AIM: To analyze the subcellular localization of Arnt2 in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). METHODS: Based on the amino acids sequence of Arnt2 (LOCUS:NP_036913), the subcellular localization of Arnt2 in eukaryotic cells and the nuclear export signals (NES) of Arnt2 were predicted in CBS bioinformatics database. The subcellular localization of Arnt2 in rat cerebellar granule neurons was detected by the method of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSM) analysis. RESULTS: It was predicted that Arnt2 located in nuclei of eukaryotic cells with the most probability, while located in cytoplasmic mitochondria with a slight possibility. A nuclear export signal was found in Arnt2 amino acids sequence, it was identified to be the leucine of No.143 that located in N-terminal of Arnt2 amino acids sequence. Finally, the result of LSM analysis shows nuclear localization of Arnt2 in rat CGNs. CONCLUSION: Arnt2 is located in nuclei of normal rat CGNs, it suggests that Arnt2 has the tendency to translocate into mitochondria after induced by some of inducible factors, for both the possibility of mitochondria localization and NES exist in Arnt2 amino acids sequence.

AIM: To observe the expression of neuronal Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2) involved in neuronal apoptosis evoked by low K + and to investigate the relationship between ARNT2 and neuronal apoptosis. METHODS: After neuron apoptosis model was established, the changes of mRNA and protein of ARNT2 during apoptosis were investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Immunofluorescence was analyzed by confocal microscopy to probe the subcellular localization of ARNT2. RESULTS: Induced by low K +, the expression of ARNT2 mRNA was up-regulated obviously at the point of 30 min, and peaks at the point of 1 h. This up-regulated expression lasted for 12 h, and the variation of ARNT2 protein was similar to that of mRNA. The results of immunofluorescence analyzed by confocal microscopy showed that the localization of ARNT2 protein was in the nucleus. CONCLUSION: ARNT2 locate in nuclei of normal cerebellar granule neurons of rat. During the process of apoptosis evoked by low K +, both mRNA and protein of ARNT2 are overexpressed.

AIM To investigate the protection of plicamycin on apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) of rat. METHODS TUNEL, Hoechst 33258 staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescein diacetate staining were used to detect morphological and biochemical characteristics of apoptosis in primary rat CGN. RESULTS Being pre-incubated with plicamycin for 1 h and lasting for 24 h, rat CGN apoptosis induced by low potassium basal modified Eagle′s medium for 24 h was inhibited in a plicamycin concentration-dependent manner. This effective concentrations of plicamycin were from 50 to 200 nmol·L-1, and the maximum inhibitory rate of plicamycin on CGN apoptosis was near 80% at 200 nmol·L-1. CONCLUSIONPlicamycin inhibits rat CGN apoptosis induced by low potassium.

【Objective】To study the effect of the specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 on apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons induced by low potassium.【Methods】Apoptosis was induced by switching the cultured cerebellar granule neurons from a culture medium containing K+ 25 mmol*L-1 to a medium containing K+ 5 mmol*L-1 (cLK).Fragmentation of DNA was analyzed using agarose gel eletrophoresis.SAPK/JNK activity was measured by SAPK/JNK assay kit.【Results】Low potassium resulted in apoptosis as characterized by morphological and biochemical features,but the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 improved the survival of cerebellar granule neurons cultured in cLK medium by blocking apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.The expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun increased and the activity of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) elevated when cerebellar granule neurons were cultured in cLK medium.But when the cerebellar granule neurons cultured in cLK medium were exposed to 25 μmol*L-1 SB203580,the expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun and the activity of JNK were both decreased evidently.【Conclusions】These results indicate that SB203580 inhibits the activation of JNK and phosphorylation of c-Jun,and therefore protects granule neurons from apoptosis induced by low potassium.

