OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) on the apoptosis and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) expression of mouse testis tissue.

METHODSThirty-two male BALB/c mice were randomly and equally divided into one control group and three EMP treated groups, which were whole-body exposed to EMP at 200 kV/m with 100, 200, and 400 pulses, respectively. The control group received no treatment. The pathological changes and cell apoptosis in testis tissue were analyzed by TUNEL assay. The mRNA expression of TGF-β3 in testis tissue was determined by RT-PCR, and the protein expression of TGF-β3 was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSNo obvious pathological changes were found in testis tissue after EMP exposure at 200 kV/m with 100 and 200 pulses. However, after EMP exposure with 400 pulses, degeneration and shedding of testis tissue, accompanied by significant increase in apoptosis rate (P < 0.05), was observed. The RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot showed that the expression of TGF-β3 mRNA and protein increased significantly after EMP exposure with 400 pulses as compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEMP exposure at 200 kV/m with 400 pulses increases the incidence of apoptosis and expression of TGF-β3 in mouse testis tissue, which is potentially one of the mechanisms by which EMP increases blood-testis barrier permeability in mice.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; metabolism

Objective To explore the relationship of Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) polymorphisms and haplotypes in Han population in Wenzhou city, China. Methods A total of 310 CD patients and 573 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in our study. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of AhR(rs10249788,rs2158041,rs2066853) were determined by the improved multiple ligase detection reaction technique. Unconditional logistic regression analyses was applied to analyze the allelic and genotypic differences of each SNP between CD patients and controls, as well as their influence on the clinicopathologic characteristics in CD patients. Analyses of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype were performed by Haploview 4.2 software in all study subjects. Results Compared with the controls, the variant allele (T) and genotype (CT+TT) of (rs2158041) were evidently decreased among CD patients (19.52% vs. 25.04%, P=0.009; 34.19% vs. 44.68%, P=0.003). According to"the Montreal Classification Standards", CD patients were divided into different subgroups. The variant allele(T)and genotype(CT+TT)of(rs2158041)were significantly lower in patients with terminal ileum CD than in controls (16.79% vs. 25.04%, P=0.005; 28.24% vs. 44.68%, P=0.001). Similar conclusions were also drawn in patients with constricting disease when compared with the controls(15.20%vs.25.04%,P=0.003;28.43% vs.44.68%,P=0.003).The three SNPs above were shown to be in a linkage disequilibrium.Compared with the controls respectively,the frequency of haplotype(CCG)was increased in CD patients (44.73% vs. 39.60%, P=0.039), whereas that of haplotype (CTG) was decreased (18.02% vs. 22.78%, P=0.047). Conclusions AhR (rs2158041) variation might influence the risk as well as the location and behavior of CD. The haplotype (CCG) possibly increase the risk of CD development, whereas haplotype(CTG)might decrease it.

Objective To explore the relation between genetic polymorphisms and the expression in colonic tissues of solute-linked carrier family 26 member A3 (SLC26A3) and susceptibility of Crohn's disease (CD) in Han population of Zhejiang Province.Methods A total of 265 CD patients and 566 gender-and age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled.Alleles and genotypes of SLC26A3 (rs17154444,rs7810937,rs7785539,rs2108225,rs6951457) were examined by SNaPshot.The linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were also analyzed.Eight patients with colonic CD and eight genderand age-matched patients with benign colonic polyps (control group) were selected.The expression level of SLC26A3 protein in the colonic tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.T test and rank-sum test were performed for statistical analysis.Unconditional Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the distributions of SLC26A3 polymorphisms and their effects on the clinicopathological features of CD patients.Results The frequencies of mutant allele of rs2108225,rs7785539 and rs6951457 of the CD group were 53.77％ (285/530),4.72％ (25/530) and 2.83％ (15/530),and the frequencies of mutant genotype were 76.23 ％ (202/265),9.43 ％ (25/265) and 5.66 ％ (15/265),which were lower than those of the control group (60.95％,690/1 132;8.13％,92/1 132;6.10％,69/1 132;83.92％,475/566;15.37％,87/566 and 11.84％,67/566),and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The frequencies of mutant allele of rs17154444 and rs7810937 of the CD group were 10.19％ (54/530) and 34.91 ％ (185/530),and the frequencies of mutant genotype were 18.49 ％ (49/265) and 56.23 ％ (149/ 265),compared with those of the control group (8.30％,94/1 132;30.92％,350/1 132;15.55％,88/566 and 51.77％,293/566),the differences were not