BACKGROUND: Islet cell transplantation is one of the most effective methods to treat diabetes. However, the shortage of transplanted cells has limited its clinical application. Direct reprogramming of hepatocytes to islet β cells in vitro is a new idea to solve this problem, but differentiation of hepatocytes to islet β cells is a complicated process. OBJECTIVE: Direct reprogramming hepatocytes into islet-like cells by efficient targeting and activating the endogenous genes of hepatocytes with Casilio system (constructed CRISPR/ Cas9-Pumilio system) through modifying guide RNA sequence combined with the transcriptional activator PUFa-P65-HSF1. METHODS: The endogenous PNM (Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA) genes of hepatocytes were targeted and activated by using the Casilio system, which was transfected to the HEK293T cell line by liposome transfection. The expression of endogenous PNM was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. The Ins-EGFP cell line with stable expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein was constructed by the lentivirus carrying Ins-promoter-EGFP. The Ins-EGFP-HepG2-Cas9-PUFa-p65-HSF1 cell line (referred to as stable translocated cell lines) with stable expression of dCas9 and PUFa-P65-HSF1 in Ins-EGFP-HepG2 cell line was constructed by the PiggyBac(PB) transposon system. By using liposome, the gRNAs were transfected to stable translocated cell line, and the expression level of endogenous gene PNM was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Simultaneously, reprogramming efficiency was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The activation of endogenous genes by Casilio system was verified in 293T cell line. (2) The expression of EGFP, dCas9 and PUFa-P65-HSF1 in stable cell line was detected by RT-PCR, western blot assay and immunofluorescence. (3) The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results confirmed that this new Casilio system could target and activate the PNM which led to the up-regulation of the endogenous PNM gene expression. The efficiency of direct reprogramming was 10%-15%. (4) Based on CRISPR/dCas9, the new Casilio system can efficiently activate the endogenous PNM gene in hepatocytes, enabling the hepatocyte line to be directly reprogrammed as islet-like cells.

Objective To explore the changes of cerebral local neuronal spontaneous activity between heroin dependent individuals and normal controls.Methods 3.0 T MRI were used for data acquisition,fMRI data were acquired during resting state from 20 male heroin dependent individuals(HD)and 1 5 matched normal controls(NC),and then the difference of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF)between groups were analysised.Results Compared with NC,ALFF in rostral cingulated zone(bilateral anteri-or cingulate cortex ,medial prefrontal cortex )was significantly reduced in HD.Conclusion Dysfunction of resting state in RCZ were observed in HD,which may result in cognitive impairment and plays an important role in the transitions from ideas into behav-ior of relapse in addiction.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the therapeutic effects of losartan potassium on 5/6 nephrectomy rats with chronic heart failure(CHF)and to explore the mechanism. 24 Rats were randomly divided into three groups namely sham group(Sham), pathology group(Nx)and losartan potassium group(Lst), respectively. CHF model in rats were induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. At the 7th week, rats of Lst group were given losartan potassium(50 mg/L)for consecutive 2 weeks. Then all rats were measured for hemodynamic parameters, cardiac index, creatinine, urea nitrogen in serum, and expressions of CD133, VEGFR2, Sox2, cleaved Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in heart. Compared with Nx group, rats of Lst group improved cardiac and renal functions: decreased LVDP, LVEDP, cardiac index, creatinine, urea nitrogen and increased LVSP. Furthermore, losartan potassium up-regulated gene expression of CD133, VEGFR2, Sox2 and protein level of Bcl-2, and down-regulated cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression. Results suggest that losartan potassium can improve cardiac function of rats with CHF which may be correlated with mobilizing bone marrow stem cells, increasing endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)level in heart, repairing endothelial function, and inhibiting myocardial apoptosis.