Objective: To evaluate the self awareness of professional competencies and its development of teachers for health in primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, so as to provide a reference for development of professional competencies and future specialized development. Methods: A survey was conducted among 1 722 teachers for health in primary and secondary school by the professional competency questionnaire. Results: Most of the teachers for health had bachelor s degrees (65.6%) and junior professional titles (43.4%), the full time teachers accounted for 66.5%, the percentage of teaching health education courses was 69.8 %, 7.7% took part in the formal class of schedule; the two top scorers were the dimension of "professional ethic as a teacher" and "school public health prevention and control" (4.68±0.43, 4.55±0.47); the two lowest scorers dimensions were related to school health education with increasing standard deviation (3.96±0.66, 3.91±0.65); the mean of self rated competency of the 6-14 years working experience group was slightly higher in all dimensions, that of 15 years or above group was lower than 6-14 years group in the total system and the dimensions of professional ethic as a teacher and emergency handling of accidents, and in responsing specific health problems dimension, the mean of 15 years or above group lower than that of 1-5 years group ( P <0.05). Conclusion The entry threshold of teachers for health in primary and secondary school is a critical consideration; Teachers competency preparations are satisfying in professional ethics and school public health prevention/control; meanwhile, the overall health education competencies were insufficient, and noticeable differences in the competency level among teachers are observed. It suggest drawing up entry qualifications and professional standards for health education teachers to guide the teacher s learning and improvement, calling for facilitating the professional promotion of teachers at the government s policy level.

A 3D printed patient-specific surgical guide plate is an auxiliary device made with the help of computer-aided design and 3D printing technology according to a surgical plan. It is used in reduction and internal fixation of fracture and specific corrective osteotomy as well. It is very adaptive as it has been widely used in trauma surgery, joint surgery and spine surgery, as well as in surgical treatment of bone tumors. Digital orthopedic technology is an important means to realize orthopedic precision medicine. This paper reviews the technical advantages, applications, main problems and future prospects of 3D printed patient-specific surgical guide plates in the field of orthopedics based on the recent literature.

Objective:To evaluate spectral CT metal artifacts reduction (MAR) technique in reducing metal artifacts of spinal implants in a phantom.Methods:Ovine spines were chosen as anthropomorphic phantom. The phantom including the pedicle screws, 3D-printed vertebral body (VB) and mesh cage were examined using spectral CT. Postoperative CT images were reconstructed at 70—140 keV with 10 keV interval of MAR and non-MAR. Artifact index (AI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were evaluated by CT and SD values in ROIs around the implants. Visibility of bony structures, the artifacts of pedicle screw, 3D-printed VB and mesh cage were subjectively evaluated. Plotting curves of AI and SNR with the increasing keV were drawn. The AI and SNR were compared at lower (70 keV), medium (100 keV) and high (130 keV) level between MAR and non-MAR images using the paired t-test, and the subjective scores were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Results:The AI values around pedicle screws (anterior, posterior and lateral), 3D-printed VB and mesh cage decreased with the increase of keV, while SNR improved in MAR and non-MAR images. The AI values in the anterior, lateral and posterior pedicle screws and lateral titanium implants were significantly lower in MAR than those in non-MAR ( P<0.05). The AI value in posterior 3D-printed vertebral was lower in MAR than that of non-MAR only at 70 keV ( P<0.001). The SNR values in the anterior and posterior pedicle screws, 3D-printed VB increased with the increase of keV, but decreased in other ROIs. In the subjective evaluation, the image scores of MAR were higher than those of non-MAR ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Spectral CT using the MAR reconstruction can effectively reduce metal artifacts of spinal implants. The effect is better in pedicle screw and mesh cage than 3D-printed VB.

AIM: To investigate the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and metabolically associated fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 2 406 subjects in Standardized Metabolic Disease Control were recruited from the National Center for Standardized Metabolic Disease Control in The First Hospital of Lanzhou University. The population was divided into Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 according to 25(OH)D quartile. The prevalence of MAFLD and related clinical indicators among the four groups were compared, and the influencing factors of MAFLD were analyzed by Logistic regression. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to explore the relationship between 25(OH)D and MAFLD. RESULTS: The prevalence of MAFLD was different with different vitamin D levels. The prevalence of MAFLD was lower in the group with high 25(OH)D level. The level of 25(OH)D in patients with MAFLD was lower than that in patients with T2DM alone, and the number of vitamin D deficiency was relatively higher. Multivariate regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D was not associated with the risk of MAFLD. RCS analysis also suggested that 25(OH)D was not associated with the risk of MAFLD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MAFLD is high in people with low vitamin D level, and vitamin D is not associated with the risk of MAFLD after multivariate adjustment.

