[ Abstract] Ischemic brain injury is closely associated w ith oxidative stress, neuron loss, and inflammatory reaction. The thioredoxin system is an important antioxidant system in human body. It plays the important roles in the process of fighting against oxidative stress damage, inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. In recent years, the roles of thioredoxin system in cerebral ischemia have attracted more and more attention. This article review s the roles of thioredoxin in cerebral ischemia.

AIM: To evaluate the specific cellular immune response in mice inoculated with the recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface vaccine (rHBs). METHODS: Spleen T lymphocyte reactivity to rHBs was assessed by a proliferation assay and cytokine secretion. BALB/c mouse were intraperitoneally inoculated with rHBs at doses of 0.65, 1.25, 2.5 or 5 ?g for once or twice. 4 weeks later, spleen lymphocytes were harvested and restimulated with rHBs in experimental group or with PBS as control. The spleen lymphocytes were labeled with [~3H]-thymidine for 3 days. The [~3H]-thymidine incorporation was measured, which expressed as the incorporation of [~3H] (counts?min~ -1 ) and stimulation index (SI) was calculated by the method of dividing the cpm obtained in the experimental group by that in control group. The content of IL-2 and IFN-? secreted from the spleen lymphocyte were measured by the method of ELISA. RESULTS: 2 weeks after primary vaccination, the SI in 0.65, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 groups was 1.55, 1.93, 2.41, 2.81 ng/L, respectively. IL-2 was 5.48?8.88, 9.28?6.98, 28.53?14.32, 64.69?20.88 ng/L, respectively. IFN-? was 8.22?8.61, 9.89?9.34, 20.27?15.50, 30.77?22.12 ng/L, respectively. 2 weeks after boost vaccination, the SI in 0.65, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 groups was 1.61, 2.05, 3.74, 3.62 ng/L, respectively. The IL-2 was 5.75?5.04, 102.53?67.52, 177.13?91.12, 332.10?124.31 ng/L, respectively. IFN-? was 3.63?4.42, 28.33?13.04, 59.66?25.75, 80.73?19.30 ng/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Specific proliferation activity and IL-2, IFN-? secretion from the spleen lymphocytes of the mouse inoculated with rHBs are produced,that the strength is dependent on the dose of vaccination.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on synaptic transmission signal molecules in rats with vascular dementia (VD), such as PKC, CaMKⅡ and NR2B, and discuss the molecular mechanism of acupuncture treatment for VD.Methods The multi-infarct dementia model was established by injection of emboli into the internal carotid artery. Experimental rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, acupuncture group and non-acupoint group. For acupuncture group, acupuncture needles were penetrated into bilateral Zusanli. Non-acupoint group was given acupuncture treatment at the bilateral hypochondrium (10 mm above iliac crest). The rats in normal group and model group were performed to the same amount of capture stimulation as the acupuncture and non-acupoint groups. After treatment, the hippocampal PKC activity was detected by ELISA. Western blot was used to detect CaMKⅡ expression, and the protein expression of NR2B in CA1, CA3 and DG zones was assayed by immunohistochemical staining.Results Compared with normal group, PKC activity and NR2B expression in the hippocampus significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). After the acupuncture treatment, PKC activity increased significantly (P<0.05), and the protein expression of NR2B showed a trend to increase. There was no obvious difference in CaMKⅡ expression among all groups.Conclusion Acupuncture at Zusanli can enhance the activity of hippocampal PKC, a synaptic transmission signal molecule, which maybe one of the important molecular targets for the treatment of VD.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on oxidative stress and neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rats; To investigate the molecular mechanisms of acupuncture in cognitive impairment of vascular dementia (VD) rats. Methods The animal model of VD was replicated by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) to induce CCH in rats. After modeling, rats were randomized into model group, acupuncture group and non-acupoint group. Sham-operation group was set as control group. Rats of acupuncture group and non-acupoint group were treated with needling for 2 weeks at 3 days after 2VO. Nissl and DHE staining were respectively used to evaluate the numbers of neurons and ROS level. SOD activity was examined by xanthine oxidase technique. Results Compared with sham-operation group, the number of neurons and SOD activity decreased in the model group, while the ROS level increased. Compared with the model group, the number of neurons and SOD activity increased in the acupuncture group, while the ROS level decreased. There were no obvious changes in all indexes in non-acupoint group. Conclusion Acupuncture can inhibit oxidative stress and improve neuronal damage and loss in the prefrontal cortex of VD rats.