statistically significant (all P＞0.05).The frequency of mutant allele G of rs2108225 in patients with ileal CD was 47.89 ％ (91/190),and the frequency of mutant genotypeAG+GG was 65.26％(62/95),which were both lower than those of colonic CD (61.62％,122/198 and 85.86％,85/99),and the differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.012 5).rs7810937,rs7785539 and rs2108225 were in a strong linkage disequilibrium.The frequencies of haplotypes AGG and ACA of the CD group were 53.96％ (286/530) and 4.34％ (23/530),which were lower than those of the control group (60.07％,680/1 132 and 7.51％,85/1 132),and the differences were statistically significant (52 =5.534,P=0.019;x2 =5.967,P=0.015).And the frequency of haplotype AGA of the CD group was 8.30％ (44/530),which was higher than that of the control group (1.15％,13/1 132),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =7.793,P＜0.01).Furthermore,the expression level of SLC26A3 protein in colonic tissues of eight colonic CD patients was 0.19±0.07,which was lower than that of patients with benign colonic polyps (0.26 ±-0.03),and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.55,P=0.023).In addition,the expression levels of SLC26A3 protein in patients carrying genotype GG or AG of rs2108225 were 0.19±0.03 and 0.10±0.01,respectively,which were lower than that of patients carrying genotype AA (0.26± 0.02),and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.19,P=0.033;t=9.06,P=0.003).Conclusions The genetic polymorphismns and their haplotypes of SLC26A3 (rs7785539,rs2108225 and rs6951457) are associated with the susceptibility of CD,and SLC26A3 (rs2108225) polymorphism may affect the expression level of SLC26A3 protein in the colonic tissues.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of transcobalamine II (TCN2) gene polymorphisms and serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin Band folate with ulcerative colitis (UC) among Chinese patients.

METHODSFor 397 UC patients and 574 controls, two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TCN2 gene (rs1801198, rs9606756) were tested with an improved multiple ligase detection reaction method. Serum Hcy, vitamin Band folate were measured with an enzymatic cycling assay and an chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively.

RESULTSThe allelic and genotypic frequencies of rs1801198 and rs9606756 did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Compared with those of the control group, the frequencies of G allele and CG+GG genotype of rs1801198 were greater in patients with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.05). The same conclusion may also be drawn for the G allele and AG genotype of rs9606756 (both P< 0.05). Compared with the controls, average Hcy level was enhanced in UC patients (P< 0.01), whereas average vitamin Band folate levels were decreased in UC patients (both P< 0.01). In both groups, the average level of Hcy was lower in individuals carrying CC of (rs1801198) than in those with CG+GG (both P< 0.05). A similar conclusion was also drawn for individuals with AA of rs9606756 when compared with those carrying AG(both P< 0.05). Compared with patients with mild UC, average Hcy level was increased in those with moderate and severe UC (P< 0.01), while average vitamin Band folate levels were decreased in those with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.01). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy), vitamin Bdeficiency and folate deficiency was greater in UC patients than in controls (all P< 0.01). In UC patients, the level of Hcy was negatively correlated with those of vitamin B(P< 0.01), albumin(P< 0.01), red blood cells(P< 0.01) and platelet (P< 0.05), but positively correlated with white blood cells(P< 0.01) and Mayo score (P< 0.01). Both HHcy and folate deficiency were independent risk factors for UC (OR=4.173, OR=5.206, both P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) variations, as well as serum levels of Hcy, vitamin Band folate, are correlated with UC. Both HHcy and folate deficiency are independent risk factors for UC.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; blood ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Genotype ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcobalamins ; genetics ; Vitamin B 12 ; blood

Objective To investigate the relationship between forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp) 3 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility and phenotype of Crohn's disease (CD) in Han nationality in Zhejiang province.Methods From January 2007 to December 2015,268 diagnosed CD patients and 490 healthy controls were enrolled.The four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Foxp3 rs3761547,rs2232365,rs2294021 and rs3761548 were examined by a SNaPshot technique,and their relation with the efficacy of infliximab was evaluated.The linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were also analyzed.Unconditional Logistic regression analysis was performed for statistical analysis.Results There was no significant difference in the four mutant alleles and genotype frequencies between 31 patients with effective infliximab treatment and 19 patients with ineffective