ObjectiveTo establish a method to induce heterotopic ossification (HO) after spinal cord injury. Methods10 New Zealand White rabbits underwent a complete transection of the thoracic (T10) spinal cord. Just after transection, the right hind limb of every rabbit was immobilized with a plaster support to keep the knee in extension and the hip unrestricted. The plaster was temporarily removed once a day (six times per week) to allow the knees passively mobilized at the maximum range for 5 min. Local swelling, local skin temperature and grade of ossification of the paraplegic limbs were observed. After 5 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the quadriceps muscles of the right hind limbs were removed for the histological examination. ResultsAfter 5-week immobilization and temporary passive mobilization, HO was successfully induced in all 10 rabbits. There was local skin temperature increase and local swelling in the right hind limbs. The histological changes were similar to those observed in clinical HO. Conclusion5-week immobilization and temporary passive mobilization approach may successfully induce HO, and it may be used to study the pathogenesis of HO after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the polymorphism of FcgammaRIIIb genotype, IgG G2m(23) factor and their associations with the susceptibility to aggressive periodontitis.

METHODSDNA of white blood cells and serum from 21 aggressive periodontitis patients and 26 healthy controls was extracted. Genotype of FcgammaRIIIb and phenotype of G2m(23) factor was determined by allele-specific PCR and dot immunobinding assay respectively.

RESULTSThe frequency of FcgammaRIIIb-NA1/NA1 genotype in aggressive periodontitis patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls (P < 0.05). The ratio of subjects with FcgammaRIIIb-NA1/NA1 genotype and positive G2m(23) factor was higher in aggressive periodontitis patients (11/21) than in health controls (5/26) (P < 0.05). However, no statistical difference in distribution of G2m(23) factor alone was observed between patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONSThis study indicates that FcgammaRIIIb-NA1/NA1 genotype may be a susceptible genotype to aggressive periodontitis in Chinese population. Subjects with FcgammaRIIIb NA1/NA1 genotype and positive G2m(23) factor may be more susceptible to aggressive periodontitis.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes ; genetics ; Male ; Periodontitis ; genetics ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics

Tumor brings great threat to human public health. In recent years, incidence rate and mortality of tumor were rapidly increased in the world. Anti-tumor therapies have undergone the development of cytotoxic therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Among them, tumor immunotherapy is rapidly developed and becomes an important anti-tumor therapy in recent years, although it also brings some related side effects. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of immune cells, vascular vessels, fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, etc. TME significantly affects the efficacy of immunotherapy. Macrophages in the TME are named as tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Recently, increasing studies have shown that TAMs play an important role in the regulation of tumor immunity, especially in tumor immune surveillance and immune escape. Currently, more and more anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting TAMs are at the development stage. Based on the important role of TAMs in the TME and their potential as therapeutic targets in tumor immunotherapy, we first reviewed the subtypes and functions of TAMs, as well as the roles of TAMs in tumors. Furthermore, we summarized the research progress on anti-tumor strategies targeting TAMs and the current status of drug targeting TAMs. The current review will provide new ideas and novel insights for tumor immunotherapy.

AIMTo develop a high throughput screening assay to identify inhibitors of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSICAM-1 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated endothelial cells was measured by ELISA. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was measured by MTT.

RESULTSLipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased ICAM-1 expression in HUVEC in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Two thousand compounds were screened and the hit rate was 1.5%. Among these 30 compounds, 24 were cytotoxic.

CONCLUSIONThe ELISA method was inexpensive, reproducible and suitable for high throughput primary cell assay. This assay was feasible to identify inhibitors of ICAM-1 and simultaneously discriminate the activity from the cytotoxic effects.

