Highly Expressed hsa_circRNA_103124 Inhibits Macrophage M2 Polarization by Down-regulating FGF18 in Crohn's Disease / 胃肠病学

Background:Crohn's disease(CD)was a kind of inflammatory bowel disease,whichwas chronic and recurrent attacked,seriously affect the quality of life of patients.Its pathogenesis is not clear.Aims:To study the effect of hsa_circRNA_103124 which was highly expressed in CD on its downstream gene expression,and the expression level of hsa_circRNA_103124 and its downstream genes in Crohn's disease.The mechanism of hsa_circRNA_103124 in the occurrence and development of CD was discussed in this study.Methods:Transcriptome sequencing revealed differentially expressed genes inhsa_circRNA_103124 overexpressed THP1 cells which was induced macrophage-like differentiation with PMA.IL4 was used to induce macrophage M2 differentiation in hsa_circRNA_103124 overexpressed THP1 cells.The expression levels of M2 differentiation markers CD206 and CD163 were detected by flow cytometry.The expression levels of hsa_circRNA_103124 and its downstream genes were analyzed by qPCR.The levels of hsa_circRNA_103124 and mRNA of its downstream genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 30 patients with CD and 30 healthy controls were analyzed by qPCR.Results:Hsa_circRNA_103124 overexpressed and PMA-induced THP1 cells showed low expression of FGF18(P<0.01).Hsa_circRNA_103124 inhibited macrophage M2 differentiation and down-regulated the expression of CD206(P<0.05)and CD163(P<0.01).The expression of FGF18(P<0.05)and CCL2(P<0.05)was down-regulated in M2-polarized THP1 cells with hsa_circRNA_103124 overexpressed.The expression of hsa_circRNA_103124(P<0.05)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CD patients was up-regulated,and the expression of FGF18(P<0.01)and CCL2(P<0.05)was down-regulated.Conclusions:The high expression of hsa_circRNA_103124 in peripheral blood of patients with CD inhibits the M2 polarization of macrophages by down-regulating the expression levels of FGF18 and CCL2,which may play a role in promoting inflammation in the occurrence and development of CD.

Advantages of cryopreservation technology for rare human sperm / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To search for an effective method for cryopreservation of rare human sperm (RHS) by comparing the effect of RHS cryopreservation technology with that of conventional cryopreservation technology on post-thaw sperm from patients with severe oligozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen samples obtained from 82 patients with severe oligozoospermia were preserved by RHS cryopreservation technology, and another 24 samples cryopreserved by conventional technology, the former divided into groups A (sperm concentration < 1×10⁶/ml, n = 54) and B (1×10⁶/ml ≤ sperm concentration < 5×10⁶/ml, n = 28), and the latter included in group C (sperm concentration < 15×106 /ml, n = 24). The survival rate of post-thaw sperm and recovery rate of progressively motile sperm (PMS) were compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rate of post-thaw sperm was significantly higher in groups A and B than in C (［62.8 ± 18.7］% and ［61.9 ± 17.2］% vs ［50.7 ± 13.5］%, P < 0.05), and so was the recovery rate of PMS (［68.7 ± 18.4］% and ［70.7 ± 15.5］% vs ［29.2 ± 12.4］% , P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B in either of the two parameters (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cryopreservation technology for rare human sperm may yield relatively stable post-thaw results and deserves a wide clinical application in preserving male fertility.</p>

Expression of HIF-1α in primary acute myeloid leukemia cells and its relationship with prognosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to detect the expression of HIF-1α in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) except acute promyelocyte leukemia (APL) and investigate the relationship of its expression levels with clinical parameters and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The primary AML cells were collected from peripheral blood of 53 newly diagnosed AML patients by using CD3 negative sorting. The expression of HIF-1α was measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) , and the relationship between expression level of HIF-1α and clinical parameters (age, sex, WBC count, clinical typing, prognosis) was analysed according to relative expression level. Furthermore, Western blot was used to detect the protein level of HIF-1α in AML patients with or without extramedullary infiltration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression level of HIF-1α did not correlate with age, sex, WBC count, Hb level, Plt count and the percentage of blast. There was no significant difference of HIF-1α expression between different AML subtype based on FAB. The higher level of HIF-1α was found in AML patients who did not get complete remission after one or two courses of chemotherapy, however, the difference was not statistically significant. The relapse rate was higher in AML patients with the higher expression of HIF-1α. In addition, the higher level of HIF-1α mRNA and protein were found in bone marrow of AML patients with extramedullary infiltration (P < 0.01). The negative correlation between HIF-1α and PTEN was observed (r = -0.48, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overexpression of HIF-1α are closely related with extramedullary infiltration and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia, and may be used as an early indicator of extramedullary infiltration and prognosis.</p>

Stem cell factor promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of stem cell factor on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human deciduous dental pulp stem cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Human dental pulp tissues were harvested from extracted deciduous teeth and digested by collagenase and dispase. The stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) obtained were cultured in the presence of 3 or 10 µmol/L stem cell factor, and the proliferation of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. The influence of stem cell factor on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was evaluated using ALP kit. Bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin mRNA expression in the treated cells were examined by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>MTT assay indicated that both 3 and 10 µmol/L stem cell factor promoted the proliferation of SHED. Stem cell factor enhanced ALP activity in the SHED, and the effect was more obvious at 10 µmol/L. Treatment of the cells with stem cell factor up-regulated the mRNA expressions of bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stem cell factor can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation SHED, suggesting the effect of stem cell factor in promoting tooth regeneration.</p>

