Correlation Analysis of Molecularly-Defined Cortical Interneuron Populations with Morpho-Electric Properties in Layer V of Mouse Neocortex / 神经科学通报·英文版

Cortical interneurons can be categorized into distinct populations based on multiple modalities, including molecular signatures and morpho-electrical (M/E) properties. Recently, many transcriptomic signatures based on single-cell RNA-seq have been identified in cortical interneurons. However, whether different interneuron populations defined by transcriptomic signature expressions correspond to distinct M/E subtypes is still unknown. Here, we applied the Patch-PCR approach to simultaneously obtain the M/E properties and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of >600 interneurons in layer V of the mouse somatosensory cortex (S1). Subsequently, we identified 11 M/E subtypes, 9 neurochemical cell populations (NCs), and 20 transcriptomic cell populations (TCs) in this cortical lamina. Further analysis revealed that cells in many NCs and TCs comprised several M/E types and were difficult to clearly distinguish morpho-electrically. A similar analysis of layer V interneurons of mouse primary visual cortex (V1) and motor cortex (M1) gave results largely comparable to S1. Comparison between S1, V1, and M1 suggested that, compared to V1, S1 interneurons were morpho-electrically more similar to M1. Our study reveals the presence of substantial M/E variations in cortical interneuron populations defined by molecular expression.

Clinical significance of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, and its correlation with p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), p53, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are important factors that facilitate tumor progression. The aims of our study were to investigate the expression of HIF-1α, p53, and VEGF in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated by curative surgery and to analyze their association with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome. Materials and Methods: The surgical specimens from 120 patients who had undergone potentially curative resection for ESCC were immunohistochemically assessed using monoclonal antibodies against HIF-1α, p53, and VEGF. Results: Positive rates of HIF-1α, p53, and VEGF expression were 61.7%, 56.7%, and 78.3%, respectively. No significant relationship was found between HIF-1α, p53, VEGF expression, and the analyzed clinicopathological parameters. There was no significant correlation between the expression of HIF-1α, p53, and VEGF. Univariate analysis revealed that overexpression of HIF-1α was associated with poor disease-free and overall survival (P = 0.023 and 0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that upregulation of HIF-1α is an independent predictor for poor overall survival (P = 0.044). Conclusions: HIF-1α was a useful independent prognostic factor for surgically treated ESCC. Further studies with larger sample size are required to determine the relationship between the expression of HIF-1α, p53, VEGF, and clinicopathological parameters

Discussion on diagnostic value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis in children / 天津医药

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children with acute pyelonephritis. Methods A total of 104 children with urinary tract infection admitted to Tianjin Children's Hospital from December 2016 to May 2017 were selected in this study, including 61 cases with acute pyelonephritis (group APN) and 43 with lower urinary tract infection (group non-APN). The serum levels of beta 2-Microglobulin (β2-MG), cystatin C (CysC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and urine levels of NGAL were compared between two groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum β2-MG,CysC,CRP,PCT and urine NGAL.Results The serum levels of CRP,PCT,β2-MG and urinary NGAL were significantly higher in APN group than those in non-APN group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum CysC level between two groups(P>0.05).The areas under the ROC curve(AUC)for serum CRP,PCT,and urinary NGAL were 0.838,0.898 and 0.963.The optimal cutoff value of serum CRP was 22.6 mg/L,the sensitivity was 75.4% and the specificity was 83.7%. The optimal cutoff value of serum PCT was 0.285 μg/L, the sensitivity was 77.0% and the specificity was 93.0%.The optimal cutoff value of urine NGAL was 473 μg/L,the sensitivity was 82.0% and the specificity was 97.7%.Conclusion Urinary NGAL has high diagnostic value for APN in children,and which is helpful for the early identification of APN.

Spectrum and drug sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria in children with nephrotic syndrome complicated by urinary tract infection: an analysis of 97 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the spectrum and drug sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) complicated by urinary tract infection (UTI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed on the spectrum and drug sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria in 97 children with NS complicated by UTI, who hospitalized from January to December, 2011.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of UTI in children with NS was 36.5%. It was significantly more common in children with recurrent NS than in those with primary NS (44.0% vs 31.9%; P<0.05). These cases mainly presented with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Enterococcus was the most common pathogenic bacteria (50.5%), including Enterococcus faecium (29.4%) and Enterococcus faecalis (21.1%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (15.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.7%). Enterococcus was highly sensitive to nitrofurantoin, vacomycin and linezolid, but was highly resistant to tetracycline and moxifloxacin. More multi-resistant strains were detected in Enterococcus faecium than in Enterococcus faecalis (72% vs 17%; P<0.05). Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were highly sensitive to amikacin, imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam. Of the Gram-negative bacteria, 25% produced extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). ESBLs-producing bacteria had 100% sensitivity to imipenem, amikacin and piperacillin/tazobactam but were highly resistant to ampicillin, cefazolin and ceftriaxone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Children with recurrent NS are more susceptible to UTI than those with primary NS. Enterococcus is becoming major pathogenic bacteria for UTI in children with NS and has relatively high drug resistance, and most strains of Enterococcus faecium are multi-resistant.</p>

Mutation detection of ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. PCR and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect the mutations in all 27 exons of ATP2C1 gene in patients of two Chinese families and a sporadic patient with HHD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three mutations in ATP2C1 gene were found, including 1 nonsense mutation, 1 deletion/frameshift mutation and 1 missense mutation. All of them were novel mutations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the three mutations could affect the transcription and translation, and further the function of protein encoded by ATP2C1 gene.</p>

Role of p38 MAP kinase in epigallocatechin-3-gallate-induced apoptosis of human gastric cancer MGC803 cells / 肿瘤

Objective: To determine the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathways in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells. Methods: The viability of MGC803 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis of MGC803 cells was observed by AO/EB fluorescence microscopy and detected by flow cytometry with PI staining. Expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38 (pp38) MAPK were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: EGCG induced apoptosis of MGC803 cells and apparently increased the activity of pp38MAPK in MGC803 cells. However, after interference with pp38MAPK inhibitor, the inhibitory effect of EGCG on MGC803 cells was significantly weakened. The apoptotic rate of the cells and the activity of pp38MAPK also decreased dramatically. Conclusions: EGCG can induce apoptosis of MGC803 cells. The effects could be markedly suppressed by pp38MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. EGCG induces apoptosis of MGC803 cells partly by activating p38 MAPK.

Synergistic effects of acitretin and narrow-band ultraviolet-B in inducing retinoic acid receptor gamma mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in cell proliferation and retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARgamma) mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes after acitretin treatment and/or narrow-band ultraviolet-B irradiation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Normal human keratinocytes were exposed to irradiation with 100 mJ/cm square NB-UVB and/or subsequent 12-hour incubation with 1x10(-6) mol/L acitretin, and the expression of RARgamma mRNA in the cells was examined using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 0.9- and a 2.3-fold increase in RARgamma mRNA expression was induced in the cells by exposure to 100 mJ/cm square NB-UVB and 10(-6) mol/L acitretin, respectively, and the expression was synergistically enhanced by 2.8-fold after their combined treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Upregulated expression of RARgamma mRNA can be associated with keratinocyte growth inhibition after treatment with acitretin and NB-UVB irradiation.</p>