Positive acceleration adaptive training attenuates gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury through COX-2 and PGE2 expression.

The mechanism involved in the effects of positive acceleration adaptive training (PAAT) on gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury (GI-RI) has not been fully characterized. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PAAT in attenuating GI-RI in a rat model. The inflammatory factor and caspase-3 levels were measured using ELISA kits. A western blot assay was used to analyze tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-α, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, COX-1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) protein expression levels. It was revealed that PAAT could alleviate GI-RI and inflammatory factor levels in a rat model. PAAT suppressed TNF-α and TNFR1 protein expression levels, inhibited TRAIL, DR4, DR5, COX-2 and PGE2 protein expression levels; however, it did not have an effect on COX-1 protein expression in the model of GI-RI. The data indicated that the effects of PAAT attenuated GI-RI through the downregulation of COX-2 and PGE2 expression.

Beagle sciatic nerve regeneration across a 30 mm defect bridged by chitosan/PGA artificial nerve grafts.

Longitudinally oriented microstructures are essential for a nerve scaffold to promote the significant regeneration of injured peripheral axons across nerve gaps. In the current study, we present a novel nerve-guiding collagen-chitosan (CCH) scaffold that facilitated the repair of 30 mm-long sciatic nerve defects in beagles. The CCH scaffolds were observed with a scanning electron microscope. Eighteen beagles were equally divided into CCH group, autograft group and non-graft group. The posture and gait of each dog was recorded at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Electrophysiological tests, Fluoro-Gold retrograde tracing test, Histological assessment of gastrocnemius and immunofluorescent staining of nerve regeneration were performed. Our investigation of regenerated sciatic nerves indicated that a CCH scaffold strongly supported directed axon regeneration in a manner similar to that achieved by autologous nerve transplantation. In vivo animal experiments showed that the CCH scaffold achieved nerve regeneration and functional recovery equivalent to that achieved by an autograft but without requiring the exogenous delivery of regenerative agents or cell transplantation. We conclude that CCH nerve guides show great promise as a method for repairing peripheral nerve defects.

An exo probe-based recombinase polymerase amplification assay for the rapid detection of porcine parvovirus.

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), an isothermal amplification technology, has been developed as an alternative to PCR in pathogen detection. A real-time RPA assay (rt-RPA) was developed to detect the porcine parvovirus (PPV) using primers and exo probe specific for the VP2 gene. The amplification was performed at 39°C for 20min. There was no cross-reaction with other pathogens tested. Using the recombinant plasmid pPPV-VP2 as template, the analytical sensitivity was 103 copies. The assay performance was evaluated by testing 115 field samples by rt-RPA and a real-time PCR assay. The diagnostic agreement between assays was 100%, and PPV DNA was detected in 94 samples. The R2 value of rt-RPA and real-time PCR was 0.909 by linear regression analysis. The developed rt-RPA assay provides a useful alternative tool for rapid, simple and reliable detection of PPV in diagnostic laboratories and at point-of-care, especially in remote and rural areas.

Reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification assay for the rapid detection of type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most important pathogens in pigs, and has tremendous negative economic impact on the swine industry worldwide. PRRSV is classified into the two distinct genotypes: type 1 and type 2, and most of the described PRRSV isolates in China are type 2. Rapid and sensitive detection of PRRSV is of great importance for the disease control and regional eradication programs. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) has emerged as a novel isothermal amplification technology for the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases. In this study, a fluorescence reverse transcription RPA (RT-RPA) assay was developed to detect the type 2 PRRSV using primers and exo probe specific for the viral nucleocapsid gene. The reaction was performed at 40°C within 20min. The RT-RPA assay could detect both the classical (C-PRRSV) and highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV), but there was no cross-reaction to other pathogens. Using the in vitro transcribed PRRSV RNA as template, the analytical sensitivity of RT-RPA was 690 copies. The assay performance was evaluated by testing 60 field samples and compared to real-time RT-PCR. The detection rate of RT-RPA was 86.6% (52/60), while the detection rate of real-time RT-PCR was 83.3% (50/60). This simple, rapid and reliable method could be potentially applied for rapid detection of PRRSV in point-of-care and rural areas.

Plasma soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 concentration correlates with arterial stiffness: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is related to inflammation, oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and endothelial dysfunction. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is both as an adhesion molecule involving in inflammation and as an amine oxidase producing aldehyde and hydrogen peroxide involved in protein cross-linking, oxidative stress and endothelial injury. OBJECTIVE: We explored the associations of plasma soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) with arterial stiffness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Health Examination Center at the General Hospital of the Air Force in Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: 568 Han Chinese healthy persons living in Beijing (aged 50.7 ± 8.0 years). METHODS: sVAP-1 concentration was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Arterial stiffness was measured as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) on both left and right sides of the examinees, and the larger and the mean values were recorded. Cardiovascular risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: sVAP-1 was significantly associated with maximal or mean baPWV in subjects of age ≥ 60 years after adjusting for baPWV-related confounders (ß=36.922, p<0.05 or ß=32.512, p<0.05) or after adjusting for all the variables (ß=37.924, p<0.05 or ß=33.193, p<0.05), but not in subjects of age <60 years. sVAP-1 had an independent and positive correlation with age (r=0.222, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma sVAP-1, increased with age, is associated with arterial stiffness in older individuals. VAP-1 may be important mechanism for vascular aging.

