OBJECTIVE To study the protective effect of Orychophragmus violaceus(OV)seed against acute hepatotoxicity induced by the traditional Chinese Medicine Cortex Dictamni in mice. METHODS Twenty-five mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:control group,Cortex Dictamni group(70 g · kg-1)and OV seed groups(36,54 and 72 g · kg-1). OV Seed groups were orally adminis?tered with the aqueous extract of OV seed for 4 consecutive days while the other groups were ig given water. On the 4th day,Cortex Dictamni group and OV seed groups were ig given the aqueous extract of Cortex Dictamni,and normal control group was ig given water. Twenty-four hours later,all the mice had their blood and liver samples taken after anesthesia. The serum chemical parameters were measured, including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT),glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),as well as malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH)and oxidized glutathione(GSSG)levels in the liver. GSH/GSSG ratio was calculated. Histopathologic changes in the liver were observed and the area was calculated after HE staining. RESULTS Compared with normal control group,Cortex Dictamni(70 g · kg-1)increased the serum GOT,GPT and LDH levels by 500, 140 and 40 fold(P<0.01). OV seed reduced serum GOT,GPT and LDH levels increased by Cortex Dictamni(P<0.05,P<0.01),by as much as 62%,75% and 99% for GPT,70%,82% and 98% for GOT,and 55%,75%and 96%for LDH,respectively. The level of MDA and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in Cortex Dictamni group were 1.39 ± 0.58 and(3.53 ± 1.27)μmol · g-1,a 10-fold increase and 40%decline compared with normal control group(P<0.01). OV seed of 72 g·kg-1 lowered the level of MDA by 22%(P<0.05),and OV seed(36,54 and 72 g · kg-1)increased the GSH/GSSG ratio by 47%,42%and 54%(P<0.05). Histopathologic results showed that OV seed alleviated the liver damage induced by Cortex Dictamni from(64.1±8.5)%to(37.5±7.1)%and (20.0±0.8)%(P<0.01). CONCLUSION OV seed can effectively protect mice from the acute hepatotoxicity induced by Cortex Dictamni.

Objective: The method of compositional data analysis was used to explore the relationship between 24 hour movement behavior and obesity indicators, and to examine the difference of quantitative effect on obesity indicators when one behavior replaced another behavior, so as to provide specific movement behavior advice for weight control in children and adolescents. Methods: In June 2021, 231 students from eight classes in a primary school and a middle school in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province were voluntarily recruited by using random cluster sampling. ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer was used to measure 24 hour movement behavior and Inbody J20 body composition analyzer was used to measure body composition. The relationship between each component and obesity indicators was analyzed by compositional multivariate linear regression model. In addition, 30 minutes of one behavior was used to replace another behavior to predict the effect difference of the outcomes. Results: After adjusting for covariates such as height, weight, age, and sex, compared with time spent in sedentary behavior(SB), sleep (SLP) and light physical activity (LPA), time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was positively correlated with fat free mass index (FFMI) ( β= 0.40, P ＜0.05), negatively correlated with waist circumference (WC) ( β=-2.50, P ＜0.05) and waist hip ratio (WHR) ( β= -0.04 , P ＜0.05). Compared with SB, SLP and MVPA, time spent on LPA was positively correlated with WHR ( β=0.06, P < 0.05 ). If MVPA of 30 min/d replaces SLP, SB, and LPA respectively, WC and WHR decrease 1.10,1.10,1.34 cm and 0.02, 0.02 ,0.02 respectively, and FFMI increases 0.19,0.19,0.15 kg/m 2 respectively. Conclusion In 24 h movement behavior, with consistent level of sedentary behavior, sleep or low intensity movement behavior, maintaining a high level of MVPA and replacing sedentary with active activities are crucial for optimal abdominal fat and fat free mass in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression profile and immunofluorescence localization of the major egg antigen p40 of Schistosoma japonicum (Sjp40) during granuloma formation in the liver of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

METHODSNew Zealand white rabbits were infected with S. japonicum cercariae, and the livers were harvested at 29 and 45 days post-infection (dpi). The total RNA of the liver tissues was extracted for expression profiling of Sjp40 by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) with GAPDH of S. japonicum as the endogenous reference gene. The expression of Sjp40 in the liver were detected by Western blotting using anti-Sjp40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 9G7 or anti-Toxoplasma gondii tSAG1 mAb Y3A8 (control) as the primary antibody. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared for observing egg granuloma formation using HE staining and for indirect immunofluorescence assay of Sjp40 location in the trapped eggs and egg granulomas.

