Gut microbiota of polycystic ovary syndrome model rats induced with dehydroepiandrosterone / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective: To explore the changes of gut microbiota in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model rats and to study the possible role of gut microbiota in the pathological progress of PCOS. Methods: Six-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group and experimental group (n=10 per group). Subcutaneous injection with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in 0.2 mL phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was adopted to establish PCOS model rats, while the control group rats were subcutaneously injected with the same amount of PBS. After treatment for 4 weeks, the estrous cycle, ovarian weight and morphology were detected. The change of relative abundance of gut microbiota was detected with high-throughput Illumina sequencing technique. Results: Ovarian weight in experimental group was lower than that in control group (P=0.010). The estrous cycle was disrupted and ovarian morphology was greatly changed with enlarged follicles and polycystic ovaries, indicating successful PCOS rat model induced by DHEA. Relative abundance of gut microbiota was significantly altered in genus level, with enrichment of genus Alloprevotella (P=0.040) and Parasutterella (P=0.009) in experimental group. Several kinds of microbial taxa, such as Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Burkholderiale, Elusimicrobia, Elusimicrobiales, Elusimicrobiaceae, and microbial genera Elusimicrobium, Parasutterella and Allobaculum, were remarkably enriched in experimental group, while the abundance of Psychrobacter, Odoribacter and Moraxellaceae were reduced compared with control group revealed by LEfSe analysis (LDA≥2.0). Conclusion: The gut microbiota in PCOS model rats is greatly changed compared with that of control group. Many kinds of microbial taxa varies significantly in abundance, suggesting there might be close association between gut microbiota and occurrence and development of PCOS.

Effect of imblanced vaginal flora on female infertility / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Recently the incidence of female infertility is on the rise. The variable and complicated cause of infertility makes it difficult to diagnose in clinical practise. The relationship between vaginal flora and host immune system plays a vital role in female physiological function. Vaginal microbiota dysbiosis may be related to all kinds of infertility, such as tube infertility, endometriosis, anovulatory infertility and idiopathic infertility. In other words, vaginal microbiota dysbiosis may take part in the infertile process. For now the mechanism is far from clear. Some scientists suppose that Lactobacillus deficiency, chronic inflamation and low estrogen level might get involved in this pathophysiological progression, which needs to be studied in the furture.

Mesenchymal stem cells homing to rat lung emphysema followed by differentiation into pulmonary vascular endothelial cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells have unique homing,immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory properties.After intravenous injection,mesenchymal stem cells can home to the damaged target organs and tissues,and function to repair damaged tissues.OBJECTIVE:To observe the pathological changes of lung tissues in rats with emphysema after mesenchymal stem cells transplantation.METHODS:Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental group,control group and healthy control group.In the first two groups,the model of pulmonary emphysema was established by the method of dropping porcine pancreatic elastase.BrdU-labeled mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the tail vein of the rats in the experimental group,and PBS was injected in the control group.After 14 days,the pathological changes of lung tissues were observed.Tumor necrosis factor-α level,alveolar wall apoptotic index,anti-CD34 and anti-BrdU immunohistochemical changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the healthy control group,the tumor necrosis factor-α level and apoptotic index of alveolar wall cells increased (P ＜ 0.01),and the relative areas of anti-Brdu and anti-CD34 decreased (P ＜ 0.01) in the control group.Compared with the control group,the level of tumor necrosis factor-α and apoptotic index of alveolar wall cells decreased (P ＜ 0.01),and the relative area of anti-Brdu and anti-CD34 increased (P ＜ 0.01) in the experimental group.The histopathological findings showed that both the control group and the experimental group showed emphysema-like changes,but these changes were milder in the experimental group than the control group.To conclude,mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit inflammatory response and apoptosis in experimental emphysema,improve the pathological changes of the lung,and moreover,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into lung vascular endothelial cells.

Change of cytochrome c in postconditioning attenuating ischemia-reperfusion-induced mucosal apoptosis in rat intestine / 生理学报

The present study aimed to investigate the change of cytochrome c in postconditioning-attenuated ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced mucosal apoptosis in rat intestine compared with ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Using rat model of intestine I/R injury, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220-250 g were divided into 4 groups which were Sham operation group, I/R group, IPC group and ischemic postconditioning (IPOST) group. In these groups, I/R procedure was performed by the occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 1 h. In Sham group, there was no intervention. In IPC group, SMA was occluded for 5 min and reperfused for 5 min, for two cycles, before the prolonged occlusion. In IPOST group, three cycles of 30-s reperfusion and 30-s reocclusion were preceded at the start of reperfusion. After the reperfusion, the small intestines were sampled for experimental detection. Intestinal mucosal mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Expressions of cytochrome c and caspase-3 proteins were detected using Western-blot method. The apoptosis of intestinal mucosal cells was determined with agarose gel electrophoresis and deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Compared with I/R group, the mitochondrial membrane potentials and the expressions of cytochrome c protein were significantly increased, while the expressions of caspase-3 and the apoptotic rates were decreased in IPOST and IPC groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between IPOST and IPC groups (P>0.05). These data provide substantial evidence that IPOST attenuates I/R-induced mucosal apoptosis by reducing the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria in the rat small intestine.

Perindopril, amlodipine and telmisartan improve arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of perindopril, amlodipine and telmisartan on improving the artery stiffness in patients with hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with primary hypertension were randomly assigned to perindopril (4 mg/day), Amlodipine (5 mg/day) and telmisartan (80 mg/day) regimen for 3 months (n = 34 each). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured by an automatic brachial ankle pulse wave velocity device before the treatment, one-month and three-month after the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) SBP, DBP and PP were significantly decreased in all three groups (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in HR in all three groups (P > 0.05). (2) BaPWV was significantly decreased in all three groups. In the perindopril, Amlodipine, telmisartan group, baPWV was (1859 +/- 492) cm/s, (1780 +/- 335) cm/s, (1859 +/- 337) cm/s before the treatment; was (1757 +/- 508) cm/s, (1647 +/- 285) cm/s, (1632 +/- 261) cm/s one-month after the treatment; was (1702 +/- 538) cm/s, (1559 +/- 288) cm/s, (1566 +/- 326) cm/s three-month after the treatment. Compare the baPWV one-month after the treatment to before the treatment P < 0.001; Compare the baPWV three-month after the treatment to before the treatment P < 0.001; Compare the baPWV three-month to one-month after the treatment perindopril group and telmisartan group P < 0.01, amlodipine group P < 0.001. (3) The changes of baPWV in one or three months were significantly more in the telmisartan group than in the perindopril and amlodipine groups (1 months P < 0.01, 3 months P < 0.05). The change of baPWV was significantly greater in three months than in one montin in all three grops (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arterial stiffness of hypertensive patients was improved post Telmisartan, amlodipine and perindopril therapy in proportion to therapy duration. Telmisartan is superior to amlodipine and perindopril on improving arterial stiffness of hypertensive patients. Continuous anti-hypertensive treatment with telmisartan, amlodipine and perindopril will have a persistent improvement of the artery flexibility.</p>

Protection of preconditioning, postconditioning and combined therapy against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning (I-pre) and ischemic postconditioning (I-post) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat's liver.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using rat model of hepatic segmental I/R injury, rats were divided into 5 groups: Group A (sham group), Group B (I/R injury), Group C (I-pre group), Group D (I-post group) and Group E (combined treatment of I-pre and I-post). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in hepatic tissues were determined, respectively. In addition, 7 days'survival of Groups B, C, D and E were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group B, Groups C, D and E exhibited significantly decreased ALT and AST release, minimized tissue injury, suppressed values of MDA and MPO, increased activities of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH (P less than 0.05), as well as improved animal survival. The differences among Groups C, D and E were not statistically significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>I-pre, I-post and combined therapy of I-pre and I-post have protective effect against hepatic I/R injury, which is correlated with its function of reducing the production of reactive oxygen species, maintaining the activities of antioxidant systems and suppressing neutrophils recruitment. No additive effect can be obtained in Group E.</p>