Objective To test using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) to observe uncovertebral joints (UJs) and to explain the ultrasound images of UJs and their adjacent tissues,especially the vertebral artery (VA).Methods MSUS was used first with human skeletons and cadavers to localize the UJs and VA on the MSUS images with the aid of implanted needles.MSUS was then used with a patient clinically diagnosed with cervical spondylosis of the vertebral artery type (CSA) to detail the image of a normal UJ and its relationship with the adjacent tissues,especially the VA.Whether there was a lateral spur from the uncinate process (UP) was assessed to try to establish a method for measuring osteophytes.Results During the examination the patient was in supine,the neck was elevated 15cm with a pillow and was at 45 degrees of rotation to the contralateral side.The probe was placed at the medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.When the longitudinal section of the common carotid artery was shown,the probe was slowly moved laterally until the VA first appeared,and then was moved up along the VA.Once the VA entered the transverse foramen,moving the probe slightly allowed the UJ behind the VA to be seen between two transverse processes.The UJ thus lies between two transverse processes,that is,between the lateral margins of two vertebral bodies and outside the intervertebral disc.The echo of the lateral border of the UP is on a straight line with the echo of the lateral margin of the vertebral body,with the VA in front of the line.It was noticed that the image of a UP with lateral osteophyte formation crossed the line and reached closer to the VA.The transverse diameter of the UJ was measured as the distance from a line cutting the lateral cortical margin of the cervical vertebra to the outer cortical margin of the lateral UP.Conclusion MSUS can clearly show the UJ and its adjacent tissues,especially the VA.It can be used to assess and measure UJs with lateral osteophyte formation.

Objective To explore the effects of the Chinese medicine, modified Erchen decoction, on the serum lipid spectrum of ApoE-/-mice, and to explore its possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanism.Methods Forty-four male 7-8-week old ApoE-/-mice were used in this experiment.ApoE-/-mouse models of atherosclerosis were generated by high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks.And then, they were given simvastatin or modified Erchen decoction by gavage.The body weight of mice was recorded every week, The mice were sacrificed after treated with the drugs for 8 weeks continuously, and the plasma lipid was determined by enzymatic method.The aortic valves and arches were stained with oil red O to depict atherosclerotic plaques and liver structural changes of the mice were examined by pathology.Results Modified Erchen decoction lowered plasma lipid ( including TCHOL and LDL-C ) significantly ( P<0.01 ) .The body weight was increased in the mice of all groups, but it was more pronounced in the mice of model group than in the blank and modified Erchen decoction groups.The serum CHOL and LDL-C levels were significantly lowered in the modified Erchen decoction group (P<0.01).The area of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic wall was significantly reduced in the mice of modified Erchen decoction group as shown by oil red O staining.The pathological changes of hepatocytes were less severe and the structure of hepatic lobules was better preserved in the mice of modified Erchen decoction group.Conclusions The Chinese medicin modified Erchen decoction can effectively reduce serum lipids, regulate lipid metabolism, and ameliorate the process of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/-mice.

Objective To observe expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and cholecystokinin (CCK) in the hippocampus and spinal cord in morphine withdrawal or tolerance mice treated by electroacupuncture or catgut embedding and explore the difference between the regulating effects of electroacupuncture and catgut embedding on morphine withdrawal and tolerance.Methods Fifty-six male C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to withdrawal control, withdrawal model, withdrawal catgut embedding and withdrawal electroacupuncture groups, and tolerance control, tolerance model, tolerance catgut embedding and tolerance electroacupuncture groups, 7 mice in each group. A model of morphine withdrawal was made by subcutaneous injection of morphine hydrochloride using 7-day increasing addiction method. The withdrawal control group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline at the same time points. In the withdrawal electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture at bilateral points Shenshu was performed using a Han’s acupoint nerve stimulation device (HANS-200) at 15 min after an injection of morphine hydrochloride. In the withdrawal catgut embedding group, 0.5 cm chromic catgut was embedded in bilateral points Shenshu at 15 min after an injection of morphine hydrochloride. Addiction was promoted by intraperitoneal injection of naloxone 4 mg/kg at 10 o’clock on the seventh day’s morning and Withdrawal reactions were observed in the mice. The score was recorded using the Ryuta Tomoji opioid withdrawal symptoms evaluation scale. NMDA receptor and CCK contents in the hippocampus and spinal cord were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A model of morphine tolerance was made by subcutaneous injection of morphine 10 mg/kg. The tolerance control group was injected with tolerance normal saline 10 ml/kg at the same time. In the tolerance catgut embedding group, catgut was embedded in point Shenshu at the first day after model making. In the tolerance electroacupuncture group, point Shenshu was given electroacupuncture at the first day after model making. After seven days of treatment, NMDA receptor and CCK contents in the hippocampus and spinal cord were measured by ELISA.Results There were statistically significant differences in hippocampal NR2B and CCK expressions between the withdrawal model and withdrawal control groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in hippocampal NR2B expression between the withdrawal electroacupuncture and withdrawal model groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in hippocampal CCK expression between the withdrawal catgut embedding or withdrawal electroacupuncture group and the withdrawal model group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in spinal cord NR2A, NR2B and CCK expressions between the withdrawal model and withdrawal control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in spinal cord NR2A and NR2B expressions between the withdrawal electroacupuncture and withdrawal model groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in hippocampal NR2A, NR2B and CCK expressions between the tolerance model and tolerance control groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in hippocampal CCK expression between the tolerance catgut embedding and tolerance model groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in hippocampal NR1 expression between the tolerance electroacupuncture group and the tolerance model or tolerance catgut embedding group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in spinal cord CCK expression between the tolerance catgut embedding or withdrawal electroacupuncture group and the tolerance model group (P<0.05).Conclusions Both catgut embedding and electroacupuncture at point Shenshu have a reducing effect on morphine tolerance and withdrawal. The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture is better than that of catgut embedding.

