Retraction Note: MicroRNA-199a regulates myocardial fibrosis in rats by targeting SFRP5.

The article "MicroRNA-199a regulates myocardial fibrosis in rats by targeting SFRP5", by M.-H. Chen, J.-C. Liu, Y. Liu, Y.-C. Hu, X.-F. Cai, D.-C. Yin, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (9): 3976-3983-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201905_17827-PMID: 31115026 has been retracted by the authors. This paper has been questioned on PubPeer (https://pubpeer.com/publications/6417BECD38A43595A89D977A1CBDF8). In particular, concerns were raised about Figures 2C and 4C, potentially showing three panels with overlapping details of a single image. The corresponding author states they used the wrong figure during manuscript drafting, which led to picture reuse. For this reason, the authors decided to withdraw the manuscript. This article has been retracted. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/17827.

Alprostadil alleviates liver injury in septic rats via TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the role of alprostadil (Alp) in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic injury in rats and its possible mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups, including: Sham group (no CLP was performed), CLP group (CLP was conducted) and Alp group (Alp was injected after CLP). Serum liver function markers, pathological changes in liver tissues, alterations in the level of oxidative stress, activity of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway, and release of inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the liver tissue homogenate were detected in each group. RESULTS: Compared with Sham group, the rats in CLP group had substantially elevated content of serum liver function markers, increased apoptotic liver cells, upregulated levels of oxidative stress, enhanced activity of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, and increased release of TNF-α (p<0.05). Meanwhile, there were evident pathological changes under microscopic examination in CLP group compared with Sham group (p<0.05). In comparison with CLP group, Alp group exhibited significantly decreased concentrations of liver function markers, microscopic findings, such as decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitum, notably lowered proportion of apoptotic cells, decreased level of oxidative stress, weakened activity of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and restrained release of TNF-α (p<0.05). Furthermore, normal morphology of liver cells was observed in Alp group compared with CLP group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Alp alleviates liver injury in septic rats by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Effects of physical forms of starter feed on growth, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal enzyme activity, and morphology of pre- and post-weaning lambs.

The physical form of starter feed may affect the gastrointestinal development and the performance of ruminant. However, little information is available on how changes in the physical forms of starter feed influence the performance of lambs, especially during the pre- and post-weaning periods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different physical forms of starter feeds on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal enzyme activity, and morphology of pre- and post-weaning lambs. Twenty-four 8-day-old male Hu lamb (5.04 ±â€¯0.75 kg BW) were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: 1) a pelleted starter (PS) feed and 2) a textured starter (TS) feed, which included coarse mashed steam-flaked corn. From eight to thirty-five days of age (pre-weaning), the lambs were bottle-fed milk replacer (MR) at 2% of BW measured on day 8. All lambs were weaned at day 35 when feeding of MR was stopped. Six lambs for each treatment were euthanized at 21 or 42 days of age for sampling. The following results are obtained by variance analysis: TS lambs had a greater (P < 0.05) final BW, higher apparent digestibility of starch and ether extract, activities of α-amylase pre- or post-weaning, and higher (P < 0.05) average dry matter intake and lipase post-weaning in small intestine contents and had a trend of significantly higher average daily gain post-weaning (P = 0.07). Rumen development analysis of TS lambs showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) relative weight of rumen post-weaning, greater papillae length, increased circular and layered muscle, increased sectional area pre- and post-weaning, and increased rumen papillae width post-weaning. Textured starter treatment increased the villus height and villus width (except jejunum pre-weaning) of the whole small intestine and villus height to crypt depth ratio of jejunum and ileum during the whole period and tended to increase the relative weight of the rumen pre-weaning (P = 0.07). The results indicated that TS feeding is more beneficial to lambs over the weaning transition than PS in promoting gastrointestinal development, intestinal enzyme activities, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance. The findings provide new insights into the selection of physical forms of starter feeds in lamb production. Further research with more animals and female lambs is needed to obtain a more complete conclusion.

Effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial injury in septic rats through NF-κB pathway.

