Clinical Effect of Surgical Reconstruction of Extracranial Vertebral Artery / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients undergoing surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery from September 2018 to June 2022 were collected.The operation methods,operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,operation complications,and relief of symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eleven patients underwent vertebral artery (V1 segment) to common carotid artery transposition,two patients underwent endarterectomy of V1 segment,two patients underwent V3 segment to external carotid artery bypass or transposition.The operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,and blocking time of common carotid artery varied within 120-340 min,50-300 ml,and 12-25 min,with the medians of 240 min,100 ml,and 16 min,respectively.There was no cardiac accident,cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome,cerebral hemorrhage or lymphatic leakage during the perioperative period.One patient suffered from cerebral infarction and three patients suffered from incomplete Horner's syndrome after the operation.During the follow-up (4-45 months,median of 26 months),there was no anastomotic stenosis,new cerebral infarction or cerebral ischemia. Conclusion Surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery is safe and effective,and individualized reconstruction strategy should be adopted according to different conditions.

Detection of a novel Pestivirus strain in Java ticks (Amblyomma javanense) and the hosts Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) and Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).

Pangolins are endangered animals and are listed in the CITES Appendix I of the Convention International Trade Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as well as being the national first-level protected wild animal in China. Based on a few reports on pangolins infected with pestiviruses of the Flaviviridae family, Pestivirus infections in pangolins have attracted increasing attention. Pangolin pestivirus is a pathogen that may cause diseases such as acute diarrhea and acute hemorrhagic syndrome. To better understand the epidemiology and genomic characterization of pestiviruses carried by pangolins, we detected pestiviruses in dead Malayan pangolin using metavirome sequencing technology and obtained a Pestivirus sequence of 12,333 nucleotides (named Guangdong pangolin Pestivirus, GDPV). Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the entire coding sequence, NS3 gene or RdRp gene sequences, showed that GDPV was closely related to previously reported pangolin-derived Pestivirus and clustered into a separate branch. Molecular epidemiological investigation revealed that 15 Pestivirus-positive tissues from two pangolins individuals with a positivity rate of 5.56%, and six Amblyomma javanense carried pestiviruses with a positivity rate of 19.35%. Moreover, the RdRp gene of the Pestivirus carried by A. javanense showed a high similarity to that carried by pangolins (93-100%), indicating A. javanense is likely to represent the vector of Pestivirus transmission. This study expands the diversity of viruses carried by pangolins and provides an important reference value for interrupting the transmission route of the virus and protecting the health of pangolins.

Molecular Characterization of Two Novel Defensins from Mytilus coruscus / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Mytilus is a bivalve species with important economic and ecosystem value over worldwide. Mytilus antimicrobial peptides‚ with strong molecular diversity‚ has become a research focus. Two novel antimicrobial peptides were identified from Mytilus‚ with structural features that similar to arthropod defensins. However‚ the functional features and the immune mechanism of these two mussel defensins are unknown. For this reason‚ the two novel defensins‚ Arthropod like defensn-1 and -2 (ALD-1 and ALD-2‚ respectively)‚ were studied for the sequence features‚ expression profiles‚ and the dynamic expression pattern after different microbe induction. In addition‚ solid phase chemical synthesis technology was used for the synthesis of these two novel ALDs‚ and the function of synthesized peptides of ALD was verified. The results indicated that‚ two ALDs of M. coruscus have classical structure features similar to those of other arthropod defensins. These two ALDs are mainly presented in the tissues of mantle and digestive gland of mussel. The results also suggest that ALD-1 was expressed at higher levels in the gonads of males than in females (P<0. 05). The expression of two ALDs is developmentally regulated‚and both ALD-1 and ALD-2 were undetectable in larvae‚ but can be detected with high expression level at adult mussel with age of six months. The dynamic changes in the expression level of two ALDs after microbial induction were examined‚ and the results showed a marked increase in expression level observed in vivo for both ALDs. Interestingly‚ two ALDs showed different sensitivities to different microbes‚ indicating very complex responses during the mussel immune response. This observation strongly suggests the existence of different recognition mechanism or signal transduction pathway in mussels for the expression of ALD-1 and ALD-2. Moreover‚ both of two chemical synthesized ALDs showed significant antimicrobial activities against five tested microbes with an inhibition ratio of 20%-80%. These results provided basis for understanding the molecule mechanism of Mytilus immunology‚ and the function of novel Mytilus defensins‚ and thusly provided basis for the development of molecular resource for mussel antimicrobial peptides.

