[The research of liver failure in Banna miniature pigs caused by amanita exitialis]

Objective: To explore the characteristics of Banna miniature pig liver failure induced by amanita exitialis. Methods: From September to October 2020, a reverse high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was used to determine the toxin content of amanita exitialis solution, and 2.0 mg/kg amanita exitialis solution (α-amanitins+β-amanitins) was administered orally to Banna miniature pigs. Toxic symptoms, blood biochemical indexes and histopathological changes of liver, heart and kidney were observed at each time point. Results: All Banna miniature pigs died within 76 h of exposure, and different degrees of digestive tract symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea appeared between 6 and 36 h. The biochemical indexes of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine increased significantly at 52 h after exposure, and the differences were statistically significant compared with 0 h (P<0.05). The bleeding of liver and heart was obvious under macroscopic and microscopic observation, hepatocyte necrosis, renal tubule epithelial cell swelling. Conclusion: Large dose of amanita exitialis can cause acute liver failure of Banna miniature pigs, which is in line with the pathophysiological characteristics of acute liver failure, and lays a foundation for further research on the toxic mechanism and detoxification drugs of amanita exitialis induced liver failure.

Co-transfection of adeno-associated virus-mediated human vascular endothelial growth factor165 and transforming growth factor-β1 into annulus fibrosus cells of rabbit degenerative intervertebral discs

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a common condition that may lead to low back pain and radiculopathy. Understanding the pathophysiology and cellular and molecular events of degenerative disc disease has resulted in the proposal of a gene therapy approach to halt and reverse disc degeneration. We explored the feasibility of reversing intervertebral disc degeneration using human vascular endothelial growth factor165 (hVEGF165) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) gene therapy. hVEGF165 complementary DNA was obtained from pcDNA3(+)-hVEGF165 and cloned into adeno-associated virus (AAV)-pSNAV plasmids to construct the recombinant plasmid, AAV-pSNAV-hVEGF165. After identification through restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, the AAV-pSNAV-hVEGF165 was transfected into HEK293 cells and vascular endothelial cells. Protein expression of hVEGF165 was detected using a fluorescent immunohistochemical assay, and the effect of hVEGF165 on vascular endothelial cell proliferation was determined with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Packaged AAV-hVEGF165 and AAV-TGF-β1 were co-transfected into the annulus fibrosus cells of degenerative intervertebral discs. hVEGF165 and TGF-β1 expression by annulus fibrosus cells and the effect of the co-transfection on the level of collagen type I protein expression by annulus fibrosus cells were detected with Western blot. The results of restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed that AAV-pSNAV-hVEGF165 plasmids were constructed. The fluorescent immunohistochemical results confirmed hVEGF165 protein expression. The MTT results showed that the hVEGF165 protein promoted vascular endothelial cell proliferation. Biologically active AAV-hVEGF165 and AAV-TGF-β1 were successfully constructed. Western blot confirmed hVEGF165 and TGF-β1 expression in annulus fibrosus cells and demonstrated that the level of collagen type I protein expression was significantly higher in annulus fibrosus cells co-transfected with both AAV-hVEGF165 and AAV-TGF-β1 compared with that in cells transfected with AAV-hVEGF165 or AAV-TGF-β1 alone. hVEGF165 has a synergistic effect with TGF-β1 that promotes the expression of collagen type I protein in annulus fibrosus cells from degenerative intervertebral discs.

Spatial distribution and vertical variation of arsenic in Guangdong soil profiles, China

Total of 260 soil profiles were reported to investigate the arsenic spatial distribution and vertical variation in Guangdong province. The arsenic concentration followed an approximately lognormal distribution. The arsenic geometric mean concentration of 10.4 mg/kg is higher than that of China. An upper baseline concentration of 23.4 mg/kg was estimated for surface soils. The influence of soil properties on arsenic concentration was not important. Arsenic spatial distributions presented similar patterns that high arsenic concentration mainly located in limestone, and sandshale areas, indicating that soil arsenic distribution was dependent on bedrock properties than anthropogenic inputs. Moreover, from A- to C-horizon arsenic geometric mean concentrations had an increasing tendency of 10.4, 10.7 to 11.3 mg/kg. This vertical variation may be related to the lower soil organic matter and soil degradation and erosion. Consequently, the soil arsenic export into surface and groundwaters would reach 1040 t year-1 in the study area.

Primary thoracolumbar scoliosis in pinealectomized chickens

STUDY DESIGN

This study examines the gross anatomic changes in the chicken spine after pinealectomy and was undertaken because initial observation suggested that the pattern of curve development appears to be different from that reported in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the spinal deformity in chickens after pinealectomy.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The most common curve pattern seen after pinealectomy in chickens is said to be thoracic curves with structural changes and rotation. This is based largely on radiographic observations and forms the basis of the claim that chicken and human adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are similar.

METHOD

Thirty-five chickens were divided into 2 groups, a pinealectomy group (n = 25) and a control group with no surgery performed (n = 10). The spines were harvested at 3 months of age and examined visually, by radiographs and computed tomography scans.

RESULTS

Thirteen out of 25 (52%) of the pinealectomized chickens developed scoliosis. In contrast to previous studies, all the curves were located at the thoracolumbar junction with the apex at either T7 or L1. Structural changes including apical vertebral wedging, lordosis (mean of 14.3 degrees ), and rotation (mean of 14 degrees ) were seen in all cases. Pelvic wing deformity was seen in all cases and significantly contributed to the posterior rotational hump.

CONCLUSION

The primary curve in these chickens is at the thoracolumbar junction. Previous reports of curve pattern based on radiographic findings would not have identified these as the thoracolumbar junction is obscured by the bony pelvis and heavy musculature. The finding of pelvic wing deformity has not been previously reported, and raises the question as to whether these curves are secondary to asymmetric muscle pull.

Two naturally occurring mutations in the kinase domain of insulin receptor accelerate degradation of the insulin receptor and impair the kinase activity

We identified two novel heterozygous missense mutations of the insulin receptor gene: the Asp1179 mutation in one family and the Leu1193 mutation in two unrelated families with extreme insulin resistance. In these patients, the number of insulin receptors on the cell surface was found to be markedly decreased by insulin binding and surface labeling studies in transformed lymphocytes. Insulin binding to the transfected COS 7 cells and Rat-1 cells with both mutant cDNAs was also decreased to 5-31% of normal, and the mutant insulin receptors showed a markedly decreased kinase activity. Although biosynthetic labeling studies revealed that both mutant receptors were synthesized as 190-kDa proreceptors, the degradation of the mutant proreceptors was 2-fold faster than that of the wild type proreceptors. However, the degradation rate of the mutant receptors on the cell surface was comparable to that of wild type insulin receptor. These results suggest that the Asp1179 and Leu1193 mutations in the kinase domain are unique in causing decreased insulin receptor number on the cell surface by accelerated intracellular degradation, and that insulin resistance in these patients is mainly due to the decreased receptor number rather than impaired kinase activity.

[Study on the collagen of the different region of disc and different sigmental disc]

With the method of the collagen decomposition producting special hyoroxyprolines (HYP), the collagens of the different region of discs and different segmental discs were studied. The results were as follow: The fibrous annulus had a higher collagen content than did the nucleus pulposus (P < 0.001). In fibrous annulus, the inner region had a lower collagen content was found at the postolateral part of the fibrous annulus (P < 0.05), especially at the poster-lateral inner zone (P < 0.001). The local low-collagen content at the particular location may be one of the factors, which was clinically susceptible to a disc herniation at the part. An increasing graduation of collagen content was found from thoracic disc12 to lumbar disc 5. But, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

[An epidemiologic study of workers with low back pain]

To evaluate the impact of low back pain we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 10087 workers in factories of textile, machinery auto-transportation, clothing and sea cultivation. The prevalence of pain was compared with ages, sexes, duration of employment, types of jobs as well as body posture. The prevalence of low back in males was 13.66%, and in females 8.75% (average 11.53%). The risk factors included lifting, bending, twisting prolonged sitting and vibration as well as moisture and coldness prolonged sitting was. The important contributing factor of low back pain in sedentary workers.

[Intraspinal tumor in the higher cervical region]

Twenty-four cases of higher cervical intraspinal tumor were treated from July 1966 to Dec. 1990. Of them 22 cases had various paralysis according to Frankel's grading: A, 5 cases; B, 1; C, 9; D, 7 and E, 2. Having neurological symptoms for average of 5.4 months, all cases were operated. Total tumor resection were performed in 16 cases, partial resection in 5, spinal posterior decompression in 2 and one case was only bilpsed owing to abruptly respiratory arrest. Two cases died after operation. The results of operation were obviously improved in 16 cases. The authors introduce the diagnosis and operative skill of this kind of tumor as well as the treatment of disorders of respiratory function in this paper.

Clinical use of the absorbable spleen net in stellate rupture of spleen in children

This paper reports three cases of stellate rupture of the spleen in children treated by wrapping with the omentum, following the use of the absorbable spleen net (ASN), which is made of the ordinary surgical sutures. All patients were cured with spleen preservation. No complications occurred.

[Tumors of the spine: a clinical study of 80 cases]

From February 1972 to December 1988, 80 cases of spinal tumor were treated in this hospital. 37 of these cases were primary tumor and 43 cases were secondary tumor. Most of the primary tumors were angioma and massive osteolysis, most of the metastatic tumors were from gastrointestinal and pulmonary carcinoma. The time of onset in both groups within half a year were 54.2% and 65.1% respectively. The dominant symptoms were pain, mass and paralysis. Except 4 cases which involved more than one vertebrae, all others involved only one vertebra. Primary tumours were mostly found in the sacrum (41.1%) and metastatic tumors were mostly found in the thoracic spine (65.2%). Sixty-three patients were treated by different combinations of operative methods. Eleven primary malignant tumor and 16 metastatic case had been followed-up for 3 months to 3 years, 25 cases died. The rate of misdiagnosis was 21.25%, which mainly occurred in the secondary group. The causes of misdiagnosis were analysed.

[Arteriographic findings in bone tumors: experience with 170 cases]

From September 1978 to June 1987, arteriography was performed respectively in 62 cases of osteosarcoma, 21 cases of giant cell tumor and 87 cases of other benign or malignant of bone tumors. In 7 cases contrast medium was injected through indwelling catheter in all other cases it was injected by direct puncture which we think should be of first choice. Arteriographic findings in osteosarcoma were neovascularity and hypervascularity (98.5%), tumor staining (56.4%), early venous drainage (48.3%), arterial displacement (67.7%), and arterial caliber changes (50.1%). Some of the features were more prominent in certain types of osteosarcoma, such as tumor staining was mostly seen in osteolytic osteosarcoma. The arteriographic findings of other malignant bone tumors were similar to those of osteosarcoma. Malignant angioarchitecture usually was not found in benign tumors, but displacement of the artery may be occasionally seen. Extraskeletal part of osteosarcoma and giant cell tumor cannot be shown clearly in plain X-ray film, but it could be clearly seen in angiography. Usually, the extraskeletal part in osteosarcoma is larger than that in giant cell tumor.