Objective To investigate the possible role of leukocytes, a important cellular component of the blood, in the induction of microcirculatory disturbances in noise-exposed cochleae. Methods Guinea pigs were exposed to a 4 kHz narrow band noise at 115 dB SPL for 4 hours, and the exposed cochleae were collected at 2 or 4 days after the noise exposure. Several techniques (cell viability assay, fluorescent labeling for blood plasma and for hair cell nuclei) were used to examine morphological changes in microvessels in the spiral lamina and in the stria vascularis as well as the hair cell nuclei. Results In noise-exposed cochleae, aggregatad leukocytes were found in the vessels of the spiral lamina. In the up-stream of the vessels with aggregated leukocytes, red blood cells were tightly packed, causing an increase in vessel diameters. Most leukocytes were located within the lumen of vessels, but some of them infiltrated the spiral lamina, usually alongside the vessels. Cell viability, assessed by trypan blue staining, showed that these plugged leukocytes lost their viability. In contrast, no leukocytes aggregated in the vessels of the stria vascularis, nor did leukocytes lose their viability. Conclusion In the cochleae exposed to intense noise, leukocytes were trapped in the vessels of the spiral lamina, leading to disturbance of blood flow. The involvement of leukocytes in local damaging processes and the fate of leukocytes need further studies.

Objective: To establish the culture system of hairy root of Isatis indigotica and to induce the regeneration plant of hairy root. Methods: Hairy root of Isatis indigotica was obtained from infected cotyledon explants after infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains A4, R1601 and ATCC15834. The better lines were selected. The growth curve was surveyed and extrinsic factors affecting the growth of hairy roots were investigated. The regeneration plant was induced on MS media with different hormones. The transformation of Ri T DNA was examined through high voltage paper electrophoresis. Results: The hairy root was originally obtained from Isatis indigotica . The regeneration plant was induced on MS media with BA. The result of high voltage paper electrophoresis confirmed the transformation of T DNA from Ri plasmid to the hairy root and regeneration plant. Conclusion: The acquisition of hairy root of Isatis indigotica and regeneration plant of it lay a foundation for the production of active component and introduction of foreign gene. [

BACKGROUND:Restoration of neurological functions after the damaged peripheral nerve is reconstructed is a hot topic in existing research. Within a short term fol owing peripheral nerve injury, nerve and muscle begin to develop irreversible degeneration. Restoration of the damaged nerve requires delayed degeneration and basic microenvironment. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effect of cardiotrophin-1 on PC12 cells and Schwann cells. METHODS:Schwann cells and PC12 cells were obtained and cultured in complete medium, serum-free medium and 50 ℃ medium, respectively. cells in cardiotrophin-1 group were treated with exogenous cardiotrophin-1 solvent, while those in the control group were treated with equivalent Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium, for 24 hours. The survival rate for PC12 cells and Schwann cells was determined using cellCounting Kit-8 colorimetric method. The lactate dehydrogenase activity in supernatant was detected by lactate dehydrogenase kit, and the malondialdehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity were measured by thiobarbituricaicd and xanthine oxidese method respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The survival rate of PC12 cells and Schwann cells in cardiotrophin-1 group was obviously increased, lactate dehydrogenase releasing and malondialdehyde content were obviously decreased, superoxide dismutase activity was dramatical y improved compared with control group. Exogenous cardiotrophin-1 reduces the injury caused by ischemia and heat stress stimulation for PC12 cells and Schwann cells. The mechanism of protection may be related to the expression of anti-apoptosis protein activated by the combination of cardiotrophin-1 and its receptors.

