Oleanolic Acid Inhibits Neuronal Pyroptosis in Ischaemic Stroke by Inhibiting miR-186-5p Expression

Ischaemic stroke is a common condition leading to human disability and death. Previous studies have shown that oleanolic acid (OA) ameliorates oxidative injury and cerebral ischaemic damage, and miR-186-5p is verified to be elevated in serum from ischaemic stroke patients. Herein, we investigated whether OA regulates miR-186-5p expression to control neuroglobin (Ngb) levels, thereby inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis in ischaemic stroke. Three concentrations of OA (0.5, 2, or 8 μM) were added to primary hippocampal neurons subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R), a cell model of ischaemic stroke. We found that OA treatment markedly inhibited pyroptosis. qRT–PCR and western blot revealed that OA suppressed the expression of pyroptosis-associated genes. Furthermore, OA inhibited LDH and proinflammatory cytokine release. In addition, miR-186-5p was downregulated while Ngb was upregulated in OA-treated OGD/R neurons. MiR-186-5p knockdown repressed OGD/R-induced pyroptosis and suppressed LDH and inflammatory cytokine release. In addition, a dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-186-5p directly targeted Ngb. OA reduced miR-186-5p to regulate Ngb levels, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis in both OGD/R-treated neurons and MCAO mice. In conclusion, OA alleviates pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro by downregulating miR-186-5p and upregulating Ngb expression, which provides a novel theoretical basis illustrating that OA can be considered a drug for ischaemic stroke.

The First Case of Diarrhoea in Tibetan Sheep, Ovis aries, Caused by Balantidium coli in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China

This study was carried out to determine the pathogen-causing diarrhoea in sheep Ovis aries in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China. A trophozoite was identified as species of ciliate alveolates infecting the sheep based on morphological characteristics examined by microscope. It was mostly spherical, colourless and transparent, with many vesicles. Macronucleus and contractile vacuoles could not be distinguished. Size of the trophozoite was 80–180×70–150 μm and its surface was covered with cilia. Molecular analysis based on sequences of 18S rRNA and ITS genes confirmed the ciliate species as Balantidium coli. According to the literature, there have been many epidemiological investigations of B. coli infection in pigs, monkeys and humans. To our knowledge, this was the first report of B. coli infections in sheep in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of China, or eleswhere around the world. Importantly, the sheep case was rare but raised our concern that B. coli may spread across species and expand its host range.

A Case of Coenurosis in a Wild Rabbit (Lepus sinensis) Caused by Taenia serialis Metacestode in Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China

Six cystic metacestodes were found in the abdominal muscles of a wild rabbit, Lepus sinensis, in China. The coenurus contained one or more scolices armed with hooklets. Mitochondrial cox1 (1,623 bp) confirmed 98% homology with cox1 of Taenia serialis. This is the first report of T. serialis infection in an intermediate host in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China.

Genotyping and gene nucleotide polymorphism of epidemic strain of Echino-coccus granulosus metacestode from humans and sheep in Tianjun region, Qinghai Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the genotypes and nucleotide polymorphisms of Echinococcus granulosus metacestode from humans and sheep in Tianjun region,Qinghai Province. Methods The specific primers were designed according to the cox1 and nad1 genes of E.granulosus mitochondrial genome sequences accessed by GenBank.The primers were used to detect the cyst samples from 16 sheep and 2 humans infected with E.granulosus in Tianjun region of Qinghai Province by PCR,then the PCR amplification products were sequenced,the genotypes and nucleotide polymorphisms of the cox1 and nad1 genes were analyzed.Results The 18 isolated samples all belonged to E.granulosus G1 genotype.Among all the isolates,9 haplotypes ex-isted in the cox1 gene with 16 nucleotide mutation sites,and there were 0 to 5 nucleotide differences with the highest variation rate of 0.31%,whereas 7 haplotypes occurred with 15 nucleotide mutation sites,and there were 1 to 8 nucleotide differences with the highest variation rate of 0.89% for the nad1 gene.Conclusions The epidemic genotype of E.granulosus is G1 in hu-mans and sheep in Tianjun region of Qinghai Province,and the nucleotide polymorphisms of the cox1 gene were more abundant than those of the nad1 gene,and the resolution of the nucleotide polymorphisms of cox1 gene is higher than that of the nad1 gene used in E.granulosus isolates.

