OBJECTIVETo study the effects of androgen on the expression of phosphacan and NG2 proteoglycan (NG2) and neurite regeneration in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and the potential mechanism underlying the protective effect of androgen against HIBD.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated, HIBD and androgen treatment. HIBD was induced by the ligation of left common carotid artery and hypoxia exposure. The androgen treatment group rats were injected with testosterone propionate (25 mg/kg) immediately after HIBD. Phosphacan and NG2 expression in the cortex and the hippocampus was detected with the immunohistochemical method 24 and 72 hrs and 7 and 10 days after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The ultrastructure and neurite regeneration of neurons in the cortex and the hippocampus were observed under a transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe neurite regeneration was obvious in the sham-operated group, but seldom in the HIBD group. The androgen treatment group showed increased neurite regeneration compared with the HIBD group. There were fewer phosphacan and NG2 positive cells in the cortex and the hippocampus in the sham-operated group. Phosphacan and NG2 expression in the cortex and the hippocampus was observed at 24 hrs, increased at 72 hrs, and peaked at 7 days after HI in the HIBD group and remained at a higher expression 10 days after HI than in the sham-operated group. The levels of phosphacan and NG2 expression in the cortex and the hippocampus in the androgen treatment group were significantly reduced compared with those in the HIBD group 24 and 72 hrs and 7 and 10 days after HI (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPhosphacan and NG2 may be important inhibitory factors for neurite regeneration following HIBD in neonatal rats. The neuroprotection of androgen against neonatal HIBD is produced possibly through an inhibition of phosphacan and NG2 expression.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antigens ; analysis ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Neurites ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Proteoglycans ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5 ; analysis ; Testosterone Propionate ; pharmacology

The aim of this study is to develop the recombinant adenovirus vaccine (rAdV) candidates containing neuraminidase (NA) gene of H5N1 influenza virus and test in BALB/c mice the effect of cell-mediated immunity. In this study, two kind of NA gene (WtNA gene, the wild type; Mod. NA gene, the codon-modified type) derived from H5N1 influenza virus (A/Anhui/1/2005) were cloned and inserted respectively into plasmid of adenovirus vector, then the rAdV vaccines candidates (rAdV-WtNA and rAdV-Mod. NA) were developed and purified, followed by immunization intramuscularly (10(9) TCID50 per dose, double injection at 0 and 4th week) in BALB/c mice, the effect of cell-mediated immunity were analysed at 5th week. Results indicated that: (i) NA protein expression was detected in two rAdV vaccines candidates by Western blotting; (ii) the rAdV-Mod. NA vaccine could elicit more robust NA specific cell-mediated immunity in mice than that of rAdV-WtNA vaccine (P = 0. 016) by IFN-gamma ELIspot assay. These findings suggested rAdV-Mod. NA vaccine was a potential vaccine candidate against H5N1 influenza and worthy of further investigation.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; immunology ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections ; immunology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Random Allocation ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of androgen on the expression of aromatase cytopigment P450 (AROM) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain and brain ultrastructure in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in order to investigate the mechanism underlying the protective effect of androgen against HIBD.

METHODSNinety-six seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation, HIBD and androgen treatment (n=32 each). HIBD was induced by the ligation of left common carotid artery and hypoxia exposure. The rats in the androgen treatment and the HIBD groups were injected intraperitoneally with testosterone propionate (25 mg/kg) and arachis oil respectively immediately after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). After 24 and 72 hrs and 7 and 10 days of HI, AROM and NGF expression in the cortex and the hippocampus was detected with the immunohistochemical method. The ultrastructural changes of neurons in the cortex and the hippocampus were observed under a transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSNerve cells of the HIBD group showed obvious injuries including cell organ decreasing, cellularoedema, nuclear swelling, chromatic agglutination, mitochondria decreasing and swelling, as well as an increase in apoptotic cells. Compared with the HIBD group, the nerve cells in the androgen treatment group had integrated nuclear membrane, well-distributed chromatin and abundant cell organs, and less cell apoptosis and increased axon regeneration. There was a positive expression of NGF and AROM in the brain cortex and the hippocampus in the HIBD group 24 hrs after HI. The expression of NGF and AROM increased significantly 72 hrs after HI, peaked 7 days after HI and then began to decrease but remained at a higher level than that in the sham-operation group 10 days after HI. The NGF and AROM expression in the cortex and the hippocampus in the androgen treatment group was significantly higher than that in the sham-operation and the HIBD groups 72 hrs, and 7 and 10 days after HI.