Analysis of the Key Metabolites and Genes Involving in Ornithine-Urea Cycle in Mytilus coruscus / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

The ornithine-urea cycle (OUC) plays important roles in metabolism. However, there is a lack of study of OUC in shellfish. For filling this gap, the mussel Mytilus coruscus was selected, and the key genes together with the metabolites of OUC pathway were analyzed in the mantle and adductor muscle, respectively, using a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and an amino-acid analyzer. Moreover, the changes of the metabolite concentrations and the gene relative expression level of OUC were analyzed after arginine injection. The δ

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Antimicrobial and Antitumor Studies of Two Zinc(II) Complexes with Pyridine Thiazole Derivatives.

Two pyridine thiazole derivatives, namely, 4-(pyridin-2-yl)-2-(2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazole (L1) and 4-(pyridin-3-yl)-2-(2-(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazole (L2), were afforded by a cyclization reaction between α-haloketone and thioamide, and their Zn(II) complexes were prepared by the reaction of ligands and corresponding metal salts, respectively, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. Both crystals were obtained by ether diffusion and crystallized in a monoclinic system. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the Zn(II) complexes and ligands was screened using the microplate reader method, and in vitro antitumor activities of the complexes were evaluated by MTT, with a view to developing new improved bioactive materials with novel properties. The biological activity studies of the compounds showed that the metal complexes were more active than the free ligands, and some compounds had absolute specificity for certain bacteria or cancer cell lines.

Production and Function of Different Regions from Mytichitin-1 of Mytilus coruscus.

Chitinase is an important enzyme for many physiological processes. Mytichitin-1 is a chitinase-like protein in Mytilus coruscus, and its C-terminal 55-AA fragment (mytichitin-CB) is a novel antimicrobial peptide, suggesting a new immune process in which chitinase is involved; mytichtin-1 may have various forms in the different biological processes of M. coruscus. Thus, the study of mytichitin-1 will be helpful for understanding the mechanism of mussel immune biology and the functional diversity of chitinase. In this study, mytichitin-1 was recombinantly expressed with different lengths, full-length mytichtin-1 (rMchi-F) and the N-terminal region (rMchi-N) in Escherichia coli BL21 with codon optimization. The results of SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry confirmed that the two forms of mytichitin-1 had been successfully recombinant expressed with a yield of 40 mg purified enzyme per L culture. In addition, the 55-AA fragment of mytichitin-CB was chemically synthesized (sMchi-CB). After purification and oxidation, the functions of the three protein products were analysed, including chitin degradation, chitin binding, and antimicrobial activities. Both rMchi-F and rMchi-N displayed enzymatic activity with the optimum pH of 4.0 and optimum temperature of 40 °C, and rMchi-N showed a stronger activity than rMchi-F. Enzymatic activities of rMchi-F and rMchi-N were stimulated by the metal ions Fe2+, Ba2+, and Na+ and partially inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+. rMchi-F, rMchi-N, and sMchi-CB had the ability to combine with colloid chitin. The antimicrobial activities of these proteins were tested against bacteria and fungi, and the results indicated the strongest activity for sMchi-CB and the weakest activity for rMchi-N. Using a prepared anti-rMchi-F polyclonal antibody, immunohistochemistry and immunoprecipitation were performed and the results revealed the location of mytichitin-1 in mantle, digestive gland and blood cells. In addition, two forms of mytichitin-1, mytichitin-CB (6 kD) and full-length mytichitin-1 (48 kD), were detected, and a 35 kD protein was identified as the third form of mytichitin-1, existing in various tissues of M. coruscus. These findings suggest that mytichitin-1 may play different roles, with at least three forms, in different M. coruscus tissues.

