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Objective@#Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder with unknown etiology and lacking specific biomarkers. Herein, we aimed to explore plasma biomarkers relevant to SCZ using targeted metabolomics. @*Methods@#Sixty drug-naïve SCZ patients and 36 healthy controls were recruited. Psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. We analyzed the levels of 271 metabolites in plasma samples from all subjects using targeted metabolomics, and identified metabolites that differed significantly between the two groups. Then we evaluated the diagnostic power of the metabolites based on receiver operating characteristic curves, and explored metabolites associated with the psychotic symptoms in SCZ patients. @*Results@#Twenty-six metabolites showed significant differences between SCZ patients and healthy controls. Among them, 12 metabolites were phosphatidylcholines and cortisol, ceramide (d18:1/22:0), acetylcarnitine, and γ-aminobutyric acid, which could significantly distinguish SCZ from healthy controls with the area under the curve (AUC) above 0.7. Further, a panel consisting of the above 4 metabolites had an excellent performance with an AUC of 0.867. In SCZ patients, phosphatidylcholines were positively related with positive symptoms, and cholic acid was positively associated with negative symptoms. @*Conclusion@#Our study provides insights into the metabolite alterations associated with SCZ and potential biomarkers for its diagnosis and symptom severity assessment.
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Three bibenzyls 1-3 and six other compounds 4-9 were firstly isolated from Dendrobium huoshanense stems. They were identified as 3',4-dihydroxy-3,5'-dimethoxybibenzyl(1), batatasin Ⅲ(2), 3,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy bibenzyl(3), dihydroconiferyl dihydro-p-coumarate(4), syringaresinol(5), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester(6),(3-ethylphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol(7),(S)-5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-pentylfuran-2(5H)-one(8) and loliolide(9). Anti-inflammation assay showed that bibenzyls 1-3 could significantly inhibit the production of nitric oxide(NO) and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) and interleukin 1β(IL-1β) mRNA in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Mechanism study exhibited that the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) p65, inhibitor of κB(IκB), extracellular regulatedprotein kinase(ERK), c-Jun N-terminalkinase(JNK), p38 and Akt of LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages could be remarkably reduced by 1. These results suggested that the inflammatory response of LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages could be significantly inhibited by 1-3. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effect of 1 might be contributed to its ability on the regulation of NF-κB, MAPKs and Akt signaling pathways.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Dendrobium , Inflammation , Drug Therapy , Lipopolysaccharides , Macrophages , NF-kappa B , Nitric Oxide , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type IIABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the anatomy characteristics of saphenous artery(SA) and its perforator vessels in mini pig,and to provide a new perforator flap animal model.Methods Between May,2018 and August,2018,6 7-months-old mini pigs weight 25 kilograms were sacrificed by blooding under general anesthesia.The bilateral external iliac arteries were injected with a mixture of latex-lead oxide mixture and underwent CT-scanning to provide 3-dimensional reconstruction.The origin,diameter,courses and distribution of the SA and perforators of both hind limbs were observed.Results One of the hind limbs was abandoned due to the leakage of perfusion fluid.The other 11 hind limbs were available.The femoral artery passed through the medial femoral muscle and sartorius muscle in the middle of thigh,and run between the medial femoral muscle and gracilis muscle above the knee.Below the knee,it run on the surface of the medial leg muscles.A number of small branches were distributed in the tarsal joint and calcaneus at the medial malleolus,and there were abundant communicating branches with the posterior tibial artery.The average length of SA was (14.86±0.76) mm.The outer diameters of SA at initiative,medial tibial condyle and medial malleolus were(1.73±0.15) mm,(1.50±0.12) mm and (1.30±0.13) mm,respectively.There were a total of 79 perforators which were identified,with a mean of (7.09±1.16) perforators per hind limbs.And the average outer diameter was 0.10-0.78 (0.40±0.13) mm.Conclusion The SA constantly exist with good outer diameter.The number of perforator is abundant.SA can be used as a reliable animal model for studying and training of perforator flap.
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Objective To establish a non-venous bypass orthotopic liver transplantation model in Bama miniature pigs with high repeatability and stability. Methods Twelve Bama miniature pigs were randomly divided into the donor group (n=6) and recipient group (n=6). Pigs underwent non-venous bypass orthotopic liver transplantation. The time of anhepatic phase during operation was shortened, blood pressure during anhepatic phase was stably maintained, and management of anesthesia and body fluid during operation were strengthened. The operation time, anhepatic phase and survival status of the recipients were observed and recorded. The intraoperative heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and changes in arterial blood gas analysis were monitored. The perioperative liver function was evaluated. Results Among 6 Bama miniature pigs, 1 died from transplantation failure intraoperatively. The operation time of the remaining 5 pigs was (247±27) min and the time of anhepatic phase was (46±4) min. Three animals survived for more than 2 weeks. Compared with the preanhepatic phase, the heart rate of the animals was significantly faster, MAP was considerably reduced to (46±6) mmHg, blood pH value, base excess (BE) and HCO3- level were all significantly decreased and serum level of K+ was significantly elevated during the anhepatic phase (all P < 0.05). In the neohepatic phase, MAP of Bama miniature pigs was significantly increased, heart rate was dramatically slower.Blood pH value, BE, HCO3- level were significantly increased and serum level of K+ was significantly declined (all P < 0.05). During abdominal closure, MAP, blood gas indexes and serum level of K+ were almost recovered to those in the preanhepatic phase. Compared with preoperative levels, the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)were significantly increased after operation (all P < 0.05), the change in AST was the most obvious, and it gradually decreased at postoperative 2 d. The level of γ-gutamyl transferase(GGT) did not significantly elevated. The level of total bilirubin (TB) was evidently elevated at postoperative 5 d. Compared with the preoperative levels, the levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were significantly decreased after operation (both P < 0.05), and began to gradually increase at postoperative 1 d. Conclusions The non-venous bypass orthotopic liver transplantation model of Bama miniature pig is convenient, with highly reproducible and survival rate, which can be utilized as a standardized liver transplantation model.
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Objective To explore the feasibility of monitoring blood pressure via superficial temporal artery catheterization in neonates,which may provide more ways to monitor arterial blood pressure of neonates.Methods By lottery method,64 neonates from NICU who met inclusion criteria and needed arterial blood pressure monitoring were randomly divided into two groups.Thirty-two cases in the experimental group were treated with superficial temporal artery catheterization,while 32 cases in the control group were treated with radial artery catheterization.The success rate of one-time catheterization,indwelling time of catheter,blood pressure and the rate of complications were compared between two groups.Results There were no significant differences between two groups in the success rate of one-time catheterization,indwelling time of catheter,systolic blood pressure and the rate of complications (P＞0.05).Results showed there was significant difference in diastolic blood pressure between two groups(P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with radial artery blood catheterization,neonatal superficial temporal artery catheterization showed equivalent effect,which made it more convenient for observing condition of neonates.
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Objective To explore the feasibility of monitoring blood pressure via superficial temporal artery catheterization in neonates,which may provide more ways to monitor arterial blood pressure of neonates.Methods By lottery method,64 neonates from NICU who met inclusion criteria and needed arterial blood pressure monitoring were randomly divided into two groups.Thirty-two cases in the experimental group were treated with superficial temporal artery catheterization,while 32 cases in the control group were treated with radial artery catheterization.The success rate of one-time catheterization,indwelling time of catheter,blood pressure and the rate of complications were compared between two groups.Results There were no significant differences between two groups in the success rate of one-time catheterization,indwelling time of catheter,systolic blood pressure and the rate of complications (P＞0.05).Results showed there was significant difference in diastolic blood pressure between two groups(P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with radial artery blood catheterization,neonatal superficial temporal artery catheterization showed equivalent effect,which made it more convenient for observing condition of neonates.
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Phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEAMT) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of phosphocholine, which is an important precursor of phosphatidylcholine and glycine betaine. A 1249bp 5'-flanking region of phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene was isolated by anchored PCR, based on the cDNA sequence of PEAMT from halophyte Salicornia europaea. The transcription start site was identified as A and localized at 301bp upstream of the ATG according to the results of RLM-RACE. In SePEAMT promoter region, many potential cis-acting elements were predicted by PlantCARE and PLACE programs. Aside from the basal transcriptional elements TATA-box and CAAT-box, some stress-responsive motifs such as ABRE, HSE and LTR were found. In addition, some pollen-specific activation-related elements were also present in this region. Binary expression vector was constructed by fusing SePEAMT promoter with GUS gene and designated as pPro. The pPro was transferred into tobacco by Agrobacterium-medicated transformation and transient GUS expression analysis indicated that SePEAMT promoter could drive strong GUS expression.
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A strain with relative higher phytase-producing ability, Aspergillus fumigatus WY-2 was screened from soil. The optimal pH and temperature for activity of the phytase from A.fumigatus WY-2 were 5.5 and 55 ℃, respectively. The gene encoding the phytase was amplified from genomic DNA of the strain by PCR, and a 1.5 kb DNA fragment was obtained and then was cloned into vector pMD18-T. The sequencing analysis revealed that the DNA fragment contained a whole open reading frame (ORF) of phytase gene. The phytase gene was 1459 bp in length included with a 61 bp intron and encoded 465 amino acids. A signal peptide encoding 26 amino acids was found at 5′end of the gene. There were 7 potential glycosylation sites in the phytase. The present phytase showed 91% identity in nucleotide sequence and 91% identity in deduced amino acids sequence to the previously reported A.fumigatus ATCC34625 phytase.