Objective:To investigate the effect of activin A and nerve growth factor ( NGF) NGF on stimulating neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia(DRG)of the embryonic chicken.Methods:In this study,we observed that activin A and NGF together induced neurite outgrowth of DRG and kept survival of DRG neurons by the primary cultured DRGs from embryonic day 8 ( E8 ) chicken.calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)CGRP mRNA expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR.Results: The DRG treated with activin A +NGF had obvious neurite outgrowth ,compared with only NGF group on day 3,and the number of living DRG neurons also increased.Activin A +NGF up-regulated the mRNA expressions of CGRP in DRG.Conclusion:The Data demonstrated that activin A with NGF can synergistically stimulate DRG neurite outgrowth and maintain the DRG neurons survival , suggesting that it is more effective that NGF and activin A together treat the associated disease of nerve system.

Abstract: Objective To develop an ELISA kit to detect IgG antibodies of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), providing a new method for epidemiological investigation and detection in the field for CHIKV infection. Methods Using the CHIKV-specific recombinant protein pMal-chik23 as diagnostic antigen, HRP-labeled anti-IgG antibody as color-developing antibody, and the working concentration of diagnostic antigen, serum to be tested and second antibody were optimized using orthogonal. The reaction conditions of ELISA reaction, such as coating, blocking, incubation, and color-developing were systematically optimized. The cut-off value for ELISA detection was established based on the assessment of a large clinical sample set. On this basis, the specificity, sensitivity, and stability of the ELISA response were evaluated to develop and assemble a rapid ELISA kit for the detection of Chikungunya fever IgG antibodies. Results On the basis of systematic conditions optimization, an indirect ELISA kit for the detection of IgG antibodies against CHIKV was developed and assembled. The optimal reaction conditions were identified as 1.0 μg/mL antigen was coated using carbonate buffer at 4 ℃ for 24 hours. Then the microplate was blocked using HBV blocking solution at 37 ℃ for 4 hours. 100 μL/well samples to be tested were diluted at 1∶101, reacted at 37 ℃ for 40 minutes, and washed 4 times with PBST. Thus, HRP-labeled rabbit anti-human IgG was diluted at 1∶20 000, HRP-labeled sheep anti-mouse IgG was diluted at 1∶10 000, reaction at 37 ℃ for 30 minutes, and washed 5 times with PBST. Finally, 100 μL/well TMB solution was added and incubated at 37 ℃ for 10 minutes. Then terminate the reaction with 50 μL of 20% H2SO4 and measure the A450 value at dual wavelengths of 450/630 nm (A450) . The evaluation results showed that ELISA A450 of Chikungunya fever-positive samples were more than 0.43, while the ELISA A450 of negative samples was less than 0.04, and the S/N ratio > 10. Specificity test showed that the developed kit had no cross-reaction with 9 other similar arbovirus species such as Sindbis, Geta, Ross River, and Dengue virus. The stability evaluation of the reagent kit indicated that it had high stability, with a coefficient of variation (CV) within the microplate ranging from 0.76% to 2.12%, the coefficient of variation between the microplate ranged from 0.64% to 1.85%, and the coefficient of variation between batches ranged from 0.83% to 2.31%, all of which were less than 3%. The sensitivity of the kit did not decrease significantly after being stored at 4°C for 1 year. Conclusions A rapid indirect ELISA kit for the detection of Chikungunya fever IgG antibodies was successfully developed, exhibiting good sensitivity, specificity, and stability.

Objective To investigate the effect of high-frequency irreversible electroporation(H-FIRE)in the ablation of pig pancreatic tissue.Methods Laparotomy was conducted in this study,and needle electrodes were used to release electric pulses in 12 pigs.Three sets of parameters were established for ablation at the low,medium,and high values of field strength(1 000 V/cm,1 500 V/cm,and 2 500 V/cm).The groups were compared in terms of the data including postoperative recovery,ablation area,and histopathological features to validate the safety and efficacy of H-FIRE in the ablation of porcine pancreatic tissue.The paired t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups.Results All pigs in the experiment survived and showed a good effect of ablation.The histopathological analysis of all groups showed thorough and effective ablation,with a clear boundary between the ablated area and the normal tissue area.The mean ablation area in the low,medium,and high field strength groups was 30.96±3.73 mm2,51.93±25.26 mm2,and 108.90±55.23 mm2,respectively,and the high and medium field strength groups had a significantly larger ablation area than the low field strength group(both P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in ablation area between the medium and high field strength groups(P>0.05).Conclusion H-FIRE ablation is safe and effective for porcine pancreatic tissue under specific ablation parameters.