With the smooth move towards the coming expected clinical reports of anticancer pharmaceutical molecules targeting telomeres and telomerase, and also with the exciting success in the extension of lifespan by regulating telomerase activity without increased onset of oncogenesis in laboratory mouse models (Garcia-Cao et al., 2006; Jaskelioff et al., 2011), we are convinced that targeting telomeres based on telomerase will be a potential approach to conquer both aging and cancer and the idea of longevity seems to be no more mysterious. More interestingly, emerging evidences from clinical research reveal that other telomeric factors, like specific telomeric binding proteins and nonspecific telomere associated proteins also show crucial importance in aging and oncogenesis. This stems from their roles in the stability of telomere structure and in the inhibition of DNA damage response at telomeres. Uncapping these proteins from chromosome ends leads to dramatic telomere loss and telomere dysfunction which is more abrupt than those induced by telomerase inactivation. Abnormal expression of these factors results in developmental failure, aging and even oncogenesis evidenced by several experimental models and clinical cases, indicating telomere specific proteins and its associated proteins have complimentary roles to telomerase in telomere protection and controlling cellular fate. Thus, these telomeric factors might be potential clinical biomarkers for early detection or even therapeutic targets of aging and cancer. Future studies to elucidate how these proteins function in telomere protection might benefit patients suffering aging or cancer who are not sensitive to telomerase mediation.
Aging ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Humans ; Longevity ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Telomere ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 ; metabolism

Objective:To explore the effect of minimally invasivetransforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) on lumbar multifidus muscle using MRI techniqueandits clinical significance.Methods:From September 2016 to July 2019, 23 patients who underwent MIS-TLIF surgery for unilateral symptomatic disc herniation in unilateral segments (L 3,4, L 4,5, L 5S 1) of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital were studied. Their lumbar MR examination was performed 1 week before surgery, and 3 and 6 months after surgery. The axial section of multifidus muscle cross section area (AxCSA) was measured on the axial T2WI image of each intervertebral disc level before and after the operation. The ratio of long and short lines (RLS) was calculated, andthe ratio of axial section of muscle fat infiltration cross section area (FLSA) and AxCSAwasrecorded as FLSA/AxCSA. The changes of various indexes of multifidus muscle in the affected side and the healthy side of the lumbar spine before and after the operation were compared, and the effect of the MIS-TLIF procedure on the morphology of the multifidus muscle was observed. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measurements of the muscle cross-section of the affected side were performed before and 6 months after the operation. The integral value of intracellular lipid (IMCL) and extracellular lipid (EMCL) of 1H spectrum muscle cells was compared, while the degree of fat infiltration was measured. Results:Patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation had larger AxCSAin the healthy side than the affected side before surgery in surgical level ( t=6.611, P<0.05), and the muscle AxCSAin the healthy side was larger than the affected side in non-surgical levels ( t=-6.682, P<0.05), both suggested preoperative muscle volume advantage in the healthy side; no difference in bilateral AxCSA at 3 months was found after surgeryin surgical levels ( t=0.197, P> 0.05)and non-surgical levels ( t=-1.631, P> 0.05), which suggested bilateral muscle volume equal advantageat short-term follow-up. The FLSA/AxCSA of affected segment before and after 3 months was 9.5%±3.8% and 8.7%±1.5%, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.163, P<0.05); the RLS of affected segment before and after 3 months was 3.3%±0.24% and 2.7%±0.83%, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.42, P<0.05). The medians of EMCL/IMCL before and after 6 months of MRS were 2.010 and 1.475, respectively, and EMCL decreased after 6 months ( Z=0.48, P<0.05). Conclusion:Patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation have different morphology of bilateral multifidus muscle before surgery. MIS-TLIF has little effect on the multifidus muscle of the surgical side. MIS-TLIF significantly reduces extracellular lipid accumulation, promotes intracellular transfer, and increases intracellular fat metabolism. Its retention of muscle attachment points and limited fixation can also reshape compensatory muscle atrophy.

