Objective To detect the expression of β-catenin in the tissues of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), and to discuss its function in PCNSL.Methods The paraffin embedded tissues from 10 patients diagnosed as PCNSL from October 2010 to April 2012 were collected as the experimental group.The paraffin embedded tissues from 10 patients with lymphadenitis were collected as the control group.Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical method were used to detect the expression of β-catenin in these tissues, and the relationships between β-catenin and clinical data were analyzed.Results Immunohistochemistry results showed that β-catenin protein was localized in the cytoplasm and (or) nucleus.Among 10 PCNSL patients, β-catenin protein was positive in 4 patients, while it was no positive in all of 10 lymphadenitis patients, with the significant differences between both groups (P ＜ 0.05).The β-catenin gene relative expression level was 4.70±0.57 and 1.00±0.27 in the experimental group and the control group, respectively.β-catenin expression was no correlation to age, PS score, cerebrospinal fluid protein level and serum lactate dehydrogenase level of patients with PCNSL.Conclusions Whether in mRNA level or in protein level, β-catenin expression is always high in PCNSL tissues, and its protein is expressed in the cytoplasm, however, this phenomenon was not observed in the tissue of lymphadenitis.

To investigate the pathogenic characteristic of ToxoDB # 17 Toxoplasma gondii in Kunming mice,the mice were fed with ＜1,1,101,102,103,104,105,106 oocysts,and the clinical symptoms of mice were observed.MAT,HE and IHC were used to research the infection rate of T.gondii,survival rate of mice and the number of cysts in brain.The results showed that the mice fed with ≥104 oocysts appeared transient depression,mice were arched,messy hair after infection.The mice fed with ≥102 oocysts were all infected,T.gondii cysts formation rate was 2.38％ (1/42),the survival rate of infected mice was 85.71％ (36/42),the survival time was greater than 360 days.In conclusion,the pathogenicity of ToxoDB# 17 T.gondii is weak,and cysts formation rate is also low.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering is increasingly viewed as a promising avenue for functional cartilage reconstruction.However, chondrocyte dedifferentiation during in vitro culture remains an obstacle for clinical translation of tissue engineered cartilage. Re-differentiated induction have been employed to induce dedifferentiated chondrocytes back to their original phenotype. Regrettably, these strategies have been proven to be only moderately effective. METHODS: To explore underlying mechanism, RNA transcriptome sequencing was conducted on primary chondrocytes (P0), dedifferentiated chondrocytes (P5), and redifferentiated chondrocytes (redifferentiation-induction of P5, P5.R). Based on multiple bioinformatics analysis, LGR5 was identified as a target gene. Subsequently, stable cell lines with LGR5 knocking-down and overexpression were established using P0 chondrocytes. The phenotypic changes in P1 and P5 chondrocytes with either LGR5 knockdown or overexpression were assessed to ascertain the potential influence of LGR5 dysregulation on chondrocyte phenotypes. Regulatory mechanism was then investigated using bioinformatic analysis, protein–protein docking, immunofluorescence co-localization and immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: The current study found that dysregulation of LGR5 can significantly impact the dedifferentiated phenotypes of chondrocytes (P5). Upregulation of LGR5 appears to activate the PI3K/AKT signal via increasing the phosphorylation levels of AKT (p-AKT1). Moreover, the increase of p-AKT1 may stabilize b-catenin and enhance the intensity of Wnt/b-catenin signal, and help to restore the dedifferentated phenotype of chondrocytes. CONCLUSION LGR5 can modulate the phenotypes of chondrocytes in P5 passage through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Epithelial tissues covering the external and internal surface of a body are constantly under physical, chemical or biological assaults. To protect the epithelial tissues and maintain their homeostasis, multiple layers of immune defense mechanisms are required. Besides the epithelial tissue-resident immune cells that provide the first line of defense, circulating immune cells are also recruited into the local tissues in response to challenges. Chemokines and chemokine receptors regulate tissue-specific migration, maintenance and functions of immune cells. Among them, chemokine receptor CCR10 and its ligands chemokines CCL27 and CCL28 are uniquely involved in the epithelial immunity. CCL27 is expressed predominantly in the skin by keratinocytes while CCL28 is expressed by epithelial cells of various mucosal tissues. CCR10 is expressed by various subsets of innate-like T cells that are programmed to localize to the skin during their developmental processes in the thymus. Circulating T cells might be imprinted by skin-associated antigen- presenting cells to express CCR10 for their recruitment to the skin during the local immune response. On the other hand, IgA antibody-producing B cells generated in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues express CCR10 for their migration and maintenance at mucosal sites. Increasing evidence also found that CCR10/ligands are involved in regulation of other immune cells in epithelial immunity and are frequently exploited by epithelium-localizing or -originated cancer cells for their survival, proliferation and evasion from immune surveillance. Herein, we review current knowledge on roles of CCR10/ligands in regulation of epithelial immunity and diseases and speculate on related important questions worth further investigation.
B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; immunology ; Chemokine CCL27 ; genetics ; immunology ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; immunology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Epithelium ; immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Mucous Membrane ; cytology ; immunology ; Receptors, CCR10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