Three pairs of specific primers were designed to amplify the F2-1, F2-2 and XF2-2 truncated sequences of ORF2 which encodes the capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2). The F2-1 sequence had most of the NLS region of ORF2, but the F2-2 and XF2-2 genes had the NLS region deleted. Truncated genes were subcloned into pET-32a(+) vectors to construct recombinant fusion expression vectors. The vectors were then transformed into Rosetta(DE3) E. coli and expressed by induction of IPTG. Expressed proteins were detected by western blotting and ELISA. The protein with best immunoreactivity was confirmed and selected, then utilized to inoculate SPF rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibodies. The protein and prepared polyclonal antibody were utilized to detect sera samples against PCV-2 from Shandong province and PCV-2 particles in PK-15 cells. In our study, three recombinant fusion proteins were successfully obtained, and the molecular weights of fusion proteins were 35.9 kDa, 33.6 kDa and 38.6 kDa respectively detected by SDS-PAGE. All of the proteins showed positive reaction with anti-PCV-2 antisera, and His-XF2-2 showed better immunoreactivity than the others. The protein of His-XF2-2 was coated as antigen in ELISA to detect the seroprevalence of PCV-2 in certain districts of Shandong province, the seropositivity rate was 27.7 % (73/264). Specific fluorescence and positive signals for PCV-2 could be detected in PK-15 cells inoculated with PCV-2 with the participation of prepared antibodies against His-XF2-2 in IFA and IPMA. Experimental results indicated that the truncated PCV-2 ORF2 gene containing most of the NLS region was successfully expressed in E. coli, and His-XF2-2 was demonstrated to have better immunoreactivity with anti-PCV-2 antisera than the other two fusion proteins. His-XF2-2 and prepared polyclonal antibodies against it had a satisfactory capability in detecting PCV-2 infection.

Cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is ubiquitously expressed in the cytomembrane of a considerable number of eukaryotic cells. Although several studies have investigated the functions of PrP(C) in cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and tumorigenesis of mammals, the correlated functions of chicken PrP(C) (chPrP(C)) remain unknown. In this study, stable chPrP(C)-downregulated Marek's disease (MD) virus-transformed avian T cells (MSB1-SiRNA-3) were established by introducing short interfering RNA (SiRNA) targeting chicken prion protein genes. We found that downregulation of chPrP(C) inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration, and induces G1 cell cycle phase arrest and apoptosis of MSB1-SiRNA-3 cells compared with Marek's disease virus-transformed avian T cells (MSB1) and negative control cells. To the best of our knowledge, the present study provides the first evidence supporting the positive correlation between the expression level of chPrP(C) and the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of MSB1 cells, but appears to protect MSB1 cells from apoptosis, which suggests it functions in the formation and development of MD tumors. This evidence may contribute to future research into the specific molecular mechanisms of chPrP(C) in the formation and development of MD tumors.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Chickens ; Down-Regulation* ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Mammals ; Marek Disease* ; RNA, Small Interfering ; T-Lymphocytes*