Objective:To compare and analyze the differences in the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure in different positions of critically ill patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) combined with prone position integration, with a view to finding a more optimal intra-abdominal pressure monitoring strategy, which can provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:Forty critically ill patients who underwent ECMO combined with prone position integrated treatment in the department of Intensive Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2020 to June 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method using an own-control trial. The differences in intra-abdominal pressure between supine position with head elevated at 0°, 15°and 30°and prone position with head high and foot low slopes at 0°, 15°and 30°were compared and analyzed. Heart rate, respiration, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation were also compared in patients in different positions.Results:There were 29 males and 11 females in 40 patients with the age of (62.58 ± 17.99) years.The intra-abdominal pressure in supine position with head elevated at 30° was (12.45 ± 3.43) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), which was higher than that of 0° and 15° of (9.38 ± 2.52) and (10.70 ± 2.95) mmHg, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=4.56, 2.45, both P<0.05);the difference in intra-abdominal pressure between 0° and 15° was not statistically significant ( P>0.05); the intra-abdominal pressure in prone position with head-high-foot-low slope of 30° was (12.92 ± 4.19) mmHg, which was higher than that of 0°and 15°of (9.67 ± 2.80), and (11.01 ± 3.10) mmHg, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=4.08, 2.32, both P<0.05); the difference in intra-abdominal pressure between 0° and 15° was not statistically significant ( P>0.05).The differences in intra-abdominal pressure between groups of supine bed head elevation 0°, 15°, 30°and prone position with head high and foot low slopes 0°, 15°, 30°were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The differences in heart rate, respiration, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation in the supine position with head elevated at 0°, 15°and 30° were not statistically significant when compared within groups (all P>0.05); the differences in heart rate, respiration, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation in the prone position with head elevated with feet and feet on low slopes at 0°, 15°and 30°were not statistically significant when compared within groups (all P>0.05); and the differences in supine position with head elevated at 0°, 15°, 30°and prone head-height-foot-low slope 0°, 15°, 30°of heart rate, respiration, mean arterial pressure were not statistically significant (all P>0.05); supine bed head elevation 0°, 15°, 30°and prone head-height-foot-low slope 0°, 15°, 30°of oxygen saturation between the groups, the differences were statistically significant ( Z=6.85, 6.82, 6.68, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Intra-abdominal pressure can be measured in the 15° prone position in critically ill patients treated with ECMO combined with prone position integration; the different positions have little effect on vital signs, but the prone position significantly improves oxygen saturation.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of epigallocatechol gallate (EGCG) combined with trastuzu-mab on the proliferation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing breast cancer cells. Methods Trastuzumab was expressed and purified. The cell proliferation of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells BT474 and SK-BR-3 treated with trastuzumab, EGCG, or trastuzumab plus EGCG was evaluated by CCK8 assay. The effects of EGCG and trastuzumab on the expression of HER2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase B (Akt), and their phosphorylated proteins in BT474 breast cancer cells were detected by Western blot. Results The results of cell proliferation assay indicated that EGCG and trastuzumab, alone or in combination, effectively inhibited the proliferation of BT-474 and SK-BR-3 cells. And within a certain concentration range, EGCG and trastuzumab showed a synergistic proliferation inhibitory effect on HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells. Consistent with these results, Western blot results showed that trastuzumab and EGCG, alone or in combination significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of Akt, MAPK, EGFR, and HER2 in BT474 cells. Moreover, the inhibition effect of EGCG plus trastuzumab was significantly more potent than either EGCG or trastuzumab. Conclusion EGCG and trastuzumab could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells, which may be related to the regulation of Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between impulse oscillometry system examination indicators and conventional pulmonary ventilation function.Methods:The pulmonary ventilation function data of 10 883 patients from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were included. The one-second rate [ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1) to forced vital capacity (FVC)] measured as a percentage of the predicted value was ≥92% for the control group ( n=3 478) and <92% for the pulmonary obstruction group ( n=7 405). The obstruction group was subdivided into five groups according to the degree of pulmonary dysfunction: mild group ( n=3 938),moderate group ( n=1 142),oderate-severe group ( n=917),severe group ( n=737),and extremely severe group ( n=671). Conventional pulmonary ventilatory function FVC, FEV 1, one-second rate, and forced expired flow at 50% of FVC (MEF50%), forced expired flow at 75% FVC (MEF25%), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and pulsed oscillation pulmonary function test were detected in both groups of patients. Impedance at 5 Hz (Z5) means total respiratory resistance, resistance at 5 Hz (R5) means total airway resistance, reactance at 5 Hz (X5) indicates the elastic recoil of the peripheral airways, and resistance at 20 Hz (R20) represents resistance of the central airways. R5-R20 reflects resistance in the small airways. Additionally, peripheral resistance (Rp), respiratory resonance frequency (Frex), and area under the reactance curve (Ax) were also measured. Correlation between the indicators of the two groups and the sensitivity and specificity of the impulse oscillometry system parameters for the diagnosis of obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction were analyzed. Results:Pulmonary function force expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV 1%Pre) [80.10 (54.95,97.10)%],one-second rate [62.43(48.67, 67.02)%],MEF50% [1.33 (0.62,1.97)L/s],MEF25% [0.28 (0.17,0.41)L/s], MMEF [0.85 (0.43,1.29)L/s],and PEF [5.64 (3.73,7.50)]L/s in the obstruction group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The differences within the subgroups of the obstruction group were also significant ( P<0.05). Pulsed oscillation Z5 [0.42 (0.33,0.55)kPa·L -1·s -1],Rp [0.25 (0.20,0.45)kPa·L -1·s -1], R5 [0.39 (0.31,0.49)kPa·L -1·s -1], R20 [0.28 (0.24,0.34)kPa·L -1·s -1], R5-R20 [0.09 (0.05,0.17)kPa·L -1·s -1],Frex [16.32 (13.07,20.84)Hz], and Ax [0.67 (0.28,1.64)] indices in the obstruction group were significantly higher than those in the control group. X5 [-0.14 (-0.23, -0.10)kPa·L -1·s -1] was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P<0.05). Z5, Rp, X5, R5, R5-R20, Frex, and Ax were statistically significant between different degrees of obstruction in the obstruction group ( P<0.05). The impulse oscillometry system parameters Z5, Rp, R5, R20, R5-20, Frex, and Ax were negatively correlated with the indices of conventional pulmonary ventilation ( r=-0.21-0.68, P<0.05), and the parameter X5 was positively correlated with the indices of conventional pulmonary ventilation ( r=0.41-0.68, P<0.05). The pulsed oscillation pulmonary function test parameters X5 (58.60%-95.68%) and Ax (57.08%-98.06%) presented the best sensitivity; X5 (86.29%-98.82%), Frex (86.69%-94.71%), and Ax (88.10%-98.53%) displayed the best specificity; and R20 presented the worst sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity and specificity were slightly better in female patients than in male patients. Conclusion:The technical parameters of the impulse oscillometry system showed significant correlation with relevant indices of conventional pulmonary ventilation function detection. These well reflect the changes of different degrees of pulmonary ventilation function and have greater significance for reference in evaluating the degree of pulmonary function impairment.

