Low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration is a common clinical chronic disease. The regenerative ability of intervertebral disc tissue is extremely poor. Meanwhile, current treating methods can not fundamentally solve such problems. With the increasing awareness of the mechanism of disc degeneration and the rapid development of the fields of cellular and molecular biology, gene and materials engineering, using stem cells and tissue engineering technology to slow down or reverse the progress of disc degeneration may become possible. The author reviewed the application of stem cells for treating degenerative discs from present researching status and concepts for the future in the combination of researches reported both at home and abroad.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; pathology ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; therapy ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Regeneration ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Tissue Engineering

Hydatid disease does seriously harm to human and livestock ,and causes huge economic losses to the livestock in‐dustry .Despite the fact that people have made some success in prevention and control of animal hydatid disease after making great efforts during the past few decades ,however ,there still remain many problems and challenges .In order to facilitate the research in animal hydatid disease in China ,here we reviewed the problems and challenges in the prevention and control of this disease and put forward several proposals on the treatment and management of dogs ,immunization ,diagnose ,surveillance , etc .

Objective:To investigate the effect of the new nanomaterials,polyamidoamine dendrimers PAMAM-D,mediated foreign gene human decay accelerating factor(hDAF) for xenotransplantation transfected pig sperm cells.Methods:PAMAM-D/hDAF cDNA compounds were made.The compounds were divided into 0.2 μg,0.4μg,0.6μg,0.8 μg and 1.0μg groups (each group adding corresponding dose of PAMAM-D in accordance with the N/P ratio 10:1,20:1,40:1),then were digested by restriction enzymes.The compounds were incubated with washed pig sperm cells.Then the transfection efficiency was detected by in situ hybridization in the different groups.Results:The PAMAM-D molecule can prevent electrophoretic migration of DNA in the compound.After digested the compounds by restriction enzymes,DNA can not be degraded.The transfection efficiency was different in different groups.Among the total,the efficiency was higher in both groups of 0.4 μg and 0.6μg than that of others.The top was the group of 0.4 μg linear plasmid plus PAMAM-D when the N/P ratio was 20:1(47.5%±O.2%,167% vs control group).Conclusion:PAMAM-D can improve the efficiency of exogenous gene transfeeted pig sperm cells,which can reinforce the stable binding of exogenous DNA to sperm cells.

Taenia pisiformis is one of the most important parasites of canines and rabbits. T. pisiformis cysticercus (the larval stage) causes severe damage to rabbit breeding, which results in huge economic losses. In this study, the genetic variation of T. pisiformis was determined in Sichuan Province, China. Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) (922 bp) gene were amplified in 53 isolates from 8 regions of T. pisiformis. Overall, 12 haplotypes were found in these 53 cytb sequences. Molecular genetic variations showed 98.4% genetic variation derived from intra-region. F(ST) and Nm values suggested that 53 isolates were not genetically differentiated and had low levels of genetic diversity. Neutrality indices of the cytb sequences showed the evolution of T. pisiformis followed a neutral mode. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no correlation between phylogeny and geographic distribution. These findings indicate that 53 isolates of T. pisiformis keep a low genetic variation, which provide useful knowledge for monitoring changes in parasite populations for future control strategies.
Animals ; China ; Cytochromes b/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Helminth Proteins/*genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rabbits ; Taenia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Taeniasis/*parasitology