Cell Adhesion Molecules ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; metabolism

The study aims to screen the ability of the bacteria to metabolize ononin and assess the effect of ononin on the intestinal bacteria. Fresh human fecal sample was obtained from a healthy volunteer, diluted serially in sterile water and sixty-nine different bacterial colonies were picked out ultimately. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS with automated data analysis software (MetaboLynx) was applied to fast analysis of ononin metabolites. Furthermore, an E(max) precision microplate reader was employed to determine the growth situation of Enterococcous sp., Enterobacter sp., Lactobacilli sp., and Bifidobacteria sp. Results indicated that hydrogenation, demethylation, hydroxylation and deglycosylation were the major metabolic pathways of ononin by human intestinal bacteria in vitro. Ononin can inhibit the growth of pathogen such as Enterococcus sp., Enterobacter sp. and can promote the growth of probiotics such as Bifidobacteria sp. and Lactobacilli sp. This study suggested that intestinal bacteria have the metabolic effects of ononin and the biotransformation was completed by different bacteria. And ononin can affect the balance of intestinal flora and the degree of influence varies depending on the bacterial species and the concentration of ononin.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Feces ; microbiology ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Isoflavones ; metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of type 2 vesicular monoamine transporter molecular probe,18 F-FP-(+)-DTBZ, in the monitoring of total islet β cell mass in animal models. Methods Two groups of Wistar rats were included in this study. In the type 1 diabetes group ( n = 6 ) , the streptozotocin ( STZ) was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 65 mg/kg, and the control group ( n= 6 ) was likewisely injected with an equal volume of saline, Micro- positron emission tomography ( PET )/ computed tomography ( CT) imaging was performed at these rats post injection of18 F-FP-(+)-DTBZ at 0. 5, 1, 4, 6, and 12 months after STZ or saline injection, bodyweight and glucose level were also measured. Results The average standardized uptake values ( SUV) in the pancreas in the type 1 diabetes rats were decreased significantly than that of the control group at 0.5, 1, and, 4 months ( P<0.05) , and there was no significant difference at 6th and 12th months ( P>0.05) post injection of STZ and saline. Fasting blood glucose positively correlated with pancreatic SUV in the two groups at 0.5, 1, and 4 months (P<0.05) post injection of STZ and saline. Conclusion 18F-FP-(+)-DTBZ PET imaging is a promising method for dynamic monitoringβcell mass in type 1 diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a diagnostic model for diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). To screen the proteins or peptides associated with DAI for providing the biomarkers with theoretic foundation. METHODS: Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into DAI group (n = 10) and control group (n = 5). The protein or peptide expression profiles of rat brain stem were detected by MALDI-TOF-MS. ClinProTools 2.2 software was used to find specific peaks, and a diagnostic model was established by the genetic algorithm. RESULTS: There were significant differences in 61 peaks of DAI group (P < 0.05), 9 peaks were down-regulated and 52 up-regulated. The diagnostic model was established based on 5 different peaks. The specificity and sensitivity of cross validation was 96.14% and 95.98%; while the specificity and sensitivity of blind validation showed was 73.33% and 70.00%, respectively. CONCLUSION A specific and sensitive diagnostic model of DAI can be established by MALDI-TOF-MS to provide a potential value for determining DAI in forensic practice.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Brain Stem/metabolism* ; Diffuse Axonal Injury/diagnosis* ; Down-Regulation ; Male ; Peptides/blood* ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Software ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods* ; Up-Regulation

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-IMS) has been a classical technique for studying proteomics in present and a tool for analyzing the distribution of proteins and small molecules within biological tissue sections. MALDI-TOF-IMS can analyze multiple unknown compounds in biological tissue sections simultaneously through a single measurement which can obtain molecule imaging of the tissue while maintaining the integrity of cellular and molecules in tissue. In recent years, imaging mass spectrometry technique develops relatively quickly in all biomedical domain. This paper based on the relevant data and reviews the present developing level of MALDI-TOF-IMS, the principle of imaging mass spectrometry, methology and the prospect in forensic pathology.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Forensic Sciences/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Proteins ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. It is very hard to treat pancreatic cancers for their high heterogeneity, complex tumor microenvironment, and drug resistance. Currently, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, capecitabine and FOLFIRINOX are standard chemotherapy for resectable or advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer. Considering the limited efficacy and toxic side effects of chemotherapy, targeted and immune drugs have gradually attracted attention and made some progress. In this article, we systematically reviewed the chemotherapeutic drugs, targets and related targeted drugs, and immunotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer.