Panax ginseng is a precious medicinal herb both in China and abroad with high medicinal and economic value.Ginseng disease has been recognized as the main factor restricting its application.Modern molecular biology for the disease resistance of ginseng promoted the development of new methods.In this study,it was found that the antimicrobial proteins of ginseng involved lipid transfer protein,cyclophilin,defensins,PR-4 and PR-10,showing inhibitory effects on various pathogens.These findings provided a reference for the control of ginseng diseases.

BACKGROUND:There is no effective treatment for muscle atrophy caused by peripheral nerve damage. Skeletal muscle cel s, a structural unit of muscle contraction, can be used for studies on muscle atrophy when cultured in vitro.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the promotion effect of neuron-secreted factors on the growth of skeletal muscle cel s in vitro.
METHODS:Skeletal muscle cel s primary cultured in vitro were divided into two groups:experimental group with neuron-secreted factors, and control group with common culture medium, respectively. Afterwards, the number of skeletal muscle cel s and expression level of alpha actin were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The number of skeletal muscle cel s and expression level of alpha actin in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, neuron-secreted factors have the ability of promoting the growth of skeletal muscle cel s and may be helpful for denervated muscle atrophy.

Objective To study the protective effect of a mixed recombinant Bifidobacterium (Bb) vaccine of Taenia solium in piglets. Methods Healthy piglets of 40 days old were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 4 in each group. Experimental group was given 1011 CFU rBb-TSO45W-4B vaccine and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine (in the ratio of 1 : 1). Control group was given Bb liquid medium (MRS). A total of two times of immunization were conducted, once for every two weeks. At different time points after immunization, the serum was separated from precaval vein blood to detect the level of IgG by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Piglets were challenged with Taenia solium eggs on the 4th week after the last immunization and killed 3 months after infection. The cysticerci were separated to count and calculate the reduction rate of cysticerci. Blood from precaval vein was collected to separate serum and prepare peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC). The levels of IgG,IgG1 and IgG2a in serum sampl es and the levels of interleukin ( IL )-2 , interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in PBMC culture supernatant were determined by ELISA. The level of PBMC proliferation was tested using methyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results In experimental group, the level of serum IgG increased from the 2nd to the 8th weeks after immunization, and reached the highest level on the 4th week after immunization (mg/L:270 . 64 ± 1 . 94 vs 207.74 ± 2.24, t=42.479, P<0.05). Reduction rate of cysticercus was 80.48%. Compared with control group, the levels of IgG and IgG2a in serum were significantly increased, while the level of IgG1 was significantly decreased (mg/L: 364.15 ± 11.52 vs 245.94 ± 8.81, 89.74 ± 1.13 vs 62.61 ± 0.84, 20.52 ± 1.00 vs 34.11 ± 0.65, t=16.303, 38.579, - 22.772, P < 0.05). The levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC culture supernatant were significantly increased, while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly decreased (ng/L:215.24 ± 3.31 vs 174.19 ± 2.14, 28.21 ± 0.27 vs 17.69 ± 0.28, 40.35 ± 0.34 vs 52.57 ± 0.29, 71.34 ± 0.36 vs 94.82 ± 0.45, t =20.839, 53.623,-54.743,- 81.266, P<0.05). The level of PBMC proliferation was significantly increased (0.620 ± 0.051 vs 0.242 ± 0.053, t=10.259, P<0.05). Conclusions It is concluded that the mixed rBb vaccine of Taenia solium might give piglets a certain protection. Th1 type immune response plays an important role in the protection.

