OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy mechanisme of chicory extract interventing abdominal obesity rat from the aspect of gut bacteria.

METHODMale SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely the normal group, model group, large and small dose group of chicory and the fenofibrate group. Normal group was given deionized water, the other group was given fructose water and give the medical treatment of chicory and fenofibrate. Assay triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL by biochemical methods and measure body weight and abdominal circumference and microscopicly observe the count changes of gut bacteria through real-time PCR method.

RESULTCompared with normal group, the triglyceride level and abdominal circumference were significantly higher (P < 0.05), weight and high-density lipoprotein increased but no significant changes and E. coli, lactobacillus increased significantly. Compared with model group, chicory extract large and small dose group and the fenofibrate group can significantly reduce triglyceride levels (P < 0.05), reduce the number of E. coli and Lactobacillus and increase the number of bifidobacteria. The fenofibrate group can significantly reduce total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels.

CONCLUSIONThe chicory's treatment effect on abdominal obesity is significant. The efficacy mechanisme intervention abdominal obesity may be related to the reduction of the number of lactic acid bacteria and E. coli and the increase of bifidobacteria.

Animals ; Bacteria ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Chicory ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota ; Obesity, Abdominal ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To develop a 3D finite element model for the human craniomaxillofacial region in an attempt to offer basis to the research of simulation of craniomaxillofacial injury.Methods A healthy adult male was submitted to head CT scan, and the data was imported into the Mimics 15.0 software for threshold segmentation and 3D reconstruction according to the classifications of bone tissue, skin tissue and subcutaneous tissue.The reconstruction data was imported into 3D reverse software Geomagic Studio 2012, and the images were optimized and the 3D model was generated.The three parts of the model were fitted according to the actual proportion using the 3D control software Solidworks 14.0, and then the boundary conditions were derived.Hypermesh 12.0 finite element processing software was used to build the volume mesh, and the model was established.Each layer of the model was given to the material parameters, and the simulation conditions were provided to test the model.Results This model was completely composed of volume meshes, including 214,250 hexahedral meshes and 411,920 nodes.This model can clearly show the stress distribution, the trend of fracture line, the displacement of fracture block of soft and hard tissue during the simulation, and the results are consistent with clinical practice.Conclusion A three-dimentional finite element model with good performance is established, which can be used for biomechamics simulation analysis of multiple sites on the head or the whole structure, and has a certain significance in clinical and scientific research.

OBJECTIVETo construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid of mouse histone lysine methyltransferase Setd7 and detect its effect on neuron development.

METHODSThe clone of mouse Setd7 was obtained and inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pCMV-3tag-6-Flag. The plasmid was transfected into HEK 293T and identified by Western blot. Real-time PCR was used to detect the effect of Setd7 on the neuron differentiation marker gene Ngn 1 mRNA expression. Dual luciferase reporter system was used to detect the effect of Setd7 on Ngn 1 mRNA expression. Real-time PCR was used to detect the effect of Setd 7 siRNA plasmid on Ngn 1 mRNA expression.

RESULTSAn eukaryotic expression plasmid of Setd 7 was successfully constructed. Setd7 induced Ngn 1 mRNA expression and increased Ngn 1 promoter activity. Also, the knockdown of Setd 7 inhibited Ngn 1 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONHistone lysine methyltransferase Setd7 can enhance neuron differentiation marker gene Ngn 1 transcription.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Vectors ; HEK293 Cells ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Methyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

Lysine decarboxylase is a key enzyme involved in the upstream biosynthesis of lycopodium alkaloids (LAs) such as huperzine A, contributing to the decarboxylation of lysine to 1,5-pentanediamine (cadaverine). Three lysine decarboxylase genes (HsLDC-L1, HsLDC-L2, HsLDC-L3) were successfully cloned from Huperzia serrata using transcriptomic sequence data mining strategy combined with reverse transcription PCR. The physicochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structures, amino acid identities, and evolutionary relationship of the three LDCs were analyzed by online bioinformatics analysis platforms and DNAMAN, MEGA 7.0 software, revealing that all of these proteins had the conserved PLP binding domain and active site residues were completely conserved in LDCs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these LDCs were located in the same branch as other known LDCs from LA-producing plants. Accordingly, the ORFs of these three HsLDCs were inserted into different expression plasmids for further expression in E. coli. However, only HsLDC-L1 was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by inserting into a pCold TF vector. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography purification. HsLDC-L1 contains 469 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular weight of 50.50 kDa. HsLDC-L1 expectedly catalyzed the decarboxylation of lysine to produce cadaverine. In addition, HsLDC-L1 can also catalyze the generation of putrescine from ornithine. However, it cannot catalyze the decarboxylation of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and histidine. The results not only provide insight into the biosynthesis of LAs including huperzine A, but also provide a critical genetic element for the overproduction of Δ¹-piperideine and pelletierine, the essential biosynthetic precursors of LAs, using synthetic biology strategies.

