsphere (FM) is widely used as probe in immunochromatographic assay (ICA). However, the performance of conventional FM is limited because of the aggregation-caused quenching effect. Herein, we compared a kind of conventional FM (DMFFM, loading DMF) with novel aggregation-induced emission FM (AIEFM, loading TCBPE). The fluorescence intensity of DMFFM initially increased and then decreased as the concentrations of the loading DMF increased. The fluorescence intensity of AIEFM increased as the concentrations of the loading TCBPE increased and retained a high value. AIEFM was compared with two commercial FMs purchased from Ocean (OFM) and Merk (MFM). The maximum fluorescence intensity and relative quantum yield of AIEFM was approximately 5 and 4.5 times higher than those of two commercial FMs. We used the novel AIEFM as a probe to improve the sensitivity of ICA. When Escherichia coli O157:H7 was detected as the target, the limit of detection of ICA based on AIEFM, OFM and MFM were 3.98 × 10³ CFU/mL, 4.48 × 10⁴ and 2.78 × 10⁴ CFU/mL, respectively. The ICA of AIEFM had 11 and 7 times improvement in sensitivity compared with that of OFM and MFM. Our results could be used as a basis for novel probes in practical ICA applications.

[Relationship between angiopoietin-2 and vascular endothelial factor and vasodilation function in hypertensive patients]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) and vascular endothelial factor and vasodilation function in hypertensive patients. Methods: Patients with new onset grade 1~2 hypertension (n=40) and healthy control group (n=25) wereenrolledprospectively. Serum Ang2 and nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in both groups. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were measured in hypertensive patients. The above indicators were reviewed in hypertensive patients after antihypertensive treatment until blood pressure<140/90 mmHg. Results: Compared with the control group, serum Ang2 (P=0.049) and ET-1 (P<0.001) were significantly higher. Serum NO (P<0.001) and eNOS (P<0.001) was significantly lower in the hypertensive group. Compared with baseline, serum Ang2 (P=0.049) and ET-1 (P<0.001) were decreased significantly, meanwhile serum NO (P<0.001) and eNOS (P<0.001) were significantly increased. Serum Ang2 after antihypertensive treatment was not significantly different from that of the control group, but no statistical difference was observed in FMD after antihypertensive therapy. Correlation analysis found that serum Ang2 was positively correlated with mean arterial pressure (R=0.432, P<0.001), and negative correlated with serum NO(R=-0.374, P=0.001) and FMD (R=-0.368 0, P=0.002). Multiple linear regression found that serum Ang2 was independently associated with body mass index, mean arterial pressure, and serum NO. Conclusion: Serum Ang 2 can reflect the degree of endothelial and vasodilation impairment in hypertensive patients. Antihypertensive therapy can improve endothelial function, but whether it can restore damaged vasodilation function needs further verification.

[Relationships between percentage of skeletal muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness in elderly patients with coronary heart disease]

Objective: To determine the relative percentage of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in elderly patients with coronary heart disease, analyse the relationship between percentage of SMM and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), predict exercise capacity and cardiac reserve. Methods: Patients aged 65 years and over after PCI, receiving cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) during February 2014 to December 2016 in Department of Cardiology at Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled.All patients' basic data, percentage of SMM and CPET related parameters, including peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak), oxygen pulse (VO(2)/HR), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and other cardiorespiratory endurance indicators were collected, to do correlation analysis. Results: There were 402 patients enrolled, with average age (71±5) years, including 283 cases of male (70.40%) and 119 cases of female patients (29.60%). There were 62 patients with acute myocardial infarction (15.42%), 113 patients with old myocardial infarction (28.11%), and 227 patients diagnosed with angina pectoris (56.47%). The percentage of SMM was correlated to CRF.The percentage of SMM[97.00 (92.05, 102.10)%] and VO(2)/HR (r=0.231, P<0.001) and OUES (r=0.264, P<0.001) were positively correlated.Body mass index was negatively correlated with VO(2)peak(r=-0.162, P=0.001). Visceral fat area (VFA) was also negatively correlated with VO(2)peak(r=-0.126, P=0.016). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Body mass index and VFA were negatively correlated with VO(2)peak (r=-0.204, P=0.014; r=-0.031, P=0.013). The percentage of SMM was positively independently correlated with OUES(r=11.020, P<0.001). Conclusions: Muscle content is positively correlated with exercise capacity of patients.The percentage of skeletal muscle mass determines the core index of cardiorespiratory fitness, such as the slope of oxygen pulse and oxygen uptake efficiency.These indexes can be used as an important criterion for predicting and guiding rehabilitation exercise in patients with coronary heart disease.

