Study of the urban-impact on microbial communities and their virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genomes in the Nandu River, Haikou / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the changes in bacterial community structure, antibiotic resistance genome, and pathogen virulence genome in river water before and after the river flowing through Haikou City and their transmission and dispersal patterns and to reveal anthropogenic disturbance's effects on microorganisms and resistance genes in the aquatic environment. Methods: The Nandu River was divided into three study areas: the front, middle and rear sections from the upstream before it flowed through Haikou City to the estuary. Three sampling sites were selected in each area, and six copies of the sample were collected in parallel at each site and mixed for 3 L per sample. Microbial community structure, antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, and mobile genetic elements were analyzed through bioinformatic data obtained by metagenomic sequencing and full-length sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Variations in the distribution of bacterial communities between samples and correlation of transmission patterns were analyzed by principal co-ordinates analysis, procrustes analysis, and Mantel test. Results: As the river flowed through Haikou City, microbes' alpha diversity gradually decreased. Among them, Proteobacteria dominates in the bacterial community in the front, middle, and rear sections, and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the middle and rear sections was higher than that in the front segment. The diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and mobile genetic elements were all at low levels in the front section and all increased significantly after flow through Haikou City. At the same time, horizontal transmission mediated by mobile genetic elements played a more significant role in the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes and virulence factors. Conclusions: Urbanization significantly impacts river bacteria and the resistance genes, virulence factors, and mobile genetic elements they carry. The Nandu River in Haikou flows through the city, receiving antibiotic-resistant and pathogen-associated bacteria excreted by the population. In contrast, antibiotic-resistant genes and virulence factors are enriched in bacteria, which indicates a threat to environmental health and public health. Comparison of river microbiomes and antibiotic resistance genomes before and after flow through cities is a valuable early warning indicator for monitoring the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Effect of electro-acupuncture therapy on limb spasm and excitability of motor neurons in stroke rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture therapy on limb spasm and excitability of motor neurons in stroke rats. Ischemic stroke model was induced with middle cerebral artery embolization in SD rats. Thirty-three modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, electro-acupuncture group, and baclofen group with 11 rats in each group, and another 10 rats were taken as sham operation group. The electro-acupuncture group and the baclofen group were treated with electro-acupuncture and baclofen tablets respectively. The model group and the sham operation group had no intervention. The neural function was evaluated with Bederson's scale and balance beam test; the muscle tension was measured with electrophysiography; the pathological changes of brain tissue was examined with HE staining; the content of glutamic acid (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat cerebral cortex was analyze with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a () and γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1 () mRNA were detected with RT-qPCR. Compared with the model group, the neurological function scores of the electro-acupuncture group and the baclofen group showed a downward trend at d7 after operation (all >0.05), and the neurological function scores of the electro-acupuncture group and the baclofen group were significantly decreased at d12 after the operation (all 0.05). Compared with the model group, the electrophysiological results of the electro-acupuncture group and baclofen group were significantly increased after operation (all <0.05). The results of HE staining showed that there was no cell edema and degeneration in the sham operation group, no pyknosis of the nucleus, and no bleeding in the interstitium. Cell edema and degeneration and mesenchymal congestion appeared in the model group. Compared with the model group, the cytoplasmic edema and degeneration and the interstitial bleeding in the electroacupuncture group and the baclofen group were reduced. Compared with sham operation group, the Glu content and the relative expression of mRNA was increased in the model group, electro-acupuncture group and baclofen group, while the GABA content and the relative expression of mRNA decreased (all <0.05). Compared with model group, the Glu content and the relative expression of mRNA in the electro-acupuncture group and baclofen group decreased, and the GABA content and relative expression of mRNA increased (all <0.05). Electro-acupuncture may improve limb spasm after stroke through regulating the expression of Glu and GABA in the cerebral cortex and the excitability of motor neurons in rats.

Prospective study of relationship between metabolic diseases and stroke in Jinchang Cohort / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective@#To understand the incidence of stroke in the population of Jinchang Cohort and the relationship between metabolic diseases and stroke, and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of stroke in the population.@*Methods@#The epidemiological investigation data and physical examination data of the 33 042 follow-up participants in Jinchang Cohort were collected for a prospective cohort study. Restricted cubic splines functions was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between metabolic indexes and the risk of stroke incidence.@*Results@#1) The incidence rate of stroke in Jinchang Cohort was 1.59%, and the standardized incidence rate was 3.99%. 2) Hypertension (male HR=2.20, female HR=4.45) and dyslipidemia (male HR=1.49, female HR=1.79) were the risk factors of stroke incidence in the population and diabetes had influence on the incidence of stroke only in the males (HR=1.79), while obesity had influence only in the females (HR=1.64). The more kinds of metabolic diseases, the higher risk of stroke incidence was. 3) Systolic blood pressure had a non-linear dose-response correlation with the risk of stroke incidence, while diastolic blood pressure had a positive linear correlation with the risk of stroke incidence.@*Conclusions@#The incidence of stroke in Jinchang Cohort population was high compared with both domestic level and oversea level. The patients with metabolic diseases were the population at high-risk for stroke, and more attention should be paid to them in the prevention and treatment of stroke. Diastolic blood pressure might be more closely related to stroke.

