Ultrastructural clarification of the peripherally located actin network in the myelinated axons / Aclaración ultraestructural de la red de actina localizada periféricamente en los axones mielinizados

SUMMARY: Despite the existence of a large amount of actin in the axons, the concentration F-actin was quite low in the myelinated axons and almost all the F-actin were located in the peripheries of the myelinated axons. Until now, the ultrastructural localization of F-actin has still not been reported in the myelinated axons, probably due to the lack of an appropriate detection method. In the present study, a phalloidin-based FITC-anti-FITC technique was adopted to investigate the subcellular localization of F-actin in the myelinated axons. By using this technique, F-actin is located in the outer and inner collars of myelinated cytoplasm surrounding the intermodal axon, the Schmidt-Lanterman incisures, the paranodal terminal loops and the nodal microvilli. In addition, the satellite cell envelope, which encapsulates the axonal initial segment of the peripheral sensory neuron, was also demonstrated as an F-actin-enriched structure. This study provided a hitherto unreported ultrastructural view of the F-actin in the myelinated axons, which may assist in understanding the unique organization of axonal actin cytoskeleton.

RESUMEN: A pesar de la existencia de una gran cantidad de actina en los axones, la concentración de F-actina era bastante baja en los axones mielinizados y casi la totalidad de F-actina se localizaba en las periferias de los axones mielinizados. A la fecha aún no se ha reportado la localización ultraestructural de F-actina en los axones mielinizados, probablemente debido a la falta de un método de detección apropiado. En el presente estudio, se adoptó una técnica FITC-anti-FITC basada en faloidina para investigar la localización subcelular de F-actina en los axones mielinizados. Mediante el uso de esta técnica, la F-actina se localiza en los collares externo e interno del citoplasma mielinizado que rodea el axón intermodal, a las incisiones de Schmidt-Lanterman,a las asas terminales paranodales y a las microvellosidades nodales. Además, la envoltura de la célula satélite, que encapsula el segmento axonal inicial de la neurona sensorial periférica, también se demostró como una estructura enriquecida con F-actina. Este estudio proporcionó una vista ultraestructural de la F-actina en los axones mielinizados, que puede ayudar a comprender la organización única del citoesqueleto de actina axonal.

Effectiveness of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine catheters in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections: A traditional meta analysis / 解放军医学杂志

[Abstract] Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine catheters vs. conventional standard catheters in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections with bundles. Methods We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, CINAHL and Web of Science databases from construction to March 2019 for randomized controlled trials to compare the use of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine catheters and conventional standard catheters. Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the included research, and the effective data was extracted. The set risk ratio (RR) was calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI), and the rate of CRBSI per 1000 catheter-days and bacterial colonization rate were measured. The primary outcome was CRBSI thousand day rate and the secondary outcome was bacterial colonization rate. The meta analysis was performed by R3.4.1 software. Results Seventeen trials included 4892 patients who received chlorhexidine/sulfadiazine silver coated catheters and conventional standard catheters were included. Compared with conventional standard catheters, chlorhexidine/ silver sulfadiazine catheters were associated with a lower incidence of catheter colonization (RR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.45-0.68, P=0.02). In addition, the the difference of the rate of CRBSI per 1000 catheter-days was not significant (RR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.48-1.02, P=0.32). Conclusion Compared with conventional standard catheters, the use of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-catheters with bundles can further reduce the incidence of catheter colonization, but does not reduce the rate of CRBSI per 1000 catheter-days.

Electrochemical fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicines based on BrO⁻₃-Ce⁴⁺-H⁺-malonic acid/tartaric acid chemical oscillating system / 中国中药杂志

A new composite organic oscillating reaction system based on BrO₃-Ce(SO₄)₂-H₂SO₄-malonic acid/tartaric acid was proposed in this paper. On the basis of the influence of the concentration of each component on the stability and characteristic parameters of the blank system, the electrochemical fingerprints of 30 kinds of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) were obtained. The results showed that the electrochemical fingerprint can be used for the identification of TCMs, the distinguishment of different parts and the appraisal of genuineness, which is fast, sensitive and accurate. At the same time, we explored and verified the mechanism of oscillation and the formation mechanism of TCM fingerprint.