Simple and rapid determination of N(6)-(Δ(2)-isopentenyl)adenine, zeatin, and dihydrozeatin in plants using on-line cleanup liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

A simple and rapid method was developed for the determination of three free cytokinins, namely, N(6)-(Δ(2)-isopentenyl)adenine, zeatin, and dihydrozeatin, in plants using TurboFlow on-line cleanup liquid chromatography combined with hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. The samples were extracted using acetonitrile, and then the extract was purified on a C18-p column, in which the sample matrix was removed and the analytes were retained. Subsequently, the analytes were eluted from the extraction column onto the analytical column (Hypersil Gold C18 column) prior to chromatographic separation and hybrid Q-Orbitrap detection using the targeted-MS(2) scan mode. The linearity was satisfactory with a correlation coefficient of >0.999 at concentrations ranging from 5-5000 pg/mL. The limits of quantification for the analytes ranged from 4.2-5.2 pg/mL. The intra- and inter-day average recoveries of analytes fortified at three levels ranged from 85.4-108.2%, and the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations ranged from 4.04-8.57%. The method was successfully applied for the determination of free cytokinins in different tissue samples of Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Investigation of membranous ventricular septal defect complicated with tricuspid regurgitation in ventricular septal defect occlusion.

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of membranous ventricular septal defect complicated with tricuspid regurgitation and the significance of ventricular septal defect occlusion by echocardiography. A total of 43 patients with membranous ventricular septal defect complicated with tricuspid regurgitation were observed by echocardiography and the changes in length, area and volume of tricuspid regurgitation prior to and following ventricular septal defect occlusion were measured. There were four different mechanisms of membranous ventricular septal defect complicated with tricuspid regurgitation. The various indices of tricuspid regurgitation volume were significantly reduced following occlusion. Ventricular septal defect occlusion significantly reduces tricuspid regurgitation volume complicated with membranous ventricular septal defect and echocardiography is an ideal method to detect these changes.

[Effects of glutathione on plasma heat shock protein 70 of acute gastric mucosal injury in rats exposed to positive acceleration].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of plasma heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rats exposed to acute gastric mucosal injury under the condition of positive acceleration (+Gz) and elucidate the effects of glutathione (GSH) and the corresponding protective mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 40 male SD rats were randomly by computer randomization into 4 groups of ethanol control, +5 Gz value exposure, +10 Gz value exposure and GSH protection (n = 10 each). GSH protection group received adaptive feeding for 7 days and then an intraperitoneal injection of GSH for 3 consecutive days. All 4 groups fasted for 24 hours within 10 days, water deprivation for 12 hours and a gastric lavage of anhydrous ethanol (0.4 ml/100 g) for 1 hour, ethanol control group had no acceleration,+5 Gz value exposure group at + 5 Gz and the latter two groups respectively at +10 Gz for around 3 min.Each group underwent anesthesia of pentobarbital after centrifuge immediately. Abdominal aortic blood samples were collected and gastric tissues harvested for observation of mucosal injury. Mucosal damage index was calculated by the GUTH method. And the plasma content of HSP70 was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: (1) Gastric mucosa of each groups rats were injured. Damage was significantly reduced by GSH pretreatment, ethanol control group had less injury, the injury of +5 Gz value exposure group was aggravated compared with the control group (gastric mucosal injury index: 25.4 (14.0-30.0) vs 10.0 (9.2-13.9), P = 0.001); +10 Gz value exposure group mucosal injury was heaviest (47.2 (41.5-60.1)) . There were diffuse hyperemia, edema and erosion with a large area of bleeding spots and flat mucosal folds.It had statistically significant differences with the first two groups (all P < 0.01); GSH protection group was lightest at 9.5 (7.5-14.1). Compared with the +10 Gz value exposure group, mucosal damage was milder (P < 0.01).(2) The plasma levels of HSP70 of +5 Gz value exposure had no significant differences with the control and ethanol groups ((6.5 ± 0.5) ng/ml, P = 0.897); HSP70 plasma level ((5.9 ± 0.5) ng/ml) of +10 Gz value exposure was significantly lower than those of the first two groups (P = 0.018,0.014); GSH protection group ((7.0 ± 0.5) ng/ml) was significantly higher than the level of +10 Gz value exposure group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: +Gz exposure may cause the altered levels of plasma HSP70.High +Gz value exposure reduces its content and aggravates gastric mucosal injury. And glutathione reduces the injury of gastric mucosa through elevated plasma HSP70.

A fighter pilot case of pulmonary sequestration.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation. The diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration is based on the identification of an abnormal arterial supply. Conventional treatment for pulmonary sequestration is surgical removal of the tissue, which may induce serious trauma and requires a long recovery time. Recently, endovascular treatment has become feasible as a safer and less invasive method to treat pulmonary sequestration. CASE REPORT: To the best of our knowledge, pulmonary sequestration has not been reported in pilots. In this study, we report a fighter pilot case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration detected with the assistance of spiral computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography. The young fighter pilot had experienced recurrent hemoptysis and pulmonary infections for approximately 10 yr before the pulmonary sequestration was diagnosed. We performed a transcatheter arterial embolization and a subsequent CT angiography confirmed complete infarction of the sequestration. After the treatment, no clinical complications were observed and the patient, with normal lung function restored, was qualified to serve as a fighter pilot again. DISCUSSION: Compared with conventional removal surgery, endovascular treatment is a superior treatment for pulmonary sequestration in a fighter pilot in maintenance of pilot qualification.