Objective:Using ultrasound imaging technology to evaluate the contraction characteristics of diaphragm in patients with chronic low back pain.Methods:Twenty nine patients with chronic low back pain and 26 healthy persons recruited from the rehabilitation department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 2019 to April 2020 were selected and divided into the low back pain (LBP) group and the healthy control group. The thickness of the diaphragm (Tdi) of the subjects during deep breathing was evaluated by portable color Doppler ultrasound equipment under different body positions. The subjects were required to perform maximum inspiration for total lung capacity (TLC) and expiration for functional residual capacity (FRC) in the supine and standing position, respectively. The end-inspiratory diaphragm thickness (TdiTLC) and end-expiratory diaphragm thickness (TdiFRC) were recorded, and the diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) was calculated. The general data of subjects with lower back pain and the correlation between Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI) and diaphragm function were analyzed; The diaphragm function of healthy control group and LBP group were compared; The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of Tdi and DTF in the diagnosis of lower back pain were analyzed.Results:ODI lifting score was negatively correlated with standing TdiTLC ( r=-0.50, P<0.01). In intra-group comparison, the TdiTLC and TdiFRC values of healthy subjects in standing position were increased compared with those in supine position ( t=6.115, 7.314, all P<0.001); In standing position, TdiTCL and TdiFRC values in LBP group were increased compared with those in supine position ( t=2.834, 4.673, all P<0.01). In comparison between groups, TdiTLC values in supine and standing position of LBP group were significantly lower than those in healthy control group ( t=2.597, 3.338, all P<0.05); In standing position, TdiFRC of patients in LBP group was significantly lower than that of healthy control group ( t=2.098, P=0.041) and DTF value of patients in LBP group was significantly lower than that of healthy control group ( t=2.902, P=0.006). When TdiTCL≤3.3 mm in supine position was used to predict low back pain, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 78.6% and 53.8%, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.661. When TdiTCL≤4.5 mm in standing position was used to predict low back pain, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 95.7% and 46.2%, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.759. When DTF≤81.3% in standing position was used to predict low back pain, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 52.2% and 84.6%, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.698. Conclusions:It is found in our study that the diaphragm contractile function of patients with lower back pain is worse than that of normal subjects, and the difference was significant in standing position. We suggest that the right-side ultrasound image acquisition in the patient′s standing position is helpful to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the measurement results. TdiTCL≤4.5 mm or DTF≤81.3% in standing position can be used as one of the reference indexes for the combined diagnosis of chronic low back pain.

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a substantial public health burden, and it is increasingly affecting populations in Asian countries. The overall prevalence of CRC is reported to be low in Asia when compared with that in Western nations, yet it had the highest number of prevalent cases. This review described the prevalence of CRC in Asia according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer from World Health Organization (WHO) database and summarized its major risk factors. Non-modifiable factors include genetic factors, ethnicity, age, gender, family history and body height; smoking, alcohol drinking, weight, Westernized diet, physical inactivity, chronic diseases and microbiota were involved in environmental factors. These risk factors were separately discussed in this review according to published literature from Asian countries. CRC screening has been playing an important role in reducing its disease burden. Some recommendations on its screening practices have been formulated in guidelines for Asia Pacific countries.
Alcohol Drinking ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Height ; Chronic Disease ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; International Agencies ; Mass Screening ; Microbiota ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of precondintioning on ADAMTS-13 activity and vWF level, and its clinical significance by measuring the alterations of ADAMTS-13 activity and vWF antigen levels before and after preconditioning of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the patients.

METHODA total of 113 patients received HSCT in the First Hospital affiliated to Soochow University were investigated, 20 healthy volunteers were used as the control. The ADAMTS-13 activity and vWF antigen level were measured by FRETS-vWF73 and ELISA respectively. Modified BU/CY, TBI/CY or BEAM were used as preconditioning regimen.

RESULTS(1) out of all the patients enrolled in this study, 8 patients were diagnosed as thrombotic disorders, and 49 patients were with occurence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD); (2) comparing with the control group, the ADAMTS-13 activity were lower and vWF antigen was higher in the patients after preconditioning (P < 0.01). Among all the patients, 69 (59.3%) cases showed the decrease of ADAMTS-13 activity after preconditioning, including 9 patients with more than 60% (9/113, 8.0%) decrease, in the meantime, the average plasma vWF antigen level of these 69 patients was significantly increased after preconditioning (P < 0.05); (3) the plasma ADAMTS-13 activity in 8 patients with thrombotic complications decreased after preconditioning, and there was significant difference in comparision with that of patients without thrombotic complication (P < 0.01). The patients with decrease of ADAMTS-13 activity more than 60% accounted for 37.5% (3/8), at the same time, the the level of vWF antigen increased (P < 0.01); (4) The medium level of ADAMTS-13 activity was dropped in 49 patients with aGVHD after preconditoning, but there was no abvious difference in comparision with that of patients without aGVHD. Among them 25 patients were with significant drop actvity of ADAMTS-13 at that time when aGVHD occurred (P < 0.01). Out of them, the patients with drop more than 60% before preconditioning accounted for 60% (2/35). The logistic regression analyse showed that the drop of ADAMTS-13 activity more than 60% before preconditioning was the risk factor for occurence of thrombosis at the later stage (P < 0.01), but the drop of ADAMTS-13 activity after preconditioning did not was the risk factor for occurence of aGVHD.

CONCLUSIONThe decrease of ADAMTS-13 activity after preconditioning of HSCT confirmed to be lower than that befor preconditioning of HSCT, and the level of vWF antigen after preconditioning of HSCT could be higher than that before precondifioning, especially in patients with thrombosis. The decrease of ADAMTS-13 activity after preconditioning has been found to be mone than 60%, then this decrease can be considered as an independent risk factor for later thrombogenesis, but the decrease of ADAMTS-13 after precoditioning activity did not associate with occurence of aGVHD, so the decrease of ADAMTS-13 activity can be used as an important predictor of thrombosis after HSCT.

ADAM Proteins ; metabolism ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Case-Control Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Transplantation Conditioning ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism