Objective To explore the role of specific AT rich sequence binding protein 1(SATB1) and wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in the regulation of trophoblast invasion and its effect in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Methods From March 2013 to March 2014, 20 cases of human villous tissues (early pregnancy group) from women of 8-10 gestational weeks who received artificial abortion at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 18 cases of placental tissues (mid-pregnancy group) from women of 18-20 gestational weeks who had labor induction by water bag, 20 cases of placental tissues (normal full-term group) from healthy full-term pregnancy women and 20 cases of placental tissues (preeclamptic group) from women with preeclampsia who received elective c-section in were collected. Immunohistochemical SP method was utilized to determine the position of SATB1 and beta-catenin in villous tissues or placental tissues. Western blot was performed to analyze the expression level of SATB1 and beta-catenin in villous tissues or placental tissues. Immunofluorescence assay was used to determine the location of SATB1 andβ-catenin in HTR8/SVneo cells. Western blot was performed to detect the expression level of SATB1 and beta-catenin in HTR8/SVneo cells cultured in normoxia and hypoxia reoxygenation(H/R) condition. Co-Immunoprecipitation detection was used to evaluate the interaction between SATB1 andβ-catenin in placental tissues in preeclamptic group and HTR8/SVneo cells in H/R group. Gelatin zymography analysis was used to measure the activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-2 and 9 in placental tissues from preeclamptic group and HTR8/SVneo cells in H/R group. Results (1) In the normal full-term group, rare syncytiotrophoblastic nodule, less fibrinoid necrosis and abundant numbers of capillary could be observed in placental tissues. In comparison, there were obvious vacuolation in the cytoblast of syncytiotrophoblast, rich fibrinoid necrosis and poor numbers of villous capillary in placental tissues from preeclamptic group. (2) SATB1 could be found by immunochemical staining in placenta or villous tissues from all the groups. The staining intensity of SATB1 were more weakening in preeclamptic group than in the normal full-term group. (3) β-catenin could be found by immunochemical staining in placenta or villous tissues from all the groups. The staining intensity of β-catenin were more weakening in preeclamptic group than in the normal full-term group. (4) The protein expression levels of SATB1 in early pregnancy group, mid-pregnancy group, normal full-term group and preeclamptic group were 0.300 ± 0.009, 0.271 ± 0.015, 0.238 ± 0.018 and 0.153 ± 0.007, respectively. The protein levels of β-catenin among the above groups were 0.743±0.041, 0.648±0.021, 0.549±0.069 and 0.269±0.047, respectively. Both the expression of SATB1 andβ-catenin protein were significant decreased in placental tissues from preeclamptic group compared with the other three groups. (5) The SATB1 andβ-catenin protein was located in nucleus of trophoblast and a small amount was in the cytoplasm. The fluorescence intensity of both SATB1 and β-catenin in the H/R group were significantly decreasing when compared to the normoxia group. (6) HTR8/SVneo cells in H/R group showed a significant decrease in both SATB1 andβ-catenin protein levels when compared to the normoxia group. The protein level of SATB1 in the normoxia group was 0.213 ± 0.005, while was 0.083 ± 0.021 in the H/R group. The protein level ofβ-catenin in the normoxia group was 0.797±0.081, and was 0.543±0.131 in the H/R group. (7) There was an interaction between SATB1 and β-catenin in placental tissues from the preeclamptic group and HTR8/SVneo cells exposed by H/R. (8) The enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein were decreased significantly in placental tissues from the preeclamptic group (2.251±0.310, 1.447 ± 0.102, respectively) when compared to the normal full-term group (7.098 ± 0.451, 5.502 ± 0.197, respectively). MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly decreased in the H/R group (0.471 ± 0.104, 0.297 ± 0.103, respectively) when compared to the normoxia group (0.842 ± 0.209, 0.595 ± 0.100, respectively). Conclusion The expression of SATB1 decreased in the placenta of preeclampsia. This may influence the activity of MMP-2 and 9 by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, affect trophoblast invasion and eventually result in preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells are two main cell sources for stem cell transplantation in the treatment of acute lung injury. There are few reports on the study of autologous induced pluripotent stem cells in the treatment of acute lung injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from autologous dermal fibroblasts injected through the caudal vein in the treatment of acute lung injury in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (provided by Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd.) were randomly divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline, and the model group and the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide to make acute lung injury models in rats. At 24 hours after modeling, phosphate buffer solution was injected into the tail vein of the rats in the control and model groups, while the rats in the experimental group were given induced pluripotent stem cell suspension by the tail vein. The changes of lung tissue morphology, lung wet/dry weight ratio, pathological injury score, serum interleukin 1beta, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were observed at 7 days after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 7 days after treatment, pulmonary interstitial edema, alveolar septum thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, capillary congestion, irregular alveolar morphology, and exudate in the alveolar cavity were significantly improved in the experimental group. (2) At 7 days after treatment, the wet/dry weight ratio of lung tissue in the model and experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group, but the wet/dry weight ratio of lung tissue and pathological injury score in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.01). (3) At 7 days after treatment, the levels of serum interleukin 1beta, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were ranked as follows: model group> experimental group> control group, and there were significant differences between groups (P < 0.01). To conclude, the transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from autologous dermal fibroblasts can effectively alleviate acute lung injury and reduce serum inflammatory factor levels in rats.

