Hypertonic environment regulates cadherin expression and affects em-bryoid body differentiation / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:Given the uncertain impact of osmotic pressure on embryoid body(EB)differentiation,this study aimed to investigate the effects of increased osmotic pressure on EB differentiation and explore the potential relation-ship between this process and cadherin.METHODS:Polhethylene glycol 300(PEG 300)was used to increase the os-motic pressure of the culture medium used for cultivating EBs under both high osmotic pressure and standard culture condi-tions.The experimental design included a control group,an experimental group(hypertonic group),groups treated with varying concentrations of PEG 300,and an experimental group treated with an inhibitor.Western blot,RT-qPCR,AM/PI staining,CCK-8,and immunocytochemical staining was used to analyze the cell viability and the expression of CDH1 and CDH2 markers of the three germ layers,and pluripotency markers within the EBs.RESULTS:Hypertonicity did not af-fect cell viability.Significant differences were observed in the expression of the cadherin proteins CDH1 and CDH2 in EBs between the experimental and control groups;however,no cleartrend towards an EMT shift was observed.Specifically,CDH2 expression was significantly down-regulated in experimental group,showing a clear correlation with variations in os-motic pressure.Moreover,compared with control group,pluripotency markers in the EBs from experimental group exhibited significantly higher expression levels from the 2nd day to the 5th day.A substantial increase in the expression of mesoder-mal markers was also observed;however,a downward trend was observed for ectodermal markers in experimental group.Intervention using SB431542,which up-regulates CDH2 expression by affecting TGF-β signaling,reversed the expression trend of mesodermal and ectodermal markers in experimental group.CONCLUSION:Elevated osmotic pressure appears to enhance the mesodermal differentiation efficiency in EBs,possibly correlating with CDH1 and CDH2 changes induced by osmotic pressure.Therefore,this study emphasizes the significant role of osmotic pressure in stem cell applications.

School adaptation and behavior of the first batch of college students returning to school during the COVID-19 epidemic / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze the school adaptation and behavioral performance of the first batch of students who return to school during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to provide a theoretical basis for further development of corresponding intervention measures.@*Methods@#The method of cluster sampling was adopted to conduct anonymous questionnaire survey on the first batch of college students who have returned to a certain university. The survey contents included the basic information of the students, the adaptability of the school after returning to school and the corresponding behavior performance.@*Results@#Male students reported high lever of satisfaction than female students on the dormitory environment health (t=10.28, P<0.01), but low satisfaction on school security and logistical support (t=2.26, P=0.02), rural students marked higher score than urban students for the school closed management system (t=2.82, P=0.01), in terns of school security, Logistics, the degree of school s attention to the epidemic prevention and epidemic prevention, non only-child gave high score than the only children; In terms of their own behavior, the rate of seek medical treatment immediately when they develop COVID-19 related symptoms (68.1%) was lower than that of others (81.3%)(χ 2=223.88，P<0.01)；In addition, the percentage of respondents who chose to report COVID-19 related symptoms (79.5%) was lower than that of others (88.7%)(χ 2=97.49，P<0.01). A total of 2 671 college students (98.9%) were able to wear masks every day and 2 457 (90.9%) chose to improve their diet to improve their immunity.@*Conclusion@#The first batch of college students who return to school have a high level of satisfaction on school management, and can take active measures to adapt to the life back to school and commit self-protection, however targeted measures to are still needed further strengthen students health education.

