MicroRNA-34a negatively regulates anesthesia-induced hippocampal apoptosis and memory impairment through FGFR1.

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence has shown the toxic effects of anesthesia to neonatal hippocampus. We used an in vivo mouse model to explore the role of microRNA 34a (miR-34a) in regulating anesthesia-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity. METHODS: One-month old C57/BL6 mice received daily intraperitoneal injection of anesthesia (ketamine, 50 mg/kg) for 7 days. One day after, apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining in hippocampal CA1 region, and expression level of miR-34a assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Hippocampal miR-34a was then down-regulated through lentivirus mediated cortical injection prior to anesthesia. The effects of inhibiting hippocampal miR-34a on anesthesia-induced hippocampal apoptosis and memory impairment were further investigated by TUNEL staining and Morris water maze (MWM) test. The predicted molecular target of miR-34a, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) was down-regulated in hippocampus through siRNA-mediated cortical injection and its effect on hippocampal apoptosis was also examined. RESULTS: Anesthesia caused severe apoptosis among hippocampal CA1 neurons and upregulated hippocampal miR-34a. On the other hand, lentivirual inhibition of miR-34a protected anesthesia-induced hippocampal apoptosis and memory impairment. Luciferase essay demonstrated FGFR1 was directly regulated by miR-34a in hippocampus. siRNA-induced FGFR1 downregulation further exaggerated anesthesia-induced apoptosis in hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we showed that miR-34a negatively modulated anesthesia-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity.

[Analysis on moxibustion papers in SCI journals during the recent 5 years].

The papers regarding moxibustion published in science citation index (SCI) journals for the recent 5 years were searched to explore the international tendency of moxibustion researches, which provided references for moxibustion to have a better internationalization. With methods of internet search and database search, a total of 116 papers regarding moxibustion were included. These papers were published in 40 kinds of journals, mostly in Britain and the United States. The journal with the highest impact factor was Stroke, which had 5729 points. The number and impact factor of these journals were inferior to those of acupuncture journal. Compared among these journals, the depth and width of moxibustion research were increasing year by year. The category of diseases related with moxibustion is mainly digestive system diseases, motor system diseases and urinary-genital system diseases. The type of papers was characterized with clinical observation and mechanism research. Researches related with moxibustion included moxibustion dose and safety. It was believed that the international recognition of moxibustion effectiveness, standardization of moxibustion manipulation, standardization research, etc. were needed to be solved in the further.

[A preliminary study of stenting followed by laparoscopic surgery for obstructing left-sided colon cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of stenting followed by laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of obstructing left-sided colon cancer. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with obstructing left-sided colon cancer were prospectively randomized into two groups. Twenty patients received emergent open surgery, while 15 underwent laparoscopic surgery 3 days after placement of the self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) and 14 of them received laparoscopic surgery 10 days after placement of SEMS. Outcomes evaluated included 1-stage operation rate, conversion rate, operative time, length of hospital stay, blood loss, postoperative pain score and use of analgesics, rates of permanent stoma, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Compared with emergent open surgery, patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery had significantly less blood loss(P=0.000), lower permanent stoma rate (P=0.024), less pain(P=0.000), and lower incidence of postoperative complications. Laparoscopic surgery was associated with a significantly higher rate of 1-stage operation(P=0.004). Compared with patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery 3 days after SEMS placement, patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery 10 days after SEMS placement had a significantly higher 1-stage operation rate(P=0.001) and a lower conversion rate(P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Self-expanding metal stenting is a safe and effective bridge to laparoscopic surgery in patients with obstructing left-sided colon cancer. Laparoscopic surgery 10 days after SEMS placement may be more appropriate.

[Expression of main neutralization antigen VP7 of human rotavirus serotype G2 and G3 by recombinant adenoviruses].

OBJECTIVE: To express main neutralization antigen VP7 of human rotavirus serotype G2 and G3 by recombinant adenoviruses on the basis of previous investigation of the prevalence of rotavirus in China. METHODS: On the basis of successfully expression of human rotavirus protein G1VP7 by recombinant adenovirus vector, the authors constructed some potent recombinant adenovirus strains encoding rotavirus G2 VP7 and G3 VP7 genes which belong to the main rotavirus isolates 97S43 and 97S48. RESULTS: Replication defective recombinant adenoviruses expressing human rotavirus serotype G2 and G3 VP7 genes, named as rvAdG2VP7 and rvAdG3VP7 were successfully constructed. VP7 genes integrated into the viral genome were identified by PCR and Southern blot assay, and specific transcription were detected by RT-PCR in the 293 cells infected with recombinant adenoviruses. Expression of rotavirus VP7 proteins was demonstrated by Western blot assay. CONCLUSION: The established recombinant adenoviruses expressing G2 and G3 serotype VP7s laid a significant basis for further animal experiments in the development of multivalent rotavirus vaccines against rotavirus infection.

[Sequencing of adenovirus type 7 vaccine strain fragment and characterization of the hexon encoding gene].

OBJECTIVE: To complete the full-length sequencing of the human adenovirus type 7 vaccine strain (Ad7v) for novel vector constructing. METHODS: The Ad7v DNA was digested with SalI and the 17.5-68.0 map unit (mu) fragment was cloned and sequenced. The homology of encoding sequence of Ad7v hexon to those of group A,C,D,E,F and other numbers of group B was accomplished with the software CLUSTAL.V. The three-dimensional structure of the Ad7v hexon was predicted with the RasMo12.71. RESULTS: The fragment contains 17,596 bp, part of E2 and late gene L1, L2 and L3 were encoded by this region. Polypeptide encoded by hexon gene lies in L3 region, which is composed of 934 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignment with the other nine known hexon protein sequences suggested that the variable sequences are mainly concentrated on seven regions, namely hypervariable regions (HVRs). The seven HVRs are related to type-specificity and group-specificity. The three-dimensional structure of the Ad7v hexon revealed that the variable regions are located in the I1 and I2 loops of the molecule mostly on the tower of the hexon. CONCLUSION: The full-length genome sequencing of Ad7v was accomplished at last. Since the deduced amino acid sequence of Ad7v hexon was quite different from other adenoviral vectors such as Ad5 and Ad2, this virus can be potentially used for the construction of novel gene delivery vectors to counterpart the immunity to the vectors widely used at present.