Role of Family with Sequence Similarity 3A in High Glucose-induced Oxidative Damage of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the role of family with sequence similarity 3A(Fam3A) in high glucose-induced damage of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods HUVECs were divided into control group and high glucose group, which were cultured in endothelial cell medium (ECM) containing 5.5 mmol/L of glucose and ECM containing 33.3 mmol/L of glucose, respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression of Fam3A, whereas the protein expression of Fam3A was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HUVECs in control group and high glucose group were transfected with siNT and siFam3A, respectively, and the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS), ATP, mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate(OCR), and P-p38 protein were detected.Results After HUVECs had been cultured for 24h, the relative mRNA expression of Fam3A between high glucose group and control group was 2.52±0.19 (t=13.296,P=0.000). The Fam3A protein level was (173.82±33.28)pg/ml in the high glucose group, which was significantly higher than that [(39.45±33.78)pg/ml] in the control group (t=4.907,P=0.006). The intracellular ROS content in siNT-high glucose group was (8217±794)RFU, which was significantly higher than that [(3982±398)RFU] in siNT control group (t=15.109,P=0.002). The intracellular ROS content of siFam3A high glucose group was (11 910±1 001)RFU, significantly higher than that [(4171±402)RFU] of siFam3A control group (t=9.705,P=0.010) and than that of siNT high glucose group (t=4.026,P=0.048). The relative amounts of ATP synthesis in siNT high glucose group, siFam3A control group and siFam3A high glucose group were (61.2±5.6)%, (94.6±8.4)%, and (29.7±2.7)% of the siNT control group respectively; thus, it was significantly lower in siNT high glucose group than in siNT control group (t=12.001,P=0.007) and was also significantly lower in siFam3A high glucose group than in siFam3A control group (t=20.742,P=0.002) and in siNT high glucose group(t=18.814,P=0.003). The mitochondrial OCR was (0.57±0.05)pMO/(μg protein·min) in siNT high glucose group, significantly lower than that [(1.12±0.09)pMO/(μg protein·min)] of siNT control group (t=6.804,P=0.021). The mitochondrial OCR of siFam3A high glucose group was (0.31±0.03)pMO/(μg protein·min), significantly lower than that [(1.01±0.09)pMO/(μg protein·min)] of siFam3A control group (t=19.876,P=0.003), which was significantly lower than that of siNT high glucose group (t=21.444,P=0.002). The relative expression of P-p38 in siNT high glucose group, siFam3A control group, and siFam3A high glucose group was 2.239±0.353, 0.816±0.120, and 1.160±0.185, respectively; thus, it was significantly higher in the siNT high glucose group than in siNT control group (t=6.075,P=0.026); in addition, it was significantly higher in the siFam3A high glucose group than in siFam3A control group (t=6.242,P=0.024) and significantly lower than in siNT high glucose group (t=9.686,P=0.010). Conclusions High glucose can induce high expression of Fam3A in HUVECs. Knockdown of Fam3A gene expression can exacerbate the decrease of ATP synthesis and mitochondrial OCR caused by high glucose and promote the generation of ROS in high glucose. Fam3A may regulate high glucose-induced ROS production in HUVECs via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Patient safety education among chinese medical undergraduates: An empirical study / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Patient safety education is conducive to medical students' cognition on patient safety and to improvement of medical quality and safety. Developing patient safety education for medical students is more and more widely recognized by World Health Organization and countries all over the world. However, in China, patient safety courses aiming at medical students are relatively few, and there are few reports about the effect of patient safety courses. This paper explored the influence of patient safety curriculum on medical students' attitude to and knowledge of patient safety. The patient safety curriculum was carried out for 2011-grade undergraduates of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The students participated in the class according to free choice. After the curriculum, the information of gender, major, attended course, attitude toward patient safety, and knowledge of laws and regulations of the 2011-grade undergraduates were collected. After rejecting invalid questionnaires, the number of undergraduates that participated in the survey was 112 (61 students did not take part in the curriculum; 51 took part in). Chi-square test was applied to analyze patient safety education's influence on medical students' attitude to patient safety and their knowledge mastery situation. The influence of patient safety education on the attitude of medical students to patient safety was not significant, but that on their knowledge of patient safety was remarkable. No matter male or female, as compared with medical students who had not accepted patient safety education, they both had a better acquisition of knowledge after having this education (for male students: 95% CI, 4.556-106.238, P<0.001; for female students: 95% CI, 3.183-33.238, P<0.001). Students majoring in Western Medicine had a relatively better mastery of knowledge of patient safety after receiving patient safety education (95% CI, 6.267-76.271, P<0.001). Short-term patient safety education cannot change medical students' stereotyped cognition on matters related to patient safety, but it can effectively enhance their knowledge of laws and regulations of patient safety.