treatment (all P＞0.05).The results of LD analysis indicated that the above four SNP were in a tight linkage.The frequency of haplotype GCGC of male CD group was 29.20％ (40/137),which was higher than that of male healthy control group (19.37％,43/222),and the difference was statistically significant (odd ratio (OR)=1.717,95％ confidence interval (CI) 1.045 to 2.820,P=0.032).The frequency of haplotype ACGA of female CD group was 13.36％ (35/262),which was lower than that of female healthy control group (19.03％,102/536),and the difference was statistically significant (OR=0.656,95％CI 0.433 to 0.995,P=0.046).The frequency of haplotype ATAC of male colon (L2) type was 25.93％ (7/27),which was lower than that of ileocecal colon (L3) type (75.38％,49/65),and the difference was statistically significant (OR=0.114,95％CI 0.041 to 0.320,P＜0.01).The frequency of haplotype GCGC of male L2 type was 51.85％ (14/27),which was higher than that of L3 type (9.23％,6/65),and the difference was statistically significant (OR=10.590,95％CI 3.423 to 32.758,P＜0.01).The frequency of haplotype ATAC of male stenotic (B2) type was 73.21％ (41/56),which was higher than that of nonstenotic and nonpenetrated (B1) type (47.30％,35/74),and the difference was statistically significant (OR=0.328,95％CI 0.156 to 0.693,P=0.003).The frequency of haplotype GCGC of male B2 type was 17.86％ (10/56) which was lower than that of nonstenotic and nonpenetrated (B1) type (39.19％,29/74),and the difference was statistically significant (OR=2.946,95％CI 1.295 to 6.784,P=0.009).The frequency of haplotype ACGA of male penetrated (B3) type was 71.43％ (5/7),which was higher than that of nonstenotic and nonpenetrated (B1) type (12.16％,9/74),and the difference was statistically significant (OR =0.055,95％ CI 0.009 to 0.329,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Foxp3 (rs3761547,rs2232365,rs2294021,rs3761548) gene polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility and phenotype of CD in Chinese Han patients,but not related with the efficacy of infliximab.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) frequently manifest following ankle joint trauma, causing ankle pain, swelling and impaired mobility, thereby significantly impeding daily activities of the patients. Presently, clinical treatment approaches encompass both conservative management and surgical intervention. Conservative management endeavors to alleviate symptoms, while patients experiencing persistent symptoms resort to surgical intervention. Commonly employed surgical treatments encompass bone marrow stimulation, autologous osteochondral transplantation, and allogeneic osteochondral transplantation. Bone marrow stimulation is employed as a therapeutic approach for the management of smaller OLT, demonstrating favorable short-term effectiveness; however, the long-term prognosis remains uncertain. Autologous osteochondral transplantation is a viable option for larger OLT lesions, albeit it carries the potential of complications at the donor site. Conversely, allogenic osteochondral transplantation exhibits a diminished success rate. In recent times, the utilization of cell transplantation techniques has garnered escalating interest in the treatment of OLT due to their capacity to regenerate cartilage resembling hyaline and their diverse range of cellular origins. The authors reviewed the progress of cell transplantation in the treatment of OLT, providing a reference for the clinical treatment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of hypercapnia at admission on the clinical prognosis and the severity of infection in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).Methods:The clinical data of 219 SCAP patients admitted to the department of emergency & critical care medicine of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from December 2017 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) within 1 day after admission, the patients were divided into hypocapnia group [HO group, PaCO 2 < 35 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa)], normal carbonation group (NC group, PaCO 2 35-45 mmHg) and hypercapnia group (HC group, PaCO 2 > 45 mmHg). The clinical parameters of patients, such as gender, age, underlying diseases, white blood cell (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), pH value and lactate (Lac) within 1 day after admission were reviewed. The oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2), pneumonia severity index (PSI) score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score were evaluated. The change tendencies of each index on day 1, day 3, and day 5 after admission were observed subsequently. Meanwhile, the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), length of hospital stays and 28-day mortality among three groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the 28-day cumulative survival rate of patients with SCAP among three groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of IMV and 28-day death in patients with SCAP. Results:Compared with the HO group ( n = 68) and NC group ( n = 72), the HC group ( n = 79) had higher proportion of preexisting comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and PSI score, lower