Influence of Xingnaojing injection on levels of NO ,IGF-1 ,MIF and it therapeutic effect in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective :To explore influence of Xingnaojing injection on levels of nitric oxide (NO) ,insulin-like growth fac-tor 1 (IGF-1) ,macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) and its therapeutic effect in patients with hypertensive cere-bral hemorrhage (HCH).Methods :A total of 96 HCH patients treated in our hospital were selected .According to random number table ,they were randomly and equally divided into routine treatment group and Xingnaojing group ,both groups were treated for two weeks .Levels of serum inflammatory factors ,NO ,IGF-1 ,MIF and United states national institutes of health stroke score (NIHSS) before and after treatment ,and therapeutic effect were compared between two groups .Re-sults :Compared with before treatment ,after treatment ,there were significant reductions in levels of CRP ,TNF-α ,IL-6 , MIF and NIHSS score ,and significant rise in levels of NO and IGF-1 in two groups ,P＝0.001 all ;compared with routine treatment after treatment ,there were significant reductions in levels of CRP [ (18.59 ± 4.90) mg/L vs.(12.48 ± 2.56) mg/L] ,TNF-α [ (29.45 ± 5.80) μg/ml vs.(23.02 ± 6.89) μg/ml] ,IL-6 [ (97.56 ± 21.25) μg/ml vs.(88.56 ± 20.12) μg/ml] ,MIF [(50.78 ± 4.90) ng/L vs.(42.02 ± 6.12) ng/L] and NIHSS score [(7.45 ± 2.23) scores vs.(5.12 ± 1.23) scores] ,and significant rise in levels of NO [ (43.56 ± 5.88) μmol/L vs.(50.46 ± 6.39) μmol/L] and IGF-1 [ (55.78 ± 6.03) nmol/L vs.(61.56 ± 8.02) nmol/L] in Xingnaojing group , P＜0.05 or ＜0.01. After treatment ,total effective rate of Xingnaojing group was significantly higher than that of routine treatment group (93.75% vs.72.92%,P＝0.006). Conclusion : Xingnaojing injection can significantly reduce inflammation level ,improve cerebral neurological function and clinical therapeutic effect in HCH patients .

Comparison of Biological Characteristics between Human Amnion Epithelial Cells and Human Amnion Mesenchymal Stem Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the biological characteristics between the human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) and human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human amnion tissues were peeled off from human full term placenta from the women with normal healthy singleton pregnancies undergoing elective cesarean section. Using low speed-trypsin collagenase digestion method, hAECs and hAMSCs were isolated from human amnion tissue. The proliferation and biological characteristics of both cells were analyzed and compared by immunofluorescence assay, flow cytometry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), induced differentiation and so on.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>hAECs were round or oval, and formed a confluent monolayer of cobblestone-shaped epithelial cells. hAECs continue to proliferate less than 5 passages, while the hAMSCs were fibroblastic and spindle-shaped, which could continue to proliferate about 30 passages. hAECs expressed CK19 and a few of them expressed vimentin; hAMSCs expressed vimentin and did not express CK19. Both hAECs and hAMSCs were positive for suface markers CD29, CD73, CD44, CD90, OCT-4, Nanog and so on, but hAECs were negative for CD105. Both hAECs and hAMSCs were positive for oil red O and akane red staining.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>hAECs and hAMSCs display stem cell properties. hAECs can not proliferate unlimitly, and the proliferation and differentiation ability of hAECs is lower than hAMSCs.</p>

Association of Foxp3 gene polymorphisms with essential hypertension / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of 3279 and 924 Foxp3 genotypes in Guangdong population and to explore the correlation between Foxp3 gene polymorphism and essential hypertention . Methods Two hundred and six essential hypertention patients and 291 healthycontrols from October 2013 to September 2014 in the third affiliated hospital of guangzhou medical university were enrolled in the study. The Foxp3 3279 and 924 genotypes was identified by PCR-SSP assay. The plasma lipid level and other risk factor were detemined in all subjects. The relationship between genotypes and pathogenesis of EH was analyzed. Results There were sigificant differences in frequecncies of allele and genotype distribution in Foxp3 3279 genotypes between the two groups. The frequecies of AC+CC and allele were significantly higher in the EH group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Result of logictics analysis showed that AC+CC genotype significantly increase the risk of EH (OR = 1.552,95%CI为1.021 ~ 2.357, P < 0.05), but the polymorphism of Foxp3 924 genotype frequecncy was not assosiated with EH. Conclusion The Foxp3 3279 gene polymorphisms is associated with EH . However, the Foxp3 924 gene polymorphisms is not associated with EH.

Placental Foxp3 expression in patients with preeclampsia and correlation of Foxp3 gene locus 924 (rs2232365) polymorphism with preeclampsia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect changes of Foxp3 expression in the decidua in patients with preeclampsia and investigate the correlation of Foxp3-924 (rs2232365) polymorphisms with preeclampsia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2011 to December 2012, 252 normal pregnant women and 156 preeclampsia patients of Han nationality from the same geographic region were tested for Foxp3-924 genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP). Sixty-eight of the patients with preeclampsia (33 with mild and 35 with severe preeclampsia) and 30 of the normal pregnant women were also examined for Foxp3 expression in the decidua using immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Foxp3 positive expression rates in the decidua was 51.52% in mild preeclampsia and 28.57% in severe preeclampsia cases, significantly lower than that in the control group (86.67%, P<0.05). In preeclampsia patients, the frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A, and A/A genotypes were 0.1346, 0.4615 and 0.4038, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6346 and 0.3654, respectively. The genotype frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A and A/A in the control group were 0.1508, 0.4087 and 0.4405, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924 A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6448 and 0.3552, respectively. No significant differences were found in the gene frequencies of Foxp3-924G/A between preeclampsia patients and the control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of Foxp3 in the placental tissue of preeclampsia patients is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women, suggesting that lowered Foxp3 expression decreases the immunosuppressive function and causes imbalance of immune tolerance between maternal-fetal to induce preeclampsia. Foxp3-924 polymorphisms is not significantly correlated with the occurrence of preeclampsia.</p>