Regulation of endometrial stromal cells through the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Increasing number of genes and signaling pathways are involved in regulating stem cels periodicaly, and wherein Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is an important pathway of stem cels. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway on mouse endometrial stromal cels. METHODS:After injection of Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor or activator, endometrial tissues from Balb/c mice were obtained, some of which were used for detection of invasion of endometrial stromal cels and western blot detection, and the rest of which were used for preparing animal models of endometriosis folowed by immunohistochemical detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression of β-catenin and GSK3β proteins was significantly higher in the activator group than the inhibitor group (P < 0.05). The number of transmembrane cels was significantly higher in the activator group than the inhibitor and control groups (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical findings showed positive expression of E-cadherin in ectopic endometrial tissues of the inhibitory group, and strongly positive expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in ectopic endometrial tissues of the activator group. These findings indicate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may cause endometriosis by strengthening ectopic endometrial implantation, invasion and metastasis.

MiR-18 a and estrogen receptor alpha expression in single and multiple uterine fibroids / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To detect the expression of miR-18a and estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) in single and multiple uterine flesh tumor tissues, discuss the relationship between miR-18a and ER alpha, and their effect in single and multiple uterine fibroids.Methods The expression of miR-18a and ER alpha in single and multiple uterine fibroids tissue paraffin section were detected by in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemical method, respectively.And the correlation between the miR-18a and ER alpha were evaluated.Results The expression of ER alpha in multiple uterine fibroids group was significantly higher than that of single uterine fibroids tissues (P<0.05);while miR-18a was weaker than that of single uterine fibroids tissues(P <0.05).The correlation results showed that miR-18a expression was correlated negatively with ER alpha expression either in single(r =-0.4421) and multiple uterine fibroids(r =-0.4181).Conclusion The expression of miR-18a is low in multiple uterine fibroids, while ER alpha had high expression.miR-18a could bea new target for the treatment of multiple uterine fibroids.

Malignant transformation in mature teratoma of the ovary：a clinicopathologic study of 22 cases / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To study the clinicopathological characteristics in 22 cases of ovarian mature teratoma with malignant transforma-tion. Methods Clinical and pathologic features were collected and analyzed in 22 out of 1 826 cases of ovarian mature teratoma by retrospective studies, together with immunohistochemical staining. Results In our study, 22 cases (1. 2%) of ovarian mature terato-ma with malignant transformation were identified. The median age was 56. 5 (range, 31~79) years. The main clinical manifestations were pelvic masses, including 13 cases in the left ovary, 8 cases in the right, 1 case was bilateral. Gross cystic teratoma were saw in 19 cases, 3 cases of cystic and solid, the bilateral one was solid in the left which the right was cystic. The teratomas size were 5. 0~30 cm with average 12. 4 cm in diameter. The malignant components’ maximum diameter was about 1. 0~10. 0 cm with average 3. 7 cm. Microscopicically, there were poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in 14 cases, carcinoid carcinoma in 4 cases, adeno-carcinoma in 2 cases, papillary thyroid carcinoma in 2 cases, and the last one was sarcomatoid carcinoma. The FIGO stage distribution was as follows:16 were stage IA, 1 was stage IB, 1 was stage IIA, 4 were stage IIB. Follow up showed 6 cases recurrened, 2 patients died, the rest are survival. Conclusions A low incidence of ovarian mature teratoma in somatic cells with malignant transformation, which are common in postmenopausal women and present with pelvic mass. The main malignant components is squamous cell carcino-ma, patients of stage I have better prognosis. Both clinic and pathology should take more attention to the comprehensive examination and diagnosis of teratoma for prevent misdiagnosis.