We investigated the enhanced immune response of a recombinant T cell immunogen as an effective cellular immune adjuvant. The T cell immunogen named TI contained several T cell epitopes from the VP1, VP4, 3A and 3D proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and two pan-T helper (T(H)) cell sites to broaden the immunogenicity of the protein. Meanwhile, another fusion protein named OA-VP1 was expressed in bacteria, which contained two VP1 proteins of O and Asia1 type FMDV. Mice were vaccinated with commercially inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein with or without the TI immunogen. The results show that mice inoculated with inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein supplemented with TI immunogen produced significantly higher level of neutralizing antibodies (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) than the mice only inoculated with inactivated vaccine or OA-VP1 protein by microneutralization assay. An obvious increase in T cell number by flow cytometric analysis and significantly higher concentration of IFN-gamma secreted in culture media of spleen lymphocytes were observed in groups supplemented with TI immunogen (P < 0.01). TI immunogen was an effective stimulator for humoral and cellular immunity and could help improve the immunogenicity of inactivated vaccine or protein subunit vaccine.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; immunology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; immunology ; Immunization ; Mice ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology

Objective:To analyze the morphology and distribution characteristics of subchondral bone cysts of the talus by CT three-dimensional reconstruction.Methods:A total of 176 patients diagnosed with subchondral bone cyst of the talus after CT scan of the ankle or foot from 2015 to 2020 were retrieved from the imaging report database of Tianjin Hospital, including 77 males and 99 females, aged 14-84 years［(56.1±14.0)years］. After three-dimensional reconstruction of the talus and cyst area by Mimics 20.0 software, an equal 2×2 grid configuration was constructed to divide the domed articular surface into four regions: anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial and posterolateral. For subchondral cyst of the talus, area involved under grid localization, gender, age and side of the onset were recorded. The anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, depth, surface area and volume of the subchondral bone cyst of the talus were measured.Results:Subchondral cyst of the talus was anteromedial in 131 patients (74.4%), anterolateral in 5(2.8%), posteromedial in 34(19.3%), and posterolateral in 6(3.4%). Subchondral cyst of the talus occurred in the older aged (≥60 years) for 78 patients (44.3%), in the middle aged (45-59 years) for 62(35.2%), in young adults for 32(18.2%), and in preadolescents for 4(2.3%). The age composition of the subchondral cyst of the talus involving the anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial and posterolateral regions was 59(49, 64)years, 44(39, 45)years, 61(54, 68)years and 40(22, 58) years, respectively (all P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in gender and side of the onset (all P>0.05). The anteroposterior diameter of the subchondral bone cysts located anteromedially, anterolaterally, posteromedially and posterolaterally was (9.7±4.4)mm, (3.5±1.1)mm, (10.3±4.4)mm and (2.1±0.8)mm, respectively; the transverse diameter was (5.4±1.7)mm, (3.9±1.8)mm, (5.9±2.2)mm and (3.4±1.1)mm, respectively; the depth was (7.1±2.4)mm, (3.2±2.2)mm, (8.2±3.0)mm and (3.9±1.9)mm, respectively; the surface area was 156.1(82.6, 198.2)mm 2, 23.0(21.4, 28.9)mm 2, 180.0(75.1, 230.4)mm 2 and 28.0(20.3, 36.7)mm 2, respectively; the volume was 77.1(37.1, 129.1)mm 3, 23.9(14.2, 37.8)mm 3, 104.6(37.7, 157.4)mm 3 and 13.0(10.4, 16.0)mm 3, respectively. When comparing the anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, depth, surface area and volume of the subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial and posteromedial regions with the anterolateral and posterolateral regions, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01) except for the transverse diameter of the subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial region and the anterolateral region ( P>0.05). In addition, the depth of subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial region was significantly greater than that in the posteromedial region ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Subchondral bone cysts of the talar are commonly found in the middle- and old-aged population. Anteromedial lesions of the talar dome are the most commonly seen, with large and deeply involved cysts, followed by posteromedial lesions of the dome, while anterolateral and posterolateral lesions of the dome are less common and have smaller cyst sizes. An equal 2×2 grid configuration for talar cysts is useful in positioning and characterizing bone cysts, and can assist clinicians in accurately diagnosing and treating bone cysts.