[Classification of the anatomical structures of maxillary central incisor root by cone-beam CT]

Objective: To examine the root position of the maxillary central incisors and to provide clinical reference before the immediate implant placement. Methods: Cone-beam CT (CBCT) data of the maxillary central incisors of 934 patients (934 incisors) was selected and the root position classsified. The sagittal root position in the alveolar bone was classified as buccal, middle, or palatal. The buccally positoined type was further classified into three subtypes of Ⅰ,Ⅱ, and Ⅲ. Results: Most of the maxillary incisor root (95.4% [891/934]) was positioned buccally. Among the buccal-type incisors, the subtypes Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ accounted for 47.5% (423/891), 44.2% (394/891), and 8.3% (74/891). In the 4 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction and the middle of the root, the thickest buccal bone wall was 0.86 and 0.95 mm, the thickest palatal bone wall was 1.65 and 2.37 mm. In the apical location, the thickest buccal bone wall was 1.89 mm, the thickest palatal bone wall was 7.83 mm. Conclusions: Most of the maxillary central incisors studied are positioned buccally, and half of these patients have adequate buccal bone and are suitable for immediate implant placement.

Role of psychological intervention in fetoscopic laser surgery of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the influence of application of psychological intervention in fetoscopic laser surgery of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) on perinatal outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of ten cases of pregnant women diagnosed with TTTS from January 2007 to December 2009 in the present hospital were selected. Their gestational weeks ranged from 16 to 29 weeks. Under the location of B ultrasound, the method of intra-amniotic fetoscopic laser occlusion of chorioangiopagous vessels (FLOC) plus amnioreduction was conducted for treatment. Contemporarily, psychological intervention was also carried out.

RESULTS

Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative behavior controls of all pregnant women were good, and all operations were successfully completed to achieve the desired purpose of rehabilitation discharge.

CONCLUSION

Fetoscopic laser surgery is an effective treatment for TTTS and competent psychological intervention is one of important measures for successful operation and pregnant woman rehabilitation discharge.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor attenuates chronic neuroinflammation in the brain of amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice: an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Recent evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms contribute significantly to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator, but the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect is unclear. This study was designed to investigate whether G-CSF could inhibit inflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease through an α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) pathway. Mice transgenic for the V171I mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) were injected subcutaneously with G-CSF 50 μg/kg per day or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; control group) for 7 days, and wild-type C57/BL6 mice were injected with PBS daily for 7 days. Mice were killed on days 7, 14 and 28 after treatment began. Levels of α7 nAChR protein were significantly increased and levels of interleukin-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein were significantly decreased in the brain of APP transgenic mice in response to G-CSF. Levels of α7 nAChR protein correlated negatively with NF-κB levels. It is concluded that G-CSF might attenuate inflammation by down-regulating NF-κB and up-regulating α7 nAChR in the brain of APP transgenic mice, indicating a potential new therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease.

Combined CD4+ Th1 effect and lymphotactin transgene expression enhance CD8+ Tc1 tumor localization and therapy

Type 1 T cells are the major components in antitumor immunity. The lack of efficient CD8(+) cytotoxic T (Tc) cell infiltration of tumors is a major obstacle to adoptive Tc-cell therapy. We have previously demonstrated that adenovirus (AdV)-mediated transgene lymphotactin (Lptn) expression by intratumoral AdVLptn injection and intravenous CD4(+) helper T (Th) cell transfer can enhance Tc-cell tumor infiltration and eradication of early stage tumors (5 mm in diameter). In this study, we generated ovalbumin (OVA)-specific Tc1 and Th1 cells in vitro by incubation of OVA-pulsed dendritic cells with naive T cells from T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic OT I and OT II mice. We then investigated the potential synergy of Th1 help effect and Lptn transgene expression in Tc1-cell therapy of well-established OVA-expressing EG7 solid tumors (7 mm in diameter). Our data showed that a combined adoptive T-cell therapy of Th1 (2.5 x 10(6) cells per mouse) and Tc1 (5 x 10(6) cells per mouse) resulted in regression of all eight (100%) transgene Lptn expressed EG7 tumors, which is significantly higher than four from eight (50%) in AdVLptn/Tc1 group and two from eight (25%) in Tc1/Th1 group (P < 0.05). The amount of transferred Tc1 cells detected in Lptn-expressed tumors with Th1 treatment is 0.72%, which is significantly higher than those of AdVLptn (0.22%), Th1 (0.41%) and the control AdVpLpA (0.09%) treatment groups (P < 0.05). Enhanced Tc1 tumor localization may be derived from the chemotactic effect of Lptn and the proliferative effect of Th1 and Lptn. This novel therapeutic strategy with enhancement of Tc1 tumor localization in the therapy of well-established tumors may become a tool of considerable conceptual interest in the implementation of future clinical objectives.

The effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range neuron activity in the spinal dorsal horn of rats

The present study investigated the effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range (WDR) neuron activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of rats. The evoked discharge of WDR neurons was elicited by transdermic electrical stimulation applied on the ipsilateral hindpaw of rats. Galanin was administered directly on the spinal dorsal surface of L3-L5. The evoked discharge frequency of the WDR neurons decreased significantly after the administration of galanin and the effect lasted for more than 30 min. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of galanin on the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons was blocked by following administration of the galanin antagonist galantide, indicating that the inhibitory effect of galanin on the activity of WDR neurons was induced by activating galanin receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results suggest that galanin has an inhibitory role in the transmission of presumed nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.

Effect of p58GTA on beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 activity and cell-cycle in human hepatocarcinoma cells

Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 (beta1,4-GT 1) is the key enzyme transferring galactose to the terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) forming Galbeta3-->4GlcNAc structure in the Golgi apparatus. In addition, it also serves as a cell adhesion molecule by recognizing and binding to terminal GlcNAc of glycoconjugates on the adjacent cell surface and matrix through a subpopulation of the enzyme distributed on the cell surface. Transient expression of the p58GTA protein kinase, which belongs to the p34cdc2-related supergene family, could enhance beta1,4-GT 1 total activity in COS cells. In this study, the p58GTA interaction with beta1,4-GT 1 was confirmed using an in vitro assay with the TNT Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System. An expression vector containing p58GTA was stably transfected into 7721 cells, a human hepatocarcinoma cell line, expression was confirmed by Northern and Western blot analyses. The cells transfected with p58GTA (p58GTA/7721) contained 1.9 times higher total beta1,4-GT 1 activity and 2.6 times higher cell-surface beta1,4-GT 1 activity than the mock transfected cells (pcDNA3/7721). However, Ricinus communis agglutinin-I lectin blot analysis revealed that the enhanced beta1,4-GT1 activity did not increase the Galbetal-->4GlcNAc groups on most of the membrane proteins in p58GTA/7721 cells. By flow cytometry analysis, it was found that the p58GTA/7721 cells were G2/M phase arrested, compared with the pcDNA3/7721 cells. These results suggest that the p58GTA stable transfection into human hepatocarcinoma cells could enhance the two beta1,4-GT1 subcellular pool activities independently and change its cell-cycle without modifying the beta-1,4-linked galactose residues on most membrane proteins.

Structure-based design of potent inhibitors of scytalone dehydratase: displacement of a water molecule from the active site

Scytalone dehydratase (SD) is a molecular target of inhibitor design efforts aimed at protecting rice plants from the fungal disease caused by Magnaporthe grisea. As determined from X-ray diffraction data of an SD-inhibitor complex [Lundqvist et al. (1994) Structure (London) 2, 937-944], there is an extended hydrogen-bonding network between protein side chains, the inhibitor, and two bound water molecules. From models of SD complexed to quinazoline and benztriazine inhibitors, a new class of potent SD inhibitors involving the displacement of an active-site water molecule were designed. We were able to increase inhibitory potency by synthesizing compounds with a nitrile functionality displayed into the space occupied by one of the crystallographic water molecules. Sixteen inhibitors are compared. The net conversion of potent quinazoline and benztriazine inhibitors to cyanoquinolines and cyanocinnolines increased binding potency 2-20-fold. Replacement of the nitrile with a hydrogen atom lowered binding affinity 100-30,000-fold. X-ray crystallographic data at 1.65 A resolution on a SD-inhibitor complex confirmed that the nitrile functionality displaced the water molecule as intended and that a favorable orientation was created with tyrosines 30 and 50 which had been part of the hydrogen-bonding network with the water molecule. Additional data on inhibitors presented herein reveals the importance of two hydrogen-bonding networks toward inhibitory potency: one between Asn131 and an appropriately positioned inhibitor heteroatom and one between a bound water molecule and a second inhibitor heteroatom.