Objective To evaluate the role of haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in remote limb ischemic preconditioning (RLIP)-induced attenuation of lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.Methods Twenty-four Japanese White Rabbits,aged 4-5 months,weighing 2.0-2.5 kg,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S group),I/R group,RLIP group and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP,an inhibitor of HO-1) plus RLIP group (ZnPP + RLIP group).Lung I/R was produced by 60 min occlusion of the left lung hilum followed by 180 min of reperfusion in I/R,RLIP and ZnPP + RLIP groups.RLIP and ZnPP + RLIP groups received 3 cycles of 10 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion in the bilateral hind limbs immediately before occlusion of the left lung hilum.In ZnPP + RLIP group,ZnPP 10 μmol/kg was injected intravenously 10 min prior to hind limb ischemia and the rest of the procedures were similar to those previously described in RLIP group.At the end of reperfusion,arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis.The animals were then sacrificed and pulmonary specimens were obtained for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored (lung injury score,LIS) and for determination of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio),myleoperoxidase (MPO) activity,malondialdehyde (MDA) content and expression and activity of HO-1 in the lung tissues.Results Compared with group S,PaO2 was significantly decreased,and LIS,W/D ratio,MPO activity,MDA content,and HO-1 expression and activity were increased in I/R group (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with I/R group,PaO2 and HO-1 expression and activity were significantly increased,and LIS,W/D ratio,MPO activity and MDA content were decreased in RLIP group (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with RLIP group,PaO2 and HO-1 expression and activity were significantly decreased,and LIS,W/D ratio,MPO activity and MDA content were increased in ZnPP + RLIP group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion RLIP up-regulates HO-1 expression and enhances HO-1 activity,thus reducing lung I/R injury in rabbits.

Objective:To dynamically observe the effect of N-acetylserotonin (NAS) on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) protein in retina of retinal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIRI) rats, and to explore the mechanism.Methods:By using random number table method, 90 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operation group ( n=10), RIRI group ( n=40), and NAS group ( n=40). The right eye was as the experimental eye. In the RIRI group and NAS group, the anterior chamber high intraocular pressure method was used to establish the RIRI model. In the NAS group, 10 mg/kg NAS was injected intraperitoneally before modeling and 30 minutes after modeling. At 6, 12, 24, 72 h after modeling, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the retina, and the retinal ganglion cells (RGC) were counted. Each group was detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot about the relative expression of TNF-α, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein in the rat retina. Oneway analysis of variance was used for differences between groups. The general linear regression method was used to analyze the correlation between the relative expression changes of TNF-α protein and the changes of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression after NAS intervention. Results:Optical microscope observation revealed that the retinal edema of rats in the RIRI group was observed at 6, 12, and 24 h after modeling; the thickness of the retina in the NAS group was significantly thinner than that in the RIRI group, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=9.645, 477.150, 2.432; P<0.01). At 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after modeling, the retinal RGC counts in the NAS group were significantly higher than those in the RIRI group, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=12.225, 12.848, 117.655, 306.394; P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemical staining and Western blot showed that 6 h after modeling, the relative expression of TNF-α protein in the retina of the RIRI group increased significantly compared with that in the sham operation group, reaching a higher level at 12 h, and decreased at 24 and 72 h. But all were significantly higher than the sham operation group, the difference was statistically significant (immunohistochemical staining: F=105.893, 1 356.076, 434.026, 337.351; P<0.01; Western blot: F=92.906, 534.948, 327.600, 385.324; P<0.01). At different time points after modeling, the relative expression of TNF-α protein in the retina of the NAS group was significantly lower than that of the RIRI group (immunohistochemical staining: F=15.408, 570.482, 21.070, 13.767; P<0.05; Western blot: F=12.618, 115.735, 13.176, 111.108; P<0.05), but still higher than the sham operation group (immunohistochemical staining: F=40.709, 151.032, 156.321, 216.035; P<0.01; Western blot: F=33.943, 79.729, 74.057, 64.488; P<0.01), the difference was statistically significant; 12 h after modeling, Nrf2 in the retina of the NAS group (immunohistochemical staining: F=51.122, P<0.05; Western blot: F=33.972, P<0.05), HO-1 (immunohistochemical staining: F=30.750, P<0.05; Western blot: F=18.283, P<0.05) protein relative expression was significantly higher than that of RIRI group, and the differences were statistically significant. The results of linear regression analysis showed that the difference in the number of TNF-α + cells in the RIRI group and the NAS group was negatively correlated with the difference in the number of Nrf2 + and HO-1 + cells ( r 2=0.923, 0.936; P<0.01). Conclusions:NAS can inhibit the expression of TNF-α protein in the retina of RIRI rats and reduce RIRI. The mechanism may be related to the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Although widely studied, the natural diversity of the hard tick is not well known. In this study, we collected 194 sequences from 67 species, covering 7 genera of hard tick. The 5′ region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 region (586 bp) has been used to investigate intra- and inter-species variation and the phylogenetic tree of neighbor joining method has been used for assessment. As a result, by comparing the K2P-distance of intra- and interspecies, 30 samples (15.2%) shown that interspecies distance was larger than the minimum interspecfic distance. From the phylogenetic analysis, 86.8% (49) of the species were identified correctly at the genus level. On deeper analysis on these species suggested the possibility of presence cryptic species. Therefore, further work is required to delineate species boundaries and to develop a more complete understanding of hard tick diversity over larger scale.
Cytochromes c ; Cytochromes ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; Ixodidae ; Methods ; Trees

