The role of interleukin-17A in acute paraquat induced lung injury in mice / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in acute paraquat (PQ)-induced lung injury in mice.Methods A total of 120 healthy SPF grade ICR male mice were randomly (random number) divided into three groups (n =40 in each):normal saline control group (NS),PQ poisoning group (PQ) and antibody neutralization group (PQ + Ab).Mice of PQ group and PQ + Ab group were given 5 mg/mL PQ by one gavage in a dosage of 25 mg/kg body weight,and 5 μg IL-17A neutralizing antibody intra-peritoneally administered immediately after PQ poisoning in PQ + Ab group;Equivalent volume of normal saline instead of PQ was given to mice of NS group.Six survival mice from each group were taken for experiment at 8 h,1 d,3 d,5 d,7 d after PQ poisoning:Wet to dry ratio (W/D) of lung was determined in mice of each group.HE staining of lung tissue was used to observe the histopathological changes under the light microscope and the pathological scores were graded;Serum interleukin-17A (IL-17A),interleukin-22 (IL-22),interleukin-6 (IL-6),transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);Expression of interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) in lung tissue was determined with immunohistochemical;real-time fluorescence quantification PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of retinoic acid related solitary nuclear receptors' mRNA in lung tissue.Results After administration of PQ,W/D ratio increased (P ＜ 0.01),lung injury was observed in mice of PQ and PQ + Ab groups,levels of cytokines (IL-17A,IL-22,IL-6 and TGF-β) in serum elevated (P ＜0.05),and the expressions of IL-23R mRNA and RORγt mRNA increased (P＜0.01).But in PQ +Ab group,W/D ratio decreased (P ＜0.05),lung injury was alleviated,the levels of cytokines (IL-17A,IL-22,IL-6 and TGF-β) decreased (P ＜ 0.05),and the expressions of IL-23R mRNA and RORγt mRNA reduced (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Since IL-17A involves in the lung injury of the mice induced by acute paraquat poisoning,blockade of IL-17A significantly alleviates the acute lung injury in mice.

Evaluation of the Prognosis of Sepsis Based on the Modified CURB-65 Score / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To evaluate the prognosis of patients with sepsis in the emergency department using the modified CURB-65 score.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 143 patients with sepsis who were first diagnosed at the emergency department of the First Hospital of China Medical University (between January 2014 and January 2015),assessed their CURB-65 and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores,and modified the CURB-65 scoring system by adding some indexes of the prognosis of sepsis.We analyzed the prognostic value of each scoring systems in the diagnosis of sepsis using the receiver-operating characteristic curve.Results The modified CURB-65,CURB-65,and SOFA scores had independent abilities for early prediction of the prognosis of sepsis.The area under the curve and the Youden index of the modified CURB-65 score were highest,which are superior to the traditional CURB-65 and SOFA scores.Conclusion The modified CURB-65 score can predict the prognosis of sepsis in its early stage.In addition,the assessment method is simple and convenient;hence,it is useful for assessing the condition of patients with sepsis and providing an early treatment.

The correlation between cartilage morphology and T2 value of MR and clinical manifestations in knee osteoarthritis / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between the MRI morphology scoring of cartilage injury,the changes of T2 value and clinical manifestations in knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods Ten healthy volunteers and 65 patients with OA were enrolled.The patients were graded according to the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).Knees of all research participants underwent MRI scanning of sagittal 3D-WATSc and T2 mapping.Patients were further divided into group OA1,group OA2 and group OA3 based on Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS).The correlation between the WORMS scores,T2 values of the knee cartilages and the clinical WOMAC scores was analyzed.Results The WORMS scores of the cartilages were positively correlated with the total WOMAC scores,pain scores,stiffness scores and activity scores,with the correlation coefficient of 0.806,0.690,0.493 and 0.817,respectively (P＜0.05).The T2 values of the cartilages had a positive correlation with the total WOMAC scores,pain scores,stiffness scores and activity scores,with the correlation coefficient of 0.501,0.384,0.357 and 0.512,respectively (P＜0.05).Conclusion WORMS as MRI semi-quantitative evaluation index and T2 values as MRI quantitative evaluation index could reflect clinical manifestations of patients with knee OA to some extent.