Beijing has been one of the epicenters attacked most severely by the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) since the first patient was diagnosed in one of the city's hospitals. We now report complete genome sequences of the BJ Group, including four isolates (Isolates BJ01, BJ02, BJ03, and BJ04) of the SARS-CoV. It is remarkable that all members of the BJ Group share a common haplotype, consisting of seven loci that differentiate the group from other isolates published to date. Among 42 substitutions uniquely identified from the BJ group, 32 are non-synonymous changes at the amino acid level. Rooted phylogenetic trees, proposed on the basis of haplotypes and other sequence variations of SARS-CoV isolates from Canada, USA, Singapore, and China, gave rise to different paradigms but positioned the BJ Group, together with the newly discovered GD01 (GD-Ins29) in the same clade, followed by the H-U Group (from Hong Kong to USA) and the H-T Group (from Hong Kong to Toronto), leaving the SP Group (Singapore) more distant. This result appears to suggest a possible transmission path from Guangdong to Beijing/Hong Kong, then to other countries and regions.
Genome, Viral ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; SARS Virus ; genetics

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with spinal fractures with thoracic and lumbar fracture as the most common type shows characteristics of unstable fracture, high incidence of nerve injury, high mortality and high disability rate. The diagnosis may be missed because it is mostly caused by low-energy injury, when spinal rigidity and osteoporosis have a great impact on the accuracy of imaging examination. At the same time, the treatment choices are controversial, with no relevant specifications. Non-operative treatments can easily lead to bone nonunion, pseudoarthrosis and delayed nerve injury, while surgeries may be failed due to internal fixation failure. At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture. In this context, the Spinal Trauma Academic Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ankylosing spondylitis combined with thoracolumbar fracture ( version 2023) by following the principles of evidence-based medicine and systematically review related literatures. Ten recommendations on the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, classification and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture were put forward, aiming to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such disorder.