A meta-analysis of effectiveness of influenza vaccine in the elderly in China / 预防医学

Objective To evaluate the protective efficacy of influenza vaccine in the elderly in China. Methods The Chinese databases (CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP) and English databases (Pubmed, Embase) were searched, then studies related to the protective efficacy of influenza vaccine in the elderly according to pre-designed criteria were included and the vaccine efficacy(VE) was selected as an evaluation index. Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 12.0 were used in this meta analysis. Results A total of 26 studies (2000-2016) including 6 kinds of outcomes were eligible, of which, 22 articles related to influenza like illness (ILI) , 5 articles related to common cold (CC) , 11 articles related to the attendance rate due to ILI and CC, 7 articles about chronic diseases (including Hypertension, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) , Stroke, Cancer, Chronic bronchitis and others) , 6 articles about chronic disease treatment and 3 articles about all-cause mortality. The VE of influenza vaccine was 58.00% (95%CI: 48.00%-66.00%), 40.00%(95% CI: 30.00%-50.00%), 42.00% (95% CI: 34.00%-49.00%), 17.00% (95% CI: 11.00%-23.00%), 28.00%(95% CI: 14 .00 % -40.00 %) and 28 .00 % (95% CI: 15 .00 % -39 .00 %) , respectively. Conclusion Influenza vaccination can effectively prevent the occurrence of influenza like disease and other symptoms in the elderly in China.

The effect of fluoride-containing oral rinses on the corrosion resistance of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of commercially available fluoride-containing oral rinses on the corrosion behavior of titanium alloys, which are the main components of orthodontic miniscrews. METHODS: Four commercially available oral rinses (solution A, pH 4.46/260 ppm fluoride; solution B, pH 4.41/178 ppm fluoride; solution C, pH 6.30/117 ppm fluoride; and solution D, pH 4.17/3.92 ppm fluoride) were tested on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) circular plates, and saline was used as the control. The open-circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization of these materials were measured. Thereafter, all samples were evaluated under a field-emission scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: Among the tested oral rinses, except solution D, the more the fluoride content was, the greater was the corrosion potential downtrend; the corrosion resistance of the titanium alloy sample was also lowered significantly (p < 0.05). Field-emission scanning electron microscopic analysis of the surface morphology of the titanium alloy samples revealed that all samples had some defects, crevices, or pitting after exposure to the oral rinses than before treatment. In particular, the samples in solution A showed the most changes. CONCLUSIONS: Commercially available oral rinses having a high fluoride concentration and a low pH may reduce the corrosion resistance of titanium alloys used in dental appliances such as orthodontic titanium miniscrews and brackets.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba Tablet on the Expression of Scavenger Receptor A of the Aortic Wall in Atherosclerotic Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.</p>

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Substance P is one of the most important neurotransmitter in the nervous system. It plays an important role in the pathological process of many diseases through combineing with its receptors, for example, neurokinin-1 receptor (NKIR). The antagonists of NK1R (NK1RA) that are widely used in recent clinical treatments can not only relieve deppression and anxiety, but also have good antiemetic effects on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In this review, the relevant study results in this field in recent years are described.

Atorvastatin inhibits scavenger receptor A and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressions in foam cell / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on expressions of scavenger receptor A and secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in foam cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA and treated with 0.1% BSA (control), ox-LDL (100 mg/L) or ox-LDL plus atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 24 hours. MCP-1 concentration in cell substratum was measured by ELISA. Scavenger receptor A expression was observed under fluorescent microscope after incubated with DiI-Ac-LDL. The relationship between concentration of MCP-1 and the activity of scavenger receptor A was also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the control cells, MCP-1 concentration in ox-LDL treated cells was significantly increased after 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours and was still significantly increased after 24 hours (all P < 0.05 vs. baseline). The activity of scavenger receptor A was also significantly increased in ox-LDL treated cells (P < 0.01 vs. control). The activity of scavenger receptor A proteins correlated positively to the concentration of MCP-1 in ox-LDL treated cells (r = 0.683, P < 0.01). Atorvastatin significantly attenuated these changes in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Scavenger receptor A and MCP-1 expressions were significantly increased in the course of monocyte lines THP-1 differentiating into macrophages and foam cells. The anti-atherosclerosis effect of atorvastatin might be partly achieved by inhibiting the secretion of MCP-1 and expression of scavenger receptor A in foam cells.</p>

Change of peripheral blood monocytes derived macrophage scavenger receptors activity in patients with coronary heart disease, and the intervention effect of ginkgo biloba extract / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the activity of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) derived macrophage scavenger receptors (MSR) and changes of serum inflammatory factor in peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the MSR activity, to explore the relationship between inflammatory factor and scavenger receptors activity as well as the possible mechanism of GBE in stabilizing the atheromatous plaque.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-seven CHD patients with normal blood lipids were classified into the stable angina group, the unstable angina group and the acute myocardial infarction group, and 29 healthy persons were taken as control. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in all subjects were determined. And their PBMs were isolated, cultured in vitro, and transferred into macrophage to observe the effect of GBE on the expression of scavenger receptors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of MSR activity, CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction > unstable angina > stable angina > control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GBE could down-regulate the MSR activity in CHD patients, which was positively correlated with levels of CRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. MSR activity could be taken as a monitoring criteria for active degree of vulnerable atherosclerosis plaque. GBE has the effect of suppressing MSR activity.</p>