BACKGROUND: Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have shown therapeutic potential for cerebral ischemic diseases. However, the mechanisms by which BMSC-derived sEVs (BMSC-sEVs) protect neurons against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remain unclear. In this study, we explored the neuroprotective effects of BMSC-sEVs in the primary culture of rat cortical neurons exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) injury. METHODS: The primary cortical neuron OGD/R model was established to simulate the process of cerebral I/R in vitro. Based on this model, we examined whether the mechanism through which BMSC-sEVs could rescue OGD/R-induced neuronal injury. RESULTS: BMSC-sEVs (20 μg/mL, 40 μg/mL) significantly decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions, and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Additionally, BMSC-sEVs prevented OGD/R-induced neuronal apoptosis in vivo, as indicated by increased cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining-positive cells, down-regulated cleaved caspase-3, and up-regulated Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Furthermore, Western blot and flow cytometry analysis indicated that BMSC-sEV treatment decreased the expression of phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (p-CaMK II)/CaMK II, suppressed the increase of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) caused by OGD/R in neurons. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that BMSC-sEVs have significant neuroprotective effects against OGD/R-induced cell injury by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis, and Ca2+/CaMK II signaling pathways may be involved in this process.

Objective To investigate the expression of Signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) gene in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and to evaluate the possible connections between STAT2 gene expression levels and clinical features. Methods One hundred and forty-four SLE patients, 27 non-SLE patients with other rheumatisms and 58 normal controls were recruited for this research, and the subjects were surveyed for clinical data collection. SYBR Green Dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels of STAT2 in patients with SLE and those in the controls. The correlation of the gene expression levels and disease activity and specificity was studied. Results STAT2 expression levels (5.2±1.7) in SLE patients were remarkably higher than those in non-SLE patients and normal controls (4.3±1.1, 4.5±1.2, P<0.01 in both). The expression levels of STAT1 were increased in active SLE patients(5.2±1.5), comparing with those observed in inactive SLE patients (4.8±2.9, P<0.01), and expression levels of STAT1 in SLE patients were negatively correlated with C3 levels in sera (r=-0.449, P<0.01) whereas were positively correlated with SLEDAI-2K score and 24 hour urine protein (r=0.317, 0.309, P<0.01 in both). Conclusion Over-expression of STAT2 gene in the peripheral blood cells is linked with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, and the elevated expression level of STAT2 is correlated with SEE disease activity.

Objective To investigate the effect of Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2) and Bcl-2 in pathogenesis of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).Methods Neonatal 7-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation control group,HIBD 6 h group and HIBD 48 h group (n =10 per group).The apoptosis rate of brain cell was measured by flow cytometer and the expression of RhoGDI2 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA were detected by Real-time RT-PCR.Results ( 1 ) The ligated cerebral hemisphere of neonatal rats showed obvious edema at 48 h after hypoxia-ischemia.( 2 ) Apoptotic cell appeared at 6 h in HIBD group,the apoptosis rate was ( 1.40 ± 0.12 ) ％.The apoptosis rate obviously increased to (15.86 ±0.98)％ at 48 h after HIBD,which showed a significant increase compared to sham-operation control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).( 3 ) The expressions of both RhoGDI2 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA were 4.12 ±0.74 and 2.55 ± 0.65 respectively in sham-operation control group.In HIBD group,the expressions of both RhoGDI2 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA began to decrease at 6 h after HIBD ( 3.19 ± 0.77,1.96 ± 0.36) and decreased furthermore at 48 h after HIBD ( 1.04 ±0.18,1.06 ±0.17 ).The differences of expression levels among three groups were statistically significant (P ＜0.01 ).(4) The expression of RhoGDI2 mRNA positively correlated with the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA ( r =0.831,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion With the emerging of apoptosis after HIBD,the expressions of both RhoGDI2 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA are decreased.The imbalance of expression of RhoGDI2 is involved in pathogenesis of HIBD by regulating Bcl-2 expression.

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder,and a main cause for excessive daytime sleepiness. It is accompanied by cataplexy,sleep paralysis and sleep hallucinations,collectively known as tetralogy of narcolep-sy. Research progresses in the pathogenesis of narcolepsy are briefly summarized in this article,paving directions for further research. Both the realm of western and Chinese traditional medicine are concerned. Western medicine stated that it′s pathogenesis is closely related to orexin and HLA-DQB1?0602. In addition,recent studies from countries in Western Europe(UK,Finland,and Sweden)have indicated that the use of H1N1 influenza vaccine gives rise to incidence of the narcolepsy as well. From the realm of Chinese medicine,upsetting the balance of Yin-Yang and Yin-Wei are also possible causes attributed to the disease. In the case of child narcolepsy,the con-dition of the patient′s internal organs is also highly concerned.

Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?) and heparanase(HPA),and their relationship during hypoxia in human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.Methods SKOV3 cells were incubated in different groups,immucytochemistry was applied to qualitatively assay HPA protein,Western-blot was used to detect the protein expression of HIF-1? and HPA,and mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR.Results The positive expression of HPA localized in cytoplasma.Western-blot analysis revealed that the protein expression of HIF-1? was significantly increased(P

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; Neurofibroma ; pathology ; Scalp ; pathology

Filamentous fungi have been used in industrial fermentation extensively. Based on non-phosphorylating electron transport process, alternative respiration pathway (ARP) acts as an energy overflow, which can balance carbon metabolism and electron transport, allow the continuance of tricarboxylic acid cycle without the formation of ATP, and permit the turnover of carbon skeletons. Alternative respiration pathway also plays an important role in the stress response of fungi and the physiological function of conditioned pathogen. Alternative oxidase (AOX) is the terminal oxidase responsible for the activity of alternative respiration pathway, which exists widely in higher plants, parts of fungi and algae. Owing to the property that alternative oxidase (AOX) is sensitive to salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and insensitive to conventional inhibitors of cytochrome respiration, alternative respiration pathway by AOX is also named as cyanide-resistant respiration (CRR). In recent years, the study of the alternative respiration pathway and alternative oxidase has been a hot topic in the area involving cellular respiration metabolism. In this review we summarized the latest research advances about the functions of alternative respiration pathway and alternative oxidase in industrial fungi.
Electron Transport ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; enzymology ; Industrial Microbiology ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; chemistry ; Oxidoreductases ; chemistry ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the factors associated with vision and hole closure for idiopathic macular hole (IMH) after vitrectomy surgery.Methods Eighty-nine eyes of 89 patients with IMH were enrolled in this retrospective study.There were 15 males and 74 females.The patients aged from 42 to 82 years,with the mean age of (64.13 ± 7.20) years.All subjects underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations.The BCVA ranged from 0.01 to 0.4,with the mean BCVA of 0.12 ± 0.09.The MH stages was ranged from 2 to 4,with the mean stages of 3.56 ± 0.77.The basal diameter ranged from 182 μm to 1569 μm,with the mean basal diameter of (782.52± 339.17) μm.The treatment was conventional 25G pars plana vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular implantation.Fortyone eyes received internal limiting membrane peeling and 48 eyes received internal limiting membrane grafting.The follow-up ranged from 28 to 720 days,with the mean follow-up of (153.73 ± 160.95) days.The visual acuity and hole closure were evaluated on the last visit and the possible related factors were analyzed.Results On the last visit,the BCVA ranged from 0.02 to 0.8,with the mean BCVA of 0.26±0.18.Among 89 eyes,vision improved in 45 eyes (50.56％) and stabled in 44 eyes (49.44％).Eighty-six eyes (96.63％) gained MH closure but 3 eyes (3.37％) failed.By analysis,patients of early stages of MH and smaller basal diameter of MH will gain better vision outcome (t=2.092,2.569;P＜ 0.05) and patients of early stage MH will gain high hole closure rate after surgery for IMH (t=-5.413,P＜0.05).However,gender,age,duration,preoperative BCVA,surgery technique,gas types and follow-up time had no relationship with the effect after surgery for IMH (P＞0.05).Conclusions Stages of MH and basal diameter of MH may be the factors associated with the visual outcome for idiopathic macular hole after surgery.However,age,gender,duration,surgery patterns,gas types and followup time showed no effects on operational outcomes.

Objective To detect the levels of plasma soluble vascular cell adhesion molecular(sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular mo-lecule-1(sICAM-1) in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura(HSP) and its clinical significance.Methods The plasma levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 53 children with HSP(37 cases in acute stage and 16 cases in recovery stage)and in 25 healthy subjects respectively,and the change that in acute stage and recovery stage was analyzed,at the same time,the 2 factors in children with renal injury and without injury were analyzed.Results The serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in acute stage HSP children were significantly higher than those in recovery stage and normal controls(Pa

Objective To investigate the relationship between type-2 diabetes mellitus and artery atherosclerosis(AS) in the elderly. MethodsThe clinical data of 277 elders,who were admitted in hospital between April 2005 and September 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. These elders were divided into four groups: type 2 diabetes with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) group (group A, n=119), type 2 diabetes without CAS group (group B, n= 30), non-diabetic with CAS group (group C, n=32), non-diabetic without CAS group (group D, n=96). The correlation between carotid artery plaque and related factors were studied. Results① Compared with group C,fasting blood glucose[(7.14±2.49) mmol/L vs. (5.21±0.87) mmol/L], triglycefide [(1.41±0.78) mmol/L vs. (0.95±0.39) mmol/L],left and right common carotid artery IMT [(0.85±0.11) nun vs. (0.79±0.08) mm, (0.85±0.11)mm vs. (0.78±0.09)mm] and PI [(1.37±1.16) vs. (0.50±0.80)] of group A were significantly increased, while high density lipoprotein [(1.29±0.32) mmol/L vs. (1.58±0.45) mmol/L] is significantly decreased(P=0.01). ②Compared with group B, left and right common carotid artery IMT [(0.85±0.11) mm vs. (0.80±0.11)mm,(0.85±0.11)mm vs. (0.80±0.12)mm,PI[(1.37±1.16) vs. (0.00±0.00)]and incidence of stroke 34.5% (41/119) vs. 13.3% (4/30) of group A are significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ③Carotid artery plaque was positively correlated with history of diabetes(r=0.051, P<0.01),hypertension(r= 0.169,P<0.01),coronary heart disease (r=0.109,P<0.05),stroke(r=0.136,P<0.05),fatty liver(r= 0.340,P<0.01),FBG(r=0.339,P<0.01),TG(r=0.195,P<0.01),APOB (r=0.152,P<0.05),but negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.143, P<0.05). Conclusion The risk of AS is higher in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes than that of non-diabetes. The incidence of stroke is higher in type 2 diabetes with AS than those of type 2 diabetes without AS. Carotid artery plaque is positively correlated with diabetes, hypertension, history of coronary heart disease, history of stroke, fatty liver, FBG, TG, ApoB, but negatively correlated with HDL-C.