Expression of Bax and apoptosis in enterocytes of neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To investigate the correlation of Bax and apoptosis in enterocytes of neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).Methods Forty-eight neonatal rats (1 day) were randomly divided into control group (n =24) and NEC model group (n =24) by use of odd and even.The rats in control group were maternal breast-fed.The rats in NEC model group were separated from their mothers.To be given formula feeding,cold exposure after hypoxic-reoxygenation treatment.The intestinal tissue located at the boundary of ileum and caecum of two groups were gained on the 24 h,48 h and 72 h with which that all rats were sacrificed by cutting neck.Section of intestinal tissue were stained with immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of Bax and were stained with TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) to evaluate the apoptosis in each group.Results The integrate optical density (IOD) value of expression of Bax in the NEC model group began to increase on the 24 h [(1 005.06-± 11.96) IOD] and reached the summit on the 72 h [(3 340.66 ±68.72)] compared with the control group[(666.55 ± 15.77)IOD].A few of TUNEL positive cells began to increase with time dependence.A lot of TUNEL positive cells could be found in NEC model group on the 24 h [(15.04 ± 0.24) ％],and the apoptotic index reached the peak on the 72 h [(35.65 ±0.61) ％] compared with the control group[(4.73 ±0.04) ％,P ＜0.01]-There was a significantly positive correlation between the cell apoptosis and the ratio change of Bax in NEC model group (r =0.94,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion There is a significantly positive correlation between the cell apoptosis and the ratio change of Bax in enterocytes of neonatal rats with NEC.The cell apoptosis in enterocytes of neonatal rats with NEC maybe be induced by Bax.

Mechanism of A549 cells apoptosis induced by umbilical artery serum in neonates delivered by women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the cause of bile acid-induced lung injury through investigating the cell apoptosis and the expressions of Capsase-3 in A549 cell of umbilical artery serum in neonates delivered by women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.Methods A549 cell was used as target cell.The cultural cells in orifice were divided into control group and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy-serum attacking group.The cells of control group were cultivated with normal nutritive medium.The umbilical arterial blood was cowered from the placental end of pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis after the baby had been delivered.Then the serum was gathered,and the cells of the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy-serum attacking group were attacked by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancyserum.After 24 hours,lactate dehydrogenase leakage rate,expression of Caspase-3 and the apoptosis rate of the cells in the 2 groups were detected,respectively.Results The expression of Caspase-3 in A549 cells was observed in the light microscope,and Caspase-3 expre-ssion in the cytoplasm was brown.The lactate dehydrogenase leakage rate [(34.68 ±0.77) ％],the integrate optical density value (981.77 ± 55.21) of the expression of Caspase-3 and the rate of apoptosis [(27.86 ± 0.53) ％] of cells in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy group were significantly higher than those of the cells in control group[(17.39±0.66)％,(540.63 ±38.41),(6.99 ±0.11)％] (t =-45.70,-15.96,-134.41,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Umbilical artery serum in neonates delivered by women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy can induce apoptosis of A549 cells by up-regulating the expression of Caspase-3,and this was the potential machine of bile acid-induced lung injury in newborn infants.