RESULTSThe level of Sjp40 mRNA in the eggs trapped in rabbit livers was significantly higher at 45 dpi than that at 29 dpi (P<0.05), and Western blotting confirmed the presence of Sjp40 protein in the rabbit livers at both 29 and 45 dpi. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated localized expression of Sjp40 in the immature eggs in the rabbit liver at 29 dpi, but at 45 dpi fluorescence was detected in clusters of mature eggs containing miracidium and in the surrounding egg granulomas.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcriptional levels of Sjp40 significantly increased with the maturation of eggs trapped in the rabbit livers. Sjp40 protein spread from the eggs to the surrounding egg granuloma at 45 dpi when acute liver granulomatous lesions occur, suggesting that Sjp40 plays a key role in egg granulomas formation in the livers of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Helminth ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Granuloma ; parasitology ; Helminth Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rabbits ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica

As a promising candidate seed cell type in regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted considerable attention. The unique capacity of MSCs to exert a regulatory effect on immunity in an autologous/allergenic manner makes them an attractive therapeutic cell type for immune disorders. In this review, we discussed the current knowledge of and advances in MSCs, including its basic biological properties, i.e., multilineage differentiation, secretome, and immunomodulation. Specifically, on the basis of our previous work, we proposed three new concepts of MSCs, i.e., "subtotipotent stem cell" hypothesis, MSC system, and "Yin and Yang" balance of MSC regulation, which may bring new insights into our understanding of MSCs. Furthermore, we analyzed data from the Clinical Trials database ( http://clinicaltrials.gov ) on registered clinical trials using MSCs to treat a variety of immune diseases, such as graft-versus-host disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, we highlighted MSC clinical trials in China and discussed the challenges and future directions in the field of MSC clinical application.
Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; immunology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; immunology ; physiology ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Regenerative Medicine

Objective    To explore the factors of postoperative cough in lung cancer patients. Methods    Totally 130 lung cancer patients of single medical team (average age of 58.75±9.34 years, 65 males and 65 females), from February 2016 to February 2017 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, were investigated by Mandarin Chinese version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC). We analyzed and calculated the preoperative and postoperative scores of LCQ-MC, Cronbach α and the influencing factor. Results    The preoperative score of LCQ-MC's physiological dimension was significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (6.30±0.76) than that of the postoperative non-cough group (6.56±0.60, P=0.044), while the preoperative total score of LCQ-MC (19.53±1.78, 20.03±1.45) was not statistically different (P=0.080). The postoperative score of LCQ-MC was significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (17.32±2.79) than that of the postoperative non-cough group (19.70±1.39, P<0.001). And the scores of physiological, psychological and social dimension were significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (5.32 ±1.14, 5.73±1.14, 6.23±0.89) than those of the postoperative non-cough group (6.25±0.63, 6.67±0.54, 6.78±0.49) (P values were all less than 0.001). The result of multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed the condition of preoperative cough symptom (OR=0.354, 95%CI=0.126–0.994, P=0.049) and anesthesia time (OR=1.021, 95%CI=1.003–1.040, P=0.021) were the risk factors. Conclusion    The risk factors of postoperative cough symptoms in lung cancer patients are the condition of preoperative cough symptoms and anesthesia time.

Folliculogenesis is essential for production of female gametes in vertebrates. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development, particularly apoptosis regulation in ovary, remain elusive. Here, we generated sox3 knockout zebrafish lines using CRISPR/Cas9. sox3 knockout led to follicle development retardation and a reduced fecundity in females. Comparative analysis of transcriptome between sox3 and wild-type ovaries revealed that Sox3 was involved in pathways of ovarian steroidogenesis and apoptosis. Knockout of sox3 promoted follicle apoptosis and obvious apoptosis signals were detected in somatic cells of stages III and IV follicles of sox3 ovaries. Moreover, Sox3 can bind to and activate the promoter of cyp19a1a. Up-regulation of Cyp19a1a expression promoted 17β-estradiol synthesis, which inhibited apoptosis in follicle development. Thus, Sox3 functions as a regulator of Cyp19a1a expression, via 17β-E2 linking apoptosis suppression, which is implicated in improving female fecundity.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) strategies in COVID-19 patients differ from those in patients suffering from cardiogenic cardiac arrest. During CPR, both healthcare and non-healthcare workers who provide resuscitation are at risk of infection. The Working Group for Expert Consensus on Prevention and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest in COVID-19 has developed this Chinese Expert Consensus to guide clinical practice of CPR in COVID-19 patients. Main recommendations: 1) A medical team should be assigned to evaluate severe and critical COVID-19 for early monitoring of cardiac-arrest warning signs. 2) Psychological counseling and treatment are highly recommended, since sympathetic and vagal abnormalities induced by psychological stress from the COVID-19 pandemic can induce cardiac arrest. 3) Healthcare workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). 4) Mouth-to-mouth ventilation should be avoided on patients suspected of having or diagnosed with COVID-19. 5) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression are recommended. 6) Tracheal-intubation procedures should be optimized and tracheal-intubation strategies should be implemented early. 7) CPR should be provided for 20-30 min. 8) Various factors should be taken into consideration such as the interests of patients and family members, ethics, transmission risks, and laws and regulations governing infectious disease control. Changes in management: The following changes or modifications to CPR strategy in COVID-19 patients are proposed: 1) Healthcare workers should wear PPE. 2) Hands-only chest compression and mechanical chest compression can be implemented to reduce or avoid the spread of viruses by aerosols. 3) Both the benefits to patients and the risk of infection should be considered. 4) Hhealthcare workers should be fully aware of and trained in CPR strategies and procedures specifically for patients with COVID-19.