CONCLUSIONSAndrogen treatment can promote axon regeneration and morphous recovery of neurons and decrease neural apoptosis in neonatal rats with HIBD. The neuroprotection of androgen is produced possibly through an increase in the expression of NGF and AROM in the brain.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Aromatase ; analysis ; Brain ; enzymology ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; Neurons ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB1) mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its correlation to the clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes and metastasis of HCC.

METHODSThe total RNA was extracted from 102 HCC tissues and the adjacent tissues, and the expression of SATB1 mRNA was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. The correlations of SATB1 mRNA expression to the clinicopathological features, postoperative recurrence and metastasis of the tumor were analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of SATB1 mRNA in HCC tissues was 3.27 folds higher than that in the adjacent tissues (P<0.001). The expression of SATB1 mRNA in HCC was associated with liver cirrhosis, AFP level, tumor size, tumor thrombi, histological differentiation, TNM classification, postoperative recurrence and metastasis (P<0.05), but not to the patients' gender, age, HbsAg positivity, HCV-Ab positivity, tumor number, or the presence of tumor encapsulation (P>0.05). In patients with significant high expression, high expression, and low expression of SATB1 mRNA, the postoperative recurrence rates were 82.68%, 0, and 0, with the 3-year survival rate of 0, 52.63%, and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSATB1 mRNA expression is associated with the postoperative recurrence and metastasis of HCC, and can be used as an indicator for predicting the recurrence and metastasis of HCC.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous US- or CT-guided drainage and laparotomy for patients with infective pancreatic necrosis.

METHODSData of 90 infective pancreatic necrosis patients admitted from January 2008 to December 2009 were included. They were divided into two groups by the different treatment choices. Twenty-seven patients in the percutaneous group received percutaneous US- or CT-guided drainage as first choice. After that a sump suction apparatus was applied for controlled drainage. If no improvement was achieved after 3 days, they would received operation soon. While patients in the laparotomy group received surgical drainage at the time when the diagnosis of infected pancreatic necrosis was confirmed. Continuous drainage was also applied for these ones.

RESULTSThe percutaneous group had a significant low rate of reoperation (7.1% vs. 14.3%, P < 0.05) and postoperative residual abscesses (7.1% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, 48.1% of patients in percutaneous group successfully avoid laparotomy. In the regard of complications, the percutaneous group presented lower incidence of both single organ dysfunction (7.4% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.05), intestinal fistula (7.4% vs. 27.0%, P < 0.05) and long-term complications (3.7% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.05). In addition, the percutaneous group costed less medical resources as evidenced by shorter ICU duration (21.2 ± 9.7 vs. 28.7 ± 12.1, P < 0.01), shorter hospital duration (48.2 ± 12.5 vs. 59.6 ± 17.5, P < 0.05) and less expenditure (191 762 ± 5892 vs. 341 689 ± 10 854, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous drainage can effectively lower the surgical rates and the rates of complications and reoperations in patients with infective pancreatic necrosis. Besides that, it could also reduce the cost of medical resources.