PCT, CRP, IL-6, and pH values. Compared with the HO group and NC group, there were smaller improvement trends on the levels of WBC, PCT, CRP, IL-6, PaO 2/FiO 2 and Lac at day 3 and day 5 as compared with day 1 in the HC group. On the 5th day after admission, the levels of WBC, PCT, CRP, IL-6, and Lac in the HC group were significantly higher than those in the HO group and NC group [WBC (×10 9/L): 18.33±1.44 vs. 10.89±2.37, 11.15±1.74; PCT (μg/L): 5.04±1.18 vs. 3.46±0.87, 3.58±0.83; CRP (mg/L): 78.43±7.17 vs. 54.24±4.97, 57.93±5.39; IL-6 (ng/L): 75.35±11.92 vs. 60.11±10.27, 57.88±12.34; Lac (mmol/L): 4.36±1.24 vs. 0.78±0.39, 0.86±0.64; all P < 0.01], and the lowest in PaO 2/FiO 2 was found in the HC group as compared with the HO and NC groups (mmHg: 171.31±6.73 vs. 226.68±7.36, 225.93±6.92, both P < 0.01). Compared with the HO group and NC group, the HC group had highest proportion of IMV (29.1% vs. 22.1%, 22.2%, both P < 0.01) and 28-day mortality (26.6% vs. 13.2%, 13.9%, both P < 0.01). Even when the patients with COPD were excluded from the analysis, the differences persisted among the groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that HC group had a higher 28-day cumulative survival rate as compared with the HO and NC groups (Log-Rank test: χ 12 = 4.976, P1 = 0.026; χ 22 = 4.629, P2 = 0.031). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6, PSI score and hypercapnia within 1 day and PCT on the 5th day after admission were the independent risk factors of requiring IMV and 28-day death in patients with SCAP [odds ratio ( OR) were 0.325, 1.229, 1.396, 1.313, respectively, all P < 0.01]. Even when patients with COPD were excluded from the analysis, the above results had not been changed. Conclusion:Hypercapnia at admission was associated with higher proportion of IMV and 28-day mortality in patients with SCAP, which may be related to its early suppression of inflammation and then increment of infection.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of resveratrol on ameliorating the cognitive dysfunction induced by sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) in rats.Methods:The 12 weeks old male Sprague-dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into sham group, sepsis group and resveratrol group, with 30 rats in each group. The rat model of sepsis was made by injecting LPS (10 mg/kg) into tail vein. The rats in sham group was given the same amount of normal saline (NS). After LPS injection, resveratrol (8 mg·kg -1·d -1) was intraperitoneally injected once daily for 2 days in the resveratrol group; the same amount of NS was given to the sepsis group and sham group. At 24 hours after model establishment, the cognitive function of the experimental rats was assessed by the Morris water maze test. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated by the brain water content (BWC) and Evans blue (EB) test. The protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), Occludin and Claudin-5 in cortical tissue were detected by Western Blot. Double immunofluorescence was used to verify the co-localization of MMP-9 protein and the marker protein of astrocyte GFAP in the cortical tissue of rats. Results:Compared with the sham group, the escape latency in the sepsis group was significantly longer [48-hour escape latency (s): 56.56±6.43 vs. 36.62±3.32, 72-hour escape latency (s): 57.72±7.23 vs. 26.46±4.24, both P < 0.01], the BWC and extravasation of EB were increased [BWC: (84.56±2.03)% vs. (76.82±2.22)%, EB (μg/g): 17.56±2.28 vs. 6.25±1.36, both P < 0.01], the expression of MMP-9 protein was increased (MMP-9/β-actin: 0.73±0.01 vs. 0.24±0.01, P < 0.01), the protein expressions of Occludin and Claudin-5 were decreased (Occludin/β-actin: 0.45±0.02 vs. 0.86±0.04, Claudin-5/β-actin: 0.62±0.03 vs. 0.96±0.05, both P < 0.01). At the same time, the co-localization expression of MMP-9 protein and the astrocytes of the cortical were increased [MMP-9 fluorescence intensity (AU): 38.66±4.26 vs. 17.23±3.04, MMP-9 positive cells: (26.92±1.77)% vs. (12.82±1.46)%, both P < 0.01]. Compared with the sepsis group, the escape latency in resveratrol group was significantly shorter [48-hour escape latency (s): 41.42±6.27 vs. 56.56±6.43, 72-hour escape latency (s): 33.46±7.17 vs. 57.72±7.23, both P < 0.01], the BWC and extravasation of EB were decreased [BWC: (77.15±2.27)% vs. (84.56±2.03)%, EB (μg/g): 7.74±1.88 vs. 17.56±2.28, both P < 0.01], the expression of MMP-9 protein was decreased (MMP-9/β-actin: 0.25±0.01 vs. 0.73±0.01, P < 0.01), the protein expressions of Occludin and Claudin-5 were increased (Occludin/β-actin: 0.82±0.03 vs. 0.45±0.02, Claudin-5/β-actin: 0.92±0.04 vs. 0.62±0.03, both P < 0.01). At the same time, the co-localization expression of MMP-9 protein and the astrocytes of the cortical were decreased [MMP-9 fluorescence intensity (AU): 19.44±4.37 vs. 38.66±4.26, MMP-9 positive cells: (13.11±1.29)% vs. (26.92±1.77)%, both P < 0.01]. Conclusion:Resveratrol can inhibit the expression of MMP-9 protein in the astrocytes of the cortical cortex of rats, and then reduce the degradation of tight junction proteins of Occludin and Claudin-5, thereby reducing BBB permeability and eventually ameliorate the cognitive dysfunction induced by SAE.