Expression and functional role of ALDH1 in cervical carcinoma cells.

Tumor formation and growth is dictated by a very small number of tumor cells, called cancer stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal. The genesis of cancer stem cells and their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy via mechanisms such as multidrug resistance, quiescence, enhanced DNA repair abilities and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, make it imperative to develop methods to identify and use these cells as diagnostic or therapeutic targets. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is used as a cancer stem cell marker. In this study, we evaluated ALDH1 expression in CaSki, HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells using the Aldefluor method to isolate ALDH1-positive cells. We showed that higher ALDH1 expression correlated with significantly higher rates of cell proliferation, microsphere formation and migration. We also could demonstrate that SiHa-ALDH1- positive cells were significantly more tumorigenic compared to SiHa-ALDH1-negative cells. Similarly, SiHa cells overexpressing ALDH1 were significantly more tumorigenic and showed higher rates of cell proliferation and migration compared to SiHa cells where ALDH1 expression was knocked down using a lentivirus vector. Our data suggested that ALDH1 is a marker of cervical cancer stem cells and expand our understanding of its functional role.

Study on spatial-temporal variation of infected snail in bottomland areas after an integrated control strategy at village level in the marshland and lake regions based on geographic information system / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of an integrated control strategy and to quantify the spatial-temporal variation of infected snails in the bottomland areas after the strategy was implemented.Methods Based on the geographic database of infected snail distribution at the village level during 2004-2010 in Anxiang county,Hunan province,spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial scan statistics were applied to analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics on the distribution of infected snails.Results The number of embankments with infected snails in Anxiang county decreased from 23 in 2004 to 10 in 2010,while the rate of frame with infected snail in embankments decreased from 4.32‰ in 2004 to 0.12‰ in 2010.The spatial distribution of infected snails was nonrandom,only in 2004 and 2005 with Moran's I=0.21 (P＜0.10) and Moran's I=0.13 (P＜0.10) respectively.Data from the local spatial auto-correlation analysis showed that the number of villages with H-H types of auto-correlation model had been gradually decreasing.The results of SaTScan statistics appeared the same as from the local spatial auto-correlation analysis,showing that the number of areas with increased risk was decreasing.Conclusion The comprehensive measures with emphasis on infectious source control seemed effective for schistosomiasis control program.The current distribution characteristics provided us with evidence that the resource assignment could be more reasonably implemented so as to control schistosomiasis in a more effective way.

[Evaluation of schistosomiasis control effect of buffalo removal in Anxiang County].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a comprehensive schistosomiasis control strategy based on buffalo removal in a lake and marshland region. METHODS: A community intervention trial was carried out in seven pilot villages and seven control villages along Dongting Lake in Anxiang County, Hunan Province. Besides annual routine control measures such as synchronous chemotherapy, molluscicidal spray and health education, all buffaloes and sheep were killed or removed from the pilot areas in 2005, of which the effect was strengthened by other supporting measures such as replacing bovines by agricultural machines, isolating meadows and prohibiting pastures, supplying safe water, and building sanitary lavatories or methane pits. Schistosoma japonicum infection in humans or Oncomelania snails was observed and followed up to the spring of 2011. RESULTS: Three years after the intervention, the infection rates in humans decreased to below 1% with no infected snails found outside the embankment in the pilot villages, but the infection rates still ranged between 2% and 3% in the control villages 4 years after the intervention. The comprehensive measures centered on buffalo removal exempted about 50% of the population from the infection in pilot villages. CONCLUSION: Buffalo removal is the key element of comprehensive control strategy which could accelerate the control process and promote the elimination of schistosomiasis in lake and marshland regions along the Yangtze River.