Objective:To investigate the indication, effectiveness, tolerance, and safety of levosimendan in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in 20 hospitals in Beijing, China.Methods:This prospective, observational, and multicenter study consecutively enrolled AHF patients who were treated with levosimendan at 20 hospitals in Beijing from April 2020 to March 2022. Baseline demographics, laboratory parameters, clinical presentation, concomitant diseases and medications were collected. After initiation of levosimendan, levosimendan administration, laboratory parameter pre- and post-administration, symptoms improvement, and adverse events were also collected.Results:Totally 800 AHF patients were included, 67% of whom were male, aged (65 ±17) years, 50% of whom had ischemic heart disease, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was (36±11)%. The dose of levosimendan was (11.84 ±2.11) mg and the mean infusion time was (1 450±307) min. Dyspnea was improved in 83.4% of AHF patients at 24 h after treatment. The level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) significantly decreased from 689 (406-1509) pg/mL to 410 (156-697) pg/mL in all patients at 24-72 h after treatment ( P<0.001), and the level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) decreased from 6910 (3 715-13 914) pg/mL to 2 851 (1 288-6 191) pg/mL ( P<0.001). Meanwhile, LVEF level also improved significantly [(40±11)% vs. (36±11)%, P<0.001]. During levosimendan administration, adverse events occurred in 74 (9.3%) patients, including hypotension (5.9%), arrhythmia (1.9%), and other symptoms (1.1%). Among them, 7 patients ( 2 patients with hypotension and 5 patients with ventricular tachycardia) interrupted levosimendan administration. Conclusions:The use of levosimendan is safe, and can improve symptoms reduce BNP or NT-pro BNP levels and increase LVEF level in AHF patients.

Objective:To develop a rapid, simple and cost-effective quantitative TaqMan RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) that could be used as an alternative to sequencing for the detection of Omicron variants and to evaluate its performance.Methods:Primers and TaqMan probes targeting the conserved domains of SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab and the high-frequency mutation sites in the S gene of Omicron variants were designed. Then a RT-qPCR for the detection of Omicron variants was established. The consistency of the method was verified using samples identified by whole-genome sequencing. The specificity and sensitivity of the method were also evaluated.Results:The established RT-qPCR could distinguish Omicron variants from early epidemic A strains and Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2, and the results were consistent with those of whole-genome sequencing with a coincidence rate of 100% (28/28). There was no cross-reactivity with other six respiratory viruses or coxsackievirus group A16. For RNA standards, this method showed good linearity in the range of 10 9-10 3 copies/μl with a correlation coefficient ( R2) greater than 0.99 and detection sensitivity of 10 3 copies/μl. Conclusions:The RT-qPCR designed in this study for Omicron variant detection had good sensitivity and specificity and could be easily performed in laboratories, which would greatly facilitate the monitoring of Omicron variants.

The clinical application of triptolide (TPL) in tumor therapy has been greatly limited by its toxicity and inefficient delivery. Herein, a localized and sustained-release thermo-sensitive hydrogel was developed for the intra-tumor administration of TPL. Based on the amphiphilic structure of poly (