Objective To explore the role of dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA) in fatty acid metabolism in the liver of obese rats induced by high fat diet. Methods Twenty-seven SD rats were divided into control group, high-fat diet group ( HF group ) , and high-fat diet combined with DHEA treatment group ( DHEA group ) . The serum glucose and insulin levels were determined, while the free fatty acids ( FFA ) level was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The mRNA expressions of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL ) , acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( ACC ) , fatty acid synthase ( FAS ) , carnitine acyl-CoA transferase (CPT), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 ( SCD1) were measured by real-time PCR. Finally, oil red O staining was also used to observe the changes in hepatic lipid deposition. Results ( 1) The content of hepatic FFA in HF group was significantly higher than that in control group ( P<0.05) , but decreased in DHEA group compared with that in HF group (P<0.05). (2) Compared with HF group, the mRNA expressions of HSL, LPL, ACC, FAS in DHEA group were significantly lower while the mRNA expressions of CPT1, CPT2, and SCD1 were significantly higher ( all P<0.05). (3) Oil-red O staining showed that the liver lipid content in high fat diet-fed rats were significantly increased compared with that in the chow diet group( P<0.05) , but there was no difference between HF and DHEA groups. However, the structural damage of HF group was more evident compared with DHEA group. Conclusion DHEA may reduce the content of hepatic FFA in high-fat diet-induced obese rats via inhibiting the production of FFA and promoting theβ-oxidation of FFA.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of three-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) sequence in preoperative evaluation of acoustic neuroma.Methods Totally 57 patients with acoustic neuroma confirmed by surgery and pathology were enrolled.All patients underwent preoperative routine head MR and 3D-SPACE sequence.The position,size and shape of the tumors were observed,and the display rate of surrounding cranial nerves was evaluated with 3D-SPACE sequence.The results were compared with those of conventional MRI and operation.Results All 57 patients were found with single tumor.The tumor in 1 patient (1/57,1.75％) limited in the internal auditory canal,and those in another 56 patients (56/57,98.25％) exceed the internal auditory canal crossing growth.The inner auditory canal fundus in 26 patients (26/57,45.61 ％) were completely filled by the tumors,while those in another 31 patients (31/57) were uncompletely filled.3D-SPACE sequence showed 21 patients (21/57,36.84％) with solid type lesions,35 patients (61.40％,35/57) with solid with cystic type lesions and 1 patient (1/57,1.76％) with cystic type lesion.The coincidence rate of lesion types showed with 3D-SPACE sequence and intraoperative findings was 85.96 ％ (49/57).The display rate of trigeminal nerve internal cisternal segment,lower cranial nerves cisternal segment,abducens nerve cisternal segment,facial nerve internal acoustic meatus segment,facial nerve cisternal segment and acoustic nerve cisternal segment was 100％ (57/57),100％(57/57),75.44％ (43/57),50.88％ (29/57),17.53％ (10/57) and 19.30％ (11/57),respectively,all significantly increased compared with those of conventional MRI (all P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D-SPACE sequence can accurately display the relationship between tumor and adjacent cranial nerves,therefore has important clinical value in preoperative evaluation of acoustic neuroma.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum β-amyloid (Aβ) 42 level and cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD).Methods:Consecutive patients with CSVD admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from September 2016 to September 2019 were enrolled retrospectively. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Chinese edition), Clinical Dementia Rating and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale were used for neuropsychological evaluations. According to the diagnostic criteria of mild cognitive impairment, they were divided into cognitive impairment group and normal cognitive function group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum Aβ42 level for cognitive impairment. Results:A total of 171 patients with CSVD were enrolled. The serum Aβ42 was 2.14±0.56 μg/L. Eight-one patients (47.4%) had cognitive impairment, and 90 (52.6%) had normal cognitive function. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and serum Aβ42 between the cognitive impairment group and the normal cognitive function group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, smoking, diabetes, blood pressure and history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, serum Aβ42 (odd ratio [ OR] 2.974, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.632-6.348; P=0.009), hypertension ( OR 2.063, 95% CI 1.340-5.438; P=0.021) and fasting blood glucose ( OR, 1.598, 95% CI 1.167-4.156; P=0.030) were the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Aβ42 was 0.700 (95% CI 0.619-0.782; P<0.001). The optimal cut-off value was 2.39 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 56.8% and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusions:Aβ42 is independently correlated with cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD, and can be used to predict cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD.

OBJECTIVETo assess the impact of natural selection and genetic background on the polymorphisms of HLA-G 3-untranslated regions (UTR) among five ethnic Chinese populations.

METHODSPCR and DNA sequencing were used to determine the polymorphisms among 432 individuals from the five ethnic populations. Their genetic background was determined by genotyping of 10 short tandem repeats (STRs).

RESULTSEight variations were identified among Gelao, Mongolian and Kirgiz populations, while only 7 were found in Shui and Dai people. For all 3 southern populations (Gelao, Shui, and Dai), the observed heterozygosites (Ho) was higher than expected heterozygosities (He). But this was reversed for the 2 northern populations (Mongolian and Kirgiz). The Ho and He of the 10 neutral STRs were in random distribution. Ewens-Watterson testing based on haplotypes of the HLA-G 3'UTR has suggested that a natural selection had occurred in the region where Dai and Shui had inhabited, but not in the northern region where Mongolian and Kirgiz population inhabited. Polygenetic trees based on the HLA and STRs were also different.

CONCLUSIONThe HLA-G 3'UTR of Dai and Shui people who lived in southern China may have subjected to a selection pressure. Based on current knowledge, this pressure may have been driven by a pathogenic selection.

3' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; HLA-G Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Selection, Genetic

Objective To explore the value of small surface coil combined with three-dimensional double-echo steady-state with water excitation (3D-DESS-WE) sequence in displaying mandibular nerves and their branches. Methods The maxillofacial regions of 52 volunteers were scanned unilaterally by a small surface coil combined with 3D-DESS-WE sequence. According to the Gray's anatomy atlas,MPR and CPR was done according to the anatomic position of mandibular nerve and the branches,the signal characteristics of the nerves and neighboring structures were analyzed. The displaying rate of the mandibular nerves and their branches were evaluated.The image quality and display of the nerve were subjectively scored. The signal intensity(SI) of the nerve and adjacent lateral pterygoid muscle were measured. The signal intensity ratio(SIR) of mandibular nerve/lateral pterygoid muscle (SIRN/M) was calculated. Results Compared with the muscles, the nerve showed iso-signal intensity. The subjective scores for all small coil 3D-DESS-WE images were 3.02 ± 0.82. The displaying rates of V3 trunk,anterior trunk,buccal nerve, posterior trunk,inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve were all 100%. V3 posterior trunk,inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve showed the best quality scores,which were all about 3 points,and the SIRN/M were about 1. The auricular temporal nerve and masseter muscle nerve were also basically satisfied. The displaying rate of mylohyoid muscle nerve,medial pterygoid nerve and lateral pterygoid nerve was low. Conclusion Small surface coil combine with 3D-DESS-WE sequence performed high-quality in mandibular nerves and their branches MR imaging using MPR,CPR post-processing technology,which are suitable for clinical application.

Objective To investigate serum lipid profiles in newly diagnosed patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using lipidomics and correlate these features with hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism associated with PCOS and obesity. Methods 32 newly-diagnosed PCOS women and 34 controls were enrolled and divided into obese and lean subgroups according to the body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were collected. Serum lipid profiles including phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFAs), and bioactive lipids were analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS. Results PCOS patients, in particular, the obese ones with fatty liver, have abnormal phosphatidylcholine (PC)/lysophospholipid (LPC) metabolism. PC was increased (16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, 18∶2, and 20∶4), while LPC was decreased (16∶0, 18∶0, and 18∶1; all P<0.05). Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were decreased significantly, and the long chain saturated fatty acid was increased. We also found that insulin stimulated the metabolism of PUFAs, but the androgen inhibits the metabolism of PUFAs by measuring their metabolites. Conclusion PCOS patients have metabolic disorders of phospholipids and PUFAs. Insulin stimulated while androgen inhibited PUFAs metabolism.

Objective:To prepare the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab by ligating with C3Fab and to investigate its role in plasma half-life.Methods:The C3Fab peptide derived from protein G was molecularly fused with the nanobody P3C8 by DNA recombination technology. The nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab was inducibly expressed and purified in the E. coli BL21 strain, and the binding of it to PD-L1 protein, mouse IgG, and PD-L1-expressing tumor cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The residual P3C8-C3Fab was detected in mouse serum at different times using double-antibody sandwich ELISA to assess the prolongation of the plasma half-life of PD-L1 nanobodies by C3Fab. Results:The nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab was successfully constructed, and it could efficiently express itself in soluble form in BL21. The purified NbP3C8-C3Fab protein was obtained with a mass fraction of about 90% at a yield of 7.18 mg/L. The affinity of P3C8-C3Fab for PD-L1 protein and mouse IgG gradually increased with increasing mass concentration and showed a concentration correlation. The binding of P3C8-C3Fab to lung cancer A549 cells showed a concentration correlation. The concentration standard curve of P3C8-C3Fab in mouse serum showed a typical S-shape with a concentration correlation. The plasma half-life of P3C8 was only 0.44 h, while the plasma half-life of P3C8-C3Fab was 21.27-fold higher, up to 9.36 h.Conclusions:The linkage of C3Fab to the nanobodies of P3C8 can significantly prolong the plasma half-life of P3C8, which is valuable for the improvement of in vivo nanobody effects.

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. Inactivated vaccines and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) indirect hemagglutination reagents are available for prevention and serological detection, but high culture costs and complex antigen quantification have been plagued by production staff. In order to solve these problems in production practice, a sugar fermentation medium with an initial pH value of 7.8, which could improve the production of two antigens simultaneously, was screened out by changing the initial pH value based on previous Mccp metabolomics analysis. Since phenol red can be identified by UV absorption spectrum and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to anionic capsular polysaccharide, a UV spectrum measurement method for analyzing the culture stage reached by Mccp and a CTAB precipitation test for relative quantification of capsular polysaccharide antigen content in the fermentation broth were established. The UV spectrum observation method can guide the production of Mccp according to the growth curve of Mccp, which greatly reduces the monitoring time of the traditional CCU method and improves the accuracy of the original eye-observation method. The established CTAB precipitation test can complete the monitoring of CPS content within 5 hours, which greatly reduces the time required compared with the traditional differential technique, and its accuracy was verified by the phenol-sulfuric acid method. The optimized culture medium and the two correlation comparison methods established in this study can effectively reduce the production cost of Mccp and improve the production efficiency. The two assays have been used in the research at our laboratory, which provides experimental data for further improvement of the production process of CCPP inactivated vaccine and capsular polysaccharide as well as rapid quantification.
Humans ; Animals ; Goats ; Cetrimonium ; Mycoplasma ; Polysaccharides