The effects of black rice anthocyanidins (BRACs) on retinal damage induced by photochemical stress are not well known. In the present study, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed AIN-93M for 1 week, after which 80 rats were randomly divided into two groups and treated with (n = 40) or without BRACs (n = 40) for 15 days, respectively. After treatment, both groups were exposed to fluorescent light (3,000 +/- 200 lux; 25degrees C), and the protective effect of dietary BRACs were evaluated afterwards. Our results showed that dietary BRACs effectively prevented retinal photochemical damage and inhibited the retinal cells apoptosis induced by fluorescent light (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary BRACs inhibited expression of AP-1 (c-fos/c-jun subunits), up-regulated NF-kappaB (p65) expression and phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha, and decreased Caspase-1 expression (p < 0.05). These results suggest that BRACs improve retinal damage produced by photochemical stress in rats via AP-1/NF-kappaB/Caspase-1 apoptotic mechanisms.
Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Anthocyanins/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Antioxidants/administration & dosage/*physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 1/*genetics/metabolism ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; I-kappa B Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/*genetics/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Oryza sativa/chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/genetics/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retinal Diseases/etiology/*prevention & control ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects/radiation effects ; Transcription Factor AP-1/*genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the relation between genetic polymorphisms of NQO1, GSTT1 and risks of chronic benzene poisoning (BP).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted. 152 BP patients and 152 workers occupationally exposed to benzene without poisoning manifestations were investigated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) and sequencing were used to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) of the promoter and complete coding-region of NQO1 gene. Multiple PCR was used to detect GSTT1 genotype.

RESULTSIn smoking population, there was 7.73-fold (95% CI: 1.71-34.97, P = 0.010) of risk in BP subjects carrying NQO1c. 609 T/T genotype, compared with those carrying C/C and C/T. genotype. In drinking population, the individuals carrying the 6th extron of NQO1c. 609 T/T homozygote genotype had a 11.00-fold(95% CI: 1.89-63.83, P = 0.005) risk of BP compared to those with NQO1c. 609 C/T and C/C genotypes.

CONCLUSIONThe subjects carrying NQO1c. 609 T/T genotype and together with the habit of smoking or drinking may be more susceptible to BP.

Benzene ; poisoning ; Case-Control Studies ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Smoking ; adverse effects

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Gegen Qinliantang on glucose and lipid metabolism in the rat model of catch-up growth （CUG） induced by a high-fat diet and the underlying mechanism. MethodA total of 60 SD rats were randomized into a normal control group （n=18） and a modeling group （n=42）. The rat model of CUG was established with a restricted diet followed by a high-fat diet， and the changes of general status and body weight were observed. The levels of fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， triglyceride （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） were measured in 6 rats in each group at the end of the 4^th and 8^th week， respectively. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR） was calculated， and the insulin sensitivity and body composition changes of CUG rats were evaluated. The successfully modeled rats were assigned into 6 groups： normal control， model， high-， medium-， and low-dose Gegen Qinliantang （2.5， 5， 10 g·kg^-1）， and pioglitazone （3.125 mg·kg^-1）. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 6 weeks， and the normal control group and model group were administrated with the same amount of normal saline. During the experiment period， the changes of body weight were recorded， and the FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， TG， and TC were determined at the end of the experiment. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed to observe the pathological changes of skeletal muscle in rats. The levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in the skeletal muscle were measured strictly according to the manuals of the reagent kits. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was performed to measure the mRNA levels of silencing information regulator 1 （SIRT1）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator1α （PGC1α）， and nuclear respiratory factor 1 （Nrf1） in the skeletal muscle. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess the expression of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 in the skeletal muscle. ResultCompared with the normal control group， the model group presented elevated levels of FBG， FINS， TG， and TC （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased HOMA-IR （P<0.01）， increased diameter of muscle fibers and adipocytes between muscle cells in the skeletal muscle， rising levels of ROS and MDA in the skeletal muscle （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Gegen Qinliantang （especially the medium and high doses） and pioglitazone decreased the body weight， FINS， HOMA-IR， and TG （P<0.05， P<0.01） and reduced interstitial components such as intermuscular fat in the skeletal muscles and the diameter of muscle fibers. Furthermore， the drugs lowerd the levels of ROS and MDA （P<0.05， P<0.01） and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1， PGC1α， and Nrf1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the skeletal muscle. ConclusionGegen Qinliantang can ameliorate the glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and insulin resistance in CUG rats by regulating the SIRT1/PGC1α/Nrf1 signaling pathway.

Pneumococcal vaccine plays a key role in preventing diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae(S.pneumoniae).Capsular polysaccharide,C-polysaccharide and phosphorus content are important indicators for quality control of polysaccharide antigens in vaccine development and production.In this study,a quantitative 1H NMR and 31P NMR method based on a single internal standard hexamethylphosphoramide(HMPA)was developed to achieve simultaneous determination of capsular polysaccharide,C-polysaccharide and phosphorus content in 6A,6B,18C,19A,19F and 23F S.pneumoniae polysaccharide antigens.Using the internal reference comparison method,the effect of solubility of polysaccharide on quantitative 1H NMR determination was investigated.It was found that the determination results of quantitative 1H NMR were affected by the viscosity and concentration of polysaccharide solution.It was found that high viscosity polysaccharides at 3-15 mg/mL and low viscosity polysaccharides at 5-25 mg/mL were the optimal detection solution concentration range.This"one internal standard three quantitative"NMR method has good precision,specificity and accuracy,and provides a valuable new strategy for the quality control of pneumococcal vaccine.