ABSTRACT
Dissolving microneedles carried drug molecules can effectively penetrate the stratum corneum of skin to improve the transdermal drug delivery. The traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is based on the needle stimulation at a specific location (acupoint) to generate and transmit biochemical and physiological signals which alter the pathophysiological state of patients. However, the pain associated with conventional acupuncture needles and the requirement of highly trained professionals limit the development of acupuncture in non-Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the dissolving microneedles can be utilized as a self-administered painless replacement for acupuncture and locally released drug molecules can achieve expected therapeutic outcomes. Immunosuppressive rats were treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint using microneedles containing thymopentin. The immune functions and psychological mood of the immunosuppressed animals were examined. The proliferation of splenocytes was examined by CCK-8 assay. CD4 and CD8 expression patterns in spleen cells were detected by flow cytometry. The current study showed that use of either microneedles containing thymopentin or conventional acupuncture both resulted in immune cell proliferation, which was confirmed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, either conventional acupuncture or microneedles were able to effectively mitigate the anxiety caused by immune-suppression when applied on the ST36.
ABSTRACT
To gain more insights into the rice base editor (rBE3 and rBE4), we evaluated the mutation efficiency, off-target and inheritance of OsSERK1(D428N) and pi-ta(S918F) genes modified with rBE endonucleases. We predicted and analyzed the putative off-target sites of the sgRNA designed for OsSERK1(D428N) and pi-ta(S918F) by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. Then we further characterized the inheritance and stability of targeted base mutations and T-DNA segregation in the progeny of the self-fertilized T0 plants. Analysis of the DNA sequencing data of T0 plants of OsSERK1(D428N) revealed no nucleotide change at any of the four potential off-target sites. For OsSERK1(D428N) and Os08g07774 carry the same sgRNA targeting sites, base substitution at both two loci were detected at a frequency of 41.67%. The targeted base mutations could be transmitted readily to T1 progeny. Furthermore, genetic segregation caused the loss of T-DNA at a frequency between 25.0% and 40.9% in the T1 transgenic plants of OsSERK1(D428N) and pi-ta(S918F). These results demonstrated that the rBE3 and rBE4 systems could mediate specifically targeted base editing in one- or multi-site, and the targeted base editing could be stably inherited to next generation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of two biovars of ureaplasma urealyticum on leukocyte concentration and sperm motion parameters.Methods Sperm motion parameters were analyzed with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA).Leukocytic number of semen was measured with benziding-perxidase staining.Culturing and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify biovars of U.urealyticum in the semen.Results Sperm motion parameters including mean curvilinear velocity (VCL), mean straight-line velocity (VSL), mean average path (VAP) , and mean beat Cross frequency (BCF) showed significant difference between infertile and normal group (P ＜0.05).Biovar Ⅱ infected men displayed significant increase in leukocyte counts (P ＜ 0.001).When compared to uninfected group,the sperm motion parameters showed significant decreases of VCL, VSL, VAP, mean percentage lineality (LIN), and swing(WOB) in biovar Ⅱ (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Biovar Ⅱ has closer relationship with leukocyte elevation and sperm motion impairment.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare and analyze the biochemical detection results of separated se- ra with the separation gel coagulation promoting tubes and the drying tubes. Methods Venous blood samples was collected from identical blood donors and randomly poured into the separation gel vacuum collective tubes (test group) and traditional drying collective tubes (control group). After serum sepa- ration, timely biochemical detection was performed. The detection results were compared and ana- lyzed. The samples of test group were detected once again after storage for 24 h at 4 ℃. The results were compared with those of timely biochemical detection with separation gel separated sera. Results The results from the test group and those from the control group had no significant difference. The most results from the sera storaging for 24 h at 4 ℃ and those from the fresh serum of the test group had good correspondence. Only a few of biochemical indicators had significant difference. Conclusion The biochemical detection with sera obtained by separation gel tubes and those collected by drying tubes has good correspondence. The separation gel tubes provide the clinical laboratory optimal blood samples and more accurate results.