ABSTRACT
Objective@#: Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferase 2 (NMNAT2) is a crucial factor for the survival of neuron. The role of NMNAT2 in damage following traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the role of NMNAT2 in TBI-induced neuronal degeneration and neurological deficits in rats. @*Methods@#: The TBI model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by a weight-dropping method. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, immunofluorescence, Fluoro-Jade C staining, and neurological score analyses were carried out. @*Results@#: NMNAT2 mRNA and protein levels were increased in the injured-side cortex at 6 hours and peaked 12 hours after TBI. Knocking down NMNAT2 with an injection of small interfering RNA in lateral ventricle significantly exacerbated neuronal degeneration and neurological deficits after TBI, which were accompanied by increased expression of BCL-2-associated X protein (Bax). @*Conclusion@#: NMNAT2 expression is increased and NMNAT2 exhibits neuroprotective activity in the early stages after TBI, and Bax signaling pathway may be involved in the process. Thus, NMNAT2 is likely to be an important target to prevent secondary damage following TBI.
ABSTRACT
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of non-coding RNAs, which have been confirmed to regulate insect gene expression and immune response through multiple manners such as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network. Currently, function of circRNA in honey bee immune response remains unclear. In this study, PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed to validate the back splicing (BS) site of ame_circ_000115 (in short ac115). RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression profile of ac115 in larval guts of Apis mellifera ligustica stressed by Ascosphaera apis. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to verify the binding relationship between ac115 and ame-miR-13b. Interference of ac115 in larval guts was carried out by feeding specific siRNA, followed by determination of the effect of ac115 interference on expression of six genes relevant to host immune response. The results confirmed the existence of BS site within ac115. Compared with the un-inoculated group, the expression of ac115 in 4-day-old larval gut of the A. apis-inoculated group was up-regulated with extreme significance (P < 0.000 1), while that in 5- and 6-day-old larval guts were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). The brightness of specific band for ac115 in 4-, 5- and 6-day-old larval guts of the siRNA-circ_000115-fed group gradually became weak, whereas that of the siRNA-scrambl-fed group was pretty high without obvious variation. Compared with that of the siRNA-scramble-fed group, the expression of ac115 in 4-day-old larval gut of the siRNA-circ_000115-fed group was significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05), whereas that of the 5- and 6-day-old larval guts were down-regulated with extreme significance (P < 0.001). Ame-miR-13b was truly existed and expressed in A. m. ligustica larval guts, and there was true binding relationship between ac115 and ame-miR-13b. Compared with that of the siRNA-scramble-fed group, the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes hymenoptaecin and abaecin in 6-day-old larval gut of the siRNA-circ_000115-fed group was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05), while that of ecdysone receptor (Ecr) was down-regulated with extreme significance (P < 0.01). These results indicate that ac115 is truly expressed in A. m. ligustica larval guts, BS site truly exists within ac115, and effective interference of ac115 in A. m. ligustica larval guts can be achieved via feeding siRNA. Moreover, ac115 potentially regulates Ecr expression through adsorption of ame-miR-13b and expression of hymenoptaecin and abaecin using a non-ceRNA manner, further participating in host stress-response.
Subject(s)
Animals , Bees/genetics , Larva/metabolism , RNA, Circular/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , MicroRNAs/geneticsABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore cyberbullying and risk factors of middle school students, and to provide a reference for cyberbullying prevention in school settings.@*Methods@#A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 12 940 students from three junior high schools and four senior high schools in Yixing City of Jiangsu Province, China, to conduct a questionnaire survey from March 1 to May 31, 2019. The Chi -square test was performed to compare differences in the prevalence of cyberbullying among groups with different sociodemographic characteristics, and the multivariate Logistic regression model was employed to analyze the risk factors. A risk predictive nomogram model was constructed and then verified.@*Results@#Middle school students were found to be victims of cyberbullying at a rate of 12.3%. The Logistic regression results showed that alcohol use ( OR =1.93), lack of emotional management ( OR =1.30), feeling unsafe ( OR =1.70), not trusting people ( OR =1.66), increased daily online time ( OR =1.39), higher frequency of using social software or websites ( OR =2.24), poor relationships with family members ( OR =1.46), parental neglect ( OR =1.50), class leadership ( OR =1.30) and poor relationships with classmates ( OR =1.34) were risk factors for middle school students who were victims of cyberbullying ( P <0.05). Based on these 10 independent risk factors, the nomogram prediction model, had good discrimination ( AUC =0.73).@*Conclusion@#Cyberbullying is common among middle school students. Internet use, parental neglect and class leadership all have an impact on cyberbullying.