Effects of Interleukin?17A on Acute Paraquat?intoxication?induced Kidney Injury in Mice / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of interleukin?17A on kidney injury induced by paraquat(PQ). Methods Seventy?two ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:NS,PQ,and PQ+Ab (n=24 for each). The PQ?poisoning model was established by administering a gavage of PQ solution;mice in the PQ+Ab group were then administereda dose of anti?IL?17A antibody 2 hours later by i.p. injection,whereas the NS group were administered a corresponding volume of normal saline instead.The mice were killed at 8,24,48,or 72 h to obtain renal tissues and serum. An enzyme?linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine serum IL?17A,serum creatinine(SCr),and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)levels.Chemical colorimetry was used to detect the viability of myeloperoxidase(MPO )in renal tissue,and hematoxylin?eosin(HE)stain?ing was used to observe the renal pathologic changes. Immunohistochemistry(IHC)and PCR were used to examine IL?17A expression in renal tis?sues. Results Serum IL?17A,renal tissue MPO viabilities,BUN,and SCr were increased in the PQ and PQ+Ab groups,compared to those in the NS group(P<0.01). However,the above?mentioned parameters were lower in the PQ+Ab group than in the PQ group(P<0.01). Conclusion IL?17A promotes mouse kidney injury induced by acute PQ?intoxication through activating and/or recruiting neutrophils;therefore,blockade IL?17A,with antibody can attenuate the injury.

[Mammalian DNA methylation and its roles during the induced re-programming of somatic cells].

The technology of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) provides the possibility to reverse the terminal differentiated cells to pluripotent stem cells, and is therefore of great importance in both the theoretical research of stem cells and regenerative medicine. However, the efficiency of current induced reprogramming methods is extremely low, and the incomplete reprogramming often happens. It has been reported that some epigenetic memory of the somatic cells exists in these incomplete reprogrammed iPS cells, and DNA methylation, as a relative long-term and stable epigenetic modification, is one of the important factors that influence the efficiency of reprogramming and differentiative capacity of iPS cells. Mammalian DNA methylation, which normally appears on the CpG sites, occurs on the fifth carbon atom of the cytosine ring. DNA methylation can modulate the expression of somatic cell specific genes, and pluripotent genes; hence, it plays important roles in the processes of mammalian gene regulation, embryonic development and cell reprogramming. In addition, it has also been found that abnormal DNA methylation may lead to the disorder of genetic imprinting and the inactivation of X chromosome in iPS cells. Therefore, in order to provide a concise guidance of DNA methylation studies in iPS, we mainly review the mechanism, the distribution features of DNA methylation, and its roles in induced reprogramming of somatic cells.

TGFBR2 gene expression and genetic association with schizophrenia.

TGFBR2 gene is a tumor suppressor gene located at chromosome 3p22, and the locus is reported to be linked with schizophrenia susceptibility. According to the previous studies, a reduced incidence of cancer is observed in schizophrenic patients compared with the general population and tumor suppressor genes may be associated with schizophrenia. We measured the mRNA expression of TGFBR2 gene in the peripheral leukocytes from 19 medication-free schizophrenics and 25 medication-free major depressive patients compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects using a quantitative real-time PCR method. We also followed up the TGFBR2 mRNA expression levels from 13 schizophrenics after several weeks - antipsychotic treatments. The TGFBR2 mRNA levels of medication free schizophrenics were significantly higher than those of control subjects and decreased to almost the same level as controls after antipsychotic treatment. On the other hand, the TGFBR2 mRNA levels of medication-free major depressive patients were not significantly different from controls. In genetic studies, we failed to find any association between the TGFBR2 gene and schizophrenia with 10 SNPs of TGFBR2 gene in Japanese subjects (279 subjects each) and there was no significant difference with haplotype analysis, either. Our results suggest that the TGFBR2 gene itself does not link to schizophrenia but that the TGFBR2 mRNA levels in the peripheral leukocytes may be a potential state marker for schizophrenia.

Gene expression in the peripheral leukocytes and association analysis of PDLIM5 gene in schizophrenia.