Solution structure and antibacterial mechanism of two synthetic antimicrobial peptides / 生物工程学报

Mytilin-derived-peptide-1 (MDP-1) and mytilin-derived-peptide-2 (MDP-2) are two truncated decapeptides with reversed sequence synthesized corresponding to the residues 20-29 of mytilin-1 (GenBank Accession No. FJ973154) from M. coruscus. The objective of this study is to characterize the structural basis of these two peptides for their antimicrobial activities and functional differences, and to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of MDPs on Escherichia coli and Sarcina lutea. The structures of MDP-1 and MDP-2 in solution were determined by 1H 2D NMR methods; the antibactericidal effects of MDPs on E. coli and S. lutea were observed by transmitted electron microscopy (TEM). Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 have a well-defined loop structure stabilized by two additional disulfide bridges, which resemble the-hairpin structure of mytilin-1 model. The surface profile of MDPs' structures was characterized by protruding charged residues surrounded by hydrophobic residues. TEM analysis showed that MDPs destroyed cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall of bacteria and the interface between the cell wall and membrane was blurred. Furthermore, some holes were observed in treated bacteria, which resulted in cell death. Structural comparison between MDP-1 and MDP-2 shows that the distribution of positively charged amino acids on the loop of MDPs is topologically different significantly, which might be the reason why MDP-2 has higher activity than MDP-1. Furthermore, TEM results suggested that the bactericidal mechanisms of MDPs against E. coli and S. lutea were similar. Both MDP-1 and MDP-2 could attach to the negatively charged bacterial wall by positively charged amino acid residues and destroy the bacteria membrane in a pore-forming manner, thus cause the contents of the cells to release and eventually cell death.

Designation, solid-phase synthesis and antimicrobial activity of Mytilin derived peptides based on Mytilin-1 from Mytilus coruscus / 生物工程学报

As a key role in mussel defense system, Mytilin is an important antibacterial peptide isolated from the mussel serum. The structural and functional researches on Mytilin showed that the fragment connecting two beta-sheets in a stable beta-hairpin structure was probably required for antimicrobial activity. To elucidate the structural features and the antimicrobial activity of this fragment, we re-designed and synthesized two peptides corresponding to the main mimic structures of Mytilin-1 from Mytilus coruscus, we named these two peptides Mytilin Derived Peptide-1 and Mytilin Derived Peptide-2, respectively. Using a liquid growth inhibition assay, we evaluated their activity towards Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungus. The results showed that both peptides can inhibit the growth of Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungus. Besides, these two peptides showed high stability in heat water and human serum. These works laid the foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of Mytilin and for further exploitation of antibacterial peptides with lower molecular mass and more stable structure.

Role of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel in pancreatitis / 第二军医大学学报

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel, which can be activated by multiple pathways during the course of the diseases. Recent studies indicate that primary sensory neurons of the pancreas express TRPV1 receptor and the activation of TRPV1 receptor promotes pancreatic inflammation. Moreover, blockade of these transient receptor potential channels can greatly ameliorate the pain response in experimental pancreatitis.

Edaravone inhibits pain sensitivity through decreasing pJNK expression in dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord in rats with spinal nerve ligated / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To investigate the effect of edaravone on the pain sensitivity in rats with spinal nerve ligated and to probe into the related mechanism. Methods: Male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a sham (Sham) group, a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) group and edaravone(Eda) group. The paw withdrawal mechanical threshold(PWMT) was measured before and after ligation (once daily for 7 days). Rats were sacrificed at specified time points and the left(operation side) L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia(DRG) and the right (control side) L5 DRG were obtained and immunostained to observe the changes of pJNK in DRG neurons and spinal cords, so as to observe the effect of edaravone on pJNK. Results: Edaravone can reduce the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by spinal nerve ligation. Immunostaining showed that the SNL group had an increased pJNK in the ipsilateral DRG neurons (L5) 24 hours after ligation; double immunofluorescence indicated that the expression of pJNK in the ipsilateral spinal astrocytes was increased 3 days after ligation. Edaravone can reduce pJNK expression in DRG neurons and spinal cords at corresponding time points. Conclusion: Edaravone can relieve the neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation, and the mechanism might be related to the inhibition of pJNK expression in DRG neurons and spinal cords.