Adult ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Therapy ; Calcitonin ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders/therapy* ; Quality of Life ; Serotonin ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Objective:To explore the performance of the commonly used whole blood C-reactive protein (CRP) detection systems and give related recommendation on the performance requirements of detection systems.Methods:A total of 7 540 venous blood samples from 26 maternal, child and children′s hospitals were collected to conduct this multi-center study on the analytical performance of 5 commonly used whole blood CRP detection systems from March to April in 2019. The blank check, carryover, repeatability, intermediate precision, linearity, sample stability, influence of hematocrit/triglyceride/bilirubin, comparison with SIEMENS specific protein analyzer and trueness were evaluated. The 5 systems included BC-5390CRP autohematology analyzer, AstepPLUS specific protein analyzer, Ottoman-1000 Automated Specific Protein POCT Workstation, i-CHROMA Immunofluorometer equipment Reader and Orion QuikRead go detecting instrument. The 5 systems were labeled as a, b, c, d and e randomly.Results:Within the 5 systems, all values of blank check were less than 1.00 mg/L, the carryovers were lower than 1.00%. The repeatability of different ranges of CRP concentrations including 3.00-10.00, 10.00-30.00 and>30.00 mg/L were less than 10.00%, 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively, and the intermediate precision was less than 10.00%. The linearity correlation coefficients of the 5 systems were all above 0.975, while the slope was within 0.950-1.050. Whole blood samples were stable within 72 hours both at room temperature (18-25 ℃) and refrigerated temperature (2-8 ℃). The CRP results were rarely influenced by high triglyceride or bilirubin, except for the immmunoturbidimetric test based on microparticles coated with anti-human CRP F(ab) 2 fragments. When triglyceride was less than 15.46 mmol/L, the deviation of CRP was less than 10.00%. When bilirubin was less than 345.47 μmol/L, the deviation of CRP was less than 10.00%. CRP was more susceptible to Hct on the systems without Hct correction. The deviation of CRP between different Hct dilution concentration and 40% dilution concentration can reach as high as 67.48%. The correlation coefficients ( r) of 5 systems were all more than 0.975 in the range of 0-300.00 mg/L compared with Siemens specific protein analyzer. All systems passed the trueness verification using the samples with specified values of 12.89 and 30.60 mg/L. Conclusion:The performance of 5 systems can basically meet the clinical needs, but it is suggested that the whole blood CRP detection system without automatic Hct correction should be modified manually.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny biological nanovesicles ranging from approximately 30-1000 nm in diameter that are released into the extracellular matrix of most cell types and in biofluids. The classification of EVs includes exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, dependent on various factors such as size, markers, and biogenesis pathways. The transition of EV relevance from that of being assumed as a trash bag to be a key player in critical physiological and pathological conditions has been revolutionary in many ways. EVs have been recently revealed to play a crucial role in stem cell biology and cancer progression via intercellular communication, contributing to organ development and the progression of cancer. This review focuses on the significant research progress made so far in the role of the crosstalk between EVs and stem cells and their niche, and cellular communication among different germ layers in developmental biology. In addition, it discusses the role of EVs in cancer progression and their application as therapeutic agents or drug delivery vehicles. All such discoveries have been facilitated by tremendous technological advancements in EV-associated research, especially the microfluidics systems. Their pros and cons in the context of characterization of EVs are also extensively discussed in this review. This review also deliberates the role of EVs in normal cell processes and disease conditions, and their application as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Finally, we propose future perspectives for EV-related research in stem cell and cancer biology.
Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Cell-Derived Microparticles/metabolism* ; Exosomes ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism*

Objective:To observe the effect of Dredging Correcting Manipulation on cblC methylmalonic aciduria (MMA). Methods:From October, 2017 to October, 2018, 72 children with cblC MMA combined with growth retardation were divided into control group (n = 36) and experimental group (n = 36) according to the consent of their parents. The control group accepted routine medicine, and the experimental group received Dredging Correcting Manipulation in addition. The Griffiths Development Scale-Chinese version (GDS-C) was used to evaluate the two groups before and after treatment. At the same time, body length, body mass and head circumference were measured. Results:Six cases in the control group and five cases in the experimental group were dropped out. There was no significant difference in the development quotients of GDS-C in gross movement, personal and social, hearing and speech, hand-eye coordination, operation and total quotient between two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, all the development quotients increased in both groups (t > 6.110, P < 0.001), and the development quotients of GDS-C in gross movement, personal and social, hand-eye coordination and total quotient were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.154, P < 0.05), as well as the body length (t = 2.027, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Dredging Correcting Manipulation can promote the neuropsychological and physical development of children with cblC MMA combined with retardation.