PDLIM5 modulates neuronal calcium signaling, co-localizes with synaptic vesicles of neurotransmitters and positive association between its gene and schizophrenia was reported but its relation is still ambiguous. The differential expression of the PDLIM5 gene both in the brain and in the lymphoblasts has been found in schizophrenia compared to control subjects. In this study, we measured the expression level of the PDLIM5 gene transcripts in the peripheral leukocytes from 19 medication-free and 21 chronically medicated schizophrenic patients as well as age- and sex-matched control subjects using a quantitative real-time PCR method. The mRNA levels of the PDLIM5 gene in the leukocytes of medication-free schizophrenic patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects. On the other hand, our group has previously shown that its mRNA expression in the leukocytes of medication-free major depressive patients was significantly lower compared with controls. There was no difference in the PDLIM5 mRNA levels between chronic schizophrenic patients with antipsychotic medication and their controls. Further, we failed to find any genetic association between the PDLIM5 gene and schizophrenia with six single nucleotide polymorphics (SNPs) of the PDLIM5 gene in Japanese subjects (279 subjects each) and there was no significant relation between PDLIM5 gene and schizophrenia with the haplotype analysis (P=0.48), either. We suggest that the higher expression levels of the PDLIM5 mRNA in the peripheral leukocytes may be a candidate marker for medication-free schizophrenic patients.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism in schizophrenia is associated with age at onset and symptoms.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that promotes several functions of neurons and modulates neurotransmissions. It has been reported that there are alterations of BDNF levels in schizophrenic brains and that BDNF gene expressional changes would be responsible for the etiology of schizophrenia. Recent studies have shown that a variation of BDNF gene (Val66Met polymorphism) affects the function of neurons, and is associated with several neurological and psychiatrical disorders. We investigated the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and the onset age as well as levels of clinical symptoms in 159 of chronic schizophrenia in-patients diagnosed by DSM-IV. The mean onset ages were 27.5+/-9.5 for BDNF Val/Val, 25.5+/-7.4 for BDNF Val/Met and 22.9+/-6.0 for BDNF Met/Met and this polymorphism was significantly associated with age at onset (P=0.023). The mean Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores (BPRS) were significantly different among those three groups (P=0.003). No significant differences were demonstrated comparing the BDNF genotype distributions of positive and negative family history (P=0.21). Our investigation indicates that the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism is related to the onset age of schizophrenia and the levels of clinical symptoms that remain after long-term antipsychotic treatment.

Multi-slice Spiral CT Findings of Small Cholangiocarcinoma of Common Bile Duct / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To analyse the multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT) findings of small cholangiocarcinoma of common bile duct.Methods 15 cases with pathologically verified small cholangiocarcinoma of common bile duct were undergone unenhanced and three-phase contrast-enhanced MSCT scan.The entire morphologic changes of common bile duct were analysed with curved planar reformation(CPR).Results The attenuation of tumor relative to pancreas was iso-density in all cases at plain CT scan,hypo-density in 10 cases,iso-density in 3 cases and hyper-density in 2 cases at arterial phase,hypo-density in 1 case,iso-density in 3 cases and hyper-density in 11 cases at portal phase,iso-density in 5 caaes and hyper-density in 10 cases at delayed phase.The focal wall thickening of common bile duct appeared as circular or eccentric in 13 cases,intraluminal nodule in 2 cases,common bile duct was narrowing sharply in 11 cases and ending abruptly in 4 cases at obstructive level.Conclusion The small cholangiocarcinoma of common bile duct is of certain characteristics at unenhanced and three-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan.

Discriminant analysis of sexual dimorphism on human cranial breadth / 中国法医学杂志

Ten factors of the sexual dimorphism on the cranial breadth were analyzed by using the dis- criminant analysis in order to estimate the sex.Results showed that seven out of ten human skulls have sex difference(P

Study on sex difference of human up palate / 中国法医学杂志

Eleven measurements of human up palates from two hundred invividuals were analyzed by the discriminant analysis in order to determine sex.Statistical analysis of the up palate measurements on the sexual dimorphism showed that ten measurements have sex difference(P

STNDY OF SEXUAL DIFFERENCE OF SINGLE BONE BY DISCRIMINATION FUNCTION ANALYSIS / 中国法医学杂志

60 Chinese skulls(30 males and 30 females) from Liaoning province of the People's Republic of China were measured, By applying the multiplestepwise discriminant function, sexual diagnosis of the maxillary, frontal, occipital and parietal bone were carried out, 12 discriminant equation for sexual diagnosis have been obtained,The diseriminant rate of equations with accuracy tests on the same series of crania results in 66.7～93.3% of the cases analyzcd