Objective:To compare the effect of modified postauricular transverse incision and traditional vertical incision for microvascular decompression in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.Methods:Prospective study method was used. A total of 116 patients with hemifacial spasm in Handan Central Hospital from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020 were selected, and divided into two groups according to the admission order. Both groups underwent microvascular decompression; control group (57 cases) received traditional vertical incision, while treatment group (59 cases) received modified postauricular transverse incision. The brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), pain degree, surgical indicators, facial aesthetic satisfaction and complications were compared between two groups.Results:After treatment, the BAEP of latency, wave interval and wave amplitude in the two groups increased compared with that before treatment, and the BAEP of latency, wave interval and wave amplitude in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group: (1.89 ± 0.15) ms vs. (1.62 ± 0.21) ms, (7.89 ± 0.15) ms vs. (6.25 ± 0.41) ms, (1.79 ± 0.19) ms vs. (1.54 ± 0.11) ms ( P<0.05). After treatment, the visual analogue score (VAS) of patients in the two groups decreased compared with that before treatment, and the VAS of patients in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group: (1.15 ± 0.27) points vs. (2.18 ± 0.24) points ( P<0.05). The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative scar length of patients in the treatment group were less than those in the control group: (60.41 ± 3.81) h vs. (76.87 ± 3.87) h, (30.18 ± 4.19) ml vs. (56.87 ± 4.15) ml and (4.18 ± 1.07) cm vs. (6.87 ± 1.05) cm ( P<0.05). The satisfaction rate of patients in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group: 91.53% (54/59) vs. 71.93% (41/57) ( P<0.05). The complication rate of patients in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group: 5.08% (3/59) vs. 21.05% (12/57) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with traditional vertical incision, the modified transverse incision for microvascular decompression in the treatment of hemifacial spasm can reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative scar area, enhance brainstem auditory evoked potential, and improve facial aesthetics, which is worthy of recommendation.

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis with medical and veterinary importance in China. Our main objective was to discuss the genotypes and genetic diversity of E. granulosus present in domestic animals and humans in western China. A total of 45 hydatid cyst samples were collected from sheep, humans, and a yak and subjected to an analysis of the sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. The amplified PCR product for all samples was a 1,068 bp band. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all 45 samples were identified as E. granulosus (genotype G1). Ten haplotypes were detected among the samples, with the main haplotype being H1. The haplotype diversity was 0.626, while the nucleotide diversity was 0.001. These results suggested that genetic diversity was low among our samples collected from the west of China based on cytb gene analysis. These findings may provide more information on molecular characteristics of E. granulosus from this Chinese region.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic/parasitology ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Cattle/*parasitology ; China ; Cytochromes b/*genetics ; DNA, Helminth/genetics ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus/classification/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*veterinary ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sheep/*parasitology ; Tibet

BACKGROUND:Intestinal flora and its metabolites can participate in the pathological process of osteoporosis and play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.In addition,exercise can regulate the intestinal flora and thus affect the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the effects and mechanism of intestinal flora on osteoblasts,osteoclasts,and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,and the potential role of exercise-mediated intestinal flora in regulating osteoporosis. METHODS:"Intestinal flora,intestinal bacteria,metabolites of intestinal flora,bone metabolism,osteoporosis,exercise"were selected as keywords.Literatures from 1990 to 2023 were retrieved from PubMed and CNKI databases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Changes in the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora and changes in the levels of intestinal flora metabolites such as trimethylamine oxide and bile acid can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.The imbalance of intestinal flora can lead to intestinal barrier dysfunction and excessive production of lipopolysaccharides and trimethylamine oxide,induce the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α and other inflammatory cytokines,activate the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway and aggravate oxidative stress,thus promoting osteoclast differentiation,inducing osteoblast apoptosis and affecting bone marrow mesenchymal cell migration.Remodeling intestinal flora homeostasis can inhibit inflammatory response,downregulate oxidative stress,inhibit osteoclast differentiation,promote osteoblast differentiation,and regulate the osteogenic migration of bone marrow mesenchymal cells to prevent and treat osteoporosis.Exercise can regulate intestinal flora homeostasis,improve intestinal barrier function,promote the secretion of short-chain fatty acids and bile acids,down-regulate serum lipopolysaccharide level,reduce oxidative stress,and then inhibit osteocyte apoptosis,inhibit osteoclast differentiation,promote osteoblast differentiation,and regulate osteocyte nutrient metabolism to exert the potential of preventing and treating osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND:Gut microbiota is closely related to host energy balance and metabolism.The metabolites of intestinal flora can regulate the occurrence and development of obesity and can be a new target for the prevention and treatment of obesity. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the interaction between the intestinal flora and obesity,as well as the specific mechanism underlying regulation of obesity by metabolites of intestinal flora,thereby providing a new reference and basis for the prevention and treatment of obesity. METHODS:"Intestinal microbiota,intestinal bacteria,intestinal microbiota metabolites,short-chain fatty acids,bile acids,ipopolysaccharide,trimethylamine N-oxide,medium-chain fatty acids,tryptophan derivatives,obesity"were used as search terms in Chinese and English.Literature related to obesity from 1990 to 2022 was retrieved in PubMed and CNKI databases.According to inclusion and exclusion criteria,88 articles were finally selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Intestinal flora is closely related to the occurrence and development of obesity.For example,changes in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of obesity,and the occurrence of obesity can be delayed by the colonization of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium breve,Lactobacillus and Akkermansia.Intestinal flora is mainly mediated by the metabolites of intestinal flora to participate in the regulation of obesity.For example,short-chain fatty acid can regulate adipogenesis by regulating signaling pathways such as G protein-coupled receptors 41,43 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ,thus delaying the occurrence and development of obesity.Bile acids can increase insulin sensitivity and body energy expenditure by promoting the activation of G protein-coupled receptor 5 and farnesol X receptor.In addition,lipopolysaccharide,trimethylamine oxide,medium-chain fatty acids and tryptophan derivatives are also widely involved in the occurrence and development of obesity through various signaling pathways.Further studies have found that metabolites of the same bacterial community exert heterogeneous effects in the specific process of regulating obesity via different signaling pathways.For example,under the influence of high-fat diet,acetic acids can activate the parasympathetic nervous system,leading to hyperphagia and liver insulin resistance and thus accelerating the physiological course of obesity.

Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) infections affect domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas. More sensitive antibody detection methodologies are required to diagnose asymptomatic dirofilariasis with low worm burdens. Applying current transcriptomic technologies would be useful to discover potential diagnostic markers for D. immitis infection. A filarial homologue of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was initially identified by screening the assembled transcriptome of D. immitis (DiTCTP). A BLAST analysis suggested that the DiTCTP gene shared the highest similarity with TCTP from Loa loa at protein level (97%). A histidine-tagged recombinant DiTCTP protein (rDiTCTP) of 40 kDa expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) showed immunoreactivity with serum from a dog experimentally infected with heartworms. Localization studies illustrated the ubiquitous presence of rDiTCTP protein in the lateral hypodermal chords, dorsal hypodermal chord, muscle, intestine, and uterus in female adult worms. Further studies on D. immitis-derived TCTP are warranted to assess whether this filarial protein could be used for a diagnostic purpose.
Animal Structures/chemistry ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Antigens, Helminth/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dirofilaria immitis/chemistry/*genetics/immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tumor Markers, Biological/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification

Baylisascaris schroederi,a roundworm(ascaridoid)parasite specific to the bamboo-feeding giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca),represents a leading cause of mortality in wild giant panda populations.Here,we present a 293-megabase chromosome-level genome assembly of B.schroederi to infer its biology,including host adaptations.Comparative genomics revealed an evolutionary trajectory accompanied by host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages after host separations,suggesting their potential for transmission and rapid adaptation to new hosts.Genomic and anatomical lines of evidence,including expansion and positive selection of genes related to the cuticle and basal metabolisms,indicate that B.schroederi undergoes specific adaptations to survive in the sharp-edged bamboo-enriched gut of giant pandas by structurally increasing its cuticle thickness and efficiently utilizing host nutrients through gut parasitism.Additionally,we characterized the secretome of B.schroederi and predicted potential drug and vaccine targets for new control strategies.Overall,this genome resource provides new insights into the host adaptation of B.schroederi to the giant panda as well as the host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages.Our findings on the unique biology of B.schroederi will also aid in the development of prevention and treatment measures to protect giant panda populations from roundworm parasitism.