Structural distribution and mechanism of elastic fibers and collagen fibers in ventricular interstitium of aged rats / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the structural distribution features and mechanism of elastic fibers and collagen fibers in ventricular interstitium of aged rats. Methods Five young SD rats (24 weeks) and five old SD rats (104 weeks) were used,and their cardiac function was examined by echocardiography. Modified Weigert elastic fiber staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques were used to detect the expression changes of type I and IH collagen fibers and their proteins, elastic fibers and their proteins, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2), respectively. Results The type I and type IH collagen in the ventricular interstitium of aged rats was very sufficient and wrapped around the cardiomyocytes. Compared with the young rats, the content of collagen protein in the ventricular interstitium of the aged rats significantly increased (P<0. 05). Elastic fibers in the ventricular interstitium of the aged rats were and widely distributed. Compared with the young rats, the number of elastic fibers and the level of elastin in the ventricular interstitium of the aged rats significantly decreased (P<0. 05), and the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ventricular muscle of aged rats increased, and the)' were correlated with the level of elastin. The level of TIMP-2 in ventricular muscle of aged rats decreased with age. Conclusion The number of collagen fibers and elastic fibers in ventricular interstitium of aged rats is fluctuated with each other. With the increase of age, the contents of TIMP-2 and elastic fibers in the ventricular interstitium gradually decreased, and the ratio of collagen fibers to elastic fibers is out of balance.

Chimeric Virus-like Particles Co-Displaying Hemagglutinin Stem and the C-Terminal Fragment of DnaK Confer Heterologous Influenza Protection in Mice.

Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stem is currently regarded as an extremely promising immunogen for designing universal influenza vaccines. The appropriate antigen-presenting vaccine vector would be conducive to increasing the immunogenicity of the HA stem antigen. In this study, we generated chimeric virus-like particles (cVLPs) co-displaying the truncated C-terminal of DnaK from Escherichia coli and H1 stem or full-length H1 antigen using the baculovirus expression system. Transmission electronic micrography revealed the expression and presentation of H1 stem antigens on the surface of VLPs. Vaccinations of mice with the H1 stem cVLPs induced H1-specific immune responses and provided heterologous immune protection in vivo, which was more effective than vaccinations with VLPs displaying H1 stem alone in protecting mice against weight loss as well as increasing survival rates after lethal influenza viral challenge. The results indicate that the incorporation of the truncated C-terminal of DnaK as an adjuvant protein into the cVLPs significantly enhances the H1-specific immunity and immune protection. We have explicitly identified the VLP platform as an effective way of expressing HA stem antigen and revealed that chimeric VLP is an vaccine vector for developing HA stem-based universal influenza vaccines.

Internal quality control products for computer-assisted sperm analysis: Research and application / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the application of the self-made semen quality control (QC) product in internal QC of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).@*METHODS@#CASA was calibrated with high- and low-concentration commercially available semen QC product and meanwhile 15 samples of self-made mixed semen QC product were placed in 75 cryotubes containing liquid nitrogen, followed by CASA of the concentration, motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), wobble (WOB) and straightness (STR) of the sperm using standard procedures and 50 days of continuous monitoring. The Makler counting plate was used to measure the concentration and motility of the self-made sperm.@*RESULTS@#The coefficients of variation (CV) of the commercially available semen QC product at high and low concentrations were 6.18% and 7.85%, respectively. CASA showed that the concentration of the self-made QC product was (25.97 ± 1.41) ×10⁶/ml, with a CV of 5.42%, and the sperm motility, VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, WOB and STR were (22.15 ± 1.75)% (CV = 7.9%), (59.18 ± 2.05) μm/s (CV = 3.46%), (26.79 ± 1.2) μm/s (CV = 4.48%), (34.98 ± 1.4) μm/s (CV = 4.01%), 46.81 ± 1.55 (CV = 3.3%), 60.52 ± 1.3 (CV = 2.15%) and 76.46 ± 1.98 (CV = 2.59%), respectively. The concentration and motility of the self-made sperm detected with the Makler counting plate were (34.39 ± 2.37) ×10⁶/ml (CV = 6.89%) and (38.04 ± 1.69)% (CV = 4.44%), respectively. Levey-Jennings QC charts were plotted for the indicators using the means and standard deviation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The self-made internal QC product by liquid nitrogen cryopreservation is feasible and effective for monitoring the accuracy and precision of CASA-derived sperm concentration and motion parameters, and it has a smaller CV than the commercially available QC product in measuring sperm concentration.

Fire-needle acupuncture for upper limb spastic paralysis after stroke: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis (ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients (n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group (FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group (FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group (RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician. DISCUSSION: Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-IOR-17013875; registration date: 28 December 2016).

Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 Involved in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis through Regulating Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor under Hypoxia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Endometriosis (EMs) is a common gynecological disorder characterized by endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Hypoxia induces the expression of many important downstream genes to regulate the implantation, survival, and maintenance of ectopic endometriotic lesions. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) plays a major role in the etiology of EMs. We aimed to determine whether TGF-β1 affects EMs development and progression and its related mechanisms in hypoxic conditions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Endometrial tissue was obtained from women with or without EMs undergoing surgery from October, 2015 to October, 2016. Endometrial cells were cultured and then exposed to hypoxia and TGF-β1 or TGF-β1 inhibitors. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were measured. A Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was used to examine the effect of TGF-β1 and hypoxia on a VEGF promoter construct. Student's t-test was performed for comparison among groups (one-sided or two-sided) and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TGF-β1, VEGF, HIF-1α mRNA, and protein expression were significantly higher in EMs tissue than that in normal endometrial tissue (t = 2.16, P = 0.042). EMs primary cultured cells exposed to hypoxia expressed 43.8% higher VEGF mRNA and protein (t = 6.84, P = 0.023). VEGF mRNA levels increased 12.5% in response to TGF-β, whereas the combined treatment of hypoxia/TGF-β1 resulted in a much higher production (87.5% increases) of VEGF. The luciferase activity of the VEGF promoter construct was increased in the presence of either TGF-β1 (2.6-fold, t = 6.08, P = 0.032) or hypoxia (11.2-fold, t = 32.70, P < 0.001), whereas the simultaneous presence of both stimuli resulted in a significant cooperative effect (18.5-fold, t = 33.50, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The data support the hypothesis that TGF-β1 is involved in the pathogenesis of EMs through regulating VEGF expression. An additive effect of TGF-β1 and hypoxia is taking place at the transcriptional level.</p>

The influence of detorsion of adnexal torsion on melondialdehyde, peroxidase catalase, and catalase of ovarian tissue in rabbits / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To observe the influence of reperfusion after adnexal torsion (AT) on malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase catalase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) contents of ovarian tissue in rabbits. Methods Forty female Japanese long-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into study group (n=32) and control group (n=8). The left adnexa of rabbits in the study group was clockwise twisted three laps, and then fixed on the left abdominal walls. Adnexal detorsion was then done 24 hours after adnexal torsion in the study group, and then the rabbits were divided into 4 groups (8 each). Both ovaries of each group were removed 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h, respectively, after reperfusion. The rabbits in the control group received sham-operation and both ovaries were removed 96h later. The removed left ovaries were used for biochemical detection of GSH-Px, CAT and MDA. All the right ovaries were used as experimental internal-control. Results The activity of GSH-Px declined significantly 24h to 72h after adnexal detorsion (P0.05). The activity of CAT declined significantly 24h and 48h after adnexal detorsion (P0.05). Conclusions Detorsion after adnexal torsion can affect the degree of oxidative stress injury in rabbits' ovaries as shown by the changes in the activities of GSH-Px, CAT and MDA. With the elongation of detorsion time, ovarian injury will be gradually alleviated.

Surgical high ligation of the ovarian vein and preservation of ovarian function for twisted ovarian tumors / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Appendectomy is the traditional surgical procedure for correcting torsion of the adnexa. Although it prevents pulmonary embolism, ovarian necrosis, and secondary infection, it can have critical adverse effects on the ovarian function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed surgery for adnexal torsion in 12 patients, using high ligation of the ovarian vein, followed by removal of the ovarian tumor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood flow in the residual ovary gradually returned to normal within 1 - 3 months, and a dominant follicle could be seen in the residual ovary within 2 - 6 months post-surgery in all the 12 cases. Menstruation recovered in these three cases within 2 - 3 months. Postoperative intrauterine pregnancies occurred in two cases, with a corpus luteum graviditatis in the residual ovary in one case, while the other patient underwent labor after 13 months and a normal ovary on the affected side was seen at cesarean section.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This new surgical technique involving high ligation of the ovarian vein for adnexal torsion allowed successful preservation of the residual ovary and ovarian blood distribution, and can thus be used for the treatment of primary diseases of the ovary. The surgical procedure is simple, safe, and effective, and warrants extensive application in clinical practice.</p>

Effects of calcium on ability of learning and memory in rats exposed to low level lead before and after birth / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of calcium on learning and memory ability of rats exposed to low level lead before and after birth.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar dam rats were randomly divided into normal group, lead-contaminated group and lead with Ca group. Corresponding food and water were given to pregnant rats from d 15 of gestation and to young rats till 7 w after birth. The weight of brain and hippocampus, blood lead content, serum calcium content, learning and memory ability of young rats were tested.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The blood lead concentrations: lead-contaminated group was the highest, lead with Ca group the second and normal group the lowest. Serum calcium concentrations: normal group and lead with Ca group were both higher than lead contaminated group. Ability of learning and memory: lead with Ca group was better than lead-contaminated group, but poorer than normal group. No differences were found upon the weight of brain and hippocampus in all groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A minilaparotomy approach for curative resection of rectal cancer may be an ideal alternative approach to conventional laparotomy.</p>