Objective:To introduce the scientific research management strategies and measurements of T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard, and explore possible reflections for the research management of Chinese medical universities.Methods:Identify the administrative measurements of scientific research management of Harvard School of Public Health by typical case analysis.Results:Harvard School of Public Health used strategic management tools to draw long-term vision for the development of public health, formulate strategic objectives and implementation paths, different functional departments of scientific research management conducted concerted work to provide high-quality scientific research management services which aimed to serve the institutional strategic development.Conclusions:In order to improve the scientific research management in medical universities in China, it is important to develop appropriate strategy of scientific research development, cooperation among related departments, as well as professional support and training for scientific research management personnel.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of patent foramen ovale on the development of post-operative stroke in the patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery using a meta-analysis approach.Methods:A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and China Journal Full Text Database.The inclusion criteria encompassed studies assessing the correlation between patent foramen ovale and post-operative stroke.The primary outcome measure focused on the incidence of post-operative stroke, and secondary outcome measures comprised mortality, myocardial infarction rate, and readmission rate within 30 days after surgery. The quality of literature meeting the inclusion criteria was evaluated and data were extracted, and then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software.Results:Eight retrospective cohort studies involving 21 142 237 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that patent foramen ovale was associated with post-operative stroke and readmission within 30 days after surgery.There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction rates between patent foramen ovale group and mon-patent foramen ovale group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Patent foramen ovale can increase the risk of post-operative stroke in the patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

A case of ichthyosis follicularis,alopecia and photophobia syndrome caused by a novel mutation c.1165C＞T in the membrane-bound transcription factor protease site 2 (MBTPS2) gene was firstly reported.The proband presented with dry skin,congenital hairlessness,follicular keratotic papules,photophobia,epilepsy,and mental and motor retardation.Next-generation and Sanger sequencing analysis confirmed that the proband and his mother both had a c.1165C＞T (p.pro389Ser) mutation in exon 9 of the MBTPS2 gene.According to the clinical manifestations of the patient and genetic characteristics of the MBTPS2 gene mutation,the patient was diagnosed with ichthyosis follicularis,alopecia and photophobia syndrome.