Glycosylation of proteins, one of the most prevalent and complex post-translational modifications occurring in nature, plays a crucial role in regulating protein net charge, conformation, binding properties and, ultimately, biological function.Traditional structural techniques are not amenable for glycoproteins due to the inherent heterogeneity of oligosaccharides.With the advances in analytical technique, mass spectrometry displays an increasingly crucial role in elucidating the structure of glycoproteins.Mass spectrometry-based proteomic technique can dissect the chemical composition and site information of low-abundance glycosylation at the peptide level.Instead, native mass spectrometry (nMS) can analyze intact glycoproteins while maintaining the information for glycan heterogeneity, and the insights into the regulatory effects of glycosylation on protein higher order structures and interactions with other proteins or ligands.As a representative structural mass spectrometry tool, ion mobility-based nMS strategy is powered by its conformer-resolving capability and by the feasibility of conformer manipulation through collision-induced unfolding.Consequently, native IM-MS analysis can provide rich information of dynamic protein conformations, allowing for the rapid identification and differentiation of protein isoforms in an unprecedented manner.In this review, we briefly introduced two emerging native IM-MS analytical modes, dynamic conformer-resolving mode and glycoform-resolving mode.Besides, we also discussed the recent progress of conformational and topological characterization of intact glycoproteins with three typical model systems based on two above-mentioned emerging modes of native IM-MS.

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have great breakthrough in cancer treatment in recent years, most patients have not benefited from it on account of immune microenvironment. Studies have shown that tryptophan metabolism is not only involved in the formation of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment but also plays an important role in the therapeutic application of ICIs. At present, inhibiting the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism is now in various stages of clinical trials, while the other two metabolic pathways, 5-HT and the indole pathway, also have aroused wide concern. This article reviews the latest developments in this field.

Objectives To investigate the inlfuence of polymorphisms of SLC19A1 80G>A, MDR1 exon26C>T and MDR1 exon21G>T/A on curative effect and adverse reaction of high-dose methotrexate in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods MALDI-TOF-MS technique was used to detect the polymorphisms of SLC19A1 80G>A, MDR1 exon 26C>T and MDR1 exon21G>T/A in 108 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The relationship of genetic polymorphism, survival rate and toxicity was analyzed. Results The 36-month event-free survival was not related to any polymorphisms of MDR1 and SLC19A1. Patients with mutant types of MDR1 exon26C>T and MDR1 exon21G>T/A showed a much higher MTX plasma levels at 24 hours and higher incidence of hepatic injury (P<0.05). Conclusions The genetic polymorphism of MDR1 exon26>T, MDR1 exon21G>T/A has a large inlfuence on hepatic toxicity and plasma concentra-tions of MTX.