The structure genes spike (S), nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M), small membrane (sM) of a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strain DX isolated in Gansu province, North-west of China, were cloned, sequenced and compared with published sequences of PEDV strains. The nucleotide sequences encoding the entire S, sM, M and N genes open reading frame (ORF) of DX were 4 152, 231, 681 and 1 326 bases long respectively. There were transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) upstream of the initiator ATG of the S, N and M genes. The amino acids sequences of S, M and N contained 30, 3 and 7 potential asparagine (N)-linked glycosylation sites. Homologous analysis and phylogenetic trees showed that DX had the closest relationship with strains LJB/06, JS-2004-2Z and CH/HLJH/06 that were also isolated from China and indicated the prevalence of some PEDV isolates in China were widespread since the JS-2004-2Z strain originated from the south of the China, and LJB/06 and CH/HLJH/06 were isolated from northeast China. The N gene was cloned using two primers which contained Nco I and BamH I restriction enzyme sites and subcloned into expression vector pET30a. The recombinant plasmid was then transformed into E.coli Rossta. SDS-PAGE showed there was a protein of about 55kDa as expected and Western blot indicated the N protein had biological activity.

The complete genome sequence of transmissible Gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) strain TS, previously isolated from Gansu province, was cloned and compared with published sequence data from other TGEV strains.Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the amino acid and nucleotide sequences of the S gene showed that the TGEV strains were divided into 3 clusters. TGEV TS showed a close evolutionary relationship to the American Miller cluster but had a 5' non-translated region (NTR) sequence closely related to the American Purdue cluster.Continued culture in different cell types indicated that TGEV TS virulence could be attenuated alter fifty passages in Porcine kidney (PK-15) cells, and that the Porcine kidney cell line IB-RS-2 (IBRS) was not suitable for culture of the TGEV strain TS.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs),progenitor cells with the ability of self replication and differentiation,are able to change into many kinds of cells or tissues.The study of acupuncture combined with MSCs transplantation has made some progress and shown potential application prospect.This article summarized experimental research literatures of acupuncture combined with MSCs transplantation over the past ten years.Biological mechanisms of acupuncture combined with MSCs transplantation might be related to the increase of MSCs survival rate and the directional differentiation of MSCs induced by acupuncture.The combination of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation might be used as a potential routine technique in clinical practice.The underlying mechanisms still need to be further elucidated.

Objective:To assess the clinical efficacy of sequential radical surgery after immune and targeted therapy in downstaging patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:Data were prospectively collected from December 2018 to July 2022 on patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma which were downstaged to undergo sequential surgery after treatment with immune and targeted therapy at the Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital. There were 79 patients, with 69 men and 10 women, aged (53.0±10.9) years, being enrolled into this study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate, and the log-rank test was used for survival rate comparison. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze factors influencing patient prognosis.Results:There were 7 patients (8.9%) with China Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC) Ⅰb, Ⅱa, Ⅱb who had insufficient residual liver volume or tumor rupture before the downstaging therapy, and 38 patients (48.1%) with CNLC Ⅲa and 34 patients (43.0%) with CNLC Ⅲb. These 79 patients underwent R 0 resection after 3-20 cycles (median 5 cycles) of immune and targeted therapy. Based on the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor, the results of preoperative imaging assessment were: complete remission in 12 patients (15.2%), partial remission in 50 patients (63.3%), stable disease in 15 patients (19.0%), and disease progression in 2 patients (2.5%). The overall survival rates of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years after diagnosis were 96.1%, 83.5%, and 76.6%; and the recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery were 62.1%, 52.9%, and 34.7%, respectively. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients with a preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >20 μg/L ( HR=2.816, 95% CI: 1.232-6.432, P=0.014) and a high proportion of pathological residual tumors ( HR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.004-1.026, P=0.006) had a higher risk of postoperative recurrence; and patients with a high proportion of pathological residual tumors ( HR=1.028, 95% CI: 1.007-1.049, P=0.007) and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >400 μg/L ( HR=4.099, 95% CI: 1.193-14.076, P=0.025) had a higher risk of death. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy and sequential surgery for patients with initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma provided long-term survival benefits. Elevated preoperative alpha-fetoprotein and a high proportion of pathological residual tumor were independent risk factors for recurrence-free survival and overall survival in this group of patients.