Clinical features of and genetic mutations in two cases of pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ⅰ a(PHP Ⅰ a) with early-onset skin nodules were analyzed.Both of the two patients were males,and their ages at onset were 2 and 3 months respectively.They both presented with early-onset skin nodules as the main clinical manifestation,and were clinically characterized by a round face,short neck and early obesity.Histopathological examination of skin lesions showed subcutaneous ectopic osteogenesis in both patients.The first patient had low blood calcium,high blood phosphorus,high parathyroid hormone (PTH),and gene sequencing showed a heterozygous mutation c.399delT causing a T base deletion at position 399 in exon 5 of the GNAS gene.The second patient had normal blood calcium and phosphorus levels as well as normal PTH levels at early stage,and gene sequencing showed a heterozygous mutation c.939delT causing a T base deletion at position 939 in exon 9 of the GNAS gene.The blood PTH level was found to increase in the second patient after 1-year follow-up.Both the patients were confirmedly diagnosed with PHP Ⅰa.After treatment with vitamin D3,no new skin nodules occurred,and the blood calcium and phosphorus levels returned to normal.

A male patient, who was aged 3 months and 12 days, presented with well-circumscribed erythema and scales on the scrotum, perineum, buttocks and perianal region at 1 month after birth. The lesions gradually involved the perioral and axillary regions, flexor aspect of the elbow, popliteal fossa and neck. Shortness of breath, crying, dysphoria and vomiting occurred without fever and cough 3 days before hospitalization. Laboratory examinations at admission showed metabolic acidosis, hyperlactacidemia, hyperammonemia and organic aciduria. Second-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing of the holocarboxylase synthetase gene revealed a known mutation c.1522C>T in exon 9 and a novel mutation c.1796_1814del in exon 11. According to a guideline from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, this novel mutation was ranked as a pathogenic mutation. The patient was diagnosed as multiple carboxylase deficiency. His clinical symptoms were improved after oral biotin treatment, no neurological symptoms or signs were observed.

Objective: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a leading cause of flap compromise and organ dysfunction during free-tissue transfer, and remains a great challenge for plastic surgeons. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) was proved to protect the IR flap by mitigating the oxidative stress, and inhibiting the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK-1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the distinction of Trx-1 expression, apoptosis indices in different layers of IR flaps, and the feasibility of tissue-layer-specific administration of Trx-1. Methods: Ten patients′ specimens of IR flaps for DIEP breast reconstruction were collected and assessed for apoptosis and Trx-1 expression. Twenty mice were used to establish the IR flap model. The mice were sacrificed twenty-four hours after reperfusion. The flap tissues were harvested and tested by immunohistochemistry staining and TUNEL assay. The tissue-layer-specific dermoprotective effect of Trx-1 and the molecular mechanisms were assessed by an in vitro epithelial skin cell hypoxia-reoxygenation model. The statistics were conducted by t test and ANOVA using SPSS 20.0. Results: Trx-1 expression and apoptotic cells were observed mainly located in the basal layer of epidermis and the papillary layer of dermis in human IR flaps and mice models. Trx-1 depletion was 24.19 %± 2.23% in the basal layer of epidermis and the papillary layer of dermis of patient IR flaps, decreasing significantly compared with 70.71% ± 6.38% in control group (t = 27.54, P< 0.001). Similar tissue-layer-specific down regulation of Trx-1 also displayed in mice IR flap models (19.83% ± 2.34% vs. 76.59% ± 4.88%; t = 34.71, P<0.001). The apoptotic index in human samples significantly increased from 1.32% ± 1.52% in control group to 43.71 %± 3.17% in IR group (t =38.23, P<0.001); while it was proved to be dramatically raised in mice models from 0.86% ± 1.15% in control group to 41.14 %± 4.21% in IR group (t= 36.96, P < 0.001). Western Blot analysis revealed Trx-1 down regulation and a significant increase in ASK-1, p-p38, and c-PARP abundance in the hypoxia-reoxygenation-treated HaCaT cells (P < 0.01). Supplementation of recombinant human Trx-1 significantly reduced the apoptosis-related protein expression. Conclusions The basal layer of epidermis and the papillary layer of dermis are the main damaged tissue layers in the early stage of skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury. The IR flap can be protected by precisely replenishing the vulnerable layers with Trx-1.