INTRODUCTION: To explore the effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial injury in septic rats through the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 healthy adult female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely, group A (sepsis model group, n=15), group B (sham operation group, n=15), group C (sepsis model + 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone, n=15), and group D (sham operation group + 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone, n=15), respectively. After the sepsis model was successfully established, the rats were administered with 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone by gavage, with a gavage volume of 1 mL, once a day for a total of 3 days. Blood was taken from the abdominal aorta, while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase kits were used to detect the levels of LDH and creatine phosphokinase in serum. Then, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was adopted to identify myocardial tissue apoptosis, hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) was applied to detect myocardial tissue morphology, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to examine the protein expression level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in rat serum. Subsequently, the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level of TNF-α in myocardial tissues was measured via fluorescence quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) method, and the activity of NF-κB was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Compared with those in group A, apoptotic cells in group B and group D were notably increased (p<0.05). At 3 days after administration with rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg), apoptotic cells were markedly decreased (p<0.05). H&E staining results manifested that 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone prominently improved myocardial tissue morphology in rats. The protein level of TNF-α in serum, the mRNA expression level of TNF-α in myocardial tissues, and the activity of NF-κB in group C treated with rosiglitazone were lower than those in group A (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rosiglitazone can alleviate myocardial injury in septic rats by suppressing the TNF-α expression and this process is associated with the regulation on the NF-κB signal transduction pathway.

MicroRNA-199a regulates myocardial fibrosis in rats by targeting SFRP5.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial fibrosis seriously affects normal heart function. This study focused on the role of microRNA-199a in regulating rat myocardial fibrosis by targeting secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro myocardial fibrosis model was established by 10 µM isoproterenol (ISO) induction in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) for 24 h. Expression levels of microRNA-199a, collagen I and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein levels of SFRP5 and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in CFs were detected by Western blot. The binding condition between microRNA-199a and SFRP5 was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. After transfection of microRNA-199a inhibitor or SFRP5 overexpression plasmid, proliferative and migratory rates of CFs were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. RESULTS: ISO treatment remarkably upregulated microRNA-199a expression in CFs. Transfection of microRNA-199a inhibitor could inhibit proliferation, migration and cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation (CMT) of CFs. Luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the binding of microRNA-199a to SFRP5 3'UTR. Moreover, SFRP5 overexpression reversed the effects of microRNA-199a inhibitor on proliferation, migration, and CMT of CFs. CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNA-199a deficiency can inhibit the proliferative and migratory potentials of CFs, as well as CMT by targeting SFRP5, thus exerting the protective effect on myocardial fibrosis.

[Cross-sectional survey of autism spectrum disorders in children aged 0-6 years in Hainan province].

Objective: To understand the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children aged 0-6 years old and influencing factors in Hainan province. Methods: A total of 37 862 children aged 0-6 years were selected from 18 counties in Hainan province for a screening by using questionnaire of"warning signs in child development", then field diagnosis was made, and general descriptive statistic analysis was conducted. The prevalence of ASD and related factors were analyzed with χ(2) test and unconditional logistic regression model. Results: Among 37 862 children aged 0-6 years, 235 were diagnosed with ASD, the prevalence of ASD was 0.62% (0.99% in boys, 0.17% in girls), the differences was significant (χ(2)=101.91, P=0.000). The prevalence of ASD increased with age (χ(2)=288.62, P=0.000). The prevalence of ASD was significantly higher in urban area than in other areas (χ(2)=114.77, P=0.000). Factors such as full term pregnancy or not, neonatal asphyxia, father's characteristics, father's habit of chewing areca or smoking, mother's general mood, and mother's induced abortion history were the influencing factors for ASD. Conclusion: The prevalence of ASD in children aged 0-6 years was high in Hainan and was influenced by genetic factors, pregnancy and delivery process, parents unhealthy habit before and during pregnancy and other factors.

Aggregation and conformational changes of bovine ß-lactoglobulin subjected to dynamic high-pressure microfluidization in relation to antigenicity.