Objective To study the protective immune responses induced by recombinant Bifidobacterium (Bb)-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18 vaccine of Taenia solium (T.solium) in domestic pigs challenged with T.solium eggs.Methods Twenty healthy 40 days old domestic pigs were divided into five groups by random number table according to body weight (15 kg):rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18 vaccine group,rBb-TSO45W-4B vaccine group,rBb-TSOL18 vaccine group,blank vector control group and MRS control group.The content of vaccine in each vaccine group was 1 × 1011 CFU.A total of two immunization times was conducted,once every two weeks.Pigs were challenged with T.solium eggs 4 weeks after the last immunization and killed 3 months after infection.The cysticercus was counted and the reduction of the cysticercus was calculated.Blood was collected to separate sera and prepare peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC).The levels of IgG,IgG1 and IgG2a in sera were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The level of PBMC proliferation was tested using methyltetrazolium (MTT) assay.The levels of interleukin (IL)-2,interferon (IFN)-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 in PBMC culture supernatant were detected using ELISA.Results The reduction of cysticercus was 83.09％,71.36％ and 74.85％ in rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18,rBb-TSO45W-4B and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine groups,respectively.The differences of IgG,IgG1,IgG2a levels in sera between groups were statistically significant (F =132.348,106.336,596.091,all P ＜0.05).The levels of IgG and IgG2a in rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18,rBb-TSO45W-4B and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine groups [(366.81 ± 3.84),(334.94 ± 11.65),(333.52 ± 11.09),(87.74 ± 0.95),(84.48 ± 0.80),(84.30 ± 1.09)mg/L] were higher than those of the MRS control group [(245.94 ± 8.81),(62.61 ± 0.84)mg/L,all P ＜0.05].The levels of IgG1 in rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18,rBb-TSO45W-4B and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine groups [(26.55 ± 1.06),(33.24 ± 1.92),(32.60 ± 1.94)mg/L] were lower than those of the MRS control group [(42.78 ± 0.87)mg/L,all P ＜0.05].The differences of IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 levels in PBMC original culture supernatant between groups were statistically significant (F =139.522,1 053.102,769.097,962.298,all P ＜0.05).The levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18,rBb-TSO45W-4B and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine groups [(212.24 ± 3.12),(205.91 ± 3.18),(205.85 ± 4.35),(28.42 ± 0.28),(25.56 ± 0.28),(25.71 ± 0.35)ng/L] were higher than those of the MRS control group [(174.19 ± 2.14),(17.69 ± 0.28)ng/L,all P ＜0.05],while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 [(40.45 ± 0.36),(41.38 ± 0.70),(41.52 ± 0.19),(71.45 ± 0.83),(73.38 ± 0.70),(74.77 ± 0.41)rig/L] were lower than those of the MRS control group [(52.57 ± 0.29),(94.82 ± 0.45)ng/L,all P ＜0.05].The differences of PBMC proliferation levels between groups were statistically significant (F =56.318,P ＜0.05).The PBMC proliferation levels in rBb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18,rBb-TSO45W-4B and rBb-TSOL18 vaccine groups (0.543 ± 0.074,0.481 ± 0.028,0.530 ± 0.053) were higher than those of the MRS control group (0.242 ± 0.053,all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Recombinant Bb-TSO45W-4B-TSOL18 vaccine of T.solium could induce certain protection in domestic pigs.Type Th1 immune response may play an important role in induction of protective immunity.

Objective:Through determination of urinary arsenic metabolites in high water arsenic exposed areas of Jilin and Shanxi provinces, to explore the mode and possible influencing factors of arsenic metabolism in different populations.Methods:From October 2018 to August 2019, a cluster sampling was carried out in villages (arsenic in drinking water ≥0.05 mg/L) of some townships (towns) in Lyuliang City, Shanxi Province and Baicheng City, Jilin Province for epidemiological investigation and general health examination. The residents over 35 years old drinking water from local centralized water supply and small well water sources were selected as arsenic exposure group, and people (nearby low-arsenic water source areas) with the same diet and living habits and similar economic conditions were selected as control group. Urine samples were collected. Liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry(LC-AFS) technology was used to separate and detect 4 species of arsenic compounds, including trivalent inorganic arsenic (iAs Ⅲ), pentavalent inorganic arsenic (iAs Ⅴ), methylated arsine (MMA), and dimethylated arsine (DMA). Total arsenic (tAs), inorganic arsenic percentage (iAs%), MMA percentage (MMA%), DMA percentage (DMA%), primary methylation index (PMI) and the secondary methylation index (SMI) were calculated. The influencing factors of arsenic metabolism were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results:A total of 1 415 villagers were investigated, including 1 256 in arsenic exposure group and 159 in control group. Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in age, gender ratio and occupation distribution between arsenic exposure group and control group ( P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in smoking, drinking, body mass index (BMI) and education level distribution ( P < 0.05). The median of urinary tAs, iAs%, MMA%, DMA%, PMI and SMI in control group and arsenic exposure group were 12.86 μg/L, 15.03, 5.23, 76.35, 84.97, 93.68 and 69.68 μg/L, 10.24, 8.37, 79.31, 89.76, 90.65, respectively, the levels of urinary tAs, DMA% and PMI in arsenic exposed group were higher than those in control group, while iAs% and SMI were lower than those in control group, the differences were statistically significant ( U=- 13.87, - 4.30, - 6.64, - 6.64, - 1.99, P < 0.05). After analysis of the factors influencing urinary arsenic metabolism in the population, we found that age and BMI had an impact on iAs% ( β=- 0.08, - 0.08, P < 0.05); gender, drinking, BMI and education level were influencing factors of MMA% ( β =- 0.11, - 0.09, - 0.07, 0.08, P < 0.05); DMA% was mainly affected by age, gender, BMI and education level ( β = 0.06, 0.09, 0.10, - 0.09, P < 0.05); PMI was mainly affected by age and BMI ( β = 0.08, 0.08, P < 0.05); while SMI was affected by gender, drinking, BMI and education level ( β=0.09, 0.08, 0.08, - 0.09, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The urinary arsenic metabolism models of different arsenic exposed groups are different. Age, gender, smoking, drinking, BMI and education level may be influencing factors of different arsenic metabolism models.