Analysis of mental health and influencing factors of college students in the online learning period during the outbreak of COVID-19 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the mental health and influencing factors of college students during online learning under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, and to provide a scientific basis for mental health education.@*Methods@#From June to July 2020, a cluster sampling method was used to select one medical and non-medical colleges and universities in southern Anhui Province. Among them, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to conduct an online questionnaire survey among 3 781 medical and non-medical college students.@*Results@#The reporting rates of depression, anxiety and stress among medical college students (30.03%, 31.05% and 14.50%, respectively) were lower than those of non-medical college students(44.49%, 46.22%, 24.81%)(χ2=81.49, 88.26, 63.08, P<0.05). During the online learning period of college students, the depression and anxiety were mainly moderate(18.43%, 20.68%), and the stress was mainly mild and moderate(9.41%, 5.29%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that non-medical students, poor parent relationships, poor relationships with fathers, teachers inadequate preparation before class, and dissatisfaction with online teaching results were prone to depression(OR=1.84, 1.28, 1.63, 1.75,1.24), anxiety (OR=1.79, 1.22, 1.65, 1.77, 1.19) and stress(OR=2.09, 1.41, 1.58, 1.29,1.48)(P<0.05). Girls were less prone to depression (OR=0.82) and anxiety(OR=0.74); College students who live in rural areas were more likely to have anxiety symptoms(OR=1.27); Senior students were more likely to feel stress(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The detection rate of depression, anxiety and stress negative emotion in college students was higher during online study. Families and schools should pay attention to the mental health of college students during online learning, and provide targeted psychological counseling for different students.

Effect of apolipoprotein E on secretions of matrix metalloproteinase-9, matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor-1 and inflammatory factors in macrophages at early stage of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) on secretions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) and inflammatory factors in spleen macrophages at early stage of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).Methods In accordance with random number table,20 ApoE knockout (ApoE-/-) C57BL/6J mice were divided into ApoE-/-EAE group and ApoE-/-control group (n=10);and 20 wild type (WT) C57BL/6J mice were divided into WT EAE group and WT control group (n=10).Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG35-55) was used as antigen to induce EAE models in the ApoE-/-EAE group and WT EAE group,and MOG35-55 was replaced by normal saline in ApoE-/-control group and WT control group.The spleen macrophages were isolated from mice after 7th d of modeling and cultured in vitro;the rnacrophages of the ApoE-/-EAE group and WT EAE group were stimulated by MOG35-55,while the macrophages of the ApoE-/-control group and WT control group were treated with equivalent normal saline.Forty-eight hafter that,the contents of MMP-9,TIMP-1,interferon gamma-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the culture medium were determined by ELISA.Results The contents of MMP-9,TFN-γ TNF-α and IL-6 in the WT EAE group were significantly higher than those in the WT control group (P＜0.05);the contents of MMP-9,IFN-γ 、TNF-α and IL-6 in the ApoE-/-EAE group were significantly higher than those in the ApoE-/-control group (P＜0.05);the content ofMMP-9,IFN-γ,TNF-cα and IL-6 in ApoE-/-EAE group were significantly higher than those in the WT EAE group (P＜0.05).The TIMP-1 secretion ofmacrophages in WT EAE group was significantly higher than that in WT control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions At early stage of EAE,macrophages secrete high levels of MMP-9 and inflammatory factors,and the deficiency of ApoE further contributes to the secretions of MMP-9 and inflammatory factors by macrophages.ApoE may play a role in protecting the integrity of blood-brain barrier and alleviating the inflammatory response of the central nervous system through the effects on macrophages.

EST pipeline system: detailed and automated EST data processing and mining / 基因组蛋白质组与生物信息学报·英文版

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are widely used in gene survey research these years. The EST Pipeline System, software developed by Hangzhou Genomics Institute (HGI), can automatically analyze different scalar EST sequences by suitable methods. All the analysis reports, including those of vector masking, sequence assembly, gene annotation, Gene Ontology classification, and some other analyses, can be browsed and searched as well as downloaded in the Excel format from the web interface, saving research efforts from routine data processing for biological rules embedded in the data.

Effects of fat autotransplantation on healing of porcine skin wound / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the effects of fat on healing of porcine skin wounds so as to provide a new strategy to promote skin wound repair after injury. Methods Forty-eight full-thickness skin wounds were produced on both sides of the back in 6 male minipigs (8 wounds in each animal). These wounds were then randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e. saline control group, fat autografting group, fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment group and epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment group. On day 3, 7, 14 and 21 after wounding, the area and the volume of wounds were measured, and histological examination was performed to evaluate the speed and quality of wound healing in different groups. Results On days 3 and 7, the amount of granulation tissue and vessel density in fat treatment group were significantly more abundant compared with other groups. Wound area and volume in fat treatment wounds were markedly decreased compared with those in other groups (P