Objective To study the mechanical properties of porcine descending aorta. Methods The porcine descending aortas were divided into 5 groups by the distance from the heart, and tissues in each group were subdivided into ventral-quadrant part and lateral-quadrant part. Stress-stretch curves were obtained by using uniaxial tension test. The moduli of elastic and collagen fiber and collagen fiber recruitment parameter of tissues in 5 groups (Position 1-5) were first analyzed by a classical mathematical model. Then the mechanical differences between tissues of ventral quadrant and lateral quadrant were compared. Results The modulus of circumferential collagen fibers increased gradually away from the heart. The modulus of circumferential elastic fibers had the same trend except for tissues at Position 5 (the most distal one). The elastic fibers modulus of tissues decreased at Position 5. At the most distal position, the circumferential and axial elastic fiber modulus of the lateral quadrant was lower than that of ventral quadrant by 19% and 33%, respectively. The axial and the elastic fiber modulus of the ventral quadrant was similar with that of tissues at Position 4 and 5. For the whole descending aorta, the circumferential collagen fiber modulus of the lateral quadrant was higher than that of ventral quadrant by 26% and the circumferential elastic fiber modulus of the lateral quadrant was higher than that of ventral quadrant by 16% at the proximal 4 positions. Conclusions The circumferential mechanical properties of porcine descending aorta were related with regions. The ventral quadrant of the most distal aorta showed abnormally soft trend. The research findings can be used to better understand the mechanism of aorta and improve the spatial accuracy of computer models.

OBJECTIVE To discuss the correlation between effectual time and the curative effect in patients with all frequency descending sudden deafness. METHODS According to effectual time,the subjects were divided into first week effectual group and second week effectual group and the curative effect of each group was compared. RESULTS In patients with flat descent sudden deafness, the curative rate of the first week effectual group was higher than that of the second week effectual group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(χ2=1.599, P =0.206). Meanwhile, the total significant effective rate of the first week effectual group was higher than that of the second week effectual group, without obvious difference between the two groups(χ2=0.124, P =0.725). Furthermore, in patients with total deafness type of sudden deafness, the curative rate of the first week effectual group was higher than that of the second week effectual group, showing no remarkable difference between the two groups(χ2=2.493, P =0.114). Besides, there was no remarkable difference in the comparison of the total significant effective rate (χ2=2.308, P =0.129), which was higher in the first week effectual group than that in the second week effectual group. CONCLUSION The course of treatment should be at least 2 weeks in patients with all frequency descending sudden deafness after onset.

Objective To study the changes of transcriptome levels in a Bama minipig model of hypertrophic scar during wound healing and pressure therapy by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technique. Methods The Bama minipig model was established by skin wounds from the back and pressure (3.4 kPa) was initiated at 60 days after skin injury. Total RNA was extracted from scar tissues at 0, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after skin injury and then sequenced. The resulting sequences were mapped to porcine reference genomes and transcriptomes were reconstructed to search for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were further subjected to GO and KEGG analysis using bioinformatics method, while part of the genes were selected for verification using qRT-PCR. Results After preprocessing, more than 78% reads in each group were accurately aligned to the reference sequence. The DEGs identification result showed that 568 genes were differentially expressed after pressure treatment, with 289 up-regulated and 279 down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs in each group were mainly associated with extracellular matrix, tissue development and skin development. KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs in each group during wound healing were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, focal adhesion and apoptosis pathways; while the DEGs after pressure treatment were mainly enriched in PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathway except the pathways mentioned. qRT-PCR showed that the expression patterns of 6 DEGs were consistent with RNA-seq analysis, confirming the reliability of RNA-seq result. Conclusions RNA-Seq analysis identified differentially expressed genes in animal model of scars during wound healing and pressure therapy, which provided experimental evidence for clinical scar treatment.