Effect of melatonin receptor agonist Neu-P11 on phosphorylation of protein kinase B in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: The objective of present study was to examine the changes of melatonin receptor agonist Neu-P11 on expression of PKB and P-PKB in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to research the variation mechanisms.Methods: 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were cultivated and differentiated in adipogenic cocktail by IBMX, DEX and insulin; Confirm the establishment of insulin resistance model. The changes of PKB and P-PKB protein expressions before and after drug action were detected by Western blot; Results: Expression of PKB and P-PKB reduced significantly by comparison with IS (P < 0.05). Melatonin and Neu-P11 can increase obviously the expression of PKB and P-PKB (P < 0.05). But Luzindole can block the effect of melatoninl, Neu-P11 increasing PKB (P < 0.05), will also be able to block that the melatonin increase P- PKB (P < 0.05), but it can"t block that Neu-P11 increases P - PKB .

Research progress in receptors involved in rotavirus infection / 病毒学报

Rotaviruses, which are recognized as one of the major etiological agents among infants and young children with diarrhea, consist of three concentric layers of protein capsid with the enclosed double-stranded RNA genome. Rotaviruses infect host cells mainly by identifying the specific receptors on cell surfaces and binding to them. Therefore, receptors are important factors for viruses infecting cells. So far, there have been many receptors found to be involved in rotavirus infection, including sialic acid, integrin, Toll-like receptor, and blood group antigen. This article provides an overview of receptors involved in rotavirus infection.

Whole genome analysis of human group A rotavirus G9p8 strains in Hebei lulong region, 2009-2011 / 病毒学报

Abstract:This study aims to investigate the genetic characteristics of group A rotavirus (GARV) G9P[8] strains from infantile diarrhea samples in Hebei Lulong region from 2009 to 2011. We randomly selected five GARV G9P[8] strains in Hebei Lulong region from 2009 to 2011, amplified the 11 gene fragments of GARVs by RT-PCR, and analyz their full-genome sequences by homology and phylogenetic analysis with DNAStar and MEGA. The nucleotide homology between strains LL11131077 and LL11131083 in 2011 was significantly higher than hat etween them and the other three strains in 2009 and 2010. The G9P[8] GARVs circulating in Hebei Lulong region from 2009 to 2011 elenged to the same genotype as the prevalent G9P[8] GARVs in other parts of the world. However,the two strains in 2011, compared with those in 2009 and 2010, were located in a different sub-branch of the phylogenetic tree and had amino acid mutations at many sites.

Effect of melatonin receptor agonist Neu-Pll on expression of IRS-1 and GLUT-4 in insulin-resistant adipocytes / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To explore the influence of melatonin receptor agonist Neu-P11 on the expression of IRS-1 and GLUT-4 in insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods Insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes were induced with high glucose/ high insulin for 24 hours, and then they were divided into 4 treatment groups; melatonin, Neu-P11, melatonin+luzindole and Neu-P11 + luzindole. And non-treated insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes were taken as control. Glucose consumption was detected by enzymatic method. IRS-1 and GLUT-4 protein expressions were detected by Western blotting analysis. Results After the insulin-resistant adipocytes were treated with melatonin and Neu-P11, the glucose consumption andthe expressions of IRS-1, GLUT-4 proteinswere significantly increased compared with the non-treated control group (P<0. 05). The expressions of IRS-1, GLUT-4 proteins in melatonin + luzindole (melatonin receptor antagonist) and Neu-P11 + luzindole groups were significantly decreased compared with melatonin alone or Neu-P11 alone groups (P<0. 05), and were similar to those in thenon-treated control group. Conclusion Melatonin receptor agonist Neu-P11 can increase glucose consumption, insulin sensitivity in insulin resistant-adipocytes, which might be associated with the up-regulation of IRS-1 and GLUT-4 protein expression.

Multicentral randomized controlled studies on acupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore effect of acupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multicentral randomized controlled and single blind clinical trial was adopted, and 276 cases were divided into a treatment group and a control group, 138 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at Shaoze (SI 1) and the control group with EA at Shangyang (LI 1). After treatment of 2 courses, the therapeutic effects and changes of cumulative score of TCM symptoms, mammary filling degree, lactation amount, prolactin level were evaluated and investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured and markedly effective rate was 97.8% in the treatment group and 24.3% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The treatment group in improvement of the cumulative score of TCM symptoms and the mammary filling degree, and increasing the lactation amount and the prolactin level were better than the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) has obvious therapeutic effect on hypolactation.</p>