The paper is to establish an UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of 19 components in Microctis Folium from different production areas. The 50% methanol was used as extraction solvent. The Agilent ZORBAX SB C18 (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column was used; mobile phase was acetonitrile - 0.1% acetic acid with gradient elution, flow rate was 0.3 mL·min^-1, colume temperature was 30 ℃, and the injection volume was 2 μL; electrospray ionizaton source was used and detected in negative ion mode. The results showed that the established UPLC-MS/MS method could well separate the 19 components, and the methodological investigation results of 19 components were good. By means of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), 28 batches of Microctis Folium samples from different production areas can be divided into three categories, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are each classified into one category, and 10 signature compounds which affecting the quality differences of different production areas were screened out. The established method is accurate, reliable, sensitive and reproducible. It can provide a basis for the establishment of the quality standard of Microctis Folium, as well as for safety and quality research.

Atrioventricular Block ; etiology ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Hematologic Diseases ; etiology ; Hemolysis ; Humans

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,muscle pathological features and pathogenic gene mutation in 4 cases with LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy (L-CMD).Methods Clinical data of the probands and the parents were collected.Skeletal muscle specimens were biopsied from the probands for pathological analysis.Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes,and PCR,reverse transcription(RT)-PCR and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the LMNA gene to determine the gene mutation and confirm the pathogenicity.Results Four patients had symptoms from fetal period to several months after birth.They presented with motor retardation,muscle weakness with prominent the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,with mild to moderate elevation of CK level.The muscle biopsies showed muscular dystrophic and with inflammatory changes,and the abnormal nuclear morphology was observed with transmission electron microscopy.Genetic analysis of them detected 4 dominant de novo mutations.Three of them had unreported pathogenic mutations.The same sites of the LMNA gene were wild type in their parents.Conclusions Four cases of L-CMD are genetically identified.Genetic counseling of the family can be possible.The patients should be considered LMNA gene mutation of they present themselves with muscle weakness with the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,mild to moderate elevation of CK level,and if the biopsies show muscular dystrophic changes but also with inflammatory changes should be considered LMNA gene mutation.Genetic analysis is the most reliable method for diagnosing L-CMD.

Objective To explore a reliable, simple and minimally invasive approach for establishing rat models of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Methods The rat model of IVH was established by stereotactic injection of autologous arterial blood into the right lateral ventricle. The neurobehavioral scores of the rats were recorded at different time points after the injection, and the pathological changes in the ventricular and periventricular brain tissues were observed. Results IVH was successfully induced in 88.9% of the rats, which exhibited significant behavioral changes 6 h after IVH. The behavioral abnormalities were ameliorated 7 days after intraventricular injection of the blood. Optical microscopy showed ruptured continuity of the ependymal lining of the lateral ventricle, enlargement of the intercellular space, periventricular edema and neuronal necrosis in periependymal tissues 24 h after IVH. Conclusion The approach we adopted allows convenient establishment of a stable IVH model in rats with minimal invasiveness and pathological changes closely resembling those in patients with IVH.

OBJECTIVEThis study attempted to explore the value of combining serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound parameters together on diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSSix serum markers and 8 ultrasound parameters were measured from 100 patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. The results of the serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound in disease group were analyzed and compared with the findings of hepatic pathology.

RESULTSBy filtrating,the group of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) plus hyaluronic acid (HA) plus echo characteristics of liver parenchyma (LPEC) plus length of spleen (SL) had the highest Se and Spe, which were 90.7% and 85.4% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe advantageous combination of serum markers and ultrasound parameters can significantly improve Se and Spe, which is superior to any single serum index or ultrasound parameter. And it was a better non-invasive method for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Young Adult

RNA was extracted from stored bone marrow smears, expression of WT1 gene in the patients with MDS was examined by means of nest RT-PCR. The results showed WT1 gene was highly expressed in some cases of MDS. Expression rates were higher in the patients with RAEB and RAEB-t than those patients with RA and RAS. WT1 expression is related to the advance of MDS. The detection of WT1 gene expression by RT-PCR might be useful for assessing disease progress in the patients with MDS.