Objective:To observe the inhibitory effect of berberine (BBR) on the apoptosis of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (hREC) under high glucose environment.Methods:hREC was divided into blank control group (NC group), high glucose group (HG group), BBR treatment group (BN group), and BBR+high glucose treatment group (BH group). The cells of each group were cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium; 5.5 and 30.0 mmol/L glucose were added to the medium of the NC group and HG group, respectively; 5.0 mmol/L glucose and 5.0 mmol/L BBR was added to the BN group; 30.0 mmol/L glucose and 5.0 mmol/L BBR was added to the medium of the BH group. Flow cytometry was used to observe the apoptosis rate of each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), and Cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and cysteine aspastic acid-specific protease 3 (Caspase-3) proteins in each group of cells. The difference between the two groups was tested by t test, and the difference among multiple groups was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Results:The results of flow cytometry showed that compared with the NC group, the apoptosis rate of the HG group significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01); compared with the HG group, the apoptosis rate of the BH group significantly reduced, the difference was statistical significance ( P<0.05). Western blot test results showed that, compared with the NC group, the relative expression of Bax and Caspase-3 protein in the HG group increased, and the relative expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Compared with the HG group, the relative expression of Bax, Cyt-C, and Caspase-3 protein in BH group cells decreased, and the relative expression of Bcl-2 protein increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Conclusion:BBR can inhibit hREC apoptosis by affecting the expression of apoptotic protein under high glucose environment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between miR-144 and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2).

METHODSRT-qPCR was used to determine the expression of TLR2 and its downstream inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in rat macrophage cell line NR8383 transfected by a mimic miR-144 or miR-144 inhibitor. The fragments of 3'UTR region of rat TLR2 mRNA including wild or mutant miR-144 binding site obtained by PCR using rat liver cDNA were ligated to pmirGLO report gene vector digested with SacI and XbaI to construct the recombinant vectors of pmir-TLR2-3'UTR and pmir-mutant-TLR2-3'UTR. The miR-144 targeting TLR2 was further determined by dual luciferase reporter assay and miR-144 mimics.

RESULTSTLR2 and TNF-α in NR8383 cells were decreased after transfection with 100 nmol/L mimic miR-144 for 24 h and increased after transfection with 100 nmol/L miR-144 inhibitor. PCR and double-enzyme digestion with SacI and XbaI confirmed successful insertion of the target fragments. Dual luciferase reporter assay suggested the binding of miR-144 to the 3'UTR of rat TLR2 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONmiR-144 negatively regulates the expression of TLR2 and its down-stream cytokine TNF-α by targeting TLR2 in NR8383 cells.

3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

In order to adapt to the needs of innovative medical personnel training,Zunyi Medical University conducted teaching reform and curriculum construction for human parasitology.Key teachers were trained by strengthening the construction of the teaching staff.Through the preparation of lessons,lectures,supervision and other measures,the teaching quality has been improved.Teaching reform was carried out by the introduction of humanities knowledge,scientific research training,and formative evaluation.Through the development of quality curriculum resources,standardized teaching archives,improved scientific research,and quality service for the society,the curriculum construction of human parasitology has been greatly improved.

Objective: To detect the expression of GRHL2 (grainyhead-like-2) in breast cancer tissues and to explore its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients，aiming to find new therapeutic target for breast cancer. Method: A total of 88 pairs of BC tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues from patients with primary BC that treated and pathologically confirmed at the Second Department of General Surgery, Xinxiang Central Hospital from January 2010 to January 2017 were collected for this study. The expression of GRHL2 in BC tissues and para-cancerous tissues was examined with IHC, and the association between GRHL2 and clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients was analyzed. Moreover, the correlation between GRHL2 and prognosis of BC patients was investigated by analyzing TCGA clinic data for BC. Result: The expression of GRHL2 was significantly higher in BC tissues (75.00%) compared with para-cancerous tissues (36.36%) (P<0.01); Based on the results of GRHL2 expression in 114 cases of normal breast tissues and 1 097 cases of primary breast cancer tissues in TCGA database, the expression of GRHL2 in primary BC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal breast tissues (P<0.01). GRHL2 expression was associated with BC TNM stage,histological grade, HER2 status and lymphnode metastasis status (all P<0.05); TCGA database showed that the RFS of 1 979 BC patients with high GRHL2 expression was significantly shorter than that of the 1 972 cases of BC patients with low GRHL2 expression (HR=1.24, 95%CI:1.11-1.38, P<0.01); GRHL2 expression exerted no significant effect on RFS of TNBC patients or ER+ BC patients (TNBC: HR=1.30，95%CI: 0.89-1.88，P=0.170; ER+: HR=1.17, 95%CI:0.76-1.78， P=0.470); however, the RFS of HER2+ BC patients with high GRHL2 expression was significantly shorter than that of HER2+ BC patients with low GRHL2 expression (HR=1.72, 95%CI:1.11-2.68, P=0.015） . Conclusion：Expression level of GRHL2 was up-regulated in BC tissues, and was associated with BC TNM stage, histological grade, HER2 status and the lymphnode metastasis status. GRHL2 plays an important role in the generation and development of BC, indicating poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphism at the estrogen receptor 1(ESR1) gene rs1801132 with the risk of brick-tea type skeletal fluorosis.Methods:The typical brick-tea type fluorosis areas in Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia were selected as the survey sites for a cross-sectional study. An epidemiological questionnaire was conducted by the staffs on the sites for participants older than 16 years, and physical examination and X-ray diagnosis were performed. Brick tea, blood, and urine samples were collected at the same time. The diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis through X-ray was based on the "Diagnostic Criteria for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis" (WS/T 192-2008); The determination of tea's fluoride and urinary fluoride was performed by fluoride ion-selective electrode method; gene sequencing analysis of rs1801132 locus of ESR1 gene was done by Sequenom MassARRAY flight mass spectrometry system.Results:A total of 994 patients were included in this study. The total prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 23.9% (238/994). The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in Tibetans(39.9%, 123/308) was higher than those of Mongolian and Han nationality [22.2% (58/261), 13.4% (57/425), χ 2=20.435, 67.811, P < 0.05]. Based on binary logistic analysis, the daily tea fluoride intake ≤ 3.5 mg, urinary fluoride content ≤1.6 mg/L, and age ≤45 years were used as the reference groups, and then, when the daily tea fluoride intake > 7.0 mg ( OR=2.865, 95% CI: 1.923-4.268), urinary fluoride content > 1.6-3.2 mg/L ( OR=2.368, 95% CI: 1.686-3.326) and > 3.2 mg/L ( OR=3.559, 95% CI: 2.401-5.276), the age > 45-65 years old ( OR=2.361, 95% CI: 1.603-3.477) and > 65 years old ( OR=4.556, 95% CI: 2.845-7.296), the risk of fluorosis was higher than that of the reference group, respectively. When the daily tea fluoride intake was > 3.5-7.0 mg and the level of urinary fluoride was > 1.6-3.2 mg/L, G allele had a protective effect on skeletal fluorosis in Mongolian population (adjusted OR=0.207, 95% CI: 0.044-0.974); when the daily tea fluoride intake was > 3.5-7.0 mg, gender was male group, G allele had a protective effect on skeletal fluorosis in Han population (adjusted OR=0.315, 95% CI: 0.112-0.887). Conclusion:The single nucleotide polymorphism of the rs1801132 locus at the ESR1 gene may be associated with the risk of susceptibility to brick-tea type skeletal fluorosis in Mongolian and Han nationality.