Objective To look for the genes of Schistosoma japonicum related to the Schistosoma-resistance of Microtus fortis.Methods The fresh sera of Microtus fortis were used to screen a T7 phage display cDNA library from worms of Schistosoma japonicum established in our lab.The positive clones were sequenced and functionally analysed through bioinformatics.Results The specific phages binding to the sera of Microtus fortis were enriched 857-fold after three rounds of biopanning,and 58 positive clones picked at random were sequenced and 10 ESTs were obtained.BLASTn results showed that 7 ESTs had 99%-100% similarity to the genes of Shistosoma japonicum reported in GenBank and 1 EST had 82% similarity to a zinc finger protein encoden gene from Pan troglodytes.The results of these ESTs function prediction indicated most of them were involved in the regulation of gene expresion of Schistosoma japonicum.Conclusions Several target genes of Schistosoma japonicum related to the Schistosoma-resistance of Microtus fortis are obtained and those would lay foundation to expatiate the native resistance mechnism of Microtus fortis to Schistosoma japonicum.

Objective To investigate the effect of probiotics on the immune function and clinical efficacy in children with recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI). Methods A total of92 RRTI children were continuously enrolled and were randomly divided into study group and control group, with 46 cases in each group. Both groups were given oral treatment of pidotimod, and the study group added Bifid Triple Viable Bifidobacterium Power, all the children were treated for 3 months, and followed-up time lasted for more than 1 year. The changes of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), immunoglobulin G (IgG), pmmunoglobulin A (IgA) and T cell subgroups were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy between the two groups were compared. Results After treatment, serum CRP and PCT concentrations significantly decreased, serum IgG and IgA level significantly increased, the peripheral blood T cell count of CD4+was significantly increased, CD8+was significantly decreased in both groups when compared with that treatment before (P ＜ 0. 05). At the same time, the study group showed lower serum CRP and PCT concentration, higher serum IgG and IgA levels, higher peripheral blood CD4+T cell count, and lower CD8+T cell count after treatment, when compare to the control group (P ＜ 0. 05). However, there was no statistically difference between two groups in clinical efficiency (P＞ 0. 05). Conclusion Probiotics can effectively improve the immune function and reduce the inflammation level in RRTI children.

Objective To investigate the effect of probiotics on the immune function and clinical efficacy in children with recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI). Methods A total of92 RRTI children were continuously enrolled and were randomly divided into study group and control group, with 46 cases in each group. Both groups were given oral treatment of pidotimod, and the study group added Bifid Triple Viable Bifidobacterium Power, all the children were treated for 3 months, and followed-up time lasted for more than 1 year. The changes of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), immunoglobulin G (IgG), pmmunoglobulin A (IgA) and T cell subgroups were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy between the two groups were compared. Results After treatment, serum CRP and PCT concentrations significantly decreased, serum IgG and IgA level significantly increased, the peripheral blood T cell count of CD4+was significantly increased, CD8+was significantly decreased in both groups when compared with that treatment before (P ＜ 0. 05). At the same time, the study group showed lower serum CRP and PCT concentration, higher serum IgG and IgA levels, higher peripheral blood CD4+T cell count, and lower CD8+T cell count after treatment, when compare to the control group (P ＜ 0. 05). However, there was no statistically difference between two groups in clinical efficiency (P＞ 0. 05). Conclusion Probiotics can effectively improve the immune function and reduce the inflammation level in RRTI children.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to explore the effect of gut microbiota-regulated Kupffer cells (KCs) on colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis. Methods: A series of in vivo and in vitro researches were showed to demonstrate the gut microbiota and its possible mechanism in CRC liver metastasis. Results: Fewer liver metastases were identified in the ampicillin-streptomycin-colistin and colistin groups. Increased proportions of Parabacteroides goldsteinii, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, and Bacteroides uniforms were observed in the colistin group. The significant expansion of KCs was identified in the ampicillin-streptomycin-colistin and colistin groups. B.vulgatus levels were positively correlated with KC levels. More liver metastases were observed in the vancomycin group. An increased abundance of Parabacteroides distasonis and Proteus mirabilis and an obvious reduction of KCs were noted in the vancomycin group. P. mirabilis levels were negatively related to KC levels. The number of liver metastatic nodules was increased in the P. mirabilis group and decreased in the B. vulgatus group. The number of KCs decreased in the P. mirabilis group and increased in the B. vulgatus group. In vitro, as P. mirabilis or B. vulgatus doses increased, there was an opposite effect on KC proliferation in dose- and time-dependent manners. P. mirabilis induced CT26 cell migration by controlling KC proliferation, whereas B. vulgatus prevented this migration. Conclusions An increased abundance of P. mirabilis and decreased amount of B. vulgatus play key roles in CRC liver metastasis, which might be related to KC reductions in the liver.