ABSTRACT
At present, nucleic acid testing technology has been widely used in clinical laboratory diagnosis. Conventional detection technique such as real-time PCR is complicated, time consuming, and dependent on specific instruments. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas) system is an adaptive immune defense system against viruses in bacteria and archaea, which has been developed into a powerful technology for genome editing. Recently, the leading groups engaged in CRISPR have set up new tools for nucleic acid detection based on Cas13a, Cas12a and newly discovered protein-Cas14, which plays an important role in rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, detection of gene mutations in cancer and genotyping. Since they are ultrasensitive, specific, rapid and cost-effective, it is expected to bring great potential for molecular diagnosis. In this review, the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas system and the principle, the applications of the newly-developed diagnostic platforms are introduced. What′s more, the advantages, limitations and prospects of the technologies are summarized.
ABSTRACT
At present, nucleic acid testing technology has been widely used in clinical laboratory diagnosis. Conventional detection technique such as real-time PCR is complicated, time consuming, and dependent on specific instruments. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas) system is an adaptive immune defense system against viruses in bacteria and archaea, which has been developed into a powerful technology for genome editing. Recently, the leading groups engaged in CRISPR have set up new tools for nucleic acid detection based on Cas13a, Cas12a and newly discovered protein-Cas14, which plays an important role in rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, detection of gene mutations in cancer and genotyping. Since they are ultrasensitive, specific, rapid and cost-effective, it is expected to bring great potential for molecular diagnosis. In this review, the mechanism of CRISPR/Cas system and the principle, the applications of the newly-developed diagnostic platforms are introduced. What′s more, the advantages, limitations and prospects of the technologies are summarized.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore a digital negative molds technique based on three-dimensional (3D) printing to assist in the manufacture of maxillofacial prostheses, and to improve the deficiency of the current clinical treatment.@*Methods@#Seventeen patients with maxillofacial defects (including nasal defects, orbital defects, cheek defects, auricle defect) were scanned by means of facial optical scanning and computer tomography (CT). The 3D models were then reconstructed and global registration was made to merge the reconstructed models into a new digital model for 3D design. The 3D design of the prostheses was implemented in software. The mechanical connection structure was designed by forward engineering technology for 3 patients with intra-oral defects in maxilla who needed to make removable partial dentures, so that the silicone prostheses and removable partial denture could be combined. The removable partial dentures were made by conventional method and connected with the prostheses. According to the 3D data of the prostheses, the digital negative molds were designed, and the 3D printing technology was used to finish the processing of the resin molds. Silicone for prostheses were filled and cured in the resin molds to fabricate the clinical restorations for the patients. The margin adaptation and retention of the prostheses was detected.@*Results@#Twenty patients with varying degrees of maxillofacial defects were rehabilitated using the courses developed in the study. All patients reported no pain or discomfort during the treatment; and they were satisfied with the final prostheses of the shape, color, retention, stability, etc. Eighteen of the prostheses showed good marginal adaptation, and sixteen of the prostheses showed good retention effect.@*Conclusions@#The digital negative molds technique used in this study could greatly reduce the intensity of manual operation and provided a good therapeutic effect for patients with maxillofacial defects.