Our previous research indicated that dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) had a significant effect on the antigenicity of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG). In this study, aggregation and conformational changes subjected to DHPM (0.1-160 MPa) were investigated in relation to antigenicity. When DHPM pressure increased from 0.1 to 80 MPa, disaggregation of ß-LG samples and partial unfolding of the molecule were accompanied by an increase in ß-LG antigenicity, which was reflected in the decrease of particle size, increase of free sulfhydryl (SH) contents and ß-strands contents, and slight exposure of aromatic amino acid residues. At pressures above 80 MPa, the reaggregation of ß-LG may contribute to the decrease in antigenicity, which was reflected by an increase in particle size, the formation of aggregates, a decrease of in SH and ß-strands contents, and slight changes in aromatic amino acid residues. Aggregation and conformational changes of ß-LG under DHPM was related to its antigenicity.

An improved reverse dot hybridization for simple and rapid detection of adefovir dipivoxil-resistant hepatitis B virus.

Early detection of adefovir dipivoxil-resistant mutants during long-term treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with this drug is of great clinical importance. We developed an improved reverse dot hybridization test for simple and rapid detection of the rtA181V/T and rtN236T mutations associated with adefovir dipivoxil resistance in chronic hepatitis B patients. Probes were designed for genotypes B, C, and D of this resistance characteristic; a total of 70 clinical samples were analyzed with this improved reverse dot hybridization assay. Its usefulness was validated by comparing with sequencing data. Discordant results were confirmed by subclone sequencing. This reverse dot hybridization assay was sufficiently sensitive to detect 10(3) copies/mL; it also detected adefovir dipivoxil-resistant mutant strains when they comprised more than 5% of a mixed virus population. This reverse dot hybridization array correctly identified adefovir dipivoxil-resistant mutants; it had high concordance (98.5%) with direct sequencing data. There was no clear relationship between the HBV genotype and the development of adefovir dipivoxil-resistant mutants. This reverse dot hybridization assay proved to be simple and rapid for detection of rtA181V/T and rtN236T mutations associated with resistance to adefovir dipivoxil.

Quantitative determination of eleutheroside B and E from Acanthopanax species by high performance liquid chromatography.

Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was applied for the determination of eleutheroside B and E in the various Acanthopanax species collected in Korea. The stationary phase used was Zorbax 300 SB C18 and a mobile phase program was used, which started at 6% acetonitrile for 2 min, and then a linear gradient was operated for the next 18 min to 17% acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored at UV 210 nm. Identification was carried out by comparing the retention time and the LC/MS spectrum of each peak corresponding to eleutheroside B and E from sample with those of standards. In general, the contents of eleutheroside B and E in stems were higher than those in roots. Acanthopanax species could be classified into two groups based upon the contents of eleutheroside B and E: one group contains no or very little eleutheroside B and another contains both eleutheroside B and E.

[Studies on the phenotype deviation of the single-cell subclones of human stomach carcinoma MGC-803 cell line].

The diversity of phenotypes of tumor cells is the main reason for the differences of drug-sensitivity, immunology, metastatic properties and cellular growth rate, and thus raises difficulties in tumor diagnosis and therapy. In order to investigate the mechanisms involved in the expression, correlation, development and regulation of the diversed malignant phenotypes, cell models from single-cell subclones of human stomach carcinoma cell line MGC-803 were studied. According to the growing time needed for the process of separation of each single-cell subclone, they were categoried into 3 groups as fast growing, moderatly and slowly growing subclones and named. From each group, representative subclones were selected--M17 fast. M6 moderate and M3 slow, for further comparative studies. Foci frequency in soft agar was very high with M17, very low with M3, and M6, the middle. The difference in the major transformed phenotype among the 3 subclones were statistically significant. There were differences in the function of gap junctional intercellular communication as detected by scrape-loading and dye transfer method. M17 negative, while M6 and M3 were positive with dye transfer. Immunocytochemical staining of cytoskeleton elements showed heavy disruption of microtubule and microfilament networks and appearance of F-actin aggregates in M17 cells. On the other hand, M3 showed less disruptive changes and more normal appearance of microtubules and microfilament organization. Immunofluorescent staining showed marked differences in gene expression of c-myc, c-Ha-ras and c-met between M17 and M3. M17 expressed intense fluorescence of the 3 onco-proteins while M3 was negative with c-myc and c-Ha-ras, only weak c-met fluorescence in the cytoplasm.