OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a child with lymphangiectasia and lymphedema. METHODS: DNA sample of the patient was extracted and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The patient was found to carry compound heterozygote variants (c.521G>A and c.472C>T) of the CCBE1 gene, which were respectively inherited from his parents. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygote variants of the CCBE1 gene probably underlie the disease in this child.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong (ST 40) on blood lipids.

METHODSTwo hundred and four patients of hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into a Fenglong group and a Xuezhikang group, 102 cases in each group. The patients in the Fenglong group were treated with electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40). After arrival of qi, the needles were connected with acupoint nerve stimulator (LH 202 H type, HANS). The primary parameters of EA: for high triglycerides (TG) type, AM 50 Hz, intensity 1 mA, needle-retained time 20 min, twice per week; for high cholesterol (CHO) type, AM 100 Hz, intensity 1 mA, needle-retained time 30 min, thrice per week; for high low-density-lipoprotein (LDL-C) type, the same parameters as the high CHO type except the tolerable and comfortable intensity; for the mixing type, corresponding methods were alternatively used. The patients in the Xuezhikang group received Xuezhikang capsule orally, 2 capsules each time and twice daily, for total 11 weeks.

RESULTSThe total effective rates of the Fenglong group and the Xuezhi-kang group were 83.0% and 85.9%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there was no significant differences in the function of regulating blood lipids between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After one month follow-up survey, the total CHO, TG and LDL-C decreased and high-density-lipoprotein (HDL-C) increased, of which there was a significant difference in TG reduction (P < 0.05). There were no relapses in both groups.

CONCLUSIONEA at Fenglong (ST 40) can effectively regulate blood lipids with a better after-effect, which can be applied as a safe and effective method to replace medication for regulating blood lipids.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood

Morphine is a frequently used analgesic that activates the mu-opioid receptor(MOR),which has prominent side effects of tolerance.Although the inefficiency of morphine in inducing the endocytosis of MOR underlies the development of morphine tolerance,currently,there is no effective therapy to treat morphine tolerance.In the current study,we aimed to develop a monoclonal antibody(mAb)precisely targeting MOR and to determine its therapeutic efficacy on morphine tolerance and the underlying molecular mechanisms.We successfully prepared a mAb targeting MOR,named 3A5C7,by hybridoma technique using a strategy of deoxyribonucleic acid immunization combined with cell immunization,and identified it as an immunoglobulin G mAb with high specificity and affinity for MOR and binding ability to antigens with spatial conformation.Treatment of two cell lines,HEK293T and SH-SY5Y,with 3A5C7 enhanced morphine-induced MOR endocytosis via a G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2(GRK2)/β-arrestin2-dependent mechanism,as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining,flow cytometry,Western blotting,coimmunoprecipitation,and small interfering ribonucleic acid(siRNA)-based knock-down.This mAb also allowed MOR recycling from cytoplasm to plasma membrane and attenuated morphine-induced phosphorylation of MOR.We established an in vitro morphine tolerance model using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells induced by retinoic acid.Western blot,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays,and siRNA-based knockdown revealed that 3A5C7 mAb diminished hyperactivation of adenylate cyclase,the in vitro biomarker of morphine tolerance,via the GRK2/β-arrestin2 pathway.Furthermore,in vivo hotplate test demonstrated that chronic intrathecal administration of 3A5C7 significantly alle-viated morphine tolerance in mice,and withdrawal jumping test revealed that both chronic and acute 3A5C7 intrathecal administration attenuated morphine dependence.Finally,intrathecal electroporation of silencing short hairpin RNA illustrated that the in vivo anti-tolerance and anti-dependence efficacy of 3A5C7 was mediated by enhanced morphine-induced MOR endocytosis via GRK2/β-arrestin2 pathway.Collectively,our study provided a therapeutic mAb,3A5C7,targeting MOR to treat morphine tolerance,mediated by enhancing morphine-induced MOR endocytosis.The mAb 3A5C7 demonstrates promising translational value to treat clinical morphine tolerance.

Objective:To observe the effect of combination of Tanreqing injection(Tanreqing) and imipenem-cilastatin on extensively-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDPA), and study the mechanism of the combination. Method:The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Tanreqing and imipenem-cilastatin against planktonic XDPA strain isolated in clinic were determined by the broth microdilution method. The checkerboard method was used to evaluate the combination effect. The bacterial metabolic activity in mature biofilm was studied by microtiter-plate test. The destructive effect of combination drugs on dynamic biofilm was observed by using BioFlux system, and viable cells were examined by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) after treatment. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for observing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and length measurement. Result:The MIC values of imipenem-cilastatin and Tanreqing were 512 mg·L^-1 and more than 16 500 mg·L^-1. The checkerboard analysis showed that Tanreqing could enhance the sensitivity of imipenem-cilastatin, while the combination drugs synergistically inhibited the growth of bacteria. Compared with the control group or the imipenem-cilastatin individual group, the combined drugs significantly reduced the amount of living bacteria in the biofilm (P<0.05,P<0.01). BioFlux results showed that the combination drugs destructed the biofilm structure and reduced the area coverage (P<0.05) by comparing with the control group or the single drug group. The results of fluorescent staining showed that the combination drug significantly inhibited the metabolic activity of bacteria in dynamic biofilm. Tanreqing inhibited bacterial division to achieve the antibacterial effect. Conclusion:Tanreqing and imipenem-cilastatin synergistically inhibit the bacterial growth in planktonic and biofilm states, and destruct biofilms.

ObjectiveTo study the virulence and biofilm inhibition effect of Fufang Huangbai Fluid Paint （FFHBFP） on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA）， and to explore the antibacterial effect of FFHBFP on MRSA， which provides a theoretical basis and reference for clinical medication. MethodFirstly， the microdilution method and time–growth curve were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration （MIC） of FFHBFP and vancomycin （VAN） against MRSA and the effect on bacterial growth. The effects of FFHBFP and VAN on the inhibition of MRSA virulence factor lipase and restoration of hydrogen peroxide （H₂O₂） sensitivity were detected under sub-minimum inhibitory concentration （sub-MIC）. The inhibitory effect of FFHBFP and VAN on MRSA biofilm formation and maturation was detected by the microplate method. The morphological changes of mature biofilms before and after administration were observed under a scanning electron microscope （SEM）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was utilized to detect the effect of 50.600 g·L^-1 concentration of FFHBFP on the expression of MRSA virulence gene crtM and biofilm-forming genes fnbA and icaA. Finally， molecular docking technology was used to predict the mechanism of potential antibacterial active ingredients of FFHBFP in inhibiting the virulence and biofilm of MRSA. ResultThe MIC of VAN was 2 mg·L^-1， and VAN below 1 mg·L^-1 exerted no effect on MRSA growth. The MIC of FFHBFP was not determined， while the 101.200-202.400 g·L^-1 original solution inhibited MRSA growth. Compared with the blank group and the VAN group， sub-MIC （25.300-50.600 g·L^-1 original solution） inhibited lipase and recovered MRSA sensitivity to H₂O₂ （P<0.01）. The results of the microplate method showed that FFHBFP （25.300-202.400 g·L^-1 original solution） inhibited biofilm formation and maturation （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The SEM exhibited that FFHBFP made the structure of biofilm loose and the size of the bacteria varied. FFHBFP at 50.600 g·L^-1 concentration can inhibit the expression of related virulence genes and biofilm-forming genes （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and molecular docking results also showed that the main antibacterial active ingredients in FFHBFP have good binding ability to the target. ConclusionFFHBFP that cannot directly kill MRSA exerts clinical efficacy by impairing virulence expression， biofilm formation， and other pathogenic properties.