Effect of zinc deficiency on intestinal mucosal morphology and digestive enzyme activity in growing rat / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In this study, a growing rat model of zinc deficiency was established to investigate the effect of zinc deficiency on intestinal mucosal morphology and digestive enzyme activity as well as to provide a scientific basis for zinc supplementation therapy in patients with diarrhea.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three-week-old weaned Sprague-Dawley male rats (n = 30) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 in each: rats in the control group (ZA) were fed with a normal diet containing 30 µg/g zinc; rats in the zinc deficient group (ZD) were fed with a zinc-deficient diet containing 0.4 µg/g zinc (refer to AIN-76 formula); and rats in the paired fed group (PF) were fed with a normal diet, but the food intake was limited to intake of rats in ZD group in the previous day. All rats were provided with deionized water for drinking. Their body weight was measured and the food intake during the previous day was recorded early in the morning of the following day. Symptoms of zinc deficiency, such as anorexia, diarrhea, dermatitis, and growth retardation, were observed. Two weeks later, the rats were sacrificed and serum zinc concentration was measured. Jejunal mucosa was taken for biopsy and was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The height ratio of the jejunal mucosal villi and crypts was measured. In addition, the activity of lactase in the jejunal mucosal brush border, γ-glutamyl peptidase (GGT), and aminopeptidase N (APN) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The average weight of the rats in the ZA, ZD, and PF groups at the beginning of the experiment was (67.4 ± 5.3) g, (64.7 ± 4.8) g, and (66.5 ± 4.1) g, respectively, and the average daily food intake was (11.2 ± 1.0) g, (11.6 ± 1.6) g, and (11.2 ± 1.4) g, respectively. The intergroup differences were not significant. On the 7(th) day of experiment, no significant differences in average food intake were observed between the ZD group and the ZA and PF groups, but the average body weight in the ZD group was significantly lower than that in the ZA and PF groups (P < 0.01). At the end of the experiment (2 weeks), the average weight in the ZD group (112.0 ± 11.5) g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (164.0 ± 15.9) g and PF groups (137.5 ± 16.2) g. The average food intake in the ZD group (13.4 ± 5.1) g was significantly lower than that in the ZA group (18.2 ± 2.4) g (P < 0.01). Serum zinc level in the ZD group (733 ± 231) µg/L was significantly lower than that in the ZA (1553 ± 159) µg/L and PF groups (1457 ± 216) µg/L (P < 0.01). The height ratio of jejunal mucosa villus and crypt in the ZA, ZD, and PF groups was 2.98 ± 0.5, 2.77 ± 0.5, and 2.81 ± 0.7, respectively, and lactase activity was (26.1 ± 15.0) U/mg, (27.4 ± 12.8) U/mg, and (40.8 ± 18.5) U/mg, respectively, without significant intergroup differences. The GGT activity in the jejunal mucosa in the ZD group (12.7 ± 6.5) U/g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (19.1 ± 10.4) U/g and PF groups (18.5 ± 7.7) U/g, but the difference was not significant. The activity of APN in the jejunal mucosa in the ZD group (25.5 ± 7.5) U/g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (48.7 ± 16.8) U/g and PF groups (43.9 ± 14.5) U/g (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Zinc deficiency can cause loss of appetite, weight loss, and decreased activity of peptidase in the jejunal mucosal brush border. Zinc deficiency has little effect on the height ratio of the villus and crypt and lactase activity, thereby indicating that zinc deficiency may first affect protein digestion and absorption.</p>

Roles of enteric nervous system neurotransmitters and interstitial cells of Cajal in the colon in slow transit constipation in rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the roles of enteric nervous system neurotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the colon in slow transit constipation in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control and constipated groups. In the constipated group, the rats were daily administered with diphenoxylate (8 mg/kg) to develop slow transit constipation, while the control rats were fed with water. The number and the weight of fecal granule and the body weight of rats were recorded every 5 days for 90 days. Transit functions of intestinal movement were examined by an activated charcoal suspension pushing test one week after stopping the administration of diphenoxylate. The levels of NO and SP in the colonic mucosa were measured by nitrate reductase methods and ELISA respectively. The distribution of VIP and ICC positive cells confirmed with symbolic c-kit+ cells in the colonic wall were observed by immunohistochemical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The daily number of fecal granule in the constipated group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.01). The mean weight of each fecal granule in the constipated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The discharge time of the first granule of black faeces in the constipated group (430.2+/- 132.1 min) was significantly longer than that in the control group (337.2+/- 74.7 min; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in NO and SP levels and the density of VIP positive cells in the distal colonic segment between the two groups. The number of c-kit+ cells in the distal colonic wall in the constipated group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reduction of ICC number in the distal colon may be contributed to the pathogenesis of slow transit constipation in rats.</p>