1.Autophagy protects neurons against facial nerve injury in rats
Kunling DUAN ; Jing FEI ; Leiji LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(27):4378-4382
BACKGROUND:After peripheral facial nerve injury,glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)can play a protective role in facial neurons.It has been found that GDNF can regulate the level of autophagy through mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),but it is unclear whether it can regulate facial neurons through the adenylate-activated protein kinase/Unc-51-like kinase 1(AMPK/ULK1)signaling pathway after facial nerve injury. OBJECTIVE:To establish a facial nerve injury model in Sprague-Dawley rats and explore the role of autophagy in facial nerve regeneration and the mechanism by which the GDNF/AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway promotes facial nerve repair after injury. METHODS:Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group,model group and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA)group,with 24 rats in each group.Only the main trunk of the facial nerve was exposed in the sham group,while the remaining two groups were modeled for the compression injury of the facial nerve trunk.After successful modeling,the model group was given intraperitoneal injection of normal saline(15 mg/kg),and the 3-MA group was given intraperitoneal injection of 3-MA(15 mg/kg),both once daily for 7 days.The rats in each group were scored on the Simone 10-point behavioral scale at 1,4,7,14,21 and 28 days after surgery.Nissl staining was performed to observe the morphology and number of facial neuron cells at 7,14,21,and 28 days.The expression levels of p-AMPK,p-ULK1,Beclin1 and GDNF in the facial neuron tissues of rats were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Behavioral scoring showed that the improvement of facial paralysis symptoms in the 3-MA group was worse and later than that in the model group(P<0.05).Nissl staining showed that the morphology and number of Nissl bodies in facial neurons in the 3-MA group recovered poorly and the number was less than that in the model group(P<0.05).Western blot detection results showed that the expression of p-AMPK and Beclin1 in the model group was higher than that in the 3-MA group and the sham group(P<0.05).The protein expression of p-ULK1 in the model group was lower than that in the 3-MA group and the sham group(P<0.05).To conclude,autophagy inhibitor delays nerve repair after facial nerve injury,which may be related to down-regulation of GDNF expression,inactivation of AMPK,and phosphorylation of ULK1,thereby inhibiting neuronal autophagy levels.
2.Clinical manifestations and genetic analysis of 5 cases with inherited thrombophilia
Lanqin CHEN ; Ju YIN ; Baoping XU ; Xiaomin DUAN ; Runhui WU ; Kunling SHEN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2022;37(12):934-938
Objective:To analyze the clinical manifestations, genetic variations, diagnosis and treatment of children with inherited thrombophilia(IT).Methods:Retrospective study.Children with IT treated in Department of Respiratory Diseases 1 of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2016 to August 2021 were included in the study and followed up.Results:A total of 5 children met the inclusion criteria, with 3 boys and 2 girls; the age of diagnosis ranged from 7 years to 13 years and 6 months.There were 2 cases of protein C deficiency, 1 case of congenital protein S deficiency, 1 case of activated protein C resistance and 1 case of congenital afibrinogenemia.All 5 cases had pulmonary embolism, 2 cases had deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs, and 1 case had cardiac thrombosis and arterial embolism.The level of protein C was significantly decreased in 1 case, and the level of protein S in 1 case was significantly decreased in the laboratory test of thrombophilia; 2 cases were positive for antiphospholipid antibodies in the acute phase, but negative after 3-6 months of re-examination.Genetic analysis showed 2 cases of PROC gene mutation, 1 case of PROSI gene mutation, 1 case of F5 gene mutation, and 1 case of FGA gene mutation.All children were treated with anticoagulation drugs for long-term, including 4 patients with Warfarin and 1 patient with Rivaroxaban.The follow-up time ranged from 3 months to 5 years.During the follow-up, 1 patient experienced thrombosis recurrence due to infection incentives 1 month after discontinuing anticoagulant drugs on his own. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of children with IT are the same as those of adults, mainly including venous thromboembolism(VTE); there are limitations in laboratory detection of thrombophilia, and gene analysis is of great significance.Children diagnosed with IT need long-term anticoagulant therapy to reduce the recurrence of VTE.
3.Long-term prognosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in children with cystic fibrosis
Xiaolei XU ; Hao WANG ; Ju YIN ; Mingxue MU ; Jun LIU ; Qiang QIN ; Xiaomin DUAN ; Yun PENG ; Chanjuan HAO ; Baoping XU ; Kunling SHEN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2021;36(12):949-953
Objective:To analyze the long-term prognosis and prognostic factors of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA) in children suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF).Methods:An observational study was performed.All children who were admitted to the Department of Respiratory, Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2014 to June 2018, with more than 2 years of followed up for the diagnosis of CF accompanied by ABPA were involved.Results:Three children met the inclusion criteria, with 2 boys and 1 girl, and their diagnostic age were 14, 8 and 9 years old, respectively.The follow-up duration ranged from 2 to 6 years.All the 3 cases were treated with systemic corticosteroids and antifungal agent.In case 1, the initial dose of prednisone was 0.75 mg/(kg·d), and the course of treatment was more than 5 years.The corticosteroid-dependent patient suffered from expectoration and chest pain, and radiographic findings indicated exacerbation, while his lung function was normal.Treating with initial dose of prednisone 2 mg/(kg·d) for 9 months, case 2 had normal serum immunoglobulin E(IgE) concentration, but his pulmonary artery was infiltrated by lesions, thus leasing to lobectomy.In case 3, the initial dose of prednisone was 0.6 mg/(kg·d), and the course of treatment was 18 months.And she developed persistent hypoxemia, and decreased pulmonary function, so lung transplantation was necessary 2 years after diagnosis.Conclusions:Systemic glucocorticoid combined with antifungal therapy is the main treatment for CF with ABPA, but there are individual differences in the efficacy.The level of serum total IgE is not always consistent with lung function and chest images.The overall prognosis is poor, and it is infeasible to evaluate the prognosis by single factor.